Chapter 12
The Goblin Prince
Hunter sat on his father's throne with one leg draped over the armrest. "Comfy?" Jareth asked as he entered the empty throne room. "Yes." Hunter replied, quickly standing up. "Soon it will be yours." Jareth said.
"You mean when I turn eighteen next year?" Hunter asked hopefully. Jareth chuckled. "Of course not! Not only are you not done or even doing well in your studies but I'm too young to give it up." Hunter rolled his eyes. "I may not be doing well with my studies but I'm mature enough to take it."
"Yes, that's why you decided to stab a hole through your lip despite your mother's and my disapproval", Jareth said, "Besides, the high court can't accept you as king unless you have a queen."
"Yeah, but dad, you were king long before you got married."
"Well that's different."
"No it's not. What made it okay for you to take the throne and not me?"
"Because your parents are still very much alive-"
A knock on the door interrupted Jareth as one of the goblin guards came rushing through. "Yer highnesses", he said bowing, "We got word that the girl is nearly 'ere."
"Are the soldiers ready?" Hunter asked before Jareth.
The little goblin quickly saluted. "Yes, sir! All are at their posts."
"Good. The moment you see her, stop her."
The guard bowed again. "Yes, yer highness." And with that, he rushed out of the throne room.
Jareth turned back to his son. "So, you're planning a battle in the city to stop her?"
"Yes. You do it so why can't I?"
"Because you can't copy my tactics! Never fool a runner twice in the event they make it and get the crazy idea to write a book about how they did it. For goodness sake, how would you stop a runner if you were king?" Jareth said as he crossed his arms.
Hunter thought for a moment. His father was right. If Hunter wanted to make a name for himself among the long line of kings, then he would have to pave his own way.
"I guess I would try to offer the runner their dreams again…" Hunter said thoughtfully.
Jareth sighed and looked at the silver clock to see that the time would be up soon. Hunter definitely wasn't ready to take the throne; he couldn't even find his own style. But now was not the time to sit around and think of one; the runner was getting closer and Jareth decided that he and Hunter could think of something more original later.
"Alright, if that's what you think will work then so be it. But call off the guards first." Jareth said.
Hunter nodded, went to the window, and jumped over the edge. Jareth saw a little owl fly off above the city.
The Goblin King smiled. True, his son was going to be legally an adult next year. But really, Hunter becoming king at eighteen and taking the throne? Jareth sat in his chair with his leg draped over the armrest. Ha! The boy didn't even know how to stop a runner on the last attempt.
"Hunter the Goblin King?" Jareth thought. "Did he really grow up that fast? Who's ever heard of a Goblin King that doesn't even know much about half of the creatures in the Underground?", Jareth formed a crystal and focused it on the dark brown owl, "Someday you'll be ready to claim the crown and become the Goblin King. But for now, I intend on holding onto that title for a long, long time."