Chapter 4
Sarah gave a low whistle at the sight of her rooms.
Fancy.
The room was beautiful in an archaic way, rich dark timber arched in a seemingly natural way, bending and bowing into a deep weave on which a cloud like bedding rested with nests of pillows and covers of soft colours, cream and gold. Sarah looked towards the small sitting area, same odd design of bowed oak creating strange lovely seats, a small table and even oddly enough a small bookcase.
Sarah walked over to the bookcase, words lit by the dancing glow of candles that held seats in the hollows of the oak.
Some books were stored there all bound in leather covers, but mostly there were scrolls. Sarah took one of the books. The writing smooth and soft reminding her of vines hanging in trees, the next book she pulled the writing was crude, sharp and almost vulgar to look at.
She placed the books back with care, her mind nagging and pleaded with her to look out of the large window, her fingers ran over the glass. The plain was made of shattered coloured glass moulded together in a strange mosaic.
'If I am stuck here.' Sarah thought, 'At least it's a lovely prison.'
Sarah ventured further into the rooms, finding a door at lead to a wardrobe.
Sarah stopped, jaw dropped in shock, "It's bigger then my room!...I bet my bottom dollar that Narnia is in here somewhere."
Dress, robes, coats, hats, shoes, pants and billowy shirts of every colour, style and fabric lined the walls of the wardrobe. Sarah backed away slowly. It was a little unnerving to see a room bigger than your normal bedroom lined with cloths with one stitch that was probably worth more than your house altogether. She tumbled out of Narnia and stumbled into a new doorway leading to a cheery coloured bathroom.
Sarah didn't bother to look to closely, 'Lest I be blinded by the cost.' She thought.
Oh the Goblin King was most certainly a show off.
Looking down at her attire, comfortable track-pants and loose but well love shirt. Good enough to wear to bed. She carefully with great skill –she thought- striped her bra off without moving her shirt, and shimmed out of her pants, the shirt reached to just above her mid thigh she frowned that the length but decided to put pants back on in the morning.
With that decision she leapt into the bed, cocooning herself in the wealth of silk and soft linen and fell asleep.
Moa Thornbeard was a prickly sought of brownie, she never really cared for the goblins she more enjoyed the housework she was hired to do. Normally Thornbeard kept to herself minding her thoughts and ignoring chattering goblins.
But this was not a normal day.
Thornbeard preened at her new station of maid to the temporary Queen. It was a very important job as she was now in charge of the Temporary ruler's comforts, clothing, daily schedule and lastly Thornbeard made sure the temporary ruler would see to all of her new roles. She was more of an advisor then a chambermaid.
A worthy role for a Thornbeard.
She didn't bother knocking on the door; she pushed the door open with minimal effort –to be a good brownie one had to be strong enough to lift twice their body weight- and trudged over to the tree like bed, clucking with her tongue at the sight.
Dreadful.
The Temporary ruler was swathed in the nest of sheets. Her dark brown hair sticking up at awkward angles in the tangle of linens and silks her face hidden under a thin silk cover.
Thornbeard moved forward, grasped the covers with both of her small withered hands and pulled with all her might. This lead to a chain of events:
One. Thornbeard went flying off her feet, falling with a light smacking sound on the stone floor.
Two. The covers swamped the maid.
And three. Sarah ended up in an ungodly heap of confusion, screaming and wild swinging arms.
Sarah regrouped and turned to the mass of covers, gasping slightly at the sight of the maid.
"What are you doing in here?"
"Helping you Mistress." Thornbeard.
Sarah huffed, "And how was pulling me out of bed helping me?"
The Thornbeard's large eyes narrowed. It was a frightening sight overly large eyes looking at you like that.
"Because the King requested that you would be bathed and dressed appropriately before you meet him in about..." she paused for effect. "A half an hour or less."
"I am sorry but before we progress I think I should know at least what you are."
"I am a brownie and before you waste more time on questions me name is Moa Thornbeard."
"Oh."
Thornbeard began grabbing at the sheets, tossing them away from Sarah.
Gruffly Thornbeard began to speak, "Now I will run water for your bath and lay out appropriate clothing I will leave the room, but I warn you if I come back in here and fine you lollygagging around I will pull you by the ear to the King-" at the sight of Sarah's growing protest Thornbeard added in a dead whisper, "Clothed or not."
With that threat Thornbeard waddled off into the bathroom.
Sarah sat on the floor, shirt in disarray, hair in a birds nest and face a comic mix of confusion and terror. 'Why is everyone here hell bent on scaring me?'
Thornbeard had come back into the main room in a flurry of movement pushing and pulling Sarah into the brightly appointed bathroom, the brownie practically threw the girl in to the bath and hustled out.
Sarah sighed, her shirt was sopping and there was soap bubbles dripping down her face. The bathroom wasn't THAT blinding on second inspection just overly...pink. the room wasn't much bigger then her room but it certainly took inspiration from Pompeian atriums, the bath tub was small pool like a sought of impluvium while above her in the Roman style was a compluvium that allowed natural light to filter in and light the room in a soft sun like glow. The walls of the room were covered in a fresco of flowers, leaves and trees.
Stripping of her clothing Sarah relaxed into the warm water. Beautiful, sublime, heavenly and divine, the only way to describe a bubble bath.
Sarah bolted upright at the sound of Thornbeard's voice.
"I said out miss, you have ten minutes to put on clothing or you're going bare."
With that ringing in her ears Sarah got out.
'Why am I the one doing what she says...shouldn't it be the other way around?'
"I am not wearing THAT."
"Miss you are wearing it and that is final."
The brownie shoved the dress into Sarah's hands and left the room.
Sarah looked down at the dress. Lovely colour, great texture the only problem she had with the dress was the neckline- it wasn't deep or anything it settled low enough to show but not give away under normal circumstances she would of loved it, with the Goblin King, she felt like she was horribly exposed.
Grumbling and fussing she pushed herself into the dress.
It clung nicely to her curves and flowed out at her hips, her arms were covered to her elbows and coupled with the sweetheart neckline made her feel like she had walked out of a fantasy novel.
"Moa, I am ready could you take me now?" she asked patting down her dress, it really was a lovely colour a pale and glinting green that complemented her well.
Thornbeard opened the door, "Come along now missy."
Sometimes the human mind could be a great thing, creating fantastical ideas, beautiful images and providing people with the ability to think, to respond and to communicate.
Unfortunately for Sarah her mind was not thinking, not responding and she was not communicating anything but a blank expression, and the only thing her mind seemed to supply her with was Darth Vader's imperial march.
Most likely not the best mindset to be in before meeting with the Goblin King.
Up and up they went the light was getting brighter and brighter with each step up the winding staircase.
"Why is his study up in turrets?" Sarah asked, word slightly pausing to take in a breath, the stairs were steep and narrow old stone, hard to move up but easy to slip down.
"You have seen his creature form haven't you?" Thornbeard asked, turning her black eyes on Sarah.
"Yes, a barn owl."
"Well put it together, owls are birds of prey right? Now where do birds, especially birds of prey take rest? In the clouds and in the highest of branches so they can watch, wait and act without anyone but themselves aware of the intent."
Sarah nodded, "That makes sense." 'In a creep I know what you did last summer way' she thought.
The steps came to an abrupt halt, Sarah's view was filled with a large seemly wooden door, it was plain, no carvings nor adornments just a simple knocker of bronze with one imprint of an owl.
Thornbeard knocked heartily against the door, a slight creaking sound answered back, Thornbeard took that well and pushed the door to a creaking open.
"Good luck miss."
Sarah nodded and walking in, her mind filling once more with the tune of the imperial march.
"Come in Sarah, sit down make yourself comfortable I'll be with you in a tick." Jareth said not even looking up from the pile of parchment in front of him.
She took the time to look around, light filled every corner, cream coloured drapes filtered the light around the king to a dim haze. This was not what she had expected form the Goblin King's private study, Sarah expected, resplendent reds and brooding blacks to dominate the King's place but the colours of white, beige and soft earthy browns where a stark contrast.
The furniture of the room was very similar in style to the objects in her room, naturally bent oak and rosewood, the only thing really extravagant in the room was the King's desk but Sarah figured it came with the title of king seeing as though the hard and dark wood did not fit the room.
"Having a good eyeful are we?" The voice of honey on glass asked.
Sarah let out in involuntary squeak at his movement. One moment at his desk the next lounging next to her on the plush loveseat.
"Yes, I was...the colour's don't seem to match you."
His brow quirked, "Really? Why would you think that?"
She stiffened her back and stared him square in the eye, "Because you seem more like a darker individual, not a...person to warm to such light colours."
Jareth leaned forward, coming almost nose to nose with her, "Is that only because I take the children away? Or is it because I am King of the goblins? What makes you think you know me from what I seem to what I am?"
"Touché."
Jareth gave a self satisfied smile, and lent back watching as Sarah's body relaxed.
"Now enough of that you will come to know me in time, you have to for this job arrangement to work out."
"But I don't even want to do this, I have a job already. My flower shop and if I don't get back I'll lost clientele and my flowers will die."
He shrugged, "What a pity but I can't do anything for it, I could help you with the problem of the flower shop if you do as I say."
Sarah glared at him, "It didn't turn out so well for you last time did it?"
"Not the time nor place for that discussion. Now on the matter of your temporary rule. One I am still the King so I am still in charge of everything, you will handle most things with my supervision and guidance. Two I will grant you minimal magic to deal with goblins, this can't be used against me and I will teach you to use it. Three you can't contact the world above; their memories will be altered so no need to worry. Four you will deal with the wishes, runners and babes all with my supervision and lastly don't make this difficult for everyone just spend your year teaching and don't cause a international war."
Sarah raised a brow, "Really? You expect me to cause a war?"
"With your personality I expect it." He said, snarky grin filling his features.
"And how is your personality any better? I bet that your allies and enemies will like me better then you once I take a stab at international relations." Sarah sniped.
"My personality is suited, unlike yours I am subtle and firm and you dear Sarah are hot-headed and brash. I don't think that bet would end well for you."
Sarah stomped her foot as she stood from her seat, "Really? Well how about we make a bet?"
Jareth watched her, hips cocked with her hand fisted at the sides, eyes growing dark at the promise of a challenge.
"I bet I can curry more favour with your allies then you can."
He put his hand to his mouth in thought. Sarah's foot began to tap at the ground in frustration.
"Well? Are you taking me on or what" she asked, still tapping away.
Jareth held his hand out for a shake, "I'll make the bet with you under these conditions: no complaining of any task, no complaining about the role you have to play and no complaining about the above."
"Done."
Sarah reached for his hand to seal the deal, but Jareth moved it away.
"What will I get when I win?" he asked grinning slyly.
Sarah rolled her eyes and sighed, "I don't whatever they want I guess."
He grasped her hand quicker than a lightning bolt.
"Deal."
When she saw that the grin hadn't left but had grown in size, dread filled the pit of her stomach. He quirked an eyebrow up at her before moving of the seat and walking to his desk.
"You can leave now Sarah, I will call on you for lunch and we will discuss the issue of magic."
She couldn't move and had the strangest feeling that she had sold herself to the devil.
"That bet is going to get me into a lot of trouble isn't it?" she asked quietly. The only response she got from the King was a crooked smile.
I am so sorry for not uploading faster but I am very unreliable or set date because my muse if very temperamental so sorry again and I hope you like it so far.
Please review, I don't want to beg or anything but I would like some feedback.