A/N- I do not own Labyrinth, the charecters, ect. In other words- The regular disclaimer.

…words are binding…

Nothing, as far as the eye could see, just darkness, wrapping around her, cradling her in comforting oblivion. It was not frightening, but then again, it was not rational. Surrounded by the dark Sarah felt safer then she had ever felt before. Perhaps it was the smell, a foreign smell, subtle and dusty. The heat of the sun baking down on cobbled streets, stone walls, but also the gentle perfume of flowers, caught on a light breeze. A fresh scent, but laden with an unknown history. Still, there was something else, there was something about it, something familiar, a sweet smell, one Sarah knew very well… peaches!

Sarah's eyes flew open, practically blinding herself. The room was filled with light, streaming in through Jareth's glass wall; it was the warm glow of late morning. A light breeze was making its way in through the open glass door's of his balcony, flitting around Sarah's head to catch in her long hair; it carried the scent of the Underground with it. The scent that had awoken her so sharply. She sat up slowly, blinking, she knew where she was but she couldn't remember why… how… For the second time that morning Sarah's eyes shot open, this time with a blurred memory of the previous night's events. "That bastard! I'm going to kill him!"

"Really Sarah, it was none of my doing. You give me too much credit." Jareth's voice had recovered its smug tones while he slept apparently, because the comment was dripping with barely concealed amusement. He was lounging in the one of the three doorways, already dressed and smirking. Sarah narrowed her eyes.

"What time is it?" She swung her legs over the edge of the bed as she spoke; glad to see she was still dressed as she had been the night before, if slightly more wrinkled. She winced a little at the movement, her muscles protesting after the descent they had endured the night before.

"It's almost eleven o'clock, Pet. I let you sleep in." He arched an eyebrow at her, "You had such a busy night last night, I thought you might need the rest." His tone insinuated things much worse than the kiss they had shared. Reasons she would have awoken late in his bed, sore. Sarah's eyes snapped up at him before she remembered fully that soon he wouldn't just have to insinuate. Suddenly she felt slightly queasy.

"Get over yourself, Jareth." She stood and looked around the room. Right, well, first a shower then a new set of clothes, then she could deal with the Goblin King. A small shudder curled itself in her stomach at that thought, of what they had to discuss. She shoved it aside, she couldn't deal with it right now, get dressed, have breakfast, then… Well, she wouldn't be ready but at least she would be more prepared. If that was possible.

"The bathroom is there." Jareth's voice interrupted her thoughts, this time the innate arrogance was less noticeable. Had he toned it down or… was she actually getting used to it? Sarah glanced at where he was pointing.

"Thanks."

"There are clothes in there already." He was being nice. That was never a good sign.

Sge narrowed her eyes. "What are you playing at Goblin King?"

"Now Sarah, are you accusing me of toying with you?" Sarah sighed, his innocent voice was nearly as irritating as the arrogance. At least the egotism seemed natural. She shrugged and headed for the bathroom, eleven o'clock was still too early to deal with him.

"Whatever you say."

"But- since you mention it…" Sarah stopped. She could hear Jareth behind her, his boots on the carpet as he came closer. "But since you mention it Sarah, I do believe you have a promise to fulfill." Wait. What? Sarah whirled around, what was he saying? He expected her to marry him? Right now? He can't mean that, he can't be that unreasonable.

Sarah wasn't sure whether to be relieved or infuriated at the sight that greeted her eyes. Jareth was standing barely a foot away, a shoe shine cloth dangling from his fingers, a smirk flitting across his lips. Oh. That bastard. Sarah scowled as he chuckled. "Forget it Jareth, I'm taking a shower." She turned and started walking towards the bathroom again.

"If I were you Pet, I'd make it a very quick shower, it's almost noon." The words echoed after her as she made a quick retreat into the bathroom. However, the significance of his taunt was lost as Sarah gasped at the room she had just entered. If she had thought Jareth's bed was bad it was nothing compared to his bathroom. The room mirrored her own washroom, the floor stretching out into a large sunken tub with crystal taps. That was however, where the similarities ended. Compared to this, the room that at first had seemed to her strangely elegant for a goblin's castle seemed now as barbaric as a medieval pig pen. Her floor was of mere stone, Jareth's bathroom floor was of marble, black marble with green veins shooting through it. Where she had only the bath, he also had a shower, set into an alcove with a door of fogged glass, it was as big as her bathtub. His bathtub might have been the size of her entire bathroom. Sarah turned slowly, taking in the room, no matter how much she might scorn the Goblin king, she had to admit he had amazing taste. Pulling off a venture of luxury such as this without appearing gaudy? It left her practically breathless.

Still, slightly impractical. Sarah ached to take a soak in his bathtub, linger in the water until all of the doubts, all of the worries, all of the cares she had been holding flowed out of her. But she couldn't, not with Jareth waiting for her, not with their discussion hanging over her like the executioners axe. Regretfully Sarah began to strip, now fully aware once more of what was to come when she finished with her shower, the knot back in her stomach. She slipped past the glass door into the shower, turning the crystal handles. The water was a shock when it hit her, just hot enough to make her gasp, but she didn't adjust it.

By the time she did turn off the tap, the heat had done it's work, not only making her feel cleaner then she had since coming to the Underground, but calming the flutter in her heart, easing the nervousness pounding in her veins. She stepped out of the shower, onto the rich black carpet designed to absorb excess water, and quickly wrapped herself in a large green towel. Then she saw the clothes.

Alright, she had to give Jareth some credit, it wasn't what had been displayed in her wardrobe upstairs but… The dress seemed ripped from the Renaissance, though she knew it was probably not accurate. The sleeves were elaborate, falling at least to her waist if she held her arms straight out, the bodice was tight, giving way to loose skirts. The neckline wasn't low, per say, but with the tightness of the bodice it gave her… cleavage. Sarah, hesitated for a moment, looking for the wrinkled clothes she had discarded. They were on the floor in a heap. She looked back at the dress, the green folds giving off the muted scent of lilacs, silken under her fingers. Well… I guess I can humor him… Just this once of course. Of course.

She was admiring herself in the full length mirror, her long brown hair still dripping down her back when it first hit her. Her body went rigid, freezing her to the spot as surely as if she had been turned to the marble that surrounded her, and then she started to move. Slow movements, choppy, as if her muscles were moving without her permission. Because it was true, suddenly Sarah was a prisoner in her own body, moving to the door as if she were one drunk. She opened the door, struggling with the handle for a moment and staggered into the bedroom where Jareth was lounging in one of the chairs by the fire. Her body took a frightening lurch towards the smirking Goblin King.

"Jareth! Jareth, what the hell is happening?"

"I warned you Sarah. A promise is a promise." She had reached him now, her knees falling heavily to the ground in front of him, close to him, very close. Close enough to make her cheeks flame red even as she took the proffered shoe shine cloth. She should have been angry, should have been humiliated by what she was doing. She should have felt the death of her one last hope that Jareth was lying about binding promises. But the only thought running through her head was why, why does he have to wear those pants?

Her movements where mechanical, more strained now then they were before because she was focusing with every ounce of her being on throwing herself away. She could feel the smug satisfaction just flowing off of him, the perverse pleasure he was taking from her situation. But every time she risked a glance up to glare at him, her head refused to look away from it's task and her eyes were halted where they should not have ventured. Finally, as her cloth left his boot for the last time, her muscles were released, liberating her exactly as the clock struck noon. As the rigid, paralyzed feeling left her, Sarah was thrown back into control, back into the body she had posed for desperate movement. She felt herself falling forwards, propelled by the pressure that had built in her muscles while she was frantically wishing herself away, her head landing on Jareth's thigh.

For a moment the room froze, like time itself had stopped, heartbeats stopped, not a breath stirring the air. And then Sarah was flying backwards, sprawling on the soft carpet behind her, the nerves in her entire body on fire. She put a hand to her cheek, the blush almost as warm as the tingle that was still dancing in her veins. The brief contact… electrifying. She swallowed, looking up at the Goblin King's smirk, even as it faltered slightly, his eyes widening. She blinked. No, she must have imagined it, his face was as calm as ever, fixed in that mocking smile.

"Honestly my dear Sarah, I was willing to wait until we were married, but if you're really so eager…"

A/N- Yes, well, if he was a dear and got rid of the boot-polishing, I would be out this chapter. Besides, I can see Jareth liking that part of her promise. I didn't like the last chapter, probably because it's true Jareth is innately too arrogant to lie, but I guess I'm a little self-serving with the charecters actions. I also didn't like where this chapter left off, no really evil cliffhanger, but I did need someplace to stop it, hence where is ends. Oh well, I guess I'm being negative because Real Life has been interfering lately. Thank you ever so much for revewing, please, do it again.