Disclaimer: We all know I don't own the Labyrinth, it is an awesome and beautiful Jim Henson production(may God bless his soul!). The only things I do own are my own characters, so don't touch! "Slaps hands"

A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! I'm happy that you are all enjoying the story. And thank you for the suggestions, they are helpful with this being my first fic. Sorry it took longer to update,but parts of this chapter just wasn't flowing very well for me and I'm still not very happy with it.

Chapter 4

The touch of a cool soft hand touching her forehead caused Sarah to stir. Struggling to open her eyes she moaned softly, feeling the pain course through her body. Licking dry, cracked lips, she tried to speak but a soft voice interrupted her.

"Lady Sarah, please don't speak. You are safe and healing quickly. Do not be alarmed when you open your eyes."

Scrunching her eyebrows at that, Sarah slowly lifted her eyelids, squinting through the brightness of the room. Blinking quickly to clear her vision she gasped at the sight before her. Leaning over her was a beautiful blonde-haired, blue-eyed, elf? Sarah closed her eyes tightly, then slowly opened them again. The elf was still leaning over her and smiling.

"I see you noticed that I am an elf. Do not be alarmed my Lady, you are safe."

"I...Where," Sarah croaked. Clearing her throat she tried again, "Where...am I?"

"Are you sure you want to know?" she asked, watching as Sarah looked at her, fear creeping on her features.

Nodding, Sarah tried to calm herself, not too sure if she wanted to know. "You are in the Underground," Alenda replied, "and yes, you are in the castle of the Goblin King."

Sarah closed her eyes and released a breath she didn't realize that she was holding. A tear trickled down her cheek as she took a trembling breath. A soft hand caressed her cheek, wiping the tear away.

"Please my Lady, no more tears. You are doing much better now," Alenda soothed, "the magic is healing your body quickly but unfortunately you won't be able to walk for a few more days, the damage done to your spine was extensive."

Sarah popped open her eyes at what the elven girl said. Fear entered those dark green eyes of hers as she gazed at her. Being paralyzed was one of her greatest fears.

"What...uh...what happened to me?" she asked in a whisper.

"I think it best that we let you get more rest," Alenda said as she gently pushed Sarah's hair back from her face. "We will talk more later."

"Alright," Sarah said, her voice getting weaker as her strength started ebbing. "What is your name?" she asked.

"Ah, my apologies Lady Sarah. My name is Alenda and I am Jareth's healer," she replied, smiling down at the woman.

Sarah relaxed as she returned the smile. She had so many questions to ask but was too tired to do so. Her eyes feeling heavy, closed on their own tossing her back into the pain-free darkness of sleep.

*******

Jareth entered his throne room after receiving a message from his parents that they would be arriving shortly with an escort to take his prisoner back to the Seelie Court.

His parents finally arrived as Jacen escorted them in. Jareth bowed to his father and kissed his mother's hand. "Good morning, father, mother. It has been a long time," he replied, looking lovingly at his mother.

"It is good to see you son. Yes indeed it has been a long time," Queen Irena replied, smiling. "Come here and give your mother a hug."

Jareth smiled at his mother and wrapped her in his strong arms, picking her up slightly. He settled her back down on her feet and looked at his father. The smile faded from his face as his father turned and walked over to Jareth's throne, taking a seat. He glanced at his mother who shook her head.

"Do you know why this demon entered your Kingdom?" King Draven asked, trying to get comfortable on Jareth's throne.

"I have an idea, yes," Jareth answered, strolling over to sit in the center with his mother. "Do you remember the mortal girl that had defeated my Labyrinth about 8 years ago?"

His parents nodded, "Well she was wished away to me yesterday by her brother," he said, anguish in his eyes.

His mother looked at him in surprise, "Why did her brother do that?"

"She was going to die, mother, and her brother had called me and told me what had happened. I went to her immediately and he said the words so that I could bring her back to heal."

His father stood and walked over to the nearest window. "I see where the demon comes in. But how did they find out so quickly?" he said, turning to look at Jareth.

"I haven't figured that out yet, father." He stood and started to pace, a cold mask forming on his face. "I've been looking and searching for any spies that could possibly have penetrated my Kingdom but nothing so far."

"I do have to say," his father said as he gazed out the window, changing the subject, "your Kingdom is looking much better. Keep up the good work and maybe then we can see about giving you a position more befitting your status," his father replied.

Anger spread throughout Jareth's body, making him tremble, "Father, I am happy with the Goblin Kingdom. My subjects are loyal to me and I will defend them till my last breath. I will not give my Kingdom up!" he roared.

"We will discuss this matter at another time. We should be going," he said, looking at his wife.

Jareth's mother embraced him and left with her husband. Jareth seethed at his father's remarks. It always ended like this but this time his father actually had given him some praise. He loved his Kingdom even though it took him a long time to realize that.

Jacen came in the throne room after he had escorted the Seelie guards to where the demon was. The demon was not too happy in the brightly lit oubliette that Jareth had put him in. The crystal that the guards used to encase the demon for transport almost wasn't strong enough.

He watched Jareth pace back and forth, seething. "My Lord, is there anything I can do for you?"

Jareth glared at Jacen, "There's nothing you can do for me Jacen except to give me a few goblins to kick right now," he remarked irritably.

Jacen smiled, "As you command my Lordship," he replied, bowing to Jareth.

Jareth arched an eyebrow at him and then tilted his head back and laughed. He clapped Jacen on the shoulder, "You are a good friend Jacen, what would I do without you?"

"Well you wouldn't have any goblins left to kick because they would all be suspended upside down in the bog."

Jareth shook his head and laughed again, "Yes indeed, that is true," he said, smiling at his friend, "I should go and check on Sarah." He was anxious to see her again. Sleep didn't come very easily for him the night before as he thought about how he was going to explain how she had gotten here. Those long buried feelings from long ago had resurfaced throwing him into such a state of agony that he wanted to go and destroy anything that would harm his love.

*******

Sarah woke up suddenly feeling sharp pains traveling through her legs. "Ow, hey that hurts!" she yelled, looking at Alenda.

"I have to massage your legs to keep the circulation going. I'm almost done."

Sarah nodded and grabbed a pillow, covering her face with it. Tears of pain leaked out of the corners of her tightly closed eyes. A few groans slipped out as Alenda bent her legs up to massage and stretch them. Trying to concentrate on breathing, she didn't hear the door open.

"How is she doing Alenda?" Jareth asked as he watched her working on Sarah's legs.

"She is doing much better, My Lord. She's regaining feeling in her legs."

He approached the bed looking down at the pillow covering Sarah's face. He gently unclasped her fingers from each other and lifted the pillow. Her eyes were clenched shut as the tears rolled down her face. Jareth gently started to wipe them away when she opened her eyes.

Gasping at who was leaning over her, Sarah's eyes widened. She didn't know what to say or do so she laid there staring up at him. Letting out a little screech she looked down at Alenda, "That hurt!"

"Sorry my Lady. I'm almost done."

"You said that 15 minutes ago," Sarah huffed, grimacing as Alenda kept up the torture.

She glanced up at Jareth and noticed an amused expression on his face. Glaring at him she grabbed her pillow and covered her face again. Jareth laughed at the look she gave him and then stood back waiting for Alenda to get done.

"Your massage is finished my Lady, I have to go and get some rest now so that I can continue your healing," Alenda replied, smiling at Jareth.

Sarah laid there panting, trying to regain her breath after that torture. She felt someone pulling the pillow off her face again.

"Ah you are looking so much better Sarah," Jareth replied smoothly, "It is good to see that the feeling is coming back to your legs."

She looked at him, trying to figure out why she was back in the underground. The last thing she remembered was looking at the deer in her rear-view mirror. She looked away from the intense look in his eyes, not ready for the emotions she saw in them. She took in her surroundings, noticing for the first time the beauty of the room she was in. The bed she was lying in was a large canopy bed with midnight blue silk curtains draped at the corners. There were french doors nearby that went out onto a balcony. Before she could finish her examination she felt softly gloved fingers touching her under the chin, forcing her to turn her head.

"What are you thinking of Sarah?" he asked gently.

"I'm trying to remember what had happened," she replied, a frown appearing on her face, "and I can't figure out how I had gotten here."

Jareth sat down in the chair next to the bed and looked into her eyes, "You were in a terrible accident and you were dying," he said, his face going cold as he tried not to let the emotions show. "Toby had called me and told me what had happened. The only way I could help was for him to wish you away to me," he finished as he stood up and started pacing.

Sarah settled back on the pillows and stared up at the canopy above her thinking about what Jareth had just told her. How did Toby know how to call the Goblin King, she wondered. She glanced at Jareth who was still pacing. He was acting almost...nervous, she thought to herself.

"Jareth, I want to thank you for saving my life," she said with sincerity. "But...but why?" she asked trying to keep her voice steady.

Jareth paused in his pacing and looked at her. The flicker of emotions that flitted across his face startled Sarah but then his cool mask appeared again, making her doubt what she had seen.

"I should let you rest," he replied avoiding her question. Sarah glared at him as he left the room. She was confused by his reaction to her question and angry by the way he had just dismissed it as if it were nothing. As she was fuming an older lady dressed in a simple cotton dress and apron came in the room carrying a tray of food.

"Lady Sarah, my name is Kara and I will be your maid. I brought you some dinner," she quietly announced, walking towards the bed and setting the tray on the small table nearby. She uncovered the food and helped Sarah sit up, propping pillows behind her.

Sarah's stomach grumbled as she gazed at the tantalizing food. She wasn't sure how long it had been since she had eaten but she was famished. She ate and watched as Kara bustled around the room dusting and cleaning.

Sarah's curiousity got the best of her, "Um...Kara?" she asked tentatively as Kara stopped to look at her, "I noticed that you, uh, look human."

Kara smiled at her and nodded, "Yes ma'am, I am. Well I use to be. I came here when my life held no meaning in the other world," she replied in a sad tone.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you sad."

"No worries child, I love it here. This is my home now and I do my best to help King Jareth as much as I can for his generosity," she said smiling.

"Generosity?" Sarah said, laughing, "Now if that isn't a crock!"

Kara glanced irritably at her, "The King is very generous Lady. He has done many great things these past few years and if you don't mind my saying, it would be good to hold one's opinion until you've seen that for yourself," Kara said, huffing a little at the attitude of this mortal.

Sarah stared at Kara, her mouth hanging open a bit. She admonished herself for letting her words get away from her. "Kara I apologize. It's just that my last visit here wasn't under the best of terms."

Kara stopped what she was doing and placed her hands on her hips, "My Lady, I know about your last trip here and if I recall correctly you wished your brother away. You did what you had to do and King Jareth did what he had to do," she said pointedly.

Sarah stared at the maid and let her words sink in. What she had said were true, maybe she wasn't being fair at all. Nodding her head at Kara she continued to eat in silence thinking about her last visit here.

She finished her dinner and laid back sighing. Her eyes were getting heavy as she heard Kara pick up the tray and walk out the door. Her thoughts went back to Jareth and their conversation. She wasn't sure of her feelings for him, but she was very thankful that he did come when Toby called.

"Oh Toby, I miss you," she whispered, tears flooding her eyes. She angrily swiped at them trying to get herself under control. She can't remember the last time she had cried so much in her life. Turning over she snuggled deeper into the soft silky blankets and fell into a deep sleep.

A/N: Labyris, Kitten4, pink_m_and_m, Kit4, Winter_Fae, Vireyda Magodaly, Jukia Wolfcall, Missy4, Sieren, LadyMidnight, Alexia S. Luclwit(I love that over-used word ;-) ), Born-Of-Elven-Blood, thank you. I'm happy that you are enjoying my story. "Jumps up and down" I was rather shocked that my very first attempt at writing anything has gotten all of you (even those that haven't reviewed..I know who you are) hooked.

Also I would like to thank Magenta5, MayRaven, and LadyAkhana for the constructive criticisms. They have helped (I hope). I looked back over my first 3 chapters and yep, there are several things that could be reworked. But I will leave that to the future and continue the story.

Please review and let me know about chapter 4. Thanks a lot everyone!