Author's Note: Obviously Wednesday didn't happen. Then I went out of town for the weekend. Sorry. It has been brought to my attention that there has not been enough attention placed on Sarah and Jareth. If this story has come across as Jareth and Sarah only being minor characters I apologize. It wasn't the intent. It's just initially there's a bit more where Ari is concerned in the beginning. Things should even out from here on. Now back to the story….

Chapter 19

(Sarah takes Charge)

Sarah wasted no time getting away from the library. Ari had made Arium her new target and the dark haired girl wanted no part of it. She dashed out a side door and headed out to the rose garden. The green eyed girl wasn't sure if she could keep quiet during another confrontation between her teacher and her friend.

The moment she entered the rose garden a sense of calmness wrapped around her; bringing a smile to her face. While her lessons were very informative, there were times the human girl was overwhelmed. There was just so much information she often felt like her head would explode.

Sarah sat down on a bench in the center of the garden. Closing her eyes she allowed a gentle breeze to blow any tension away.

"How are your lessons going?"

The dark haired girl opened her eyes and was more than a little surprised to see the Goblin King standing there. "You're not supposed to be here," Sarah reminded the King. "Your father said you had to stay away for one week."

Jareth couldn't stop a smirk from forming on his face. "It has been a week my dear." Jareth watched amused as the dark haired girl blinked at him; before doing a mental recap of the last week.

"I'm not sure the time went but I'm fairly certain I can blame Ari." Sarah said with a sigh.

"I have heard she's been…active shall we say?" Jareth suggested.

"Active?" Sarah was on her feet before she even realized. "That girl has been impossible! Ari has practically declared war on Arium!" She yelled and began to pace angrily back and forth. "I mean he's our teacher! I knew she could be stubborn but….Argh!" Sarah plopped clown on the bench crossing her arms with a huff.

The king raised an elegant eyebrow at his future wife's rant. 'Perhaps this is my chance to improve things between us.' He thought to himself.

"Have you told Arianna you think she's being unreasonable?" Jareth questioned nonchalantly.

"No." Sarah admitted with a defeated sigh. "It's not like she'd listen anyway."

"Are you so certain?" Sarah looked at him questioningly. "Perhaps your friend simply needs someone she trusts to speak up."

Sarah pondered the wild blonde man's words."You know what? You might be on to something. She won't listen to anyone in the underground but maybe she'll listen to her friends." A smile crossed the dark haired girl face as she rose to her feet.

"Ari is just going to have to sit down and for once and listen to her friends." Sarah said in triumph. "I think it's time I helped Soren with Ari; first I need to see him. I may be a lot of things but stupid isn't one of them. I'm not facing Ari till I get all the facts."

"I believe that is a wise decision given your friends quick tongue." Jareth replied.

"Yes it is. I want you to go to Soren and have him come here so I can speak with him, please."

"You are ordering me to do something?" The Goblin King inquired.

"Jareth you're still in the dog house with me, don't push it. Besides I said please." Sarah replied narrowing her eyes accusingly at him.

"If I do as you ask will there be any hope of me getting…what was it you said? Ah yes, out of the dog house?"

"Maybe, but it will help you from ending up in the basement of the dog house." The dark haired girl replied.

Jareth wasn't exactly sure what her response meant but was fairly certain it was in his best interest to do as his bride requested. "As you wish."

Sarah watched as Jareth vanished and smiled. "One down three to go. Time to find our friends." Encouraged the green eyed girl headed off to find Lola, Brandy, and Jenna; the time had come to turn the tables on Arianna.

Lola lay on her stomach on the bed; her ankles crossed behind her, up in the air. Brandy lay on her back on the carpet; her legs going up the side of the wall. Jenna however was lounging sideways in an overstuffed chair with a book in her hand. The Goblins had gone off to play with the chickens. Playing being the operative word; the girls knew they were racing the High Kings chickens, and had chosen to stay out of it.

"Did you hear what Ari did to Arium this morning?" Lola inquired looking down at a fae book she couldn't read. The redhead couldn't read it but she could look at the pictures in the book.

"Do we want to know?" Brandy inquired.

"She used taffy on the door handle and poor Arium couldn't get out of his room." The redhead replied mildly amused. "It was kinda funny to watch him try."

"So that's why he was late." The three girls looked over to see Sarah standing in the doorway.

"Hey Sarah." Lola said.

"You look annoyed." Jenna commented flicking a piece of red and black hair out of her face.

"I am." Sarah announced and closed the door. "I know Ari is mad at the underground and all but I think it's time we intervened."

Jenna closed the book she'd been flipping through and looked at her. "What did you have in mind?"

"It seems to me Ari won't listen to anyone that isn't from the aboveground." Sarah began. "I think we need to find out what happened between Soren and his mother; the war and everything. It's obvious she won't listen to them but maybe she will to us."

"Ari listen to us?" Lola questioned, not hiding her uncertainty at the idea.

"Yes, Ari listen to us. Look I know we all owe Ari, okay? Maybe the best way to pay her back is to help her now." The dark haired girl explained. "Do any of you really think Arium deserves to be at Ari's mercy?"

"No." They said in unison.

"Look I know Soren was tricky and all about getting Ari into the underground but he cares about Ari; I can see it in his eyes. Ari ruled the school and everything around her aboveground. She had complete control. This is the first time she doesn't have control and…maybe she's scared to open her eyes and see the Underground for what it is." Sarah suggested.

"She's got a point." Brandy said; removing her legs from the wall and turning to face the dark haired girl. "Ari has always been in control. Soren doesn't seem evil; for that matter neither does Jareth."

"Alright, let's see what we can find out." Jenna agreed.

"I sent Jareth to get Soren." Sarah informed everyone.

"Pretty sure we'd go along with this weren't you?" Jenna commented.

"It was more I think we all care enough about Ari to band together and try and help." Sarah announced. "Ari helped all of us now it's our turn; even if she may not realize she needs us."

"Alright, you talk to Soren, what about us?" Lola inquired.

"Jenna you talk to King Riodan." Sarah instructed. "Brandy you talk with Jareth, Lola you talk to Queen Dahlia. Meet back here in one hour." The girls nodded and Sarah headed back to the rose garden; she was sure that's where Jareth would bring her friend's father.

"You know I'm not sure if Sarah taking charge will be a good thing or a bad thing." Jenna commented. "I like it though. If she pulls this off it'll be good for everyone."

"Yeah I'm getting tired of getting dragged out of bed to perform pranks." Brandy commented.

"I think the goblins are getting tired of getting woken up to do Ari's pranks." Lola said rolling her eyes.

"True." The brunette girl agreed. "Come on, time to start on Sarah's mission." Brandy said getting up. Getting to their feet the girls headed out on an information gathering expedition.

Sarah arrived back at the garden just in time to see Jareth reappear with Soren. 'Good timing.' she thought to herself.

"Lady Sarah." King Soren said seeing the dark haired girl approach.

"You're majesty." She replied. Looking at the blonde king she said, "Thank you Jareth. Would you mind terribly giving us a few minutes?"

"So long as I am granted an audience with you later." Jareth replied negotiating with his former opponent. Sarah nodded and Jareth disappeared in a shower of glitter.

"Jareth says you wish to help me with my daughter." Soren said once they were alone.

"I want to try but first I need to know everything that happened. I can't go to Ari without knowing the facts." The green eyed girl said knowingly. "I may not agree with what you did or how you achieved getting Ari back, but I do understand. Whether Ari sees it or is willing to see it, I think you care about her."

"Very much." The king agreed quietly. Soren walked over to the bench that Sarah had once occupied and gestured for the girl to join him; she did.

"I loved Brianna with every fiber of my being." The king began. "I didn't know she was Alana's daughter at first; it didn't stop me when I learned the truth though. She was beautiful and kind; Brianna made me want to be a better person.

The dark haired woman fell silent and allowed the king to reminisce of his love for her friend's mother. She couldn't help but smile every now and then. There was no doubt in Sarah's mind how much the man next to her loved Brianna.

"I haven't known about Arianna very long. The moment I found out I began searching for her but….my resources are limited." The King of Dark Elves admitted. "King Jareth can pass easily between realms; as can his goblins. I knew you were the means to gain his help." The dark haired man said and looked at the green eyed girl.

"I know you are angry with us both but Jareth does love you. Yes we have referred to you as his obsession, which you are, but he is completely in love with you. You're his Brianna; his reason to be a better man." The king said. "Be angry with me not him. I dragged you into this; not him."

"I'm not angry with you. It's a shame Jareth never came to me on his own." Sarah replied with a sigh.

"He couldn't Sarah. Your words barred him from coming to you; you had to wish it. Did you ever wish it?" Soren inquired.

"Not out loud." The girl admitted.

Soren took his hand and placed it on hers. "This might not be the best of circumstances but you are together. Give you and Jareth a chance. I know you're angry but give him a chance to prove his love to you." Removing his hand the king stood up and walked a couple feet away. Stopping he turned back to face her.

"I lost the love of my life; I'd hate to see Jareth lose his." Sarah watched as the king of dark Elves vanished before her eyes.

Sarah sat quietly alone in the garden for several minutes allowing Soren's words to sink in. The dark haired girl couldn't explain it but she did believe the King of Dark elves words. "I need to see Jareth." Getting up from the bench she headed off to find the wild blonde haired man.

Jareth stood on the terrace looking down into the water gardens. He'd spoken with Jenna and told her everything he knew. Normally he might not have been so helpful but he felt helping his future bride would be beneficial to him. If Sarah smoothed things over between Arianna and Soren she might willingly stay.

"Jareth." Hearing a soft voice the king turned and was pleased to see Sarah standing at the double doors. "May I join you?"

"Please do." He replied.

Sarah closed the door and walked out to the railing where he stood. "I wanted to say thank you for earlier; I appreciate your encouragement."

Jareth smiled warmly at the dark haired girl. "I would gladly help you, my Sarah." Gently he rubbed a hand over her left cheek. The king was pleased to feel a bare shiver run through the girl at his touch.

Slowly he stepped closer to her. He watched as uncertainty entered her green eyes. "I do love you Sarah; I always have, always will."

"You never came…"

"Yes I did. Just because you didn't see me didn't mean I wasn't near or that I didn't have you watched." The king informed her; slowly pulling her into his arms. "Had you ever wished for me I'd have been free to come to you."

"I did wish for you." She replied and glanced down; her eyes resting on the exposed part of his chest.

Gently Jareth reached down with his right hand and gently tilted her chin up to look at him. "It is unfortunate you never vocalized your wish." Before Sarah could even consider if she wanted the king to kiss her, his lips found hers.

Sarah felt weak as Jareth kissed her passionately. She couldn't have pulled away if she'd wanted to; heart and soul she wanted the passionate kiss he was bestowing on her.

Queen Dahlia and King Riodan smiled in unison as they witnessed the passionate kiss Jareth bestowed on the love of his life.

"Finally." Queen Dahlia said pleased.

"It's not definite yet my dear." King Riodan said. While he was pleased by the sight he still held concern for his son.

"No but at least they are moving forward." The queen replied. "I hold hope for Jareth and Sarah."

"They will need all the hope and luck to overcome everything." The king replied. "May they make it."