And so, Lili Williams' time in the Underground began... In order to forget the pain the abrupt separation from her family and friends caused her, she focused on her new... job.   She assumed her personality as Jareth's maid.  Just as he had ordered, she cooked for him, washed his clothes and cleaned his room... and the rest of the castle.  She even succeeded in organizing the goblins.  Thanks to cookies and whistling, she managed to convince them to behave -in their unique goblin way, of course. She had them do useful tasks, like swept the floor, pick up their things and take out the garbage... However, in spite of everything, her situation was not as terrible as she had thought it would be.  Not everything was work.  She had that amazing library to herself; as she was not used to a twenty-six hours day; she woke up too early.  She spent every dawn there, reading.  She also loved to admire the tapestries and other beautiful treasures hidden within the castle.  She liked visiting the city's market place; it was always full of weird –and useless- things. With each passing day, she grew fonder of the hyperactive goblins.  Even though they often made her lose her patience, they never failed to make her laugh -especially her "assistant", Pete.  He followed her everywhere and, as strange as it could be, he really helped her. The main problem for Lili, was her... boss and her ever-present fear that he would discover who she truly was.  Putting that little detail aside, she had realized Jareth was not as terrible as she had thought either.  In fact, she was beginning to like him... a lot.  He yelled and kicked his goblins -and sent them to the bog- but he was never rude to her.  Once you considered his awful temper, of course.  They would often sit in the library and talk for hours.  Sometimes, he would tell her stories from his world, the Underground; stories that she would listen to in delight, wide eyed and wondering.  What annoyed Lili, though, was his habit of appearing or disappearing without any warning.  It was as if he really enjoyed seeing her jump.  On the other hand, being well served and treated with respect, Jareth's mood improved... a bit.  With each passing day, and without him even noticing it, he started to become more used to his maid.... and more fond of her simple food.  But that was not all.  He had realized that she was far more interesting than an ordinary servant.  She was a human being.  Not a beauty, not a lover, just someone to talk to, someone that really listened him.  Since the beginning she had done everything he ordered and she never complained, except when he sent a goblin to the bog or when he... surprised her by materializing behind her.  He really enjoyed her startled reactions.  Her obvious shyness and embarrassment also amused him -and touched him.  Each time he would talk to her looking at her in the eye, she would blush and lower her gaze.  In those occasions, he could not help but think that she was only a child... However, there was something that always kept Jareth on the edge.  Something that had nothing to do with his maid... or that was what he believed.  He wanted his revenge badly... but little did he know that his main target was right before his eyes... "NO!" Jareth yelled, throwing his crystal sphere to the wall.  He rose from his armchair and, annoyed, he began to pace across his chamber.  For the zillionth time, the requested image of Lili Williams had been denied to him.  His powerful magic just... could not locate Sarah's sister! "NO!" he screamed again, causing a loud clap of thunder to be heard all throughout the castle.  "She will not escape.  I--" He abruptly stopped -pacing and yelling- as a sudden idea hit him.  With a dark smirk on his face, he left his room and headed to his secret lab, muttering sinister curses under his breath the entire way out. After serving Jareth his breakfast -in his private chamber- Lili went to the throne room.  She fixed her apron and entered.  As always, the place was filled with hyperactive goblins and chickens flying all around.  In fact, she had to duck to avoid one of the birds.  However, she didn't panic, she knew exactly what to do.  She whistled.  Immediately the goblins stopped their frantic activity and turned to face her. "Hi, Lucy," Pete greeted her with a grin as he approached her.  "Will you give us cookies today?" he asked, his eyes shining. "Yes, cookies!" the others exclaimed, surrounding her. Lili smiled.  "Good morning and yes, I will bake cookies today.  But first, I will need your help to clean this room." "Why?" one of the goblins asked, putting his hands on his hips defiantly.  "You don't cook here." At his comical appearance, Lili had to struggle to keep a straight face. This was their every day conversation.  She shrugged.  "Yes, but I have to clean the castle first, so the sooner I finish, the sooner I can start with the cookies." The goblins exchanged puzzled glances and seemed to think about it.  They were used to be yelled at, not to be talked at... and, unlike their king, Lucy never yelled.  After a moment, they nodded. "Good," she said.  Then, she sent Pete and five more goblins to the kitchen, to get the cleaning stuff.  "While we wait for them let's get rid of the chickens," she added. "Do you want us to take them to the bog?" a goblin by the name of Glup offered politely. Lili shook her head and rolled her eyes.  "No, just take them outside." Immediately, the goblins began to chase the poor, nervous birds. Unable to stop herself, Lili finally burst into laughter.  Watching the fat goblins run after the chickens was simply too much. When Pete and the others returned, twenty minutes later, they started cleaning... Suddenly, a loud thunder echoed in the room.  The goblins froze for a second and then resumed their work. Lili let out a deep sigh and shook her head.  She knew the thunder had been caused by the king's anger and she also knew the reason of it.  "If only you could forget about your revenge... about me.  Why do you hate me... if I...?" she whispered sadly, unconsciously bracing herself. "Lucy... Lucy," Pete called her, a bit worried.  "Are you all right?" Lili blinked and the grin returned to her face.  She nodded.  "Yes.  It took me by surprise, that's all." Pete just smiled in return. "Enough of the gentle Goblin King!" Jareth barked, entering his lab.  As his inner magic had failed him, he would have to turn to outer magic.  Not elegant, but efficient. He took a big, old book from the shelf and opened it, searching for what he needed.  After a couple of minutes, his eyes shone dangerously as he found the perfect spell... the spell of nightmares. "Good," he muttered, satisfied. Without losing a moment, he gathered all the necessary ingredients and he brought everything over to his worktable.  "Time for endless nightmares, Lili Williams!" he exclaimed sinisterly.  Then, he became serious; clearing his throat, he began to chant the dreadful and powerful words.  Once finished, he stared, pleased, at the sparkling silver ball of energy floating before him, obediently waiting his command.  He smiled darkly.  "GO!" he ordered at last. The ball glowed brighter and, at the speed of light, went to fulfill his command. "Your sister will turn insane right before jour eyes, dear Sarah," he said sinisterly.  True, this was not what he had first planed, but it will have to do.  With a final chuckle, he left his lab.  With the smile still on his face, he stepped out of the secret passage.  He had walked a couple of steps form the bookshelf that hid the entrance, when suddenly he felt an incredible force approaching.  Startled, he spun around... and stiffened as he realized it was the magic energy he had sent for Lili.  His eyes widened in shock, as he understood what had happened.  The spell had simply... bounced! "NO!" he yelled, raising his arms in a protective way.  "NO--" he screamed as the light mercilessly wrapped around him, surrounding him with nightmares... "NO!"  His last scream echoed all over the castle. "He’s very mad," Pete noted, shuddering. "I don't think so," Lili replied, unexplainably worried.  "No.  Something is wrong." Without another word, she hurried out of the throne room.  Pete and the other goblins exchanged puzzled glances and then followed her. Lili ran to the king's chamber, her bad feeling going deeper.  "Something is very wrong," she muttered, as she entered his room.  He was not there.  Completely convinced that something had happened to him now, Lili exited through the opposite door that led to his study...  She gasped.  He was sprawled out on the floor, just beyond the bookshelf. "Oh God!" she exclaimed, as she knelt by his side.  He was deathly pale, covered with sweat and his eyelids were incredibly red.  She carefully checked his pulse and let out a relieved sigh. "Is he..." Pete began to ask, speaking for all the goblins. "No," Lili said, without raising her head.  She gently removed a strand of blond hair from his face.  "What happened to you?" she asked softly, not really expecting an answer.  To her surprise, he his eyes fluttered open and Lili stared in shock the haunted look within them.  In a quick and totally unexpected movement, he grabbed her hand. "O... Oberon," he whispered and then, he passed out. "No, please, stay with me!" Lili urged him, desperate.  "I don't know what an Oberon is!" "He’s the King of Avalon and Jareth's friend," Pete answered. "What!" Lili exclaimed. "He is--" Pete began, but abruptly stopped at the unusually cold glance she gave him. Lili shook her head.  "I'm sorry, Pete.  I heard you the first time," she apologized with a strained smile.  Then she rose and carefully held Jareth up by his shoulders.  "Come on, help me. Hold his feet," she ordered seriously to the inert goblins.  "Don't make me whistle!" With the help of three big goblins, Lili managed to take the unconscious king to his bed.  He moaned in pain as she took off his boots. "Please, bring me a bowl with cold water and a piece of cloth," she told Glup and then she turned to a concerned looking Pete.  "Do you know how to contact Oberon?" Pete blinked and rubbed his temples with both hands, as if he were thinking hard.  Suddenly, his round face lit up.  "I remember now!  One day when I was in here, his Majesty was talking with his mirror." Lili cocked her head a little.  "Do you mean he uses his mirror as a telephone?" she asked. At Pete's blank expression, she rolled her eyes.  "Never mind.  Thank you, Pete." Jareth moaned in pain again, muttering unintelligible words.  Deeply worried, Lili placed a hand on his forehead and gasped, he was burning.  "Where is Glup with the water?"  She asked loudly.  She sighed, frustrated.  She could lower his fever somewhat, but she just didn't know how to cure him.  She took one of his hands.  She had not forgotten that he had kidnapped her -and turned her into his maid... not to mention that he wanted to use her to harm Sarah- but he was not all that bad and he was suffering a lot.  She simply had to do something to easy his pain!   At that moment Glup arrived with the water and gave it to her. "Thank you," she said.  "Now you can all go, except you, Pete.  I want you to stay." Pete nodded and the rest of the goblins, still scared by their king's sudden illness, obeyed without complaints. Lili try to sooth Jareth's fever with the water and then, she rose and stood before the mirror.  Pete followed her and stood by her side. "You have no reflection!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "Something about magic or the lack of it," Lili explained, shrugging.  "Anyway, do you know how it works?" she asked, even though she already knew the coming answer.  As expected, Pete just shook his head.  "Well, I guess these kind of things don't come with instructions," she said sarcastically. "No," Pete agreed, earning an exasperate look from her. They silently stood before the mirror for a while, until Lili finally lost her temper.  "How in the world am I supposed to contact Oberon or reach Avalon?" she suddenly yelled, throwing her arms up. Pete stared at her in disbelief and then opened his mouth to tell her that he didn't know how.  However, he had not the chance to speak as the mirror unexpectedly began to glow. They jumped a step back and exchanged surprised glances. "Wow!" Lili exclaimed.  "I guess all I had to do was ask." The glow soon faded and a blue mist covered the mirror's surface. A couple of seconds later, the mist disappeared and an elegant chamber, in a sort of Arabian style, was revealed. Suddenly, a young, handsome man, dressed in colorful clothes, entered said chamber and walked toward the mirror, a mischievous and surprised expression on his face.  They look at each other with intense curiosity. Lili knew it was rude to stare, but she simply could not take her gaze away from him.  He was a bit shorter than Jareth, with blond-white hair reaching down to his shoulders.  His eyes were incredibly green and oddly ageless and -to Lili's astonishment- he had... pointed ears! After a moment, Lili was brought back to reality by Jareth's moans.  She shook her head and cleared her throat.  "Are... are you King Oberon?" she asked, nervously brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. His amusing chase of the lovely elven lady was abruptly interrupted by a sudden burst of magic coming from the High Lord's chambers.  As Oberon himself had ordered him to tend to his messages during his absence, he shook his head, bid the now pouting lady good bye and headed to the king's private room. Once there, he was pleasantly surprised by what the mirror showed him.  A worried looking redheaded girl was the one who had summoned his master.  She was beautiful in her own style; her eyes were incredibly gentle and her short hair was red, but the reason for his surprise had been that she was human! His gaze traveled from her startled face to her companion, a fat, funny looking goblin.  Puck's grin widened as he realized she was calling from the Goblin City... particularly from the Goblin King's chamber.  Amused, he returned his gaze to her eyes and, as he saw the innocence within them, the wicked thought that had been raised in his mind faded.  No, she was not one of Jareth's... girls.  She was not dressed like one anyway. He mentally shook himself and was about to ask her what she wanted, when she suddenly spoke.  "Are... are you king Oberon?" The young man widened his eyes and seemed taken aback for a second, but then he blinked and the mischievous expression returned to his face. "Lord Oberon is not available for the time being.  I am Puck, or Robin Goodfellow if you prefer," he introduced himself, courteously bowing his head. "Puck?" Lili repeated, unable to hide her disappointment and concern.  "Please, I must talk with... Lord Oberon!" she insisted, biting her lip.  "It's... the Goblin King.  He is seriously ill!" Puck tilted his head and sat cross-legged floating in the air.  "Lord Oberon is not here," he said and then, his eyes twinkled merrily.  "Did you say the all mighty Goblin King is sick?" he asked in a slightly amused voice. Lili nodded and, as worried as she was, she did not notice his teasing tone.  "Yes.  Can you, please, help him?" she almost begged. Puck blinked at her request.  Was she asking a... favor from the Trickster of Avalon?  His eyes shone again, this time his amusement clearly visible.  "Yes I could.  But what would you... give me in return?" Lili stiffened and opened her eyes wide.  "I am only his maid... and obviously you are some kind of sorcerer.  What could I possibly give you!" she exclaimed in a heart broken voice, shooting a quick, desperate glance at Jareth. Puck looked intently at her, her large eyes piercing his very soul, as no one had ever had. He, the Trickster of Avalon, the Merry Wonderer of the night, was mischievous and powerful... but he had three weaknesses: music, blackberries... and puppies.  And the girl before him had a really lost puppy look in her eyes.  It was then that he realized he had been... defeated.  He smiled a genuine grin, the one he reserved for innocent children. "Please," Lili insisted with misty eyes. "Lucy," Pete suddenly called her.  He had been quiet the whole time and now he had an idea.  Lili lowered her gaze to him.  "You can give him a slice of yesterday's pie," he suggested seriously. "Pie?" Puck asked with a raised eyebrow.  He took a hand to his chin.  He had not eaten pie in ages! Noticing his sudden interest, Lili smiled and looked hopefully at him.  "Yes.  Yesterday I baked blackberry pie and--" "Blackberry pie!" Puck interrupted her and, at her nod, he glowed and smiled widely.  "My lady, we have a deal." Before Lili could say another word, he appeared by her side. "Puck," he said, bowing again. "I’m... Lucy," she introduced herself with a small grin.  "Please, I don't want to be rude, but could you..." Puck chuckled.  "Oh, yes, the lethargic Goblin King.  Let us see the patient," he said, approaching an unconscious Jareth.  He looked at the king and nodded.  "Mmm... He is under a spell...  I wonder who would have dared attack him..." he muttered, morbidly amused.  "Poor fool... the attacker, that is." "Can you help him?" Lili insisted, a bit exasperate. "Be patient, Young One," Puck teased her, still surprised that someone actually cared for the bad tempered Goblin King.  "Or do you want him to explode?"  However, he became serious and extended his arms over Jareth.  The Faery began to glow and started to speak in the ancient language of magic. After a moment, it ended.  "I am done," Puck informed to an astonished Lili and Pete. "Will... he be all right?" Lili asked, looking hopefully at him and then at the Goblin King. "Of course... anything for a slice of blackberry pie" he answered with a wink, earning a smile from her. As if confirming his words, Jareth stirred and slowly opened his eyes... The dreadful veil of darkness and nightmares slowly began to disappear.  It took him a few minutes to remember what had happened.  Something had gone terribly wrong with his last spell.  After a moment, he was finally able to open his eyes... To his surprise he was in his own room, laying on his bed.  As his sight focussed once again, he realized that his maid was standing by his bed, a relieved expression on her face. "How do you feel, Your Majesty?" she asked with a smile, in her usually soft, pleasant voice. He was about to answer her when he suddenly noticed the annoyingly familiar figure that stood behind her. "You," he said in a whisper, unable to speak louder. "He healed you," Lili quickly explained, noticing the king's distress. "As a matter of fact, I did," the impish faery confirmed, walking a step forward. "You... healed... me?" Jareth asked in disbelief, widening his eyes. "Yes.  Not a difficult thing to do, may I add," Puck answered in a mocking respectful tone.  "By the way, do you know who was stupid enough to attack you?" Puck asked, clearly interested. Embarrassed, and already picturing the laughter Puck would enjoy at his expense, Jareth slightly blushed and shook his head.  "It is none of your concern," he stated in his full -albeit weak- kingly mode. Puck chuckled and cocked his head.  "I had forgotten what an ungrateful old man you are... but I guess when you reach certain age..."  He finished with a shrug, earning a glare from Jareth. Lili had to suppress a chuckle.  "Sorry," she whispered at the king’s annoyed glance. Puck then turned to her.  "Lucy, I believe the old Goblin needs to rest," he said in a falsely worried tone, deliberately dropping Jareth's title. "Yes," she agreed with a grin and then, to Puck's surprise, she gently covered the king with a blanket.  "Do you want me to bring you something?  Something to eat... some goblins to kick?" "Lucy!" Pete exclaimed, horrified, covering his face with both hands. Puck blinked, amused, and Jareth just rolled his eyes. Lili lowered her kind, mischievous gaze to the poor goblin.  "I was only joking.  What would I do without my assistant?" she reassured him and then looked questioningly at her boss.  "Shall I bring you something, your Majesty?" "No, you may retire," he said in an almost gentle tone that was not lost to the impish faery. Lili nodded and then smiled at Puck.  I have to finish with the throne room, but then I will fulfill my promise.  It will take only twenty minutes.  Is that okay with you?" "Yes, Lucy," he answered kindly -his tone was not lost on Jareth- his eyes glowing in anticipation.  "I shall be in the study." "Sure," she said, turning and walking away, with Pete on tow. "What was all that about?" a suspicious Jareth asked... and then it hit him.  "What... did she... promise you?" Puck stared at him and blinked in disbelief.  Was the cold-hearted Goblin King... actually... concerned... for his maid?  Or was he jealous?  Puck smiled, deeply amused, as an idea occurred to him.  He folded his arms across his chest and tilted his head, a sudden wicked glint in his green eyes.  "Your lovely maid and I have a deal... or did you believe I would heal you for free?"  Puck asked mischievously, emphasizing the word lovely. Jareth stiffened at Puck's gaze and words -especially at the word lovely- and, in spite of his weakness, he managed to sit up.  What had that child been thinking when she made that kind of deal with the annoying Trickster?  Jareth's eyes widened when the obvious answer hit him. She had been thinking... of him!  An overwhelming and unexplainable anger started to rise within him.  He balled his hands into fists; he would not allow such a thing to happen.  He glared at the smiling faery.  "You can... not do it," he ordered, but then, tired by his outburst, he had to lean back again. Puck shook his head.  "Such a pity," he said, clearly mimicking Jareth.  "Sleep now, Goblin King," he commanded, casting a sleep spell over the angry Monarch.  The spell was necessary for his recovery, but Puck did not bother to mention that fact.  "Just in case... we cannot control our cries..." he whispered in Jareth's ears.  "...as we are going to be only next door..."  With that, Puck disappeared. "I... will... kill... you..." Jareth muttered, just before falling asleep.