Chapter 11 – A Journey and an Introduction

Eleanor Tanner was charmed by Jareth in the first instant that she met him. It was like every wish that she had ever made for her daughter had come true and was packaged in a very … very, very… handsome man. Every mother believes her daughter to be a princess and while Beatrix had tested her patience on many occasions; with her love of horrible music and her over fondness of alcohol… her clothing choices, career choices, crude vocabulary, her motorcycle, her previous boyfriends… tattoo… actually, excluding her choice of friends (who were all very nice and supportive) Beatrix was a disaster of a daughter; wild, rebellious and obstinate.

But now Beatrix bucked trend and netted herself an honest to god KING. It was like one of those fantasy romance novels that Eleanor indulged in, and her daughter… when she finally came to her senses… would be a QUEEN.

She gazed at the man now, her brain clouded with royal weddings and fairytale castles.

The Goblin king was currently taking his ease on Trixies bed watching his paramour and his future mother-in-law, he had pillows and cushions piled behind his back and his ankles were crossed, he was… weirdly… fiddling around with a riding crop. He watched Trixie with the intensity that he used while he was an owl, only the unblinking, dual coloured eyes were much more unsettling. He had not left the Above since he was inadvertently summoned by Kelly days previously. He was worried that they might not summon him again and dared not leave in the interim. Where he went when he was not haunting Trixies flat was unknown… he still appeared and disappeared at will… sometimes at very inopportune times… but Trixie guessed that was on purpose and it was not endearing.

Trixie had piled every single item of clothing that she owned in a massive pile in the middle of her bedroom and was currently in a heated argument with her mother on what would be appropriate for her sojourn in the Underground. What did one pack for a six week trip to a castle in a magical realm, a trip that included a birth?

Trixie and Eleanor were of two very differing opinions.

"You know…" Jareth finally interceded from his comfy position on the bed. "This is all quite unnecessary." He drawled, tapping the riding crop on the shoulder of his thick, chocolate coloured leather coat. The shouting, while initially entertaining was now becoming grating. And Trixies choices of words were unflattering.

The two women stopped shouting at each other and looked at the Goblin King. Eleanors look was polite and questioning. Trixie was shooting him daggers.

"I can conjure whatever my quee… my 'lady' needs for her day to day care." He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, moving with a fluidic, sinewy grace that was enthralling to observe. "We could leave right this moment."

"Then, what the fuck have we been doing for the last two fucking hours?" Trixie shouted, all of her hormonal rage now focused on the beautiful, smug King instead of her mother.

"Beatrix, really, watch your language." Eleanor huffed.

The King shrugged his shoulders in innocence. "I thought this was some sort of quaint mortal custom." He waved his crop over the pile of attire in a dismissive kind of way.

Eleanor tittered in amusement, Trixie wanted to shove that riding crop somewhere really snug on his person. Did he even have a horse for Christs sake?

She put her hands on her hips impatiently. "Fine, then let's go." she snapped.

"Beatrix…" Her mother chinned.

"Nah, let's just get this over with." Trixie ground her teeth together as The Goblin King sauntered to her side, picking his way through the disaster site that used to be her bedroom, a smirk plastered on his lips. She wanted to slap that smirk right off of his face, she might yet… the day was young.

He slid his gloved hand across the small of her back and secured her opposite hip in his grasp, sending her a little wink before extending his hand to Eleanor with a flourish. Eleanor giggled like a girl as she took his hand and the three of them vanished.

… reappearing a heartbeat later in a room walled with dun coloured stone.

Trixie looked around the room with feigned disinterest. Her mother began cooing in delight almost instantly. Jareth stood still and waited for a response. Trixie wasn't giving anything away.

The room was large and seemed to radiate with its own warmth, it was circular with arched windows at even intervals and giant white candles resting on jutted sconces in each gap on the wall. There was a big arched doorway that led to a stone balcony with a spectacular view of what could only be the Labyrinth… it seemed to stretch forever into the distance, much greater than what was depicted in the film.

The room itself was sparsely furnished and with the exception of a huge four poster bed that looked to be carved from ivory and was draped in white tulle, a set of dark wooden side tables and a large free standing wardrobe and a comfy looking wing chair in dark brown leather… or at least looked like leather, there was not much else. There was a huge gilt harp standing unobtrusively in one corner with a small three legged stool.

To Trixie it looked like a tower…he really was going to lock her in a tower.

"This is the Eastern Tower of the castle and it will be solely for your use. I will allow you to choose your own décor, though I ask that the harp remain untouched and in its original place." The Goblin King had released Eleanors hand and the woman was taking in the space with a speculative look in her eyes and her lips pursed, thinking up all sorts of improvements and furnishings. Trixie was still held firmly at the kings side, his fingers curled around her hip.

"There is a washroom beyond that door." He waved vaguely towards the rooms only stout wooden door. "and the rest of the castle lies behind that one." He gestured at the same door. "Your clothing is in the wardrobe and your grooming and personal items are in your dressing room." He waved at the same damned door. "Drusilla and Gertrude will attend you." He waved his hand yet again and two small pudding faced goblins appeared in the centre of the room and proceeded to bow down so lo,w their little squished noses touched the ground. Trixie supposed, from their names, that they were female goblins, but really, who could tell.

Jareth looked like he would say more but he instead tilted his head to one side and his eyes took on a faraway look. His features became irritated and he released Trixies hip and stepped away from her.

"I'm sorry, ladies. I must leave you for a while." He said smoothly trying to hide what was obviously displeasure, maybe even anger. "I have been absent from my duties for too long it seems. You will excuse me." He dipped his head briefly in farewell and vanished.

"Oh Beatrix, look at this view… my goodness." Eleanors voice floated in from the balcony, the woman was almost peeing herself with excitement. Trixie, eyed the two still bowing Goblins warily and gave them a wide berth as she followed her mother outside to look out at the Labyrinth. It was mind blowing to see it in real life.

"I wonder where he went." Trixie pondered out loud as she gazed out at the dazzling vista.

"Oh, such concern, dear?" Eleanor chuckled. Trixie was still somewhat mystified by her mother who took everything that had happened so far in her stride, even going so far at as to embracing it and clutching it to her with both hands… gleefully. Trixie wondered if she was secretly on meds… or off them.

"Not concern… just weird that he fought so hard to get me here and as soon as I arrive, he buggers off."

"Feeling neglected?" Eleanor asked with a raised eyebrow.

Trixie didn't answer, just sent her mum an unimpressed look.

"We'll let's take everything in and meet your staff, shall we?… Ooo, my daughter has staff." Eleanor sang as she swanned back into the room.

Trixie noticed that there was no door on the balcony entrance way and no glass in the windows. Ooo-kay. She meandered back into her room and stood in front of the still prostrate goblins.

"Ummm, Gertrude?"

The rounder of the two popped her head up and grinned. "Yer Majesty." She fawned.

"Oh... I'm not a majesty. Trixie is fine."

"Yer carryin' the Kings heir ain't ye?" The goblin asked politely, her crooked tooth grin hitching even higher.

"Yes, but…"

'Then yer 'Yer Majesty' Yer Majesty."

Trixie sighed. "and, I'm sorry, I've forgotten your name." She touched the shoulder of the other, who popped her head up too. She had the largest set of eyes the Trixie had ever seen, like tennis balls.

"Drusilla, Majesty."

"Hi." Trixie said haltingly not really sure what to say now. She wasn't about to start issuing orders or anything.

"Oh, Beatrix, all of your clothes are in here…" Eleanor chimed in from over by the wardrobe. "Ugh, even those horrible skeleton tee shirts are here."

"Iron Maiden, Mum." Trixie corrected her with a shake of her head.

"How do you think this door works?" Eleanor said again, opening the lone door which apparently had many functions. A small landing was outside and a stairwell twisted downwards into the castle depths. Eleanor closed it and opened it again, but it was the same… she did it a few more times with the same result. Trixie just stood in the middle of the room with the Goblin ladies watch her mother potter around the room with a look of abject despondency.

Trixie very much wanted Jareth to come back and take her mother away. She was carefully not think that as a wish... just in case.

Almost as if summoned, he appeared in front of her. She jumped back with a start and was just about to have a go at him for popping in and out of existence… and she was going to suggest he wear a cowbell or something so she could have advanced warning of his arrivals, but his face was like a thunder cloud and quite frankly, that look stole her breath.

His eyes met hers and he took a deep breath and he took hold of one of her shoulders

"Beatrix Tanner." He intoned with a cantankerous undertone. "May I present Oberon and Titania, High King and Queen of the Fae and my Parents."

He turned her slowly to meet the two astounding figures who were standing behind her. She looked up slowly and met the appraising eyes.

She managed to utter just two words before she fell into a faint. "Oh Fuck."