Disclaimer: I don't anything

AN: I'm replying to reviews for all of my fics on another site now, the links in my profile. I've replied to all the reviews so far from chapter 6 and will do it from now on for every chapter as I get the reviews. So check it out if you reviewed last chapter, or if you review this time take a look in the next few days.

Chapter 7

Sarah was standing with her back to the wall of the maze, still looking for whatever it was she had just heard moving. It was silent now but she knew it was there.

"Listen, I know you're still there, just come ou-"

A creature stepped out of the shadows, it towered above her and she didn't know how it had stayed silent and unseen.

"Look whatever you are, just, just stay away," she called trying to sound brave and failing miserably.

Slowly the creature stalked closer to her. It sensed her fear and was reveling in it. The beasts armour clanked slightly with each step it took. Sarah tried to back away further but was met with the wall behind her. The creature let out as low growl as it moved closer again, toying with her. Sarah was considering her options, and was quickly realizing that she had none, she was trapped. She looked away from the thing approaching her and decided to try and make a run for it although she knew she didn't stand a chance. As soon as she took a step, it lunged at her. It made a swipe for her with its weapon, a sythe, and cut into her left arm. Then, just as she was sure her fate was sealed, the thing was gone. She opened her eyes to see something else running towards her. But this time it was not something she feared. It was Jareth.

"What the hell did you think you were doing out here! You could have been killed Sarah! Of all the stupid…Sarah you're bleeding." Finally his ranting ceased as he noticed the blood running down her arm.

Sarah just looked at him in shock, not sure what was going to happen next.

"Come on Sarah, let's get you back to the castle and healed." He took hold of her hand, gently pulling her away from the wall where she still stood. Then he scooped her into his arms and they transported back to the castle.

When they returned he sat her down in his bed once again and sent a crystal to Nessa summoning her to his chambers. He then sat beside Sarah on the bed after quickly finding a cloth to stem the bleeding from her wound.

"Sarah? Are you alright," she hadn't spoken since he'd found her and it was beginning to worry him.

She shook her head as if coming out of a daze and finally spoke. "Sorry, I'm fine Jareth."

"What about your arm?"

"What's wrong with my-" she then looked at the wound gracing her left arm. "Oh," I guess I just didn't notice it until now."

"Ah, ok. Well I've sent for Nessa she should be here soon. Now whatever possessed you to wander off like that?"

She looked at him for a moment before answering. "Well, I guess, it's just that I didn't believe you cared. I couldn't let myself. After our argument I just kind of wandered off and ended up in the Labyrinth and then the wall closed and there was that thing…what the fuck was that anyway? I've never seen anything like that before? And why would you have something like that, that thing in your Labyrinth Jareth?"

"That was a Gnoll Sarah. I suppose it's something like a wolf in the Aboveground, only much worse. And I have it in my Labyrinth because it had always been here. I do not decide what creatures reside in my Labyrinth, the Gnoll has been here much longer than I and I have no choice but to let it remain."

"But I thought you killed it?"

"No, I cannot kill it. I only transported it to another part of its, area, within the Labyrinth. Now, where's Nessa?"

Then there was a knock at the door and Nessa come in. "You called?"

"Yes. Sarah was attacked by the Gnoll when she was outside. She accidentally ended up in the wrong part of the Labyrinth and was attacked. It only got her arm but it looked quite deep so I thought it best to call you."

"Of course you did. Now if you don't mind, could I have a little privacy to work?"

"But of course. I will be in my study when you are finished."

"Well?" Jareth asked when Nessa came to his study. "Is she alright?"

Nessa nodded to him, "She'll be fine soon enough. I stitched her arm up, just to hold the wound closed until my spell works. I'll probably take them out in a day or so."

"Good. She wasn't injured in any other way?"

"Not as far as I could tell. She was a little shaken up by the whole thing, but otherwise she's alright. Her other injuries have all healed well and now she's only got the one."

"Thank you Nessa, you may leave now."

Nessa left the king and Jareth left soon after, walking to his chambers rather than transporting for a change.

When he entered the room Sarah was once again sleeping soundly. He sat down in a chair near the bed and watched her sleep. "What ever am I going to do with you Sarah?" he whispered to himself. Then he settled into the chair, ready to wait for Sarah to awaken once again.

AN: Thankyou reviewers. Hope you liked this chapter, more coming soon, just leave me a pressie on the way out.