Disclaimer: I own none of the characters from the Labyrinth movie. -PC

Her words seemed to echo throughout the entire Underground.

The soldiers instantly stopped trying to kill her companions, and resumed their posts. One of them, with a slightly more ornate helmet, came up to her.

"My lady, I am Captain of the Guards," he addressed her. "If you'll follow me, I'll take you to His Majesty. You're expected."

Hoggle, Ludo, and Didymus all fell in beside her as the gates were opened, and the Captain escorted them inside. "You're expected?" Hoggle muttered.

"His Majesty did mention the rules…" Didymus whispered in reply. "There is evidently a protocol to this sort of thing…"

They were led across a wide courtyard and into the central keep, up a set of stairs, and into the Throne Room that Sarah recognized from her previous visit. The difference this time was that the room was occupied; dozens of goblins were lounging around, and the walls were ringed with soldiers. It seems like he's got the whole place in lockdown. The goblins can't be too happy about that…

The Captain led them before the throne that had been Jareth's. On it, was presumably Hamel.

He bore a resemblance to Jareth…a likeness as if the Goblin King had been reflected in a black glass mirror. Where Jareth was fair, his cousin was dark, his spiked hair shooting up in obsidian points and streaked with red. His eyes were black pools, highlighted in red, and his clothes were red velvet and black leather.

He looks dangerous. Which is probably exactly what he's going for.

Hamel was wearing Jareth's smirk as the Captain stopped them before the throne. "Your Majesty, this is the girl that announced herself as Champion."

"So I see." His voice was silky. "Greetings to you, Champion…or may I call you Sarah?"

Sarah gritted her teeth. "You may."

"Wonderful! You see, we're already starting off on the right foot. Well, Sarah, I'm sure that you're wondering what this is all about. Since my cousin, in his…wisdom…chose a Champion from the Aboveground, you probably don't have the slightest idea why you're here."

"He called me. I came."

"Of course. And I look forward to hearing all about your history with my dear cousin…but forgive me, where are my manners? You'll of course be wanting to see Jareth. Captain!"

The Captain instantly stepped forward from where he had been standing against the wall.

"Take Sarah to the North Tower – the Champion must see her King, after all. The others…take them to Belar, have him find rooms for them and such, and make chambers ready for my lady." Hamel gave her a bow. "Will you join me for supper this evening, lady?"

"Of course." Sarah would have told him anything at that point, to escape his presence.

"I look forward to it, then." He sketched another bow, and resumed his place on the throne.

Hoggle grabbed Sarah's arm before they were led away. "We'll meet you later tonight, after supper, all right?"

"How will I find you?"

"We'll come to you."

"Be careful…"

The Captain, Sarah's escort, led her up a series of winding steps to the top of what she presumed was the North Tower.

"How long has Hamel been here?" she asked. Any little bit of information might help her achieve her goal…though what that goal was, she still wasn't entirely sure…

"A few months now, my lady," replied the Captain. "And you should address him as His Majesty, my lady, with all due respect."

Sarah found her teeth clenching again. "Of course," she ground out. "Yet His Majesty King Jareth is still King, is he not?"

The Captain looked embarrassed, and studied the steps as his feet climbed. "Indeed, lady, until the Challenge is complete."

"And when will that be?"

He raised his head, looking her square in the face. "When you fail."

She barely had time to grasp his words before they reached the top of the stairs, and the Captain waved aside the two guards that stood in front of the single door. He produced a ring of iron keys from his belt, inserting one into the lock, and opening the door.

"When you wish to leave," he instructed her, "just knock. One of these guards will open the door for you and escort you to your chambers."

Very neat. Hamel knows I don't know my way around, so all at once he appears kind, but also knows everywhere I go.

She settled for a simple "Thank you," to the Captain, then bent her head and stepped through the small door into the tower prison.

Sarah was entirely unsurprised to find that the prison chambers looked exactly as she remembered from her dream. There were a few details that were unfamiliar, but she suspected that was due to her not noticing them in the dream, rather than inaccuracy.

Jareth, the Goblin King, her adversary and constant companion for the past eight years, was sitting on one of the windowsills, looking out through the bars of the window. He turned as the door clanged shut behind her.

"You look tired," were her first words.

"I am," he replied. "I've been trying to test the limits of my cousin's spell on this prison, unfortunately he's become better at magic than I'd…" His voice trailed off. "Sarah."

She gulped. "You called…I came…"

A smile touched his lips. "So you did. I heard you announcing yourself at the gates from here…it was quite impressive…"

"Well…that's the way it's done." Her cheeks were burning.

"Indeed."

They stood staring at each other for a few moments, then finally the King broke their eye contact, crossing to a small table. "Would you like wine?" He gestured to a jug and goblets.

"Yes please, thank you."

Once he had poured the drinks and she had taken a seat in a comfortable chair, Sarah added, "I'd also like an explanation…"

"…as to why you're here?" he finished. "Of course. Well…perhaps I should start at the beginning…"