A/N: Hello everyone! Soo guess what movie I watched last night? You guys are so smart. How'd you know? Yep, it was Labyrinth! It was actually much needed because sometimes you lose the "muse" or whatever, and so it was good to get it back for this story. I'm so appreciative of the response so far! You guys blow me away :). As all you who've reviewed have found out, I really like to respond back (unless it's something like "love it! update soon!) and interact with my readers, so I try to comment back to you all :). I feel like it's a courtesy...

So Ludo, Hoggle, and Sir Didymus made their appearance last chapter, but I have to admit...they won't be in the story a great deal because I just don't feel it necessary. I'd rather focus more on Jareth and Sarah, the plot, etc. They will make their appearances at times, especially Hoggle who plays an important role, so no worries there. I must say, I enjoy Mary and the conversation she and Sarah have in this chapter :)

Lylabeth: Wow. Your compliment knocked my socks off. That is a very high compliment indeed! Thank you so much for reading and for letting me know your opinion. I actually am intending to publish novels, so the fanfics are just for fun but just as important to me to be well-written. Thanks for the recommendations as well. Although I might wait until I'm done with this one so I don't accidentally steal any ideas :). I'm so thankful for your review!

rubi: You may not be here yet, but your remark made me laugh :D. Hm, I may have to look into that...

Special thanks to my lovely reviewers: Lylabeth, rubi, TheWordMasterOfFiction, Kaytori, Reine Shadow, , boybandelflover, mearra, SpyGirl1969, silentlamb9, Unique Fantasiser, and a Guest.


Chapter Eleven: Too Much Rejection

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Days began to pass in the Underground like the tides of the sea sweeping up across the sands in unbroken rhythm. Most of them were not nearly as eventful as the first few days, but Sarah had begun to learn a great deal about this exciting world that she'd only glimpsed before. Her old friends saw her often either in the castle or outside somewhere close whether it was one of them or all three of the friendly creatures. She also was exposed in great quantities to the goblins themselves who looked outlandish or even a little frightening, but each day they became more like children to her eyes—ugly, impish children she sometimes wanted to toss out a window.

Mary remained her maid since that day the Goblin King appointed her. In very little time Sarah learned two things about Mary: one, she was Irish; and two, she wouldn't take any sort of nonsense. What puzzled her was Mary's avoidance of real conversation no matter how much Sarah insisted she wasn't a servant to her, rather a fellow human being. She did act pretty grandmotherly though. It was a start.

But there was someone she saw less of than before. The King of the Goblins mysteriously evaded her company or stayed busy ruling his kingdom from his throne either in solitude or surrounded by a slew of rowdy goblins that left the room a huge mess. She saw him in passing most days at least once, although there had been days she didn't have even one glimpse of him; but she didn't know how to feel about it. On one hand she was relieved simply because she wasn't fond of the knots in her stomach whenever he was around, but on the other hand she was disappointed that he stayed distant when she was so curious about his person. If anything intrigued her about this place, he was it: the enigmatic, immortal king with an invisible fortress raised up around him.

What she didn't know was that being destined to defeat the labyrinth and overcome his challenge, she'd also been destined to scale the walls of his heart. Jareth was fully aware and waited for the day Sarah acknowledged that victory.

Sarah meandered through the castle one day when she couldn't find anything else to do. Afternoon was coming to a close as the sun fell towards the horizon and turned the light a rusty warm shade while the Eastern sky faded to a deep blue. A cool breeze blew from the North with a scent like flowers and fresh air from the mountaintops.

While she walked down a corridor and reached a short flight of stairs, she glanced up and froze in place.

There stood the Goblin King in all his glory leaning forward with his hands gripping the window ledge. The orange light set fire to his skin and softened his angular features a little while it turned his spiked hair to a deep gold. His profile was finely chiselled with its touch of inhuman quality enhancing his noble features. The grim set of his thin mouth and the expression of his oddly mismatched eyes enhanced his brooding posture, a mood she had never seen him in. Most likely because he hadn't allowed her to see him in it, but this was a rare moment where he didn't seem to notice her and allotted her precious time to study him without his equally watchful gaze.

After the incident in the forest, she became aware of her childish assumptions and prejudices based only on the past in the eyes of her fifteen-year-old self. Now she was older, what one might call an adult. She'd seen a lot of the world and a wide variety of people. As a theatre actress and eventually a aspiring playwright character study had become a hobby then a habit, and here was quite the study standing before her. Many things she'd thought were being tossed out the window just like that peach he'd left her the first morning. The posture struck her not just as brooding but as something more.

Was the Goblin King...lonely?

In all her time she'd been concerned with only Toby, her friends, and herself. What about this mysterious figure? His behaviour was much like a goblin sometimes, but beyond that was so much more. What was he? Not one other being here resembled anything like him, let alone a human, except the man who'd been Bran and turned into the Raven Mage. They must've been of the same race, but that still left the king alone within his kingdom.

For the very first time, she pitied the Goblin King. His angry words echoed in her mind: "Always asking things of me. Always wanting from me. And always expecting it to be done freely." Everyone sought something from him, especially her, but did anyone really give in return? True, she still didn't know his life very well or who he knew beyond the Goblin Kingdom, and yet she suspected it was still the truth.

If only he'd known what the simple accidental intrusion accomplished in Sarah's heart, he would have tried to cause it sooner. However, the timing was perfect. For Sarah to understand, she had to catch a glimpse of his true emotions that would only show clearly when stumbled upon at unawares.

A transformation had begun within her, and at last her heart turned towards him first with pity. That pity was quickly transforming into sympathy. The jaded eyes. The slouched shoulders. The grim determination. He was another one of the lonely, a place she knew all too well. After years of feeling out of place and then having the worst heartbreak of her life when Christopher left, that one spark of sympathy was enough to tie another thread to this solitary king.

In her heart she determined that she would do something for him. She would do something in return for all the kindness he showed in protecting her from his own enemy.

Sarah backed out of view quietly when the tall king stirred and moved back from the window ledge. Then she disappeared back into the halls of the castle.


The sun was set and night washed over the land with a blanket of deep velvety blue scattered with stars like bits of crystal shattered over the sky. Birds of the night called out into the chill air, and creatures of the evening crawled among the deep shadows. In the castle, candles and lamps were lit along the corridors and in particular rooms so that the windows shone gold against the dark of night.

Sarah often took meals in her quarters or in a room she'd found when she first explored the castle that reminded her of a parlour. It didn't seem like something that normally would be in such a place, but she didn't question it. She just enjoyed it while it was there.

There were couches and chairs draped with fine covers of black and dark blue with pillows strewn across of the same colours with the bright addition of silver. The designs on some were intricate and delicate. Two large chandeliers made of pure silver that reminded her of the ones in the masquerade dream hung from the ceiling. A round table with a couple cushioned stools sat close to the windows set up on a raised level that spanned half the room in an arched crescent.

Mary waltzed in with dinner in her hands and set it on the table. She tossed her long grey braid over her shoulder and began to leave without saying a word.

Sarah wouldn't have it. "Mary! Stay with me."

The older woman eyed her quietly but didn't continue towards the door.

"I would really like it if you ate dinner with me. Whatever he told you, or whatever you think things should be like, all this time I've just wanted to sit and talk with you." Sarah stood and looked her in the eye. "I don't know why you don't want to talk to me, but I wish you would."

Mary sighed heavily and nodded. "Sorry my dear. After all these years livin' with goblins, you get worried you're not good company for other folk."

"Don't worry about that." Sarah smiled. "There's no need to impress me or anything of that nonsense. If you knew my friend Ludo, you wouldn't worry about it a bit."

"You're just a strange sight to see here, ya know. Thought you were a dream at first or some trick of Jareth's. Turns out I was wrong. I also didn't know how long you planned to be here or if you were another one of those wished away to this place; but that's what puzzled me. Not one of them's been treated like you have."

"I wasn't taken by the goblins," said Sarah. "But I'll tell you that story when we're settled in. Come on. Sit down."

They sat at the table, and Mary looked rather awkward on the stool. It was obvious she felt she didn't belong as she squirmed a little and hunched forward. It was strange considering the woman was normally brassy and confident.

"There's so much I'd like to ask, but I don't want to overwhelm you. Can I just start with one question?"

"Ask anything you like." Her Irish accent wasn't terribly thick; like a thin layer of icing on a cake. "Really, I haven't had a decent talk in a long time and I don't mind you throwing out all the questions you like. Well...maybe."

"How did you end up here?"

"Ah, thought that might be it," said Mary with another sigh. "I was only a lass of four, so I don't remember a great deal anymore, but I'll tell ya what I do. It's not a happy tale, I'll warn ya."

"If you're okay telling me, then I'm willing to listen. Unhappy stories mean just as much as the happier ones."

"All right then. Go ahead and eat girl! Me mum didn't want me since I was born, but it wasn't till I was older that she finally did somethin' about it. She never treated me well. I often was hungry, had clothes worn to holes, and was alone. Oh don't worry, dear, it doesn't pain me to talk of it. It's been such a long time and now I'm old! One day she got angry with me for asking a question and cried into the night for the goblins to come take me. And can you imagine? They did. Bet that gave her a good ol' surprise, it did. Here in this castle I sat wondering what'd happened, and there appeared a grand and lordly man who frightened the wits out of me. Didn't find out till I was older that he offered me mum the chance to run the labyrinth to get me back, but she didn't hesitate one moment before saying 'no.' It broke my little heart, but eventually I was glad since she gave me only enough to barely survive, and here I had to work my keep but I always had enough to eat and a place to sleep. That was enough."

"So...you chose to stay here?"

"That's right. Jareth gave me a choice when I got up in age a bit. Where else was I to go? There's other kingdoms, sure, but for a woman alone it isn't very wise to go off looking. I stayed here as a servant to him. And I've been here ever since. Nothin' to complain about."

Sarah took in the tragic tale for a moment. Serving here really would be preferable to the life Mary had had. Although, being around the goblins all day could wear on one's nerves. She realised how much patience their king must have to have been doing it for hundreds of years.

"You like it here?" she asked.

Mary shrugged and finally relaxed a little on the stool. "I suppose I do. It's...different...than the other world I remember, but it's where I've been almost all my life. And that's been quite a long time!" She chuckled and looked around the room. "Those critters can fray the nerves, certainly. I've kicked a good lot of them in my lifetime."

"Kicked them?" Sarah couldn't help but laugh a little at the image that presented. Maybe she'd have to try it next time one of them tried to follow her around everywhere. "Have there been any others while you've been around?"

"No, not a one. Well, one little lad back years ago, but he didn't stay." Mary levelled her with a steady gaze and a gleam in her eye full of knowing. "They say a young lass came for him and beat that labyrinth for the first time. She must've been pretty brave, that lass. It takes a lot of courage and determination to win somethin' like that that's made to be lost."

Sarah blushed and kept her eyes on the table. She twirled her fork around on the plate.

Mary smiled a little. "I'd also say she left a lasting impression on the maker of the labyrinth."

"Did she?" Sarah breathed softly.

"No one's beat it, they say, except that girl. And no one's received so much attention from him either. I'd say she overcame a lot more than some ancient maze."

Sarah's blush deepened. It was exhilarating and bizarre to finally be having a normal conversation with someone who knew all about this place and its inhabitants. A burden truly lifted from her heart and mind. She still didn't know how to respond to the old woman's remarks though.

"What's the matter, dearie?" said Mary leaning forward that cheeky grin. "You embarrassed yet? How about I tell ya a story then. It's about a young lass who got herself into an even bigger embarrassment."

That brought the younger woman's head back up, and the deep pink in her cheeks faded a little.

"She was about sixteen or so with long blond locks, brown eyes, and a willowy frame. Not ugly. Not beautiful either. She served a king for many years, but one day she looked on him a lot differently than before because she was growing up. A funny thing happens then. Boys are dirty and loud, and then...then you can't stay away from them! Suddenly this king looked like a prince out of a fairytale or a god out of mythology to such young starry eyes like hers. She started putting herself in his way as often as she could and sending him smiles that hurt her face she tried so hard. That king ignored the silly lass—as well he should—and paid no mind to her poor efforts, a child trying to catch his eye when she had nothin' to catch it with. She pined away for him a few more years without a single response. Finally she learned how foolish she was being and put a stop to it. Life then went on as it had before. But she learned her lesson, she did. Made herself a fool before a king."

It was difficult to imagine Mary being so young and trying to flirt with the Goblin King. The image made Sarah hide a smile behind her hand, and her eyes danced with silent laughter. Mary saw her reaction and mirrored the expression but without hiding her smile.

"I know, I was very silly wasn't I?" she said with another light chuckle. "You've got to admit, he's always been good for the eye but he had no eye for me. It tickles me now, but then I thought my heart was broke into a thousand pieces! Ha! Lasses and their silliness."

"Yes," murmured Sarah. "We are very silly, aren't we?"

Mary raised a finger at her. "Ah, but there's more than one kind of silliness, dearie. Beware. Sometimes we can turn the opposite direction and be silly on that side. Just watch with eyes open. Don't you close them too long."

Before Sarah could decipher Mary's riddles, the old woman got to her feet and shook out her skirts. She tugged at her swaying braid. Sarah had eaten most the food, so she picked up the dishes.

"You know what?" she said as she lifted her chin. "You don't need to clean up. I'll do it."

"Oh no, there's no need. You belong here, not in the servants' quarters. This is where you belong."

That single phrase had more meaning to Sarah than perhaps the older woman realised. She stared at her a few moments.

"No, I insist. It's time I helped with something around here instead of amusing myself every day. I don't want to just leech off of him—I mean, any of you really. I'd like to help somehow."

Mary regarded her with a discerning eye, keen with long years. "He doesn't see it that way, I'll bet. Like I said, he treats you different. No one ever comes back, they say, yet here you are: the little lass who beat the labyrinth and beat Jareth."

"But the things he said..."

"Was he angry when he said them?"

"Well, yes..."

"Then be careful. Things aren't always what they seem."

Things aren't always what they seem. That's precisely what Sarah had said those years back while traversing the labyrinth: things aren't always what they seem in this place. Did that mean the creator of the labyrinth wasn't much different than his creation?

"Thank you, Mary. It was wonderful talking with you. It's nice to have someone, especially a woman, to talk to. My other friends are great too, but...they're not human."

"You know, it was wonderful." Mary patted her arm and smiled, soft dimples in her rosy cheeks. "Come to me anytime you need someone to talk to again. You still owe me your tale about yourself and what happened your first time here; not to mention what you're doing back. I thought you were a, uh, a mistress for the king because he was lonely or in want of a woman, but then it was clear it wasn't of that nature. I'm not sure a Fay needs that sort or not anyway, but that's what I thought. Sorry I did. Assumptions are usually rot, you see."

"Oh." Sarah's skin turned red from her face to her neck. "Oh. Uh...well, I'm glad you realised that wasn't the case." She hastily changed topic course. "A Fay? You mean, that's what he is then?"

"Oh yes! One of the Sidhe. In the land of my home, in Ireland, we had lots of tales about them which is why me mum yelled what she did."

"Are there more of them?"

"You wonder if he's the only one. There sure are more of them, although I've never seen any, just heard with my ears. I'd certainly like to see more! They're a wondrous lot, they are. But he's alone here and doesn't seem to mind it."

Sarah wasn't sure if that was true. Maybe he didn't mind being the only Fay, but he certainly seemed weighted by the solitude—lately at least. How had he lasted this long? Suddenly there was a wealth of knowledge of his past that she longed to explore.

She determined that he wouldn't be able to avoid her any longer. They were going to have a real conversation whether he wanted it or not. This time she wasn't the one running away.


Fun Fact: The term 'Sidhe' is pronounced 'shee' since it's originally Irish. Yep. I used to think of it as 'sid' or something in my head till I found out...

Note: Let me know what you think so far! The story still has a few important places to go, and things will get rolling right along very soon. Let's get some more reviews going!