Standard disclaimers apply.
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Sarah found the tightest gown in her wardrobe and put it on. Sarah then lifted her arms and twisted and turned in the restrictive garment until she felt seams pop in several places.
Sarah went to her vanity and brushed her hair. She fished around in the basket of ribbons she'd placed the wish-crystal in and chose a ribbon from the basket that would complement the color of the gown she'd just ruined. The wish-crystal shimmered, reflecting the multi-hues of the basket's ribbons. Sarah plucked the wish-crystal from it's soft nest and held it carefully. If all went well, she would have need of the crystal soon enough.
" I beat the Goblin King once, and I can do it again ! " Sarah told herself firmly since no one else was around to encourage her. "Just stay calm, stay calm, and look for opportunities. If this plan works, I can be out of here by tomorrow "
Sarah started from her reverie when she heard a knock at the door. Sarah returned the wish crystal to the basket of ribbons, then went to the oaken door and opened it a little, peeking to see who it was. The Goblin King stood looking down on Sarah.
" I remember you being adamant that I use the door the when I visit, Sarah " Jareth said with a roguish smile. " I've even knocked first. Well? Let me in. I've cobbled together a midday meal from what I could find in the kitchen. " he told her in his elegant baritone voice.
" Yes, please come in. " Sarah said, and stepped away from the door to allow the Goblin King to enter.
Jareth carried a bottle of wine in one hand, and market basket in the other. He lifted a brow at Sarah's polite and softly-spoken response to his instruction to be let in. This was certainly not the reception he'd expected from Sarah. The Goblin King swept into the room.
" Sarah, what have you done to this gown? " Jareth asked, frowning " It's torn in several places!"
" It's not my fault. It's much too tight. " Sarah answered, fidgeting in the torn garment . " I don't understand. When I came here the first time, you sent me to a ball in a beautiful gown that fit like a glove. Why don't any of these gowns fit?"
Jareth placed the bottle of wine and the basket on the small table and moved to Sarah. " That was a dream, Sarah. Not the usual kind, I admit... " he said with a dark smile "...but a dream nonetheless. Here..." The Goblin King ran a gloved hand along the split seams of Sarah's gown, magically repairing the tears.
Sarah stiffened at the Goblin King's touch, and her eyes briefly narrowed. " That's right. You drugged that peach, didn't you? " Jareth's reply was a smug grin and an arrogant wink.
" Then turnabout is fair play! " Sarah thought to herself.
" Now let's sit down and eat, " Jareth said, pulling out one of the chairs out for Sarah. The Goblin King held the chair for Sarah with an irritating, formal pleasance. Sarah sat in the chair only to have the side seams of her gown burst open again. The Goblin King rolled his eyes, then seated himself.
A wave of his hand and two wine goblets and a knife for cheese and a couple of paring knives for apples magically appeared. The Goblin King removed his gloves, and took the wine by the neck of it's bottle. Once the bottle was firmly in Jareth's grasp, the cork magically popped out.
As Jareth was about to pour the wine in Sarah's goblet, the girl covered the mouth of the goblet with her hand. " None for me, thank you , " she said.
" Nonsense, " replied Jareth, " There's nothing else to drink. Not even water. " Sarah shrugged and took her hand away. Jareth poured the crimson liquid out into both glasses. Jareth brought the food out of the basket. Cheese, some apples, and a stale loaf of bread.
After seeing how hard the bread was, Sarah was glad she'd accepted the wine. She tore pieces off her share of the stale loaf and dipped them in the wine to soften them. After tearing a piece of bread off his share and attempting to chew it, the Goblin King followed suit.
" Speaking of clothing..." Sarah began, trying her best to sound nonchalant.
" Hmmm? " said Jareth, carefully paring his apple.
" I was wondering ..." Sarah continued .
" Yes? "
" Could I have some of my own clothes from my room at home? Some of my own tops and jeans and underclothes? "
Caught by surprise by Sarah's request, Jareth looked up at Sarah and forgot the task he was performing. The paring knife slipped and sliced into Jareth's left thumb. The Goblin King hissed at the sting of pain, and popped the injured thumb into his mouth, then glared at Sarah.
" Don't look at me like it's my fault! " Sarah protested " These knives are incredibly dull! My father always told me a dull knife was more dangerous than a sharp knife. "
" You mortals can have the luxury of sharper blades." Jareth said, taking his injured thumb from his mouth to check the depth of his cut. " You're able to utilize iron. I understand iron keeps a keen edge. As I told you once before, I don't have any iron here, and for very good reason. It can be deadly to a Fae."
" How funny! " said Sarah, " Because, you know, iron is really good for a human's blood in small amounts. We need it to keep healthy. "
" Really ." Jareth replied in a tone that suggested he was both irritated and uninterested. Jareth wrapped his injured thumb in a handkerchief he produced from his waistcoat.
" Uh huh. Especially girls... because of... you know...' that time ' . The doctor told me to take iron so I won't get so weak during ' that time' ".
The Goblin King frowned at Sarah. " This is hardly mealtime conversation. "
Sarah squeaked at the Goblin King's nerve. " Oh, don't even ...how can you even...don't you tell me how to act during a meal, Goblin King! " Sarah said angrily, slapping the table with her open hand. " Not after last night! That whole Goblin Stew business was disgusting! Those chickens getting their heads cut off! And then getting plucked! And then their insides getting pulled out and thrown everywhere,and y-you and your goblins were drinking and eating! "
" Temper, temper, girl! " The Goblin King cautioned. " You were a terribly poor sport last night, Sarah, " he scolded. " You told me you like the pranks and things you played at that camp you visit. That was just a harmless prank. " Jareth made a gesture of dismissal
Sarah stared at the Goblin King, incredulous. " That wasn't a prank! We don't play pranks like that on each other at camp! That was just you being cruel! " Sarah shouted, rising from her chair so quickly that it fell over.
Jareth's eyes snapped to Sarah's angry face. " Cruel? Do you really want to see me being cruel, Sarah? " The Goblin King hissed, rising quickly from his own seat. " I could show you cruel, girl! I could force you to scrub every stone in this Castle from day until night, only to wake the next morning to do it again! " The Goblin King blustered. " I could make you an assistant grounds-keeper to Hog-Pen and send you to garden in fairy-infested areas! They bite, you know! Or perhaps I should make you empty the goblins' chamber pots? Would you like that, Sarah? Hmm? "
" Stop! Stop! " Sarah pleaded, and covered her ears with her hands.
" Right your chair and sit down. " Jareth commanded sharply. Sarah instantly did as she was told.
The Goblin King poured the last of the wine into his goblet and drained it. He picked up his gloves and turned to leave.
" Wait! " cried Sarah, " Don't leave yet! What about what I asked for? What about getting some clothes and things from my room at home? "
" Oh. That. " Jareth smirked. " No." The Goblin King turned on his heel and sauntered to Sarah's door.
" No! Wait ! Please ! " pleaded Sarah, running after Jareth and catching him by the arm.
" Why should I ? " The Goblin King attempted to pull away from Sarah's hold on his arm, looking at her disdainfully.
" Don't go yet! Please! " Sarah continued to cling to the Goblin King's arm " I'm sorry!
I apologize for anything I said that's upset you. Please don't go."
" Ha! " Jareth sneered at the dark-haired mortal, but he didn't move to leave.
" Look, I really want some of my clothes and things from home. It wouldn't be too much of a problem for you because I have everything I need packed in a big suitcase on top of my bed. Please! You can see that these things don't fit me properly, and I don't even know how to wear the underthings that are supposed to go with them! "
" Then use your wish crystal if you want your things that badly." Jareth told Sarah venomously, and continued for the door.
Sarah ran in front of the Goblin King and turned and faced him with her back against the door. " No, please don't make me use the wish-crystal! I - I thought about what you said about getting a pet for myself." Sarah lied. " I'd like to save the crystal...I mean, since you said I can't leave, I don't want to be lonely. A pet might be nice! "
The Goblin King's eyes lost their anger and were replaced by a dark and sly glint. " So you think a pet might be nice, eh? ", he asked picking up a lock of Sarah's brunette hair and wrapping around a leather-clad finger. The Goblin King stepped closer to Sarah to purr " Tell me, Sarah, what will you give me if do this for you, eh? "
Sarah nervously licked her lips. She knew she wasn't going to like this, but she was prepared to bargain with the Goblin King if that's what it took to get him to bring her the luggage. Still, Sarah was frightened. The Goblin King was unpredictable and temperamental, and he was breaching her personal space in a very suggestive and intimidating way!
The Goblin King continued to twirl Sarah's hair. His eyes were locked onto her own.
" W-what do you mean? I don't have anything to give to you. "
" Don't you? " Jareth leered and stroked the side of Sarah's jaw with his gloved knuckles.
Sarah flattened herself against the door in a vain attempt at putting some distance between herself and the Goblin King. " Wait--maybe I do. I didn't just pack clothing and underclothes in my suitcase. I packed candy. Lots of it. And I was going to use some of it for pranks at camp. I'll share that candy with you if you bring me my suitcase. "
Jareth stared at the young woman, nonplussed. After several moments, the Goblin King laughed. " Every time I think of you as a young woman and forget that you are still only a child, Sarah, you say or do something that causes me see all too plainly that you still are only a child ! " Sarah bristled at the remark, but said nothing.
" All right, Sarah, we're near closing this deal. I will get you your luggage, and you may have your own clothing and undergarments, and you may share your candy with me and play your little pranks on me, if that amuses you. You' ll have your suitcase tonight at supper. We shall dine together here in your room. But I want something from you. "
" What? " Sarah asked with suspicion.
" I want your first kiss. " Jareth said in her ear in a velvet-like purr.
Sarah swallowed hard, and looked into Jareth's mismatched eyes that seemed to dare her to flinch or turn away. " All right, you have a deal, Goblin King. After supper tonight, and after the candy, I'll give you my first kiss. " She stuck out her hand in the customary manner, indicating the terms were satisfactory to her, and the deal had been closed. Instead of shaking Sarah's hand, Jareth brought it to his lips in a slow, sensuous motion and kissed her palm. The Goblin King mistook Sarah's shudder of revulsion for some other emotion and smirked as Sarah moved from the door and watched him leave.
Sarah shut her door and wiped the kiss from hand, but she was wearing a smirk of her own. "This plan is coming off so much better than I ever expected ! "
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