Sarah was now relaxing in a nice warm bubble bath. She was staring at the wall. Her thoughts remained on one thing…Jareth. She did not voice them. She let them fester in her mind until they exploded. She let out the loudest most horrifying, blood curdling scream I had ever heard. It could be heard through out the entire castle.

Adele came rushing in, "What is the matter my child?"

"What is the matter?" Sarah sounded and if her last bit of sanity had cracked, "I will tell you what is the matter," she stood up in the bath and started waving her arms around, "That man! That man you call 'your majesty.' That evil, vile, dissolute, creature is what is the matter! How can you stand behind a man who does such things to children? How can you be nice to him? How can you help him? How can…"

"Calm yourself girl! Really, I should think you have gone mad if I didn't know any better. Now, here put this on," Adele handed Sarah a robe, "It seems we have much to talk about." She then left Sarah in the bathroom. Sarah quickly put the robe on, dried her hair and then walked into her room. Adele was sitting on the bed.

"What do you mean we have much to talk about?" Sarah asked.

"You obviously don't know anything child. I am here to set things straight."

"What is to be set straight? Jareth steals babies and turns them into goblins. I have known that from the beginning. I ignored that fact for a while, but I knew it."

"Do you think that is all he does? He just takes the children for the fun of it?"

Sarah sat down on the bed next to Adele, "Yes I do. Did you see the way he was acting today, all cocky and everything? He was acting as if he ruled the world. I saw the happiness in his face."

"You must not have been looking deep enough than." Adele said.

"What do you mean?"

"Jareth hates his job. He always has."

"How do you know?"

"I use to be his personal servant. In fact I was until you came. After he transforms a child into a goblin he goes through a very deep depression. He hates taking the children's humanity, but he must."

"Why? Why must he change them? Why must he take them at all?" Sarah yelled.

"Because he must. It is a safety net in a sense, to protect the innocent. Most children wished away are in horrible situations, Sarah. It is truly an act of mercy and kindness he performs."

"Mercy? Kindness? Dragging a poor child's parents through a horrible maze is an act of mercy. Setting up the parents to fail and loose their child forever is an act of kindness?"

"Not all parents elect to go through the Labyrinth. Some are happy to see their children leave."

"Well what about those who still want their children? Why should they go through hell and back for them?"

"All parents should want to shouldn't they? All parents should want to go through hell for their children and most of them do. Fortunately those kinds of parents usually never wish their children away. The majority of parents who wish them away are drug addicts, thieves, and cheats. Almost all goblins here have much happier lives than they would have had if they hadn't been wished away."

"But why must he change them? Why can't they stay children?"

"Could you imagine the number of kids we would have running around if he didn't change them? Too many for me to count. It would be impossible, even with magic, to take care of that many babies. The fact is goblin babies grow up much faster than human babies. Goblins walk at 3 months talk at 5 months and are learning a trade when they are one. Goblins also live longer. They may not be the smartest of creatures but you will never ever see one of them frown for more than an hour. The children are truly happier that way."

"I guess you are right. But what of those people who wish their children away by accident? Why can't he let them go?"

"Sarah he can't. The rule doesn't permit it. Any child wished away must be taken. I feel sorry for the parents who truly do want theirchildren back. I really do. They are the people that make it the farthest in the Labyrinth. Still those cases are very far and few between. I think it is 1 in 1,000."

Sarah wasquiet for a moment and then said,"But that still doesn't excuse the way Jareth acted toward me! He treated me like a child!"

"You will have to forgive him, love. When a baby is wished away his powers triples. He doesn't necessarily become a monster but he can be very cruel and testy. Do not hold that against him. It isn't his fault."

Sarah sat silently.

"Now Sarah I think it would be in your best interest to go to sleep. You look terrible darling. Would you like me to get you some potion? It might make you sleep better."

"Oh no thank you I will be fine," as much as Sarah wanted to take the potion she knew full well she couldn't. At the moment sleep was her worst enemy.

Adele gave her a strange look, "Alright. Is there anything you need before I leave? I am going to go attend to the king. I am sure he needs all the help he can get tonight. I wont be able to come to your aid."

"No, I do not need anything. Good night Adele."

"Good night Sarah. Sweet dreams."

------------------------------------------------
A/N:I think Adele makes a valid point. While it is sad that the children must be turned into goblins it is for the best.
By the way I am stuck in my house because of the snow. Don't be surprised if you see another chapter soon. I am so excited because I have to whole plot maped out. It is going to be great, hard to write, but great. MUAHAHA!