Jareth went to sleep that night with a smile upon his lips.

Jareth sat quietly reading in his study, the marriage papers had arrived yesterday, and he intended to have them signed, sealed and on their way to Mannat before the sun fell that evening. It was a good match he mused, she was beautiful and would make a good queen. Just then an urgent knock, followed by the entry of an anxious Aldous interrupted his thoughts.

"She's gone you're majesty"

"Who's gone?" Jareth asked, not understanding Aldous's distress.

"Her Majesty." Even under the circumstances, he remained on formal terms with Jareth.

Jareth stood up and began pacing back and forth "What do you mean Danae has gone? Where has she gone?" He demanded, his own tone urgent, now matching that of Aldous.

"She never came to her morning lessons, so..."

Jareth suddenly cut him off "Well she's probably still in bed, have you tried her chambers?"

"So, I went to her chambers, and she wasn't there and..."

Jareth interrupted him again "Well perhaps she went for a walk"

"And her bed hadn't been slept in" Aldous continued "None of the servants know where she is either"

"Have you asked Camille if she knows of her whereabouts?"

"She's away, her mother died last week, she's spending some time with her father and brothers."

"So there has been no sign of her? Perhaps she will turn up later, but it is best to be cautious."

"Your orders?" Aldous questioned?

"Call out the guard, I want every member of the goblin army, within and outside the labyrinth searching for her. I want to know her whereabouts if not sooner."

Three days later there was still no sign of Danae.

Aldous entered the throne room quietly, as not to disturb the King who was sitting there, dark circles spoilt his usually handsome face, his clothes were rumpled and his face sad.

"Is there any news?" He asked Aldous hoarsely

Aldous shook his head, and the king buried his head in his hands, "There is one thing."

Jareth's head shot up "What?"

"Her clothes have been taken from her room, one of the maids noticed as she went into clean."

"Where? What does that mean? Do you think she is still alive?"

"I believe", Aldous said calmly, "That wherever she is, she is requiring her usual amount of clothes"

Jareth's face suddenly lightened, comprehension had dawned "Which means wherever she is, she's at court."

Aldous nodded.

"Orellum!" Jareth stood up as he spoke. "I'm going to visit my step-uncle. If Danae has left the Goblin Realm, that is where she'll be."

Jareth arrived at the capital of the Rehus Kingdom in a sparkle of Glitter. He stood outside the Palace waiting patiently until a young page, dressed entirely in red with a gold trim hurried up to him.

"Welcome to the Rehus Kingdom" he bowed low. "Do you request an audience with his majesty?" Jareth merely nodded to the young boy. "And how do you wish me to announce you?"

Jareth stood up, arrogantly and sneered "As King Jareth".

The boy bowed again "If you would follow me your highness."

Jareth followed the young page through many corridors until he reached the throne room. When the boy stopped and announced to the room

"Jareth son of Arden. King, Lord and High Protector of the Goblin Realm." Jareth made his way up to the throne and bowed to the old man sitting there.

"Orellum"

"Jareth!" Orellum stood up and embraced him. "How are you my boy? If I had known you were coming I would have prepared a feast. What brings you here?"

Jareth looked into the King's eyes and saw it was clear that he knew nothing of his sister's disappearance. The old man was clearly delighted to have his step-nephew come to visit.

"Danae" Jareth replied simply

"What of her?"

"Is she here?"

"Why yes, she arrived two days ago. Seemed very upset, wouldn't tell me why. Just said that she wished to spend some time with her mother's family, but she hasn't seemed her normal self."

A wave of relief flooded over Jareth, "Where precisely is she now?"

"In the gardens I believe, she has been spending a lot of time there of late, well there and in her chambers."

"Will you excuse me you're highness"

Jareth disappeared then reappeared right in the centre of the palace gardens. They were a truly calm and peaceful place to spend time. A fountain made entirely of glass stood to one side, water cascaded over it gently appearing to come out of mid air. The paths were lined with white roses, lilies and every other white flower that you could possibly imagine. Jareth looked around. He saw Danae. She was sitting on a stone bench, under an apple tree. Her back to him, anger flared up, hot and ugly and out of control. How could she do this, didn't she realise that half the country had been looking for her. She moved her head towards him slightly, although she didn't notice his presence. He could now see her face, her eyes were red and puffy, she had been crying recently. Jareth's anger melted away, as if it had never been there in the first place. He walked over and sat next to her on the bench. When she saw him she looked frightened.

"What are you doing here 'Nae?" He reverted to her baby name, pleading with her quietly. She stared up at him, but didn't answer, a tear trickled down her cheek.

"Why did you leave?" She looked away from him. But she finally answered, her voice croaky.

"Why did you come here Jareth?"

Anger surged up in him once more and he was unable to contain it. "Why did I come here? Why do you think? Because I was fucking worried." He stood up, the calm seating area opposed his mood. "Do you know what torture the last few days have been? I have been so scared. I didn't know where you were."

He was surprised when she stood up, her own anger matching his. "Well I didn't even think that you would have noticed that I was gone! Did you miss me at breakfast or was my absence only noted when Aldous realised I was missing?" Seeing the look on Jareth's face she knew she was right and continued. "It's been the same since you started seeing that girl!"

"That girl, as you put it, is my future bride." He replied hotly.

"And don't I know it!" Danae seethed, "Ever since you started courting her, I've been on the sidelines. Suddenly my opinion doesn't count. Suddenly when I disappear in the middle of the night you don't even notice. How do you think that makes me feel Jareth. "

A look of realisation dawned on Jareth's face "You're jealous" he remarked "You ran off out of petty jealousy and now..."

He was cut off by Danae's icy stare "Interpret this how you wish, but every time, I say or suggest something she overrides it, subtly so you don't notice. She hates me and I hate her Jareth, haven't you seen this? You don't even notice me any more Jareth, and I'm your sister, and you, you've been everything to me, my brother and my father all rolled into one, and I wont loose you to her."

Jareth felt his anger begin to cool "Come home."

"No"

"When will you come back to the Goblin Realm 'Nae?"

"If I come back at all it will be the day before my coronation as Goblin Queen"

"What is that supposed to mean?" he spat.

"That I will only return if I have to. Go home Jareth" she said softly "Go home and marry your queen, leave me here. I'll be happier here"

"Why will you be happier here, away from your friends and family?" he demanded, barely understanding why she was here.

"Because this is where I would have ended up anyway Jareth!" She cried "Sooner or later I would have been driven out, slowly and after the birth of your children, when they hate me like their mother. Eventually you would have made me leave, for peace from your wife." Jareth stared at her shocked, tears rolling down his face. "At least this way" she continued dully "I chose to come here." Her voice broke on the last sentence and she collapsed to the floor sobbing, "The sad fact is that you don't even love her."

"Oh Gods Danae" Jareth whispered into her hair and he cradled her in his arms, "I want to make this right again."

And through her tears she whispered, more to herself than anything else "And I want to come home"

"Why don't you?" he asked her "come home Danae. I need you there"

She shook her head, "No Jareth, not while she's there. I'll love you as much as I ever have, but I will not live in the Goblin City while she's there."

Jareth stood up and stared off into the distance, and Danae sat looking at him. Eventually his face darkened. And he looked at her softly. "Danae you are the most precious thing in my world, I want you home. Make your excuses to Orellum and say goodbye, I expect you at the Goblin City tomorrow morning." With that he vanished, leaving Danae to wipe her tear stained face and pack her bags.

Jareth woke up, reflecting on the dream he had the night before. After his confrontation with Danae he had broken his engagement with Annabel off that afternoon, she had been angry, and rightly so, but as the engagement contracts had never been signed there really wasn't much she could say. Himself and Danae had put the matter behind them, it was never mentioned anymore, and he had certainly put the whole ugly affair to the back of his mind. He decided that he would discuss the matter with Danae, certain that she would settle his turmoil over the unpleasant dream.

On his arrival in the princess palace he found Danae in the parlour lounging on a couch. A book laid in her lap, where she had been reading earlier. She was dressed in pale yellow, her hair was hanging down round her face, which looked feverish, with a slight green tinge.

"My Gods Danae, you look awful!" she glared at him and he laughed, "mind you I'm not really surprised with the amount of wine that you and Sarah consumed last night."

She narrowed her eyes in an expression that would have made ice look warm, "Jareth, if you came over here to preach to me the lesson to be learnt when you overindulge, I suggest you leave!"

Jareth laughed again, and then suddenly ducked as the book that had previously been on Danae's lap went flying through the air towards his head. Jareth's expression coldened. "That" he said calmly "was unnecessary." He pulled his chair up next to the girl, whose face softened.

"Well, what are you doing here?"

Jareth paused, trying to think how he could broach the subject, which in the passing years had become more than taboo, they both had decided to pretend that the incident had never occurred, although both of them had never forgotten. Worry lines on Danae's youthful face began to form. So he decided to speak.

"I had a dream last night, about our conversation in Orellum's garden, and the incidents preceding it." Danae's face paled, she pleaded that he hadn't to start harbouring regrets about his choices regarding her. Seeing the pained look on Danae's face Jareth pulled her into a tight embrace, and whispered into her ear "I would make the same choice again a thousand times." And he felt wet cheeks meeting his own.