Chapter two

Dream a little dream of me

There was now a definite chill in the air as Sarah arrived back home. She took care to lock the front door, testing it not twice but three times. Something was picking at her tonight, and she was taking extra precautions. She went to the kitchen, poured some milk into a saucepan added some vanilla and cinnamon. Sarah went to the back door, checked the lock and tested the door. Then the window was tested. Both were locked solidly. She returned to the stove and stirred her milk.

Sarah carried the mug of milk up to her room, having cleaned up the kitchen. She placed it on her nightstand as she changed from her street clothes to her nightgown. Sitting in front of her vanity she mused over the changes six years had bung. Gone were the cotton PJ's, and the silly slippers. Now she wore Irish Linen and lace, or silk gowns that had a defiantly romantic style to them. Her mother's influence once again. Where as she use to rush to get into the bed, now she took time to smooth on cream to her hands and elbows. She ran the natural bristle brush through her hair. Sometimes she missed the long, down to the middle of her back tresses. Tonight she looked in the mirror, and liked what she saw.

Removing the robe, she sipped the warm liquid in the mug. Switching off the lamp she moved toward the window, sitting lightly on the sill and gazing into the cooling night. There were no clouds to hide the fullness of the moon tonight. It's pale light bathed her in it's beams. She drew a long breath, and finished the cup of warm milk. One last look at the night sky, and she withdrew from the window. Quietly she placed the mug on the nightstand, and slipped between the sheets. Soon enough she was drifting into sleep.

She didn't see or hear the owl as it entered the open window, silently transforming into a man. He stood at the foot of her bed, and for a moment watched her slide deeper into sleep. He knelt then beside the bed, passed his hand over the sleeping girl to deepen her rest. A smile played on his lips as he watched her. "Come to me Sarah, come to me in your dream." He leaned down and kissed her brow. "This time will be different, sweetheart."

Sarah heard music, and laughter. She looked down and knew what she was going to see. It was the dress that haunted her. The sugar plum fairy dress that she'd been wearing when she was in the Crystal Ballroom. Her eyes took in her reflection in the mirror she was standing in front of. This time it was different, she was no longer fifteen. In the dream she was always fifteen, eternally fifteen. The long tresses were gone, and her hair was piled up and dressed with decorative pins. Her hair being pulled up made her neck look even longer and more slender. She looked at her reflection, and then pulled back from the mirror.

She turned to the sound of the music, and sighed. "If I must, I must." She said in resolution. Smoothing the long skirt she began to walk slowly toward the heavy carved doors. The footmen bowed at her approach and opened the doors for her to enter. In six years the room had not changed. It was still beautiful, and horrid at the same time. And the dancers were still taunting her, still carrying on their meaningless acts of debauchery. Still the women with the fans made cruel and crude comments as she passed them by. Sarah looked round, knowing she was alone. She looked for him as she passed the men making snickering remarks. She looked for him as she 

watched the dancers whirl past her. But he was not there. He never was. This was his way of punishing her. She wandered down the different tears of the ballroom. This time she ignored the remarks, and the hard glances made her way. When she reached the bottom of the long decent, she looked at the assembled dancers and sighed. The music changed, it was not the same song. A gloved hand came to her waist on the left side. Long fingers slid over the material of her gown. Sarah's head came up, and she felt the breath catch in her throat.

"You've come back?" she asked softly.

"I was never really gone." Came the answer, as a right hand took her right hand and raised it to lips bent over them.

"I could not find you." She said sadly.

"I was always here." He assured her, as he turned her to face him. He was dressed in the long midnight frock coat, as he had been that night six years ago.

"Jareth." She said, gloved fingers to her lips hushed her.

"No words, not tonight Sarah." He moved closer. "Dance with me."

"It's not the same song." She looked at him sadly.

"Songs change." Was all he said as he led her in a slow waltz.

Sarah looked about the room, the others were drifting away. No longer were they crowding in on the pair. Now they were almost alone in the Crystal Ballroom. She looked up at him. Not sure she liked the intense way he was watching her.

"You're different too Sarah. When you entered the Labyrinth six years ago, you were a child. When you left it, you were just on the verge of burgeoning woman hood." His eyes drank her in, "You are a child no more. You are now in the flower of womanhood." His arms drew her closer, and their bodies touched lightly as he continued his dance. "Soon you will be ready to give me what I need. Soon, my Sarah, you will come back to me."

"No." Sarah held her head high. "I will never come back to you, Jareth. I beat you, I beat your Labyrinth. There is nothing you can do to make me come back to you."

The smirk returned and the gleam in his eyes. "Are you so very sure of that my dear?"

Her steps faltered. "Y..Yes." she stammered.

"Sarah, Sarah, Sarah." He mummered as he released her hands taking a step back. "There is still so much you don't know, my love." He vanished. And the room shattered.



Sarah sat up, trying to calm her heart, slow her breathing. But fear took hold of her, and she rose from her bed swiftly. She didn't bother with the robe, the darkness told her it was still night, or rather very early morning. She quietly crept down the hall and opened the door to the room her little brother slept in. On the floor, next to bed lay a rag tag well-loved bear. She knelt, picked it up and kissed it before placing it beside the sleeping child. "Toby." She whispered, smoothing his hair. Rising she went to the window, and looked out. Seeing nothing she went back to her room. Over the house, rising to the moon was the lone owl.