Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth.

Author's Note: Hello, readers! This chapter details some issues that arise with Sarah's unborn child... nothing bad, I promise.

~Armina~

The Queen of Beasts lounged in her bright silver throne, rubbing her temples to try and rid herself of her headache. She was listening to complaints today, and they were all particularly petty. From stolen chickens between resident goblins to slander between elves, she was ready to kill whosoever decided to add another claim to her list.

Of course, she couldn't wear anything casual, either. Custom dictated she wear her heavy white fur cape over long sleeves. She was dying in the heat, and she felt downright bitchy.

She saw the shimmering of glitter out of the corner of her eye, effectively ending her façade of relative interest in the disgruntled goblins' testimony. She turned her head to see Jareth and Sarah brushing glitter off of their clothing. She lifted a hand and silenced the goblins. "Here; now go." She conjured a second chicken, and dismissed the two goblins, walking down the stairs to the ground. "Pax vobiscum, et cum omnibus fidelis populis meis."

With the Latin words of their queen, the beasts filed out, some still grumbling at the fact that she hadn't solved their issues yet.

"Filium meum! We have much to discuss. Come with me, both of you." She was already undoing the fastenings of her cape as they walked down the seemingly endless hallways of the great palace of Leora.

Growing frustrated, she simply broke the fastenings and the cape vanished into thin air. Sarah heard Armina growling under her breath about a poor choice in tradition. Sarah smiled at the queen's obvious frustration. Even the pinnacle of calm couldn't always stay that way.

They entered a room that appeared to be Armina's office. Two comfortable-looking chairs sat in front of her desk and she gestured for them to sit. "Give me a moment; I need a change of clothes."

Armina left for a minute or two, leaving an awkward silence in her wake. When she returned, she was in a blouse and, heaven forbid, blue jeans. Sarah couldn't hide the surprise on her face at seeing Armina in something so casual.

Seeing their obvious surprise, the queen snickered. "You expect me to dress in that fashion all of the time? Regardless, I have something to speak to you two about."

They both made themselves comfortable in their chairs as Armina sat in her own, much larger chair. "There is an issue pertaining to the succession of the Goblin City. I realize you've decided to keep the crown until the unlikely event of your death. However, your unborn child poses an issue. Toby is your declared heir, yes?"

Jareth looked to Sarah, then back to his mother. "I have declared him so. He has been since Sarah ran the Labyrinth."

"I see. The problem with that is that your child would have a more legitimate claim to your throne. Toby would lose his rank in the line of succession. I do, however, have a solution to this problem."

Jareth leaned forward, eagerly listening to his mother's idea.

"I plan to appoint Toby King of Trolls soon."

Sarah's jaw dropped. Toby? King of Trolls? This would never work. "How would that even work? He's no troll, and I'm sure the trolls wouldn't appreciate a human king."

"Therein lies the beauty, dear one! The trolls hated Cassius with a passion! They begged me to get rid of his sorry ass, but I knew I needed a better reason than my own dislike of him. Now I have an excuse to place Toby as their princeps. It will be perfect! I will be his regent until he's grown used to the place, but your child will have the full rights of his parentage."

Sarah looked to Jareth for confirmation, but his eyes were fixed on his mother. "Will the trolls take to him that easily?"

"I should think so. I have heard numerous reports of an 'anything but Cassius' attitude has seated itself in their collective beliefs." She seemed satisfied that Toby would be well received. "Give me a few weeks, and then we'll see what we can do. For now, let me take care of you r little succession issue. Just worry about your child right now, I can handle the rest, alright?"

Jareth nodded. "Regrettably I have some business that remains unresolved in the city. I'm afraid we have to leave."

"Don't let me keep you, son. I wanted to tell you that your succession problem was resolved in my capable hands. Goodbye."

Jareth snapped his gloved fingers and they disappeared from Armina's office, reappearing in their chambers. Jareth kissed Sarah's forehead and crooned, "I will return later, my love. I have a tremendous amount of work to do." He left in a flash of glitter.

As soon as Jareth left, Corbett knocked on the chamber door and entered. He took his usual place in the windowsill, looking out over the Goblin City. She went about finding a book to read. Finding a favorite first edition of an Aboveground book, she began reading.

She read for nearly an hour before growing bored. The gardens were being purged of fairies that day, and she couldn't go there. Jareth definitely wouldn't want her working or doing anything remotely useful in her pregnant state, despite the fact that she insisted she could.

She went in search of a transportation crystal that Jareth had left her. Corbett followed her and asked, "Where are you going?"

"I am going to go visit my mother-in-law in Leora. You can stay or come with. I don't care which."

He thought a moment, and then replied with a smile, "I suppose I should come along. Jareth might skin me alive if I leave you alone for a second."

She nodded her agreement. Pulling open her wardrobe, she found the crystal sitting on a shelf. She returned to the main chamber, writing Jareth a quick note telling him where she would be.

Jareth,

I'm going back to Leora. I'm going to visit with your mother for a while. I will come back before it gets dark. I love you.

-Sarah

She left the note in a place that Jareth could find it and picked up her book. She spoke to the crystal. "Take Corbett and I to Armina."

Obliging, the crystal burst into a shower of glitter and took her to the royal gardens at the Leora palace.