"This is Sorceress Mara," Jareth introduced the lady he had brought with him. "She is a scholar and a powerful magician. I have asked her here to help me discern if there was any danger, and we've ascertained that there is likely none. She is my employee. Mara, these are Sarah's parents, Robert and Karen."
Robert and Karen just nodded enough to not seem rude but not friendly enough to invite further conversation.
Mara curtsied hello and proceeded to sit next to Ben, who was by Ruben's side.
"Hello, Brave One. How are you?"
Ben beamed at the compliment. "Hi Mara."
"May I have your hand? I just want to check something."
Ben did as told. Everyone watched, intrigued by the elegant magic Mara used to examine Ben. She wove her fingers as if untangling a string, pulling some magic from the boy.
She was done within a moment. Her comforting smile made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
"Good. The portal in his room seems to have sprung up entirely from Ben."
Jareth shook his head with disbelief.
"How is that possible? He only has traces of magic, doesn't he? And why would I not have been informed of the creation of said portal?"
"Well, yes, but it seems that his proximity with his magical mother and the goblins has only fed him more magic." Mara nodded towards Reiu."It's very possible that it happened without his knowledge."
"Ben, is that so?" Jareth crouched next to him. "You're not in any trouble. We just want to make sure you're not hurt."
Ben shook his head. "No. I didn't do anything. I promise."
"Did you make a wish in your heart for goblins to come through?"
"I- umm, yes? But I didn't wish for it because you said no."
"May I take your hand as well?"
Though he did not have the same skillset as Mara, he could indeed tell that Ben had some magic within him.
"How is it strong enough to create a portal?"
"That would be a rare occurrence that happens with a strong spark of magic," Mara explained. "I recommend we do something to dampen his magic unless he's Underground where it's easily controlled."
"I have magic too?" Ben looked down on his hands. "Cool!"
"Magic doesn't exist," Robert mumbled, losing his patience.
Toby face-palmed. "You just saw it in action, Dad."
"Robert," Karen held his hand. "Please. If nothing else, for my blood pressure."
Instantly, Robert seemed more grounded. More calm. Even if his view of the world was completely shaken, the love from his wife sure wasn't.
"Let's hear what they have to say, okay?" Karen insisted.
Robert swallowed thickly. "Okay." He faced Jareth and his family. "But I want proof of this magic claim. No weird illusion tricks."
Jareth bowed his head politely. "Of course."
Sarah addressed Mara. "And what of Jareth not knowing about the portal Ben made?"
Mara was in thought for a moment. Then, her eyes went wide, as if a light bulb just went off in her head.
"Sire, is it possible that you made sure to set alerts for portals being made Underground instead of Aboveground?"
Jareth hadn't thought of it. His cheeks reddened in shame.
"I should have thought of that. I was so focused on danger and portals coming from Underground, I neglected to create alerts for portals made from Above. This world has been inhabited by humans for so long."
Mara nodded, satisfied. She clapped her hands together. "That settles it then. It seems my work here is done."
Sarah went to hug her friend. Whispering in Mara's ear, "I will properly introduce you to our parents another day. I'm so sorry-"
Mara held a hand up. "Please, Sarah. Do not apologize, I understand."
She turned to include Jareth in their conversation. "I would like to head back to my class, if that is permissible?"
"Take your leave, Mara," Jareth nodded. "Thank you for coming with me without notice."
"Of course, Sire."
Sarah nodded towards Reiu. "And you too, little one."
"Awww, Queenie!" she complained. "I'm sorry! I will not make any more messes!"
"You should be grateful I'm not using the bog today." Jareth waved his hand and the little goblin was back in the throne room.
He took Sarah's hand and faced the crowd. "Now let us discuss."
They all gravitated to the living room where it was most comfortable with the couches and blankets.
To keep Ben occupied, Sarah took out coloring books. Seeing as everyone else was also on edge, she offered it to the rest of them and included an option of jigsaw puzzles.
Her father and Jareth gravitated towards the puzzles, making her smile as they worked on it together through their discussion.
"You would like proof, Robert and Karen?" Jareth confirmed their desires. "I shall give you proof."
He signaled to his family.
All five of them waved away the human illusions and donned on clothing from their world that was much more comfortable for them.
"That's more like it," Ruben remarked, stretching his legs. "I have no qualms with the style of this world, but I do miss my own."
Karen nearly fainted again at the sight of the otherworldly features, such as their long ears and eye markings, reappearing.
Robert just stared in disbelief before adjusting his face to express neutrality.
Jareth sat up straight. When he first addressed Robert and Karen today, he was a man who loved their daughter.
Now he addressed them as a king in his own right.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself and my family. I am Jareth, King of Goblins. My parents are Princess Iliana and Prince Julian of the High Court. My siblings are Princess Ava and Prince Ruben. We are from an alternate plane of existence called the Underground where magic is the norm and creatures of your fairy tales exist. We refer to your world as the Aboveground."
He explained his role as king and why it was important. He and Sarah both recounted the story of the night she ran the Labyrinth after wishing Toby away.
It was Karen who mostly asked for clarification and gave her opinions. She was very much in awe at knowing she was in the presence of royalty, looking much more antsy that they were so well acquainted with her children.
Robert was nearly silent through it all, though he did raise his eyebrows at Sarah when he learned she wished her brother away and at Jareth when he learned Sarah was only sixteen when they first met.
"Nothing untoward happened, I promise you," Jareth said. "And as a fae, I cannot make false promises. I do not lie."
"And we didn't see each other again until last year. It was a while before anything romantic happened," Sarah added.
Robert paused for a long moment before signaling for Jareth to continue.
Both Goblin King and Champion took it as a positive sign.
Sarah took over to explain their meeting on Halloween of last year after Ben made a wish that "The Goblin King can come say hello."
She recounted their tense meeting and their invitation to the Underground, which led to her discovery of her magic.
She did not discuss the traumatic events of the Erlking. There was enough for her parents to process right now without such a dreadful tale looming over them.
Jareth anxiously chewed the inside of his cheek.
"Robert? You have been extremely quiet. May I answer any questions you have?"
He started to shake his head when Karen gave him a certain look. He nodded, conceding to his wife's silent nudging.
"I have many. I am curious as to where you get your wealth from as a king."
Toby groaned quietly. He dreaded hearing his father go into politics sometimes.
Jareth was happy to oblige his future father-in-law.
"I have income from different sources. Some from taxes, some from inheritance as the grandson of the former High King and great-nephew to the current High Queen, and as an investor of the technology sector of my kingdom."
"Taxes?" Robert's critical tone didn't go unnoticed by anyone. "So, you're profiting off the people who do hard work? It's one of my main gripes against monarchies in general. Not necessarily the people in them. Mostly that we tolerate that system itself."
Julian leaned towards his wife. "I see where Sarah gets her forthright demeanor from. Of course, Jareth liked that about her."
"The same trait that drew Jareth to Sarah may be one that makes him struggle to get along with her father," Iliana quipped.
She wanted to admire the man but it was difficult when he was interrogating her son, though she would do the same in his position.
Jareth fitted another piece of the jigsaw puzzle.
"I understand that. Believe me, Robert. As I've mentioned about the nature of my work, I come across refugees and children. Think of me less as a rich noble and more as a leader of my kingdom. Similar to your president and even other public employees like teachers, do they not receive income through taxation?"
Robert did not relent.
"It's not as if they get opulent paychecks to have fancy balls and pretty tiaras."
"Does your president not hold state dinners? Does the First Lady not wear fashionable clothing? Do they not have butlers at their beck and call to cook at odd hours of the night if they so wished? Is that not important to have, so that they may focus on their work?"
It was one thing for Robert to learn of a new world with different sets of rules and creatures living in it. It was an entirely different thing to have his world view be questioned.
Ruben blew a whistle and mouthed, "Well done, Jareth."
The rest of the family agreed.
They hardly saw Jareth's diplomatic skills in action and found it fascinating to see him in such a manner. It was a strong reminder that he was not simply their son or brother.
He was a king, who earned his position.
"Then I stand corrected." Robert chuckled, seeming more and more impressed by Jareth. "And your investments?"
"What of them?"
"Are you not concerned about conflicts of interest or having ulterior motives where laws and decisions are made for your benefit as opposed to the people's?"
Jareth scratched the side of his head in thought. This was an intriguing question.
"I can see how it can be used this way. My kingdom has many checks and balances, but there is something to be said about choosing to direct funds or make other decisions for our own benefit. I will propose drafting a law that prevents such actions from being made."
Robert was taken aback. "That's it? You'll just… do it?"
"It must go through the other branches of government, and I will leave the task of writing the law itself to someone experienced in such matters, but yes."
Robert smiled for the first time since the dinner started.
"If only it was this easy to convince our world leaders!"
Everyone laughed, following suit. The tension in the room melted away to a familial warmth.
"But what of democracy? How do people choose policies and their leaders?"
"My kingdom cannot ever fully have that. I am the Goblin King. Goblins are a rare set of creatures that need a ruler. They are not animals of the wild where they fend for themselves. Their inherent nature demands for one. As I've explained earlier of my role in a kingdom that is both part of the Dreamworld and Faerie, it's much more complicated. That said, my subjects do have a day in their lives in their smaller villages and governments. I hold court where they can personally speak to me. It is not a perfect system, but I do try my best to give my subjects the opportunity to lead happy, fulfilling lives."
Robert nodded. "Well, thank you for answering my questions and humoring me."
"Of course."
"Am I supposed to call you Your Majesty or something like that?"
"You are welcome to visit my world, and if you do, it would be the protocol, and I would appreciate it. It would give more respect to my station and prevent others from using it against me. But here, I am just Jareth."
He held Sarah's hand in his lap. "Here, I am simply a man who loves your daughter with all that I am."
Despite Sarah being fully grown for so long and having been married before, Robert couldn't help but think of her as that little girl who snuggled up to him for stories.
"Then I have one more question."
"Please ask away." Jareth welcomed his curiosity.
Robert's jaw hardened as he pushed forth his last question.
"What are your intentions towards Sarah?"
Everyone held their breaths.
Ben stopped coloring.
Toby scooted towards Ava and Ruben.
Iliana held tightly to Julian's arm.
Karen nudged her husband a little. "Robert, this is the 21st century. And Sarah has a noble title of her own. Besides, she's nearing forty years old."
"Yeah, thanks for the reminder of how old I am, Karen," Sarah joked.
Karen shrugged sheepishly.
Robert held his hands up. "I know, I know. I'm not asking as a control thing but because I want to know as a father. As someone who loves her too. Where can your relationship lead? I know that so often, nobles have… side people. Is that the expectation for Sarah? I just want my daughter to be happy."
Sarah squeezed Jareth's hand.
It was time.
"Are you quite sure, Love?"
Jareth had to make sure that they were doing the right thing.
"What better time than now?"
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the crystal.
Ben giggled with delight.
Everyone gasped as the crystal was opened to reveal a beautiful ring. They all leaned over for a look.
Jareth slipped it on Sarah's left hand.
"I asked Sarah for her hand in marriage with the intent of not only making her my wife, but my queen. As champion, she has the right to rule independent of me, and we could co-rule, even if we weren't in a relationship. As I've said, I love her with all of my very being. I would do anything and everything for her. She will never be pushed to be a 'side person.' Nor will we have any 'side people' of our own. We will be each other's one and only."
He held an arm out to Ben, signaling for the boy to join them. Ben happily settled on Jareth's lap.
"Ben will be my son in every way possible. He will have all the rights and privileges of any prince. If by some horrible circumstance, Sarah and I split, I will continue to love him and care for him as if he were my flesh and blood. That said, his late father will never be forgotten. I am another person who has chosen to love Ben."
"I love you, Jareth." Ben snuggled into Jareth's chest as he often did.
"And I love you, my boy." Jareth kissed the top of his head.
"Finally!" Iliana grabbed Sarah, so she could kiss her cheeks. "When I first met you last year, I knew instantly that you were special to Jareth and even questioned if marriage was on the table. I am so pleased to hear that you will marry. You two are such a match."
"I am pleased to count you as a daughter."
Julian could not have been happier to see his son choose such a wonderful woman. "May you two always be blessed.
Robert wiped his eyes. "You've never been anything but good to us, and I can see how much you mean to her. I got skeptical of you all because I couldn't pinpoint why you all seemed so different. I can see now that you really, really love her, and Ben. A father couldn't have asked for more."
He addressed everyone else. "I apologize for how brash I've been today of all days. You all have the right to be upset at me. I shouldn't have lashed out and instead should have just asked straightforwardly."
He pulled Sarah, Jareth, and Ben in for a hug.
"Congratulations, you guys. Just make sure to visit your old man often."
"You'll be glad to hear it'll actually be easier to visit you now that you're aware of Jareth's magic!" Sarah was happy to share such news.
"Were you ever going to tell us?" Karen asked. "About the truth of the Underground?"
"We always were," Sarah replied. "We just weren't sure how to go about it. We wanted to share the news of the engagement and then more information at a later time."
"May I see the ring?" Ava inquired. "My goodness! It is beautiful."
"I dare say; this is a piece of art indeed," Julian held it up to the light. "And very shimmery."
"Much like your son!" Iliana laughed.
"Congrats, man." Toby clapped Jareth's shoulder. "Should I call you Big Bro now?"
He tried to recreate Jareth's mischievous grin.
Jareth rolled his eyes. "Keep that up, and I'll have you call me 'My Lord.'"
"Whatever, Dude." Toby winked.
Ruben couldn't stop laughing. "I shall call you that from now on as well, Jareth. Or shall I say, Dude?"
Jareth shoved both of them. "You are awful."
Robert looked around, sighing at the crazy mess Rieu made. "It's crazy to think that goblins are actually real."
Ben pouted. "I told you they were real! You just didn't believe me!"
"That you did, Bud," Robert smiled apologetically.
"Oh, Honey." Karen pulled him onto her lap. "We're so sorry we didn't."
"We still have to clean up the mess the goblins made."
Toby grabbed a mop and started to wipe the mashed potatoes off the floor.
Jareth took initiative, moving dishes off the dining table to retrieve the tablecloth for a wash.
"It's good to see royalty still doing mundane things such as cleaning, don't you think?" Karen asked Robert pointedly.
"As they should when Sarah doesn't have servants serving her hand and foot," Robert replied playfully. "Yes, I agree. It is nice to see such down-to-earth people with such high statuses."
"I'm sad about the pie," Julian frowned.
Iliana lovingly put a hand on his arm. "I will make it for you another time."
Ben helped to pass another paper towel to his mother. "What will we do with the goblins?"
"Such naughty things." Sarah shook her head. "Well, no treats for them, sadly."
"It's crazy to think that goblins are actually real," Robert commented. "My head is still reeling from it all."
"It does seem a shame that they can't spend the rest of the holiday with us though," Jareth remarked.
Sarah chuckled at this. "You? Having mercy towards the goblins?"
"I hope you don't plan on telling them this."
"My lips are sealed, Sire."
Sarah did a fake curtsey. "Can't we still involve them in some way?"
Jareth shrugged. "Well, we can't give them snacks. So, what would we do?"
"I know! Be right back!" Ben zoomed to his room.
When he emerged from the hallway, he held the baseball bat in his arms.
"Ta-da! Can I hit them?"
"What are we doing?" Robert and Toby were very interested in the bat. "Are we playing baseball, Ben?"
"More like goblin-ball!" Ben giggled.
Sarah turned to Jareth with a large smirk. "I like that idea. How about we all enjoy eating your macarons while watching Ben play goblin-ball?"
"You? Suggesting that we inflict punishment on them?" Jareth teased her back.
"Only if it's outside though." She gave him a serious look. "And look, it's not raining!"
Jareth set up a dome of illusion, so that the neighbors wouldn't see or hear them.
As it turns out, goblin-ball was a hit.
Literally.
Each goblin was lined up for Ben to hit, giggling as they flew towards the rotating adults, who would kick them.
"You have to move your whole upper body, Ben!" Toby shouted.
"I'm trying!"
He hit Beetun towards the fence instead of Jareth. "They're heavy!"
"The young lad will grow some strong muscles if he keeps this up!" Julian chomped down on a marshmallow that Sarah had in her cupboard.
He could not resist the sweets she had. "Ben, you are doing fantastic!"
Robert smacked his camcorder. "This old thing is driving me crazy. It's not working."
"Late me take a look, Dear," Karen inspected it.
"Karen, I don't know how you're going to fix it when you know next to nothing about cameras, whereas I-"
She took off the cap and handed it to him. She raised an eyebrow. "You were saying?"
"Uh-"
She pushed him towards the tripod that he had set up.
"Now go ahead and record your grandson hitting goblins."
"WHEEEEEEE!" Tewz screamed as he hit the dome. "Benny hit good!"
"Ten points for Ben!" Oatie held up a one and zero in the wrong order.
"Hit me next!" Blaggerspout pushed Iglepus out of the way.
"No, MEEEEE!" Iglepus pushed him out.
Ben threw his bat down. "No! Get in line, all of you! And no cutting!"
Jareth's family watched in amazement as the goblins listened to Ben's instructions.
"My goodness. I never thought anyone other than Jareth could do that," Iliana remarked.
"What can I say?" Sarah popped some popcorn in her mouth. "My kid's a natural at goblin discipline. Maybe he could start coaching some people for it."
After Ben got tired, everyone pitched in to play goblin-ball.
Julian and Jareth had a competition to see who could hit them the farthest. To Julian's disappointment, his son was much better than he was. He blamed it on the fact that Jareth had many chances to practice.
"Kingy?" Evie approached her king. "I don't want to be kicked today."
Jareth patted her head. "Then you will not get kicked. I understand that you tried your hardest to keep everyone at home."
"I did!" she sighed in relief and beamed at the acknowledgement from him.
Jareth looked around. He gave a piece of marshmallow to her.
"No one else gets a snack but you. I believe you deserve it because you listened to my orders. Do not let anyone see it."
"Thanks, Kingy!"
She hopped away and sat on the grass, laughing at her fellow goblins that enjoyed getting hit or kicked.
Long after Jareth's family had left and Sarah's was in bed, the two decided to go for a walk under the stars.
"Well, today was a disaster," Sarah remarked. "But it was also a huge success."
"I agree, Love." Jareth wrapped his arm around her, loving the feel of his body close to his.
"From your descriptions of your parents, you lead me to believe that you are more like your mother in personality. After seeing your father today, I disagree. You are quite like him."
"Is that a good thing or bad?" She laughed.
"Good, of course. He was…"
He dragged out the last word humorously. Sarah laughed at the dramatic flare.
"…less diplomatic than he should have been, but he was only worried for his daughter. I understand that. And I am no person to judge anyone for their tempers."
He spun her around, dipping her over his knee before bringing her up for a kiss.
"I am pleased that everyone was so happy for us all."
"As am I." Sarah hung onto his neck, kissing him quickly on the lips. "And, I have a surprise for you."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a crystal.
Jareth grinned, shaking his head.
"You don't have to purchase me jewelry just because I gave you the engagement ring-"
He got quiet when Sarah popped the crystal open.
Her eyes sparkled with pure delight.
"No, no shiny jewelry today. Maybe Christmas. I thought you'd like this better."
She lifted the dried mistletoe out of the crystal and held it above both their heads.
"It's the same one from our first kiss," she explained.
Jareth didn't say anything. He didn't need to.
His eyes said it all.
That night, between the streets of the neighborhood, Jareth and Sarah shared the first of their many mistletoe kisses of the year with no one but street lamps and the stars to witness.
Once again, thank you to LFFWAR for this fic prompt and for RMBiehl for being my beta for this fic.
Thank you readers, for reading my fic! Reviews are much appreciated. If you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you'll have a wonderful holiday. If not, I hope today is wonderful. Take care!