*I don't own Labyrinth*

Chapter Nine

Silver ring of firelight.

Sarah watched the pile of candles with a bizarre mix of emotion. Excitement, fear and anxiety. It was late Tuesday night and her family was at last gone on their trip to the magic Kingdom and Sarah was alone once again. Thoughts of a magic kingdom lurked in her mind as well, but it wasn't the one her brother was currently enjoying. Toby was meeting Disney characters and getting a thrill from roller coasters.

Sarah was thinking of warm sandstone and wild magical creatures, of lurking dangers hiding behind hedgerows and in long dark tunnels. She thought of a crystal ballroom and a King who tempted and lured her. He was dangerous and not to be trusted, yet she wanted him, irrational as it might be Sarah Williams was courting dangers untold.

"Sarah you are a fool." She informed herself, as though speaking the words might rally her against being such an idiot. She looked at the book next to her, open to the middle and showing an illustration that should be quite obvious yet she was torn on its meaning.

There were two women pictured cowering in a corner as another stood before a mirror out of witch stretched a hand. To the casual observer it looked quite ominous, some unknown entity was reaching to steal the woman and her friends were afraid. To Sarah's somewhat stressed mind however it offered something else.

It looked like a princess escaping. Having cast a spell she was being pulled away to an enchanted land. Her maids watched in fright as their princess was taken but not knowing it was what she wanted.

It was a fantastic theory, yet still just as likely it was an evil scene of terror.

All of her research led her to one undeniable truth. Jareth was not the only Fey creature in the underground. If she went through with this Sarah might be inviting more than a goblin king into her dreams and her life.

The clock in the front room chimed loud in the empty house. Nine o-clock.

While her fear was real, so too was her wish to see him. In the winter neither of them knew what was happening until it was too late. She could not ask questions. She needed to know what this was to him. Sarah knew full well that she was somewhat pathetic in her desire. But she was alone, and lonely. She wanted someone in her life and until that dream encounter she never could find someone who made her feel like he did.

That thought steeled her resolve. "F it!" she announced and picking up the candles, she began to place them in a circle. (On a large silver serving tray, because unlike her brother she knew better and didn't want to burn down the house!) Silver was also a sacred metal. In theory it would be an extra safe guard against anything that might wish her harm. Taking a deep breath she struck the match. The light sent of sulfur filled her nose for a moment and she brought the flame to the wick and watched it catch. One by one until all thirteen were alight.

A calm warm glow reflected against the metal her nerves soothed for a moment as she crossed the room to the window. Outside a cold spring night filled with starlight surrounded the house. This time Sarah closed the blinds and the curtains. She did not want an untimely wake up call from the sun shining through the window like last time.

Satisfied, Sarah crossed the room to the door, shutting it as well she then flipped the switch and let the shadows fall over the room. Her heart beat out a fast pace, her breath coming in raged breaths as she watched the amber light shift and flicker in the room. The shadows that she had avoided before now returned full force in the wavering firelight. They danced and waved as though alive now.

In a mad dash, like the kind one does as a child afraid of the dark, Sarah crossed the room and lay in her bed, eyes fixed on the dancing flames of the candles. The blankets became her shield against the night.

"Whats done is done." She whispered, closing her eyes and welcoming the world of dreams with silent prayers that she was not inviting disaster.

**End Chapter**