Ch 12

Sarah froze at Toby's question. Without looking at her parents, she asked Toby, "What do you mean?" She stared intently into his eyes, hoping that he would understand what she was silently begging him to do.

"I, um. I just thought…he looks like someone in something I saw on TV, that's all. He looks just like him, and for a minute I thought it was him." Toby had understood what Sarah was asking him to do, and he hoped he didn't get her in trouble. His mom and dad might be mad if they knew this guy was a Goblin King.

Sarah felt relief wash through her. She laughed nervously. "Hear that, Jareth? You're a TV star!" He smiled, looking somewhat confused.

"Dad, Karen, this is my friend Jareth, he dropped by just a little bit ago, he'll probably spend some time with us today." Sarah carefully examined her parents' faces. Luckily, they seemed to be in too much of a hurry to dwell on the scene with Toby and Jareth.

"Nice to meet you Jareth," her father said hurriedly. "I'm sorry we're rushing, sweetie, but we're running a bit behind schedule, I would have dropped Toby off earlier but I didn't want to wake you." Sarah opened her mouth to tell her father she had been up early, but before she could reply, he rushed on. "We'll be gone most of the afternoon, we'll be back probably around 4, so be ready for us then, okay? Thanks, honey."

"We appreciate it, Sarah," Karen smiled at her. She and Sarah had long ago mended their relationship, and Karen was more like a mother to her than her real mom had been.

Her father and Karen hurried down the hall, and Sarah closed the door. She turned around to see Toby and Jareth looking at each other warily.

"Sarah?" Toby asked, and Sarah understood everything he was asking. She sighed. This was going to be a long afternoon.

She exchanged a glance with Jareth, silently asking him to give her some time alone with Toby. Jareth understood, and he headed into the kitchen.

"Tobes, how do you know the Goblin King?" Sarah decided it would be better to find out what Toby remembered, rather than fill his head with new information.

Toby looked puzzled. "I don't really know. I didn't know him until I saw him, but when I did, I knew he was the Goblin King." He scrunched up his face, as faint memories came back to him. "He was nice to me. He played with me and sang songs. He's nice. But…"

"But what, Toby," she prodded gently.

He looked at her. "Why was I there? How did that happen?" He sensed his sister's hesitation to talk about the Goblin King. " I'm not a baby anymore, Sarah, you can tell me."

She sighed. She was extremely grateful to Jareth for keeping Toby happy during his brief stay. But how could she tell her little brother that she hadn't wanted him, and that she'd asked Jareth to take him away?

Toby was smart, and he was persistent. He wouldn't let this go. Once he got an idea in his head, he clung to it as if for dear life.

"Okay, Tobes, come sit with me on the couch and I'll tell you the whole story." His eyes lit up and he ran to join her on the couch. Sarah proceeded to tell Toby the entire story. She tried not to leave out any details. He was her brother, and he deserved to know the truth, so she gave it to him no matter how worried about the consequences she was.

A long while later, Toby sat in silence, trying to digest the story that had just been told to him. He was still young enough to play make-believe, but he was also old enough to try to act grown-up, too. Sarah could see him struggling to decide if he wanted to believe the tale. Finally, he looked up at her and said, "That's awesome!"

Sarah laughed in relief. "Well, I'm glad you think so. You're old enough to understand, and after all, it was part of your childhood. You deserve to know. And I'm glad you finally do, because I've always wanted to tell you how sorry I am for wishing you away. I'm glad I met the friends I did, but I always felt guilty about it. I'm glad you're my brother," she finished, ruffling his soft blond hair.

Toby squirmed away. "It's okay, Sarah. I've wanted to wish you away sometimes too!" Sarah laughed and gave him a hug. "So why's the Goblin King here now?"

"Well..." Sarah slowly replied, "even thoughI defeated him, we've remained friends, and he just came here so we can get to know each other better." She figured that was as good an explanation as any, and Toby accepted it without questions.

Toby gave her a big smile. "So when can I see the Labyrinth? I wanna meet Hoggle and Ludo and Sir Didymus and everyone else you met! Can we go? Can we? Pleeeease, Sarah, can we go?"

He was practically bouncing with excitement, and Sarah felt horrible as she said, "No, Tobe, I don't think we can go there to visit."

"I don't know about that," they heard someone say. Sarah was a little startled; she had almost forgotten about Jareth hiding in her kitchen.

"Toby, go play in my room for a minute, I have to talk to Jareth, I mean, the Goblin King, for a minute." Sarah didn't want Jareth to get Toby's hopes up until she knew every detail about how they could visit.

"Aww, Sarah," Toby whined, but, seeing the look on his sister's face, he quickly agreed. "But can I at least talk to the Goblin King when you're done?"

"Toby, you can call me Jareth, and I'd be delighted to talk with you as soon as I've finished with your sister." Jareth smiled at the boy, and Toby smiled back before running off to Sarah's room.

Sarah waited until she heard the door close before she began talking.

"What do you mean, we can visit the Labyrinth?" Sarah asked him, shooting him a glare as well. She would be furious if he got Toby's hopes up.

He ignored her glare as he said, "I mean just that. There is a way to make it possible for Toby to visit the Labyrinth."

"A way? What is it?" Sarah asked suspiciously. She was all too aware of how tricky the rules in the Labyrinth could be, and she had a hunch that people couldn't just pop in for a visit.

"Sarah, maybe you'd better sit down, this could be a long discussion," he suggested, taking a seat on the couch. Groaning, she sat next to him, knowing that she wouldn't like this if he insisted she sit down.

Jareth let himself be pleased for a moment that Sarah had chosen to sit next to him, then his thoughts turned to what he had to tell her.

"The Underground is filled with immortals, Sarah, it's rare to see a human. Although mortals are not unwelcome, the Labyrinth has always preferred to have those born immortal living in it. Now, humans that come to the Underground become immortal too-the moment you enter, you cease to age. But despite that, the Labyrinth prefers immortal blood. As I said, humans are not unwelcome, but it is very difficult for a human to visit the Underground. The main reason humans come there is because they've wished someone away, and the Labyrinth prefers it that way. The Labyrinth doesn't really want mortals dropping by for a vist, they don't really understand the Labyrinth, and they could ruin it. Therefore, the conditions for a visit are extremely difficult to have in place. If Toby really wishes to visit, it is possible, but rather complicated." He paused, unsure of how to go on.

"Go on, Jareth, it can't be that bad. I think I'd do anything to allow Toby to visit. He's not going to let go of this idea, and especially now that he knows what I did to him back then, I really want to make it up to him. Really, Jareth, just tell me, I'll do it." He knew that she would do anything for her brother, and that was what made this next part hard.

"Sarah…the only way a mortal can visit the Underground is if they are a direct family member of someone of nobility who resides in the Labyrinth." He paused, waiting for his words to sink in. "Since humans rarely live in the Labyrinth, you can see how hard it would be to have a human visit another human in the Labyrinth, who happened to be noblility. It's actually very unheard of."

Confusion was written on Sarah's face. "But, then it's impossible for Toby to visit, he's not related to any kings or queens or anything…" she stopped as understanding dawned on her face.

Jareth spoke softly to her. "Sarah, my dear, the only way your brother can visit the Underground is if you become my Queen."