If someone peered out past their curtain-lined window at just the right moment, they would be treated to a curious sight. A small, mud-crusted child jumped over train tracks, giggling and whooping while a creature not of this world followed behind. Cape fluttering with the breeze, each step of his booted heel did not appear to make contact with the ground. He walked upon the air, the dirt and gravel under his feet remaining undisturbed. Trailing behind the strange pair was an overly-fluffy sheepdog, tongue lolling and tail wagging as he walked.
It was a pity no one saw, but they likely wouldn't have believed their eyes. Magic was fickle when deciding who may look upon it.
Closing the front door behind them, Jareth made sure it was properly bolted before turning to Sarah. She rocked on her heels, doe eyes watching him curiously.
"Why don't you go clean up?" he asked.
"Then will you show me the magic?"
He fought a smirk. She didn't easily forget the promises made to her, did she?
"Perhaps. If you're good. I don't want a speck of dirt left on you."
"Deal!" Sarah didn't waste a second more, scurrying up the stairs at record speed. Jareth promptly used his magic to mop up the trail of dirt she left in her wake. He heard a door upstairs slam shut and nodded in satisfaction when the bath began running.
Pacing slowly, he began his investigation of the house. It wasn't impeccably neat, but it was kept relatively tidy. Sarah's morning bowl of cereal was still sat upon the table, waiting to be scooped into the dishwasher by one of her parents.
Eyes rovering over the decor, he decided the modern Aboveground style was rather atrocious. He craved the comfort of his throne, though when he tried out the Lazy Boy recliner he'd watched Mr. Williams sink into...he could admit a particular appeal.
Hopping out of the chair, he surveyed the frames of photographs around the home. There were far too few pictures of Sarah on display, in his opinion. Most of the photographs depicted vacations and outings that appeared to have been taken before Sarah's birth.
Meandering his way upstairs, he passed the washroom just in time to hear the water stop. It wasn't long before a tiny voice began singing loud and off-key. Smiling to himself, he walked further down the hall and peered into her bedroom.
There was no doubt as to whom this room belonged. It looked as though a Toy Bomb had been detonated inside of it. Carefully wading through the mess, he spotted everything from puzzle books to full-size dolls. Her parents didn't pay any attention to her and it was glaringly obvious they tried to make up for their incompetence with many materialistic gifts.
"No good comes from spoiling a child like this," he tsked.
After pausing for a moment to make sure he could still hear Sarah's voice, he glanced to her dresser.
"She'll need nightwear," he murmured, only just realizing this. Making his way over (and almost tripping over a board game) he opened up a drawer and peered inside.
"Now this is just dreadful." His lips turned into a scowl as he picked up the first offending garment at the top of a pile. It was a one-piece footie decorated with cartoon unicorns.
"Is this an insult?" he muttered darkly as he kept finding more hideous garments within the drawer. The most offensive of which depicted fairies grinning wide with sparkles in their eyes.
"This simply won't do." Flinging the pajamas back into the drawer, Jareth placed his hands on his hips with a huff.
Conjuring a crystal, the King dropped it into the drawer. In the blink of an eye, all of her disgusting cotton garments were replaced by ones made of the finest silk. Grinning, he plucked one out of the drawer.
"Much, much better." Still grinning, he made his way back to the bathroom door. He placed the clothing on the floor and rapped his knuckles against the wood.
"I'm leaving nightwear for you outside the door, alright?"
"Okay!"
"Are you almost finished?"
"Yeah-huh. Wait in my room!" The order was followed by the sound of splashing and then the loud gurgle of water leaving through a drain.
Turning on his heel, Jareth did as he was told. He perched himself on her vanity chair and surveyed the catastrophic room.
Walking in a few moments later, Sarah was quick to ask, "Where did these pajamas come from?"
Jareth turned his attention to her and smiled. He had gifted her a ruffled top and a matching pair of shorts. They were emerald green and lined with a bow in the center of her chest and two more; one on the outside of each leg. She looked quite adorable.
"I summoned them for you. I replaced the whole drawer," he informed her.
"It's so slippery," she said, running her hands over the fabric.
He chuckled. "It's silk, pet."
"Can you make all my clothes with it?" Sarah asked excitedly.
Jareth raised a brow. His voice took a haughty edge once more as he said, "Sarah, one must always give thanks after receiving a generous gift."
"Why?" she quickly challenged.
He blinked, caught by surprise.
"Because it is proper," he offered.
"Why?" Sarah repeated, crossing her arms defiantly.
Jareth felt an instant flash of annoyance. Then he paused. Now that he considered it, she was asking a fairly sensible question.
"Well," he began after a moment's thought, "one must thank another for a gift because it conveys their gratitude. In addition, showing such gratitude may prompt the return of more gifts or favors."
Sarah took a moment to contemplate his explanation. "So if I want you to give me more things I need to say thanks?"
He nodded. "More or less."
"Then thank you!" she said cheerily, a large smile blooming on her face.
Jareth couldn't help but chuckle. He was beginning to enjoy her candor. After a moment he tilted his head, watching as she continued to stand in the doorway.
"Now, Sarah, what are we going to do about this?" he asked, gesturing to the cluttered floor.
"I don't wanna clean it up," she quickly snapped.
"Really now?" The King shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I don't feel like breaking my neck trying to navigate this mess, so I shall clean it."
"You will?" Sarah asked, delighted. "Do it with magic!"
Jareth scoffed. "I will not waste my powers cleaning." He reached out and grabbed a plastic baby doll off the floor. Rising, he crossed to set it on a shelf.
"She goes in the toy box," Sarah commented.
"As I am the one cleaning, I'll put things where I deem they should go." He picked another toy off of the floor and crossed the room. "You can move it, if you like," he informed her.
Grumbling, Sarah snatched the doll and put it in the toy box. She also plucked the toy Jareth had just placed on her dresser and placed it on a display shelf. This pattern continued until, with a frustrated huff, Sarah ordered Jareth to sit.
Settling back into the vanity chair he watched, amused, as she proceeded to tidy her entire room.
"Well done, Sarah. Your room looks much better."
Smirking, Jareth watched Sarah realize that he had tricked her. Her little face turned a glorious shade of red.
Before she could spout the angry words that he was sure would come, he asked, "Shall I reward you?"
The young girl instantly perked up. Her anger was quickly replaced by overbounding excitement.
"Come now, lie down in your bed," Jareth ordered.
Sarah practically dove into the mattress. It was amusing to watch her frantically wiggle under the sheets. Once she was settled with only her little head peeking up from under the covers, the king carefully sat on the edge of her bed and rested his back against the headboard.
Slowly, he extended out a single gloved hand. Glancing down to her, he saw that her doe eyes were following his every movement. He could practically feel the excitement radiating off of her.
Fighting the urge to chuckle, he concentrated his magic and flicked his wrist. A small crystal appeared in his hand. Sarah exclaimed and sat up, but he held up his other hand to stop her. "Not yet."
She looked to him and he inclined his head back toward the crystal. When she looked at it again, it began to expand rapidly like a balloon. She gasped and giggled when it softly popped and rained down a shower of glitter.
Once the cloud dissipated, Sarah's eyes widened at what Jareth held in his hand. Under a glass pavilion, a lovely brown-haired girl in a white sugarplum dress twirled to an enchanting melody.
"Do you like it?" Jareth queried, handing her the trinket.
Captivated, the little girl gingerly took it into her hands and stared inside. For a long time she simply sat watching the tiny dancer who so resembled herself twirl around.
"I love it," she whispered. Sarah then looked up to him with a smile that brightened the whole room. "Thank you."
Jareth felt something strange stir in his chest. Even stranger, he leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead without a second thought. "You are quite welcome, Sarah."
"I wanna put it on my nightstand," she said, trying to reach over him to place it down.
"Allow me." He took the music box from her and gently placed it on the edge of her nightstand.
He turned back to her and reflexively jolted when he felt a real pressure on his chest. When he looked down in confusion, he saw that she had rested her head upon him as if he were her pillow.
For a tense moment, he wasn't quite sure how to react. He was not used to physical contact in the form of affection. Especially from a child.
With a sigh, he finally decided there was not much he could do about it. Snapping his fingers, he magicked his armor away and replaced it with a flowy white poet's shirt. He even made sure to shift his amulet away from her head.
"Comfortable?" he queried wryly.
"Mmm-hmm." Came a distracted reply. Sarah's eyes were still trained on her present. "What's the music?"
"Something I composed myself," he informed her a bit proudly.
"I want to hear the song." She yawned, her voice beginning to soften.
"I haven't written a song for it yet," he told her. "When I do, I'll sing it for you."
"I wanna hear you sing now," she murmured. "Please?"
"Very well, but you have to close your eyes." He ran his fingers through her hair, helping to untangle it with a bit of magic.
He watched as her eyes slipped closed and then began to sing. It was a song she had undoubtedly never heard before; a Fae lullaby. His mother had often sung it to lull him to sleep many years ago.
It didn't take much time for her to fall asleep. She was unconscious long before he finished his song.
Gently, he moved her head off of his chest and onto a down-filled pillow before rising from the bed. He tucked her sheets around her allowed his gaze to linger for just a moment on her peaceful face. After a moment of simply watching her, he felt a bittersweet smile form on his lips.
He had to leave her now and for good. He couldn't stay with her any longer. He had a kingdom and she had her mortal life. He only hoped that now she would finally be at ease.
Before he could think twice about his actions, he placed a tender kiss to her forehead and, with one last fleeting look, turned into his owl form and flew out her open window.