Lia and Aslinn didn't really have to storm the castle, as they had planned to. To be honest there were no real guards. Instead Jareth had been smart and planted traps… Lia already had had her fair share with them; one of them was a giant, yet somehow invisible spider web. Thankfully Aslinn had been able to help her escape. So after finally making it through the gate into the city they managed to sneak their way to the castle.
Lia opened the large, heavy, wooden doors slowly, not wanting to be caught,
"Question…" Lia whispered suddenly.
"What?" Aslinn replied,
"How I do stop the clock? By getting into the castle?"
"Doubt it." Aslinn said, "Probably by convincing him to let you go."
"Great." Lia rolled her eyes.
She crept inside and slowly shut the door, hating the large and unavoidable creak that occurred as she did. She sighed once it was shut and leaned against the door, putting her back against it.
"Now what?" Aslinn asked.
"I don't know, you're supposed to be the one with all the answers." Lia said.
"Really? Why am I not the one with the 10 hours over my head? Oh wait, that's because that's your job."
"Point made." Lia conceded. "So, should I try to find Jareth?"
"I think so." Aslinn said, though as she did she heard a voice cry,
"Stop! How dare thee intrude upon this sacred ground?!"
Lia rolled her eyes. Didymus…now she had to find a way to shut him up.
"Sorry, good sir." She said as she took the sword out of his hand. She pointed it at the small fox causing Aslinn's eyes to widen, "Where's Jareth?"
"I'll never speak against the king!" Didymus shouted.
Suddenly she decided to change tactics. She dropped the sword and hit her knees, grabbing the fox's hands,
"Sir Didymus…"
"How dost thou know my name?"
"Do you remember Sarah?" She asked. His eyes revealed a pained look, revealing that he did. "I come from her same world, and I would like to return to it. Please, tell me where the king is…I mean him no harm but I want to go home."
"I cannot." Sir Didymus said turning away.
"But why?!" Aslinn asked.
"The last time…" Didymus started but couldn't finish.
Lia's eyes widened. She understood, when Sarah conquered the Labyrinth it had affected all of the kingdom…even the labyrinth had changed for the worst because of her…
"I understand." Lia said quietly as she rose to her feet.
She then rushed up the stairs, hoping it was the right direction. She ran up the stairs as fast as she could, but not much of a runner she was already short of breath.
"Is this the right way?" Aslinn asked.
"No clue." Lia answered.
"I'll fly ahead and see…" Aslinn said. Lia watched her go and wondered if that really was a good idea. And as she thought this an ominous voice boomed in the stairway,
"You just don't know when to quit do you?" She looked up and saw him a few stairs ahead of her, she ran up to him but as she did he disappeared,
"Jareth!" She shouted chasing after him,
"You'll never win…" He mocked another few steps in front of her once more.
"Just shut-up!" She said trying not to let him deter her.
She gripped the hand rail trying not to give in to her fatigue,
"Look at you, you're exhausted." He laughed.
"Who's fault is that?" She wheezed, not halting her attempts at catching him despite how futile she knew they were.
"Just stop trying!"
"No!" She screamed.
She was almost in tears when she reached the top of the stairs, he was right, this was pointless. She gripped her fist. Dammit! She got herself in this mess and like hell she was gonna quit now!
She looked up and saw him standing before her. She hated how she appeared. She was wheezing and sweaty with tears in her eyes. She could see the condescending look in his eyes,
"Really, Lia, this is really rather pathetic…"
"I don't care." She said. "Are you happy now?" Lia asked.
"Am I happy?!" Jareth shot back, "You're the pathetic human that wanted to solve this Labyrinth in the first place!"
"At least I didn't play with your emotions!"
"Like hell you didn't!" Jareth screamed. "I am so tired of you humans coming into my world and trying to worm their way into my affections if they are only going to abandon me!"
"You saw my dreams!" Lia shouted for once not bothering to consider the cost, "You know I never wanted to leave…"
Jareth at first said nothing, but Lia could feel him watching her,
"You really are a fool."
Lia bit back the hurt she felt at his words,
"And you're not?" She questioned.
He took a step toward her, lifting his hand; almost hitting her he was so furious.
"You little wretch!" He ground out,
She glared at him waiting until his hand dropped to his side before she looked away and sank down to the ground,
"I wish I'd never made that wish…"
Jareth spat in disgust,
"Well that makes two of us."
Lia ignored him and raised her knees and rested her head on them,
"I'm stuck." She said softly. He gave her a questioning look but didn't ask outright. "How much time do I have left?" She asked suddenly.
"2 minutes." He answered sullenly.
"And how do I get sent home?" she asked looking up at him.
He laughed bitterly,
"I'm supposed to offer you your dreams but given to how fond you are of me, I'm almost inclined not to…"
"Very cute." She said sarcastically but jumped when the Goblin King was kneeling down beside her. His eyes carried an emotion she hadn't seen since…….he showed her, her dream. She swallowed unconsciously and leaned away but didn't get far, realizing he had her hand in his,
"Lia, stay with me, become my wife, let me give you all that you desire, just fear me…do as I say, and I will be your slave." He said in such a pleading voice. She knew he was just trying to make her lose but she wanted so much to believe him…
"You took out the love me part." She said feeling as dazed as the first time she'd heard the offer.
"Please…" He whispered in her ear.
She didn't say anything but after a long pause stood to her feet,
"What happens if I don't answer?"
"What?" He asked confused.
"Or what happens if I say no? Is that how I go home, by rejecting your offer?" She asked in a frantic voice.
"Well actually…"
"And if I say yes, that would mean I lose…so what happens if…?"
"You're out of time." He said quietly.
