MARBLECAKE

By Delia Lavender

(I do not own anything from "Labyrinth"or "Star Wars")

"Mommy!" Whimpered the small, tri-colored bundle as the strangely dressed, wild-haired man picked her up. He seemed almost gentle, despite his obvious anger, and he held her up against his coat. His coat was soft, as soft as her mistress's favorite blanket, the one she referred to as "velvet". It was soft as her own fur…

"I was so sure," the man said bitterly "So certain that it finally had happened. This creature's wish-away has the scent of Lady Sarah."

"Mommy..." said Creature. She had no idea why she could finally speak. Mistress never understood her pleas for love, or her apologies for mishaps.

She looked up at the man, right into his dazzling, mismatched eyes. There was the barest spark of kindness in them.

"Who would wish-away a little thing like you? And why does it feel like Sarah? I can't believe that Sarah would do that...not after wishing-away her little brother..."

"If I may, your majesty, I would like to remind you that Lady Sarah does have a daughter".

"Yes, Councilor Grimwad, I remember. From all reports she's a dreadful child...my subjects all refer to her as "Gwen the Horrid". Odd that Sarah would tolerate her."

"We cannot choose our children," said Councilor Grimwad, philosophically "And it's especially hard for these single, human mothers. Lady Sarah has so little time to teach her daughter."

"True, very true" said King Jareth. He shifted the little dog around, until he could grasp her star-shaped tag "Princess...Princess Leia?" He laughed ironically "That's a good joke. Why didn't she name you "Marblecake"? It would have been much more appropriate."

"Marblecake, your Majesty?" The ornately-robed goblin wrinkled his warty brow, plainly puzzled.

"It's a human delicacy," said Jareth, a little impatiently "It involves folding chocolate into vanilla, making a cake with markings similar to those in marble".

"Like the pillars in the royal garden?"

"Yes, like those".

The Goblin Councilor took a step closer and peered at Leia "She appears to have ginger markings, too."

King Jareth lifted her a bit higher "Indeed she does," he pronounced "Well...what do you think we should do with her, Councilor? She's hardly goblin material."

"Perhaps, your Majesty, she could be given to the teacher, Grimegoot. She would be a great comfort to some of our younger wished-aways, those who are yet to make their transitions."

"Yes, yes...but she might impede their progress. I think I have a better idea," The Goblin King grinned evilly "Our noble knight, Sir Didymus, has recently lost his wife and pups, no? Perhaps our new little wished-away could comfort him."

And that was how it came to pass that Princess Leia, now demoted to "Lady Marblecake", came to be standing on a rock in the middle of the Bog of Stench, mewling piteously and wearing a conical hat with attached veil, awaiting her new, fuzzy husband.