Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot – and even that is stretching it a bit LOL.

A/N: At 5,000+ words this is the longest chapter yet, and still it was cut in half. Will post the remainder very, very soon (good stuff is coming!) I am quite happy with the interactions in this chapter, and important plot points are scattered through it, so I humbly implore you to give it a chance, even though our favorite couple is still a bit miffed at each other. I stick by my earlier disclaimer that this story will unravel slowly. I know some were disappointed that the last chapter wasn't more 'action' packed, but hopefully by now you've picked up that my writing style tends to really center on the emotions of the characters. I could probably write twenty pages just based on one look. Seriously. LOL. As always, thanks for reading and reviewing. Your thoughtful comments mean the world to me. It's pathetic how self-conscious I am.

Chapter 9

The Strain of Revelations

Jareth's POV

"She what?" The disguised hobgoblin's furious disbelief may have been comical if it hadn't matched my own. As it was, her showy little tantrum – stomping her stiletto heeled foot and throwing her manicured hands in the air – only further irritated me. "She rejected you?"

"Isn't that what I just said?" I snapped, though I was the slightest bit appeased by her apparent loyalty. If misery likes company, than so does incensed incredulity.

She slumped against the bedroom wall and wrapped her arms around her slender body. "She must not remember. I was so sure about her feelings…"

I frowned at the crestfallen expression clouding Raelle's face, quite a change from her initial annoyance at my interruption to her and her human's 'date.' After removing them from the rather repugnant restaurant and returning her beloved to his even grimier abode, I'd forced the hobgoblin to appear before me in none other than Sarah's apartment.

"Well it appears even you can be wrong from time to time," I sneered. She scowled but didn't dare voice her opinion back. She may be goblin nobility, but she knew her place when it came to me. "It matters little; she's one of us for good now."

"But how will you -" Her voice cut off immediately as she regarded my warning expression, though it was visibly killing her to keep quiet.

With an unnecessarily loud huff, I gestured for her to continue her thought. "Well?"

Her words escaped her in a rush. "Forgive me for being so bold, Sire, but I think you're going about this all wrong. You need to spend more time with her, not less. Make her see what she's missing. Trust me, I've spent enough time with these creatures to know they may say one thing, but mean something entirely different. And as far as Sarah is concerned, I still believe she remembers more, feels more, than she's willing to admit."

I agreed completely. Not that I would ever concede that information to an inferior. My eyes narrowed at her brashness. She shrank into herself, her glamour rippling slightly in response to her mental anxiety. Her human complexion flashed pale green momentarily before resuming its unnaturally perfect milky hue. "But I'm sure you didn't come all the way up here for advice…" She worried at her bottom lip while carefully avoiding my stare.

"No. I did not. I require another task from you."

Her focus snapped back to my face and she opened her mouth as if to protest, but thought better of it immediately. She really had been spending too much time away from the kingdom. She had become nearly as complacent in her deference towards me as Sarah.

"Calm yourself. I have not forgotten our bargain. I believe this new endeavor may yield the solution we are both seeking." I turned my back and began pacing around the bedroom, or rather, the bed corner. Boxes were strewn about in various stages of unpacking. I paused at the sight of a familiar red book resting upon the bed spread, the barest hint of a smile curling my lips. Sarah may have conveniently forgotten some of the finer details of our fateful encounter, but they were as yesterday in my impeccable memory, just as they were forever engraved within the text of this little book. Her trembling voice as she asked for her brother back, her flashing eyes trying so hard to portray bravery in the tunnel, her blossoming curves in the silver gown, and her beaming smile as she told me she loved me. That was the most bittersweet memory of all. Would she ever reiterate that sentiment?

I tucked the book into the breast of my doublet before turning back abruptly to face my minion. "I want you to ingratiate yourself to Lord Jonah. I believe he may know a way to acquire the elixir outside of the court, or may likely have his own supply."

"Lord Jonah!" She shrieked; the sound sticking in her throat with genuine alarm. "But he's a monster!"

I smiled sadly. "And well I know it. But he may be our best chance for getting what we desire."

"But how am I supposed to trick him? He'll spot my glamour immediately," her previously arrogant tone was barely audible.

"He'd better not. As for your methods," I reproved her wryly, "He is still just a man, and you above anyone know the power of feminine wiles and mischief. This should not be that much different than your usual tasks."

I could quite easily read the thoughts flashing behind her eyes; thoughts she would likely be shouting at me if given the chance. She'd argue on behalf of her new beloved, she'd contend against the noble Fae's heartless nature, and she'd beg me to reconsider. But I wouldn't, and she knew it.

Tears began forming in her false brown eyes. Her skin tinted green once more, though this time it may genuinely have been caused by nausea. I knew the danger I was placing her in, but if it meant granting Sarah immortality, it would be worth any cost.

"I…I don't have a choice, do I?"

"No," I replied coldly, carefully stripping any vestige of emotion from my voice. "However, I promise your Scott may partake of the elixir as well. If, of course, that is still what you desire?"

She nodded sadly. The small dwelling was suddenly filled with a heavy silence. What more could be said when you'd basically ordered a subordinate to perform a seemingly impossible task? She could not complain, and I needed her too much to take back the demand, or to somehow lessen the seriousness of her task by offering her comfort. In the decades that Raelle had served me, she had never failed, not once, and I could not allow her impeccable record to be tarnished now. True, my beloved had returned a bit less…affectionate…than I'd hoped, but she was kept safe and pure, all thanks to the young hobgoblin before me. No, Raelle would not fail us. She could not.

Her quiet voice, much more serious now than it had been only minutes earlier, interrupted the stillness. "So…" She let the words hang in the air as she shifted from foot to foot.

I arched one brow as my indication for her to complete her query.

"Why did you have me meet you here?"

I grinned smugly. "I do believe our future queen might enjoy a few creature comforts as a means to better settle into her new life, yourself included. I'd like you to take some of her belongings to her and spend a few days with her before beginning your quest."

"You know, in romance novels it's always the guy that bestows the thoughtful gifts to the girl," she grumbled.

"And what, pray tell, is more thoughtful than giving my betrothed time with her friend? A friend that I am sure will have nothing but the most glowing remarks on my behalf?" I stalked towards her as I spoke, my threat implicit in the tone of my voice.

"Um yeah, point taken, Sire." She ducked her head and began twisting a strand of black hair absent-mindedly around a long finger.

"Collect some of Sarah's belongings, then go to your Scott and bid him your leave. I'll expect you in the castle within seven Underground hours."

She produced a large duffle bag and systematically began filling it a variety of seemingly useless items while I watched, before dematerializing entirely with the bag in tow. As soon as I could detect the absence of her magic, I exhaled slowly and felt my posture sag, exhaustion claiming me once more. Sarah's flowery fragrance still perfumed the air despite being gone for several days, and for having only occupied the room for a few hours. Here, among her belongings and the scent of her aura, her broken promises seemed to taunt me. Her disdain towards me and my kingdom had never been more insulting. Would she truly have preferred living out her mortal years in such a way? Lonely, destitute, and…mundane?

Casting my eyes upon her meager, lifeless belongings, I was suddenly sure of one thing; Sarah Williams had never been destined for this place. She was meant to be mine.

I straightened my spine and formed a crystal, instantly transporting myself to my chambers. I'd been in the Aboveground for a little less than ten hours – waiting for the sun to set, perusing Sarah's belongings, and meeting with Raelle – yet several days had passed in my kingdom. My thoughts immediately went to my fiery mate. Would she have missed me? I had determined from our last parting that I would not seek her out again. She would come to me of her own volition. I could not chance another disastrous encounter for fear of damaging our already fragile relationship further. I was counting on a certain hobgoblin to plant the necessary suggestions to send Sarah straight to me.

My boots clunked hollowly against the black marble floor of the room as I kicked them off. True, it was already morning in the Underground, but my bed could only look more inviting in that moment if a certain dark haired mortal with accusatory green eyes occupied it. Castle and kingly matters would have to wait until I'd replenished myself with rest; something my powers could inconveniently not do. I raised a hand, preparing to magic away my clothing, when Aetia's trademark knock sounded upon the door. "Enter," I sighed, pausing my motions.

She stepped into the chamber swiftly and offered me a silver tray with a red sphere resting upon it. "Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesty. You must be quite exhausted, but I did not think it wise to postpone the delivery of this missive," she curtseyed as I took the message.

"No, it would not have been wise at all," my voice sounded flat as my eyes were already scanning the court's latest notice:

Dear King Jareth, ruler of the goblin kingdom and Lord of the Labyrinth,

As mentioned in a previous notification, you will play host to a court emissary for the explicit purpose of witnessing the progression of your relationship with the Betrothed. The representative, Lady Aralia of the elven kingdom, will arrive on the morrow. We trust you will make her stay as comfortable as possible, and will not hinder her assessment of your situation in anyway.

Infinitely,

Lord Rafstan

Chief Justice of the Fae court

"Aralia," I seethed, her name leaving my lips on the brink of a growl. Behind me, I heard Aetia gasp and the sound of a metal serving tray clatter to the ground.

Sarah's POV

The days that followed our nighttime showdown were filled with tasks associated with acclimating myself to the ways of the Underground. Aetia appeared each morning to help me dress – something I was ashamedly inept at – and to escort me to breakfast. After dining alone, she'd show me around the castle or the Goblin City, pointing out various points of interest or some strange custom on display, before returning to the castle to wander the corridors and gardens until dinner. I honestly wasn't sure what to make of the impossibly upbeat lady. After all, she had been the one to speak on behalf of his virtues – virtues that seemed to fly out the window only a few hours later – and she made her opinion about His Majesty and me quite clear, though she spoke very little directly about him. She had seemingly made it her mission to cast an impossibly bright light about her land, like a salesman trying to hide faults by blinding the potential buyer with the fancy gadgets. Perhaps it was pathetic of me, but I let her carry on.

While I certainly hadn't abandoned all hope of regaining my independence, I didn't see the point of pouting in my room like the petulant child I'm sure His Majesty though I was. His Majesty. My king. My…husband. The thought still made my stomach churn, though not with as much disgust as I thought it should.

I had not seen Jareth since he vanished from my room that night. It seemed for all the trouble he'd gone through to reclaim me, he was just as happy to ignore me now. "Well, you did ask him to leave you alone."

Have you ever wanted to beat the crap out of your conscience?

By the fourth morning of my self-imposed loneliness, I decided to try and fend for myself, and seek him out. After struggling with the ridiculous stays in yet another constricting medieval gown, I planned to somehow find my way to the banquet hall without assistance. Maybe today would be the day that the chair at the head of the table held an occupant. It pained me to admit that I actually missed him, or was at least disappointed when he failed to show his face at any of my meals. I could chalk it up to desperation for company – any company, but I secretly knew it was more than that. I was curious about what he was expecting to happen next. After all, he was the reason I was back in the Underground, he should be doing his damndest to –

"To what? Please you? And why would he do that? It's not like he truly cares about your happiness. You were just a challenge for him to win!"

"But he did call me his queen…"

"And your point is?"

"He must at least like me a little to want to give me half of his kingdom."

"And when did he say he was going to do that? You have absolutely no idea what being his queen would even entail, and you can't even be in the same room with the man for more than a few minutes without pissing him off so thoroughly that he poofs away without answering your questions!"

I began humming. Very loudly. I swear, His Royal Pain in the Too-Tight Pants was on my thoughts so often that he seemed to be taking over my conscience too!

I'd barely stepped out of my room when a soft cry of surprise directed my attention to the door across the hall. I felt my own eyes widen in shock at the sight of Jareth's housekeeper exiting his bedchamber before most of the castle was even awake.

"My lady, I am so sorry, I did not expect you to be awake yet!" She nearly stammered before smiling hesitantly at me. Her dark eyes swept over my attire with disbelief.

"Aetia, have you just seen Jar-, I mean, His Majesty?"

"Of course, my lady. His Majesty is resting at the moment."

Resting, huh? My eyes narrowed. "What the hell was she doing in there with my husband when he's sleeping? Whoa, wait… did you just willingly refer to him as husband?"

"Well, where has he been? I haven't seen him since the day I arrived," I demanded rather snippily.

"I believe His Majesty only just returned to the castle, my lady. I understand he had business in the Aboveground."

I felt my lashes drop in a slow blink. "Excuse me?" I managed to choke out after a long moment. "What. The hell. Was he doing up there?"

"Forgive me, my lady. I did not mean to upset you. I…I should not have said anything, for I do not know any other facts. You'll have to speak with His Majesty upon his awakening." She shifted as if she were nervous, causing me to frown. In the days I'd known her, she had never been uncomfortable about anything. Aetia was the most cheerful, quietly confident person I'd ever met.

"Like hell, I will. He can answer me now! He's avoided me for days while traipsing around my world and doing God knows what else, and now he's got to face the music." I moved roughly, intending to push my way into the room, but Aetia's graceful hand clutched my arm before I was able to pass her. An immediate sensation of peace and light flooded through me. She turned a pair of dark eyes filled with painful desperation on me.

"Please, my lady. Give him some time. He is so weary."

Even as she said it, I felt myself weaken with some kind of invisible fatigue. My heart felt twisted in my chest, before heating to the uncomfortable burning I'd felt a few days earlier. I sucked air in through my mouth wildly and leaned back against my own door. "What is going on?" I wondered aloud.

Aetia regarded me sadly and opened her mouth twice before committing to words. Saying simply, "You're married now. That's a powerful thing." Wordlessly, she moved to my side and retied the stays at the shoulder of my sapphire dress before stepping further into the corridor. "I'll have breakfast sent to your chamber, my lady. You'll have time to speak with His Majesty once you are both more rested."

"Don't bother, I'm not hungry," I grumped.

"As you wish, my lady."

I stayed against my door for several minutes after she left, staring a hole through the wood of the mirroring entrance across from me. It was if I could feel his very presence beyond the barrier, and it called to me. There was a certain vibration…or sensation in the atmosphere that had not been there since his disappearance. Had he been in the Aboveground that long? The thought stirred my shallowly buried rage and resentment, but I forced myself to go back into my own room. The last thing I needed to do was initiate yet another argument with him. Clearly, those did not get us very far. No, I'd let him rest, poor, poor Goblin King. And in the meantime, I knew I had some serious thinking to do.

With one more scowl, I retreated into my bedroom and slammed the door. "He was in my world for four fucking days and he didn't have the decency to take me with him?" I muttered to myself.

"Technically, it was only a few hours, and he wasn't kidding when he said you couldn't leave the Underground."

My mouth flew open, preparing to scream, but the sound died just as quickly as my brain realized whose voice I'd heard.

"Rachel?" I shrieked, though the beautiful girl sprawled out on my bed was clearly my raven-haired friend. Unless, this was just an illusion or I'd completely lost it.

She grinned and stood to approach me, wrapping me in one of her bone crushing hugs. "I'd say I missed you Sar, but I just saw you two days ago," she laughed. "Well, in Aboveground time that is."

I felt tears biting at my eyes. "But how? When? Did he –" I grabbed her arms and searched her expression, terrified that he'd somehow ensorcelled her or something. I'd kill him if he abducted my friend.

"Relax. Hmm…how to explain," she began tapping her high-heeled foot in her trademark thinking pose. "Maybe you should sit down for this?"

"Just spit it out! How did you get here, and why are you acting so unbelievably calm?"

"Oookay. Ripping the band aid off it is." She snapped her fingers and suddenly, a small creature with mint colored skin and lemon eyes stared back at me. Her hair was still long and black, but her facial features had shifted so she looked more like a twelve year old. She was still beautiful in her own way, and it seemed impossible to stop staring at her. "Wow, you're taking this a lot better than I thought you would," she laughed cheerfully at my frozen face.

Shock could not even begin to disguise my initial reaction, though it quickly faded into an amused wonder. Was I slowly becoming like Alice? Would Wonderland cease to surprise me? "Wha-? How? Who? What are you?" I finally settled on a question.

"I'm a hobgoblin. I've worked for His Majesty since I was born…erm…eighty-three years ago." She effortlessly shifted back to her human form and winked at me. "Sire asked me to come back and help you settle in. I'm really sorry I couldn't be up front and honest when we first met. I guess maybe that woulda saved a lot of confusion on your part, huh? But I swear, looks aside, you got the real me. I'm the same little shit you've come to love and adore…Your Majesty," she finished reverently.

I let the Your Majesty comment slide. I even ignored the fact that my so-called best friend for the past six months had been working for the enemy. No, one point of fact glared above the rest; "You knew all along that he was coming to get me?" My fury was simmering closer to the surface this time.

"Um, well, yeah…I was sent ahead to sorta watch over you," she met my gaze head on. "And before you go getting all upset at me, I'd like to point out that you were always going to be coming back here, regardless if he took the trouble to make sure you had a friend or not."

We stared at each other for what seemed like ages. In any other setting, this could've been one of our ridiculous battles of wills over who would wear the black Manolos; battles that Rachel always won. The way I saw it, I had two options: I could raise holy hell and rip her a new one for lying to me – thus denying myself the opportunity to have both a friend and a familiar presence here – or, I could try to forgive her deceitfulness and take her at her word that she was still my friend. Chances were good this had never been her idea in the first place.

I sighed and flopped down onto the loveseat, lowering my face to my hands in surrender. "So…so you know that he thinks we're like, married or something?"

"Sarah," she paused and sat beside me. "Is it really such a bad thing to be betrothed to a king? One that loves you?"

I snorted. "He doesn't love me. He's just reveling in his victory."

"Well, in addition to me, he wanted you to have some of your old stuff," she shrugged before wondering aloud, "hmm I wonder why some a-hole that didn't care would go through so much trouble just to make sure you're comfortable."

"Probably just trying to lure me into a false sense of security," I mumbled, though my heart jumped at the sight of my overflowing duffle bag on the foot of the bed. I jumped from my spot and began rummaging through the bag. Jeans! T-shirts! My Walkman! Oh my!

"Uh huh," she drawled, moving to lean casually against the bed post. "Just keep an open mind, Sarah. That's all I'm saying. No one here is going to judge you except yourself. Just talk to him, you never know, you might even like him. And don't think I don't know who you were fantasizing about all those nights I camped out at your house…" She wiggled her eyebrows wickedly.

I felt my lips scowl, but even I could not deny the rabid fantasies I'd allowed my brain to create based on a few innocent dreams with a certain Fae king. I shuddered to think what he'd have to say if he knew the thoughts I was capable of.

"Anyhoo, I just wanted to check in on you. I know this must be a shock to you, but it won't be so bad, Sar, I promise. You can still trust me." She took my hands between hers and squeezed them.

"Thanks, Rachel."

"It's Raelle, actually," she grinned sheepishly. "Though, I always liked it when you called me Ray." She moved towards the door, and a genuine fear tore through me.

"Am I going to see you again?"

"Duh! I haven't even filled you in about Scott!" Her devious smile was comforting in its familiarity. "But Aetia's going to be back soon, and I really can't stand her, so…"

"Seriously? She's like the sweetest person I've ever met," I disagreed merrily.

"Uh-huh," Rachel, I mean Raelle, rolled her eyes. "That's another story right there. Just…remember what I said, Sar. I've known him a long time, and there is a lot more underneath the gruff exterior and moody temper." Her jaw flexed, as if she were admitting a hard truth, before her jovial expression returned. "Not that it isn't a fine exterior…and one I can't wait to hear about in more detail," She snickered at the blush I felt appearing on my cheeks before blowing me a kiss and departing.

The room felt oddly lifeless and yet full of secrets once she was gone. My mind was trying to rip itself into thirds or fourths in order to process the information it had gathered in such a short time. Like some great recipe, I wondered if the ingredients would add up to a masterpiece or a flop? All the variables aside, I supposed the only thing that really mattered was how I honestly felt about the man; not the king, or Fae, or anything else. Could I truly be his wife? Forever?

I ambled back to the bed and began unpacking the bag supplied by him via an even greater present – a friend. A long, white feather fell from between a layer of clothes. I realized with a jolt of recognition just where I'd originally found it, and who it must've belonged to. Just how often had the King of the Goblins sat on that branch to watch over me?

I picked it up tenderly and let my fingers trace the soft lines while I thought about my friend's advice. Hadn't I already promised myself to make the best of my time here? For that matter, hadn't I already decided years ago I loved Jareth when I thought he was only a dream? After he showed up five nights ago, like some avenging angel of twilight, my fear and automatic defenses had overridden any other emotion I might've truly felt. I knew my imagination had pined for him since we'd met. Well, here he was alive and in the flesh. Maybe he wasn't exactly what my mind had created him to be, but that was hardly his fault. And I'd already given myself permission to get to know the real him better. Sure, our late night encounter had been a shock to my system, but at least now I knew why I was here. He wanted me to be his queen. He had alluded to the fact that he cared for me and certainly some of his actions proved that. But I couldn't help but worry, because he was also cruel, and moody, and arrogant, and…sexy. "That's right, Sarah, and don't you dare try to deny it!"

He had offered me my dreams. But how did he know what they were when even I didn't know what they were? Before the trial of the Labyrinth began, all I really wanted was to be seen. I spent all my time imagining I was some terrific heroine in a fairy tale just to feel special. Then he came along and made it real. And clearly, a magical adventure wasn't what I truly wanted since I'd spent every second after getting it hell-bent on beating him and returning to my normal life.

But everything had changed with that hallucination. I still didn't know if what had transpired after I ate that damned peach was real or not. The dark waltz forever haunted me, because before the Labyrinth, that had been my ultimate fantasy. Me, dressed in a breathtaking gown befitting a princess, as the guest of honor at an enchanted ball. Only, every time I'd imagined the scene while lying safely on my own bed in my own house, it had been Prince Charming that stepped forward to take my hand, not a Goblin King. Why then, had I been so relieved when I finally found Jareth among the dancers? Why had my whole body trembled when he took me in his arms and spun me so gracefully around the room? Why had my breath left me when he began singing those words to me?

"Jareth is your version of Prince Charming, idiot! You could never fall for Mr. Goody two-shoes; you need someone to challenge you, yet make you safe. Someone so wickedly beautiful that it sometimes hurts to look at him, yet completely infatuated with you. Only someone who was inherently selfish would know how to offer such devotion."

Was it my subconscious that put the Goblin King in my fantasy? Or was he simply there out of association? He had been a constant on my thoughts, what with trying to defeat him and all. Did he, himself, plan to be in my dream in order to further distract me? And if it actually had all been real, did he really feel the way he seemed to?

For a few brief shining moments, despite the throng of people around us, we had been two people alone in all the world. Our souls had connected, and I knew that was the moment the Goblin King had managed to carve a part of my heart for himself…I knew, that I could search the ends of the earth for all eternity and I would not find another man that looked at me the way Jareth did during our dance. But what if it wasn't real?

I tucked the owl feather beneath my pillow with a sad sigh. I wanted it to be real. Maybe I was scared to admit it, but in the deepest part of me, I wanted to believe there was more to this arrangement than someone triumphing over someone else. I wanted to believe that what I felt in that dream was genuine on both our parts and that I had recognized my true love at the tender age of fifteen. I wanted to know this man that I had pledged myself to. I just needed the courage to find out if I could trust him.

My mind made up, I slipped my feet into a pair of loafers and set off to wake my would-be husband. Some things just couldn't wait.

A/N: So Sarah's heart is softening…too little too late? Wonder what has Aetia so upset? I really do like Raelle, I hope you do too. I enjoy having her fight to stay respectful in front of her king while being a total spaz with Sarah.

How 'bout those rumors that Tim Burton is planning to remake Labyrinth…possibly utilizing his prized star, Johnny Depp, as GK himself??? Review? Pretty please?