Disclaimer: Nope. Still not mine. Jim Henson! 3

Thanks for your continued support everyone.

I think I have my muse back in place. I have been feeling more inspired lately. Thank. God. I had a lot going on and I am SO SORRY for having left this story in limbo for a bit.

Well-let's get to it! –skips down the hill, trip-fail, slides face first- Ugh..

Chapter 7: Morphing

Sarah just wished things in this place could be easy for once. The only positive, as well as downside for her, was the serpent ate her backpack. She had supplies and now she had nothing. It must have been annihilated along with the serpent-creature. At least she didn't have to carry it. Sarah puffed out a breath and shook her head as she began to climb up the rope ladder.

The rope ladder would swing to and fro, at times bumping against the stone wall. The lichen was slowly watching her progress upward. They would move themselves at a snail's pace to look to each other, blink, quiver in place; and back to watching Sarah.

Every strenuous pull of her body upward made the wood creak. She could almost feel the wood become firm and tight. Hoggle was below studying how out of control the bog of eternal stench had become. He watched warily as Jareth swooped back over to their side of the bog, and perched nearby. Sarah by now was at the top, standing on a board only six inches wide, while above her head was a rope that she could hold onto. He gasped as the wood swayed and creaked, dust and little pieces of crumbled dirt falling and particles floating from the board as she took each cautious step. "Be careful, Sarah!"

"Oooh!" moaned Sarah pitifully, pausing as the board shuttered beneath her, "Please not again..please..please," she softly whispered to herself. She would give anything to try and give her the courage to push forward, considering she was right over the middle of the bog. Hoggle meanwhile had found a small ledge of earth to slowly side step along to get to the other side. If it were a larger ledge, perhaps Sarah could have as well, but it was just right for him. Hoggle gulped as the bog bubbled and spit always narrowly missing him.

Finally reaching the other side, he grasped the end of Sir Didymus' staff and together they heaved him onto solid ground. Seeing Hoggle make it across that treacherous ledge, inspired Sarah to push forward. If her best friend, a coward, could make it; then perhaps she could make it as well.

As Sarah neared the end of this tight roped act, she heard a snap and felt everything give way. With her hands tightened on the rope she was holding above her head. The line suddenly bowed downward from her weight, snapping as well, and she was falling. She felt hard impact from the side of her body and then another hard impact to ground, rolling and a weight on top of her, her scream cut abruptly short.

Groaning, she puffed a breath out to get hair out of her face. When she opened her eyes she found herself staring into mismatched ones.

"It seems this is becoming a habit, Sarah. Falling does not become of you." He murmured, shifting his weight to roll up into a hunched stance and then stand. He brushed himself off and inspected himself, muttering a silent thank you to the Labyrinth and her. A gloved hand reached down towards her to help her up.

Her eyes were like saucers, as she took him in. Typical Jareth in his white poet shirt, black vest, gray tights, and black boots- he looked better than she remembered. For once no smart mouthed comment, no prissy attitude; she took his hand and allowed him to help her stand up.

Her eyes slowly traveled all over his face before she finally looked away to Sir Didymus and Hoggle running towards them, "Thank you…"

An elegant brow rose by her change in demeanor and he allowed a serious expression to settle over his features, "You're quite welcome."

Hoggle and Sir Didymus grasped Sarah's hands making sure she was ok.

"My gods, missy! Yers be makin' a habit out of this! Thought the bog had yah!" Hoggle exclaimed while Sir Didymus was nodding in agreement, "My sweet lady! One must be careful with their footing!"

Sarah hugged Hoggle and then Sir Didymus with a secret eye roll at his less than astute observations. Her lips curved into a soft smile because she would not have it any other way regardless. Hoggle eyed up Jareth and for once he brushed his sleeves once more and moved past them.

"It would seem we are in need of one more of your…friends. Shall we? We haven't got all day." His tone was haughty but Sarah nibbled her lower lip and suddenly moved forward, "Yes, the sooner the better. The Labyrinth only knows what else it will throw in for a curve ball."

The oddest party made their way through a doorway in the wall, obviously a very well hidden door; because Sarah was balking over it.

Thanks for hanging in their supporters! I'll get this back on track!