(AN) Author's Notes: Greetings and salutations to my loyal readers and reviewers and anyone else new and old that checks it out this story. As promised I'm showing you another update on this story I almost forgot during the beginning of this week to even update shame on me ^^ (lol).

I want to thank all my encouraging reviewers once again for their comments don't worry Sarah will persevere she won't be treated as severely as some might think despite being a scullery maid it was intentional that she became one. For all readers and writers who try to keep their characters from The Labyrinth movie very much in character, I'm pretty sure I will have at least a handful that will agree with me that Sarah Williams is not the type to lay back and take it easy at everything she went through in the movie and they don't show her character like that.

Also, like many fans although with me I had to do a little bit of homework and cyber searching Sara's surname is not something made up it is been stated the obvious from the novels and other informative books that were circulated even out after the movie came on VHS. Even though some of the books are out of print it depends on where you can find resources you can find a lot of information about them. If you know where to look for these spoilers and Labyrinth memorabilia something very limited to buy right now you would know where you can get your information from more officially correctly in the Canon of the film. The same goes for the names of Sarah Williams and their stepmother and the name of her biological father it was pointed out what their official American names were in the novel or some other official Canon book material that stated the most official obvious information given. Not just about that but more about her actress mother Linda Williams and so on and so forth. I'm sure a lot of fans who have done their research about the movie either own the information or books to back up what I'm saying is true or have looked and done the research themselves on the matter to know that what I say isn't a load of BS ^^

So without further ado, I present to you chapter 13 read and enjoy and leave some interesting comments quirks or reviews.

Disclaimer: All copyright rights to Labyrinth 1986 musical fantasy film directed/created by Jim Henson, Dennis Lee with George Lucas as executive producer. Based on conceptual designs by Brian Froud, the film was written by Terry Jones. I also need to give credit and thanks to my new co-partner ElauraGrave who is helping me get this story off the ground. All original characters AKA (OC's) belong to me © authoress smcandy I don't want to see anyone rip off/steal or take any of my original characters major to minor without my exclusive permission otherwise there will be consequences.

Warning: Reading of this story will go probably up from rated T to rated M later for mature scenes and scenarios and for mature audiences. This story is not meant for adolescents or children under the specific age of 16. To all parents out there who are not monitoring their children what they read or do not have certain child block programs put up on their computer use publicly do not hold me accountable for what they find or read on the internet if they lie about their age. They should not be reading stories or content that are not in their proper age group. Do not seek to point blame at me when I give a warning of what the rating of the story is for the age group of readers. Readers you have been warned I do not want to be flamed or reported by your parents for your actions of reading material that was not meant for your eyes until you are appropriate to age!

Chapter 13: I must be cruel, only to be kind.

Much to Sarah's surprise, when she opened her eyes, she found herself in the throne room rather than the dining room. The king sat on his throne and stared at her with an unwavering gaze. He was oddly rigid this time, sitting straight-backed and feet planted firmly on the floor.

Sarah looked around for a table and felt her pulse quicken as she realized she'd have to give the tray directly to him.

"You can just set it there," he said, motioning to the ground to his left. Sarah set the food down as quickly as possible, very aware she was close enough to be within his reach. She turned to leave.

"Did I not say that you will join me for lunch?" Sarah froze on the spot and sighed. She turned, slowly, and looked at him with a stone-cold gaze.

"I'm still not eating anything that you give me," she stated plainly.

"I haven't given you anything to eat. You're the one who brought me my food." His cool pallor was broken by the slightest of smirks.

"I'm aware. Since you asked me to stay for lunch, and I won't be eating, then it's not really 'lunch' for me, is it? I won't be staying."

"Come come now, Sarah. If you would just relent, I'll tell the staff that you can have your regular meals again."

Sarah shook her head "no."

Jareth's smirk left as quickly as it came. With palpable irritation, he snapped, "If you continue to starve yourself, you'll really be in dire straits, pet."

"I can last at least a few days. I'll manage. You're not concerned for a mere mortal girl, now, are you?" she asked sarcastically. The king did not react, but Sarah could see his jaw clench.

"That's very dangerous, pet."

"If it's so dangerous, why not just respect my wishes and let me eat where I want with who I want? I don't want food from you. I don't even want to eat food with you."

The king stood and rubbed his brow with a gloved hand. He closed his eyes and began to massage his temple, before speaking once more.

"Sarah… I must be cruel in order to be kind."Sarah was taken aback.

What in the world did that mean? Cruel to be kind? What on earth was he talking about? Sarah was sure her eating on her own would not upset the precious balance of the Underground.

"How can you be cruel to be kind? Again, and I'll keep asking it again and again: what have you done that's generous? If you're so worried about my well-being and health because I'm starving myself, then why not revoke your orders? I don't want to be in your presence any longer than I have to be, and I would actually like to eat at some point. As a maid here, I have assignments to complete; I'm only wasting my time here. Our little 'soirees' that happen whenever you feel like it only contribute to the time-crunch."

"My actions are justified, even if you don't understand them yet. I can be many things, Sarah. I can even be worse. Worse than the imagination of your mortal mind…but, I will not allow you to die under my domain. Not as long as I am king of the Goblin Kingdom."

How thoughtful of him, Sarah thought to herself sarcastically. "Well, you should have thought about that before making your little decree that I can't eat, save with you. My slow trek down the road to starvation wouldn't be happening if you weren't so stubborn. I can be stubborn too! I won't eat with you, plain and simple. No more magic peaches for me, no more magic trips and hallucinations. Not ever again."

"How can I prove to you I will not enchant or poison or tamper with your food?" asked the king in exasperation, arms thrown open wide.

"That's easy; first, promise me no harm will come to Hoggle or my friends. Second, let me eat where I want, and respect my refusals to eat with you. I'll be willing to meet you halfway if you can at least guarantee my friends' safety." Sarah thought for a moment, swallowing her pride; she hoped a bargain would be enough to sway him. "If I don't have to eat with you for every single meal, I'm sure we could come to some kind of agreement."

Before Sarah even had a moment to hope, the king spoke.

"No. We have nothing more to talk about." He sat back down in his throne and crossed his arms stubbornly across his chest.

"Well then, I'd rather get back to work, Your Majesty!" Sarah practically yelled. So, there would be no meeting in the middle. Sarah couldn't believe she had tried to meet him halfway when he wouldn't even budge a step. He was, he was…insufferable. Sarah was so frustrated, she thought she'd explode. She huffed and headed back towards the kitchen. Once again, the king let her go, brooding all the while. Sarah muttered to herself. She couldn't believe she had almost agreed to take a meal with him—even if she was securing the safety of her friends.

"And what the heck is he talking about anyway? Cruel to be kind. Bah!" Sarah was talking to herself agitatedly and didn't care who heard it. "And how can they stand him?" she asked out loud, blowing past a pair of hairy goblins. His treatment of Sarah and her friends had been horrible, so she could only imagine how cruel he could be to his actual subjects. Sarah's agitation eased a bit as she pondered the fact the goblin king had come to this kingdom 1300 years ago. He must have been a real tyrant if he wandered around Faeryland trying to find someplace, some people, to rule. Why would he choose to be a dictator-monarch away from his own people?

"I can't stay here," Sarah said out loud again. She continued in her thoughts. "Not if he's going to behave like this." Sarah thought about everything Hoggle told her about the other kingdoms. Surely, there was a place she could escape to. Surely someone from these other lands would help her get back home.

And, hopefully, prevent Jareth from ever coming back for her ever again.

(AN) Author's Notes: What I noticed a lot lately with a lot of labyrinths stories are the most repetitive pet names that Jareth is usually giving Sarah what I hear the most common pets names are pet, precious, love and so on whether or not people can picture the sexy British accent of the late David Bowie sing such words if he were still in the character of his fictional Goblin King self I couldn't be sure.

Yes the plan is forming and Sarah Williams is in mind if it hasn't been made clear so far in the story she is planning to leave Jareth and his kingdom for good given his overbearing nature and not being able to compromise and be reasonable I'm pretty sure some readers who are continuing to read the story can see where this where will most likely be headed in some degree or another.

I'm sorry that chapter thirteen is so short but I'm running low on spare chapters that were completed I only have two left to update in the next two weeks or so and after that, it might be a while before new updates are even posted I'm still lagging and updating some more Summer Breeze or drops for my call partner. And I'm way overdue and owing her.

So if you have my name or username added to your alerts list on this website you'll know when I left again my apologies for such a short chapter I'm sure chapter 14 will make up for it it will be split into two parts so you'll expect the first part to be updated sometime next week give or take. So take care and have fun.

TTFN,

smcandy