Here we go!

Chapter 6: Angry Words

Jareth sat on his throne in deep contemplation. His long agile legs thrown over the arm of the chair comfortably. The atmosphere of the room projected doom and gloom. At the moment the Goblins were gone, taking their laughter and mockeries with them. Light in the room was dim, casting large shadows across the walls from tore house banners hung high from ceiling to floor. Jareth heard her light steps before she had approached the throne waiting for him to acknowledge her.

"What?" he asked impatiently.

Shrinking in on herself, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but you summoned me, Your Majesty."

Jareth looked down at the small shaking creature, he sighed. Catching a view of their surroundings he realized how depressing the room displayed. Concentrating on redirecting his mood to a more positive thoughts, the room started its transformation almost immediately. Doom and gloom lifted and replaced by a more pleasant room.

She relaxed almost instantly. All knew the throne room reflected the mood of the Goblin King and the previous appearance did not leave one guessing his mood.

Jareth stood from his throne and approached her, "Yes Rayl, I did. We have a visitor coming to the castle and I will need you to be her ladies maid."

Looking up at her king, pleased he had such a task for her. "Majesty, of course!"

"Good. Now prepare her a suite and be ready to receive her." The little creature bowed and scampered from the room.

Jareth signed again and sat on his throne. He was not happy with the decision the council had decreed, but he was no fool to argue. He would do his bit and arrange her studies, other than that he would have as little interaction with her as possible.

"Sarah Williams, so you have returned to the Castle beyond the Goblin City?" he said to the empty room, "What to do with you?" Reaching down beside his throne he picked up a small mound of papers and proceeded to scribble a few notes; a running list of the materials and academics she would require.

When he was finish he tossed the stack to the floor, "Conceited girl, how did you even end up here?!" Pondering this question since she appeared in the Natural Hall. He had made no contact with her since her leave and now for her to just show up when he was to petition for Guardianship. "It must be the Labyrinth, but why? The timing was too well planned. Why does it keep bringing this girl here?"

Jareth noticed the room changing again, this time the room reflected his anger, growing columns draped in red cloth appeared. Taking his place on the growing throne now settled high above his subjects. Nodding his approval of the room's transformation he readied for Sarah's arrival.

Sarah was greeted by two armor clade goblins. Remembering them from her last visit she was reluctant to approach.

"Greeting Lady! King waits, this um way!" pointing his spear in the direction she was to go he lead the way.

Last time she was here they did all they could to stop her from getting this far and now they were showing her the way. Mind reeling from the contrast Sarah followed diligently. While they moved through the castle Sarah attempted to pry information form the goblins.

"So, how is the King?" The questioned sounded silly, but she needed something to break the ice.

"King is King." Said the fat briskly one of the two.

"Yes, King is King, but is he still mad?" That was the question she wanted to know. Sarah had no desire to walk in on a King sized tantrum.

"Yes." Said the other not fat goblin.

Sarah was staggered by his honestly, but continued, "Do you know why?"

The fat one looked to the other as if waiting for permission, "King mad, cuz lady here."

"Why is he mad I'm here?!"

"Here!" proclaimed the skinner one pointing to a large arch doorway.

Looking up from them she saw the door to the throne room recognizing it where Jareth had kept Toby most of the time he had been in the Underground. Whipping the sweat from her palms on her skirt, shifting her luggage and Lancelot, she took a deep breath and prepared for the king.

Taking in the surround of the throne room Sarah realized the change almost immediately. So drastic was the change from the last time she was here. Her eyes were drawn to the center where a throne sat high on a dais. There sat Jareth like a prize piece in an expensive museum. As Sarah approached he stood and walked down the stairs leading from the dais.

Meeting half way Sarah tried to stand as proud as she could, but before Jareth she felt small and delicate. Dressed in finery he stood almost a full head above her. The way he looked down his pointed nose made her shiver. All the while a voice in the back of her head was commenting on how hot he looked in those tight pants and fitted vest.

Walking around her, eyeing her up and down he spoke using that high and mighty voice he had used in the Natural hall, "Well, Sarah, you have filled out nicely. Tall and lean, one would say you are a true beauty."

"One couldn't say the same for you." She felt stupid as soon as she said it. They both knew it wasn't true, but he made her feel so small and unimportant. Like a big black fly on a unicorn.

Leaning in close he whispered in her ear, "Some would say otherwise." He said in a low alluring voice.

A different kind of shiver ran down Sarah, deep down in regions abandoned with time and lack of use. Finishing his gait he stopped before her once again. "Your body may have changed with time, but you are still the stubborn insulant girl I meet years ago. Why are you here?"

Caught by surprise by the sudden insult and then question she shot back at him, "Why am I here, Jareth?!" Saying his name with as much distain as possible.

"Don't direct you anger at me, girl. You had a chance to leave, but your suborn pride refused to take the opportunity given."

"Given!?" her temper was rising. "I was minding my own business when suddenly I was here again!"

"A formality. You had a chance to go home to your materialistic life and mundane day-to-day, but again to spite me you have gotten yourself into more than you can handle."

He was goading her and they both knew it, but Sarah was too far in now to just give up. Also, she was so damned pissed at how he was able to sound so cool and sophisticated during an agreement, were her voice was shrill and angry. Perhaps she was proud, because all she could think of was pushing him over the edge as he had done her.

"Too much for me to handle? If you recall I bested you the last time I was here!"

"Please. You think a mere girl could beat me and my goblin army? You had the Labyrinths help last time, otherwise you would have failed."

"Maybe the Labyrinth will help me now!" That struck a chord with Jareth and Sarah knew that she hit a tender spot.

"You will not have it so easy this time girl. You will have to work from this point on, you will no longer have anything just given to you. No more success just landing in your lap, even with the Labyrinth's help. You will be tested truly this time." His anger starting to rise.

"You make it sound as if I've had a life of luxury and never had a day in my life of work. I have earned what I have!"

"You have not earned this, Sarah!" Neither one of them had noticed how close they were, mere inches apart, both their breath coming quick and hot. "You have no idea what you signed up for, but just like a stubborn child you jumped before you looked. You are naïve, immature, and a pain in my ass! And you want to be Guardian or Queen? What have you ever fought for in your life, Sarah? You never once lived in poverty, you received an education relatively easily, you have not been hurt by love, and darkness has never once shadowed your door. Tell me Sarah how hard your life is, you without struggle. Who are you to expect to help guide the lives of others! The thought is laughable. What makes you so special?"

"You bastard! How dare you make presumptions about me? You have no idea what my life involves." Sarah used all her will power to control herself wanting to scream, yell, cry…anything to relieve her anger and hurt. In mere moments she was brought down to a feeling of insignificance. A mere child standing with nothing more than a stuffed animal. Neither one of them was sure they could continue without regrets, so stood silently glaring dangers till the silence was interrupted.

"The Lady's chamber is ready." Said Rayl is a small hushed voice.

Without breaking eye contact with Sarah, "Take her to her room before either of us do something we regret." Said Jareth harshly.

The small creature beckoned for Sarah to follow. Sarah stood for a moment longer before turning on her heels and hotly storming out of the throne room.

Feeling defeated, Jareth took up his throne once more placing his palm over his face. He knew he had been too rough with her, his words aimed to hurt. Sarah always managed to strike a spot with him. Enticing his anger, practically begging for him to test her. Reminded of her run the last time he had lost his temper. She had challenged him and he felt compelled to rise to it. He had sent the Cleaners after her, he didn't give a damn if she was child. Finding solace in the fact that she had bested the Cleaners and would do fine now, he went back to his mound of papers as the room reverted back.

Hope you liked. I may be able to post more often with summer ending soon. Hopefully more free time to write and not so much time caught up in work. Wish me luck!