Jareth flew to his sister's side and waited. He'd hated lying to Sarah about the runner but she'd only worry if he told her the truth. Valeria's fangs were showing, and she was restless as the wraiths swirled nearby, howling in anger. They all had the faces of the people they'd been in life when they moaned and Valeria found herself searching to see if a certain beloved face was there. She was not sure if she was saddened or relieved when she did not see it.

Ariana fought below, on the ground. Fighting on horseback was her thrill, using her sword to slice through trolls of the dark kingdom filled her with an almost insane thrill that contrasted with her calm court demeanor.

"I cannot believe Eliza let it get this far," Jareth said, almost sadly. "To willingly become a wraith, to leave her home and family for certain destruction. Is her need for power so great that she would defy her loyalties?" A spear of poisoned light flew past and Jareth ducked easily. If if had hit him, he would have disintegrated on the spot. Another thing to never tell his Sarah. Winged monkeys attacked from the forests and the Fae guards worked tirelessly to destroy them. The squeals blurred into the otherwise quiet evening and torches were lit to light the battlefield. "

She's always been so, brother. We were quite afraid you would wed the witch simply to get an heir. For that reason alone, I'm quite happy you've found the little human girl." She paused to look at him sideways. "How did the courting go?"

"The Queen's garden chose her," he said, grabbing an iron tipped arrow and binding it to the shaft quickly. Valeria's eyes grew wide. He grabbed a crossbow and started to load it with his newly formed arrow as another spear came close to his head.

"You mean to wed the child," she said in a low voice. "I'd only teased before but I see the longing in your eyes, brother. You love her."

"I do, with every fiber of my being. She has been chosen to be queen by this world and my heart. None can dispute her claim on me."

"Ah but she has not made such a claim," his sister reminded him as she loaded her crossbow. The arrow gleamed in the haze of sunset and she smiled. "Has she?"

"Not as such, but we've only begun to court, Valeria. The girl needs time." He shot a warning towards the creatures below and smiled when he heard a scream of pain. A mulitude of spears flew towards them as the wraiths advanced. This battle would rage all night and no one would really be declared the victor. But the stronghold would stand firm at the end of the night and the evil would be pushed back once again.

"These petty skirmishes bore me," Jareth said, aiming another arrow at a monkey who had flown too close. It hit the beast, bursting it into a flurry of dark magic and fur.

"They look to weaken us brother, to make us think this is the extent of their plans. But I have sensed more from them lately. This is nothing."

"Then we will have to be prepared, sister mine."

JSJSJS

Summer vacation came and Sarah went out with her friends a lot. She avoided Robert even though he'd continued to call her house. Karen didn't understand why she was suddenly not wanting to see the boy.

"He's not inappropriate is he?" she'd asked carefully. Sarah had given her a blank stare then started laughing.

"No, not at all. I'm just not that interested in dating him. When we were at the carnival we saw some birds fighting and he didn't care if any of them got hurt. I didn't like that."

"Ah yes, you are such an animal lover," her stepmother said, nodding. They'd become closer in the last few weeks and Sarah was starting to open up to her.

"You have no idea," Sarah muttered.

"What dear?"

"Oh, nothing. Hey do you and Dad think you'll go out this weekend? I really want to spend some more time with Toby."

"Really? This is such a change for you, Sarah. You're really growing up fast." Karen hugged her and Sarah smiled. She was growing up, just not fast enough for a certain king. He hadn't had a chance to visit her since their date and Sarah was getting restless. It was August already and she hadn't found a boy she liked well enough to date. Which meant, no Jareth.

"Actually, there is a dance at the country club tonight and I was wondering if you'd like to go with us. Mr. Johnson's nephew William is in town and he's just your age. I mean, not that you'd have to consider it a date."

"A date - sounds perfect," Sarah perked up considerably. "I'd love to help out like that and I love dancing." She remembered her dance with Jareth at the faire and smiled. "I really love dancing."

"Wonderful, I'll call Mrs. Johnson and let her know you'll go out with William. Do you want to know anything about him?"

"Um, no - let him be a surprise," Sarah said and Karen laughed.

"I don't know what's come over you lately, Sarah, but I have to say - I'm enjoying it."

"So am I, Karen," Sarah grinned, thinking that she'd see Jareth again soon. "So am I."

Later that afternoon, Sarah sat in her room listening to the summer storm that beat against her window. She dressed for the party, being careful to put her crystal necklace on and put her dagger in her purse. Better safe then sorry, she supposed. She pinned her owl pin onto her dress too. She was going to surround herself with every reminder of Jareth she could.

She played with her pet rock and learned he was a very smart little guy. She put him in her purse too so he would not be lonely. She'd started taking him everywhere with her and somehow, she hadn't felt so alone.

She took her Labyrinth book out and felt guilty. She hadn't looked at it since her birthday celebration, she'd been so busy with school and friends. She opened it to the blank pages and wondered what to ask about for her first request. What would Jareth want her to know first?

"I wish I knew more about Jareth," she said softly and instantly the pages filled with text and illustrations in full color that moved like a movie on the page. She saw the moment of his birth and his parents holding him with love. She gasped - his mother was beautiful. His parents were the High King and Queen of the entire Fae world. He'd never mentioned that.

He'd had a happy childhood, and he was a prankster even then. He met Hoggle when he was very young and convinced the dwarf to be his personal servant. They had gotten into a lot of trouble together and Sarah was surprised to see that the two of them were actually quite close in spite of the threats and bickering.

She saw his first crush, a beautiful water sprite who eventually left him for the sea. She saw the other nobles spite him because he was to lead the goblin kingdom, a task beneath most of them. She saw the dark king battle the High Court and kill his parents. His heart crushed, he swore to never love again and built the Labyrinth to hide his hurt. There he would go to forget all who had left him and he was very sad for a long time.

And then she saw herself enter the Labyrinth and read how the great Goblin King fell in love with the mortal child. Her eyes filled with tear and she missed him now more than she ever had before.

"Sarah, it's time to go to the club, are you ready?"

"Sure, Karen, let me get my coat." She threw Hoggle's mirror into her purse and ran out to meet her date.