A lonesome King sat, quite bored, on a barbaric throne. Although, the throne room itself was full of plenty company, it was not the same. Goblins did not make very good conversationalists. Even if they did, the king found he craved a different type of company these days.
It was odd, he had always been quite a philanderer, yet now he was longing for something real. A genuine relationship, but only with one woman. He couldn't imagine wanting anyone else. He couldn't imagine being with anyone else. Jareth couldn't help it, he found himself different around her. More soft, less jaded… More happy.
She had unknowingly done that to him.
If he had known that this would be the outcome of receiving her trust, would he have tried to scare her more often? No, though something has definitely changed between them, the plan is still the same. He needed her trust to get what he wanted, and if he got a little more in the process, well that was even better.
"Gus!" He snapped his crop at a nearby goblin. "Give this to the girl." The King rotated his gloved hand with practiced ease. A clear, round crystal appearing before them.
The goblin stood, wide eyed and mouth agape, staring at the king as if he had never expected his presence to be noticed in a million years.
"Dense cretins," Jareth muttered before raising his voice, "Need I tell you again?"
"N-No sire! Right away, Sire!" His stuttered, grabbing for the crystal.
Jareth pulled it out of his reach, raising an eyebrow, "And make sure she doesn't see you." He warned.
"O-Of course, Sire! Right away, Sire!" Gus babbled, retrieving the crystal. The sphere transformed in the goblins hands, becoming a heavy package wrapped in linen. Gus didn't seem to be startled, instead saluting to his king and quickly running off to perform his duty. Jareth refrained from rolling his eyes.
Once the goblin was out of sight the Goblin King went back to staring at the large clock across the room, stretched across his throne somehow lazily and gracefully. He would wait for Sarah to get his present then he would wait for her to meet him at the fairy ring. It was funny how she thought she had the power in a situation, but she was using it to play right into his hands. Did that mean, then, that he had the power?
Sarah avoided Cara for a while after that. She would run down the hall and seek refuge in her room when she could hear Cara's voice bounce through the walls of the hallway. When she would eat breakfast, she would never linger long enough for Cara to steal a seat near her. And she would scurry away, much like rats would, from Cara's offers of continuing magic lessons.
At first, she worried that she was being too dramatic. Perhaps Cara had meant no harm after all? However, Jareth's warnings rang loudly through her mind. If he, of all people, had advised her against it, no doubt it was something serious. After all, it was better to face the enemy you know.
She returned to her room after lunch with exhaustion running through her veins. Though she had felt wide awake and refreshed when she had awoken in the forest this morning, her sleep must have not been so restful as she thought. She felt like the floor was a good place to sleep right now.
Walking into the dark room, she was surprised to see that it looked as if someone had definitely been in there. Her suitcase was not in the spot it was earlier and had been torn wide open in the center of the room. Clothes had been sprawled out without care, books lay open with pages torn and bent, and the bed sheets were gathered in a heap on the floor.
Sarah choked back a gasp.
"Who did this?" She whispered through clenched teeth.
"Ughhh," A low and guttural voice came from behind her, "Uh, Lady?"
Sarah turned in shock, her green eyes narrowed down in anger at the tiny goblin that stood right behind her. The goblin itself wasn't really that cute to begin with, but it was one of those creatures that seemed to be so ugly that it was kind of adorable. It wore an over-sized T-shirt that was shockingly familiar to one Cara's husband had once worn. The only exception was that this one had holes and tears throughout it.
Curse the day she had ever let Jareth back into her life.
"Did you do this?" Sarah motioned to the mess behind her.
"Uhm, uh…" The goblin looked up at her shyly, his eyes widening with a pitiful sniff, "Uh oh?" He said with a voice that didn't sound very remorseful.
If Sarah had seemed angry before, it was nothing compared to how she looked now. Her room was trashed, absolutely trashed. The books that she treasured were ruined, not to mention the fact that she would have to explain this to the maid without seeming insane.
Her back stiffened, nostrils flaring and hands clenched. Sarah set her jaw, "Get out." She said, "Get out, now!"
The goblin scrambled back, recognizing the tone from a similar one the king often used when he was about to bog someone.
"No, wait." Sarah called just as the goblin readied himself to leave, "Explain why you did this."
"Uh, King sent me." The goblin hesitantly complied.
"The King told you to do this?" Sarah asked, raising her voice in disbelief. She couldn't believe he would do something like this after they had been well on their way to… to being friends. That thought struck Sarah into a stupor. Friends? Friends with the Goblin King? Being friends with him was highly improbable. Did he even know about friendship? But that's where she thought they were heading…
"No, King asked me to give ya this…" The goblin held out a package, shaking it close to his ear after a second, curious as to what could be in it.
"Give me that," Sarah snatched it away before he could destroy the contents. It was heavy, and it felt like it could be a book, but she didn't want to open it now. Not with the nosy goblin in front of her.
"So, then… He didn't ask you to sabotage my room?" Sarah asked after a few seconds of silence.
"Noes, I smelleded chocolate." The goblin replied with no shame.
Sarah sighed, shaking her head. After this week was over she was no doubt going to have high blood pressure.
The goblin pointed at something near its feet. "Chocolate good." It was a Hershey's candy bar, one that Sarah had packed at the bottom of her suitcase for her plane flight back to the States.
"So, you did all of this so you could get my candy bar?" Sarah rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. Then she kneeled down, surprising the goblin, who stumbled a couple steps back. Usually the king made his best threats when he was at eye level and talking in a soft voice. "What's your name?" Sarah asked politely.
"Uh, Gus?"
"Gus, you can have the rest of that candy bar, but please clean up this mess." Sarah said in such a way that seemed like she was requesting, but they both knew it was a demand.
"I can has chocolate?" He asked, his grubby fingers twining together hopefully. Sarah looked at his hands with disgust, she really hoped it was chocolate on them.
"Yes, you can have it as long as you clean up this mess you made in my room, and…" Her eyes glanced over his shirt, "And please don't steal anymore shirts, okay?"
He nodded gratefully, probably very appreciative that the punishment was much more merciful than the King's would have been. Jareth no doubt would have stuck him in the bog for this mess. Sarah frowned, or not, she remembered how his Throne Room had looked.
"I promise no more messes, Lady!" The goblin smiled wide, revealing many rows of many cavity filled teeth.
"Thank you, Gus. Now, I'm going to leave with this present, but I expect my room to be restored to how it used to look when I get back." Sarah raised an eyebrow, standing up, "Can you do that?"
"No problem!" He said, glancing down gleefully at the chocolate bar.
Sarah shook her head, only looking back once as she left the room. Goblins weren't the most intelligent creatures from her experience, but Jareth had told her once that there were many that were geniuses. She had yet to meet those ones.
She carried the package Jareth had sent her to the cafe. Sitting down in a quiet section of the room, she unwrapped it quickly with a slight smile.
It wasn't a book. It was two books. The first one was no doubt older than she was, and the cover seemed like Jareth had quickly tried to rid it of dust before setting it in the package. Sarah smiled, touching the yellowing pages lovingly. She was a sucker for old books, and had started a collection when she was younger of the oldest books she could find in antique shops. The first book's title read, "The Secrets of the Faery Magic". Sarah's eyebrows shot up, Jareth must really trust her if he would share such a book with her.
The second book was not as old as the first, and did not have a single spec of dust on the cover. It was awfully familiar, too. Sarah recognized the cover on first sight, "The Princess Bride". She was surprised Jareth had this book, as it was an Aboveground book. Her heart also melted at the sight of this one, as she had been telling him about this book the other day during one of their lessons. It had been one of her favorites, and her mother used to read it to her when she was little. Of course, when her parents divorced, her mom accidentally packed it and took it with her when she went away. Sarah hadn't touched the book since, but she had told Jareth it was a favorite, and she had been frustrated when she couldn't remember the details of the story enough to share it with him.
This was a very sweet gesture, Sarah thought, and sort of romantic… No, Sarah frowned, he certainly teased her, and definitely made a lot of flirtatious banter, but it was in his nature, wasn't it? Besides, a relationship with a fae was dangerous, and it often ended badly - usually for the human.
In another room above the cafe Sarah sat in, was a couple. Not an ordinary couple doing ordinary things. Quite the opposite, really.
They were stirring up trouble, literally.
"This should knock her out of her senses long enough for it to work, Husband Dear." The woman said. Her wrinkled hand holding a single piece of hair and releasing it, letting it slowly fall down and drift into the large pot. When it landed, it hit the thick, gooey substance that was boiling in the pot, sizzling and evaporating on contact. The old woman smiled, and her husband had to refrain from frowning.
His wife didn't look the same as she had been when he met her. He was a widow, at a low point in his life after the death of his family. Alcohol had been the only thing he could rely on, and it had drained up all of his money every time he drank up another cup. That's when he had met his current wife, and he had latched onto her. Now that his eyes were clear, no longer clouded in guilt and grief, he could understand that she had taken advantage of his depression. Yet, he knew that he was too weak to fight back. He had only been a strong man at one point in his life, in his previous marriage surrounded by family and love. Now he had neither, he'd have nothing to walk away to.
"Are you sure this is necessary?" He spoke up from across the room. He wanted to stay away from the dangerous concoction his wife was brewing. "You've never been this desperate before..."
"It is necessary." The old woman snapped. "She's been avoiding me at every turn. No, this is necessary for the plan. You just wait, dear. We'll soon have everything."
"I'm not sure," He said softly, "I'm just not sure anymore..."
She rolled her eyes, turning her attention back towards the pot. "Everyday she gets stronger, I can feel it. Whatever she's doing with that fae," She snarled the last word, "It's improving her talents. All it takes is for her to get a little starry eyed, and then she's heartbroken and ours."
"How do you know she'll be heartbroken?"
"Well, it's in their nature to play around and shamelessly flirt. I would know, you know. But she's too naive, she'll be crushed. I'm sure of it." Cara said, crushing up a crunchy herb and letting the pieces fall into the pot.
Earl shook his head. This isn't what he wanted when he married her, but he was too far gone now. Now he'd just have to play along. After all, he loved her, didn't he?
Thank you guys for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :)
Disclaimer: I don't own the labyrinth. 'Tis a pity, too. There probably would have been many sequels...
Reviews:
kellyn1604 - Thank you for your review. Hahah, and that is my intention. Who can you trust...? ;) I would also lean towards the same thing myself. I think almost anyone would.. Heh
Maantje - Awe, thank you! I'm glad this story is a refreshing read! It always makes me happy when someone says that. I try to be original, but I sometimes I include some FanFic cliches without realizing, lol.
ariella21 - Hmmm, curiouser and curiouser! I wonder what will happen... Thank you for the review!
Enchanted Peach Dreams - I believe you shall find out in an upcoming chapter. ;) Thank you!
Honoria Granger - Hmm, she does sound suspicious, doesn't she? I think you're on to something there. I'm glad you caught that. And as for the J/S, I didn't want to make it seem like Sarah was head over heels in love with Jareth at first sight. I didn't want it to be that easy. Thank you for your review! I appreciate it. :)
VeraK - My story really likes you. ;-)
Guest numba 1 - She is coming off a little devious, isn't she? More had been revealed this chapter. And it is sweet. I'm sure that's all Jareth wants, right? Thank you for your review!
Jetredgirl - Awe, thank you! So sweet, lol. :)
LovelyAmberLight - Thanks, pal! :D
starrmommy41 - She did! What's that saying about the first one being in line to meet you is the first one to stab you in the back? A little grim, I think. I also think I destroyed the saying, as well... Oh, well. We'll find out why Cara seemed so suspicious soon! :) Thanks for your review.
Guest #2 - Thank you! Next chapter is up!
LadySoy - Ah, yes. And especially after this recent chapter.
Ebony-Dove - I bet he would! I wish I could pay just to hear a story from him... Thanks for your review!
Random American - Awe, thanks hun. Glad you're enjoying the story!
Ceysna - Yes, I believe she's trying to think it through, but her life is so mixed up into mumbo jumbo that it's difficult to really trust anyone right now. Poor girl. Thanks for your review! Glad you're on the edge of your seat, stay tuned for more, lol.
Aurlia - Hahaha, that's a very cute review! Very sweet, thank you! I didn't update as soon as I thought I would, but I hope you'll see this chapter! :)
As always, I appreciate the reviews so much! It inspires me to really want to write more on my stories. More is revealed this chapter, and soon the story shall reach a turning point. ;) Also, if you're familiar with my very first One-shot 'Goblins Are Not the Same as Gremlins', you should recognize Gus the Goblin. His chocolate addiction is real, guys.