Disclaimer: Pretend there's some witty remark about how I don't own anything from the Labyrinth. Imagine you read it here.

AN: italics are thoughts; 'italics' in quotes are the same person talking to themselves. Did that make sense? Well, you'll see.

In the Ballroom

Sarah heard a noise near the door and looked to find a man who, while not at all similar to Sarah's own grandfather, looked very much like she'd always pictured a grandfather as looking. Although her normal reaction would be suspicion, she knew that whoever this man was, he wouldn't harm her. After all, Jareth always made sure you were never harmed while you were here. 'Shut up, I don't want to think about him.' If you would stop- But Sarah didn't get to hear what she should stop doing because she was realized the older man was speaking to her.

"-feeling? Better, I assume, since you walked yourself to the bathroom." Quillan smiled at the young girl. He had been quite worried for a moment when he'd entered the room to find an empty bed. He'd almost consigned himself to life in an oubliette when he noticed the bathroom door was open.

Sarah felt a wave of familiarity wash over her as the man smiled at her. "Do I know you?"

The man shook his head, still smiling. "No, I'm afraid you weren't quite conscious when we were introduced. My name is Quillan and I'm a healer."

"Healer?"

"Doctor. Whichever you prefer. Now let's a have a look at your head, eh?

Sarah remembered the bandage on her forehead. "What happened?"

Quillan glanced her, his smile somewhat dimmed. "I'm afraid, my dear, that you must remember on your own. You need to know, however, that Jareth" He ignored her wince "had nothing to do with any of this" and gestured at her face and lightly touched the bandage on her forehead. Sarah simply nodded, not knowing how to respond to that information. See? I told you Jareth would never- I don't want to hear it! Just shut up.  Sarah wondered briefly if she was developing multiple personalities, but the only time she argued with herself was when he was brought up. Since she was determined not to think about him, she stopped thinking about the fact that she kept conversing with herself.

**

Great Hall

             "So are you going to tell me why you've brought this girl here Jareth?"

Jareth looked at Aiden. "She has to do with my guest." Rolling his eyes, Aiden headed to a table holding some glasses and a bottle of wine and proceeded to pour two glasses. Jareth turned to Brenna. He looked at her a minute, as though taking her measure, and then spoke. "I'll have Aiden release you from his spell if you promise not to attack me and not to speak until I have finished. In return I'll tell you where Sarah is and why."

*Crash* Aiden had dropped the glass he was holding. "Sarah?" He sank into a chair. "Damn it, Jareth, if this is some kind of revenge…"

"It's not. Well, not on Sarah anyway." The menace in Jareth's tone made Aiden look up.

"Oh, hell."

Ignoring him, Jareth faced Brenna again. "Well, do we have a deal?"

Brenna felt a lightening around her shoulders and knew she would be able to move her head, but that was all. Having no other choice, she nodded.

"Very good. Aiden, if you would?"

Looking decidedly less happy than he had a few moments ago, Aiden made a lazy move with his hand and got up to pour himself another drink. Brenna felt the heaviness lift from her body, but didn't move. Instead she glared at Jareth with a look that said, "get on with it". A look Jareth easily interpreted. He gave a sort of half-sigh, half-laugh, and gestured her to a chair. "Of course you and Sarah would be friends." He muttered under his breath. "Let's have some introductions shall we? I am Jareth, King of the Goblins and this is Aiden, Prince and heir to the Forest Kingdom." Aiden made a mock salute with his wine glass and sat back in his chair, Brenna simply nodded.

 What the hell have I been dragged into? Kings, goblins, and magic spells? They're crazy. Or I am. Realizing they were both looking at her, she stood and made her own introduction. "I'm Brenna Caradine, Anthropology major and roommate to Sarah" At this, she saw Aiden glance sharply at Jareth, but he said nothing. Jareth seemed not to notice, and addressed both Brenna and Aiden.

"Very well. As you've no doubt realized, Sarah is indeed here at the castle. The why is slightly more… complicated." He turned to Brenna. "Were you aware that Sarah was dating a boy named John?" Brenna nodded. She was becoming more and more confused. At the mention of John, Aiden had closed his eyes and mumbled something. All Brenna caught was "not jealousy. By Oberon, it'd better not be jealousy." Still, Jareth had seemed not to notice, so she ignored him.

"What does John have to do with this?" she asked. He seemed not to hear her question.

"What do you know about him?"

Perplexed by this line of questioning, Brenna thought a moment before answering. "Well, Sarah's been dating him for about a month…  he's in her international studies class, I think Poli Sci major… Political Science" she clarified, seeing Jareth's confused look.

 "What else?"

"Well, I was surprised when they started dating. Sarah's half in the clouds you know, always reading or writing fantasy. John's about as down-to-earth as they get. No imagination. I doubt he's ever read anything that wasn't assigned." She glanced at Jareth. "I didn't really like him. I always got this creepy feeling whenever I was around him."

Jareth nodded at this information.  "What about rumours then, gossip?"

Brenna gave him a puzzled look. "Um, lemme think… well, he seems to go through girlfriends rather quickly. I think the longest he dated one girl was two months. That's about all I can think of…"

"No history of violence?"

Brenna looked startled. "Violence?" she echoed. "No… I don't think so… Wait! Freshmen year… right before exams, his girlfriend at the time said he'd hit her. But the next day she said she had lied because they'd had a fight and she was angry… She transferred after that." Brenna looked up, anger on her face this time. "He didn't? Not to Sarah?" She heard Aiden swear and the sound of breaking glass again.

 "Really Aiden, must you keep breaking all my crystal?" Jareth, leaning against the table, was wearing a grim smile that made Brenna wish she were home. He faced Brenna again. "He did. I couldn't help Sarah until she called on me. When she finally did, I brought her back here to be attended by my doctor. However, she suffered quite a nasty blow to the head and now doesn't remember what happened to her. That is why I've brought you here." He pointed at Brenna. "Quillan said that seeing someone familiar might help her remember. So you will talk to her and make her remember. Now, both of you, follow me." With that, he straightened and left the room in one fluid motion. Aiden stood, leading Brenna after Jareth.

"I knew it was going to be like last time. Almost feel sorry for the bastard. I haven't seen that look on Jareth's face since we rode against The Darkness."

"What?" Why does he keep blathering about 'last time'? How does Sarah know these people?

"Er, suffice to say that your boy John will sorely regret the day he ever set eyes on Sarah. It'll be an interesting show, though.

"What, watching him harm John?"

Aiden shook his head. "No, watching Sarah and Jareth." Seeing that his words hadn't cleared any of the confusion from Brenna's face, he simply grinned at her. "You'll see."

Another chapter finished. I'm going to try really hard to get the next one out before the end of the week, I promise. Got to move this story along. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, it really helps me write!

~Raissa

How about some proof you were here? Press the review button.