Chapter 35: Goblin Gossip

Sarah rested her head on Jareth's shoulder and placed her hand on top of his as he rubbed her belly. It was a very cold morning, they could tell that fall was in the air. Jareth pulled the sheet off of the bed and wrapped it around Sarah and himself.
            "Here Sarah, it is getting rather cold. If you stand here in the cold air, all wet like this you are going to get sick!"
            "Thanks!" Sarah said wrapping her arms around Jareth to make her self even warmer. Jareth kissed her on the cheek and then pulled away from Sarah. Walking over to the wardrobe, he pulled out a gown for Sarah to wear, and handed it to her.
            "Here, put this gown on, love...Unfortunately even with this great news we still have to work, and watch over our kingdoms darling."
            "Of course Jareth." Sarah nodded her head, dropping the sheet on the floor and quickly tried to get into her gown.

            "I think that today is a good day to go to the Half-ground and see how things are doing! So after breakfast we shall go!" Jareth stated while standing behind Sarah, and helping to fasten her gown.
            "Jareth what ever you want to do, we will do it. And I have to ask, when did you schedule for the up coming ball?"
            "I believe that it is scheduled for the twenty-ninth of this month. Why?"
            "Well because we are going to have to inform King Roth that the ball is set for that date and not for the twenty-second."
            "Umm I see. Yes we can do that once we return, my love. And thank you for bring it to my attention."
            "Of course." Sarah smiled. She now was helping to fasten the vest onto Jareth.
            "There, you are all set."
            "Excellent. Thank you very much. Well I am going to get breakfast ready now. You can stay here and do your hair if you wish. I think
            that will be enough time."
            "Okay, that sound's good to me. I will stay hear and do my hair. And when I am done I will just meet you in the dinning room correct?"
            "Correct."
            "Okay." Sarah smiled at Jareth and kissed him in the lips. And before Jareth left the room he placed his hand on her belly. Sarah did her hair, while humming. She was in a glorious mood. The thought of a child just blew her mind away. Walking down the hall Sarah noticed that one of the doors to a chamber was open. That generally was not open. And inside she could hear whispering. She quietly crept up to the door and turned her head so that she could hear what was being said. She could hear some goblins talking about Sarah. They were making fun of her. And say that they hated her. That the Goblin King was much better off without her...
When Sarah heard this, she backed away from the door and ran to the kitchen. She could see Jareth still hard at work. Running past him, she made her way into the dinning room. Jareth could hear sniffling and heavy breathing coming from the dinning room. And it sounded all to familiar. He dropped the knife on the counter and ran into the dinning room. He saw Sarah with her head, face down of the table covered by her hands. Jareth walked over to her and knelt beside her.
            "Sarah, my love. What ever is the matter?"
            "Oh Jareth!" She said picking her head up to look at Jareth. Jareth pulled off one of his gloves and began whipping away her tears that left a trail on her cheek.
            "When I was walking to come here I saw one of the doors open in the hall. I could hear whispering so I walked over and put my ear to the door so that I       would be able to hear what was being said. I know that sounds nosey but it did not sound good to me. So I listened. And what I could hear..they...they..."
            "Yes love. What?"
            "...They were talking about me." She said quietly, dropping her head to look to the floor.
            "And what were they saying Sarah?" Jareth now had a completely concerned look on his face that was mixed with anger.
            "They were saying that you were much better off without me, before I came here!"
Sarah was still looking down to the floor and could only see Jareth's boots that were once directly below her, now out of sight. She looked up and saw Jareth storming out of the dinning room. She jumped up and ran after him.
            "Jareth! Jareth! What are you doing?" She asked in a loud whisper. Jareth did not turn around, but only continued down the hall. When he got to the door that was partly open he stopped. He could hear that they were still talking.
            "Alls she does is, get in trouble and His Highness is always stuck having to go and save her. I heard him talking one day before they got married. He was     saying that he was getting pretty tired of all this rescuing and could not wait until she married him, so that he could finally relax and not have to worry about   her getting into trouble."
            "No!!" Another goblin replied in shock.
            "And who does she think she is anyways, sneaking out of the castle, even after His Highness warned her not to?"
            "I know really." Another goblin said in disgust.
By this time Sarah was now standing at the opposite wall, and was looking at the floor. She felt so horrible. And was thinking about what, she may have done to make them so mad at her, and to even cause them to hate her. Jareth looked at Sarah and shut his eyes. Taking a deep breath he punched open the door and barged inside. Sarah's head jolted up as she watched Jareth enter the room. When Jareth entered the room Sarah could hear the goblins scream with fright. One of them even tried to run out of the room. But Jareth tossed a crystal at him, causing him to freeze in his place. Sarah just watched as, Jareth sudden appeared back in the hallway, with and hand on an ear of each of the two goblins. He looked furious. Tossing them downward, to kneel on their knees he yelled at them, as they were kneeling in front of Sarah.
            "Now bow to your queen and apologize to her immediately!" He screamed. There were now other goblins looking at the commotion that had stirred up in the hall.
            "Apologize! Now!" He yelled louder, pushing the goblins.
            "Jareth! Stop it! Stop it!" Sarah cried. Jareth stopped and looked at her. Her eyes were full of tears.
            "Just listen to what they have to say Jareth! Just listen!" She was gazing into his eyes waiting for his reaction.
            "Very well." Jareth sighed. "Come on get up." Jareth grabbed their arms and helped them to their feet. He began walking back down the hall to the throne room. And Sarah slowly followed. When she entered the throne room Jareth was sitting at his throne waiting for Sarah to take a seat at her throne. And so she walked over and took her seat. As soon as she was seated Jareth began speaking to the goblins.
            "Now, I want to hear the entire story. What were you both talking about?" Jareth said in a calm manner. So they began to tell him. There were a few times where he began to lash out at the goblins but Sarah would tell him to take a deep breath and relax. So it continued. Jareth also continued to ask them questions. And he could see that the goblins felt bad about what they had said. And one of them told Sarah, that what he had said about, Jareth wishing for the wedding day to come so that he did not have to save her anymore, was a lie. And he apologized. They both did and were indeed sincere. Sarah could see that. Jareth told them that they were not allowed to talk about her or about his affairs ever again. And that this time was their first and only time of getting away with it. He told them that he will not be so easy on them next time around. And they bowed to Jareth and Sarah, thanking them both kindly for sparing their lives, and left the room, to get back to work.