Chapter 3

Ok here we go again. I do not own Labyrinth or any of the characters this story is based on the film by Jim Henson.

Thanks for your reviews I hope you liked the last chapter it took me a whole day to write it as I kept getting stuck on what to write next. I will continue to try updating daily but on Friday I'm off on holiday for a week so you'll just have to wait. =D hopefully, depending on my writing skills, I will leave you a nice long chapter to keep you going until I return so don't give up on me. Eating Easter eggs and writing a Fanfic can life get any better? Note: Demetria means Mother of Earth. It took me a long time to think of the name for the Goblin maid, a stupid amount of time.

Sarah awoke in a huge four poster bed. Shielding her eyes against the light streaming in through the window she looked around the unfamiliar room which was fashioned medievally. Sitting upright abruptly she remembered the events of the previous night. After fifteen years the Goblin King Jareth had re-entered her life suddenly, masquerading as a producer and had tricked her into meeting him. Rubbing her forehead she slid out from under the soft covers and looked down at herself. Someone had changed her into an overlarge shirt to serve as a night gown. Praying that it hadn't been Jareth she tugged it further down her thighs relieved to be still wearing her underwear. Walking over to the window she looked out and gasped, before her spread the Goblin City and beyond that the labyrinth she had fought her way through years before.

Groaning she sat down on one of the richly upholstered sofas and put her head in her hands. She vaguely remembered being carried through the Goblin city and up to the castle gates in the arms of the Goblin King. Her face flushed red at the thought of being in such close contact with him. She supposed she had been really heavy. Why didn't I keep to my diet she thought before her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Leaping to her feet she quickly ran her fingers through her messy hair trying to bring some order to her appearance. If Jareth saw her like this she didn't know what she would do.

"Come in." She called hesitantly then sighed with relief as the door was pushed open by a female Goblin maid who was carrying a breakfast tray. The Goblin had a friendly face and was a lot less hideous than some of the other Goblins she had seen on her first visit here. She was taller too, almost as tall as Sarah.

"Hello Miss my name's Demetria and I will serve you while you are staying here at the castle." She gave a small curtsey and smiled kindly up into Sarah's face. She spoke well for a Goblin her tone was polite and pleasant to listen to. "Demetria" Sarah smiled back unsure whether to curtsey or not "Please, call me Sarah."

"As you wish Mi...Sarah." Demetria set the tray on an ornate table and turned back to her still smiling. "His majesty requested that you should be as comfortable as possible while staying with us. That closet there" she pointed to a large wardrobe in the corner of the room "has been filled with clothes for your use. He requests that you eat, dress and meet him in his office as soon as you can."

"Right, Yes of course." She went quickly to the table and began eating savouring the delicious food. "Demetria? I don't suppose you know what Jar...I mean His majesty wants with me do you?" The question seemed to surprise the Goblin as though she wasn't used to being talked to. Approaching the table hesitantly and sitting at a chair opposite Sarah she seemed to relax.

"No Miss I'm afraid I don't. It's not my business what His Majesty does."



"Sarah." Sarah reminded her as she finished her breakfast. Demetria was being so formal she felt almost like royalty herself. Standing up from the table she noticed another, smaller door than the one Demetria had just come through. "Where does that lead?" she asked the Demetria who had stood up quickly when Sarah had.

"That your bathroom. Would you like to bathe before dressing?" Sarah nodded "Right then." Demetria entered the room and Sarah could hear running water. Surprised Sarah rushed in after her "You don't have to run my bath for me I can do it myself. I don't want to cause you any trouble." Looking up Demetria grinned.

"It's my job dear" she seemed to check herself when "dear" slipped out of her mouth but Sarah nodded and smiled seeing a ally in Demetria. She smiled "it'll be ready in no time so why don't you go and pick out something to wear a nice dress perhaps; after all you do have an audience with the king!"

Sarah hurried back to her room feeling both excited and nervous at the prospect of seeing Jareth again. Flinging open the doors of the wardrobe she gasped at the beautiful outfits that met her eyes. Rifling through them she realised she had no idea what to wear. Was a simple dress best or was it expected of her to meet the king in a full ball gown. The sound of running water from the bathroom stopped and Demetria entered the bedroom where ,to her surprise she was pulled by the hand over to the wardrobe by Sarah to help her pick out something to wear.

Laughing at the girl's, she was a girl to Demetria being only 30 which was considered young in the Underground, excitement she motioned her into the bathroom. "You just take a bath and relax I'll pick you out something lovely, don't you worry."

Sarah left the wardrobe filled with fairytale clothes and went into the bathroom. Pulling the shirt over her head she slipped into the warm water and sighed happily. Though I've had been kidnapped by a fantasy from my youth I feel deliriously happy she thought to herself. She could hear Demetria humming softly to herself as she picked out clothes from the wardrobe and smiled sinking under the fragranced water. After washing her hair and making sure she was spotless she wrapped herself in a towel returned to the room where Demetria was waiting. Laid out on the bed was a beautiful white dress made out velvet and satin with a sequined ribbon bodice, its sleeves were normal to the elbow where they then loosened out into gorgeous bell sleeves. The whole thing looked as if it had been embroidered by hand with silk thread.

"It's beautiful!" Sarah gasped feeling the soft material with her hands then grew worried. The dress was so beautifully white, what if she got it dirty in any way. It must have cost a fortune. As though reading her mind Demetria came and stood beside her.

"The fabric is enchanted so if any dirt gets on it no mark will appear. Now dear you must hurry and dress, His majesty may be growing impatient."

Jareth was not having a good day, he had hardly slept the night before, thoughts of Sarah invaded his mind while he was struggling to fall asleep and so he had lay awake for hours trying to decide whether or not it would be a good idea to look in on the sleeping girl. Sitting in his large armchair behind his desk he leaned his head on one hand and looked at the great grandfather clock.

An hour had passed since he had sent Demetria up to Sarah's room. How long did it take to eat breakfast and get dressed? Women he thought to himself what takes a man, or fey in my case, fifteen minutes takes them at least an hour.



Jareth was confused; he felt both tenderness and anger towards the mortal girl who had turned his world upside down. For years he had tried to put her out of his mind and failed. He did not think of her constantly but she had kept entering his thought suddenly unbidden by him and then after fifteen years, fifteen years she had called him. Standing up and pacing his office he felt the anger overcome the tenderness that had awoke him as he held her unconscious in his arms.

Did it not occur to her to call upon him before that time? Surely she felt nothing for him now as she had fifteen years ago when she was no more than a selfish child. Taking a crystal from nowhere and manipulating it to slide around his hands he returned to his arm chair. Does she not realise who she is dealing with? I'm no plaything to be called upon when she gets bored and wants a little magic in her life. Slowing the furious dance of the crystal around his hands he sighed.

The night before last when she had called him in earnest he had seen her in his mirror though she could not see him in hers. He had been so surprised when his own reflection had been replaced with her sobbing on her bed like a child calling his name. The magic she had used to contact him combined with his own was enough to bring him to her world without a child being wished away. When he had arrived there he knew that in 24 hours he would have to return regardless of whether he had contacted Sarah or not.

Using his crystal he had seen that she had auditioned for a random show with a bizarre name and been rejected though they had no intention of telling her so. Jareth had rung her agent Harold or something at a respectable time and laid down the foundations for his plan.

Kicking off from his desk Jareth spun around in his chair. Meeting her in the park had been an accident, having disguised himself as a mortal Jareth could not help but face her in a game of chess when she had unknowingly wandered past him where he was sitting by the fountain. She was good he conceded picking up a quill and doodling on a piece of parchment. Not that good but surprisingly skilled. She would never know what an effect she had on him while she sat there unaware of his fascination over her, concentrating on nothing but the game before her.

Jack he thought and snorted with laughter, what a ridiculous mortal name. He couldn't believe she hadn't recognised him. She could change her appearance completely but he would still know it was her from her movements, the way she smiled and the feel of her presence. Jareth had tried to make the game last as long as possible but it was just so easy, after 100 years of playing he could barely work up any enthusiasm for the game anymore without a decent opponent .

Sarah was standing outside Jareth's office door nervously. Lifting her hand to knock she stopped for the third time. Come on she told herself be brave, you can outsmart him, you have before. Before she could stop herself she had rapped lightly on the door. She stared at the offending hand. Traitor!

"Come in" called Jareth from inside and so, preparing herself for the worst, Sarah entered slowly pulling the door closed behind her. Looking around she took in the sight of his study while he took in the sight of her.

Though messy Jareth's office was an attractive place to be, it was comfortable with a large fireplace and deep red silk hangings on the walls partly hidden by the great number of bookshelves which were absolutely crammed with books and papers. Three worn leather sofas sat in a horseshoe around the fireplace and at the other end of the room was a mahogany desk behind which the Goblin King himself was seated.

Seeing him sitting there calmly watching her as she looked around the room was a shock for Sarah. He hadn't changed at all in the fifteen years in which they had been apart. Wearing similar clothes to those which he had worn while taunting her in the Labyrinth he was dressed in a loose fitting white shirt which was slashed at the neck, tight cream breeches, knee high riding boots and a black silk waistcoat. His unruly blond mane shone in the sunlight beaming down from the windows and his eyes were outlined in black with silver white eye shadow around them. Sarah had seen plenty of men in makeup, she was an actress after all, but while the other men had all looked vaguely ridiculous Jareth looked amazing. Sarah assumed all fey men wore makeup and that Jareth wasn't some sort of strange cross dressing immortal being. Of course Jareth was also wearing the pale grey gloves which he seemed to live in. Ok Sarah stop gawking and concentrate, remember he's the cunning Goblin King, be on your guard, she told herself straightening up and casting thoughts of how fabulous he looked from her mind.

Jareth too was stunned by the appearance of the woman standing across from him. Out of her simple mortal clothes she looked like a noble fey lady of the Underground. Her hair spilled like dark water down her back looking almost black compared with the snowy white of her dress. Her figure was amazingly accentuated by the satiny material which fell gracefully from her hips down to her feet which were hidden by the dress. Her sparkling green eyes met his and he felt... he looked down quickly also banishing thoughts of how beautiful she had become from her mind.

"Sarah good to see you" he said as he came over to where she was standing "I have some things to discuss with you so please, take a seat." Sarah had been preparing herself for blame, rudeness and scorn certainly not for the courteous way he was speaking to her. Directing her to one of the leather sofas he sat in one opposite her crossing his long legs and observing her silently.

Uncomfortable under his scrutiny Sarah shifted in her seat and fiddled with her dress nervously. Seeing this Jareth smiled slightly. So she is nervous he thought, well I'll let her stew. She'll have to speak eventually, nothing can break a fey's silence when he puts his mind to it. Sarah was waiting for him to speak. He asked me here so if he thinks I'm going to start this awkward conversation then he's in for a big surprise. Nothing can break a woman's silence when she concentrates. The two sat in tense silence waiting for the other to break staring menacingly into each other's eyes, faces hard and, in Jareth's case, unblinking.

He's so stubborn. Just like Toby when he was younger. By comparing the imposing Goblin King to Toby as a young toddler Sarah unwillingly felt the corners of her mouth curl into a smile. Her eyes glinted with humour and seeing this Jareth realised how childishly they were both acting and also gave a slight smile. They were now fighting a different battle, a fight to keep their laughter under control. At exactly the same moment they both burst into laughter. Sarah laughed freely her shoulders shaking while Jareth laughed quietly behind his glove.

"Okay enough." He finally said when Sarah had finished laughing. "Down to business: Firstly, why did you summon me?" Sarah gaped at him. So he had really come when she had called his name into her mirror at night?

"I...I was just...lonely I suppose." She said lamely.

"Lonely?" he asked quietly in a dangerous voice.

Sarah nodded weakly looking down, breaking eye contact.



"Lonely!?" he said louder this time standing up and pacing back and forth. "For Christ sake Sarah you don't just call upon the Goblin King because you're lonely! At the very least there should be some kind of emergency." Voicing his thoughts from earlier he turned and glared down at her.

"I am no child's plaything to be called upon when a selfish little girl gets bored!"

Standing Sarah faced him her eyes burning in anger, her fists balled at her sides "A selfish young girl? If you hadn't noticed Jareth I am now an adult and would appreciate it if you would address me like one!"

Jareth gave a shout of laughter and stepped closer "An adult? You will only become an adult when your thoughts and behaviour mature darling, no matter how much your body has grown you're still the same brat inside which wished her own baby brother away to the Goblin King!"

"Yes I did wish him away, it's not something I'm particularly proud of ok? But I defeated you and your ridiculous Labyrinth even with you deceiving me and trying to seduce me at every turn" A flicker passed over Jareth's face as he heard the this but almost instantly he regained control of his face and managed to keep it expressionless.

"So why did you summon me?" he asked quietly "I saw you crying in your bed and I came but for what reason?"

"Because...because" Sarah fought to keep the angry tears from spilling from her eyes.

"Because..." it was no use a tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek.

"Because I wanted to see you." Jareth's heart gave a lurch but then sank as he heard the next words.

"I wanted to see all of you, Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus everyone!" Sinking back down onto the sofa she buried her head in her hands and sobbed softly. Softening Jareth handed her a white handkerchief and sat down opposite her once again.

"Hogwart." He muttered to himself.

"Hoggle" she corrected him looking up and meeting his eyes with her tear stained ones.

"Right of course Hoggle." Sighing he rubbed his eyes with a gloved hand. Sarah was surprised to see this had no effect on his eye makeup or his gloves. "The fact is Sarah by wishing yourself here through me you awakened magic in yourself that had lain dormant for many years. You have not learnt yet how to control or harness this magic. That is something which I shall have to teach you."

"Then...can you not send me home?" Sarah looked enquiringly into his eyes.

"No not even with both our magic's combined. We will have to seek the help of the elders who live in the mountains.

"Elders?"

"They are spirits with incredible power. They're the highest authority around here."

Sarah smiled weakly "Right, they're your bosses."



"I suppose you could say that. But before we pay them a visit would you mind staying here a few days. There are things I need to sort out and I don't doubt you would like to see your friends again." Jareth stood and smiled faintly.

Sarah grinned, the previous fight forgotten. She was going to see her friends again! Standing quickly Sarah impulsively threw her arms around the Goblin King and hugged him quickly. "Thank you." She said softly before turning and leaving. Once safe behind the wooden door once again Sarah realised what she had done.

I just... Recalling the solidness of Jareth, how he had hardly reacted to her unexpected embrace Sarah felt her cheeks redden and quickly walked away from the closed office door and back to her room.

She just... Jareth was frozen in the centre of the floor. Her embrace had ended quickly, so quickly that he had barely noticed her arms around him yet his skin seemed to burn where they had come into contact. It took a while for his heart to stop racing and he then sat heavily in his chair behind his desk resting his head in his hands.

Now all I have to do is tell her about me giving her powers and part of my heart when I fell in love with her all those years ago...

Groaning he summoned a crystal and twisted it with his hands. For the first time he lost control of the small orb and it fell to the floor smashing into thousands of tiny shards.

Gosh I'm tired. Sorry if this chapter seems a bit rushed but I hope its okay. Please review I love to hear feedback. Stay tuned for the next chapter which will hopefully be finished tomorrow. How will Jareth tell Sarah that he truly loved her all those years ago? How will Sarah's friends react to seeing her again? What is Mr Brime doing in the underground? I' afraid you'll just have to wait!