A/N: Time for the plot to move a little forward...
Jareth reconfigured in the castle throne room and sat down forcefully on the royal chair. With an irritated huff, he slouched back and swung his left leg over the horned arm of the seat. He conjured his riding crop in his right hand and tapped it impatiently against his raised ankle.
Figures that he would interrupt what was, so far, the best day of the Goblin King's life.
Sarah had finally granted him a chance. She'd willingly spent the whole day with him. She'd even called him by his given name!
He'd been a breath away from kissing her!
Best to get it over with. He thought sourly fixing his gaze to the clock on the wall. The sooner I satisfy 'their' curiosity, the sooner I can get rid of 'him' and return to my Sarah.
Snapping his fingers, he heard the distant sound of doors creaking open followed by approaching footsteps that soon came to a stop on the other side of the throne room. He reluctantly turned his head from the clock to face his visitor.
Before him, stood a tall, slim man with long chestnut-brown hair that was slightly layered. He wore a long, gold cloak over a frilly, hunter-green shirt with a black vest, tan leggings and a pair of short, brown leather boots. His violet fey eyes stared into Jareth's contemptuously.
"Your, majesty." The fey male said with a deliberately stiff bow.
"Arkus." Jareth nodded sharply, ignoring the disrespect.
He was quite used to it.
"You're looking adequate, as usual." He stated arrogantly.
"I trust you know why I'm here?" The Fey Ambassador asked coldly.
"Of course." Jareth said with an indifferent glance at his riding crop. "You and your superiors watch my every move with such grating diligence, I'm surprised you didn't come sooner."
Arkus snorted condescendingly.
"We have many important matters to attend to besides your Labyrinth, I wouldn't flatter myself if I were you."
"Indeed, but then again, you're not me, are you?" The Goblin King asked, his voice cryptic.
"No," Arkus sneered, "and I thank the stars for that every day, rauko."
Jareth's jaw clenched.
"The Fey Council wishes to know about the latest addition to your kingdom." He continued, strolling around the room with an air of disdain. "As, I understand it, she's considerably older than your usual acquisitions."
The blonde monarch glared at the Ambassador.
"You may inform the council, that the human is Miss Sarah Williams and she is my ward."
Arkus swiped his finger across the wall and stared at the dust stain with abhorrence.
Biting back a curse at the lack of response, Jareth elaborated.
"Her infant nephew wished his twin sister away the other night. Since the child was too young to run the Labyrinth, Miss Williams offered herself in exchange for her niece's freedom."
The fey male guest laughed derisively.
"Still attempting to gain redemption through those self-righteous little games of yours?"
Jareth's face was stone.
"And now you've advanced to kidnapping innocent young women." He said with a cruel smile. "Give it up rauko, you will never atone for your vice against us."
A crystal suddenly formed in the Goblin King's hand. The room grew dark and the floor trembled as he flipped the orb back and forth over his fingers.
"You know, Arkus, I could kill you right now, very slowly, and I'd enjoy every agonizing second of it." He muttered dryly.
The brunette stepped back. His eyes flashed with fear, for a moment, before steeling.
"Your precious goblins would pay the price for that mistake, your highness."
Jareth's expression went blank.
"Yes." Arkus insisted, though his voice shook slightly. "Don't forget, now that you are a king, you have a responsibility to your subjects."
"They are quite loyal to you," he noted with hint of disgust, "would you really risk their lives for the sake of your pride?"
"It wouldn't surprise me." He hissed. "But it would be such a pity, needlessly slaughtering thousands of innocent goblins, when the only blood we'd want to spill is yours, you filthy rauko!"
Jareth abruptly rose to his feet.
A deafening thunder crash toppled Arkus to the floor.
"I believe I've heard my fill of you today, Arkus!" Jareth growled low in his throat. "I've given you my report and I'm perfectly within my rights. Now get out of my Labyrinth before I really do risk war on the entire Underground!"
The Fey Ambassador scrambled to his feet and with one last scathing look, he fled the throne room.
Jareth's chest heaved with rage.
Bastard! Soulless, obdurate, PRICK!
The clock chimed suddenly, and he almost incinerated it before he noticed the time.
I'm late for dinner. He realized. Sarah!
An instant wave of calm washed through the Goblin King at the thought of his precious hurried to the Escher Room, craving the only being in all the worlds that could give him peace.
A/N: Oooooh, the plot thickens! I know it's short, but it's all very important. Please review if ya wanna know more ;)