Chapter 18

A Monster

"Hey Midge!" Sarah called, peeking her head through the kitchen window. "I'm going to town to pick up a few things before I leave." she announced

"Be Careful." Midge warned.

"Yes, yes of course." Sarah made a face at Midge before pulling her head back outside.

Just before dusk, Sarah returned walking slowly with a basket resting on her hip. "It's about time! I was really worried about you!" Robert called, greeting his daughter.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "I'm fine papa. Just took longer than I expected." Shifting the basket from her hip she pushed it towards her father. "Carry this will ya." she said turning to go into the cottage.

"Ah just in time for supper." Midge said when she saw Sarah enter.

"Great, then I have something for all of you afterwards." Sarah smiled.

"Yay! Presents!" Toby shouted.

Dinner was a relatively quite affair. Sarah's mind was on her return to the Marquee's estate, while the little one's could not take there eyes off of the basket that Sarah had returned with. Sarah tried not to make eye contact with Gavin, she was still extremely uncomfortable around him. Midge and Robert seemed to sense that and had not asked either of them about it. Gavin had equally avoided Sarah that week as well. Once everyone had finished Sarah helped Midge with the dishes, prolonging the little one's anticipation.

Finally, everyone settled down around the hearth so Sarah could present them with their gift. First Sarah lifted a leather pouch that seemed to have some weight to it. "These are fine woodcrafting tools." Sarah explained to her father.. "I expect, when I return next that you have something to show for."

Robert took the tools from Sarah smiling. "Hmm, I always did want to get back into the trade. Thanks pumpkin."

Next Sarah pulled out two scrolls and handed them to Midge. "I've paid for two months worth of schooling for Toby and Lily." Sarah couldn't say anything more before Lily pounced on her. While Toby just scowled at her.

"You're the most wonderful sister!" Lily hugged Sarah tight.

"Alright Lil, I can't breathe." Sarah choked out.

"Oh sorry!" Lily said shyly, still grinning ear to ear.

Sarah couldn't help laughing at her little brother. "Come on Tobe, school is good for you. Besides I got you two these too." Sarah redeemed herself with Toby when she pulled out a small sack full of sweets for each of them.

"Don't you eat that all at once!" Midge scolded as the two raced off with their bag of treasure.

Next Sarah pulled out a small canvas and another leather pouch. This pouch was filled with a different set of tools, various paints and paintbrushes. "These are for you Gavin. You told me you always wanted to try painting, so I wanted you to try." she smiled at him for the first time in a week. Gavin pulled a hand through his hair, blushing.

"I don't know what to say..." Gavin mumbled. "Thank you." he finally managed.

"You're welcome." Sarah smirked.

Now the basket was empty and Sarah retrieved the pouch of silver that the Marquee had given her. "The rest of this I want you to have." Sarah handed the pouch to Midge. "For your wedding." she smiled.

"Oh no child, you've done enough for us." Midge tried to give the silver back to Sarah.

Sarah simply shook her head stubbornly, standing. "It's my money and if I want to give it to you I will. I won't be needing it." Sarah argued. Midge just shook her head, knowing that there was no arguing with Sarah when she had that 'look'.

Midge stood and embraced Sarah. "You're a gem of a girl. They better treat you well up there. Or they will have me to answer to!" Midge laughed.

The months passed and once again Sarah fell into another rutine, traveling between her two homes. Singing for the Marquee and generally receiving praise from all who heard her. Midge and her father had a beautiful little wedding with the help of Sarah's earnings, Toby and Lily continued to go to school and Sarah and Gavin's relationship remained strained. All in all, Sarah was happy and life was good, but every now and again Sarah could not help feeling that something was still missing from her life. "You're being greedy Sarah, what more could you need." she would often scold herself when feeling distant and alone. Sarah was always delighted when her old friends visited her, although Hoggle often fretted about her saftey. "There's nothing to worry about Hoggle." Sarah would try to assure him.

Nine months had now passed since Sarah had been employed by the Marquee and they were getting ready for the last of the Summer festivities. The Marquee and Marchioness had been choosen to throw the last summer ball and all of Thanvaanit's nobles and royalty were being invited. Sarah had to spend most of her time at the estate since the Marchioness had asked for her help in planning some of the details. Sarah had made arrangements for her family to attend the Ball and had fine formal clothing created for each of them. It was now only a week away, and she was very excited. Things couldn't have been any better.

At the Goblin Castle...

Jareth sat in his private study, hunched over with his head dropped into his hands. The past nine months had been draining. Unfortunately for him, Priya was entirely too much like Jareth. Priya had held her grudge against her King and nothing he did or said seemed to sway her. Anytime he started to make progress they would fall into another argument and he would lose what little ground he may have gained with her. "Stubborn, spoilt brat." he would often mutter.

The King had done his best to keep his temper hidden from Mirain, but she was still terrified of him. "Nine months wasted..." he thought to himself miserably. He had given the mortal her hearts desires but he knew she would never belong here. She would never get use to the goblins or other creatures of the Underground, she still let out ear piercing screams whenever she ran into a goblin unexpectidly. She was so timid and full of fear, her insistant displays of weakness disgusted Jareth. At first he would come to her side and try to sooth her fears until he couldn't help but chid and mock her. No matter how much he gave Mirain he could see the look of disatisfaction in her eyes. He could hear her wishes ringing inside his head, she always wanted more. He knew she wished to be a Queen but she wished to be a Queen far grander than the Queen of the Goblins. "If only she would love me she would have it..." he knew this line of thinking was useless. The girl admired his handsome looks, magic and power but she would never love him, and even if she could. He knew he could never love her.

As usual, Mirain was bored and she had gone to explore the Castle for the hundreth time. She had passed by the door to the King's private study many times and each time her curiosity perked. The King had given her free roam of the castle and given her anything she wanted, this was the only room that had been denied to her. She often found herself wondering why, it was the elf woman who had told her to stay out, the King himself had never mentioned it. "Maybe the elf woman doesn't want me to enter...but why?" she mused. Normally her fear of the King and elf woman kept her from taking any action on her curiosity, but today she knew that the elf woman was away from the Castle. "And the King is usually surveying his Kingdom at this hour..." she thought not being able to resist the temptation to peek inside the room.

Mirain slowly opened the door, relieved that it did not creak loudly as most of the other castle doors did. Peering inside she saw a long bookshelf that seperated the entry to the room from the main study. Silently stepping inside she walked round to one end of the bookshelf to peek inside the rest of the room. Mirain was then paralyzed with fear as she caught sight of the King sitting at a desk. Her heart raced and she wanted to bolt out of the room, but she was afraid any slight movement would attract the King's attention towards her. She watched, horrified as the King lifted his head and slowly pulled off his gloves. She was unable to pull her eyes from the King, she had never seen him without his black leather gloves, and she imagined that his hands were soft, with long fingers, beautiful like the rest of him.

Jareth winced as he pulled off his gloves, as he did often when he was alone in his study. He stretched out his sore fingers with disgusted, then he heard a loud gasp and looked up, eyes full of rage. Mirain could not supress the gasp of horror as the King's hands were revealed to her. The skin on his hands were calloused, bumby and an unattractive shade of green mixed with grey. His fingernails were long, pointed and yellow... "He's a monster...like them." her mind had screamed out.

Jareth stood with fury, knocking over his chair and disrupting the papers on his desk. "You were told to stay out!" he bellowed at the cringing mortal. "Come to peek on the Goblin King, have you?" he gripped her arm and she shuddered at the ugliness of his hands. "Come to see what a real monster he is?" he spat icily. Letting go over her arm he pushed her roughly towards the door. Mirain stumbled and fell back, tears flowing down her cheeks. "Get out!" he yelled as she turned to flee from his presence.

A Loud angry cry thundered through the castle as the Goblin King demolished is study in a fit of rage. Goblins stopped what they were doing, fearful of what may follow the cry of their King. Only a forebodding silence followed.

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Author's Note: Alright so this chapter gives you a little more insight as to what is ailing Jareth. There will be some mischief at the summer ball...I will try to update soon. Thanks to all my reviewers :)