So happy , I have over 100 reviews! Thank you all so much, it means the world to me.

Thank you to my reviewers:

vAMPkIMI - I highly value your review :) So glad you are enjoying the story!

Bloodsired - I hope the reason for Sarah being threatened is made clear in this chapter.

TheDevilsKitten - thank you!

FireShifter - Don't worry, Tanya has a turn around after this chapter I think.

irgroomer - Yes ;)

Aleta Wolff - Thank you for enjoying the story!

BrittanyMariie - Being plain stubborn :P

Emma - Your review didn't show up until 2 days after you posted it! :( I loved your review. And we haven't seen the last of Ryan, Heather, Emily, and her family.

XKaterinaNightingaleX - Thanks for your support!

Guest - I completely agree, Sarah never backs down from a challenge, glad you enjoy the fanfic thus far :)

RosieLilyIce93 - Wow. That means a lot! :D

C. M. LadyFowl (It wouldn't let me type your name unless I put spaces between it) - Thank you so much! I hope you find time to finish reading the other chapters and let's hope you enjoy the rest like you did the first chapter :P

I do not own any of the Labyrinth characters.

Chapter 13

Jareth was coming back from the stables when he noticed a small figure walk out onto one of the balconies. He stopped in the shadows to admire Sarah's beauty. Her hair hung unbound, rippling in the wind. He watched every graceful move she made as she went to lean against the banister. She was looking up as birds flew overhead but Jareth could tell even from the distance that she wasn't concentrating on them, she seemed to be in deep thought.

Something was troubling her obviously; Jareth wondered what it could be. Then he watched as she turned around abruptly with her skirts flying out behind her and went back into her room.

Sarah had seen Timmy by one of the buildings outside and decided to go down and speak with him. Since Brittany hadn't been able to find him the other night when she was at the castle Sarah felt she owed it to Brittany to check up on her brother. She hadn't left her room at all hardly since she had almost been poisoned, worrying that if she did leave that something bad would actually happen. But she couldn't stay hid away forever. Jareth had come to check on her often, she knew he was concerned over her but always assured him that she was fine.

Timmy was still sitting alone on the ground with his back pressed against the building. Sarah smiled sadly at the little boy. She couldn't wait for Timmy to return to his sister in two days, on Brittany and Brendon wedding day. Yes, she wanted them to be have their special day, but she felt so sorry for this boy. She hated the way that Leonard treated him.

She slowly approached the boy.

"Hello, Timmy," she said, making him aware of her presence so as not to frighten him.

Timmy looked up from the small cold biscuit that he was chewing on.

Poor thing, Sarah thought as she looked the boy over. He looked skinnier then he did the last time she had seen him.

"Hi Miss Sarah," Timmy said quietly.

Sarah noticed the odd way he kept the right side of his face from her view.

"Look at me Timmy," Sarah urged.

Reluctantly Timmy turned to face her and Sarah gasped. On his cheek there was a purple bruise and a black eye above it.

"Oh Timmy," Sarah said as she knelt down beside Timmy and gently ran her fingers over the wound. At first Timmy shuddered at the initial contact but realized that Sarah wasn't going to strike him and he relaxed under her touch.

"Who did this to you?" Sarah demanded. "Was it Leonard?"

Timmy nodded.

"This is not acceptable. He should be ashamed for hitting an innocent boy." Sarah's temper flared. "I need to speak to Jareth immediately, he'll make things right."

Sarah stood up reached down for Timmy and pulled him to his feet. She noticed how exhausted he was, he could barely walk. She put her arm around him to help him walk, not caring that the filthiness of his ragged clothes would rub off onto her beautiful emerald gown.

There was no excuse for this, Sarah fumed. She would see to it that Leonard got what he deserved. Maybe she could arrange for Timmy to go home sooner then expected.

They were slowly making their way up the winding stairs. Lack of food had cost the boy much of his strength. She stopped to give Timmy a break from time to time as they walked up the stairs. Once he seemed strong enough to continue, she would wrap her arm around him again and they would go on their way once more.

Fifteen minutes had passed and they were half way up the winding stair case. Sarah was concentrating on the steps in front of her when she felt someone roughly shove against her shoulders, pushing her backward. She let go of Timmy as she grasped desperately at the air trying to catch her balance. Her screams echoed off the walls as she fell. Nothing was between her and the stone steps. The instant her head slammed against the ground she lost consciousness.

Jareth was staring out the window in his study. Something didn't feel right but he didn't know what it was. The door crashed open and Jareth spun around. It was a small frail looking boy who was panting hard trying to catch his breath. He looked like he would fall over at any moment but the scared look on his face made Jareth's stomach turn.

Jareth rushed over to the boy.

"What's wrong?" Jareth demanded, taking a hold of the boy's shoulders.

The boy flinched and Jareth felt chagrined when he noticed the boy's bruises across his face. He dropped his hands to his sides and tried to patiently wait for the boy to speak.

"Miss- Miss Sarah."

"Sarah. What's happened to her!" Jareth panicked, all patience disappearing.

"She-she-fell." The boy panted out.

"Where!" Jareth demanded.

"In the winding stair case," the boy answered breathlessly.

Jareth instantly swept past the boy and transported himself to the winding staircase. He noticed a small crowd had already gathered around a figure lying on the ground. His heart leapt into his throat as knelt by Sarah's side.

Blood was pouring from a wound at her temple, and making a puddle on the stone floor. He gently felt over her arms and legs to see if anything was broken, there was no sign of any broken bones.

"Leave us," Jareth ordered the people who were crowding closer.

Everyone jumped at his command and hurried away, leaving their king alone with Sarah.

Jareth gently cradled Sarah in his arms, running his hand along her soft hair. He touched her wound and a golden glow appeared over his fingers and settled at her temple. He watched as the wound closed up and stopped bleeding. He used part of his shirt to gently wipe the remaining blood away from her face.

She still hadn't regained consciousness as she lay limply in his strong arms. Her face was pale he noticed frowning.

He felt a presence behind him and looked. It was the boy he had seen before.

"What happened boy?"

"She was pushed down the stairs."

Jareth immediately saw red. "Who did it?" He said through gritted teeth.

"My master, Leonard. He is one of the kitchen help."

"Duzzle! Goz!" Jareth roared out.

The two goblins scurried up the stairs.

"Take Sarah to the physician," he looked up with his eyes narrowing, "I have some business to attend to."

Leonard raced to the servants' quarters. He fumbled with a bag tossing a few of his possessions into it, cursing when his clumsy fingers dropped items onto the floor. He knelt to pick them up. As he reached for the last item, a shadow fell over him and he heard a low voice come from behind.

"Going somewhere, Mr. Leonard?"

Leonard looked behind him, sweat beaded across his forehead.

"I-I was just cleaning things u-up a bit."

Jareth stalked into the room, circling around Leonard who was still kneeling before him.

"Do you not like cleaning? You look stressed," Jareth continued to circle the man.

Leonard laughed nervously. "I never been much on cleaning."

"Well, you won't have to worry about cleaning this room anymore." Jareth stopped in front of Leonard.

Leonard stared at Jareth's leather boots. "Wh-what do you mean?"

All of a sudden Leonard was thrust against the wall with a force that knocked the breath right out of him. His eyes rolled back in his head from the overwhelming pain. But there was no respite, a iron fist connected with his face. He spit out blood. A kick to his stomach doubled him over. His body slid down to the floor as he cradled his knees to his chest, gasping for air.

"Please, please, stop…" Leonard begged weakly.

"You are going to pay for what you did," Jareth growled.

Jareth's right hand began to glow and Leonard looked down in alarm as a glow appeared at his own throat. He gasped for air, clawing at his throat but to no avail. Leonard tossed on the floor, his legs kicking around furiously. The white in his eyes showed as he rolled around trying desperately to get any air. As his surroundings started to go black he suddenly felt the pressure release from his throat.

Jareth let up, not wanting to end Leonard's fight too quickly.

Leonard sucked in the air, his chest rising rapidly with each gasp.

Jareth grabbed Leonard by his shirt collar and threw him back up against the wall.

"Before I kill you, I want to know why."

"W-why?" Leonard said hoarsely.

"Don't play games with me." Jareth growled, his fists clenching, barely able to control his anger.

When Leonard didn't reply, Jareth tightened his grip on Leonard's shirt collar.

"Alright, I'll tell you, just let me go," Leonard managed to say.

Jareth glared with hatred into Leonard's face. He released Leonard who fell back to the floor.

"She paid me to do it," Leonard said, rubbing his throat.

"Who did?" Jareth walked towards Leonard menacingly.

Leonard crawled up against the wall, cowering before his king.

"Odella."

Jareth looked momentarily surprised at hearing this, but his body set in determination.

With a flip of his wrist Leonard disappeared before he could even utter a sound.

Now to find Odella.

Odella and Tanya were busy talking together when Jareth unexpectedly appeared before them. They were both taken aback by the furious look in his eyes.

"You!" Jareth roared as he strode angrily towards Odella. Tanya watched with wide eyes as her brother grabbed Odella by the neck.

"Brother, stop it this instant! What are you doing?" Tanya demanded as she put herself between Jareth and Odella.

Jareth shook with anger as he looked over Tanya's shoulder at a weeping Odella.

"Ask her," Jareth sneered.

Tanya turned to look at Odella. Seeing that she was crying, Tanya wrapped her arms around Odella to try and comfort her.

"I don't know what you mean, Jareth," Odella looked up at him with tears on her eye lashes.

Jareth sneered, "You are a talented liar, Odella, but lying won't save you now."

"Will someone please tell me what is going on," Tanya said in frustration.

"She tried to kill Sarah," Jareth said coldly.

"What?" Tanya said, dropping her arm from around Odella.

Odella straightened up and the tears ended as she said, "She doesn't belong here Jareth, she has blinded you to our love."

"What are you talking about?" Jareth said coldly.

"You can't deny that you want me and I have made no secret as to how I feel about you," Odella said.

"You are mistaken Odella, I have never wanted you. And even if Sarah weren't involved, I would never consider you for the future Queen of the Underground."

Odella's eyes narrowed and a scowl appeared briefly over her features before she stuck a flirty smile on her face, sashaying her hips as she approached him. She ran her hand across Jareth's chest and said huskily, "I know you don't really mean that. I love you." Odella leaned up to kiss Jareth but he thrust her away from himself, with a force that spun her across the room.

"Oh believe me Odella, I meant every word." Jareth stepped closer to her, "and as your King, I hereby order you to be banished from the Underground."

Tanya watched with her mouth gaping as Jareth flicked his wrist and Odella disappeared from the room.

When Jareth went to walk away, Tanya clutched his arm. "Wait, where are you going?"

"To check on Sarah."

"I want to come with you," Tanya said.

Jareth nodded and he and his sister transported to the physicians room.

"Where are they?" Jareth demanded of the servant who was left to take messages for the physician.

"They are in Sarah's chamber, my king."

Jareth held onto Tanya's arm and transported them to the door of Sarah's chamber.

Leaving Tanya in the hallway, he entered into Sarah's chambers unannounced. The elderly physician was kneeling over Sarah who was lying on her bed. Jareth watched as the physician carefully examined the wound to her temple.

"How is she?" Jareth asked quietly, not wanting to disturb Sarah who appeared to be sleeping.

"She'll live. But she may have a nasty headache for a few days." He placed his tools back into his physician's bag and said, "Just let her rest as long as you can. No up and running around. I would order her to stay in bed for a few days but somehow I doubt she would obey."

Jareth grinned. "She is a very stubborn woman."

The physician chuckled, "a stubborn woman who is head over heels in love with you."

Jareth tilted his head.

"Over and over in her state of unconsciousness she would call out for you. It would probably be a good idea if you would stay with her for awhile." The physician walked towards the doorway, "I'll be back to check on her tomorrow."

Jareth looked down at Sarah, who was still asleep. Locks of her hair lay against her pale face. He reached down and smoothed them out of her face; she stirred and mumbled a few words. Jareth smiled briefly when he caught his name on her lips. He knelt down by her bedside and took her hand in his, rubbing his thumb softly across her hand. When her small fingers tightened around his hand he looked up.

Sarah was looking down at him. Her face was white from pain and when she tried to talk, Jareth said, "Shh, just rest right now. You had a pretty nasty fall. But everything will be okay now."

"Hold me," Sarah whispered.

Jareth lay on the bed beside her and Sarah cuddled up to his side, laying her head against his chest. His heart beat soothing her to a peaceful sleep.

While she slept, Jareth softly stroked her hair. He had come so close to losing her. If she only knew he would sacrifice his beating heart to keep her safe. The only thing he needed was her by his side forever.

Not sure if I did a good job writing this one :/