Goblins were rushing about, scurrying back and forth across the throne
room, carrying gowns, bedclothes, and other necessary items in
preparation for Aislinn and their future Queen's arrivals. Jareth
glanced at his younger brother. "Well done, Stephan. I suppose I'm
not the only one who can keep these goblins under control."

"Indeed, Jareth," Stephan agreed, running his gloved hand through his
long ebony hair.

Jareth was looking at Stephan strangely, and suddenly said, "I expect
you to treat Aislinn and Sarah as ladies. Aislinn is not just
another girl you can take to your bed. And if you try-"

"What?" Stephan snapped, breaking in. What will you do?! You know I
have just as much power as you!"

"Yes, Stephan, but I acquired all of Mother's Goblin Magic when I
inherited the kingdom and-" Jareth suddenly stopped, sorry he had
said that. He knew Stephan still, after all these hundreds of years,
felt guilty about their mother losing her life while bringing him into
the world. "I'm sorry, Stephan," Jareth said quietly.

Stephan shook his head, saying quietly, "Forget it. I promise I
won't make any advances on Aislinn." For some reason, this promise
he found harder to make towards Aislinn than the many women he had
wooed in the past.

Jareth's face softened slightly as he replied, "I know what you're
feeling, Stephan- honestly, I do. But Stephan, you
must understand something. Talius has already told me it's Aislinn's
destiny to come here and live in the castle. She couldn't live with
you even if she wanted to, because no matter what, she'll somehow
end up back here in the Labyrinth."

* * * * *

"Aislinn, please, don't do this! Don't you know we love you?"

"Yes, Mom, I do, but you must understand... this is meant to be. I
know it is. It's what I want, and what I have *always* wanted. I
must go," Aislinn replied quietly.

"Aislinn, didn't you even *think* before you went ahead and pledged
your loyalty to- what's his name again?"

"Jareth, Mom!"

"Yes, didn't you think how much you would be hurting us?"

"Yes, I did, I really did... I don't know how to explain it, but
I know this is what my life is for. The magic and skills I'll learn
from Jareth will let me realize my true purpose, I know it." Aislinn
paused in thought. She knew there was more to her going than even
that, but she herself wasn't sure what her reasons were, beyond what
she had told her mother, so she didn't continue. She simply stood in
silence.

"But, Aislinn- don't you realize what it will be like for us- and you-
to never see each other again?"

"Yes, Mom," began Aislinn, tears welling in her eyes. "But- oh, Mom-
I'm going to miss you so much!" Aislinn threw herself into her
mother's open arms.

"You don't have to go, honey," her mother whispered through tears.

"Yes I do. I can't defy my destiny, and... I do- I have to go."

* * * * *

Six days had come and gone, and now, on the night of the seventh day
since he had met Aislinn, Jareth was deciding what to wear when he
went to fetch her. However, he wasn't having much luck. Jareth sort
of had a problem with selecting an outfit that made him look
mysterious, yet not evil. He didn't want to appear evil before
Aislinn's family, and he felt the all-black outfit he had worn when
meeting them for the first time had been a bit much.

The King stood in front of his full-length mirror in his open white
poets shirt, black tights, and high black riding boots, racking his
brains for an outfit. Jareth went into his huge walk-in closet and
surveyed his massive collection of clothes. Although most times, he
would simply adorn himself with a wave of his hand, he felt like
manually dressing himself this night. Finally, after much thought,
Jareth settled on a baggy-sleeved silver silk poets shirt with a
slightly-low neckline over which he could show off his pendant, royal
purple tights, a royal purple cape, sparkly silver, knee-high riding
boots, and royal purple gloves with folds at the wrists.

As the Goblin King was tying on the cape, a goblin came rushing into
the room. Jareth heard the scuffling of its feet on the stone floor
of his chamber and immediately lashed around, a look of fury burning
in his mismatched eyes. "Are you deaf?! I thought I told you I was
not to be disturbed at any time today- especially not in my
bedchamber!"

"But- Your Majesty-"

The goblin was cut off by Jareth. "This better be important!"

But the creature was too petrified with fear to answer the King.
Jareth stormed across the room and picked up the quivering thing by
the collar. "If you don't tell me why you've interrupted me this
instant, I'll throw you straight into the Bog of Eternal Stench
without a second thought!" he shouted, shaking the goblin.

"Sire, Lord Talius has contacted His Majesty, your brother
King Stephan, with a message for you, and he sent me to deliver it to
you."

"Well, then, what is it?!"

"Lord Talius says he wants to meet the girl when she arrives, and to
speak to her before yourself, Your Majesty."

"Why? Talius trusts me." Jareth's brow furrowed.

"I don't know, Your Highness- please- aaaauucchhh, Your Highness!"

"What?!"

"You're choking me!"

Jareth let go of the wrinkled thing's collar, then watched as it
dropped to the floor and scurried away. 'Now why could Talius
possibly want to speak to Aislinn before I do?' he wondered.

* * * * *

"Aislinn?"

"Yes, Grandma?"

"I want you to have these. You would have gotten them when you were
a woman, but I suppose I have no choice but to give them to you now."

Doris handed her a plain gray box with a gold plate in which were
engraved the initials of Aislinn's great, great grandmother. Aislinn
carefully lifted the hinged lid to find herself staring at a pair of
silver drop earrings spangled the whole waysround with sparkling
diamonds. "Oh, Grandma, they're- they're beautiful," she breathed.

Squeezing her granddaughter, Doris replied, "Listen, Darling, I want
you to know something." Her eyes were brimming with tears. "Myself
and the rest of the family have been talking. You know we love you
very much, and we know you love us too and aren't leaving because of
us-"

"I need to tell you something too, Grandma," the young girl
interrupted. "At first, I did want to get away from the family, this
world, my troubles- everything, but now that's not the reason, and I'm
sorry-"

"Aislinn, please, don't apologize. As I said, the family has been

talking, and we've decided that no matter what the pain is, we realize
you must go. You'll never understand how hard it's been for us to
accept this, and it'll take awhile. Perhaps-" She sighed. "Perhaps
we'll never come to accept if fully, but it you feel it's your
destiny, we can't stand in your way."

"Grandma, I- I don't know what to do," Aislinn breathed, genuinely
shocked. "Thank you- thank everyone for me after I leave, ok?"

"I promise I will." She leaned forward. "Now, I must tell you about
these earrings. They've been in our family for four generations.
I've spoke to your mother and she's agreed to let them skip her
generation so you can take them with you into Jareth's kingdom.
Aislinn, you must listen carefully. It's important that these
earrings be passed along to the next girl born in our family. I'll
never meet your children, but at least, I want you to be able to tell
them about the tradition of these earrings."

"Grandma, I'm so grateful, but... I don't know that I'll ever have
children. I don't know if there are other humans for me to meet in
Jareth's kingdom. It would be impossible for me to marry Jareth's
brother, for my destiny is in the Labyrinth, and Jareth is engaged."

"Engaged?!" Doris asked, shocked. "To whom?"

"I told you about Sarah when I told you all about the book
and everything."

"Yes, but- oh, he's engaged to Sarah?"

"Yes, they're in love."

Doris took her granddaughter's hand and placed the box inside it,
gently closing it within Aislinn's palm and wrapping her long fingers
around it. "Even if you don't have children, these will always be
with you, and I still want you to have them. I love you Aislinn.
I'll miss you, my darling grandchild."

Aislinn looked up at her grandmother, tears streaming her cheeks.
"I'll miss you too, Grandma- and everyone- so much."