Chapter 3

Hoggle leaned forward as Didymus smiled and Ludo just simply sat there in silence as Sarah explained her plan, pointing at the area on google maps once they located where the city was.

"Are you able to go back and get the numbers we need?" She asked, frowning as she looked over the map. The others nodded, glancing at Didymus. He gave a simple thumbs up.

Sarah smiled. "Good. We don't know if this person operated alone or has friends. Either way, I think our best bet is still the element of surprise. Didymus will get the goblins, Hoggle and I will scope out the area around the place Jareth is being held and when we're sure there's no magical wards...we bring the hurt."

The others nodded grimly while Sarah wrote up a quick email to her professors, explaining she took sick and would make up her exams next week.

Crossing the room and grabbing her emergency funds out of her sock drawer, she watched as Didymus walked up to her closet mirror and stepped through. Looking at the other two, she grabbed her car keys and they were ready to hit the road.

"Thanks, Sarah," Hoggle started, stopping when Sarah waved his gratitude off.

"Don't thank me yet. Thank me when we get him back. I don't like Jareth too much either but no one deserves that," it was only partially true. Yes, she hated him for taking Toby, but as he said, she asked him to do so. Could she really hate him for doing what she wanted. Truth was she wasn't sure how she felt about the Goblin King. Shaking her head to vanish thoughts of him for the moment, "Let's hit the road."

With that, the trio left while Didymus herded as many soldiers as he could Underground.

Jareth stared at the dark hair woman. "Part of your collection?" He scoffed. "Do you have any idea who I am?" With the iron shackles gone he could feel his magic slowly returning.

"Oh I know exactly who you are, Jareth. I also know what you think you are."

"And what is that?" He asked as he rubbed his sore wrists.

"You think you're a mighty, all powerful King that can't be touched. You rule over a kingdom of children that couldn't find a needle in a pincushion. But the truth is you're a pathetic weakling that let a child beat you." She smirked as Jareth glared. "Yes, I heard all about that. That's how I knew it was time to add you to my collection. You are powerful, it's true, but you've let your guard down. I haven't yet decided what I'll use you for yet. I've been debating between sexy play toy and personal butler. Do you have a preference?"

"Yes, actually I'd prefer your head on a pike!" Jareth summoned a crystal to his hand and went to throw it, but his arm burned like it was on fire causing him to drop the orb.

"Oh, sorry. I forgot to mention that collar has special charms on it. One of them being you aren't allowed to harm me or allow others to harm me. Makes you my personal bodyguard."

Jareth's eyes narrowed as his lips peeled back and he let loose a slow snarl. "When I get out of here..."

"You'll what?" The woman answered coolly, her eyes gleaming with challenge. "Hurt me? Make me pay? I've heard that before from several of your subjects already..."

Jareth went eerily still as he stared at the woman, watching her lips curl in satisfaction when he realized what she meant. He stiffened but remained silent. She simply laughed and motioned for the purveyor.

"Unlock his cell, I need him ready for transport. We have some distance to cover."

The purveyor moved to obey her command.

"Sarah, you sure about this?" Hoggle asked nervously, looking around from their spot in the forested backdrop of the land the house in which Jareth was held. Sarah nodded, gritting her teeth, staring at the house with loathing.

Ludo was some distance away, guarding the driveway. He'd alerted them that a driver had pulled up and a dark haired woman had exited the back seat and was still in the house.

During the drive, she'd silently wished to be able to sense Jareth's emotions, so she would be able to clue in when he would be in danger.

Now she almost wish she hadn't.

At first, it was a mixture of confusion, pain and anger. Then, suddenly, it had been white hot rage — only recently settling into a distilled sense of cautious danger.

Something was very wrong.

"But Didymus ain't back and you said we..." Hoggle started, only for Sarah to glare over at him.

"I know what I said, Hoggle. Something's wrong. We need to go NOW."

Sarah rushed to the house with Hoggle running after. "Foolish girl, she's still as crazy as when she ran the Labyrinth."

Sarah reached the door in no time and opened it cautiously, using what she learned from all the crime dramas she used to watch to sneak in and search each room. After clearing each room, she came to stand at a partially open door that led to the basement. Hoggle joined her by it and looked at Sarah. "Jareth must be down there." She whispered.

"Think he's alone?" Hoggle asked.

"Only one way to know." Sarah pushed the door open and headed down the stairs with Hoggle right behind her.

As they reached the bottom they spotted two women standing in front of an iron cage. Sarah had to cover her mouth to keep from crying out when she saw Jareth. He was sitting in the cage. His wrists, ankles, were red and swollen and there was a large blue collar around his neck.

"Come on out of there, majesty." The young blonde said as she held the cage door open.

"I think I'll stay here." He replied. "This may be preferable to becoming someone's pet."

Ellenor snapped her fingers. "Come here."

Jareth suddenly started climbing out of the cage and walked over to her. He tried to fight it, but his body moved on its own. "What have you done to me?" He growled.

"Another charm on your collar." She gloated.

"Who the hell are you?" Jareth demanded.

"Your mistress." She grinned. "Now grab your things and let's leave this hell hole." Ellenor said as she turned to leave.

Sarah and Hoggle ducked behind a large box, but not before Jareth saw them. He managed to keep a neutral expression, even though he wanted to jump and dance for joy. Not only had someone found him and arrived to rescue him, but that someone was his Precious Sarah. He gave her a soft smile as he walked over to grab his pendant.

"What do you think you're doing?" The blonde asked as she jerked the pendant away.

"I was told to grab my things. This is mine." Jareth replied as he snatched it back.

"Let him have his precious necklace, Abigail. It won't do him any good. That collar will prevent him from using it to call on the Labyrinth." Ellenor explained as she headed up the steps.

Sarah waited until the woman was up the stairs and watched Jareth follow like a puppy.

When he was close enough he mouthed, "Get this collar off me."

Sarah nodded and when the moment was right, she tackled Abigail. Hearing the noise, Ellenor turned to see what was going on and saw her lackey being restrained by a dwarf as a brunette tried to reach Jareth. She snapped her fingers and whispered a few words and Sarah was sent flying backwards.

"Sarah!" Jareth tried to go to her, but he was unable to.

"So, someone saw fit try and rescue you after all. How sweet." Ellenor threw her head back and laughed. "Too bad she's just a girl." She pulled a leash from her pocket and snapped it on Jareth's collar. "I'll spare your little friend if you come with me like a good boy."

Jareth gritted his teeth and looked at Sarah. She was beginning to get up. She seemed uninjured and he wanted to keep it that way. "Very well." He sighed and started up the stairs.

Sarah got up rubbing her back where she had hit the cage. It would be a nasty bruise later. Seeing the woman lead Jareth like a dog pissed her off. "Hey bitch!" Before she realized what she was doing she had a crystal in her hand.

Jareth and Ellenor turned to see Sarah on her feet throwing a crystal at the woman. Jareth's body moved on its own and he pushed her out of the way, his hand coming up to block the attack. The crystal shattered against his hand and Sarah stared at him in confusion.

Ellenor laughed and patted Jareth's head, even as he tried to fight the charm and attack her. "Good boy, but your friend has to pay for that."

As Sarah prepared to attack again she was tackled by Abigail, who had escaped from Hoggle. "Kill her, then meet me at the mansion for your payment." Ellenor said as she led Jareth away. He tried to fight it, but his body wasn't listening to him.

Sarah fought with the blonde, both punching, scratching and kicking at the other with all their might. Abigail pinned Sarah to the floor and tried to choke her. "Nothin' personal missy. Boss's orders."

Sarah fought against the hands at her throat, but she was too strong. As she started to feel light headed, Abigail let go and fell over as Hoggle used the iron pole to club her.

"Take that you thieving wretch."

"Thanks Hoggle." Sarah sat up and went to hug her friend.

"No time. The other one still has the King."

Sarah jumped to her feet and raced out the door to see the car driving away. Jareth staring at her through the back window.

"Damnit!" Sarah exploded, kicking a spray of rocks from the driveway with her foot. Thinking fast, she took off and ran as fast as she could after the car, seeing the pain and pride in Jareth's eye as he stared at her trying to keep up.

She dropped her own just as it swung the corner, catching the license plate. She smirked faintly and tugged her phone out of her pocket, walking back to where Hoggle had given out in his chase several yards back, laying out flat on the ground, gasping for breath.

"Hello? 911? Oh god, please help me!" She sobbed, faking it with everything she had. "My boyfriend's been kidnapped! I...no! I don't know! I ran off and knocked out her accomplice. I have her license plate. Please hurry, she looks dangerous! She had us chained up in the basement!"

With that, she hung up and threw her cell into the bushes.

"What was that for?" Hoggle struggled to say, sitting up.

"The cops. They'll trace the cell and the plate of that car. Now, let's go get that blonde and ask her some important questions before this place is swarming with cops."

Hoggle blinked, his eyes going wide. "Sarah that's...genius."

As Sarah and Hoggle returned to the house, they found a horde of goblins running about. "Looks like the Calvary has arrived."

"Yea, late as always." Hoggle grumbled.

"My Lady! Oh thank heavens thou are safe. Where is his majesty?"

Sarah sighed. "They got away. That woman is somehow controlling him with that collar."

"A collar?" Didymus rubbed his chin. "It would take some powerful magic to control our King."

"Or he'd need to be really weak." Hoggle added.

"Iron. That's why he was in the cage and had the shackles!" Sarah announced as she rushed inside.

Arriving in the basement she found Abigail tied to the post with 3 goblin poking her with sticks. "Stop it!"

Sarah chuckled and took pity on her. "Enough guys."

The goblins looked up and ran to Sarah's side. "Yes Queenie"

"Queen? Wait you mean there's a bloody Queen?" Abigail was shocked.

"I'm not the Queen." Sarah stated.

"But you are my Lady. Should something happen to our King, the champion becomes acting King or in your case Queen." Didymus explained.

"What if there is no champion?" She asked.

"Never had to worry about. Ain't nothing ever happen to the King before." Hoggle shrugged.

"What should we do with the prisoner, Queenie?" One of the goblins asked.

Sarah walked up to the captive and knelt down, staring into the eyes of the purveyor that had taken Jareth and all but tortured him. The woman stared back, but Sarah could see nervousness behind her facade as she looked around the room.

"There's a lot more where this came from," she murmured, tipping her head to the side with a smile, leaning in slightly. "You know...I saw what you did to him. Jareth, that is - their King. Do you think I should tell them? What would they do, I wonder, if I told them how you hurt him?"

The woman's eyes went wide. "You...wouldn't..."

"I stopped them just then, but now...with him gone..." She tsked and the woman blanched. "I also called the cops. They think you've kidnapped me." She made a terrified screaming motion with her face, watching as the woman stared, wide-eyed and panicked, as Sarah laughed.

"So you have some choices. What's your name?" Sarah asked, settling down in front of the woman.

"Abigail," she replied, jerking back when a few more goblins returned, ready to prod her, all rapt on how Sarah was handling the situation.

"Pretty name. Listen, Abigail, I don't like this anymore than you do. But you're the reason that woman has him and I need him back. There's a reason he's King and you've thrown that out of whack. Tell me where he is, and I'll consider letting you go."

The woman couldn't talk fast enough, giving Sarah a detailed explanation of where to find Jareth and what kind of woman they were up against. Sarah beamed her a megawatt smile and rose, dusting off her pants.

"Take her back to the castle in the Underground, put her in one of the cells. I'm sure Jareth will have further questions later," she called out over her shoulder as she headed for the stairs.

"You said you'd let me go!" Abigail wailed, shrinking back from the goblins who - per Sarah's command - looked suddenly rather menacing.

"I said I would consider it. Well, I've considered it. And you're not going just yet," She replied with a smile, watching as the goblins drug the woman through a mirror. Turning to a few more goblins, she addressed them sternly. "Keep her secluded until the King returns. No funny business. The King needs to know how she knows about him."

They nodded and Sarah climbed the stairs, the rest of her forces in tow.

"Now, let's go get the King, shall we?" A small cheer rose up from the group gathered around her.