Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with Labyrinth.

Chapter 41: Cause and Effect

Lilah was sitting at an old, but well kept mahogany desk in Jareth's library. She had rifled though papers and old books on mortal maladies that had the same or similar symptoms as those that Sarah had suffered from, but as yet she had turned up no results. She decided to duck back to her home and check on progress there.

She appeared in her own library, it wasn't quite as extensive as Jareth's, but she knew there were several volumes here that could be of use. Jareth had a lot of book on mortals and mortal illnesses, but she knew that there were more books here that contained information on the history of the Underground. Se could only hope there would be something in there. She had her suspicions of what may have caused Sarah's illness, but she was better now so she was unsure. She wanted to know why Jareth had been unable to heal Sarah, and she would find out, no matter now long it took her.

Lilah pushed a wisp of pale blonde hair from her eyes and set to work.

xxx

As the trio ate Sarah talked amiably with her brother and fiancée, but the twinge of pain she had felt earlier had begun to come much more rapidly. Now it had changed into a dull ache in the back of her head and neck. She absently rubbed her neck, trying to relieve some of the pain as Toby told her and Jareth about a goblin he had made friends with. She was trying to listen and wanted to say something but she couldn't even remember what Toby had said the goblin's name was. Speck, Splodge, she was sure it started with an 'S'.

"Sarah? Sarah are you in there?" Toby was right in Sarah's face, trying to gain her attention so that he could tell her more about his friend Spick. "Sarah!"

Jareth lifted Toby out of the way and sat in front of Sarah. He took her face in his hands and felt the beginnings of the heat that had plagued her only hours before. Her eyes were glazed and looked past him unblinking. "Sarah! Come on Sarah. Snap out of it." He shook her gently and her eyes focused and she attempted a smile for him, she only managed a grimace though as a wave of pain, beginning in the back of her head swept through her.

"Jareth it hurts," she whispered.

He pulled her towards him and stood, lifting her into his arms as he did so. He turned to Toby, remembering the child before he took Sarah to bed.

"What's wrong Jareth?" Toby looked at his sister as he spoke, scared for her. He didn't really have anyone but her and he didn't want to lose her too.

Jareth sighed knowing he couldn't lie to the boy. "I don't know Toby. Could you go back to your room for now though? I need to look after your sister. Ok?"

Toby nodded his head and as good as ran from the room.

xxx

Lilah read over the short passage she had just found, confirming her suspicions.

A mortal adult cannot stay within the Underground for a prolonged period of time without suffering adverse effects. The length of time before they are affected depends upon the individual.

Once symptoms have occurred said mortal must leave the Underground immediately. If action is not taken, fatality may occur.

"Oh gods."

xxx

Jareth carried Sarah over to the bed and placed her down. A crystal appeared in his hand to summon his sister just as Lilah appeared before him.

Lilah took in the scene and saw Sarah, now unconscious, on the bed. "Jareth you have to get her out of here."

"What do you mean?"

She grabbed his hand and dragged him to Sarah's side. "Jareth I found something. I know what's making her sick."

"Well?"

"It's the Underground itself Jareth. Mortals can't stay here for any length of time once they are considered adults. Can you take her somewhere aboveground?"

"I'll take her to her fathers."

He gathered the limp form of his fiancée in his arms and disappeared.

Lilah sighed in relief once they were gone. Sarah would be alright as long as she didn't come back for any length of time once she recovered. She sat down on the bed Sarah had so recently occupied and remembered Toby. She sighed again and stood up, straightening her pale pink dress as she did so. Lilah then headed to Toby's bedroom to let him know what happened.

xxx

Toby was sitting on his bed, worrying for his sister. He had matured well beyond his years since they had come here and he knew there was something seriously wrong.

He heard a knock on his door and then Lilah entered.

"Hey Toby," she smiled at him.

"Hi. What's wrong with Sarah?"

Lilah rolled her eyes, 'straight to the point isn't he.' She sat beside him on the bed and smiled comfortingly at the child. "Well Toby, your sister is very sick. She had a kind of allergy I guess. By that I mean there was something making her sick. We know what it was now though so she should get better soon."

"What was it?"

"It was this place Toby."

"Jareth's castle?"

"No, the Underground as a whole. Sarah was too old to stay here long without it making her sick."

"Why?" Now he knew Sarah would be alright, he was more interested in why she was sick.

"See, there's a lot of magic here Toby and once people get to a certain age the magic does different things to them. So if a person stays here once they grow up they can get sick. So Sarah's gone back Aboveground until she gets better."

He looked at her a moment taking in all she had said. "Does that mean she can't come back here without getting sick?"

She smiled as she shook her head no. "Toby, you know how Sarah and Jareth are going to get married?" He nodded his head in the affirmative. "Well when they are married Sarah will no longer be human. She'll become fae. She'll be like me and Jareth, so the Underground won't make her sick anymore."

"But what about me?"

"Wanna know a secret?"

"Ah ha," he nodded, looking at her expectantly.

"Well, because you are so young, you will become like a fae. You might get magic, and you'll live a very long time. That's what happens to all the wished away children Jareth gets. They become fae since they are so young when they come here. The magic changes you. Do you understand?"

"Yeah I understand."

"Good," she smiled at him again. "So do you want to stay here, or come to my home until Jareth comes back?"

"Can I stay here for now?"

"Of course Toby. It's not very interesting at my place anyway."

"Could you tell me a story?"

She nodded at him, grinning. "Sure I will Toby."

She launched into a tale of magic and mystery, and Toby listened to her as she spoke, enraptured by the tale she wove.

xxx

Jareth knocked on the front door of Sarah's fathers home. He had checked and Karen wasn't home, but she knew Sarah's father was. He answered the door and Jareth told him Sarah had collapsed and was burning up and they were closer to here than their own home. Richard accepted the story without question and let Jareth take her to her old room.

Jareth carried Sarah upstairs to her old bedroom. It had changed a lot since the last time he was there. Her bed was still in the room but that was about the only thing the same. The only other furniture was a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. There were a few boxes and other miscellaneous items in the room but that was all. Evidently Sarah's bedroom was now the guest room. Some of Sarah's clothing and belongings he had taken to the Underground to make the idea that she had moved out more believable, though a few things of hers remained there. It appeared that those he had left there had been moved, probably to the attic. He knew Toby's bedroom would not be the same since the boy had never existed in Richard's mind and idly wondered what would be there instead.

Not wanting Karen to arrive home with Sarah and himself there he planted the idea in her head that she was going out with a friend and wouldn't be back that night. Giving Richard the same thought.

He now turned his full attention to Sarah. Her temperature was not as high as it had been last time, but she was still burning up. He stroked her hair away from her face and she responded to his touch, leaning into his hand. She appeared to be regaining some of her strength already, but he was not sure how long it would take for her to completely recover. He turned as Sarah's father knocked on the open door.

"I just brought you some cold water and a cloth. Is there anything else I can get?"

Jareth shook his head, "No thanks."

"So how did this happen Jareth?"

"Well she's been sick lately but seemed to be getting better so we went out. She collapsed though and was burning up. As I told you before, we were closer to your home than our own so I brought her here."

Richard nodded. "Well you can stay here as long as you need."

"Thank you."

Richard set the bowl down and left the room. Jareth immediately took up the cloth, bathing her skin in the icy water hoping to alleviate her fever. As he did this he reminded himself they wouldn't be here long, just until Sarah was awake and had some strength back. Then they could leave. He knew Sarah wouldn't want to be here after how upset she had been the last time she saw her father. Jareth only wished he could heal her with his magic, but as it was magic that was making her sick he thought it would be best not to, lest he make her illness worse.

Jareth was surprised when Sarah opened her eyes. She attempted to move but he stopped her. "Sarah, just relax. We know what was making you sick love."

She looked at him questioningly, waiting for him to elaborate.

"It was the Underground love. Lilah found something, apparently when mortals reach a certain age they cannot stay Underground for any length of time without becoming ill. I'm surprised it took so long to set in actually now that I think about it. So I brought you to your fathers."

Sarah looked at him in shock at this revelation. She was more concerned with being at her old home than anything else.

"Don't worry. Karen's not ere and your father is staying out of the way. I think he might be feeling guilty about your last visit. No matter."

Sarah finally had to speak, "Jareth can we still get married?" she asked him weakly, looking scared to death he would say no.

He smiled at her and kissed her warm forehead, "Of course love. We may have to it sooner rather than later though. I'll get Lilah to make the arrangements as soon as possible."

"What I mean is, will I get sick if I go back there? I'll still be mortal."

"Not once we've married. Sarah you will become fae. I thought my sister would have told you this. That's why we need to marry as soon as possible once we return home. If we don't then you will become ill once again. Sarah we will not be able to delay. We won't have the wedding you deserve. It will have to be quick, I don't know how long you will last Underground if it is not."

"Alright, I understand. Let Lilah know and as soon as I am able we will go back and be wed. It might not be quite as romantic as I had hoped, but I'll be with you, I will become your wife, and that is all I need."

He kissed her and began to bathe her forehead and neck with the cool water again. "Now, go back to sleep so you can regain your strength and we can have that wedding."

Sarah smiled and within moments was fast asleep.

xxx

AN: Sorry it's not that good. Also, a lot of the things Lilah and Jareth told Toby and Sarah would have come out eventually but they had to rush things along due to Sarah's illness. Chapter isabout twice the length I usually write because I'm nt sure when the next update will be. I have an exam tomorrow and two history ones next week so a lot of my time will be spent studying.

Thanks to my readers, and don't forget to leave me a review on the way out. Reviews motivate me to write more lol. I'll update as soon as possible.