As Sarah was pulled into the dress shop, Madam Sophia lit up.
"Lady Sarah! Let's get you dressed and ready for court. Sir Didymus has been waiting patiently for you, and I believe he has an appointment set for you."
Sarah looked at the dressmaker with shock, "I have an appointment? So meeting at court; will it be private or public?"
"Well, with situations like yours – mortals entering the Underground – the Goblin King takes the prospective citizens privately as to not air their business publicly. It's very polite business," Madam Sophia explained.
"Oh, that is probably for the best. Last time I met His Majesty I wasn't exactly polite and it wasn't the best circumstances."
Madam Sophia started getting Sarah ready for court. First she waved her hand and Sarah was left in nothing but her undergarments. Then Madam Sophia brought over the dark green dress. Sarah noticed that it smelled like orchids, pine, and ancient magic she dared not to define. In an instant Madam Sophia had the dress on Sarah and had buttoned the back.
"I hadn't known you had met His Majesty before. We'll make sure you look extra special for the occasion. How would you like to wear your hair my dear? Up, or down?"
"I saw that many of the women here had their hair up, so I think I'd like it like that. Maybe in some sort of twist?" Sarah replied.
With a wave of her hands Madam Sophia had Sarah's hair pulled back with long twisted curls falling down the back. Sarah noticed little golden flower pins held her hair in place. Her eyes were accented with kohl liner and a hint of gold glitter along the eyebrows and up her cheekbones. Madam Sophia lifted a silver mirror for Sarah's inspection. She had never seen herself look so elegant – at least not since her last visit to the Underground.
"Oh my god. I look beautiful. I feel like I could do anything looking like this! Thank you so much Madam Sophia."
"It is my pleasure Lady Sarah. Now it is time for you and Sir Didymus to make towards the castle," Madam Sophia said as she started to pull Sarah towards the door.
Sir Didymus met Sarah at the door. "Lady Sarah, you look absolutely beautiful. You look ready to meet the king himself – and rightfully so!"
"Thank you Sir Didymus. I am ready to meet the Goblin King now." Sarah turned back to Madam Sophia, "Thank you so much for your help, I feel like a princess in this dress."
"As you should," Madam Sophia replied softly as she waved goodbye to Sarah.
Sir Didymus once again took his place as the escort to Sarah leading her through the crowd of people. The hustle and bustle of the streets helped distract Sarah from the task she was about to partake. The dress and hair made her feel beautiful on the outside, but it was the contents of her heart that worried her. She loved her friends dearly – and missed them in her absence, but it was the reappearance of the Goblin King that frightened her. She wondered if he would look as beautiful and sound as charming as she remembered. The last time they met he had challenged her at every obstacle and kept her on her toes. Every man she met since was left in his shadow. She constantly compared the men in her sensible reality to the man in her fantastic dream.
Within minutes of leaving the dress shop Sir Didymus and Sarah arrived at the castle gates. Sarah noticed two guards. The goblins were sharp-faced with dark skin like she remembered, but their eyes were harsher and their bodies were a few feet taller.
"What business do you have at the castle?" said the first goblin.
Sir Didymus looked at him proudly and spoke, "Lady Sarah is here for an appointment with His Majesty Jareth, the Goblin King to seek amnesty in the Underground. Do you obstruct her?"
The guards looked at each other with knowing eyes, and the second goblin spoke, "No we do not."
Sarah and Sir Didymus made their way through the gate and up the marble steps into the castle. Sarah noticed the beautiful artwork that hung along the walls of the corridors. A few servants were passing them by, and a few grand ladies and gentlemen passed by as well. Sarah felt like she was walking through another labyrinth as they twisted and turned through the hallways. Finally they appeared at a beautiful mahogany door with another set of goblin-guards. Sir Didymus stopped just out of hearing range of the guards.
"Lady Sarah, this is where I must stop and you must go on. This is a private audience between yourself and His Majesty. I have been with you so far, and I shall support you with my heart from here, but behind that door is for you and His Majesty alone," Sir Didymus explained.
Sarah gave a weak smile to Sir Didymus, "I expected as much. That is the way it's done, right?"
Sir Didymus nodded nobly back at Sarah.
"Then that is the way I must do it," and with that Sarah approached the two goblin-guards.
Sarah walked to the door. This was her chance to ask for everything she lost ten years ago. She wanted to live in the Underground, and she wanted the Goblin King. She needed to stand up and ask for it or lose it forever.
"Who wishes to seek audience with His Majesty?" said the goblin on the left.
"I do, Sarah Williams of the Aboveworld," she replied bravely.
The goblin to the right looked at the guard to the left with a bit of fear in his eyes and said, "Yes! Yes! His Majesty is waiting for you now. Please, allow me!"
"No, allow me!" said the goblin to the left.
"No, I must insist," the right goblin said pushing the other and with that they knocked the door open.
"Thank you just the same gentle-goblins," Sarah said walking past the pair.
Sarah walked over the threshold and was awestruck. In the middle of a grand throne room sat the Goblin King; his hair was a beautiful dirty blond, but not the rock-mullet style she remembered. His hair was considerably shorter, but still wild and flew out in a controlled chaos. His face was as beautiful as she remembered, but not as old. He didn't look more than thirty in human years. He was dressed in white, fitted pants, black boots and belt, and a lovely crimson shirt that exposed his chest and gold pendant. Jareth smiled at her as she entered the room.
"Well, if it isn't you?" the Goblin King said with joy in his voice. "While this is pleasant, I can't say it's a surprise. How may I help you Sarah?"
Sarah stopped herself from staring, "I'd like to seek amnesty in your kingdom."
"And after everything I've done for you, everything you gave up the last time you were here, what has changed your mind about the Underground? Why do you want to be here?"
"This is my home, Your Majesty," she said shyly. "I don't belong anywhere else."
"What about your sensible life Aboveground? Your students? Your family? Your little brother?" he asked suspiciously.
"I'm ready to cast aside that life for this one. My family – even my brother- would understand my desire to follow my heart. And my heart is here, in the Underground."
Sarah watched his face carefully; the Goblin King looked deep in thought, but his eyes held a great joy. She felt like he needed to hear more, especially after their last encounter.
"When I left this magical place – I wasn't ready for everything. I had responsibilities – to my family, to my brother, and to myself. I wasn't ready for everything you were offering. While my body may have been Aboveground – my heart never left here."
"Is that so?" Jareth replied, rising from his throne.
"Yes," she said nervously. Jareth was making his way across the room to her.
"I needed to grow up to truly appreciate everything and everyone around me. Now that I have –" she said, taking steps towards him, "I'm ready to ask for what I want."
Jareth stopped in the middle of throne room.
"And what is it exactly that you want Sarah?" he asked with a mischievous smile across his face.
"I want this life," she said – stopping directly in front of him, "and I want you."
With her last confession Sarah used the last of her bravado, closed the gap between her and the King, and kissed him.
