Chapter 4

Goblin King

The Goblin King sat back in his throne, a smirk played on his lips and his eyes held a cold gaze. He sat still for a moment, letting the woman who was groveling at his feet, plead with all her heart and energy. She had failed like so many before her, it was all to familiar to the Goblin King. The King was not moved by her words, he looked straight into the womans eyes with cold cruelty. The King could not remember a time where he felt compassion, he most certainly was not going to feel compassion for a lousy mortal woman who would wish her own babe away to goblins. She had learnt her lessons, but that was not enough, she also had to win, and she had not.

Standing, he spoke to the woman. "Enough woman!" the King's tone was harsh. He paused to drink in the absolute suffering this woman was going through. Why shouldn't she suffer as I suffer? The King thought to himself before continuing. "I gave you ample time to solve the Labyrinth, you failed. Your babe is forfeit to me."

"Please, please don't turn my baby into anything unnatural!" the woman cried painfully.

"I shall do with her as I wish!" his voice mocked her pain. "Now, I shall send you home. Perhaps you have learned some lessons, and will do better if you are blessed with any more offspring." there was nothing gentle in his tone, his face still held the unreadable cold mask.

Before the woman could beg and plead any further she was gone with a wave of his hand. The goblins strewn around the throne room all laughed heartily as the woman vanished, the King shot them all a look that shut them up as quick as they began. The King sat back down rather ungracefully, assuming his favorite position on the throne, leaned back with one leg up on the side. He massaged his aching temples.

"Jareth, dear, you didn't even try" a small feminine voice came from the main entry.

"What business is that of yours Priya?" Jareth asked, not bothering to look in the young elfs direction. She was a beautiful and graceful little thing, standing only four feet tall she was not yet fully grown. Her complexion milky white,with golden blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. Jareth was a collector of fair things you could say, he knew when he found her as a babe she'd grow up to be one of the most beautiful elves in all the country. He'd kept her and raised her almost as his own, that was 50 years ago. She had a positive light about her, full of youth, innocence and hope. Their was a good measure of mischievousness behind her eyes and the wisdom that comes from living for 50 years as well, even at 50 years she was only a pre-teen in terms of elf developement.

Priya entered the room holding the baby girl that had belonged to the woman, whom Jareth had just sent away. Approaching the the Kings throne she passed off the baby girl to one of the Goblins who began to entertain the child. She then climbed up onto the kings lap, pushing his hands away from his temples she took over the job, massaging. After a moment of silence between the two, Priya continued "I believe it is my business since I have to live here too." she pouted.

Jareth rolled his eyes, as if she is suffering... "You expect me to try with a wretched woman such as that? She wasn't even anything to look at" he said disgusted. Priya could not argue with him. "Well...I suppose you do have a point about her. What about the girl from yesterday? She was very beautiful, for a mortal." she laughed. "You certainly didnt try with her, for goodness sake you haven't tried since..." her voice trailed off as she caught herself before making a mistake. His eye's suddenly looked dangerous, he knew her meaning.

Priya removed herself from her master's lap. "Well I suggest that you do start trying...for everyone's sake. The Kingdoms can't go on like this forever." she added somewhat quickly. "Well, off to the adoption house for this one I assume?" she asked as she gathered up the child from the goblins. Jareth only nodded as he had gone back to his brooding.

Once Priya was far from the throne room the Goblin King conjured a crystal. "Sarah" he whispered. Purple clouds swirled inside the crystal momentarily and cleared, revealing darkness. Damn you! The crystal exploded in black glitter as it collided with the wall.

A/N: Sorry it's another short chapter, but yay a little bit of Jareth finally. heh, I edited a few of the numbers in chapter 2 because I noticed that I totally screw my math up. I reversed what I said, anyways thats fixed for any of you who may have noticed it earlier. Thanks for all the reviews :)