After a few minutes of watching as Sarah ate the dog Ambrosius' leavings from the floor, the Goblin King's anger subsided. In fact, Jareth was beginning to feel a pang of guilt. It was a most unpleasant feeling, and one he was not accustomed to.

" Stop. " the Goblin King commanded, raising his hand in the gesture indicating the same. " You've humbled yourself sufficiently, Sarah. You needn't continue."

Sarah stopped. She stared at the floor, seething inside with impotent rage. Somehow, someway, someday, Sarah promised herself, she'd make the Goblin King pay for making her eat after a dog.

The Goblin King took Sarah by the elbow and helped her rise from her knees. He held out his gloved fingers and conjured a crystal, holding it before Sarah's face. Sarah saw Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus sitting on a lawn somewhere. Once Jareth was satisfied Sarah had seen, the crystal shimmered and disappeared.

" As you've just seen, your friends are sitting on the courtyard lawn, safe and unharmed."

Jareth said. Sarah gave a short nod and averted her eyes from the Goblin King.

The Goblin King's gloved fingers took Sarah by the chin and lifted her head, causing her to look up into his scowling face. " Well ? ", he demanded.

" He can't be serious! " thought Sarah to herself, " This monster actually expects me to thank him ! "

" Thanks. " Sarah managed in a hoarse whisper. She averted her gaze again from the Goblin King while her eyes filled with fresh angry tears.

Jareth's face softened a bit, and he chuckled. Jareth still held Sarah's chin in his fingers. He conjured a snowy white handkerchief much the same as he produced his crystals and dabbed at Sarah's eyes. Sarah looked up at the Goblin King, astonished. Jareth smiled slowly and proceeded to Sarah's mouth, wiping her lips clean of the shameful meal she had been forced to eat.

Sarah was feeling very uncomfortable. The Goblin King had stopped wiping her mouth clean, but still held her chin in his fingers. The Goblin King stroked Sarah's jaw line, then tucked her long, dark hair behind her ear, and traced his gloved fingertip over what to him were Sarah's exotically shaped ears. The Goblin King's mismatched eyes seemed to smoulder. Sarah's eyes widened in alarm.

" Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no! " Sarah's mind panicked, " He can't be about to kiss me! "

As if the Goblin King heard Sarah's thoughts, he gently drew Sarah closer. Sarah's body went rigid with fear as the Goblin King leaned down and brought his mouth an inch or two from Sarah's own.

" Good night, Sarah ", Jareth purred, then straightened himself and released the girl. Jareth smirked, turned from Sarah and sauntered to the door of Sarah's rooms.

" I'll make sure the servants are sent here to clean Ambrosius' mess as well as bring you a new bed, Sarah." Jareth said on his way to the door. He turned to look at her once he reached the door. Sarah stood stunned and frozen.

" Oh, and Sarah...," the Goblin King feigned that a thought had just occurred to him "...if you should need me for ..." the Goblin King twirled a gloved hand and continued in a suggestive tone "... oh, any reason at all, my chambers are right next to yours. "

Slam!

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