Wow! So many people love this story! It's overwelming. *sniff* Thanks you guys *dabs eye in happiness* this is o great! I'm starting to see some regular fans too. And I wanna thank them for reviewing my other work a lot too, especially to Unicorn Lady and Jordon and all you other great reviewers! Just a reminder, I added more to chapter one so make sure you read the bottom half before this. So, on with the show!

*~SFS~*

Chapter Two
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Illusions
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After breakfast the following morning, Sarah left her room and headed outside. Earlier on in the months, Sarah had found a large old stable. It had seen better days being elegently designed and fitted , but the roof still stood well and the inside looked comfy for horses. Sarah had wished that there would be horses but they had long since inhabited the place. So to pass the time, Sarah came back now and then, cleaning up here, fixing there, making it look nice again as if for horses soon coming.

This morning she headed there again wearing a split riding skirt, the only thing resembling pants that would make it easier to work. As she slid open the stable door she suddenly gasped.

Jareth stood there smiling and holding the reins of a beautiful white mare beside him. The horse had long silky krimped hair and tail and a lovely light colored pattern on it's forehead. Sarah brought her hands to her mouth.

Jareth's grin widened, "I've noticed you have taken to cleaning and fixing the stable. Considering a clean stable is useless without a horse I decided you might need an inhabitant."

Sarah was awed by the horse and the offer. Ever since she was a child, she had dreamed of having a horse. Her mother used to take her for riding lessons and Sarah loved every minute of it.

Slowly she came to the horse and held the mare's head, stroking the bridge of her nose. "Oh, Jareth. She's beautiful! How..."

Jareth grinned slyly, "There are things you don't know about me, Sarah. Let us just say I've been saving her for someone special."

Sarah blushed from behind the mare's head, "What's her name?"

"I thought I'd leave that up to you."

Sarah was thoughtful and then smiled, "Finnhyvar. I once read it in a book, an irish story about a queen. I always liked the name."

Jareth smiled, "A nice choice. She will be well cared for."

Sarah turned to him, "By whom? Goblins would probably frighten her."

He chuckled, "Sarah, as I have said, you don't know what I can do. Worry not, she will be fine. Why don't you take her for a ride? There is an open field at the far end of the eastern gardens."

Sarah noticed for the first time that Finnhyvar was saddled with an elegant yet conventional leather saddle. She nodded and took the reins from Jareth, her hands brushing Jareth's gloved one. A warm feeling filled her and she glanced at Jareth who had stepped awkwardly away yet grinning, "Enjoy your ride," and then he quickly walked away.

She sighed and led the mare out of the stable and through the garden.s. She mounted the horse and trotted through the field Jareth had spoke of and then began to gallop. Oh, how wonderful the wind felt rushing through her hair and the sweet smell of blowing grass in the air.

After about half an hour of running, they slowed and trotted back to the garden. As she went along the tall stone wall lining the field, garden and grounds, a sparkle caught her eye. Not far off, a door with an iron latch and hindges stood in the wall. Sarah looked confused. She'd never seen that door before. Curious, she trotted over and leaned in to touch the door. It suddenly swung open, a sigh filling the air. Sarah glanced about but nothing could she see. She glanced throught the door and saw a beautiful meadow. Entranced, she nudged Finnhyvar through, ducking under the doorway.

"How beautiful." The meadow was bordered with trees, looking very much like the Glendalion Forest. Sarah continued on, looking contently around almost like in a trance.

Unbeknowest to her, the door behind her closed with a dark sigh and vanished.

* * *

Jareth was walking about in the castle restlessly. What had the feeling meant? When Sarah had brushed his hand, he had instantly felt a rush of warmth. It had taken him quite by surprise and he hadn't known how to react. Instead, he left quickly, muddling over this feeling.

He entered his throne room, thankfully devoid of his goblins, and dropped into his throne, one leg drooping over the arm. His hand to his head, he struggled with his mind and heart. Logic and cunning had always been Jareth's strength, using them and, most often, ignoring his feelings. But right now they seemed to abandon him, leaving him confused and almost helpless. Never had he feelings like these and it was new to him. They seemed...genuine.

He looked up. Felara stood not far off, glowing slightly. She smiled at Jareth. He sat up, standing quickly, "Who are you? How did I not detect you?"

Felara laughed, the sound like small bells, "King Jareth, thou hast nothing to fear of me."

Jareth slowly sat down, "You speak the language of old."

"Only with thee as a sign of respect, as were in onld times," she gave a gracious curtsy, "Magesty."

Jareth seemed confused by the lady but was startled when he noticed the glitter of faerie wings from behind Felara, "You are Fae."

She smiled and nodded her head once, "Yes. Who else but thine own kind would use such formal text."

"But wings? I find such things unneccisary and ridiculous. Human nonsense."

Felara laughed, "It doth serve a purpose besides that of flight. They do look nice as well," her wings moved a bit and then vanished, "Doth that seem better?"

Jareth waved his hand, "I know of the formality of having your wings present in the presence of royalty. It makes no difference to me," he turned away, "I had turned my back on those times so long ago."

"I know," Felara dropped her formality, "and now that time no longer exists. Their foolishness and ignorance destroyed them, leaving nothing but a few who scarcely survive now. Some of us though still kept good mind on matters during those times. We knew something was not right and that the humans would betray us," she looked sadly down, "I was not there when the humans savagely massacered our kind, all in the name of a gold we did not have. Someone had led them to believe that we were loaded with gold and you know what gold does to the mind of a human man," she looked at Jareth closely, "You did nothing?"

Jareth looked away, his fist tightening, "I warned the court that such events were to happen and they laughed. 'Why would the humans do such things,' they asked. Yes, I left but..." his mind began to hurt as if trying to remember something but it escaped him. Felara almost looked hopeful but then sighed as Jareth again looked at her, "I don't remember what all happened but that I cannot believe I wouls abandon all my kind."

"No," she sighed and then to herself, "Not all were against us."

Jareth stood, his back to Felara, "Why do you bring these horrors back to my mind? Who are you?"

Felara bowed her head, "Only one who still wishes for the Fae to continue and... for love to prevail evil."

Jareth's eyebrows rose at her last words. He turned and she was gone but her voice remained, "Remember, Jareth. Try to remember what it was that drove you forever to the Underground. But most importantly, remember what you never could of that battle. Something happened, something that forever changed you."

Her voice grew upset, "Jareth, beware the evil that seeks you again. Even now, one you care for is watched," and then she was gone.

Jareth grew suddenly worried. He summoned a crystal to his hand and gazed within. He saw the gardens, the field and the stable.

No Sarah.

Where ever he looked, he could not find her. This was impossible. He'd always been able to seek her out. He sent the crystal away and paced, something he seldom did. Hand to his mouth he thought about what could be happening and remembering Felara's words. He stopped. The only thing that blocks magic is magic itself. There must be another in the Underground who possessed a magic Jareth did not recognize. There had to be. Jareth was helpless and it infuriated him. Nothing should cause him to be so. Perhaps he would have to use more conventional methods.

"Hoggle!" he called out, summoning the dwarf. Timidly, Hoggle appeared around a corner, "Yes, your magesty?" he stuttered.

Jareth knew Hoggle still feared him but this time it would get him moving quicker, "Hoggle, take your men and search for sarah."

Hoggle was startled, "But what about your crys..."

"It didn't work! Something's blocking me out," Jareth grew irritated, "Juts go, quickly! Look for anything unusual (AN: Well, that basically cover all of the Labyrinth). Go now!"

Hoggled stumbled and nodded, hurring away. jareth heaved a frusterated sigh. He knew it would still take a long time, even with Hoggle and the others help. Maybe he could try the crystal again. He summoned one and looked within still seeing nothing. Without thinking, he grabbed hold of his crescent moon pendent in frustration and it suddenly glowed as did the crystal. In a flash he saw Sarah. She was riding through a wood, a strange look in her eyes.

Surprised by this turn of events, he suddenly released the pendant and the glow died and Sarah could not be seen. Jareth tried to make the crystal show him Sarah again but nothing happened. Sending it away, ht looked at his crescent moon pendant, the small twinkling diamond in the center. It seemed the same as before, no glowing, nothing. Jareth frowned but turned to thoughts of where Sarah could be. She was in a wood, one Jareth couldn't recognize and yet it seemed familar. The only woods in the labyrinth was the Glendalion Forest. But how could Sarah be there? There was no gate to the forest and she would have no reason to be there, would she?

And that look. That far off look of seeing something that Jareth had not. It worried him, bringing up the warning of the mysterious Fae woman. He could not go to Sarah now unless she called. He needed to know where she was to do that. But would she call him? She never had before so why would she now?

He sat in his throne, leaning into his hands. He wanted to protect her from whatever it was that watched Sarah. Helpless and not liking it, Jareth could do nothing but sit and wait.

* * *

Sarah felt as if in a distant revelry. She felt asleep yet awake. Finnhyvar continued to plod on, going no where in particular.

Sarah heard a giggle echo through the woods and looked for the source. It was here, there, behind, in front, it moved from place to place. At one point, she thought she saw a small white clad figure go behind a tree. Then she saw them somewhere else. The giggle and child's laughter continued. She stopped Finnhyvar and stared at what was ahead of her, a gasp escaping her.

Toby!

He giggled and beckoned her to come. Sarah nudged the mare to follow. At one point she lost sight of Toby and began to hurry the mare until she saw him again. He was standing by a small grove, giggling and beckoning further. Sarah stopped and dismounted, feeling Finnhyvar's nervousness.

Yoby disappeared through a small opening of the trees. Quickly, Sarah followed, holding the folds of her skirts as they tore against thorns and branches. She came into a beautiful thicket, sunlight filtering through the branches above to a small pool in the center. Toby sat on a rock near the pool and smiled when he saw sarah. She went to him, wanting to hold him but suddenly she heard Finnhyvar's nervous nickering. It suddenly brought her to her senses.

She blinked several times, gasping at her surroundings. Toby had disappeared, giggling and the thicket suddenly became a dark and forboding place. There were thorns everywhere, the trees looking hideous and a cold wind blowing. She glanced through the opening behind her. She could see the sunlight and Finnhyvar pawing at the ground nervouslly. Sarah quickly made her way to the opening until suddenly it was closed off by narled branches and thorns. Sarah gasped, backing away and hugging her amrs. The thicket was suddenly filled with the sounds of wild animals, snarls and screeches, but above it all Sarah could hear a hideous laugh, so dark it chilled her to the bone.

She backed against the wall of trees when suddenly the branches reached out to grab her. Crying out, she jumped away, her skrt tearing and looking in horror at the sudden reaching out of branches all around her.

She backed to the center of the thicket, tripping over the rock by the pool and falling in. She found that it was deeper then she had thought and she struggled to the surface, gasping for air and pulling herself out. She sat on the rock and shivered. Why had she not noticed that something had been very strange about all this? She knew now that she was in the dreaded dark wood that felara had warned her about.

The laugh got closer but Sarah still saw nothing.

"Scared?" the hissed whisper had sounded by her ear, causing Sarah to jump away, "Who's there?"

"Oh, dear Sarah," she heard the voice but no one could she see, "Were you not warned about me?"

Sarah paled, "The dark evil."

"Ohhh," Suddenly something sparked into view, standing not far from the pool, "dark evil sounds so harsh. I prefer Dar. Sounds more catchy, doesn't it?"

Sarah gasped. It was a tall man, black haired with pointed ears and high arched eyebrows. His hair was shoulder length and he wore black leather knee high boots, pants and a leather vest over his bare chest. He was breath takenly handsome and it was the look on his face that caused Sarah to shirk back, "You're Fae, aren't you?"

He smirked, "What gave it away, the eyebrows? Perhaps the ears? Well now that the introductions have been made, the business at hand. How did you like my illusions?"

Sarah gasped and turned, seeing Dar behind her. She backed away farther. Dar chuckled, "You will be a lot of fun." Then he cocked his head, "You find me handsome, don't you?" he said this while his hand waved a bit and a dark dust came over Sarah, causing her to be truthful, "Yes," she whispered.

Dar slowly came towards her, causing sarah to back away more until she was against the thicket wall and this time the branched got hold of her and held her fast. She struggled until Dar was suddenly inches from her. She felt paralyzed with fear. Dar smirked, stroking her face slowly, "So lovely. You fear me. And for good reason." He leaned in near her ear and whispered, "I am dangerous. More then you'll ever know." He brushed her ear with his lips and sarah shivered. His touch was cold and she was terrified. He looked at her, "Fear makes things very interesting. Ever wonder what would happen if good linked with evil? Who would win?" He brushed her cheek, licking his lips. Sarah couldn't move, only look blankly back.

Dar, inches from her face, whispered, "Ever felt that dark side within? The urge to give into your darkest desires? Do you feel it?" Sarah suddenly felt the branches loosed and she tore away. An opening in the wall of trees had appeared and she dashed through it. Dar smirked, "Go ahead. It'll be more fun chasing you."

Sarah ran hard, struggling with her soaking wet dress. It was slowling her down and she needed to get away. She knew the feeling he spoke of and she was horrified by it. Never, she thought, never would she give into that.

The escape route appeared to be nothing but more dark woods. Shadows danced here and there. She cried out as she tripped over a branch and heard the bloodcurling howl of a wolf not far off. She rose quickly, grabbing her shredded skirts and pushing back her disshelved hair, and stumbled forward. She could hear the wolf behind her and glanced back briefly, only to stumble into a dried out river bed, rolling down the sharp bank and coming to a crashing halt at the bottom.

Dazed and weak, Sarah moaned, unable to move. She cried out at the sudden shock of pain from her ankle. She looked in fear at the snarling wolf looking down from the river bed's edge. Sarah tried to drag herself away, thorn bushes catching her dress and holding her fast. The wolf made its way down towards her. Sarah could feel her tears stinging the scratches on her face. This was it, she was trapped. The wolf leaped at her and she screamed, "Jareth!!"

She felt a blow to her chest, the sound of ripping material and flesh, felt a burning sensation, and was knocked hard back into a rock. The world blackened around her as she heard the sound of the wolf crying out and a sharp crunch. Then she knew no more.
* * *

OH, I'm having fun with this! I get so into my stories. See ya!