"Squawk, show yourself you little monster," Jareth called out as he entered Sarah's room. It was empty. Where could that goblin be now? Sarah and Sasha ran into the room then looked at Jareth.
"Well, where are they?" Sasha asked, glancing around the room. They heard a poof then a crash then a boy's laugh. Jareth paled as the sound of breaking glass followed.
"That sounds like my cabin - I'll go, you two search the rest of the boat."
"Um Jareth, not to be critical, but who exactly is steering the boat?" Sarah asked. He turned to glare at her.
"At the moment, my magic is, but thankfully your father didn't think to ask. Just find the boy and we'll continue our - chat." The look of promises to come was thrown into her waiting gaze and her heart jumped into her throat as if it wanted to leave her and find refuge in his. He ran towards his cabin and Sarah watched. She noticed a white falcon watching them from a nearby perch.
"Could a goblin transform into a bird?" Sarah asked Sasha.
"Not that I'm aware of, it's probably nothing," Sasha said, eyes never leaving the bird as it stared at them. Sarah noticed her cousin's stare and tilted her head.
"Sasha?" When she looked back at the bird it was gone. But there was silverish glitter floating in the air. The bird reappeared on Sasha's shoulder and seemed to smile.
"Uh Sarah, maybe that wasn't just a bird. I should find out just who this is." The bird seemed to laugh gently as it watched the girls talk.
Sarah went to answer but there was another loud crash coming from Jareth's cabin and they could hear him swear loudly.
"Don't go near that crystal or I will personally bog you myself," he was shouting.
"We better see what's happening," Sarah said, pulling Sasha along with her. They saw Jareth's door was open and froze at the entrance. Jareth was standing there covered from head to toe in flour. Cocoa powder covered the floor and there were messy broken eggs splattered over the walls.
An empty baking pan was being licked by an oblivious goblin near Jareth's small desk. There was a crystal sitting precariously on the desk that looked as though it had fallen off a golden stand. Jareth was staring at it as it rolled around. Toby was sitting in the middle of Jareth's bed, bits of brownie falling from his lips. He saw Jareth and squealed.
"Gobbin King! Sarah loves Gobbin King! Hey Sarah, kiss Gobbin King!" Toby screamed this as loudly as he could and Sarah ran into the room just in time to see Squawk spin around to see his king glaring at him.
"Hey, your majesty, how are you?" Squawk sputtered as the king placed his crystal gently back on its stand. Jareth shook flour out of his hair and Sarah leaned up against the door in shock. Then she began laughing, softly at first, then louder until tears were running down her cheeks. Jareth gave her a look of pure evil.
"You," he pointed at Sarah, "are in no position to think this is amusing." He turned back to see that Squawk had vanished and the white bird had flown into the room, followed by Sasha. The bird circled over Jareth, dipping down to look him in the eye.
"Mother, this is hardly the time," he said through gritted teeth. The bird transformed into a lovely blonde woman wearing flowing blue robes. She bowed to Sarah and Sasha who were open mouthed in shock.
"Greetings girls, I am Queen Alia of the Under Ground. Sasha you know me well, do not look at me as if I were some specter coming to claim your soul."
"Oh! I didn't know you were queen," Sasha breathed. "I mean," she bowed low, "it is good to see you in person - your highness. You are Jareth's mom?"
"Why yes, and it's time he started telling Sarah the truth." She glared at her rebellious son who was covered in flour and fought back a laugh. "Once he showers and looks presentable again. Come child," she took Sasha by the hand and led her out. "We have much to discuss."
"But Squawk -" Jareth said. Alia held up a hand. Sasha grabbed Toby and laughed, telling him she'd clean him up.
"Squawk is back in the Under Ground where he belongs. Take your shower then talk to the girl. Sasha and I will be in her cabin when you two figure out your next move."
Jareth looked at Sarah, who was still fighting giggles. He grabbed a towel and headed for the shower.
"Wait here," he ordered and disappeared into his small bathroom. Sarah watched the trail of flour drift along with him and sank onto the bed, arms coming around her knees to hold herself there. Then she began laughing again and raised an amused eyebrow when she noticed something on his desk. Walking over to it she saw that Jareth had brought something with him. A crystal.
Hmm, she thought, what have we here?
"Show me what you show Jareth," she commanded and was surprised to see her own reflection. She turned it a bit to one side and gasped. Sarah was again in the crystal but this time wearing a snowy white wedding dress adorned with diamonds, Jareth at her side.
They were looking at each other with love and he dipped down to kiss her fully, slowly - his hands caressing her as if she was a delicate flower. Then the scene shifted to the two of them in bed, naked, taking from each other until both of them were spent, then still - reaching for the other as if they'd drown without the others touch. She stood mesmerized as the scene played out, the two dream lovers caressing and licking each other's bodies as their moans of passion carried them away from reality. Her mouth could not form words, she was being drawn into the fantasy, her body warming, her free hand slowly drifting down her body to her inner thighs...
"Find something amusing, pet?" Jareth drawled from the doorway. Sarah almost dropped the crystal and turned to look at him. He was wearing a towel around his waist and nothing else.
"Jareth, put your clothes back on," she sputtered as he walked towards her, smirking. The towel started to slip and her gaze shot to his hips, not able to look anywhere else. His smirk turned dark and he came even closer.
"They are covered in flour, Princess. I need new attire - if you would be so kind as to move out of the way? I could find fresh clothing."
He stood before her and dropped the towel.
"Care to help me dress?" he asked and she flung her arms around him, kissing him deeply as his hands circled her waist, pulling her closer.