Sarah got to her room and threw herself onto her bed. Finally, in the safety of her apartment, she let the tears flow. She just didn't understand what was happening to her. She was emotionally exhausted and soon fell asleep.
She dreamt as she usually did, but somehow, this dream felt different. She cast her eyes around, but found herself in an unfamiliar bedroom, at the foot of a giant canopy bed which was the focal point of the room and was overflowing with lush silver, black, and white bedding, pillows, and curtains, that glimmered in the soft light. At her back, she felt the heat of a fire and turned slowly to see a grand fireplace. It was made of dark granite and shining crystal, and the fire bounced off both rocks, in a dazzling dance of light and shadow. To the left of the bed was a single wooden door, carved with intricate designs, but from her place at the foot of the bed, she could not make out what the designs were. To the right, was a pair of double glass doors that were thrown open, black chiffon curtains were blowing from a light breeze and she stepped hesitantly toward the doors.
As she drew near, she realized that doors opened upon a balcony, it's railing was only slightly higher than her waist, and as she stepped outside, she was overcome with a sense of familiarity and apprehension. Far below her was a small courtyard and village, surrounded by a high wall made entirely out of stone. There were no lights on in the village and it made Sarah wonder what time it was. She cast her eyes beyond the wall and felt her chest tighten. Instantly, she recognized the vast Labyrinth and it stretched for what seemed like miles, in front of her.
"Breathtaking, isn't it, Love?" The voice came out of the darkness and Sarah whirled around. Seated in the shadows was a figure, he lounged casually on the railing. The moon drifted from behind a cloud and she realized with a start that it was Him. The one person who had haunted her dreams and fantasies, for three years. She came face to face with his impossible perfection of the Goblin King and found herself both afraid and instantly intrigued.
He cocked an eyebrow at her and Sarah felt as though she had swallowed her tongue. Without meaning to, she found that she had backed up into the railing and was now trapped in his gaze.
"Sarah?" He prompted, expectantly, and Sarah swallowed past the lump in her throat.
"G-Goblin King?" She finally managed to squeak out, and instantly hated herself for her lack of courage. He smirked at her and waved his hand dismissively.
"Call me, Jareth." He said as he hopped lightly from the railing, "Goblin King, is so formal." He took two careful steps toward her and Sarah felt her pulse rise. He paused with a foot between them and stared at her thoughtfully, before he continued. "So what can I do for you, Precious?"
Sarah narrowed her eyes in confusion, "what can you… What do you mean, 'What can I do for you?'" She needed to get herself together. She was thoroughly embarrassed by the effect his nearness was having on her.
"You called for me, Sarah." Jareth stated, matter-of-factly, "so, what can I do for you?" Sarah felt taken aback.
"I didn't call for you." She whispered, as Jareth leaned into her. He raised a gloved hand and pinched a strand of her dark hair between his fingers.
"Oh, you didn't?" He mused and pulled a crystal from the air. In it, she saw herself, lying on her bed, asleep, and felt a pang of anger as she heard herself cry out his name in her sleep.
"Well that doesn't count!" She insisted as she slapped his hand away from her hair. "I was asleep." The crystal vanished in a spray of glitter and Sarah held her breath to keep from inhaling it.
"Asleep, or awake, it doesn't matter." He persisted as he leaned even further into her. Sarah found herself trapped between his arms as he rested them on the balcony railing on either side of her waist. She put her hands between their bodies, in an attempt to keep some space for herself.
"I didn't mean to." She averted his eyes and found herself staring at the pendant that he always wore around his neck. Her fingers itched to touch it., but instead, she balled her hands into fists.
"Hmm…" He mused gently. "You will mean it soon enough." He whispered softly, and with that he vanished.
"That wasn't fair." Sarah said grudgingly to the empty balcony and she wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold from the King's sudden departure.