Chapter Five: The truth is out.

Jareth turned slightly in bed as he woke. Turning he was about to place his arm on Sarah's body but found nothing but an empty bed space next to him. He opened his eyes now and looked about feeling rather puzzled. He sat in his bed and as his eyes adjusted to the dark he stepped out of bed and left his chambers in search of Sarah.

It was strange that she was not in bed and especially at this time of night. He checked the library, study, bathroom and throne room and found nothing. He began to worry and so went to Alaina's room. He knocked once and was surprised to see Alaina not in bed but sitting on the balcony looking over the dark Labyrinth.

"I'm sorry to disturb you Alaina but by any chance do you know of my wife's whereabouts?" he asked as he approached her. He was wearing nothing but his black night pants and as he stepped out onto the balcony he felt the cold air on his bare chest and back which made him bring his hands together for warmth.

"No I'm sorry." Alaina looked at him and noticed that he could indeed feel the cold so she signaled for him to enter her room again.

As they both did so Alaina noticed a small figure running towards the castle. As she looked closer she noticed it was Sarah and she seemed to be frightened. She pointed her out to Jareth and they both exited Alaina's room to meet with her.

After making their way down the many halls and stairways Alaina and Jareth saw Sarah running towards them as they entered the throne room. Sarah ran and wrapped her arms around Jareth not saying a word. Jareth gave Alaina a confused look and brought Sarah to face him. He placed both his hands on either of her cheeks and noticed she was crying.

"What is wrong?"

"Oh Jareth I overheard two men talking in the forest. They said they were going to kill you at the banquet." She said between sobs and gasps. Jareth was still confused.

"What do you mean Sarah?" he asked.

"Oh Jareth. I was so scared so I ran they were chasing me. I didn't know what they were going to do with me if they had caught me. Jareth I'm so scared." She said as she dug her head into his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair and comforted her.

"It's ok Sarah you're safe now."

Standing in the doorway of the throne room Darren stood dressed in his nightgown. He was holding a glass of wine and he stepped in to observe what was going on.

"What is wrong?" He asked with the expression of concern on his face. Jareth looked up at him.

"Sarah was chased in the forest." He said still holding Sarah.

"By whom?" he pressed further.

"We're not sure."

"Are you alright? Is there anything I can do?" He asked.

Jareth shook his head and thanked him before leading Sarah out of the throne room. Alaina looked at Darren and wasn't at all surprised to see him with a glass of wine in his hands. His green eyes looked at her and she could sense something. She couldn't exactly say what but it bothered her. She folded her arms across her chest.

"Where have you been?" she asked with curiosity. Darren took a sip from his wine and placed a hand on his hips.

"I went into the kitchen to fetch myself a glass of wine."

She looked at him and felt as if he were hiding something. She had been married to this man for so long that she could see through everything but tonight was different, she could sense that he was hiding something but she didn't know what and because he was drinking she couldn't tell whether what he was hiding was because of the drink or something else. She decided to ignore her feelings and retire to bed. It was late and she needed to rest.

"You should get to bed it's late." She said as she placed a kiss on her husband's forehead. He nodded and watched her retreat to her chamber. He turned to look out the arched window and took another sip of his wine as he saw a shadowy figure riding a horse far off in the distance. A small devilish smile swept over his lips and he chuckled quietly inside. So she has over heard of my plans hmm? Well I'll see to that. Poor little Sarah, he thought. Finishing his glass of wine he placed it in the windowsill and walked to his chambers.

* * * * *

Sarah sat on her bed as Jareth patted her back. She was very shook up and was glad to have him by her side. He was the only person she truly felt safe with excluding Toby. She thought back to Toby and remembered what she had to do. The thought still hadn't left her mind and the closer it came to actually telling him she felt sadder and sadder. But then she remembered that it will be for the best and that leaving Toby for good would resolve everything.

Jareth looked at his wife as she was lost in deep thought. Her eyes had lost their fear and were now full of unhappiness and he truly wished that they weren't. He hated seeing Sarah so torn up and unhappy because it also made him feel the same. Questions started to form in his head and needed them answered.

"Sarah why where you in the forest?" He asked trying not to sound to cold.

Sarah removed herself from his embrace and sat with her hands on her lap as she looked at the floor. How could she explain to Jareth why she was there? He would be completely angered because he had explained to her never to interfere with her past life and family members again not only because it would be dangerous for Sarah but also them. She knew very well that bad things could happen and they have but she was foolish enough to go and break Jareth's trust and do what he had asked her not to do.

She was silent for some time and Jareth began to worry. For some time now he had noticed her absences and began to wonder where she went for all that time. It started just last year and he feared Sarah did not love him as much as he loved her. She began to withdraw most of her feelings from him and the thought of losing her torn him inside. He had worked so hard to keep her and love her but he wondered if it were all for nothing. That she did in fact not love him and the only reason she stayed was because she was confused. Jareth tried not to think of it.

Sarah kept still and didn't know how to answer besides with the truth. Swallowing hard she began to tell him. "I was getting some books that I had borrowed from Hoggle. I had left them there when I was in the forest earlier today."

"But why didn't you just get them in the morning. You know how dangerous the forest is at night with thieves and robbers lurking around everywhere." He said angrily. She ignored his tone and continued. "Jareth I need to tell you the truth I cannot keep it from you any longer. I've been foolish enough to have been keeping it from you for just over a year " she looked to the ground and dared not look him in the face. "Since you gave me my powers I've been using them to see someone. I've been seeing him every day. I would go into the forest and use my powers to transport myself to him. I care about him a lot and I love him so much. I couldn't bare to be without him." She paused a moment as she wiped away tears that formed in her eyes.

Jareth was heart broken. She was seeing another man behind his back. His eyes filled with pain but as Sarah looked at him he changed into his emotionless Goblin King self. "Who have you been seeing?" he asked.

Sarah bit her bottom lip and looked away. "Toby." She said quietly almost in a whisper. Jareth looked at her for a moment and held back a sigh of relief. He was wrong all this time she had been seeing her brother not another lover. His expressionless mask was kept as he looked at her. "Jareth I'm so sorry. And you know you were right."

"About?"

"When you explained to me that returning into my family's lives would cause havoc. Things have turned out rather badly. It's not as serious as you might think but it's causing Toby a lot of trouble. He began telling everyone about me and now Karen thinks he is crazy. And it's my entire fault. I should have listened to you Jareth. I should have never gone to visit him. It was stupid I know but I realised that I couldn't live with out him. He was all that I cared for besides you and I needed to be around him, talk to him, hug him and share secrets with him. I still do but I've made up my mind to stop seeing him. Can you ever forgive me?"

Sarah had tears running down her cheeks and Jareth began to feel for her. He felt badly about doubting her love for him. But she had still disobeyed him. "Sarah you know very well that you should not have seen him in the first place. Stopping your visits to see him will not solve this completely. Toby will still have the knowledge that you are real. He will go through life thinking he is crazy and in the end he will have convinced himself that he is. I hope you're happy with what you have started." Jareth said coldly as he stood.

"I know, it was very stupid but I had to see Toby." She looked at him to find anger in his eyes which made her even more sad.

"You're right it was stupid but yet you still did it. Did you think about the consequences? Did you really expect Toby to keep all these things to himself? He's four years old at this age he will tell everyone everything. "

"I know." Sarah agreed.

"You're going to have to tell him tomorrow and get it over with. I just hope that he won't take it as badly as I presume he will." He paused and looked at her sitting on the bed. Her eyes were full of tears and they pleaded for his forgiveness. Jareth kept his cool face and ignored them. He was very angry and hurt that she had disobeyed him. And now that she has done it once whose to say that she will not do it again. How will Jareth be sure that she will not disobey him again and by doing so hurt herself or others.

Jareth often wondered if bringing Sarah Underground was a smart idea. Few mortals did live Underground. Not many could because of all the magic that was contained there. It was far to strong and usually would crush any mortal that entered. The Labyrinth held the littlest magic and so was ideal for mortals but still through time if mortals were not careful they too would become weak and eventually die. The only reason Sarah was not in this state was because Jareth had given her an enchanted necklace. He did not tell her of its power but he had told her never to take it off. He gave it to her as a present and Sarah loved it dearly.

Grabbing a black silk shirt Jareth put it on and opened the door. "You should go to bed it's late." With that he walked out shutting the large wooden door behind him. Sarah broke out in tears as Jareth left and she blames everything on herself. If she hadn't have been so stupid and foolish none of this would have ever happened. She buried her head in a pillow and cried.