A Simple Wish

Chapter 4: "Well, Laugh!"

"Stop goofing off you incompetent fools!" Jareth yelled, clearly losing every ounce of patience he once had, "I want this place presentable before the girl wakes up! Move!"

A jumbled, chaotic mess of "Yes, your Majesty's" could be heard from the fifty or so goblins that were milling quickly about the room. None wanted to test Jareth's temper further.

Jareth turned briskly on his heels and grabbed the first goblin in his reach by the collar of his ratty shirt.

"You," he pointed with his other hand as the creature dangled inches from the stone floor, "go and make sure the other goblins are preparing the room and the dining hall. Quick! We haven't much time!" He dropped the goblin less than lightly and as soon as his feet hit the ground, his short legs carried him swiftly from the throne room as fast as they could move.

Jareth sat down heavily in his throne and sighed, putting a gloved hand on his forehead. Watching his goblins run amuck, making more of a mess than they were cleaning up, gave him a splitting headache. **If I must bear any more of this now, I simply will lose my mind,** he thought to himself.

As he rested his long leg over the side of the throne, a wet rag shot from across the room and smacked him in the side of the face. His eyes glassed over with utter rage as the soapy water trickled down his cheek.

All movement in the room ceased. Every breath was held. Every eye protruded in shock from every face. Then, every head turned, broken out of their shock, as highly amused laughter could be heard from the entrance. Taking advantage of this distraction, the goblin responsible for the accident scrambled out of the opposite doorway. Jareth turned to see Sam standing there, hands holding her stomach, with a wide grin spread across her face.

Most of the goblins still in the room couldn't quite hold back after hearing Sam and chuckled softly. The laughter proved to be dangerously contagious. This, of course, didn't help Jareth's temper at the moment and he eased his leg over the arm of his throne and proceeded to stand, in an agonizingly slow manner. He peeled off a single glove and began to wipe the soapy water from his face. The rag that had fell and stuck in his lap, plummeted to the floor with a loud smack. He took one booted foot and kicked it clear across the room, knocking an unfortunate goblin in the line of fire into the wall.

Sam bent down and tapped a frightened faced goblin on the shoulder and remarked, "He isn't ranting and raving...what's wrong with this picture."

The goblin tore his glance away from the "calm" Jareth to look at Sam. "Let me tell you.....you know when the King is extremely angry...he's too steamed to even yell. He holds it all in until he comes to the point of bursting. You wait for it little girl and see for yourself." With that, the little man-like creature ran from the room.

Sam backed up a few steps as Jareth rose his eyes to the crowd. Apparently, his fuse was burnt to the end.

"Out!! Out all of you! Get out of my sight you fools!" Jareth bellowed as he rose his arms and pinpointed any bodies who dared to dally around. Within seconds, not needing to be told twice, every goblin made a mad dash for the archway. Bumping into each other, stepping on anyone who got in the way, and oblivious to anything but escaping the King's wrath. Sam jumped quickly out of the arch as she saw the stampede heading her way. In no time at all, the entire room was cleared, save for Jareth and Sam.

Realizing her situation and having no desire to be present during this insanity, Sam turned slowly on her heels and attempted to tip-toe back down the corridor without being seen.

"And where do you think you're going Samantha?" Jareth purred, "I did not dismiss you from the room."

Sam took a sharp breath and stopped in mid-step.

"I'd advise you to follow my orders...I'm not in the best frame of mind and cannot be responsible for my actions," he said wickedly.

Sam turned back around and stepped into the throne room, stopping a good distance before Jareth.

"Good morning," Sam smiled, vainly trying to look calm, "I had a wonderful sleep. How was yours?"

Jareth slanted his eyes, ignoring her remark. "What are you doing out of my chambers? I do not want you roaming the castle before I have the opportunity to aquaint you with where and where not you will be allowed to wander."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think it would harm anything if I left. Those guards you posted at the door didn't seem to have a problem with it either," Sam answered.

"Yes, I must remember to have a talk with them, won't I," Jareth growled as he began to circle Sam. Sam circled with him, not feeling completely safe with him out of her range of sight.

"As for you....your behavior today will not go unpunished. You are a guest here and the same rules apply to you as to everyone," Jareth said, watching her closely.

"What are you talking about?" Sam said loudly, "I'm not the one who nailed you with the rag!"

"You, Samantha, did something far worse. You wavered the discipline I, as King, have worked so hard to achieve in my subjects. You not only defied my respect, but you made a bad example for the rest," he scolded.

Sam, feeling as though she were once again a child being scolded by her parents, could not stop the grin that tugged at the corners of her mouth and the giggle forming in her throat. She tried, honest to Gods she tried, to hold back to the point where her eyes began to water.

Jareth looked at her, his anger growing more visible. "You still dare to make light of what has occurred here? After my warnings?"

"I'm so sorry," Sam tried to say between gasps and hiccups, "but you don't know how funny it was...if you...had only seen...your face. Not to mention the goblins....," she burst into full blown laughter now, "I'll never forget it!!"

"And I suggest that you don't...at least not the lesson it's going to teach you. You now have only nine hours to solve my Labyrinth," he scowled, stopping before her once again, wanting full view of Sam's expression and reaction to his punishment.

Sam, having nearly spent her fit of laughter, realized that Jareth wanted her to argue and decided against it. His eyes encouraged her to defy him once again. Perhaps if she turned the tables on him and pretended to know more than she in fact did, she may gain some control over her predicament. Two could play at this game. She had no idea what thoughts and schemes muddled in his mind, and, to some degree, he could not know everything she thought either.

Wiping her eyes, Sam said calmly, almost patronizingly, "If that's the price I have to pay for such a great show as I just saw, then so be it," she smirked and added, "I have no clue as to what your plans are for me, but then again, you've no clue what I've learned in my short time here. I won't ever give up. And, just for the record, I find it hard to believe you're as horrible as you present yourself to be. Your eyes lie."

Jareth's surprise at her cander could not be hidden this time and his gaze on her wavered. **Amazing!** Jareth thought to himself. **She's using my own mind games against me. Sensational!** A small grin crept onto his mouth. **This is proving to be more of a challenge that I had hoped for...and things have hardly begun. I so do enjoy that defiant gleam in her eyes..that smile..Wait!! That's not relevent. I must bury these idle feelings deeper. Apparently, she's seen a weakness somewhere...**

"Clever girl," Jareth grinned at her, "You have applied well the concept that nothing is what it seems here. Let us discuss further the rules to be set and your delusions of my character over dinner. I will show you to your room and where you can change your clothes if you so desire."

"Sounds good to me," Sam said lightly, having not eaten since the morning before. "When do I get my chance to win my freedom though?" she asked. It seemed to her that he was stalling and she was somewhat anxious to prove his theory of her failing wrong.

"That is one of the many points we will discuss later," he answered holding out his arm. "Shall we then?"

Sam, a little shocked at his gesture but in no way disregarding it as a trick, lightly took his arm and allowed him to lead her to the room he had fixed for her stay, however long that would prove to be.