Well, here it is. Don't forget to read the end of last chapter. I added a little something new. oh, and I don't own Labyrinth, duh, right?

Jareth stormed into his private chambers and slammed the door forcibly behind him. It had to have been one of the most trying days he had ever experienced. With growing agitation he unclasped his cape and draped it over a chair, falling into the same chair after stripping off his boots and gloves. All day he had dealt with grievous complaints from overdue taxes to arguments between neighbors. It was exhausting work at any time, but lately he had been unable to sleep much. He scoffed at himself. He hadn't been able to sleep at all in the past few days. Ever since...
He let the thought drift off and forced himself to think of something else, not that it worked. Lately his thoughts seemed to dwell on a certain black haired beauty and the preoccupation was starting to worry him. He found all of his spare moments thinking of her; it was starting to become an obsession, an obsession the Labyrinth seemed to encourage.

That was another area of concern; the near overwhelming presence of the Labyrinth's magic. The Labyrinth, usually so dormant and docile, had awoken with a vengeance and seemed hell bent on communicating something to Jareth. Whenever he tried to rest, or even close his eyes for a moment, he was bombarded with images from the Labyrinth. Nearly all the sights revolved around Sarah. Jareth was wondering if it was *his* obsession, or the Labyrinth's. But regardless of the origins something stirred within him whenever he thought about her and whenever he saw her. With a sigh he noted the late time as the mantle clock chimed midnight. At the moment the Labyrinth was quiet and Jareth was almost hopeful. Perhaps tonight he would finally find some rest. It was a short lived thought, for at that moment he was assaulted with new images. These images flashed quickly in his mind; a snowy white owl, a room of stairs,
a bloody battle ground, and many others that swirled around one central fixture: Sarah.

"Fine." He uttered through clinched teeth. "Fine." He wasn't going to just sit in his chambers wishing for rest.
Jareth strode out of the room, chased from what should have been a sanctuary by the image of a girl.

Evening tea was becoming a routine with the lady Emma. On the third day of Sarah's stay, Emma had brought them into a small room. It was brightly lit with candles that cast a soft, flickering light on the room. Emma sat at a small table and began pouring the tea. Sarah didn't really want tea. She wandered over to the window and peered into the darkening sky. The sun was setting quickly to the west. Small smoke stacks filled the air and Sarah noticed for the first time a gathering of tents and shacks lining the city walls. "What are those?"

Emma looked up from her tea. She saw Sarah pointing out the window, so she stood and joined her there. Her eyes followed Sarah's finger to the outside gates. She grimaced, "Those are the goblins."

"The goblins?" Sarah echoed confused. "What are they doing there?"

Emma's eyes narrowed. Everyone in the Underground knew about the goblin epidemic. All subjects were terrified.
Some mothers were beginning to kill their children rather than risk them turning into the little deformed creatures. So how could Sarah not know? At the earliest convenience she resolved to ask Jareth.

Sarah looked at the Lady Emma who stared at Sarah with a harsh expression. "Lady Emma? Have I upset you?"
She couldn't hide the horror in her voice at possibly insulting the Lady Emma.

At Sarah's shaking question, Emma's eyes softened. With a deep breath she began to explain, "A little under a year ago the children of the Underground started to be transformed. Slowly at first, but now...look." She also pointed outside at what was quickly being called the "Goblin City". Emma sighed. "No magic can cure them,
not that we have found."

"Is that why the council is meeting?" It clarified the subtle urgency rippling under the surface of everyone at the castle.

Emma nodded. "We are waiting for the arrival of Stivin and Brynt."

At that moment a page entered the room and bowed to the Ladies. He handed Lady Emma an envelope and then left the room, all without speaking a word. Emma opened the letter absentmindedly then smiled brightly as she recognized the writing. "Its from Sajal. Sarah, will you excuse me?"

Sarah nodded, giving a small smile at her friends joyous face. She stifled a yawn, "I was going to retire any way." She left Emma and found her way back to her room. The paths that she traveled regularly she had memorized and had no trouble reaching her room.

She was ready for sleep within minutes and her eyes closed nearly instantly as she laid down on the large bed. Something began tugging on her consciousness though, something that would not leave her alone. She struggled to wake, her eyes searching the black room. She hadn't heard anything, she was certain, but she had *felt* something. She scanned the room; she was alone. Again the same feeling overcame her, that someone, or something was pushing at her mind, but this time she could make out a whisper. She sat up, "Who is there?" Her question was met with silence that left her questioning herself. Again the feeling came. The whisper was easier to hear and the word it spoke surprised her. It was calling to her. The voice was so tender, she never thought to be afraid. "Yes, yes I'm here." She answered. Though not quite whispering she kept her own voice low as she scrambled out of bed. It was pitch dark in her room, the heavy curtains blocking the moon light.

"Come..." The voice strengthened and moved about the room.

Sarah didn't hesitate, she just grabbed a thin robe and wrapped it around her nightgown. "Where? Where am I going?" She asked as she walked to the chamber door. It opened on its own before she reached it, the voice echoing down the hall, "to help...to help..." The voice was moving and Sarah could see a faint glow down the hall. With a deep breath she followed.

It was quiet throughout the halls and Sarah had no trouble following voice, though now that Sarah thought about it, it really was more a presence.

"Come..." it repeated turning a corner.

Sarah recognized the path. If they turned another corner it would lead to the garden balcony. As Sarah thought this,
the glow turned down the hall. "Help...him..." The glow stopped at the door casting an eerie blue light on Sarah as she approached. "Help who?" Her own voice quavered slightly.

The door opened and the glow encircled Sarah. She felt safe, warm, and protected. It lasted only a second, but her eyes teared over. The glow dissipated with one final word, "Him..."

Sarah did not move for a moment. The garden's fragrance was subdued in the night, but still sweet. The moon was full and bathed the balcony in its pure white light. It was breezy and Sarah tightened the robe as she stepped onto the path.
Her eyes scanned the view, but all she saw was the garden. She looked back over her shoulder; the door was closed now and for some reason that didn't surprise her. Sighing she continued on the main path and ventured further into the garden.

Within a few moments Sarah made out a figure in the distance. A few more feet and she recognized the silhouette of the king. His hands were stretched out before him resting on the stone balcony railing, the rest of his body leaning forward. The moonlight practically made his hair glow, a shining halo. As she stepped closer it was apparent he was in deep thought. His eyes were closed and there was an unnatural stillness around him. Even though there was a breeze his hair and clothes were still. She noticed too that his feet and hands were bare. The king had never looked so vulnerable or so beautiful.

Without any cause her heart jumped into her throat and she was hesitant to approach him. The past couple days he had barely said a word to her, worrying her if she had somehow offended him. But she berated that thought as childish.
He was a king, a king with a growing crisis. Why would he spend time with her? She almost turned back right then,
her feet poised to pivot when she heard his voice cut through the silence.

"Sarah, come over here."

Caught. That was the only thought that went through her mind as she swallowed and approached him. He had not moved and she stood looking over the balcony noting another garden below them on the main grounds. Though she heard nothing, Sarah knew the king had moved. Turning her head slightly she was met with his mismatched eyes. They flickered left and right,
almost searching for something in her own eyes. There were clouds in his eyes, a deep unrest that swirled in shades of blue and green. It was then she noticed the darkened circles under his eyes. He was too close to her, it was unnerving.

Jareth closed his eyes and shifted slightly away from her. It was only a few inches, but the distance left Sarah with a pronounced emptiness. The voice's message came back to her then and she found her voice, "Are...are you alright?" He looked at her sideways with that same searching expression. "Couldn't you sleep?" she continued.

A bitter smirk tugged at his lips. "It will not let me." Sarah frowned, but before she could question him further he continued, "And what about you, hmm?"

"I..." her voice trailed off. He glanced at her and she continued, suddenly determined to tell him the whole truth. "I was brought here."

"Oh?" Jareth turned towards her, leaning his back against the wall. He sighed and brought his hand up to his temple. His eyes widened and then closed as if he were suffering from great pain. It lasted only a moment and when he opened his eyes the blue and green orbs were much calmer. A storm had passed within his eyes and he smiled, "I see."

Sarah held her breath. The king was dazzling when he truly smiled and she wanted nothing more than to embrace him. The thought shocked her and she felt her cheeks redden.

The breeze kicked up again and on the wind she heard the soft whisper, "see...." It surrounded them both. There was a teasing quality to it, not the urgent pressing that she had experienced earlier.

"Yes, I see." Jareth answered the wind with a tired resignation she had never heard him use before.

Sarah licked her lips nervously. "What does it mean?"

He flashed her another smile. "Oh, you can hear it too, can you?" Then as if to himself muttered, "I don't have time for this." His face changed then into a determined scowl and he abruptly pushed away from the balcony and walked past her.

"Jaerth! Wait!" She grabbed at his hand quite embarrassed at her outburst and at her daring. On contact a jolt of energy shot through her arm, but she didn't focus on it. Instead she continued quickly before he pulled away. "What is the matter? Maybe..." she paused as he spun towards her staring at their joined hands. "Maybe I can help," she finished lamely. A tear fell down her cheek and with her loose hand she brushed it away. Any minute now he would pull away and she found it unbearable. Another tear fell, but she was startled as a different hand lightly touched her cheek. Startled she looked up to see Jareth studying her. His hand remained on her face and she savored the warmth she felt. He shook his head slowly as if still arguing with himself.

"I'm tired of fighting you," he whispered wearily. Sarah didn't know if he was speaking to her or not, but the wind came again and with it a response: "Then don't."

Sarah took a gamble and stepped closer to Jareth; the front of their bodies separated only by a few layers of cloth. "Then don't," she echoed suddenly sure of herself. Something was happening. She couldn't define it, couldn't comprehend it, but knew with absolute certainty that she could not live without the man before her. The words were barely spoken before her lips were seized by his.

The wind became a tempest swirling and twirling around the embracing man and woman. Rose petals danced in the air circling them, but didn't touch them. It was a beautiful sight, but neither paid any attention as the petals floated to meet the moon in the night sky; they were too absorbed in one another.

well...I'll come back to them a little later. My Jareth/Sarah muse is panting and out of breath. I'm going to work on Tarrence for a while now.