Sarah re-entered the room to find Jareth still in the chair where she left him, the bowl empty and on the floor. Mysteriously the fire, which had been roaring when she exited the room, was now nearly extinguished. She gave Jareth a look that told him she knew what he did with the soup.

"You know that I will just make you eat some later." She glowered at him as she picked the bowl up and set it on the tray Rose brought earlier.

Jareth siezed her hands and pulled her up to the couch next to him. He looked deep into her eyes observing the changes in her as Sarah noticed that the darkness in his eyes was lighter and his hands were a touch warmer. "I…I need to start the fire back up, you need to get warmed up." She stammered out breaking connection with his eyes but she could not brake his hold on her hands.

"Sarah," he whispered "I had hoped you would come back. I trusted that the Moon would help you find your way back to me." Wrapping his arm around her waist he pulled her closer to him and wrapped the blanket around her as well.

Sarah started to protest, but remembered that when Toby was ill his favorite place to be was wrapped safely in his sister's arms. As she allowed Jareth to gather her in closer she could feel his heart beat. She was concentrating on his breathing rhythms when she felt his grip relax. Slowly she started to move his arms off of her waist. Jareth shifted slightly in the chair as she stood up.

Turning back around to look at the sleeping fae king, Sarah realized that it had to be nearly sunset by now. She pulled the blanket back up around his shoulders and brushed a hair off of his cheek. "Sleep love, the night comes quickly." The words puzzled her after she said them, but she moved on.

Sarah exited the room quietly. Through the hallway window she could see the sun was setting. Resting a hand to the wall as she walked, the spirit guided her to the kitchen area. A rather large goblin was standing at the hearth stirring a pot. He heard Sarah's feet and knew she was headed his direction. He turned around to face her and smiled.

"Lady hungry?" He motioned for her to sit down at a little table against the wall. "No tell Highness you in here, right?" There was anxiety in his posture as if he wasn't sure he could trust Sarah yet.

"I promise to tell him that you served me in the dining hall." Sarah took a spoonful of soup, anticipating that it would be horrible. Instead she was extremely pleased to find out that it was a very delicate cheese soup with...broccoli in it. This reminded her of the soup her mother used to make when Sarah was little.

"Do you have a name?" She asked the cooking goblin who had turned his back to her so that she could eat in peace.

The goblin jumped at the sound of her voice. "No name. King call me cook." Sarah saw the sadness in his eyes, "You like?" he asked motioning to the bowl.

Sarah nodded, "Yes, it's very good. Reminds me of something my mother made when I was young." The goblin appeared to perk up with her words. Sarah decided to press the name issue again, "Do you like being called cook?"

The goblin looked at his feet, Sarah thought that this behavior was quite disturbing. Here in the castle there appeared to be some very gentle and talented creatures and Jareth's temper had them all cowering in fear of even a nice word. It made her just want to go kick his royal…no…she still needed his help to make the Labyrinth better.

She studied the cook for a moment. His appearance was raggedy, with a rusty colored hide and dark scruff of hair on his head...a name. Snapping her fingers Sarah blurted out "How about we call you Rusty."

The goblin regarded her for a moment and then smiled. "Rusty like name." The goblin turned back to the hearth and said the name over and over.

Sarah smiled as she carried the empty bowl to the sink. It didn't take much to make them happy. Now she just needed to check on...

"Jareth!" Sarah cried out in alarm as she entered the hallway. The king was slumped against the wall. She turned around to Rusty who was peeking around the doorway "Rusty, please, help me with him," she pleaded.

Rusty nodded and lumbered over to the king and picked him up carefully. Sarah checked his forehead to find that he was now burning. She led Rusty to Jareth's room and he laid the fae on the bed. Sarah knew she needed help since she knew nothing of treating a fever, or even what a fever is considered, in a fae. Rusty turned to leave and Sarah caught his arm.

"I need a healer Rusty – do you know where to find one?" Sarah's voice was filled with desparation. All the years of believing he was gone didn't make it any easier to see Jareth so weakened. Sarah looked over at Rusty who was not sure what to say. "Please Rusty. Please help me to get him better. I've been in love with Jareth for years and never been able to tell him."

A tear rolled down Sarah's cheek from her bright green eyes. Rusty reached a big finger up and wiped it away. "Lady Sarah no cry – King be better. Open curtain." He walked over to the balcony opening and threw the curtains aside. The moon was big and the light shone right in to the room, illuminating it almost as much as the sun.

Sarah gasped at the burst of cold air and was afraid that the sudden temperature change could cause the fae king greater troubles, but Rusty was not. He moved the king over to the fainting couch so that the moonlight could envelop his entire body.

Rusty walked toward the door, turning to look at Sarah. "King be ok – stay by him, he be ok." He picked up the blanket from the chair and handed it to Sarah, "Must stay in light, Lady Sarah stay warm."

Sarah stared bewildered at the door after Rusty exited. She was startled when she heard Jareth groan in his sleep. Running to his side she determined that he was still asleep and his forehead was cooler. Pulling a rug over to the floor beside the fainting couch she deposited the blanket there as well. She stood on the balcony for a while, staring at the moon; praying, hoping that he would be well in the morning.