Chapter 10: Relax

The next day, Naella seemed to have forgotten about the whole night. When she had come down to the dining room, Jareth was already lounging in his seat at the head of the table. Goblins were everywhere, reaching over the table, running around, and even swinging above on chandeliers. Naella looked around dismally at the chaos and mess. There was one empty chair, despite the fact that there were at least twice as many Goblins as chairs. She frowned and scrunched up her nose as Jareth motioned toward the chair with his hand. He smiled as she sat down in the chair on his left.

"Morning, did you rest well?"

Jareth looked so strangely still in all the breakfast commotion.

"Sure" she said, her throat still a bit closed off from sleep. She looked towards the table and realized she probably wouldn't be able to get at any of the food while the Goblins were fighting over it. Jareth smiled; her constant pout this morning seemed so…so…He gave up on the word and tapped her shoulder. She turned unhappily and he pushed her now full plate towards her. The gesture had not won a smile. Nell simply picked up her fork and began to eat. After pecking at half of the things on her plate, she got up to leave. As she went to pick up her plate, Jareth stopped her.

"Just leave it, someone will get it."

He rose and led her out of the noisy room. As the clatter of utensils and laughter died down, Nell lazily looked around yawning.

"Not a morning person?" He asked her with a grin. She merely shook her head and kept walking.

Jareth took Nell out to the Labyrinth again for more practice. Day after day they went out there whenever Jareth had the time, and day after day she failed miserably. Eventually Jareth gave up hopes on her helping in the war.

Given no specific purpose other than house chores, Nell spent all of her time following Jareth around. As the days went by, she started to get a hang for the Labyrinth. She wondered if there was a way to get back to her world if she managed to escape.

After following Jareth through his rounds of royal obligations and watching him in his war efforts, Nell began to realize he really was doing the best he could to lead his kingdom. Perhaps, she shouldn't have been so hard on him. Jareth was reluctant of the position; to be stuck with so much responsibility, but he never stopped trying his hardest. If she paid close attention she could even swear he was sweet, on occasion.

Out on one of their walks through the Labyrinth, Nell was tagging behind like normal. Jareth rarely talked much on these strolls, so she normally studied the area. Having explored this part of the Labyrinth before, Nell found no interest in the place. Instead, her eyes followed the Goblin King's majestic cape. Her eyes traced over his broad shoulders and up his elaborate white collar. His blonde hair fell down delicately.

Such an oddly attractive hairstyle…I wonder if it's inspiration came from the Goblin's naturally untamed hair. WAIT, what am I doing?

Nell blushed turning her gaze to the ground in front of her. Why was she studying him so closely? She looked back up timidly, thankful to find he hadn't noticed. Everyday now, Nell had been spending with the Goblin King …she tilted her head…had he changed somehow? …No, he hadn't changed…she was just starting to see him more clearly. She still thought he was a selfish, stubborn, possessive, child who threw a tantrum anytime he didn't get his way; but… there was something else there too. Staring at his back intently, she tried to figure out what it was that was different. Was it that he seemed…more human somehow? She jerked back a bit as he turned around with an eyebrow raised.

"What are you doing back there Nell?" She shivered slightly and hoped he didn't notice.

"N..nothing. I was just…uhm…looking around." He smiled knowingly and turned his head slightly.

"Really?" Nell's heart beat uncomfortably. Had he known somehow she was staring at him the entire time?

"Yes." Nell said stubbornly. He turned back around and Nell thought she heard him chuckle.

"Come up here Nell, I can't talk to you if you're behind me." When she was level with him, he turned his head to look at her again.

"Was my back entertaining?" She blushed and turned away. He frowned, thinking she was ignoring him. "Do you know where we are headed today?" He asked mysteriously.

"No," she mumbled still not facing him. Nell waited, but he didn't continue. "Well, where are we going?" She blurted out turning around, annoyed at his games. Grinning again; he was so childish. Why does he always need to toy with me?

"It's a secret."

She shot him an "are you serious" face and rolled her eyes.

"Uhg, whatever."

Jareth grinned and directed her to turn left (as she was on the left and therefore in his way). They came to an archway covered in sheets of leaves and branches and Jareth brushed them aside to reveal a spring. Stepping closer, Nell was relieved that the bottom was visible; it was obviously not a Goblin hotspot.

"Do you like it?" he asked in that same mysterious tune.

She looked up at him untrustingly and replied, "It's beautiful."

"It's a new addition to the Labyrinth. Care to try it out?" Nell's body jolted back an inch involuntarily and she glared at him. "There's no hidden meaning or motives, I just wanted to go for a swim and relax for a change. Is that so horrible?"

Her eyes flicked down and back up to him. "Sorry…I just…"

"Yes, I know what you thought," he said grinning. "Not a very trusting girl, are you?"

As he finished talking, he pulled off his frilly white shirt. Nell took a silent but sharp breath at the sight of the thin chiseled chest. Her face grew warm and she reminded herself to turn away. As he put the shirt down on a branch, she interjected,

"I didn't bring a swimming suit."

He smiled, "That's alright, neither did I."

Her head jerked upwards just in time to see the Goblin King kick off his trousers and dive into the water in nothing more than his underwear. When his head popped back out of the surface, he smiled up at her. She glared at him in return.

"Not a chance!"

"Oh, come on now. What's the difference between your undergarments and a swim suit really?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest and he sighed. "Would you prefer my assistance?"

Nell frowned, not doubting he would love to assist her. Looking away, she timidly gripped the bottom of her shirt. Then in one swift motion, like tearing off a bandage, she tore the shirt off and placed it on another branch. Jareth's smile dropped for a second and his body tightened as he caught sight of her delicate black bra. He smirked as she turned and glared at him indignantly. She looked down at her jean shorts, eyebrows scrunched in thought. Looking up again, she decided to leave them. Jareth watched her dive into the spring and swim over to him. With her trademark pout, she asked, "Happy now?"

Smiling, he replied, "Delighted." He then lay back and started to swim away from her. She stayed put for a while watching him just swim around the spring. After a minute or so, she submerged herself. When she came out, she tossed her hair back and smoothed it along with her hands. Deciding to ignore Jareth and enjoy the nice water, Nell turned towards the waterfall at the end and swam.

Jareth glanced over and watched her progress. Smiling devilishly, he crouched down in the water like a hunting crocodile. He submerged to where he wouldn't leave a trail on the surface and took a few strong strokes. It didn't take long for him to intersect her. Nearly swimming into his bare chest, Nell pulled herself to the surface in shock. Coughing when she broke through, Jareth snuck his arms behind her and pulled her close. She began to freak out and push him away. He held her firmly.

"Calm yourself Naella! We're still in the water, thrashing about like that could drown us both."

Breathing heavily, Nell stopped moving around; but she continued to push away from his chest. He was surprised that in place of a glare, her eyes were wavering with fear.

"Let go," Nell said flatly.

In a nicer tone now, Jareth replied, "Calm down, I didn't mean to scare you, startle maybe…come on," he said bouncing her out of the water for a second, breaking her arm lock and having her rest on him. " There, isn't that much better?" Nell clenched her eyes shut, her heart pounding against her breast. She was tired from all that struggling and keeping afloat after her long swim. He sighed and lay back in the water, pulling her over with him. She panicked a bit grabbing onto his torso when he placed her arms there. He calmed her down and told her to hold on.

"Remember to float for yourself, I'm not a boat." He said sternly. She did as he told her and he pulled her to shore. She was surprised he was so strong a swimmer for all of this. She let go as soon as her back lay solidly against the shore. She lay back limp trying to breath around the stitch that had formed in her side. Her eyes were closed, forgetting Jareth completely in her discomfort. Jareth leaned back on his hand as he sat and watched Nell. After she was able to breath normally again, she continued to lay there with her eyes shut. Her breathing shifted to where her chest rose only slightly and small slumber noises emitted from her. He watched her sleep on the beach there for a while, not paying any mind to the time passing. She wrinkled her nose a bit as he lifted her hair out of her face. Waiting for her to finish, as she lifted a hand and scratched at her bridge, he continued to stroke her hair back.

When Nell awoke, she found that the warm fleshy pillow she had been sleeping on was Jareth's naked chest. Looking up his neck to the underside of his chin, she saw the mighty Goblin King had fallen asleep on the shore. She wasn't sure if she should sit up; it might wake him up and he had let her sleep after all. Relaxing her neck, she stared at his chest again. She laid there for a while observing the feeling of his chest's slow rising and falling. His heartbeat comforted her and his warmth tempted her to fall back asleep. Frowning at the thought of wanting to sleep on the Goblin King, she started to raise herself off of him. A hand startled her, pushing on her shoulder and stopping her. She looked over and saw Jareth's eyes were still closed though his hand was pushing her back down.

"Lay back down." He muttered sleepily. She began to complain but stopped herself realizing it would be pointless to argue with him about anything. He always got his way, no matter what, so she just laid her head back on his chest. Hard as she tried to fight it, she fell asleep again under the warm sun, on Jareth's chest, in the sand.

Nell woke up again as she felt Jareth's chest slipping from underneath her. As Jareth sat up, Nell followed suit, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Jareth smiled and watched her. Nell frowned, wondering what he was smiling at.

" You might want to put this on before we head back." He said picking up a shirt and holding it out to her. Nell's face flushed royal red and she quickly crossed her arms in front of her. Face turned away, she grabbed the shirt as he leaned over to hand it to her. She tossed the shirt over her head and pulled it down. She looked down in confusion as she felt the loose and foreign fabric. Her eyes widened, realizing he had given her his shirt. She looked up, but went silent as she saw Jareth turned away pulling his trousers over his hips. She watched his back as he buckled them and shrugged his majestic cloak/jacket onto his shoulders. He turned around with a smile. Same old Goblin King…Nell was the one who looked mismatched.

"Where's my shirt?" She asked him quietly, newfound shyness taking over.

Jareth shrugged with a grin saying, "Who knows, things in the Labyrinth have a tendency of moving around by themselves."

Nell glared at him. "You can't expect me to go back like this?!"

"Why not? It suits you."

Nell blushed again and angrily replied. "People will think things if I show up in your shirt!"

"So what if they do, you are my possession are you not?"

"I AM NOT YOUR POSSESSION!" She cried out, crossing her arms protectively over her chest.

Jareth's eyes lowered and the sides of his mouth turned down. Nell's heart jumped, but she held her ground. He advanced slowly towards her till he was looming over her threateningly.

"Everything in this Labyrinth belongs to me. You are mine Naella and you will learn to obey me."

Grabbing her chin, he forced her upwards into his kiss. She struggled, but he held her there enjoying himself. When he finally released her, she raised her hand to slap him. Jareth caught it, leaving her to do nothing but glare at him furiously. "I think it's time we returned Naella. You can remain here by yourself if you like, but I have things to do."

Without another word he turned and walked back the way they had come. Nell clenched her fists and held back her tears as she glared after him. How could anyone be so…aargh. The crude, self conceited, arrogant, JERK! More human my ass! What was I thinking? Arms crossed and chin set in stone she stomped back down the trail with no intention of catching up with him. When she got back she would change and go burn his stupid shirt.