Ahhh so happy that so many people are excited to see what's next! I have an explanation for my train of thoughts at the bottom of this chapter if you're curious. Thanks everyone, wow you are so sweet!

"What are you doing here?" He asked sharply. His eyes looked furious, but not necessarily at her. More like, about her but not directed totally at her.

"I should ask you the same question." She stood up, and was vaguely aware of the pairs of eyes directed right at her. The goblins were all looking them curiously, and were quiet for once.

He stood up and she realized that he was holding a riding crop. She wanted to back up, but forced herself not to.

You have no power over me, she chanted to herself. You have no power over me.

He tapped the side of his leg with the crop and looked around. "Anyone care to explain to me why and how she's here?"

No one said a word.

"WELL?" He roared, making Sarah jump. He pointed at one random goblin. "You! Batty!"

"Yes, Kingy?" The little goblin squeaked.

"Why is a grown woman in my throne room?" He demanded.

The goblin shuffled forward. "She was wished away."

"By who?"

"B-by the boy, the boy you like, kingy."

The Goblin King closed his eyes, breathing through his nose. "Oh, the irony."

He turned to Sarah, who was nervous but would not let him intimidate her. She had defeated him once, after all.

"Tell me, Sarah." He had a hint of a smirk. "How is it that your brother is able to not only learn the words, but mean them enough to wish you away? Hmm?"

Sarah could feel her confidence fading but she tilted her head up a little higher. "My stepmom read that book to him. It wasn't of my own doing. Trust me."

"And yet, you are here." He clicked his tongue. "What to do with you? I was not expecting nor wanting a visitor, much less you."

She folded her arms. "Good, we both don't want me here. So just send me home."

The King sputtered.

Then laughed.

He glared at the room after a few chuckles. "Well?"

The goblins laughed and he along with them.

Sarah made a face. What was wrong with him? Well, she wasn't going to let him intimidate her or make her feel bad.

"What's so funny?" She bit out. "You want to keep me here or something? Some part of your twisted game?"

"You think I want to keep you?" He looked at her with absurdity. "Are you so full of yourself that you would think that I devised some plan to keep you here?"

She pursed her lips together. "It wouldn't be the first time that you tried to trick me and keep me here."

"Please," he sat back on his throne, sprawled out lazily. "It was part of a game. I did what I had to do, you wanted that fantasy, I gave it." He waved his hand around and a crystal appeared.

Some strange feeling filled Sarah. She wasn't sure why she felt a twinge of longing and sadness at learning that she was just a game to him. But, wasn't that what she always thought? He just confirmed it.

She realized right then, that deep in her heart, she wanted to mean something more than that to him. He seemed so sincere in the ballroom and the room with the stairs, when he sang to her and begged to be her slave.

Whatever. She had her fair share of stupid boys who lied to her about having feelings for her before. Why should this one be any different?

"So why can't you give me back then?" She held her arms out.

"I suppose I could." He looked at her. "But you were wished away. There is only one way for you to leave here."

Sarah raised her eyebrows. Did she have to ask him every single step of the way? Why can't he just tell her instead of making her anxious. "And that is…?"

The Goblin King looked at her like it was the most obvious answer. "Why, the person who wished you away has to run the Labyrinth and defeat it, of course."

Sarah opened her mouth in horror. "That would mean that Toby-"

"Would have to run, yes. Would you like me to go and ask him?"

She looked at the floor. Her baby brother, so little and helpless. After everything she did to amend her mistake, to win him back, she couldn't risk him getting hurt. "No." She said in a small voice. "Leave him out of this. Whatever happens, I don't want him to get hurt."

If she had been looking at the king, she would have seen him soften at the break in her voice. She would have seen his eyes open up, his sneer turned into a sad frown.

But alas, she was not looking.

"So what happens now?" She said in a resigned voice. "Do you turn me into a goblin or something?"

The King looked appalled at the question. "Why would I do that? There are too many of them around here anyway. I send children wished away to be with other fae creatures. The part about the goblins, that was just a line in the book. Which was, by the way, written far before I became king by some runner."

He paused for a moment, seeing her tears falling to the floor.

He closed his eyes again. Why did such a peaceful day have to be interrupted with HER of all people? "I don't know what to do with you, truthfully. I only ever get children."

He looked out the window in thought. "For now at least, I suppose you will have to stay here, in the castle and Goblin City. I'm not sure if it would be safe for your outside that area."

He walked towards her, using his crop to tilt her chin up. She had tear streaks down her cheeks and her face was red and blotchy, but her eyes were just as defiant and strong as before, even if resigned.

He looked at her eyes but spoke to everyone else in the room. "I want to be clear that she is to be treated as a guest, understood?"

There was a bit of mumbling by the goblins.

"We never has grown-up guest before." One of them said quietly.

"Understood?!" The King repeated himself.

"Yes Kingy!" They said in unison.

He removed the crop from her chin. "Give her anything she needs for the duration of her stay." He turned back to Sarah. "I can be cruel, but if you recall, I can be generous as well."

Sarah couldn't really find humor in the situation, so she stayed quiet.

He made a sound of disapproval. "Evie?"

A little goblin came walking forward. "Yes Kingy?"

"I want you to be Lady Sarah's, oh what's the word? Maid? Servant? Helper? Whatever she needs, you are to give her aid."

"Yes Kingy!" She gave a clumsy bow. "I will help!"

"Make sure she has clothing, a room to stay on the third floor, and anything else she may need."

She nodded. "Okie Dokie!"

He turned back to Sarah. "I will take my leave now. I expect to see you at dinner."

He disappeared and suddenly, without a trace except for the trail of glitter on the floor of the throne room.

Author's note:

While this is a sort of Beauty and the Beast type story, I have elected to of course make it my own. I love BATB film, but there are some things that I find a bit problematic I suppose. You can call me sensitive if you want, but I really want to make this story so that Jareth and Sarah falling in love is real and not at all forced.

There are many stories written where he kidnaps her or coerces her to stay with him so if that's your thing then feel free to read those. I've liked some of those stories as well, even when Jareth is a bit dubious in his motives. I just am not ready to write any stories like that, if ever. Being able to write certain stories is very different from reading or watching them.

For example, I have chosen to make Sarah living with him not something that's in his control. It just seems icky that the beast keeps her as prisoner, and doesn't let her leave. Yes he DOES actually love her and changes, but Belle loving him back can be seen as dubious. Notice I said CAN not that it is, and I really feel like especially after what we've seen Jareth do in the film ("fear me, love me, I've done everything for you" and while he does he simultaneously contradicts himself and expects her to understand).

So I want it to be very clear that he's not the bad guy. He's sassy and temperamental, but he would never force Sarah to stay with him. Forcing her is not within his nature, in my opinion, because he's too prideful to want someone who doesn't want him. And forcing someone is the opposite of love.

Also, I wanted to eliminate any traces of Stockholm syndrome. I don't think Belle totally has it in the Disney films, but she sure does in the original fairy tale. Heck, apparently it was written for girls to feel happy in forced marriages! Like what the heck. That's why Sarah is not a prisoner. You will see more of Jareth's backstory, but he's almost as much of a victim of the situation as she is (notice I said almost because he messes up too).

What I love about Beauty and the Beast is two people getting to know each other. I love how the beast has a redemption story. I love Belle's feistiness. That's what I want for this story, because Sarah had her redemption by saving Toby but Jareth has not had the chance to show us his redemption from the film yet. Again, I think he's a good person, but he's problematic and Sarah did the right thing by saying no. Not just because she was too young, but think about it:

We see Jareth taking good care of Toby. She had no idea if he was abusing her brother or not. She sees him when they first meet, the tunnels, the ballroom, and then the end. That's hardly anything to prove that he would do anything for her.

So, this is his chance to prove himself.