Breaking Barriers (Chapter 28 up)

With that thought in mind, Jareth left Sarah and made his way to his bed chamber. Once there he shut his door and retrieved his crystal ball from within his jacket. He gazed into its shadowy abyss and with the strength of his magic and sheer will summoned a particular goblin. After a few minutes there came a knocking at his door. Again, Jareth's mood seemed to change. Although dark and brooding a moment before, he now seemed almost jolly. He still had his mask on, but it had shifted slightly. With a broad smile, Jareth opened the door wide and made a sweeping gesture about his room.

"Welcome, my friend," the Goblin King spoke warmly, "So good to see you Eldrich, make yourself at home,"

An extremely ugly goblin entered the Goblin King's chambers. His piggy, greedy eyes took in his surroundings, briefly acknowledging every finery within- the grandfather clock in the corner, the golden mirror, the ornate bed frame and the countless jewels and priceless knickknacks that were strewn about the room like confetti. Once the goblin completely entered, Jareth carefully locked the door behind him. Jareth reminded himself to keep a sharp eye about and not underestimate Eldrich, as he knew him to be one slippery character.

"How do you do yourself," spoke Eldrich in a voice that sounded like gravel scraping against stone, "What is it that you called me for? You interrupted my dinner so it better be for good reason."

Now normally the Goblin King did not allow his subjects to talk to him in such a manner- let alone threaten him. But Jareth had a special favor he needed to confirm with this goblin and he did not in any way want this favor revoked. Therefore, Jareth gave Eldrich his kindest smile and bid him sit down. Eldrich complied and inspected the jewel-encrusted chair he sat in with great curiosity and obvious professionalism.

"Now, my dear Eldrich, now that you are resting comfortably-"

"I never said I was comfortable," interrupted the goblin rudely.

Jareth clenched his fists together to remain in control. He needed this particular goblin very badly, otherwise he would not have wasted his time on him thus far. He would have let the Bog of Eternal Stench pass judgment on the goblin as it saw fit. But unfortunately, Jareth did not have that option, so instead he again tried to smile warmly, hoping that Eldrich would not notice the strain in his neck as he did so. Eldrich apparently did not for he was gazing at Jareth impatiently.

"Well, out with it, boy!"

"Sir," Jareth spoke as politely as possible, "do you recall the bargain I mentioned to you previously this month?"

"Of course I do!" barked the goblin, "Are you accusing me of-"

"Let me speak plainly, my good sir. The young girl has arrived, the one I spoke of before. It is time to put our plan into action."

Eldrich eyed him shrewdly.

"Remind me again of this supposed bargain."

Jareth had to stop himself from sighing in exasperation. After a mental pause, he explained.

"I need you to find for me a special child. He lives in a place called New York City. You must travel there via the use of my magic mirror," Jareth gestured at the golden mirror the goblin had been eyeing so closely earlier, "and bring the child back to me. I will then hold the boy hostage until the young girl complies to a... certain arrangement with me."

"And I get in return?" the goblin asked, although Jareth knew he already knew the answer.

"Your old life back, and then some. You will become human again, permanently, and I will bestow riches upon you that are beyond your wildest dreams," Jareth had to smile at the suspicious look on Eldrich's face. Jareth knew this goblin's dreams and could therefore add that last statement truthfully. Obviously, Eldrich didn't think so. Fancy words did not impress this goblin, one of the reasons Jareth had chosen him for this important task. He also knew that the goblin was exceedingly professional at thievery. So professional, in fact, that the only reason Jareth knew he was a thief was because he had spied on him earlier with the use of his crystals. Other than that the goblin had never been caught.

"How will you capture the boy?" Jareth asked out of curiosity, although he knew the goblin was a paranoid fool, yet another quality Jareth needed in this case.

Just as he suspected, the goblin drew away from the Goblin King, looking warily from side to side.

"Now that would be no one's business but my own," the goblin said harshly, "Let's just say I have my ways."

Eldrich got up out of the chair and stood before Jareth, his arms folded across his chest, his feet shoulder-width apart.

"So, what're you gonna do to me?" the goblin arched his eyebrows comically, "Whisk me away to Nevernever Land? Perform a little "hocus pocus on me?" Eldrich wiggled his sausage-like fingers to demonstrate.

"A little 'hocus pocus', yes- to turn you back to your human form. Then the mirror will do the work for me. It will send you to New York City where you must track down a young Toby Williams. He is of fair hair and blue eyes, if I recall correctly," then, just to be sure, Jareth added, "This is what we've agreed. That's all the information you need to find this child?"

"Of course it is!" exploded the goblin.

"Wonderful," Jareth didn't have to fake a smile this time, "Then let us continue. Are you prepared to leave right now? I will provide the necessary equipment and rations, of course, but any goodbyes to family members or friends before we begin? Anything you wish to do before you undertake this journey?"

"No," Eldrich said bluntly, "I've got nothin'," this time with a little more emotion in his gruff voice. Then, "Come on! What're ya waitin' for? Let's see some magic!"

Needing no further prompting, Jareth encouraged the goblin to get back into a sitting position. Once Eldrich was seated again in the chair, Jareth began his spell. Again his hands and head slackened until he had complete concentration. Then Jareth put his gloved hands before him level with the goblin's shapeless brown hat. Slowly, Jareth brought his hands down. As he did so, the goblin transformed into a human. Once Jareth's outstretched hands reached the floor, the goblin had entirely evolved. Slowly, Jareth stood up and opened his eyes to admire his handiwork.

The goblin turned human was still sitting in the chair. His hands clutched the armrests in a deathlike grip. His eyes were tightly closed. He was just as ugly as he had been previously, but there was no doubt that he was now human.

"Are you done yet?" asked Eldrich impatiently.

"Yes," answered Jareth.

The man squinted his eyes open, then slowly looked down. Jareth watched Eldrich's eyes take in the many changes, starting with his hands. Eldrich then ran those same hands along his face. Jareth gestured towards the mirror. Without hesitation, the man walked towards it. He looked as his reflection. An astonished Eldrich looked back at him. But suddenly, his look of amazement vanished and turned to that of suspicion.

"The mirror's not magicked, is it? I really am human?"

"Magicked, yes, but only for your traveling purposes. I wouldn't send you to this place without turning you back into a human first. I would gain nothing but trouble if you remained in your goblin form. You have my word that it is real, and if you stay true to our agreement, it will be permanent," Jareth reminded him.

Eldrich looked pleased, then asked another question.

"So what do I need to do, just walk through it?" he asked as if expecting Jareth to disagree right away.

"Precisely."

The man looked astonished, but once again, only for a moment. He slowly stepped toward the mirror, then looked over his shoulder with a sly smile.

"So what's that "arrangement" between you and that girl anyway?" asked Eldrich.

Jareth looked at the man square in the eye.

"It would appear we both have our secrets, Eldrich."

Eldrich seemed to accept this answer with a grunt. Then he turned and walked without pause into the magic mirror. The glass sluiced and formed around the man as if made of liquid, then froze into a perfectly normal pane of glass once Eldrich departed.

It was now Jareth's turn to sit in the ornate chair and let his gaze caress each of his treasures. The Goblin King was exultant. Everything was going as planned.

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Sarah woke suddenly, but kept her eyes closed instinctively. What had happened? she asked herself. The last thing she remembered was reading something out of her journal. She couldn't recall having fallen asleep. For an instant, Sarah thought she felt a certain... something. Something that was comforting and freeing- something that may have had an inkling as to what had happened last night. But the feeling was fleeting. It left as quickly as it had come and Sarah was suddenly nervous about opening her eyes, as if keeping them closed would somehow keep her safe and hidden. With this thought, Sarah was loathe to face the certain enormity that was inexorably drawing closer to her. She knew something was wrong.

Resolutely, she shook her head. She had grown up. And it was time to face problems like a grownup would. Hiding under the covers had been something she had done as a child. Sarah scoldeded herself. Surely what was awaiting her was not all that bad. But even as she thought this, Sarah silently prayed that everything would be okay. Sarah opened her eyes.

Unfamiliar surroundings met her bleary, sleep-filled eyes. Sarah thought fiercely to herself that that's why she did not recognize the place. Her eyes must still be adjusting. But after blinking several times and even rubbing her eyes with her hands she realized that her first thoughts had been correct: She had no idea where she was.

Desperately, Sarah searched her mind. She must have some clue in her memory as to where she was. With difficulty, Sarah thought back to the night before. She remembered reading the journal and feeling very strong past emotions. She remembered how they had coursed through her body making every one of her nerves come alive. She remembered a beautiful, uplifted feeling she had felt within her heart.

She remembered feeling that something magical was happening to her. And suddenly, Sarah remembered the words she had read the night before. Once again, a feeling of dread came over her.

"Someone save me. Someone take me away from this awful place!"

Sarah quickly sat up in her bed and for the first time looked closely about her. She was searching for a clue.

The bed she had been lying on was extremely comfortable and the pillow must have been filled with soft down feathers from some type of bird. The walls were painted a dusty rose. On one of the four walls a beautiful golden mirror hung. There were shelves along one wall lined entirely with books. A dresser with little drawers and mirrors was vacating a corner. The hard wooden floor was polished to a high sheen. A thick, ornate carpet sat in front of the dresser and on top of that an intricately carved chair. Sarah stood up when she noticed a window on the far wall. As she drew closer, she realized that it was not only a window, but a window within a door leading to a small balcony. Sarah opened it slowly and stepped outside.

Sarah peered out in the bright sunlight, feeling its heat on her skin, warm and comforting. Holding a hand above her eyes, she searched the horizon. The balcony overlooked a beautiful garden that was filled with thousands of different flowers. Even as Sarah stood there, she could smell their lovely scent. Tiny delicate butterflies flitted by and Sarah clasped her hands together in delight. The garden had a breathtaking fountain in the middle of a courtyard. The water sparkled brilliantly as the sun's rays hit it. Cobblestone walkways were everywhere about the garden and every now and then a wrought-iron bench was placed along it. It was quite a wonderful sight to behold and one that she hoped she'd never forget. But, alas, with a sigh of regret, Sarah went back through the doorway. The garden was lovely. Sarah was now certain that wherever she was, she was not where she had first suspected. Sarah closed the door behind her gently, feeling a bit cheerier, almost happy. For a moment, Sarah forgot why she was supposed to be worried. The room was beautiful. She felt like a princess. She hummed to herself a little bit and examined the dresser drawers. There were little golden brushes and hand mirrors and jewelry- just about anything an aspiring princess could want. In one of the drawers, she found a little jewelry box filled with all types of rings. Noticing a tiny compartment at the bottom of the precious trinket, Sarah grasped the miniature handle and pulled.

Within the compartment was a tiny gold key. Sarah pulled it out with a delicate hand, enchanted. She looked about the drawers and found a thin gold chain. She strung the key onto the chain and clasped the necklace about her neck.

Finally, almost reluctantly, Sarah stood up, prepared to find out where she really was. But upon standing, Sarah noticed something along a wall that had not been there before.

It was a grandfather clock. But even though it was beautiful, its presence disturbed Sarah. Surely it had not been there a moment ago? Sarah walked up to it to inspect it further. The clock looked strangely familiar. Once she reached it, she realized why she recognized it.

It was thirteen o'clock. The large hand was resting on the number twelve and the small hand was pointing to-

"Well," said a voice behind Sarah, "What have we here?"

Sarah jumped at the unexpected sound of the voice. But it was the voice itself that made her heart pump faster. She recognized that voice. Whether it had been four years or even four hundred years since she had heard it, she would have still recognized that voice. It was cultured and mysterious. It sent a shiver down Sarah's spine.

Ever so slowly, Sarah turned to face the person she knew the voice belonged to.

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A/N It appears Jareth's second plan to capture Sarah has been a success. So what's with the red carpet treatment? He must have some reason for keeping her in such finery.

And how about that Eldrich? Looks like he's up to some mischief himself. I wonder how Toby fits into Jareth's evil schemes...

Anyway, sorry about the cliffie everyone X3 Thanks to my first two reviewers, it definitely makes me more inclined to put up a chapter a day. So for the rest of you bums, I suggest you review XD lololol. Thanks again for reading ~TheArtist