I've revised this chapter and added to it--hope you enjoy!!!
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
I want to thank everyone who has reviewed my story. You really make my day.
Anyone who may have been unsure of how I feel about Sarah's parents will be left with no doubts after this chapter.
Chapter 4--Pity You Couldn't Stay Longer-- But
"I'll just pack a few things for her while we wait for her to come home." Karen then leaves to go pack for Sarah leaving Jareth and Robert alone.
Jareth watched her with an astonished expression in his eyes. He knew that he could convince her. But really, you would think that she would put up at least a *little* resistance to the idea. He schooled his features before turning to Robert, "What a pity," then he speaks to Toby, "I thought your mother would be more of a challenge."
"What do you mean more of a challenge?" Roberts as angrily.
"I knew that I could talk her into the idea, eventually. But I did rather think that she would have had at least a, little, resistance to the idea. I had so many excellent counter arguments: travel expands the mind, learning to appreciate what you have by losing it, claiming to be a relative wanting to spend time with family." The Goblin King smiled at Robert, "Nothing like a few properly worded truths to work better than magic." he chuckled to himself.
"Well, relative certainly isn't true." Robert shot back, angry that Jareth had maneuvered him so easily.
"I should think that son-in-law is considered family." Blandly smiling at that comment.
Robert just stared angrily at the Goblin King's bland smile and comment.
"I'm home." Sarah called out as she came in.
"Better call her over, Robert"
"Sarah, we're in here." Robert called out.
"Who's here, Da---", Sarah was saying as she walked into the room when she saw Jareth who despite the normal clothing she recognized immediately.
"Hello, Sarah." Jareth smiling in his most superior way as she saw him and stop dead in her tracks.
"What you doing here!" She demanded.
"You're Father owes me a debt and I've come to collect on it."
"What debt?" Sarah demanded with less certainty than before.
"Do you want to tell her, Bobby, or shall I, hmmm?" Jareth chucked as he asked knowing that no one had called him 'Bobby' since he was a child.
Sarah turned to her father, "Daddy?"
Robert looked at the Goblin King, who showed no sign of continuing. Robert thought to himself, *that bastard is going to make me tell her.* "Sarah, when I was young I, ah, wished away your Aunt. I didn't win, but he said that if I gave him a child of mine I could have my sister back."
Sarah turns pale and is so shocked that she sits down on the loveseat next to Jareth without noticing.
"I was only ten." Robert tried to continue but couldn't.
"You've here for Toby." Sarah said quietly, almost to herself.
Jareth corrects her "No, I'm here for you."
"But, but you have no power over me!!"
"Ah, yes, in regards to wishing away your brother, no I don't. But your Father giving you away pre-dates our contest so, my dear, you are mine."
Sarah suddenly jumps up from her seat and shouts, "But that's not fair!!"
Upstairs Karen hears this and thinks, *I see Mr. King and Robert are telling her that she is going to go away. Let me give it a bit long before I bring her suitcase. I do so hate her tantrums.*
Downstairs Jareth tries to explain to Sarah. "In fact, as you put it, I am being very fair."
"How is this fair" standing in front of him with her arms crossed.
"Instead of one morning waking up in your chamber in my castle I'm letting you and your family know of your departure. I even gave Robert a second chance to win you back. Amazingly he fared worse than he did thru the Labyrinth, which I honestly didn't think possible." Jareth chuckled at the memory.
"You just want revenge because I beat you." She accused Jareth.
"No, not revenge. Companionship." At Sarah's disbelieving stare he continued. "I've been watching you since you were two. I was going to wait a few more years. But you've proved to me that you could be nearly my equal. You will have everything your heart could desire. You can be very happy or unhappy the choice is yours, but coming is not a choice." Jareth's tone hardened on the last statement.
Although still scowling at him, Sarah sits down next to Jareth. "I don't think you've been watching me at all. I think you made it up to justify what you're doing."
Jareth smiled, "Do you remember when you were about four and you were so angry with the policewoman who wouldn't let you help that man find his lost puppy."
****
Jareth sailed over the park in owl form before alighting on a branch near to the little play area.
The park was somewhat small. A tiny playground had slightly more than half a dozen children playing in it. Shouting and laughing as they played.
The adults were an interesting assortment. Most were women, who were taking their children to the park. They were most commonly found closest to the play area.
Others dressed as office workers were having lunch, but they were farthest from the children.
Off to one side in a tiny clearing were a group of men and women rehearsing lines. Many were partly or totally in costume. Among these people, was a certain Linda Williams who had a part in the local dinner theater and would take her daughter to this park since the other actors enjoyed rehearsing here.
Jareth watched as Linda and a man rehearsed their lines together as other players acted out other scenes nearby.
"Linda, Jeremy," called out the female police officer as she walked up to the couple.
"Mavis, how are things today." Linda answered as she came closer.
"Not too good." Mavis replied, anxiously looked around.
"What's wrong?" Jeremy asked.
"We've had some attempted child kidnappings at other local parks. Linda you might want to keep an extra eye on your daughter," Mavis pointed over to a small child of around four with long dark hair and large eyes, "it seems her likes them very young and dark haired. Be careful, I've got to get going. See you Thursday, my husband surprised me with tickets. I can't wait." Mavis voice trailed off as she was walking away.
Jareth having the child he was looking for pointed out, decided that his normal clothes wouldn't attract attention due to the other actors. He transformed himself back to man-shape, produced what looked like a script from mid-air and walked over to the benches nearest the play area to sit.
The Goblin King watched the children play as he planned how best to take the child with him. He decided that the easiest way would be to follow Linda home in owl form and remove the child when everyone was asleep.
Jareth stretched out his legs, relaxed his posture and occasionally flipped thru the script, to give the appearance that he was just taking a break from rehearsing his lines.
He decided to pass some time by observing the people around him. Most were women, watching a particular child or children.
The men were somewhat more interesting. One was with a child, who frequently called to him. A father taking his child to the park Jareth decided.
Three others were eating lunch together. They weren't paying any real attention to the children but whenever a child laughed or shouted louder than usual they would look up and smile. Fathers who wished they were with their children, thought Jareth.
The last was most puzzling. Where everyone else seemed relaxed, he seemed on edge. And he watched the children in a predatory way. This man he wasn't sure what to make of him, but decided that he would keep an eye on him as he waited.
Little Sarah, having become tired of swinging, hopped off the swing and started toward the jungle gym nearest the trees.
A scrap of paper blew by on the wind catching her attention. She ran after it, catching it just before the tree line. She began to pretend that she was rehearsing her lines just as she had seen her mother rehearse. Her actions put her somewhat out of sight due to how the trees were arranged in that area.
Jareth smiled. He could easily lure her into the trees, just a few steps from where she was now and disappear with her and nobody would see them. He casually got up to make his way to her when he saw that strange man remove a lease from his pocket, watching Sarah intently the whole time.
Jareth watched as he positioned himself in an even more difficult to see area with his back to the trees and started to call for a dog. He realized what he was doing as Sarah ran over to the man.
Realizing that no one was looking at him, he disappeared. Only to reappear behind Officer Mavis. "I think you should know that the man your seeking maybe over by those trees" he pointed to the area that was screened by other trees, "nearest the jungle gym. He's calling for a dog yet in the hour I've been here I've seen no dog near him, nor any reason to think he has one."
Mavis broke into a run for the area. She had purposely not told Linda something. Not all the kidnappings were unsuccessfully and a child had been found dead.
Mavis saw her worst fear. A man holding a small girl's hand with dark hair in one hand and point towards the trees with a lease in it with the other hand.
"Halt!"
Jareth, having regained owl form, sat in the branch of a nearby tree watching. And if needed, to take action.
"I'm sorry officer, is there a problem. My daughter and I are looking for our dog, he seems to have gotten lost." The man said with a sincere sounding voice.
Unfortunately for him, Sarah spoiled the effect by pulling her hand out his, crossing her arms across her chest and stamping her foot. "He's not my daddy!!"
"I know Sarah, run back to your mother." Mavis tried to get the child out of the area.
"But I wanna find the doggie," she wailed.
"YOUNG LADY, GET BACK TO YOUR MOTHER THIS INSTANT," Mavis shouted as she grabbed the man.
Sarah broke out into tears as she ran away but not before one final comment. "Mommy says you're nice but your mean!!!" she shouted as she ran.
Jareth took flight to follow Sarah as she ran to her mother. Such spirit, he thought to himself. He landed on top of a nearby bench to watch Sarah and Linda together. The mother was very beautiful and her child looked as if she had he promise of beauty. Hmm, beauty and spirit, he thought to himself as he flew back home. One goblin wouldn't make a difference in his kingdom, but a mere handful of years could offer much richer rewards.
****
Sarah's eyes widen, she did remember that happening.
"Or, last year or was it two, that an obviously drunk driver nearly ran your bicycle off the road by the lake when your family was on vacation. Amazing how his car just suddenly stopped dead, wasn't it?" he almost purred the words.
****
Sarah rode her bike on the small two-lane road in the small holiday town.
She loved to watch the sparkle off the lake as she rode alongside it. She also loved all the animals that she would see. Deer, raccoons, rabbits even owls. Owls most of all, they seemed very common. One lived in the tree nearest her window at the cabin her family had rented each year for as long as she could remember.
As Sarah rounded the curve she could see her father on the porch of the cabin. She waved her arm and he waved back.
Robert was about to sit back down after he waved to Sarah when he saw a car, weaving across all lanes and even onto the shoulders behind her. And coming up fast on her.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw something fly by him. He watch horrified as the car came with less than a yard of Sarah's bike before it stopped dead.
Robert shook himself and ran down to Sarah who was almost to the front gate. He practically grabbed her off her bike and hugs her for all his worth.
Sarah was stunned. "What's wrong Daddy?"
Robert pointed and said in a dead voice, "He almost hit you before it stopped."
Sarah could see a car skewed across the road with an owl sitting on the top, before it flew away.
****
Impossibly Sarah's eyes widened even more and her mouth just hung open. He had been watching her and before she ever received the book.
Upstairs, Karen having heard that everything and gone quite for a good while decided that it was time to bring down Sarah's luggage.
Karen with Sarah's suitcase walks into the room. "Is everything all settled?"
Jareth seeing a perfect opportunity to get a stunned Sarah to the Underground before her temper returns answers. "Yes, it is." Jareth stands, still holding Toby, and holds out his hand to Sarah who blindly takes it. He pulls her up. Once she is standing, Karen hands her suitcase. Sarah just stares dumbly at it.
"I'm sure you have a number of arrangements to make..." Karen said, trying not to hint too directly that now would be a good time to go.
"Yes, we need to get going." Jareth, holding Sarah's hand leads her out of the room and beyond the front door to stand on the front walk. They are followed by Karen and lastly Robert.
Karen kisses Sarah on the cheek "Behave for Mr. King, dear," and then to Jareth "You will look after her?"
"I will treat her like royalty. Goodbye." Jareth trailing Sarah by the hand walks several feet before turning around. "Don't you want Toby back?"
Karen realizing her error, rushing over to him and takes Toby out of Jereth's arm. He had been asleep the entire time.
4
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
I want to thank everyone who has reviewed my story. You really make my day.
Anyone who may have been unsure of how I feel about Sarah's parents will be left with no doubts after this chapter.
Chapter 4--Pity You Couldn't Stay Longer-- But
"I'll just pack a few things for her while we wait for her to come home." Karen then leaves to go pack for Sarah leaving Jareth and Robert alone.
Jareth watched her with an astonished expression in his eyes. He knew that he could convince her. But really, you would think that she would put up at least a *little* resistance to the idea. He schooled his features before turning to Robert, "What a pity," then he speaks to Toby, "I thought your mother would be more of a challenge."
"What do you mean more of a challenge?" Roberts as angrily.
"I knew that I could talk her into the idea, eventually. But I did rather think that she would have had at least a, little, resistance to the idea. I had so many excellent counter arguments: travel expands the mind, learning to appreciate what you have by losing it, claiming to be a relative wanting to spend time with family." The Goblin King smiled at Robert, "Nothing like a few properly worded truths to work better than magic." he chuckled to himself.
"Well, relative certainly isn't true." Robert shot back, angry that Jareth had maneuvered him so easily.
"I should think that son-in-law is considered family." Blandly smiling at that comment.
Robert just stared angrily at the Goblin King's bland smile and comment.
"I'm home." Sarah called out as she came in.
"Better call her over, Robert"
"Sarah, we're in here." Robert called out.
"Who's here, Da---", Sarah was saying as she walked into the room when she saw Jareth who despite the normal clothing she recognized immediately.
"Hello, Sarah." Jareth smiling in his most superior way as she saw him and stop dead in her tracks.
"What you doing here!" She demanded.
"You're Father owes me a debt and I've come to collect on it."
"What debt?" Sarah demanded with less certainty than before.
"Do you want to tell her, Bobby, or shall I, hmmm?" Jareth chucked as he asked knowing that no one had called him 'Bobby' since he was a child.
Sarah turned to her father, "Daddy?"
Robert looked at the Goblin King, who showed no sign of continuing. Robert thought to himself, *that bastard is going to make me tell her.* "Sarah, when I was young I, ah, wished away your Aunt. I didn't win, but he said that if I gave him a child of mine I could have my sister back."
Sarah turns pale and is so shocked that she sits down on the loveseat next to Jareth without noticing.
"I was only ten." Robert tried to continue but couldn't.
"You've here for Toby." Sarah said quietly, almost to herself.
Jareth corrects her "No, I'm here for you."
"But, but you have no power over me!!"
"Ah, yes, in regards to wishing away your brother, no I don't. But your Father giving you away pre-dates our contest so, my dear, you are mine."
Sarah suddenly jumps up from her seat and shouts, "But that's not fair!!"
Upstairs Karen hears this and thinks, *I see Mr. King and Robert are telling her that she is going to go away. Let me give it a bit long before I bring her suitcase. I do so hate her tantrums.*
Downstairs Jareth tries to explain to Sarah. "In fact, as you put it, I am being very fair."
"How is this fair" standing in front of him with her arms crossed.
"Instead of one morning waking up in your chamber in my castle I'm letting you and your family know of your departure. I even gave Robert a second chance to win you back. Amazingly he fared worse than he did thru the Labyrinth, which I honestly didn't think possible." Jareth chuckled at the memory.
"You just want revenge because I beat you." She accused Jareth.
"No, not revenge. Companionship." At Sarah's disbelieving stare he continued. "I've been watching you since you were two. I was going to wait a few more years. But you've proved to me that you could be nearly my equal. You will have everything your heart could desire. You can be very happy or unhappy the choice is yours, but coming is not a choice." Jareth's tone hardened on the last statement.
Although still scowling at him, Sarah sits down next to Jareth. "I don't think you've been watching me at all. I think you made it up to justify what you're doing."
Jareth smiled, "Do you remember when you were about four and you were so angry with the policewoman who wouldn't let you help that man find his lost puppy."
****
Jareth sailed over the park in owl form before alighting on a branch near to the little play area.
The park was somewhat small. A tiny playground had slightly more than half a dozen children playing in it. Shouting and laughing as they played.
The adults were an interesting assortment. Most were women, who were taking their children to the park. They were most commonly found closest to the play area.
Others dressed as office workers were having lunch, but they were farthest from the children.
Off to one side in a tiny clearing were a group of men and women rehearsing lines. Many were partly or totally in costume. Among these people, was a certain Linda Williams who had a part in the local dinner theater and would take her daughter to this park since the other actors enjoyed rehearsing here.
Jareth watched as Linda and a man rehearsed their lines together as other players acted out other scenes nearby.
"Linda, Jeremy," called out the female police officer as she walked up to the couple.
"Mavis, how are things today." Linda answered as she came closer.
"Not too good." Mavis replied, anxiously looked around.
"What's wrong?" Jeremy asked.
"We've had some attempted child kidnappings at other local parks. Linda you might want to keep an extra eye on your daughter," Mavis pointed over to a small child of around four with long dark hair and large eyes, "it seems her likes them very young and dark haired. Be careful, I've got to get going. See you Thursday, my husband surprised me with tickets. I can't wait." Mavis voice trailed off as she was walking away.
Jareth having the child he was looking for pointed out, decided that his normal clothes wouldn't attract attention due to the other actors. He transformed himself back to man-shape, produced what looked like a script from mid-air and walked over to the benches nearest the play area to sit.
The Goblin King watched the children play as he planned how best to take the child with him. He decided that the easiest way would be to follow Linda home in owl form and remove the child when everyone was asleep.
Jareth stretched out his legs, relaxed his posture and occasionally flipped thru the script, to give the appearance that he was just taking a break from rehearsing his lines.
He decided to pass some time by observing the people around him. Most were women, watching a particular child or children.
The men were somewhat more interesting. One was with a child, who frequently called to him. A father taking his child to the park Jareth decided.
Three others were eating lunch together. They weren't paying any real attention to the children but whenever a child laughed or shouted louder than usual they would look up and smile. Fathers who wished they were with their children, thought Jareth.
The last was most puzzling. Where everyone else seemed relaxed, he seemed on edge. And he watched the children in a predatory way. This man he wasn't sure what to make of him, but decided that he would keep an eye on him as he waited.
Little Sarah, having become tired of swinging, hopped off the swing and started toward the jungle gym nearest the trees.
A scrap of paper blew by on the wind catching her attention. She ran after it, catching it just before the tree line. She began to pretend that she was rehearsing her lines just as she had seen her mother rehearse. Her actions put her somewhat out of sight due to how the trees were arranged in that area.
Jareth smiled. He could easily lure her into the trees, just a few steps from where she was now and disappear with her and nobody would see them. He casually got up to make his way to her when he saw that strange man remove a lease from his pocket, watching Sarah intently the whole time.
Jareth watched as he positioned himself in an even more difficult to see area with his back to the trees and started to call for a dog. He realized what he was doing as Sarah ran over to the man.
Realizing that no one was looking at him, he disappeared. Only to reappear behind Officer Mavis. "I think you should know that the man your seeking maybe over by those trees" he pointed to the area that was screened by other trees, "nearest the jungle gym. He's calling for a dog yet in the hour I've been here I've seen no dog near him, nor any reason to think he has one."
Mavis broke into a run for the area. She had purposely not told Linda something. Not all the kidnappings were unsuccessfully and a child had been found dead.
Mavis saw her worst fear. A man holding a small girl's hand with dark hair in one hand and point towards the trees with a lease in it with the other hand.
"Halt!"
Jareth, having regained owl form, sat in the branch of a nearby tree watching. And if needed, to take action.
"I'm sorry officer, is there a problem. My daughter and I are looking for our dog, he seems to have gotten lost." The man said with a sincere sounding voice.
Unfortunately for him, Sarah spoiled the effect by pulling her hand out his, crossing her arms across her chest and stamping her foot. "He's not my daddy!!"
"I know Sarah, run back to your mother." Mavis tried to get the child out of the area.
"But I wanna find the doggie," she wailed.
"YOUNG LADY, GET BACK TO YOUR MOTHER THIS INSTANT," Mavis shouted as she grabbed the man.
Sarah broke out into tears as she ran away but not before one final comment. "Mommy says you're nice but your mean!!!" she shouted as she ran.
Jareth took flight to follow Sarah as she ran to her mother. Such spirit, he thought to himself. He landed on top of a nearby bench to watch Sarah and Linda together. The mother was very beautiful and her child looked as if she had he promise of beauty. Hmm, beauty and spirit, he thought to himself as he flew back home. One goblin wouldn't make a difference in his kingdom, but a mere handful of years could offer much richer rewards.
****
Sarah's eyes widen, she did remember that happening.
"Or, last year or was it two, that an obviously drunk driver nearly ran your bicycle off the road by the lake when your family was on vacation. Amazing how his car just suddenly stopped dead, wasn't it?" he almost purred the words.
****
Sarah rode her bike on the small two-lane road in the small holiday town.
She loved to watch the sparkle off the lake as she rode alongside it. She also loved all the animals that she would see. Deer, raccoons, rabbits even owls. Owls most of all, they seemed very common. One lived in the tree nearest her window at the cabin her family had rented each year for as long as she could remember.
As Sarah rounded the curve she could see her father on the porch of the cabin. She waved her arm and he waved back.
Robert was about to sit back down after he waved to Sarah when he saw a car, weaving across all lanes and even onto the shoulders behind her. And coming up fast on her.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw something fly by him. He watch horrified as the car came with less than a yard of Sarah's bike before it stopped dead.
Robert shook himself and ran down to Sarah who was almost to the front gate. He practically grabbed her off her bike and hugs her for all his worth.
Sarah was stunned. "What's wrong Daddy?"
Robert pointed and said in a dead voice, "He almost hit you before it stopped."
Sarah could see a car skewed across the road with an owl sitting on the top, before it flew away.
****
Impossibly Sarah's eyes widened even more and her mouth just hung open. He had been watching her and before she ever received the book.
Upstairs, Karen having heard that everything and gone quite for a good while decided that it was time to bring down Sarah's luggage.
Karen with Sarah's suitcase walks into the room. "Is everything all settled?"
Jareth seeing a perfect opportunity to get a stunned Sarah to the Underground before her temper returns answers. "Yes, it is." Jareth stands, still holding Toby, and holds out his hand to Sarah who blindly takes it. He pulls her up. Once she is standing, Karen hands her suitcase. Sarah just stares dumbly at it.
"I'm sure you have a number of arrangements to make..." Karen said, trying not to hint too directly that now would be a good time to go.
"Yes, we need to get going." Jareth, holding Sarah's hand leads her out of the room and beyond the front door to stand on the front walk. They are followed by Karen and lastly Robert.
Karen kisses Sarah on the cheek "Behave for Mr. King, dear," and then to Jareth "You will look after her?"
"I will treat her like royalty. Goodbye." Jareth trailing Sarah by the hand walks several feet before turning around. "Don't you want Toby back?"
Karen realizing her error, rushing over to him and takes Toby out of Jereth's arm. He had been asleep the entire time.
4