Chapter 4

The tiny lights sparkled among the greenery. The fire almost roared inside the hearth. Smells of lovely food drifted from the kitchen , and the goblins stood looking at her.

With her head hung slightly, Sarah still sat on the sofa. Had he really just offered her what he had? Why would he offer her a chance at returning?

Hoggle walked over to her, "what did the rat want?"

Sarah raised her head slightly at look at her friend, "he gave me a choice."

"Choice? What choice? Sarah, what happened?"

"He offered me a choice to return to the Underground."

Hoggle's eyes grew wide as Sir Didymus walked up beside him.

"M'lady, that is a great honor. Have thee made a decision?"

"I only just got asked, Didymus," Sarah sighed.

Standing up, Sarah looked around at the group of goblins, "if you'll all excuse me I'm going to take care of something. Please don't touch any of the food till I come back."

"I will guard it, M'lady."

Sarah nodded, "thank you, Didymus."

Sarah walked up the stairs and into her old room. After grabbing a change of clothes, she walked into the small bathroom. About thirty minutes later, Sarah walked out of the bathroom.

As she walked down the stairs, Sarah found the goblins frowning just outside the doorway leading into the kitchen, where Sir Didymus and Goggle stood blocking the way.

As she reached the landing, the goblins turned to face her. Giving them a smile Sarah featured towards the door, "okay, everyone let's ear."

The goblins cheered, but remained in place as Sarah walked past them and her friends. As she entered the kitchen, Sarah turned back slightly to look at them, "I'll make plates and pass them around. Everyone remember the rules?"

"Yes, Lady."

Sarah nodded before walking into the kitchen.

Thirty minutes later, found the goblins laying about the living room. Glancing up at the clock on the wall, Sarah leaned back against the the sofa. There wasn't much time left.

One of the goblin burped causing the others to laugh.

Looking over at Hoggle who sat leaning back into arm chair, Sarah shook her head. Didymus wasn't doing too much better on the other end of the sofa.

Suddenly a tiny goblin who looked like a little fluff ball jumped up, "we need to give Lady her gifts."

Hoggle's head popped up, "some of us decided that Lady needed more than what you had said."

Sarah raised her hands and began shaking her head, "you guys really don't have to. Really this is enough."

The first tiny goblin spoke up again, "but Lady, we wanted to give you something cause of how nice you're to us."

"Unlike King for the most part, " another goblin mumbled.

This caused Sarah to frown. Was he overly cruel to them? He had done some fairly cruel things to her, while she had been running the Labyrinth. Suddenly, a crash came from the kitchen. No, he wasn't. The goblins maybe cute at times, but they were also walking disasters. More than likely he had been just trying to rein in the damage.

Sighing, Sarah shook her head, "all right, but one at a time. No, running or screaming. Understood?"

"Yes, Lady!" The goblins ran towards the small hallway that lead to the basement door.

Hoggle looked over at her, with a raised eyebrow, "I doubt that was a wise move, Sarah."

"I know, but we both know there wasn't really any other choice."

Sighing, Hoggle nodded, "I hate to say it, but you might be right."

The goblins came back and slowly for in to a semi-straight line, in front of Sarah.

XOXOXOX

Jareth couldn't help but to shiver when the goblins had announced they had extra gifts. They're gifts weren't exactly something one welcomed. One year, one had actually given him a half eaten apple with a worm inside. He shivered once again at the thought of all the horrid things they were no doubt giving her.

He could swoop in and stop it, but he needed for her to see what if would be like once she agreed to come back to the Underground.

Puffing his feather out more, he tried to warm himself in the cold winter air. He should just return to his castle, but he refused to leave just yet.

The foolish girl had no idea how much trouble he had gone through to be able to make the offer he had. The High Court had taken quiet a lot of convincing. Of course, he hadn't told them everything. That would had been foolish.

From a branch above him, a bit of snow fell down. Why had he given her two hours? An hour would had been enough time to think it over. Sighing, he wished he could had found a better tree to watch from, but this one was the only one with even a glimpse of the living room.

He could hear laughter coming from the house next door, while Sarah's house seemed so silent in comparison. That would hopefully change.

A crash came from within Sarah's house. Damn, the windows. What had happened?

Okay, this was getting really long and this felt like a good place to end this chapter. I'm already working hard on hopefully the final chapter. My goal is to get this done before the end of the month. I know I said that last month, but I know I can do it this month. I really need to get to work on my main stuff.

Sorry for the long delay.

Thanks for the follows, faves, and reviews like always.

Review if you please.

CL