Oh my god! I'm sorry for the extreme delay! I've been down in the dumps lately. Someone said something to me which made me doubt my writing skills. I'm not a bad writer, am I? Maybe I am, to make you wait for the next chapter so long. I hope you haven't lost interest in this.
I almost forgot: Disclaimer for all chapters - Labyrinth is not mine.
Review replies:
Aurinko: Thank you! I'm glad that you noticed the Labyrinth elements I included. I'm sorry for the delay!
Jack Hawksmoor: Thanks! Wow, I'm impressed that you noticed the tension between Jareth and Hoggle, and yes, something did happen between them before. More about the Goblin King's brother soon!
Gotta Dance 88: Hehe...Hoggle had to be a bit braver, and I'm glad that you don't think he was OOC. Thanks!
notwritten: Thank you! Just like I said before, I'm terribly sorry for the delay.
The Mad Maiden: I love Hoggle too! And I love writing about interactions between Jareth and Hoggle (oh, the insults I could think of! Plus words starting with Hog- : Hogwash, Hogsnout, Hogfeed... got any more ideas?) Sorry for the delay!
Natsuko37: I'd love to accept your hug...I had a cold too! It didn't get any better...I just received my test results; and I completely broke down. Hehe. Now my classmates think I'm crazy. Thanks for wishing me luck! More about Jareth's brother soon!
Moonspun Dragon: The answers to your questions will be coming soon! Sorry for the delay!
dragoneyes171986: Here's the update! Sorry for making you wait!
Goldilocks, Goldilocks
Thou art so fine
With hair so golden
And eyes that shine
The ornate, ancient doors guarding the library doors opened slightly and a head of mahogany locks peeked in, aquamarine eyes glinting with curiosity.
She tilted her head, interest aroused, and feeling much like the little girl with the sunshine-yellow hair gazing at the quaint homey cottage of the Three Bears for the first time.
But unlike Goldilocks, it would be perfectly okay if she were to enter, right? It wouldn't be intruding. You can't trespass with permission. And she did have one! The Goblin King gave her a go-ahead days ago.
And there weren't any three bowls of porridge she could eat here. Not that she would. She already ate breakfast, after all. Eating when full is not good – she might get a tummy ache. But she was getting off track.
There weren't any beds to sleep on, and small, baby bear-sized stools to ruin. All there were shelves, lined together to form aisles in between. Austere looking tables and stiff-backed chairs were impeccably arranged similar to stone-faced soldiers heading towards war. Instruments and objects of unusual appearances seemed somber from her vantage.
Having convinced that nothing bad would happen once she entered, Sarah pushed the door wider and stepped in.
The books got even more numerous! Their musty scent permeated the air; not really unpleasant, for the open windows provided adequate ventilation and lighting. In fact, she rather liked it. Old parchment here smelt nice.
Seated at the widest, strictest table was an old man who rather resembled a wizard hunched over thick stacks of papers and tomes more intimidating than her father's law books.
"What are you doing here, lass?" he asked, adjusting the wiry spectacles slipping on the bridge of his nose.
Sarah curtsied. "Good morning, Mr. Stranger, sir," his beard twitched. "I'm Sarah, and I don't mean to intrude, but I was searching for Jareth. Have you seen him?"
"Call me Eldred, Sarah," he replied, giving her a smile under his snow-white moustache. "I'm afraid that his Majesty has not expressed his presence in this area, lass. I believe that he is arranging the accommodations for the guests."
She perked up. "Guests?" Wow, more people to know!
Eldred chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Why, yes, Little Sarah. Lady Ilona and her daughter Marigold is due to arrive to day. Marigold is around your age, I think."
"Would she be adverse to the idea of becoming my friend, Eldred?"
"Marigold is generally an agreeable girl; I am convinced that you two would go along splendidly."
Sarah smiled. Another playmate! Oh, she can hardly wait!
She didn't notice how long it took her companion to respond, and how he grimaced upon remembering exactly how 'agreeable' Ilona's beloved child was.
Seeing the lass turn silent and was not going to speak soon, he picked up his quill and resumed writing, scratches on the parchment serving as the only noise in the otherwise solemn room.
Sarah stepped closer and sat atop the stiff chair near him, observing the official-looking documents he was pouring over.
"You remind me of someone," she announced.
He chuckled, staring at her from the corner of his eye.
"He wouldn't be Merlin by any chance, would he?"
"Do you know him, Eldred? He really exists?" she asked, eyes wide.
He nodded in acquiesce. "He's a really good friend of mine. We went to school together."
"How come he's so known in our world?
"Merlin prefers to stay Aboveground, even as a chap," he paused to refill his quill in the inkwell. "He had a love for showing off magic in front of the humans, but nevertheless a good fellow. When he visits, I'll be sure to introduce you to him."
He shook his head amusedly, stopping to gaze faraway to a place she couldn't see.
She rested her chin on her clasped hands on the table, letting him have a few minutes to himself, before letting her curiosity take over her again.
Her eyes were now directed at the impressive pile which never seemed to shrink despite the numerous documents Eldred had already finished.
"What are you doing, Eldred?"
"His Majesty does not take pleasure in the mundane duties of being a King, I daresay," his beard twitched which she now recognized as a hidden smile. "Paperwork, for instance."
Before she could reply, the library doors opened, their resounding bang shattering the serene quietude of the room.
"Eldred," the Goblin King strode in, immaculate robes flaring. "If I have to listen one more time to that demanding harpy and to her brat of a daughter, I-d" he stopped short, seeing Sarah seated near the unfortunate person he planed to vent his tirade on.
"You were saying?" the older man asked smugly, knowing that Jareth wouldn't speak thusly when his heir was in hearing distance, and, judging from the way he was greeted by one of the Goblin King's heated glares, he realized it too.
"Eldred, what's a harpy?" the little girl in question inquired, making both men turn to look at her.
"It's a particularly irritating woman who talks like a common fishwife," Eldred replied smartly, pleased at his usage of the human simile. "Has His Majesty told you that he and Lady Ilona are related? Brother and sister, in fact."
"A relationship I deeply resent, I tell you," he said to Sarah, making her giggle. "You have no idea how querulous that woman can be. And to my deepest regret, they have arrived sooner than expected, now I find my day entirely ruined."
"Is that the way you should teach a child on how to treat her relations?" Eldred asked sternly, but a playful glint in his eye suggested that he was merely jesting.
The Goblin King shrugged majestically, the sequins sewn on his cloak catching the morning light pouring in the somber room.
"Sarah has quite a vast knowledge on the art of interaction, as she had most probably demonstrated to you," he replied, making her smile at the compliment. "It would be rather repetitive to give her lessons regarding that. In addition, I know perfectly well how adept she is at distinguishing right from wrong."
"Better than you, in my opinion."
He nodded, not rising up to the bait. "Better than me."
"Jareth!" Sarah said, devastated. "You're letting poor Eldred do all the paperwork! What if he wanted to play outside?"
The Goblin King grinned, unrepentant.
"If there weren't any boring paperwork, why in the name of Underground would I keep Eldred around for?" he questioned, making the old man clutch his heart in his hand in mock-outrage. "Besides, 'poor' Eldred is too old to play outside."
"You're never too old for playtime," Eldred corrected sagely, seriously adjusting his spectacles.
"You are," retorted Jareth. Turning toward Sarah, he asked, "Well? Are you coming?"
"Where are we going?"
"Where else? Anywhere away from here. Are you telling me that you would prefer to stay in a stuffy, dusty library with only a senile old coot for company?"
"Youngsters nowadays. Absolutely no respect for their elders," the wizened man shook his head, and turned with a smile to Sarah. "Excluding you, of course. Do me a favor and look after the immature one playing dress-up as Goblin King, won't you, Sarah? I wouldn't want him to get into trouble."
"Watch it, old man," the Goblin King drawled. "I hear that the Bog is particularly dreadful this season. Absolutely horrifying."
The older man only chuckled in reply.
"Are you sure that you're okay with just yourself here, Eldred sir?" Sarah asked, hopping down from the serious-looking chair. She was surprised to note that it was a lot comfortable than it looked.
"I'll be fine, little one," he reassured. "Go have fun outside."
"Good luck with the paperwork."
Bidding him goodbye, Sarah followed the Goblin King who was already at the doorway.
"Meet with Ilona later," Jareth ordered, grinning smugly. The last thing Sarah heard when he closed the door was a groan coming from the room's sole occupant.
"What has Eldred tell you before I had arrived?" he asked, slowing down his pace in consideration for his companion.
She shrugged. "Nothing much, Jareth, sir. We haven't talked that long."
"Hmm. And her I thought that the ancient codger would not waster any time airing my 'dirty laundry.'" Retrieving what looked like a pocket watch from his cloak, he frowned.
"Damn," the Goblin King cursed, along with a few more words Sarah had never heard before, even from her parents. He glanced at her sideways.
"Don't let Eldred know you hear me saying that."
She laughed. He rather reminded her of a young boy scared of his father finding out a mischief he had caused.
"What will I get in return?" she asked cheekily.
He stopped in surprise.
"Little brat," he remarked, shaking his head and resumed his lengthy strides. Sarah had a mischievous side he had only recently discovered, but he wasn't even annoyed by it. How intriguing.
"I mean it, Jareth," Sarah insisted, smile broadening.
The Goblin King heaved a melodramatic sigh.
"Very well, o sly little one. What must I do to ensure your silence?"
"Now we're talking," she rubbed her hands conspiratorially, like the villains she had seen in the movies. But the girl stopped with a sheepish smile. "Er…I'll tell you when the time is right."
He laughed. "Which I interpret as you have no idea what to ask. We really should improve on your skills of manipulation."
They lapsed into silence.
"What is wrong, Jareth, sir?" she questioned, seeing a frown worry his brow when quietude catapulted him further in his thoughts.
"Nothing of consequence, Sarah. A little irritated, that's all, but not by you."
She giggled. "By the guests?"
"From your tone I gather that you are thrilled by their coming."
"Yes, I am! Eldred told me about them. They seem very nice."
Jareth didn't reply, merely glancing at his pocket watch again.
"I'm afraid that we have to cut our tour short, Sarah," he said regrettably. "Unless you want to meet the new arrivals?"
The little girl clapped her hands delightedly. "Oh, I can hardly wait!"
"I just hope that you won't be too disappointed, Sarah," he muttered, too low for her to hear.
So sorry that she didn't meet Ilona and Marigold! It was supposed to be in this chapter but I decided to split it. I'll upload it sooner if I get more reviews. Sorry if there are typos and if the chapter is short.
I hope that I'm not butchering up Jareth's character too much. Or the others.
Please review!
