When Elyssa awoke the next morning, the lights had just barely returned to the strange sunless sky. Warm light filtered in through the windows, giving the exotic bedchamber an almost homey look. Smiling, feeling for once in her life completely refreshed, Elyssa bounced out of bed, ready to face the day.

Minutes later, she was dressed and tiptoeing through the ancient hallways trying to make as little noise as possible. Stepping gingerly over several sleeping goblins, she began searching for the grand dining room she and Marcus ate in last night. Elyssa had a feeling that if the castle had a room like to entertain guests, surely it must have other staples for party-throwing…like a grand ballroom. Gliding down the hallway, she finally located the enormous wooden doors. Just as she expected, a few more feet down the hall stood another set of doors, this time covered in elaborate carvings of women dancing and musical notes. Elyssa carefully opened one of the doors, peeking her head inside. She almost shrieked in delight when she stepped into the wide, empty ballroom. While closing the door behind her, she noticed a latch which would bare the doors from entry on the other side.

Pushing down on the latch, Elyssa smiled to herself. "Finally," she sighed. "I can dance in peace and quiet without worrying about anyone sneaking up on me." Their was a chilly draft in the room, making gooseflesh crawl up and down the exposed skin on Elyssa's legs and belly. Because her "wonderfully changing" (as Elyssa was beginning to think of it) armoire did not come stocked up with shorts and t-shirts, she was forced to improvise. "Of course, that was nothing more than a pair of scissors and a little ingenuity couldn't fix," she quipped to herself, smiling at her own joke. She wondered what Jareth would think about her cutting his clothes up, the thought making her giggle.

Elyssa stood in the center of the room gracefully lifting her arms above her head. In her mind, the soft sound of an orchestra filled her head. Sighing happily, she closed her eyes and began to stretch.

**************************

Jareth was not looking well. After the enchantment of Elyssa's induced dream, he could not himself sleep. He had planned to explore her mind, to show her the pleasure that submission to his will could bring. The last thing he expected under that hot-tempered exterior was innocence. She exposed her raw vulnerability to him last night, something Jareth simply couldn't bring himself to take her by force. …And she won't even remember any of it….

Later that night, for reasons he didn't understand, Jareth was compelled to come to her side, to watch Elyssa as she slept. Once again, she was deep in the throes of her familiar old nightmare, something he had watched her endure before. A simple sleep spell was all that was required to calm her and send her off to slumber in peace. But seeing her there, on top of the covers, her flimsy nightgown covered in sweat, clinging to her slender body… it was torture. Unable to control himself, Jareth morphed into owl form, hoping that the cool night air would work it's own magic on his body.

Deep in the Labyrinth, Jareth reverted back to human form, his body still burning from want of her. Fighting with himself, he prowled the walls, delving deep into the secret places, struggling between his mind and body. Why did you bring her here, if not just to take her? She's more beautiful than any creature I could imagine, so why am I resisting, he body screamed in agony. Because you want more than her body, his heart pleaded. Then just take the chit and make her love you, demanded his body. She yielded to you in the dreamworld, she bend to you in the real one.

Yes, she would yield… but if you bend her too far, she would break… and you know she would.

"I'm the King damnit," he growled into the night. "She belongs to me… even her will is mine."

Yes, but is submission what you really want…? Will it take away the pain of loneliness…?

"Silence," he demanded! Stalking the silent corridors, Jareth allowed his mind to wander, forcing himself to thing of other things. As his mind cooled, so did his body, his thoughts plunging deeper and deeper into memory. For countless years, Jareth had lived. Many of those years were spent in the pursuit of his two greatest passions: magic and women. But after awhile, there was no more magic to learn. Soon, even his fascination with the strange secret world of the Underground and its quixotic women lost it's savor. In time, Jareth turned his attention to other worlds, enjoying the cat and mouse game of bringing unsuspecting people to the Labyrinth. Although bound by its rules, Jareth had never lost. As his collection of children turned goblins grew, so did his boredom until at last he met someone to break the monotony.

One day while flying through the world of the Above, he found a young human child named Sarah. It took this young, beautiful child to finally shock the king out of his growing complacency. Sarah was youthful, stubborn, foul tempered, and so delightfully irritating. No matter what he tried to throw at her, she managed to turn the tables. She even went as far as befriending several of the creatures inhabiting the Labyrinth – Jareth's loyal subjects. He became increasingly fascinated watching her progress, unable to even put up much of a defense as she approached the castle itself. When she finally stood before him, Jareth asked… No, he thought with disgust. I begged the little hoyden to stay with me, and she blatantly refused. I would have given her everything…

Years passed slowly by. From time to time, Jareth would gaze into her life, watching Sara grow from a child into a beautiful confident young woman. He considered several times drawing her back into the Labyinth, but the shame of her denial kept him from it. One day he looked to find that Sara was no longer a young woman – she was now a wife and mother. She had achieved her goals and was a successful actress in the theater, safely ensconces in the mundane drudge of life. time had trudged onward, leaving Jareth once again alone to his own devices.

The loneliness and boredom became overwhelming. Only when drowning himself in the distractions of the world of men could the Goblin King find any solace. Jareth had given up the hope of finding another woman with the same passions until one day fate changed his mind. Elyssa D'Artagnan…. how he desired her. He carefully laid his plans, weaving his web so tightly, ensuring no way for escape.

And now you threaten everything because of the weakness of your body, he thought caustically. Jareth sighed, his body exhausted. Morning spread its light gently over the mismatched buildings of Goblin City. "Well, it appears my mind wins the game for now," he quipped, his tone as glib as ever. Not even a sleepless night could rob Him Majesty's sarcasm. "Even if wanted to, I'm too damned exhausted now to do anything about it…"

Jareth ran up the castle stairs, taking two at a time. With a confidence bordering on arrogance, he strode towards his bedroom. As he walked, Jareth paused, noticing a very odd thing. The door to Elyssa's bedchamber was wide open – but she was not inside. Gingerly stepping over a few comatose goblins, he craned his neck to get a better look. No, she's really not in there, he wondered in amazement. So where the devil is she?!

Nimbly, his fingers plucked a crystal out of the air. The tiny figure of a woman dancing alone filled the globe. Her long legs where scantily clad in what appeared to be raggedly cut pants. A long sleeved poet's shirt was tied under ample breasts. Well Mind, we'll have to reconsider that battle after all, I belive…Suddenly I'm not that tired after all…

Jareth grinned before disappearing into thin air.