Sorry it's been a while! Quite a few people have been waiting, I hope I don't disappoint! ^_^ So here's the newest chapter, and new characters coming in (kinda).

Discalimer: Nope, still own nothing...

Chapter Seven: Preparation

Jareth paced in front of his throne, not looking at Sarah or the goblin generals and sergeants that stood in the room.

How could we defeat Xavier and his armies? Jareth thought fiercely as he stalked back and forth across the chamber. Of course, he had his goblin armies, but against the elves? It wasn't possible, even with his minions sober. Xavier had his whole kingdom at his back along with some rebels from the two other kingdoms. Jareth was not sure where the other kingdoms stood yet, but he guessed that Xavier was trying to convince them to come to his side. It would not be hard for him, after the "kidnapping" of Jemima. Or, they may just stay out, for fear of angering the Goblin King. He cursed inwardly. They must side with Xavier, how could they not? Even with Jemima in his clutches.

He snapped his fingers. That was it!

"Summon Princess Jemima at once!" he commanded to no one in particular. A few scurried off in different directions.

Within moments one returned with Jemima and Ada.

Jareth did not even glance at them, but pulled a crystal ball out of the air and looked into it.

The face of a middle-aged man appeared. He's an elf, Sarah realized as she caught sight of a pointed ear. Jemima's eyes went wide and she whispered, "Papa!"

The image didn't hear her, but studied Jareth with green eyes. His hair was red and so was his short, neatly-trimmed beard and mustache. A frown crossed his handsome features. Jareth nodded respectfully to him.

"King Orson," he addressed the elfin king of Sunset Kingdom. The image did not move or reply.

"I suppose you have heard," Jareth went on, "that Xavier has proposed war upon me and my kingdom."

At this, King Orson's eyes widened. "I had not heard," he said with surprise. His voice was deep and musical, wonderful to listen to.

"Really?" Jareth asked raising his eyebrows in feigned shock. "His people are marching out as we speak."

Jemima gasped and Ada worried her hands.

"That is outrageous!" the elfish king replied. "Why did he say nothing?"

Jareth ignored the question, wondering himself why Xavier had not yet contacted Orson. He probably had not contacted King Adair and Prince Kamal either then. "I have a proposition for you. Help me defeat Xavier and his, for he only wishes to take over the whole Underground, starting with my city."

"If I do?"

"I will return your daughter and her maid-companion."

"Unharmed."

"They were never harmed, I assure you."

Orson nodded. "But we could never make it in time."

It was Jareth's turn to nod. "My forces will hold them until you arrive to help. I ask that you contact Old King Adair and Prince Kamal as well."

Orson sighed as if suddenly very tired. "It is done. I will go prepare my men." He started to turn and the image started to fade.

"Wait"

Orson turned as the image flickered back. Jareth's eyes softened.

"Before you leave, perhaps you would like to speak to your daughter."

Orson's eyes widened as Jareth handed the crystal to Jemima who took it gently.

"Papa?"

"Jemima. How are you child? Is everything all right? How is Ada? Does he treat you well?" His voice was quieter and full of affection and worry as he spoke to his daughter.

Jemima smiled through tear-filled eyes. "Yes Papa, Ada and I are fine. He treats us very well, Papa, like royal guests." She paused and her father smiled warmly.

"How is Mama? And Donovan? Are they well? Do you have word of Kamal and his father?"

"Yes daughter, they are fine, do not worry. We miss you and Ada very much."

"We miss you as well." Jemima's eyes were watering and Ada bit her lip as she stood silently beside her mistress.

Sarah felt oddly embarrassed and looked away as father and daughter spoke. Only then did she notice Jareth quietly shooing the last of the goblins out of the room.

He looked over and met her eyes. She nodded and followed him out to give the elves some privacy.

"What can I do?"

Jareth looked at her.

"I must be able to do something," Sarah insisted.

Jareth looked at her tiredly and turned his back to look out the window. He propped one foot on the low windowsill and looked out over the land. "I wish I could tell you to do nothing but stay here, where you will be safe." His voice was soft.

Sarah frowned. "There is a war and you expect me to stay here, watching you lead your armies out to battle?" Her voice grew louder as she continued.

He spun around to face her and Sarah cut herself off to glare at him.

He gripped her shoulders, albeit tightly. "No, but I will not have you anywhere near the battle," he hissed. His grip wasn't enough to hurt Sarah, but it got her attention and kept her from pulling away. "What if something bad should happen? What would we do? Your friends? What would I do?" He softened his voice and his hands on her shoulders. "I could never forgive myself. And what of your family? What would I tell them?"

"Jareth," Sarah said quietly. "I don't want you to go alone. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I can help, I know I can, and I want to. Please, let me help you. Tell me how."

The way she looked up at him and asked so sweetly, that she wanted to help him, Jareth couldn't help it anymore. He drew her closer to him, tenderly and wrapped his arms around her. "I know, Sarah. We will have to plan and train you."

Sarah sighed against him.

Someone cleared their throat behind them. They turned, Sarah blushing, to find Jemima and Ada standing in the doorway. Sarah and Jareth pulled away from each other.

Jemima was trying to hide a smile as she approached them. She held out the crystal ball to Jareth. He looked at it and it popped in her hand. She seemed a little startled, but recovered quickly.

"What is the plan your Majesty?" Jemima asked with a smile.

Xavier sat on his horse, thinking. His army was going to march out, him at the lead. He would take over the Underground, starting with Jareth, who was the only one holding him back.

The Goblin King was cleaver; always a step ahead. He had tried to get rid of him before. He recalled the poison slipped into the King's glass while he was a guest in the Goblin City. Jareth had caught him, and never trusted him again. It was then that Jareth had found out his intentions.

Then he had kidnapped Princess Jemima. Perhaps to keep her father's kingdom under his control. Again, he had not been quick enough. How had the Goblin King known, anyway? Xavier himself had been planning the same thing, forcing the princess to be his bride to unite their kingdoms. Once Kamal was killed, he could easily take the third elvish kingdom for himself. Plans were set, traps laid, but Jareth beat him there. Furious at having his prize stolen away, he redoubled his efforts against Jareth.

Another horse rode up beside him, interrupting his thoughts. Prepared to let his anger take over and kill the intruder, he realized it was Macavity, his advisor and general to his number one troop. He nodded to the lanky elf whose golden eyes glinted insanely. [1]

"Sire, forgive me for interrupting," Macavity said and he flashed an evil grin.

Certainly, Macavity did not look like he belonged in an army. He was tall, but scrawny looking. Granted, Xavier had seen the elf fight. Xavier had been impressed by his skill and the fact that he showed no mercy to any opponent.

Macavity had wild red-brown hair that fell a little below his shoulders and was mussed from wearing the helmet he now carried under his arm. There was a natural grace to him, from the way he talked to the way he held his horse's reins.

"Something for you, Macavity?" Xavier asked, not looking at him.

"Nothing sire," Macavity replied.

Xavier snorted. "You mean to say you came up here for company? Or perhaps to chat."

Macavity's grin broadened. "Perhaps so." He paused looking forward again.

Xavier ignored him. Macavity was the only other he trusted with his full plans, and Macavity was just as evil as himself. If they won, which they planned to do, Macavity would remain as his advisor. He also gained wealth and power, what more could he -could any of them- want?

A grin that matched Macavity's own crossed his dark features. "By this time tomorrow, I will be taking over Goblin City."

Macavity faced him and they both laughed.

Jareth spent the rest of the day preparing his troops for battle. Xavier's armies would be here by tomorrow, but no sooner. They could not travel so fast.

His best soldiers worked to make sure everyone knew their proper places. Everyone needed armor and weapons. Patrols were set up throughout the grounds, archers in trees and on the tops of the walls, spearmen around nasty turns, and his fighting machines driven by goblin pilots waiting stood still and silent, waiting.

It was then that Sarah saw that "Goblin King" was a bit of a misnomer. He ruled over the fieries, rock beasts like Ludo, dwarves like Hoggle, and the loyal little foxes like Didymus, to name a few familiar to her. These different people massed as well to aid their king. Knowing her friends would be fighting as well made her more determined to help.

Many of his goblins would be in the Labyrinth. This was where Sarah was especially needed. Jareth painstakingly trained her to get the Labyrinth to do as she wished in a way that would help. She trained the Labyrinth to recognize Jareth's people. They would have easy passage to and from their posts. If the need to retreat arose, they would practically vanish. Some of the Labyrinthine inhabitants volunteered to help show the way—they knew the passages no matter how Sarah changed them.

Slowly, Sarah learned to work the Labyrinth and Jareth left her to it. She provided hiding places for Jareth's troops and hidden stores for extra weapons and supplies. She did her best to ingrain the Labyrinth with her need to protect from Xavier and his troops. The strangest part was that she could feel the Labyrinth listening to her, like a dog that is eager to please. The more she worked with it, the more she felt that it truly was a living thing. As such, she began to speak to it in her head, asking it to do one thing or another, thanking and praising it when it was successful. Illogical as it seemed, she was sure the Labyrinth appreciated such gestures.

She also learned to draw energy from the Labyrinth, which was filled to bursting with power. When this is all over, I need to remember to ask Jareth where it all comes from!

Jareth told her to open her mind and take in the power. If she wanted something badly enough, the power would shape itself to her needs. "This is rough, shoddy training, but unfortunately we haven't time for anything better. You must let your will shape the power." She spent much time thinking about what she could do. Surely she could at least throw the magic at the troops and do some damage, or aim at their weapons to disarm them. She stored all of her ideas away for use the next day.

Hours later she came out of her trance and went in search of Jareth. He was in the largest dining hall, dinner just finishing up and Jareth finished addressing his people.

"Get a good night's rest," Jareth advised everyone that evening. "You will need it."

Notes:

[1] Yep, Macavity. In case you don't know, he is from Cats, the musical. (Jemima is in that too, but I used her name because it means 'dove') Just for the record, Cats does not belong to me either... tho I really *really* wish it did...

-_-; Another short chapter, sorry *wince*

Wow! Lot's cleared up in this chapter, ne? Making more sense now?

I think I'm avoiding the actual fight; I just drag everything else on. It probably will not be very good; I have never written battle "scenes" before. It will be interesting.

Also, I know this is horrible, but I forgot how the story will end... I mean, I bet you can all guess, ne? But I was going to do something with Sarah and her family or something... I don't remember! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Little note: Xavier is pronounced either as Ex avier (the 'avier' like it looks pretty much, long "a" and the "i" is like a long "e" and then "er") or I pronounce it as a Z, like xylophone... thought some might like to know about that. *sg*

Ok, and my Thank yous! *huge grin*

CrystalMoon Maiden: Wow! That's a high compliment! Thank you so much!

zip: ^_^ Thanks again for reviewing!

iria702: Me too! Thank you, I'm glad you like it. Hope you like this chapter.

draegon-fire: Yeah, Xavier found her missing. He doesn't care much though, he just wants to get back at our beloved Goblin King.

BatBLady: Nope! Not award-winning, but that's alright! Thank you!

Mistress of Darkness: I'm glad you liked it! I hope you like this one as well! ^_^ I hope you got my review for your story too.

Nicolle: Wow! Thank you! I'm glad you like it! ^_^

Thanks for reading all of you that have reviewed. It makes me so happy and makes me try to write better and faster!

*sigh* I have been writing this fanfiction for a whole year now! I started June of last year! Wow! Now you see how slow it goes sometimes! *laughing*