How nice it is to see you all again my lovelies, my, it has been a while hasn't it?

I have a feeling this is going to last for a while...ah well.....shall we?....

I'm sorry, this chapter is full of rather dry conversation. But I promise the action will pick up soon enough....

'So...' said Sarah, rubbing her temples with her fingers, 'These...ley lines.....'

'Indeed my Lady. Jareth is making them fragile.'

'By coming across the border to visit me?'

'Sarah...' Hoggle said, patting her hand kindly 'Sarah, no-one's blaming you.'

'I should bloody well think not!' she cried 'It's not my fault if his Royal Big-Headedness is stalking me!'

'Sarah...mad..' said Ludo sadly in a small voice.

'Of course I'm mad! If he keeps coming over these lines that protect both realms disappear, causing destruction to both your Underground and my Aboveground!'

Sarah looked at her friends, ashamed that she'd yelled. They were only warning her after all, and she did love them so. If only this had been a happy reunion, not them telling her that she was probably causing the end of the world.

'What can I do?' she asked, with a note of resignation. Responsibility, it was a word she was coming to loathe.

'Sarah send Jareth back?' offered Ludo helpfully.

'How? I don't know if you've noticed, but he doesn't take too kindly to rejection.'

Didymus tweaked his hat, and looked at Sarah sympathetically.

'Forgive us Miss Sarah, we would not have asked it of you if we did not think it was of the highest importance.'

Sarah nodded, damn her friends, she would do anything for them. But...it wasn't Jareth's fault either really.....well, yes it was, but he was only trying to see her.....

But he was weakening these lines...Ley Lines Didymus had called them. These magical fences that kept each world separate, safe. She looked at her three friends.

'What would happen if a line disappeared?' she asked timidly, afraid of the answer.

Hoggle shrugged.

'Dunno.'

Oh...helpful.

'But it wouldn't be good.'

Sarah's own shoulders slumped. 'Fine, I'll see what I can do.'

With that, Ludo stood up and embraced her in a bone-crunching, yet well meaning hug.

'Good luck Sarah.' he rumbled, Didymus bowed low and wished her well. Hoggle said his own farewell a little gruffly, but she knew he was being nice.

Sarah looked round as she felt her not-quite-a-dream fading and twisting. She called back to them,

'Wait! Is this a dream or not?!'

But they were gone, along with the fire and the cave. But as she felt herself falling through the darkness, she heard Didymus cry out:

'What would you rather it be my Lady?'

---------------------------------------------------

She awoke, spread-eagled in her bed. It was morning and she could hear the neighbours going to work.

'Wow, that was odd.' she murmured as she sat up.

Glancing at the calendar she jumped out of bed in a blind panic. Reaching for her jacket she nearly fell over her own shoes.

'Shit!'

Her parents were coming home today!

Sorry about that, I know it was a little boring. But hey, variety's good right?

For those of you not aware, Ley Lines in folklore ane magical roads where strong powerful magic has walked the Earth. Little trivia note for you there....

Next chapter includes a mild case of Identity Crisis. And Zack does the one thing Sarah has always dreamed of doing.......