Chapter 10~ Hostage

Sarah came to, on the couch, a pillow under her head. She moaned a little as she opened her eyes, and realized there was a cold, wet washcloth on her forehead. Her father was sitting by her side, overjoyed to see she was awake.

"Dad?"

"It’s okay, Sarah. You fainted." He took the washcloth off her head and planted a kiss in its place. "Did you see something unusual? Is that why you screamed?"

Sure, if you call seeing the Goblin King in your living room unusual. Sarah wanted to say.

"Where’s Jareth?" Sarah ignored her father’s question. She got up fast and sat down again, dizzy.

"He went to the kitchen to get the washcloth, and I guess he went back in there." Mr. Williams explained. "Jareth?"

"Coming," assure the voice from the kitchen.

"Sarah," her father helped her to her feet, "what’s wrong?" Sarah was about to tell him everything when Jareth walked back into the room.

"Sarah, come with me," he said flatly. Sarah hesitated and turned to her father.

"Dad, I have to tell you-" she began.

"I said come with me," Jareth repeated.

Suddenly, he pulled a knife from his pocket and grabbed Sarah, putting the knife close to her throat.

There was a loud murmur as the small crowd of guests saw those events, and Jareth smiled.

"What are you doing?" Sarah, alarmed by his current actions, tried to pry his arm from around her neck.

"You’re coming back to the castle with me," informed the King. He backed up toward the door, Sarah having no choice but to do the same.

"Please let me go!" Sarah pleaded, but he ignored her. They approached the door and Jareth waved with his free hand.

"So long!" He called, his voice echoing as both her and Sarah faded away.

* * * * *

"Jareth, let go of me!" Sarah and the Goblin King arrived back at the dark castle, and Jareth had forgotten about the knife.

"Oh, sorry." He released her from his grasp and Sarah glared at him.

"So what’s your intention this time?" She asked coldly. The darkness around them was gone, and Sarah found they were in the Throne Room. "I hate this room. You know that, don’t you?" Jareth nodded and sat on his throne.

"My intention," began Jareth with a glance at his clock, "is to hold you hostage."

"What’s the point?" Sarah slumped to the ground and sat pretzel-legged with head in one hand. Jareth was confused.

"What do you mean, ‘what’s the point’?" He asked. Sarah stared at him blankly.

"Think of it this way: holding a person hostage means you’ll return them if another person gives you what you want." Jareth implied no reaction, so Sarah continued. "You aren’t planning to return me home-and you don’t want anything-so what’s the point?" Sarah took a deep breath. "I rest my case."

"Alright, so I’m not exactly holding you hostage. But there will be a sort of trade. A deal, if you will."

"Oh? What?"

"If your father and stepmother ever what to see you alive again, they’ll give me their blessing to let us be married."

"I thought you were the Goblin King. A King needs permission to be married?" Sarah just knew she was on thin ice now.

"Don’t question my authority!" Ordered Jareth. "Besides, I’m only asking their permission because I have a sense of decency."

"I’ll believe it when I see it!" Sarah challenged.

"Quiet, you selfish, irresponsible, disrespectful brat!"

"You should talk, Mr. Conceited, Bog-Sucking Idiot!"

Both were stunned that they let themselves go so low as to call one another names. How childish could they be?

"I’m not selfish," Sarah defended herself.

"I’m not conceited," Jareth defended himself.

"Yes, you are," they argued in unison.

"Ah, Sarah. We’re fighting like a married couple," concluded Jareth with a sigh.

"I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that," announced Sarah. "So, when are you going to ask for my parents’ permission?"

"Soon. But this isn’t a matter that concerns you, my dear girl." Jareth yawned. "I’m going to bed. You, return to your chamber as well."

"You don’t own me!" Sarah yelled, folding her arms across her chest. "You can’t tell me what to do!"

"I-" Jareth’s mind went blank and he fished for a comeback. When he couldn’t find one, he gave Sarah another point in his mind and sighed. "Just be quiet while I sleep, got it? Can you do that much?" He looked pale and tired, and for a moment Sarah actually felt sorry for him. He’d done a lot in the past week, after all. But her saucy attitude had again returned.

"I’m not a baby," Sarah insisted.

"You sure act like one," commented Jareth, getting up and walking toward the archway to the hall.

"At least I’m not spoiled, and I can do things for myself. I don’t have Goblins awaiting my every command!" Sarah totaled up the score in her head: Sarah 2-Jareth 1.

"Just keep quiet." Jareth ordered softly. Sarah gave in and nodded, then she thought of something.

"What if I get bored?" She asked innocently.

"That’s your problem," stated Jareth. He disappeared into the hallway.

Sarah watched Jareth’s clock. She decided to use it to have some fun. She waited until she was sure Jareth had been asleep for half an hour, and then Sarah screamed, long and loud.

The King ran into the Throne Room, dressed in a dark gray robe.

"What? What is it?" He asked, alarmed, but drowsily. Sarah let out a quiet giggle.

"Nothing." She eyed his robe and giggled harder. "What? Did you think I was being stabbed to death or something?" Jareth ignored that and yawned, then left her alone again. Another half-hour went by and Sarah took advantage again by screaming a second time.

Again, Jareth came rushing out of his chamber and into the room. Sarah was fine, and she was hugging her knees to her chest, grinning.

"Is there a good reason for this foolishness?" Jareth blinked sleepily. Sarah shrugged and rocked back and forth slightly.

"I knew I'd get bored." She said in a know-it-all manner.

"So…just…" the King though of something to entertain her. "Go do the Labyrinth again!" With a wave of his hand, Sarah was gone.

Jareth went back to his bedroom for the third time. Sarah knows what she’s doing. He reminded himself. She’s done it all before.

He slipped beneath the covers, tired and annoyed. And just as he nodded off again, he felt terror and pain inside. That’s when, from his high window, he heard Sarah scream for real.