A/N: My thanks to all who have reviewed so far. I am glad you like the story and I hope you will continue reading. :)

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

Chapter Four

Jareth watched as Kara rode through the city as she headed for the outer gates that would take her towards the forests. She had woke him before leaving his rooms and they had eaten an early breakfast. Over the light meal of fruits and cheeses, Kara had detailed her plans to him. Jareth had not been pleased when she told him that she would not return until the end of the week. She felt it necessary though since she was following a hunch she had. They both knew that they needed to find the source of the creatures in order to destroy them. Something was behind the creatures appearances, but what was still a mystery. Kara had decided during the night that she would start her search in the eastern sections of the land near her homelands of the Jeweled Forests. While there, she would seek out the hermit that lived deep within the forest. Even though Jareth had protested her plans, she felt that it was the only way. They needed answers and she was determined to find them.

His hand clenched into a fist as he watched the gates open before her, wanting desperately to call her back as some sick sense of fear gripped him harshly. Grinding his teeth, the king bit back a curse and turned away from the window. There was no stopping the young woman, there never had been. Labyrinth had told him right after it had healed the girl that she was the one who would save them. How, Labyrinth refused to say. Mainly because even with its vast knowledge it did not know, but apparently it had sensed the potential the young girl held within her. She had certainly come a long way from the terrified sixteen year old she had been when she was first brought into the castle. Now, at twenty-one, she was a blooded warrior who stopped at nothing. Not even the nightmares that still haunted her would sway her from doing what she felt was her destiny.

A goblin coughed and Jareth glanced down at the scabby creature bowing near his feet. With a heavy sigh, the Goblin King walked over to his throne and sprawled out in it, arching a brow at the goblin. When he deigned to say anything, the goblin peeked up at him. "Yes? What is it Scrabs?"

"Yer majesty. The humans, they be wants to talk wit yas." Jareth closed his eyes and raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose as he sighed again. Kara had just left and already he could feel the strain of her absence rising. She had found these strangers and brought them to his castle only to leave again. He growled under his breath, knowing that it was not her fault as he had told her bring them into the city.

"Very well. Send them in." He cracked an eye and watched as the ugly creature bowed and scraped its way backwards from the throne room. Shaking his head, Jareth created a crystal to watch Kara as she rode into the forest, knowing very well that she could sense him. The crystal the rested in the circlet on her forehead glowed briefly in the shadows of the trees and Kara waved a hand in the air. He couldn't help but smirk when she flashed her fingers rapidly through the air, plainly telling him to go away and mind his own business. Logan and Mark walked into the room just in time to hear the king chuckling in amusement.

As rude as ever, Mark coughed to get the man's attention. Jareth tossed the crystal into the air above him and watched as it popped into nothingness. Slowly, he turned his mismatched eyes towards the duo and smiled cattily. "I assume there is something you wish to discuss?"

Logan shot his companion a warning look and stepped forward with a low bow. "Your Majesty, we were wondering if we might start looking for my sister soon."

"Ahh, I see. Well, as much as it pains me to say this," Jareth smirked; "You will remain here until Lady Kara returns to the kingdom."

"Kara? Where is she? We thought we might see her at breakfast this morning, but she wasn't there and the servants wouldn't tell us where to find her."

Jareth smiled coldly, he didn't care for either one of these two. Logan was the one that bothered him the most though. He would have to have been blind not to see the looks the blond man had thrown at Kara last night. It was everything he could do to keep from throwing them both into the Bog or an oubliette. Kara's displeasure was what stopped him though, knowing that they were her guests and she would be very angry with him should anything befall the two off-worlders.

"Lady Kara left the kingdom a short while ago. She will not return until the week is out."

"But-" Mark snapped his mouth shut when he saw the look on Jareth's face. Right now would not be an ideal time for him to make any comments in the king's hearing he decided.

With a catlike grace, Jareth stood and walked around the fire pit in the center of the room and approached the two men. He circled them like a predator circling its prey, a nasty sneer decorating his features. They both found it exceedingly difficult to remain standing with the weight of the king's stare on them.

"Would it be possible for us to return to our ship then, your majesty? We would really hate to impose upon your hospitality longer then necessary." Logan was definitely the diplomat of the two it seemed. Jareth wanted to send them back badly, but they were Kara's responsibility.

"No. That is out of the question." He moved away from them, smirking when he heard them both breath in relief that he was no longer next to them.

"Then we're prisoners here?" Jareth froze then turned cold eyes towards Mark, the mouthy one of the duo.

"Prisoners?" Jareth arched a brow in contemplation at the idea and the two men paled. He shook his head, chuckling. "Lady Kara would be most displeased if she were to return and find you within the dungeons." He looked pointedly at Mark and sneered.

"What does she have to do with it? She said she wasn't the queen." Logan groaned, resisting the urge to punch his best friend for such a stupid comment. Mark just could not leave well enough alone at times.

"You are here as her guests." Jareth growled angrily. His patience was wearing thin with the dark haired man and he let it show through the growl of his voice. "It is because of her that you do not already reside in one of the oubliettes of my Labyrinth."

"King Jareth, please your majesty. My friend here is not used to dealing with royalty." Logan could tell that Jareth knew he was lying when the king narrowed his eyes in his direction. "We just want to find my sister and then we'll leave." Jareth nodded and resumed his seat upon the throne where he sat in cold silence, studying the two. After a moment he leaned back and stretched out across the throne as he summoned another crystal. He sat there silently for so long, toying with the crystal that Logan and Mark both shifted uncomfortably. Suddenly another goblin ran into the room and bowed low before the king, his helmet scraping the floor. The off-worlders stared in surprise at the creature dressed in what looked to be oversized scraps of mismatched armor. Jareth glanced at the goblin and sighed, knowing what was about to be said. His mismatched eyes cut over to the men who were still standing nervously.

"Leave. I have work to do." He waited until the heavy doors boomed shut behind them before turning his attention to the goblin guard that still stood before him and nodded. With a sigh Jareth banished the crystal he had been playing with and rose to his feet. Before he had taken two steps, Jareth's clothes changed from his usual attire to that of his armor. A child had been wished away and as the Goblin King, it was his duty to offer the one who made the wish a chance to win the child back. Occasionally the wisher refused, and Jareth almost hoped that this one would.

Twirling another crystal on his gloved fingertips, Jareth sighed; it didn't look as if this one would. His goblins had already fetched the child and it now resided in the goblin nursery that was located in one of the upper towers. The morning sun glinted through the window and caused the ebony breastplate he wore to gleam with an eerie power. He smirked, knowing that the young boy who had made the wish would be utterly terrified by him. He enjoyed seeing the wishers cowering before him. Striding confidently out the door, Jareth transformed into his owl form and flew from the castle. He soared over the Labyrinth for a few minutes, relishing the coolness of the morning air before turning towards the portal that the Labyrinth had opened into the wisher's room.

OoooooooooooooooooooO

Jareth appeared with a burst of glitter in front of the wisher who screamed in surprise. He tilted his head and smirked; the boy had fell to his knees and was now staring up at Jareth with abject terror, his mouth working but no sounds coming forth.

"Who- who are you?"

"I am the Goblin King."

"N-n-no, you can't be. H-h-h-he's j-j-ust a fairy tale. N-not real." The boy's stuttering amused Jareth, he could feel the terror of the child and it felt wonderful. Some considered Jareth to be a vampire of sorts, though instead of blood, he thrived on fear. Most likely, that was what drew him to Kara. Her lack of fear.

"I am quite real as you can see." Jareth lifted a black gloved hand and twisted his wrist, creating a crystal, which he twirled back and forth across his hand.

"Where's my brother?" Ahh, so the boy was growing braver now. Jareth grinned evilly. He stepped forward menacingly, his black cloak floating eerily around him.
"He is exactly where you wished him to be. In my castle beyond the Goblin City."

"Give him back!" Jareth staggered back in surprise as the child launched himself at the king and started trying to hit him with his fists, screaming and kicking; demanding that the Goblin King return his brother.

"You wished him away Chris. What's done is done." Jareth sneered as he held out the crystal to the boy. "Wouldn't you rather have this magic crystal instead?"

"No! I want my brother back you monster!" Tears leaked from the little boys eyes as he continued to plead and threaten the Goblin King. Jareth snarled and reached down to lift the boy in the air. Once the boy was nearly at eye level, Jareth smiled menacingly.

"I offer you a choice then. Forget the child or run the Labyrinth."

"The Labyrinth?" Jareth sneered in disgust as he dropped the boy and pointed behind him.

"You have read the story, you know what awaits should you fail." He laughed as he stepped back, watching the stunned expression on the boy's face as he looked around them. "Thirteen hours to reach the center. I'd suggest you hurry." Jareth chuckled evilly as he faded away.

OoooooooooooooooooooO

Kara rode quietly through the woods, alert for the slightest hint of trouble. It unnerved her that the whole forest was deathly quiet in the middle of the day. The area should have been teeming with the sounds of life, yet nothing stirred. Only the occasional chirp of a lone bird and the slight rustling of the underbrush. She had the strangest sensation that eyes other than Jareth's were watching her.

When the rustling came again, closer this time, she tightened her grip on the sword that rested at her side and reached out with her senses. Whoever or whatever it was trailing her had circled around to get in front of her. She couldn't tell if it was the hermit or not though. Signaling Zalur to stop, Kara slid from the horse's back and landed lightly beside him.

"Who ever you are, I suggest you show yourself immediately." Her voice carried strongly through the air. Underbrush rustled a few feet to her left and she watched as a hideous creature stepped into view. Kara blinked, yet kept her composure as calm as possible. Cautiously she sketched a slight bow towards the creature. "Greetings Hidden One."

The revolting creature returned the bow and Kara saw that the tales were true. Before her stood one of the Urisks. Its skin was emaciated and wrinkled, with patches of hair and feathers along its neck and back. Its head was huge and grotesquely misshaped, giving it a horrifying appearance. Many who saw them died from sheer terror at the sight of an Urisks.

"Greetings child of the Labyrinth. What brings you to the Jeweled Forests?" Its voice was harsh and grating, yet kind.

"I seek knowledge of the creatures that plague these lands." The Urisks gazed up at her curiously. Kara waited patiently as the creature studied her, knowing that it was testing her. She knew that this was the hermit she sought. Many ran in fear of the Urisks appearance, but she knew all to well the way of the Underground. Nothing was ever as it seemed and looks could be deceiving. Finally, the Urisks nodded and smiled, showing long, jagged blackened teeth.

"If answers you seek then answers you shall find." It shuffled closer to her. "You do not fear me."

"I hold no fear of you Hidden One. I seek your guidance." The Urisks nodded again. It liked this woman; she was unlike the others that had once resided in the forest. It had been a long time since it had had someone else to talk to.

"Come, follow me." Kara bowed again, before patting Zalur and promising to return as soon as she could. She knew already the price she would have to pay for the Urisks knowledge, which was why she had told Jareth that she would return when the week was out. Urisks craved the companionship of others. She followed behind the Urisks on silent feet as it led her deeper into the forest.