AN: I know that the last chapter ended abruptly, and I know that this one doesn't pick up at that same point

AN: I know that the last chapter ended abruptly, and I know that this one doesn't pick up at that same point. This was intentional. I love writing stories (though this is my first Labyrinth fic and I'm nervous and proud), and I do my best to convey the images, situations, and feelings I have in my imagination to the reader. However, I also don't think a story should baby the reader. Some things should be left to the imagination. So, if it seems that I leave parts out, that's because they're not all that important to the plot. Just think of a movie fading to black. Ok, I just felt I should explain that. Enjoy and please keep the reviews coming….as I said, this is my first attempt at a Laby fic. ~ Saphire

Part three:

Sarah looked all around her. This place seemed so familiar to her, but it was in ruins. She was almost certain she'd never been here before. The sun was brutally hot and Sarah wiped the sweat from her brow. A hot, dry wind blew and, with nothing else to do, Sarah followed it. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw pieces of a once imposing castle at her feet. "The Labyrinth," she whispered, "What happened to it?"

"What happened to it? You did, Sarah," a familiar British-sounding voice accused.

Sarah gasped audibly and spun on her heel. There, reclining on a large bough of a dead tree, was the Goblin King. His back rested against the tree's trunk, one leg stretched out along the bough, the other bent at the knee. His one arm rested against his raised knee and held a peach. The other hand held open an ancient looking book that the king was reading. Jareth took an exaggerated bite from the peach, savoring it fully before waving it away with his hand. Quickly, he finished his page and rested the book open and page-down on his lap. At last he turned his gaze towards the woman that had been watching his every move intently. He wanted to smile, but his anger and exhaustion wouldn't let him.

"Hello, Sarah," he said, his voice cold, yet eerily seductive to Sarah's ears.

"Jareth," she breathed. This time, the king did smile, but Sarah wasn't sure what emotion was behind it. The Goblin King disappeared from the tree and reappeared standing directly in front of Sarah. Ten years hadn't done much for her height and Jareth still towered over Sarah.

"So, I'm not forgotten after all this time," Jareth mocked softly, staring down at the now-grown Sarah.

His anger was quickly melting with her being so near, but he was still bitter. Bitter about everything: what se had done to him, to his land with her words, what she had done to his heart, to his soul with her rejection.

Sarah couldn't stand the way Jareth's mismatched eyes bore into hers, sparks flying behind his gaze. This was why she didn't like being around him. It was too much, he was too much and she found herself just as scared of him as she'd always been but damned if she'd let him know. She took two steps backwards for some much-needed space.

"Yes," Jareth smirked, "I am still remembered. But, Sarah, what would your fiancé say to you looking at another man like that?"

Sarah crinkled her nose in distaste; the word fiancé seemed offensive when Jareth said it.

"I - I love him," she finally stammered.

"Indeed," Jareth said shortly with a short, derisive snort.

Sarah cleared her throat, why should she explain her engagement to Ben, why should she be scared of this Fae before her?

"What do you mean I happened to this place?" her voice still trembled and she cleared her throat again.

Jareth watched her carefully, letting her know that her shift of topic didn't escape him. Finally, he continued, "I mean just that, Sarah. This destruction is at your hands."

"But - but how?"

"Really, I'm sure you remember. Six words, Sarah. You didn't think they could do so much, did you?"

Sarah shook her head.

"No, that was your problem, my dear. You never did really stop and think."

After a long pause, Sarah found her voice again, "Is anything - is anything left?"

"You mean of the land? Of the Labyrinth? No, nothing," Jareth replied coldly.

"What about - ?" but Sarah couldn't bring herself to finish her question.

"Hoggle? Ludo? Didymus? Alive, for now. Most of my subjects still hang on, for now. Why? Were you worried when they didn't answer, Sarah?" he mocked her.

Anger flashed in her eyes, "You! It was you who wouldn't let them answer me!"

"Sarah - "

"Bastard! How could you!? I was so worried - "

"Sarah!" his crisp voice cut her off immediately, "I had nothing to do with that. I was busy elsewhere - "

"Where?" she accused, not believing him.

Jareth arched his eyebrow and she took the hint not to interrupt him, "They didn't answer you because they didn't want to. And, furthermore, do you honestly expect me to believe you cared so much about them? You've forgotten most everything. I'm not even sure why you're here now."

"I was going to ask you the same thing."

The king smiled mockingly and shrugged, "I had nothing to do with this, Sarah. You are here because you want to be."

"This is a dream, then?"

"You always were quick."

Sarah glared at him, "Shut up. I don't know why I'm here. I certainly didn't dream it. You're right, I had almost forgotten. And good riddance at that -"

"Enough!" Jareth said, "It's time for you to wake-up, Sarah. I have better things to do than stay here and 'reminisce' with you."

With that, he tossed a crystal in Sarah's direction and her world went black.

***********

Sarah woke up in a cold sweat, gasping. The Labyrinth! "Did I really do that? Or was Jareth tricking me? Or was my mind just playing tricks?" she whispered.

Beside her, Ben stirred and opened his eyes, "Sarah? Are you ok, honey?"

Sarah turned sharply in his direction, forgetting he was even in the room, "Yeah, I'm fine. Go back to sleep."

**********

Jareth watched Sarah disappear, then collapsed to the ground, tired and almost completely drained. He knew it was stupid to waste his power on Sarah, but he'd be damned if he let her knew how weak he was…if he let her know exactly what her words had done to him. Still, he had wasted a lot of his precious magic on her, and he needed every ounce he had to rebuild his kingdom. More than that, seeing her and fighting with her had brought many emotions to the surface for him. He needed to get control of them if he was to save the Labyrinth. He needed to save it, it was his life.