Chapter Two: Problems on the Home Front

The Underground – Jareth's Throne Room

Jareth stared at the goblins standing subdued before him. He gritted his teeth to prevent himself from taking his anger out on the creatures but they did not make it easy. Their large, opaque eyes looked up at their king in a way that made him shuddered. He loved his kingdom and all its creatures – to a point – but lately it was so hard to put up with any of them. He had waited for seven human days for Sarah but still she had shown no signs of calling him back to her. She hadn't even called her friends Ludo, Hoggle, and Sir Didymus. Jareth was getting impatient.

"Report," he commanded to the closest goblin whose name he could not recall. The little goblin jumped in fright as he began to stutter a reply.

"Y-your majesty's brother, Sir Marshall of the Winter Lands, has requested a formal meeting with you about something urgent," he said quickly as if trying to get the small speech over with. Jareth nodded, his eyes dark in thought. He turned his gaze to the next goblin – a small woman with raggedy green hair – and motioned for her to begin.

"The Council of the Lords has demanded that you report next month," her squeaky voice chirped. Jareth shook his head in exasperation. Before she could continue he lifted a hand to silence her.

"I refuse to take any messages from the Council," he said, addressing all the dwarves. "If they wish to speak with me then they must do so themselves. If any more of you have messages about the Council you may leave now." He was not surprised when about three-fourths of the goblins turned on their heels and stumbled out of the throne room. Jareth looked down from his throne at the remaining goblins. There were four.

Pointing to the first one, he nodded. "Now you."

The young goblin nodded and bowed low. His scratchy voice sounded hard to Jareth's ears. "I am from the Lord Selwin. He sends his good wishes and he would like to warn you of the up and coming meeting at the Council of the Lords."

Jareth glowered down at the goblin. "I specifically said that any goblin with news of the Council must leave. Go. NOW."

The goblin flinched but stood his ground. "I must tell you what I was told to. You are to have your title stripped from you if you do not meet the demands laid down for you."

Jareth's eyebrows rose slowly. He turned to the other goblins. "Leave us. I call on you later." The goblins shuffled out obediently, murmuring among themselves. Jareth turned back to the small goblin expectantly. "What are these demands that I am to meet, Goblin?"

The goblin put his hands behind his back and looked up at the foreboding King. He was not this king's subject so he could not be punished. He had nothing to fear in this man's temper… Hopefully. "Well," the goblin cleared his throat. "The Council has decided that your standing is too unstable. You have no heir, no plan in case you are to die, and the Labyrinth cannot decide all of these things if she does not have someone to channel her magic through. The Great Lords of the Five Kingdoms have decided that you are to choose a bride and produce an heir within the end of the year. Or else your title will be removed, the Labyrinth cut down, and your kingdom separated into colonies."

Jareth's mouth was hanging open slightly as the goblin nodded and turned on his heel smartly, heading toward the door. Before the little man opened it, however, he turned around and smiled. "You are to report to the Council in one month or else they will skip all of these formalities and attack the day after the Council ends. You are encouraged to escort someone." He smiled slyly. "My Lord Selwin hopes that he will see you there." Then, with a small pop, he was gone, leaving Jareth with his mouth still open and with a loss for words for the first time in his life.

The Aboveground—9:57 PM Sarah's room

Sarah threw the last streamer into the trash can, sighing. If every visit from her friends was like this she would have to start limiting them. She'd told Hoggle that she would be busy with school for the next few weeks – a little lie – and that her father was becoming suspicious of all the trash from her room – a big lie (her father wouldn't notice if she had an elephant in her room anymore. He was slipping more and more into depression. Sarah's mother, his ex-wife, had just recently gotten engaged to Jeremy, her long-time boyfriend. He hadn't taken the news well and Sarah was worried about what might happen.)

Sarah heaved a deep breath as she pulled her large T-shirt over her head and then pulled her jeans off. She threw them into the hamper and looked through her dresser until she found a tight spaghetti-strap night shirt. Pulling off her bra, she replaced it with the shirt. Finally, when her hair was in a hair tie, she opened her door and called across the hallway. "G'night, Daddy!" she called. Karen and Toby were off at Karen's mom's house for the weekend. Sarah loved these weekends when it was just her and her dad. When she didn't get a response from her father, she grabbed her silk robe and threw it over her shoulders, tying it loosely. Then she tiptoed across the hall to her father's door. She cracked it slightly – just in case he wasn't decent – and called out.

"Dad? Dad, are you in here?" still no answer, so she closed the door and walked carefully down the stairs, looking around for any sign that her father was still awake. There was a small light emanating from the living room and she drifted toward it, wary now. She saw her father's head peeping above the back of his favorite armchair and, as she walked around to check if he was awake, she noticed the small note folded on the coffee table. Confused now, she picked it up and began to read.

My Darling Sarah,

I am sorry to do this to you. You may hate me for this; you may never forgive me. But what I do now is only because I have nothing else to give. I may as well tell you now that Karen has left with Toby. I was unfaithful the night that I found out about your mother and Karen found out soon there-after, leaving with Toby under the charade of going to her mother's over the weekend as per-usual. This time, though, she took the whole contents of hers and Toby's closets. I realized then and there that I would only cause you suffering. I am sorry, my darling. I will love you forever.

Your devoted Father

Sarah stared at the letter in disbelief. It had to be a joke; one of those things on the Science Fiction channel where a TV crew scared the victim to tears and then popped out of the corners, laughing. Yes. That's what it had to be. Sarah dropped the letter, hands shaking, and she turned to her father. He was wearing his wedding suit – the one from his first marriage – and he was holding an empty shot glass. Sarah turned numbly to the table and located the empty bottle of pills. She sunk to the floor, staring at the bottle with its large warning: Caution: Taking more than reccomended by your doctor is lethal.

Sarah's mind was blank as she sat in front of the armchair, her head in her father's lap. Only when the clock chimed midnight did she stand up on wobbly legs and stumbled toward the phone. She grasped it in her hand and jabbed the buttons 9-1-1. Her eyes were tearing up and her breath came in quick, deep gasps. When the operator answered, she could only whisper three words. "He left me." She repeated those words several times while she waited for the police to arrive.

When they did they came with grim faces and accusing questions. Why had she waited so log to call? Where was she when her father had committed suicide? Had she checked for vitals? Had they been fighting lately? Did anyone have a grudge against her father? Had he seemed depressed; distant lately? Did she have access to the medical supplies? The questions went on and on and Sarah knew that they suspected her but she didn't have enough strength to deny it. Let them think what they would.

When the police took the body away, Sarah stayed at home and tried to go back to sleep in her own bed. She knew vaguely what was going to happen in the morning and as she lay on her bed, wrapped in her father's comforter, she took in her room. It was in its usual order, book impeccably placed, dolls in an order of her own affinity. Then on her dresser was her book and her music box. Sarah loved her room. Everything was so orderly, so precise. And everything was her own. Sarah didn't want to leave. She knew that if her mother couldn't take her in she would go to one of her grandparents. And if they weren't available then Sarah would be stuck with Karen's family.

Sarah felt a dry sob wrack her body and she realized suddenly what it was like to be completely and utterly alone. Her hand clasped around the charm around her neck and felt the crystal inside with her fingers. Slowly, she closed her eyes and whispered his name. "Jareth. Jareth, I need you."

"I'm here." Sarah jumped as his voice sounded right behind her ear. She turned her head and Jareth was there behind her, his back against the wall. Sarah's eyes opened wide as she took in his serious face. Then, forgetting that she was supposed to hate this man; stay away from him, she pressed against his chest, feeling his arms around her and she pressed her face into the cloth of his shirt, crying once again.

"Why did he do this?" she whispered as her breathing became normal. Jareth shook his head and ran a hand over her hair. She felt so cold to his fingers and he could feel her shake. He gritted his teeth and reminded himself that the bastard that was doing this to her was dead already and there was nothing he could to to make retribution. Oh, how he would dearly love to make that man suffer.

"I'm here, Sarah," he whispered into her hair. "I'm here and I won't ever leave you again. I won't leave you." He then gathered a small amout of power from within his gut and channeled it through his fingers as he stroaked her hair. "Just go to sleep, now. Everything will be all right. I won't leave you." He kissed her forehead softly as he felt her breath even out and her body relax. Jareth looked down at her sleeping face and frowned. She was too vulnerable in this state and it made him worry. What if something were to happen to her? Hepulled her closer, protectivly. "Just let them try," he snarled quietly. When she frowned slightly, he smiled and lowered his head to place a light kiss there. She smiled faintly and he allowed himself to close his eyes. Nothing would touch her as long as he could help it. That was for sure.


Okay, that is the end of that one. I just want to thank... pulls out list Faery Dreamer, mistude, Katy16, and Labyrinth Mistress. I love you guys for reviewing! big hug!

Well, I am gonna go work on Three. Just so you know why these aren't coming as quickly as I hoped: I am rewriting. I decided that Sarah needed a crisis in her life. And I always disliked her dad. Or at least the actor... DIE!

-LOL-

Love Naphoria