CHAPTER 12: SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME.

Disclamer: It does not belong to me. Everybody knows it already. The title belong to a David Bowie's song, of course. But are mine: Conrad; Gontran; Alin; Erwin; Scary and Twig. Also They. Soon you will understand to whom I talk about.

N/A: Well, I know that my English not is very good but I think that too is so wrong. But still be there nice persons like notwritten that still send me review an every chapter, thanks you very much, notwritten. And do you know why I don´t surrender? Because I'm keep smiling. : D.

Jareth; being useful that everybody, with the exception of Conrad, left to see the play; he was showed in a room in no place and simultaneously in all. There was no more than light and dark, no more than day and night coexisting in perfect harmony.

"Jareth, Goblin King; sovereign of Labyrinth and the Underground; welcome." a feminine voice coming from all parts. The monarch smiled. To Her always liked to call him thus; he did not know why; he supposed that perhaps she had friendliness to him.

"Thanks. To both."

"I not yet have said nothing, Goblin King." his voice was more authoritarian; very masculine and therefore, absolutely in opposition to the other. Jareth could not see them; only heard them.

"I know it. But, I'm presuming that if you didn't say anything it's because you're not either against receiving to me."

"I already see." He laughed. "What do you brings today here, His Majesty? A long time ago you didn't visit to us."

"You don't know it?" he questioned pretending surprise.

"I like to hear your voice." it was the ironic answer.

"You are not thus." the smoothest voice talked back. Jareth could not but to smile. Whenever he came to request advice or permission to Them, He amused himself playing with his capacity to answer knowing full well that, he never would be rude to Him; and She always defended him.

"He has one pretty voice. You have not heard him sing?" He defended himself. Goblin King could not more than to laugh.

"I never thought that sometimes you did praise to me!"

"Still I did not finish." that one incorporeal being talked back with badness. "If you didn't have interrupted me, I had added that, nevertheless, are the many best ones than you."

"Like always." Jareth smiled. The feminine voice snorted.

"Forget him, son; and make your consultation."

"I… have two mortals in my world. One of them wants that the other returns to the Aboveground. I want to grant this desire to her although this time she lost the challenge."

"Very well, my son." He spoke. "The one that goes away is to whom you had chosen for your crown, he isn't?"

"Yes."

"What had you thought to ask in return to satisfy us? You know that we must maintain the balance. When you took them, two hopes were born in the Aboveground, like here. If one of them goes away it will be emptiness in both worlds. The emptiness is not good. You know it well, after her first trip."

"I… want that she remains by my side forever."

"That is very pretty, dear mine," She said with a maternal tone. "But, still it's unfinished the fact that a life that leaves from here and will cause an emptiness in both worlds."

"Well, I hope more of her than only that…" he clarified.

"We understand." the pair spoke and their words ring merrily, as if They were celebrating some joke.

Sarah returned of the stroll with the real family totally renewed. She had enjoyed much the spectacle. She had hoped to see goblins acting, but, she verified her error when seeing that they were feys. Alin clarified to her that all the feys didn't belong to the royalty, although wasn't a race that the population inside enjoyed majority. The mortal girl found a company pleasant in Alin, which she discovered it much after she made her blushed when she questioning to her from where she had acquired the beautiful crown of flowers and that smiled with satisfaction when she enticed away to her who was the responsible person. Sarah never had made friends in the Aboveground; then, all of them seemed to think that she had some contagious disease or something thus. Alin was ingenious and amiable. In one of her conversations, she confessed to her that of being mortal, she would be about four hundred thirty seven years old, even though that her seventeen appearance, then, for her race she was a young person. Reason why Sarah was astonished of which she was married, and she was astonished the more when this one informed that was three fey years ago to it and that she was very happy next to his husband.

"Wow! And your brother; is he older than you?" she questioned when the vehicle already almost arrived at the castle.

"Although not it seemed." both girls laughed and both men smiled before the morbid answer of the woman fey. "In your world he would be four hundred eighty eight. Here he is nineteen year old."

"Then…" Sarah murmured. Alin approached her covering with a hand the lips.

"My cousin is twenty-eight feys years." she clarified to her in low voice. The young mortal was blushing.

"I wasn't thinking about that!" she lay.

"No?" already straightened in her site she questioned with pretended innocence that didn't escape to the eyes of Sarah.

"By all means that no!" she assured offended. "How I'm going to be thinking about…?" she spied both to men seated in front of them. And she approached the other since this one did later and murmured to her side. "He has prisoner to me, still without a jail. Why I'm going to be occupying my thoughts in him?"

"Well," the almost blond fey answered in equal tone without stopping smiling "I'm in the same situation with Gontran, and all my thoughts take care of him."

"It's different!" she protested tenacious.

"If what you say that…" she said pretended disinterest and then returned to the load. "So, what were you thinking?"
" Just wondering how old is your husband if you get married so young. And your father. Just out of curiosity.
"" Oh, well! Gontran is twenty-five fey years and six hundred and forty-two of your world, and my father a few thousand fifty-four years of Aboveground.
"And there no longer count." joked Erwin making them laugh.
"Oh, come on, father! You're still a young man and very attractive!" Erwin smiled. Certainly had a resemblance to Jareth, only that his image was warmer, and both eyes were colored honey. "Here he hardly has about forty-one, and is a mature man, but still young, even though he tries to make people believe otherwise. Every time I went to the festivities all the ladies want to dance with him. Even girls of our age!" This latter seemed cranky her.
"Oh, girl, I'm ashamed! That is not so well!" he laughed trying to put back his hilarity.
"Of course yes, you're a prince! I've to Gontran by witness! These girls… are trying to win over you like flies in honey! They are shameless!" Now Alin was so outraged that until her husband began to laugh.
"Sorry, sweetheart!" he moves his torso forward to kiss her chastely. "Is that you look very funny when you see these fortune hunters after your father. And certainly that I've witnessed.
"As funny as when any slight lady intended snatch her beloved husband." Erwin added with a smile.
"But…?!" The girl was indignant. "Do you hear, Lady Sarah?! There are some bad grateful! You go out of one's way to them and they tease you in the face!
"Oh, come on, don't be dramatic! " Gontran took her hands and kissed them. "You know you're the rest of my soul." Alin was able to forgive him all with phrases like that, especially since she knew well that these were not random.
Sarah enjoyed it the relaxed family scene. She could hardly believe that Jareth… Goblin King! She corrected herself, had some very kind relatives that he wasn't appeared in anything.

In the castle, Twig awaited a Lady Sarah in the bedroom. Not even the girl entered the residence, one of the servants who took to help them get off of the vehicle; he warned her that Twig remained in her bedroom. Sarah thanked him with warmth and apologized to her fellow tour to address to her room.
Way there, she didn't know anything about the powerful Goblin King. What would be plotting? She sighed heavily trying to evoke confidence that had promised to deposit in his person.
Twig smiled her with the same courtesy as ever and with the entrance of the bathroom open.
"Good afternoon, Lady Sarah. Did you enjoy the ride?
"Oh, yes! They are very cordial. I've spent very well, especially with Lady Alin. She's very nice." She removed the crown of flowers from her hair and approached it to her face. Exquisite! Even they retained their fragrance. "Twig, there are ways to prolong the life of these flowers?"
"Does it refer to a spell?" she questioned.
"Are there any?" she asked surprised. "I thought something simple like fresh water."
"Well…" she began to help her take off the dress "surely His Majesty knows one for that."
"Oh…" she seemed disappointed. "I… don't want to ask it to him, Twig."
"Why not? He complying pleased anything you ask, My Lady.
"Yes, in exchange for something." Sarah grumbles.
"So we can only water." the goblin sighed with resignation. "And speaking of that, her bathroom is ready." The mortal was to the next precinct.
"Thanks, Twig. I don't know what I would do without you here." the goblin laughed gently, meanwhile, she accommodate the garment to leave of her mistress.
"Don't overdo it! I'm sure that would find much what to do without me!"
"That's not true." the girl protested already in the tub, and Twig went near to her to help to wash her hair. "There are a lot of habits to follow that I'm unaware, and you're always attentive to everything."
"That's my job." She was defended with a smile.
"You do more than just your job. That you has shown me the first time since you entered here."
"Yes, yes. Leave talking nonsense and stay still to get soap your beautiful hair." The girl smiled, because she could see the excitement in the voice of the Goblin.

"Is Red?" She questioned before the mirror in a beautiful and suggestive clothing of that color. It seemed a princess out of a story. Her shoulders were discovered and her chest slightly lifted by the corset. The sleeves were adjusted up to her elbows, where they were born broad and translucent that ended flown halfway to her forearms. Her hair was subject upwards, leaving a few tufts falling gracefully on her back and shoulders along with some of the silver ribbons that clung it. "It's not as too…?"
"Too?" Twig asked confused.
"In other words… I'm fifteen. Would not it be most appropriate… pink, blue or something like that?"
"Oh, no, My Lady! These colors are well in the morning. At night, you should use brighter colors." She told her that sit in front of the toilet to help her with the diamond necklace.
"But… last night, during the Ballroom my dress was white." She reminded obeying and admiring the light that was reflected in the stones now they were accommodating around her neck.
"Yes, it was. But this was different. It was her first time in a Ballroom and you're an unmarried young." she finished adjusting the clasp of embellishment. "Today you don't will be presented to all those people, no formality. Tonight is a intimate dinner, then the formality remains at the side." she observed her at the eyes through the mirror.
"But, actually, was my second time in a Ballroom." she wanted explain.
"That other time you only were passing there, My Lady. If you have stayed, then, you could say that was her first Ballroom. You weren't at that dinner and not stayed more than enough time for a dance with His Majesty, then, there wasn't a real permanence to say that it was her first dance." Twig laughed with mischief. Meanwhile, she reached the tendrils that made match with the collar. "It's like with the maids, they not stop being it for allowing that a gentleman kiss them, but to remain beyond that kiss. Don't think?" Sarah was uncomfortable.
"Do you mean literally not be…… maiden?" she chose the word because she felt some shame talk about such things, especially after he had dared to kiss her in that way.
"Exactly. A kiss does not make them less 'marriageable'? If they go beyond that time can lead a kiss, then, no longer can you ensure that they are 'marriageable.'" Sarah remained perturbed.
"And…, I'm considered marriageable?" she inquired worried.
"Of course you're marriageable!" she again laughs as if to ask what the girl is more than absurd. "Why the question?"
"Well… is that… as Goblin King spends a lot of time with me… alone…" and she soon corrected it blushing. "But that does not mean that we ... I mean he…… me!" Twig laughed so low with great ease.
"Calm, My Lady! There is nothing to worry about there, my dear. He's a gentleman and never he will does anything that degrade you in this way. And look what he is a young man who has been fervently pursued by the ladies, and he still is."
" Oh." There was a pause of speech and movement, leaving one of the earrings still in the hands of the mortal. "And… has he had many ladies in his life?
" Yes, if you can call them thus…" the Goblin murmured. "Only one could have become his wife. But ultimately she was decided by someone closer to her claims and left him. At least she was honest and looks forward to breaking their relationship to go before the arms of another."
"Does her…?
"She married that other, and died giving birth to a child. A real disgrace, as young as she was." Twig lamented. "But, neither is nothing why has a sleepless night there. His Majesty soon accepted her decision and eventually became convinced that this wasn't the woman for him."
"Has he weakness… by women?" Twig again smiles motherly.
"Almost as much as any man. But he's not a womanizer; if that is what you want to know."
"No…… I just wanted to continue talking with you. It does not interest me at all what Goblin King made to his life." she led to the other earring to her lobe.
"That's a pity, My Lady. He needs that someone takes an interest."
"Well, that other ones are interested. I don't." she said stubborn. Minutes later, she heard someone knocking on the door that was soon attend to by Twig.
"His Majesty is waiting to Lady Sarah in the garden. If My Lady is ready, I'll have the honor to escort her where Her Majesty is." announced the king's personal guard. Twig noted that the girl was given a final review in front of the mirror.
"Yes. I'm already." she announced and headed towards the maid. "Again thanks, Twig."
"You welcome." spoke with sweetness. "And…, Lady Sarah, please don't get you carried away by mere prejudices." Sarah surprised the goblin with a smile and a kiss on the cheek.
"Twig, I'm trying, but it's not easy." She addressed to the goblin man. "Let's go?
"When do you like, My Lady. Please, follow me.
When Sarah was in the garden, was able to see the monarch. She felt that her heart was accelerated at seeing him impeccably dressed in black making his hair highlighted even more in the moonlight and the few lanterns in his environment. The neck of the shirt had the form of 'V' leaving his pale chest fully exposed, in the midst of this, his shining medallion that implied his office. The front of dark vest was in line beneath this as if was his skin, making him look even taller. The layer over his shoulders was the only thing that gave him a touch of color with blue interior, which he had used when he appeared twice times in her earthly bedroom.
He approached with a feline slow and grace. His eyes fixed on her makes her felt again this absurd sensation of be a tiny being about to be devoured by a huge beast.
"His Majesty" the guard bowed in front of his master.
"Thanks, Scary. You can leave."
"Yes, My Lord. Thank you, My Lord." without further he stepped back and left alone. Sarah saw him move to her side with some concern, for nothing in the world she wanted to stay alone with Goblin King. He watched her with curiosity and smiled for himself. Sarah gathered courage thinking that surely would be on the table the rest of the family, then why wasn't disturbed.
"Sarah?" he named making out her thoughts and faced his eyes. He extended a gloved hand and she put her on it. Carrying hand to his lips to be posed warm on her skin, his eyes turned to her after a few seconds, he straightened to get closer. "You look lovely tonight, precious thing." his voice expressed his pleasure at the sight in front of him.
"T-thanks."
"I hope you have appetite." He changed the subject to not discomfort her now offering his arm.
"Yes, I have." She accepted his guide and began to walk with the same serenity that morning.
""And what… that play?" he inquired while advancing.
"Oh, very good! I thought that I would find quite a group of goblins, but they were feys." Jareth laughed frankly.
"Really you imagined goblins to pursuing a function?" he questioned funny.
"Well…, for example, Twig is very smart. Does not she could act in one?
"Twig is a wonderful goblin, and she's very clever. Within the goblins there are differences. While you've noticed my closest guards, some of my servants, as well as Twig speak and think properly, and even their stature are higher than those of the majority, but are few. They are mixed. The pure goblins are those who knew on your first trip; can be likeable, but not ask them too. Do you think that survive a staging with them?" he looked jocose. She seemed to calculate it. "Sarah," he appointed with jovial concern "perhaps not remember your first arrival in Goblin City? There was nobody like Scary or as Twig." Well, he has never sent a real attack, he wanted to find himself alone with her, confront her and offer her dreams.
"You're right" she smiled imagining the goblins destroying a scenario. "The scene would be like your throne room." Jareth laughed so low. Increasingly they were coming from where the dinner would be developed.
"You are understanding."