Starry Night4

Disclaimer: See prologue.

A/N: All right, here is chapter 3! Enjoy and don't forget to review! Oh, and after this chapter, I'm going to try to answer some of your questions.

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A pounding on the door woke her. Sarah groaned and shoved her head deeper under the pillow.

"Sawah! It's time to get up! Please? You pwomised you'd go to the pawk with me and Jay!"

"Jay and I," Sarah corrected sleepily. She groaned again as she looked at the clock. Ten-thirty. Toby banged on the door again. Guess I might as well get up.

Toby shrieked in delight. "Jay, Sawah's up! Huwwy with bweakfast."

Sarah froze as a deep voice chuckled. "I've got breakfast, Toby. Why don't you go get dressed and let your sister eat in peace, hmm?"

"Okay. Eat fast, Sawah!" She heard Toby dash to his room and slam the door.

Her door opened and a wonderful smell drifted through the room. Jareth walked in carrying a tray filled with eggs, bacon, waffles and orange juice. Sarah raised her eyebrows dubiously. "You can cook?"

He gave her a haughty look as he straightened from placing the tray on her lap. "If you think for one minute that I, a King, am going to cook, then you must be daft. My servant cooked this."

"Your servant?" Sarah asked suspiciously.

He gestured to the door and a figure meekly stepped through.

"Hoggle!" she cried. She attempted to sit up but winced as her ribs protested and slid back down.

Hoggle limped hurriedly to her side. He darted a loathsome glance at the king and Jareth arched an eyebrow in turn. "Is yous all right, Sarah? His Majesty said you'd been in a accident. He brung me up here to help him with you an' Toby."

Sarah laughed weakly. "I'm fine Hoggle."

The dwarf eyed her. She looked small and frail, like she hadn't eaten in days. Her eyes were dark with pain and she appeared pale against the dark tone of the sheets. "Yous don't look fine ta me."

She laughed hoarsely. "Really, I'm okay. I just have a few minor injuries." Minor, ha! That's a laugh!

Jareth snorted. "'Minor' Sarah? You were in a coma for forty-eight hours, you had a traumatic head injury, you have two broken ribs, and your ankle has a 'jagged break'," he said angrily, quoting the doctor. "You also have this annoying habit of placing me as the villain in your oh-so-perfect life."

Her eyes flashed. "Well, pardon me if I have a slightly tainted view of you, your Majesty! In our first 'meeting' you kidnapped my brother and tried to seduce me! How do you think I'd act around you?"

He barked out a laugh. "My dear, I only lived up to your expectations of me. May I also point out that it was you who wished your brother away? I did nothing but what you asked."

"Nothing but what I asked? I didn't ask for him to be turned into a Goblin! And only after thirteen hours of hell was I able to beat you!"

"Beat me? Hardly! I generously allowed you to return home!"

Sarah paused, mid-tirade. "You mean…I didn't really win?"

Jareth sighed, exasperated. "No, you won. My 'job' is to take unwanted children who are wished away. If the wisher does not want to attempt the Labyrinth for the child's return, I will find a home for him or her, and the wisher will be sent home without their charge."

"What about those who choose the Labyrinth?"

"Even if they don't solve the Labyrinth, I will return the child and the both of them home. Contrary to popular belief, I do not turn the children into Goblins. All I am required to do is teach the wisher a lesson."

"So, even if I didn't make it, you would have sent Toby and I back?" Her voice was becoming shrill with anger. "You put me through all that for nothing? I nearly had my head pulled off, broke my neck falling down a hole, and almost stunk forever for nothing?!"

The Goblin King smirked. "Well it taught you to be careful what you wish for didn't it?"

"Why you-" Sarah started to snarl, but was interrupted by a small voice.

"Sawah?"

"What Toby?" she said without taking her eyes off of Jareth.

"Umm…can we go to the pawk now?"

Sarah smiled thinly at the little boy. "Yes, just let me get dressed."

"Okay! I'll go let Mewrlin out to go potty!" Toby bolted down the back stairway.

Jareth was looking at her with an odd look on his face.

Sarah noticed. "What?"

"How are you going to get dressed when it hurts just to breathe?"

She scowled. "I'm thinking," she muttered.

"How about…this way!" With that, he waved his hand and she felt a tingling spread through her body. She looked down and gaped. She was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt with her college logo on it.

Hoggle, who had been shifting uncomfortably all through this latest encounter, cleared his throat. "Uh…yer Majesty?"

"What Hogwart?"

"Hoggle," he mumbled, but seeing the King's look, got to the point. "Mebbe I should jus' stay here. Don't want to 'tract attention."

"I was about to suggest that myself. Sarah, do you want help down the stairs?" Jareth asked, a smile playing over his lips.

Sarah scowled. "I don't want help, but unfortunately, I need it."

He smirked and offered his arm. She took it, rolling her eyes, at the thoroughly medieval gesture. Just as they reached the bottom, Toby hollered at them from outside.

"SAWAH! IF YOU DON'T COME DOWN, I'LL GO BY MYSELF!"

Jareth laughed - a real laugh! "Oh, we'd better hurry, then," he teased the boy, "wouldn't want you to die of old age." Then he froze as he realized what he'd just said. "Sarah, I didn't mean-"

"Forget it. Let's just go." Her voice was clipped and brusque. With his help, she limped out the door, and Toby ran ahead of them to the park.

"I thinks his Majesty has a long road ta walk with 'er," Hoggle said to the empty room.

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Sarah smiled slightly as she observed Toby's antics. He was on the swings and Jareth was pushing him, while Toby would kick out at him every time he pumped backwards. Jareth pretended to fall over every time this happened, which always sent Toby into a fit of giggles. He certainly is good with children, she thought. Probably because he spends so much time with them. She scowled. That put a damper on things.

"Ouch! Wha-?" Sarah looked down to see a bird of some sort right by her hand. "Hey! It's not nice to peck people you know," she said mock severely.

{I apologize, my lady. But I had to get your attention.}

She jerked her hand away, but then winced as her ribs pulled. "Did you just speak?"

Sarah heard something that sounded like a laugh. {Yes, I spoke. My name is Dominic. I need to talk to Jareth.}

She felt dizzy. "You know Jareth?"

{Very well. Perhaps I could follow you to your...home, then we might speak in more appropriate surroundings.} The raven-Dominic said.

"Uh, sure. Just…come as a person, not a bird."

{Of course, my lady.}

"Right. Well, uh…bye."

{Farewell.} Dominic took to the air and headed east.

Well Sarah, that was one of your more unusual conversations. I can't believe that...that man had the balls to make me his messenger. Sarah stood and marched - more or less hobbling - to Jareth.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" she shouted. "I know this must come as a complete shock, but I am not your messenger!"

Jareth had a puzzled look on his aristocratic face that was rapidly ascending to annoyance. "I beg your pardon?" he asked haughtily. "I am sure I have no idea as to what you are talking about."

Sarah gestured angrily. "That raven-man. Dominic, or something. He swooped out of the sky, and said he needed to talk with you. Nearly gave me a heart attack, and -" she broke off when the monarch's face went paler than normal. "Jareth?" she asked uncertainly. "Are you all right?"

"What was his name?" he asked hoarsely.

"Dominic."

Jareth closed his eyes and sucked in his breath. "Did he say anything about when he would contact me again?"

Sarah wrinkled her nose. "He said he'd follow us home. Who is this 'Dominic', anyway?"

Jareth hesitated before responding. "An old friend. But there is no time to discuss this now. Come. We must return. Toby! Time to leave."

Toby, who had observed the previous conversation with interest, now scowled. "Aww! Do we have to?" he whined.

Sarah sensed the urgency with which the King had spoken. "Yes, we do. Don't argue," she warned.

Toby sulked, but hopped out of the swing, and began walking toward the stone bridge. They followed, but trailed behind, wanting privacy.

As soon as Toby was out of earshot, Sarah voiced the questions tumbling about in her mind. "Why are you so upset about this Dominic person?"

Jareth's lips formed a thin line. "Because him being here could only mean one thing: They know I'm here."

"Who's 'They'?"

"My parents."

Sarah looked at him in disbelief. "You have parents?"

A ghost of his usual smirk came back. "Really, Sarah, how else do you think I got here? The stork?"

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. So, why is your parents knowing you're here a bad thing?"

"Because I broke the Law to come here."

"What law?"

Jareth jerked his hand through his blonde mane, frustrated. "To understand what I am talking about, I must tell you a little history." Here, he paused. Sarah nodded for him to continue. "There are Nine Realms that make up the Underground. These Realms, though some like your world, all have one thing in common: magic. One thousand years ago, we discovered your world - the Tenth Realm. Unfortunately, our people we sent to observe yours were murdered because of their magical abilities. My grandfather, who was King at the time, then invented and enforced the Law: 'All who possess magic may not interact with those who have no magic. Those who break this law are susceptible to death.' So the Tenth Realm was declared 'off-limits', so to speak, and no one has been here since. I had thought I had covered my tracks perfectly and no one would ever know I was here. Apparently, I didn't succeed."

Sarah was confused about one thing. "Okay. Then why do you take mortal children?"

Jareth arched an eyebrow. "I do not venture into your world for the Game, except to take the child, and then I am authorized to do so. A simple memory spell will make them think it was all a dream when it ends - either way."

"Oh." She paused. "What are you going to do?"

He frowned in thought. "I don't know. One cannot ignore a Summoning from the King and Queen themselves - especially when They are one's parents."

"Why can't you? I mean, surely they wouldn't kill their own son."

Jareth sighed. "I'm afraid it's not that simple. Think of it as that game you mortals play - dominoes. When one chip falls, the others follow. If my parents forego the Law just because I am their son, others will do the exact same thing, all because their King and Queen did it. And We won't be able to do anything about it, because We are the ones who pushed that first chip."

"So…what are you going to do?" Sarah asked, repeating the question.

Jareth smiled grimly. "That's what I'm trying to think about."

"Then you'd better think fast, my friend, because time is of the essence," a masculine voice said. The two were startled out of their conversation and realized they were in front of the Williams' house, and Dominic was seated on the porch railing in front of them. "Hello, Jareth," he said, with a warm smile, "it's been a long time."

Jareth smiled back. "Yes, it has. Good to see you, Dominic."

"Despite the circumstances, you mean." The dark-haired Fae grinned mischievously, and the boyish dimple in his cheek charmed Sarah. "Now, who is this beautiful young woman?"

Jareth smiled again, but this time, it looked more like a baring of teeth. He tightened his grip around her waist slightly. "Her name is Sarah Williams. Sarah, this is my long-time friend, Dominic, Lord of Black Mountain."

Sarah smiled shyly. "Pleased to meet you."

Dominic bowed and kissed her hand. "Nay, the pleasure is mine, m'lady."

Sarah was shocked to hear a growl come from the Goblin King. Is he...? He couldn't be...jealous? She thought, astonished.

"Sawah?" Toby's voice interrupted. "Who's that?"

Jareth forced the scowl off his face, and smiled reassuringly at Toby, who looked nervous. "It's all right, Toby. He is a friend of mine."

Toby relaxed slightly, still eyeing Dominic suspiciously. "Okay," he said finally.

Dominic knelt down to the boy's height, and said solemnly, "Can I trust you with a secret?"

Toby's eyes widened with curiosity. "What secwet?"

Dominic leaned closer. "I can do magic. Real magic."

Toby gasped softly. "Weally?" he whispered.

"Aye. Look," Dominic said, summoning a crystal.

"Wow!" Toby said in awe. "You'we cooler than Sawah, and Sawah's weally cool!"

Sarah laughed. "You've won his favor," she told the Fae lord.

Dominic smiled gaily. "I aim to please." Then his smile turned serious. "We should really get down to business though."

Jareth nodded, then turned to look at Sarah. "Would you mind if we went inside? I realize it's rude, seeing as you hardly know him, but it is rather cold out here."

Sarah shrugged then winced. "Why not? Even though my opinion of you is not very high, I don't think even you would make friends with a killer." Dominic roared with laughter, and Jareth shot him a poisonous look.

Eyes twinkling, Dominic managed to respond, "I think you and I shall be great friends."

Jareth cast his eyes skyward. "Heaven help us if that happens," he muttered.

Sarah just smiled. "Well, come on. I think Toby wants that hot chocolate I promised."

Toby bobbed his head vigorously. "I've waited fowevow!" he said empathetically.

Sarah unlocked the door, and Toby bolted into the kitchen. "Make yourself at home," she said to Dominic. "I'll be right back." She hobbled after Toby.

Dominic's smile faded as soon as she disappeared, and he adapted a sort of a grimace.

Jareth groaned. "I know that look. Don't spare me any details - how much trouble am I in?"

The other Fae shrugged helplessly. "How do I put this? Your timing couldn't have been worse. The Realms are looking for any reason to relieve your family of the throne."

The Goblin King frowned. "Why?"

Dominic took a deep breath. "Jareth…Tabitha's back."

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Chapter 4: We find out who Tabitha is, and how she affects the Jareth situation. We travel to the Underground, and we get to see some J/S action!

Farseeker - I happen to like leaving things at a crucial point. ~_^ I think you'll see a lot more of those. Mithril - Thank you very much. J When are you going to do the sequel of 'Why do you hate me?' Lady Usagi - You'll just have to wait and see. Ramowen - Thank you but…what does 'auch' mean? J EnigmaSphinx - Wow, what a review! Don't worry. Happy stuff soon! I hate sad endings. ::hint hint:: Mickey - Your wish is my command! Lizyrd - Ah! A fellow Potter fan! I often switch back and forth between Laby and Potter kicks. Sometimes annoying. ::pictures Draco dreamily:: FireflyOfDeath - You got it. ::I will continue, I will continue:: Silver Paranoia - Okay, okay! This time I'll try not to leave you hanging! Judith - I had a plan, but my muse decided to take a vacation and another idea planted itself in my mind. So I have no idea where the story is taking me. Everyone - Now, if I told you Toby lived or died, that would spoil the whole story. To all other reviewers: THANK YOU!

Sorry if I didn't get to you, or if I didn't answer your question(s). Ask again, and I'll try to answer!