II
Sarah moved gracefully down the castle halls a she made her way to her husband's office. Pushing gently on the ornately carved door, she entered to find the King seated behind his massive desk, thumbing through a small mountain of paperwork. "Jareth," she moved behind him and placed her hand gently on his shoulder. "Good morning, darling," the Goblin King turned and took her hand in his. "I've brought a summons. Actually two, they arrived together although they are for children in two very different realms," she held out the two small pieces of paper.
Jareth took the summons Sarah had produced from her pocket and scanned them quickly. "A boy and a girl from another realm," he murmured before looking to his wife, "I should go alone this time," he tucked the summons into his breast pocket and stood before Sarah. "Are you sure?" She asked as she watched him move around the office gathering the supplies he would need for the journey. "Quite," he replied gently as he kissed her forehead. "I'll be back soon," He murmured against her skin. "Be careful," she sighed as he disappeared in a haze of smoke and glitter. Sarah made her way around the room, tidying Jareth's mess of books and paper work. Once she was satisfied, she returned to her private chambers to await Jareth's return from his mission.
Jareth emerged from the haze of glitter in a spacious, richly decorated nursery. Why would anyone wish you away, little one? He thought to himself. He moved along the stone floor toward a small child's bed that was carefully positioned in the center of the room. As he approached, he could make out the soft breathing of a dark haired little girl. Drawing even closer, Jareth noted the she bore a striking resemblance to Sarah. He carefully pulled back the sheets and lifted the sleeping child, all the while whispering a spell over the little girl to ensure that she remained at rest until they returned underground. Jareth disappeared once more with the child in hand.
They travelled then to the home of the second child. When they arrived, Jareth immediately noted the stark contrast between the lodgings of the two. The second room seemed to be a simple mud brick structure with red clay tile floors, everything in the room covered in a fine layer of dust. Adjusting the sleeping girl on his shoulder, Jareth once more pulled back the blankets covering the fair-haired child and lifted him from the bed. Once again he uttered the words to ensure the child would sleep and returned promptly to the underground.
Sarah heard the soft thud of Jareth's boots on the cool stone floor before her in the antechamber. "Have the questors started the labyrinth?" She asked, moving toward him to take one of the sleeping children from Jareth's arm. Jareth handed her the sleeping girl. "There were no questors," Jareth admitted as he sat in his large armchair still cradling the boy in his arms. "How can that be!" Sarah gasped in shocked surprise. "I am not sure, I do not think this sort of thing has ever happened before," he sighed patting the boy in arms softly. Sarah moved to her husband's side and gazed sadly at the sleeping child in his arms. "Should we wait the allotted time before giving the children away?" Sarah inquired. "Yes, we cannot give up the hope that someone somewhere wants to bring them home, but if no one comes to claim them then I shall find them a home together," Jareth smiled softly at the children as he stood. "Now my darling, let's put these two in the nursery." He led his wife down the dark corridor to the small nursery where the wished-aways would be kept until the thirteenth hour had passed.