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Up in the North Pole…
The big man himself was starting to dread this time of the year, as all the mail came flooding in at once. For some reason, there was no mail throughout the rest of the year; but come the end of November or beginning of December, that was all that arrived.
Mrs Claus had removed herself completely from the workshop, as she knew what her husband would be saying, and she had grown tired of the same complaints that came every year. Even the reindeer had aged over the centuries, and they had slowly started to get slower on what had become known ‘The Night of Nights’.
“Grr… these days the children are asking for more and more items! My elves are battling to keep up with their greediness. There is something that stops them from being active like the good old days. I blame that clod-founded electronics.”
Santa looked over the ever-growing list of wishes that the children around the world wanted, as he scratched his beard in frustration. He could feel his blood pressure rising as his eyes ran over the huge list. With every toy and gift that the elves had finished making for a child, that child magically got ticked off his list.
“I need a small break away from here before I make the longest trip of my life again this year. I hope that my friend is up for a visit.”
Slowly, he walked over to the bookshelf, and after selecting the book that was needed, he silently said those words that he was given many centuries ago.
“I wish I could go and visit my friend, the Goblin King, in the Underground, in his castle beyond the Goblin City.”
In the next instant, he was gone.
**************
Down in the Underground…
Jareth was getting excited, as for the first time he would be bringing the Aboveground celebration of Christmas to his castle. For many years, he and his beautiful wife Sarah had made the trip up there to her family home, but this time, he had asked to host it to give Karen a break.
Sarah had been trying to teach the kitchen goblins about what Christmas dinner food was, but without success, so in the end, she had decided to give the entire castle staff a couple of days off. That way she could discreetly make everything that would be needed with her developing magic.
“Love, I still don’t think that giving every goblin time off over Christmas was a good idea. I know we haven’t had a wisher for a few months now, but it is their job to collect the wished-away child. You never know what will happen over the festive next two days.”
Sarah sighed, before turning to face her dashing husband. Even after fifteen Underground years, which worked out to being five in her old world, she could not stop the sexy thoughts running through her mind at the sight of him.
“I know that Hun, but I really do not want Karen fainting at every goblin she sets eyes on. You know what she was like when we announced our engagement in the first place. Dad and Toby had trouble keeping her off the floor when all the goblins just showed up in the living room that day.”
Jareth remembered that day, and he couldn’t help but grin at the memory of Karen constantly flopping to the floor. At first, he had thought it was because Sarah had dropped the bombshell of her engagement, but then he had started to see small creatures running around the house that she had grown up in.
For some reason, the magic that usually hid the goblins from people who didn’t believe in the magic failed to work, and that had resulted in both Karen and Robert being able to see his subjects.
It had taken Sarah and Jareth a long time to convince her parents of the truth, but having a few of the goblins there, helped them come to terms with it.
Toby had been happy, as he could finally get his parents to understand that he had been telling the truth the whole time.
“All right, Love, I know how it was for Karen at the beginning. I am just wondering if you have taken on too much with this. My parents are coming for the dinner as well.”
Sarah wound her arms around his neck with a smile as his arms gripped her waist, and his hands slid down to cup her buttocks.
“Don’t worry; I will be fine. Most of the ingredients I need are already stocked in the castle kitchen anyway. I just did not want the goblins to know what else will be served.”
Jareth looked into her emerald eyes just as he understood her meaning, and he let out a loud guffaw.
“Now that is very cheeky, My Queen.”
Before another word could be said, Jareth closed his eyes with a sigh, and Sarah knew that look on his face.
They had a wisher.
“I’ll be waiting for you. Go and do your duty.”
Sarah gave Jareth a light passionate kiss before letting her husband go.
“So much for not having a wisher. Well, at least it’s now and not on Christmas Eve or Day,” she mumbled before heading back to the kitchen to prepare the menu.
**************
Jareth expected to arrive at the wisher’s residence, but to his surprise, he was transported to the dusty hill that was just outside the Labyrinth’s gate. He had changed into his full battle regalia like usual but then realised that something was wrong.
Looking around in confusion, he was about to say something when a loud booming voice came from behind him. He instantly knew who that person was, and a huge grin wormed across his face as he turned to face his old friend.
“Saint Nick. What are you doing here? Were you the one who wished yourself here to me?”
“Oh, Jareth, I came to see my old friend, as I really needed a break before the busiest time of the year came for me. The wife is tired of my complaining, as the children are getting more and more greedy. And besides, it has been too long between visits, my friend.”
Jareth laughed and embraced his friend in a brotherly hug. Stepping back, he glanced over the larger man, who stood before him, and mentally knew that nothing he said would make any difference.
“I know that look, Jareth. Please don’t say that I need to change my appearance, as I am expected to look this way. This has been my uniform for centuries. All that is missing is my heavy red coat and the pompom hat.”
“Well, we could stay here for the entire time, but I am sure that my wife would love to meet the man who shows up once a year.”
At this, Saint Nick stopped in his tracks. He was shocked to hear that The Goblin King had finally gotten married.
“Wife? So, who is the lucky lady to have tamed this rogue?”
Jareth smirked.
“Her name is Sarah Williams. She was also known as the Labyrinth Champion. The only runner who has beaten me at my own game. We married nearly five Aboveground years ago.”
Saint Nick clapped his red gloved hand on Jareth’s shoulder, and grinned as he had heard all about this mysterious Sarah after she had beaten him. It was only then that he realised that not one goblin had come to see who had been wished away.
“Where are the goblins? I had expected to be overrun by them already.”
Jareth laughed slightly.
“Well, Sarah had decided to give them a couple of days off. We are hosting Christmas dinner here this year, and she didn’t want them to see what would be served on the table for meat.”
The image of the queen fighting with the pesky goblins over a roasted chicken meal had Nick in absolute laughter. Jareth couldn’t help but join in as he transported them both to the informal throne room of the castle.
**************
Sarah had been getting the dining room slightly decorated, ready for both families to join her and Jareth for the celebratory dinner. She sensed that her husband had returned, and she left the room in search of him.
She could hear voices coming from the informal throne room, and after wiping her hands on the light blue, long sleeved velvet dress she was wearing, Sarah opened the door. Instantly the talk between both males ceased.
“Wow, Jareth. You were very wise to wait to find the right one. Pleased to meet you, Your Majesty. I am called many things, but His Majesty here calls me Saint Nick.”
Sarah could only stand there as the larger man walked towards her, when suddenly everything he said clicked into place.
He was the original Santa!
She couldn’t help feeling a little intimidated, but she knew that Jareth had friends that went back many centuries.
“Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you too. I apologise for being a little shaken, but I can’t believe that I am actually meeting the real Santa Clause.”
Saint Nick let go of a chortle, while Jareth stood there, watching the scene unfold. He felt immense pride for how well his queen handled everything. He had told her about some of his long-time friends, but not all of them.
“Please, Your Majesty, call me Nick, just like your husband does. I know that there are so many others in my world who pretend to be me, especially this time of year, but I would appreciate it if you told no one that you have met the one and only real Kris Kringle.”
Sarah nodded in understanding, as she knew that her new life in the Underground with the King of the Goblins was still something her parents were coming to terms with. If she told them about this, they most certainly would not believe her.
Toby would be so disappointed that he missed out.
“Of course. You have my word that I won’t say anything. And you may call me Sarah, instead of ‘Your Majesty’ all the time. Now if you will excuse me, I have to head back to the dining room and finish decorating it. My family is coming here for the first time over Christmas dinner, and I have made sure that all castle goblins have been given time off.”
“I think that would be wise, as even after many centuries of being this one’s friend, sometimes I still get nervous around his goblin subjects.”
Saint Nick smiled, as he finally understood why the castle was so silent. Out of habit, he couldn’t help but look around, as he expected to still see little red eyes that belonged to a small scruffy creature.
“Well, I’ll leave the two of you to catch up. I have dining room decorating to do ahead of the chaos that is sure to come when our families get together.”
Sarah gave a small smile and a wink. Jareth gave his wife a small hug, and a quick kiss, before promising to come and see how she was doing later.
**************
Sarah had decided to show off her magic to her handsome husband and his friend by transporting back to the dining room on her own. She took a moment to look around at what had been done already.
“Oh wow. I can’t believe that I just met the legendary and very real Santa Clause,” she whispered under her breath.
“I know that Jareth has other friends that I have yet to meet, but I would not be surprised if he knew the tooth fairy,” Sarah replied and couldn’t help but giggle at that thought.
Aside from the table, the room had been decorated in the customary colours of red and green. There were sprigs of holly attached to the white curtains, a tree that Jareth had magicked into the castle stood tall in the corner of the room, decorated in a gold and silver theme.
The tree was covered in gold coloured tinsel that matched the huge star that was sitting on top. All over the branches hung gold and silver coloured baubles, tiny crystals that Jareth had surprised her with, and magic snowflakes that wouldn’t melt.
Sarah stood there in a state of thoughtfulness, not sure what part of the room to do next, as she didn’t want to go overboard. After all, there had to be room to eat the delicious meal that was planned.
On the long, boardroom style table, Sarah had found a delicate lace tablecloth to make a covering before placing champagne where everyone would be sitting. Unused tealight candles and small floral arrangements made for table decorations in the centre. Clean white serviettes with red and green ribbons tied around them were laid across each dinner plate.
“I know that I am getting ahead of myself, but I just want everything to be perfect. If I can finish these decorations, then I can get the menu perfect and make sure that we have everything ready to go by the time our families get here.”
Sarah rung her hands together in nervousness, as she mumbled the to-do list under her breath.
“Now I know how Karen feels. Only this time, we will have the High King and Queen joining us.”
She got to work in perfecting the lighting above the table with her magic before closing the doors to the room. Jareth and their families would love her work, and she couldn’t wait for their reaction.
***************
Jareth and Saint Nick had made themselves at home in the study, but both knew that this was just a quick visit, as Santa’s job was demanding this time of year. They both held steaming cups of coffee that Jareth had pulled from the air.
“All I can say is, thank you, Mate. If it wasn’t for the ability to access some of the Labyrinth’s magic, there is no way I could get my job done. Especially in one night.”
Jareth laughed and sat back in his chair with images of his friend shimming down each tight chimney.
“I don’t know how you have done that for so long. Do you not get too stressed each year? Or what happens if something goes wrong?”
Nick sighed as he leant back in the plush chair, as memories of the past washed over him.
“I found that I am like you, Jareth. I have a job to do, and I do it. To say that things do not go wrong would be lying, as I have unpredictable reindeer leading me around the Earth. The stories that I could tell you, oh boy… you would have to get Sarah to scrape you off the castle floor, as you would be laughing so hard that you wouldn’t be able to stand up.”
Jareth couldn’t help but be intrigued by his friends’ words, and that made him want to experience it for himself.
“One year, you will have to let me come with you. Just to see you do it. You and your reindeer fly all over the world, following the time zones in one night. I can’t help but be curious on how you accomplish such a feat.”
Nick rubbed his snow-white beard, as he contemplated that idea. Not even his own wife, Maureen had asked to go with him on his globetrotting night.
“Of course, you are welcome to tag along with me. Perhaps next year, as I know that your beautiful wife will be expecting you here this time.”
“I would love too. I’ll just put it in my diary now to come and visit the North Pole a day in advance next year, so I can see all your little elves at work as well. I haven’t seen your wife in centuries.”
“Well, Mate, to be honest, she is starting to get on my nerves. All she does is complain about having no one else to talk to. She knew what she was getting into when she married me.”
At that bombshell, Jareth was surprised, as Maureen was such a wonderful lady who loved to bake and look after their home. He wondered if Sarah would agree to come with him next year when the visit to the North Pole was scheduled.
He made a mental note to ask her.
“I had better get going, my friend. Who knows what the elves are doing while I have taken time out down here. Don’t worry, as I have something for each and every Underground resident that will be left with you to distribute.”
“But you have only just gotten here, Mate. Don’t forget that I can manipulate time for you. That way you could be here for a few more hours.”
Saint Nick slowly shook his head in regret, “Please don’t get me wrong, Jareth. I would love to stay a lot longer, and at any other part of the year, I would take you up on that offer. Unfortunately, I do need to get back.”
Jareth nodded in understanding and walked over to the open bar shelf in the room.
“Well, first a drink. You will need more than a steaming hot coffee for what you are about to embark upon. Here.”
He poured them both a small shot of goblin mead, and they clinked glasses before swallowing it in one gulp.”
Nick started to cough a little from the rich taste.
“Oh, boy. That will do me for the next couple of days. Now please be a nice person and ask your beautiful wife to come back in here, so that I can say goodbye to her.”
Jareth grinned before creating a crystal to see where his Sarah was. When he found that she was in the library, he sent the crystal off to ask her to join him in the study to see Saint Nick off.
Sarah arrived very shortly afterwards, and after a hearty farewell that consisted of promises of seeing each other again, Jareth sent his friend back to the North Pole. Only then did Sarah notice a huge sack beside the wooden desk.
“What’s this, Hun?”
Sarah looked confused as she took a peek inside, finding it filled with brightly wrapped presents. Jareth gave a small smile at her curiosity.
“Saint Nick has left a present for every one of the Labyrinth’s residents. I have the job of distributing them.”
Sarah looked up at him with wide eyes as Jareth got to work, creating multiple crystals. Slowly, they circled the burlap sack, and the wrapped presents disappeared.
Cries and screams of glee could be heard around the Goblin City and in parts of the Labyrinth meant that those residents had received their gifts. Everywhere else, all the Underground residents grinned as they got surprises.
“There we go, Love, all done. And I didn’t even have to enter anyone’s house.”
Sarah heard the cheekiness in his voice, and she couldn’t help but laugh, and together, she and Jareth, walked to their chambers to get ready for bed.
“I know that you’re stressing over Christmas dinner, Love. But please don’t. You know that everything will be all right. Our parents get along. Robert, Karen, and Toby have been here before, so they know what to expect. This time, thanks to you, we have no goblins making a mess.”
Sarah laughed, snuggling up to him in their bed.
“Now I know how Karen feels each year. I just wanted to give her a break this year. Christmas hasn’t even happened yet, and already I’m getting stressed.
Jareth held his wife tight and kissed her forehead with a smile.
“Well, in the morning, I would like to see what the dining room looks like so far. We still have time to add or fix anything.”
Sarah nodded as she started to fall asleep.
**************
Up in the North Pole…
Saint Nick was still buzzing after his impromptu visit with Jareth and his very beautiful wife. He saw just how far the elves had gone, and he couldn’t help but feel impressed with how hard they work. Suddenly, he had an idea, as he took a page from Sarah’s book.
“Attention everyone. Can all the elves come out to the courtyard, as I have an announcement that you need to hear.”
All the elves quite literally stopped what they were doing and made a beeline for the courtyard to hear what their boss had to say. There was a hushed sound, as they all waited in anticipation.
“I have decided that after this year’s delivery, I am going to give you all a three-day vacation as a reward for your hard work. I know that it seems that our list gets longer each year, but that is something that can’t be helped.”
A giant celebration of cheers erupted as all the elves realised that they hadn’t had any time off in many years. Santa was joined by his wife, Maureen Clause on the workshop balcony, and they wore big smiles.
Saint Nick’s mind travelled to the Underground, already missing his friends, but he couldn’t wait for the following year when Jareth, and hopefully Sarah would join them in their icy home.