Standard disclaimers apply. I own nothing.

88888

Sarah paced. Sarah chewed her nails down to the quick. Sarah jumped at every sound she could hear in the hallway. Where was the Goblin King with her suitcase? When was this supper? And most importantly, did she really have what it took to carry out her plan?

At long last Sarah heard a smart rap at the door. Sarah's heart began to beat rapidly, and her legs wobbled a little beneath her as she walked to the door and opened it. Three goblins pushed a trolley laden with covered dishes into her room, then scurried to the door to leave.

" Wait! " called Sarah, hurrying after them. " Where's the Goblin King? " The three goblins made no reply and shut the door in Sarah's face.

Just as Sarah reached for the door's latch, a leather-clad hand took her by the wrist. Sarah squeaked in surprise, and spun around to face the Goblin King.

" Looking for me, Sarah? " the Goblin King asked. He was dressed casually, a snowy-white shirt open to the middle of his chest, showing his owl pendant, a black waistcoat, gray breeches and black knee-high boots. His usual smirk was in place.

" You're supposed to use the door, remember? " Sarah snarled.

Jareth shook his head. " Tsk. And here I thought I'd receive a hearty greeting, seeing as I have brought you your suitcase from your room Aboveground, just as you begged me -- "

" You brought it? It's here? Where? " Sarah asked, trying to look around Jareth to see if her suitcase was already somewhere in the room.

"-- but since I've offended you by my omission of using the door, I'll just be on my way. Perhaps I'll return in a month or two and look in on you! " Jareth continued, and reached for the door latch.

" No! " Sarah cried in panic, " Look, I'm sorry! Please! Don't go! "

" What's to stop me? Hmm? " Jareth asked. He was thoroughly enjoying toying with Sarah.

Desperate for the Goblin King to stay, Sarah stood on her toes and quickly flung her arms around Jareth's neck, closed her eyes, puckered her lips, and gave Jareth a hard peck on the mouth, then released him.

" And just what was that? Jareth asked, his lip curled.

" My first kiss. That's what you wanted, wasn't it? "

The room was filled with peals of the Goblin King's laughter." That was it ? " Jareth sneered.

" What did you expect from a first kiss? " Sarah said sulkily, her cheeks burning. " That was my first, not my last. If that kiss wasn't satisfactory, you can teach me better after I get my suitcase! "

Jareth chuckled. He leaned in closer to Sarah, and lifted her chin with gloved fingertips to search her green eyes with his mismatched ones. " Ah, so you and I are striking a new deal, Sarah? "

Sarah couldn't meet Jareth's gaze, and tried to turn away from him. The Goblin King mistook this for maidenly modesty. " Okay, sure, fine, whatever! Here, I'll even shake on it." She took the fingers Jareth held under her chin, clasped the hand it belonged to and shook it twice. " We' ll eat supper, and you'll let me have my suit case after supper? "

" And then you'll have a little something for me, Sarah? " Jareth purred.

" Right. The candy. " nodded Sarah, and pushed past Jareth to get to sit at her place at the small table.

The Goblin King's eyes narrowed. He followed Sarah to the table and sat down in his chair without first helping Sarah into her chair as he had done for their lunch together. Jareth began drumming his fingers on the table impatiently, then arched his brow at Sarah and frowned. " Well? " he demanded imperiously.

" Well, what? " replied Sarah, not understanding.

" As you can see, girl, we have no servants in this room. " Jareth leaned back in his chair and arrogantly propped the heel of a boot on the small table, then crossed his other leg over the first. He stretched he arms out and laced his fingers behind his neck. " I'm accustomed to being served my supper, Sarah. "

Sarah rolled her eyes and walked to the trolley the goblins had left. She lifted the covers off the dishes on the trolley and began serving up the Goblin King's supper.

" Just you wait, Goblin King, just you wait! " thought Sarah to herself, " Your payback is coming, and is it ever gonna be a ..."

" Pitcher of cream for your strawberries, Your Majesty? " Sarah inquired sweetly.

88888