Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as a wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire-Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Chapter 2

Jareth stared out over the snow covered Labyrinth from the window in his throne room; a letter clutched in his hand. Though, it wasn't so much a letter as an official missive and invitation to the annual ball his parents held every Christmas. Jareth could tell that his mother had written his personally as it stated very politely but firmly that they would see him there and he would have a date whether he found one himself or she had to choose one for him; even if it didn't say as much in so many words.

Jareth was not amused.

He sighed as he ran his hands through his hair and tried to think about what he should do about this newest problem. A crash rang out behind Jareth, letting the Sidhe know that his goblins were just as rowdy as ever. Jareth let a fond smile touch his lips at the thought of his playful subjects. They might not have been the smartest or most glamorous of creatures but they were fun and loyal to their king to a fault. Placing a stern expression on his face Jareth turned towards the gathered multitude, who all froze when they noticed they had the king's attention.

"You know," he said mildly, "There is snow on the ground outside and I do believe that none of you have so much as set foot in it yet."

Jareth summoned a crystal and began to run it across one of his hands while the gathered goblins took the hint that their king wanted them gone. Now. He watched as they all trumped out of the room, the last one being good enough to shut the door behind him. Jareth heard them begin twittering again in excitement as they raced towards the front doors and the winter wonderland their king had given them permission to play in. Turning back to the window, he laughed softly at their antics before smirking as he heard Hoggle's enraged yelp as one of them managed to peg him with a ball of the frozen water.

Pulling his attention back to the matter at hand, Jareth once more read the letter:

Your Royal Highness, King Jareth of the Goblins is cordially invited

to the Christmas Ball. You are to bring one guest (of the opposite gender)

as your date to the event to be held on the night of the 24th at six o' clock.

Formal wear is required.

As it was his parents hosting the event, his invitation was a little less formal than the invitations to the other monarchs he knew they would have sent out. They also knew he would know exactly where he was going so directions weren't given in his invitation either. Jareth grimaced at the "guest of the opposite gender" part. One year he'd decided that, since he was tired of all the fawning females he was forced to bring, and since none of them had the collective intelligence of a slug, he was determined to enjoy himself this time. Jareth took his close friend and advisor, Soren, with him. He'd wanted someone he could actually have a good time with, so his best friend seemed like the perfect solution. Unfortunately, the women of the court, including his mother, had not taken the fact that he'd interpreted the "one guest" clause into meaning he could bring a friend, instead of a date, well, at all. His mother wanted grandchildren and since he was the eldest she felt it was his duty to give them to her.

Fortunately for Jareth, one of his sisters had married and provided a grandchild for his mother to dote on not long after and so she'd been satisfied for the time being(even though all his invitations now specified a person of the opposite gender as she hoped he would finally bring someone and announce her as his intended. He now avoided any and all social functions but it seemed he wasn't going to get out of this one). Until now it seemed.

The party Soren had gone with him to had happened a little over a century ago but since then his friend had found himself a beautiful mate and Lizzie was expecting their first child. Lizzie was kind and gentle but had a fierce protective streak and fiery temper. The woman had captured Soren's attention with her spirit and it had yet to release him. Jareth doubted it ever would as Lizzie was as enamored with Soren as he was of her. He smiled a little forlornly. Jareth was happy for his friend but he was jealous of his happiness as well. Why couldn't he seem to find it?

'Well you did. It's just that she rejected-'

No! That way laid dragons and he had no desire for his despair to eat him today. Jareth was grateful that Hoggle had gotten his father to help him, even if he would never tell the dwarf that, as the man had helped him through the desolation Jareth had felt after Sarah's exit at the end of her run. Jareth was now able to function but just barely. It would take him much longer to get over Sarah than he ever admit. Most likely never. He knew that going to her friends to check on her was probably not the best thing he could do and so had gradually whittled away the times he visited until he now sought them out but rarely. Jareth sighed as he felt the connection between the Above and Under attach itself. They were talking again.

"Now Jareth it's almost Christmas and you're in here by yourself looking so depressed. Maybe we should take you and dump you in the snow outside. A good snowball fight just might be what you need to snap you out of this mood," A good humored voice said behind him, abruptly snapping him out of his desolate thoughts.

Glancing over his shoulder, he found Soren and Lizzie standing in the middle of his throne room watching him with identical smirks of their faces. Soren stood about the same height as Jareth, six foot, while Lizzie was a couple inches shorter and where Jareth was light Soren was dark. Deep brown hair fell down his back in a neat braid and black eyes watched him with a knowing look from under dark brown markings as he wrapped an arm a little more firmly around his mate's waist. Lizzie's hair was a fiery red cut to just below her chin while her soft brown eyes looked out at the world warmly from a softly rounded face.

The two dressed to complement each other with Soren in a green coat and vest with a white shirt, grey breeches, and black boots while Lizzie was in a green dress a shade or two darker than the color her mate wore. Lizzie shifted away from her husband and, with a swing of her hand, conjured a chair before sitting down. She was only a couple months along but she was still tired. Soren moved towards his friend in worry when Jareth still didn't say anything. This wasn't like him. Well…it wasn't like how he used to be when Jareth would have quickly shot back with a retort of his own and a self assured grin on his face as the two bantered back and forth. Soren missed that Jareth.

Jareth noticed his friend's expression but he just grunted and held the letter over his shoulder by way of an answer and explanation. Soren's eyes narrowed at the offending piece of parchment before gingerly taking it in his grip to read as if it would suddenly change into something unpleasant. He growled when he was through and tossed it onto Jareth's throne contemptuously. Jareth's parents seemed to have a problem with letting their son have time to choose his own mate. Though, after the incident with that runner a while back, Soren could kind of see where they were coming from.

He himself had resented the girl for hurting his friend but when he'd said as much to Jareth he was surprised at the rage it threw his friend into. The two did not speak to each other for a couple years after that and it was only after Soren had heard what condition Jareth was in from his father, and some gentle coaxing from Lizzie, had he come back to apologize. He was a little ashamed that he'd left his friend in such a state and hadn't been there to help him. Thankfully, Jareth had accepted his apology right off. Soren had then asked him to explain the situation where the girl was concerned so that he might better understand the situation and Jareth had obliged him. Soren had wondered what Jareth had been thinking proposing to a fifteen year old human without having really given her any indication he was interested in her; though, he wisely kept his thoughts to himself this time.

Lizzie watched the proceedings warily. She could guess what the letter was about and it irked her just as much as her mate but there wasn't really anything she, or even Soren, could do. However, these two had been friends for years, so she felt it was best that she stay out of their way when Jareth began asking Soren for advice. Lizzie would only give her input in they asked for it. Keeping quiet also helped her keep her temper in check.

"So who are you taking?" Soren asked neutrally. They all knew each other's opinions of the women at court so it was really just a rhetorical question.

"I don't know," Jareth snapped impatiently but he was distracted. The conversation between Sarah and Hoggle had been brief and he wondered why for an instant before remembering that tonight was Hoggle and his wife's party.

'Everyone seems to be finding someone-'

Jareth quickly jerked his thoughts back to the present situation, "I know I must go but at the same time I can't if I am not escorting anyone; which is exactly what's going to happen if I can't find someone I can tolerate to go with me. And we all know how my mother will to react that. Either that or my mother will find someone for me."

Lizzie watched Jareth carefully. She knew the story of the only runner to ever beat the Labyrinth and her king but then, so did everyone else in the Underground. What only the three of them, and his father as the man had not seen fit to tell Jareth's mother, knew was that Jareth had loved the girl deeply. Still did. Lizzie knew that what she was about to suggest might not be the best of ideas and could possibly throw Jareth into a rage, or worse, another depression; however, it was honestly the only solution she could think of to their current problem. She could only hope that nothing averse happened when she presented her solution.

"Why not ask Sarah if she will accompany you?" Lizzie said quietly but boldly. All movement, hell all breathing, in the room stopped at her words. Jareth turned to gape at her but she merely met his look stare for stare. She wasn't about to back down. It had been ten years so maybe the girl had changed in that time. It was worth a shot. Besides, Jareth wasn't going to know if this Sarah had changed her mind about him if he didn't ask.

Soren could do nothing but look between his best friend and his mate as they stared each other down. He was surprised that Lizzie had suggested such a thing but not nearly as surprised as he could have been. He'd been about to suggest the same thing.

"I think you should ask." He stated just as boldly as his mate.

Jareth turned to stare at his friend now. Did they not understand? Why were they asking such things of him? He felt his anger rise within him at their callousness but as quickly as it came it was replaced by the anguish of the memories that surfaced anytime he thought of Sarah. Her face, her eyes, her voice, her everything played like one of those Aboveground movies humans so enjoyed these days. Jareth closed his eyes and remembered.

Her eyes flashing in fear then determination as he appeared before her for the first time in her parent's room…

When he stood behind her and took in her scent as she looked over his Labyrinth from the hill…

The tunnels when she'd told him the Labyrinth was a piece of cake. How angry he'd been at her for saying something like that and the indignation he'd felt from the Labyrinth at her words and the fear he'd seen in her eyes as he leaned over her to correct and intimidate her…

The dance they'd shared in her dreams that he'd brought about with the peach he made Hoggle give her. That was his favorite memory of her time here and he often replayed it in one of his crystals…

Watching her run through the city as goblins and rocks went every which way. He didn't like to admit it but that was amusing…

The Escher Room as she ran frantically after the child she'd wished away…

The last time he'd seen her in the form of a man as he offered everything he had and everything he was to her and she rejected him in favor of a child…

Watching through her window as she and all the friends she'd made during her run celebrated her victory and the cry of anguish he let loose as he flew away to come back here, and he'd thought at the time, to die…

… And a million other memories he had of her because Jareth hadn't started watching her just after she made her wish. No. She had caught his attention years before. Jareth came out of his memories to find two pairs of worried eyes watching him and he realized that he had curled in on himself; as if trying to protect himself from an attack he could not block. In a way, he was. A hand clutched his chest over his heart, trying to lessen the pain that radiated from it with every beat. Tears ran down his face in a steady stream as he dropped to his knees before his two friends. Lizzie was up and had him in her arms, his head pressed against her shoulder, before he could blink and he shattered even more.

"I can't." He whispered brokenly, "Can't you see I can't."

"Yes. You. Can." She growled; punctuating every word.

'So much for letting them figure out what to do by themselves,' she thought in amusement.

In a clipped tone she continued, "This is getting ridiculous, Jareth. It's been ten years so there's the chance she's changed what she thinks about you. Now, Soren and I both agree that it's high time you stopped moping and go after her again. She wasn't even an adult when you proposed the last time, not to mention that was an absolutely pathetic way to ask someone you love to marry you, so why don't you go to her now and try again; however, let's try not to make an ass of ourselves this time, please."

Soren looked a little unhappy at Lizzie dragging him into this, Jareth's temper was shorter nowadays after all, but if she was willing to step in and try to help he would let her. He wasn't good with emotions and so he'd been at a loss as to what to do when Jareth had collapsed that first time after he had come back from one last look at Sarah. Jareth began to laugh after Lizzie finished speaking. Soren was like a brother to him and Lizzie was quickly shaping up to be another sister. He didn't think he really needed another one as he already had five but he wasn't going to complain. Jareth sighed as he moved from her arms and towards his throne. Flicking his wrist and sending the invitation to his study, Jareth sat down.

"She removed the statue and the book and put them in a box in her closet." He said quietly; as if this was supposed to be some great motive to keep him from doing what they wanted him to.

Lizzie and Soren stared at him incredulously. His point?

"Yes and your point would be?" Soren asked, confused, "We know that but what does that have to do with anything?"

Lizzie was looking at him in horror and he realized what he'd let slip, "Uh…"

Jareth stared at his friend, "You've been keeping tabs on me and Sarah?!" He asked in disbelief.

"Well…yes?" Soren said uncertainly. Lizzie just shook her head as her mate dug his grave deeper than the required six feet. Jareth looked livid as he stood from his throne to confront his friend but Lizzie stepped in and stopped him; drawing his attention to her as she defended their actions.

"We were worried about you." She said firmly but there was a note of pleading in her voice that gave Jareth pause and he stopped his forward advancement to listen to what she was saying, "We saw how you were constantly going to visit the dwarf, knight, and rock caller so we wanted to know why. Hoggle told us everything on the condition that we would do everything in our power to help you. He's told us things he hasn't told you for fear of how you would react but on the same token he's kept things from Sarah about you."

This last statement caught his attention and Jareth sat back in his throne heavily as he stared at Lizzie. Thinking hard, he decided that he was going to have a long talk with Hoggle very soon. Her statement that his actions had caused them alarm gave him pause. Looking back over his actions the last few years, Jareth was dismayed at the way he'd been acting. Jareth realized the amount of worry he must have been putting everyone around him through and he suddenly felt very ashamed.

"We'll go with you to talk to Hoggle and then Sarah," Soren said quietly. He guessed that that was what Jareth was getting ready to do and, if so, Soren wanted to observe the meeting.

"That won't be necessary," Jareth said and suddenly there was a flash of light and a shower of silver glitter as he was suddenly dressed in full Goblin King Regalia, without the armor, and his old demeanor. The old Goblin King was back in full force, "But you may tag along if you wish."

Soren and Lizzie just rolled their eyes but smiled at each other, relieved. Maybe now things would get better. Jareth saw their relieved looks but didn't think they should be celebrating just yet. They seemed to have forgotten that Jareth's heart belonged to Sarah and that if she rejected him again…

He turned his thoughts away from the road they were currently headed down. Jareth knew that it was highly unlikely that Hoggle's party was over but he needed to speak with the dwarf about some things. Now.

"Shall we go?" Jareth inquired. Soren and Lizzie looked a little nervous at what the night's events would hold but they nodded gamely. He smirked and, summoning a crystal, tossed it into the air, transporting them to the dwarf's cottage.

Hoggle had not been happy to see them standing outside his door but taking one look at the Goblin King had assured him it would not be wise to complain. He'd told Orca who was outside and that he was going to another part of the house to talk with them. She hadn't been happy either, but there wasn't really anything she could do about the situation; except act like nothing had changed in front of her guests.

Once they were safely ensconced in the bedroom that had the mirror Hoggle used to contact Sarah, Jareth had begun a very in depth interrogation of his three companions. The dwarf broke and finally told Jareth everything he'd been withholding from the king. Jareth had been a little pleased by the fact that Sarah was not as happy as she possibly could be (Why would she be when she was not with him?) but on the same token he was saddened that she was unhappy. However, Jareth was very proud of her for becoming so successful on her own.

Hoggle said she'd initially suspected Jareth was interfering in some way but Jareth was happy to inform the dwarf that Sarah had succeeded all on her own. Hoggle nodded, saying that that's what he'd told her. Jareth was a little grateful, and put out, that anytime Sarah had asked about him they'd lied and told her he was fine. He wasn't sure what he thought about that or what Sarah might do when she finally found out about his weakened state. Jareth resolved to keep that from her since he didn't think she needed to know or would particularly care.

One incident that he wanted cleared up was why she'd put away the statue. Jareth had glimpsed her putting it in the box when he'd come to see Hoggle one time and it had thrown him even further into his depression at seeing her do this. He hadn't said anything to Hoggle and Hoggle hadn't mentioned it to him. Jareth had left after seeing that and didn't come back to see the dwarf for a month. Hoggle had been surprised at the sudden absence of the king inquiring about Sarah but hadn't pried; however, he was thinking, now, that maybe he should have. Hoggle's explanation for why she put those two items away was that Sarah said she always felt bad when she looked at them and so decided to pack them up. Jareth didn't exactly know what to think about that as he didn't have all the facts but he decided he would ask Sarah to clarify for him at a later time. Though, the fact that Hoggle had deemed it necessary to tell Soren and Lizzie his business still irked Jareth.

Hoggle hesitated at the last piece of information he still had about Sarah but decided that the Goblin King would want, and need, to know. Sarah's gift could get her into trouble or put her in danger if she Saw the wrong thing and Hoggle wasn't stupid enough to put her in danger like that. Not to mention that if he didn't say anything and something were to happen to Sarah that the king would make sure to give him a punishment worse than the Bog.

"There's one more thing I should be tellin' ye," he said quietly. The Goblin King perked up at this and gave him his full attention; watching him shrewdly like the owl he was. Lizzie and Soren also looked interested in what he was about to say. They hadn't been aware that Hoggle had known anything else, "After Sarah went back t' the Above, she found out that she had the Sight. So far nothin' bad's happened but I just though that ye should know."

Jareth was silent for a moment before he exploded, "What?!"

Hoggle flinched at his king's tone but remained where he was. Lizzie and Soren had twin looks of horror on their faces as they processed exactly what this meant. If the girl Saw something she wasn't supposed to…

"She knows the stories," Hoggle reminded them forcefully, "She's not stupid enough t' let on she knows anythin' she shouldn't. Ye don't have to worry about Sarah."

Jareth still looked as if he was about to pop a vein but he settled back in his seat for the time being. He could always strangle the dwarf later. Checking the time, he saw that it was very late. After learning that tonight was her family's Christmas party, and she would be up later than usual, Jareth had decided he wanted to try to talk to her tonight. Once the initial aversion and anguish at the thought of interacting with her again was over, Jareth had begun to feel an excitement within him grow at the thought of seeing and talking to her once more. He also thought it was best to speak to her now before he lost his nerve later. Arrogant and prideful he may be but stupid he was not.

"Better check t' make sure she ain't gotten back and gone t' sleep while we was sittin' here talkin'," Hoggle muttered.

Moving to the mirror he mumbled Sarah's name and peered through into her bedroom. They were in luck. It looked like she had just come back. Hoggle started to call out for her but squeaked as she reached behind her to get the zipper on her dress. The king did not need to see this! Thankfully, Sarah must have heard him because she looked up to find him in her mirror.

She blinked at him as she asked, "How long have you been there? It's really late."

Yes I know it's really late and ye're goin' t' give everyone a free show if ye don't stop that! He thought, wildly. Thankfully the king was still on the other side of the room. Seeing that she wasn't stopping, he tried again, "Sarah!"

Something in his tone must have gotten through to her because she stopped to look at him calculatingly. She must have been very tired because she wasn't usually this slow on the uptake that something was wrong. Hoggle had learned he couldn't hide anything from her if he was stupid enough to even let it flit briefly through his mind when talking to her.

The Goblin king watched the exchange in amusement. Sarah had obviously done something to have Hoggle act so flustered, he was not going to think about what that might be or how her voice had affected him. It had become deeper, throatier but still plenty feminine. He hoped Hoggle hurried and explained the situation as he wanted to talk with her again. Badly.

Lizzie and Soren watched the other two in growing amusement. From where they sat they could see Sarah, though she couldn't see them, and what she'd been doing to make Hoggle nervous and the two were glad Jareth wasn't aware of how close he'd come to embarrassing her because he'd accidentally seen her naked. This was the first time they'd really ever seen or heard the girl and they were eager to form their own opinions of her.

Sarah moved in front of her mirror and sat, telling her audience there was a chair there, and simply said, "Shoot."

"Well. Ah ha. How t' say this?" The dwarf said nervously as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Hoggle," came her gentle admonishment and the three Sidhe held their breath, "What's wrong?"

Hoggle's nerve finally broke and he said in one big rush, "Well…someonewantst'talkt'yeandItriedt'tellhimitwasn'tagoodideabuthesaidhedidn'tcareandsohe'shereandhereallywantst'talkandwillyetalkt'him?"

The three Sidhe were laughing silently to as not give their presence away. Jareth could not see the look on Sarah's face like his two friend's could but he imagined it was priceless. Lizzie and Soren couldn't help laughing as they looked at the slightly confused and incredulous look in the girl's face but what she said next just set them off even more.

"What?" was her intelligent reply.

Hoggle made to repeat himself but Jareth, deciding it was high time she knew he existed, cut him off as he made his way to the mirror.

"What Higgle is trying to say," Lizzie and Soren noticed how Hoggle stiffened at that, "is that I have a favor to ask of you and wonder if you would be willing to listen to me."

Soren could see the hopeful look in Jareth's eyes and found himself just as hopeful of this girl's reply and he leaned forward a little in suspense. How would she answer him? Would she leave? What would she do?

"Hello Sarah." Jareth said quietly. Lizzie noticed the girl flush but then she rallied and gave the king a small half smile, unconsciously sitting straighter while her chin raised itself and her eyes gleamed with an unnamed emotion.

"Hello Jareth," was the quiet reply. Everyone in the room let out a breath they didn't know they were holding. The first hurdle was crossed; now on to the next one.

Sarah took a moment to study the Goblin King who now stood in her mirror. His moon-spun hair was just as wild and unruly as ever but it was longer; now almost reaching past his waist and pulled back in a low horse-tail. The markings above his mismatched eyes were still there which surprised her as she'd though they were makeup. Having his hair pulled back also exposed the elongated knife-points that were his ears which had been hidden by his hair the last time she'd seen him. Sarah found that she quite liked the sight of them and wanted very much to touch them. His sharp features were the same as ever and Sarah felt herself getting lost as she looked into the eyes she thought she would never see again.

Jareth wore a burgundy leather jacket over a black poet's shirt, leather breeches, and boots, she avoided thinking about how tight those pants were, also noticing he had his riding crop in hand and leather gloves still encasing said hands. She wondered briefly if he ever took them off before she looked past the image he was fronting and really looked at the being before her.

Jareth's skin shimmered from the magic that flowed through his veins and rested just under his skin. Every movement he made was with a grace so beautiful it hurt to watch but she found she couldn't look away. Sarah had felt herself shiver as his voice caressed her being and she realized, quite suddenly, how good it was to see him and how much she'd missed him. But Sarah could see that something wasn't quite right with her king. 'Her king?' The thought came but she ignored it. His skin was too pale, he was too thin, and there were lines of fatigue and worry at the corners of his eyes and mouth; giving him a careworn expression even though he only appeared to be in his mid-twenties.

Realization struck her and she felt the shock and betrayal course through her. They had lied to her! He wasn't fine at all! But Sarah closed her eyes as she realized that she was as much to blame in that respect as her friends were. She had not pushed for information on the Goblin King like she had wanted and even though Sarah sensed, deep down, that her friends weren't being entirely truthful she hadn't called them on it.

'This is my fault,' came the thought and Sarah didn't push it away. She knew it was the truth. She'd known all along and hadn't done anything about it. Sarah decided then that she would do whatever favor he asked of her if she could and after that, if he still wanted, she would try her best to get to know him better as the man he was, not the man she thought she knew.

Hoggle saw the look pass over Sarah's face and he flinched. He'd known that what they were doing was a disservice to both Sarah and the king but they'd still gone through with it. Hoggle stood and moved quietly to the door to go find Didymus and explain that they'd done something very wrong and to expect retribution from Sarah at some point. But they could face Sarah after these two had a chance to talk. Sarah and Jareth should have had this opportunity a long time ago.

Lizzie and Soren watched the dwarf depart. They didn't try to stop him and they didn't try to go with him as the couple wanted to observe what happened between these two. Lizzie hadn't missed the anguished look that crossed the girl's face but she wasn't sure why it had been there in the first place. The dwarf obviously did though. Turning back to the mirror Lizzie crossed her fingers and hoped, again, that things would work out well tonight.

"What is this favor you would ask of me Goblin King?" Sarah asked quietly as she stared down at her hands as they rested on the vanity. She dimly noted her knuckles were white from clenching each other so hard but Sarah was too ashamed to look up. Jareth noticed her hands too and felt his despair settling in like an old friend. He quickly began to backpedal.

"Nothing," he said quietly; getting ready to withdraw and Lizzie and Soren gaped at him in dismay. The once proud and untouchable Goblin King had been brought low by a slip of a human girl. "There is nothing I-"

Sarah jerked her head up sharply and stood, leaning her hands on the vanity she moved so that her nose was almost touching the glass, narrowed her eyes, and hissed, "What favor Jareth?"

Jareth was only stunned for a moment but then he felt his own ire rising. She dared?

"I said it was nothing," he hissed back as he too leaned in until his nose was almost touching the mirror, as well "And that is what I meant-"

"No it's not," she snarled; interrupting him again. There was a dangerous edge to her voice that let those watching know that Jareth might do well to tread carefully but he didn't seem to notice, "You came to Hoggle's house, scared him half to death, and said quite clearly, yourself, that you wished to ask me for a favor. Now suddenly you're trying to back out as if you've lost your nerve. That's not like you Goblin King," Jareth flinched at the way she enunciated his title but his face was white with fury, "Now tell me what you want!"

"You are lecturing me about coming into Higgle's house-"

"We weren't talking about Hoggle we were talking about you!" She protested.

"-and demanding I tell you things that you might have no right to know!" Jareth finished.

Sarah snapped her mouth shut; shocked that that was what he'd gotten out of what she'd said but her eyes narrowed. He was twisting her words around and Sarah wasn't going to let him get away with it. Whatever happened to come out of her mouth next was his fault as he'd provoked her into saying it.

"Then tell me, Oh great and glorious Goblin King, why you bothered to try to make contact with me after ten years of silence?!" She snarled and Jareth blinked in surprise.

Sarah's chest heaved and there were tears in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She had been so happy to see him again. And he had to go and ruin it by acting like that and Sarah couldn't, for the life of her, understand why. Lizzie and Soren watched the two in astonishment; especially Sarah as they began to understand why he had fallen in love with a fifteen year old human girl. She could match him spirit for spirit, temper for temper, fire for fire, and, to top it all off, Sarah wasn't afraid of him.

"You bastard!" Sarah cried as she covered her face with her hands, "I was happy to see you! I wanted to talk to you! And you had to go and ruin it by acting like that."

Jareth seemed to finally notice he was on thin ice but what brought him up short were the tears he could see in Sarah's eyes. He'd made her cry. Jareth felt the guilt and sorrow at having done this well up in his chest and he summoned a chair right behind him before collapsing into it and placing his own head in his hands. Sarah was a little shocked at this display but before she could say anything there was a knock at her door.

"Sarah? Who are you talking to?" Karen's concerned voice sounded on the other side of her bedroom door.

Jareth's head jerked up and he looked about ready to disappear but Sarah's hand flew through the mirror faster than he could blink and latched onto his arm; jerking him forward she hissed at him so that her stepmother couldn't hear, "Disappear on me and so help me I will wish you here and you won't like the consequences if I have to do that."

Sarah turned away from the mirror, still keeping a hold of Jareth's arm, and said loudly, "Someone on the phone Karen. I'm sorry I woke you."

Silence greeted her statement and Sarah suddenly realized she hadn't locked her door.

'What if Karen comes in?!' Was her panicked thought. Sarah didn't think that conversation would go over very well.

'Yeah, Karen this is the Goblin King. I kind of accidentally wished Toby away to him when I was fifteen but as you can see I got him back! The two of us haven't spoken in a few years but we're trying to have a nice conversation now.'

Sure. That would go over well and she needed Karen finding out about that whole incident as much as she needed a bullet to the head.

"But I could have sworn I heard a man's voice." Jareth was now struggling to get his hand loose but Sarah tightened her grip, hard enough that Jareth had no doubt he was going to have bruises, in an effort to keep the king right where he was. Lizzie and Soren moved closer to the mirror in case things went south.

"I had him on speaker while I was working. I'm sorry I won't be that loud again. I promise."

'Go away!' She thought silently. 'Let it go until the morning.'

Karen knew that Sarah hated to be disturbed when she was working and so opted to give the girl her space, "Fine I'll stay outside the door. Was that your boyfriend? I didn't recognize his voice."

Sarah had relaxed at Karen's declaration, still not letting go of Jareth's arm, but tensed again at the new line of questioning. Jareth tensed as well as he waited for what her answer would be. Would she name him an annoyance? Someone who was unwanted? Would she name him something more?

"No, he's not, Karen, he's just a friend," Jareth felt his heart soar at her words and listened eagerly to what else she would say, "We had a sort of falling out a while back but he got in touch with another one of my friends to get back in touch with me. Apparently, he's in another time zone and didn't realize how late it was here. I'm really sorry. I'll keep it down from now on."

Karen sighed but she was tired and decided to leave it until the morning.

"Alright but just keep it down," Karen chided as she made her way back to her room.

Sarah's shoulders slumped in relief and, in doing so, realized she was still in her party dress. Damn.

'Maybe Jareth would be kind enough to-'

Squashing the thought before it went any further she turned back to the mirror and blinked at the two new people standing behind the Goblin king. Sarah blushed as she realized the two of them had had an audience to their little spat. Letting go of his arm, which he promptly snatched back to begin rubbing the feeling back into, she slumped into her chair before glaring at him half heartedly.

"I thought this was supposed to be a private conversation," she said wearily. Jareth turned to find that his two friends were behind him and they were looking at him meaningfully trying to get him to introduce them.

"Sarah," Jareth said as he tried not to sound as tired as she looked. All the fight had left him and he were drained, "This is my friend, Lord Soren of the Unicorn Lands and his mate, Lady Elizabeth-"

Sarah had just realized there was another female there and, wanting to be out of her dress so badly, she reached through the mirror without thinking, grabbed the woman's hand and yanked her through. The two men could only watch in astonishment as this happened and Lizzie could only gape at the woman who clutched her hand. Sarah paused when she saw their faces and realized what she'd just done.

'Oops.' Sarah thought, 'well, too late now.'

"First things first," Sarah said firmly to Jareth, "I want out of this dress and into some more comfortable clothes before this conversation goes any further."

Jareth's mouth curled into a smirk and he lounged back in the chair he was sitting in; throwing one leg over the arm, "Well, Precious," he purred, "If you'd just said something then I would have-"

"Don't start," Sarah said flatly, "Secondly, we are going to have a nice, civil conversation with no more of this avoiding why the hell you called me. Thirdly," She said before Jareth could get a word in edgewise, "your friends may stay to listen as long as they don't interrupt. Lastly, this mirror is getting turned off while I change and if I catch you peeping I am coming through it and beating your Sidhe ass to a bloody pulp," She snarled quietly.

Jareth wisely nodded his head at her demands, Soren looked a little green, before Jareth waved his hand and the mirror went blank. This was Sarah Williams, the girl who beat the Labyrinth in less than ten hours for her baby brother that she'd wished away? This hell cat?! Soren turned and looked at his friend as if he were either the craziest or bravest person he'd ever known.

"She seems to have come into her own," Jareth chuckled weakly, "She wasn't nearly this forceful the last time we met but I find I like her even more now."

Soren just nodded his head dumbly. He hoped his friend knew what he was getting into because if he didn't, Soren didn't think he would be able to help him.