Labyrinth ✦ Jareth (ON HOLD)

Two

✦ Jareth ✦

I sat anxiously on my throne, tilting my head side to side to release a sickening crack. The goblins at my side chuckled, imitating the noise with their mouths.

"Get out you imbeciles." I croaked, running my hands through my hair.
The goblins hesitantly nodded, waddling out of the throne room in a giggling flock. I watched as they disappeared down a hallway and out of my sights.

I groaned as I closed my eyes, drifting off gently as I focused on things rather than my over encumbered stress. Sleep sounded heavenly right now. To keep myself from falling asleep I focused on the clicking of feet down the hallway, the clanking of guards garbed in heavy armour and hushed chatter.

I'd wasted a week that could have been with Sarah within my study making plans, then scrapping them and making more. My mind just couldn't get a rest.

Sir Didymus, Ludo and Hoggle would be arriving soon, as a vital part of my newest plan for Sarah's return.

Speak of the devil.

I schooled my features into an impassive mask and watched the creatures being pushed into the throne room.

"Get your grimy hands off me!" Sir Didymus shouted, huffing as the guard pushed him to the floor. He seemed to be the only one putting up a fight, Hoggle looked around cautiously near cowardly and Ludo held onto the small dog named Ambrosias with fear riddled on his scruffy features.

"Welcome." I smiled, standing from my throne and promenading toward them. I heard a creature like growl,

"Cut to the chase my king, it's about Sarah isn't it? That's why we're here huh? I swear if you have done anything to hurt the maiden I will fight thee to the grave!" Didymus raved, standing onto his thin legs and charging forward.

I allowed him to run into my legs before grabbing onto him by the whiskers and pulling him to eye level.

"This is about Sarah, you bigot, but not in a way you think." I scowled, dropping him to the cold floor. He shook his head, backing up toward his friends.
"Then what?" Hoggle asked, snaking his pudgy hands onto Sir Didymus' arm to examine his faint bruises.

I stood silently, watching their enraged and curious expressions. Guilt lingering me as I looked at the pained things. I cleared my throat, shutting my eyes and speaking in a formal voice.

"What I'm about to tell you is serious business and I expect you to follow the orders of your king, not only for your safety but for everyone's. Including Sarah's." I explained, pacing; a bad habit I'd developed.

"Sarah, safety?" Ludo asked, giving worried glances toward his friends.
"Yes, if you don't bring her here I'm afraid she will perish, just as all of us will." I explained, cutting to the chase rather than consuming precious time with banter.

Hoggle's cowardly facade vanished and he fumed, stomping toward me.
"What'd ya mean by that? What'd ya mean by Sarah's safety in danger. You best not lay a hand on her!"  Hoggle now protested. For such a small ugly goblin he sure did get his jimmies in a rustle when it came to Sarah. He loved her, that was blatant.

I sighed agitated, why were they so persistent to believe I would hurt her! The one I love; Preposterous.

"I have not done anything! If you would let me explain than maybe you would understand." I shouted, pointing toward them in anger and rubbing my temples before sitting harshly on my throne. I took a deep breath, letting the anger float out of me.

"Atropos, had came here." I mumbled.
"She made a deal with me, rather forced me into it."
Hoggle whimpered in the slightest.

"Deal?" Ludo asked.
"Yes a deal, a deal that in thirteen months time I am to make Sarah love me or she will take over the kingdom and shed no mercy on slaughtering us all."
"In order to prevent this I need you to bring her back to the underground."

Hoggle made a choking noise, looking up toward the roof. Ludo took his shoulder into the grasp of his large hand and Didymus scowled angrily.

"I need you to do this, please. Not for me, but for Sarah." I begged, my agitation withering to desperation.

Didymus continued making angry expressions whilst Hoggle began to cry.
"You lout! You've damned the poor girl. She's never going to love you!" Hoggle shouted between sobs, his knees shaking in the slightest.

I frowned, nodding slightly.

I know very well of the pain I have caused, the torment I had already brought upon her and now her friends... Her love seemed like a prize I could never win.

A deadly aura engraved my mind, they seemed furious whilst Hoggle managed to hiccup in breaths of air.

"For Sarah we will do this, but I won't help her fall in love with you." Didymus explained, bowing slightly before storming out of the castle. Ambrosias jumped from Ludo's embrace and sprinted after him.

Hoggle's hiccuping hushed as Ludo picked his tired body up and held him to his chest.

"I'm sorry the situation is so, but it was beyond my power..." I explained, Ludo nodded, resting his head gently on top of Hoggle's tired form.
"Ludo, know." He muttered.

I watched the poor beast, so saddened, so desperate for victory.

"You will be staying here, Martain will show you to your rooms. We will discuss the plan after you have been settled." I spoke, standing and walking away sorrowfully to my chambers.

Never have I felt so weak, evil and vile. All I wanted was the safety of my people and Sarah.

If doing the right thing made me evil, so be it.

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Unedited
Image is of Martain.

So sudden, short and badly written!
I'm really excited for this story so I apologize if I am rushing into things.
Soon the book will be from Sarah's point of view.