"Sarah! Sarah, come on! Wake up, I wanna get up!" Toby was patting his sister's arm impatiently, causing her to gradually regain consciousness.

"Ugh, Toby why are you such a morning person?" Sarah slowly sat up, rubbing a hand down her face. "God, what I wouldn't give for some coff…" Toby's gasp interrupted her.

"Whoa! Look what just appeared on your nightstand." Toby pointed at the large pewter mug of dark liquid that appeared by his sister. Sarah eyed it suspiciously as she picked it up. It certainly smelled and looked like coffee. Temptation and curiosity won over caution as she sipped it gingerly. Hot, rich coffee met her tongue. It was the best she'd ever had.

"See, he's nice," Toby's I-told-you-so inflection slightly annoyed Sarah. She ceased her sipping, setting the mug down and giving her brother a worried look.

"About that, Toby...I really need you to listen when I say not to trust anything around here. I know I drank it," she hurriedly added at his look of protest. "But, I have more experience with this than you. And it's okay for me to take risks, but you're a kid and...kids aren't treated the same here as back home." Toby looked puzzled. She sighed and tried again. "Just, don't trust his intentions, okay? He's...he's a liar and a trickster." She hoped the description was simple and direct enough for him to heed her cautioning.

He shrugged but nodded.

"Okay, I guess you do know about this place, and the King dude. Aaaand by the way, how do you know him? And how have we been here before? And…" Sarah held up a hand, starting to panic at his obvious increase of excitement in bringing the subject back up. She knew he wasn't going to let it go; between his excessive shrewdness - beyond his years, she'd always thought - and Jareth's unlikely respect for keeping secrets, she knew an explanation would be coming. But she wasn't ready for it at the moment.

"Not now. Let's just...see if we can find some food and clothes and then we can go down…" she trailed off as a small table with a tray of various breakfast foods appeared to the side of the bed. Almost simultaneously, the large wardrobe slowly swung open to reveal more clothes than she could need. Sarah's brow furrowed, and Toby looked like he was at an amusement park.

"So cool!" He was scrambling over her legs to get to the food table, eagerly grabbing at the bacon. Sarah was still frowning and hesitant. She had to concede that the coffee had been delicious and that she was still feeling perfectly normal, but Toby eating this mystery food caused a whole new level of concern.

"Wait, Toby!" His disappointment shown in his glare as he held back his first bite. "Just...just let me try a couple things on there first. Just in case, okay?" He frowned but shrugged and put the strip down.

"You just want to eat first," he said in a mockingly upset tone and stuck his tongue out at her. She playfully pushed his face away.

"Yeah well, it's the only way to get anything to eat around you without you touching it all first with your grubby paws." She smiled as she bit into a piece of toast. Thoughtfully chewing, she tried to detect any odd taste or feel. The only taste was of perfectly toasted, hearty bread with a little butter. After a short pause, Toby's eyebrows raised and he reached back for the food tentatively. Reluctantly she nodded, and he was instantly wolfing down several things at a time. She couldn't help but smile. Oh well, she thought. If he'd wanted to drug us or something, he'd probably get more creative about it this time anyway. And we do have to eat.

As their hunger was sated, they both got up and the table vanished. Toby let out another 'cool' and Sarah tried to not feel grateful for the ease of it all. This changes nothing, we're still here against our will. She started browsing through the clothes. None of them, unsurprisingly, were normal outfits. Too many were dresses - some of which rather revealing, she noticed with a lip curl of disgust towards the man who'd likely chosen them. Toward the back though she started seeing peasant blouses and linen shirts along with tights and pants made out of some sort of leather. She sighed and grabbed a dark green, off-shoulder peasant blouse and black tights with a leather belt. The other side, she now noticed, was nothing but small boyish clothes. Most looked like mini versions of Jareth's wardrobe, she thought with the look of disgust renewing. Some were more plain, like something a kid would wear to dress up as a pirate or to go to a renaissance fair. She grabbed a white linen shirt and brown leather pants and tossed them out.

"Here, put those on while I change in here," she told her brother.

"You're being too bossy," Toby whined. Sarah just shut the door, and he decided to drop the matter as he looked over the clothes and decided he actually liked them.

Descending the stairway towards the throne room, they both noticed an open doorway that broke off the staircase. I'm positive that wasn't there last night, Sarah thought with mild annoyance. The open door revealed an almost empty small room with only a very large leather chair and an oriel window, in front of which stood a Goblin King with his back to them.

"I trust the Williamses slept well?" he addressed them without turning. The way he said it made Sarah feel like he had made sure that they slept. She decided to save that potential argument for a later time.

"Yep!" Toby was replying. "We also got a bunch of breakfast that poofed outta nowhere."

At that, Jareth partially turned around to see Toby, eyebrow raised.

Sarah took in his subtle yet unhidden reaction. "That was you, right?" His eyes met hers at the question. She couldn't read his expression, but the fact that it was guarded bothered her. "I'm assuming...not?" She continued after his lack of response. "Where the hell did it come from then?" Urgency was creeping in her voice as she felt her stomach churn with the unsettling idea. She hadn't fully trusted what she thought to be Jareth's offerings, but a poisoner you knew was somehow better than a mystery source.

He turned to fully face them. His garb reminded Sarah of an encounter in a tunnel years ago, just before suddenly running from the Cleaners. The memory brought mixed feelings, the rush of them too quick to allow her to decipher.

"Concerned with the mystery of it or disappointed I that wasn't taking care of you?" Jareth finally remarked, humor laced within each word. Sarah shot him a look that unmistakably told him she wasn't amused. "I wouldn't worry about it, dearies. I told you things have been changing lately, and I would've sensed it had there been a foe's power near my castle."

Sarah was unconvinced. "Yet magic was used in your castle and it wasn't by you." Her worried look was morphing into frustration with his lack of explanation. Or maybe with his lack of worry - he still looked amused.

"You'll learn more soon enough." Sarah resented the fact that he seemed to have figured exactly what the source was without saying so. "In the meantime, we're taking Tobias to Fey City for the day so we can…"

"We most certainly are not!" Sarah's exclamation cut him off. "Toby stays by my side while he's here. Not negotiable." She tilted her chin down with a defiant glower directed fiercely into his eyes. A look that, unbeknownst to her, Jareth happened to find delicious on her.

"Now now Sarah," Jareth's lips formed a half smile as his eyes burned with something that made Sarah's defiance start to waver. "This is still my world. My rules."

Toby frowned, looking back and forth from the mystical being to his sister. "I don't mind, Sarah," he offered. "He was telling me about the place and showing it to me in a crystal ball yesterday - it looks amazing!" Sarah's Jareth-directed glower burned anew. "Don't be mad," Toby noticed her look. "I was asking him about stuff." Jareth gave a small smile at the boy. Sarah had never felt so betrayed.

"Toby, I told you..." she started with a sigh.

"No, I know I know, don't trust him or whatever and nothing is right around here. But he explained it. You have to help him do something and I'd be safer there. Plus, he grew up there!" The last bit knocked Sarah's argument right out the window.

What?

Sarah knew her bewilderment was apparent by the delighted look on Jareth's face. He's relishing the fact that even ten-year-old Toby was privy to more info than I apparently.

"You remember how generous I can be don't you, Sarah? At least your brother appreciates it." The King's teeth showed fully in the grin of enjoyment he flashed.

Sarah ignored the obvious baiting. Instead, she squared her shoulders and gave him a deadpan look. "Where exactly were you thinking of taking him?" Each word let out a bite of warning in them.

"Instead of answering that...very intimidating demand of a question," he replied with a smirk. "I'll do you one better and simply show you." With that he started towards them, causing Sarah to take a step backwards.

"Now wait...you don't know what we'll find there. Things are changing - you said it yourself - and we can't just go appearing into some unknown spot unprepared."

"Really, I'm insulted," his chuckle belied his words. "What makes you think I'd be unprepared?"

Sarah eyed him up and down as he neared her. She repressed the remounting allure of his appearance, fighting the rising mixed feelings similar to those she'd had in that tunnel as a teenage girl. Fear, worry, and anxiousness were all a given. But there was more. Intoxication. The first stirrings of desire. A desire that was decidedly headier now, as an adult.

Jareth seemed to read her thoughts through her expression, a smirking half smile playing on his face. A look that wasn't helping her inner conflict.

"No more vanishing acts!" She blurted, more to simply stop him from coming any closer than anything else. He obligingly halted.

"You'd rather waste precious time?" His amusement contradicted the disappointed words. "We'll have to do some walking either way," he continued almost boredly now. "Fey City has regulations on appearing within its borders." He wrapped a hand around Toby's shoulder and moved to take Sarah's waist with his other hand, when she pushed it away. His eyes squinted slightly in annoyance. "Must you be so stubborn at every turn?"

"Yes, I find it serves me rather well," a small smirk began on her lips. "Like when I refused to be subdued by riddles and oubliettes and ballroom distractions." She refused to let her expression falter even as his eyes smoldered. As he regained his grin, she wasn't sure if she was pleased or disappointed that her retort had been met with enjoyment.

And then his hand was suddenly on her waist and they were whisked away.

Stumbling a little as new ground sprang beneath her, Sarah tried failingly to push him away from herself and her brother. Jareth merely grinned and slid his arm more tightly around her, closing the small gap between them.

"I only let you think you're in control, my dear," he whispered close to her ear. Toby frowned up at them, trying to figure out what was going on. At Sarah's look of newfound irritation and mounting rage, Jareth swiftly released her and put a little distance between them, eyes still full of amusement.

Sarah was too caught off guard to rebut, still panting slightly at the disorientation and the unease of his brief empowerment over her. In more ways than one. She broke his gaze and took in her surroundings, glower turning into curious scanning.

They were mere yards away from great white gates of beautiful marble. Lacey wrought iron pull handles mirrored each other on each door of the gate. The connecting walls expanded out distantly on either side and curved out of sight. Close by was a creek that descended in a small tickle of a waterfall, rocks and bushes lining the edges. In the distance was a majestic, snow tipped mountain with ominous dark clouds just above its peak. The grassy wilderness seemed to stretch forever.

Toby was looking around as well, enjoyment more obvious in his expression than his sister's. Jareth stepped away from the pair to approach the gate, swirling his hand around the sudden materialization of a crystal. He gently tossed it towards the pull handles. Toby's audible gasp sounded as the crystal disappeared on impact and the doors slowly thundered open.

Toby was eagerly following the King through the gate before Sarah could move to grab him. She made an ungainly movement to hurriedly catch up, blushing slightly at her own awkwardness and at the detestable fact that she was briefly relieved that Jareth hadn't been watching.

As she sidled up to Toby and grabbed his hand, Sarah couldn't help but feel slightly impressed with the sites before them. She hadn't really known what to expect, but she certainly hadn't expected such life. Buildings and houses and shops were on either side of the gravel road they now traversed, with dwarves and elves and beautiful people - Fey people, Sarah could guess - bustling about purposefully. At first it seemed everyone would be too busy to even notice that the gates had opened and that new arrivals were now within their walls. But soon several beings started taking in the Goblin King with obvious recognition, followed by wary and puzzled glances towards the two mortal strangers. Toby unconsciously tightened his grip in Sarah's hand, and she returned the squeeze obligingly. Refusing to become unnerved, Sarah turned away from the increasingly frequent looks they were getting, and focused on the spectacular scene in the distance. As populated as the entrance area had seemed, it was obvious that there was a center to the city up ahead that was absolutely brimming. Houses started looking more like citadels, buildings matching in otherworldly beauty as well as in size, all ascending a a small lone mountain much like a model of the one outside the walls. Its peak, however, was not capped with snow but with a tremendous fortress. Even though it was at a distance, Sarah could see the glistening of white walls, as if it were made of quartz. Or diamonds, Sarah smiled a little, allowing herself to enjoy the bit of awe to distract her thoughts briefly.

"Who lives there?" Toby was asking Jareth, following Sarah's gaze.

Sarah's distraction faded as she came back down to the road and present company. Jareth had caught her obviously impressed expression before it left her.

"High royalty," his eyes reluctantly left Sarah's face to meet the little boy questioning him. "Although they only sometimes live there. The High Castle is mainly used for varied sorts of gatherings."

Sarah was mulling over his answer when a white haired dwarf suddenly stepped in front of her. She abruptly stumbled to a stop, frowning.

"I gives ya the finest gown for yer hand trinket," his eyes were staring excitedly at her silver ring. Sarah moved to cover it with her other hand almost instinctively. Though monetarily not worth a whole lot, it had been the last gift her mother had sent before her untimely death.

"Sorry, this is absolutely not for sale." Sarah sounded sharper than she'd intended. Toby moved to take her hand back, as though to fortify her resolution. Jareth looked mildly surprised at her reaction.

"But I can gives ya more! I have…"

"That's enough now, run along," Jareth's interjection was stern but not as commanding as Sarah knew it could be. The dwarf seemed to notice for the first time who was with the ring-wearer and his eyes widened. He almost looked like he would bow, but instead decided to just scurry off to a nearby shop. Sarah glanced at Jareth, expression grateful if fleeting.

Toby decided to voice what Sarah would not. "Thanks, I don't think Sarah liked that dude eyeing her mom's ring so hard." He gave his sister a supportive squeeze on the hand he held.

Jareth's eyes met Sarah's, neither of them allowing an expression to show. He was the first to look away.

As Sarah's gaze lingered in his direction, she noticed three beautiful Fey women near the other side of him, each staring at the Goblin King in open excitement. One of them was so obviously lustful that Sarah was sure she was going to absolutely jump him. A pang of jealousy crept up from Sarah's stomach and rose to her throat, drying it with ire. The recognition of what the feeling was immediately gave way to a disgusted fury with herself. She forced herself to ignore it, along with the slight relief that came as the woman stayed with her friends rather than approaching him. She turned her flushed face away, not catching the telling expression of enjoyment growing on Jareth's face that would have confirmed his awareness of the whole scene.

"Here," came the King's voice after a moment more of traversing the road. He was turning towards the entrance of what looked like an inn. It was several stories tall, with crisscrossing mahogany beams lining an otherwise white painted wooden build. A large engraved plaque that read Iron's End lie above the entryway. Sarah cautiously followed Jareth in, Toby still in tow.

"What? This is where Toby is going?" Sarah made her disapproval apparent as she took in the environment they were entering. A large archway revealed a long tavern, dimly lit with only a few dwarves scattered at tables and at the bar, and a single Fey man nonchalantly cleaning something behind it. Connected was the room they were now in, a foyer with an unlit fireplace and large chairs, with a window lighting the area. A narrow hallway and a staircase were barely visible on the far end.

"It's the most...obliging public place here," Jareth decided to say. "It's a secure inn run jointly by dwarves and elves and Fey folk. They have been informed of this rather unique situation," he looked at Toby with a small smile. Toby shrugged and looked back to his sister.

"It's like where the hobbits met Aragorn," Toby supplied helpfully. "It's fun, Sarah." His sister was less than pleased with the analogy.

"There's no Aragorn here, nor a Gandalf instructing us, Tobes. We were led here by Saruman," she glared up at Jareth, who was now making his way towards the barkeep. Toby snickered at her continuation of his reference. "Not even joking," Sarah tried to keep from chuckling herself, wanting Toby to take her point seriously. "He'll prove to you that he's treacherous. Right before I tear him apar…"

"Sarah!" Toby was fully laughing out loud now; the thought of his nerdy sister becoming violent was hilarious to him. "Geez, dial it back." He grinned, happy to use his mother's words that were usually directed toward himself. Sarah rolled her eyes at him exaggeratedly, amusement now showing freely.

Still grinning fully, she glanced up to see what Jareth was doing. He was leaning sideways against the high counter of the bar, looking in their direction with a small gesture indicating to the barkeep that they were who he was speaking of. Briefly Jareth met Sarah's eyes, her smile softening but not vanishing as she saw him obviously talking about her and her brother. His expression was unlike any she'd yet seen on him, and it made her gaze linger a bit. She thought she identified something like affection surfacing in his eyes, and she quickly terminated their eye-lock, uneasy confusion now replacing her smile. Looking back at Toby, she saw that he was anxiously starting to snoop further into the interesting tavern. She reluctantly followed, now attempting to size up the barkeep.

He was, like most people she'd seen so far here, stunningly attractive, if a bit older. He had dark messy hair and the shadow of a beard, altogether more rugged than the other Fey they'd passed. His piercing blue eyes met her stare, and she forced her breathing to stay even. He was absolutely striking upon closer inspection, his intense expression as intimidating as his looks.

"You must be Sarah," his deep, gravelly voice broke her of the brief trance his eyes had inflicted. She swallowed and nodded. His expression softened with a bit of humor at his apparent effect on her. "Apologies, I wasn't trying to disarm you in my scrutiny. It's just...few mortals come by here as a guest to a Fey. Much less a king." He turned to Jareth, expression almost fully amused now.

Sarah realized Jareth had been studying her as she'd been studying this man. His amusement was apparent as well, if also mixed with a touch of something similar to her own reaction to the lusty woman outside. She let a bit of satisfaction show in her own expression, and for a second the two were practically staring each other down.

"And you must be young Master Tobias," the man continued with a crooked smile.

"Toby," the boy corrected, clearly nowhere near as intimidated as his sister had been.

"Toby," the man repeated, nodding. "Yes, I've heard nothing but good things of you." He extended a hand across the counter, Toby reaching up to shake it. "Tybalt of the Ironlands, at your service." His hand moved towards Sarah, surprising her as he held it up to his mouth for a gentle peck instead of a handshake. Jareth's lips twitched as a quick blush passed over her face.

"Ironlands?" She asked, as much out of wishing to distract from her sudden flush as out of curiosity. He smiled fully at the question.

"Yes, a distant realm. Many of us in this town come from elsewhere. I understand you yourself just made it here from the Underground?" He seemed to enjoy the unease the question brought her. Almost as much as Jareth did.

"Indeed," Jareth chimed in. "She was just enjoying the results of the renovations that she had taken part in years ago."

Sarah's glance was glowering. Jareth only grinned wider.

"Yeah, I guess the King had been pretty neglectful up until then," she directed towards Tybalt. "Lazy, really. His own labyrinth was too flawed to even be unbeatable anymore apparently." She allowed another glance towards Jareth. His grin had been replaced by a glare.

Tybalt let out a laugh of enjoyment at the whole exchange.

"Sounds quite fitting! Arrogance and impatience begets sloppiness, eh Jareth?" His smiling blue eyes met mismatched unamused ones.

"Yes, some of the realms are painstakingly slow at the process of change. Even when the stakes are raised, right?" Jareth's tone was still playful, yet a dark tinge of seriousness crept in. He was undeniably annoyed, Sarah noted.

Tybalt sobered a bit. "Everything will fall into place in its own due time, Goblin King. Now," he lightened back up as he turned to Toby. "Let's find a suite for you that's fit for a king." Something about the emphasis made Sarah uneasy.

Just then the dwarves in the tavern all seemed to whip around towards the entrance, suddenly alert. Sarah followed their eye lines to see a site that surprised her as much as it warmed her.

"Ludo!" She shouted, instantly sprinting towards the gentle giant she hadn't seen in years.

"Sawah!" Ludo's reply came as they embraced. Two figures came around from behind him, making Sarah light up all over again.

"Sir Didymus! Hoggle!" She hugged each in turn, beaming with unchecked delight.

"Fair maiden, at last we meet again!" Didymus was shouting almost in sync with Hoggle's somewhat shy greeting of "hullo, Sarah".

"What are you guys doing here? How did you even get here?" she questioned, bewilderment suddenly overcoming joy.

"That rat...er, his highness made us come to keep tha' baby o' yours company," Hoggle replied, nervously glancing between his long lost friend and his hated monarch in the next room. Then he took notice of the blond boy hesitantly approaching them. His eyes widened. "Not a baby anymore! Is this tha' same brother?" Sarah turned and put a hand around Toby's back, gently encouraging him to fully approach.

"Yes, this is Toby. Toby these are old friends. From the Underground. Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus." They nodded in turn, Didymus bowing. Toby waved awkwardly, then looked to his sister.

"I suppose they know me too?" His tone was somewhat weary, as if all of the unanswered questions were building up and taking a toll on him. Sarah's guilt resurfaced.

"Sort of…" She trailed off as Tybalt and Jareth were now approaching, the latter with renewed smugness. She looked pointedly at him, mouthing the question 'you brought them?' while gesturing her head towards the motley crew.

He grinned and leaned closer to her to whisper, "I told you I can be generous." He straightened back, smugness still emanating. She squinted, eyeing him suspiciously, not even slightly convinced that this gesture was purely out of generosity.

"...unusual situation, but you will all receive nothing but top boarding," Tybalt was saying, now gesturing towards the doorway that led to the staircase. "Shall we?"

Everyone followed Tybalt, Sarah keeping her arm around Toby's shoulder and staying at the tail end. Jareth stepped back to join them.

"This changes nothing," Sarah told him. "I know you're just trying to manipulate me into a false sense of security. Into relaxing about Toby." Jareth glanced sideways at her as they began to ascend the wide staircase.

"I never had any delusion of you relaxing yet, Sarah," she threw a glare his way at the word 'yet'. "But I am nothing if not your humble servant. I do try." His teeth flashed in his grin. Sarah fought the urge to slap him.

Tybalt finally turned down a hallway after about three or four stories worth of climbing. It was brightly lit, the stone flooring was smooth and clean. They passed several doors of polished mahogany before stopping at one that seemed to open at Tybalt's will.

Blue and white marbled flooring expanded over a sizable dining area before descending into a lowered sitting area that was lined with plush black rugs. Three large leather sofas sat facing a lit fireplace, as grand as the one in the foyer. A short hallway revealed at least two more rooms with beds and more plush rugs. Floor-length windows opened to a balcony facing the fortress mountain.

"Acceptable?" Jareth's soft question was only pointed towards Sarah, whom he was watching with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes!" Toby interjected, his close proximity allowing him to have heard the question. He sprinted towards one of the bedrooms to explore further, before running back out to look off the balcony.

"He really is so much easier to satisfy than his sister," Jareth mused aloud.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Mhm, fancy an unknowing child being easier to exploit than an experienced adult?" She let her sarcasm sharpen each word. "One who knows by whose hands all this comes by." Her glare was pure warning.

Jareth tsked in disapproval, smugness unshaken.

"I suppose I'll have to only try harder as far as she's concerned then," he said with a sigh of mock exhaustion.

She turned away, ignoring the taunt.

"I guess it's fine for only one day," she announced to no one in particular. Tybalt raised an eyebrow at her statement.

Hoggle seemed nervous. "One day?" He made to clarify.

Sarah frowned at her old friend and then turned to Jareth, expression mutinous.

"You. Said. One. Day." she emphasized each word, voice deepening with raw anger. He threw a warning glance to a now cowering Hoggle before looking back to her with almost equal warning remaining in his eyes.

"Your irrational worries are somewhat of a nuisance. It tends to encourage some details to slip, my dear."

Sarah's hand twitched, the urge to slap him never greater.

"He's my brother! You don't care about what happens to him! You're damn right I'm worried!"

"Miss Sarah," Tybalt approached her, unsuccessfully trying to hide his amusement at her brazen out-lash towards someone with so much more obvious power than her. "I assure you, young Toby is perfectly fine within these walls. And he won't be able to leave without your friends or I accompanying him, I'll see to that." Sarah searched his face for anything that would belie his words. He seemed sincere.

But this was a strange man in a strange land. A strange man who had obviously conversed beforehand about them with the person she trusted least.

She decided to up the stakes herself.

"I need an oath. Some magically bonded promise or something that no harm will come upon Toby and that he will be returned safely to me." At her words, Tybalt nodded and removed a small object from his coat. Sarah thought it looked like some sort of iron brander. He reached for her hand and Sarah shook her head. "No. Not you. Him." She turned pointedly towards Jareth.

Tybalt was visibly amused again. Jareth raised an eyebrow and scrutinized Sarah's face.

"Yes." His voice seemed almost demanding, as if he'd been the one to push for the idea in the first place. Sarah's eyes squinted, knowing there was more coming. "Only if," her face darkened as the expected addendum began. "You agree to my terms. Everything done my way, and the boy is returned to you unharmed."

"You should really know by now I'm not that stupid," Sarah's tone matched her glower. Jareth's lips twitched into a slight smirk.

"Everything done my way provided it won't bring harm to either of you," He offered as clarification. "I won't be able to force any life-altering thing upon you without your consent." Sarah frowned in suspicion at the wording. She eyed him in intense reverie, reluctantly nodding finally.

Before she could hesitate further, Jareth's smirk spread into a grin as he produced a crystal, tossing it to her in a flourish that was too quick for her to follow. Reflexively she caught it, just as it turned into a small blue flame. Gasping, she jerked her hand away instinctively, but the flame followed, staying just a few centimeters above her palm. Momentarily awestruck, she stilled and watched as it swirled into a spiral before dropping into her hand. She felt a very brief sensation of heat as it met her skin, not giving her time to react as it seemed to dissolve inside her and cause her entire hand to glow brightly before returning to normal. She curled her fingers, mouth slightly open from the shock. Her hand had felt a very unique sensation, like a vague tingle or prickle, but otherwise felt completely normal. She looked up to see Jareth performing the same thing with his own, now un-gloved, hand.

"Always the theatrical one," Tybalt chuckled, shaking his head. "Any simple branding spell would've sufficed," he continued, turning towards Sarah. "But I suppose the kings always like to add their own little flourishes and details to it." Sarah frowned slightly, wondering what sort of little 'details' Jareth would have added and how important they might actually be.

"Neither of us will be allowed to act contrary to the promises, without magic intervention that will prevent us from doing so." Jareth summarily explained. It was what type of intervention it could be that concerned Sarah.

"Sarah, there's a mirror in the floor in there," Toby was rushing towards her, pointing behind himself. "That will show you whatever you want! Almost like his crystals." He nodded towards the King.

"Almost," Tybalt provided. "It won't show you dreams nor suck you into them," he chuckled softly. "But yes, you can ask it many things. You could keep tabs on your sister." Sarah quickly shook her head at that, suddenly panicked about whatever dangers she was about to face worrying his little mind.

"No, no that's probably not the best idea...I mean there's things…"

"Don't worry," Tybalt interrupted her sputtering. "There are...filters already in place," he glanced at Jareth. Sarah looked questioningly between them, expression changing from worry to indignation at whatever implication Tybalt's glance held. He was looking back at her now, grinning at her obvious displeasure. "I just mean that he won't see anything a child shouldn't. You know, like if you're in a particularly gruesome situation, or even just showering," he gave a shrug as he supplied examples nonchalantly. "It'll only show the most recent appropriate situation." He finished with a polite smile. She could tell his explanation was a little off, as if he were hurriedly covering for whatever his glance towards Jareth had meant. Sarah shook her head a little at both of them, as if to dismiss what she guessed they were thinking.

"Good then. Those are the only two scenarios it should need to filter," she threw a glare at Jareth before looking back at Toby, who was making a face.

"Eww, I don't want to spy on my sister," he said to Tybalt with obvious disgust. "I can look at anything. Almost like a live discovery channel." He added with a toothy grin. Sarah half smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Alright Tobes," she squatted down to his eye level. "I cannot stress enough how important it is to be smart here. Never go anywhere alone. My friends are the only ones you should trust." She lowered her voice to a whisper with her last statement, indicating to Toby that Tybalt was not necessarily included in the trust. Toby nodded and then gave her a quick hug.

"You be safe too," he whispered before pulling away. Sarah fought back sudden tears of affection that threatened to fill her eyes.

"Come." Jareth's voice came beside her, infinitely gentler than just moments ago. She straightened up to face him, quickly masking the emotion that had just been evident.

"Where to, your highness?" Her sarcastic mocking tone fully replaced the earnest affection she'd just shown to Toby. Jareth slid an arm around hers, unperturbed. She resisted his pull towards the door, turning her head to call out one last goodbye to everyone. Reluctantly she allowed him to start to guide her out of the room.

"When are you going to tell me exactly what we're doing?" Sarah asked as they departed from the inn.

"We're going to the High Castle now." Sarah stopped walking, gaping at him. He allowed the pause in their step, eyebrows slightly raised. "Didn't expect that did we?" He smiled and made for them to press onward. "The Counsel of Kings are going to have to meet about everything going on. About the trouble you've caused. And about you yourself," he added the last with a studying gaze, curious of her reaction.

"Really? You make me sound so important," she kept her eyes facing forward as she taunted him, but she still caught his soft chuckle.

"Oh Sarah. You have no idea."


Update:

Sorry I hadn't responded right away, MAXFOOO, but thank you very much! Glad you're enjoying ;)