Sarah woke up with sunlight streaming onto her face. She blinked and rolled over, and in doing so caught a glimpse of the clock on her bedside table, "Crap" she muttered under her breath as she threw the covers off and got out of bed. She couldn't believe that she had overslept. Danae's engagement party was this evening, and Sarah knew she was needed downstairs to help Danae organise everything.

As she walked towards the dining room she passed Jareth, who was on his way to his study, he nodded to her curtly as he walked straight by her. "Good morning to you too" Sarah muttered under her breath. When she arrived at breakfast Danae was sitting pushing her food around her plate in the pretence of eating, which so far seemed to have fooled Jareth and Aldous, who was just downing the last of his tea as Sarah sat down.

"Morning" Sarah said cheerfully.

"Good morning Sarah" Aldous smiled at her as he left the room, presumably to follow Jareth.

"Morning Sarah" Danae mumbled.

"Cheer up 'Nae," Sarah cajoled gently "It's an engagement party, not a funeral. It's going to be fun. If for no other reason that you can laugh at me trying to greet people formally."

Danae chuckled, "You'll be fine."

Sarah shot her a wry smile "Thank you for your confidence. But I heard that Jareth and Aldous actually have a bet on how many people I will offend."

"No!" Danae gasped shocked, "They don't? Who told you this?"

"Camille." She suddenly changed the subject "Are you going to eat that?"

"I just don't feel very hungry."

Sarah glared, "I'll make you a deal. Eat a decent breakfast and I won't set Camille on you at lunch."

Danae grinned and took a mouthful, "Fine, but telling Camille, that's low."

"Didn't you know, I'm sneaky and underhanded"

"So I noticed."

The rest of the day was spent in preparation for the ball, tables were set up, decorations hung and wines selected, all under the watchful eyes of Danae and Sarah, Jareth had taken it upon himself to hide away in his study, and although his help would have been useful, Sarah was glad that he wasn't in the direct path of Danae. Roland had gone home two days ago, and even though he was returning to the Goblin City tonight, Danae missed him. Jareth had informed Sarah that after the engagement party Roland would be going home for over two months, and not returning until shortly before the wedding. Sarah hadn't had chance to discuss this with Danae yet, but she knew he would be sorely missed.

With four hours to go before the guests began to arrive, Danae suggested that they go and start getting ready for the ball. After two hours Sarah had completely lost patience with the group of women who were preparing her for the ball, however her patience had outlasted Danae's who had within the first hour reduced two of her ladies in waiting to tears. Camille was now sitting in the room with the young princess, sewing quietly as well as keeping an eye on what was going on.

Sarah had just been laced into her corset and under-dress when there was a soft knock on her door. "Come in" she called, much to the distress of the elderly matron who was heating up her curling tongs next to the small fire in the room.

Jareth strode confidently into the room as Sarah came out from behind the screen that she had been dressing behind. Upon seeing the King the maid curtsied and fled the room. When Jareth saw that she was only partially dressed he, ever the perfect gentleman, immediately turned his back, although Sarah noticed not before he had given her a quick once over.

"My apologies Sarah" he said, sounding almost flustered, Sarah mentally noted, a flustered Jareth, not the every day occurrence.

"It's fine, really. You can turn around." Jareth slowly turned around and gazed at her, completely transfixed, his eyes stopped where the pale fabric stopped and the creamy expanse of Sarah's cleavage started. And it wasn't until Sarah cleared her throat that his gaze snapped upwards to a pair of amused green eyes.

"Sarah, I hate to tell you that this isn't exactly proper behaviour for a young lady of the court, inviting men into their bedchambers when they're only wearing their underclothes", he paused for a moment, thinking "or even inviting men into their bedchambers at all for that matter."

Sarah rolled her eyes, "Well if it's not proper for a young lady to receive visitors in their bedchambers then why did you come to visit me in my bedchambers?" she asked exasperated. It was true that she genuinely loved her life in the Underground, but being a 20th centaury kinda gal, she really had issues with all the stigma, and 'proper' behaviour.

"Touché" Jareth smiled, she had the upper hand, for now.

"Besides" Sarah continued in a matter of fact voice, as if she was discussing the weather. "Half the castle thinks we're having a torrid affair anyway."

"Really? And where pray tell did you here this?"

"Just from one of the servants"

"So we're having a torrid affair?"

"According to rumour, which won't be helped by the fact that you're here. Was there something that I can help you with Jareth?" She asked as his gaze started to wander back down.

"I was wondering if you would prefer me or Aldous to escort you to the ball tonight?"

Sarah frowned, her brow furrowing for a moment, "I hadn't really given any thought as to whom I would accompany this evening."

"I would be honoured if you would be on my arm tonight Sarah. But if that would make you uncomfortable, I'm sure that Aldous would…"

"Thank you Jareth." Sarah smiled warmly. "I would love to go to the ball with you. As it will give the entire castle staff something to gossip about."

"I will meet you in the hall at eight then?"

Sarah nodded, as her maid re-entered with a scandalised look on her face, Jareth grinned at Sarah evilly, and leant in towards her and whispered "Lets really give them something to gossip about" and before Sarah could protest he leant and kissed her fully on the lips, taking her breath away. The kiss was brief, and when Jareth pulled away he was met by a glare, although he was positive that he could see a glimmer of amusement in her emerald eyes.

"Go away" she hissed, grabbing him by the arm and pushing him towards the open door. As she pushed him though, he leaned forwards and kissed her roughly on the cheek, causing her to laugh.

"Farewell my beloved" he called loudly through the door as Sarah began to close it, shaking her head at his antics.

"You can come back now" Sarah called to her maid. "I could really use some help with my hair." For the next hour Sarah's hair was curled and pinned to perfection while Sarah went through a gruelling interrogation about her and Jareth's relationship.

By the time that Sarah was ready and making her way downstairs, the ball was already in full swing. Sarah stood in the centre of the room, hunting for Jareth in a way which was eerily like the time spent in her dream ballroom.

The ballroom at the castle was enormous, it's walls were the same shade as the stone in the rest of the castle, with a warm greeting feeling to it. The only two entrances to the ballroom were from a balcony next to the rose garden, which Danae pointed out was nearly a necessity for a good ball, people always end up sneaking out, and from a staircase at one end of the room, which led to the rest of the castle.

Suddenly she turned around to bump into the chest of a very amused Goblin King.

"Looking for me?" he asked smugly.

Sarah answered him by taking a leaf out of Camille's book, and scolding him thoroughly for his behaviour "Didn't anybody ever tell you it's bad manners to leave a young lady unaccompanied in a crowd such as this?" she finished glaring.

Jareth threw back his head and laughed. After the weeks of intensive training in etiquette that Sarah had been given, she was now lecturing him in manners. He decided that a change in tact was in order.

"Miss Williams I do like your dress"

Sarah ran her hands down the front of it, smoothing the silky fabric. It was a deep rosy pink, with a square neckline. The dress itself was plain, beautiful in it's simplicity with a tight bodice, which emphasised Sarah's curvy figure, before flowing out into a full skirt. Round her neck Sarah wore a simple string of pearls, which Danae had insisted that she wear as they emphasised her creamy skin.

With Jareth's well timed compliment Sarah blushed. "Thank you very much your highness."

Jareth took one of her gloved hands to his lips and murmured to her "Shall we dance?". Sarah simply nodded as he led her to the dance floor.

Jareth and Sarah were half-way through their second dance when the music stopped suddenly and the herald made his announcement.

"Your Highness." He bowed low to Jareth, who nodded for him to continue. "My Lords and Ladies; Her Royal Highness Princess Danae of the Goblin Realm, and her fiancée; Prince Roland of Hestonia."

As the pair descended the stairs arm in arm, the room, led by Jareth erupted in applause. Danae and Roland made their way over to Jareth and Danae kissed him lightly on the cheek in greeting. Jareth turned and addressed the crowd and spoke in the high speech.

"My Lords and Ladies. Welcome to the Castle beyond the Goblin city. We are gathered here today to celebrate the upcoming marriage of my only sister and heir; The Princess Danae, daughter of Arden, son of Constan, heiress to the Goblin Realm and the Baronies of Elgard. To His Royal highness Roland son of Menus, son of Stevan." At this point Danae let out a huge yawn, before looking at Jareth pointedly. Jareth laughed before continuing. "Roland my boy, as I have the marriage contracts signed in my room it's too late for you to back out! So you're now stuck with her, and she's finally off my hands." The whole crowd including Danae chuckled. "So all I have left to say is that I wish you both every happiness."

With a clap of his hands the music started up again, and the dancing resumed. Over the next two hours Sarah found herself with many eager dance partners, until she found herself face to face with a handsome fae, with dark hair that flopped in his eyes. After their dance he gallantly offered to escort her back to her party. So the pair walked arm in arm towards Jareth, Roland and Danae. The latter on seeing Sarah's dance partner clasped her hands to her mouth in shock, before turning to Jareth, who merely shrugged his shoulders. Before Sarah could blink Danae had run forwards and enveloped the stranger in an enormous bear hug.

"I can't believe you came!" she squealed with excitement.

"Did you really think I was going to miss today?" he grinned to Danae, offering his hand to Jareth and Roland in turn.

"Jareth, old boy, how are you?" he asked good naturedly "It's been at least a decade"

"Too long" agreed Jareth.

As the stranger turned to speak to Roland, Sarah whispered to Jareth "Who is that?"

Jareth pulled her to one side to explain properly. "That's Ivanen, Roland's brother. He's the middle of the three sons, you'll meet the elder son of Stevan at the wedding. Ivenan is also a close friend of Danae's from childhood. They were betrothed from Danae's birth, but on his discovery of Roland's feelings for her he stepped aside."

"So Danae, I hear that you have had the misfortune to become engaged to my little brother." He said, suddenly serious. Danae just rolled her eyes and punched him gently on the arm.

"That's my fiancée, that you're talking about." Ivanen laughed loudly and kissed Danae on the forehead.

"Sorry my darling."

The party raged on until the small hours in the morning, and that night Sarah went to sleep with a smile on her face.