A/N: groans I know, I know... Finally you say..An update! Well, one of my brothers was home on leave from Iraq the past couple of weeks so I had to spend time with him happy dance I have missed my brothers a LOT over the past two years. My other brother will be heading home this weekend as well so it might be a while before I can update again, just depends on how much time I get to spend with him :) As it is, I'll most likely be sleeping non-stop the next couple of days LOL. I hope this chapter is enjoyable.

I promised to do my best to get an update in before someone's birthday (grins) Happy Birthday! (starts directing the goblins through a rendition of the Happy Birthday song)

Disclaimer: I don't own the Labyrinth. Such a pity…

Chapter 3

"If you would please follow me," Kara smiled graciously as she rose to her feet after the king had left them. She sighed mentally, getting the impression that something was troubling her king. She made a mental note to stop by his chambers and talk with him once she was done getting their guests settled in.

They followed Kara from the dinning room and through a twisting maze of corridors. Kara's thoughts were centered on her king, while the men who followed her were lost in their own thoughts. After a few minutes, Logan looked up. "Is he always like that?" Kara arched a brow at him from over her shoulder.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he struck me as being a bit rude." She snorted softly.

"The Goblin King is as he has always been. Some see him as cold and arrogant."

"He is that." Mark muttered under his breath. Kara stiffened, yet continued walking.

"What about you? How do you see him?" Logan asked, seeing Kara's reaction to Mark's words and wondering how she had heard him since she was several feet ahead of them and he himself had barely heard the comment.

"His majesty's behavior towards others is none of my concern."

"That's not an answer."

Kara stopped climbing the stairs and turned to look back at Logan. "What I see in his majesty is of my own concern." She turned to climb the stairs again, only to pause a few steps later. "He is a good man, he cares a great deal for his people and kingdom."

"What exactly is your relationship with the king?" Mark jumped in, curiosity eating away at him.

"The king saved my life. I serve him gladly."

"So you serve the king in what capacity?" Logan groaned to himself at Mark's questions. He swore that the guy would end up getting them killed one day.

"In whatever capacity he desires. I am one of his advisors, a companion and friend." Kara said impatiently, "I know not what your reasoning for these questions are, but I do not believe that my relationship with the Goblin King is any of your business." She turned a corner at the next landing and led them down a long hallway, stopping before a carved door. "Here are your rooms Mark. I trust you will be comfortable. Logan, you will be across the hall here." She reached out and pushed the other door behind them open before stepping back.

"Thanks." Logan smiled at her while Mark just nodded and turned to enter his rooms. Kara nodded her head slightly and started to move past him. "Um, are your rooms located nearby? You know, just in case we need something."

She arched a brow at him and bit back a laugh when he blushed. "No. My rooms are on the other side of the castle. If there is anything that you need, simply pull the bell cord in your rooms and a servant will see to your needs."

"Oh, okay. Well, goodnight then," he stammered.

"Rest well." She glanced at him curiously once more before leaving him there in the hallway. Kara grimaced when she realized that she was grinding her teeth over Mark and forced herself to take a long deep breath to calm herself. She had definitely picked up several of Jareth's bad habits over the years.

OoooooooooooooooooooO

"You've got some nerve asking questions like that Mark! Have you completely lost your mind? We're guests here and I don't think the king would take likely to your innuendos." Logan had burst through Mark's door and glared at him angrily.

Mark held his hands up before him in defense, "Hey buddy, take it easy. I was just scoping the girl out for you. You wouldn't even ask and I know you were dying to know if they're together or not."

"Look, it's not our business alright? What is with you always ticking off royalty? You're gonna get us killed one of these days!" He shot his friend a glare before storming back out and into his own rooms.

OoooooooooooooooooooO

Kara knew that something was up, Jareth wasn't in his study where he usually spent the evenings so she checked the throne room. Some of the more intelligent goblins that were still awake told her that he had gone for a flight and she sighed heavily before dropping down into his throne. She settled into the massive seat and stretched her legs over the arm rest, determined to wait for the king to return.

He flew through the window a little while later to find Kara sound asleep in his throne. Transforming back into his human form he cocked his head to the side and regarded her curiously. His mismatched blue and brown eyes lit up mischievously as he watched her shift in her sleep. If it had been anyone but her, he would have woken them immediately by throwing them into the Bog or an oubliette. But Kara, she was different. Now matter what she had done over the past four years, he had never been able to bring himself to punish her. He walked over and eased down onto the seat beside her, still watching as she slept. Brushing a lock of hair from her face, he smiled down at her.

"Kara," he whispered softly, wondering if she would wake or not. She murmured something in her sleep and rolled her head to the side, but remained sleeping. He laid a hand on her shoulder and shook her lightly only to jump back quickly as she woke. His movement wasn't fast enough and her elbow caught him in the chest.

"Oh!" Kara gasped in shock when she realized what had happened. "Oh Jareth, I am so sorry!" He stared at her for a moment before smiling at her.

"No harm done my dear. Though I must say that I am glad you were unarmed."

"Make me feel even better why don't you." She looked away, still mortified.

"Oh come come now. I know that you would never deliberately try to harm me Kara." He stood and started pacing the room. "Tell me pet, why were you waiting for me?"

"You seemed rather disturbed earlier. I wanted to make sure you were all right." He stopped pacing and looked at her with a raised brow. She rolled her eyes at him and twisted around in the throne till she was able to get up. "It was our guests that disturbed you, was it not?"

He smirked at her as he crossed the room to stand before her. "You are such an insightful little thing, do you know that?"

"It's not that hard when one of them can't stop asking questions for more than two minutes."

"What?" Jareth's manner turned cold as his eyes narrowed. "What sort of questions?"

"Nothing important." She sighed and rolled her eyes at the look in his eyes, knowing that he would want to know everything. As she drew another deep breath and related the line of questioning Mark had put her through. Jareth's eyes grew colder with rage.

"I will have him placed in the dungeons."

Kara reached out and grabbed his arm, "Jareth, no. That won't solve anything and you know it. We've been through this before and we'll go through it again. As long as I am staying in the castle with you and neither of us are married, people will continue to believe what they want."

"Marry me."

Kara stared at him in shocked silence for a moment, the blood draining from her face. "What?"

"I do believe my words were quite plain. We will marry." Kara's eyes widened as she backed away, shaking her head.

"No, no no no…"

He looked at her strangely as she backed away from him. "What ever is wrong with the idea?"

"What's wrong with it?" She continued to stare at him in disbelief. "Everything is wrong with it! I can't marry you!"

He arched his brow at her again and tilted his head. "Why not?"

"Because… I… You…"

"Yes?" She scrubbed her hands over her face and breathed deeply before staring at him again. "Are you insane? I can't marry you! You're the Goblin King!"

"What does that have to do with anything?" She was really starting to worry him now.

"What… what does it…" She stared at him in complete confusion as if he didn't understand anything at all. "It has a great deal to do with everything Jareth! You're a king; I'm just a village commoner! Kings do not marry commoners!"

"I think, that as King I am entitled to marry whom I chose. This is my kingdom still."
"Yes, a kingdom that has been under siege for five years now. A kingdom that I serve and fight to protect."

"Then who better to become it's queen than you?" She still continued to shake her head.

"No Jareth. You know I cannot. Even if I wasn't a commoner, I could be a full blooded princess and I still wouldn't be able to marry you." His eyes grew cold at her words, never had he though she would refuse his proposal the way she was.

"Might I ask why not?" His voice was now as cold as his eyes and she winced.

"I won't marry until all of this has been dealt with. Not you or anyone else. I care deeply for you Jareth. There is nothing I wouldn't do for you and you know that, but I refuse to marry until this taint is gone from your lands."

"They're your lands as well Kara." His eyes softened along with his voice as he spoke. Approaching her again, he pulled her against him and held her tightly against his chest as he rested his chin atop her head. "I can understand your reasons for refusing, but will you at least consider it?" He felt her nod and smiled. Loosening his hold on her, he leaned back and looked into her face, surprised to find tears in her eyes. "Why do you cry my pet?"

She sniffed and wiped away some of the tears. "I'm not worthy of being your queen Jareth." He smiled down at her and shook his head.

"That is where you are wrong my dear. There is none other more worthy than you. Who has stood with me throughout this long infestation? The day I found you was a great day. No other would be as willing as you to fight with me, for me or against me."

"You should marry a princess."

He sighed and rubbed her arms gently as he peered down at her, "You're more than a princess to me Kara. You're my little warrior princess. A warrior queen."

The tiny smile she gave him in return warmed his heart, yet he was still worried. They had been through so much over the past few years. Her training as a warrior, the creatures she hunted, teaching her how to deal with the kingdom and to be a lady, even the nightmares which still haunted her on occasion. As time had passed, the nightmares had grown infrequent, but they always resurfaced soon after she returned from hunting. It was for that reason that Jareth had moved her to the set of rooms beside his own. When she cried out in her sleep, he would go and lay with her, giving her peace. Sometimes, she would wake on her own and come to him.

He had come to care a great deal for her and knew from her actions that she cared as well even though she was extremely adept at controlling her emotions. He had been surprised at the amount of control she had shown at times, as it surpassed his own. Other than the tears she had shed a few minutes ago, this was really the first time he had ever seen her show more than a sliver of emotion while she was awake. Jareth had wondered many times exactly what it would take before she would show her feelings.

She pulled back from him again and he sighed. Her violet eyes were unreadable as she looked up at him. Almost hesitantly she reached up and touched his face, watching as his eyes closed briefly and he leaned into her touch. "You are too good to me, milord. No one else would bother to take in a wounded girl who had no way of repaying your kindness." His eyes flew open and searched her face curiously, wondering if she really thought that she had nothing to repay him, or even that he wanted repayment from her for taking her in. She smiled slightly and shook her head at the unspoken questions she saw in his mismatched eyes. Sighing, she stepped back and smirked gently when he started to step forward. "It is growing late your majesty. I suggest you retire for the night."

He arched a brow at her, "And you Kara? Shouldn't you be off to bed as well?"

"Yes your majesty. I will take my rest." She curtsied then turned to leave.

"Kara?"

"Yes?"

"When will you leave again?" She sighed at the touch of worry in his voice. To anyone else, he was still in full Goblin King mode, but Kara knew him well enough to pick up the tension in him. Slowly she turned and walked back towards him.

"I head back out tomorrow." She tried to comfort him with a hug, only to find herself wrapped tightly in his arms. "Do not worry so much Jareth. I will be fine." She pulled back slightly, but that was as far as he would allow her.

"I cannot help but worry my pet." He lowered his head and brushed his lips across her every so gently. "Stay with me tonight." He wanted to make it an order, but knew that she would refuse if he did. Kara leaned her head against his chest and sighed as her hand clenched the fabric of his shirt.

"Do not be angry with me if I am gone before you wake."

"Am I ever?"
She snorted, "There were a few times milord." He couldn't help but laugh lightly at the condescending tone in her voice.

"Very well then. I shall try not to be too upset to find you gone." He held her tighter against him and sighed as he tipped his head back to stare up at the vaulted ceiling above them. He longed to take her into his bed and make love to her, yet he knew that she would refuse. Even though they had often shared the same bed together over the years, never once had they been intimate. He knew that she was still a virgin, though to hear her talking with the troops or at the tavern, one would have thought different.