Thanks everyone who has continued leaving reviews. I'm so delighted that you all are enjoying it so far. There's a lot going on, I know, but bear with me, we'll get Sarah on her journey before long.

Sarah's journey across the plains outside the Labyrinth to Kyran's forests seemed to take less time with her friends than it had four months ago. They swiftly approached the bluish-green sea of leaves sitting atop the thick darkness of their black trunks. Here and there yellow fruit winked in the early afternoon sun like schools of tropical fish in the Caribbean-colored foliage. Once they passed into the forest, the light dimmed significantly. The cinnamon scent of the decaying fruit wafted through the air to greet them and they spied several different remains in the purple carpet of leaves.

"Omri?" Sarah called out, uncertain if the phlegmatic centaur was still patrolling this quadrant of Kyran's domain.

The soft thud of hoofbeats on the crisp leaves made Hoggle jump; Sir Didymus brandished his staff defensively, in case the approaching rider should prove a foe rather than friend. Ludo—a bit of a coward considering his enormous size—inched a little closer to Sarah and gave her a worried look. Sarah, for her part, stood stoically firm, refusing to either back down or show fear.

"Would everyone please calm down? Kyran is Jareth's friend and there is no need for alarm. Trust me." She saw the dim outline of a centaurian shadow to her right and she could barely distinguish the silvery-gray of his coat and tail in the dim light of the forest.

"Omri?" Sarah repeated. "It's me, Sarah. I've come to see Kyran and Alegra."

"Your majesty," the centaur stepped closer, bringing himself clearly into their circle of vision. "You are always welcome in these woods."

"Please, just call me Sarah," she smiled warmly at him. "I don't need formality from a friend."

The slightest trace of a smile graced his placid features. Turning to her companions he asked, "Please, Sarah. Introduce me to your companions. I have never met such strange folk here."

"Oh, forgive me. This is my good friend Hoggle—my first friend in the Underground," the dwarf bowed embarrassedly, a slight tinge of red on his clean-shaven cheeks.

"Aw, 'taint nothing. We woundna been friends if you'd not gone a thievin' my jewels. After that, I didn't have much choice. And you bein' such a forgivin' little lady—I never did deserve yer friendship."

"Oh Hoggle, don't talk like that. I couldn't have defeated the Labyrinth without you and you know it. Besides, I like you, always have," she winked at him and he grew red again. Sir Didymus was making slight grunting noises as he stood at the ready in order to gain Sarah's attention. "And this stalwart fellow is the brave and valiant knight Sir Didymus."

Sir Didymus bowed deeply, "Indeed sir, the pleasure is mine. I have never yet met a man of your countenance, but you seem a fierce warrior and perhaps my equal at arms, though I doubt it." Omri bowed in response, giving due honor to the lionhearted fox.

"And this is Ludo," Sarah indicated the orange creature towering above them all.

"A Rock-Caller. I have heard of them, but never yet have I met one," Omri stated, a trace of awe marking his features.

"Rocks. Friends," Ludo replied. "Omri. Friend?"

"I shall be your friend, Ludo, and I shall treasure it—but come, we must hurry to the palace. My Lord and Lady have only just returned from an urgent meeting of the Court of the Wise. If you wish to speak with them, now is an opportune time. Come, friends, let us make haste."

Omri led the way speedily, neither speaking nor flagging his quick trot through the mellow forest. With every step Sarah's anxiety mounted. Kyran and Alegra have just come back from the Court? Does that mean everything with Jareth is done, his trial over? Or were they just summoned to the initial hearing? Thankfully, this means they will be of invaluable assisstance in my search for Jareth. They will know what has gone on in the Court and they might be able to tell me more about Danic and his father. I just have to pray I'm not too late.

When they arrived, they were immediately ushered into the throne room, where Kyran and Alegra were holding their daily audiences with their subjects. However, Sarah took precedence over the other centaurs and her entrance cleared the throne room of all but the royal couple seated at the opposite end. Kyran looked his customarily charming self—his short cropped, militaristic hair the only evidence of the danger lurking beneath his outwardly suave demeanor. Alegra looked adorably serene; her child-like innocence evident even in the way her white-blond hair curled back from her delicate features.

"Sarah!" Alegra squealed in delight, her innocent face radiant with genuine pleasure. "Oh, it is so good to see you, please come in and don't stand on ceremony. We're all friends here!" The overjoyed queen descended from the dais and clasped Sarah in a warm embrace. When she pulled back, Alegra noted the serious look on Sarah's face and her blissful smile changed to a concerned frown. "Sarah—"

"Alegra. You know why I'm here. This isn't a social call," Sarah stated flatly.

Alegra's shoulders slumped, "You're right Sarah. I just—I wanted to avoid being overly grim because I am glad to see you, even under the circumstances."

Sarah sighed, "I am, too—I just can't afford to think of anything other than Jareth or I'll go insane. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, Sarah," Kyran's smooth voice soothed. He had joined his wife in the center of the room, placing one arm protectively about her shoulders and reaching the other one out to grasp Sarah's shoulder comfortingly. "We understand. What do you want to know?"

"Everything, Kyran. Everything."

The Centaur King sighed heavily, sharing a meaningful look with his wife before gesturing to a side door. "Perhaps we should all retire to somewhere more comfortable." In an undertone, he added, "And more private."

The six of them walked—in Ludo's case, ducked—through a set of wood-paneled double doors on the right-hand side of the throne room. The sitting room was tastefully decorated in Kyran's usual lavish style: wood-paneled walls with intricately carved cornices and crown molding, delicately painted vases and other ornaments bedecking the multiple alcoves, and richly upholstered furniture scattered ornately about the room. It reminded Sarah of nothing more than what would have been labeled a 'parlor' in one of her favorite Regency novels.

Her companions looked sidelong at the lavish furnishings, uncertain what to make of them or if it would be appropriate to sit on them. Ludo took up residence on the floor near a roaring fire, and though Sarah feared his coat would be singed, he remained docilely unconcerned, smiling happily at the group. Sir Didumus sat on a long bench, his staff at the ready by his side. Hoggle looked uneasily from one seat to another and finally decided to stand awkwardly by Sarah's chair. The small dwarf looked out of place, even by the side of his Queen and friend.

Unlike her adventure years ago, Sarah was now dressed appropriately for her travels in the Underground. She was no longer a child of the eighties—with a flowing shirt, embroidered dress and tight jeans—she was an enraged Queen of the underground whose king had been wrongfully stolen from her. Rather than hanging freely, her black hair was piled atop her head, a style both regal and practical and the jeweled circlet Jareth had given her after their joining ceremony was tucked into her hair securely. She wore a high-waisted gown of emerald green muslin—designed for durability and comfort—and the golden amulet representing her office as Queen glimmered against the jade background of her bodice. She had chosen to wear Jareth's black cloak as a token of her quest with matching black leather boots. Had Jareth been there to see her, he would have been in awe at the transformation from an ordinary human woman to a passionate Queen and warrior—for her demeanor lent her attire a starkly forceful and militant aspect rather than the usual serenity associated with Underground Queens.

The ever-perceptive Centaur King and his consort noted Sarah's aggressive posture and the determined set of her mouth and it made them both slightly uncomfortable. Sarah does not know what she is facing, Kyran thought. Will this venture to save Jareth be her doom? She must do more than look the part of a determined warrior; she must be willing to face down the darkest, most sinister mind the Underground has ever produced. He hoped she was ready.

"Now then," Kyran began, clearing his throat.

"Save it Kyran," Sarah interrupted. "Omri told me you both just came back from the Court. Was it about Jareth?"

"Yes, it was," Kyran replied. Alegra fidgeted uncomfortably next to him. "He was on trial," she added quietly.

"On trial? What for? I thought everything was sorted out four months ago. Phainon let us go after I promised to marry Jareth and help him keep his word."

"Oh, he wasn't on trial for that," Alegra burst out. Kyran gave her a look that bespoke his intention of conveying the news to Sarah instead of her and she silently acquiesced.

"He was on trial for returning Toby's memory, Sarah," Kyran continued. "I thought you would have known that."

"Wait, what?" Sarah's flabbergasted reply echoed in the small chamber. "How did they know about that? I thought no one knew anything."

"You obviously did," the Centaur King chided gently. "Sarah, I know you must have helped him but it is only because they believe he acted alone that they haven't come for you."

"Why do they believe he did it all on his own?"

"Because that's what Jareth told them and he never lies," Kyran's charming face looked grave. "Sarah, you must be careful, if they knew you were involved, you would have been banished as well."

"Banished? You mean—"

"He has already been tried and found guilty of treason against the Court's direct orders regarding your brother's return to the Aboveground," Kyran replied gently, aware of the pain his words caused Sarah but conscious also that they were running out of time. If Sarah didn't leave his home soon, the Court's guards would drag her away as well and he couldn't bear to have her banishment on his conscience. Jareth could survive the banishment, Sarah wouldn't.

"Bring the prisoner forward!" Barked the white-clad figure seated in what had been Phainon's place of honor before the Assembly. Ammon was a patient man, but at this moment, vengeance was too tantalizingly near and he couldn't wait longer. He wanted to savor his moment of victory—hard-fought and very long-awaited.

He sat leisurely before the tense assembly. His dark hair hung freely, almost defiantly, about his shoulders in thick wave, and he was garbed head to toe in white leather in mockery of the supposed purity and justice that characterized the office of the High Arbiter. Not as hollow and sunken as his son's, Ammon's finely chiseled features were set in grim arrogance and triumphant mockery as the guards of the Court brought forward a sagging figure, heavily chained and already badly bruised from his captors' harsh treatment. His wild blonde hair hung lankly around his pinched face as he glared fiercely at the new High Arbiter and his languid malevolence.

"Ah, Jareth," Ammon said. "So nice of you to join us. Please, take your place before the assembly for sentencing."

"But…I…don't…even…know…what…I've…done." Jareth grunted, straining against both the guards and his chains.

"Don't you? You, record keeper, please read the charges to the prisoner," Ammon lazily flicked his finger at the almond-eyed woman near the foot of his throne.

Asenath stood slowly, trembling with fear and uncertainty. She liked Jareth and his Queen, but she could not disobey a direct order from the High Arbiter, lest she risk bringing down Jareth's punishment on herself as well. Coughing slightly, she read from a sheet of parchment, "The Court of the Wise hereby charges Jareth, Goblin King and Lord of the Labyrinth, with treason and flagrant disobedience for his actions in returning to the human boy, one Toby Williams of the Aboveground, his memory by means of magic. This was done in defiance of the Court's ruling that the boy should be returned to his home with no memory of any time here in the Underground, pursuant to the Underground law that no human in the Aboveground can know of the existence of the Underground."

"There now, Jareth. Any of that sound familiar?" Ammon's silky voice was laden with vicious irony.

"I don't deny that I did what I could to restore Toby's memory. He was only a child and unlikely to be believed even if he did, for some reason, decide to tell someone, which he had promised not to do. Is the Court so callous as to tear away a child's mind?" With a flick of Ammon's fingers, Jareth doubled over in pain as the head of a guard's staff struck him in the stomach.

"Is that any way to speak to your judge, Jareth? You may have gotten away with impudence with Phainon, but you will not find me so quick to dismiss impertinence and defiance in my court," Ammon pronounced darkly. "Now, there is one more thing this Court needs to hear from you. Did you act alone or did your pretty human wife play with you, too?"

Jareth started to protest Sarah being spoken of in such a derogatory way, but the clubbed staff made contact with his stomach again and he doubled over, the breath knocked out of him. He was starting to see tiny flecks of silver on the edges of his vision and his head throbbed dangerously. Though he managed to suck in a rasping breath, another blunt strike to his back threw him on his hands and knees in front of Ammon. The assembly room fell into a hushed silence; the former kings and queens seated around the circular platform were too afraid to move or even to speak.

"Please, let the man speak. No need to be overly violent," Ammon's voice made Jareth's insides boil, but he knew he had to calm his raging hate in order to protect Sarah. He glanced at the tense figures seated around him, noting the absence of his parents among the throng. He didn't know if Ammon was aware of their absence, so he avoided looking overly long at their empty bench.

What concerned him more was the cloud of malevolence hanging like a pall over the room. Many of the Court members evidenced a similar concern to Ammon's over his actions. Though not all were as maliciously delighted at the ruthless treatment he was experiencing, Jareth perceived that many felt he was getting what he deserved. He would find very few friends here with so callous an enemy as Ammon facing him down. Those who might object to the new Arbiter's actions would quickly find themselves facing the Arbiter as Jareth was now.

In fact, Jareth had prepared himself for this moment since Phainon's pronouncement of Toby's return to the Aboveground. Though he had informed Sarah of his plan, he explicitly mentioned details. She knew he had returned Toby's memories somehow, but she had not been involved in Jareth's plans otherwise. He had never admitted to her that he had feared this would happen. The past four months had been torturous, wondering if he was safe or if his doom still awaited him. He knew he had no hopes to free himself; his only thought—as it had always been—was to protect his Queen and kingdom.

"I created and activated the magic on my own, Sarah had no part in it," Jareth wheezed, succumbing to another fit of hacking coughs as he tried to draw breath.

"So it was merely a coincidence that she happened to be visiting her family about the same time Toby recovered his memory?"

"She went to say goodbye. Phainon had allowed that much. She didn't want them prying into her sudden disappearance and accidentally uncovering anything the Court might object to. She was keeping the rules; Toby's recovered memory is entirely my doing. Leave her out of this," Jareth managed to raise himself haltingly on his feet, standing as resolutely as he could given the weight of the chains dragging down on his injured arms and legs.

"Well then, Jareth, if that is your final answer, then you will be facing prosecution alone. Too bad, I would have enjoyed meeting your delectably powerless wife; Danic tells me she is quite a fighter," the Arbiter burst into demonic laughter as Jareth strained against his bonds, unalloyed hatred flushing his face as he let out a feral roar.

Ammon continued to laugh as the guards beat Jareth into submission, placing a gag over his arrogant mouth at one slight gesture of the High Arbiter's fingers.

"I'm not entirely certain I believe you, Goblin King, but as this is a democratic office; I shall put it to a vote. Former kings and queens of the Underground, do you believe Sarah innocent, as Jareth claims or shall we track her down as well to face the same fate as her unfortunately rebellious consort?" Ammon smirked, seemingly confident that the members of the Court would decide the latter.

As previously, the members of the Court began their discussions in small groups, sending delegates to other groups and finally choosing one member to relay their final decision to the Arbiter. The predatory smile that had graced the Arbiter's chiseled face faded into a frown and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the assembly room. "What? None of you are willing to believe that Jareth could be lying? First he lies to the court seven years ago, perpetuating the lie by secluding himself from all contact with any of us. Then, he brings back his human bride, flaunting her and his supposed trips to the Aboveground before us like a prize. And now he contravenes the directions of this Court and you are all willing to believe he didn't get his wife involved?" Ammon had risen from his seat in outrage, glaring nefariously at the men and women seated about him. His fists clenched by his side; his face turning a vengeful shade of crimson.

"How dare you all defy me?! I refuse to sit idly by and allow all of you to take sides with a traitor and menace to the Underground. I'm here because you all wanted me here; most of you agreed that Phainon was too soft to handle Jareth correctly," the fuming man whirled to face Jareth, a vicious sneer marring his otherwise attractive features," But I will not treat you with kid gloves as he did, Goblin King. You may be a child of prophesy, but you are still subject to punishment; you are not above the law, Jareth, no matter how much you arrogantly think you are."

Ammon pulled himself upright, his tall frame towering over Jareth and the rest of the court. "By order of this Court, you—Jareth, Goblin King and Lord of the Labyrinth—are hereby banished from the Underground to face an eternity in Erebus—the Underworld."

The assembly room went deathly silent; outside a bell tolled to announce the pronouncement of judgment and to Jareth's ears, it was a death knell. The bell tolls for me; it pronounces my doom, he thought wryly. Though he would not die, knowing his destination, he would wish he could. He sank back down to his knees as he felt the encroaching pressure of trans-barrier travel squeezing his insides together in a giant vise. Another second later, and Ammon stood laughing maniacally down at the empty platform.

Despite the dramatic prologue, Jareth's disappearance had not even made the slightest pop; he simply vanished, leaving no trace that he had ever been present.

Now don't confuse the Underground with the Underworld. These are very different places, as will soon become clear. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, though it was a bit dark. Sarah still has a lot to learn about where to go and what to do, so stay tuned! And please leave a review if you have time. I love 'em!