Author's notes:
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I appreciate the feedback. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Standard disclaimers apply. I own none of this.
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" No! I don't want to stay here! I want to go home! " Sarah reach out and clutched desperately at the Goblin King's arm. " Please! "
Jareth took the girl by the wrist. His firm grip and his stony face made Sarah release her hold on his snow-white sleeve.
Sarah's three friends surrounded the girl and comforted her as best they could.
" Aww, Sarah, it ain't so bad here, " Hoggle attempted, trying his best to cite some reason for Sarah to be happy to be forced to stay in the Underground. The only thing he could think to say was, " The King had some real pretty dresses made for ya, and this is a real pretty room! "
" Ludo Sawwah's friend " the beast assured her solemnly.
" Milady, it grieves us that thou art unhappy, " said Sir Didymus upon his turn to speak, " But put on a brave face. Thou hast faced worse and come out the victor. " Out of the corner of his eye, Didymus caught how the Goblin King glowered at him, and he uttered an uncomfortable " heh-heh! " and fell silent.
" But, it's not fair! " Sarah objected, stomping her foot. " I have things I want to do at home! I was getting ready for summer camp! If I stay here, I'll miss it! It's not fair! "
" It's like you told me once, Sarah " Hoggle said " ' No, it isn't, but that's the way it is! ' "
Squeak! squeaky-squeak!
The four turned to see the Goblin King sitting on the side of Sarah's bed, bouncing lightly to see if the mattress was too hard, too soft, or ju-u-u-st right. Jareth looked up to see the four standing and gaping at him. He noticed Sarah's cheeks were a bright red, but she was just beginning to turn a bit green.
Jareth moved himself further into the bed. He semi-reclined, propping himself up with an elbow. There on his face was the irritating and false smile. The lift of his chin and the hardness of his eyes wordlessly dared any of the four to say anything.
It was Ludo that broke the spell of the awkward moment. " Ludo rest, too! " he said, while lumbering to the other side of Sarah's great bed.. He placed his enormous backside on the mattress and wriggled towards the middle. The wooden bed frame creaked out a mighty protest before splintering into firewood. The Goblin King and Ludo ended up together in the middle of what used to be Sarah's bed, struggling to free themselves from bed curtains and covers.
Hoggle and Didymus did what they could in the way of helping the Goblin King and Ludo from the wreckage of Sarah's bed. Sarah did nothing to help, as she was laughing too hard to be any good to anyone.
Once they were both free and standing upright, the Goblin King glared at Ludo and pointed to Sarah's door.
" Get. Out. " the Goblin King commanded venomously.
Ludo fled.
The Goblin King turned his attention to Hoggle. " I believe you have grounds keeping to do, Hogtail? " he inquired coldly.
Hoggle looked from Jareth, to Sarah, then back to Jareth. " Umm..." he started nervously.
" Get. Out. " the Goblin King commanded.
Hoggle sped from the room.
Jareth now cast his gaze to Didymus. " Didymus, Don't you have a bridge to guard? "
" Why, no, Sire! That bridge mysteriously crumbled away into the Bog of Eternal Stench before Lady Sarah's triumphant entering of the Goblin City last time she was here. I gave full account of it in my weekly report. "
" Ah. Yes " The King remembered, and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Sarah giggled.
" Sire, I wondered if Ambrosius and I could be reassigned to guard Lady Sarah "
" Why?" demanded the King, his eyes narrowing at the knight.
" Well, Sire, Milady needs a protector and a chaperone ".
The King gave Sir Didymus a poisonous look and walked to Didymus till he towered over the fox. " And just what would you be implying? That my guest is not safe in my own Castle ? What exactly would Sarah need protection from when my chambers are right next to hers ?"
Sarah was quite green now, and not giggling.
" Umm..." Didymus began nervously.
The Goblin King laid his arm across Didymus' shoulders in a chummy manner. " You and Ambrosius now have a new assignment, Sir Didymus. You go back to the Bog and wait until someone comes to re-build the bridge. "
Didymus sagged with disappointment.
" Get. Out. " the Goblin King commanded.
Didymus called out for Ambrosius his steed, mounted him, and dashed from the room.
The Goblin King and Sarah were alone now. Jareth surveyed the damage and told Sarah " I'll have servants come clear this mess up. Since you haven't eaten, you may take supper with me. "
" I'm not eating. " Sarah said resolutely.
" Sarah, as I have explained to you, you are already bound to me by having eaten the bite of the peach. What's done is done. Now you eat for strength. " Jareth explained wearily.
Sarah crossed her arms in front of her and shook her head. " I told you, I'm not eating! I want to go home! I want to go to summer camp! I was packing for summer camp when you snatched me back here. I was looking forward to going! ".
" Sarah, I warned you once before not to defy me..." Jareth cautioned, becoming very angry.
" And I did defy you, and I beat you and your stupid Labyrinth! " Sarah crowed.
" Tell me, Sarah, did you really?" Jareth asked while slowly walking to the girl in an intimidating manner." Did you really beat me?"
Sarah stepped back, wishing as much distance between herself and the King as possible, but the Goblin King was still advancing on her." Foolish girl, if you had truly beaten me, you wouldn't find yourself back in the Underground now! " he told her acidly.
The Goblin King backed Sarah against a wall and placed both gloved hands on either side of Sarah's head and shouted, " Didn't I tell you to go back to your room and play with your toys and costumes ? Didn't I tell you to forget about the baby you so foolishly wished away to me? Didn't I warn you not to defy me? That you were no match for me? Well ? "
Sarah whimpered in fright.
" You brought this on yourself , girl! " Jareth went on through clenched teeth. " You said The Words that sent your little brother here. You summoned me. It was you who chose to run my Labyrinth to win the baby back. I was within my rights to stop you, to trick you, to win, Sarah! I have done nothing wrong! Nothing! Getting you to eat that bite of peach was part and parcel of the game, Sarah... and though you won your little brother back, I won you as a consolation prize!" Jareth slammed his fist inches away from the side of Sarah's head for emphasis.
" Now..." said Jareth, composing himself " Forget this nonsense of refusing to eat and come dine with me. " Jareth stepped away from Sarah and offered her his hand.
" No " Sarah said, a stubborn look set on her face.
The Goblin King's eyes took on a cruel gleam, and his thin lips smiled ever-so-slightly. Jareth's hand swiped through the air, evoking three crystals that he manipulated round and round in his hand. He sent the crystals floating before Sarah's face. The crystals contained the images of Hoggle, Ludo and Didymus.
Sarah watched in horror as the three crystals melded into one, and burst like a soap bubble. " What did that mean? What have you done? "
Jareth chuckled, " I warned you not to defy me, Sarah. I've just placed your dear friends in an oubliette until you decide to become a little more...reasonable. So, from now on, for every meal you miss, your friends will spend two days in the oubliette. Without light, without food, and without drink. "
Sarah became hysterical. Once again she clutched at the Goblin King's sleeve " No! Please! I'll come and eat with you! Please let them go! "
" I'm rescinding that offer to dine with me, Sarah. You have wounded my feelings, and I shall dine alone tonight." said Jareth nastily, " However, as a gesture of good faith on your part that you will never refuse to eat again, I want to watch you eat. "
" Okay, okay, anything!. Bring me something, and I'll eat it all! " Sarah said, desperate to free her friends.
" Bring you something? " Jareth laughed mockingly, his thin lips spreading into an unmistakably cruel grin. " Oh, I don't think that will be necessary. Sarah. Ambrosius has left plenty for you . "
Sarah fixed a look of total loathing on the Goblin King before walking to the mess of food the dog Ambrosius had knocked to the floor to eat. She kneeled and picked up the carcass of roasted chicken Ambrosius had been feasting on and tore some of the remaining flesh off with her teeth and chewed. Sarah found a spoon and scooped some manner of vegetable off the floor and stuffed it into her mouth as well. Tears of shame and anger streamed from her eyes.
Jareth looked on with a triumphant smirk on his face as the girl humbled herself by eating the dog's leavings. " The sooner you learn not to defy me, Sarah, the happier we'll all be. "
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