Heir of the Labyrinth

Chapter 6: Shadows of the Crown

Jareth Jr. stood at the entrance of his father's throne chamber, his fingers nervously brushing against the intricate designs etched into the stone wall. The massive doors before him groaned, slowly parting as if they, too, hesitated to reveal the vastness within. His heart pounded in his chest as he took a deep breath, stepping forward into the dimly lit hall.

The room of the Goblin King was an inspiring sight to any visitor—tall stained-glass windows casting strange, shifting colors across the floor, and hundreds of goblins bustling about, carrying out orders and tripping over one another in the process. But to Jareth Jr., it was a place he had known his whole life. And today, as always, it felt distant, cold, and far too big for him.

At the far end of the hall, Jareth the Goblin King reclined in his „throne", an air of effortless command surrounding him. His crystalline orb floated idly in one hand as he gazed out into the room, his piercing eyes catching every movement. Jareth Jr. couldn't shake the feeling that no matter how close he got, there was always a chasm between him and his father.

He stopped just a few steps away from the throne, his father not yet acknowledging his presence. Jareth Jr. cleared his throat.

Jareth Jr:
-"Father...?"

The Goblin King's eyes flickered in his direction, but only for a moment. "Yes, my son?" His tone was calm, regal, but distant. It always was.

Jareth Jr:
"I wanted to... talk to you."

Jareth let out a sigh, his attention half on the goblins scampering below. "Is this about your lessons again? You're improving. You'll master the art of illusion in time. These things are not learned overnight."

-"It's not that," Jareth Jr. said, swallowing the nervousness that clawed at his throat. "It's about... us."

For the first time, the Goblin King looked directly at him, his gaze sharp, as though he had only just truly noticed his son standing there. He slowly set the crystal orb down on the armrest of his throne.

-"Us?" Jareth's voice softened just slightly, but his face remained unreadable.

-"I... I know you're busy, always ruling and managing the kingdom, but sometimes I feel like—" Jareth Jr. paused, struggling to find the right words. His mind raced with the unspoken thoughts that had gnawed at him for years. "Sometimes I feel like you don't... see me. Like I'm just one of the goblins, or part of the kingdom you have to manage."

There. He had said it. And it felt like he'd just dropped a boulder into the endless void between them.

Jareth was silent for a long moment, his eyes narrowing in thought. The room seemed to hold its breath, even the goblins had stopped their clumsy work, sensing the tension in the air.

-"And what makes you think that?" Jareth finally asked, his voice measured. "I have given you everything. You are my heir, the prince of this realm. What more do you desire?"

-"I just want to know you," Jareth Jr. said, his voice cracking with the rawness of the admission. "Not just as a king. I want to know you as my father."

The Goblin King's expression faltered, just for a second, as though something in his son's words had struck a hidden chord. He shifted in his seat, for once looking unsure of himself.

Jareth Jr. didn't wait for him to respond. The words rushed out, as though he had been waiting a lifetime to say them. "I know you care about the kingdom. I know you're powerful and busy. But I want to be more than just your heir. I want to be... someone you care about, someone you can be proud of, not just because I'm your son, but because of who I am."

The throne room was silent, save for the faint flutter of the Goblin King's cloak as he stood up from his throne. He walked slowly toward Jareth Jr., his boots echoing against the stone floor. When he finally reached him, he stood still, towering over his son. Jareth Jr. had never felt smaller, the weight of his father's presence nearly suffocating.
But then, something unexpected happened. Jareth's hand reached out, and he gently placed it on his son's cheek.

-"I never meant to make you feel that way," Jareth said quietly, his voice no longer cold, but filled with a quiet intensity. "You are my son, Jareth Jr., and more than that, you are a part of me. I have always watched over you. You just never knew."

Jareth Jr. blinked up at him, his heart swelling in a way he hadn't expected. He had been so sure his father wouldn't understand, but now, standing here, he realized that maybe Jareth had struggled too—struggled to be both a king and a father.

-"But you're always so... distant," Jareth Jr. said softly.

Jareth's lips curled into a slight smile, one that wasn't mocking or full of mischief, but real. "Distant, yes. It is the burden of the crown, my son. But that does not mean I do not care. Perhaps I have not shown it well. But I do love you. I have always loved you."

Jareth Jr. felt a warmth spread through his chest, and for a moment, he couldn't find words to respond. He had dreamed of hearing those words for so long, but now that they had been spoken, it was almost surreal.
The quiet moment between them stretched, but then, a sudden, loud crash interrupted the silence. They both turned to see a goblin, eyes wide and clumsy hands tangled in a tapestry, fall headlong into a pile of armor. The goblin scrambled to get up, sputtering apologies, as Jareth Jr. let out a chuckle, unable to help himself. His father, however, raised an eyebrow.

-"Always such chaos in this castle," Jareth muttered. "It's amazing they manage to survive day to day."

Jareth Jr. grinned up at him. "Maybe that's part of why you're always so stressed. They're all like children, aren't they?"

Jareth's eyes gleamed with amusement, and he tilted his head, giving his son an appraising look. "Perhaps that's true. Though, at least one of them seems to be growing into a fine young man."

Jareth Jr. felt a warmth blossom in his chest again, this time mixed with laughter. "So, you're saying I'm not as bad as a goblin prince?"

Jareth smiled, and for once, it wasn't the smirk of the Goblin King, but the smile of a father. "Not quite. But you do have your moments."

As they stood there, side by side, Jareth Jr. realized that the gap between them, though large, wasn't unbridgeable. He had taken a step today, and his father, in his own way, had taken one too.

And for now, that was enough.