Author's Note: Update! Yay! Took me a bit, but now that I polished everything and re-read what I wrote, I now submit this to your reading pleasure. Thanks for the great reviews, they keep me going!

By the way, remember that if Sarah is acting like a calculating bitch, she's been in a mental hospital for years!

Chapter 7

Julian was reading in the study when Oriel arrived.

"A letter for you, my lord." Julian took the letter, broke the seal and dismissed Oriel.

My Lord,

S's progress is remarkable, although I fear that we may be stressing her too much. She has gone to the ball, and as we predicted, she has chosen the same dress she had last time. L reported that S spent some time out in the balcony, but does not know what transpired there. Sarah then danced with the Duke of Tarentum, but L then left the ball for reasons she would not say.

According to E , S then danced with the Goblin King out in the open and then the two went out onto the balcony. S was not seen for the remainder of the evening.

In the evening of the ball, L F received a message with the royal seal explaining that S was detained due to sickness and was kept at the castle. Please send your next instructions.

- F

F ,

Do not worry, everything is planning out perfectly.

- J

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Jareth stood outside her door, only a few inches of wood separating them. He had been surprised to find her Underground, even delighted. But the sight of her at the ball…the dress warned him. The dream he had a few weeks ago did too. Was she really here to destroy him? Her? Little Sarah, the fifteen-year-old who barely found her way into the labyrinth?

Steeling himself against her Jareth pushed open the door, stepping into one of the castle's many guest rooms.

Unable to stop himself, Jareth stepped closer, studying the sleeping girl.

Her cheeks were flushed, much like what happens to sleeping children. She slept on her side, one arm underneath to support the pillow and the other loosely clutched the blankets, holding it to her chest. Her hair was spilled like ink over the bedding, still curled and puffed from the ball.

There she was, the living embodiment of his dreams.

Jareth smiled fondly, stroking her pink cheek, stilling when she sighed and leaned toward him. Why are you here? He demanded silently, why did you come back when I wanted to forget everything? If she stayed, he knew there would be two choices for him: he could send her back or he could keep her here.

What was her connection with Lavinia? Knowing what he did of that vapid woman, Jareth knew it was no good. He hoped that Sarah was just visiting, he didn't want her to be part of Lavinia and her set.

Slowly, almost sensuously, Sarah's eyes opened. "Good morning," Jareth whispered, dropping his hand. "I think we have some things to talk about, now that you're in a more agreeable mood."

Sarah backed away slightly, still fuzzy from sleep and sat up, still holding the coverings to her. "What? Ok." She rubbed her eyes, trying to wake fully.

Gods she was beautiful. Jareth was having a hard time thinking, all he could see were her lips and languid eyes. "I need to know why you are here, Sarah," his voice was gentler, now that he had the advantage of keeping his temper under control.

"I'm here," Sarah licked her lips nervously, noticing that Jareth followed the tip of her tongue. This impromptu meeting could make it or break it. Be innocent, her mind told her, don't give him a reason to guard himself from you. This is your chance! Don't blow it! "Um, I'm here because my life wasn't what I wanted it to be. I need a new start."

Ah, so her motives were selfish. Not surprising. "Still unsatisfied?" he could not keep the mockery from his voice. Why did he feel disappointed?

Sarah's mouth twisted curiously, and her eyes suddenly became guarded. Jareth was shocked at the total change in her, the lack of emotion. "Yes," Sarah said woodenly, mentally blaming him for everything that happened to her, "I am unsatisfied. Do not mock me, Goblin King," the viciousness in her startled him, "you know nothing of the person I am today."

"Oh really?" His arrogance made her want to smack him, "And how have you changed, my dear?"

"I've changed in ways you can't imagine," her voice was as soft and cold as freshly fallen snow, "and I have you to thank for it." Control yourself, her mind scolded, don't give out too much information.

"Oh? Well, you're welcome." Control your temper man! Who cares why she is here? She's HERE! Take advantage of your good luck!

I care, because she hangs about with dangerous characters. What good luck? The luck that she is looking at me with complete hate? Thank you, luck, thank you very much.

Sarah stared at him, he had faced away from her and the emotions flashing in is face intrigued her. What was he thinking?

Finally Jareth calmed himself , "I apologize," his voice was tight, straining under what seemed like tenuous control, "I should not have mocked you, I have no idea of your life Aboveground." He fell silent.

Sarah was shocked and didn't bother to hide it. "Well, say something!" Jareth snapped as he leaned to her to close her opened jaw.

"I didn't expect you to say you were sorry," she said breathlessly, "I honestly didn't see it coming."

"Don't get used to it."

Silence.

"It's been rough," Sarah offered, wanting to slowly worm her way into his favor. It wasn't her style to play the pity card, but You gotta do what you gotta do… "I'm not here to bother you, really. I didn't know it was going to be such a big deal for you… " she added sincerity into her voice.

Jareth sighed, how could he make her understand? "Sarah," he spoke carefully, "the last time you were here, it was apparent to some people that I had…an attachment to you. The fact that you are back could incite someone to maybe hurt me through you."

Sarah thought wildly, he had a thing for her last time? Did he feel anything for her now? That would make things a lot easier…She lowered her eyes, pretending this was just another junior high play. She was the star here. "I was invited, and I wanted to come. I've never been to a ball…"

Gods how he wanted to believe her! A million questions and cautions came from his skeptical mind. Even though, Jareth felt a pull at his heart at her words.

Sarah was still talking, tears filling her eyes. "I didn't know! I wouldn't have worn the dress if it seemed to bring back bad memories for you, I was just so excited and…and.."

Jareth could not help it, he played right into her hands.

Years of wanting to be near her made him more susceptible to her pleas than he would've been had it been someone else. Sympathy filled him. It was only three years since they last saw each other. What could have possibly happened?

He pulled her close to him, cradling her in his arms awkwardly. "You don't know how many times I called for help!" She was sobbing uncontrollably. This was not the girl he remembered.

"It's all right now, Sarah, it will be all right."

"No, it won't! I can't stop dreaming about it! Why did they send me away?" Her grief was real now, finally finding a release from years of careful hiding. "Why don't they love me?" Sarah nearly choked on her sobs. She relived every significant thing that happened to her…

…nothing on her birthday or Christmas…

…visits that seemed to fade over time…

…she sent so many letters, none of them answered…

Sarah was trembling from cold, although perspiration lined her hairline. Jareth pulled the bed sheets around them, allowing the comfort of his warmth to seep into her.

She quieted, and soon fell asleep again. With a sigh, Jareth gently laid her on the bed and covered her. He wiped the tears off of her face, what happened to you, he wondered again.

"Why did they send me away?" Poor Sarah!

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"Well, well! If it isn't the new gossip fodder," Lavinia's eyes baited Jareth as he entered the dining room. "I heard that you had a wonderful time with the lady Sarah last night," she paused and then said delicately, "was she any good?"

"What are you doing here?" Jareth made no bother to hide his distaste.

"Now don't be so touchy! I was invited," she waved the engraved card as she spooned porridge into her mouth. "I was also invited to stay over…"

"Guests are only invited to stay over if they have a penchant for becoming drunk," Lavinia flushed angrily, and Jareth took pleasure in this as he continued, "after all, it's dangerous to walk through dimensional doors when one isn't able to concentrate."

Lavinia snorted, "I'm not the one who made a spectacle of myself, Your Majesty."

"Have fun with Mercutio?" The cool, slightly bored and sarcastic voice dismissed their argument. Jareth smirked, knowing Lavinia didn't have a retort for that one.

"Sarah!" Lavinia's falsely bright voice cut through the thick air in the room. "How lovely to see you! You slept quite late today." The insinuation in her voice was unmistakable, her eyes suggesting and traveling from Sarah to Jareth. "In fact, both of you slept quite late…" Lavinia screamed as Mercutio caught her neck in a playful headlock.

"Ah, there you are! I didn't have a chance to repay you for last night!" Lavinia tried to struggle against Mercutio's hold, both of them ignoring the confused looks of Jareth and Sarah.

"Get, off, of, me!" Lavinia screeched, "Ugh, this is so humiliating!" She elbowed the man in the gut and he let go. "Have you no knowledge of the idea of personal space?"

"Personal space? Madame, personal space was not what you wanted last night," Lavinia wrinkled her nose at his crudeness.

"Only because the one I really wanted was not there," she said, her nose in the air. Mercutio laughed and finally noticed Jareth and Sarah.

"Lady Sarah!" He took her hand and kissed it, bowing low. "Ah, see? I told you you would meet His Highness. She was very eager to find you." He winked at Jareth, who looked shocked.

Sarah gritted her teeth in a smile as her careful excuse was nearly shattered. Damn you! she cursed in her mind. God, she could practically feel Jareth's intense gaze on her. She laughed nervously, "Yes, well…" Her voice trailed off, she couldn't save this one. Shit.

"I'm not here to bother you, really."

"Lady Sarah and I met last night actually," Jareth said stiffly as he sat down. Lavinia and Mercutio sat down immediately, and after Sarah came out of shock she did too. Away from His Majesty.

All through breakfast Sarah could feel Jareth looking at her. Oh he laughed at Mercutio's jokes and the angry rebuttals of Lavinia, but even though he spoke steadily, she could feel his slight anger directed at her.

Sarah started to sweat lightly, oh god how was she going to do this? Did she have it in her to break a man? She asked herself that once. The question now was: Can she pull this off without having to backtrack every single second?

Jareth and Mercutio soon left for something or other, and the women stood as the men bowed their leave. Afterwards Lavinia announced that she was going to unpack. Sarah was left alone, with the dark invitation from the Goblin King to stay in the castle for "as long as she wanted" which really meant, at least to Sarah: "leave before explaining everything and I'll send my goblins to find you."

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"How are you enjoying your stay?"

"It's all right, I suppose." Sarah shrugged, playing with the ribbons at her waist. She was wearing a pale yellow morning gown made of thin cotton, apparently the wealthy changed clothes several times a day. She had met up with Mercutio a few hours after breakfast and he had volunteered to show her around the castle. So far she learned that she wasn't very good at paying attention. "I guess you want to know my story too?"

"No," Mercutio smiled, "it's none of my business, besides it's the king's job."

"The king's job to terrorize guests?"

"I know Jareth, my lady, and I doubt that he terrorized you. He can be frightening, that much is true, but he is never deliberately cruel."

"Hmmm." Deliberately cruel? Wasn't he the one who took Toby away? Didn't he try to get Hoggle to bring her to the beginning so she could lose? Never deliberately cruel, how funny that statement was.

Everything was quiet until:

"I think you secretly like him."

Mercutio grinned as Sarah suddenly stopped and faced him, shock on her face. "Don't be shocked, many women are taken in by the king."

"I-well, I- - you. Oh my god!" Sarah sputtered and walked quickly ahead, "I do not like him!"

"You admit it!" Mercutio laughed and followed her, repeating in a high, sing-song-y voice, "Sarah likes Jareth!"

She turned around, "I think you like Lavinia, so there!" She stuck her tongue out at the young man's look of incredulity.

"What?" It was her turn to laugh.

"All things point to it, Your Grace," she curtsied mockingly, "the fact that you slept with each other last night is proof my accusations."

Mercutio waved away her comments. "Lavinia and I have an understanding."

"I understand that you seem to liiiike her." Sarah was using all her powers of annoyance to keep him from asking her more questions. And where the heck did he get the idea that she liked Jareth?

A clock somewhere struck and Mercutio bit back his retort. "I must go, my lady. Care to be escorted back to the…I don't really remember where we started out." Sarah shook her head, and with a few clicks of his heels, Mercutio disappeared.

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"Isn't it a bit unhealthy? To stalk a guest is a social faux pas." Mercutio kept his voice light, trying to calm the king. Jareth had explained everything to him after they had gone over the kingdom's accounts.

"I'm not stalking, merely observing."

"Of course," Mercutio said dryly, "that's why you had one of the servants tell you what she was doing every, oh, ten minutes."

Jareth stood at the windows, watching Sarah eating lunch in one of his gardens. It was a picnic, she had sandwiches, talked to the servants. Nothing really special. "Every five minutes."

"You know, maybe you could, I don't know, talk to the girl instead of covering her every move? At the very least you can watch her up close. She is very attractive." Mercutio said the last part deliberately, just to see what would happen.

Jareth's hands tightened into fists…then suddenly relaxed. Watch her up close? I can barely think when I am near her. I fall too easily…

But all he replied was: "Yes, she has grown some." Then he frowned, noticing that Sarah was slightly pale, as if her skin hadn't been touched by the sun for some time.

The other man smirked. "Admitting that she matured has nothing to do with the statement that she is rather fetching."

"Matured." The king snorted and moved away from the window.

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Sarah ate her sandwich slowly, lounging on the blanket. She may have looked like relaxation perfected, but inside she was thinking frantically. Now that she was in the castle, what was she going to do? It was so simple: make him fall in love with her, then break his heart.

She threw the food down. Simple!? Damn if she didn't curse herself out for not having a plan. Making things up as she went was not cool. She thought back to what had happened.

Number One: she danced with him at the ball. He managed to combine smug and anger beautifully and she passed out.

Number Two: she woke up in a bedroom and he was in there two. He was angry, then gentle, then sympathetic when she broke down.

Number Three: at breakfast he was cordial, then cold when Mercutio - damn you Mercutio - opened his big mouth.

All right! Now what did she already say to him?

Number One: "Enjoying the view." Sarah cringed in embarrassment, that's it, hit on the Goblin King the first time you set eyes on him. She was visiting a cousin - that tidbit was now invalid. She shouted a bit at him, which of course made him angry. He wanted to know what she was doing there, and she passed out.

Number Two: Well, everything that could be said about her life on earth was said without actually giving anything away. Maybe she could elaborate on that.

Number Three: Nothing really, they didn't talk at breakfast.

Sarah paused, suddenly overcome with unhappiness. She was almost horrified at her actions: cold-heartedly planning a man's demise… This never would have happened if she had never met Jareth.

"Why so sad?" The question came from Jareth's lips softly. He was sitting on the blanket, turned slightly away from her.

Sarah nearly died from fright. Good god she had to fight from choking on the water she just drank. "What?" she wheezed, wiping the liquid from her chin.

"Why are you crying?" It was just then that she realized that what she mopped off of her face was not water, but tears.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I wasn't even aware that I was crying." They were silent for a bit.

"I would still like to know your reasons for staying," Jareth said after a while, "This is my kingdom, and I am bound by duty to keep everything safe."

"I don't know you that well to tell you everything."

"Then promise me that you won't do anything disastrous to my kingdom." And to me, Jareth added silently.

"Deal." Sarah held out her hand, and after a moment, Jareth took it. Though he did not shake her hand, instead he bent over and kissed the thin lace gloves that covered her fingers.

"Stay as long as you like." He left, and Sarah watched him go, her kissed hand next to her beating heart.