Standard disclaimers apply.

How am I supposed to serve him his just desserts if he gives them right back? To give herself time to think she changed the subject. "Why did you bring me here?"

"I realized that I was being rude and I wished to make it up to you."

"Oh." She concentrated on her meal; this was yet one more thing to ponder. When they finished their meal, Jareth led her out of the restaurant and to a park across the street. He took a seat on a fallen tree and gestured for her to follow suit. No one should be able to look so powerful when they are sitting on a dead tree! It's just not right. She took a seat a few feet away, dropping the seductress act.

"Before we return to the castle there are some things that we must discuss." He looked her in the eye, informing her that this was serious. "The Labyrinth has ears everywhere Underground, and it knows the thoughts of most of its inhabitants. I am an exception, as I know you are. However, I ask that you watch carefully what you say; the next few hours will determine the rest of your existence. Watching what you do and hearing what you say will assist the Labyrinth in its decision of what it will do with you. I was given until this morning to convince you to be my Queen, which my people are in dire need of, or be my mistress, something the Labyrinth believes I am in need of." She held her laughter. "I will not ask of you to be either. I know that you will not, voluntarily accept either of the positions." He kept her gaze becoming, if anything, more serious. "Be careful of your words Sarah, they could get you into a position you might not… enjoy. Are you sure that you can handle this?" Sarah rolled her eyes, doing so she did not notice the scenery change.

"Of course. 'My will is as strong as yours', remember? I can handle anything the Labyrinth throws at me. Didn't I prove that with my sex-kitten act? I had you there for a while, as if I'd actually sleep with you." The king might have angered at the insult if he hadn't been mortified by what she had just said.

"You complete idiot!" He pulled her through a doorway, it just happened to be his room. She noticed that the mirror from her room was also a mirror in his. Who'd have thought? He has some sort of decency.

"What did I do?" The king paused to take a calming breath.

"What did I say about watching you tongue? The Labyrinth has no concept of sarcasm and a horrible sense of humor, much of which has to do with irony." Sarah stopped to reflect on what she had said.

"Oh… oh shit." She thought it over some more. "Well, it isn't so bad, I don't have to sleep with you. Wait, why can't we talk about this in the hall?"

"The Labyrinth doesn't monitor my room, Like a part of your body that you can't see, no matter how hard you try." He said it offhandedly, his mind else where. Just then, something struck Sarah as odd.

"Are we actually engaged in civil conversation? Albeit weird as all get out, but civilized none the less?" He looked at her, as opposed to through her as he had been.

"I believe we are." In the blink of an eye he was behind her. "Does this mean that we can move to the next stage in the relationship?" His hands slipped down to the button of her jeans, she slammed her heal into his instep. He let go and clutched his foot.

Is he limber or what? Oh the things he could do....... bad Sarah get your mind out of the gutter! "But it's such a nice gutter!" (A.N. I realize that I stole that but it was too good not to use) Jareth raised an eyebrow and moved closer to her, she had made it quite a distance in the time it took him to get over his foot.

"What, pry tell, were you thinking about that could put your mind in the 'gutter'?" He was directly in front of her now and she was frozen.

Why does he have this affect on me? "N.. nothing"

"Nothing?" He breathed in her ear. "Why don't we see what nothing is exactly?" He placed two fingers to her forehead. "Just relax." She tried to fight it, but she found herself edging toward a sleeplike state. She slammed her mental shields up.

I have mental shields? Good to know. Her body was limp by now; he lifted her up and put her on the bed. What do you think you are doing? Sarah projected the thought past her newly discovered barrier.

"Trying to read your most recent thoughts, but if you insist on blocking me I may have to find other amusements." He was interrupted by a knock at the door; Sarah pulled herself out of the forced relaxed state and took this opportunity to get off of the bed.

The monarch opened the door, a goblin stood on the other side. "Sir, She wishes to have a word with you." The king froze, then gave a crisp nod, he turned to Sarah. "I'm not sure how long this will take, you know how to get back to your room." With that he turned and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Entering her room, Sarah saw the tray from breakfast the day before sitting on her vanity. "Tell me who She is."

"The King's sister is the only She that I know of that his Highness currently has ties to. Excluding yourself of course."

"Of course." Was I just jealous? No, I couldn't have been, but it felt like jealousy until I found out that the visitor was his sister. Wait, he has a sister?

"Yes, he does have a sister. That would be me. You must be Sarah."

"Yes, I'm Sarah. How did you.." The other teen, for she was in fact a teen, interrupted the mortal.

"You're used to dealing with my brother, although his magical abilities are quite powerful, his mental powers leave something to be desired." Sarah surveyed the girl; she wore what Sarah thought a medieval punk might have worn, had there been such a thing. The front half of her hair was blond, the back was brown. Her dress was black and silver with green highlights and a silver dragon tattoo was visible on her throat. The tattoo moved, startling Sarah.

"Did that tattoo just…"

"Move? Yes, that is what tattoos do down here, they become another organ almost; a simple minded expression of your subconscious." Interrupting seemed to be a habit of hers. "Bye the way, you can call me Alecentrakedrandake or Ake for short." She extended her hand, Sarah tentatively accepted.

"Charmed."

"Of, course you are." Sarah raised an eyebrow.

Like brother, like sister.

"You may be surprised by how often I get that."

"I doubt it. Where is he by the way? He just left a moment a go to meet you." The teen smiled.

"He's making sure that his precious goblins aren't to badly singed." She giggled, and Sarah at once understood where all of the teenage stereotypes came from.

"Was there a fire?"

"Just a little one." She demonstrated with her fingers. "See, the throne room was really dirty so I decided to clean it up, by burning all the soot and trash away, I even had the smoke venting out the windows." She looked proud of herself.

"How does this involve the Goblins?"

"They were in the room at the time."

"Ah, of course. Well, at least I won't have to clean it now."

"Why would you silly?"

"Because she shares your tendency to anger me." He leaned against the silver door.

"Brother!" Ake ran at the king, who straitened and sent her a warning glare.

"Don't you 'Brother' me Ake,"

He sounds like a scolding mother.

"you scared my subjects half to death."

As if he doesn't do that every day. Ake had a giggle fit.

"Alecentrakedrandake, this is not a laughing matter." She shook her head and tried to compose herself.

"No, its not, but what Sarah was thinking…" She started laughing again. "Oh, its to much!" Jareth glared at Sarah.

"Stop encouraging her."

"I didn't say anything. It's all her fault if she reads my thoughts, I can't help it." He sighed and turned his attention back to his sister, who was pulling herself back together.

"Why are you here Ake? You have never visited me with out a reason, usually a good one." She handed a piece of paper over to her brother.

"Why didn't you tell me ahead of time that you had a solution?" The monarch raised and eyebrow and looked down at the paper, his face took a surprised expression and then it turned to anger.

"Labyrinth! I would like a word with you!" Yes? What seems to be the matter Jekrandakejareth?

What a mouthful. Ake giggled at what Sarah could only guess to be her thoughts.

"This." He held the paper out.

To her Majesty Alecentrakedrandake:

Please come to the residence of your brother, King Jekrandakejareth, to discuss the problem of his kingdom with his Majesty, myself, and one Sarah Elizabeth Williams of Aboveground.

Sarah finished reading the paper. What's going on? "How did you know my middle name?"

"I doubt you'd like the answer to that question. Labyrinth, why did you send this out?" She is involved in the present problem, also she and I have something to discuss.

"We do? Is it Jareth's fashion sense? Cause if so, I totally agree." No, its about adding another Dragoness to your number. Ake glanced at Sarah. "Interesting, you feel the need for another link to the Dragon kingdom, I take it." Yes. She turned to her brother. "May I use your study to discuss this?" He nodded; the girl turned and left the room.

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Draco