Hello all! I'm very VERY sorry that I haven't updated more recently, but I have had a LOT of drama I wish I didn't have going on. On top of that, I just moved back to Carolina! SO I hope everyone will forgive me.

"...Kirstin," I glanced up from the fruity dessert I was steadily savoring. His eyes were a bit cloaked by the sconces lit behind him in the private dining room. I paused with a spoonful of toasted almonds and sauteed peaches halfway to my mouth.

Seeing my full attention on him, he swung his gaze to the chair next to me, and I knew I was in for it. He cleared his throat softly, then continued, "I was wondering... I heard some of your errant thoughts earlier after... after you became a resident of the Labyrinth." He glanced at me, waited for me to nod, then looked away again.

Go on, Jareth.

"I... before I continue I must confess that since you were... here permanently, I have kept your sister's memory in tact." I blinked at that. You mean they still remember me?

I almost rose, but he waved the question down, "No, no, don't misunderstand. No one but her remembers you. It was a purely vengeful act, my dear. I wanted her... I wanted her to regret what she did and to... well torment her for a while. I've sent the goblins to plague her for some time."

I wryly thought, So that's why it's so quiet... but got back to the conversation. Jareth, I appreciate that, but I don't think you-

He cut me off. "I have," He smiled at the phrase, "a gift. Do you want it?" He tossed a crystal in the air with one hand, catching it before it hit the table. "It will show you your sister." He softly spoke the last part as he eased his hand halfway across the table.

Jareth had surprised me. At first, I wasn't sure what to think. I wanted to take him up on the offer, but at the same time I was sure I didn't want to know.

You... You haven't hurt her, have you?

He lifted half his mouth in a somewhat smile. "She is unharmed and untouched by myself and my subjects, just as untouched as when she left."

I set my half finished dessert on the side of me, and extended my hand for the orb. I... I suppose I should check on her... I peered down and watched the unfolding chaos.

Elizabeth woke to the sound of hammering. What they were those little cretins doing now? She stood, following the noise, until she came to her 'other' bedroom. Her parents didn't remember. But she did. She remembered all about her half sister and all that she'd put Elizabeth through.

She nearly shrieked when she opened the door to find goblins tearing apart her old belongings viciously. "What are you buggers doing here?" She heard her voice escalate and was glad her parents were gone for work already.

The smallest goblin, baring rows of sharp, shiny teeth, scooted up to her. Its hair flew about as if it had been electrocuted- she noted out of the corner of her eyes that the side lamp wires were chewed through. "Make new Queeny happy. Eat 'em up! Eat 'em up!" He sprinted up the nearest wall, catapulting itself onto the chandelier, making it swing precariously.

Elizabeth shook with rage, whether at the mention of her half sister or the goblins antics, she didn't know. Then a word struck her from the goblins' explanation. "Queeny? She's your queen? Her? You have to be kidding me. She's mute. How could she possibly issue royal decrees? You little idiots surely can't read." She laughed oddly, as if she wasn't sure if she should.

Another, bigger, less intelligent -if that was possible, she thought disdainfully- goblin came forward, whilst tearing apart a brocaded blue pillow. "Soon to be queen. King tran-late what Queen need. King mine-eater!" He seemed proud of his vast vocabulary, grinning, then pouncing on an old toy from her childhood that she had once cherished.

Mine-eater? Mind reader? How… what… Why would he pick such a useless, stupid girl for such a title? He should be choosing someone with the grace and leadership skills a queen should have!

Her rage exploded through her, making her face so red, one goblin swore he saw fire burst from her ears.

"Get out of my house you cretins! Get out; get out; get out!" She began throwing her ruined belongings around the room, uncaring whether she hit the goblins scattering throughout the room or her own possessions.

I watched this through the crystal Jareth had given me. My god, does she really think that? I could see how much she hated me from the look on her face.I set down the orb on the table, sighing deeply. How can someone of your own blood hate you with such power?

I looked up after the thought, remembering my audience. His eyes were soft, sad for me. It angered me enough to stand up and berate him.

Don't you pity me! There's nothing wrong. She's gone. She's home. My duty has been done! If she wants to wash her hands of me, so be it! I do the same!

I turned and stalked outside the doorway and then stopped. I sighed then, feeling suddenly sorry for my outburst. I shouldn't blame him.

I turned back and knelt down next to his chair, where he watched me sullenly, making me feel all the more terrible. Jareth, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. You can't help what you feel, and I shouldn't expect you to.

He nodded and seemed determined to forget the happening. The crystal, I noticed, had disappeared, as had our incomplete meal. He held his hand out to me, and, tentatively, I took it.

We passed through twisting passages to find an enchanting courtyard with tinkling chimes echoing and vines growing uncontrolled and free.

I smiled at the intimate little bench situated at the back, so blocked off from any view of the castle, it almost seemed to be its own little separate world.

He settled me on the bench, majiking a book from thin air. I recognized the author, despite the frilly script. Robert Frost. I smiled even wider as he opened to a marked page.

He spoke with a distinguished air, watching me and not looking at the page.

"The rose is a rose,

And was always a rose.

But the theory now goes

That the apple's a rose,

And the pear is, and so's

The plum, I suppose.

The dear only know

What will next prove a rose.

You, of course, are a rose-

But were always a rose."

I blinked in surprise at the recitation, but ignored the unavoidable awkwardness. That was beautiful. Will you read another for me?

He took my brushed off tension, frowned, and, still watching me, turned to another marked page.

His eyes were sharper as he spoke

"She is as in a field a silken tent

At midday when the sunny summer breeze

Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent,

So that in guise it gently sways at ease,

And its supporting central cedar pole,

That is its pinnacle to heavenward

And signifies the sureness of the soul,

Seems to owe naught to any single cord,

But strictly held by none, is loosely bound

By countless silken ties of love and thought

To everything on earth the compass round,

And only by one's going slightly taut

In the capriciousness of summer air

Is of the slightest bondage made aware."

I straightened up, getting mad again. How dare he, of all people, romanticize my caged predicament? I glared up at him and shot off my own poem before he had uttered another word.

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind

and floats downstream

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

and he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.

I stood as I recited my favorite poem by Maya Angelou, facing Jareth, daring him to come up with something else.

He snapped the book shut. "Very well then, precious, I see we can't see eye to eye on the finer arts, perhaps you have something else in mind?" His eyes were dark, but he and I both knew he should have expected that reaction from me.

I relented my stiff stance and walked softly over to a nearby vine. I lifted a seeking tendril, and watched, amazed as it wound around one of my fingers instantly.

The plant shivered, and I felt a shake course through me as well. Jareth quickly came over and pulled away the delicate feeler. He spoke quietly, "Majik, you see, is an emotional power."

I made a connection. That's why Sarah and I were able to make wishes. You have an emotional connection to us.

He nodded, looking down at my inquisitive gaze. "And also how you could fly as you ran as fast as you could."

I shook my head, but refused to bring up an argument again.

A small creature fluttered by, and I pulled my head back, realizing it was a fairy. They bite, right?

He chuckled a bit at my nervousness. "Yes, but only if you touch them. They're vicious about looking immaculate."

I relaxed, and made a mental note to not touch the fairies, then giggled silently as I remembered who I was standing next to. He laughed as well.

We could both feel the tension left over, but silently agreed to forget it for now. This was a moot conversation- I was stuck, and he was my jailer. The disagreement was on how each other viewed it.

I wandered the garden ahead of him, feeling his eyes follow me but ignoring it. I watched beautiful plants devour each other, and familiar ones sway in a sweet breeze.

Roses covered the far wall, pink, yellow, blue, white, and red. I caressed a soft ruby petal as I passed by.

"A rose among roses," I heard him say under his breath, but I pretended that I hadn't, instead continued to walk past the wall, finding a beautiful hedge of Gardenias. Their white blossomed seemed to glow and their heady fragrance flowed over me.

At the same moment I inhaled, I felt a wave of power from the castle that nearly threw me to the ground. I shot my head up, and caught myself about to speak out loud. What was that?

Jareth glared towards the nearest tower. "My resident sorceress: Eliana. You've met her already."

I nodded, careful with my thoughts. Well, I hope she's alright. That felt a little explosive.

He chuckled, "Indeed, my dear." His eyes focused on mine with a startling clarity. "I don't suppose you have any… worries to voice?" I peered up at him, feigning ignorance.

He raised a brow as I barely kept from wringing my hands behind my back. No, why would you ask?

He looked up at the tower, eyes thoughtful and lingering, and I pulled my thoughts together. When he looked back towards me, he was smiling. "Precious, this is my kingdom. My castle. My Labyrinth." He walked towards me as he spoke, until he towered over me, and I had to stop my thoughts from giving myself away. I quickly recited nonsensical poems.

He peered down his aquiline nose at me, easily seeing that I was hiding something. "Kirstin... This is my domain. I will not be made a fool of. I know that you made a deal with Eliana. Give up the ghost."

I blinked up at him, forgetting to recite, I... I can't tell you. A brief moment of comedy struck me, and I grinned like an idiot. It's in the rules!

His glare only deepend, not at all entertained by my momentary jest. He leaned over me against the-apparently stronger than they look- bushes. "Darling, I know the 'rules' and that game has come and gone. I want the truth."

I mimed zipping my lips, locking them, and throwing away the key. His eyes widened at my defiance, and he turned on his heel, fuming. "Fine. That's just fine, precious. But tell me, what had you planned on doing with this?" Still facing away, he lifted up his necklace, and I pat my pocket, wondering how he had gotten it.

He looked back now, eyes glaring and dark with leashed anger. I smiled cheekily. I had snatched it not long after we had... agreed on our bet. I don't suppose it matters now, Jare. You win in that regards.

He sighed loudly, smiling slightly at my continued attitude. "I would suppose not. But don't push your luck, Kirstin. Until you have learned to control your powers, you couldn't use this without harming yourself." He swept away as swift as the wind that followed his absence.

I quickly lost my smirk. "That was close." I whispered. "I'm glad the pendant distracted him."

"But it won't for very long, Princess." I turned to see an old man... or maybe he was a goblin... sitting on a bench not far from me. He looked ancient, robes cascading down over the ground, much longer than his feet.

I blinked at surprise, then shrugged. Nothing is as it seems. I focused on him. "So how would I keep him from questioning it a bit longer?"

He jerked, as if he'd been on the verge of sleeping, and shook himself. "Ah, well, young lady, what matters is not the past, but how we move on to the future."

"Huh?" I wondered if he was addled from the years. I turned away, looking up to where the castle should be, then turned to ask him again, only to find a wall of roses three inches from my nose. "Oh!" I jerked back in surprise.

The roses bloomed as I watched, and I sighed in disappointment before turning back to the castle entrance. Maybe I could make my way back to my room.. scratch that. I need to find a new room.

Twin eyes watched her leave. "Take your chance, fool!" One set hissed.

The others closed, "I'll decide my move, creature. My actions are mine."

Alright guys, again, sorry about the long wait, and thank you everyone for favorites and following!

Poems don't belong to me. Robert Frost and Maya Angelou own them!