Hey everyone, quite a short wee chappy, hope you like!

Chapter 12

Jareth cautiously approached the gates to Tharman's castle, there were several guards posted at it, thankfully they didn't seem to have seen him. Jareth hoped this meant the spell was working and not that the guards were just incompetent.

He walked towards the gate and stopped about fifteen feet away, the guards were not paying any attention to him so he assumed they could not see him. Then came his next problem, how to get through the gates, he decided if he just walked up and opened them the guards might decide something was amiss when the gates would appear to open by themselves.

But then suddenly, as if his prayers had been answered, the gates were opened and out came a large cart pulled by two black horses. Jareth took his opportunity and slipped quickly and silently through the open gate.

Beyond the gates was a large thriving city, not goblins like in Jareth's own kingdom, but fae like himself. He hurried through the streets not even bothering to remain silent, even if someone thought they had heard something, by the time they turned round Jareth would be long gone.

He reached the doors to the castle before long and was faced with the same dilemma as before, how to get in.

There were many more guards here than at the gates to the city and they looked more alert also.

Jareth stood for a few moments, pondering what to do, when suddenly the door opened. Jareth not wanting to miss this opportunity rushed up to the door to see and old man walking out, his face was in shadow but as Jareth looked at him the man turned his head and stared straight at him. For a second he thought the invisibility spell had failed but he looked around at the guards, who were ignoring him. Jareth looked back at the man.

"Argamore," Jareth mouthed silently.

The old wizard just winked at him and moved letting Jareth slip past into the castle, the door slamming behind him.

ooo

Sarah hugged her knees up to her chest as she sat on the floor with her back against the wall. She was shaking violently, her breathing in short gasps. She lifted a shaking hand and wiped a tear from her cheek.

She didn't know how she was going to cope with this, she didn't know how anyone could cope. She didn't even want to think about it, but how could she block such a thing out of her mind?

Sarah dropped her head into her knees and began crying loudly, letting her feelings surface, she cried louder than she had her whole life and somehow it made her feel slightly better.

"Jareth, please hurry." She whispered to herself, hoping with every inch of her body he would answer her prayers.

ooo

Jareth had only ever been in Tharman's Castle once before, and that was a long time ago, the winding hallways and many stairs were confusing. He decided he could risk using a spell to locate Sarah. He quickly produced a crystal and whispered some magic into it, the crystal began to glow and Jareth began to walk.

The crystal glowed stronger as Jareth neared Sarah and its light faded if he ventured in the wrong direction. Eventually he reached a set of large wooden doors. Jareth knew Sarah must behind the door and he dropped his hands to the handles, the crystal vanished.

Not surprisingly to Jareth the door was locked, but looked doors were no problem to a skilled magician, he twisted his hand muttering a spell and the door unlocked. He quickly pushed it open, drawing his sword and dreading what he would find inside.

As he entered he immediately spotted Sarah in the corner. She was staring at the door.

"Who's there?" She asked, her voice shaking.

Jareth quickly removed the invisibility spell and rushed over to Sarah, putting away his sword. "Sarah are you okay?" He asked as he picked her up and held her close to his chest. He then held her out to get a better look stroking her face gently. "You're bleeding." He said softly, his anger welling at what Sebastian may have done to her.

With that Sarah just burst into tears and between sobs she managed to speak. "It's not my blood." She said and then she pointed to the bed.

Jareth turned round to see a half naked Sebastian lying on the bed.

"I....I killed him." Sarah wailed. "I didn't mean to kill him, the knife was just there by my hand and he was going to rape me. I'm so sorry I didn't mean to, I promise I didn't."

Jareth hugged Sarah in close, stroking her coal black hair soothing her. "Its okay." He whispered over and over.

After Sarah had calmed down, Jareth cautiously walked over to the bed, his hand on his sword. He looked down at Sebastian, he was lying in a pool of blood and had a large knife wound in his side. His hands were pressed on the wound trying to stem the bleeding. As Jareth looked down at him, he thought he saw a flutter of Sebastian's eyelids, so he firmly pressed his fingers to his neck.

"He's got a pulse." Jareth announced. "The bastard's not dead yet." He continued his lip curled in disgust.

Sarah rushed quickly to his side. "You have to save him!" She shouted, her eyes wide.

Jareth looked round at her. "This man tried to rape you." He said gently as he pulled Sarah into an embrace. "He doesn't deserve to live."

Sarah looked up at him. "You have to save him, I don't think I could live another day if I had killed someone, please save him." She explained desperately as tears again welled up in her hazel eyes.

Jareth sighed. "If that is what you wish my dear." He said and then picked up Sebastian from the bed and headed out the door, Sarah following close behind.