Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters and plot

Authors note: Thank you to everyone who has been so patient in waiting for this chapter, it has been a long time coming and I'm sorry for that. Please review and enjoy.

The marble wall of the Goblin Castle was cold and unforgiving against Sarah's hand as she climbed the stairs that led to the Throne room but the cool feel barely registered in her mind, as she was too focused on finding the Castle's owner. The butterflies in her stomach made breathing a little difficult as Sarah wasn't sure what kind of reaction she would get from the male fae who held her heart, however, Lavena's words gave her the hope and strength she needed to find him.

Reaching the Throne room, Sarah entered quietly only to find that it was empty. Since Jareth had re-built his Kingdom goblins were no longer allowed to run a-muck and get drunk in the Throne room, this Sarah knew from her previous visits. Seeing the Throne room completely deserted made Sarah's heart ache with loneliness.

'Where could he be?' Sarah thought, upset that things were not going how she imagined. Her emotions must have been clearly written on her face because the next thing she knew, the Champion of the Labyrinth was being wrapped in a hairy and familiar embrace.

"Sawah, no sad," said the voice that belonged to the hairy arms surrounding her.

"Ludo?"

"My lady, how lovely to see you again."

"Sir Didymus?"

"Looking for someones, Sarah?"

"Hoggle?" As Sarah said the last name, she basically curled up in the warm embrace and presence of her friends. "WHat are you all doing here?"

"We saw yous sneaking intos the castle, Sarah," Hoggle answered. "Thought you'd likes a hand."

"A hand?"

"To find His Majasty, my Lady," Sir Didymus explained softly.

Sarah couldn't help the small tear that rolled down her cheek. After all this time, her friends were still there for her, she truly could not ask for better companions and with a radiant smile, Sarah happily accepted their help. And so the unlikely group a friends search the Castle for the Goblin King, looking in every room that allowed them access and some that Sarah magically opened, however, their reaching was unsuccessful.

Walking back into the Throne room, Sarah sank to her knees, her heart heavy with growing despair and tears of saddness slipped from her eyes unchecked. Her friends stood back, unsure of what to do till Hoggle had an idea of where the Goblin King could possibly be.

"Sarah, what abouts the Escher Room?" Hoggle asked.

Hearing her friend say those words, Sarah stared wide eyed at her friend before getting up and spriting from the Throne room. Following the same route she took last time, Sarah burst though the door of the Escher Room. Seeing the stone steps, memories flooded her mind of when she was last in here.

How you turn my world You precious thing.

Climbing up and down the steps in the same frantic pace as last time, his words began to haunt her, making it difficult to focus.

You starve and near exhaust me.

Sarah didn't gave up her search, no matter how much the memories made her ache.

Everything I've done, I've done for you. I move the stars for no one.

'Yes, he did do everything for her,'she thought as she raced up one flight of stairs just to run down another.

You've run so long. You've run so far.

Would she continue to run after him in this curel maze, only to never find him?

Your eyes can be so cruel, Just as I can be so cruel, Oh I do believe in you. Yes I do.

Yes, she had been cruel but then so had he. Why did they torment each other like this? Where was he?

Live without your sunlight. Love without your heartbeat.

As his last words echoed around her, Sarah wondered how she had lived this long without him and as her hope of finding him faded, so did her strength.

I... I... Can't.. live.. within.. you...

'I cant live without you' Sarah thought as she lost her footing and tumbled down the flight of stairs she had been climbing. Landing on her knees at the bottom, the young Champion of the Labyrinth, rested her head on the nearest step and lost herself in the growing despaire and darkness of her heart and mind.

Hearing a yelp of pain, Jareth looked up from juggling his crystals and followed the sound. No-one was allowed in the Escher room without his permission and it angered the Goblin King to know that someone had invaded his private sanctuary.

In no time at all, the monarch found the source of the sound and was stunned to find his precious Sarah lying unconscious at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Picking her up carefully, Jareth craddled the young fae woman in his arms, enjoying the feel of her before telaporting them to a chamber he keep ready for her use during her visits.

Placing her carefully onto the bed, Jareth instantly missed her warmth but knew he had to check for injuries. Finding only a couple of scrapes and bruises, Jareth quickly summoned a healer to tend to her before sitting himself comfortably in a winged chair next to her bed and waited for the love of his life to regain consciousness.

'How am I so comfortable?' Sarah thought as her mind cleared and rational thought returned.

"Sarah?" a voice laced with concern and love. "Can you hear me?"

Slowly opening her eyes, Sarah took in her surroundings as those of her chambers in the Goblin Castle when she suddenly remembered that she had fallen into darkness in the Escher Room. Turned her head to find the sourse of the loving voice, Sarah came face-to-face with the Goblin King.

"Welcome back," Jareth said, a small smirk playing on him lips. "You do know that the Escher Room is now off-limits, correct?"

The feelings churing in her chest kept her from answering but Jareth took her silence as an answer to his question and continued talking.

"What were you doing in there, Sarah?" he asked, running a hand through his hair. "What are you doing here? That is the real question. Aren't you supposed to be with the male fae who won your challenge?"

"I am with him," Sarah answered quietly, moving slowly from under the bed covers and kneeling just infront of the Goblin King.

"What are you talking about?" Jareth asked, clearly confused and a little angry that she would tease him like this. Did she not know how much he loved her? "How can I be the winner when I refused to take up the challenge, not to memtion the fact that I've withdrawn my suit to become your husband?"

"That was the plan to begin with," answered the Champion of the Labyrinth.

"Explain," Jareth ordered, keeping his voice soft but firm.

"Lavena said that any man who thought they could 'win' me was a waste of my time and needed to be taught a lesson, which is why we issued the challenge in the first place," Sarah explained calmly. "However, she also said that for a man to admit he was wrong and to give up his claim and hope of having me is the only one worthy of my heart and who truly loves me in return. You were the only one to do that, Jareth and as soon as the challenge was over I came striaght here to tell you that I love you with all my heart and to ask if you would do me the honor of-"

"Dont you dare steal my line," Jareth said after silencing her with his finger, a smile gracing his lips and love shining in his eyes. Moving gracefully off the chair, Jareth moved to place one knee on the floor and held her left hand in his. "Lady Sarah, Champion of the Labyrinth, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife and allowing me the chance to love you forever?"

Sarah launched herself into his arms, repeating 'yes' while placing small and loving kisses on Jareth's lips that he happily returned.