A few people have asked me if I did any research to write parts of this. The answer is not really; it's just sort of drawn from things I picked up here and there in college. I knew about the Greek story of the Labyrinth from Art History, about Gothic stories from British Lit, and about original sources from a history class, whose teacher taught half the class from a document book of old letters, diaries, speeches, and court records. And I've been forced to learn the ins and outs of libraries. I've known for a while (as many people in this fandom also seem to) faery myths, and have taken the parts from them about stealing children and people who see other worlds being driven mad.

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS.

-----

Nothing.

"Jareth."

Silence.

"Jareth! Jareth! Jareth!"

No response.

"Fine then!" Sarah said as loud as she dared. She had long ago refused the idea of wishing someone else away for a mere meeting, and she didn't really think that one could really wish themselves away, although-- And perhaps it was a bad idea, but it was in the heat of the moment, and if that was what it took-- And for good measure, she changed the verse just slightly.

"I wish Jareth would come and take me away, right now."

Sarah held her breath. As much as she had wanted to say it, a part of her hadn't wanted to. There was always the distinct possibility that he would show up and do exactly as she'd said. However, there was also the possibility that nothing at all would happen, and if that happened, she felt her world would come crashing down.

But the effect was almost immediate. Sarah felt something behind her. She turned, finding the Goblin King there. He was dressed in black pants and a loose gray shirt, with a black cape rippling behind him; his boots, gloves, and pendant were ever present.

"Sarah, Sarah." He paused. "I must admit, I never thought I'd hear those words from you. But let's be going then."

He sounded the same, looked the same (if perhaps a little less tall). He acted the same, gliding with that slow easy step and watching with that mysterious look in his eye. One could never tell exactly what he was thinking. For a horrible moment, Sarah thought that maybe she had misremembered everything, and had just wished herself into oblivion.

"No. Not yet," she said, her resolve coming back. Memories that plagued her for years couldn't be completely wrong.

"What's said is said," he said, stepping closer. There was an odd sense of déjà vu.

"I want to ask you something."

"What a pity. You shouldn't have phrased that as you did."

"I tried!" she almost shouted. Then, collecting herself, "We should speak more quietly, or somewhere else."

"I wasn't yelling. But as you wish."

One moment they were in her room, and the next they were standing at the Labyrinth's wall.

"No, not here! Not yet."

"We're only still just outside your room," he said pointedly. And there among the sands and sky was her window, floating, with her room visible just inside it. She gaped at the window and then back at him.

"I did not want to come here!"

"You shouldn't have phrased that as you did," he repeated.

"You wouldn't answer me. I even called your name!"

"Sarah... You must get an idea of how these things work. I can only take what's offered, and only do what's asked." He sounded tired, like someone repeating a lecture long given. Upon seeing her blank look, he finished, "You never actually asked to speak to me, now did you?"

"Damn," she said under her breath. Obvious! that should have been obvious to her!

"I tend to have...selective hearing in certain areas," he continued, clearly enjoying this. "You did get my attention when you said my name, but you did not ask anything. However, when you said the words, with my name no less, that most certainly demanded my personal attention." He looked at her with that chilly lopsided smirk. "And you did speak the words. You know what that means by now, surely. Or have we not learned our lesson?"

"Yes, I did, but--"

"I don't make the rules, Sarah," he said wearily, convincingly.

"Yes you do."

He grinned. "Well. However, the rules apply to everyone."

"Or it wouldn't be fair?" she countered. The Goblin King had walked right into that one.

He didn't have a response for her comment, but only a suddenly icy glare.

"You make the rules," she continued. "So? Then you break the rules." She looked up at him, defiant.

"So why did you call me, Sarah?"

"I have to know--you once said you would give me everything I wanted?"

He looked surprised, but then composed himself. "Yes, Sarah. Must I repeat myself? The world, whatever you desire. Be mine, and I will be your slave."

Sarah paused, and then made up her mind. It was a decision that part of her had long ago made, during the obsessive hours of searching and remembering. For some unnatural reason, it seemed the only decision to make. She spoke slowly, "I will be yours, if--"

"You forget, you already are. You said the words."

In a flash, Sarah realized that this was true--though he didn't have to be so patronizing about it. She felt her temper rise, but then collected herself, choosing a different path. "You're right," she agreed. "So now it's time for you to give me what I want."

His lips curled into almost a smile. "Little Sarah's gotten cunning, it seems. So what do you want?"

"Give me my life."

He turned his head to the side to look at her. "When did I give you the impression that I was aiming to kill you?"

"No, I mean, give me this life."

"Explain?"

"You demand everything immediately."

"As do you."

"Give me time," she continued. "Don't reorder it, simply give it. I can't just turn my back and leave what's here. Not yet."

"I see." He circled her slowly. "So you expect me to forget the words you uttered to call me, for me to leave empty-handed, and to allow you to come at your leisure?"

"Yes."

"Why? Why should I indulge that?"

"You said 'everything.' Which is what I want."

"Why not wait until you're done with this life to say those words, then?"

"Because it would have driven me insane. I had to know now. So will you?" she asked calmly, "Break the rules? Be unfair? Give me everything?"

Sarah was challenging him and she knew it. All it would take would be his refusal, and she would be whisked back into the Labyrinth again before she wanted it. She looked at the Goblin King, who was studying her carefully. I'm right, she thought, I have to be right.

An odd look crossed his face, before a satisfied one replaced it. "Well. Everything you shall have. We have a bargain," he suddenly said. The Labyrinth vanished, and they were only in her room again.

Sarah was amazed. He was about to leave. Without her. As simple as that.

"Wait," she said. "I have to know, how many girls have you made that offer to?"

"Does it matter, Sarah? What's said is said."

"I want to know."

"And which offer would that be, Sarah?" he asked knowingly, turning back around.

"You know."

There was a long silence.

He grinned, and suddenly appeared right in front of her. "One."

"Why?" she asked, looking up without taking a step back.

He didn't answer her question. Instead, "I've brought you a gift." On the end of his fingertips there was suddenly a crystal. And as if she hadn't heard it all before, he continued, "It's a crystal, nothing more. But if you turn it this way, and look into it, it'll show you your dreams. But this is not a gift for an ordinary girl..."

"Ordinary girl?"

"An ordinary girl wouldn't have been allowed to leave with my name. The crystal, Sarah. Do you want it?"

Sarah took it.

Jareth was gone.