Author's Note: Okay, so this may be longer than 2-3 chapters *lol* You know me, I can't write a one-shot to save my life, they always have a mind of their own. I have most of the story written and will post a new chapter every few days, or each time a chapter reaches 20 reviews…which ever comes first.
I hope you enjoy it. :)
Mistletoe Magic
Ch. 2: Christmas Vacation
There were times that Hoggle was sorry that he had been promoted – today was one of those as he, Sir Didymus and Ludo stood outside of the King's study listening to crystals shattering from behind the heavy wooden door, followed by angry muttering from their King.
"King angry," whispered Ludo, which in and of itself was a feat since whispering was quite difficult for the stone caller.
"Indeed," murmured Sir Didymus in agreement. "I say, brother Hoggle, I do wonder what has set His Majesty off. You don't suppose it has to do with Lady Sarah?"
Grumbling, Hoggle glared at the small furry knight, "How should I know?! I arrived the same time you did." Hoggle glanced fearfully at the door as the sound of shattering glass stopped. Usually when their King was this agitated, it was a pretty fair guess that Sarah was in some way involved, not that the King ever admitted it or Sarah even knew about it.
Sighing, Hoggle listened as the shattering sound started up again. It had been six years since Sarah's run of the Labyrinth and it was only her friendship with Hoggle, Sir Didymus and Ludo that kept them from being bogged for their part in her win. In fact, in a move that surprised everyone in the kingdom, the King promoted them, making the three of them members of the castle staff and more importantly, assigning them the singular task of keeping an eye on Sarah, a job that had gotten more and more difficult the older she got. Hoggle sniffed dolefully remembering the last time she had called for them, shortly before her 18th birthday. If Hoggle had to pick the worst day in his life that was probably it. When they arrived in her room, she hugged them all, gave them each a small gift, then told them that since she was turning 18 soon, that she wouldn't be calling them anymore because it was time for her to grow up. Hoggle tried to tell her that magic didn't work that way, but the silly girl wouldn't listen, and who was he to try to tell the Labyrinth Champion different. When they returned to the castle and told the King their news, all three expected to be tossed into an oubliette, and from the way the King raged you'd have thought that was exactly what would happen, but it didn't. Instead, the King disappeared for three days, returning hung over to buggery and refusing to say where he had been. After that, the King changed. And Hoggle knew why.
While ever Sarah still called on her Labyrinth friends, the Goblin King had hope…hope that she might someday call for him. Hope that she might someday see that his promises were true and not a mere trick. Hope – that she might come to love him. When she stopped calling, he lost hope and as everyone in the Underground knows, hope is one of the most powerful magics in existence, the other being love.
For the last three years the King did his job, but his heart was no longer in it. He didn't play with the wished-away children anymore, merely pawning them off on the nursery goblins. He stopped singing and cavorting with his goblins. He even stopped tormenting and taunting the runners. Not once had he called Hoggle to take them back to the start or put them off track. In fact, he seemed not to even care if they won or not. In short, the Goblin King didn't care. He did the job out of duty and that was all that he did, not one thing more. Oh, that isn't to say he neglected the Labyrinth, in fact if he wasn't moping around the throne room, or walking laps up and down through the Room of Improbability, he was out in the Labyrinth, walking – endlessly walking up and down the paths.
Hoggle looked at Didymus with a gruff frown. "I was called the same time you were, I's expect. Well…Go on. Knock on the door," he said, giving his friend a gentle nudge toward the door.
Sir Didymus' tail seemed to wilt a bit at Hoggle's words.
"Ye ain't ascared are ya?" Hoggle said with a grin, knowing his words would spur his companion into action.
"I fear nothing!" spluttered the small fox-knight, raising himself straight, before shuddering as the sound of shattering crystals once more came from inside the King's study.
"Ludo scared," moaned Ludo in a whisper that was still the volume of a normal man shouting.
"Aye…" nodded Hoggle, looking at the door in surprise as another crystal shattered on the other side of it. "Being scared makes sense when that rat is angry." Nudging Sir Didymus, Hoggle gestured toward the door, "Well…whatcha waiting for? Go on an' knock. Let's get this over with."
Didymus paused long enough to wonder how he was elected the spokesman of the group, then rapped sharply on the door with the end of his staff, straightening his back as the bellow he expected came from within – "ENTER!"
Taking a deep breath, Sir Didymus opened the heavy wooden door and entered the Goblin King's study, followed closely by his brothers-in-arms, ready to face the dragon that was the Goblin King's temper.
As the three friends entered the Goblin King's private study, the door slammed shut behind them, making all three jump. It was a strange procession that met the Goblin King's pale eyes, the most frail one of the bunch in front of the line, followed by the dwarf, with the hulking form of the great orange shaggy rock-caller bringing up the rear. His eyes narrowed as he watched them enter the room, then turned from them to throw another crystal into the fireplace.
"Um… is there something we may assist you with, Your Majesty?" enquired Sir Didymus, his voice quivering slightly as his King pinned him in place with blazing eyes.
The Goblin King gestured toward a scroll laying open on his desk, then growled, resuming his angry pacing in front of the ornate fireplace, the flames in the grate responding to his anger, dancing upward in the grate as if attempting to caress him as he continued to peer into a crystal that swirled with snow. He snarled in frustration, then hurled the crystal at the door where it burst into a flurry of silver glitter that disappeared before it hit the floor.
Finding his voice, Hoggle spoke up, "Got a problem, d'ya?"… only to cringe when the Goblin King turned his dark glare toward him.
"My father has decided to interfere in the running of my kingdom," Jareth huffed, pointing at the scroll on the desk. Moving forward, Sir Didymus read over it, careful that his paw did not touch the purple wax seal of the High King that adorned the bottom of the missive.
"I see, Sire," the little knight said. "But the High King does seem to have your well-being in mind in making his request."
Hurling another crystal at the wall, Jareth roared, "That was no bloody request and you know it Didymus! I have been ordered out of my own castle and kingdom until the new year begins! And for what? Because he thinks I've been moping about too much and need a vacation?! I'm the Goblin King! I don't take vacations!"
Sir Didymus stepped back toward the safety of his brethren as he watched the Goblin King rage around his office.
"Well, to be fair, Your Majesty," he said, "Perhaps some time away might do you some good? You used to enjoy your time away. And there are usually no children wished away during the Yule holiday."
"Yeah…ye used to like goin' ta that cabin o' yors of a weekend," added Hoggle as Ludo nodded his great shaggy head in agreement. "Mayhap ya jes' go there for a few days. The High King din' say where ya had to go, just that ye had ta go somewhere."
The Goblin King frowned, then threw himself into an armchair, his leg propped over the arm as his crop appeared in his hand. A wicked grin teased his lips as all three of Sarah's friends seemed to step back at the sight of the crop. Tapping it on his boot he glared at them before he spoke again, "As it is a dictate from the Crown, I have no choice but to go, which means you three are in charge of keeping the goblins from destroying the castle or burning down the city."
Eyes wide, Hoggle looked at the King, "Yer gotta be kiddin', Sire! Them idgets doan even listen to you! Ain' no way they'll listen to the likes of us!"
Fixing Hoggle with a malicious grin, the Goblin King laughed, the sound dark and foreboding, "Indeed. And that isn't all you have to do." An elegantly gloved hand gave a deft twist, another crystal appearing in it. Jareth peered into the crystal for a moment, snarling as it swirled with white snow, then tossed it to Hoggle who flinched remembering the last time the Goblin King tossed him a crystal. "I have lost track of Sarah."
"My lady is missing?" gasped Sir Didymus, coming alive with his spear waving. "I shall fight to find her, Sire! To the death if need be!"
"Aw pipe down, ya git," grumbled Hoggle, looking from the crystal to Jareth, then Didymus. "If the King can't find her, ain' no way we can."
The King nodded, then pointed at the crystal in Hoggle's hands, "Two hours ago I stopped being able to see her, all that shows up is a swirl of white snow. I want you two to keep checking that crystal. She still lives and is safe, because the crystal is not black or glowing, so something is interfering with my magic that tracks her. As soon as the crystal clears and you can see her, I want you to go to her and make sure she is alright. There is magic afoot and it is not mine."
"But Sire," protested Sir Didymus, "We are not to go to her unless she calls."
"That was not a request, Didymus. That was a direct order from your King," snapped the Goblin King as he hopped to his feet, stalking toward the trio as they stepped back, pinning themselves against a bookshelf. "Do you really want to be reminded what happens when you disobey my orders?" he asked, his eyes narrowing as his voice took on a distinctly steely quality.
All three shook their heads frantically.
"Extremely wise of you," sneered the Goblin King.
"But Sir, wouldn't it be best if you watched the crystal and went to her when it cleared?" ventured Sir Didymus, his furry mustache twitching slightly under the King's frustrated gaze.
"Would that I could, Didymus," Jareth grumbled. "My father, in his infinite wisdom, plans to bind my magic until new years or he deems me relaxed and therefore fit to resume my duties to the kingdom – whichever takes longer I am quite sure," snarled Jareth, resuming his pacing, his glossy boots clicking sharply against the stone of the floor. "I will be unable to leave my 'vacation' spot until he returns my powers fully, and Gods only know when that may be."
The Goblin King's tirade was interrupted as a glowing red clock appeared in the silver mist that danced within the great crystal sitting upon the curled dragon holder on Jareth's desk.
"Blast! That is father reminding me that my time is nearly up," grumped Jareth, running a hand through his hair, the pale strands standing out wildly as a result. "Should you need help or have problems, use the crystal of state to contact the High King. He is sending me on this silly vacation, he can bloody well help you if the goblins get out of hand." With a malicious grin, Jareth looked at Hoggle, "In fact, I suggest you encourage them to do as they wish in my absence – let him deal with the little cretins. I am on vacation until further notice."
Twisting his hand, Jareth conjured up a crystal before glaring at the three friends once more, "And don't forget what I said. The very minute Sarah's crystal clears, you are to go to her make sure she is all right – no excuses. I swear by all that is holy, I will sequester you in a leaky oubliette directly underneath the bog if you fail me in this!"
The Goblin King gave one last fearsome growl and dropped the crystal at his feet, then vanished in a haze of black glitter that shimmered as it floated to the stone floor.
"Well Merry Yule to us," grumbled Hoggle peering into the swirling snow inside of Sarah's crystal.