Author's note: Enjoy! Can't do individual responses to reviews at this moment, my eyes hurt and my brother wants the computer.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Labyrinth

Chapter 4

Jareth stretched leisurely, slowly letting the heavy feeling of sleep leave him. Now that the kingdom's financial matters were secure, he felt as if he could relax. He had nothing else to do today; no projects, no appointments, no urgent event needing his attention.

He hated that, the feeling of nothing to do. He needed projects and appointments. Every minute that wasn't filled with duties would turn his thoughts to the past. It made him think of her. Jareth gritted his teeth, knowing that his earlier promise of forgetting her would come to nothing. He knew what would happen today: he would rise, get dressed and have breakfast. After learning from his council that the day was free he would probably do something to pass time; read, ride, survey his lands. Then he would invariably lose himself in his daydreams and find himself walking aimlessly, filled with bitter curiosity of what might have been. What should have been.

He hated feeling the weakness that the very thought of her caused. Rubbing his hands over his face in frustration, he gave in, unable to keep the memories of Sarah from his mind, his heart. She was such a silly girl, really. Still playing with dolls and dressing up at an age where young fae ladies would prepare themselves for adulthood. Refusing responsibility in favor of childish pursuits. Yet after he had taken her brother, Jareth was amazed at how readily she volunteered to be her sibling's champion.

Jareth had watched her from his crystals, from the seeing lichen on the walls, from various spies he had throughout the kingdom. He saw how she called the dwarf a monster for killing pretty things, how she had successfully gotten him to open the gates. She barley blinked an eye when the worm invited her for tea. Jareth had been intrigued, it was very rare that a mortal would accept such fantasies as reality. He remembered countless other people that had been punished by the goblins: children, mothers, fathers; how they had been terrified of everything that moved. How they practically fell apart in terror in Jareth's presence. But not Sarah. She kept her head up, kept her eyes on his. Her voice never wavered - she had even insulted him. (The memory made him smile, it was as if the mouse had attacked the lion.)

Sarah had amazed him, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Even when the goblins laughed at the sight of her in the oubliette (Jareth hated the duties placed on him by the goblin population) he had hoped for her safe return. That's why he had sent the dwarf to her. Taking her back to the beginning of the labyrinth would have allowed him to let her escape through the way she came in while letting Jareth seem as if he had not laxed in his obligations. But Sarah had prevailed, making friends and showing Jareth just how cunning she was while she traveled the labyrinth. She seemed to be having a good time, amused at the habitants of the labyrinth, despite the earlier circumstances that brought him to her. The closer she came to the center and to the castle the more he felt a remote feeling of worry. The goblins might not be the smartest of creatures, but they were viscous in their thirst for vengeance.

He had decided to send her the peach, giving her a different view of the Underground. Jareth had been at Mercutio's ball at the time of her wish, and decided to bring her there. It was just to pass the time, that peach. It was easier to distract her, since she had cast him in the role of the antagonist. If she had stayed the full thirteen hours, perhaps she could be saved. Jareth was respected among his unique population, his generosity had not been forgotten. If he requested that the girl and baby be allowed to live, it would be granted. Humans weren't entirely hated in the Underground, maybe pitied as beings without the blessing of magic, but the popular opinion of them had changed over the years.

It had been fun, dancing with her. He had been pleasantly surprised when she seemed to be seeking him out, he had thought that she felt nothing for him. Maybe she did feel something. Love? No, she was much to young to know what real love was like. Attraction, more likely.

What did he feel for her? Amusement at first of course. People older and more mature than her have failed. Then boredom, her tantrums and whining reminding her of the countless other women he had met. Admiration at her tenacity to complete the course. Wonder at her love for the ethereal and magical. And while in her arms, Jareth could have sworn that his heart beat a bit faster, excitement surging through his veins at being in her presence. So damned excited that he sang to her. (Mercutio had teased him endlessly afterwards.) He had been disappointed at her discovery, cursing the clock in the ballroom. She broke through the little forgetting spell (and Mercutio's very expensive "one of a kind elf-made windows, damnit Jareth, you are replacing those." Jareth smirked, serves him right, the man's love for his own appearance needed to be taken down a notch anyway.) and ran from him. But she hadn't broken the spell entirely, panicked at the chaos he had caused, Jareth sent her to the garbage dumps, in hopes of the lady that ruled there would divert Sarah's attentions long enough for her time to run out.

But still she had eluded his attempts to save her. In the end he had to humor the goblins, declaring war with glee that he did not feel. He had secretly helped her, increasing the chaos of the goblins' mistakes. He had been relieved that none of them had been in attendance when she reached the throne room, they might have taken her apart. By this time, Jareth wanted her to stay. Wanted to discover if his fondness for her ran deeper than what he felt at that moment. (He winced as he remembered his singing once again.) But she said the words, words that banished him from her life - until, that is, he chose to visit her once again.

He had no power over her, that was true. But that didn't mean that he couldn't communicate with her or see her. Jareth dared not give into that temptation. After her departure, it had taken weeks for him to get over his loss - and he was still haunted years after. If he allowed himself to see her, he wasn't sure if he could keep control over his emotions. He might steal her back to the Underground, or worse yet, profess his feelings over her.

Did he love her? That question hovered in his mind whenever he thought of her. Jareth knew he felt something, but he wasn't sure if it was love, lust, obsession or some twisted form of hate.

Did he love her? Jareth shook his head, replacing that question with another. What if he saw her again? The thought was enticing, he didn't have to see her in person…he could merely seek her out in his crystals.

He turned his wrist, preparing a spell - no! Jareth stopped himself in time. Not yet, old boy. Wait until she grows more, until she could handle what he could give her.

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Jareth walked through the town, making sure to stay as inconspicuous as possible in his cloak. He often wandered like this when he was free, to see how his kingdom was really like. He didn't want reports from nobles disconnected from ordinary life, he wanted to see how the people really were.

So he plodded onward, not really worrying about his kingdom. Wondering if Sarah was happy - wherever she was.

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"This soon!?" Sarah shrieked, horrified. "I'm not ready!"

"I know that!" Bartten snapped. He shook his head, "It's too late now, go and have Frieda pack for you. Go! Hurry!" Sarah ran up back to her room, cursing the heavy skirts that tripped her periodically.

"This one is too plain, let's just bring what you need and I'm sure Julian will send the rest over to Lavinia's apartments." Frieda took the pink dress from Sarah's hands and placed it back into the wardrobe. In complete contrast to Sarah and Bartten's reactions to Julian's impromptu command, Frieda was cool as stone. Her placid demeanor calmed Sarah down.

Sarah fingered the embroidery of the dresses in the huge trunk she was to bring. "I thought Lavinia was sent away by Jareth." She patted down the next dress Frieda handed her.

"She was," the older fae agreed, "but the king is very generous. Lavinia's family have been part of the King's court for as long as I can remember, they have permanent apartments. It's the room near the king's that Lavinia has lost." Sarah nodded absently, feeling a distant sense of detachment. It was as if she were watching everything from outside of her body, as if she were floating.

"Do you think I can pull this off, Frieda?"

"Pull what off?" Frieda looked at the gown in Sarah rested her hand on, "Is there a loose thread on the dress?" Sarah smiled, slang was obviously wasted on adults from both worlds.

"Do I have what it takes to uh, get revenge on Jareth?" Sarah inwardly winced. She might as well have a cartoon mustache to twirl with that wording. Frieda smiled and patted Sarah's head.

"I'm sure you can, from what I heard the king was very unhappy when you left. All you have to do is take advantage of his feelings for you. Do not doubt yourself."

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Sarah held on the handle inside the carriage walls as the wheels bumped over a stray rock. She pulled the light cloak tighter to herself, wondering.

Could she do this? Did she have it in her to break a man? Sarah was sure that she could, she wanted to. But what happened if she was caught? Would she be hanged for treason? Did they burn people over here? Or did they just put them into oubliettes to rot forever? She shuddered at the thought of another oubliette. She sobered down, the oubliette reminding her of her friends. Did they remember her? Will they be angry at her for not communicating for so long? Would she even find them? Maybe Jareth had them killed. Her mouth tightened in anger at the thought. He would probably enjoy it

What about her plan? It was easiest to have him infatuated with her, but then what? Kill him? Sarah wasn't sure she could do that. Leave him and break his heart? Maybe that would be better, the more pain the better. She groaned, for all her training and lady-lessons, Sarah still didn't have the most important part of the plan worked out.

She leaned back, still annoyed that she was left to go to the Goblin Kingdom by herself. Lavinia would meet up later, not wanting to be seen with "a little girl. Surely you don't expect me to be her chaperone? I have more pressing matters at this moment, send her with Frieda or someone." Bartten would meet her in a few weeks, wanting to spend some time at his house. (Sarah was surprised at this - he had a wife.) Oriel, well, Oriel didn't give Sarah a good excuse why he wasn't coming, so she came to the conclusion that he was just lazy. Frieda stayed behind to pack the rest of her things. Julian was away on business.

So that left her, the horse and the guy that drove it. She swept her eyes to the ceiling of the padded carriage. Wonder what he looks like.

She woke up a few hours later, just in time to see the real kingdom that Jareth owned. Sarah looked outside, surprised to see sheer cliffs on either side of the windows. The carriage had stopped and abruptly started again. She looked back at what seemed to be a guarded wall, defending the city within. As they drove further away, she realized that she had driven through a break in a line of mountains.

As they rode on, she began to see evidence of life: small farms dotting the countryside, cottages and people working in small gardens. She leaned back, hiding from the stares of what were obviously peasants, curious to see such a lavish stagecoach on the roads.

After the countryside came what she thought was the Underground version of the suburbs. Nice neighborhood. Strong, stone houses, cobbled streets, stores located on the sides and strategically placed parks and fountains.

Then came the city. Sarah gaped in wonder. Even in the nighttime the place glowed. It was like some romantic vision: fantastic houses shaped like miniature fantasy castles with twisting towers, others more like the fortified ones she had seen in books about Scotland, others were like the French chateaux she had visited with her mother once. They rode past the residential zones to the commercial ones. She wanted to shop, Sarah decided. As soon as she settled, she was going to buy something. Clear, large windows proudly displayed dresses, furniture, food, toys, pets and other glittering things Sarah didn't know the name of. Vendors shouted at passerby's in hope of selling their goods, raised café s were located in front of restaurants, the smell making her stomach growl. There were musicians singing, entertainers putting on plays, puppet theatres and speeches about love, happiness and such things at every street.

And the people! Sarah had never seen such life before. There were people dancing in the squares, some kissing at the café s, others arguing or laughing. The heady swirl of colors under the torches and floating, glowing globes made her dizzy and the obvious companionship made her feel isolated. If the Goblin Kingdom was like this, Sarah never wanted to leave.

They came closer to the castle, she knew because the stores gradually ended and even bigger houses came into sight. These were not the creations she saw earlier, but elegant mansions of the nobility. The didn't need ostentatious displays of their wealth, they were obviously secure in their status. Sarah stuck her head out of the window to see the castle.

This was new, it wasn't the crude building she saw when she was fifteen. No this was different, it was like the castle from the Disney logo, she decided. But more towers, more windows, more space. They drove over the lowered drawbridge, stopping at the gates. A man stepped out, dressed in armor and carrying an axe. Sarah wondered if this was just for show, why did they need weapons when they had magic? She strained her ears, wanting to listen to the conversation.

"Papers? Oh, House of Farrix eh,? And what's yer business here? Alright, send them through!"

Well that was a waste of my time, Sarah thought. They drove through the gate and under the fortified walls that circled the castle. The courtyard was huge. You could fit my neighborhood three times over in here. They eventually stopped at a set of doors.

Sarah grabbed onto the handle and the carriage shook. The door opened and a hand helped her out.

"Here you go, mi-lady." The young man smiled at her, "Farrix apartments. Your luggage will come by tomorrow." He quickly stepped back onto the driver's seat and drove away.

Sarah looked at the door. Well, time to go in.

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"Hmm, looks like Lavinia return." Mercutio regarded the figure going inside the door.

Jareth snorted, "Stop stalling, it's your move." Mercutio sighed, he hated losing. He made the move on the chess board, and Jareth promptly won the game. Damn it.

"Lavinia? Maybe the allure of the elf-lands have lost its hold on her." Jareth drank from his whisky bottle. "Or maybe she came back for one of us," he smirked.

Mercutio laughed, "I think she hates us both, Your Majesty. Now, what about our bet hmm? We never went over the stakes…" Jareth regarded the flames in the fireplace across from him.

"I think," he said slowly, "that we should…hmm…" Mercutio rolled his eyes. "What is the point of having a bet if we don't win something in the end?"

"Fine, you think of something then."

"I want your stallion." Jareth looked at Mercutio, "What?"

"Not to keep, of course, I just need him to father me some quality mounts."

Jareth waved his hand dismissively, "alright then, if I win I want you to stop drinking my liquor. I don't even know why you do that, you can buy your own."

Mercutio smiled "What's the point of buying something you can get for free?"

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Jareth was alone in his room, listening to the soft rustle of insects outside. He felt restless, and excited. As if something important was about to occur. For some reason, more so than all the other times, he wanted to see Sarah.

It had been so long since he saw her last, a few weeks after her departure. She had been happy, laughing with someone he couldn't see. That was his last memory of her, of her happy. The vision had brought him enormous relief, Jareth had feared that Sarah's time in the labyrinth might have had an adverse effect on her. He had been afraid that she would have stopped believing, stopped dreaming. Somehow, Sarah Williams burrowed her way under his skin, he could not forget her.

He needed to see her. He had to. Jareth formed a crystal, looking into the empty depths to ready himself. What if she was unhappy? Jareth didn't know if he could bear her unhappiness. He could bring her here, but would she even want to come back?

Swallowing his nervousness, Jareth willed the face of Sarah to appear in the crystal.

She was sleeping, her long hair fanned out across embroidered pillows. Jareth smiled, she seemed so peaceful. He watched her for a few more moments, and then disappeared the crystal.

Jareth laid back on his bed, assured of Sarah's safety. Still, he couldn't sleep. Something was going to happen, something big.