Chapter 5
700 Words
Elora? Jareth thought in shock. My, how you've changed.
He looked at the young woman who had so boldly engaged him in conversation. She certainly wasn't a baby anymore.
Well, this is an interesting development.
He'd come to take back a baby and help her be the goblin she was meant to be. Obviously it was too late for that now- evidently time was different in this kingdom. Well, maybe he could still make this work.
He kept his face straight. "I'm new around here. I'm supposed to meet someone at a fountain, but I can't seem to find it."
"Oh, I saw that! It's right over here!" Elora said. She started for the center of the marketplace. Jareth followed behind.
Jareth surreptitiously surveyed Elora as he walked behind her. Her short orange curls had lengthened and faded into a most fetching shock of straw blonde hair. She was wearing a plain cloak, but she couldn't hide her nobility from him. Her skin was free of dirt, her hands were pale and smooth… she was royalty. It was no wonder he'd missed her so much.
"Here it is!" Elora said. She pointed to a small fountain surrounded by benches.
"Thank you," Jareth said. "My friend should be here any minute. Care to keep me company while I wait?"
"That sounds lovely," Elora said. "Oh wait, it's almost dark. I have to get back to- home," She said.
"What a pity. I do hope I'll run across you again," Jareth said. He deftly scooped up her hand and kissed it.
Elora blushed slightly. "Goodbye," she said, and she left.
Jareth watched her go.
What am I going to do with her now? She can't be a goblin. What else is there? I can't just leave her. She'll ruin my reputation. I suppose she could be a maid. Or perhaps she could take care of the new goblins before they change. They can be so tiresome.
Elora sat in her room, pondering the day's events.
How am I going to get to know the people better? There are so many of them.
She remembered what the woman in the marketplace had said.
They never even see me… What if I bring the people here instead of meeting them? What if I invite them to the palace? But how will I ever fit them all? I guess I'll have to start smaller.
The merchants! The artisans in the marketplace had such beautiful crafts. But I want them to know they're more than just workers. They're my people and I want to know them.
I know! I'll have a ball! I do so love balls. I'll invite all the tailors and dressmakers. They'll wear clothes of their own making and all the courtiers and benefactors will see their work! It'll improve their business, and I'll invite the best ones to stay here as royal clothiers. It's not everyone, but it's a start. I can do more parties in the future for the other professions.
It certainly was an exciting idea. Now that the woman had mentioned it, the palace was rather closed off. Elora wanted all her subjects to know that she wasn't above them. It would be so nice to have them all come over and celebrate. She sent for the royal crier.
Jareth had followed Elora after she left to see where she lived. When she got to the palace and slipped in a back entrance, he had assumed she was a courtier or perhaps a lady-in-waiting. He had gone back to the fountain to plot when a man on horseback tore into the marketplace blowing a bugle.
"Hear ye, hear ye! Queen Elora Dannan requests the company of all tailors, dressmakers and seamstresses at a ball at the royal palace! She requests you all wear the finest clothes of your own making! The ball begins at sundown in exactly two weeks!" He cried.
That was interesting to Jareth on multiple levels.
"Queen Elora?" He thought. My, this does keep getting stranger. Perhaps she is worthy to be my maid. Also, it made the question of how to meet her again much simpler.
I think I just became a tailor.
- Writer
