Chapter 33. Toby's Christmas Wish

He sat alone on Sarah bed, rocking himself to and fro, tears on his face. He snuck in to the room more and more often, just to sit. His father and mother could not bear to deal with the room or the fact that its occupant was gone, never to return. It had been nearly two months, and still the little boy could not let go. He held to his memories of his big sister with a tenacity that frightened his mother. Toby held Lancelot, Sarah's old bear that she'd given to him in his arms tightly as he rocked whispering the girl's name over and over like a chant.

Christmas was only a few days off, and his parents were trying to keep the spirit of Christmas alive for the little boy. They had decorated the house, had decorated a beauty of a tree in the parlor, and had made plans for a lovely family dinner. Under the tree in the parlor were gifts wrapped in beautiful paper and ribbons. They seemed to go on forever, packages of every size. A good many of them were addressed for Toby, every thing on his wish list he seemed to be getting except the one thing he wanted most.

Karen rose from her bed early, wanting to make the special Christmas bread that Toby had been talking about a dinner. As she passed Sarah's room she looked in, a matter of habit really. Seeing her son sitting on the bed rocking, she was tempted to enter and ask him what in the world he was doing. She hesitated, watched him for a moment then wordlessly moved quietly to the stairs and down to the kitchen. After pouring herself a cup of coffee she sat in the dark room giving in to the tears she kept hidden from both Robert and Toby. She too missed their girl, her stepdaughter.

Toby looked out the windows of the room, out to a leafless tree. The branches were moving in the winter winds and making strange noises. The harder he stared the stranger the noise got. He rocked but was not comforted; he held the bear but felt nothing.

'Say your right words,' a voice hissed from somewhere deep within the walls.

Toby dropped the bear.

'Say your right words,' another hissed even darker.

Toby covered his ears with his little hands, and began to moan.

'Say your right words,' the voices taunted.

Clamping his hands down, letting the agony out of his soul, the little boy opened his mouth and roared, "SARAH!"

--

The girl in the ivory tower heard the cry, and rushed toward the tall window, nearly toppling out. "Toby!" she cried in reply.

­­­­­­--

In the circular throne room the cry was heard, as well as that of the girl. Jareth frowned, that was not supposed to be. Something was not right. The Goblin King moved off the throne, drew a crystal from the air and focused on the boy. In the center of the crystal he could see the child, tormented and wailing with his hands clamped over his ears. The Goblin King's frown deepened as he heard the hissed words. Cursing, began to call the horde.

--

Sarah could not get the sound of her brother's agony out of her head, turning she moved swiftly toward the Harpy and pinned her to the wall. "You get me down to the King right now, or I'll rip your fuckin' wings right off your ugly back."

Della blinked, having heard that tone only in Harpy Matrons. "Yes," she nodded and picked the mortal up without question.

Daisy put fingers to her lips and whistled sharply. The gryphon rose from where it was hiding. She easily mounted, and flew off toward the throne room arriving just in time to hear Sarah threaten to geld the King.

--

Sarah shoved the Harpy back even before they had landed, she moved like a cat toward the King. "Toby is in agony…"

Jareth's worried face turned to Sarah, "I'm aware."

"Well what the fuck are you doing about it?" Sarah demanded to know. "Do you know what the problem is?"

Jareth handed the crystal he'd been watching the boy in to her without hesitation. "Apparently you and I are the problem." He stood back; Sarah raised the orb and gazed into it as if she'd been doing so all her life. The images in the orb sprung to life, and the mortal girl stared at them in fascination. "I'm going to freeze time," he told her. "You're going with me," he looked at her garments that pleased him but were inappropriate for her brother's vision. Raising a hand he waved it gently over her, the sexual garments were replaced by a dress very like the one she had worn in the park the day she wished Toby away. Even now she still took his breath away.

Jareth extended a hand to her, "Come, we must help the boy…together."

Sarah looked down at the gown, "Wouldn't jeans and a shirt be more…"

"You belong to me now," Jareth stated forcefully. "Jeans and other mundane garb belong to that world… not this." His hand was still extended and now his eyes were showing impatience. "Come along."

Still she hesitated. "Wait," she said thinking of what their appearance was going to do to the child. "You can not call me Tagaan, not in front of Toby. He's smart, much smarter than anyone really knows if you call me that he'll know, don't ask me how, but he'll know and that will not bring peace to him." Jareth considered her words, gave her a strangely sly expression and she knew she was in trouble.

The Goblin King inclined his head. "Alright," he agreed. "However, you must behave toward me with respect and with," the man gloated openly; "With attentive affection."

Sarah looked at him, wanting nothing more than to place an iron spike right between his stormy eyes. "Attentive affection?" she scoffed. "I can muster respect, I can even manage obedient," she glared at him. "But attentive affection is asking a bit much."

"For Toby," he added in an evocative tone.

Daisy watched the bargaining session, concerned. Della watched thinking the King was insane to bargain with someone he could easily order. Both stood as silent witnesses.

Sarah's face at the mention of the boy's name changed. She lost her defiance and nodded slowly. "Yes, for Toby." She moved with grace toward the handsome king, her head held high. "For Toby," she placed her hand into his.

Jareth closed his fingers over hers, pained that he had to use the boy yet again as a bargaining chip to get from the girl what he felt she should freely offer him. His face hid the pain he was feeling; it was a mask of calm. "Ready?" he asked when she nodded he stretched out his arm, his wrist moved and his fingers did something that the girl could not see. The stained glass again opened into a portal. Jareth stepped forward; relieved she was not resisting him but moved with grace at his side; 'Oh Sarah, why do you fight me so? Why don't you see what is right before your eyes?' he thought to himself regretfully.

--

Toby knew something was different, even before they appeared. He knew that the house sounded and felt different. He looked through tears toward the widow, seeing the snow that had been falling lightly suspended in mid fall was enough to tell him there was magic afoot.

"Hello my fine fellow," a male voice behind him spoke gently. It was a voice that the boy knew, but had not recalled until that moment.

Toby turned in fascination at the sound of the voice. "I know you…" he whispered amazed at the man when his eyes shifted to the figure beside him. "Sarah?" he asked quietly, before rushing toward the woman in the long romantic looking gown. "Sarah!" He buried his face into her shoulder as she knelt to embrace him. "I knew you weren't dead…but they would not believe me."

"SHhhhh." She soothed the child whose tears were spilling freely. "I'm here Toby, I'm here."

Jareth knelt down as well, "Toby," he spoke in soothing tones. "Sarah and I never meant for you to worry so, or be so unhappy."

The little boy looked at the man whose voice he knew with a stony glare. "You took her from me…"

"Not exactly," Jareth said looking over at Sarah.

"No, Toby." She stated turning him to face. "That's not what happened."

The boy moaned. "Everyone thinks you're dead," he wailed softly.

Sarah touched his face gently. "Of course they do," she said with kindness. "Toby, do you really think anyone in the world is ready to learn we are not alone… that magic is real?"

He shook his head, and collapsed into her arms. "I don't want you to leave me again, can't I go with you?"

Sarah looked over at Jareth who for a moment wore a pleased expression before he schooled his face to calm once more. "Toby," she said firmly. "That would not be fair to your mom."

"This is not fair to me," he wailed.

Sarah looked over at Jareth, pleading silently for help.

Jareth took the child into his hands and held him as he had when Toby was only a year old. "What if I promised you that you'd be able to see your sister, privately?" The voice was compromising and tantalizing.

Sarah blinked, wondering how he intended to do that. "Jareth," she warned using the King's name instead of his title.

The King looked over at her, liking the sound of his name on her lips. Enjoying the intimate and cozy feelings being alone with Sarah and the boy evoked. "It's alright," he promised.

Sarah shook her head, "No, don't make promises you can't keep."

"I can keep this one," He passed a hand over the eyes of the boy which fluttered closed softly. "Sleep little one," he crooned softly. "When you awaken the pain will be lighter, and you will have the memory of a sweet dream of Sarah."

Toby's head fell back, his mouth went slack, and he went limp in the hands of the King.

"What did you do?" Sarah demanded looking at him suspiciously.

"He's fine," Jareth stood holding the boy in his arms. He carried the sleeping child to the bed and placed him next to the well loved teddy bear. "He's only asleep."

"And how do you intend to carry out this promise you made him?" She demanded standing over the bed like a guardian.

Jareth stroked softly the fine downy hair on the boy's head. "I promise you Sarah, you'll not be disappointed in how I fix things for the boy." He held out his hand, "Come, it's time we returned home, this world is not for us."

Sarah looked about her room, feeling out of place. He was right; this world was no longer hers. She turned to look at the child sleeping peacefully on her bed. "Toby," she said softly. "I promise you… if you ever need me, I'll be here."

"Promises," warned the King as her hand went into his, "Can get you into a lot of trouble…Ta…Sarah." He corrected the name he was calling her at the last second. Her name on his lips still held that amazing caressing quality.

"I'd move the stars to protect him," she ventured.

"I believe you could," Jareth pulled her to him. "I believe you have."

Sarah looked from the King to the child. "He's the one thing we seem to agree upon," she mused lightly. "Jareth," she looked at him not with rage, not with pain but with questions that had no answers; "Could we not have a truce over him?"

Unable to stop himself he made the whispered demand. "If you are able to give me one kiss…freely given, I will grant you this truce."

Sarah smiled, "Done." She rose on tippy toe and placed her lips to his. "Take your pound of flesh, Shylock." She whispered enticingly.

Slanting his lips to hers he whispered back, "Aye, but I can do so without a drop of blood being shed." His hands tightened on her and the room filled with a strange radiant light. He lingered over the moment, allowing for both of them to experience the respite of peace. "You have your truce, my Sarah," he whispered to her reverently. "Toby is our one pax, the one thing we can always agree upon."

Reluctant to allow the moment to end, Sarah looked up at the King. "Thank you," she looked at the child sleeping on her bed. "He's been through enough."

Jareth nodded, "Agreed." He stepped away from her and cleared his throat. "Goblins, attend." Suddenly the creatures that had been hidden in the Williams house appeared before their King. "The boy is not to be tormented," he commanded. "He is to be protected and watched over, understood? You are not to interfere in his daily life," The Goblin King warned forcefully. "You are only to watch over him." A moment later the gathered throng of creatures departed. The King turned to the girl, "Ready to go home?"

"Home?" she shook her head, "Is that what you think the tower is to me?"

Jareth raised the hand that had been placed in his; he looked at the fingers lacing his. "For now, but who knows…perhaps we can strike a peace between us."

Sarah's eyes flicked with little fires. "Not as long as you hold my dreams, Goblin King."

--

Karen returned to the upper floor, finding Toby sleeping with a peaceful face for the first time in months. She knelt down at the bedside just to watch him. She placed a finger to her lips as Robert appeared at the door. He too joined her at the bedside looking at their son. By mutual consent they allowed the boy his peace and his sleep.

They had decided against having a big family to do's that Karen was known for. Instead they were going to have a quiet family gathering. Robert was upset that he didn't seem to be able to locate Linda. He was told she was away on business and had not left a number she could be contacted at. Even Jeremy seemed to be out of the loop on this one. He told Robert he had no idea where she'd gone.

Robert looked at the decorated tree in the parlor, under which were gifts for each of them. "You did a wonderful job with all this," he complimented his wife as she busily worked at setting up the dinner table. He winked at her, loving the fact that she was wearing one of the pink outfits he so loved on her. "And I can't get over the trove of gifts here."

"Something for each of us," Karen promised. She moved to the stairs and called up. "Toby, dinner is ready.

"Coming," he shouted back before appearing at the top of the staircase. "Can I bring Lance?" He held up the bear that went everywhere with him these days.

Karen looked at the old bear and nodded. "Sure." She waved the boy with the bear down.

Robert looked at the threadbare and worn bear in the boy's hand. "You know," he said taking as seat in his favorite armchair and patting his lap for the child to join him. "That old bear has quite the history." His voice was intriguing

Karen paused in her work, and looked at father and son, and listened to her husband speak.

"He does?" Toby held the bear up and looked at him in wonder. "Tell me."

Robert held the boy and placed a hand on the bear's tiny shoulder; "Well he's very well traveled, having been to France and Germany…oh and England, too." Robert sounded fascinated by the bear as well. "He's magical you know…" Robert whispered. "He can even grant wishes if the wishes are made with a pure heart."

Toby looked at Lancelot, and closing his eyes whispered reverently; "I wish there was something from Sarah under the tree…"

Robert regretted telling the boy that the bear could grant a wish. Regretted not thinking to put something under the tree for the boy from his missing sister; "Let's go have dinner," he said hoping the boy would forget the whole thing.

"One gift," he begged his father as he slipped off the lap he'd been seated on. "Just one before dinner…."

Karen had heard the wish, and had joined her son in making it. "One for each of us…" she said taking a seat on the couch. "And Toby I think you can pick them out… you know how to read our names…" she encouraged him.

Toby looked at the myriad of gifts under the tree. Three stood out, they were wrapped in paper that sparkled like dew in the morning sunlight. He looked at the tags; there were one for each of them. He took the one that read mom and handed it to his mother, then the one saying dad to his father. That left only the one that said Toby in big letters. He sat under the tree, touching the gift and looking at the paper. "This is so pretty." He said looking at it and holding it up so the lights of the tree reflected in it.

Robert looked at his wife, "Who did these come from?"

"I don't know," she said looked at her box, and shrugged. "I don't remember these at all. Maybe Tilly, the cleaning lady put them under the tree."

Shaking his head Robert frowned. "This paper is not Tilly's style."

"I didn't say they came from her," Karen corrected. "I said she may have placed them under the tree… we've been getting packages in the mail for weeks."

"Right," Robert broke the ribbon on his box. "Open up, Toby… I'd like to have dinner before it gets cold."

Toby was already tearing into the paper and ribbon which gave way and dropped off. He opened the lid of the box, looked inside and gasped. "Sarah," he said in astonishment, as the wind was knocked out of him.

Both parents looked at the boy as he lifted the contents out of the box with careful hands. In his trembling fingers was a small crystal ball the size of an orange. Within the heart of the orb was an etching, a likeness of his sister. The boy cradled it to his heart and rocked back and forth.

Robert opened his box with trembling fingers; within his box was a picture frame. The contents of the box was a candid shot of Sarah and Toby playing near the swan's in the park, and the picture was signed; 'To daddy, from his Princess and Prince.' Robert closed his eyes, swallowed his tears and whispered. "Thank you."

Karen opened her mystery gift and found a locket, with a card. 'To mom,' she opened the locket to find Sarah on one side, Toby on the other. Clutching the locket to her heart she shed the tears that would not be held back.

Toby placed the orb down into the box once more, knowing it would be safe there. He picked up Lancelot, clutched him to his chest, hugging him tightly. "Thank you Lancelot!"

Robert looked at the bear that seemed to be staring at him. "Thank you," he whispered.

--

Sarah watched in the crystal that Jareth held before her, tears rolled down her cheeks as she did. "Thank you," she whispered to the King.

He looked at her with mixed emotions. "My war was never with them," he said in a strained voice.

"I know," she agreed. "But very often the innocent are the victims of a battle between warring sides." She wiped her tears away with one hand. "Toby should never have been made the victim of our… mêlée."

"There have been many innocent victims, on both sides." Jareth observed, as he lowered the crystal and moved away from her.

"That crystal you gave Toby," the sound of her voice was concerned and apprehensive. "It was thoughtful."

"It was useful," countered the King still walking away. "It enables me to see if and when the boy is in need."

"He does not belong to you," Sarah warned as he reached the corridor.

Jareth paused, shooting her a look of challenge over his shoulder. "Does he not?"

"I won him back, remember?" she stood rebelliously gazing at the King, her expression matched the haughty one he wore.

"We really must discuss why that has little to do with whether or not the lad is mine." Jareth teased coyly. "You and your little brother have far more in common than even you know, my Tagaan," he laughed a throaty laugh.

Sarah staggered back, feeling his scorn. She watched helplessly as the King strutted out of the room and left her alone to her thoughts. She looked at the throne room, where he'd left her. She'd made a peace with the King for the sake of the boy, and now she wondered just what it was truly costing her. That kiss freely given… she told herself must have had some secret significance. Sarah knew there was only one thing she could do. Find out what he'd coned her into this time and figure a way to use it as leverage against him. After all a sword always cut both ways, didn't it?

"Daisy," she called out knowing her guard was always near by. "Is there a library in the castle?"

Daisy smiled, at last one of them was using their head for something more than a resting place for a hat. "Aye, madam, there is. A fine library."

Sarah looked at her. "Take me there," she commanded.

Della snorted. "Grand lady giving orders now?"

"Shut up," Sarah snapped harshly. "Or I'll tie back your wings and you'll never fly again."

Daisy cocked up a brow, "Spoken like a Goblin."

"Spoken like a dead woman," countered the Harpy with her teeth barred.

However Sarah was not fearful at the threat, "You forget yourself Harpy," she warned as she moved toward the exit. "I'm the Tagaan, and I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that out ranks you."

Della sniffed, "Only as long as you're alive, witch bitch."

Daisy shook her head, as she took the lead and escorted Sarah toward the rooms of the Scribe and the scrolls.