Hawthorn

by Andrea S. LeMay

It has been over a decade since she reached the castle beyond the Goblin City. Sarah attempts to start over in Galway, Ireland, a land of ancient magic and ritual. She doesn't realize that once you get to the center of the Labyrinth, you'll never get out again, and Goblin Kings don't forget easily. "Come away, o human child, to the waters and the wild."

7. An Ungrateful Guest

[Chapter 7] — An Ungrateful Guest

Disclaimer: I don't own the Goblin King or any of Jim Henson's creations. However, all original characters, including Dryope, are mine! Enjoy :).

"I'm so sorry." Sarah whispered. The winds of the Underground howled. "I wish I could have saved you." She dropped to her knees, fingers digging into the earth. She squeezed her eyes shut as tears pooled under her closed lids, sliding down her cheeks to the ground, absorbed by the soil below. She didn't notice the faint cerulean glow escaping the dirt surrounding her fingertips or the small silent sparks of light that erupted from her tears as they flowed to the earth beneath the roots of the willow.

She couldn't say how long she remained gripping the earth below her hands for.

"Aye," A soft voice behind her called. "No ye' have seen it for yourself. Another of us had forgotten ourselves. Hooves crinkled leaves next to her feet as the Puck came upon her. "Dryope was a beautiful sort."

"I didn't realize."

"It's almost everywhere now. Most of the Labyrinth has been spared, but even now it creeps on the Northern woods. The Elven kingdom has been cunning enough to avoid the loss, but we are delaying the inevitable. The River of the Dead has escaped the underworld and takes the underground with it."

"This is awful." Sarah stared at her hands in her lap helplessly and she couldn't help but think of all the creatures she happened upon in the Labyrinth, of her friends, Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus, and of her bewildering nemesis.

"Yes."

"We have to do something." She urged. Robin eyed her strangely, as if he was trying to figure out how to fit together the pieces of a very perplexing puzzle.

"What would ye' do as a mortal?"

"I don't know! But we can't let this happen here, not to this place!" Sarah threw up her arms in frustration.

"Morrigan thinks this is your fault." Robin murmured softly.

"My fault?" She questioned incredulously.

"She believes you caused an imbalance in power in the underground when you conquered the Labyrinth and declared your kingdom equal to Jareth. Four ancient gods gave him a charge to bring you or the heir back to the Underground within a decade of your victory."

"Over my dead body. I would have never let that happen."

"Well that is the point, my dear mortal." Robin smiled eerily with pointed teeth. "Jareth failed ,and three years ago, the rivers of the Lethe came to the waters of the Underground. Morrigan blames your victory and Jareth's failure for these imbalances. She believes…"

"That killing me will restore balance to this world." Sarah finished, her eyes wide. "Well that's just preposterous! I don't have any powers!"

"Oh?"

"No!" Sarah scuttled back from Robin swiftly. "Do you want to kill me too?" She whispered.

"Oh, not quite." Robin smiled. "You are far too entertaining to kill. And I just love to get under Jareth's skin." Sarah grinned uneasily at him. "No, no. This is too much fun to give up just yet. I will keep helping you much to the Goblin King's ire. I do love to see 'im squirm." Sarah felt a zephyr stirring to her right, and Robin glanced to the willow tree, the drooping branches swaying in the wind. His eyes narrowed on the roots which were glowing almost imperceptibly. Sarah watched curiously as the azure light crept up the willow bark.

"That light …" He murmured. "What did you do?" He looked at Sarah with astonishment.

"I haven't done anything." Sarah couldn't tear her eyes away from the small tree as it shivered and took on the form of a woman once more. Her mouth dropped open and Robin stared in amazement as Dryope opened her eyes, discarding the form of a soulless tree like rain after a storm with three shakes, cerulean and gold dust falling to the forest floor. Dryope smiled and walked towards Sarah. She gripped Sarah gently around her upper arms, pulling her into a fierce embrace.

"What are you?" Puck asked Sarah. "How did you…? What did you…?" He was shaking his head in disbelief. Sarah was completely speechless in the dryad's embrace.

"Banrion." Dryope murmured into Sarah's ear through her chestnut hair. "Thank you. You have returned me to myself, and I can continue to guard this forest."

"I haven't the faintest clue what I did." She replied. Dryope pulled back to stare deeply into the young woman's eyes.

"A gift for you, Banrion." Before Sarah could stop her, the dryad swiftly pressed her lips to Sarah's, and Sarah's eyebrows shot up in shock. She had never kissed a woman before, or a fairy tale creature for that matter. As quickly as she had brushed her lips against Sarah's, they were gone. Sarah thought she could feel gold dust and magic clinging to her lips. "Your dreams." The Dryad murmured. Sarah looked at her with a question on her lips, but before she could respond, she felt herself falling to the earth below, Robin's arms guiding her to the ground.

The Puck's brows furrowed as he studied the sleeping human woman. "What do we do with you now, Sarah Williams?"

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"Well?" Toby asked the man dressed in black in front of him, mustering up his courage. Jareth said nothing at first, appraising the teenager in from of him who was clutching Sarah's copy of The Labyrinth in his hand. "I know it was you who took her."

"Hello, Tobias. I'm surprised you know who I am."

"It's Toby." The teen corrected the monarch. "I read the book. I know who you are. I remember you. Sarah thinks I don't remember, but I heard her talking to the mirror in her room to some dwarf named Hedgehog." He pronounced. Jareth attempted to hide his chuckle behind a black leather glove. "This isn't funny! I know she wished me away when I was a baby. It was hard to forgive her…but anyway that doesn't matter. Riona called the house from Galway freaking out, asking if I heard from her. Sarah's missing as well. What did you do with her?"

"I did not take her."

"Lies."

"If you know what I am, Toby, you know I cannot lie." Toby's eyes narrowed.

"But you know who did."

"Yes."

"Tell me." Toby demanded defiantly. That defiance was so familiar to him, Jareth mused to himself with nostalgia, so like his sister. Jareth tapped a gloved finger against his chin thoughtfully.

"Hmm…yes, under one condition. I will tell you."

"Name it."

"You will help me save her." Jareth held out his hand to the young man before him. Toby Williams stared at the black glove in front of him with trepidation. Sarah had warned him to never strike a bargain with a fae, but this was his sister's life. Without a second thought, much like his older sister, Toby grabbed Jareth's hand.

"Deal." He whispered shaking his hand quickly.

"A bargain has been struck. It was the trickster Puck, Robin Goodfellow, and he wants your sister dead."

"What?!"

"Are you ready foolish and brave, Tobias Williams?"

"For what?"

"Why, to return to the Labyrinth, of course." Jareth flashed a feral smile, his sharp teeth catching in the light. Toby attempted to pull his hand away, but it was too late. The earth swirled around them and disappeared, morphing into the throne room in the castle beyond the Goblin City. "Welcome back, young master." He grinned, a group of goblins surrounding them with interest.

"How do we find Sarah?"

"Well, I don't exactly know where…wait," Jareth could feel a familiar pull from the pit of his stomach. Another summons. Not a wish. A dream. Someone was dreaming of him.

"Hey!" Toby exclaimed. "Don't ignore me." Jareth didn't respond. He turned from Toby and walked briskly to the balcony. A dreamer in the northern woods. That could only be one person. He quickly transformed into an owl and took flight, leaving a bewildered Toby Williams gaping after him.

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When Sarah opened her eyes, a familiar damp smell greeted her. She was in an oubliette. She could not for the life of her figure out how she arrived there.

"So this is where you put me then?" A familiar sensuous male voice asked in the darkness before her. Sarah shut her eyes tightly attempting to ignore the voice. "Sarah." She opened her eyes to two beautiful mismatched ones. Jareth. "Hello." He murmured.

"How did I get here?" She asked vehemently, stepping back.

"You put yourself here." He chuckled, eyes flashing with mirth, moving closer to her. "That's the honest truth."

"Let me go." She took a step back

"Never." He stepped closer to her again as his face grew serious. "I will never let you go. I can't."

"Please. You don't even know me." Sarah tried to take another step back but panicked as her heel and back hit the stone wall of the oubliette behind her.

"You don't even know yourself." He growled, his hands slammed on either side of her, and her breath hitched in surprise. She was trapped. He had walked her right up to the wall. He was so close, she could smell him, the earth and spice and electric scent of his magic. She looked up at him through half-lidded eyes. "Why are you fighting me?" He brought his lips down to her neck and dragged his nose up to the curve of her jaw, inhaling deeply. She shivered. Why was she resisting him? She could feel him pause. He wouldn't. She could feel him smile into her neck, as he nipped her with his sharp teeth and licked the skin there. Sarah closed her eyes, suppressing a moan. "You could just so easily give in." A gloved hand came to rest on the bare skin under her shirt just above her jeans. He began to caress the skin of her abdomen, fingers walking achingly slow up her ribs. She shuddered as his thumb brushed the underside of her breast. "You want me." He commanded decisively.

"I…"

Everything happened too quickly. A scream pierced the air of the oubliette and Sarah clutched at her ears. The boundaries of the oubliette began to dissolve to darkness. It wasn't real. She shook her head and the dream dissolved. When she opened her eyes, she was back on the forest floor. Dryope was screaming as Robin Goodfellow stood over her with a short-pointed blade, a blank expression over his face.

"No, Robbie! Please!" Sarah begged.

"I'm sorry, Sarah. Now I've seen it, the power you have. We need it back. Morrigan was right. This is for the Underground. I wish it could end differently for you, Champion." He lifted the blade above his head, ready to bring it down to pierce her heart. Sarah closed her eyes and covered her face with her arms, bracing for the blow that never came. There was a flutter of wings above and a flash of scorching heat. "Damn it, Jareth!" Robin yelled. He was cradling the hand that had been holding the knife. There was a pool of molten steel on the ground where the Puck had been standing. "You ruin everything."

Sarah opened her eyes, bewildered at the scene before her. Jareth was livid. His eyes were black burning coals, filled with fury and something else. Concern? Jareth's expression quickly regained control. He briefly made eye contact with her.

"Are you alright?" He asked curtly. Sarah nodded numbly in affirmation. "Good. Puck, I should kill you, but I don't have the time." His eyes flashed dangerously. "If I see your face in my kingdom again, it will be the last of you. Do you understand?" The Puck said nothing, his gaze filled with hatred as he cradled his charred hand. Jareth stalked towards him, grabbing him around the neck and lifting him up. "Do. You. Understand?" He ground out.

"Yes, your majesty."

"Good." He said darkly with disgust, dropping Robin to the earth. "Now, go." Jareth turned slowly towards Sarah, cautiously. She averted her gaze quickly, attempting to hide the color that came to her cheeks. That dream. He couldn't possibly know. "I wouldn't run if I were you. I know what you're thinking." If only he knew.

"I—you saved me." She said with wonder. "Th-" Sarah stopped herself and just stared at him. He smiled like a wolf. Yep, she thought. Still dangerous.

"Ah," He said shortly. "You stopped yourself. Smart girl to not put yourself in my debt, although, it matters not. You are in my kingdom now, and so my subject. My rules. And what a naughty subject you have been." He murmured, walking closer to her. "I told you he couldn't be trusted."

"Oh!" She bristled. "And you can?"

"Sarah," he sighed with exasperation. "I told you I won't harm you. Besides I have something you want."

"As if you have anything I want." She rolled her eyes. He tsked.

"Are you so sure?" He cocked his head to the side and smirked as he summoned a crystal to his fingertips, holding it out to her. Sarah peered into its depths and she spotted an exasperated Toby surrounded by a band of Goblins.

"Toby!" She cried. "No! What is he doing here?"

"He is helping me save you, you daft woman!" He scolded impatiently. "I wouldn't have had to bring him if you would have just come here three years ago, or if you just taken my damn hand at the river."

"I can't trust a single thing you say. I have done everything in my power to keep him safe, to keep him away from this place. This is the one thing I didn't want for him. You're so manipulative and deceitful, tricking poor Toby into coming to the Underground!"

"I didn't have a choice, Sarah, but fine!" Jareth yelled in frustration. Dryope continued to watch the couple with amused interest. "Stay here with the dryads. See if I care about what happens to you when the other things come out that go bump in the night." Jareth turned to leave and take flight, when he felt a small tug at the back of his cape.

"Wait." Sarah murmured, her small hands clutching at his cape. "Please." Jareth looked up to the skies. This human woman was going to be the death of him. He sighed openly. "I still don't trust you, but please, please take me to my brother."

"Danu, help me." He murmured to himself. Jareth turned around. He held up a gloved finger in front of her. "No more yelling." He commanded. She opened her mouth to speak, but Jareth pressed a butter soft leather finger to her lips. "Just wait to hear me out." He entreated softly. Sarah closed her mouth angrily. "Close your eyes. It makes it easier."

"Makes what easier?" Jareth smiled and wrapped an arm around her. She attempted to struggle away at first, but the world shifted under her feet, and she clutched onto his arms for dear life. She felt her stomach drop from beneath her and her heart fly up into her throat as she lost the ground beneath her feet. They were back in the throne room in the castle beyond the Goblin City. She looked up at Jareth's face, her own a sickly green. "Urgh." She said eloquently, still gripping onto his firm biceps like they were the only thing keeping her upright.

"Transportation." He finished smugly.

"You're a bastard." She ground out. Realizing she was still gripping the muscles of his upper arms, Sarah pushed the Goblin King back from her swiftly. He released her without argument. Sarah whipped around to see a messy mop of chestnut brown hair and laughter as her younger brother attempted to entertain the goblins.

"Toby!" She cried. Her brother's head whipped around.

"Sarah! You're okay!" He ran to her laughing. They hugged fiercely. "I didn't know what to think. I thought you were…"

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" She asked searchingly. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to save you." Toby said proudly. "The Goblin King brought me." He glanced at the monarch, who stood back from the siblings, allowing them a reunion without interference.

"Toby," Sarah said. "How did you even know about him? He's dangerous."

"Sarah, I know you wished me away when I was a baby…"

"What? How? Toby – I'm -"

"It's okay."

"No, Toby." She said firmly, tears forming in her eyes. "It's not. I'm so sorry."

"I forgave you a long time ago, Sar." He gave her a lopsided grin, which reminded her so much of their father. "I know you love me and fought for me."

"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered." She said as she smiled back at him, soaking in as much of her brother as she could muster. "Toby, I love you."

"I love you too, sis."

"Don't hate me." She whispered and clasped both of his hands. "Jareth." She said his name without turning away from her brother's questioning gaze. "Please send Toby back home." Toby shook his head.

"I'm not leaving without you, Sarah!"

"Toby, it's okay. I've been through this before. Your place is home with dad and Karen."

"No!"

"This is NOT a negotiation for you." She replied firmly. "I fought too hard to get you back to go through risking losing you to this world again." Jareth walked over to the siblings with purpose. He laid a hand on Sarah's shoulder.

"He could always stay in your stead, Sarah." The monarch offered. She shook his hand off of her shoulder and glared at him.

"You know that's not an option for me."

"Sarah, look at me." Jareth urged. She turned slowly towards him releasing her brother's hands to meet Jareth's mismatched eyes. "You don't want to hear this, but my castle is the safest place for your brother right now. Now that the Puck knows of your brother, he's not safe in your world, either. I can at least offer him some protection here." Sarah closed her eyes. She had lost control of the situation so quickly. "He's in more danger in your world than in mine at present." She bit her lower lip in deep thought.

"I need your word that no harm will come to him."

"You have my word."

"I need an oath, something more substantial." She huffed. Jareth smiled, which made her more nervous. He began to remove one of his gloves with his teeth. She watched in fascination as he exposed his pale skin to air. She had never seen his bare hands before. "What are you doing?" she asked hurriedly.

"You asked for something more substantial." He answered with amusement. "Give me your hand." She didn't budge. "Oh, for Danu's sake, Sarah. Must you be so stubborn. I'm not going to harm you." He grabbed her hand and placed his bare palm against hers. She shuddered at the contact, her palm tingling with tiny shocks from his skin pressed against hers. "I, Jareth, Goblin King, Master of the Labyrinth, High Prince of the Underground, do solemnly vow that no harm shall come to you, Sarah Williams, or your brother, Tobias Williams, while you are in the Underground as my guests under my protection." Her palm burned and tingled briefly as Jareth finished speaking and she snatched her hand away. He smirked at her knowingly. There was a soft glowing light in the middle of her palm, the same shape as his pendant. It pulsed a deep ocean blue briefly and settled into her skin. She attempted brushing it away with her thumb, but it didn't budge, almost as if it were tattooed into her skin.

"What is this?" She asked in amazement.

"My word." He gave her a crooked grin. "Come." He turned swiftly and beckoned to the siblings. "I will show you to your rooms. You must both be exhausted." Sarah tilted her head to the side and stared after him curiously. She just couldn't figure him out. Toby made to follow the Goblin King, but he stopped to wait for his sister who hadn't moved from her spot. Jareth quickly realized they weren't following him. He rolled his eyes and turned to them. "I haven't got all night." He stated in an exasperated tone. "I have other things to do besides babysit the Williams siblings." The Goblins tittered at their expense. Sarah grumbled with annoyance as she began to follow him out of the throne room, Toby running up beside her. They said nothing as they walked in silence through the expansive stone corridors. Sarah was curious about the castle, as she had only seen the throne room and Escher room on her prior visit.

The corridors remained lit only in front of and just behind them, sconces lighting the way in front of them and flickering out behind them. Sarah glanced behind her and noted the hallway was bathed in darkness. They walked out into crisp air across a covered walkway with great stone pillars and arches. Sarah paused momentarily. It was still night in the Labyrinth; two moons hung low near the horizon, flickering stars above them that seemed unable to stay still as they zipped across the sky.

"I've never seen any place like this." Toby whispered, coming to stand beside her.

Sarah peered into the distance. She didn't notice that Jareth had walked up right behind her.

"Yes, beautiful isn't it?" Jareth responded, his nearness making her jump and turn suddenly. The king's eyes flickered away from her and settled on the woods on the horizon. Jareth pointed over her shoulder with a gloved hand. "Over there are the Northern woods, where I found you." His finger drew slightly closer to the castle and he pointed to a great moat and drawbridge in the distance. "And that is the Northern entrance to the Labyrinth, not the same entrance you came through on your last visit, Sarah." His lips quirked as he drew out her name slowly.

"I don't recognize anything." She whispered, looking out beyond the castle.

"While the Labyrinth has changed since your last visit, you would recognize more on the southern border of my castle." He responded, his breath tickling the hairs by her ear. She stepped back from him and he chuckled. "Come, I'll show you both more of the castle and grounds tomorrow." He continued walking, and they scurried after him through the passageway.

They entered a great hall lined on one side with gilded mirrors and great arched windows on the other, two gilded doors at the end of the hall. Jareth began to walk towards the doors but turned left down another hall before they reached the doors.

"Your majesty?" Toby asked as they walked down quickly the hallway, Jareth's boots echoing off the stone. Jareth glanced behind him as they walked.

"Hm?" He replied.

"What is behind those great doors?" He asked. Even though he was a brooding teenager, Toby couldn't keep the childish excitement out of his voice, his curiosity palpable.

"Ah," Jareth began and locked eyes briefly with Sarah. "Your sister would be familiar with that room." He responded in a light tone.

"The Escher Room." Sarah muttered to herself. "Figures."

"Oh no, not the Escher room." Jareth laughed mischievously with a wide and bright smile. Sarah felt something squeeze briefly in her chest. She had never seen him laugh like that before. "The ballroom." He murmured. Sarah halted.

"What?" She asked in shock. "But that wasn't…"

"Oh, I assure you, precious thing, my ballroom is quite real. It took the better part of three years to repair the damage from that chair you smashed the walls with."

"Sarah, you ruined his ballroom?" Toby asked incredulously.

"I was trying to save you!" She retorted. "I thought it was a dream."

"Funny that." Jareth quipped. "The lines between dreams and reality are not so defined in my realm as they are in yours. It was quite a pleasant party up until the clock struck." Jareth smiled at her knowingly, and she glanced away, breaking eye contact. He began to ascend a staircase at the end of the hall. "Your rooms are in the northern tower of my castle, just below mine. I suggest you both get some rest tonight. We all have much to discuss tomorrow. Toby, yours is first." He opened a door to his right. Bright oak wood furniture adorned the room. There was a small fireplace to the left of the bed, a tan fur rug in front of the fire. The young teen bounded into his room and jumped onto the king-sized bed, which was covered in dark red satin sheets.

"Cool. This is like four times the size of my room at home. The only thing it's missing is my guitar." A bright red Fender Standard Stratocaster and Twin Reverb Amp suddenly appeared to the right of the bed. "WOAH!" He jumped out of the bed and examined the guitar. "And snacks." A Mountain Dew and bag of Cheetos appeared on the nightstand. "Amazing." He softly fingered the neck of the guitar.

"The room will respond to your desires." Jareth chuckled from the doorway. "Try not to abuse the privilege."

"Oh, I won't. But wow! This is so cool." Toby exclaimed as his lifted the guitar and placed the strap over his shoulder.

"It is also soundproof." He murmured with a smile, turning to Sarah who was watching her brother with concern, unimpressed. He frowned at her expression.

"Toby, remember, we're going home after this. And try to get some sleep."

"Yeah, sure, whatever. Goodnight, Sarah." Toby rushed them back over to the door and began closing it. "Cool tricks, your majesty. See you in the morning." He shut the door in their face.

"Did he just kick us out?" Jareth asked, affronted.

"Yep." She smiled. "Teenagers." She replied as they both stared at the wooden door. Without Toby next to them, an awkward silence settled over the pair. "So…" she started softly.

"I'll show you your room." He stated coldly and walked farther up the tower steps.

'He's so…. moody.' She thought. He stopped abruptly in front of a dark wooden door and appeared conflicted; his mismatched eyes stormy with an unnamed emotion.

"You will be staying here." He stated flatly and opened the door. "Ladies first." He inclined his head and motioned for her to step inside. She eyed him suspiciously as she stepped into the room and gasped slightly. She felt as though she had stepped into the queen's chamber at Versailles. The entire room was bathed in a soft white light and accented in golden adornments, crisp white sheets covered the massive bed, a fire crackling in the white marble fireplace. A plush white rug covered the marble floor at the foot of the bed.

"This is too much. I can't stay here."

"Sarah." He sighed. "Would you have me place you in an oubliette? These rooms are the closest to my own. They afford you and your brother the most protection. Please don't argue with me." He sounded exhausted. She said nothing but did not argue with him. There was something he wasn't telling her. "Silence? Now that's a change." She opened her mouth to argue with him, but he was smiling down at her with mirth, so she thought better of it. "I will send a Goblin for both you and your brother in the morning. We will meet in my study and discuss your roles in this mess."

"Our roles?"

"Yes, but for now, get some rest. There is a washroom adjoining your room back there." He pointed to the left-hand corner of the room. "Don't try wandering the halls or go out of the castle." He commanded ominously. "I'll know if you do. Should you need anything, I am right up the stairs, the next door on the right." Sarah bristled at his tone.

"I won't need you." She spat venomously, annoyed with his pompous attitude.

He rolled his eyes. "So sure, are you?"

"Yes." She replied, fire in her eyes. He frowned at her response.

"Such ingratitude from a woman whose life I just saved." He stepped closer to her, invading her personal space. "Such insolence against the crown should be punished." He murmured softly, grabbing her chin gently with his gloved hand.

"Jareth, I'm not one of your subjects to be ordered about. I'm here very much against my will." She glared up at him defiantly, attempting to swat his hand away. He released her chin but did not break her gaze. His mismatched eyes bore into her own. It was wreaking all sorts of havoc on her insides, being so close to him, but she squashed down whatever emotion or physical attraction it was she was feeling into the deepest corner of her mind. "Look." She sighed closing her eyes and placed a hand over her eyes and forehead, resting her other hand on an elbow. "This is not what I intended. I have a life. I don't know what your motives are. I don't trust you, but I don't want the creatures in the Underground to suffer." He cocked his head at her.

"I can assure you, Sarah Williams, that this is not what I intended either, but like it or not, the fate of my world seems to somehow be at least partially dependent on you." He explained in exasperation. "Which we can all discuss tomorrow after some much needed rest." He tapped her nose with a finger. "I don't have the energy to argue with you right now, you precious thing." She huffed indignantly, an angry flush covering her cheeks. "Although you do look fetching with those bright pink cheeks." He smiled down at her.

"Stop treating me like a child!"

"Stop acting like one." He replied. She took a deep breath and stopped herself.

"This isn't going anywhere." She sighed.

"Well we agree on that one thing." He said in a clipped tone. "With that, I bid you good evening, lady." Jareth bowed briefly and turned from her. "Goodnight, Sarah." He stalked out of the room into the hall. She bit her lip.

"Wait." She said walking after him, leaning on the heavy wooden door to the hall.

"What grievance must you air now?" He replied angrily, turning back to her, crossing his arms in front of him.

"I'm not…it's just…" She stuttered, unable to meet his eyes.

"Out with it." He said impatiently.

"You didn't have to save me earlier." She said, looking at the ground by her feet. She chose her words carefully without thanking him, not wanting to be in his debt. "I am grateful." She whispered, glancing up at him. Jareth's eyes softened slightly.

"I'm glad to hear it." He replied.

"Goodnight, Jareth." She said softly as she looked him while closing the door, not breaking his gaze until it shut. She walked to the bed, collapsing onto it, not even bothering to change. Oubliette dreams and death threats and overbearing monarchs had taken all of her reserves. Exhaustion overcame her, and she closed her eyes, praying for sleep.

Jareth continued to stand outside her door for several moments, staring at it, confounded by the perplexing mortal woman behind the closed door. He would never understand her. The edges of his mouth turned up slightly and he walked up the stairs, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls as he made his way to his own chambers.