Sorry for the delay. Unfortunately homework can take more time than expected. Hope everyone had a great holiday. And hope everyone enjoys this chapter.

The night had passed in a daze for Sarah. She wasn't sure when she had finally fallen asleep, or when she had woken up. As she stood at the front porch railing she could see the sky changing from the hazy dusk of night to the brilliant hues of morning. Sarah thought the sight was beautiful, but she couldn't bring herself to truly enjoy it. The reality of the last few days had finally settled over her, and she felt defeated. She wished it had all been a dream. Some cruel joke, resulting from a stressed mind. But it wasn't. She almost missed the dazed despondence that had filled the time since she had learned of her family's fate. Shock could be a funny thing. And though it had provided her an almost numbed solace it couldn't bury her guilt.

Turning from the rail she slipped back inside the house. She took comfort in the dim light of the house as she moved from room to room preparing breakfast and dressing for the day. She realized somewhere in the back of her mind that she needed to make a decision. One she really didn't want to make. Sarah glanced into the mirror as she walked through the entry. She stopped in her tracks when she saw her reflection. The stress and lack of real sleep was etched on her face. Worry and exhaustion shadowed her eyes and her features looked drawn. Her hair was limp and lifeless against her too pale skin. Her eyes were still red and puffy from crying that morning. Vaguely Sarah wondered when the last time she had looked fresh and relaxed had been.

Feeling more desolate than she had just minutes before, Sarah walked out the door. The sun was low in the morning sky and a chill still hung in the air. Sarah locked the door and stepped off the porch, pulling her jacket more snugly around her. As she walked toward the hospital she thought of a time when she had loved early morning walks. And though it felt like another life from long ago, it had only been a few years. Sarah had almost forgotten what it was like to forget pain, and heartache, if only for a moment. With each step she took she could almost picture those bygone days.

The hospital was quiet, almost serene, when Sarah walked in. Instead of walking straight to Toby's room Sarah wandered to the gift store. She knew she was putting off the inevitable, but she just didn't have the strength to face the quiet room just two floors above her. She weaved through the racks and rows of toys looking at each one blindly. She didn't search for anything specific but rather skimmed the numerous stuffed animals with a dismissive manner. Until something caught her eye. It was a creature that could almost pass for an orangutan, if not for the horns on the sides of its head.

Sarah picked up the stuffed toy and gazed at it. Memories of a larger creature swept over her. Ludo had seemed like a monster at first sight. But he was as cuddly as a teddy bear. Sarah closed her eyes and held the toy against her cheek. Unlike Ludo, the toy was cool to the touch and lifeless. Sarah fought tears as she looked down at the toy again. Seeing it stare ahead with glazed eyes reminded her too much of Toby, unmoving and unseeing. Sarah dropped the toy as if it had burned her. She felt the moist trails of tears over her cheeks and rushed out of the gift shop. Instead of going to Toby's room Sarah left the hospital.

The light of the sun was nearly blinding. The morning was beginning to warm and a gentle breeze promised a beautifully pleasant day. But Sarah barely noticed as she ran home. She refused to give herself time to think. She yanked open the front door and tore through the house, intent on her destination.. She couldn't give herself time to change her mind about what she was about to do. She couldn't doubt her decision. Not this time. Throwing the door to her room open she almost flew to her vanity. She gasped for breath, her hands white as she grasped the edges of the vanity. Sarah leaned close, her gaze moving over the mirror as she found her voice.

"Jareth! Get out here now! I know you can hear me." At first she could only see herself, a desperate look in her eyes as she stared wide eyed into the mirror. A moment later a cold chill swept over Sarah. She felt a wind on her face and moved back, putting her arm to her eyes. A memory of the first time she had encountered the Goblin King rushed through her mind. She felt much the same now as she had then. But this time, she reminded herself, she would be the one making the demands. Once the blast of wind had died away she lowered her arm and stared at the man before her.

"You really mustn't be so loud. You're lucky I respond to you at all. You are completely exhausting. First you tell me to leave, now you summon me? I am tired of trying to meet your expectations." Jareth looked as though he wanted to send her away to the Bog of Eternal Stench. But instead he merely crossed his arms and met her gaze with his own icy glare.

"Shut it Jareth." Sarah braced her hands on her hips and scowled at the Goblin King. "No more games."

Jareth raised his brows. "So you finally understand do you?"

"I understand all right. I understand that Toby is dying and you can save him. So do it!"

"Sarah, lost little Sarah, it isn't like I can mumble some words and heal him. It doesn't work that way."

Sarah huffed. "Then do what you have to do. I don't care what it is. I will not lose him too."

Jareth sighed. "Sarah you have to realize, this isn't some game. And it isn't some childish magic show. This is real. And it is a part of you."

"What are you talking about?"

"The Labyrinth. It's calling you. And it will have you, at whatever price you're willing to give."

Sarah glared at Jareth. "I beat the Labyrinth. What reason does it have to call me now? It has been nine years Jareth. I won't just heed a call to the Goblin City on a whim. A whim I'm sure you have everything to do with."

"Not this time." Jareth slumped against the vanity behind him. And for the first time Sarah noticed that he looked tired. She could never remember him looking anything less than regal. But he stood before her as if he carried an invisible weight around his neck. His shoulders slumped, and his features were drawn and sorrowful. He seemed to age before her eyes.

"What is going on Jareth?"

"Do you believe in destiny, Sarah?"

Sarah didn't answer. She wasn't sure if she could. Maybe at one time she had believed. When she had been young and naive. But she wasn't a child anymore. Instead of answering, Sarah sank onto the bed with her head down.

Jareth nodded as though he understood and continued. "The Labyrinth does. It isn't just a place Sarah. It is alive. In a sense. And it chose you, as it chooses all who rule over it. You are to be the next Queen."

Sarah shook her head as she listened. She couldn't believe something so crazy. She refused to believe. And yet something in his eyes told her that Jareth was speaking the truth. "Why me?" Sarah felt as if she had been punched. Then suddenly she looked up as realization hit her. "What about you?"

"I will lose my magic. I must give up the throne to the one the Labyrinth chose. And I will fade into the mists of time."

Sarah gasped. "Why?"

"That is the way it works, Sarah. A ruler is chosen. There are only two options. One, the new royal, in this case you, will take over complete control." Jareth stared hard at Sarah and took a deep breath. He knew she would not like the second option. When he saw the look of questioning on her face he continued. "The second option is the new ruler can become a co-ruler with the current King or Queen. It would be something similar to an arranged marriage."

Sarah nearly fell off the bed in her haste to stand. "What?" She could hear the shrill pitch of her voice and felt sure Jareth would pick up on it. What she wasn't sure of was what her emotions really were. Taking a deep breath Sarah steadied her nerves before she spoke again, hoping she didn't sound as powerless as she felt. "What if I refuse?"

Jareth's eyes looked cloudy, almost as if he would cry. He hung his head, refusing to meet her gaze. And when he spoke his voice was barely a whisper. "Then the Labyrinth will fade to nothing. As will we."