Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Labyrinth.

Jasmine was pacing the living room floor like a caged tiger, as Toby and her Grandparents sat calmly on the couch watching her. It had been nearly an hour since they had left Ryan and Jareth at the club. The walk home was only about thirty minutes, they should have been home by now. "Oh, I hope they're okay." She grumbled for the thirteenth time in as many minutes.

Toby stood and crossed the distance between them and stopped her pacing with an outstretched arm. Turning her to look at him he said "You know they're just talking. They have a lot to talk about, and Jareth knew that. I though you trusted your father?"

Jasmine gazed at her uncle's big blue eyes, so full of sincerity, then turned her gaze away. "I do trust him." She said softly. "It's Ryan I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw him. At least not about this."

Toby had in mind to ask her just what he thought Ryan could do to Jareth when a crash and a loud squawking from outside caught their attention. Jasmine pulled away and opened the front door, while Toby, Karen and Robert gathered behind her. In the oak tree that stood next to their front walk was the largest, most beautiful white owl she had ever seen. It gazed lazily in her direction, ruffling its perfect white feathers and cocking its head at her in a strangely familiar way.

The commotion on the ground pulled her attention away, and she was startled to see another owl, not as large as the first but just as beautiful, lying on its back at the base of the tree. It was squawking loudly and flapping its wings, and Jasmine could almost imagine a string of curses coming from it. For some reason she wanted to laugh, but she suppressed that urge. Karen pushed her way past, saying "Oh, the poor thing! It's hurt."

The Owl in the tree hopped from its perch and as it neared the ground transformed fluidly into Jareth's graceful form. Karen gasped, but Jareth merely smiled his cocky smile. "I assure you, there is nothing hurt but his pride." He said, and the fallen owl squawked louder. "My, my, what a colorful vocabulary you have, son." Jareth added, and with a flip of his wrist the remaining owl transformed into a very unhappy looking teenage replica of the man standing over him.

"Son of a…" he began, but Jareth cut him off.

"Language, my boy, there are ladies present." He said, gesturing behind him. Jasmine had shocked (and amused, truth be told) him earlier with her display of colorful epithets, so he wasn't really that concerned about her sensitivities. It was just so much fun to torment the boy.

Ryan growled. "Baiting me again, Dad?" The last word was snarled, but there was no venom behind it.

"Not at all." Jareth told him, bending down to offer a hand up to his son. "I had no idea you would miss the tree branch and bounce off the tree." At this he suppressed his own urge to laugh, sensing it might not be taken well. "We shall certainly have to work on your landings."

Jasmine again held back a giggle as Toby whispered in her ear "See, I told you they'd be fine."

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'So, you've existed for thousands of years?' Sarah asked, lazily causing the leaves of the trees beneath her to tremble.

'I have.' The Labyrinth responded.

'And you don't know what you are.' Sarah stated, for the sake of clarity.

'I no longer remember.'

'But you're the last of your kind.' Again, a simple statement.

'I believe that I am. I know of no others like myself, not anymore.' The Labyrinth answered sadly.

'Except for me?' Sarah asked.

The Labyrinth was quiet, as though this progression of logic had not yet occurred to it. 'Yes, that's true.' It answered finally, its voice almost cheerful.

Sarah laughed. 'You hadn't thought of that already?' She asked.

'I had not.' The Labyrinth responded. 'My mind was preoccupied with other things.' It was quiet again for a moment before continuing. 'I have been alone for so long that the idea of not being alone seems outside the realm of reason.'

Sarah sighed, and the trees bent sadly below her. 'I know how you feel.' She said.

The Labyrinth caught the implications of her words and its tone turned serious. 'Sarah, you really must forgive him.'

'Oh really?' she said. If she had had a face, she would have done her best to look disinterested. 'And why must I?' she asked.

Again the Labyrinth took its time before answering. 'I believe in your world there is a saying 'Behind every strong man is a stronger woman.''

Sarah laughed. 'Something like that.' She said.

'Jareth is a good king, but with you behind him he will be a great king.'

'He's done fine without me so far.' Sarah said, pretending not to be intrigued by the turn the conversation had taken.

'As Goblin King, yes. But he has a new role now, and he cannot fulfill the destiny that lies at the end of his path without you by his side.'

'New role?' Sarah asked, abandoning her feigned disinterest. 'Is he no longer the Goblin King, then?' The thought seemed alien and almost frightening to her.

Again there was heavy silence. When the Labyrinth spoke again, the words had the weight of prophesy behind them. 'Even now he is laying that burden on young Ryan.'

Sarah would have gasped if she had had lungs to do so. She was growing tired of discussing such important things with no body to express her emotions through. 'My son!' She raged, and the wind around her began to lift. 'He's made my son the Goblin King?'

'His son, Sarah. His heir.'

Sarah was furious. Beyond furious. How dare he? What in heaven or hell would possess him to think he had the right to do such a thing? She began moving faster over the labyrinth, flying so swiftly that the gleaming walls below her became a blur. Around her a thunderstorm began to brew. Without warning the clear night sky clouded over, and lighting flashed across the horizon, bringing earthshaking claps of thunder in its wake. The wind howled in outrage and fury as pain pelted the land below.

In Jareth's sanctuary at the center of the Labyrinth, three figures watched with worried faces as their sleeping charge thrashed about violently in her slumber, as though in the grips of a terrible nightmare. They gazed in wonder as three locks of her hair originating at her forehead began to change before their eyes, the amber waves fading to purest silver. Suddenly, Sarah sat up on the bed and cried out wordlessly. Her eyelids flew open, revealing silvery orbs in place of the familiar green eyes. As suddenly as she opened them, they closed again softly. She lay back into the bed, sleep claiming her again, as outside the wind and the rain settled down.

High above Sarah's raging mind began to calm and once again she drifted slowly above the land. Beside her, she felt her unseen companion chuckle softly. 'Drama Queen.' It chided.

Sarah sighed. 'I can't help it if I'm angry.' She said, surveying the damage below from the brief but violent storm. 'Did I do all that?' she asked, appalled, and wondering how many fierys were now homeless because of her temper tantrum.

'You'll learn to control it, eventually.' The Labyrinth reassured her. 'I think.' It added.

'Super.' She mumbled. She was silent again for a while before returning to the previous subject. 'What gives him the right to walk back into my life and claim my children?' she asked, and was annoyed to realize that she was no longer angry, only extremely tired.

'I promised Jareth I would try to make you understand.' Was the answer she received. 'I have tried, but I think you will only be satisfied if you hear the words from Jareth's own lips.'

At these words Sarah felt herself bristling with anticipation. As angry as she wanted to be, as furious as she told herself she deserved to be, the truth was that she ached with the simple need to smell his scent again. Did she want to see him again? That was a stupid question. For seventeen years she had wanted nothing else. Would she forgive him? In her heart she knew she already had. That didn't mean she would make things easy on him, though. 'Fine.' She said finally. 'Send me to him.'

'Like this, little one?' the Labyrinth laughed.

'Okay.' Sarah amended. 'Send e back to my body, and then send me to him.'

'You don't need me for that. You know where your body is, go to it.'

Sarah huffed (or would have. Damn, I never realized how useful my body was.) She had flown so far, so fast during her bout of temper that she wasn't sure where she was anymore. The sun was coming up over the land and as she looked out into the distance she caught sight of the Goblin Castle rising like a jewel out of the winding walls of the labyrinth. A soft moan escaped her nonexistent lips as she was filled with memories of the first time she saw the Castle beyond the Goblin City. Memories of Jareth. It was a moan of longing, and when the entity beside her laughed again, she scowled invisibly at it.

Again, she glanced around the labyrinth, this time feeling for the connection to her body. Suddenly she found it, like a homing beacon calling out to her. 'There it is!' she cried.

'Very good.' The Labyrinth told her. 'Now go!' She began to fly once more, faster than before, allowing herself to enjoy the feel of absolute freedom. Finally she reached the Sanctuary and descended into it seeing for the first time the guardians that watched over her. She smiled at their vigilant, if somewhat sleepy eyed, forms.

Hearing the unformed question in her mind, the Labyrinth told her 'Young Jareth was hesitant to leave you unprotected, even here.'

'You know, you could make a living in my world as a PR guy.' She said, confused silence the only reply. Slowly she began to reenter her body, feeling consciousness and physical sensation merge. Her eyes fluttered open, and three sets of eyes stared back at her.

"My Lady!" Didymus spoke first. "Art thou truly awake?"

"Verily, brave Sir Knight." She responded with a smile, her voice hoarse.

Hoggle and Ludo didn't speak, but tackled her in a pair of conjoined hugs. "Where've ya been, Missy?" Hoggle said finally. "We've been missin ya!"

Sarah enthusiastically returned the embrace. "I know, Hoggle, I've missed you too." The four of them talked for several minutes, exchanging pleasantries and tears of joy, until Sarah found an opening to continue her self appointed quest. "I have to go for a while." She told them. "I need to speak with Jareth."

"But, uh, Sarah?" Hoggle protested. "We was told to watch over yas til His Majesty comes back."

Without warning the voice returned, startling everyone but Sarah. 'It's all right, my children.' The Voice said. 'You have served your King well. It is time for the Lady Sarah to begin down the path that leads to her destiny.'

Sarah scowled at the invisible speaker. 'Now who's being dramatic?' she asked silently, and was answered with a short soundless chuckle. Her frown softened and became a genuine smile. "Thank you, old one." She said aloud, unknowingly adopting Jareth's nickname for the entity. "Now how do I get home?"

'I believe you have but to wish it, Young Sarah.' The Labyrinth answered.

"Are you sure it will work?" she asked hesitantly.

'No.'

"Wonderful" she sighed. "Well, here goes." She closed her eyes, silently wishing for home. When she opened them she was in an unfamiliar room in an unfamiliar place. No, that wasn't true, she had been here before, long ago. She took a closer look at her surroundings, and realized with a start that she was in Jareth's throne room. 'What the hell? How is this in any way home?'

'You have to be more specific. Home is more than just the place where you sleep. This is what your heart considers home.'

Sarah was more than a little shocked that she could still communicate with the Labyrinth, but she hid it well. 'Jareth's throne room?' she thought.

'Jareth's castle. The place where Jareth sleeps.' It elaborated, and she felt her throat tighten with emotion. The throne room was empty, and the early morning sun streamed through the windows to illuminate cleaner surroundings than she remembered.

Suddenly she heard voiced drifting into the room, and she hid herself in a corner. "So His Majesty has been gone all night without so much as a word to anyone." A grating male voice was saying.

"That is the gist of the situation, yes." A female voice replied. As the speakers came into view, Sarah saw that these words had been spoken by a beautiful woman, tall and slender, with silver hair and pointed ears. An elf.

"And there has been no further decision made as to his replacement as Goblin King?" Said her companion, an older man whose near translucent skin told Sarah he was Fae. The elf woman sighed.

"No, Valerent, not that I'm aware of." The conversation held Sarah's rapt attention. She found herself wondering again why Jareth needed a replacement as Goblin King. She had the feeling that something very important had happened, and was still happening, in Jareth's world.

Valerent seemed to be deep in thought. "Perhaps we should prepare for the event that he's not coming back." He said slowly.

The elf woman wheeled on him, exasperation evident on her beautiful features. "Really, Valerent! Jareth has only been gone one night. Perhaps you could give him a little more time before you start plotting your coup." This last was said with plain disgust.

"Do you question my loyalty, Queen Saren?" Valerent asked, his expression hurt. "Why, High King Jareth has no more loyal servant than me, I assure you." Sarah heard the exchange, absently picking up the phrase 'High King Jareth'. What caught her attention more was the phrase 'Queen Saren'. 'Queen Saren? Jareth has a Queen?' Her heart was pounding, and she thought she might throw up right there on the polished stone floor.

'Hush, child. Saren is the Elf Queen. A family friend, nothing more.' The Labyrinth's voice echoed through her mind, the words soothing her. There was no way to disguise that reaction; it has been jealousy, pure and simple.

'I still love him.' She sighed inwardly, as much relieved by the fact as she was annoyed.

'Of course you do.' The Labyrinth said, and Sarah growled.

'I wasn't talking to you that time.'

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Saren regarded Valerent with thinly veiled disgust. She didn't trust him, not in the least. Jareth gave too much credit to the old Fae, but she could feel the duplicity in him. She gave him a thin, tight smile. "Of course not, Valerent, you have made it quite clear where your loyalties lie." She told him. A flash of understanding lit his eyes and she cursed herself for showing her hand. It was unseemly to give so much of herself away, and unlike her. Perhaps she had spent too much time in the Goblin Kingdom; she was beginning let her emotions rule her. She lifted her chin, regaining her composure. "That will be all, Valerent." She said, and watched with a small bit of satisfaction as the old Fae turned and walked away.

Alone at last she leaned tiredly against the cold stone seat at its center. She ran her hands lovingly over the intricate carvings; the symbols and glyphs that represented the great house of Baaleron. Oh Seth, this should be your throne now. She laid her head dreamily on her arms and closed her eyes, and in her mind she could see him once more. If she concentrated she could almost hear his voice whispering her name. She felt a glistening tear roll down her cheek, and pulled herself from her selfish musings. Seth was gone, there was nothing to be done for it now. She steadied herself and turned to leave the throne room when a noise caught her attention. She turned, one slender hand unconsciously grasping the hilt of the sword at her side. Long years of training and longer years of war had made her wary.

Her keen eyes studied the darkened corner of the room where the noise had come from, and caught a glimpse of movement. Cautiously moving forward she called out "Who's there?" There was movement again as the shape before her stood. Saren was astonished to see a woman before her, long dark hair falling in waves above pale shoulders. Her back was to the sun, making it impossible to see her face.

"I'm sorry." The woman said. "I didn't mean to disturb you, I was just leaving." The figure seemed to hesitate, and Saren boldly moved closer.

"Wait!" she said, and moved forward until she could see her face. Her heart thudded in her chest as the features became visible. Her eyes widened and without thinking she reached up to touch the face she knew so well. "By the Gods!" She gasped. "You're Sarah, aren't you?"

"How do you know my name?" The woman asked, and Saren blushed. She really wasn't supposed to know anything about her.

"Seth." She said softly. "Seth showed me your portrait, and told me all about you. Did you really beat the Labyrinth?"

Sarah's mind raced as she tried to recall the name Seth. "Jareth's younger brother?" she asked aloud and the young Elf Queen nodded.

"He was my intended." Saren told her, sad eyes cast down upon the floor.

"Was?" Sarah asked softly. The feeling that something very big had happened was back, and there was an unspoken dread following on its heels.

Saren looked up at her, studying her. "He was lost to us." She said. "Killed in the war for the Labyrinth."

The dread was coursing through her now, filling her veins with ice. "War?" she breathed, and the elf nodded, still watching her strangely. Then she turned away and walked towards a large window, gesturing towards the land below. Sarah gasped again. Beneath her was the labyrinth, beautiful and shining in the golden sunlight, but surrounded by mounds that Sarah knew could only be graves. They stretched out past the horizon, possibly thousands of them, some with markers, some without. Sarah steadied herself against the solid stone of the windowsill and let out a shaky breath. When had this happened? She felt something wet dripping onto her hands and realized she was crying silently.

She turned to find that Saren too was staring at the scene sadly, although her eyes were dry. Perhaps she had cried too many tears already. Sarah's heart ached for her, for Jareth, for Seth, whom she had never met, for the thousands of people buried out there in the dust, for the thousands more who mourned them. She shed her silent tears for them, and outside the window a cool mist of rain began to fall. "What happened here?" she whispered, and turned to find Saren staring at her.

"I'm sorry." Saren said, looking away. "It's just…I was given to believe you were human."

Sarah smiled. "What makes you think I'm not?" she asked.

"Humans don't make it rain when they cry." The Elf Queen said, and Sarah merely nodded, not bothering to go into the explanations. Why bother? She couldn't answer any questions anyway.

"You mentioned a portrait?" She said, changing the subject.

"Yes." Saren said, "His Majesty has a portrait in his chambers, painted by his own hand. Very few have ever seen it. I was certainly never meant to, but Seth showed it to me. It's a painting of you. He told Seth all about the beautiful human girl he had loved and lost, and Seth told me."

"I'm a little surprised he told anyone about me." Sarah said.

"Only Seth." Saren said. "They were very close. I never knew Jareth before he met you, but Seth said he was a different person then."

Sarah smiled gently. 'This was no accident, was it Old One?'

'A little perspective can be a good thing.'

A/N: Wow, there were so many reviews that last round!

Anon: Hmmm….wonder what your name means Anyway, here ya go.

Moonjava: Thanks.

LabyLvrPhx: Thank you too.

Juliana: It was one of my favorite lines too.

Alteon77: I strive for my writing to be 100 corn free.

Anianka: Would you believe I got that idea sitting in a Sushi bar?

Solea: I never intended to end it there, it just sounded like an ending when I wrote it. I thought it might scare some people.

Sarsalot: You really like my baddie? Great, I worried over her.

Theshadowcat: Its coming, its coming (no pun intended.)

LadyAnieval: Neither can I, they will be so much more fun to write.

Atsuibelulah: You're excused! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Jazzy021: Thank you!

Jumping-jo: I'm glad you like the story, and I'm sorry if I offended you. Twas never my intention.

To everyone: I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I've been working a lot, and this chapter just seemed to go on and on anyway. I'm trying to get everyone together now, but I have loose ends to tie up before I can move the story any more forward. Plus, I'm trying to establish the relationship between Sarah and the Labyrinth. That's going to be important later. I'm very excited by people's responses to my Labyrinth character. I hope you still enjoy him after all of this.

Thanks to everyone who's reading, please drop me a note!