DISCLAIMER: i do not own the labyrinth, not any of its charater.

READ THIS AN: MAN, i just read kittyloverluna's latest chapter for Erase my shattered past, and she did GREAT. really good chapter, and much much promise for the future. if you haven't read it yet, go do so. so anyway, i just finished her latest chapter, and was inspired to do another of my own. unfortunetly, i explain everyones' much burning question, why doesn't she wish to go back after it's done. well just read and see. when your done WRITE A REVIEW, then go read Erase my shattered past. BTW: i love the final sentance in this chapter. please tell me what you think, and why you think he said that. i love to hear guesses.

"lady Sarah, Please, wake up."

Sarah jumped at the voice. Looking up, she saw sir Didymus standing above her, looking concerned. "lady Sarah, your awake. Thank goodness."

"didamus, where are we," she asked, sitting up.

"my lady, we're still in the labyrinth. We seem to be near some hedges, we're close to the entrance I believe," he said. "so close but so far. It could still take us a while to get to the end."

"how long have I been asleep, how long have we been separated," she asked.

"my lady, I had lost you for but a few hours. You woke only a few minutes after I found you," Didymus said helping Sarah stand.

"a few hours? But that dream only felt like a few minutes. Wait, a few hours, then that means we don't have much time. Maybe three or so, we have to hurry," she said. Her legs wobbled as she stood.

"why don't you sit my lady. I will scout ahead and see if I can't find the path out of here," he said taking Sarah over to a bench.

"thank you, I think I'm still waking up. There must have been something in that peach I ate," she said.

Sarah sat on a bench while Didymus and Ambrosius walked ahead. Her eyes wanted to drift closed again, to see the handsome goblin king before her as they danced together. Closing her eyes, she could still see the beautiful suit he wore. It was dark blue, so dark it was almost black. It sparkled in the light, and had gold and jewels woven into the shoulders and lapels. The lapels opened, showing a white shirt underneath and a pendent pinned at the neck. She remembered the feel of his glove in her hand as they danced, as well as the decorations on his coat. She could almost hear the sound of the music he sang, bringing her back into that wonderful dance.

"How are you enjoying my labyrinth Sarah," someone said beside her, snapping her out the drowsiness. She looked beside her, seeing the goblin king sitting there smirking, but there was a friendliness to his eyes. "is it hard? Are you going to give up? Because you could be back at the castle in no time Sarah," he said.

"no, I'm not going to give up. Yes, it's hard, and I fear that I'm not going to make it, but I have to help my brother," she said.

"it's a shame, I would so enjoy your presence. It would be a refreshing change to all the annoying goblins that surround me," he said, reaching up and rubbing his gloved knuckle over her cheek. He smiled a little, enjoying the contact she was allowing.

"is- is there no way I could wish myself back after I know my brother is safe," she asked, hopeful.

Jareth dropped his hand, loosing the small smile that he had held. "every person gets one wish to the labyrinth, weather it be for them, or someone else. It's to keep people from wishing to many others away. If it worked once, what's to stop them from wishing away everyone that they didn't like," he said. "this is your only chance to be here Sarah. Once your gone..."

his voice trailed off, letting her realize the rest. Once she was gone, she was gone forever.

Sarah wanted to cry. She didn't want to leave. She was beginning to love this world, even though she had had a few close encounters. Everything was just so fascinating, she wanted to stay. But Toby was waiting, probably still crying. She turned her face away from him, hiding her eyes behind her bangs, "i- I can't. I have to help my brother."

"very well, Sarah," he said, his voice dripping with sadness. "i will give you a few more hours Sarah, but that Is all I will give, use your time wisely."

his voice sounded like a echo, and when she looked, she saw no one there. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, but pushed them back, knowing now was not the time to cry for something that could never be. She heard fast steps walking her way, and she quickly brushed away the tears that had pricked the corners of her eyes. Didymus and Ambrosius came around the corner, panting. "my lady, there is a great beast, strung up by his feet and being tortured. We must do something, for this isn't right," he said.

"what? Yes, your right, we have to help. Show me the way," she said, following him threw the maze of hedges till they found said monster. He was yelling and groaning in pain. Around him, small goblins laughed as they poked him with sticks... that were Biting!

"oh, if only I had something to throw," Sarah said, hiding around one of the walls.

"my lady, I shall charge in, and take down these foes. I will be victorious," Didymus laughed.

But Sarah stopped him from running off, "you can't. There are to many of them, and they're twice your size. We can figure this out without getting involved," she said.

The beast howled, and suddenly, something nudged her foot. She looked down, and saw a good sized rock. Picking it up, she aimed carefully, then threw it at the nearest goblin. It hit a helmet, turning it around and causing the goblin to lower it's bitting stick to another goblin. She picked up another rock that had bumped her foot, and threw that too. Soon all the goblins had backwards helmets, and running around using their bitting sticks on one another. It was rather funny. Once they were all gone, Sarah and Didymus walked out, and the monster started yelling again.

"no, no, it's ok, I'm here to help, I'm a friend," she said.

"friend?" it asked.

"yes, my name is Sarah, and this is Sir Didymus and Ambrosius. We came to help you," she said.

"Sarah," he said slow.

"yes Sarah, here, let me help you down," she said, untying the rope that held him up. He landed on the ground with a thud. Carefully, she helped him stand.

He grunted a few times, then looked at Sarah, "friend?"

"yes, friend. Sir Didymus and I are your friends," Sarah said. "what's your name?"

"ludo," he said deeply.

"well ludo, we're heading for the end of the labyrinth, do you want to come with us," she asked.

He breathed heavy for a few minuted, then grunted a simple yes. Sarah smiled, taking his hand, leading him, and Didymus back into the labyrinth. They walked threw the hedges for a short time before coming to some sort of large sundial. Sarah looked at it in awe for a minute before she saw someone walking over to a great chair. He sat down with a great sigh, as Sarah jogged over to him.

"excuse me, excuse me sir, can you help me please," she asked.

"ohh, a young girl," the old goblin said, his bird like hat making cat calls at her. Sarah smiled at the irony of that, but said nothing as ludo and Didymus came up behind her. "and who is this," he asked.

"oh, they're my friends. This is Sir Didymus, his steed Ambrosius, and my newest friend, ludo. We're trying to get out of this labyrinth, do you know the way?" she asked.

He grunted a few times, the bird on his head echoing him. "oh yes, you want to get out of the labyrinth?"

"how's that for brain power," the bird snipped.

"Be quiet," the old man said. The bird just mumbled something about being crazy. "so, young woman, the way forward, is sometimes the way back."

"will you listen to this crap," the bird piped in.

"Will you please be quiet," the man yelled. Him and the bird argued for a minute as he made sure the bird had nothing more to say. Then he spoke again; "quite often young lady, it seems like we're not going anywhere when in fact."

"we are," the bird finished for him.

"we are," he said slowly.

"well I'm certinly not getting very far at the moment," she said.

"join the club," the bird said. He looked down, noticing the old man snoring. "i think that is your lot. Please leave a contribution in the little box."

Sarah patted her pockets looking for something, then slowly pulled off her ring. "well, I guess I can spare this."

the bird thanked them as they walked away to find the entrance.

~*~

Jareth was depressed. Simply put, he was down right sad. Even though he knew the outcome of her travels, he had still wanted her to say yes to him, that she would stay. Jareth didn't even feel like seeing her, which was why he wasn't watching her progress in one of his crystals.

He fell back on his chair with a deep sigh. "you will never be mine Sarah, but I can at least be there for you, when our worlds fall down," he said to himself, knowing that they would.