Chapter One: No Power

A figure stood before her naked body. Raising her arms to cover herself in shame she realised such an act was silly. On every side animals skipped as naked as she, fur and scales rippling as their bodies reflected the sunset. His cloak billowed elegantly against the fading sky. Another trick! You have no power over me! And he melted into the earth. Grief clutched her heart though her victory had been hard won. The creatures beside her whimpered as each watched a mate dissolve from their sides. Bending down she touched the earth where he'd stood and it died, grass wilting to parched skeletons. Something is happening to the Goblin Kingdom. And by defeating Jareth, did I cause it?

Sarah knelt by the lamp stand, examining once more the ending to her favourite fairy tale. The Labyrinth was bound in red, black embroidery bordering the edges. Its secrets had enchanted, ensnared and released her. Almost a year later she was wiser but appreciative of the lessons and journeys fantasies had taught her.

"Nothing. Not even an epilogue. I just leave with Toby." Running her fingers through her raven hair once more she shut her eyes in frustration. She had called on her friends often since she'd returned to the outside world but Jareth was never mentioned. In fact, anything about the kingdom was regarded as unimportant. They discussed her life mostly. The peculiarity of this had not struck her until now. I've been so selfish. Getting to her feet she checked the clock. Ten after eight. Her parents wouldn't be back for another four hours. Toby was safely tucked up in bed and the house was hers. Now was as good a time as any. Seating herself atop her comforter Sarah closed her eyes and pictured her dwarf friend Hoggle.

"Hoggle, I'd like to speak with you." Opening her eyes there he was, kneeling to her, a smug grin on his face.

"Milady."

"Shut up you!" She threw a pillow at him and laughed openly when he rolled backwards.

"Is that the welcome I get then?"

"Sorry Hoggle, you're so fun to tease."

Crossing his arms he sat down on one of her stools eyeing her suspiciously.

"Alright I'm really sorry. I do love your company." Smiling she knelt and hugged him tenderly.

"That's better."

Replacing herself on the bed she gathered her thoughts before speaking. "So, how's it been in the kingdom?"

"Oh, same old. Nothing new there." Plucking at a piece of white fluff on his coat he offered few clues as to the actual state of affairs.

"Well, what's Jareth been doing?"

"Watching over the Goblin Kingdom of course."

"No, I mean…no more baby-snatching or anything?"

"He only ever took your brother."

"Hoggle, you're not telling me anything."

"I'm answering your questions truthfully as we agreed upon."

"But that's only your absentminded point of view." Sighing she got up and began pacing her bedroom. "I've been thinking about Jareth and the kingdom more and more these days. Did I destroy something when I left?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is anything different compared to before I came?"

"Well I didn't have a friend. Ludo was the plaything of goblin soldiers, sir Dig…"

"I know that but, what about the kingdom and its king?"

"I'm not sure I understand you, nothing's different. Jareth's the same goblin ruler he ever was though I suppose he bothers me a little less now."

"Let's take that then. Before I came a long how often did you get a visit from him?"

"Oh, once a day usually. He occupied his day by overshadowing us you could say."

"And how often does he visit you now?"

"Come to think of it, I've only seen him once since you left."

"There, you see something has changed."

"Well why would you want me to notice that! I mean, it's wonderful, if I acknowledge it he might change his mind!"

Exasperation made Sarah fall backwards onto her bed. "So something is wrong in the Goblin Kingdom."

"Not really wrong. Just different."

Jareth. She'd never asked to talk to him before. She never thought she'd want to. "Hoggle, is it possible for me to summon Jareth?"

"WHAT!" Hoggle almost fell off his stool. "Why would you want to talk to him?"

"Because I think there's something wrong and if I'm the culprit I want to fix it."

"Have it your way then. You should be able to summon him the same as any of us. But mind, he may not come."

"Thank you Hoggle. You'd better go if you don't want to meet him." The closest thing to a squeal issued through her dwarf friend's lips and she smiled. With a blink Hoggle was gone and Sarah found herself searching for a faded image of the Goblin King. The clearest was to focus on the silhouette from the dream that had haunted her for almost a week.

"Goblin King, I'd like to speak with you."

Peeking through half-closed eyelids her room appeared to be empty. Sighing she lay back and curled into a ball. If she couldn't summon him, or he wouldn't come, there was no way she could find out what was wrong. Unless she found a way to get back. Why am I worrying about this? If Hoggle isn't worried then it's obviously nothing drastic. But the nagging in her heart told her something was wrong. That's why I had that dream. If I messed something up then I should be the one to fix it. Turning toward her dark window the lights around her went out.

"Jareth?" Slowly sitting up she glanced around her but it was impossible to make out anything in the dark corners. "Jareth?"

"Well, well."

Spinning to look at the window a blond-haired silhouette sat facing her. "You always were over dramatic."

Silence.

"If you summoned me for a moonlit romance I'll have to disappoint you. I'm very busy and should get back to my kingdom."

Anger flared. "I've a very unsettling dream for a few nights and thought you might have been in trouble or something."

"As if I couldn't handle any trouble that may arise. What a spoiled girl you are to think I would require your help."

"Last time we met I said something that stripped you of your power. Don't you forget that!"

"Only my power over you. Any other human who calls on me will play by my rules." Two gloved hands rose to elegantly juggle three glass spheres.

Mesmerized for a moment Sarah forgot her anger and came to stand beside him. "Look, I've missed the kingdom and labyrinth. Not that I want to try and solve it all over again, but it was a pleasant change from the often monotonous routine of life."

"A vacation of sorts."

"Well I'd hardly call your labyrinth a vacation."

White teeth gleamed in the darkness. "So you admit it was difficult."

"Yes, pride is one quality I could use a little less of. Not unlike yourself Goblin King."

"Being a king is being pride Sarah, surely you understand that."

"Of goblins yes."

The silence became softer, less strained and Sarah reached out a hand to touch his arm. Instead she found a hand and withdrew almost instantly. "Can't you give me a tiny bit of light? I want to see if you've aged."

An irritated huff reached her ears and she grinned. A collection of small orbs appeared around them, glowing luminescent green. Jareth hadn't changed. It was as if someone had snapped a photograph and then brought it back to life. Jareth was as mysterious and enchanting as he'd been when she first met him.

"Maybe one wrinkle."

"Don't be a pain."

Now that he no longer held cards she wanted she was free to play him for all he was worth. "Would you consider taking me to your palace and showing me first-class goblin hospitality. No strings attached?"

"There is nothing in it for me. I only cater to requests that might benefit me."

"Selfish to the bone are we then."

A raised eyebrow and cock of the head greeted her remark.

"Then why did you cater to me Jareth, king of the goblins. Why did you give me the chance to take my brother back when the easy road would have been the most selfish? And by relinquishing power you became my slave. Do you remember when you said that? I haven't forgotten. Something I've been wondering for quite some time now nags to be voiced…." Her heart was getter louder, or was that the rain that had begun to pound heavily on the glass outside? "In the story of your Labyrinth you give the powers to wish away a child to a princess. Although I'm nothing of the sort I can see how fated-irony could influence our present. So what I want to ask you is….really quite simple." His eyes were piercing. Where was she going with this? She was supposed to be finding out if anything was wrong in his world. Her instincts were leading up to something. An answer to this question would make all others irrelevant. "Are you in love with me?"

Jareth slipped silently off the window ledge and peered down at her with his double-colour eyes. His expression was stone, indiscernible. He took a step toward her.

"Jareth?" Sarah felt herself beginning to tremble. He might not have magical control over her but she couldn't read what he was thinking. With one stride his chest was a foot from her chin. Heat radiated from beneath his concealing drapery. Gazing up into his face his hair fell across her cheek. Peaches…. It was hard to breath. Why didn't he say anything? The minutes dragged by. She chanced a glance at his eyes and became lost in them. How could she have forgotten? His neck bent forward. Her body temperature jumped ten degrees. Her breathing quickened. His lips were against her ear, warm air blowing seductively across it. A slow, deliberate vocal flux issued sound while his mouth formed a word. "….No." He pulled away.

"You know I'm about ready to kill you."

"Why let yourself get so excited when you already know the answer?"

Marching away from him, angrier at herself than him she vowed not to be beaten. She could play his games too. "Fine. I'd still like to spend some time in your realm with your highness' blessing. Any room with a bed and bathroom would suit me fine."

"Even if they're the same room." His grin was maddening.

"I'm sure a man of your stature can afford better than that."

"I could bring you to my castle and allow free room and board for a set length of time if I think the experience will be worth it. Things are slow and I could do with a little excitement."

"How you do love a game. That seems fair, I'm sure the time I'm there will provide ample opportunity to amuse. Little do I have to fear from you magically after all."

"Much do you have to fear from me otherwise."

A shiver ran down her spine but she ignored it. "Will you alter time as you did before?"

"The mess is too great otherwise."

"Then I will pack a few things and we will go."

Sarah turned her back on a cement façade. His stature gave no clues to hidden or even present emotion. It was as though he was conducting a shopping list. A weeks' worth of clothes in a duffel bag with The Labyrinth tucked safely away inside led her to stand before Jareth once more.

"Finally ready."

"Yes your HIGHness." Sarah mock-curtsied the goblin king.

"Then let us be gone. Mortals do have a stench."