Part Seven - The King of Fools
("I have been generous up until now - but I can be cruel.")
He walked across the room with the grace of someone who knows that many eyes are watching. Those that vied for his attention were left disappointed as he moved determinedly towards the focus of his uneven stare.
"Your majesty."
Talia looked towards Jareth and gave a slight tilt of her head. Although her paleness was common to her appearance she had been unable to hide the tiredness behind her eyes when she had dressed earlier that morning. As a result she was aware of the haggardness of her appearance and was feeling slightly out of humour.
"Lord Jareth, your purpose?"
"I come to beg your leave; I am called ..." she quickly cut him off.
"You are required in court." Even had the timing not been so poor she was reluctant to allow Jareth to go gallivanting throughout the Underground. Especially after she had heard reports from the Labyrinth of his interest in the girl, Sarah Williams.
"I appreciate that Your majesty, however."
Talia noticed that their exchange was drawing the notice of those around them and sighed inwardly. This was not an exchange that she wanted to have today and yet it appeared to be one that Jareth refused to let pass.
"Lord Jareth you have been called to court and therefore must fulfil your obligations here before you will be allowed to leave the palace." Talia's tone was icy and left no room for argument. It appeared however that either Jareth had not noticed this subtle change in tone, or was disinclined to act upon it.
"Unfortunately my obligations outside the palace.." Talia and Jareth were now face to face and centre of attention in the busy receiving room of the palace. Talia looked intently at the handsome man who stood so close to her and purposely tilted the corner of her lip into a dismissive sneer. To her onlookers it appeared as though she had weighed up the impertinent Lord and found him lacking.
"Obligations outside the palace? Are you forgetting who you are Jareth of Trindlestook? Who you are speaking to? Do not believe that because I have allowed you a variety of freedoms within the kingdom that you may dare to call into question what I deem will be. For all intents and purposes you act upon my word, at MY convenience, when I require it of you. If you are in any way unhappy with this arrangement that I am quite happy for you to return where you came from," Jareth winced slightly at this enforced memory, "You ARE what I have made you. You HAVE what I created for you. You may fool yourself whilst you are tripping along your fantastical land of Labyrinth and Goblin City that YOU are 'King' of all you purvey but know the truth, you are truly 'King of Fools'. Just as with these hands I created all that you possess so to can it be destroyed, and so easily. Do not mistake me Lord Jareth I WILL not succumb to your petulant demands. Know your place." Her final words echoed in the silent room and all eyes looked towards the subject of such harsh words to see how he would react to so public a dressing down.
Jareth stood looking at the Queen of the Underground and for minutes neither moved. As the silence became uneasy and mutterings could be heard from their audience Jareth threw his head back and laughed.
"Well spoken, your majesty. And who am I to argue to one so well placed within the court?" he leaned in and winked at Talia, "Indeed who am I?" Spinning round he dared the onlookers to meet his gaze before moving away from the Queen and making his way back across the room. As he approached the entry he turned and called out his parting shot.
"Should you need me I shall be happy to 'oblige' you from my quarters. However I anticipate being rather busy .." The court gasped from so open an allegation of their Queen's private relations and Talia shook with rage.
Following his comment Jareth made the mistake of pausing in the doorway to view the effect of his words and those few seconds were all that Talia needed.
As though anticipating her reaction a passage had been cleared between the arguing pair and so when snapping ball of energy hurtled towards the lord no innocent bystander was injured. The ball hit Jareth square on his chest and he immediately dropped unconscious to the floor. Without looking at the fallen body or checking that her aim had been true Talia left the room and a hundred spectators, all with conflicting opinions as to what should be done with the King of Fools.
("I have been generous up until now - but I can be cruel.")
He walked across the room with the grace of someone who knows that many eyes are watching. Those that vied for his attention were left disappointed as he moved determinedly towards the focus of his uneven stare.
"Your majesty."
Talia looked towards Jareth and gave a slight tilt of her head. Although her paleness was common to her appearance she had been unable to hide the tiredness behind her eyes when she had dressed earlier that morning. As a result she was aware of the haggardness of her appearance and was feeling slightly out of humour.
"Lord Jareth, your purpose?"
"I come to beg your leave; I am called ..." she quickly cut him off.
"You are required in court." Even had the timing not been so poor she was reluctant to allow Jareth to go gallivanting throughout the Underground. Especially after she had heard reports from the Labyrinth of his interest in the girl, Sarah Williams.
"I appreciate that Your majesty, however."
Talia noticed that their exchange was drawing the notice of those around them and sighed inwardly. This was not an exchange that she wanted to have today and yet it appeared to be one that Jareth refused to let pass.
"Lord Jareth you have been called to court and therefore must fulfil your obligations here before you will be allowed to leave the palace." Talia's tone was icy and left no room for argument. It appeared however that either Jareth had not noticed this subtle change in tone, or was disinclined to act upon it.
"Unfortunately my obligations outside the palace.." Talia and Jareth were now face to face and centre of attention in the busy receiving room of the palace. Talia looked intently at the handsome man who stood so close to her and purposely tilted the corner of her lip into a dismissive sneer. To her onlookers it appeared as though she had weighed up the impertinent Lord and found him lacking.
"Obligations outside the palace? Are you forgetting who you are Jareth of Trindlestook? Who you are speaking to? Do not believe that because I have allowed you a variety of freedoms within the kingdom that you may dare to call into question what I deem will be. For all intents and purposes you act upon my word, at MY convenience, when I require it of you. If you are in any way unhappy with this arrangement that I am quite happy for you to return where you came from," Jareth winced slightly at this enforced memory, "You ARE what I have made you. You HAVE what I created for you. You may fool yourself whilst you are tripping along your fantastical land of Labyrinth and Goblin City that YOU are 'King' of all you purvey but know the truth, you are truly 'King of Fools'. Just as with these hands I created all that you possess so to can it be destroyed, and so easily. Do not mistake me Lord Jareth I WILL not succumb to your petulant demands. Know your place." Her final words echoed in the silent room and all eyes looked towards the subject of such harsh words to see how he would react to so public a dressing down.
Jareth stood looking at the Queen of the Underground and for minutes neither moved. As the silence became uneasy and mutterings could be heard from their audience Jareth threw his head back and laughed.
"Well spoken, your majesty. And who am I to argue to one so well placed within the court?" he leaned in and winked at Talia, "Indeed who am I?" Spinning round he dared the onlookers to meet his gaze before moving away from the Queen and making his way back across the room. As he approached the entry he turned and called out his parting shot.
"Should you need me I shall be happy to 'oblige' you from my quarters. However I anticipate being rather busy .." The court gasped from so open an allegation of their Queen's private relations and Talia shook with rage.
Following his comment Jareth made the mistake of pausing in the doorway to view the effect of his words and those few seconds were all that Talia needed.
As though anticipating her reaction a passage had been cleared between the arguing pair and so when snapping ball of energy hurtled towards the lord no innocent bystander was injured. The ball hit Jareth square on his chest and he immediately dropped unconscious to the floor. Without looking at the fallen body or checking that her aim had been true Talia left the room and a hundred spectators, all with conflicting opinions as to what should be done with the King of Fools.