Chapter Five

Helping Hand

"I won't go in there if I was yous," the goblin warned "his highness been in quiet a bad mood this mornin." Sarah paused a moment outside of the throne room. She'd wanted to talk to Jareth that morning but… loud crashes could be heard from inside and Jareth had kicked (more or less literally) every goblin out of the throne room. Slowly Sarah made her way into the room, quietly watching Jareth as one after the other, he formed crystals and sent them flying against the wall. Sarah paused and told herself to be as gentle as possible with him that morning, unless she wanted to fly against the wall as well.

"That sure is a waste," she managed and he turned around. He glared angrily at her and sat on the throne, tossing one leg over the side while the other sat on the floor. Sarah had to divert her eyes from his lower half, but firmly she kept her eyes on his face.

"What do you want?" he snapped.

"Well," she paused "due to the massive number of reports I've gotten this morning about you terrorizing your subjects, I came to see if your alright."

"Just peachy," he sneered. Sarah paused a moment and noticed, he was indeed not sober. She turned around and motioned for a small goblin to come around from behind the door.

"Could you be so kind as to fetch me a cup of coffee?" she asked kindly and the small goblin nodded rapidly. "Good, now will you bring it to his highness's chambers?" He nodded again. "Thank you." With that the goblin ran off down the hall, glad for both getting away and Sarah asking so kindly. "Jareth," she started.

"Go away," he growled. Sarah walked across the room and looked him in the eye.

"I need you to swear," she said "swear you won't hurt me." He just looked at her. "Close enough." With that she helped him up and got him down the hall. The goblin was waiting outside of Jareth's doors, just as she had asked. "Would you be so kind as to open the door?" The goblin did. She helped Jareth inside and set him on his bed. Taking the cup from the goblin she thanked him again and he scurried off. "Drink."

"Do not order me," he said, his words slurring slightly.

"Alright," she sighed "PLEASE drink." Jareth, slowly, took the cup and drank deeply. Then tossed the cup aside, it now empty. She got him to lay down and covered him up. "Alright," she breathed "your going to feel REALLY bad when you wake up, so when you do call me, ok?" He just looked at her. She closed his massive curtains and gave a small smile. "I suppose I won't be difficult today at all." She came back, later in the evening with a plate of food. Jareth had his hand over his face, rubbing his temples. "Its called a hangover." He looked up quickly and then at the plate. "You were drunk."

"I know," he muttered. She set the food on the stand next to his bed and looked around a bit.

"You need anything?" she asked. He looked at her. "You know I can't read your mind, I need you to actually answer." He shook his head and she nodded. "Alright," she said "how's your head feeling?"

"Like I crashed into a brick wall," he murmured.

"May I ask why you got drunk," she asked "at nine in the morning?"

"I was informed of something," he managed "and I was upset…"

"Oh," she looked at the plate "well you better eat something, it'll help. And drink a lot of water. The headache should be gone tomorrow." Slowly he nodded. "Does it hurt THAT bad?" He nodded. "Couldn't you send me back for two minutes?"

"What for?" he asked.

"Something, it'll make you feel better," she explained "takes the headache away." He didn't say anything.

"What if you run away?" he asked.

"I won't," she promised.

"Why would you do that?" he asked.

"Hangovers aren't fun," she shrugged "besides, I don't know how much longer I can keep the goblins behaving."

"Two minutes?" he asked.

"Just two," she said and he nodded. Slowly he formed a crystal and tossed it to her.

"Swear," he said "swear you won't run away." She paused. "Give me your word." Sarah closed her eyes a moment.

"I swear," she promised and as she did she found herself back in her room. She went into her bathroom and grabbed a box of Aspirin. Soon as she did she found herself back in Jareth's room. He seemed impressed. She opened the box and took two tablets out. She handed it to him and gave him a glass of water. "Ok," she said "take these two, then in six hours, assuming your awake, take two more, ok?" He tossed the pills in his mouth and nodded. "Alright," she said "if you need anything…"

"Will you stay here?" he asked.

"I can't," she said "I've go chores." He gave a confused look. "The goblins didn't do so well with trying to make dinner tonight." He laughed. "I'll come check on you before I go to bed. And lay off the wine." He smirked but nodded.

………………………………………………………………………..

No one woke Sarah for her work the next morning. She sat up in alarm, Jareth was gonna KILL her. She quickly sat up and tossed on her t-shirt and jeans, did her hair and scrambled into the hall trying to get her shoes on.

"Oh damn," she muttered hopping down the hallway, trying to get her shoe on when she collided with something. "Ow."

"Are you alright?" Jareth looked at her mockingly and she nodded. "I made sure no one woke you this morning since all you did yesterday…"

"Oh," she smiled and then noticed her shoes were on the wrong foot "thank you." He offered his hand to help her up but he fixed her shoes instead. Finally she got to her feet. "I thought I was late." He laughed. "I see your feeling better."

"Yes," he nodded "very much. I was wondering if you would like to accompany me for breakfast."

"Can't," she sighed "chores."

"Not today," he said "come on." She paused a moment and nodded.

"Alright," she said simply.

"I wanted to tell you what made me so… upset the other day," he explained.

"Oh," she smiled "ok." He paused a moment.

"Why are you being civil?" he asked.

"Because your being nice," she retorted "and you ASKED me to breakfast, didn't tell me and," she yawned, "let me sleep in."