Author's Note: Since I changed Toby's age to twenty-four, he has spent almost sixteen years in the Underground.


The problem with forgone conclusions were that they took things for granted.

What Toby hadn't known, was that Luka's hands were tied. The fae was planning to make his fortune in trade and had made the necessary provisions for taking a cargo of Underground goods to the other side of the Sea. This, then, was the reason he had gone there in the first place.

Toby stared in shock at his anxious lover. "So- so you will not take this on?" he breathed, "But if you don't…"

"I want to, darling, believe me," Luka interrupted, his expressive hands waving wildly in the air, "And if I can get someone else to take charge of this, then I most gladly accept it. All I am saying is that I have no actual income of my own and this is a good way. I've been planning it for months; you know that. Believe me, darling, I will try my hardest to be here for you but I have commitments. I need to be on that ship."

"But… send someone else. Send Franja. He can oversee it. And Her Ladyship won't need him just now." Toby was well aware he sounded desperate but he had just cause. He would have to sleep with the person, for God's sake! Most of the time, it was all just a way of passing on the sexual prowess and knowledge of an elder to a younger. He was damned if he'd take anyone else into bed to teach him what he already knew.

"Franja is needed right now," Luka sighed, "The renovations to the town have begun. Lady Pandora can't spare him. Though in these circumstances, perhaps I should ask."

Toby gave up. Lady Pandora would do a lot for him, he knew that, but she had her duties and unfortunately she gave them first priority. "I'll speak with Jareth about this," he said instead, "Perhaps living Aboveground won't be quite so bad. I am mortal. I suppose I can say I got hit on the head and don't remember where I've been for the past sixteen years of my life. My relatives should accept that."

"That incredulous?"

"That disinclined to care," Toby amended, "They haven't the time. Their own families were growing and there were bills to pay. They were always good to me, though…"

Luka managed to wriggle his way into Toby's lap. He dived in, twisting like a cat getting comfortable and cheerfully roused his lover from depressed pondering to help him out. After a few short but quite interesting attempts at limb rearrangement, they were settled.

"Are you done?" Toby asked, grinning just a little.

Luka tossed his brown head and ignored the sarcasm. "Darling, being depressed and dull has never helped anyone in any sticky situation before. We just need to think. Jareth is a painfully grudge-bearing, anal-retentive egomaniac, I know, but he is reasonable."

Toby blinked. "Anal retentive?" he ventured.

Luka sent him an expressive grimace. "Do you remember the dance we attended in Garlo's underwater palace? For the first day of the mermaids' new year? Do you remember how Merilin got drunk and regaled us with his experience of your oh-so attractive guardian?"

The blond nodded warily. It had not been the best two hours of his life but Luke had thoroughly enjoyed himself. It still astonished him to know that anyone actually could live like that, could openly endeavour to sleep with whatever crossed his fancy and still retain some semblance of respect.

"Do you remember how he bragged that the Goblin King offered himself on his stomach?"

Toby gulped. That was one he hadn't remembered- for good reason! He'd deliberately forced it from his mind.

"Well, that would be impossible," his boyfriend declared, jerking his hand across the air in sharp exclamation. "Jareth never does. He needs his security, his sense of superiority. He needs to know he is in control. Nothing on earth will induce him to give that up. Besides, he likes playing the alpha male role, no matter that it extends to a brief shag behind the curtain in someone else's empty dining room."

No, there really was nothing more to do but change the topic ever so hurriedly, Toby decided. "Experience?" was all he wanted to know.

Luka shrugged and grinned unashamedly- "Yes. A brief shag behind the curtain in someone else's dining room. Thankfully, the meal had ended and it was empty. But I think the servants were waiting for us to finish so they could clear up."

"You," Toby ground out, "Have no sense of shame."

"I never have," the fae protested, "And I told you so at the beginning. I can't see why I should be forced to deny myself something I wanted simply because it was the wrong time or place. Jareth propositioned me on our way out of the room. I thought him attractive; I said yes. The curtained alcove was the nearest secret place."

"Could you not have waited for the night?"

The pretty face scrunched in mock thought. "His exact words were- 'I want you right now. Where can we go?' One does not tease the Goblin King when he is being forceful."

Toby moaned and covered his face with his hands. Of all the people in all the worlds in all the realms in all the dimensions, he wondered why he alone had been cursed with a guardian that had shagged his boyfriend in such an embarrassing manner even before he himself had been born. It read vaguely like the horrible romance tales that circulated amongst the younger women of the Underground. If it were, of course, Jareth would be evil and would try to break them apart and Toby would have to be rescued by his brave boyfriend.

Said brave boyfriend was still sitting solemnly in Toby's lap and playing with a lock of his own hair. No, Toby would have to rescue himself. He dropped his hands and took a deep breath.

"I will have to think about this, but I am almost sure that I'll be sent back to the Aboveground. Perhaps Jareth can allow me to live Aboveground as an 'adult' for a year and then return here. We'll see. At any rate, nothing will be accomplished by sitting in this tiny room. Get up. We're going out."

"Why?"

"To look at the pretty horse with the wings," Toby mocked.

Luka's eyes shone with delight. "Serenity's here! That means a trip through the Labyrinth is being planned."

"Why is Serenity so important?"

"Have you never listened to anything said about Jareth? This is his mare that he found when wandering aimlessly through the Labyrinth. He's raised her from a foal."

"Oh. Why does he not stable her here?"

"Goblins," Luka explained, "Most horses of that variety will not live so close to the Goblin City. He divides her time between the Castle and Beran's stables. She really is a beautiful advantage, both aesthetically and militarily."

"Militarily? A pretty little dark grey mare is going to be of much use militarily?" Toby looked a little sceptical as well he might. Serenity wasn't precisely little, but she was only one horse. There wasonly so muchshe could do alone.

"That pretty little dark grey mare, darling, is capable of the levels of power that lie much beyond an average person's scope. Nothing like the Chaos magic in the Labyrinth, but enough that she could be of great use. The only other creatures more magically capable are rare ones like the phoenix, unicorn and wingless dragon."

"Why wingless dragons?" Toby questioned, a little dazed by the in-depth lecture.

"Because winged ones need their magic less for defence purposes, darling. Think just a little, hmmm? Now let me go and I shall endeavour to dress. Jareth won't remember you until this afternoon, when Serenity stops being quite so interesting. And I mean to have spirited you away by then."

"This is the Goblin King, Luke. He will be able to find me."

"Not if he falls into a brown study," Luka laughed, "I could swear that fae dreams away most of his life. If he were not so inclined to bite the nose off my face for spite, I would laugh at the way he constantly loses the conversation."

Toby smiled but said nothing.

Unfortunately Gildred didn't. He refused to be ignored, even when the woman he was facing was intent on slicing his head from his shoulders. Jareth had sent his audienceaway, asking Beran to personally stable the mare so Serenity would be comfortable. And there he stood, an eyebrow raised as his sister and his enemy tried to decide between undying love and undying hatred.

Not that he knew whether or not it was anything to do with undying love at all. Gildred had not said much, beyond abruptly probing for any information Jervohl may have let slip. For all Jareth knew, the unfinished business that drove them was a lost bet. In which case he hoped Jervohl would pay whatever was necessary and get rid of Gildred.

But the swords clashed once more. Clearly the war was not over.

"Jervohl, will you stop letting your wrist break so easily," the outlaw snarled, "I taught you better than that."

"If you wouldn't try to smash my arm with every blow," she panted. "For the love of mercy, just go away!"

"We… need… to talk." He bit back a growl as her sword almost skewered his shoulder.

Jareth sighed and rubbed his eyes, drifting away as he waited for the two of them to finish.

"We have nothing to say," Jervohl shouted, "Go away."

"They are not being reasonable," Jareth said out loud, talking to himself in lieu of standing alone, "It would go easier if they spoke."

"So help me, I will bludgeon you to the ground if that is what it takes to stop you running," Gildred shouted back.

"And so he threatens her," Jareth muttered, gesturing to the two, "I ask you, does this make sense?"

"I am done talking. I spoke to you for too long, Gildred, and I won't do it now. You had your choice and you made it."

"What choice? I had no choice!"

Jareth cringed and shook his head- "Wrong thing to say."

"Oh, yes, you did! I deserved that promotion! I worked for that promotion! And you gave it to Madigh? Are you insane? The bloody parasite cannot even spell! What good is he going to do you?"

"He was the senior officer. Besides, you wereleaving," Gildred reminded her.

"I cannot believe this," Jareth said, "My little sister is pining for a lost opportunity to work for my foe."

"STOP DOING THAT!"

The Goblin King looked up with a start, mismatched eyes wide with feigned surprise at the two death glares directed at him. "I'm sorry. Am I intruding?"

Gildred muttered something and clutched a hand to his chest.

Jareth barely had a split second to bring up his defences, but he managed. Still, the effort of deflecting the curse thrown his way pulled a grunt from his throat. "Wrong choice again, Gildred."

But instead of throwing a curse- before he could even do so- a high-pitched squeal of outrage trumpeted and Serenity burst back out.

Jareth took one look at her and stood back. "I suggest you run," he said simply.

Gildred's eyes went comically wide and then he vanished, leaving Jervohl to stamp her foot and dash towards the Castle. Serenity was still snorting with irritation and fear, worrying the Goblin King's coat with her teeth, dragging him backwards.

"Calm down, Serenity," Jareth said impatiently, "I'm hardly in any danger now. He did not mean it. Relax." He turned and soothed her as best he could, unable to keep another grin from his face as he took in the sight of a very angry dwarf limping towards him. "Are you hurt, Beran?"

"You think this is funny," the dwarf snapped waspishly, "You try getting bowled over by a horse."

Jareth chuckled and kissed Serenity. "My girl, eh? Did he get you so upset? My poor Serenity. And you were so tired, hmmm?"

"Of course," Beran pointed out to no one, "He speaks comfortingly to the horse!"

"Would you like me to kiss your nose and whisper sweet nothings in your ear, my friend?"

His 'friend' drew back in alarm at the thought.

"Then do not complain. My head hurts enough as it is." Jareth's tone was still soft but his voice was serious, even with the smile that he wore for the mare. "Have you broken anything?"

"Nothing of much importance. Why does your head hurt?"

"Lack of sleep, Beran. What else?"

A troubled glance was directed his way as Beran paused in the act of checking over Serenity's legs, anxious over potential damage when bursting out of a shut stable door. Horses and koerns were alike in that respect, their legs were all-important. If those were damaged beyond repair, they would have to be humanely killed.

"The dreams still plague you, Jareth? I had thought they would fade."

"No." The answer was too quick, too emphatic. It was out of keeping with the Goblin King's cold character. He was not meant to show this much vulnerability. "Serenity seems restless."

"She senses your ill-health."

"I am not sick."

"Physically, maybe. Mentally, I think you are as close to disappearing into your own head as ever. And time makes even your defences weak. Does the Lady know?"

"The Lady does. She thinks me a fool." Serenity snuffled and nudged him. "Admit it, Beran, most do."

"That I cannot say."

Another short laugh. "Do you think I do not hear? I don't care, my friend. I never have. Let them say what they want about me. I find it amusing!"

"You would," Beran grumbled, straightening up with a groan, "Here. She is yours. I think she misses you too, you know. She acts as good as gold with me, but the minute she is here, there is no one that can touch her but you."

"She is my girl," Jareth mocked, "Who else should touch her but me?"

Beran shook his head in amusement. It was just another enigma to everyone, Jareth included- the beautiful mount that kept jealously to his side, even when the most beautiful women could never manage it. What was it that made people want to be a part of the Goblin King's life? Certainly not the way he treated people. None but Sarah had ever extracted thoughts of forever from the hidden recesses of his brain. And even she had never heard the actual words until she was dying.

Ah yes, the mystery that was the Goblin King. Beran was very thankful that Elban was uncomplicated, sunny, and very prone to saying whatever was on his intelligent mind. Quirky, perhaps, but there was a strong difference between unique and aloof. The two best friends were as alike as earth and water; Beran was sure he had the best part of the equation. Pity take the poor fool that decided to tame the Goblin King.