Chapter Text
‘I can never remember that line. “You have no power over me”. That’s it Arrax.’
Looking up from where he was laying in the grass the shepherd mix, more puppy then dog, looked at his human who was nose deep in a book, muttering about Kings and Labyrinths.
Luke Strong was of small build, pretty features that he had inherited from his mother but with dark hair and green eyes he had gotten from his late father, and possessed an overactive imagination that caused him no end of trouble when he was a child. The book he was reading was one of his favourites from childhood. Bound in red leather with gold lettering, it was a gift from his Auntie Alys. His father’s sister had given it to him on his sixth birthday and it was one of his most treasured possessions. He was often found with it and loved nothing more than acting out certain scenes in the park.
Looking over at the clock tower Luke swore, ‘Shit Arrax we’re going to be late. I promised mum and Daemon I’d be back half hour ago.’ Pocketing his book and grabbing his bag the boy made a dash out of the park the dog following close behind.
It was half way to the house that the rain came. ‘It’s not fair’, the boy whined looking at his dog who looked just as miserable. Crossing the street and trudging up to the path that lead to the townhouse he called home Luke wasn’t surprised that Daemon, his stepfather opened the door. Luke got along fine with Daemon, it was his older brother Jace who was away at college that had a problem with Rhaenyra’s new husband but Daemon could be a hardass when it came to tardiness.
‘Where have you been Luke? We were worried.” Letting the boy through to the entry hall Daemon looked at his stepson. “You told us you would be back at five thirty.”
“Sorry, I got distracted. Won’t happen again’ Luke replied glumly.
Seeing the red edge of the book peeking out of Luke’s baby blue hoodie pocket, ‘Your sixteen now Luke. Aren’t you a bit old for fairytales? Why don’t you make plans? With your friends? Rhaena misses you.’
Suddenly feeling annoyed Luke said ‘ I thought you liked me being the live in baby sitter?’
‘Don’t start Luke. I expect that attitude from Jace not you. Your mother doesn’t need the stress.’
And that was why Luke was stuck on babysitting duties. Luke’s grandfather and step grandmother had reached out about healing family bonds and had invited a six months pregnant Rhaenyra and Daemon for dinner at an expensive restaurant in King’s Landing. The family had fallen out some time ago just after Luke’s father’s death. For the last week or so Rhaenyra had been a bundle of stress. Luke didn’t mean to be horrible, he loved his mother dearly but he was sick of being the sweet one, the pushover, the one who was an easy target for bullying with his small frame and pretty looks. Jace never got bullied and that was mostly due to inheriting their father’s build and the infamous Targaryen temper from their mother.
‘Luke, sweet boy you’re home. Why are so late?’
Rhaenyra Targaryen had just come down from the stairs looking every inch a Queen from a fairy story in a stunning red dress with onyx jewellery to complete the outfit.
‘Can’t I have a life. It’s so unfair that I have to babysit all the time.’
‘What’s bought all this on? You should have a life. We’d love it, wouldn’t we Daemon? If you went out and dated.’
‘You guys don’t get it’, with a huff Luke walked out of the entrance hall to the stairs pointing to the kitchen as he went, ‘No Arrax you’re wet. Stay in the kitchen for a bit.’
Walking up the stairs Luke could hear the murmur of voices. Opening his door and shutting it quietly so as not to wake the sleeping toddler across the hall. He was in a bad mood but not a complete asshole. Sitting on his bed he took his most prized possession from his pocket and started delicately tracing the gold lettering.
“Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the city beyond the Goblin City, to take back the child you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom as great…’
A knock on his door interrupted him. It was his mother. ‘Luke we’re going now. There’s plenty of food. Joff should be waking up any minute now.We should be back around midnight’ then ‘I hope we can talk in the morning. I know how hard this age can be.’
With that his mother left and a few minutes later he heard the car pull away. Flopping down on his bed he turned to his shelf of teddy bears. Each one a limited edition hero from Westerosi history gifted to him by his gods father Leanor. Maybe Daemon was right he was getting too old for fairytales and heroes. He glanced again and noticed that one of his bears were missing.
‘Someone took Ser Blackfyre. It really is unfair.’
Rushing from his bed into his toddler brother’s room he found the bear in the three year old’s grasp. Snatching the bear from his brother which in turn caused the little one who had just woken from his nap to start bawling.
‘I don’t know what you’re crying for. I have more to cry over. I’m always looking after you. Will you stop crying. I’ll wish you away to the Goblin King if you won’t stop’.
The child cried harder. Picking up is brother, Luke rocked the little boy back and forth. “Shall I tell you a story? Okay then. Once upon a time there was a beautiful boy whose mother and stepfather always made him stay with the baby. The baby got everything he wanted including what wasn’t his and his brother, his poor brother, was nothing but a slave. But what no one knew was this: the King of the Goblins had fallen in love with boy, and had given him certain powers.’ Calmed by his brother’s voice and the tale Joff was looking at his brother with full attention, neither one of them knowing they had caught the attention of other things. Continuing on, Luke said ‘One night when the baby had been particularly nasty, the girl called out to the goblins to help her and they replied “ Say your right words, and we’ll take the baby away”
‘Do you think he’s going to say the words?’
‘Shut your trap and let’s wait and see’
‘But the boy knew that the Goblin King would keep the babe forever in his castle and turn him into a goblin. So the boy suffered in silence but then one night hurt by the uncaring words of their parents the boy could take it no longer.’ As if by magic lightening split the sky and the rain came down heavier than ever causing Arrax downstairs to howl and little Joff to scream. ‘Okay, okay I was kidding. Just hush now. Don’t make me say the words. I will. No! No! I mustn’t say. I wish…I wish..’
‘Wait, he’s going to say the words!’
‘Say what?’
‘Shush!’
‘Don’t tell me to shush!’
‘Quiet!’
‘Listen closely now’
Luke raised the still crying Joff above his head, ‘Goblin King! Goblin King! Wherever you maybe, come and take this child far away from me.’
‘That’s not right’
‘Where did he learn that rubbish from? It doesn’t even start with I wish!’
With a sigh Luke placed the teary eyed Joff back on his bed. ‘See I was joking. Though I do wish I knew the words to say to get the goblins to take you away, right now.’
“I wish the goblins would come and take you away, right now!” That’s not hard, is it?’
‘I wish…I wish…’
‘Oh did he say it’
‘Shut. Up’
Walking towards the door and turning back to his brother Luke said quietly ‘ I wish the goblins would come and take you away, right now!’
Stepping into the hallway it was like time had stopped. No thunder, no flashes of lightning, no rain on the roof, no barking Arrax and most worrying of all no crying Joff. Luke rushed back into the room and finding his brother’s bed empty started to panic. He had the creeping sense that he was being watch and was that giggling?
‘Joff this isn’t funny. Where are you?’
‘Oh my precious thing, have you misplaced something?’
Turning to the large windows Luke saw a figure standing there. Tall, lean of figure, in black leather with a green cloak and white blond hair trailing down his back, and with a wicked smirk on his handsome face Luke said the first thing that came to his mind.
‘It’s you. You’re the Goblin King.’