The love of the underground

by Born Fae as a mortal

Deception is brewing in the underground and there's more at stake that meets the eye. Sarah learns about her past as Jareth tries to keep his kingdom together.

1. Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine except the plot and the characters you don't recognize.

This is my first fanfic. This is also rated R for a reason. I'm a big fan of Jareth Sarah action. Also, I love people to tell me what they really think, but be nice. Rudeness is never excusable. The beginning starts off kind of weird, but it gets better.

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"Excuse me, miss. Could I have another refill please?"

"Sure. Give me just one second." Sarah smiled at the man as she hoisted a tray full of dirty dishes onto the palm of her hand. She knew it was rare to have such a pleasant customer and decided to hurry and get his request. As she rounded the corner into the back kitchen another waitress was coming out.

"Watch it thair sweetheart! Don't want ye taken a spill now do we?" the older waitress reached out to steady Sarah.

"Sorry Abby. Other things on my mind today." Sarah rebalanced her load and continued to the kitchen. She liked the older woman. Sarah had been working at the Libro for almost a year now. It was basically a café bookstore. People came in to buy books, or bring in their own books and have a nice lunch. It wasn't a great job, but it was a good job, and the staff was like family. Abby had taken Sarah around her first day and showed her the tricks to being a waitress.

Sarah quickly deposited of the dirty dishes, giving the dishwasher an apologetic smile, and turned to grab a fresh cup of coffee for the man at her table.

"Here you are, sir. Anything else I can get for you?"

"Maybe a little company. If you have the time."

This wasn't such an odd request. In fact a lot of people, mostly older people, requested the waitress's company to help fight off loneliness. Sarah quickly studied the man. He seemed to be in his late 40's, friendly smile, and sad eyes. Same looks, different person.

Sarah gave the man a big sigh as she sat down in the chair opposite him, "Now why would a handsome man like you want a dirty old waitress to sit with him?"

The man smiled as he slid a five dollar bill across the table, "Here's your tip. Now talk to me like a person and not a customer."

Sarah's smile never faltered as she slid the money into her apron and studied the man some more.

"Hard day?"

"Try a hard life. Tell me...Sarah," he said as he glanced at her name badge, "what do you have planned in life?"

Sarah frowned a little. Normally lonely customers just wanted a quick pick me up with some cheap flattery. This man was different.

"Well, I'm a full-time college student at the university." Sarah shrugged but anyone could see the look of pride in her eyes. "I'm majoring in Liberal Arts Literary Division. I hope to write novels some day."

"That's a wonderful goal."

"I'm glad you think so, not many people do." Sarah replied, her mind wondering to her stepmother and father.

"You should never give up on your dreams you know." this said the man took a small hand gun out of his coat pocket, his sad forced smile never leaving her face.

Before Sarah had time to react the old man continued, "When I was younger I found my talent in stocks. Up until a few weeks ago I was a big time stock broker." At this he gave a desperate smirk. "I made millions in seconds. I loved the money. But I hated my job. I had always wanted to be," here he blushed a little, "an opera singer. I had the voice too. But my family wouldn't have it. So I followed in my father and older brother's footsteps, made lots of money, hurt lots of people, and ended up lonely."

He looked up at Sarah who was held in place by shock and the fear that if she moved she would set the man off.

"I had the most beautiful wife. Inside and out. She stuck with me through all these years. We had a little boy who would be turning ten next week. I know it's a little late in life for children, but who can plan these things."

Sarah eyed the gun cautiously but stayed in her seat listening to the man intently.

"A few months ago I was supposed to stay home and watch him while my wife went out with the girls. I had planned on taking him to the park and playing some basketball, but I got a call from work." Tears started to glisten in the man's eyes. "I told him to stay inside and wait for his mother to get home. I remember how sad he looked. But there was a problem with a huge account I was on and the buyers were about ready to pull out. I just kept telling him to stay inside and that his mother would be back in a few hours, then I left for work. Later that night a police officer came to my office. They had found my son's body…raped and beaten in the park." By now the man's hands were trembling and the tears were flowing freely. "They slit his wrists as they raped him. That's what the coroner said. My wife went hysterical. She blamed me. Who wouldn't? When we got back from the hospital she went to our bedroom, packed her things, and left me. Two days later she called me to let me know she had taken a whole bottle of valium and that she would see me in hell. I guess deep down inside of me, I knew she was going to do it."

The man took a deep breath and look Sarah in the eye, "I supposed you know what I'm about to do. And you're probably wondering why I came here, and told you my story. I want you to tell the reporters the same story when they come."

Sarah's mind was muddled. "What reporters?"

"A man shoots himself in a public coffee house. Of course there will be reporters. Sarah, I don't want other people to make the same mistake I made. You know the saying "you only have one life to live", well people don't realize how true that is until they don't have that life anymore. I'm sorry to put such a burden on you. Remember my story. Help me to send a message."

And with that he put the gun in his mouth.

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"Sarah? Come on Sarah, time to get up it is." Abby said pulling the curtains back away from the window.

Sarah looked up away from the television. Her unblinking stare sent a shiver down Abby's spine.

"Sarah, it's been three weeks since…well…since ye quite the Libro. Ye can't live on that couch."

"What am I supposed to do?" She whispered.

"Ge up. Take a shower. And go look fer another job. Have ye even been attending classes?"

"My professors gave me an extended vacation considering the circumstances."

"And what do ye plan on doing? Do ye plan to sit there until ye've wasted all the money ye've saved up? Until ye fail all the classes that ye've worked so hard in?" Abby knelt down in front of her and gently pulled Sarah's face level with hers. "Sarah, I'm not saying this is easy or fair only that ye…"

But Sarah had quite listening.

It's not fair!

Dimly she could still hear Abby's muffled words, could still see her lips moving, but Sarah's mind was a thousand miles a way. A thousand miles underground.

Where a child once believed in friendship and fantasy. Friendships she let die. When there was no place in her life for fantasy. When long hours of studying overtook long conversations with Hoggle. Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus. When was the last time she had called for them. Thought of them? When was the last time she had though of him?

"And then he turned into a big chicken and flew away."

"The fireys did kind of look like big chickens."

"Sarah, what are ye talking bout? I'm trying to talk to ye and ye space off. And then I spout off somtin crazy to get thru to ye, and ye say somtin crazier. What is goin on in that 'ed of ye?"

"Sorry Abby. Other things on my mind."

"Sarah, since the day we met, ye've been saying that same thing. What's on ye mind all the time to make it wander so much?"

"Before he shot himself. That man told me to never give up on my dreams, and that everyone only had one life to live but people never realize it until it's too late."

"I know what 'e told ye hun. Ye gave them reporters a nice story. But ye are livin ye dream. Ye're going to college to do what ye want right? Ye've got ye own place and good friends. And pretty soon, ye'll have a nice job too. Now ye jus think bout that while I go te work. I'll come by and check on ye again tommorra. Luv ye hun."

Abby gave Sarah a quick hug and a peck on the cheek before she let herself out.

Sarah sighed and stood up. She thought about what Abby said as she ran some cold water into her tea kettle. She was doing what she wanted. Right? She had always wanted to write. But each day she got up, it always felt like she was just going through the motions that was called life. Never really experiencing or enjoying it. The further she went in life, the more detached she felt from her real self.

Sarah took the now steaming tea kettle off the stove and poured the hot water over the tea bag she had placed in a plain white mug. At 23 she had a lot going for herself. She had taken two years between high school and college to simply work a full time clerk job to save money. Once she had enough money to survive in college she took out numerous loans and started working part-time at the Libro. Between the money she had saved, and the small income from the Libro, she had a small little apartment in a nice neighborhood just a few miles from the college. She was struggling, but not too badly. And she was working towards becoming a writer. Just like she wanted. So why did she wake up everyday with the feeling of incompleteness to her. Sarah sighed. It took a man killing himself in front of her to open her eyes to the truth. She wasn't living life. She was surviving it.

Sarah turned around and purposely walked out of the kitchen into her bedroom. There she sat on her bed and looked across the room at her old vanity mirror.

After a few moments she began to cry. Years of built up emotions and loneliness escaping in a river of tears. She cried. Cried for the man, for herself, for all the real dreams she chose to ignore.

Some time later Sarah sat up. Looking around she realized she had fallen asleep. She looked up again at her vanity mirror. Years of lost emotion filled her as she whispered, "Hoggle, I need you."

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"Oy! It's rightfully cool this morning. Do you think her majesty will delay the Spring Ball until the frost is over?"

"Who knows what her majesty will do."

The two guards stopped to rest a moment by one of the open windows in the long hallway they were patrolling. The younger of the two rubbed his hands together while the older stared grudgingly out the glassless stone window.

"Her majesty is probably all tucked away in her nice warm bed, being that she is a woman and all. Forget the duty of her castle."

The younger guard looked questioningly at the older, "You mustn't speak so ill of her majesty, Grynon."

"And what reason has she given us to speak kindly of her?!"

"Perhaps the question is, Sir Grynon, what reason have I given you not to?"

Both guards stood at attention as her majesty walked up to them.

The younger guard bowed down to one knee, while the older guard stood erect. It would have been a grave mistake to kneel before royalty when addressed in such a manner.

"Your majesty, I meant no disrespect."

"Sir Grynon, if I have in any way done something to make you believe that I am not a proper ruler please beseech me now. There is no need to speak your thoughts fruitlessly to the walls and guards of my castle."

Having nothing to reply Grynon simply bowed his head.

The queen then turned her attention to the kneeling guard, "Rise my loyal guardsman. What may I call you?"

The younger guard rose to attention and clearly stated, "They call me Kail."

The queen smiled shortly, "Well, if there is nothing else you'd like to discuss with me," she crossly said while looking at Grynon, "then I shall be on my way." Both guards bowed their heads to their ruler.

As the queen started to walk away she stopped and turned back to the two soldier, "As to your inquiries. No. I will not delay the Spring Ball. The date is set to honor our elders, not the weather. And I have been awake since the clock tower struck five. There is a kingdom to run, and one cannot dally all day in bed."

The high queen of the underground strolled purposely through one of the chilled hallways of her castle. Her soft soled shoes making no sound as her skirts silently whispered against the stone floor. Her thoughts focused on her earlier conversation. Sighing she frowned slightly as she entered her nephew's work chambers.

Pushing the door open she saw him sitting near the fireplace, a hearty fire roaring away. Five perfectly spherical crystals hung still over the hearth casting glittering shadows upon the piles of scattered papers.

"Velron."

The young man simply nodded without looking up. He stared intently into the third hanging crystal.

After a few moment where only the popping sound of the fire could be heard he replied, "Another child has been wished a way."

"I suspected as much when Jareth left so abruptly this morning. How much longer?"

"Almost five hours has past. The woman hasn't even entered the hedge maze." At this Velron turned slowly and gave the queen his most sympathetic look. "I am sorry your majesty. I know this is hard on you, as well as Jareth."

The queen studied her nephew. He was tall. Even sitting down anyone could tell. He had rich blue eyes and chestnut hair that was a little long for her taste that he kept pulled back in a tie. A muscular build and a handsome face. Velron could have easily been as much as a womanizer as Jareth. At this she smiled. No. Velron didn't have that temperament. He was the spitting image of his father, with his mother's persona.

"Velron, please, while in private we are simply family. There is no need for such mannerisms."

"Pardon me aunt Seriana. I'm still adjusting." A sad frown appeared upon his lips.

Anxious to avert his mind she continued, "I was so hoping that this might be delayed just a little longer. I mean, it's been nearly three months since the last child was wished away. And I was so enjoying having both of my favorite boys around the castle again."

Velron smiled at the thought of him and Jareth running around the castle at a much younger age. The pranks they had pulled. The messes they had made. The fights they had had. They were more brothers than cousins.

"Yes. It was rather nice being that close to Jareth again." Velron smiled and looked deep into the crystal, "Did he ever tell you that it was he and I who switched the cooked chicken with the live chicken that time at supper when we were eleven?"

The queen laughed outright, "My dear boy, no one needed to tell me who did it. It was just proving that you two rotten children did it!"

They both smiled at the memory, "Well I should be going about my business. You look like you have much to do, as do I," the queen said, eyes raised toward the ceiling in thought.

"The funeral is still planned for daybreak."

"Yes. I just have a few final arrangements to make, but we will continue with the funeral in spite of the frost." The fae were silent for a moment, both deep in though.

As the queen turned to go Velron spoke once more, "Your majesty, I thought you might be interested to know that another portal was opened today."

The queen frowned a little, "Portals are opened everyday my child. That's why I have you here. To manage them and keep records."

"Yes, your majesty."

"Please Velron. Aunt Seriana."

"Yes, Aunt Seriana."

Nodding she turned again to leave.

"But this one was opened by the mortal that beat Jareth's labyrinth all those years ago."

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"You…you're here?"

"Yes milady."

"But where's Hoggle?"

Sir Didymus's face drooped downwards, "Dus thou not wish to see me, my lady?"
"No, no of course that's not it," Sarah hurriedly replied as she untangled herself from the blankets on her bed and quickly enveloped the small soldier in her arms.

"It's just that I was not expecting you to come when I called Hoggle."

The soldiers face lit up considerably as he returned her hug, "I'm sorry milady, but Sir Hoggle is on an important errand with his majesty. He left word for me to keep and ear open in case you called."

Sarah felt her heart contract as his words, "Even after all this time he still listens for me?"

"We all do milady. Why did you stop calling us?"

"I had to start living my life." Sarah replied thinking strongly about the man's words. People only have one life to live.

"But milady, what is a life without friends or dreams?"

Sarah looked at him, "The life I've been living."

"My lady?"

"That's what a life is without friends or dreams, the life I've been living." Sarah's down trodden heart ached terribly. "I'm just now starting to realize it. I've spent the past eight years of my life trying to forget about the people that made my life worth living. I was trying to make my life what I thought everyone else would find acceptable and….wait a minute….did you say Hoggle is with the goblin king?"

"Did I? Oh well, I meant to say that he's in the garden." Sarah looked at Didymus. He never had the heart to lie.

"Didymus," Sarah warned.

"Milady, if thou wishes to speak about Sir Hoggle's affairs with his majesty, then milady will have to speak with Sir Hoggle."

Sarah wasn't content with that but she knew there was nothing she could say either.

"Well then, it's been years since I've been to the underground. Tell me what's happened. How's ambrocious?"

"Ah my lady, he is still the fearsome steed as I am sure you remember."

Sarah smiled at the thought of the large sheep dog running from anything that resembled danger.

Didymus hopped onto her small bed and continued, "Sir Ludo is now in charge of defense around the goblin city, and Sir Hoggle is married."

"Married?"

"Oh yes my lady. For almost three years now. Beautiful ceremony the…um…they did throw. Lovely dwarf Tayla is. Makes the most delicious meals."

"Oh how I've missed you all." Sarah smiled sadly.

"My lady, is something the matter?"

"No," Sarah shook her head as a few tears escaped her eyes, "I should never have quit calling on you guys. I've missed so much in your lives."

"You mustn't dwell on the past, my lady, when you've got the future to look forward too."

"Oh Didymus. How did you get so smart?" Sarah laughed as she pinched the small soldiers cheek.

Didymus smiled, and then suddenly frowned. He cocked his ears as if listening to something and then gave a quick nod.

"I beg your pardon my lady but it seems I am needed in the underground."

"Must you leave so soon? You just got here?" Sarah pouted, then laughed at herself. She was acting fifteen again.

"I am sorry my lady but I am needed. Not to worry. I'll be sure to relay to Sir Hoggle your appearance. But remember my lady. We can only come if you call us."

"Thank you Didymus. I'll call again soon. I promise."

The small soldier bowed and disappeared leaving Sarah alone again in her bedroom. Sighing she looked around and smiled. She could slowly feel the emptiness in her life filling up once more.

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High Prince of the underground, King of the Goblins, Prince Jareth sat in his thrown staring intently at a pulsing crystal sitting lightly atop his fingertips. Lips pressed into a thin line, Jareth snarled and the crystal shattered.

"Stupid girl!"

"Jareth, really, you must stop this constant watching. You'll only aggravate yourself further." The underground's high commander of the regional army, and Jareth's long time friend, sat leisurely in a high back chair gulping down a glass of mead.

"It wouldn't aggravate me as much if they tried. This girl is going to lose her sister forever and she can't even muster up the courage to remove herself from the oubliette. She's given up! The labyrinth will not let Hoggle help her." Jareth looked over to his long time friend and grimaced, "Garrett, I will never understand how you can drink that foul tasting brew."

Garrett grinned at him roughly, "Not all of us had the luxury of growing up drinking brandy and spirited wines." Jareth turned his nose up as Garrett batted his lashes and grinned.

"None of them are going to be Sarah, Jareth."

Garrett leisurely held up a hand creating an invisible field to block the crystal that was aimed at his head, "Never say her name in my presence."

"Jareth, it's been eight years since Sarah left." Garrett pushed himself up off the chair he was lounging in and stood directly in front of his friend, "Let her go. Let the anger go. This isn't healthy. You obsess over every mortal that comes into the labyrinth now in a way you didn't before Sarah."

"I said not to say her name in my presence." Jareth growled.

"Damn it Jareth! Let this girl go! I've seen your anger and obsession grow in the years since she left. You cannot do this. I've seen you at court. Never are you alone in the night. Why all this for some girl?"

"I have let her go! She holds no power over me."

Garrett simply sighed and nodded, "Perhaps I should go check in on Velron. He sent for me earlier but I was……occupied."

At this the tension was broken and both men grinned.

"You finally wooed lady Chastis into your bed?"

Garrett only bowed, "Your majesty." And then quickly vanished.

Jareth let his grin fade as he conjured another crystal to watch the still entrapped mortal.

He had let Sarah go. He had offered her everything. And yet she had refused him. She remembered nothing of them before, and he was bound by the underground and his God to not interfere in her life now. She would never return to the underground and she would never remember him or their love. Now, every woman he brought to his bed was Sarah. Every lady that enticed him was lacking but he tried. He buried himself into them mercilessly without consideration, but it was never enough. They were never enough.

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"I don't understand, why now after all these years?" the question was spoken in a tone low enough that the other part to the conversation had trouble hearing.

"I can't not begin to explain how complicated this situation is or could become." Her royal majesty sank down into an over stuffed arm chair that had slid over to her. Velron glanced into the fire giving his aunt the time to collect herself. He rubbed a temple and thought about what this meant. The queen was not some fainting, easily spooked woman, but for a brief moment he had seen her lose her grace and composure, however slight it was.

When he heard her deep intake of breath, Velron walked to his cabinet and took down two goblets and a decanter of deep red liquor, "May I pour you a drink, Aunt Seriana?"

"Yes, that would be most lovely right now."

Velron blew on the goblets, causing them to frost over, before pouring a generous amount of liquor for the both of them. If this had something to do with Jareth and Sarah, he knew they were going to need it.

After placing a goblet down in front of his aunt, Velron took a seat next to her placing his back to the fire. He came from a very cold atmosphere and was never used to being far away from a blazing fire. He watched his aunt take a small sip, and then a deep drink from the goblet before he took an equally deep drink.

"Aunt Seriana, tell me about Jareth and Sarah."

He expected to hear about the labyrinth, he expected her to tell him nothing, but he never expected what she was about to reveal to him.

Seriana looked at her nephew and smiled, "They were called the love of the underground….

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Jareth stood imposingly in front of the young mortal girl. Dressed in black riding pants with matching black boots, his light blue poet's shirt contrasted greatly with his vibrant blond hair.

"Hello Amanda." he sneered as the girl sank back into the wall of the oubliette. She had been there for nearly an hour. Jareth couldn't help but think of someone else's plight in the oubliette, and how she had made it out in very little time.

"I've a proposition for you." Jareth frowned as the girl looked more hopeful than weary of him, but he stayed silent giving her time to squirm.

"Wha – what do you want?" the young, but not too young girl choked out.

This was the point where Jareth acted bored to cover the mirth that always seeped out when he knew he had won.

"You have less than six hours to complete my labyrinth, and you've not even made it half way there. Plus," Jareth raised his eyes from the girl and looked around, "you don't even know how to get out of my oubliette."

Tears started to form in the girl's eyes and he walked forward to bend down in front of her, "Let me send you home. Forget about the baby. You can't save her now. Let me send you home and you'll never have to worry about her again."

The hope and relief shining out of the girl's eyes made Jareth want to shake her until her teeth rattled. But all too soon came the crestfallen look and the question that Jareth was waiting for.

"My parents. They'll kill me if I come home without her."

Jareth smiled a falsely sympathetic smile, "They won't even remember she was born. No one in the aboveground will. It will be as if she never existed. Come Amanda," he raised his hand and produced a crystal that balanced on his fingertips, quickly pushing it forward so she wouldn't be tempted to ask too many questions, "just reach out and touch the crystal. It will stop the clock and then I can send you home. To your safe bed and family. It will be just you again and you'll never have to worry about a screaming baby ever again. Take it."

Amanda surprised Jareth by hesitating a fraction of a second longer than most labyrinth runners did, but not long enough to worry him. Within a matter of seconds she had reached out and fully taken the crystal.

Amanda started and Jareth looked upward as an invisible clock sounded thirteen times.

"Your journey is over. I will send you home now."

Relief washed over the girl's face as she waited expectantly for Jareth to do as he said. But that relief soon turned to horror as he told her what awaited her, and her sister.

"Before I send you back know this: Everyone in the aboveground will forget your sister even existed. They will have no knowledge of her ever being born…… but you will."

The girl sat with her mouth hanging open.

"No. You said…"

"I said exactly what I'm telling you now. Everyone in the aboveground will forget her, but you are not in the aboveground are you? You will wake up every morning for the rest of your life remembering what you did and what transpired here today. You will never forget or grow out of your guilt. As for your sister, she will be changed just as I said she would be. And she will stay here in the underground until her own death."

Amanda stood and started to speak, but whatever she would have said was lost, for Jareth had already tossed a light blue crystal at her. She disappeared before the first word crossed her lips.

Jareth shook his head unaffected. Producing another blue crystal he dropped it and appeared in his throne room. The massive room was elaborately done in light blues and shades of silver. Mythical creatures were carved in the stone as well as in his own throne. He walked to his throne and collapsed upon the many pillows, hooking one leg over the side. Producing a smaller crystal than before he tossed it carelessly on the floor in front of him. A small goblin rolled out from the pieces. Not looking in the least startled or put out the goblin kneeled before her king, "You called your majesty?"

"Bring me the girl. She needs to be taken before the court and changed."

"Yes, your majesty." And with that the female goblin hurried from the room.

Jareth raised his hand and looked into an icy clear crystal. In it he saw another throne room but this one was over run with chickens and had an abundance of ale flowing over its floors. There was a throne, but it was plain and bare. Still watching he saw the female goblin enter into the goblin's throne room.
"Give me the child. His majesty wishes for her now."

Groans from all over were heard as the goblins realized their new toy was to be taken from them.

Jareth smiled and vanished the crystal. Standing he produced another small crystal and threw it near the door. A larger male goblin tumbled out, stood, then bowed.

"Bring me my cloak. I leave for Balasmasna within the hour."

The goblin bowed and left the room.

Jareth sighed and walked to the bar. He was anxious to leave and return to his childhood home.

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"Why does no one know of this? Of her? Of who she really is?" Velron frowned and shook his head. Perplexed he stood to pace in front of the fire hands clasped behind his back.

"The more who knew the greater risk we put Sarah in. It was for her own protection."

"Why did Jareth not tell her all he knew then?" he had stopped pacing for the moment and was looking at his aunt with confusion in his eyes.
The high queen sighed, "It is not the way things are done. Jareth was specifically told to stay out of her life. Had he interfered it could have cost his and Sarah's life."

"So there's nothing we can do? No way to fix this?"

"I'm afraid things were put this way for a reason. Only Sarah has the power to put things right again."

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The underground had always been a trickery of sorts. But this morning many found it down right cruel.

"Doesn't make sense, does it?" a nobleman commented to his companion, "For the past three weeks it's been nothing but bleary frost and gray skies this time of the morning. But the day the queen buries her sister and brother-in-law, the sun shines like it was created for this day." the man bowed his head as the two caskets passed by.

Further down the line the royal family bowed their heads as the caskets approached. A tall man with white hair and a long brown robe stood and walked towards the now still caskets. The caskets were unswaying in the light breeze as the High Queen's personal healer kept them levitated in the air.
"It is a sad day when a fae must bury a loved one. It is an even sadder day to bury a cherished family member. But as the almighty has given us life, so must he take it away. On this day we give back to the earth the bodies of Reeana, Queen of the portal realm, and her husband, Drake, King of the portal realm. To honor their lives as keepers of the portals, it has been deemed that all portals in the underground be sealed for one months time. As the blood of the underground flows through my veins I bless them in spirit, as they blessed others while in body." Closing his eyes the old priest bent and grasped a handful of soil in his still able hands. Whispering words older than the earth itself the soil slipped from his fingers. As the caskets were lowered the ground came up and covered them first in dark soil, then fresh crisp grass, and finally small deep blue teacup lilies.

The old priest looked up, "Reeana's favorite flower." He gave one final bow, and began his decent down the hill.

"Mother?"

"Jareth. I can't believe…" but the queen could no longer suppress the agony that tore through her body. Jareth barely caught her as she collapsed, sobbing into his arms. Not wanting anyone to see the high ruler of the underground in such a state he quickly dropped a light blue crystal transporting them to his mother's personal sitting area outside her chambers.

Jareth smoothed his mother's hair back as she wept uncontrollably. It was no secret that the two sisters had been very close. After a few moments Seriana stood and visibly tried to control herself.

"I think a nice bath would do me good right about now."
"Of course. I'll have one of the servant draw one, as well as bring you some tea."

"Thank you."

Jareth didn't need to be told to leave, he heard the dismissal in her voice.

"Goodnight mother."

The queen stared vacantly out her open window, "Good night my son."

With one last frown Jareth let himself out of his mother's sitting chambers, walking down the hall to collect his things for the night. Inside the queen stood and made way for her washroom. Both in the same amount of sorrow but showing it in different ways. So they could be forgiven for missing the slightly open veranda window where someone lurked in the shadow.

Good night, my queen…

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Sarah was beside herself with worry. It had been only a week after her and Didymus had reunited that she tried calling Hoggle again. Thinking to take the time to sort out her feelings and consider the blessings or consequences that would result in her renewed friendships with the creatures of the underground. But only this time no one responded. Her first thought had been that he was still busy with the Goblin King. But then why didn't Didymus come back. Now two weeks later she still had no contact with any of her old friends.

"What if he found out that I talked with Didymus and did something terrible to them?" Sarah lay on her couch, deep in thought.

But why wait until now. He could have harmed them when you first started talking to them after the labyrinth. She thought back to herself.

"What if Hoggle just doesn't want to see me. What if they realized that I was a terrible person cutting them out of my life for no reason and it's too late for forgiveness?"

Sarah sat up and looked at the dark screen of her television. Giving a half smile she realized that she was acting like a teenager again. What if this, and what if that? She knew there had to be a logical explanation to all of this.

Frowning she lay back down, "But what if I'm right. What if something terrible has happened to them, or they don't want to see me?"

Sitting up once more Sarah looked around, "I'm not really considering doing what I'm considering doing, am I?"

Shaking her head she lay back down only to sit up again, "But can I really let my friends walk out of my life again? And it's not as if I couldn't come back. I'm not wishing away a child this time so maybe I won't even need to see the Goblin King. No. How would I even get back? No. I am definitely not doing this."

Shaking her head Sarah decided that she needed some fresh air. Picking up the phone she dialed her best friend from college.

"Hey Libby. Yes, I'm doing better. I actually was thinking about going out to lunch today, and I thought maybe you'd want to grab something with me. Great give me a few minutes and I'll meet you at your place. Sarah quickly showered and dressed in a pair of stylish old weathered jeans and her old New York Company square neck t-shirt. It was only a few blocks to Libby's so she decided to walk. She was half way to the door when she heard water.

Looking around she saw the same old living room. Big plush couch, small coffee table, decent size television, and an end table with pictures.

"It's just anxiety." But as she turned to leave something caught her eye. Her television screen was rippling. "What the…" But the rest was lost as Sarah collapsed

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Sarah looked over the vast wasteland. The hot sun shone down orange onto the dry cracked earth that spread on for miles.. Old weathered trees with mangled branches were the only things to be seen other than a few rocks. Sarah turned her head as the wind spit sand and dried out soil at her eyes.

'Something familiar about this place.'

Sarah turned in a complete circle seeing nothing.

'Where am I?" she pleaded to the sky as she dropped down to her knees. As her hands hit the dead earth her body convulsed as visions passed in front of her eyes.

Hoggle, Ludo, Didymus, and all the other underground inhabitants were fleeing from monstrous looking creatures. She realized she was on the hill in front of the labyrinth. The dry dead land was gone and replaced by the world she remembered. Except for the fact that everyone was running. Suddenly Ludo fell and one of the creatures leapt upon him sinking it's pointed teeth into his skull. Sarah screamed and reached out a hand just as the creature looked up at her. Its body was pure gray with long skinny legs that twisted in unnatural angles. Its arms looked human until you got to the hands. It looked like the creature was wearing very fuzzy gloves. The thought made Sarah cringe as she saw the creature rip apart Ludo's flesh with those seemingly fuzzy hands. The upper body looked purely made of bones. It didn't seem as if the creature possessed the muscles it required to do the job he was doing. But the face was worst of all. It was human like. Besides the gaping pointed teeth and the fact that the ears were double in size and folded in, the thing resembled a human face.

By now Sarah had stopped screaming and was completely in shock. She sat down hard just as the creature tuned its attention on her. She saw its mouth open and she inwardly cringed as she expected a scratchy nasal voice like the monsters in the old movies she watched as a child. She gasped as the creature's voice came out clear deep and very much human.

"This is what you let happen. This is what you did."

Sarah struggled to her knees shaking her head, "No. I didn't know. Why is this happening." but suddenly everything was gone.

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"I DIDN'T KNOW! DON'T TAKE HIM I DIDN'T KNOW!"

Sarah sat up gasping. She looked around and realized she was sitting on the floor of her apartment.

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"Man Libby it was just so real." Sarah rubbed the sore spot on her head as she relaxed in one of Libby's recliners.

"Don't all dreams seem real though," Libby replied stirring some chocolate syrup into a bowl of peanut butter.

"Yeah, but this wasn't a wake up in bed sweating normal nightmare. One minute I'm walking out the door to meet you and the next I'm unconscious on my floor dreaming about…well….things." Sarah also left out that she saw her television full of water.

"Look Sarah, you haven't even told me what this whole dream was about. What's up with you anyway? Why all the secrets?" Libby came walking over with chocolate mixed peanut butter and two spoons.

Sarah smiled and grabbed a spoon laden with the mixture.

"ee mmeed ilc.'

Libby laugh, "I don't know what's worse, you talking like that, or me actually understanding you. Two glasses of milk coming up."

After both girls had consumed their fair share of the mixture they sat in silence sipping the cool drink.

"All right Sarah, enough is enough. What's so special about this nightmare that's got you so upset?"

Sarah thought for a minute. She and Libby had been best friends since the beginning of their first semester of college. They met in a rather unusual way. The cops came into Libby's English class one day for a surprise search of the student's things. Something that was instigated after the third student died from overdosing on some drug. Of course law stated that since it was just a search the students could refuse, but the school had a policy that anyone that refused failed that enrolled quarter. It was a catch 22 and all the students knew it. Sarah had the English class the hour before and had stayed after to discuss a makeup exam since she had been sick the week before. Sarah remembered seeing Libby's stricken face as she tried to shove her backpack further under her chair away from the prying eyes of the policeman.

Sarah looked up at Libby as she took a gulp of her milk. She didn't know why she had wanted to help Libby. She didn't know her, didn't particularly care for people that chose to waste their lives that way. But the desperate look in Libby's eyes reminded Sarah of a time when she herself had been so desperate for help. And three friends who had risked everything for her. She didn't have to courage to call her friends after she had abandoned them over a year ago, but she could help this girl whose face was a mirror image of hers all those years ago, and was as desperate now as she had once been.

Sarah thanked the teacher for the reassignment and took a step around the podium. In one swift motion Sarah slipped her own backpack down from her shoulder to the crook of her arm as she deliberately turned her ankle and called upon all the years of acting hoping it was enough to fool the policeman that was just three people down the aisle from Libby. As her knees hit the floor Sarah positioned her backpack and slid it hard across the floor aiming it at the other girl's bag. Seeing she hit her mark Sarah let out a loud cry as she gained the attention of the policeman. Biting her lip and forcing a few tears to her eyes Sarah let the policeman help her up.

"I must have just stepped on my ankle wrong." Sarah blinked as she turned her smile on the young police officer.

"Are you hurt miss?"

"Oh no, I'm fine. I just seem to have lost my bag." Sarah made a show of looking around, "Oh, there it is."

Sarah forcefully held eye contact with Libby's confused stricken face, "Excuse me, I just need to get my bag." Sarah said deliberately, widening her eyes and giving her a pointed look as she grabbed Libby's bag in place of her own.

Libby looked startled and stammered, "Um…yeah…no problem."

That night Sarah went through Libby's bag looking for any way to get a hold of her, but the girl had no identification whatsoever.

"Figures. Didn't really expect a drug addict to keep identification evidence on her." Sarah thought as she flushed the third and last bag of white substance down the toilet.

Luckily for Sarah she didn't need to worry about finding Libby. Libby found her. Later that same night Sarah opened the door to her apartment to find Libby standing there. Her backpack in hand.

"I believe this is yours."

Smiling Sarah gestured her in, "How'd you find me?"

Libby eyed Sarah suspiciously and she stepped inside, "Girls like you always keep a tag inside your bag that say 'if found please return to blah blah."

"Oh. Well…" Sarah tried but couldn't think of anything to say to that.

Libby stopped circling the apartment to quickly look Sarah over, only to find that Sarah was doing the same to her. As they made eye contact once again, both girls started smiling.

"I'm Sarah."

"I know," she replied holding Sarah's bag up with her name tag showing, "I'm Libby."

After that they had immediately started sharing everything with each other. Sarah had told Libby everything about Karen and her father. And how her mother had taken off when her career had started to grow. Libby had finally broken down and opened up to someone about her drug problem. And Sarah had been there for her when she started rehab. It was nearing two and half years of friendship and the only secret that Sarah had kept from Libby was her trip to the underground.

Sarah finished her milk and got up to put the empty glass in the dishwasher, conscious of the fact that Libby was eyeing her with a raised eyebrow. Sarah took her time rinsing the glass out, just letting the water run over the rim. As she opened the dishwasher she took a deep breath and started.

"When I was just a couple of weeks from my sixteenth birthday, I made one of the worst and best mistakes of my life." Sarah wiped her hands off and went to sit back on her chair.

After a couple minutes Libby's curiosity got the better of her, "What did you do?"

Sarah appeared startled as she looked up, "I wished Toby away to the Goblin King."