AN: I just wanted to thank everyone again for their reviews. They mean so much to me, especially since this is my first Labyrinth fic and it's quite unlike anything I've ever written. I thrive on reviews and honest opinions. Thank you again. Oh, and I know I said this at the beginning, but I'll say it again, I do not own anything from or relating to the Labyrinth. I'm just borrowing a few characters and places to play with them, but I'll return them unharmed….well, I wouldn't mind keeping Jareth for a while…. ;-) Saphire
Part four:
Five or so minutes later, the king was still resting on his knees in the dust, bent over and head bowed. The sun from Sarah's dream had set and the moon was back, signaling that it was indeed still night. Jareth savored the cool air of the moonlight.
"Didymus, come out, I know you're there," he suddenly said without changing positions.
Sir Didymus tentatively stepped out from behind a pile of crumbling bricks from the castle, "Your majesty."
Finally, Jareth straightened a little, but made no move to get up. He locked his scrutinizing gaze on the little fox-knight before him, "Why were you here?"
"Sire, I wanted to see if she -"
"If she still cared? If she ever thought of calling you?," Jareth paused, "I think you have your answer, Didymus."
The fox nodded solemnly, "Yes, sire."
"Didymus, we are alone here, she has gone. You needn't be so formal. Tell me what's on your mind."
Didymus considered. Jareth was certainly his friend and he knew he could trust the king, and keeping him here would give him more time to recover some strength, but he wasn't sure if the king would like what advice would be offered.
"Well?" Jareth asked impatiently as he slowly stood up to his full height, wiping the dust from his clothes.
Didymus took a breath, "I think, Jareth, that you confuse her."
Jareth arched an eyebrow, "Confuse her? How? I thought I was perfectly clear in answering her. She wanted to know what happened to this place and I told her."
"But you never explained why," Didymus pointed out.
The Goblin King waved his hand dismissively, "I don't see how that should matter. Besides, you heard her, I never got the chance to explain."
"Jareth, -"
"I recognize that tone, Didymus, I'm not sure I like it," Jareth said, wincing.
Didymus shot him a look and started again, "Jareth, you were angry with her, and she was angry with you. If you want her to ever forgive -"
"I DO NOT want her forgiveness! Forgiveness for what, anyway? I've only ever done what -"
"Jareth, please. You asked what I thought and I'm telling you."
"There's that tone again, Didymus. I told you I didn't like it," he sighed seeing his friend's determined look, "Continue."
Didymus nodded, "As I was saying, if you ever wish to talk with her without arguing," Didymus rephrased his words a little and noticed Jareth seemed appeased, "then try not to be angry with her. She feeds off of your emotions -"
"Like a leech," Jareth spat.
Didymus gave up and sighed, shaking his head, "Perhaps it's best we return to the camp, Sire. It's almost dawn and you should rest more." Wordlessly, the two headed back towards the camp.
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After finally convincing Ben that nothing was wrong, Sarah stealthily slipped from the bed and into the adjoining bathroom for some privacy. She looked at herself in the mirror, "What kind of dream was that? It's been ten years since I've even thought of that place." Sarah shook her head, that wasn't exactly true. Her adventure in Jareth's Labyrinth was always with her, in the back of her mind like some kind of pleasant fairy-tale. But she hadn't had a dream about the Laby - no that wasn't exactly true either. "Say it, Sarah," she told herself, "You haven't had a dream about Jareth in ten years." That was what struck her as odd. While most memories had faded, she'd managed to keep what she wanted to remember from the Labyrinth. And Jareth had made…well, an impression on her that she didn't think she'd forget. But, seeing him suddenly after ten years reminded her of how absent he'd been. "He looked the same," she commented aloud, finding comfort in the noise. She sighed, the Goblin King had indeed looked the same to her, every bit as seductive, every bit as scary. But there was something different, something wrong….and she couldn't put her finger on it. "Of course there's something wrong, you twit," she scolded herself, "You obliterated his entire kingdom." But it was more than that. Something about Jareth himself. After a few minutes of pondering, Sarah decided to give up. "He's made it clear he has better things to do, so just forget it. Just go on remembering the Labyrinth like you always have, a dream," she instructed herself before she got back into bed next to Ben. Still, she lay awake until her alarm came on.
