Thanks for all your kind reviews!

I own none of these characters

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When Sarah was awakened the next morning and brought her breakfast, she was careful not to leave a crumb. She drank down all her milk, though it was disgustingly warm. The goblin who'd brought the meal seemed pleased that she'd eaten so heartily, and carried her empty plates away, balancing the earthenware on a wooden tray.

Sarah sat in her chambers bored out of her mind, with breakfast, tea, and supper being the only break in her day. When night fell, Sarah slipped out of the ill-fitting gown she wore. She stood naked before a washstand, and poured water from the pitcher into the basin and saturated the huge sponge provided before washing herself. Sarah walked to the wardrobe and chose a long white nightgown she found, and pulled it over her head.

" You'd think after all the trouble he went to to get these gowns made for me, he'd send someone to see if they fit me! " Sarah thought to herself as she stuffed her arms in the sleeves.

Sarah opened the drawers to the massive wardrobe in her room, holding up and then re-folding undergarments the like of which she couldn't name and had never even seen. She wondered how she was expected to dress when she didn't even understand how to wear most of her clothing.

" Sarah, you look simply ravishing ! " , a slightly slurred baritone voice told her.

Sarah yelped in surprise and looked for the source of the voice. The Goblin King sat on Sarah's bed, his characteristic smirk on his face.

" How long have you been there, you pervert? " Sarah demanded angrily. " Next time, you give me fair warning and use the door! Knock on it first! "

The Goblin King laughed, which made Sarah even angrier. " I came to tell you how pleased I am with you for eating all your meals like a good girl. I had even thought to reward you by allowing you to bring something of yours from Aboveground back here. But...." Jareth took on a hurt look. " You've wounded my feelings again by calling me a name. And a filthy one, at that."

Sarah rolled her eyes, then shouted, " The only reward I want is to go HOME! I'm missing my life! I want to see Toby ! I want to see my father! I'd even be happy to see my stepmother, Karen! I want to go to summer camp! ".

Sarah merely blinked, but in that instant Jareth had vanished from Sarah's bed to standing behind her, rubbing her shoulders. Sarah gave another yelp of surprise, and tried to shrug the Goblin King's hands off her shoulders. Jareth's hands remained where they were.

" Relaaax..." Jareth whispered soothingly in her ear. Sarah tensed even more, for now she could smell the odor of strong drink on the Goblin King's breath. Jareth continued massaging Sarah's shoulders, then asked " Why do you keep asking to go home, then say you want to leave your home for a camp in the same breath? "

" I mean that I want to go back to my normal life. I want to go back to--what do you call it? The Aboveground? "

" Ah. That won't happen in my lifetime, Sarah " Jareth told her seriously. " You claim to read, so surely you must recall how very long-lived we Fae are. We are practically immortal. "

" Yes, and nothing but iron can hurt Fae, right ? " Sarah tried to ask nonchalantly, fishing for information.

Sarah's massage ceased abruptly. The Goblin King spun Sarah around forcefully. Jareth put a tight and painful grip on both her upper arms and told her harshly, " True enough! But there's no iron around here, girl, so get what you're thinking out of your head ! NOW ! "

Sarah's eyes went wide with terror at the menace on the Goblin King's face, made all the more frightening to Sarah as the Goblin King appeared to her to be a little drunk. She nodded dumbly. The Goblin King gave her one hard shake as if to dislodge the last of any nonsense about iron out of Sarah's thoughts.

" Let's talk about something else, then..." suggested Sarah meekly.

Jareth's face eased. " Fine. I want to know about this summer camp you keep mentioning. What is it like? What do you do there? " The Goblin King walked to one of Sarah's upholstered chairs and seated himself, throwing a leg over the arm.

" We do arts and crafts, ride horses, swim..." began Sarah, recalling summers past. " Um.. there's fishing, hiking..."

Jareth conjured a crystal and manipulated it from the back of his hand to the front." Mmm. And what do you like best about this summer camp? " he asked.

Sarah said without hesitation, " The nights.The silly skits. The hot dog and marshmallow roasts. The singing...and...and the pranks. "

The Goblin King caught the crystal and made it disappear. " Singing and pranks, you say? ". Suddenly Jareth bounded up from his seat and grabbed Sarah by the wrist, pulling her with him as he headed out the door.

" W-where are you taking me? Where are we going ? " Sarah stammered.

Jareth stopped abruptly, and turned to the girl. A wicked light shone in the Goblin King's eyes and his mouth showed his sharp teeth in a treacherous smile.

" Tonight the goblins gather to make Goblin Stew, but the fun can't begin without the addition of you! "

The Goblin King strode out the door still pulling Sarah along with him, not slacking his pace as she stumbled alongside him.

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