Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth. 'Nuff said. Also, Jareth isn't the arrogant prick in this that he for the most part is in the movie. I like him as a gentleman. : )

Laters,

KD

The Goblin King

"I wish…" These very words haunted my dreams, turning a simple, peaceful walk through my garden into a terrified dash through rebellious goblin riots, accusing voices, a baby's sobs…and those eyes…I just stopped dead at the sight of Sarah's brilliant sapphire eyes… "the Goblin King…" What? Sarah's eyes were not blue….they were green and haughty. These eyes were frightened, overwhelming, holding my disheveled gaze with the intensity of the sun… "would take…" No, no…not again! I will not take another child, offer another quest, lose another love! I will not have my heart broken again…. "me away…"

What? She….wants me…to take her away? Why? The darkness of dreams faded and I found myself gazing at my bedside lamp, blinking like an owl. My bedding was all over the place, most of it off the bed itself. I dragged myself to my feet and blearily stumbled over to my crystal stand. There were six different little quartz spheres, each a subtly different shade. My clearest rested on the very end, and so I cupped it in my hand, searching through it's silvered depths for the girl that had called on my aid.

I found her semi-asleep on a moth-eaten couch, slender and obviously in poor condition. Another wish seemed to shimmer up out of those depths, a painfully given confession from a girl just barely out of puberty. "I wish….he'd love me…like in the story…" I felt my heart contract with a bare hint of hope. She looked so lost, so utterly out of place in that pest-ridden den, and I wanted to clasp her in my arms, cuddle away the hurt she'd received. A few bruises suddenly showed in the moonlight, and I felt a chill go down my spine. One blossomed on her neck, curving with her delicate skin. One even seemed to cut her body in half, from her shoulder to hip, for she only had a wrap for her breasts. She pulled on a long black shirt after shaking it out and smoothing it against her face.

I felt the distance of a growing rage, and so I uttered a few choice words, rewinding time to when she came home from school. There, I watched her struggle to close a window before the rain flooded the place, becoming soaked in the process. I watched her strip off her sodden clothing and throw it into a dryer, then saw as she contemplated the crystal beneath her throat. It was a soothsayer crystal, from what I could see, so I simply filed that away. She touched it like it was a gemstone, more precious than life. And perhaps…it was to her.

I observed the triplets arriving with their mother, flocking to their cousin like ravenous beasts, but it was to insult her, and hurt her that they came. Her face was a mask of indifference, playing with them when they were halfway decent, ignoring them when they were cruel. Then came the real reason she was so hurt; a hideous monstrosity of a man staggered through the door, drunker than a soused goblin. I fought back the urge to both vomit and to slash him to ribbons as he spotted that sweet girl and leered at her.

But, of course, the worst was yet to come. He frightened her into the wall, then slammed his bulk against her thin body, pressing his erection against her. He forced her several times, biting and hitting her in his lust for pleasure. He then slapped her as he finished, grunting and groaning like a boar in heat. Finally, the deed was done, and without even covering himself, he headed to his own bed. I forced myself to turn my attention to that poor young lady, clinging to the crumbling drywall because she could barely stand. The white-hot rage and murderous intent would have to wait; I had to help her. I set the crystal down carefully and ran to my wardrobe.

My bed clothes I threw on the trunk at the foot of my bed, pulling a cloak, tunic, and riding leathers out. It took me some time to get it all on, and when I was done, the moon was a few hours shy of morning. I clutched the crystal and set the transportation spell, then stepped through my veranda door. I landed on a fire escape next to her window, and let myself in silently. She stirred as I opened the window a little wider, but she did not wake until I laid a soft kiss on her warm red lips.

How you turned my world, you precious thing
You starve and near exhaust me
Everything I've done, I've done for you
I move the stars for no one
You've run so long
You've run so far
Your eyes can be so cruel
Just as I can be so cruel
Though I do believe in you
Yes I do
Live without the sunlight
Love without your heartbeat
I, I can't live within you
I can't live within you
I, I can't live within you

The dreams of rape had finally left when Emily felt a brushing against her lips. It had been so warm, yet so fleeting that she had thought it to be a dream too. That is, of course, until she heard that sweet, elegant baritone murmur in my ear.

"Please wake, my lady." Em opened her eyes, and thought she'd gone crazy. Before her face was the Goblin King himself, Jareth in the flesh. His white-blonde hair seemed a little messy, his eyes dark and worried, but for who? Surely not for ugly Emily…But a long fingered hand traced her jaw line, his thumb landing on her chin. She swallowed nervously, but he only kissed her forehead and leaned back onto his haunches beside her couch. His hand left her face, stroking her arm as he took her left hand. "You called, my lady, and I came…Please…let us leave this place."

"You really came for me?"

"Yes…and I saw what that bloody bastard did to you." Emily trembled suddenly, and felt his long arms go around her body, cradling her, rather than caging her. "I'm sorry…I did not mean to frighten you. I was just so angry when I saw it, but could do nothing…Will you come with me?" Emily looked into those midnight eyes, and realized quite surprisingly that she not only wanted to go with him, she never wanted him to let go of her. He met her eyes unafraid, telling her in that absolute silence that he would give her all that she wanted or needed, and would never abandon her, lest he break his own heart in return. She felt a slight smile touch her lips, the first in so, so long…

"Yes, I will." With those few words, she kissed him shyly, just a little butterfly kiss. He looked surprised, but smiled so beautifully that she almost cried. He kissed her back, tentatively at first, unsure of himself. She took his face in her hands and let him kiss her deeper, curling up to his chest as he pulled her into his lap. He was so warm, so caring of her need for comfort and understanding, that she wasn't frightened when she felt a slight bump underneath her. He pulled away, blushing a little.

"I'm so sorry, I should control myself better, I-" She touched a finger to his lips and pointed to the door to her aunt and uncle's room. He nodded and carefully stood with her in his arms. "We should go now, my lady…" He murmured softly to her ears alone, his eyes on the room. He stepped across the ancient floorboards silently, while she kept her eyes on that room in case one of the occupants should wake. They had just made it out of the window when her uncle came stumbling out of his room, grousing incoherently. He stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of the two of them, doused in moonlight. Jareth grinned evilly and with a swift gesture, they both disappeared into the night.

A flash of light surrounded Emily and Jareth, dropping them gently onto his veranda. He still held her tight, and she wasn't too interested in him letting go. He sighed a little, as though he was glad to be home, and set her on the bed, then undid his cloak and wrapped it around her.

"My lady, are you alright?" She smiled again, just a little curving of her lips, but it was enough for Jareth.

"Yes…thank you…Jareth." She suddenly chuckled a bit. "I know your name, but do you know mine?" He suddenly blushed with chagrin.

"I…No…I don't." He looked away, ashamed for not asking her name before. She touched his cheek and crawled into his lap again.

"My name is Emily. Emily Bonaparte, Em for short." He met her eyes again and smiled.

"Emily…that's such a pretty name…thought it hardly does you justice, my lady." She blushed too, burying her head in his chest to escape the embarrassment.

"I'm not pretty…I'm not even plain…" She felt his fingers touch her chin and stroke her neck.

"I think you're beautiful, my lady."

What do you guys think? I'm falling in love with this story, but trust me, there'll be rough waters ahead for both Jareth and Emily, so it's not just 'they fall in love and everythings just peachy'. It seems to be moving fast right now, but you have to remember that both Jareth and Emily are more in love with the idea of love, rather than each other. Their bond will deepen, but it will take some time.

Laters,

KD