Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth, David Bowie, or his songs.

The Goblin King

After I'd led Emily back to my room, I staggered to my library through the throngs of curious and sleepy goblins that had woken up at her screams. Nobody asked questions; they were just curious about the little miss they'd already come to appreciate. I should have known this was going to happen, though…it was only a matter of time before the brutalities she suffered would come back to haunt her, and me as well. I chuckled dryly as I closed the heavy door behind me, and buried my face in my hands. It wasn't her fault…In a way, it was mine too. I was the one falling in love with her, after all. I braced my back against the cool wood and slid down to sit against the doors, my head throbbing and my heart aching.

"You seem to be in foul spirits, my friend." The voice floated over to me lazily, but he was as concerned as I would have been.

"Please come out, Moondancer…I have little patience for morons tonight." A shadow shimmered against the bookcases, and the moon glinted off his friend's onyx pelt. Moondancer stood over him, his kelpie eyes radiating concern.

"What's happened to you, Jareth?" I laughed a little sardonically as he carefully folded himself and laid down beside me, his head resting against one of my chairs.

"Love, broken hearts, a bruised ego, a battered beloved. What more could a fool ask for?" My friend's eyes narrowed and his lips pulled back to show long fangs, aglow with poison.

"Someone dares to hurt you?"

"Someone has hurt the one I've fallen for. She had a nightmare tonight, and ran from me because she believed that the way I treated her, the love I gave her, was a lie and that I only wanted a slave." He growled a little and I sighed, resting my head on my knees. "I can't do anything unless someone says "I wish." You know that, as well as I do." He sighed too, and one of his claws gently ruffled my hair.

"Aye, I know, and I can't deny that I don't. I just hate seeing you so unhappy…" I patted his claw-hand.

"I know, brother…I know. But she did accept my deal, so I have a chance to win Emily back."

"Deal? Jareth, you know better than to bet on relationships!"

"It's not like that! I swore to prove my love to her, and in return, she allows me to give her that love. I won't hurt her, and you know that…besides, Dance…what choice did I have? She won't even let me touch her…let alone kiss her and hold her…" I sighed again and tried to closet my feelings. Dance's nose touched my shoulder, and he made me look into his eyes.

"Jareth, I'm not the expert on love or even like, but I can tell you really feel something for this girl…unlike that Sarah. Sorry, but she took and took, never giving you even a warm glance. This…Emily, was it? She's willing to give back, but she's too afraid. Your job, smart one, is to persuade her not to be afraid anymore. I think you can do it, despite your obvious lack of self esteem. Now…Get your butt back to bed before I drag it there." I chuckled wanly and lightly slapped his neck.

"You'd make a great mother, Dance-Hey!" In return, he grabbed me by the leg of my pajamas and dragged me bodily to the guest room, throwing me onto the bed and growling.

"Get to bed, you moron.."
"See? Just like Mom! Oww!" We both started laughing as the pillow fight ensued, lasting into the wee hours of the morning, when we both finally passed out on top of one another…

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

Emily felt the sun's warmth wake her, and as she opened her eyes, she realized that she was, for the first time in her life, completely and totally alone. Or so she thought. As she sat up and pulled the covers away, she realized that a small goblin was laying out a single breakfast. She hesitantly touched the creature's shoulder, and she turned with a smile.

"Ah, you're awake, dearie. Come, come; you need to eat up and get your strength back." The goblin lady seated her and sat across from her, pulling out a beautiful piece of needle point from one of her many pouches. "To answer the question as to why I'm staying with you here, milady, it's because the King asked me too." Emily swallowed her piece of egg with difficulty.

"He-he asked you too?"

"Yes, so that way you weren't alone. He wanted to be the one to dine with you, but that damn Elven princess sent him another letter saying how she was going to dissolve his alliance with her father if he didn't marry her, so he has to smooth more ruffled feathers before he can eat." Emily felt a tinge of jealousy, but pushed it away, reasoning that Jareth had better prospects than her. "I'm just glad Moondancer's here too…"

"Moondancer?" The goblin smiled.

"Moondancer is the current Captain of the Guard, a very wise and good-hearted kelpie. He's been Jareth's best friend since they were children. That reminds me…" She scrambled off the chair and went to the door, stopping just before she left to smile back at Emily. "He's been wanting to meet you, seeing's how you've captured his best friend's heart." She disappeared, leaving Emily in a stunned silence.

Captured Jareth's heart? How? Jareth couldn't love her that much…could he? Emily replayed last night's struggle in her mind, and paled at what Jareth had said. He really meant it, she thought with a flutter. He really means to make Emily believe that he loves her. She sat there until Moondancer arrived, and promptly was given her second shock of the day.

Moondancer stood easily as tall as Jareth, perhaps even taller, his body mostly that of a stallion. One difference was his feet; they ended in scaled talons, each claw big enough to slice her in half. His head was horse-like, but sprouted a few small straight horns from where his forelock would have been, and when he turned to talk to the goblin lady, she caught a glimpse of fangs as long as her hand. In color, he changed shades as he walked, but she thought that it was like black velvet, for the most part. And his eyes…they were like little pools of crystal, dancing with color. He smelled like crashing waves and fragrant breezes, soothing her nerves. Until he smiled at her.

"Ah, so you are the lovely lass that's taken Jareth by storm." He laughed, a whinny of sorts, and climbed up into Jareth's bed. "Well then, Emily…what shall we talk about?"

"I…I don't know, Captain Moondancer…"

"Oh, please, call me Dance. That's just too formal for a chat between friends…don't you agree?" She smiled faintly, and he grinned back. "That's more like it. In fact, why don't you climb up here with me? It's too hot out to do much more than rest, right?" She laughed a little, and nodded.

"Alright, Captain-I mean, Dance. Thank you." He shook his head as she nestled herself against his shoulder.

"I dare say, it's an honor." At her confused face, he smiled and shook his head. "Forgive me, but it's rare to meet humans anymore that aren't afraid of my people…I find it an honor when they are willing to come so close." She nodded and sighed into his silky fur. He smiled down at her and set one claw on her shoulder, gently. She clasped it, smiling and snuggling deeper.

"Tell me about Jareth…I…would like to know what kind of man he is." His eyes darkened with memories, happy memories as he set his head on a pillow.

"Well…Where on earth do I start?"

SEE! I'm updating! Yay!

Laters,

KD