The Princess and the Goblin King

Chapter 3

It was good to be king.

Jareth sat sprawled on his throne, legs tossed casually over one of its arms as he surveyed his domain. Everything he saw was his, and it was good. Except the Bog of Eternal Stench. That was nasty.

Goblins milled about the throne room, bickering, carrying plates of food, or tumbling for his entertainment. And they were entertaining. Jareth was always pleased to see his subjects and count all the little foundlings who somehow or another had ended up in his kingdom. Occasionally, when he wasn't ruling nobly or preening, he wondered about the people who sent the babies away in the first place. Most of them he'd never met- they either didn't care to try to get their charges back or they couldn't figure out how. Then there were the few who found their way in but couldn't find their way out. They wandered the junkyards, looking for something they couldn't quite remember. He didn't particularly relish those, but they'd made their fate. And of all those who had come to his Labyrinth, none had ever solved it. Except one.

Jareth frowned as he remembered that insufferable homunculus who had just swept right in and carried off his latest addition. He was the one who'd sent her there in the first place. Who did he think he was? He always took care of his subjects. He didn't just send them away when they bothered him. Really, he was doing them a favor.

But the thought wouldn't go away. After all the centuries, after hundreds of foundlings, she was the only one who'd gotten away. She was making him look bad. And what had become of her? What was a poor interrupted goblin to do after she was so rudely removed? She was probably pining away.

Maybe I should just go take her back.

It didn't seem fair at first. Her abbreviated companion had managed to solve the Labyrinth- probably by cheating. But if that undersized party magician could invade his kingdom, why couldn't he return the favor? Besides, he didn't need rules. He was the Goblin King, and he did what he pleased.

He rose regally from his throne and called a goblin to fetch his cloak. It was time to set things right- to regain what was his and rescue the poor babe from a life of dullness wherever her babysitter had taken her.

What was her name? he thought nonchalantly. Of course, he'd never forgotten. He hadn't stopped brooding about her for days. Ah yes, Elora.

Don't worry, Elora. You'll be back where you belong soon.