Chapter 11

Jake's POV

Jake started walking down to the labyrinth. He still thought it was a joke that was being played on him by Sarah and whoever else was helping her. He arrived at the labyrinth's outer wall and was now trying to figure out how to get into it.

'How am I supposed to get into this stupid labyrinth?' thought Jake as he searched for a door in the huge wall.

He shook his head and wondered if there was anyone around that could help him to get into the labyrinth.

Jareth's POV

Jareth could not believe that the pathetic mortal was telling him that he was not real. He conjured a crystal ball and looked into it to see that the repulsive scab had not got into the labyrinth.

"What a fool." Jareth muttered

He decided to go find Hogwart and have him help the idiot mortal get into the labyrinth. So he poofed out of the throne room, leaving a shower of glitter on the floor.

Hoggle's POV

Hoggle was busy spraying the fairies, when he sensed that he was not alone. He turned around and saw the Goblin King.

"What do you want, Your Majesty?" Hoggle asked.

"There is a mortal man at the outer wall of the labyrinth," Jareth told him. "I want you to help him to get inside."

"Yes Your Majesty." Hoggle nodded wondering why the king wanted him to let a mortal into the labyrinth. He looked up, intending to ask, but found that his Majesty had vanished.

Sarah's POV

It was late when Sarah woke the next morning. Panicking at the sight of the time Sarah leaped out of bed and began to dress for the day; however, just as she was pulling on her jeans, she noticed the date on the calendar by her vanity. Shaking her head at her own silliness, Sarah flopped back down on the mattress; she had the day off. Considering the fact that she was already almost fully dressed, Sarah decided that she might as well finish the job, and then wandered into the kitchen to get some breakfast.

As she was frying bacon and scrambling some eggs, Sarah's thoughts turned to the Goblin King, and inevitably, whatever he was doing to Jake. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the details, but she knew that whatever Jake was going through, it probably wasn't good. She bit her lip as she dished up her meal; she didn't want Jake hurt, just for him to leave her alone- and possibly learn a lesson or two.

Jake's POV

Jake had looked everywhere for a way into the labyrinth and had not found one.

'This is getting me nowhere.' Jake thought, grinding his teeth in frustration. 'There is no way of getting into this Labyrinth!'

Jake started, but definitely didn't scream when something bumped into his foot. Looking down he sighed, relieved, at the sight of a small round rock only to stiffen once again as someone cleared his throat.

"Who's there?" he demanded.

A small man with brown wrinkly skin and a large nose stepped into view.

"Who are you?" Jake demanded.

"I'm Hoggle" said the little man. "And I am here to help you get into the labyrinth."

"And uh, what are you?" Jake asked, since the little man didn't look entirely human.

"I'm a dwarf." Hoggle informed him, in a tone which implied that it should be obvious.

Jareth's POV

Jareth was sitting on the window ledge and conjured a crystal ball. He looked into it (because we know what it is) and saw that the pathetic mortal was now inside the labyrinth.

He grinned to himself and dispelled the crystal. "Let the games begin."

Conjuring another crystal, Jareth bid it show him Sarah. His smile softened at the sight of her curled up on a sofa, her lovely nose buried in a book.

"Perhaps it's time I paid her a visit," he decided, and rose, dispelling that crystal too.

He told the goblins to keep an eye on the mortal in the maze and that he would be back later, then he poofed out of the throne room and left a shower of glitter on the floor.

Sarah's POV

Sarah stared unseeingly at her pages of her book; she couldn't help but think about Jareth, and wonder if he was going to show up.

"Hello Precious," came the Goblin King's deep velvet voice from the other side of the room.

Sarah raised her head and smiled at the blond fae who now stood by the fireplace. "Hello Jareth. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I came to see you," he told her. "And to answer some of your questions,"

"Would you like to sit down?" Sarah asked and set her book aside as Jareth moved to join her on the sofa. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

"No, thank you I am fine." Jareth replied.

"So how is Jake doing in the labyrinth?" Sarah asked, deciding it would probably be better to be direct.

Not well," Jareth replied, with a nasty grinning nastily. "The idiot could not even get into the labyrinth by himself- I had to send Higgle to help him."

"His name is Hoggle." Sarah corrected him, sternly.

"Yes, yes," Jareth nodded, completely ignoring her correction. "Either way, the boy is now inside the labyrinth. What is your next question, dear Sarah?"

Sarah was silent for a few moments as she tried to decide which of the million questions she had for her former enemy to ask next.

"That drugged peach?" Sarah began, slightly awkwardly. "What was that all about, and why did you make Hoggle give it to me?"

"It was a present," the King informed her. "And I had Hogwart give it to you because I knew you would not accept it from me."

Sarah opened her mouth to rebuke him for not answering her question, but Jareth cut across her.

"Perhaps you would like to visit my castle for a while, precious?" he said by way of invitation. "That way I can keep my eye on your would-be suitor's progress; and you can continue your little interrogation."

"If I do come with you now, do you promise to bring me back home when I'm ready to leave?"

"You have my word as king," Jareth vowed. "That I shall see you safely home as soon as you say the word."

"Then I'd love to see the labyrinth again," Sarah smiled.

"Come along then," Jareth grinned, offering his hand to help her up. Sarah took it and together they vanished from the apartment, leaving only a coating of glitter on the floor in their wake.