Disclaimer: All references to the characters Jareth, Sarah, Hoggle, Sir Didymus, and the film Labyrinth belong to Jim Henson Studios and other pertinent parties. I do not claim ownership to the characters and / or the original source material.
Life's Little Lessons: Chapter 6.
"H-how did you get in here?" Thomas asked backing away from the strange man. He looked over his shoulder. "Charlie? Charlie?! Where are you?"
"Oh, she's quite all right at the moment," the man stated nonchalantly. Thomas ignored him and made his way to the kitchen. His toe bumped into a candle stub and he smelled sulfur from a freshly struck match.
"Where is she?" Thomas asked rushing back to the living room and the man who seemed mildly amused. "What did you do?"
The man scoffed and he said in an innocent tone, "What did I do?" Laughter and chuckles bounced off the walls in the hallway and living room. Thomas turned around and around noticing the beady eyes glittering in the semi-darkness. He made out short shapes, fat ones, curvy ones, tall ones, and lanky ones, but they were all shorter than him. What were they?
"Why, I simply did what you asked of me," the man continued. "For I am the Goblin King."
"This isn't real," Thomas scoffed and rubbed his eyes. "I'm just dreaming… or this is some stupid prank by Uncle Brian and you're just an actor." He pointed an accusing finger at the strange man who seemed to be glowing in the darkness. "Where's Charlie?"
"My dear boy, I am very real, I am not an actor, and you are certainly not dreaming," replied the Goblin King in a serious tone of voice. "What's said is said. This Charlie is now mine and will become a goblin in due time. If you wish to have her back, you must first prove yourself."
Thomas felt the brush of something against the back of his leg. He turned and found nothing; mocking laughter filled the air again.
"Or you can go back to your mundane life. Move on. Forget about Charlie," the Goblin King commanded. He twisted his wrist and produced a crystal. "Here. I have a gift for you."
"What is it?" he asked warily.
"It's an extraordinary gift for a young man such as yourself. It houses all of your dreams – a happy life where no one will tell you what to do, a life of contentment where your family is made whole again, a good life where you can have all that you want." He manipulated the crystal for a time and then presented it to Thomas. "Take it and forget about Charlie."
"I-I-I," the boy stammered taking a step back. His eyes were glued on the crystal. The Goblin King smiled knowingly.
"Or you can deny me and keep your miserable life," he stated taking a step closer. "All you have to do is take it."
"N-no," stammered Thomas. His eyes finally moved away from the crystal to the Goblin King's sculpted face. The strange man smiled and the crystal shifted into a spider. He threw it at the boy who threw up his hands to bat it away. Instead, feathers fell to the floor along with the boy. He fell hard and the chorus of goblin laughter rose again. Thomas grimaced and glared in the direction of the nearest goblin. "Stop laughing at me!"
The Goblin King scowled. "I will not tolerate others commanding my goblins." He waved his hand and the laughter stopped.
"Impertinent child, you don't seem to realize what you have done," he said in a dark tone of voice. "You said the words. The girl is mine, and there is nothing you can do about it."
"You can't have her," he replied hotly. "And I'm not impert-, impertin-. Whatever that word was. Give her back to me. Now."
The Goblin King stiffened ever so slightly and his eyes narrowed to slits. He crossed his arms and strode forward to loom over Thomas. "You have no power over me, boy," he continued in that dark tone. "What makes you think I'll simply give her up?"
Thomas lifted his chin in a defiant manner. "Give her back to me, Goblin King."
"Hun. Such a stubborn, impertinent, spoiled young man you are," he stated walking past him. Thomas turned and saw a new landscape – the hillside overlooking the Labyrinth, the one he had seen in his dreams.
"Th-this isn't real," he stammered again. He twirled around and found that his relative's house had disappeared. A smug expression rested on the Goblin King. In the full sunlight of this other world, Thomas finally saw the true appearance this fearsome monarch. Dressed in black regalia of leather and fine cloth, the Goblin King's blond hair stood out in stark contrast. Wind whipped the cloak of patches around in the wind, and the Goblin King looked like… a rockstar King in Thomas's eyes. In a breathy voice of awe, he finally had to admit, "You really are the Goblin King."
The statement drew a predatory smile from the strange man. Thomas suppressed another shiver.
"Good lad," the Goblin King said. "However, the deal has yet to be struck. You willingly wished Charlie away to me, and I cannot simply give her back to you without nothing in return. What do you propose to do?"
Thomas stared at the man and then turned to look at the Labyrinth. Did he dare to risk his life for Charlie? Should he run the Labyrinth? He touched his back pocket where the book rested awkwardly. He couldn't remember when he had slipped it back there, but he had. Touching it did not reassure him.
He felt scared. He knew he couldn't make it like the heroine in the book had. He hadn't finished the book, but fairy tales always had a happy ending. Plus he was eight years old. He wasn't smart enough (or so he told himself). He wanted to save Charlie by running the Labyrinth, but he was still mad at her, still mad at himself. His hand moved away from the book and clenched into a fist.
"Time is short, boy." Jareth smirked as he eyed the little red book in the boy's pocket. Knowing it was there would come in handy.
"It's not fair," he breathed. "I don't want to run this Labyrinth. I can't. I don't have powers or friends like that girl in the book! I'll die…" He paused. "Why do I have to do it? It was all her fault anyway. She's always teasing me and calling me names…" And hugging me and making me feel safe and being there for me when Dad isn't, he continued in his head. Aunt Sarah and Uncle Brian would never forgive me. Would they even like me anymore? Tears began to prick at his eyes and one trailed down his cheek. "I want Charlie back. Now."
Impatiently, the Goblin King considered the young man and his words. He forfeited his right to run the Labyrinth to save this girl… but he wanted her back. He obviously wasn't happy with her, but no runner was ever truly remorseful. Then again… The Goblin King took a few steps closer to the boy and saw the trail of a single tear down his freckled cheek. The boy turned, glared at him with his clear blue eyes and wiped the offending sign of remorse away.
"What's said is said. I cannot give her back unless you succeed in completing my maze. Those are the rules and I cannot change them simply because you demand it of me," the Goblin King stated in a tone of mock regret. "You must choose - do you forfeit your right to save her and condemn her to being a goblin forever or do you dare to risk your life for her's by running my Labyrinth?"
He watched the boy struggle with himself. Adults were easier to handle in this situation. They immediately wished to set things straight; their guilt drove them to save the children they had wished away in a moment of thoughtlessness. Even Sarah had been easier to form a contract with on that night so many years ago. She, too, had realized her breach of duty to her family and stubbornly won through pure grit and determination. Yet here he had a first – a young boy wishing away a young woman. A young boy, still in his childhood, who was unsure about his morals and uncertain about the harsh world he lived in. Inwardly, he sighed and made an odd gesture behind the boy's back. A little insurance for later would buy him time in case the boy did decide to run the Labyrinth... or complete another trial.
"Can I at least see her?" Thomas asked looking up at the Goblin King. The pleading look he gave the man made the Goblin King uneasy for his deceit. He had to be firm in this; he had no other choice. "I… I want to talk to her. Please."
The Goblin King shook his head. Even considering the idea of offering such a plea… He must be going mad. He wanted to grant his request, but the matter at hand could not be avoided. "I need a decision from you first."
Thomas looked at his feet. Why did he have to wish Charlie away? He loved Charlie. If he could only talk to her, they could figure out a way out of this mess together. Charlie would surely know… but he had to make the decision for both of them now. He felt so utterly guilty as he swallowed and his throat went dry.
"I forfeit," he said quietly.
"Very well. I feel generous today so I shall take you to her and you can say your good-byes," the Goblin King replied with a nod. He did not feel good about this triumph, but he had no other choice. With a thought, he brought the young boy to his throne room where the girl sat among his goblins. The mischievous creatures were peering up at her curiously. She lifted her green-eyed gaze that was and wasn't quite familiar to the pair. Her face lit up with excitement and relief. The dark-haired girl held out her arms to the boy and he ran to her. They both failed to notice the stunned expression on the Goblin King's face. A name had come to his mind upon seeing the girl in the light of day, one that still haunted his dreams and broken heart.