A Birthday Wish

Jareth was in his usual place, lounging across his throne with his legs tossed casually up over one arm, while his torso was draped across the other arm. On his outstretched fingers he held a crystal, which he was gazing intently into, seemingly oblivious to the goblin mayhem going on around him. Centuries of practice allowed him to virtually ignore his goblins while scrying and that was exactly what he was doing as he watched Sarah in the clear crystal orb.

He frowned at what he saw. Her slender form was huddled on a picnic table at the park she frequented. With a sob, she buried her head in her hands.

It had been two months since she had summoned him with her wish. He had hoped that by now she would have called for him, or at least made another wish, but she had done neither. And here she was, visibly upset. Jareth sighed as he watched her. He wanted to go to her, but was painfully aware that to show up unexpectedly might scare her off, and that is exactly the outcome he did not want. So here he sat, once again waiting to see what she would do.

Sarah wiped her eyes, sitting up on the picnic table once again, staring out across the duck pond. Her green eyes were faded with the tears that threatened to fall again. Sniffing sadly, she felt her throat tightening with unshed tears, before burying her head in her hands once more and letting the tears flow freely.

"I wish someone cared enough to spend tomorrow with me," she cried, her voice shaking as if her very heart was breaking.

She felt the shift in the air and heard the rich hum of magic around her, before she felt his hand touch her shoulder. Sarah briefly looked at him through blurry eyes, before hurling herself toward him and burying her face against his chest as the tears hit full force.

To say Jareth was surprised at her reaction would be an understatement. This was not the reception he had envisaged. Without a word he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as she cried. Despite his centuries of experience with women, he would never claim to fully understand them, but he knew one thing – when they cry, offer comfort, and that is exactly what he planned to do.

Sarah cried into his chest for several minutes, before the sobs slowed, interspersed with shuddering sighs and sniffling. He sighed softly as she pulled away from him, her head bowed so that her chocolate colored hair formed a veil over her face. Reaching out with a gloved hand, Jareth lifted her chin so he could see her face, using his thumb to tenderly wipe away the tears from her eyes.

"I…I'm sorry for blubbering all over you, Jareth," she sniffed, wiping her eyes further. "I guess I just needed someone and poof…there you were."

Frowning softly, he peered into her sad green eyes before speaking quietly, his voice washing over her like a caress.

"You have done nothing to apologize for dearest, as I told you. I will always be there, you have but to call for me. Now, do tell, what makes my Sarah, the Champion of the Labyrinth, cry so?" he asked gently. "Has someone hurt you?" Jareth enquired, mentally vowing swift retribution if the later was true, and to flog the goblins that had failed to protect her.

"No, well…not directly. You'll probably just think I'm a selfish brat," she sighed, pulling further away from him and sitting up on the table. Sarah ran a hand through her hair, staring at the quiet glass-like water on the duck pond.

Pursing his lips, Jareth looked at her, his eyes mirroring his concern, "Why don't you tell me what the problem is, and let me be the judge of that."

With a heavy sigh, Sarah said, "Tomorrow is my 16th birthday. Karen made Daddy and Toby go with her to some museum in the city for the weekend. They didn't say happy birthday or anything. Just packed the car and left me alone all weekend." Sniffing, she rubbed her eyes as they threatened to overflow again, "It isn't fair."

"Isn't the 16th birthday some sort of milestone in the mortal realm?" asked Jareth, his heart aching at the pain on Sarah's face.

"Yes…for others it is. I guess for me it will be just another day, home alone," Sarah replied, her shoulders hunching forward as she pulled her knees to her chest.

Jareth considered what he was hearing and was angry on her behalf. However, th truth was, he already knew that she had been left alone by her family on what was supposed to be a 'big' birthday in the mortal world, as the week before he had had two different requests regarding birthday surprises for Sarah – one request from Squint and Bob, and the other from Sarah's friends in the Labyrinth, the gardener, knight and yeti.

"What about your mother or friends?" he enquired, absent-mindedly conjuring a crystal and letting it dance over his hands, as it always helped him think.

"Mum called yesterday from Paris to wish me an early birthday, since she is off with her boyfriend Jeremy this week. And well…I don't have any close friends to do anything with this weekend. Besides, Karen made Daddy promise that if I had anyone over to the house I'd be grounded," she frowned, shaking her head.

Sarah turned to look at the wiry blonde man sitting next to her. She was surprised to see that he was wearing modern clothing, simple black jeans and a button down white shirt. Although she never thought she'd see him wearing anything like that, it actually suited him. Deep down she suspected he could wear anything and it would look like it was made for him.

"So, you mean you aren't going to tell me life isn't fair and to get over it?" she asked, studying his face.

Jareth smiled tenderly at her, wiping the last tear from the corner of her eye as it threatened to slide down her already tear-stained cheeks.

"No, Sarah…because it isn't fair that your family would desert you on what is, by all accounts, an important birthday."

Jareth watched her as Sarah gave him a sad smile, whispering, "Thank you."

Turning her body so she was facing him, Sarah tucked a leg underneath her on the table. She took a deep breath, then let it out slowly before speaking again, "So what brings you here, anyway?"

Raising an eyebrow, Jareth fixed her with a steely look, "Well, I could say that it is because my Champion has put herself at risk by being alone in a park after dark," he began, "which is a foolish thing to do."

Sarah laughed, her eyes shining without tears for the first time since he joined her.

"In this park, the only thing I have to fear any time of day is the random appearance of glittery Goblin Kings," she giggled. "Care to offer up another explanation?"

Chuckling, Jareth leaned toward her, "Are you sure you shouldn't be frightened of me?"

Sarah sat up straight, looking quietly at him, her jade eyes seeming to search inside him as if seeking out his motives. The very thought of her knowing his true intent, making him shudder inwardly, as it would be better for her if she didn't yet know his intentions toward her.

Shaking her head, she smiled at him, her eyes brightening.

"No…I don't think I have any reason to fear you. At least not for the moment," she decided with a slight nod in his direction. "So, really…why are you here. I didn't wish for you this time or anything to do with you."

"True, but you did wish for something that involves some of my subjects," Jareth replied. "I am certain that Bob and Squint, as well as Hogbrain, Didymus and that red yeti, would be happy to spend your birthday with you, since they do in fact care quite a bit about you."

Sarah frowned again, tracing carved initials on the top of the picnic table with a manicured fingernail.

"Bob and Squint left for the castle yesterday saying they would be gone all weekend and the others said they wouldn't be able to see me until late tomorrow night as they would be busy all day," she sighed, her voice trembling once more.

Jareth nodded, tapping his lips with a gloved finger as he considered the problem.

"Well dearest, how about if I take you out for the day instead? After all, I can't have the Champion of the Labyrinth spending such a special birthday by herself. I mean, what would people say?" he stated, a sly smirk teasing the corners of his mouth as he looked at her.

"I doubt that anyone would say anything about it," Sarah laughed. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm sure as King, you have more important things to do than babysit me on my birthday."

"I would hardly call being a friend and taking you out for your birthday 'babysitting', Sarah," he replied, his mismatched eyes glinting merrily in the evening light. "Besides, I could entertain you for the day, and then you could see Hogwart and company in the evening."

Leaning back on the table, Sarah braced herself on her hands and looked at him. He had a point, it wouldn't be like he was babysitting her and she would like to have some company on her birthday. The hard part was getting her head around the idea of being friends with the Goblin King – her villain. Well…former villain at least.

"It is a tempting offer," she began, her emerald eyes studying his reactions carefully as she spoke, "but tell me something, Jareth, why are you really offering to take me out on my birthday?"

Jareth smiled quietly, his voice dropping as he answered, "As I said the last time you summoned me, as my Champion, I care about your safety and happiness. If keeping you company on your birthday would make you happy, then it is the least I can do. Besides, it was my understanding that is the sort of thing friends do for one another, is it not?"

Sarah nodded silently, pursing her lips as if considering his argument, "Is that what we are now? Friends?"

"I would like to think we either are, or could become so," came the reply, his clipped accent and soft tone making her shiver slightly in the cool evening breeze.

She thought this over for a moment, and nodded. There were worse things she could think of, than having the Goblin King for a friend.

Jareth was pleased that she seemed inclined toward his invitation, but that pleasure was short-lived, knowing that he needed to tell her the rest of his plan first, as it might be the deal-breaker.

"Sarah, I would like to show you around my kingdom tomorrow. There are some lovely sights to see and some things I'd like to show you, if you would accept my invitation."

As he expected, Sarah looked frightened at the prospect of returning to the Underground and anywhere near the Labyrinth. Her usually creamy skin blanched at his offer, as she nibbled her bottom lip, something he noticed she did when she was upset or nervous.

"I know you said you did not want to go back Underground," he said, his voice quiet and sure, "but your friends are required at the castle tomorrow for their duties, and would not be able to come see you until very late in the night. However, if you spend the day in the kingdom with me, you'll be able to see them earlier. In fact, I thought you might like to have dinner with them, instead of merely speaking to them in your room."

Sarah looked at him, her emerald eyes guarded as she considered his offer. It would be an adventure, but could she trust him? At the same time, the idea of having dinner with her friends was compelling.

Seeing her struggling with the decision, Jareth conjured up two crystals, one filled with vibrant green smoke and the other filled with deep crimson mist. He spun the crystals twice in his right hand, speaking softly to them, before offering them to her.

"I know you are hesitant about venturing back to the Underground, Sarah, and I assure you that I have no desire to harm you in any way. As a way of proving that, I am offering you these two crystals," he said, his voice low and soothing, as he smiled at her. "If you decide to let me show you around my kingdom tomorrow, then in the morning, simply hold the green crystal in your right hand and say 'take me to Jareth'. And, if at anytime you decide you want to come home, just hold the red crystal in your left hand and say 'home' and you'll immediately be sent back to your room. You will have complete control over your arrival and departure."

Jareth was pleasantly surprised when she took the crystals from his hands. He watched as she turned them over in her fingers, examining them closely.

"No tricks," she asked, eyeing him warily.

"You have my vow, Sarah. And the Fae take vows quite seriously. They are not a simple promise for us."

Nodding, she palmed the crystals. "I'll have to think about it," she said, her voice shaking .

"Of course you do, Sarah. I would expect nothing less from you. When you wake in the morning, should you decide to accept the offer, you know what to do. If you choose not to accept my offer, would you still allow me to come and take you to lunch Aboveground? It isn't much, but I still would like to join you for your birthday."

Sarah nodded, giving him a shy smile, "Yes, that would be nice."

"For now," he said, rising from the table, his eyes smiling softly at her, "I really must insist that you go home, as I must return to the kingdom and could not in good conscience leave you alone in a dark park."

Jareth extended a gloved hand toward her, waiting until she placed her hand in his before pulling her up to stand close to him. The nearness of his body making her both hot and cold, as her stomach shivered inside her. Jareth lifted her hand to his lips and tenderly kissed it. Around them, Sarah heard the hum of magic rise, then felt as if she had been swallowed by a rushing whirl of darkness. As quickly as the sensation began, it ended and she found herself standing in her bedroom, alone except for a few glittery gold flecks drifting lazily to the floor around her, and the red and green crystals she held firmly in her hands.

Her birthday was looking more and more interesting by the minute.