Alex woke up, but kept her eyes closed, for her head hurt like hell and she didn't want the light to add to it. She brought her palm to her forehead and rubbed it a bit.

"Ow....." she moaned.

"Hehehehe!!! Wakie wakie!" a high pitch voiced squealed in her ear.

"Huh? Ow....." The noise seemed to add to her pain.

"Wake up!!! Haha!" laughed another voice, this one more gruff.

Alex kept her eyes shut "Who's there?" she asked tiredly "Toby?"

All she received in answer was more laughter. Alex's eyes then shot open, and what she saw nearly made her pass out again! There were Goblins EVERYWHERE! Alex was surrounded by them! She tried to catch her breath and while scooting as far from them as possible. But when she did she unwittingly backed into something.....no, somebody. She slowly raised her head to see a man standing over her! As quick as she could, Alex jumped up, taking a defensive stance. The man let out a laugh, clearly amused.

"You mustn't be frightened, the Goblins are quite harmless....." he said.

"Who are you? And where am I?!" Alex demanded, then what he had said to her sunk in "Goblins.....?"

"That's right, Alex."

"Wait, I know who you are! I recognize you! You're the Goblin king!"

Jareth bowed slightly "That I am."

"But why am I here?" Alex asked again.

"Oh you're a clever girl, Alex. Can you not think why?"

Alex looked around, trying to think. She saw that she must have been in the castle. Just like in the book. THE BOOK! She just remembered. She had the book! She searched her pockets, but to her disappointment it wasn't there. "My book.....where is it?" She tried to retrace her steps in her mind. Everything she remembered was seemed very fuzzy now. She was in the living room.....looking at Sarah's drawing and Toby was.....'Oh crap!' thought Alex. Toby had the book.

She turned back to Jareth, who now had something in his hand.

"I have a gift for you Alex." he said.

"A gift?" Alex asked confused. "What is it?"

"It's a crystal, Alex." he began juggling the crystal on his hand.

"Why......would you give it to ME? I don't understand any of this! Take me home!"

"Have you ever longed to see your dreams, Alex?' Jareth asked.

Alex stopped for a second, she watched as the King balanced the crystal as it gracefully slid on his leather glove. She was tempted to take it from him, and see what she long for. But she shook her head "You're playing mind games with me.....please, just let me go home! I want nothing to do with this!" She brought her head down for she didn't want him to see the tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Jareth placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head back up "We shall see, Alex....."

The girl was truly frightened now. "What is it you want from me.....?"

He didn't answer. He turned away and called out "Eponine!"

Alex didn't know what he was up to but she wasn't about to be ignored "Answer me Jareth!" she stood defiantly. "That IS your name.....isn't it?"

"It is....." Jareth turned back to her "But for the time being you will address me as "Your Majesty"."

"I will do no such thing!" Alex was outraged.

Jareth shot her a glare "You will obey me while you're here. Where is that girl? Eponine!"

"Yes, your Majesty?"

Alex turned to see a little girl come running through the door, and was trying to climb over the goblins. She looked around 8 years old and had a head of long brown ringlets. She wore a brown dress what was slightly tattered at the hem. Alex knew she was a servant.

"A child?" she whispered.

"Show her to her room." said Jareth.

"Yes your Majesty....."

Alex was about to tell him off, but the Goblin King had disappeared.

"Come, Miss." said the little girl, and she started heading towards the door. Alex looked around the room and decided that anywhere else was better than staying in a room with these disgusting little creatures. So she reluctantly followed the child.

She started leading Alex through the big castle that was truly a labyrinth itself. It was full of twists and turns and passages. Alex was sure she would get lost on her own. She wondered how this little girl in front of her knew her around this place. After they were halfway up the stairs, Alex decided to break the silence between them "Eponine?"

"Yes, Miss?"

"What sort of person is your 'king'?"

"What do you mean, Miss?" Eponine turned to her, her big emerald eyes were full of confusion.

"I don't know.....I just.....wanted to know.....what he's like....." Alex thought perhaps this girl was too young to understand.

"It really isn't my place to say, Miss.....But his Majesty has been rather troubled....."

"Troubled?" Alex asked. Eponine had finally stopped in front of an oak door.

"This shall be your room, Miss."

"Wait! Tell me more! Why was he troubled?"

But little Eponine wasn't listening. She opened door to what was Alex's bedroom. Alex gasped. It was a rather large room. There was a four poster bed, and a beautiful vanity. As Alex looked around, Eponine opened the windows to let in a breeze. Alex saw that it was a balcony. "Wow....."

"Your wardrobe, Miss is over her....." Eponine gestured toward a large wooden cabinet. "...and the washroom is in there. If you should need anything, I will be here."

".....thanx....." said Alex who seemed to be in a daze as she wondered onto the balcony. She gazed down the goblin city, and beyond there, the labyrinth.

"The king requests that you dine with him tonight, Miss."

"Well you may tell him that I disincline to inquest to his request." She said, quoting.

"As you wish. Miss." Eponine bowed and retreated towards the door "Do you wish to take supper in your room than?"

"...I'm not hungry....." Alex didn't even bother looking at the girl.

"Miss, you are not well....."

Alex had had enough by now she was so angry that she would go mad! She had been taken from her home and away from those she loved and was brought into the world that frightened her without an explanation an a CHILD was telling her she was not well! Alex turned on Eponine, now furious. "NO, I am NOT well, I'm ANGRY! I've just been kidnapped by some psychopath and his army of little terds, taken to some freak-show castle and no one will tell me ANYTHING!!!" she screamed!

Eponine got down on her hands and knees and lowered her face to the ground "Forgive me, Mistress! I apologize, I should have said nothing....." the child said in a shaky voice.

Alex saw she had frightened her and quickly calmed herself "Get up, Eponine.....I don't deserve to be bowed to.....I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lose my temper."

Eponine got up slowly. Alex turned back to gaze at the labyrinth.

"Does, Miss wish to have a bath?"

"No, not now.....I just need time to think." And Alex sat down. She rested her head on her knees, trying not to cry.

Eponine left without saying another word.

Meanwhile in another part of the castle, the Goblin King was sitting the library, thinking. It was before long that Eponine joined. Jareth didn't even have to look up to know it was her, he just motioned with his hand to come closer.

"Well?" he asked, still not looking up.

"She refuses to eat, Your Majesty." Eponine, knelt at her master's feet.

"I figured as much."

"Forgive me, Your Majesty.....but may I ask you.....?" Eponine hesitated.

Jareth looked at her and nodded for her to continue.

"Why IS she here? Is she not who you wished.....?"

"No, child, she isn't. Eponine, you of Sarah.....the only human to defeat my Labyrinth....."

"I do sir. Not one creature, here doesn't know her name."

"I'd like it better if you didn't remind me....." Jareth raised his voice slightly, showing he was displeased. Eponine immediately fell silent. "Anyway, her brother is in the labyrinth now.....as of now he has 12 hours and 20 minutes to find your mistress. He is bound to get lost. I know Sarah will stop at nothing to be sure her brother is safe at home. And when she finds him gone.....she will come for him. And now I have the girl in my possession, a second hostage....."

"Sarah will return?" Eponine's eyes widened.

"That she will, little one....." Jareth grinned. ".....and I shall have my revenge....."

Eponine bowed her head.

Back in the Labyrinth Toby was lucky enough to find his way in without much difficulty (it seemed somebody had left the door open.) But now he had another problem.....he had been walking in a straight line for what must have been half an hour and wasn't getting anywhere!

"What the hell is this? This just goes on and on! How can they call this a labyrinth?"

With a sigh of frustration, he was about to lean against the wall but seemed to disappear from behind him, causing him to land flat on his butt! "What the-" Toby looked up "He TRICKED me!!" he shouted when he saw he was deceived. "There were openings all this time!" it was true, the opening were hidden within the walls. Everything was an allusion. "What a cheat!" he muttered.

"I heard that!" a familiar voice echoed around Toby, practically making him jump from his skin! "Sorry....." Toby knew now that the king would always be watching, and listening, though he wasn't sure how. He looked around now trying to find the castle. When he spotted it, he headed towards it "Don't worry, Alex.....I'm coming to get you....."

Alex, unfortunately, couldn't here him. She didn't even know they were in the same world anymore. She sat on her balcony still, waiting. Eponine knocked on her door with a tray of food in her arms. She let herself in when Alex allowed her "I know you said you weren't hungry, Miss, but I brought some supper for you just the same....."

"That's kind of you, Eponine....."

"I can't have my Mistress go hungry." She brought the tray to Alex's night stand.

Alex turned to her "Wait, 'YOUR' mistress?"

"For as long as you're here, Miss, I am your servant." Eponine said no more and went to turning down the bed sheets.

Alex turned her attention back to the sky and started quoting from one of her favorite books "Long, long ago, some 5,000 years before the fellowship was formed to escort the Ring-bearer, Frodo Baggins of the Shire, to the land of Morder, the Dark Lord Sauron sought the friendship of Elves....."

Eponine looked up from her work and listened. Alex wiped a tear from her cheek furiously. It wasn't missed by her little servant.

"My Mistress is crying....." she went to her.

"No.....I am not crying....." Alex lied.

"Miss, you need to lie down. It will be alright, his Majesty means you no harm. You are safe , Miss, lie down....."

Alex continued to wipe tears away, angrily.

"Miss, you'll make yourself sick.....please....." Eponine wanted to bring her lady inside, she took her hand, but Alex gently pulled away.

"I'm going to stay here for awhile.....I'll be ok."

Eponine nodded "But I must insist that you try to eat something."

"I'm fine."

As all this was taking place, Jareth watched from his crystal.

Eponine left her lady to be alone. Alex started singing sadly...

"Home is behind The world's ahead And there are many paths to tread..... Through shadow..... To the edge of night..... Until the stars are all alright.....

Mist and shadow..... Cloud and shade..... All shall fade..... All shall..... .....Fade....." Alex broke down on the last line. She wept on her knees.

Unable to watch anymore, the King set aside his crystal and pondered on what more he could do now.

Alex sobbed. She looked up only for a second.....but a second was all that was needed. When she looked up she saw the toy that Toby had found in the box, laying by the door leading to the balcony. She was holding it when the Goblins had took her away. She left it in the thrown room. Eponine must have retrieved it for her. Alex reached over and grabbed on of its long red limbs and held it close, now drifting into a tortured sleep.

Toby sighed. He had reached yet another dead end. "Great....." he turned around and was about to go back when he saw the path was now gone.

"Oh damn it! This place is changing!" he yelled now, very frustrated.

"Hahaha! That's right! I suppose your going to say it's not fair?"

Toby turned back around where the dead end WAS but in it's place where two doors both guarded by two strange guards.....who both seemed to have two heads.

"Uh....no I'm not, though that happens to be the case." Toby said answering one of the guards who asked the question. "Wasn't this a dead end? No wait, its behind me now."

"That's right!" said another guard.

"Well what are you all doing here?" Toby asked.

"Well the only way out of here is to try one of these doors....." said the guard in red.

And then the guard in blue spoke "One leads to the castle at the center of the labyrinth and the other one leads....."

"Wait!" Toby interrupted "Let me guess.....the other will lead me to my death.....heh right?" The gaurds stared at him.

"Awe nuts! This one's no fun!" complained the guard in red.

"Uh.....ok.....ok so that's it. Alright. Well which door is which?" Toby asked.

"You can only asked one of us." Said the blue guard "And one always tells the truth....."

"And one of us always lies!" said the red.

Toby thought for a moment. Apparently things weren't always what they seemed in this place....Red in the real world would be closest to death and pain.....blue was a safer color. "Hmm.....would he try to trick me?" Toby asked himself "Ok the Red door."

"Huh? But you didn't ask!" said Red.

"Oh forget it! I bet neither of you tell the truth! Let me through!"

The Red Guard opened the door and Toby walked through.

Alex woke up, shivering from the wind that blew by the balcony. She pulled her jacket tightly around herself. "I guess it wasn't a dream....." she said quietly.

Eponine came out quickly onto the balcony and she didn't look happy. "Miss, come inside! You'll catch your death!" she took her Mistress hand and pulled her up with surprising strength for somebody her size.

"Whoa....." Alex was taken by great surprise but stood.

"Forgive me, Miss, but I know what's best. Now come inside, your bath is ready."

"Yes.....a bath sounds nice." Alex followed the little girl into the wash room where a bubble bath waited. The path tub was as large as a small pool. Alex quickly dis-robed and slipped into the hot water.

"Does, Miss prefer roses or lavender?"

"Do you have 'Milk and Honey'?"

"I do, Miss."

"Eponine, stop calling me, Miss. Alex is fine....."

"As you wish.....but I must insist I address you as 'Miss' while in the presence of the King or anyone else. It wouldn't be proper if I do otherwise."

"Sure, why not?" Alex agreed "You'll be the only proper person in the room when I'm around....."

"When one lives for so long they must learn to be proper....." said Eponine.

Alex paused and looked at her "But.....you look so young.....Just how old are you anyway?"

"I shall be reaching 800 in three years....."

"Huh?" Sarah looked at her closely.

Eponine brushed her brown curls back, revealing her pointed ears. Alex was shocked.

"An elf?" was all she could say. Eponine nodded. Her lady leaned back in the bath letting all of this sink in "Elves, Goblins.....the Labyrinth. This is all way too much....."

Eponine brought a lovely bottle of scented oils and poured some in the bath. "It will all be alright, Mi-sorry.....Alex....."

"If it pleases you, Eponine, you can call me 'Miss'....." Alex smiled slightly. "I don't want you to have to correct yourself all the time....."

"Thank you, Miss. It is easier. Miss you seemed surprised to see that I am an elf. Before.....in your world.....are there no goblins? Or elves?"

Alex chuckled "Only in one's imagination.....but there was a place.....called Middle Earth....."

"Middle Earth?"

"Yeah....." Alex closed her eyes "If I could choose any place to live.....it would be there....."

"Best keep your eyes closed, Miss. I'll wash your hair....." Eponine had already wetted her hands.

"Thank you"

Eponine lathered up Alex's hair and then rinsed. "Now, Miss, relax. I'll leave you to soak a bit." And she went back into the bedroom, taking Alex's clothes with her. She didn't see the silent tears escape from her lady's eyes this time.