Chapter 10

Sarah appeared at the edge of the Labyrinth just a moment later and put Jareth's amulet around her neck. She was on the hill where Jareth had first brought her, and looking out over the Labyrinth now, in the morning, it was a sight to behold. It looked dangerous even from here, as thoroughly intimidating as it had when she'd run it, but also strangely beautiful. The sunlight hitting almost every bit of it, the large castle seated above everything else…it looked truly magical.

Heading down the hill, she spotted Hoggle walking along the wall of the Labyrinth. A huge grin split her face as she went up to him.

"Hoggle!" she said excitedly as she reached him. He looked around in surprise.

"Sarah?" he asked, bewildered. "What are you doing here? What did you do to your face? Ain't your brother too old for Jareth to take now? What's going on?"

"Oh, Hoggle, it's so good to see you again," Sarah said, bending down to hug him. He awkwardly patted her shoulder and she stood up. "Listen, you're supposed to take me to the castle."

"I am?" Hoggle asked warily. He wasn't keen on upsetting Jareth again, and no matter how much he liked Sarah, if she was to run the Labyrinth again, he was unwilling to help her.

"Yes," Sarah smiled at the unsure note in his voice; just like she'd predicted. "Jareth said you're to take me directly there…but he did say we could find Ludo and Sir Didymus first," she added.

"Did he now?" Hoggle asked skeptically. "I don't believe you."

"I told him you wouldn't," Sarah laughed. "Here. He said this would do." She held out the amulet around her neck. Hoggle's eyes widened in shock.

"Sarah, what's going on?" he asked, wondering if he even wanted any part in this. She'd stopped calling him, after all; maybe something more sinister than he expected was going on.

"I know it's all confusing, I'm sorry," she apologized. "But I really think we should get up to the castle before I explain everything. It…well, it might be dangerous out here."

"The Labyrinth is supposed to be dangerous," Hoggle commented.

"It's not the Labyrinth I'm worried about," Sarah said darkly. "Look, come on. Let's get the others. I promise you I'll explain everything. Please?"

"Alright," Hoggle sighed. He walked over to the opening in the Labyrinth and guided her in. "I don't like it."

"I know," Sarah said. "I really am sorry."

"How did you get here anyway?" Hoggle asked as he led her on.

"Jareth sent me with a crystal," Sarah explained. "We were at the Hall of the High Council, but they didn't want me there, and he had to send me back, but I didn't know the way, and he wanted to let me see you all again…"

"The High Council?" Hoggle asked in shock. "What've you done?"

"Nothing," Sarah assured him. "It wasn't like that. But I'll tell you about that part later."

"Fine," Hoggle said, shaking his head. "So how come you stopped calling for us?"

"I'm sorry, Hoggle," Sarah said, and she sounded very sad now. "I was having a rough time…I couldn't bear to see you all."

"What's happened to you, Sarah?" Hoggle asked quietly. "You're all hurt. Did Jareth do that to you?"

"No!" Sarah said in surprise. "Of course he didn't. It was my…husband."

"You got married, did you?" Hoggle asked grumpily. "I guess we weren't important enough to know about it."

"It wasn't exactly a happy time," Sarah said. "No one knew about it."

"What about your brother?" Hoggle asked. "Is he doing okay since you rescued him?"

"I haven't talked to my family in seven years," Sarah said sadly.

She explained about Karen and her family before they reached Ludo, who joyfully greeted Sarah. They found Sir Didymus next and quickly made their way with shortcuts to the castle. Once they were safely inside, Sarah felt a little bit better; whatever Jareth had said, she was still worried about Seth or Maldonek or whoever he was.

"Uh…" she said, looking around. She realized she wasn't actually sure where to go. "I guess we could just use the throne room," she said, fingering the amulet around her neck. "He isn't here to use it anyway."

"Are you sure about that?" Hoggle asked worriedly.

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Sarah said, though she wasn't quite as sure as she sounded. She led them in and sat down on the steps surrounding the throne, unwilling to attempt to sit on the throne itself – it was too much of an intrusion without the Goblin King's permission. "So…I guess I owe you all an explanation."

They sat together while Sarah told them all what had happened, explaining everything that had gone on since she stopped calling them. They asked if they could help in any way when she was done, all having quickly forgiven her, but she told them she didn't know what they could do since Jareth wasn't back yet and had no answer from the Council. Around lunchtime, a goblin brought them lunch; Sarah assumed it was Jareth's orders to serve guests even when he wasn't present. Still not sure where else to go, they remained in the throne room the rest of the day with the three telling Sarah what they'd been up to for the last seven years.

"Jareth was terrible to be around," Hoggle told her at one point. "He got so angry all the time."

"He told me you'd probably say that," Sarah laughed. It was so easy to talk to her friends. She had missed them more than she could say. She felt so comfortable she almost forgot they weren't lounging in her bedroom anymore.

"I think he was mad at you for beating him," Hoggle said. Sir Didymus had thoroughly overexcited himself and was now sleeping on the floor next to Ambrosius, and Ludo was merely listening with mild interest.

"Maybe," Sarah said. Of course she'd had her own revelation the night before, but she didn't think it was appropriate to share it with her friends just yet. "He seems okay now, though."

"Well, I hope so," Hoggle said. "'Cause he was a big pain in the-"

"Do you really want to finish that sentence, Hogbrain?" Jareth asked, striding into the room.

"It's Hoggle," Sarah corrected automatically, looking up at Jareth. He looked very angry, and she was suddenly a little worried; was it that big a deal she'd used his throne room? Mostly she was concerned for the safety of her friends, though; surely he wouldn't send them to the bog when it'd been her idea.

"Whatever," Jareth said, rolling his eyes. "What are you all doing in my throne room?"

"Sorry, Your Majesty," Hoggle said, standing up quickly. "Sarah thought it'd be alright."

"Did she now?" Jareth said, turning his gaze upon her. "And what made her think that?"

"I'm sorry," she apologized quickly, trying to lighten the tension on his face. "I wasn't actually sure where else to go, without my own room or anything." Jareth's expression softened. Of course she didn't, he thought. She barely knew anything about his castle, and he hadn't been polite enough to show her around before.

"I see," he said, his tone calmer. "Well, I have some very important things to discuss with Sarah, so out with you."

"Hey," Sarah said indignantly, standing up. "You don't have to be so rude to my friends."

"This is my castle," Jareth said, raising his eyebrows. "If I wish anyone to leave it, they will do so."

"And if they wish to leave it themselves?" Sarah asked acidly, staring at Jareth with a defiant expression on her face, hands on her hips. She didn't care if he was angry or not, she wasn't going to be afraid of him this time.

Jareth stared at her, his mouth slightly open in surprise. He was about to give an angry retort when he noticed the bruises on her face again, stopping him. They reminded him why she was there in the first place, and that he would do well to treat her more kindly than Maldonek had ever bothered to.

"I apologize, Sarah," Jareth said quickly. "Please forgive my rudeness. I do not wish you to leave." Her expression softened as well. Hoggle looked on in shock.

"Thank you," she said quietly. She turned to her three friends; Sir Didymus had woken up. "It was good to see you, all of you," she said with a smile at them. "I'll be sure to keep in touch better now. Thank you for bringing me back here safely, Hoggle," she added pointedly, looking at Jareth out of the corner of her eye.

"Of course, Sarah," Hoggle said, still wary of the Goblin King's manner. "If you need us…"

"I'll call," Sarah smiled reminiscently. Her friends quickly left the throne room and she turned to Jareth. "So?" she asked, hands on her hips, still looking a little indignant at his treatment of her friends.

"I do apologize," Jareth said sincerely. "I've had a rather trying day, and I'm not quite used to someone correcting my orders in my own castle," he added wryly. Sarah blushed, immediately feeling bad.

"Whoops. It was out of line, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Jareth chuckled. "But I'll let you get away with it."

"How kind," Sarah teased. "So…what happened? Do you want to go somewhere else?"

"I do," Jareth sighed. "Would you be averse to coming to my chambers again?"

"No, that's fine," Sarah said. He held out his arm for her and she took it; she quite liked walking next to him like this. As they day had gone on without him, she had found herself less and less giddy over time, but it had returned nearly full force upon seeing him. She was slightly afraid of what that meant, but it thrilled her a little bit, too.