I Want My Brother Back

Fear was Jareth's favourite emotion. It suited Sarah the best, anyway. When she was frightened she was more curious than anything; curious so that she could question and wonder and evaluate, so that she would not be afraid any longer. Fear made her stronger, too. He knew she would never back down because she was afraid. He wanted to control her with her fear, but he could never find a fear strong enough to rule her. Thus it became so tempting to attempt to frighten her that without really realizing it he had battered the window with his claws and wings and burst his way into the room. She stood there in the darkness, aghast by everything that was happening. To add to the terror he flew in as if he were going in for an attack, straight for her head. She flew her arms up for protection.

Then, by calling forth the powers within him, he lifted his arms up and transformed his image to one more like hers. The wind and the the thunder broadcasted his arrival, and he stood with a smug smile on his face as she watched in amazement. He stood before her in full glory, dressed in lavish—though dark—garments, appropriate enough for a Goblin King. He waited for her to put the pieces together.

"You're him, aren't you? You're the Goblin King!" she said cautiously.

Jareth gave her a smug smile.

"I want my brother back, please, if it's all the same."

"What's said is said." Jareth replied calmly.

"But – I didn't mean it!"

"Oh, you didn't?"

"Please, where is he?"

"You know very well where he is," Jareth thought about the Underground, and how she would soon be there, with him.

"Please bring him back, please!" she pleaded.

Jareth felt a slight pain to his chest, but ignored it. "Sarah," The sound of his own voice uttering her name made him pause, though he did not stop speaking. It was the first time her name had ever been spoken with his own tongue. He revelled in the taste of it. "Go back to your room. Play with your toys and your costumes. Forget about the baby."

He knew she wouldn't take that for an answer. "I can't," she replied, just as he imagined.

"I've brought you a gift," he said calmly, lifting his hand and bringing forth one of his crystal balls.

"What is it?" she said.

Content knowing he'd picked up on her interest, he juggled the orb with his hands. "It's a crystal. Nothing more. But if you turn it this way, and look into it, it'll show you your dreams. But this is not a gift for an ordinary girl that takes care of a screaming baby."

He watched her face carefully. "Do you want it?"

He saw the twinkle in her eyes; the spark of curiosity. She eyed the orb, wondering if he were telling the truth.

"Then forget the baby."

Take it. He thought, knowing the likeliness of her rejection. If she took the orb now, it would be easier for both of them. She would be his, then and forever—and without the hassle of having to trick her into solving his Labyrinth.

"I can't," she sighed, giving up her life's fortune. "It's not that I don't appreciate what you're trying to do for me, but I want my brother back. He must be so scared—"

"Sarah!" he said sternly, interrupting her. He'd planned for this, but could barely contain the vexation he felt at her denial. He lifted his hand and turned the orb into a snake, coiled around his long fingers. She watched with wary awe. Jareth felt a burning in his chest and the urge to torment her. That perfect face, those red lips – he wanted to scare her even more.

"Don't defy me." He warned with a strict voice, just before throwing the snake at her.

Sarah screamed and waved her arms to catch the creature and block her face, but the snake was no more than a simple scarf. He knew he could never really harm her.

She turned back to face him, defiance in her expression.

"You're no match for me, Sarah." he challenged.

"But I have to have my brother back!" she pleaded, unrelenting.

I imagined this might happen. Sarah, I knew you would not give up your brother. Jareth curled himself towards her and then pointed through her window.

"He's there. In my castle."

I cannot bring her there, she must go willingly. And willingly she will go, if she wants to rescue her brother, that is. Jareth thought.

And there it was, the Labyrinth and the Goblin City far out on the desolate horizon. Just as he had left it.

"Do you still want to look for him?" Jareth asked her.

Within seconds they were in the Underground entirely, as she had willingly decided to see it and enter it. They stood together on a small hill, not too far from the entrance of the Labyrinth. Jareth watched Sarah from behind. The desert winds whipped wickedly past, stringing dust and debris everywhere. Her hair flew with it, and he wanted to hold it tight between his fingers.

"Is that... the castle beyond the Goblin City?"

"Turn back, Sarah!" Jareth called through the wind, knowing she would not. "Turn back before it's too late."

"I can't. Don't you understand that I can't?"

"What a pity." Jareth chuckled.

"It doesn't look that far."

"It's farther than you think." He said soothingly, menacingly, as he moved in towards her ear. She flinched at his presence so near to hers, and he felt pleasure at her fear. He knew every inch of his Labyrinth, and he knew when time ran out she would be his. These walls would catch her for him, and all he had to do was wait. "Time is short." he warned.

It's only forever. Jareth thought, circling around the girl. It's not that long at all.

Jareth summoned a clock, and pointed towards its hands. "You have thirteen hours in which to solve the Labyrinth before your baby brother becomes one of us... forever." he disappeared into the wind as he spoke. "Such a pity."

Back in his castle, towering high over the Goblin City, Jareth sat on the ledge of his throne room window. Toby sat on his bent leg, precariously perched. He bounced him on his knee and spoke to him, his crystal orb in Toby's small hands.

"There's your sister, Toby, do you see her? You're going to help me catch her, did you know that?"

The child giggled and hit the orb with his hands. Through the silvery pane of the glass he could see Sarah, just meeting Horble or Diddle, whatever the little dwarf's name was, for the first time.

Excellent. He thought. He should follow my orders just nicely, I think. Jareth recalled the day he pulled the gatekeeper aside, telling him about the day his Queen would one day reach the gates of his Labyrinth.

"If one day a girl named Sarah arrives, as the gatekeeper, you'll let her in," Jareth told him, Hoddle shuddering in place. "But you will not help her, is that clear? She is to get lost in my Labyrinth."

"Y-Yes, your Majesty." the dwarf replied.

"If she makes it far in, Hodwin, I want you to befriend her and lead her astray. Take her back to the Labyrinth's entrance."

"Why?" it asked.

"You ask me why? Why? Tra-la-la!" Jareth's voice scratched with his anger. "You do not ask me why, you only have to do what I say. If you do well, I will reward you with all the riches you could ever want."

The light of imagination sparkled in the deep-set eyes of the wrinkled old dwarf.

"Riches, Jareth?"

"But if you don't," Jareth grinned threateningly, "I will throw you into the Bog of Eternal Stench."

Dwarves have particularly good sense of smell, since their eyesight is not so strong. The thought of being trapped forever in such a foul-smelling place frightened the dwarf more than anything. It agreed without any hesitation.

Jareth recalled the the stupid creature with disgust. How was it that he, the Grand Magician of the High Court, was now the ruler of such a place? These pathetic vermin would never know the greater emotions that he felt, the significance of his being. He looked around to his throne room, his goblin minions sitting in various corners. Many were playing gambling games, others drinking out of poorly crafted cups. They were loyal to him, he had to admit at least that. But in watching them Jareth was reminded about people he used to be surrounded by, the pompous fools of the High Court and the Kingdom of Esitrea. For a moment he felt nostalgic; he missed the perpetually balmy weather, the ashen beauty of the peoples there, and even the golden walls of the High Court itself.

He was quickly stolen from his memories by the wailing of the baby in his lap.

"Oh Toby, do be quiet. What if Sarah heard you from out there in the Labyrinth? She might just find her way here."

Jareth peered into his orb and saw Sarah talking with a small blue worm.

It's helping her. Jareth observed. But what could a worm know?

Then Sarah arose, an epiphany in her eyes.

Don't turn left. Jareth's heart stopped, slowly realizing what the worm had told her. Sarah only took a moment to consider and then chose – left.

No. Not left! Not to the castle!

As if he were working his magic on her, she stopped and turned according to his whim. The worm! He thought. He's telling her to go right!

Jareth laughed openly, watching Sarah make her way down the path. But as he watched her he realized with reluctant acceptance at just how close he was to losing her. A growing fear made its way into consciousness. What if she did solve the Labyrinth? He questioned, only to immediately correct himself. No one can pass the Labyrinth but me. I created it, after all.

The baby would not hush, and the goblins in his keep began to gabble their annoyances. Jareth picked Toby up and placed him next to a couple of horned goblins.

"You, take care of it." He said fiercely. The pests nodded.

Jareth sat in his throne, lifting one long slender leg up over the arm rest. He steepled his fingers below his chin, absentmindedly patting his staff on his leg.

What to do? He thought. How can I prolong this?

He looked up to the clock.

There's still so much time. I'll have to do something.

Toby continued to bawl, and Jareth sighed. He might as well cheer the little thing up, and it would make him forget about Sarah for a moment.

I'll sing him a song. Jareth thought, feeling the urge to dance already surfacing.

But he was wrong, though—the song only made him think of her more.