A Thing Like That
Llewellyn Timalus walked through the castle of the Goblin King, rather quickly on the verge of panic. The Feline had gone back to Sarah's room to find her gone, with no sign as to where the girl had ventured off to. The Goblin King himself had not been able to find her as of yet.
The Feline searched the gardens, looked in the Throne Room, ran through the Escher Room, and checked back in the lady's rooms. Figuring that Sarah had probably gotten hungry by this time, and remembering the conversation that had taken place that morning, Llewellyn decided it might be wise to look in the kitchens.
Llewellyn quickened his pace to a slight run. Turning a corner, he smacked into his wife, knocking both Felines backwards and onto the floor. Llewellyn shook his head and looked up at Cattie. "My pet," he said gently, "should you not be with our son?"
The darker Feline stood up, dusting himself off, and helped his wife up. "Dearest," Cattie responded, brushing herself off as well, "I came to help search for Lady. Quillan will be fin on his own until we find her."
Husband and wife stared at each other a moment, neither willing to relent. Llewellyn was the first to look away, touching his wife's arm. "I was on my way to look in the kitchens just now."
Cattie grabbed her husband to stop him, her face showing the extreme unease building inside of her. "Lady didn't ask for a martini this morning, did she?"
Llewellyn regarded his wife silently, nodding his head, concern also showing on his face. "We'd better hurry," the lighter Feline said, barely keeping her voice from breaking. Grabbing her husband's hand, running towards the kitchens. "Lady has been having more and more of those lately, and I'm trying to keep her from drinking before the thirteenth hour."
"Cattie," Llewellyn said, regret evident in his voice, "I'm sorry. I… I didn't know."
"I should have warned you," Cattie said, voice finally breaking. Reaching the kitchen door, Cattie released the grip she had on Llewellyn's hand, pushing the door open with a force that only a mother could possess.
"Cattie!" Sarah exclaimed, trying and failing, to stand. "I thought you was staying with your son. He's sick?" she added, words slurring.
"He is, Lady," Cattie said stepping into the kitchen, blue and green eyes scanning for the goblin who had dared give Sarah alcohol. "I came to look for you."
Llewellyn followed his wife, trying not to get too close at hearing the anger in her voice. "Lady Sarah," he asked gently, "how many drinks have you had this morning?"
Cattie, finally finding the Goblin she knew to be Burnie, pointed and yelled, "YOU!"
The Goblin squeaked, and dove for cover. Not fast enough, however, as Cattie picked the tiny goblin up by his shirt and held him against the wall. Llewellyn backed away from his wife even more. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO GIVE DRINKS TO HER BEFORE THE THIRTEENTH HOUR!" Cattie bellowed.
"I…I…I" the goblin couldn't either think of the words to say, or form the words, or both.
"Sarah," said a voice from the doorway, "just how many drinks have you had this morning?" Everyone in the room quivered from the anger apparent in the steady voice. Everyone, that is, but Sarah and Cattie.
Turning to face the Goblin King, Sarah said, "Hi, Jarry!" She stood up, succeeding this time, and bounced over to greet the Fae.
"Answer my question, Sarah," Jareth said, wrapping one arm around the girl and keeping the other hand balled into a fist and pressed firmly against his hip.
"Only four," Sarah said, looking up at the Fae that could strike fear into the bravest of men. "Not including the one Llewellyn gave me this morning."
Keeping the small goblin pressed up against the wall, Cattie rounded on her husband. "YOU DID WHAT?"
Whimpering slightly, Llewellyn inched towards Jareth, now convinced that the Goblin King's wrath could not be as bad as his wife's. "I said I was sorry."
Jareth smirked, and said in an even voice, "Burnie Fairton, had I reached you first, I would have been forced to suspend you head first into the Bog of Eternal Stench. However, I do not feel that my punishment will be as fitting as the punishment you are about to receive. As for you, Llewellyn, my most trusted servant, if you do not make it through the night I will miss you greatly and promise to look after your son as you would have."
Burnie tried to swallow, but his throat would not let him. Llewellyn paled considerably, hardly daring to breathe. Sarah looked up at the Fae she was growing closer to everyday and said in a teasing whisper, "Oh, Jarry, that's not nice."
Jareth looked down at Sarah with an expression that clearly said 'you are in very serious trouble.' Sarah quieted, the teasing smile falling from her face.
With a thought, Jareth transported Sarah and himself to the Escher Room, leaving behind an extremely angry Feline to deal with the kitchen goblins and her husband, all of which were wishing the Goblin King had punished them himself.
Sarah looked around quickly, and immediately wished she hadn't. Her head was spinning, and the many different staircases were definitely not helping, especially the ones set at awkward angles that defied the laws of gravity and physics.
Looking back up at Jareth, Sarah asked quietly, "What are we doing here?"
Jareth released the girl and sat down in the very middle of the room, on the floor, or ceiling, or sidewall, depending on which staircase you were standing on, he pulled Sarah down by her hands. She sat facing him quietly, gently holding his hands; waiting for the anger she knew would come.
"I didn't want to be found right away," Jareth said. "I wanted some place the two of us could talk without being bothered. As this room bothers most of the Goblins, I don't expect we shall be found immediately."
Sarah lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry for drinking so much, Jareth," she began, feeling she owed the Fae and explanation. "I get bored and depressed."
"That's no excuse, Sarah," Jareth countered. "If you're bored, or upset, or depressed, or whatever, come and find me. It shouldn't be too hard." Pulling the girl into his lag, the Goblin King added, "Precious, every time you decide to have another drink your hurting yourself. When you hurt yourself, you hurt me."
Sarah slowly wiped away the tears that ran down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Jareth. I just want all the pain to leave. I want to feel like I have some importance."
Jareth frowned and tightened his grip on the girl. "You are important…"
"But I don't feel important," Sarah interrupted.
"And drinking makes you feel important?" Jareth countered.
"No," Sarah said quietly. "Drinking makes it so I don't feel anything."
"Oh, Sarah," Jareth said sadly, pressing his lips to her forehead. "I promise you things will get better. Just trust me, love me. You'll see. I can make everything better for you. And," he added, "You won't need alcohol for it."
"Sarah looked up at Jareth, still wiping her cheeks. "Really?"
Jareth smiled, "Really really."
The two sat still for a moment before Sarah said, "Just don't try to get my attention with fruit." Looking up at him seriously she added, "I used to love peaches."
Jareth laughed, and two lapsed into a much appreciated silence, simply enjoying each other's company.