Sarah's Point of View

Sarah woke with a start. She had been having a nightmare. A terrible nightmare where King Cyrus had tried to kiss her, and then a dark figure swooped in, enveloping Sarah in darkness. Sarah did not like the outcomes of either situation. She heard a dark voice from a corner of the room.

"Did you have a nightmare, Sarah?" asked the voice. She snapped her head around to find a figure sitting on a chair in the corner. His face was hidden by shadow, but his body she could make out. His hair was wild and platinum blonde, he wore a white poet's shirt, leather vest, extremely tight leggings that left little to the imagination, and black boots. His figure was slim but toned. In one hand was what looked like the glass bubble Hoggle had held in his hand before he disappeared. Sarah slowly slid off the bed, and drew closer to the figure.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" she asked in a whisper, knowing there were guards outside her door. The man was silent for a moment before responding.

"So… Hogwart was right… You have lost you memory. If you had them, you would have never asked that question, Sarah," he purred in a voice rich with seduction, making shivers run up her spine, "I am quite unforgettable." Sarah moved even closer to the man, his face still hidden in shadow.

"Are you him, then? The one Hoggle told me about? King Jareth?" she asked, her heart beating faster and faster. The man stepped out of the shadows, revealing a face Sarah didn't need to have memories to know was the most beautiful face she had ever laid eyes on. Oddly, his mismatched eyes didn't make it any less so. Quite the contrary. It gave him a look of mystery that Sarah couldn't help but find extremely attractive. She knew that face. It was the one she had mistaken for Cyrus', when she had first woken up. How she could mistake Cyrus for this god, she would never know. She knew him. Sarah took a step back in her surprise, and Jareth smirked, taking a step closer.

"I see you do recognize me, Sarah, even if you have yet to remember why. However, I do remember you and the little bargain you made with me a few weeks ago. I am quite enthusiastic to follow through. Especially now that I know what it is that I must do to earn my reward. Shall we go, then? Unless you want to stay here with that oaf of a cousin of mine?" he asked, holding out his hand. Sarah hesitated for only a moment, thinking about whether she trusted him or not, when there was a crash from the door behind her, and she quickly took the hand he offered to her. Jareth smiled, widely, gripped her hand, and swung her into his arms, her right side against him.

In the doorway, she could see King Cyrus and four men behind him, all stunned by the sight in front of them. Cyrus was staring at Jareth with a look that could kill. However, the look on Jareth's face looked… darker. Like his gaze could burn the other king on the spot. From what Sarah had heard, he may have that ability. Jareth tightened his arms around Sarah, possessively. She didn't have the willpower to resist. She didn't want the Goblin King to look at her like he did Cyrus.

"You actually thought you could keep her from me? You thought you could use her against me? Ignorant fool! You… know… nothing," he declared, menacingly, to Cyrus, who began to move towards them.

And, while glaring at the advancing king, Jareth lifted her chin and kissed her full on the mouth, making her head spin with intense desire, confusion, and surprise. The last thing she heard was a very loud roar behind her.

"No!"


After her head stopped spinning, Sarah realized that she was on solid ground, and she was no longer in the arms of the very attractive Goblin King. She opened her eyes to find she was standing in the middle of what she found to be a very large throne room with rather grotesque murals on the walls and a high domed ceiling. On the throne sat the gorgeous Goblin King, his chin resting on his gloved hand, watching her with mismatched eyes as she took in her surroundings. When he looked at her, Sarah didn't feel like she did when Cyrus stared at her. She felt very hot and rather pleased. Though, she tried to keep a very strong front. After a few moments of silence, he spoke, never moving from his spot.

"I wondered what you would do when I released you, Sarah. That was not what I had expected. I had expected you to either try to cause me bodily harm or rant about what an inappropriate and/or disgusting thing I had done. Of course, you never are nor do what I expect. Perhaps that is why I'm so intrigued by you… enough of this talk. I need to decide what to do with you, now that you are here," he murmured. Sarah was not completely sure whether he was talking to her or more to himself, but she knew she did not like the words that had come from his mouth.

"Excuse me? What to do with me? I am not some sort of possession you can do with what you wish!" she hissed, angrily. Jareth smirked and leaned back in his throne.

"I am glad to see that angry streak you always had has not disappeared, Sarah. Though, I must say, that was hardly necessary. I was only saying that I need to find out exactly what I'm going to have to do in order to both; bring back your memories and punish that brutish cousin of mine for trying to keep you away from me. The former being my most pressing matter, of course. Though, I do love how you are so completely naïve and vulnerable, I do miss your old self. We have a lot to discuss, concerning our little agreement, from the last time we met," he said, still watching Sarah, closely. Sarah was not sure she liked being called naïve and vulnerable, but she was too distracted by the fact that the king wanted her to regain her memories. They had things to discuss? An agreement? What had she agreed to that interested this king so much?

"What sort of agreement?" she pressed, further. The king smirked, mischievously.

"Wouldn't you just love to know? Well, I am not going to tell you, right now. It would ruin the surprise, later. In any case, it was not even an agreement. It was a challenge you set for me. I want my reward. In order to do obtain my reward, I need you to get your memories back," he purred, his grin widening as Sarah's curious frown turned into a scowl.

"You won't even tell me my own challenge I set for you? How… How… infuriating!" she huffed, her fists clenched together. The Goblin King stood up from his throne, and walked towards Sarah, a peculiar grin on his face. Sarah held her ground as he began to circle her.

"No. I won't tell you. I will enjoy watching as the suspense grows inside you. I think it will be much more amusing to watch you come up with your own conclusions until you regain your memory. Now, how to give you back you memories…" he said, thoughtfully, still circling her like a predator circles its prey. Sarah crossed her arms over her chest, defiantly, trying to keep a stone-like front.

"Can't you just tell me about my past, and perhaps it will jog my memory?" she asked, impatiently, while still glaring at him. He raised his brows and grinned in an amused half-smile.

Jareth's Point of View

"The practical approach. Unfortunately, what we are dealing with here does not require a practical approach. No. Magic was involved in this. So… there is one way to get your memory back. And, only one. Now, knowing you, it will be… different," he finished, finding it… difficult to come up with the proper words to describe her situation. Sarah arched her brows with surprise and curiosity.

"Magic? How was magic involved? And… you make it sound like I had something to do with losing my memory. Like I had a hand in it," she pointed out, suspiciously. Jareth smiled, wider. She was catching on, quickly.

"Well done, Sarah. Deductive reasoning. I like that you have caught on so quickly. Yes, you had a hand in your loss of memory. You did it, yourself. Using magic, if I may add," he said, watching with that same amused smile as Sarah's eyes widened.

"I… I did… this? I forced myself to forget everything about myself? My life?" she demanded, shocked. Jareth nodded, understanding her shock and outrage. It had been rather rash to take her own memories, only to test his love for her. He could have proven himself in more convenient and practical way. It would not have cost so much for either of them. Though, the more he thought about it, she could have been trying to match his challenging her to the Labyrinth. That probably meant that Sarah's memories would be something of a puzzle to him. It would require further tests. Jareth had a feeling that Sarah was testing herself as much as she was testing him. Just on a different level.

"Yes. This, I believe, you were using to test yourself, as well as me. Don't ask me why, as I have no idea what goes on in that lovely head of yours, no matter how hard I try. Trust me, I have tried. I could see your dreams, at one time. However, even that has disappeared with time. Your willpower is astonishing," he said, concentrating on the small parting of her lips, and, most importantly, the expression in her eyes. Though Sarah was a terrific actress, she could never completely fool him with her eyes. They spoke volumes. At that moment, Jareth could see the shock and wonder in her eyes at the thought of seeing her dreams. He had seen that same look on her face the first time he had mentioned it, ten years ago.

A sudden thought came to his mind at the thought of her dreams. What if he didn't give her back her memories? What if he offered her the dreams of her childhood? She would stay with him, he knew, with a little persuasion. She would be willing. He could see the strong attraction she felt towards him. She would have nothing to hold her back. No relatives, friends, or career... She would stay. However, Jareth snapped out of his trance, quickly. No. He needed the old Sarah back. It wouldn't be the same. The attraction she towards him, now, was nothing compared to the raw passion and perhaps even love she felt for him, before. He wanted that. He wanted it all. He wanted all of Sarah. Not just a part. Though it would be more difficult, it would be worth it, in the end. He knew it.