The King of the Goblins

Chapter Two

Inside of the portal room, Jack was waiting with Albert, his father's advisor. Also in the room was a group of fairy people as well as a larger group of goblins. Jareth was confused by this, but the thought quickly fled from his mind when Jack was suddenly embracing him.

"Jareth, I'm so glad you're safe." he said.

The twins looked almost exactly alike, except for their eyes (Jareth's right pupil was dilated and Jack's left was). They were very similar in temperament too. Jack was Jareth's favourite play mate when they were children- they were always planning some prank or another. But when the princes got older and Jack was more pressured to take his position seriously, they grew apart. Jareth could see his other half was miserable and it tore him apart. He tried everything he could to cheer up his brother. Pranking, trying to persuade him to play music with him again (Jack had always loved music), nothing worked. It seemed like seeing these things made Jack even more miserable because he couldn't join in on the fun.

Now, all of that was gone, it didn't matter. The brothers were together, and quite possibly the only family either of them had left. They held each other for a long minute,  silently weeping. They only broke apart when Elizabeth addressed them.

"Boys...by now both of you understand, for the most part, what is to be done, and you have both been informed of the losses we've suffered on this cursed day." She stopped for a moment to wipe the tears from her face and clear her throat. "What you have not been told is the complete plan you are to carry out in this state of emergency.
Jack since you are in line for the throne of the Fae Kingdom, you will lead the remaining fairies through the portal we tell you to and rule over them. And Jack, we will need your help as well. The fae aren't the only victims of the dragons' wrath. Several of our neighboring realms have been destroyed. These are the survivors . Most are goblins, but there are a few others who are the lone survivors from dragon attacks in their home kingdoms. They will need someone to help them migrate to a new realm and to rule over them. This will be your duty. Both of you will be going through the same portal."

Jareth surveyed his new subjects. Most of them came up to about his knees, some came up to his hips, and one even towered over him. From what he'd learned and from what he was observing now as the little creatures quarreled amongst themselves, goblins weren't exactly the most intelligent race, but were like him in their mischievous nature. He sighed slightly to himself. Well he thought at least they'll be relatively easy to rule.

He then looked to his brother's new subjects. There were very few of them left, Jareth counted up only twenty. But he knew his brother would be able to take care of them and revive the fairy race once again. He smiled as he thought of how great of a ruler Jack would be.

Albert spoke up for the first time. "Boys, you will leave through this portal here." He gestured to the first of three doors. "It will lead you to a castle in the countryside of a new world. Everything you could need has already been stocked there. I have faith you will be able to honor your parents and lead the fae back into a golden age."

Jack nodded and turned to his people and the goblins. "Do not fear, for though now is a dark age for us all, Albert is right, a golden age is coming. I'll stick with you all for a thousand years, and I swear on my honor, nothing is going to touch you in those golden years."

The people gave a loud cheer for their new monarch. Unfortunately, the one who had been searching for the fairies was nearby and heard. The door burst open and in marched a large, scaly, lizard like man with fire burning where his eyes should have been and a flaming, serpent tongue. The Dragon King.

"Run!" Albert shouted, shoving everyone in the direction of the first door. Before anyone could reach the portal, the Dragon King opened his mouth and shot fire straight at it, destroying the pathway to their safe haven.

"Enough!" roared the dragon. Without another word he opened his mouth again and sprayed fire at the last remaining subjects of the Fae Kingdom. Jareth saw Jack had been just out of the line of fire and began to run to him. It was not to be, for next the Dragon King made a wall of flames between the brothers. Jareth cried out. He couldn't lose any more, he couldn't take it. He turned to the wicked dragon and made to charge, but was stopped again when Elizabeth grabbed him by the hand and pulled him over to one of the two remaining doors. The dragon saw them and burned one of the portals. He had burned the wrong one, however, and Elizabeth quickly kissed Jareth's head and shoved him through the last doorway.

He was thrown out onto orangish, sandy ground. He stood as quickly as he could and turned just in time to see the portal go up in flames. His home land was burning, his family was dead, and he could never return. Jareth fell to his knees and wept.