AN: Heeey, everyone! I know it's been a YEAR since my last update and I am truly sorry. Being a full-time mom and running my own writing business leaves very little time for writing for pleasure, but I am so excited to finally be sharing more of this story. I've already written part of the next chapter so please come back and let me know what you think! Love, Violet

From her treetop perch Sarah watched as the band of warrior dwarves led her friends across the border. "Prisoners," she thought sadly. She prayed that they would be treated well until she and Jareth could reach the palace and try to fix this mess. As she turned to face Jareth to discuss their next move, she felt slightly awkward to realize his arm was still wrapped around her waist. A gentle night breeze blew the tips of Jareth's silvery hair against her cheek and she blushed crimson at the heightened sense of proximity. Belatedly she realized that with her friends gone she and Jareth would be alone together for who knew how long; the prospect was simultaneously exciting and slightly terrifying.

As conflicting emotions started to bubble up Sarah tried to push away, but her tired feet slipped beneath her on the tree branch. She stifled a yelp and wound up grabbing furiously at Jareth's high collar and then his chest in an unfortunately undignified manner. Outwardly she shut her eyes tightly and grimaced. Inwardly she nearly died of embarrassment.

"Easy, Sarah! I've got you!" Jareth exclaimed, surprised and amused. Sarah gingerly opened one eye, looked down hesitantly, groaned, and then shut it again.

"Your confidence in me is thrilling," Jareth deadpanned, but he gently brushed her hair away from her tightly shut eyes. "You really don't like heights, do you? Now that your friends are across the border, let's see if I can't move us someplace slightly less terrifying for you." With a snap of his fingers, he and Sarah were standing at the base of the tree. Sarah quickly stepped out of his embrace.

"Thanks," she mumbled, truly grateful at the feeling of soil under her shoes, but still inwardly groaning at their earlier interaction.

"Of course," Jareth replied, raising one eyebrow as he glanced at her. Given how used he was to flying, he hadn't thought twice about putting them up in that tree, but Sarah looked positively green. His brain flashed back to a crumbling room, a baby below, a girl taking a giant leap of faith…

"So, you snapped your fingers?" Sarah asked, breaking his reverie.

"What?" Jareth said, momentarily confused.

"Like…just a second ago. To get us down. You know, like…." Sarah said, snapping her own fingers and gesturing vaguely.

"Oh. Well, yes," Jareth replied, starting to pick up on the awkwardness.

"Wow, I mean, okay. That's…I guess I had only seen you do the crystals before. That's cool, I mean, the um, magical finger snapping," Sarah said, rather lamely. Jareth stared at her with an amused expression on his face. Sarah smiled nervously and started to try to say something else before groaning and hiding her face in her hands, her long dark hair spilling over her shoulders.

Jareth burst out laughing.

Sarah peeked out at him indignantly through her fingers.

"Oh, come on, Sarah," Jareth said coaxingly, gently tugging at her wrists. "It's going to be okay. Look, you're exhausted. You had a long and challenging day and have had no sleep. That can make any human despair."

Sarah reluctantly dropped her hands. "Good point, I guess."

"Unfortunately, since your friends have managed to get themselves captured, I'm sure you won't allow me to talk you into resting. Here, try this instead," Jareth said. With a flick of his wrist he conjured a crystal, which then transformed into a serving platter with two steaming cups and two flaky pastries. "Though I do hesitate to give this to you, it will help."

Sarah glanced at him suspiciously. "Why? Is it some kind of enchanted Underground food to help me stay awake?"

Jareth smirked. "Hardly. In fact it's from Above." He took a pastry in hand and bit into it. "Delicious."

Sarah tentatively picked one up too and took a careful bite. To her surprise, it was a tender, buttery croissant filled with chocolate cream. Despite her distress, she smiled – it was one of the best things she'd ever tried.

"You like it! Wonderful. The goblins have a tremendous sweet tooth but they never truly appreciate the finer things. Try your drink too," he added, handing a warm mug to her.

"Not a secret potion?" she asked, raising it to her lips cautiously.

"Just a cappuccino," he replied, eyes twinkling. "With extra foam."

"Hey, that's just the way I like it!" Sarah exclaimed, taking a sip of the warm beverage. The taste was milky and sweet at first but a sharp bitterness chased it as she swallowed. Still, she noticed, she was already feeling better.

"Why did you say you would hesitate to give this to me?" Sarah asked, perplexed. "It's delicious!"

"And strong!" Jareth replied. "There's three shots of espresso in there – way too much caffeine for you under ordinary circumstances." He grinned at her as she rolled her eyes, but she smiled back at him. "Here, finish your croissant and let's take our drinks with us so we can get moving. And enjoy it, because after we cross the border I won't be able to conjure more."

"Thanks," Sarah said, brushing the crumbs from her hands. "I am feeling better now. Let's go."

"Good," Jareth replied gesturing ahead at the eerie green glow. "The border is not far, but after that we will have a long way to go."

Back at the Williams home, Karen was also drinking coffee, anxiously twisting her mug in her hands. She'd gone downstairs to check the guest bedroom and the kitchen just to make sure Sarah wasn't down there, but when she found no trace of her she grew even more worried.

"It's not like Sarah to sneak out," she thought. "Should I wake Robert? Or maybe Sarah just woke up early and decided to go for a walk?" Even as she tried to convince herself that might be the case, Karen knew it wasn't. That nagging feeling still hadn't gone away – plus Merlin was still curled up in his dog bed by the fireplace. He would have woken up for sure if Sarah had come through the kitchen.

"Maybe she left a note," Karen thought. "I'll go check her room one more time."

Karen crept quietly up the stairs, not wanting to disturb her sleeping husband or Toby until she had to. She slipped into Sarah's room and closed the door. Looking around a little guiltily, she carefully checked for any sign Sarah may have left, absentmindedly straightening the purple hairbrush on the vanity. She went over to the window, but to her surprise it was firmly shut – and locked from the inside.

"Well, she didn't go out that way," Karen thought. "How did she get past Merlin? What in the world is going on?" She felt a chill pass over her. "What if someone came and took her?"

Karen anxiously walked back to Sarah's perfectly made-up bed and sat down on it. No sign of a note anywhere. She noticed the little red book on Sarah's nightstand. She knew Sarah often took it with her to the park or tucked it into her backpack, but today it was still here. Karen picked it up, looking for a note, when a strange envelope fluttered out of the book and onto the floor. Karen leaned over to pick it up. The envelope was made from thick, smooth parchment paper with gilded edges and was addressed in perfect black calligraphy to "Miss Sarah Williams, Champion of the Labyrinth." Karen flipped it over and ran her finger over the black wax seal embossed with the figure of a flying owl. She thought about the owl pendant she had given to Sarah and her chills intensified. "What is this?" she wondered. Hesitatingly she slipped her fingernail under the seal, knowing she was invading her stepdaughter's privacy. "She may hate me for this…again," Karen thought resignedly. "But what if she's in trouble?" Gingerly she opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. But as she opened it, it turned to a glittery dust in her hands and blew away. Shocked, Karen stood up quickly, dropping the envelope.

"Robert!" she cried.