A/N: Several perspectives in this chapter. A big thank you to all those who have reviewed! Please know I do read them and take them to heart and in some instances apply the suggested corrections. (Which, thank you to those who have pointed out errors, I appreciate it!)

Labyrinthlover30: I'm glad you liked it! Yes, I did the cover myself. Thanks! ;)

Disclaimer: See previous answers.

Blind

Chapter Nine: The Boy

"Are you kidding me?" Seth cried as he marched along the maze's wall, coming to a fuming stop before a tall statue.

He'd been dumped like garbage at the top of a hill by a cold Goblin King and given a limited time in which to solve the Labyrinth before him. How on earth was he supposed to do that when there wasn't even a door into the maze? Was he expected to climb the ten foot wall? He didn't exactly excel in P.E. at school. His heart sank with the beginnings of despair. He was going to lose, and that woman he'd wished away would get turned into a goblin because of his carelessness. Seth scowled at the ground. What kind of person changes other people into different creatures, anyway?

"That evil jerk of a king!" Hissed an angry Seth.

"Well, I wouldn't say that." Commented a voice. Seth spun round and looked up in alarm. "Perhaps a bit mischievous, but certainly not evil." The statue of a woman before him replied in a knowledgeable tone. She smiled at the boy in amusement when he jumped in fright and gave a very girlish squeal. She laughed and then covered her mouth in apology. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I'm called Sandra. What is your name?"

Seth took a moment to catch his breath. A statue was talking to him! At last he huffed, cross, and threw a glare her way. "Seth. I'm trying to find the way in. Do you know where the doors are?"

Sandra hummed and dusted off her skirt when she noticed dust had gathered there. Seth took several stumbling steps back and covered his mouth when it loomed like a cloud towards him. "Ah-sorry, again. In answer to your question, yes, I do know where the doors are."

Seth waved the air impatiently with his arm and moved to the side to avoid the now slowly dissipating cloud. "So, where are they?" He demanded, and Sandra lifted an eyebrow at him.

"I'm sorry?" She queried, her tone dry.

"The doors!" Seth repeated, growing angry. "If you know where they are, tell me and I'll leave."

Sandra frowned at him. "You have terrible manners, do you know that? You're going to have a difficult time finding love with the manners you're currently displaying-"

"For crying out loud, who cares! Will you answer my question or not?" He interrupted in shouted frustration. He needed to get inside! So was the statue woman going to let him in or not? Her gaze turned cold and disapproving-looking almost like his own mother if you'd left out the cold part. Sandra looked away from him to her right and stepped back within the wall until she was merely an image there. She began up a pathway drawn into the stone wall that disappeared into the image of an ivy covered archway, the inside of which was dark. Her sandaled toes occasionally brushed the stone grass and flowers as she moved to his left, and Seth hurried after her. "Wait! I'm sorry I yelled at you! Just let me in!"

Sandra slowed and looked down at him in irritation. "Not until you learn some manners." He stared at her in bewilderment as she came forward out of the carved image just before the wall, her hands clasped before her silently. Her grey eyes watched him and he couldn't help feeling uncomfortable under her scrutiny. Learn some manners? What did she mean? It hit him then, and he felt like a big idiot. Taking a deep breath, he spoke haltingly.

"Will you let me in-Please?" He put emphasis on 'please', and Sandra's mouth spread wide with a smile.

"You had only to ask. With the right words, anything can be accomplished." As she said this, the wall behind her began to rumble, and she stepped back into it. Her eyes stared straight ahead and the stones around her changed into a wide arch. At its center was a pillar that held it up, and which also was now half occupied by Sandra herself. A pathway of stone lay beyond her, giving him the option of left or right.

Seth made to walk through the arch when a cough from Sandra made him pause. He looked up and saw her gazing back expectantly, her eyebrows raised. "Oh! Uh... Thanks, Sandra." He offered a weak smile and she returned it with a warm smile of her own.

As he passed through the arch, he thought he heard her say. "Good luck!" But when he turned around to ask her what it was that she had said, the archway was gone-and in its place a solid stone wall.

Once Jareth stepped out of the library and closed the doors, he leaned back against them and closed his eyes. So far, things were going alright. He'd been worried in the beginning, though. He thought back to when he'd arrived in the throne room. Sarah's pale, frightened expression had nearly killed him. He had scared her, just by being in the same room with her. Then when she'd fallen and gotten to her knees in a panic after having dropped her walking stick. Her hands desperately scouring the stone floor, eyes wide and terror-ridden, and Jareth's stomach had twisted sickeningly. It was all he could do not to rush forward to aid her. But that would have only frightened her further and hindered any future progress he'd have had in gaining her trust.

Jareth's jaw clenched in anger at himself. If he hadn't acted like such a blasted fool her first time there, she wouldn't have been so frightened of him this time. But then his thoughts turned to mere moments ago when Sarah had smiled. His heart was still beating just a touch faster than normal. He'd taken in as much of her smile as he could, savoring the moment and secretly wishing not for the first time that she would have more reasons to smile. That, perhaps someday, he might be one of those reasons.

After Hoggle, Sir Didymus, and Ludo had arrived, Jareth expected to slip out quietly after a few words, but was thrown off guard when Sarah thanked him. He hadn't expected it, but she'd given it. For a moment he'd made her truly happy, and that was worth more to him than he could say.

Jareth's shoulders relaxed, a small smile warming his lips. His eyes opened and he leaned away from the doors. Flicking his wrist, a crystal appeared in the air near him, solid and clear. Jareth reached out and took hold of it, pulling it close and taking a deep breath. The crystal was cool in his hand, calming his nerves, and he relaxed. Everything would work out, one way or another. "Whatever happens, Sarah's happiness comes first." Jareth muttered to the empty corridor.

The crystal glimmered, and Jareth turned it in his hand and looked into it. Where was Seth now? He had to delay the boy to buy himself more time with Sarah. He didn't want to make Seth lose-taking Sarah away from her family would be beyond cruel-but he had to make the most of his time with her. The more time Jareth had, the better.

Jareth studied Seth's location with satisfaction. He'd made it inside the Labyrinth, made it past that first endless corridor that plagued all Runners in the beginning. He was roughly a fourth of the way to the city. He stood in a cobblestone courtyard that was half overgrown with grass growing up here and there between the stones. The cobblestones gave way to a small creek that made its way diagonally across the courtyard, disappearing under gaps between the wall and the ground. There were two ways to exit the courtyard, and the boy was gesturing at the one he was facing.

Seth was busy trying to convince a creature that looked somewhere between a chinchilla and a rabbit to help him. Based on their posture, it looked more like the boy was bullying the creature into helping him instead of simply asking. The rabchilla's long wispy tail flit from side to side in agitation, and its long ears flopped when it shook its head in a negative response. It didn't want to risk angering the king.

Which was smart, but not the response Seth needed.

Jareth stood pondering the boy's situation. Eventually the rabchilla appeared to agree to help Seth, telling him its name was La-usually a female name by rabchilla culture. Jareth knew they'd soon continue on the quest to rescue Sarah, likely gathering more friends along the way. For now the boy was fine where he was. It'd take him a while to get much further even with La's help. And in case he did get much further the next time Jareth checked in on him, the king would add a few more obstacles to slow his progress.

Jareth frowned. He was still angry at the boy for making the wish. Jareth had earned Sarah's trust as Aaron-and he had been trying to work out how to make the switch without losing that trust, when the wish had been made. He'd hoped the story might bring her thoughts to him, and that after the reading he could talk to her about it, even convince her that the king really must have loved her. But perhaps this was for the best. He was never really happy deceiving her. The trust and time spent together had made him happy, certainly, but her not knowing who he was made him terribly guilty. It was especially difficult for him now, when he had grown accustomed to holding her hand and reading and speaking to her on a weekly basis. Jareth grimaced, and his hand clenched into a fist at his side. Those reading sessions were absolute bliss to him. When she opened up, she was like the young Sarah he remembered.

But being without her trust now, being considered an enemy and a trickster, was nearly unbearable to him. Would he ever regain the trust he'd lost? Jareth sighed, feeling tired. Everything he was doing was for her-he just hoped in the end that something good came of it. His greatest fear was of this situation hurting her. He had to make sure that Seth made it to the castle before the thirteen hours was up. Otherwise Sarah would never forgive Jareth if she ended up trapped there, forever.

At last Jareth studied the area Seth and La occupied. He spotted a good place for his arrival, then tossed the crystal into the air. As the crystal took flight, his surroundings began to morph and change. Jareth sat down upon the floor, and leaned back against an obliging tree that inexplicably appeared behind him. At the same time he did this, the floor beneath him changed and darkened into a tall grey stone wall. The tree behind him had grown up amongst the stones as though the wall had been built around it, fitting it like a second layer of bark. The castle hall was gone, leaving Jareth at Seth's location. Stretching out his legs, Jareth crossed them at the ankles and folded his arms. Whilst looking down at the scene unfolding before him, Jareth absently extended his hand out over his legs, and caught the crystal as it fell.

He spun it over the back of his hand and across his knuckles with the same absent minded attitude, then held it once more in his hand. Pressing his knuckles to his lips, he tapped the crystal with his thumb before lifting his head to speak. "Bullying strangers now, are we?" He called.

Both occupants of the courtyard froze where they stood and looked around for the king. The rabchilla called La's eyes found him first, her wispy tail moving twice as fast. Her eyes were almost pleading-but not in fear of the king. Fear of the boy. Jareth's eyes narrowed at Seth in anger. When Seth followed her gaze, Jareth lifted an eyebrow at him. Turning on the wall to face the boy, Jareth let his legs dangle while his arms rested on his knees, the crystal hopping without movement from him, from one hand to the other with lazy grace.

Seth eyed the sphere with an unsettled expression. Appropriate, considering how powerful the Goblin King was. Seth imagined that crystal had to have a dangerous spell within it, and he didn't want to be anywhere near it. The same could be said about Jareth, except he was far less predictable, and far more dangerous. Finally Seth's gaze returned to meet Jareth's, and he scowled at the man. "What do you want?"

Jareth stopped the crystal and held it in one hand while he stared at Seth with a shrewd, mismatched look. "Just checking on your progress. You haven't gotten very far, have you?" The king questioned. Seth flushed and glowered.

"Not yet-but I'll beat your stupid maze, you wait and see!" Seth declared, straightening up haughtily.

Jareth raised an eyebrow while his eyes narrowed. "You think my maze is stupid, do you?" Jareth was cool and quiet, his expression deadly. Jareth's hand tightened around the crystal, and Seth seemed to have realized he'd made a mistake, his face draining of color.

"I-I meant-" Seth stammered in his haste to save himself.

"Oh, I understand perfectly well what you meant." Jareth tossed the crystal into the air, toward Seth. Out of instinct Seth caught it. When he looked up, Jareth was looming before him, expression dark and wild hair bristled.

"I understand that you're selfish enough to wish away a helpless blind woman because you were bored with your situation. I understand that instead of thinking of others, you chose only to think of yourself." Jareth paused and his lip curled in disgust at the now trembling boy.

"You don't even care about rescuing her, do you? You want her to turn into a goblin!" He accused with a sneer. "Save yourself some trouble." The king hissed venomously.

"No! That's not true-!" Seth cried, shaking his head.

"'Not true'?" Jareth's voice was so quiet, Seth could barely hear it. Jareth deliberately took a carefully composed step back. "Not true." He mused, and his mouth adopted a smile under cold eyes. "Perhaps you'd like to contemplate your words? I'm sure the nearest oubliette will be delighted to lend you its assistance in the task." Jareth's hand raised, and before Seth could get out another word, Jareth snapped his fingers. The crystal in Seth's hands popped like a bubble, and the boy vanished.

Jareth glared a moment longer at the place the boy occupied, before his expression eased and he looked down at La. The tiny creature's eyes widened, and slowly Jareth crouched down to be nearer its level. "I apologize if I frightened you." La gaped at the king in disbelief.

Jareth went on, twisting his hand and using his magic to produce a large carrot, leafy green stalk and all, in his hand. La's eyes grew wide at it, and when he stretched it out to her, she shrank away. Jareth stopped when he saw her reaction, and smiling kindly, he pulled the carrot back. "It's harmless, I promise you." She looked skeptical, and Jareth lifted his eyebrows. "May I?" He lifted the carrot to his lips, and La's head twitched in a nod. The king took a bite-enough to prove it was harmless, while still saving her a generous amount. He chewed what he took, then extended the rest of the carrot out to her again. "There, you see? Perfectly delicious." He sounded a little funny with his mouth half full, an attempt to put her at ease, and it worked. La smiled timidly, then took the carrot. She nibbled at it, hesitant, then finding it to be as harmless and delicious as the king had promised, she ate a little faster.

Jareth watched her a moment, then carefully sat down across from her on the grass-cobblestone mix of a ground. He cast his gaze around the courtyard, thinking about what came next. La slowed in eating to look curiously at him. Noticing this, Jareth smiled again at her before the look fell away. "What is your name, little rabchilla?"

La swallowed, her little white paws settling a firmer grip on the carrot before answering. "La." Her tiny voice was adorable, childlike, and Jareth realized she couldn't be very much older than Seth.

That thought reminded him of the boy currently occupying the nearest oubliette, and he grimaced internally. Outwardly, he smiled at the rabchilla.

"La, I have a task for you if you're willing?"

Her ears lifted up a little at this in question. "Yes?"

"The boy Seth will require some assistance getting out of the oubliette. Would you be willing to help him?"

La's paws shifted against the carrot warily, her ears falling again. "I guess so.."

Jareth studied her face seriously. He wanted to be sure she could handle it before sending her off to help the selfish boy. She seemed sure enough, so he continued.

"Let him stew a while first to think on the choices he's made. Whenever you're finished with that carrot, will be long enough. Then go to him. Don't let him out until he apologizes to you." Jareth said the last part quite seriously before pressing on. "He's in the tunnel oubliette. Do you still want to do this?" He questioned, and La thought on it. At last she replied.

"Yes."

Jareth nodded, pleased. "Thank you, La." With a flourish of his hand, a crystal appeared within it. "If you'll excuse me." He said to La, who bade him goodbye before turning to her food. Jareth let the crystal drop to the ground, and he and the crystal both vanished once it did.

"Jareth didn't say nothing about what he was going to do." Hoggle said, stirring his tea. The rest of Sarah's friends were enjoying their own refreshments, and Sarah was beyond happy to be speaking with them again. She was listening as Hoggle spoke, and when he paused, she turned her ears to Ludo and Sir Didymus, the latter of which was helping his larger brother in getting some pastries.

"Here you are, dear brother." The fox terrier's claws clicked against the plate housing the cream puffs as he collected a few and placed them in Ludo's large hand.

Ludo rumbled a, "Thank you." and proceeded to eat them.

"Thou art very welcome." Came Didymus's kind response, and Sarah smiled at how sweet they were to each other. Sarah's smile faded when she realized Hoggle had begun speaking again.

"-Jareth ended our meeting, and promised to do all he could for you. A long time-around a year-went by and then one day he vanished to his study and didn't come back out."

Sarah sipped her tea, then set it back down to rest on its saucer on her lap. "Vanished?"

Hoggle grunted in a way that suggested he was shaking his head. "In a manner of speaking. We didn't see him for almost three months after. Left instructions to call him if something happened. Gave the impression he'd gone far away to find some way to help you, but never told us for certain. Tick-Tock and Mirra know more about it, but won't say nothing. Jareth came back today, same as you."

Sarah frowned at this. He had been gone for three months? What had he been doing all that time? Sarah voiced her last thought and Hoggle replied, his sleeves brushing against the arms of the chair as he shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I only just talked to him before he left the library today."

Sarah nodded, contemplating all of this information. Jareth, always the enigma. Maybe she could get him to answer her questions when he returned? He'd seemed obliging enough with her other questions earlier-would that continue? And when would he be back? Sarah drank from her cup, took a deep breath, then changed the subject. "So how have you been? Jareth mentioned your new job taking care of the castle gardens?"

This topic apparently greatly pleased Hoggle, who began describing his duties and accomplishments with no small amount of pride. He said he'd put a lot of work into it, changing things at Jareth's discretion. When asked, Ludo and Sir Didymus, too, explained their new occupations. Didymus managed the majority of explaining their work, though Ludo interjected here and there with short comments. Some of which made Sarah laugh or smile. He had some difficulty keeping the rocks from frollicking, apparently. They liked very much to chase the goblins, who in turn liked it about as much as can be expected of one being chased by an enormous boulder. In the end Didymus managed a system that worked out for everyone. The rocks would chase the goblins as a form of exercise, keeping the small creatures swift. It seemed to be working, for now the goblin army moved with purpose and remarkable speed-and perhaps with more dignity than they had to begin with-for they now moved quickly and without fear.

Sarah in turn told them about her accident and the struggles she'd gone through in relearning everything. How the tasks that had once been simple, had quickly become impossible or extremely difficult. She had taken for granted all of the things she could do with her sight. She expressed to them how thankful she was to have had her family's assistance. She mentioned in particular Toby's dedication to helping her manage things, and Sarah's three friends were very much impressed with him.

"A noble lad, to be certain!" Sir Didymus declared. "Quite without a selfless bone in his body!"

"Like Sarah." Ludo said.

Hoggle agreed. "Learned from the best." He added, patting Sarah's hand with care.

Sarah blushed and ducked her head. "Thanks guys. He's been really great…" Sarah trailed off at a sudden thought, and her stomach took a nasty flip. The thought that had never been addressed, but was now very real in her mind. What would happen if she never went home? What about Toby? Her father and Karen? Karen had become like a mother to Sarah, and she'd thought of Karen as such for some time. Her family'd never know what had happened to her, and she could never explain it even if it were a possibility. How could she explain to her parents that she was in another world, part of which was ruled by the Goblin King?

A/N: I actually wrote out Seth's meeting with the Sandra before most of 'Blind' was even created. The scene was meant to be part of 'Goblins Above', but it turned out that it didn't really have a place and I put it off to the side. Aren't you glad I did? ;) I am! XD

Also: I really hope Jareth was in character here and that it all went smoothly. I'm a little iffy on it, so if I've made an error or it doesn't flow well, please let me know and I'll fix it asap! Thanks!

Labyrinthlover30: Seriously-how the crap are you doing that? Because I had planned to touch on both those topics in this chapter. Oh my soul, Lady. Just-continue being amazing. ;) XD By the way how is your friend's mom doing?

Disclaimer: Reeeeally sure I don't own it.