Chapter 10: In Defense

Author's Disclaimer: I own nothing. Henson and kiyomi-chan16 get all credit for this.

Speaking of which: THERE IS A TRIGGER WARNING. Attempted assault ahead. Please read at your discretion. I love you all and want you to know, so there's no surprises. At this point, I think no one is shocked that Arthur would try such a thing. I've tried to prepare you for it with his worsening behavior.

I hope you enjoy the new chapter!

-SJ-

"Kill her!"

"Burn her!"

Panicking, Sarah looked from side to side but saw no one, only dark, menacing shadows that grew larger and larger as they slithered forward. The black mob of nothingness roared its cry of fear and surrounded her.

She ran. They followed.

She flew. They persisted.

They invaded the branches around her, sucking up all life and light until only an eerie, deathly grayness seemed to permeate the woods around her, forcing her to move until her back was up against a tree. She thought she was safe.

She wasn't.

Suddenly, ropes appeared around her, caging her in. Hands held her in place at odd angles. Flames rose up around her, and she cried for help. She saw Jareth far away on another branch, and then he flew away.

"No! Jareth! Don't leave me!"

She fought until she broke loose of her bonds, flying after Jareth. It wasn't until she was above everything that she saw Toby walking right into a fiery pyre, people encouraging him inside.

"Toby, no! Somebody save him!"

She tried rushing in, but she was too late. Toby crawled onto the wood just before the flames surrounded him, making her unable to reach in and grab him.

"No one can save him now, except you. Accept your fate."

"Accept your fate! Accept your fate!"

The mob grew louder, more demanding, until finally Sarah went back to her tree, ready to die.

"Take me instead!"

Just like that, the fires around Toby vanished, and Jareth flew him to safety. She watched with tears in her eyes as they disappeared and fire consumed her vision.

"Sarah! Wake up!"

"Huh? What happened?" cried Sarah, sitting up in her bed.

"You've had another nightmare," said Robert, hugging his daughter tightly. "Where's Jareth?"

"He's busy, helping me prepare for the move. He'll be back soon," she said, relieved that she wasn't dead.

It put things into perspective, though. There was no telling what Arthur and his family would do when they found out she was gone. They could be chased, just like in her dream. She couldn't depend on Jareth, either. She had to be ready to defend her family, no matter what.

The thought of her being separated from her family hurt her, but the nightmare of one of them being injured because of her broke her heart. If she could prevent it, she would.

"I hope so. Try to go back to sleep, Sarah. I'll see you at breakfast."

A little later, Jareth did appear, and Sarah snuggled close to him until she had to be up for food.

"Where are we moving?" asked Sarah at breakfast that day, three days after Arthur had visited. "You received correspondence yesterday evening."

"Yes. It's from your mother's family. I contacted them, and they have a home where we can stay until we can make our own there, in a village called Fairhope. Quiet and welcoming for anyone like us," said Robert, looking hopeful for once.

"Oh! I'd like to meet more like me," said Sarah wistfully.

"And I'd like to meet more who share my interest, now that Sarah's abilities have renewed my curiosity," said Irene. "We leave tomorrow night. All is packed and ready."

"I can't wait to leave this awful village," said Sarah. "Is there anything else I should do before I go into the forest? I want to send Jareth on a mission for me to prepare for tomorrow night."

"No, go ahead, sweetheart," said Robert, allowing his daughter to leave the breakfast table. "All is in hand."

"Besides, that boy could show up. Better you're gone early."

"Thank you," said Sarah, kissing all three before she headed outside.

Not thirty minutes after she left, Arthur knocked on the Williams' door, and Irene was all too pleased to give her stock answer.

"Arthur! It's so good to see you. Want to come inside to see what I've been making Sarah?"

"No, thank you. I'm here for Sarah. Is she here?"

"I'm afraid not. She's out in the forest, gathering some herbs for dinner. You're welcome to stay and wait," she offered, opening her door wider for him.

Arthur had made the mistake twice of waiting. He ended waiting for four hours before he gave up and left. Now, he knew better, and he grinned, a plan already in place.

"I appreciate your generous offer; however I must decline. I'll visit later. Good day."

Irene was shocked to see him look so calm about the whole thing. Usually, he threw a fit and yelled at her, demanding to see Sarah. Turning to her husband, she said, "I'm worried. He's much too quiet. Should we warn Sarah?"

"No. That would lead him to her. Let's hope she's deep in the forest," said Robert, pulling his wife into the kitchen. "Help me prepare this jerky. We can never have enough jerky."

"I'm so glad this move is short. I hate jerky," muttered Irene, going to help her husband.

As the two finished all food preparation, Arthur made his way across the fields toward Sarah. He had seen her in the forest at various times before he had courted her, so he had some idea where she was likely to be. Confident in his plan, he walked slowly and surely, staying as quiet as possible, the better to surprise her. He saw himself as the hunter, and Sarah as the unsuspecting prey that needed to be caught.

A little ways in the forest, Sarah stood with Jareth, many goblins around them. They had been in the barn with Jareth when she had appeared, and they followed her into the forest eagerly, asking her about her new village where they were all moving. It had given Sarah some small amount of joy to know that the goblins were following her, just like Jareth was.

"Jareth, I have a very important mission for you. It has two parts to it. I need you to fly to the village of Fairhope, where my mother's family is. There's a home being saved for us. I want you to find the safest path to that home in Fairhope since we are traveling at night. I trust you to lead us there in case my father doesn't remember. I certainly don't," she said, having never visited that village. "Will you do it?"

Jareth screeched his agreement and landed on her shoulder, waiting for the second part of the mission. "Once you find the home, please make sure it's safe, that we're not walking into something dangerous. Will you do it?"

Jareth agreed to that as well, and she sighed in relief.

"And we stay with you!" cried a goblin close by. "King asked us to protect you if owl leaves you."

Sarah's throat tightened at the thoughtfulness of the king who had stolen kisses from her. As she failed to hide the blush, she said, "You'll have to thank your King for me. He is too kind, very thoughtful. I would love having you here and protecting my family."

"Especially you," said another goblin. "King want you safe."

"I, I'm not sure why I deserve such special attention-"

"Because King likes you, of course! And he never likes anyone," said a third goblin, making Sarah grin.

If he was hard to please, then she considered herself fortunate to gain his favor. However, that wouldn't help her then. As much as she liked the King, it was Jareth, her owl with the most personality of anyone she had ever met, that had earned her trust.

Bringing a hand to pet Jareth, she leaned against him. Murmuring softly, she said, "Your king is a little too forward, just so you know. I like him."

Jareth made a low noise within that changed quickly at Sarah's next words.

"However, he doesn't compare to you, Jareth."

Jareth screeched proudly before flying in a loop and landing on her other shoulder, nuzzling into her. As he nestled himself closer, the full impact of Jareth leaving hit her, and she knew she was going to miss him while he was gone. She had a sense of foreboding left over from her nightmare that she wouldn't see Jareth for a while, especially since she needed him to help her family. The thought of him getting hurt, of him not being beside her any longer, made her heart ache and pound wildly.

What if she never saw him again?

That thought was untenable. She found herself picking up a puzzled Jareth and placing him on a branch where they could be at the same height. She needed to see him, needed him to see her, for what she was going to say. It was absolutely necessary to tell him this before he left. It might be the only chance she got.

"Jareth, I-"

She tried to say the words, but she choked on them. All this time with him, the hours spent alone and talking - or as much as one could with someone who only spoke through noises and motions - with him, and the thought of losing him had finally shown Sarah exactly what she felt for Jareth. All of it had led to this, this beautiful bond they had. Neither needed the other since they were both independent equals, but they both chose one another willingly. It was companionship she sought, yes, but there was more. She was finally ready for more…. As soon as Jareth came back.

She forced herself to say it, before her courage disappeared. Speaking rapidly, she said, "Jareth, I love you. I, I, I know it's crazy, and this is the worst time to say it, but I want you to know that. I don't want you to leave me now, right before all this happens, but there's no one else I trust. I don't want anything happening to you without you knowing this, either. Promise me you will see my family to safety, no matter what happens to me. Please."

Jareth's eyes widened until they filled his face to comic proportions at first. The more she said, though, the more serious he grew. He ruffled his feathers at her promise, and she knew he didn't like it. He wanted to stay with her.

"Jareth, please. My family is so important to me. It took you and almost losing Toby to see it, but I want them to be safe. I can take care of myself if something were to happen. Promise me you'll get them to Fairhope safely if we get separated."

Jareth made something akin to a grumbling noise before nodding his agreement.

"Thank you," said Sarah gratefully. "Hopefully it is not needed. However, if it is...when you're done with them, please come back for me. I'll be ready for more then, whatever that may be for us."

Jareth screeched joyfully, longer than he ever had before, and then he slammed himself into her chest. She embraced him, relieved that she would have him no matter what.

"I'm going to miss you while you're gone, Jareth. We'll see each other again. I believe that. Don't let me down."

He made a throaty noise of indignation before flying up to her face, his beak leaving a peck on both of her cheeks. She grinned at him until he flew up to a branch and came back with a necklace. The long, black ribbon held a golden pendant on it, and Jareth presented it to her such that the two small horns on the pendant were pointed up.

"Thank you, Jareth! I'll wear it proudly until you return," she said, guessing its purpose.

Taking the ribbon, she tied it around her neck and pulled back her hair to let Jareth admire it.

"What do you think, Jareth? I feel very regal wearing it. I've never had anything so fine."

Jareth made a pleased sound as all goblins told her she looked very queenly. Several even called her their queen, making her blush. When that was done, she stilled and mentally prepared herself for Jareth's departure. Plucking several locks of hair, she handed them to Jareth, who snatched them away.

"Goodbye, Jareth. Best of luck, and I'll see you when you're back, whether tomorrow or after."

As Jareth flew away with a farewell screech, the goblins shouted their goodbyes before focusing on Sarah. "What now?"

She shrugged. "For now, nothing. I want to gather some plants. I want to try something new."

She still had a handful of spells she hadn't tried. One of them was a specialty at the back of the book, used to create memory loss. Sarah had decided to try it next, not sure how to use it.

The woods were majestic in the springtime, every tree pregnant with green leaves and flowers. Sarah loved wandering under the ancient, soaring maples in the springtime when it was windy. That was her favorite time to sit and watch as hundreds of seeds from the maples spun and flew onto the ground, carpeting the dark earth with greenery and new life. It was as though it were raining maple trees, new life finding its way in despite the cold of before.

Sarah grabbed several maple seeds midair for her next spell. She already had the wormwood at home from Jareth, and now she needed some moss and other special leaves to finish off the spell. She had just begun gathering the moss, the last of the items needed, when she heard a stick crackle nearby.

"Who's there?" asked Sarah. She waited a few minutes but heard nothing else. The goblins hissed and rushed in the direction of the noise, and she thought nothing further of it.

She had just stood up with all her needed items when someone laid a meaty hand on her free arm.

"Hey!"

Wham! Sarah's head banged into the tree from a sudden, unknown force, disorienting her. A blink later, her hands were restrained above her head, Arthur smugly checking her out. Her basket and all its contents were spilled on the ground, and the goblins were surrounding them in a semi-circle, growling at Arthur.

"Arthur? What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to wriggle free.

"Don't bother, Sarah. I'm much stronger than you'll ever be. You'll get used to this once we're married," he said with a smarmy look.

Several goblins picked up sticks while others found pebbles. Sarah panicked. She didn't want to drag the goblins into it if she could help it; she was strong. She was sure there was a way out if she got him talking.

"I will never get used to this, and certainly not with you," she said, voice dripping with venom. "Get your hands off of right now, or else."

"Or else what?" he said, grinning wider as she tried to escape. Just to tease her, he let go so that one hand held both of her wrists, his free one going for her chin. "Looks like you're still stuck. You're weak. You're a woman. You will always be second best, little more than nothing except what I make you: my wife."

"You're wrong!" she snarled, using all her strength to lean forward and bite his arm.

As he screamed in pain, the goblins cheered, and Sarah tried to escape. She got one hand out before he yanked her neck and pushed her toward the tree once more, his face red and breathing heavy.

"You're going to pay for that, Sarah. I only intended to kiss you today, but I think I'm going to take just a little bit more from you, to show you who you belong to now," he said, gazing at the top hem of her dress.

Sarah saw the direction of his thoughts and thrashed harder. She moved her arms, but he held her in place until he had both of her arms held with one of his again. Regaining his position of before, he swiped back his hair and grasped her neck.

Sarah's belief in her own strength diminished as terror made her freeze. She glanced at the goblins, willing them to wait one more moment. Then, his hand slid lower. It rested heavily at the top of her dress, his index finger slipping inside to grip the dress.

"Now, where was I? Oh yes. I'm going to kiss you, and then I'm going to see everything you've got hidden under that dress. I bet you're pristine, ripe and waiting for me."

The thought of letting him kiss her, let alone touch her anywhere else, burned away all remaining frozen terror, her fight reflex demanding freedom. Adrenaline rushed. Her ears pounded. Her body coiled in on itself, preparing to unleash.

As he leaned in, Sarah went for her last resort, glancing at the goblins, who now all had weapons of some sort.

Screaming until he was forced to back up slightly, she yelled, "Stop! Help!"

"No one's - Yow!" he cried as Sarah kneed his groin. As he fell back from the impact, his hand left her body, tearing the top edge of her dress.

"Get him!" she yelled, scratching his face, leaving his skin under her nails.

As he tumbled back, groaning in pain and angrier than ever, he pointed a finger, only for a pebble to bash the side of his head.

"What the-"

"Attack!"

Suddenly, sticks and rocks rained upon him, goblins on tree branches dropping rocks while those below slashed at his exposed legs. Others left rocks in his immediate path, causing Arthur to slip and fall. Still more projectiles came for his head and body, he swerving to avoid several larger rocks aimed for his groin.

"What kind of sorcery is this?" he cried, putting arms out to shield himself. "Make it stop!"

"Not until you leave these woods and agree never to pursue marriage with me again," she demanded, voice strangely calm. "And you will not harm or threaten any of my family as a result."

"Never!"

"You heard him. Continue," she said the goblins, making them all cackle.

"Who are you talking to, witch?" yelled Arthur.

"The goblins of the forest. You've angered them. Get out."

"Not until I have you," he said, causing another torrent of even larger stones to come flying at his head. Longer, pointed sticks came flying toward him.

"You're crazy! You're going to die, you witch!" he screamed before scrambling up and sprinting away.

"Follow him all the way to the edge of the forest," ordered Sarah, and most of the goblins did as they were commanded.

For the next twenty minutes, she heard whimpers and high-pitched screams as Arthur ran away.

"He should have agreed to my terms," said Sarah.

"You make good queen!" said one goblin who stayed.

"Hardly. I couldn't save myself," said Sarah, upset with herself. "Thank you for all you did."

"Anything for you!"

"I'm going home. Please watch over all of us. I don't trust him," said Sarah, ready to find shelter.

She had barely left the forest when the adrenaline rush of before disappeared. With sluggish arms and heavy legs, Sarah felt more exhausted than she ever had before, and she had no desire to be around people in that moment after having someone put his hands on her and threaten her like that.

She wandered aimlessly for a time before plopping down on a western-facing hill of knee-high grass. That seemed suitable for resting.

There she lay, eyes closed and body scrunched in on itself as she embraced the one thing that wouldn't hurt her: the earth. It had always welcomed her and had new treasures for her. She wanted to hide in a hole and not come out. She felt cold and tainted by Arthur, and she wanted to be free of him. Racing thoughts offered little of the respite and peace she sought.

It was as she lay there, hidden in the grass, that her mind asked the question: what would Arthur do if he saw her just then?

She was ashamed to admit that he would rejoice over her, glad that he had scared her enough to be afraid of everyone for the moment. That alone made her sit up with resolve...but only for a moment. She still didn't want to see anyone. She was still afraid of what awaited her when she went back. She grabbed her basket, and she seriously considered using that spell to remove all memory of the encounter. She had never felt so powerless. She hated it.

If he would like to see her weak and powerless, then she would choose actions against it. She had defied her father for much lesser offenses; why wouldn't she defy Arthur now? She lay back in the tall grass, closing her eyes and allowing herself to soak up the sun, to feel the world around her.

The smell of the dirt and grass hit her first, making her feel one with all around her. The sun welcomed her like a lost daughter, and it banished the cold feeling within. The soft breeze amidst the billowing waves of soft grass was peaceful, a welcome retreat from the tumultuous chaos and conflict within her mind. The only sound was the wind as it whispered its secrets to the grass, and Sarah tried her hardest to listen. She wanted to know. She wanted to know where she went from there.

She had been changed by the encounter. She thought she had known fear in her nightmares, but that … him forcing himself on her, taking away her peace….that was something she never wanted to happen again. Arthur and his family were evil. Everything and everyone else was not; she had to keep reminding herself of htat.

When she opened her eyes, she had two warring desires: to burn her clothing and blot out all memory of the last few hours.

But she did neither.

At that moment, she heard a wail in the wind. She knew that voice. Toby.

Fear made her immobile temporarily, but love was stronger. Love gave her the strength to get up, to leave her uncertainty behind and face the future because there were others who depended on her, others who loved her and had no idea what was coming. Heck, she didn't even know what was going to happen, but based on what Arthur was calling her, there was a big likelihood that she was about to be called a witch more often. She had to warn them. She couldn't let them down. Her family needed to know.

She ran. She pushed herself harder than she had ever before. As she ran with her basket, she considered what to do with her materials. The pain and fear she would come to terms with. She would force herself if she had to. She didn't want to live in fear her whole life because of a stupid boy.

What if the village tried her as a witch? Her family would protest, of course. Her father had some friends now; hopefully it was enough. If it wasn't, then she fell back on the idea of separation. Her family would want to stay and help her, abandoning their earlier plan when she didn't want them to. If she distracted the villagers from bothering her family long enough, they could leave the next night as planned. She didn't like her odds of convincing them, but that was when she remembered her spell. She could use what she had on them, and they would forget the old plan, following her revised plan: follow Jareth to safety. Then, by the time he got back, she would find a way to escape the village and call to Jareth once she got free.

The thought of Jareth made her pause. What would he think of her? Her hand hurriedly dug inside her dress and found the necklace still intact, relieving her. She still had some bit of Jareth with her. She was beginning to think it was enchanted by fae magic, and she found she liked the idea very much. Then, doubts assailed her, immediately telling her that she wouldn't be good enough for Jareth now that she had had to call on the goblins for help and Arthur held her like that.

She stomped those doubts into the ground, along with anything that suggested that Jareth wouldn't want her. Once she told him what happened, he would understand. He'd probably go with her and try to find a way to get revenge on Arthur if she wanted. That thought had much merit in her mind.

The more she thought about Jareth, the faster she ran, one hand attached to the pendant. She had to survive. She wanted to spend more time at peace in a new village, with Jareth for company. She wanted to get to know the real him, the fae version. She wanted to hear his voice, one day be held by and kissed by him. He wouldn't force himself on her; he would protect her, not to mention kill for her if the goblins were any indication. She wasn't sure if she was ready for anyone to touch her, but that would come with time.

"Sarah! What happened t-"

"Don't... touch... me!" said Sarah in between breaths as soon as she walked in the door.

She knew she looked wild, with hair everywhere, grass and leaves caught in it. Her dress was torn in multiple spots, and she had dirt on odd spots. She was a mess. Her father tried to embrace her, but she shied away from him.

"Sarah?" he asked, voice cracking with concern.

"Arthur. He did this," she panted, still backing away from her father.

"What did he do?" Robert asked, anger filling his face.

"Sarah?"

"Irene!"

She wasn't ready for male touch, but she needed someone's. Someone who loved her, who would tell her that it would be alright. Jareth and his cuddles weren't there, but Irene would understand.

"I've got you, Sarah. What happened? What did Arthur do?"

"He, he-"

Sarah had resisted crying before, but now she did. All of it came wailing out of her, and Irene held her through all of it, helping her sit down as she told her story through sobs. Robert sat close by, concerned for his daughter.

"This is unacceptable," he said when Sarah was done. "I'm breaking off the engagement and-"

"He might retaliate. He called me a witch," reminded Sarah.

"That's serious," said Irene, patting down Sarah's hair. "They won't let that go lightly."

"Not when I tell them that he's making it all up because a girl beat him up," said Robert, preparing to leave.

"I hope it's enough," said Irene.

Sarah doubted it. Arthur had been furious.

"Sarah, do you want to lie down?" asked Irene once Robert left.

"No. I already did outside after it all happened. I just want to do something normal. I think I'll work on a new spell," she said, bringing her basket forward.

"Let me get Toby. He will cheer you up while you read and measure," said Irene, disappearing to fetch her son.

Sarah smiled slightly, relieved that her family believed her. She got to work on the mixture at once, deciding that if her father couldn't convince the villagers, then it was wiser to have her family leave that night. Knowing Jareth, he wouldn't take long and would find her family quickly. She didn't trust the village, and the goblins would keep her family safe until Jareth came. If she left, there would be a target on all of them, and it was better to save all of them first. One person had better chances of escape.

With Toby babbling in her lap, she finished boiling the mixture and ladled it into cups for Robert and Irene. She put them off to the side, and then she waited, playing with Toby.

She didn't have to wait long.

Yelling from a crowd of people soon reached Sarah's ears, and she rushed to the window with Irene to see Robert with hands tied at the front of the mob, Arthur and Richard leading them.

Irene saw stepdaughter's clenched fists. "Sarah-"

"No, Irene. They go too far," said Sarah, protective of her family as she marched outside, Irene hot on her heels.

"Sarah Williams! You are accused of being a witch. How do you plea?" asked Richard.

"I'm innocent!" she cried, rushing forward and showing her damaged dress. "I was attacked!"

The goblin guard of before began amassing between Sarah and the mob, ready to attack. Sarah glanced at them, begging them to do nothing.

"And yet, who has all the scratches and bruises?" asked another villager. "You have only very minor ones!"

"I escaped. He was trying to force himself on me. He wouldn't wait-"

"Silence!" interrupted Richard. "You are found guilty."

"How is there any way to prove it one way or the other?" asked Sarah, dumbfounded.

"There is none for you," said Arthur, smirking. "You're going to take it and like it."

Sarah took a step forward and pointed a finger at Arthur. "You're just angry that I wouldn't kiss you. As it so happens, I've already kissed a man, even before we started courting."

Some of the crowd whispered amongst themselves about who would it was while Arthur grew redder.

"I'll-"

He took one step onto Sarah's land, and the goblins attacked. Sticks and stones went flying, whacking him and his father, and Sarah groaned, even as her parents stared in awe. Robert took advantage of the flying objects to escape, standing next to his daughter with his hands tied.

"She's a witch! You saw it with your own eyes!" cried Arthur accusingly. "She should burn!"

"My daughter did nothing. She never even moved!"

"She blames goblins even though we can't see them," said Arthur. "She should be locked up; she's a menace to society who could damage all our homes with her flying sticks and rocks."

The mob cheered its agreement, and Sarah knew she had to act fast. Stepping in front of her father and untying him, she said, "I did not-"

"You caused this. Nothing happened until we walked onto your property. That's enough for us," said one villager.

"Seize her!"

"Wait! Give her ten minutes to say goodbye to her family first," said Irene, stepping forward. "All accused witches are given that."

The crowd grumbled about the truth as Richard said, "You have ten minutes. We're surrounding the house and watching. Don't get any ideas."

"I already have them," snapped Sarah. "I'm not an idiot, unlike your son."

Arthur spluttered, and Richard had to hold him back from going for Sarah again. When he did break loose and touch Sarah's land again, more rocks and sticks struck him, one almost hitting his eye.

"We need someone to cross that line and retrieve the witch," said Richard. "Preferably a woman, someone not dangerous." He looked at his wife. "Go. We can hold her-"

"No," said another elder. "Your family is too involved. My family will lock her up her. My wife will go up to the house and fetch the witch."

The woman in question walked cautiously onto the farm and sighed in relief when she was not impaled by a stick. She waited outside patiently, feeling bad for the poor girl but far too afraid to go against the village. Anyone who could cause that sort of thing was a danger to the community. She watched all the proceedings from a window to ensure Sarah didn't cast any special spells.

Meanwhile, in the Williams home, Sarah overcame her aversion to touching grown men to embrace her father. After hugging all of her family members, she got the spell-enhanced drinks out for all of them to drink together.

"You need to leave tonight, without me," pleaded Sarah. "Please. You'll be safer this way."

"No. I refuse to leave you alone to suffer through all this," said Robert, Irene soon echoing his words.

"Very well. Let's hope for a quick day of convincing them while they gather the materials to kill me," said Sarah, thoughts of fire consuming her thoughts. "Will they really build a giant pile of wood and burn me alive?"

"Yes," said Irene, looking sad. "It'll take them all day tomorrow to do it, so that's plenty of time to find a way to escape. We can do this."

"Yes, we can. Let's drink to that," said Sarah, watching them drink the laced drinks.

When Robert and Irene's eyes became dilated, the sign that the spell had worked, Sarah jumped into action, opening a side window to let in several goblins before closing it quickly.

"The plan is to leave tonight without me, as we agreed earlier. The goblins will guide you to Jareth, and he will lead you safely to Fairhope. You will leave me here, alone, so that I can talk to the villagers, convince them of my innocence, and join you later," she said to her family. "All of the goblins will go with you, and they will come back with Jareth to meet up with me later. Understood?"

Both Robert and Irene blinked three times before going for Sarah. They both embraced her at the same time.

"Sarah, I don't like the idea of traveling without you, but if that's the new plan, then we'll go with it. We'll see you soon."

"Thank you for understanding. I'll miss you," said a choked up Sarah. "Until we see each other again."

That was when she turned to the goblins. Drawing herself up to her full height, she looked every bit the Goblin Queen that all of them already considered her. "You will do as I say and leave with my family as soon as it is dusk. Take them to Fairhope, along the path Jareth found. Find Jareth long the way. He knows what to do if I'm separated from my family. Contact him if you must once you've entered the forest."

"I'm staying with you!" cried one small goblin. "All else will go."

"Alright," she said, allowing that just in case they needed to find her later. "We'll plot my escape together."

With that, Sarah hugged her family one last time before kissing Toby. With a brave face, she said, "I'm off to convince them."

"We believe in you, Sarah."

"Thank you. Safe travels to Fairhope."

As she left the house, she picked up the small goblin and plopped him on her shoulder. The woman outside led her to her home, to a small, locked shed with a straw cot that had housed witches before. As Sarah tried to fall asleep, she hoped that her family was already in the forest, far away from her. The problem was that she kept fearing unwelcome nighttime visitors.

It was going to be a long night.

-SJ-

Author's Notes: First, I'm so sorry about the cliffhanger.

Second, as for the attempted assault…..I will freely admit that I don't know everything when it comes to this matter since I don't have personal experience. From what I've read/discussed, how people respond is very unique. I've tried to keep Sarah in character but still deal with it in a realistic way. If you are a victim, I am sincerely sorry you had to go through that. I hope you know that you always have love and support, that you aren't alone in this. You are strong. You are worthy. You have a voice.

Third, I wasn't planning on upping the rating for this (since not much happened to Sarah), but if you disagree, please let me know.

Finally, thank you for reading! Thank you to everyone for the amazing response to this story so far! I really appreciate it! Hugs to all of you!

Guest 2019: Thank you! Yes, this poor family keeps dealing with stuff, and it's not over yet. They'll get there…. Eventually. Anytime! Ask any question you like. I'm always happy to do my best to explain.