The old man sat on a stone bench in a part of the Labyrinth few had ever reached. Sarah would recognize it…she and Hoggle had come up into it from below after running from the cleaners. The old man sighed, and then rolled his eyes in annoyance as the bird atop his head squawked its opinions.

"Will you be quiet!" The old man harrumphed. "I cannot think with you making such a ruckus!"

"What is there to think about?" The bird demanded. "You told her there was a price to pay. She said she was willing to pay it. She said she was prepared to lose."

"She did not know what she would be expected to give up. The old man grumbled. "Magic is a trickster, it does not always reveal its demands until the spell has been cast."

"The Queen of Dreams is no fool." The bird reminded him. "As one who could cast spells she would not be ignorant of the way of Magic. She will pay the price asked."

"That is what I worry about." The old man said, another sigh leaving his lips. "I worry that she will pay it. Not that she has a choice."

"You've always had a soft spot for her." The bird complained. "For both your children. Which is why you helped them both get what they want. You spoil them."

"I do not." The old mad grumbled; rolling his eyes upward at the hat he wore. "They have had to work for what they have. Nothing has come easily. And I cannot help Kyra with what will come next. There is another that must help her."

"And who would that be?"

There was only silence. The bird mumbled as it realized its master had fallen asleep. Again.

Meanwhile:

Sarah sat on her familiar stone bench, her eyes closed and her head tilted back as she concentrated on the voices rumbling in her head. Her mouth turned down in a frown as she struggled to pick one voice out of the many, to concentrate on one person's thoughts. She gave a frustrated sigh as she failed to locate the person's thoughts, her eyes opening to glare daggers at the flowers trailing down around her. Kyra had made it look so easy…Sarah gave a small laugh as she imagined her friend scolding her for making assumptions, for taking things for granted. It was a fault she didn't think she would ever cure herself of.

She closed her eyes again, determined to get it right this time. Between the lessons Jareth gave her Underground and the ones Kyra gave Above, she was determined to master the art of picking out one voice from the many. She'd already managed to dampen the volume of the multitude of voices, something Jareth had assured her was hard to do, and she'd mastered it quickly, for a human. He'd said that last part with a laugh and she'd punched him in the arm and reminded him she wasn't human anymore.

Her breath caught as a soft humming filled her ears. The voice was young, a girl's. The song she hummed was one Sarah remembered her own mother singing her as a child, and her heart swelled with happiness at the memory. She tuned out the other voices and focused on the one, her heart filling with happiness as she succeeded. She could not tell who it was, but that would come with time, and practice. For now she was content that she had singled out one voice. She rose, and let the voice fade from her head as she rushed to the doorway and into the hall, eager to tell Jareth of her accomplishment. She swept into the throne room, pausing when she didn't see him, she'd been sure this was where she would find him. She closed her eyes, blocking out the room as she tried to find him with her mind.

Jareth felt her mind touch his and he paused just outside the throne room, surprised that she had come this far with her powers already. Even Kyra had been unable to break past his barriers…but then he had no barriers against his wife. He stepped into the throne room and smiled when he saw her standing in its center with her eyes closed, her face screwed up in concentration as she focused her mind. It would not be long before the world's distractions were no problem for her, and the need to close her eyes to focus her power would fade. He walked up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist before she could sense he was there, causing a surprised shriek to escape her.

"You called?" He teased as she whipped around, her hand to her heart as their eyes met.

"I thought you were further away." Sarah admitted, raising up on her toes to kiss his cheek. "I'm not that good yet."

"You're learning faster than Kyra did." Jareth told her, sliding her arm through his as he led her towards the door. "She didn't have your determination. Given our long lives, there is seldom a rush to do anything. You still carry that mortal part of you."

"We mortals always feel time nipping at our heels…I guess it will be a while before I lose that feeling." Sarah agreed. "I picked out a voice today."

"Whose?" Jareth asked with interest as they left the room.

"I don't know, but it was a little girl, singing…."

You'll notice I called Sarah his wife. I decided the messy details of a wedding would get in the way of Toby and Kyra's story…I don't want to leave Sarah and Jareth out though….