Chapter Nine

Duties

Since their excursion through the oubliettes, Sarah had chosen to distract herself with Jareth and learning how to rule the Goblin Kingdom. She had accompanied Jareth on several other excursions into the Labyrinth, maintaining professional conduct, and accompanied him to a meeting regarding the vampire exile.

Sarah was reading Dracula in the conservatory when she suddenly felt Jareth's presence. She set the book in her lap and looked to her right. Jareth was stretched on the lounge next to her.

"Hello, pet" he purred.

"My love."

"I have a proposition for you. How about a little trip Aboveground?" Sarah looked at him blankly. "We have a wish-away."

"What?" Sarah moved her book onto the side table and sat up.

"A boy in England has wished away his little sister. I thought you might enjoy this wish-away because it reminds me of your case."

"My case? How so?" she shifted uneasily.

"He does love his sister, but a trip through the Labyrinth will help him to understand just how much he loves her. I will let him take the child back, but it is important that he believes there is a risk involved."

Sarah furrowed her brows, "You were always going to let me win? You let others before me win?"

"Not win, but I gave back the children. Your case was unique. I didn't simply let you leave. I had hoped the time would run out so I could appear more generous by letting you and your brother leave of my own will. However, you managed to outsmart me. You were the first to truly defeat the Labyrinth. And the first to break my heart," he rubbed her arms.

Sarah was at a loss for words, "I'm so sorry," she stuttered, lost in his explanation. Funny that she had never known the truth about the Labyrinth. Historical documents only recounted the wish-aways that were from abusive backgrounds. Wish-aways were not often used as lessons. Though she knew Jareth loved her, she felt simultaneously flattered and depressed that she had caused the king heartache.

"It is alright. You were still quite young. But you are here now, are you not?" He leaned over and kissed her.

"This boy will run the Labyrinth when given the chance," he continued. "I want you to be the one to speak to him."

Sarah thought for a moment. "Alright. Must I be intimidating?"

"Yes. Let him believe you are the enemy and it will give him further motivation. They always enjoy feeling that they have conquered over evil. Besides, it is so much fun to play the role," he smirked and she threw a crystal at him.

They both appeared in their chambers and Sarah rummaged about in her closet to find something to wear. Appearance was important in acting. She quickly threw on a blue velvet bodice and leather pants, gloves, and boots, then ran across to Jareth's closet and picked out the cape that he had worn when he first came for Toby.

"How do I look?" she spun around to model the outfit.

"Gorgeous," he kissed her hand, "I will give you the crystal to get there and you can make the crystal to bring you two back to the entrance. Thirteen hours, same as always. Restrain yourself from giving any hints: Hedgeninny will be sure to assist him. Come back to the throne room once you have him on his way. We will check up on him at a later time."

Jareth pulled a crystal from his pocket and rolled it around. "Oh, and one last thing," Jareth looked Sarah directly in the eye, "Don't lead him on," he murmured suggestively as he eyed her up and down. The bodice was rather low cut and the pants skin tight.

In response, whispered in his ear, "Oh don't worry, there's only one man I like to tease," then snatched the crystal from him, stepped back with a grin, and broke it at her feet.

Sarah found herself whirling through a void, cold wind whipping Jareth's cape about her. She flung out her arms to balance herself, and as she did found that she had landed just inside a spacious living room of a large apartment.

Once the wind died down a bit, she raised her eyes to find a thirteen-year-old redheaded boy staring agape at her. He looked to be short for his age, with a vast quantity of freckles spread across his angular face.

"Who- who are you?" Are you the- the-"

"Sarah, the Goblin Queen," she gave herself the title without thinking.

"Have you really taken Kathy? I didn't mean to wish her away, honest!"

"Oh, you didn't?" she chuckled with amusement and crossed her arms. Did everyone react the same way?

"Please, I have to get her back. I didn't think you would really come for her-"

"Patrick," for she suddenly could sense this boy's life. "Go back to your room, play with your airplanes and your computer. Forget about Kathy. She is in our hands now."

Patrick looked about him, a red blush creeping over his face. He held embarrassment and guilt about all the time he spent playing when he was meant to be doing his homework. "I really must get her back. Please, there must be some way. Where have you taken her?"

"You know very well where she is," Sarah grinned inwardly at the use of Jareth's old routine. "She's there, in the castle beyond the Goblin City," she stepped aside and twirled her hand dramatically. Her other hand dropped the crystal that sent them abruptly into the outskirts of the Labyrinth.

She pointed to a tree, where a thirteen hour clock had materialized. "You have thirteen hours in which to solve the Labyrinth. If you reach the center, you will have proved your fortitude and diligence."

Patrick put his hands on his hips and surveyed the scene, "I bet I can beat that."

"It is harder than you think. You can't use cheat codes in the real world. Are you sure you wont turn back now?"

Patrick's face faltered for an instant, but he regained his composure. "I'll do it."

"Thirteen hours. I recommend you begin now. Such a pity," she stepped backward and faded back into the throne room. The last thing she saw was Patrick's worried face.

She blew with a gust of glitter into the throne room. Jareth was laughing hysterically, sprawled across the throne.

"You- you are-" he panted between choking laughter "very- unoriginal."

Sarah walked by him as he was wiping a tear form his cheek and threw a pillow-crystal at his groin. She folded her arms and stood just out of his reach, facing over the empty room.

"And- very- gorgeous!" he groaned, trying to fight back his laughter. "Really, you are. That cape makes you look quite evil."

Sarah bit back her smile then turned around to glare at him as menacingly as she could. Their eyes locked and she relished in her moment of power. Then his face cracked and he burst out laughing again.

"Oh, bug off," she folded her arms across her chest and stood irritably waiting for him to calm down.

"My apologies, pet. I am laughing at myself as much as you. Now, let us spy on the boy. It is your duty to protect him."

Sarah's hand turned and she held a light crystal that began to hover over her fingertips.

"Place it here," Jareth waved to a metal stand that was designed to hold such crystals. "We can watch the boy and see what befalls him. Ah, I see he has already met out friend Hollybog-"

"Hoggle-" Sarah corrected. He never could get that name straight.

"Yes, yes, Hogling. It is important that we steer the boy clear of danger but not let the path be too easy. You can distract him now and again as I did for you."

In the crystal, Patrick and Hoggle were conversing animatedly about something. Their words were quiet and garbled, like someone mumbling into cloth. Now and then she could make out her own name. Hoggle seemed excited and kept repeating it..

"What is he saying? Why can't we hear them?"

"That is the folly of crystal gazing. It is nearly impossible to understand the words. That is also why we check up on our runners, to satisfy our own curiosity. But for now," he suddenly changed the topic, "we shall meet the little girl."

The doors to the throne room burst open and a horde of goblins came pouring in, a little redheaded girl of seven was dragged in with them. She was crying fearfully, and Sarah's heart immediately felt for her. She glanced at Jareth helplessly, and he nodded silent permission. With a few long strides, Sarah went to the girl's side.

"Kathy," Sarah said quietly to the girl, kneeling beside her. "It's okay, I promise nothing will hurt you."

The child stifled a sob, "H- how do you know my name?"

"It's magic. I know some more magic too. Do you wanna see?"

"Okay," she warily watched as Sarah conjured a crystal and passed it about over her hands.

"Whoa! That's neat. How do you do that?"

Sarah laughed as she saw her own curiosity in Kathy's sparkling eyes. "It took a lot of practice, but I got it eventually. Hold out your hands," Kathy obliged without much hesitation. The crystal rolled into Kathy's hands, turning into a stuffed kitten as it tumbled.

"Mindy!" she hugged the love-worn animal to her chest and buried her face in its cotton fur. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Sarah sat back on her heels and watched as Kathy wiped away her tears. They looked at each other for a time, and then Kathy sat down with Sarah. Her eyes had grown wide and she looked all around.

"Do you know where you are?" Sarah asked, looking about at the clumsy goblins. Jareth still sat in his throne, watching the pair.

"Am I- I'm in the castle beyond the Goblin City. Then you must be-" Kathy bowed her head and blushed, "Are you the Goblin Queen?"

Sarah glanced back at Jareth, who smiled. "Yes, I am. You may call me Sarah though, if you like."

"I like that name. My friend was named Sarah, but she died."

Sarah furrowed her brows, "I'm sorry." She gently touched Kathy's hand and felt a sudden rush of a memory. A little girl, a father yelling, bruises on her face, cigarette smoke, syringes. Kathy's friend had been beaten to death by her father. He was on heroine at the time. He committed suicide once he realized what he had done, leaving two other young children orphaned. Kathy didn't understand any of this now, but she did feel alone and upset. It was not something she wanted to think about.

"So I guess your brother wished you away, didn't he?"

"Yeah. He got mad because I kept bugging him to play with me. He said my games were for babies. But sometimes he plays with me and sometimes we make up our own games so I think he was just being mean.

"That was mean, wasn't it? But you know what? I think he loves you a lot and didn't really mean the things he said."

"I don't think so, he said that he hated me. Mrs. Ryan says that we aren't supposed to say 'hate' because it's not nice."

Sarah stood up and Kathy followed. "I know it's not a nice thing to say, but your brother feels bad about it."

"How do you know?"

"Well, after he wished you away I went to go talk to him. He was very upset and asked me to give you back. I told him that he shouldn't have been so mean, and that I couldn't give you back unless he went through the Labyrinth. Do you know what the Labyrinth is?"

"Yeah! Pat used to tell me stories about it. He said that Mommy told him some of them before she went away." A faint trace of hurt swept the features of the two girls. Sarah understood the pain that comes when a parent seems to have abandon you.

"Pat told me that he would go through the Labyrinth to rescue you. I don't think he would do that unless he really did love you."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I don't want to go back though."

"You don't?" Sarah wondered what other secrets were locked in the girl's past.

"No. I like it here. You're nice."

Another memory swept into Sarah's mind. She's home alone, and it's not an unfamiliar feeling. Her brother is fixing bowls of cold cereal for dinner, but there isn't much milk left in the fridge. He splits it between their bowls. A different time, not long after. There are lots of men in the house, friends of her father's. She hides in her room. Another time, Kathy's father comes in late at night with a young woman. They smell funny and look dizzy like they have been spinning in circles. They go into his room and are very noisy.

Sarah broke out of the memories and fixed her eyes on the girl. She was wrapping her stuffed kitten in the folds of Sarah's long cape. Sarah looked to Jareth, who was busy staring into the crystal. He turned when he felt a gaze on him. He could read worry in Sarah's eyes. Perhaps there was more to this wish away than idle carelessness.

"Sarah, what happens if Pat gets lost and doesn't get back here in thirteen hours? Will I turn into a goblin?"

"No, you won't change."

"Will Pat have to go back?"

"No, not if he doesn't want to. We will find him if he gets lost."

"Good. I don't think he will want to go back home once he meets you."

Sarah grinned and bent down to Kathy's height. "Do you want to come meet my friend? I think you will like him too."

Kathy made a face of disgust, "You're friends with a boy? Boys are gross. They like to play gross games."

Sarah laughed out loud, "Do you like to play dress-up?"

"Yeah. I always like to pretend I am a princess and there is a prince that will come and take me away."

"I used to do the same thing until I wished my brother away." Kathy's jaw dropped. It seemed beyond Sarah to wish away her brother. "My friend, Jareth, he came and took me away just like a prince in a game. But he isn't a prince, he is a king."

"He is the King of the Goblins? Jareth?" Kathy looked even more amazed.

"Yes he is."

"Did you marry him? Is that why you are the Queen?"

Now Sarah did blush, "No, we have not married." Yet, she added to herself. "But we are in love."

"Ooooh, is he your boyfriend?" Kathy teased, then her eyes widened and stared just over Sarah's shoulder.

"Is who your boyfriend?" Jareth had appeared just behind Sarah. "I hope she is referring to me, or else someone has some explaining to do."

The girls laughed and Sarah playfully hit him. "Yes, of course she means you. Jareth, I would like you to meet Kathy."

"I am pleased to meet you, my fair lady," he bowed and kissed the girl's hand. Kathy giggled. "I am the Goblin King, but I would like it if you would call me Jareth."

"Alright."

"Are you hungry, Kathy? Perhaps we can go get a snack while Sarah goes and takes care of something."

"Okay. Will Sarah come back soon?"

Sarah whirled around and changed into a gauzy purple cape, Kathy gasped in amazement. Purple was her favorite color. "I will be back as soon as I can. I promise you that Jareth will take good care of you."

"I know. I like him too. He isn't like my daddy's friends." Jareth glanced at Sarah's face and back to Kathy.

"Alright, off I go!" Sarah threw a crystal to the ground and was back in the abyss as she flew out into the Labyrinth. She had recognized the square where Pat was stuck as the same place she had visited when scouting an oubliette for Erick the vampire. The walls had enclosed him and he needed help escaping. Clearly Hoggle had abandon him for a while.

Patrick did not hear Sarah appear. "Well, well, well. What have we here?" He spun around abruptly. "It seems someone took a wrong turn."

"I'm not lost, I'm just not in the right place."

"Ah, you miss the point of the Labyrinth: to be lost. We wouldn't send you in here if not to make you lost."

Patrick had nothing to say to this.

"How are you enjoying the Labyrinth so far, Patrick?"

He squared his shoulders in attempt to look nonchalant, "It's not as bad as you said."

"Oh really?" Sarah did not know how to reorder time yet, and so she refrained from turning the clock forward. "It gets harder as you go, and believe me, you have barely scratched the surface. Are you sure you want to go on?"

"Yes," he replied without hesitation.

"Well then, I suppose I shall leave you to your grand escape. You do realize that you have been boxed in?"

"I- well, yes. But I'll find a way out on my own."

"Suit yourself. But I do warn you, the Labyrinth has a mind of its own and will not bend to your will." Sarah spun a crystal from the air and tossed it into the sky. She exploded into purple dust and reappeared outside the hedge. With a bit of magic, she opened a pathway that would lead the boy to the dark forest. A run-in with the Wild Gang was sure to tame his defiance.

For now though, Sarah thought she ought to pay a visit to her old friend, Hoggle. They had not communicated since she came back to the Underground. He preferred to remain isolated near the gates to the Labyrinth, though it seemed he enjoyed helping the occasional runner. Jareth reported having poor relations with Hoggle over the years simply because of mutual detest and in Hoggle's case, fear.

Sarah transported herself to the clearing of the forest where Hoggle had been relaxing. Using a magically altered voice, she called out through the trees, "Well, what do we have here?"

Hoggle jumped at hearing the voice of the King, "Nothing, yer majesty. I was just restin' me back."

"Nothing? Nothing, tra-la-la?" She allowed her voice to slip back to normal.

"Sarah? Well I'll be, is it really you?" he hobbled over to her and they embraced.

"It's good to see you again, old friend."

"Sarah, is it true what I heard? Are you the Goblin Queen?"

She laughed and sat down with him, "Technically I'm not, but Jareth thought he'd give me a chance with a wish-away."

"But you know what this means? You're doin' the job of the Queen and livin' with the King. I know he always did like you and I heard that you two been pretty close since you've come back. So, are you two thinking of, well, you know, getting married?"

Sarah blushed fiercely. "I- I don't know. I suppose he will ask me once the time is right." She had not thought about the fact that they were not actually married. They were sharing a room and a bed and clearly in love, but they had not officially joined.

"Well, I think he's up to something with you, sendin' you out to guide a wish-away. It's a responsibility, that is."

"Yes, he does seem to be enjoying watching me attempt this. I hope I have been doing a good job."

"Certainly you have! I think you been doin' a fine job, and I think you'd make a good Goblin Queen."

"Thank you Hoggle. That means a lot to me. But listen- I have to get back to the castle. I have put Pat on the path to the Fire Gang and I need you to make sure they don't harass him too much, okay?"

"Alright. Now you be off! I expect I'll be seein' you around more."

"Bye Hoggle!"

Sarah vanished and reappeared in the throne room. Kathy was nibbling an enormous cookie that she shared with several goblins around her. Jareth was scrutinizing her from his throne. His legs hung over one arm of the chair and his fishtail cane tapped his toes absentmindedly.

"What do you think of her?" Sarah said quietly so as not to attract the girl's attention.

"She has been through a lot. I don't think she should go back Aboveground. Nor her brother."

"I agree. But what will we do with them? We can't turn them into goblins."

Jareth rubbed his jaw and blinked. "My sister Corsicana has been wanting to adopt a child from the Aboveground. I think that would be the best arrangement for these children. She will provide for them and give them the life they deserve. From what I have seen of Kathy's memories, she has been put through a lot of trauma."

"Your sister would adopt them?" Sarah felt a rush of joy at this idea.

"Yes. They would make wonderful parents."

"Will you contact them soon?"

"If the children do not wish to return to their home, then we shall give them a home here. I will visit them personally when the time comes."

Kathy looked over to the throne and jumped up when she saw Sarah.

"Hi! Do you want some of my cookie? It's very big."

"So it is! Thank you very much. It's nice of you to share."

"Come on. Let's go play dress-up! Jareth promised we could."

Half an hour later, Jareth was wearing a regal red cape and Sarah an enormous sparkly crown. Kathy preferred a tiara and puffy dress reminiscent of Sarah's silver ball gown. A number of goblins were wearing feathered hats and velvet vests. Sarah and Jareth were to play the role of the royal parents and were charged with finding the proper suitor for Princess Kathy.

Jareth tugged uncomfortably at the high neck of the ridiculous red cape. "Any suitor of my daughter must be a fine dancer. Whoever can dance the liveliest may ask for my daughter's hand."

The goblins fell into their liveliest jig and Kathy giggled until tears welled in her eyes. "I think they are all the liveliest!"

"All of them? Well that will never do." Sarah rose her scepter in the air, "Whoever can walk the straightest may ask for Princess Kathy's hand."

The goblins put on a spectacular show of prancing and preening that made Kathy shriek with laughter. The goblins were enjoying the game as much as she and fell into their own fits of laughter.

Sarah stole away for a moment to check the crystal and the clock. Nine hours and twenty-three minutes left. Patrick was listening to the Fire Gang try to tempt him to join their games. He was adequately wary of their strange behavior and managed to slip away from them while they kicked their heads around. Hoggle had rejoined him and they snuck off over the very same wall that Sarah had climbed.

This time they did not fall through the trap door into the bog, but instead ran along the wall until they were in a new part of the Labyrinth. Enormous flowers stretched above their heads. Hoggle led Pat down into the jungle of petals and leaves, weaving a path through them heading in the general direction of the castle. The bog would have been an unpleasant shortcut.

Sarah turned around and saw all the goblins standing on their heads.

"They all can do it!" Kathy giggled.

"Queen Sarah, my love, perhaps you have another test for these suitors?" Jareth purred. She suppressed a euphoric shudder and tried to keep her thoughts on Kathy's game.

"I know! Whoever can dress up as the prettiest goblin can ask for the Princess's hand."

Kathy shrieked with laughter as the goblins raced for the chest of dresses.

Sarah took Jareth's arm and pulled him close enough to speak quietly in his ear. "Can't we speed this up a bit? Both these children have proved themselves kind and caring. Why force Pat through the whole maze? It is trying enough for a fifteen year old."

"We don't want to loose our reputation, dear. You may keep the trials easy but do not let him get too close. It makes us look sloppy." Sarah sighed with impatience. "Don't fret, my pet, Kathy will be ready for a nap soon. We can retire for a bit ourselves. Hibnickers will keep Pat wandering safely for a time."

"Very well. It would be nice to rest for a bit. Kathy can be hard to keep up with."

Just then, the girl yawned and batted her eyes.

"Why don't we take a rest for a bit? We can go play in the gardens later if you want." Jareth scooped her into his arms and carried her to a nursery with a big purple princess-like bed. She eagerly settled into the fluffy covers with her stuffed kitten.

"Can Mindy and I give you a kiss goodnight?"

Sarah felt tears press her eyes as she thought of Toby and Lancelot. Jareth bent and accepted a kiss from Kathy and the kitten, placing a gentle peck on her forehead as well. "Sleep well."

Sarah bent and pulled the covers over the little girl. She too received kisses and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Have a good nap."

The couple left the girl sleepily nestled in the fluffy bed.

"Amazing what a little magic can do to an excited child" Jareth murmured as he kissed Sarah on the lips. The two left for a nap in their chamber.