Jareth had never realized before how quickly 13 hours could fly by.. and that was -without- magical interferance. He had fallen asleep in his chambers, and awoke 2 hours later and cursed himself for sleeping at such a critical time. If he did not receive a reply from any of his letters, he would have to think fast to find an alternative solution. He now sat in the throne room, idly staring at the clock and growling under his breath as each second passed. These next few hours would determine Sarah's -and his- future, and he could no nothing but wait. He was impatient for word to come of his messages, and each creature to enter the room bore the mark of his bad mood; he sent a record-breaking 7 goblins to the Bog within a matter of minutes. He fidgeted with a crystal, rolling it over his hands delicately, but his concentration was not on it, and more than once it fell and shattered and he had to replace it. His mind would not leave the subject of Sarah's future wellbeing alone. He couldn't sit still, and began pasing.
Eventually, he ended up going to the kitchen and getting a mug of tea to calm him. It didn't help much, and the kind old cook finally convinced him to go and lay down. After all, she reasoned, there was no good in worrying and fussing when you can only wait. He consented after a bit, and instructed every creature he saw between the kitchen and his chambers to alert him at once if any word came from the neighboring kingdoms.
Several more hours passed when Jareth was awakened by a timid goblin. He tiptoed up to the bed and nervously tapped the King on the shoulder.
"Pardon, my lord, but.."
Jareth sat up immediately. "Any word??"
"Aye, sire. Three of the four have responded, but.."
Jareth didn't hear the "but;" he leapt up and raced from his chambers to his study, where three of the servants he had sent stood, awkwardly looking at their feet and holding pieces of parchment. The King sat at his desk and looked impatiently at each of them. "Well?" They handed him the papers and hurriedly left Jareth to his reading. The hope that had been so evident in his features quickly fell to dispair. The first letter began,
"We are deeply sorrowed by your plight, but unfortunately we are in no means to assist your troubles..."
Jareth didn't bother reading any further. The other two letters had the same response. He sighed heavily and had to keep from banging his head on the desk. How much time did he have left? He glanced at a clock that simply hung in midair to one side, and grimaced. Five hours had passed; that meant he only had eight hours left. Just then, the fourth messanger burst through the door, panting for lack of breath, and handed a piece of parchment to the King. Jareth grabbed it and began reading, his expression returning to the hope he had before, then to one of triumph. He leapt from his seat and hugged the messanger, so great was his relief and his joy. The servant was rather perplexed to be hugged by his master. Jareth released him and cleared his throat, trying to contain his joy.
"Ahem. Many thanks, my friend. Your reward for your work will be great. You may retire to your quarters, and please send one of your comrads to me. I have another message to send."
The servant nodded vigorously and hastily left, his fatigue forgotten in his promise of a reward, and left the King alone. Or, what he thought was alone. Jareth held Sarah's crystal delicately and smiled into it. "My dear Sarah, now you are truly safe. A body has been found.. You shall once again be flesh and blood."
Eventually, he ended up going to the kitchen and getting a mug of tea to calm him. It didn't help much, and the kind old cook finally convinced him to go and lay down. After all, she reasoned, there was no good in worrying and fussing when you can only wait. He consented after a bit, and instructed every creature he saw between the kitchen and his chambers to alert him at once if any word came from the neighboring kingdoms.
Several more hours passed when Jareth was awakened by a timid goblin. He tiptoed up to the bed and nervously tapped the King on the shoulder.
"Pardon, my lord, but.."
Jareth sat up immediately. "Any word??"
"Aye, sire. Three of the four have responded, but.."
Jareth didn't hear the "but;" he leapt up and raced from his chambers to his study, where three of the servants he had sent stood, awkwardly looking at their feet and holding pieces of parchment. The King sat at his desk and looked impatiently at each of them. "Well?" They handed him the papers and hurriedly left Jareth to his reading. The hope that had been so evident in his features quickly fell to dispair. The first letter began,
"We are deeply sorrowed by your plight, but unfortunately we are in no means to assist your troubles..."
Jareth didn't bother reading any further. The other two letters had the same response. He sighed heavily and had to keep from banging his head on the desk. How much time did he have left? He glanced at a clock that simply hung in midair to one side, and grimaced. Five hours had passed; that meant he only had eight hours left. Just then, the fourth messanger burst through the door, panting for lack of breath, and handed a piece of parchment to the King. Jareth grabbed it and began reading, his expression returning to the hope he had before, then to one of triumph. He leapt from his seat and hugged the messanger, so great was his relief and his joy. The servant was rather perplexed to be hugged by his master. Jareth released him and cleared his throat, trying to contain his joy.
"Ahem. Many thanks, my friend. Your reward for your work will be great. You may retire to your quarters, and please send one of your comrads to me. I have another message to send."
The servant nodded vigorously and hastily left, his fatigue forgotten in his promise of a reward, and left the King alone. Or, what he thought was alone. Jareth held Sarah's crystal delicately and smiled into it. "My dear Sarah, now you are truly safe. A body has been found.. You shall once again be flesh and blood."