Kate looked into his eyes, refusing to flinch even as she saw the

coldness there, the arrogance. So this was the infamous Goblin King,

the man who had kidnapped Uncle Toby and who had taunted Aunt Sarah

so long ago. This was the man who her aunt had defeated, the man who

had been the subject of stories and dreams.

But he was more than a man, and Kate knew it. He was something

magical, because though it had been over half a century since her

aunt had fought her way through the Labyrinth, he hadn't aged at all.

He looked exactly the way Aunt Sarah had described him. More

stunning, perhaps, but basically the same.

"What do you mean," she asked slowly, "that nothing is as I expected

it to be?"

Jareth quirked a brow. "You will find out soon enough. Quite soon,

I'm afraid, all your childhood fantasies of this place will

disappear."

"How do you know what my childhood fantasies were?" She asked. "How

do you know anything about me?"

The Goblin King sighed deeply, looking bored. "Oh, I know about you,

my dear. I've been watching you for a very long time."

Kate's cheeks flushed red. "Watching me? What do you mean, watching

me?"

Crossing his arms over his chest, he gave her a little smirk. It was

the smirk of someone who was greatly pleased with themselves. "I know

your girlish hopes," he said softly, "and dreams."

The dream she had over and over again suddenly appeared in her mind,

and Kate swallowed hard. She could picture herself, imagining she was

searching the ballroom in that scarlet dress. In the end she would

see him, and know that he was what she had been searching for the

entire time.

As if reading her mind, Jareth chuckled softly. Snapping back to

attention, Kate said in a shaky, angry voice, "You're lying."

"Afraid not. You see," he began, inching closer until his lips were a

mere inch from her ear, "I know everything."

There was no where to go. The mantle was digging into her back and

the Goblin King was directly in front of her - much too close for

comfort. Kate clenched her fists together and mustered all the

courage she had. She had never met Jareth until this moment, but she

guessed he was trying to intimidate her. It was working, but he

certainly didn't have to know it.

"You were the owl," she said quietly, trying to ignore their close

proximity. It wasn't an easy thing to do. "You followed me to the

house."

Jareth nodded. "Very perceptive of you, my dear."

"Then you know...you know that Sarah died."

At this, he took a couple of steps back, and when he looked at her

his face was grim. "Of course I know about it. I was at the funeral,

remember?"

"Yes."

They looked at each other a few moments, silence filling the room.

Finally Kate said, "Everyone thought she was crazy. Her entire life.

She never married, you know, she just seemed to be content in that

house with all her things, telling her stories to anyone who would

listen."

Jareth didn't answer.

"I had to know for sure," she went on softly, "I had to know. But

even when I said the words I didn't truly believe..."

"I'm not surprised," he muttered moodily. "Mortals rarely believe in

things they can't see."

Kate thought about this a moment, supposing it was true. "Now that

I've seen you, I want to go home," she whispered. It wasn't true; she

had nothing to go home to, no one waiting, no one missing her. But

she dare not let the Goblin King know her thoughts.

Jareth laughed softly. "It isn't as easy as that, Kate," he

said. "You are Sarah's relation, after all."

(Ok guys, please let me know what you think of Jareth and this

chapter!)