Thank you so much to all my reviewers.

sparkling silver angel wings:I'm so pleased that Fang has someone to sympathise with him.

Moonjava : Only rather good? How could I improve it?

Miss Mary Lou : Not that your ideas aren't GREAT but I really don't think anyone else would appriciate Jareth killing Sarah...

Solea: Jareth isn't entirely a bad guy in this.

theshadowcat: I have to agree that Sarah is a little dense but you could just say she's trusting and youcan't blame her for trusting Cub. I mean he's soooo cute.

Lady of the Labyrinth : I hadn't actually thought that the jam was peach, that would have been a good twist. Cub says he likes the green ones because they're crunchy and he looks forward to meeting Charlie.

Arrna: Cub says can you scratch his ear again, he like that.

lyn: Here's more

Harik: I love that phrase!

Angela: Yeah you have to feel sorry for her. The cake was really nice too.

ladylillith: What are you not sure about concerning Cub?

Lady-Seoh-Phoenix: Here's what happens next...


Chapter 6: Ball

Sarah opened her eyes sluggishly. What was going on? She sat up. Ouch! Her head was throbbing. She appeared to be in some sort of elaborately furnished bedroom. A bustling form entered the room and Sarah frowned in confusion at the small elderly woman who now stood before her.

"Good to see you're awake milady," she clucked and went into the wardrobe, rummaging through the clothes that stood there, "You're almost late for the ball. Let's get you out of those travelling clothes.

Sarah just sat there completely bewildered. She couldn't remember anything.

"Excuse me but who are you again?"

"Why milady that journey must've mixed up your mind. It's Miranda!"

Sarah was feeling very muddled but what this woman said clicked something in her mind into place.

"Oh yes! Of course, sorry Miranda, I must have been a little disorientated." How could she have forgotten the women you'd raised her in the nursery and even now still took care of her?

"Ball?" she asked, remembering what had been said.

"Oh you can't have forgotten that milady! I'm sure I told you. The welcoming masked ball. The King holds one every time he has one of these parties, but then this is your first isn't it? Never mind if you'd forgotten I've got your dress right here."

Before she knew it Sarah had been divest of her 'travelling clothes' and clothed in the beautiful gown she now wore with awe. The silky white material slid over her skin. The neckline was low and Miranda tied around her neck a glittering necklace that was made of several different jewels, opals, rubies, diamonds and sapphires. She looked radiant.

"Very pretty milady," stated Miranda and thrust a matching mask into her hands, "come along," she herded her charge out the door."

Sarah allowed herself to be shepherded from the room and down the grand staircase. She entered a ballroom that was filled with swirling gowns. Every person that she could see was masked. Sarah put her own mask on and slid to the side of the room away from the dance floor. She sighed. Something was missing. Looking around she saw a large group at the top of the hall talking and laughing. In the centre a guy slumped in a throne like chair, looking thoroughly bored. He was the only one in the room not wearing a mask. Suddenly he glanced up, looking straight at her. Her heart pounded violently in her chest. Their eyes locked. Sarah stood like that for several seconds, unable to tear her eyes away, it was he who broke the contact and looked away.

"Who's that?" she asked Miranda still half entranced.

"Why that's the King milady! King Jareth. He's the one who sent you your invitation."

Sarah hazarded another glance in his direction but he was gone. Just like that. Frowning in confusion and something that felt suspiciously like disappointment Sarah turned away and almost leapt out her skin. He was there, behind her. The King bowed to her, "May I have this dance?"

Nodding dumbly Sarah took his hand felt herself being swung onto the dance floor. She had a very brief moment of Déjà vu. The song was a slow one and she felt time slow. She felt completely safe as if this was where she was supposed to be. Sarah relaxed into Jareth's arms and rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes in bliss.

Jareth's heart pounded harder, oh she was so beautiful and spirited, he could hardly believe she was allowing him to touch her, dance with her, hold her this close. Not even in the hallucination had she rested on him like this and this was no hallucination. This was reality. Jareth had taken a dream from her mind and used it to create the reality she was now experiencing. That was the reason she remembered it.

He began to rub the nape of her neck and untied the strings of her mask, letting it float to the floor. Sighing she opened her eyes and gazed up at him. His eyes fixed on hers. Jareth leant in. Their faces were but centimetres apart. She could feel his breath on her face, anticipated what was coming. Their lips almost touching…

BONG! A clock began striking, 1, 2, 3, she didn't flinch but Jareth jerked away as if he'd been stung. He let her go and strode from the hall. Sarah stared after him in confusion.

"You alright milady?" Miranda asked, as Sarah returned to her.

"Hmm? Oh, yes fine, just a little tired. I'm going to bed." Sarah left the ballroom and went up to her room.


HA, HA, HA! I almost made them kiss. Isn't that frustrating? Cheers for that tip Miss Mary-Lou. No Labyrinth Fan fiction is complete without a ball! No, that's not true. I just have a thing for masked balls.