Disclaimer: I own nothing here, except the plot. But like most people who write Labyrinth fan fiction, I wish I owned Jareth. Unfortunately for me, and all those other unhappy Jareth-less people, I don't. Jim Henson does. So don't sue me, I know I own nothing *cries*

Cruel Heart
By Cariah Delonne.

Chapter 2: Lost and forgotten friends.

Sarah Williams glared stubbornly at the mirror in her bedroom. "Hoggle? Ludo? I know I haven't called you – don't be angry…," she said desperately, but to no avail. The mirror refused to show her a glimpse of her friends from the past, as it had for the last two days, and she was left staring at a reflection of herself, her raven hair falling neatly behind her shoulders.  Frowning, she stood up and walked to her bed, sitting down on it angrily.

She had put away all of her childhood toys and costumes – exactly the opposite to what Jareth had told her to do not two months ago. It seemed so long ago that she had called him in a moment of anger, and found herself making the thirteen-hour journey through the Labyrinth. Her room was now almost a completely different sight. Her soft toys remained on the wall – Lancelot no longer among them, and she had not had the heart to take down her Escher print, but all the other things that served to remind her of the Labyrinth had been put away for good.

*** Meanwhile, in the Underground ***

"Hoggle? Ludo? I know I haven't called you – don't be angry…," Sarah's voice echoed around the dungeon where Ludo was kept locked up. He replied to her echo mournfully. "Sarah… Sarah… Ludo want Sarah!"
Jareth grinned sardonically to himself, as her voice echoed through the Labyrinth, a mocking echo of her words.

Hoggle jumped at the sound of her voice – he was no longer having any success at killing fairies – the smell that followed him around killed any that did not disappear immediately, ruining any fun he could possibly now have in his low existence.
Angry, at muttering at Jareth, he began to make his way home.

"Who does he think he is, anyway? Just tipping whoever he pleases into that stench?" he plodded along, cursing Jareth to any hell he could think of and trying hard not to think of Sarah as her voice echoed above him. Even she wouldn't want to see him like this.

"Hello Headwart," came a cold voice from Hoggle's right.

"Argh! For the last time, it's Hoggle!" His mouth fell open as he took in Jareth leaning casually against a wall.

"Oh… I… Your Majesty… how generous of you to come see me…"

"Hogbrain," Jareth admonished. "You know as well I heard every word You. Have. Said. One would think you could be a little wiser in who you wish to insult, hmm?"

Hoggle paled, and refrained from correcting his name, "Yes, Your Majesty." 

"Good," replied Jareth, "Then you won't mind another little swim."

Hoggle screamed as he was dunked into the foul-smelling bog yet again. When he resurfaced, Jareth had gone. He cursed him, only to hear Jareth's voice. "Now, now, Hoghead, mind your manners."
Hoggle scowled and dragged himself out of the Bog back towards home.

Sir Didymus watched from a little way away. He had been shocked to see his brother seemingly fall from nowhere into the sweet-smelling pond, but had returned to guarding the bridge – or rather the stones, when Hoggle had left.

Didymus too, had heard Sarah's cry, and the first time he had heard it, he had immediately gone to the fair maiden's aid. Although he could see her however, it seemed she could not see him. Didymus did not know what to make of such a strange event, but he had vowed to find a way to speak to her, and his vow he would keep.

By lucky chance, Didymus had left last of the party, and had not been arrested. This too, confused Didymus, as he knew Jareth would know exactly who had left the underground. Perhaps his job of guarding the stone bridge was too important to lock him up in the dungeon with Ludo. Thinking of his noble brother, Didymus frowned. He too would need to be rescued – as soon as he had spoken to Sarah. Such a fair maiden would know what to do.

Jareth watched Didymus' comings and goings with amused interest. The knight had purposefully not been arrested that fateful night, in order for Jareth to use him for his own dark purposes. The knight's unwitting attempts to contact Sarah would eventually lead to giving him, Jareth, complete control over her, and he smirked at the thought. Laughing, he threw a crystal playfully up into the air and caught it, as it showed him the mortal girl who thought she had defeated him forever.

A/N: Review please! I know it's not clear just how Jareth's going to get her under his control, but I like it like that. Thank you for your reviews in chapter 1!
-Cariah =D