Wiping the rain off his face, Jareth lifted his gaze off the floor and saw that the raven had turned into something else. Something terrifying.
Where the bird had landed in the bedroom, a tall, slender woman stood instead. Her hair was long and black, cascading down her shoulders in soft, thick curls. Her skin was almost translucent, with energy glowing and pulsating through her veins. She seemed to radiate energy, with the wind swirling around her and giving life to the twisted, silver leaves intertwined in her hair. She wore white, sheer robes over a form-fitting dark blue dress, giving her a regal appearance. She was the most beautiful woman Jareth had ever seen- more beautiful than any woman he had ever read about or even imagined.
Her eyes were framed with thick black lashes, hiding dark blue eyes over the pale freckles dancing on her nose. Her full lips formed the words that he knew she would say, that had been said before, yet her eyes danced with mirth. He couldn't help but feel that he was linked to her, inexplicably. Though he was just fifteen, he was tall for his age, taller than the woman in front of him, yet he felt so small under her tempestuous gaze. He breathed slowly in awe, exhaling and fixing himself up to his full height.
"Give me the child," Jareth commanded, pushing fear and passion out of his mind. He needed to concentrate. He needed Caroline.
She laughed softly, a tinkling sound, like a spoon hitting fine china. Her elegance was evident, from the way her head rested gracefully on her long neck to her straight posture.
"Now Jareth, what's said is said," she reprimanded, crossing her arms.
Jareth could tell she was trying to be menacing and failing miserably. Her brows furrowed seemed more laughable on this woman than the scowl fixed unattractively on her face. He glared at her and she laughed again, this time ending in a resigned pout.
"Oh, I've always been so awful at this part. I'm not good at being mean. Just stubborn," she sighed and ran a hand through her hair uneasily.
Pausing in confusion, Jareth was dumbfounded. This was the menacing Queen of the Goblins? He'd always figured she would look more... ominous. Or at least threatening. The woman in front of him looked like she would never hurt a single living thing.
In explanation, she answered his bewildered gaze: "I've recently taken up this job, you could say." She shrugged and continued, "Besides, not many people wish away children anymore. Not many people believe in goblins these days, either. In any case, I am the Queen of the Goblins, here to offer you a choice."
"What kind of choice?"
She smiled. "You know the story as well as I do."
Jareth paused, running the thoughts through his mind. The story, the labyrinth, the red leather book...
He spat out the words in a haughty, disdainful tone. "Go back to your room and play with your toys. Forget about the baby." The girl in front of him was shaking, terrified. His laugh was an ugly, menacing sound, echoing through the bedroom as he held her fate in his hands...
The book had appeared one day on his nightstand, when he was a child. He had always figured that his mother had given it to him, the only one in the house who had ever encouraged his love for what his father called "fairytales." He believed that his mother believed.
"I'm sorry," he started, "I think there's been some kind of misunderstanding. I wished my sister away on accident, and I'd like to have her back now if that's alright." He looked around frantically for Caroline, his eyes darting around the dark room.
"Again, I've told you. You know very well where she is," she reached out and touched his cheek with a gloved hand. He shivered reflexively at her light touch.
"And you know what you have to do to get there," her eyes were sorrowful now, almost glimmering with tears. "I am not a harsh ruler, but this is the way the game has always been played. These are the rules- I cannot change them. Please understand."
Jareth nodded as the room behind them melted into a large plateau, revealing the labyrinth to him in full form. The passages twisted and turned into an infinite amount of tunnels and passageways.
Though he was angry that he was forced in, he was also excited to travel the labyrinth. The stories he had read in his life, his stage-training for plays, everything had prepared him for this. He looked back at the Queen, but she looked more distraught than ever.
"Please, Jareth, I beg you to reconsider. Forget about your sister. The labyrinth is a dangerous place."
"I can't," he sighed. "It feels like this place is pulling me forward, this creation. And I can't just leave Caroline. I love her."
She nodded in understanding and continued, "You have thirteen hours in which to solve the labyrinth. If you do not reach the castle at the center of the Goblin City, your sister will become one of us, forever."
He shuddered at the thought of gorgeous, button-nosed baby Caroline living forever as a goblin.
"I am not allowed to offer you assistance, but you will find those in the labyrinth who are willing to help you." She smiled to herself, as in some secret. "Be careful, Jareth."
She sparkled and glowed, turning back into her previous bird form, soaring off into the distance.
Staring out at the challenge in front of him, he was unsure at first, until he feet moved as though they knew the way. It'll be a piece of cake, he thought.