It was a hangover from hell. Sarah woke up, her eyelids were heavy, her head ached and her stomach churned like there was no tomorrow. She sat up slowly; she couldn't remember everything that happened last night. She remembered the fainting spell, Danae's engagement. She smiled remembering Danae's face when Jareth made his announcement. Although they had only been friends a few days, Sarah was already becoming very fond of the Goblin Princess. She remembered dancing with Jareth, it had been nice, like in her dream, only different, she also remembered kissing Jareth.

"Oh God" she moaned crashing back down in bed and pulling the covers over her head "what did I do?"

She lay there for a few seconds, remembering the sweet feel of his lips on hers, the way his body felt when it was pressed close to her body. He was definitely a good kisser. Sarah shook her head determined to get that thought out of her head. She really, really did not need or want to know how good a kisser the goblin king was.

She got up and started to get dressed. Splashing cool water on her face eased the exhaustion that she felt, but did little to ease her stomach or head. Soon she was dressed, in a soft simple gown of pale lilac, which Sarah suspected belonged to Danae, because the hem was trailing along the floor.

When she was dressed, she was directed to Danae, who was still sitting in the parlour, though now seated in a low chair, talking to Jareth, who appeared to be lecturing a less than amused Danae on how excessive drinking was not considered lady like, or acceptable behaviour for a lady of her position. Sarah cleared her throat gently as she entered the room, and as Jareth turned to face her Danae stifled a yawn behind his back and rolled her eyes at Sarah, who as Jareth turned back to check on his sister raised her eyebrows back at Danae.

"I trust that you had a pleasant evening last night?" he drawled sarcastically to Sarah, seeing the look of amusement on her face as he caught the final part of the exchange between the two girls.

Sarah blushed furiously and nodded. I kissed the Goblin King, Oh God. Her brain flashed up the feel of his lips on hers. "Yes, thank you Your Highness." She replied formally.

"Jareth" Danae, suddenly announced, to Sarah's relief drawing her brother's attention away. "What did King Menus have to say?"

"Well first of all he's delighted to have you as a daughter-in-law."

"Naturally" Danae smirked sarcastically.

"And secondly the marriage contracts have been negotiated successfully, and should arrive at the Castle beyond the Goblin City by the end of next week."

"So soon?" seeing Sarah's puzzled expression Danae further explained her question. "Marriage contracts, especially among royalty normally take weeks, if not months to be negotiated."

Sarah not understanding fully blurted out "But what's in a marriage contract?" seeing the looks on the faces of Jareth and Danae, Sarah knew that she had said something she shouldn't."

Jareth, not Danae answered her question. "Before I tell you, and I tell you this with the understanding of your discretion. You need to understand that asking about the contents of somebody's marriage contract, is generally considered rude, like asking to see the contents of their will or a similar document."

Sarah nodded her understanding.

"Basically a standard marriage contract is written to ensure both parties benefit fully from the union, politically speaking. Roland will be made a Prince of the Goblin Realm, and eventually a King Consort when Danae takes Orellum's throne. It also gives a place for their issue. If Danae were to have a third son, he would be a Duke in Roland's Kingdom."

"It's all very complicated, and generally unimportant, until children are born or I inherit the throne it will not be needed."

Jareth looked at Danae and smiled "You shall be married at mid summer."

"So soon?" Danae's eyebrows shot up, then she started counting on her fingers "seven months? That is hardly sufficient time to prepare for the wedding."

"It appears that Roland was quite adamant that you be wed as soon as possible."

Danae beamed, as Jareth walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead. "It is a good match, as you know I am fond of Roland, he will make you a fine husband. Will you be prepared to return to the Goblin City this afternoon?"

"Already, but Jareth we've only been here a day, and I know you haven't taken any audiences yet."

"I can do that next time we're here Danae." His voice turned cold, he was in no mood for arguing.

Sarah's skin turned to gooseflesh as she heard the harshness in his voice, here was the Goblin King, and he was not to be defied. Danae saw this too. "Fine" her voice was resigned, "Are we travelling by coach?"

Jareth shook his head.

Danae looked concerned "And how will Sarah get home?"

"I will see to it." With that he left. Danae watched him leave the parlour, with a concerned look in her eye.

"He's not himself this morning" she commented to Sarah. "I don't think he slept too well." She grinned at Sarah "How do you feel this morning?"

Sarah flopped down into the chair next to her and groaned, "How much did I have to drink last night?"

"Far, far and away far too much." And then without notice she changed tack completely. "I cannot believe that you kissed Jareth."

Sarah's blinked, she definitely was not prepared to have this conversation, not when her head was spinning and she was struggling to keep the contents of her stomach. She looked at Danae and then said quietly "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

Danae stared at her for a moment, as if she had gone completely insane. Then burst out laughing, and Sarah soon followed suit. After a few moments Sarah continued "I just don't really know him, I mean, the circumstances that we met under last time, it's all so complicated."

Danae suddenly serious looked at her intently "What did you think when you first saw Jareth?"

Suddenly he stood there before her. Resplendent and powerful in full black armour, his blond locks flying around her face. He was the most beautiful creature that she had ever laid eyes upon, but at the same time he was the most terrifying, his lips were tight and cruel and his eyes glinted with amusement.

She forgot her fear and spoke "You're him aren't you? You're the Goblin King. I want my brother back, please, if it's all the same."

"What's said is said" he smirked back, laughter in his eyes. .

"But I didn't mean It"

"Oh you didn't?" his voice still resounded with amusement.

"Please, where is he?"

"You know very well where he is." He adjusted one of his gloves, looking bored now.

"Please bring him back please" she was getting to the point of desperation.

"Sarah, go back to your room, play with your toys and your costumes, forget about the baby." It would be easier that way, she was barely more than a child and he didn't want to see her get hurt.

"I can't"

"I've brought you a gift" with a deft flick of his wrist he conjured a crystal.

"What is it?" She was curious about the crystal; she had never seen anything so entrancing.

"It's a crystal, nothing more" he let it run over his wrists, as fluidly as water. "But if you turn it this way and look into it, it will show you your dreams. But this is not a gift for an ordinary girl who takes care of a screaming baby. Do you want it?" He paused as she looked at the crystal longingly "Then forget the baby." The crystal was normally enough to stop the weak minded from running the labyrinth.

But this time it didn't work. "I can't" she replied almost sadly, "It's not like I don't appreciate what you're trying to do for me, but I want my brother back, he must be so scared"

He tried a new tactic: Fear "Sarah" the crystal suddenly became a snake." Don't defy me".

Sarah looked at Danae for a moment before speaking. "I was scared. Beyond scared. My baby brother had just been snatched from his crib"

"By your wish" Danae intervened.

"Yes by my wish, but I honestly never knew that he would really be taken. God knows I hated myself at that point."

"And Jareth?"

"He was this creature, he was so beautiful and yet he was so cruel, he did everything in his power to stop me. Yet he did everything that I expected of him, the cold Goblin King that I read about in my book. Yet that's not really who he is, is it?"

Danae shook her head softly. "Not exactly. But it is a part of who he is. And that is something that you will need to understand if you want things to progress between you."

Sarah stared out of the window for a few long seconds. It was raining, she could see drops of water hitting the glass and trickling down it's surface. "I don't even know if I want things to progress at the moment 'Nae, I only arrived here two days ago, I lost everything in my life, I'm so confused about, well everything, it's all major life changing stuff. I'm just not sure I'm ready to be jumping into a relationship, especially not with Jareth. What do you think?"

"Well for one thing." Danae paused with an evil glint in her eye. "I think you have a terrible taste in men."

And the two girls again burst out in riots of laughter.