Chapter 3, Strife

Sarah stood trembling before the Goblin King. Wait a minute, trembling? Was she really just going to give in so easy, without any fight at all? Fat chance. Deep breaths Sarah. You can do this, come on. She forced herself to grow a backbone.

"Get away from me. Even if I am stuck in the Underground, you can't keep me here. I want to see my friends!" She shouted at him. Jareth's expression turned from rage to that of amusement.

"Your friends? And when was the last time you've spoken with your friends, Sarah mine?" He asked. She thought a moment. It'd been years. Would they even want to see her? She'd pushed them away, dismissed then as dreams. Jareth didn't wait for her to respond. Turning his nose towards the sky, he started to make way for the door. "No, I think you'll be content to stay right where you are for the time being. Come, I'll show you to your quarters." Being a King, he'd assumed she would follow.

"No." Sarah stated. He paused, and turned to her. Troublesome wench! He screamed inside.

"Sarah. Don't defy me." He said with cynical charm. She stood her ground.

"I'm not going anywhere with you. I told you, I'm not staying here. You have no power over me!" She was acting like a child, something Jareth had come to loathe quite thoroughly.

"You forget your place. I am King! You have been wished away, Sarah my dear. You are under the Labyrinth's control, not mine. Would you rather me cast you to the wind? Without my protection you would be eaten alive before you took your first step!" His rage was back. It was baffling, the way she could make him feel so strongly. Ignorant girl! His thoughts continued to scream at her.

"I've been out there before. I defeated the Labyrinth. I think I can manage." She glared at him. I can't give in. I can't let him win. Who knows what will happen...

"Yes, and you were here by my magic, you were under my watch. Do you think it would have been so easy if I wasn't protecting you? Silly girl, you know nothing of this place!" He boomed. Through his rant, he failed to realize what information he had just given her, but Sarah did. She became hesitant, choosing to save her question for another day. He was protecting me? Why would he do that? I thought he wanted Toby...So why help me? She eyed him warily, waiting to see if he said anything else. He didn't.

"Fine. I'll stay here tonight, but you can't keep me here. I will leave when ever I choose to." The anger in her voice was gone. She'd finally realized Jareth's castle was probably the safest place for her to be right now.

Jareth let out the angry breath he'd been holding, waiting for her to fight him. He'd won, but he didn't feel victorious.

"You forget that I am on your side." His tone had softened also.

"Yea, you want me gone. I got that." She spat, and proceeded to follow him out of the throne room. She stopped herself before she could say, If you want me gone so bad, why are you insisting I stay in your castle? Why not throw me to the dogs? Things seemed more complicated all of the sudden, and she wanted to find out why.

Sarah followed Jareth down the corridor in silence. His looming figure cast wicked shadows as they passed the torches lining the walls of the tunnel. She wasn't afraid anymore. Angry and confused yes, but not afraid. Whatever Jareth was planning, he genuinely seemed to want to help her return home, and it didn't seem like he was going to try and kill her or anything, so she sucked it up for now.

They stopped outside a lonely door. It was dark, and made of a thick and heavy wood.

"You may stay here, for now." Jareth said, turning the knob on the door. Once it opened, he gestured for her to go inside. Sarah was still a bit wary.

"You first." Her eyes were locked onto his. I'm not falling for any of your tricks Goblin King. With a huff, Jareth entered the room. He turned a full 360 degrees, and raised his arms in an exaggerated gesture.

"It's just a room, Sarah." He waited for her to respond. Slowly, she stepped inside. She stayed close to the door, wanting to keep her distance from him. He shook his head and went to leave, but stopped in the doorframe. He looked to Sarah, who was still clung to the wall. He opened his mouth to say something. But instead, turned his gaze away and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Sarah was left alone, finally. She looked around the room. It was actually quite large, with a king size bed to boot. As she looked around from the wooden beams of the bed to the dark stone walls, her breath started to quicken. She'd been strong thus far, but now the cracks in her armor were showing. She slumped to the floor and unsuccessfully fought the urge to cry. How can this be happening to me? I've lost everything, my friends, my home, my life! What am I going to do? The more she thought, the more she let her pain escape. Having nothing else, she chose to cherish the fact that she was finally alone, and safe, so she hoped.

Jareth stood, just outside Sarah's door, unable to move. He'd heard her thump against the wall, and listened in onto what she was doing. His mouth curled down in a slight frown. After a moment, he shook his head and stormed away. What am I doing? Do I actually feel sorry for her? Ha! I'll find some way to return her Aboveground, and be rid of her once and for all. Everything will work out in time. He growled in the darkness as he made his way to his chambers.