Far from over... chapter 4

“Where did that bracelet come from? I’ve never seen it before.”  And so the inquisition begins thought Sarah as she sat down to breakfast that morning. She had been getting along better with her stepmother since her Labyrinth adventure, but at moments like these Karen really got on her nerves.
“Oh er… the girls from school all clubbed together and got it for me.”
“Oh I thought I saw you open their presents. Let me have a proper look then.” Sarah dutifully held out her arm for inspection as Karen said “It’s very unusual, the fairy is quite pretty but the other two charms are a little strange. Oh well from a distance it looks nice, the way it catches the light. Don’t forget to add all of their names to the list.”

Even though she knew that Karen couldn’t understand her reason for loving the bracelet so much, it still annoyed her that she could dismiss it in such a way, she was so distracted by this thought she almost missed the end of what Karen said. “What list?” Sarah asked, confused.
“Honestly Sarah do you never listen to me? The list for the thank you cards, I’m getting them printed. One of the girls at the club had them done for her daughters 21st, they look very smart.” Thank you cards; Sarah hadn’t even thought about that, should she send one to Jareth? She could hardly add him on to Karen’s list, imagine trying to explain that one! But she could send him a thank you note of some description.

…

“Ugh where is it? I could have sworn I saw it in this draw last week.” Sarah muttered to herself as she rummaged around her room. She was looking for a writing set she had been given by an elderly relative a few years back. She rarely had an occasion to write somebody a letter so the set had gone unused all this time, but after the lovely paper used by the goblin king in his notes to her she could hardly send him one back on a page torn out of a notebook.
“Aha! Got you!” Sarah pulled the dusty looking box out of the back of her bottom draw, she lifted the lid and examined the contents; there was a neat stack of writing paper and matching envelopes and even a fountain pen and ink with which to write with. The paper was a very pale shade of blue with a printed on boarder and cluster of flowers in the bottom right hand corner. It wasn’t exactly to Sarah’s taste but it was good quality paper and so much more suitable to say thank you for such a lovely gift.
If she thought that finding the paper was going to be the hardest part of this job she was sadly mistaken. So far there were three failed attempts screwed up into balls in the bottom of her bin. How did she even address the letter? Dear Jareth? Dear Goblin king? Your Royal Highness? The US educational system was really failing her here; why had she never been taught how to write a letter to royalty. Of course she knew the answer to that, but it didn’t help her now!

“Oh screw this I’m just calling him Jareth if he doesn’t like it then that’s just tough!”
She kept the letter short and sweet, she thanked him for the bracelet and said how much she liked it and she apologised for haven fallen asleep. She didn’t really know what to say beyond that, p.s. sorry for destroying your Escher room and rejecting you? Somehow she didn’t think putting that in a letter would go down too well. Come to think of it why was the goblin king being so nice to her? She looked down at her new bracelet and smiled, perhaps it would be best not to over think too much about his motives.

Sarah could have no idea the effect her simple note would have on the goblin king. He was so pleased to have received it that the goblins were treated to a rendition of the kings full repertoire, complete with choreography and enough glitter to decorate a grotto for your average shopping mall’s Santa Clause at Christmas time.