AN: This chapter is dedicated to our beloved Jetredgirl, who passed away on the last day of February. Her passing is a great loss to our Labyrinth community. If you haven't read the plethora of stories her beautiful mind has created over the last decade, please take time to discover her treasures. She was always a great encourager in helping people find their voice.

Greenchimes helps so much with making my brain work again; after Jetredgirl's passing, I wasn't inspired to write for days. She helped me get out of my slump, little by little. Thanks also goes to Jediavenger for being a consultant.


Chapter 9: Some Steps Forward, Some Setbacks Part 1

Seven years after the peach had been bitten, what remained of the fruit? For most things, very little would be left of the atoms of the original object, especially the organic, fleshy material. But the pit, its fortified core, could last. It could germinate and grow and reproduce fruit for the next generation of consumers. Would the new fruit retain the memory of its origin? Would the magical spell placed within to entice and entrap the essence of one not meant to leave still have any trace of her?

The King of the Goblins had fallen in love with the girl and claimed her as his own, and she was becoming worrisome. Jareth considered it a blessing they had dreamt consecutively two nights, but that could end. In their last dream, her voice was so weary, the exhaustion of her life consuming her. He comprehended nothing else she had said, and nothing else really mattered, other than that she said she needed him. Something had caused her much pain and he didn't believe her when she said nothing out of the ordinary happened; how is pain ordinary? Jareth's heart ached and it angered him at feeling so helpless. But he was not powerless. One way or another, he was going to understand what was happening with his wife.

Going Above immediately after the dream ended had been pointless; he knew it was going to be even before he tried. It was the middle of the night and there were no signs anyone in Sarah's household was awake and there was no way he could go to her, save her letting him in. Even then, he'd still be stuck in his avian form when near her. In his own world, he would tear down mountains if it would ease her cares and cause her to smile again. But he couldn't get to her in the waking world. If dreaming was his only means of obtaining answers, then dream he would.

Absentmindedly, he found himself returning Underground before dawn, venturing not to the castle but to the piles of waste outside the gates of the Goblin City. There, amongst the heaps and mounds of discarded things, was a fruited tree. A peach tree, to be exact, grown from the enchanted peach he had tasked the dwarf to give Sarah. Just seeing the tree made him remember the manner it came to be in this wretched place of despair.

The spell placed within the peach had been a means to delay her from obtaining the brother she had wished away. It had been bespelled to make her dream, to make her forget everything but that which her soul longed for. Little did he know that her dream would involve him.

His role as monarch meant that he was to ensure the person who wished a child away learned something from the challenge the maze presented to them, win or lose. Most wishers discovered an appreciation for the one they had wished away, gained an awareness of not taking things for granted, as well as learned something about themselves through the obstacles they faced. Those who succeeded got to take the child home because they had proved their merit. Some wishers were not so fortunate, losing more from giving up than from running out of time. And not all wishers who lost were allowed to return to their home. As king, he was judge and jury as to whether a losing opponent was worthy to return to their life, the life where they would have to live with the consequence of returning without the wished away child. But such instances were rare.

More often than not, Jareth was generous. If the wisher persevered to complete the challenge with all their might, he often helped them along so they could re-obtain the child. He wasn't so cruel as to let a child that was wanted remain and be changed into a goblin. There was no shortage of goblins and it would be irresponsible of him to overpopulate his kingdom if it could be avoided. Yet sometimes, his judgement didn't matter. If it was the will of the Labyrinth, or Fate, a wisher might not succeed. Who was he to object to the will of higher powers?

The goblins had been antsy in their anticipation of the imminent wish. This made him curious about the wisher, so he went above, going to where the magic pulled him. At first, he didn't know who in the household would make the wish. Would it be the career-driven father? Would it be the homemaker? Or would it be the teenage half-sibling? He found it odd the magic drew him to the daughter when the child about to be wished away wasn't even hers.

Sarah wasn't the first wisher of whom he'd been given pre-knowledge before the wish was spoken. Usually, the Labyrinth showed him wishers of dire circumstances, so as to better understand their wish made in desperation due to their unfortunate situation. But Sarah had a carefree life, with her every need attended, and her only burden being the occasional request to care for her sibling. Jareth could only assume he had been given pre-knowledge of her arrival to better be able to enact judgement upon her. However, looking back on it now, he knew he had been drawn to Sarah because something wanted him to see her potential as his queen. But while it had been happening, he was of a different mind. Quite different.

He'd followed Sarah that day, inconspicuous in his avian form. He'd observed her running from her home to her place of education, watched as she savored a peach during her mid-day luncheon, then followed her as she returned home on swift feet hours later, only to quickly change into a garment of an era long past. He trailed her to the nearby park, her canine companion at her side and the little red book in her hands. The book was the means for her to know the right words for the wish: A tool a prior monarch had implemented to keep the wishes coming, a means to feed the Labyrinth. The words she read aloud were words he'd never heard from any of the other wishers, but before he could contemplate them, the ringing of a distant bell had her running home again. He'd never seen someone so anxious to get from one place to another. Seeing her exude so much energy gave him ideas of what obstacles to use in his maze to keep her running and wear her down.

Had Sarah lost her challenge, he was not sure he would have treated her kindly in her failure. Likely, he would have flaunted her defeat; made her watch the transformation of her brother; taunted her by showing her how many mistakes she'd made in his vast maze; threatened her with the knowledge of what future she faced in both worlds. Her life Above would have become a disaster, and he would have gladly watched as she tried to explain her brother's disappearance to his parents and watched them place her into an institution for the criminally insane. And he would have shown her the fantastical horrors she could have expected for herself in the harshness of his world if he had decided to keep her, finding ways to make her fear him, love him, and do as he said. After all, the little red book had cast him as her villain.

Now, Jareth shuddered, appalled to think he had even contemplated treating Sarah so poorly when all he desperately wanted now was to be near her.

At the time of her run, he hadn't known Sarah, nor did he care to. He never would have fathomed being intimate with her, let alone making her his queen. Although he had found her undeniably beautiful, she had merely been a selfish wisher and he had been a king bound to his duty. He hadn't seen her as a broken soul longing to be loved, fighting for attention that she craved since she felt forgotten by those near her, screaming at the world just to feel noticed. All he saw was how hot-headed and stubborn she could be. Sarah was haughty and fearless, an opponent worthy of his contempt, nothing more. He'd wanted to watch her fail. Yet, the challenges she had to face were those he had seen the Labyrinth give children. It was obvious she was on the cusp of adulthood and he thought the Labyrinth was going too easy on her. She wanted to be treated as an adult, yet whenever anything didn't go her way, she lashed out. Nothing about the challenges she was facing addressed this personality flaw, and he sought to curb it himself.

When no physical obstacle seemed to slow her down, he attempted to intimidate her by taking away time in the tunnels. When that didn't work, he formulated other means of stopping her. His last resort was to entrap her within a dream of her own making. He had observed her fondness for peaches earlier in the day and chose one as the vessel to enact his plan.

He had been so certain that the spell he cast on the peach could not be broken, bespelled to make her forget everything but that which would entice her to stay in the dream. He had been so sure of Sarah's failure that he sent crystals throughout his kingdom to find her and bring her to the castle; a portable prison. Something about this girl, her cruel yet innocent eyes, pulled at his soul. It whispered, 'Stop her. Keep her.' She would be mindlessly caught within the enchantment until her time ran out. And then, he could deal with her.

Perhaps he wouldn't have been too cruel to Sarah since he had been indecisive, being as captivated by her ingenue beauty as her cruelty-and kindness. Though she had been bratty and flippant towards him, he observed she was kind to those who needed compassion; to those she deemed her friends. Her duality intrigued him. She'd made the wish, yet she'd fought fiercely to retrieve her brother. Her perseverance was admirable, but not yet enough to sway him to setting her free should she fail. He'd wanted to keep her, but for what end, he wasn't sure. However, not wanting to tempt Fate, he decided to let the peach determine her final outcome.

Looking back on it now, Jareth thought with dread on what villainous things he might have done to Sarah had she lost.

Blessedly, her will had been strong and she broke both the enchantment of the peach and the crystal which imprisoned her. The crystal prison had been summoned on a wind to return to its master with its prize within. When Sarah shattered it, she crashed into the junk heaps below since the crystal had not yet reached the castle. Where the peach had been discarded from her hand, the tree grew. It began bearing fruit four years ago, the exact day they became lovers. He'd never needed to acknowledge the tree's existence, until now.

Now, he wondered how tied to Sarah this tree might be, or was it merely coincidence it blossomed the moment they consummated their bond. Either way, he needed to see if anything of Sarah had transferred to it. He required something of hers, and the peach had been the only thing for certain he knew she had left her mark on during her ten hours in his kingdom. Through partaking of it, she had to have left something of herself behind: her beautiful lips had enveloped it, teeth had bitten it, tongue had tasted its juices. Her fingers had caressed it, her mouth had surely watered from its sweetness. The smallest hint of her breath would be enough for what he required.

Even over the putrid smell of garbage and rot, the sweet fragrance of peaches greeted Jareth as he approached the tree. The magic of the Labyrinth allowed the tree to skip a dormant cycle, as would starting this time of year in the Above. Instead, the tree flourished, ever fruitful, with the occasional budding season when pink flowers would blossom while simultaneously producing fruit. Though tempted by the ample, lush fruit hanging off the branches, Jareth did not take one for himself. He was there for a purpose.

He took off the glove of his left hand and placed it over the bark of a shoulder high branch, feeling for what he hoped would be there. He searched with his magic, connecting to the ebb and flow of life within the tree. He extended his reach through the branches, down the trunk, and into the roots. Then, he felt her breath as though she was there beside him, her lips caressing his and feather-like touches ghosting his skin. He closed his eyes and grinned, pleased that a piece of her had lingered. He willed it into his hand where it hovered over his palm, her delicate essence churning like a stormy fog. He then used a crystal to encase it.

His task complete, he turned and disappeared, instantly reappearing in his study. There at a work table in a corner rarely used, he had powders, roots and a flask of liquid already simmering over a flame. Sarah's essence was the last ingredient needed for the sleeping potion he had prepared. He crushed the crystal in his hands and watched as the glittery dust dissolved in the fluorescent indigo mixture.

If his only way of getting answers for what was happening with Sarah was through meeting in their dreams, then he needed to sleep when she slept, every time that she slept. That he had promised her he would not place a sleeping curse on himself was of little consequence. As he had told her, every risk he took was worth it if it meant being with her. Even her anger. He didn't care that there was no guarantee they would dream. He didn't care that it could cause him to suddenly fall asleep like a narcoleptic, no matter where he was or what he was doing. It was a chance he was willing to take to find out what was going on with Sarah. He wondered how many times over the years had he missed out on dreaming with her because of ill timing? No more. The odds were increased in his favor if they slept at the same time. Besides, this was a reversible spell and not a curse; once he had his answers, he would remove its effects..

He watched the contents of the flask bubble and waited for the momentary flash of magic that indicated the potion was complete. He then poured it into his favorite goblet and whispered ancient, studied words over it. He downed the concoction, ignoring the bitter taste, focusing on feeling the magic spread from his throat upward to settle behind his eyes. It momentarily made him feel as if he were intoxicated, then it was gone. Now, he could only wait to see if it would work.


Sarah was going to leave the house with the baby and not just for a doctor's visit. Mommy-brain made her hesitate at preparing to leave for the faire. She wouldn't let Cassie's concern stop her. To the depths of her soul, she felt a compelling pull that she had to do this. The necklace had to be repaired. She had to have her freedom from this house.

Her thoughts were chaotically jumbled deciding what to take in the diaper bag Karen had gifted her. Diapers. She knew she needed diapers, but how many were enough? She supposed she should be back home by 8pm, so one diaper for every two hours; she grabbed 10. And she snuck in a few diapers of her own; she hadn't known postpartum diapers existed until she herself had to use them. As for bottles, she didn't need bottles because she wasn't pumping yet; she was Mari's personal portable milk supply. Maybe one or two extra changes of clothes in case there were diaper blowouts or spit-up mishaps. And a baby blanket to cover Mari in case there was an autumn breeze. It was only one day after all. Good thing, too, because she didn't have as much stock to choose from since she had given the suitcase with Mari's things to Hoggle and told him to keep it. Maybe not getting it back had been a rash decision. There was no way she was taking the baby around in her carrier, and the paths of the fair were too uneven to consider attempting a stroller, so she'd take Mari around in a wraparound ring sling.

Baby preparations complete: Check. Now for her own travel needs.

Embarrassment unsettled Sarah's stomach at realizing that not only did she leave all of her faire costumes back at the cottage, but she also had nothing to wear in her current closet remotely suitable. Those of the faire circuit had a certain standard for period-accurate clothing, and nothing she had at her disposal was nearly acceptable. She didn't even know the theme of the faire, being too busy with her own life to notice.

"Cass, what's the storyline at the faire this weekend?"

Cassie had laid Mari down on Sarah's bed and was trying to get the baby's wiggly limbs to cooperate being put in her new Daddy's Princess onesie. "I think I remember seeing it was Pirates weekend. Why?"

"I want to wear something to match. What are you going to wear?"

"You're looking at it." Cass answered, indicating to her fitted green t-shirt with Ryan's booth logo and blue jeans.

"Oh." Sarah looked confused. She'd never known Cassie to ever go to the faire without a costume. She turned and stared into her closet, trying to decide if it was worth the effort to find something remotely wearable for the faire's theme or if she should just be comfortable like her best friend.

Successfully putting on the onesie, Cassie lifted Mari up to rest her head on her shoulder and slightly patted her back while bouncing. She eyed Sarah, noticing she hadn't moved in a minute. "Peaches, you okay?"

Sarah shook her head to wake herself up, "Yeah, just trying to decide what to wear." She then actually looked at her friend. "Um, Cass, if you hold her like that, she's probably gonna spit up on you." She then walked across the room to grab a burping rag from the arm of the rocking chair. "Here, let me put this on your shoulder in case something happens."

It was just in time too, for almost as soon as Mari was placed over the cloth, more than drool came out. Cassie cringed, "Gross. She is making me second-guess going off the pill."

Sarah laughed at her friend, then turned back to her closet, determined. "Okay, let's see if I have anything worth wearing. How much time do we have?"

"I'd say, maybe, ten minutes before Ryan starts getting antsy." Cass answered. "He promised his brother to be there by nine, which doesn't leave much wiggle room if there is traffic."

The closet of her childhood room was full of costumes Sarah hadn't worn since before leaving for college. None of it would fit her postnatal body at the moment, so her options were limited. When her dad had let her stop by the cottage to grab anything of which she might have needed before bringing her and Mari home from the hospital, her Ren faire costumes weren't even on her mind. Then, she had grabbed things needed for everyday life, plus some things dear to her heart. Unbeknown to her Dad, while she was gathering things to take, she snatched everything she'd ever been given by her husband and Labyrinthian friends and put it all in a tan suede leather satchel: The three volumes of books Jareth had given her that were small enough to fit in a bag, Hoggle's silver cup, Ludo's obsidian stone and his baby's tusks, and Didymus's dagger and purple coins, which Cass had let her keep. Having already put them in the satchel for safekeeping, it had been easy to grab and take to her dad's house. She hadn't thought to use some of it as costume pieces until now, when she needed them. They would serve as the only pieces to her costume for the faire that she wouldn't be mortified wearing.

She dreaded that the best garb she could assemble was her poet blouse and vest she had worn during her run through the Labyrinth. It was kind of pirate-ish, so would fit with the theme at the faire. Plus, the blouse was blessedly baggy, unrestricting, and had buttons for her to easily be able to nurse Mari. She found a pair of stretchy, brown maternity pants that were a hand-me-down from Karen. Then, she slipped on a pair of tan velcro-strap sandals, deciding to go sockless and laceless since it would be a hassle to bend over and put sneakers on. She didn't know if her still-swollen feet would fit in normal shoes, anyway. For the final touches, she made sure to put on the portrait necklace, bracelet and earrings from her husband, and, of course, the damaged mirror necklace-the reason for leaving the house in the first place.

"Okay, I guess this is as good as it's gonna get." Sarah said once she was put together. She grabbed her leather satchel and the diaper bag, then put Mari into her arms. She then said astutely, "Let's go."

Ryan was sitting in the living room chatting with Karen and Sarah's father when Cassie and Sarah came downstairs. All looked surprised to see Sarah dressed in faire-type attire.

"We're going with them." Sarah's tone made it clear that she wasn't to be questioned.

Of course, her father and Karen protested, echoing Cassie's first concern, that Mari was too young to be exposed to crowds. Sarah would have none of it and raised the broken necklace from her chest, dangling it so they could see.

"You have no idea what you've done in breaking this. The woman who made it lives out of state and only comes this time of year to work the faire. This is the last weekend she'll be here. If I don't go now, it will be a whole year before she's back, if she comes back."

"Just let Cassie take it for you." Karen started, "There's no need in exhausting yourself or exposing the baby to god knows what germs in such a crowded place. Isn't the last weekend always the busiest?"

Sarah shook her head, "We're going. There's nothing you can say to change my mind."

Karen huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, too flustered to argue any more.

Robert sighed, knowing how stubborn Sarah was. "Well, at least let me put the baby's carseat in Ryan's truck."

It took an extra eight minutes, but per usual, Sarah got her way. Her dad showed Ryan how to place a carseat in the back seat of his double cab pickup. Having Cassie hold Mari, Sarah took the time to go back into the house to use the bathroom, then grabbed a snack for the road, which was a good idea since she hadn't had breakfast. Karen shouted for her when they had finished installing the carseat. Within thirty-three minutes of Cassie's arrival, they were on the road to the faire.

On the drive down, Sarah barely paid attention to Ryan describing his version of their honeymoon. Her mind wandered to if she might be able to test out the necklace at the fair once it was fixed. She knew Jareth had to have so many questions about her having to leave their dreams. Her fingers nervously fidgeted from her bracelet to her wedding ring, and her eyes were constantly on her daughter. Car rides were one of the few times the past week Sarah didn't have Mari in her arms. It felt strange and empty, so she reached her hand into the car seat to play her fingers over her daughters tiny hands. Mari was oblivious to her first journey, the rumble of the car putting her to sleep. All the while, random thoughts raced through Sarah's mind. She knew she was rash in wanting the artisan at the faire that had made the pendant to be the person who fixed it. She knew any jeweler would be able to mend it, but in her stubborn head, only the original craftsman should touch it.

She then worried that she had gathered too few diapers for Mari in the hastily put together diaper bag. It was the first time for her to take Mari out of the house so she had no basis of comparison as to what was needed. And why she thought she should dress for the faire was another irrational notion that popped into her head. She hated looking like a faire "tourist." That's what those in the faire circuit called people who assume what Ren Faire garb should be, but in reality, have no clue. Wearing a T-Shirt and maternity jeans would have been the prudent choice.

"Feeling nostalgic, are we?"

Sarah shrieked, freaked out by hearing her husband's voice directly behind her. As she screamed, she turned around quickly, grabbing a hold of him to keep her balance. "Geez, Jareth."

He pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. "Sorry, Precious, I didn't mean to startle you."

She hugged him, wrapping her arms around his torso. "I didn't expect to be asleep so soon."

He immediately stilled, a frown gracing his face. "What time is it?"

"Almost nine in the morning. Ryan's driving must have put me to sleep."

"Who is this Ryan and where is he taking you?" His tone was low and his grip on her tightened

Sarah laughed at his reaction, and lifted her hand to play with the tips of his hair. "Jealous, are you? Sometimes I wonder if you choose to forget names, with how you never get Hoggle's name right. Or maybe you are just forgetful in your old age,"she teased. "Ryan is Cassie's husband. They're taking us to the faire."

He glanced down the front of her, easing his hands to settle on her waist. "I don't remember you wearing such loose clothing in your performances. And this looks very familiar. Do you really still own the attire you wore while running the Labyrinth?"

"I do, but only because this is the closest thing I had in my old closet that fit for the theme of the faire. It's Pirate Week. But no shows for me, this time. I get to enjoy the faire without the pressure of entertaining others."

"Entertain me," he snarled as he bent forward and nipped her throat, then breathed out huskily, "You have no idea the things I want to do to you right now, seeing you wearing this."

Sarah moaned at the feeling of his teeth scraping against her as he began to lightly massage his way to her ass. When she realized what was happening, she moved back. "Jareth, we can't. I'm in the car. They will hear."

A disappointed growl escaped him as he conceded, knowing how vocal she could be in her pleasures. He did not wish to cause her embarrassment. "Why are you traveling today?"

"I'm going to the faire to get my necklace fixed." Sarah raised her eyebrows as far as they could go as an epiphany struck at hearing her own words. "Hold on! We're dreaming now. How? I'm not at the house, yet we're dreaming! I don't have to stay at my dad's!"

"I thought your visit with your father was temporary." Jareth asked in confusion.

Sarah cupped his cheek and looked solidly into his eyes. "There are things I need to tell you. I've been such an idiot."

"Sarah, I am sure there is no cause to belittle yourself. You are no imbecile."

"But I am! I'm a fucking dolt!" She took a step back, removing herself from his hold as she began a tirade. "If we're dreaming now, that means the necklace isn't broken. You could have probably helped me figure out a way for you to be here or me to come to you. We could have worked something out instead of me stupidly trying to…" She couldn't say more, and truth be told, she had babbled out more than she thought she would be allowed. "God dammit, why can't I just say what I need to say!"

Jareth failed to hold back his chuckles at her frustrations, for he adored the crease in her brow and the way her nose scrunched in response to her thoughts. "Well, if you're this feisty, I take it you are feeling better than you were last night; I could hardly wake you. You seem to have had quite the eventful day."

Sarah moved her hands to gently grip his forearms. "You aren't wrong there. This entire week has definitely been like no other. I'm certainly needing more naps and better sleep. Not that I'm complaining, but do you find the timing of our dreams this week odd? We've not had this many so close together for two years, and never just hours apart."

"Ah, that could partially be my doing."

The way he was hesitant to state his thoughts and avoiding making eye contact with her, she tightened her hands to get him to look at her. "What did you do?"

"A sleeping spell of sorts, but before you protest, just know it's completely reversible. I merely will sleep now every time you do."

Sarah gasped, "Oh god, Jareth, you didn't. You have no idea what you've done. You have to undo it."

"I'll be perfectly fine." He assured her.

"Haven't you noticed anything about my sleep patterns the last few months? This past week? I sleep a lot! What if you're summoned by a wisher? What if you're needed for a crisis and you lose consciousness at a terrible moment and get hurt because of me?"

"I've told you, being with you is worth every risk." He leaned his head down, pulling her closer, placing a kiss on her furrowed brow.

She whispered, "I'm not worth it."

He shushed her, using his lips to show her how wrong he thought she was. After a moment, he parted and leaned his forehead against hers, sighing, "Everything I do, Precious…"

"Peaches, we're here."

Sarah banged her head on the windowpane she had been leaning against in her sleep. It smarted and she rubbed her forehead, then the sleepiness out of her eyes. She jumped at hearing a metallic bang behind her, turning her head to look out the back of the cab to see Ryan taking metal kegs out of the back of his truck. Mari started to whimper, missing the purr of the truck engine to keep her asleep. Sarah raised her arms over her head and reached her feet out as far as they could go, trying to wake her body back up. She then looked in front of her to find Cassie staring at her.

"You were with him, weren't you?" Cassie asked, a teasing tone in her voice.

Sarah closed her eyes and smiled slightly as she nodded, "The necklace isn't broken after all." Then she opened her eyes, knowing Cassie would fuss that she didn't need to come after all, "But, I want the necklace fixed, regardless. It's important to me."

Cassie frowned and stated sternly, "You take breaks when you need it. I can always steal Ryan's keys and drive you home any time you want. Don't push it."

Sarah sighed, "Fine. Who knows, I might be shamed into leaving when seen in this getup."

"Nobody will be looking at you." Cassie reminded her when helping Sarah out of the truck. "Everyone's gonna be too focused on the baby."

Cassie held on to Sarah, who winced through twisting her waist to turn out of the seat. "Do you need a wheelchair? I can check up front."

Sarah shook her head. "Not yet. I might be fine after I get going. But you could get Mari's carseat out for me."

While Cass worked to free the baby, Sarah took stock of where they had parked. They were in the employee lot, a bit away from the gate they needed to enter to get to Ryan's beverage booth. Sarah cringed at seeing how many water puddles were between them and the gate and wagered that the fairgrounds would be similar, if not worse after the week of rain they had. She wiggled her toes in her sandals, dreading the state they would be in by the end of the day.

Cassie had been right about nobody caring what she was wearing. Those working the beverage booth, people who she'd known since she began working the booth years ago, cooed over Mari and never once mentioned Sarah's clothing. As expected, most were surprised to find Sarah had had a baby at all; she didn't think she had been hiding her pregnancy that well.

She gladly showed off the miniature portrait Jareth had given her, finally able to show her friends what her husband looked like. She appreciated that no one found it strange that she had a unique way of showing them her husband. Few questioned the archaic token of his likeness since things of technology were avoided in the faire environment.

Not intending to work the booth but instead to use it as a place to retreat when she needed to rest or to nurse, Sarah found a spot behind it which would not interfere with anyone. She had Ryan place Mari's car seat carrier in the shade of the booth. Luckily, it was the type that detached from the base, so she could lay Mari in it at the times she wasn't feeding. Others working the booth kept their belongings there as well, so Sarah wasn't too worried of the stuff walking away without someone noticing.

After she made her little nest, Sarah took the sling wrap out of the diaper bag and positioned it around her shoulder and waist before placing Mari in it. She hadn't had practice with it yet and was only given basic instructions from Karen, who used one with Sarah's little sister. So she knew the elements of it. She was thankful Cassie assisted to make sure everything looked secure after Mari was in it. Once complete, Sarah grabbed her satchel and hightailed it over to the artisan who could fix the necklace.

When Sarah had first found this jeweler, she wondered if she had a bit of magic in her, for cats seemed to gravitate to her, knowing they would be cared for. Tammi's creations were extremely pristine and detailed for metal work; talents not often seen in others of comparable skill. That's why Sarah had chosen her for making her mirror necklace and Jareth's wedding ring. Also, the woman was very humble and didn't like receiving praise for her efforts, although she showed she appreciated it when her cheeks went red from blushing.

As Sarah approached the woman's booth, she found Tammi holding two squirmy kittens, one jet black, one red, in her arms, stroking them as she engaged in a humorous conversation with another patron. While she waited for Tammi to finish, Sarah swayed a bit to appease Mari, who started wiggling in the sling. She let her eyes wander around the creations displayed in the booth, noticing there were more pieces with owls than she remembered seeing on previous visits. It gave Sarah a warm feeling inside that her mirror necklace motivated some creative inspiration.

"Hey, Tammi." Sarah said, trying not to startle her when she became available.

The woman's shadowed brows raised over her dark eyes and her lips parted as she smiled into a wide grin. "Back again, Peaches? What do you want me to create this time?"

Sarah shook her head sadly. "Nothing to make, but something to fix." She eased the chain of the necklace out from under Mari in the sling wrap and from around her neck. "I know you can't fix the glass, but can you mend the clasp and hinge?"

Tammi placed the kittens at her feet, then raised a gentle hand out for the locket. "Let me see...ah, got stepped on, I take it?"

Sarah looked away as she growled, "I don't know, I wasn't there when it happened."

Hearing her mommy's angry voice caused Mari to whimper. Sarah placed her pinky finger in her mouth and bounced on her heels, shushing her.

Tammi piered over to get a glimpse of Sarah's new addition. "Ah, she's a sweet one. I take it she looks like her dad."

Sarah nodded. "Well, his mom. He says his mom has red hair."

"We don't see one so young out here very often. How old is she?"

"Six days." Sarah said, her voice clipped, not wanting to hear another person chastising her for bringing out her baby in public so young.

"Well, today's a good day to come. Thankfully, it stopped raining just in time. It's still muddy around, but with the sun, things'll dry up soon enough." The woman said, a cheerful gleam in her eyes.

Sarah sighed in relief that she hadn't been judgemental. "Yeah, I'm sure my feet will be a mess by the end of the day." She indicated to her sandaled feet.

"You're just like my friend with her littles. Once she started having babies, she never wore shoes again." She then focused back on the necklace. "Though I can't fix the glass, the metal shouldn't take me long. Why don't you go enjoy the fair and come see me in an hour or two."

Sarah smiled brightly. "Thanks, Tammi. What do I owe you?"

"For bending metal back in place, nothin." She waved her off.

"You are a lifesaver. Thank you."

"Alright. You go have fun." Tammi smiled, shooing her away..

Knowing she had quite a few hours to kill and enjoy the faire since Cassie and Ryan were her ride home and they'd be busy working until the end, Sarah didn't know where to start. This was the first time in three years being at a faire without a job to do. She decided to wander the merchant booths to see if any trinket caught her fancy. She found the more people recognized her and adored her bundle of joy, the more they were willing to give her free things. A metal rose here, a brass pressed coin there, a toast of apple cider, all for good fortune for the baby.

Familiar with the rhythm of the faire, she knew in the early hours of the day, things were slow as the patrons trickled in. The actors of the main storyline mingled with the patrons, trying to entice visitors to come to their shows. This being Pirates weekend, sea shanties could be heard off in the distance, either from stages or by actors roaming the streets. Sarah loved the anticipatory kindness and joy that breathed magic into this environment. Everyone who attended expected to come out happy, and everyone performing did their best to make sure their efforts were well received.

By ten thirty, Mari was rooting her head against Sarah's chest, indicating she was hungry. Sarah found a quiet place in shade to nurse her. She didn't feel as awkward as she had expected, this being her first time nursing her daughter in public. Breastfeeding was natural, after all. In the back of her mind, she reminded herself that she showed plenty of cleavage as a Washing Well Wench, anyway. Luckily, her vest gave extra privacy for Mari.

Just as at home, Sarah found herself dozing while nursing. Even on the cusp of sleeping, she never fully lost consciousness. She could still hear the sounds of the faire around her, still feel the weight and wiggles of the baby in her arms, but she could also feel a presence with her. Jareth. She could feel the heat of his chest against her back, his thighs straddling her hips as she was cradled between them, his fingers caressing her hair as he whispered her name. But...no he couldn't be holding her, she was sitting on a damp bale of straw, she could feel its coolness through her leggings. Yet, she wasn't on straw but a harder surface, the fetid air filled with a different type of chaos, with higher pitched and gravely, inhuman voices. She tried to grasp the dichotomy of being at the faire yet simultaneously surrounded by goblins, but she was distracted from thinking by the arms undeniably wrapped around her. His warm breath tickled her skin as his nose nuzzled the side of her neck.

During her labor, Sarah knew she had imagined Jareth being there for her, a hallucination that her mind needed as an escape from the pain. But this-she could feel him; the heat of him, the expanse of his chest against her back each time he exhaled, the press of his legs against her outer thighs as he moved to be closer to her. Even though she wasn't fully dreaming, for she could still hear the crowds around her, she knew it was really Jareth embracing her. She breathed out his name as she leaned into his touch. He used his hand to turn her head so his mouth could claim hers, holding her in place. He knew just the right amount of pressure and pull against her lips that got her heart beating wildly in her chest. She hummed against him as he danced his tongue playfully with hers; God, she loved kissing him. He moved his other hand up her arm, lightly feathered his fingers across her sternum, then slipped under the vest to cover the top of her breast. The breast where their baby...

Sarah jerked at the roar of laughter from a crowd responding to one of the nearby shows. She looked down to find Mari latched, but completely asleep, no longer suckling. Lost in a milk coma, Mari didn't notice as her mommy eased her pinky into the baby's mouth to help entice her to release. Sarah hated to wake her to burp out any bubbles, but it had to be done to keep Mari from having an upset tummy, which would make nobody happy. She regretted not bringing along the diaper bag with the burping rag, but other than that, she felt like this first outing was going well.

Sarah decided to attempt the burping on the move, so she buttoned her shirt, placed the satchel over her shoulder, and placed Mari's head at the crook of her shoulder. She used her free arm not holding the baby to push off the straw bale; where was Ludo when she needed him? Pushing through the pain wasn't easy, but she did it. Her first few steps were slow, but the pain didn't last long and she could walk normally after a minute. Mari's burp three minutes later startled her and a few of the people near them, who chuckled in surprise that such a loud sound came from such a small person. Sarah couldn't help the blush of embarrassment from glowing on her cheeks and neck.

Before Sarah wandered too far from the area of Tammi's booth, she thought she would check in to see what her time frame was. Turns out, the magician Tammi was with metal, she was already finished. Sarah gave her a kiss on her cheek as payment, then properly placed the necklace around her neck, where it belonged. Tammi pulled her in for a hug, telling her to take care of herself and the baby. For some reason, it made Sarah feel sad, like she'd never see her again.

The reason for coming to the faire complete, Sarah spent the rest of her day enjoying the acts. The human chess matches, jousts, and larger acts had a storyline that could be followed throughout the day. Smaller acts, like the Washing Well Wenches, had multiple performances throughout the day to help thin out the crowds from bigger events. It had been many years since she was on the spectator side of things and she wanted to enjoy it.

She figured she should catch one of the earliest main shows while it wasn't too warm. It was going to be in the mid 80s in the afternoon and she probably would keep the baby in the shade of Ryan's booth, so better to get the shows with no shade out of the way. Plus, she appreciated the chance to sit down. She'd never had a reason to realize how much walking was actually needed to get from one side of the fair to the other; watching shows on her way back to the booth was welcome relief for her aching feet.

Except, Mari had other ideas. Halfway through the third show, she started fussing and no amount of trying to calm her worked. Knowing how much she herself had hated crying babies when she performed, Sarah quickly tried to exit through the crowd; not easy when the seats near the back were added straw bales with tons of late comers crowded together.

Sarah would have liked to have taken her time to peruse some of the merchants closer to Ryan's booth, but she got spooked when Mari wouldn't stop fussing. It had been less than two hours since her last feeding. She didn't know if Mari was hungry or needed a change, or if it was something else entirely.

Getting back to the booth had many detours as random performers of the faire came up to her saying how much they missed her performing at the NY Ren Fair this year. Even fans of the Peaches and Flode show stopped her in passing. She wasn't in her Washing Well Wench costume, so she wondered how half the people recognized her without her painted teeth or hair in disheveled braids. She guessed her act was more popular than she realized. Sarah did her best to show gratitude and not annoyance for being stopped every twenty feet; most of these people were her friends after all. After twenty minutes of greeting people, she had to excuse herself to go take care of her crying baby.

Finally reaching Ryan's booth, Sarah was relieved to actually be away from people for some mommy bonding time. She settled as comfortably as possible onto the ground next to the diaper bag and carseat carrier. Once down, she wondered if she would be able to get up anyway gracefully; she felt like a walrus. She pulled out a diaper pad from the bag, found a diaper, then carefully removed Mari from the sling. Her heart beat faster, feeling like her arms were weak and she might lose her grasp if Mari wiggled the wrong way. She knew Cassie was working the booth and could easily call out to her for help, but she stopped herself. She took a few deep breaths to calm down after she placed Mari on the mat. She could do this. She had to start doing this on her own. She was merely fatigued and would feel better after she rested. This was the new normal: Take care of the baby, then rest.

Mari's unrest has been due to a dirty diaper. She quickly calmed down after getting cleaned up and returning to the comfort of Sarah's breast. There was no getting around the fact that a growing baby was always hungry. Sarah didn't feel sleepy as Mari nursed, which was a first. Her eyes caught movement in a nearby tree and her heart skipped a beat, an excited anticipation that she would see Jareth swoop down to her from its branches. The feeling died when it was only a squirrel. Sarah turned her attention to listening to the chatter going on in the booth behind her, the new girls hired to sell the booth weren't nearly as audacious as she and Cassie had been. She laughed as at one point she heard Cassie try to mentor the girls on how to better hustle with the assets God gave them.

When Mari was asleep again, Sarah returned her to the sling on her chest. Out of the corner of her eye, something shined brightly with an other-wordly shade of neon purple. When she turned towards it, she was both in awe and confused. The person was wearing gray leather boots with a two inch heel. Suede, gray breeches lead up to a brown leather vest. Tan gloved hands held a clear crystal, yet within the crystal was a thin string no thicker than a hair glowing purple and bright like the filament of a lightbulb. The way the sphere was being held proved no wires were attached to make it glow, and modern technology wasn't advanced enough to have a powerful enough battery to supply such energy to such a small object.

The attire of the one holding the object made Sarah's heart instantly race with hope, yet when she looked into the face of the crystal's owner, it was not Jareth. It was an olive skinned woman with braided, silver hair. Her hair might make one think she was aged, but a look at the youthfulness of her flawless skin proved otherwise. The irises of her eyes were so silver, they nearly looked translucent around the pupil. And the one ear that poked out of her hair was pointed. Even without the glowing sphere in her hand, Sarah would have recognized she wasn't from this world.

And she was not alone. The man was tall, well-built but not muscular. More of a gymnast than weightlifter in physique. If anyone could play a live action lead from Disney's Aladdin, he would be it; give or take, he looked a decade older than the titular character. He wore rustic leather clothes, from his dark leather boots to the silver earrings that pierced his left ear. And the saber attached to his belt.

Sarah's heart pounded in her chest as she wasn't sure why these people stood before her. She moved her arm to her side as well as she could without taking her eyes off these strangers. She then felt for her satchel and sneaked her hand inside, searching for the dagger Sir Didymus had given her. Once she grasped the handle, she curled her legs under her to get in a better position to rise and run if she had to, not that she felt like she could. She had to force back her voice as she winced moving her pelvis. She didn't think she could get up on her own if she had to. Shit.

These strangers looked at each other in confusion before returning their glance to Sarah.

"Calm, young one. We wish you and the child no harm." The woman said when she noticed Sarah's distress.

"Are you the wisher who felled the castle of the Goblin City?" The man asked.

Those were not words Sarah ever expected to hear this side of the mirror. At first, Sarah was in shock, unable to find her voice. But once her brain caught up with the question, she remained silent out of caution.

The woman held out the sphere, the filament glowing more faint as she moved it away from Sarah, then shining blindingly brilliant when she held it directly over Sarah's head.

"It's her." The man's voice was gruff. "The hair doesn't lie. She's its owner."

"She does not speak. Perhaps she's mute." The man's female companion added.

Sarah ignored this assumption and asked, "How and where did you find one of my hairs?"

"Outside the Labyrinth seven years ago, nearly to the day. Do you deny you made a wish for someone to be taken by the goblins, then ran the challenge of the Labyrinth and defeated its king?" The woman asked.

"I do not deny making the wish. I will always own up to my mistakes." Her heated tone disturbed Mari, who gave a whimper, causing Sarah to rock in place to soothe her.

"Is this your child?" The man asked.

"Why do you need to know?" Her tone cautious.

The man sighed, his eyes looking skyward a moment before returning his glance to Sarah. "Is the father here? We only need you."

"No, he isn't here. What do you want with me?" She quickly clipped her words.

"Those who have bested the Labyrinth have certain abilities, one of which is that you can return to the Labyrinth to traverse it again, this time with no set time restraints or challenges," the silver eyed woman replied.

Sarah leaned back, clutching her baby to her and shaking her head. "No, I can't get back. I tried, it didn't work."

"You tried?" The woman's voice raised in her confusion.

"Yes." Sarah stated plainly.

"And it didn't work?" Her pitch rose even higher.

"Yes." Sarah barked, startling her daughter. Mari began to wail and Sarah again used her pinkie to pacify her. Uncomfortable with her knees under her, Sarah adjusted herself to sit cross legged, then returned her attention to the strangers. "I don't have much patience right now, so just get on with it. What do you want?"

"We need you to join us in the removal of something that doesn't belong there." The elf stated quickly.

"And where is there?" Sarah asked. "Look, you're going to have to be a little more specific. I have no idea what you're talking about."

"We want you to get us into the vault in the heart of the Labyrinth's castle." The woman accented the nouns as she said them strongly.

"I can't enter the Labyrinth. I can't get Underground." Sarah's voice wavered. "I told you, I already tried."

"Yes, you can enter the Labyrinth, all winning wishers can." The woman stated. "Once you've run, you can access the Labyrinth for the rest of your life. And we can get you Underground."

"How?" Her chest shook at this news. She fought the feeling, not wanting to get her hopes up again only to have them dashed. "I have tried, countless times."

The strangers looked toward each other, yet their faces gave away none of what they were thinking. The silver haired woman asked, "How did you try to return? When?"

"At least once a year for the last four years. And the last time was three days ago. I have an enchanted mirror. I can still speak to the friends I made when I ran the Labyrinth, they can come to me here. But I can't go back through."

The woman looked quizzically at Sarah, "Mirror magic isn't what you need to do to return. You return the same way you came the initial time, through the power of wishing."

"No, no wishes." Sarah shook her head vehemently, causing a tear to escape her eye. "I promised my hus...I will not wish anyone away to return to the Labyrinth." Sarah's heart ached at them telling her like it was the easiest thing in the world to make such a wish when she couldn't fathom it.

"Wish someone away...no, just wish directly to cross the veil. A simple 'I wish to return Underground to the Labyrinth, immediately' should suffice. Give your intent, location, and time of when you want to make the journey. And to return Above, do the same from the other slide."

Another tear slipped from Sarah's eye and she whispered into the crown of her baby's head, "So simple, is it really that simple?"

The two glanced at each other again. The man answered, "Yes, Wisher. Did ya not know?"

Sarah shook her head, then looked down on her daughter, brushing her fingers against her cheek. "If I had known, I would have returned long ago." She then straightened and fully faced her recruiters. "So, how do we do this? Do I need to wish you across the veil with me as well?"

"That would be very helpful to conserving our natural magic. You would still have to touch our mirror to be returned from where we came. Once there, we shall lead you to the Labyrinth." The woman said.

"Okay." Sarah indicated to the man that she needed help rising. She held out her hand and he pulled her up. She did her best to not whimper, even though it hurt. She also asked for him to grab her satchel and diaper bag, which he helped to place on her back and shoulder.

Once situated, she took a deep breath. The two were already touching the gilded mirror. It didn't look special or different than any ornate mirror, nothing to indicate it was magical at all, even when she placed her hand on it.

She took a deep breath, grounding herself for what she was about to do. "All right. Here goes. I wish to return to the Labyrinth with my daughter and these two…"

Sarah hesitated when she heard Cassie's voice calling for her from the other side of the booth. Hearing Cass made her realize it would be unfair to leave without saying goodbye.

"Wisher, why'd ya stop?" The man asked, his voice a bit panicked.

"I have to…"

"Peaches?" Cassie could be seen leaning down from inside the booth to look through the space caused by a missing board. Her voice could be heard sighing in relief as she put an eye up to the hole. "Peaches, there you are. I thought you'd be out enjoying the faire." Cassie could be heard talking loudly as she made her way through the booth and around the side to reach Sarah, "I sent Ryan out looking for you since I hadn't seen you in a while. I worried something happened to Mari. I'm paranoid, I know..." just then she came around the corner and saw that Sarah was not alone. "Hello, who are your friends?"

When the strangers reached for their well-made, obviously not fake weapons at their sides, Cassie jumped back.

Sarah called out, putting her body between her friend and the strangers. "Hold up. She's with me. She knows about the Labyrinth."

"Peaches, what's going on? Who are these people?"

"They are from the Underground and want me to go back with them for a special mission only someone who has defeated the Labyrinth can do." Sarah looked to her recruiters, "Did I get that right?"

"That's a fair summary." The man stated.

"I know you want to go, but you are in no condit…" Cassie started, but Sarah quickly cut her off.

"What other chance will I get, Cass? When, if not now? It may never be possible again. I can't stay here. I need to go, and this is how."

That hopeless desperation bled from Sarah's tone again, causing Cassie to bow her head and shrug. "So you are just going to leave me without saying goodbye? Were you planning on there not being a search party when you went missing? The fair in the news for losing a mother and her baby, giving bad publicity? Your friends and family wondering what happened to you when you didn't return? Me and Ryan under investigation since we were the last people seen with you? You're full of yourself, you know."

"Cass, I…"

"Well, I'm here now, so let's start on my alibi. Something that doesn't involve me...ah, I got it! You met up with your husband and he took you home to live with him. Of course they won't believe me, but if you leave a letter in your handwriting, they might. Your Dad is an attorney, Sarah. He knows I'm the last person you were with before the faire, so you know he'll be on my case."

"Have you thought this through before?" Sarah asked, impressed with her friend's thorough scenario solutions.

"Maybe, a bit. I mean, there were flight layovers and long lines for theme park rides; my mind wandered. Once Mari was born, I knew one way or another, you would go back."

"Well, get me a pen and paper." Sarah said, her eyes starting to well up as she thought of the words to put down on paper. Had she known that morning she would never see her family again, she might have tried to leave on better terms. She knew they wouldn't understand; if she were in their shoes, she would certainly be in utter disbelief. Maybe one day she would be able to see them, but she knew that wasn't a guarantee.

Cassie brought her a flyer from the faire, a piece of cardboard for a hard surface to write on, and a blue ink pen. Sarah noticed Cassie also had a 35mm camera around her neck. "Be sure to put that I had nothing to do with this, alright? I was thinking, too, that we could have someone snap a picture of you holding up the letter after you've written it. Just further proof this was your idea."

"You've thought of everything to cover your bases." Sarah teased as she placed the cardboard against the wall of the booth to begin her letter.

"Well, I have to finish the roll of film in my camera from my honeymoon trip, anyways. Might as well get a few pictures of you and the baby to remember you by." Cassie stated.

Someone cleared their throat, and Sarah turned to find it was the elf woman, "Wisher, we don't have much time. Every moment we're here, our magic weakens."

Under pressure, Sarah's hand began to tremble as her mind tried to quickly formulate the words she would need to say.

Dear Dad and Karen,

There is so much to explain, but I don't have the time to do it justice. I know this is unexpected, but my husband has come for me, and I have to leave with him. I know we didn't get to say goodbye, but maybe someday we can come back. Cassie wants me to assure you she had nothing to do with this, so please don't hassle her. She knows as much as you do, which I know isn't much. I wish I could hug each of you. I wish I could explain more about where I am going. Just know that Jareth is amazing. He'll take good care of us. I'm not sure when I'll be able to see you, but I'll contact you as soon as I can. I love you.
Your daughter,
Sarah Tyton

"Okay. That's that." She then turned to Cassie and held up the letter. "Take the damn picture before I start bawling my eyes out." Sarah said, trying to compose herself.

Cassie snapped three pictures. One of Sarah with the letter, one of her and Sarah (with the awkward assistance of the male stranger), and one of a sleeping Mari.

"If you are agreeable to this, we must get going." The silver haired woman interjected.

"We'd prefer not to get trapped here." Her companion stated.

Sarah looked at Cassie and tears started to escape. "This is happening. I don't know if I will ever see you again."

Cassie hugged Sarah to her, mindful to not squish the baby. "I know you will. If your friends can come when you need them, I know you'll find a way to come to me."

Sarah turned to the strangers, adjusting the weight of the two bags on her shoulders. "Does Cassie need to leave? Will she get sucked into the spell, even if she's not touching the mirror?"

"Saying the correct words will only have those included in the wish affected. I recommend you avoid saying her name." The elf suggested.

Cassie took a few steps back anyway.

"I wish to return to the Labyrinth with my daughter and these two touching the mirror, right now."

Quick as a blink, they were gone. Cassie closed her eyes to hold back her tears and couldn't help but to laugh. Laugh at how bizarre the whole thing was. Laugh for the happiness she hoped would be coming to her friend. And laugh as she whispered one word: "Glitter."