Chapter 2

Yes I'm back but I don't own Labyrinth or any of the characters. Based on the film by Jim Henson, Genius man.

Thank you for your reviews. D

Sarah blew some bubbles from her fingers and prodded the plastic duck that was bobbing around her knees. Toby was asleep in bed (thank God) and her stepmother wouldn't be back for a while. The night and house was hers. Unfortunately she had nothing to do. After washing her hair she wrapped herself in her dressing gown and stepped from the steamy bathroom into the cool hall. The house was quiet, almost too quiet. Sarah's breathing seemed unnaturally loud as she padded across the hall and checked on Toby. He was sprawled across his bed snoring lightly with his bedclothes in a mess. Sarah marvelled at how quickly he had got himself tangled.

She shivered. If I don't dry off soon I'll get a cold. She clutched her dressing gown around her trying to get a little more warmth from the garment. Why is it so freezing? Her long dark hair clung wetly around her shoulders and she shivered again. Stepping lightly down the hall she pondered what to do next. All of her friends would be busy, it was a Saturday night after all, and if Karen found her with friends in the house she would spontaneously combust either from surprise or disapproval. For a while after Sarah had returned from the Labyrinth they had got on better but gradually Sarah decided Karen really was an evil stepmother from the fairytales she loved to read. She had learnt a lot of important lessons in the Labyrinth but gradually they faded as she grew older.

Sarah entered her room. 4 years ago it had been a shrine to all things fantastical but now, apart from the bookshelves which were overflowing with fantasy books, it looked like any other teenage girls room. Makeup littered her dressing table, posters of celebrities were taped to the walls and her wardrobe was full of clothes not costumes. Everything from her childhood had been packed into cardboard boxes and stored in the attic. Sometimes, as she lay in bed at night and looked around her empty room, Sarah felt a longing to bring the boxes back down and immerse herself once more in childish memories. However, she never did.

Lancelot was the only toy allowed to remain. Sarah smiled at him before sitting down at her dressing table and brushing her long damp hair, lost deep in her thoughts.

"Hello Sarah" a well spoken voice came from behind her.

Sarah leapt to her feet and spun around knocking her chair over in the process, stifling a scream she took a deep breath and glared at the tall blonde figure sitting on her bed.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" her whole body was shaking as she backed as far away from him as she possibly could. The Goblin King raised his eyebrows at her language.

"Sarah, Sarah, Sarah" he tutted shaking his head "when did you start swearing? It's not very lady like" he was lounging on her bed completely at ease as he looked her up and down. "My, my how you've grown."

Sarah folded her arms trying to ignore the fact that she was wearing nothing but a dressing gown and glowered at him. "I'm not fifteen anymore Goblin King..."

"No" he smiled his feline smile "you're not."



"Yes, well..." her mind went blank as she looked at him properly. He was wearing the same tight breeches, boots, poet's shirt, waistcoat and leather gloves as always. His platinum mane was as unruly as ever and his smooth pale skin shone with an otherworldly light, not just the glitter. Jareth watched her observe him with a half smile, he hadn't exactly expected to arrive as she was wearing nothing but a dressing gown but it certainly was an interesting development.

"What do you want?" she snapped finally her green eyes blazing with fire, her stance becoming defensive. He stood from the bed and walked towards her. She was sure he had grown taller, she herself had grown quite a bit yet he still towered over her, in fact he had grown taller, and more handsome if that was possible.

"Do I have to have a reason to visit an old friend?" he purred softly.

Sarah bit her bottom lip and looked up at him, the fire still burning in her eyes. He was so close. "An old friend?" she scoffed "Since when have we been friends?" His eyes hardened.

"My apologies, an old enemy then"

Sarah wished he would back away a bit, his presence made her feel a little light headed and in her current undressed state she felt a little exposed. "You...You've changed." She managed to stammer out before backing a bit further away from him and felt the wall behind her.

"Changed? In what way?"

"You're...taller" She didn't say more handsome, god knows he had a big enough ego already.

"Ah yes." He stepped away from her and studied the pictures of her and her friends stuck around her mirror "as you change so do I, I couldn't have been like this when you were only a child, I had to dull myself down a bit. No doubt you would be terrified..." he shot her a look "or completely head over heels in love with me and that would spoil the fun"

Sarah snorted with laughter. "Head over heels? I don't think so Goblin King, contrary to your belief you're not exactly the best looking man in the world. Liar.

He abandoned his study of her photographs and stared into her eyes "Oh really?" she nodded firmly.

He picked up one of her sopping locks of hair and looked at it thoughtfully "You look a little like a drowned rat." She slapped his hand away.

"You stay here" she commanded as she grabbed her clothes and headed for the bathroom. Checking the door was locked behind her she let out a huge sigh and proceeded to get dressed while her thoughts swirled in her mind. What is he doing here? Why is he so much better looking? He's not back for Toby is he? The last thought made her speed up her dressing considerably. I just have to be strong, like I was before. He has no power over me. It's not like I made a wish or anything.

Having completed dressing she crept hesitantly out into the hall and saw Toby's door was open. Oh no way! Dashing over she looked inside to see him standing over the boy and stroking his hair lightly.

"Get away from him" she hissed trying not to wake her sleeping brother. He straightened up and glanced at her but didn't move still watching Toby sleep. Without thinking she grabbed his hand and pulled him from the room 

closing the door behind them. His gloved fingers gripped hers preventing her from escaping his grasp. He pulled her close to him and grinned.

"Really Sarah I was only looking" They stood face to face their hands still linked, Sarah tried to release herself but his grip, though gentle, was impossible to break. "You know" he spoke thoughtfully "I've never been dragged before"

"Well you better get used" she growled "king or not you will never take my brother" seeing that it was unlikely he would release her anytime soon she led him by the hand back into her room. "Now let go" he squeezed her hand before letting go and settling down once more on her bed. "What is it that you want?"

"I heard you say my name a couple of times, you must have been reading the book" she nodded and crossed her arms over her chest "just thought I'd drop in and take your brother again"

"What!?" she gaped at him. "I didn't wish! Did Karen? That heartless bi..."

"Joking Sarah" he sighed "Joking!"

"Well what do you want?" she glared at him suspiciously.

"Hmmm well..."

He grabbed her hand and everything swirled around them before changing to the same dusty landscape she had stood in so many years ago. Before her lay the winding Labyrinth looking deceptively easy to solve from outside but once within its walls it was close to impossible.

"What the hell? Hey! Goblin King!" she spun around searching for the tall blonde that wasn't there. "There is no way I am going through that again!" she jabbed a finger in the direction of the Labyrinth while glaring at the sky. "This isn't fair!"

"Why are you looking at the sky?" his voice purred in her ear before she spun around and found herself literally nose to nose with Jareth "Am I really that god like?"

Sarah refused herself the liberty of backing away and just glared into his eyes "What..." she growled "...am I doing here?" He smirked.

"You have 13 hours to complete the Labyrinth. Lose and you will have to stay here forever and become mine. Win and you will have your freedom" Sarah felt the rage boil and stepped back before slapping him smartly across the face. He closed his eyes briefly before touching his cheek with a gloved hand and grabbing her wrist.

"Do not" he growled with venom "ever do that again" Sarah fought to get her wrist free, his fingers gripping her so tightly that it hurt. Though quaking inside she fought to keep outwardly calm.

"Why do I have to do this again? What reason do have to bring me here again? You can't do this!"

"Oh I can and I will" he glared at her "I'm the Goblin King Sarah and you should never forget that I answer to no one. Four years ago you completed this Labyrinth Sarah, I'm interested to see if you still have the skill"

"And if I refuse?"



"I will assume you no longer have the courage to face up to me and will have to make do with some other member of the Williams family, your brother perhaps, and see if they can take the challenge." Her other hand came up but he caught it before it made contact with his face.

"You bastard" she hissed "stay away from my brother"

"Do you accept?" he held her by both wrists and pulled her closer as she fought to break free.

"I have no choice do I?" She spat back fuming.

"Good" he smirked "but beware Sarah, as you have grown the Labyrinth has also, you will find no friendly dwarf's to help you now."

"Fine" he released her "I'll beat you and your stupid little maze."

"I look forward to it" with that and a smirk he disappeared and Sarah screamed in annoyance.

"Bastard!" she growled as she stumbled down the hill towards where she thought the entrance might be "Bastard!" Reaching the gates to the Labyrinth she kicked them angrily. "Let me in then!" They swung open quietly and she stormed through. "Bastard!"

They had been getting on so well, perhaps a little too well earlier in her room and then he just had to pull a stunt like this. "Bastard!" How could I ever think that he was handsome?

Jareth sat on his throne and observed her through a crystal. The short, fat, brown haired court representative stood before him slightly nervously.

"Your majesty, the court wishes me to remind you that if you do not gain power over this girl then your kingdom will be taken from your care as you are unfit to rule, however we feel that the added servant part may have been a little over the top."

"Over the top?" he growled not looking up "If my position is to be taken from me I should be able to have a little fun while I can, I also have to ensure that I have complete power over her should she fail, tell the court that and additionally if I win against this girl I expect for them never to meddle in my affairs again" The representative bowed hastily and backed out of the throne room.

"Sarah, Sarah, Sarah" he murmured as he watched her kick the gate to the Labyrinth and curse him as she started through the Labyrinth "How can one girl cause so much trouble?"

He didn't want to have to put her through this again, after so many years he still felt something strange stirring inside of him as if an invisible hand was pressing on his heart making it ache whenever he met her eyes. Jareth clenched his jaw in determination.

Everything now depended on her failure.

Right Chapter 3 up soon I promise. Sorry this is a little short but I had so much work to do and I want to take my time over this. Read and Review as always I thrive on encouragement.