PinkLabyrinthFairy: thank you very much. Yes, there shall be many more chapters. Bwahaha you'll waste your life away reading my story….FOREVER

Avalon-blackandgreen:bows deeply: I tried

deathdreamerofneverlove: lucky for me ive mastered the art of screaming and running away from balls. You'll never hit me :sticks tongue out: teehee im planning on having every chapter end with a cliffy

theshadowcat: I went back and fixed whatever I could find. I put up a corrected version twice lol cuz after I fixed spelling and stuff then I reworded some of it, with the help of Nessa of coarse. How did I do?

Lady of the Labyrinth: more is on its way

Sarah's First Day

Sarah awoke in a large, soft bed. She flopped over on her stomach, face in the pillow. She breathed in deeply, a sweet smell still lingered there. She didn't want to open her eyes, but lay there forever. She yawned quietly as she rolled over. Angry at the sun for being so bright, she squeezed her eyes tighter before braving the light. Jareth sat, legs thrown over the arms of his chair, watching her with a smile.

"Good morning."

"Good morning," she repeated. "No, you're not like a stalker at all," she said teasingly. He rolled his eyes as he straightened, feet now flat on the floor. He placed his elbow on his knee, face in hand, and continued to smile.

"I just didn't want you to wake up alone in a strange place."

"Strange? You said I've been here before."

"Do you remember?" She paused.

"Well…no."

"So it's strange. New, anyway. I didn't want you to get scared." She laughed. "How do you feel?"

She was about to say 'how do you think, I was in a car accident?' and remind him she couldn't stand up without her legs crumbling beneath her weight when she realized…

"I don't feel a thing!" she gasped surprised. She moved to the edge of the bed and carefully placed her feet on the floor, expecting pain when she stood. Jareth rose quickly and offered a hand. She slowly stood, gripping Jareth's arm. She waited for the pain, waited to fall, but she remained standing. "Oh!" She gasped again. She jumped excitedly. "Did you do it? Of course you did! Thank you!" She made to give him a hug but hesitated, unsure of how close they were…are….She was relieved as he held her in a warm embrace. She had hoped they were like this.

"Would you like a tour of the castle?" he asked, not letting her go. Jareth never wanted to release her. How he'd longed for this. The ballroom, with Sarah drugged into his arms, just couldn't come close to this.

"That would be wonderful," she said with a grin, stepping back to look at him. Jareth's arm twitched, wanting her back. "But what will I wear?" She looked at the thin, pale pink nightgown she had on, one she assumed he had used magic to appear on her last night, not unlike the ones she owned at home. In a second she was dressed in a simple but beautiful dress. He offered her his left arm, and she linked her right through it, placing her left hand on his upper arm, and they strode out the door.

Jareth pointed out that their bedrooms were next door too each other.

"There's no point in having my guest on the other side of the castle, is there?" He took the long way to the dining room to avoid the throne room.

They had an enjoyable lunch. Sarah, who had still been tired and groggy from the hospital, had slept through breakfast.

Sarah asked questions continuously throughout the meal, forcing Jareth to twist and turn what had actually happened to seem like she had had a pleasant time. It was getting harder. Sarah had only been there thirteen hours. How could he make her think she'd known him for years?

When they finished eating, Jareth showed her the library. Sarah's eyes were huge as she looked at the rows and rows of towering bookshelves.

"Do you remember it?" he asked, standing close behind her, breath tickling her ear. He knewshe wouldn't.

"No, but I love it anyway." Sarah laughed softly. "Are they in English?" she asked as she turned to face him.

"They change to whatever the reader knows. Comes in handy." He smiled at her. She beamed and hurried over to the closest shelf, immediately picking up a large book and scurrying over to a cozy chair.

Jareth smiled. That should keep her busy for a while. He turned and left the library, heading for his office. Piles of paperwork greeted him as he opened the door.

Sarah was quickly absorbed into her books. Hour after hour she read, until she had a nice pile of finished books on the table beside her. Most of them had been Underground fantasies that were much more imaginative than those Aboveground. Humans would write about creatures that you would probably find in the Labyrinth, but these already magical creatures thought up there own bizarre animals and stories. Those that would have been interesting to Fae were twice as interesting for Sarah.

One book, however, had her puzzled. The Victories and Defeat of the Labyrinth. Right from the start she thought it was odd. Victories was plural, but Defeat…was singular. It had only been beaten once? Intrigued she opened it up.

The book started off with battles that had ended centuries ago. After a few chapters of continuous triumphs she flipped back to the contents. Finding the chapter that would tell of the defeat, she eagerly sought the page. But…it wasn't there.

The chapter on the Labyrinths only defeat had been removed. Harshly ripped out it seemed by the small frayed edges of paper. She sighed and set the book down.

She heard a knock and looked up as Jareth came through the tall wooden doors. She smiled when she saw him and rose quickly to her feet.

"Good evening, Sarah," he said warmly. He enjoyed the sight of her in his castle.

"Good evening," she said in return.

"Are you ready for dinner?" He looked at the mountain of books on the table. "It looks as though you've been busy."

"They were so interesting I couldn't put them down. Your history books are like my fairytales."

"They are the inspirations for them," he said as he offered his arm. "Shall we?"

Jareth pulled her seat out for her, then sat in the chair across from her. In a moment the empty table was filled with many delicious looking delicacies Sarah had never seen before.

"I don't know what to try first," she laughed. She decided on trying what looked to be chicken, only in a light shade of red. As she took a bite she learned it tasted nothing like it, but wonderful none the less.

"Jareth," she started as she swallowed. "I noticed when I was reading one of your books, that a chapter was missing. It was about the defeat of the Labyrinth."

I thought she might pick that one up. A good thing I got to it first.

"I thought you might want to know. You know, in case you want to get another copy or something. It's a shame. I was really interested in it. Is it true that the Labyrinth has only been beaten once?"

"Yes." Jareth quickly went over the story he had planned. He would answer whatever she asked him, but nothing more. Of coarse, he had to tweak it slightly. "Only one mortal has even beaten the Labyrinth."

"Wow," she said. "That must have been one smart human. I mean, I've only just glanced at it, but that maze looks incredibly hard. I know I could never do it."

"I think you could you do it, if you put your mind to it."

"Your faith in me is touching," she laughed. "But really, I don't think so. What were they like? I bet it was a guy. I can only imagine what dangers are in there. You'd have to be really strong to get through it."

"Actually, it was a young girl."

"Oh really?" Sarah asked, moving to the edge of her seat. "Wow! That's amazing. What did she have to do? Did you help her? She didn't get hurt did she?" She paused. "That must have been some slap in the face, huh?" She teased. Jareth smiled and turned to his food.

"Ha ha. Very funny. Well I have to admit, I was surprised. She was remarkably smart for her age.

"She wished her brother away to me. When I arrived I offered her her dreams, she could have everything she wanted, if she would forget about the baby. She wouldn't. I was impressed by that. Such bravery. Such dedication. She had thirteen hours to solve the Labyrinth before I turned her brother into a goblin. I left her at the front of the Labyrinth. Then, the game started.

"She befriended a dwarf early on who helped her into the Labyrinth. He left her there, and she eventually found a small worm to give her directions. The worm, working for me, told her to go the long way." Jareth looked up from his plate. She was nodding her head, waiting for him to continue. Jareth had almost expected her to be angry about this, all of it, but it seemed she understood it was his responsibility as king to prevent her from winning. If only she understood that a few years ago…

Jareth went on to tell her what she went through. Sarah was spellbound by the story. He kept the hallucination to himself, and the final hour was a little off.

"I offered her her dreams once more in exchange for the child."

He never mentioned his offer of love.

"She didn't accept it. She said the words…and left. Won. Leaving me to answer to the Court, explaining how a young, female mortal could defeat my Labyrinth."

Sarah looked sympathetically at Jareth as he finished.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I can't imagine why she would say no. I mean, even in the beginning, she could have just agreed. Then, when she could get whatever she wanted, get her brother back." She took another bite from her dinner. "By the way, what were the words?"

Jareth wondered if he should tell her. She had no reason to use them against him, but just in case…

"I would rather not repeat them," he said solemnly.

Sarah's eagerness lessened.

"I'm sorry. I should have known the topic was sensitive."

"It's alright, no harm done." He flashed a charming smile and changed the subject.

"What have you been up to lately? I haven't had a chance to visit you for some time."

"Same as always. School has been its usual boring self. Thank God it's my last year." Sarah looked as though something had just occurred to her, and her face showed her concern. "Jareth?"

"Yes?"

"How long will I be here?"

Jareth was a little put out. He hadn't anticipated her wanting to leave so soon. He didn't want her to leave at all.

"Whenever you wish," he forced out. Sarah sensed his disappointment.

"Oh, it's not that I want to leave yet, I was just wondering what people at home must be thinking. I just disappeared from the hospital room…not a note…or anything. And not that I want to rush back to school," she rolled her eyes, "but I'll fall far behind if I don't return relatively soon."

Jareth sighed in relief.

"Time is very different here. They'll never notice that you're gone, unless you wish them to."

"Um, I don't understand."

"Right now, time has stopped Aboveground. When you return it will be the exact moment you left. If you are planning on staying here for a very long time, you can start it again. That way, if you're here for years," he hinted, "when you return you won't be the only one who has aged."

"Oh. I think I get it." Sarah thought for a moment. "Well, how do you stay that way? If you were king in the times I read about, then shouldn't you be…" she tried to remember the earliest date. "Some centuries older than you look?" They both grinned.

"Yes, I should be. If I were human. I am Fae, we age slower than humans. If a human decided to stay here forever, they would age as us. Once they're here for awhile, it kind of rubs off on them. If you're immune to that, I could make you immortal."

Sarah didn't notice he changed from talking about humans in general to her.

They finished dinner, and Jareth suggested he continue showing her around.

"Great. In the castle again? It's so big I doubt I've seen half."

"I was thinking the gardens," he said as he took her right arm. She smiled and placed her left hand on his arm like she had before, leaning her head against his shoulder.

They talked happily as they wandered through the beautifully kept grounds. Every now and then Sarah would squeal excitedly and point to a flower not found in the Aboveground. Jareth would shake his head and laugh as Sarah ran over to it, making a mental note of the ones she liked. He'd make her a bouquet later.

Just then Jareth heard a shuffling sound. Thinking it was just a lost goblin, he relaxed. Sarah was back on his arm as they rounded a corner and he saw who it was.

Hoggle.

Jareth panicked.

lulu belle: He's kinda a good guy…(shuffles feat nervously) it-it gets better…don-don't hurt me! (hides under bed) Jareth? Well, that worked out nicely J

Terri: just for you, chapter two J xoxo

Taylor: thanx love, we must do out story! As soon as we find a movie that is. :giggles in delight: o I feel tingly already J silly Amy heh heh. HUGS NOT DRUGS (thank your mommy for the shirt for me, im lovin it) tootles

ChaosCat: my sincerest apologies J I am ashamed

0.o I see you Laura o.0

Moonjava: why thank you, and im glad to see you again I thank you for the reviews of my last story if I havent already

fairytaleangels: nope, I don't think she will be to thrilled with the truth

Jazzy021: im glad you're enjoying it J

Solea: aww shux im happy you like

ChesneyChickie: shh….don't tell the others :looks around carefully: but I gave you magic…SHHH not so loud!

Morrigana: teehee are you volunteering? Cuz I will if you wont ;)

Next chapter peek. Think of it like….a commercial…without pictures….or sound…or a tv….0o forget that

"Sarah," Hoggle whispered. "What has he done to you?"

"Jareth, what was our relationship like…before the accident?"
Jareth smiled.

He knew that, eventually, she might regret her words. If Hoggle ever got to her, she'd demand to leave when she knew.

But for now, he believed in her.

not much difference. anxious for the next one? lol, i think ill put one up every friday. my editors-and i think i have it all worked out now-need a few days. its not that theres alot to check, cuz you know i never make mistakes :cough cough: but theres four of them now. lol yes i know, alot, but i couldnt turn any of them done when they asked to join. ack how am i going to keep them all busy? o.0