Disclaimer: I do not, and I quote myself yet again, own Labyrinth, or David's songs.

The Goblin King

I rubbed the bridge of his nose and reined in my temper yet again. Her Royal Majesty Reylliina, daughter of the Elven King, started in on another rage, this time criticizing my hair, of all things. I fought the very tempting urge to disappear and beg Emily to let me spend the rest of the day with her. Anything, even her screams from the night before, would be welcome to the accusations, the screaming, the tears, the ranting. I bit my tongue at the latest insult, sighing tiredly. She jumped on me for that too.

"Jareth! You pompous little insect! Don't you dare sigh at me like that! If my daddy were here, he'd…" And on and on and on it went. I had just been about to fall asleep when I caught the last few words of her rant: "And the little human bitch you've been nursing ought to be put down like the rest of her bloody race-AHH!" With a rage and a speed that I'd never thought I could possess, I flew at her.

"What the hell did you just say!" I snarled, catching her wrist and pinning her to the wall. She looked shocked, but changed to cruelly defiant.

"That human bitch, the one we all heard last night! The one the Labyrinth will give control too." She smiled wickedly, but it faded as I felt myself seem to grow taller and more menacing. Lightning-quick, I pinned her other wrist against the wall and let my fangs gleam as I spoke…

(Hate to do an author's note, but from here on until Jareth regains his senses, it's third person)

"You will cease such comments, or I will, in one word, end our alliance permanently, and you will find that your father will not appreciate your interference." At the base of his jaw, a very faint darkening of his skin began, a dark green-blue at odds with his fair appearance. The roots of his hair lightened too, turning pale silver in the throne room's light. She took one look at his eyes, their depths no longer the mismatched green and blue, and screamed, disappearing from his grasp like smoke. He stood there staring at the wall for the longest time, his gloves split at the tips with long greenish claws, the dark hue of his skin spreading up down his neck, his eyes like starless voids, until Dance touched his shoulder, unknowing of his state.

Jareth spun instinctively, baring claws and fangs to the intruder. Dance jumped back in fear, then realized what was happening to Jareth. The Goblin King was, unlike most Fae, capable of a transformation that made him stronger, faster, and much more dangerous than the rest of his race. Dance knew this, but he'd never seen the effects; he thought that Jareth still looked the same.

The Goblin King panted in front of his best friend, looking like a half-demon ready to tear anything that got in his way to pieces. Suddenly, his eyes went back to normal, and with a heart-wrenching cry, he clutched his head, and the Jareth that Moondancer knew reappeared, collapsing in pain, tears running down his beautiful face and his wild blonde limp and scraggly. Dance laid down beside him as Jareth lost himself in the inviting and warm onyx fur in front of his face…

It seemed like a lifetime before I stopped sobbing, and it felt like even more had passed when I heard a pair of very shy feet tiptoeing across my floor. I heard Emily's voice, soft as the winds themselves.

"Dance…is he okay?" She was worried about me…at least she cared more than Reylliina had.

"No…he needs us…more now than ever…" I could feel her hesitation, and something else…She wanted to help, but she was afraid…of what?

"You're sure he needs me?" Of course I do…I'd not have fallen in love with her if I didn't…

"Emily…look at him…" I could feel her gaze, at first hesitant, then thawing, then worried.

"You're right." I felt two small hands touch my cheeks, and gently, as though she were cradling glass, she lifted my head from Dance's shoulder. "Jareth…talk to me." Her eyes shone with unshed tears, and I wanted so badly to just fall into those sapphires…

"Emily…" She smiled, and touched her lips to my forehead, cradling me close. Dance moved out from under us, and she held me tight, my head beneath hers, the pain in my heart easing like the tide…

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 left him only when Dance and the goblins had helped tuck him into bed, leaving him to rest for a time. She decided to ask about the gardens Dance had told her about when he'd come to chat with her. One of the younger goblins smiled up at her when she asked him, putting his brush away and leaving the floor scrubbing to his fellows. They didn't mind at all, taking over while their brother showed the little miss to the gardens, teaching her the paths that Jareth had laid out years ago.

He left her in the roses, her slender hands touching each little petal, and she sang, so softly that none could have heard her; none but the Goblin King, of course. Jareth awoke to the soft voice curling around his ears, and laid there for an hour or so, resting against his better judgment. He finally got up and got dressed, preparing for a day in the garden, and so he pulled on baggy old pants and a dull green tunic, tying his unruly hair back in a braid. Taking out his work gloves of smooth brown leather, Jareth appeared in the garden, almost shyly walking over to Emily.

"Emily?" She turned around, and the little smile that graced her face was enough to spur him into action. "Do you like my garden?" She nodded and lovingly touched the petals of a white rose.

"I adore roses…but I only ever had one…and it was from the funeral…" Her smile faded, and Jareth bit his lip to stop himself from touching her.

"Then I shall give you a rose everyday, my dear Emily." She looked up at him, and gasped as he took one long-stemmed white rose from the bush and gave it to her. She cradled it gently against her chest and blushed as he smiled, but she didn't run from him.

"T-thank you, Jareth…"

"You deserve only the best, my dear." She nodded, and finally noticed that he was wearing work clothes. Laughing a little, she bowed a little and said a gentle goodbye.

"I'll leave you to your work, Jareth…I'm sure I can find a willing goblin if I get lost." He nodded a little, though he wasn't happy that she wanted to leave.

"You're welcome to stay, but that's alright." He thought for a moment. "There should be a few of my fellow gardeners in the wildflower fields near the stables, so if you get lost, follow the sound of horses. Have fun, my dear Emily!" She grinned a little, and ran of like a little girl into the paths, staying there all day. She napped beneath a wisteria arbor, danced beside a lily pond, watched, entranced, as the koi she had loved so much above flit beneath her feet as she sat on the bridge. As the sun set, she wandered back into the castle, pausing at a window that looked out over the rose garden. Jareth was shirtless, dirty, his hair coming out…she thought privately that he looked adorable.

Someone tugged on her skirt, it being one of the clothing collection she now owned, courtesy of her new beau. The little goblin offered her a pitcher of icy tea, and she had a sudden idea. She requested another glass, and when he brought it, she winked and took it out to the roses, resting on a bench as Jareth finally stopped working. He straightened up, wincing at the knots in his back, then felt two eyes running up and down the muscles on his back. He turned around and almost laughed to see Emily sitting on the bench, her eyes alive with laughter as she drank ice tea. He settled for a smile, and grinned when she filled a second glass and held it out to him. He sat down beside her, pulling his shirt on. Together they watched the sunset, and as night fell, he heard Emily's voice from the shadows.

"I've loved the star too fondly to be fearful of the night."

"Hm?"

"It's an old quote I used to sing to myself when times were really bad…but there's one other that I loved to sing, even if times were good."

"Oh? May I ask for a song, then?" He could feel her blush, but he could also feel her excitement.

"I…Sure…would you like me to sing the song I loved?"

"I would very much like to hear it."

"Okay then….

There's such a sad love
Deep in your eyes, a kind of pale jewel
Open and closed within your eyes
I'll place the sky within your eyes

There's such a fooled heart
Beating so fast in search of new dreams
A love that will last within your heart
I'll place the moon within your heart

As the pain sweeps through
Makes no sense for you
Every thrill has gone
Wasn't too much fun at all
But I'll be there for you-oo-oo
As the world falls down." Her voice drifted off, and he smiled, placing another rose on her side of the bench…

I am sooooooo sorry about the mishaps with chapters. I swear, I don't know what's happening. Forgive me, and I hope you like this one!

Laters,

KD