He couldn't have been there, Sarah thought, transfixed on his mouth as they formed the words to the melody. It was a dream! This was just a coincidence, wasn't it?

But I'll be there for you

As the world falls down

So haunting was the melody that Sarah temporarily forgot her and Jareth's halted conversation. She was lost in his words, his embrace. His eyes locked intimately with hers; he seemed to be looking past her, into her core, where she was truly herself.

She was staring dreamily at him; he realized she was, at least for the moment, under his complete control.

And it was then he suddenly felt very wrong, very evil for manipulating her in this way.

He knew that she had relived the dream many, many times in subsequent dreams. He knew those dreams more often than not ended in a passionate kiss, an addition he had been particularly intrigued by for the past decade or so.

He was using her fondest memory against her, and for some reason he could not quite grasp, he felt more evil than he ever had before.

Lost in his thoughts, he had stopped singing. In fact, he had missed several of the dance's steps, and Sarah was looking at him strangely.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"Alright? Of course I am," Jareth quipped, hoping his voice didn't sound as distracted as he knew it did.

"You look weird," Sarah said.

"It's nothing, I...forgot the words," he explained quickly. "It's been a long time since I've heard this song."

"Oh," Sarah said, not believing him.

The music changed mid beat. Sarah realized that Jareth had changed it purposely, yet she didn't ask why.

They stood facing each other as the other dancers fell into a different, livelier step.

Sarah was thankful when a large, handsome man approached Jareth.

Jareth was not.

"Hutton," Jareth said coolly. "I didn't expect you to be in attendance this evening following our earlier discussion."

"Cousin, I wouldn't miss the first ball this castle has seen in almost ten years," Hutton replied, never once taking his eyes off of Sarah.

"Cousin?" Sarah repeated, looking from the dark-haired man to Jareth. "The two of you are related?"

"Yes, we are cousins on our fathers' side," Hutton replied. There was a strange lilting to his voice that made Sarah's skin crawl.

"Hutton allow me to introduce Miss Sarah Williams, my guest," Jareth said.

Hutton took Sarah's hand in a swift, easy motion and brought it to his lips. "Miss Williams," he said, planting a kiss on the back of her hand. "It is my sincere pleasure to have made your acquaintance."

Sarah noticed that Jareth had tensed at Hutton's motions.

"I don't suppose I could steal you away from our gallant king for a dance, could I?"

Sarah blushed under his chivalry, and then glanced at Jareth.

Everything in his soul, whatever soul he had left, screamed to intercept, to prevent the occurrence.

But people were beginning to stare; Jareth began to notice murderous glances in Sarah's direction, as if everyone knew her death would bring them salvation.

And, by the way Hutton was smirking at him; Jareth realized they did know.

Perhaps a dance with Hutton would alleviate some of the resentment his subjects obviously felt towards Sarah.

The room was falling silent again as everyone watched to see what the outcome of this wordless stand-off would be.

Inwardly, Jareth cursed them all, especially himself for arranging the ball in an effort to manipulate Sarah, who had no idea just how serious her predicament actually was.

"Jareth," she was saying softly, bringing him out of his thoughts. "It's just a dance."

"I won't be far," Jareth said to them both, but locked eyes with Hutton in a challenging manner.

He stalked away, climbing up the marble steps of his platform and watched as Hutton eased Sarah into a fast-paced dance that flushed her skin and caused a throaty laugh to bubble from her throat.

Conveniently, and much to Jareth's dismay, the frantic dance took Hutton and Sarah to the farthest side of the ballroom, an impressive distance from his sight and grasp.

"Sire," Evitt said, suddenly appearing next to him. "He would not be so stupid as to harm her right before your eyes."

Jareth closed his eyes momentarily, thankful for the reassurance but unwilling to appear so.

He watched as the music slowed and Hutton pulled Sarah closer to her. He was handsome enough, Jareth mused, that any young woman would be more than happy to share her heart and her bed with him.

Just then Sarah laughed, the sound carrying over the chatter of his other guests. She seemed impossibly closer to him.

He was whispering something in her ear. Jareth tensed, watching intently. Even Evitt was standing nervously, unable to tear his eyes from Sarah, whose body was all but obscured by the giant man holding her tightly.

Jareth could not hear the conversation. Hutton had apparently used the little magic he had to block Jareth's amazing sense of hearing.

It instantly brought Jareth to his feet.

Hutton continued to talk into Sarah's ear until she suddenly pulled away, placing both hands on his broad chest in an effort to push him from her.

It was pointless for her to struggle, as Hutton's thickly muscled arm held her fast to his body.

Jareth, without even being aware of it, was hurrying to the scene, conjuring up a spell as he watched Sarah begin to struggle, to beat her small fists against the wall of Hutton.

Jareth threw a spell at his cousin, but it was rebuked. Confused, Jareth shoved his guests out of his way, determined to cross the distance between himself and Hutton, who was effortlessly carrying a screaming Sarah towards a large window at the far side of the ballroom.

"Jareth!" Sarah shrieked. "Please, Jareth he's going to kill me!"

"Sarah!" Jareth cried out heedlessly, breaking into a run.

Hutton reached the window and, to Jareth's horror, flung Sarah out in one smooth motion.