Chapter Seven

The Gift

Leah woke, not remembering where she was. That was a strange dream; she thought to herself I must remember to tell Kate about it. She sat up and her jaw almost dropped. It was no dream. She really had been taken from her home. She yawned and looked around her room. It wasn't as wonderful as it had seemed the day before.

But then, she was feeling slightly homesick. She sighed. She got up and went into the bathroom. The razor was on her counter. Why would Jareth leave it there? Maybe he trusted her enough not to... she picked it up and tossed it into the waist bin without a second thought. She wouldn't need it anymore. She quickly took a shower and put on some jeans and a shirt. She quickly brushed her hair and put on the lip gloss she had brought with her. She sighed and looked into the mirror, what would she do all day?

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Jareth smiled. He figured she'd throw that damn razor away. That's why he'd placed it there, though he had his doubts. He gave an amused look as he watched Leah sneak out of her room and start down the hallway. He knew she'd never find him. Humans had the worst sense of direction out of almost all creatures, right above goblins and insects.

Watching her follow her 'natural instincts' didn't help him understand her any. She had seemed so happy when he showed Leah her room. And then, moments later, she was considering slicing herself wide open. Maybe she was on her period and had mood swings? No, he would have sensed it.

As he pondered this he almost let out a loud laugh when she walked right into the Escher room. Perfect, he thought works very well with my plans.

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Leah covered her mouth, trying to keep the gasp in but it escaped her none the less. An Escher room. How bizarre was that?! It was as if Jareth had taken something out of Edgar Allen Poe's writing and made it real.

She carefully went over to the edge and looked over the side. Her head spun. It wasn't only terrifying, it was beautiful.

"Interesting isn't it?" Jareth asked. His presents had startled Leah so much that she jumped two feet in the air, losing her balance in the process. She let out a short yelp as she teetered over the side and Jareth quickly raised a hand. She froze, though she was still teetering over the side.

He took her hand and pulled her back over as lowered his hand, causing Leah to be able to move once more. "Did I frighten you?" he asked.

"Just surprised me a little," Leah said, trying to keep from freaking. If she would have fallen... well, let's just say it wouldn't be pretty. There was a long pause. "I'm afraid of heights," Leah explained and Jareth chuckled "why is that funny?"

"Because you wouldn't have fallen over the edge," he laughed.

"Of course I would," she exclaimed.

"Watch me," he said and walked over the side.

"Jareth!" she called worriedly, seeing him go over the edge of the stairway. This only caused him to smile and come right back up. She cocked her head and gave a confused look. "How'd you do that?" she asked.

"It's easy," he said "you just have to believe you can do it."

"And if not?" she asked.

"Then you'll land on the other side of the stairs on your back," he said "believe me, I know." Leah giggled and Jareth took her hand. "Let me show you." They both walked over to the edge and Leah let go of Jareth's hand and stood her ground right before walking over the edge. Jareth went over, none the less and gave a loud sigh.

"That's not the idea," Jareth said coming back.

"I can't," she said standing over the side "I'm afraid."

"It's easy," he said "see, look. Just keep walking." He did it a few times but she shook her head.

"No," she laughed "I'm to much of a scaredy cat."

"Then I'll just have to fix this," Jareth said picking her up in his arms. Leah struggled to get out of his grasp but he held on to her. He approached the edge and she suddenly stopped struggling and took a firm grasp around his neck. She held on for dear life.

"Don't!" she yelped but Jareth wouldn't hear of it. He walked over the side. Leah felt like she was at an amusement park, flipping and turning over the side. She closed both eyes tightly and refused to do anything but cling to the very thing she believed was keeping her from falling a good four stories.

Jareth stood there, very happy with the outcome. Leah, though she was somewhere between terrified and a near death experience, was holding on to Jareth tightly. Her arms, around his neck, while her head was under his chin and her body curled up in his arms.

"Clingy aren't you?" Jareth teased and Leah finally opened her eyes and looked around. Seemed stable enough. And she was very sure that Jareth wouldn't let her fall. Not to mention, she was clasping to him for dear life. And, though she was sure he was enjoying playing this game with her, she was afraid she'd have to bring it to an end.

She wriggled out of his grasp, which had been harder than she figured and set her feet on the floor. She didn't fall. "Did you think I was lying?" Jareth asked, smirking.

"No," Leah said fighting the urge to hit him "it's just I have this thing with defying the laws of nature. It's kinda weird actually."

"You'll learn," he said stiffly and Leah frowned. He was doing it again, that whole I'm the Goblin King, cower before me thing. Sensing her annoyance, Jareth figured that this was a good time to begin his plan. "Ahem," he said bringing her back from her thoughts "I'm aware that you've missed your birthday."

"Yes," she said curiously "my mother forgot it."

"No she didn't," Jareth said "she merely thought that she'd trick me into not knowing that it was time for me to take one of you."

"Oh," Leah said, feeling a little disappointed "I suppose that's a good reason then."

"None the less," he said congering a small white box and handing it to Leah "for you." Leah did everything she could to keep herself from blushing. She had been there one day and he was already wooing her. She slowly, carefully opened the box.

"Jareth," she whispered picking the necklace up and laying it across her hand. Tiny multi-colored jeweled flowers sparkled in the light. It was the most beautiful necklace (or any other piece of jewelry) Leah had ever laid her eyes on. She looked up at Jareth who was looking at her very admiringly.

"Do you like it? I'm sorry it isn't more, but such short-"he started to apologize but Leah stopped him.

"I love it," she said "I really do. It's the best birthday present I've ever gotten."

"Your sure now?" he asked.

"Yes," she assured him "I'm positive. Thank you so much." He took it from her and placed it around her neck. She took in a deep breath as he fumbled with the lock at the back. She did her best to keep from swooning over him. Seriously, it had only been one day. But then, her mother had been dancing with him in less than thirteen hours.

Jareth stepped back and took a good look at Leah. He looked her over, up and down. Though, lucky for him, she wasn't (once again) paying attention. She was so beautiful, though Leah didn't think so. She hated her hips and her thighs, how her shoulders were so wide and that her complexion was uneven. She hated that every time she put her hair up, strands of hair would fall around her face.

Jareth on the other hand thought she was perfect size, and that her shoulders being wide made her look more filled out, causing her to look older than she was. Her hair was a mess, yes he'd admit, but she'd even pull that off. Everything about her, every detail seemed to be perfect to him. But the thing that perplexed him the most, the thing that drove him to insanity and back was her eyes.

They were so easily read! And then, they weren't. If you looked hard enough, you could see what exactly she was feeling. And then, if you just looked at them, you'd see nothing. So if he wanted to know exactly how she was feeling, it'd take him a good thirty seconds for him to read them. And by then, she was either hiding them from him, or emphasizing it.

She smiled. Why was he looking at her like that? Her ears and cheeks burned a bright pink and she lowered her head. He couldn't be finding her attractive... could he? No! It wasn't possible. He was a KING and she... well she was just plain old Leah. Uninteresting, naive, dull, sweet little Leah.

"Beautiful," Jareth sighed. This only made Leah blush more!

"Thank you," she said quietly "you're not so bad yourself." She bit her lip, why, oh why had she said that?! She mentally hit herself in the forehead. She was a moron. She expected for Jareth to give her a strange look. But no, he smiled. Not just smiled. He beamed.

"Umm," Jareth said, trying to break the long silence "I suppose your friends are here."

"Friends?" Leah asked "I don't have friends."

"Well you do now," Jareth said in a tone that almost sent Leah into a giggling fit.

"Alright," she said "umm, how do I get back over?"

"Hold on,"' he said and with a roll of his eyes scooped Leah up again.

"Alright no," she said, trying not to scream again.

"Are you going to try walking over then?" he asked.

"Umm," she thought a moment and shook her head "no."

"Alright then," he said walking over the edge. This time, Leah didn't grasp him so closely, though she was still pressed up to his chest. He quickly set her down as the door opened.

"Your majesty?" the goblin asked.

"What?" Jareth asked in a hurry "what do you want?"

"The dwarf and the monster and Sir. Didymus are here to see Leah sir," the goblin choked.

"Will you show her to them then?" Jareth asked. Leah sent Jareth a confused glance but she understood, he had to keep his, cruel Goblin King act. She sighed and gave a small bow and left with the tiny Goblin.