Author's Notes: I'm amazed that there are apparently those of you who have waited faithfully for over a year for me to come back to my writing. Responses to your reviews will follow the chapter. Minor, minor revisions have been made to previous chapters. Feedback is much appreciated.

Chapter Five

Sarah.

He's marked you, Sarah. It's the first bond to the Dryn.

She didn't bother getting dressed, only pulled her robe from the floor where it had been haphazardly tossed the night before. Her hands trembled so badly that she had difficulty wrapping the warm cloth around herself. She took a deep, calming breath before turning to face the Goblin King. He was fully dressed, perched casually on the edge of the desk as if he had not risen merely a few minutes earlier. His arms folded across his chest, he was frowning thoughtfully into space. It was a moment before he noticed Sarah watching him and his face became an unreadable mask as he turned slightly away from her.

"I should not have left you alone, not with Dryn in the palace," Jareth murmured harshly.

She flinched, misinterpreting his angry tone. "I'm sorry," she began, "I didn't mean-"

"He will pay, I will see to it!" Wide-eyed, Sarah realized he had not heard her speak. She couldn't see it in his face, but she could hear the anger in his voice, and the anguish. His body was tense, ready to snap from the casual pose at the slightest provocation. Swallowing her fear, Sarah stepped forward and embraced him, resting her cheek against his shoulder.

For a moment he stilled under her touch, but then he grasped her wrist firmly, prying her free and thrusting her away from him. Caught off guard, she stumbled, tripping on the hem of her robe and half falling onto the bed.

"Why did you come here?" he demanded. "Were you expecting some new and exciting adventures? I doubt you anticipated being seduced by a Dryn." Sarah drew back as he stalked towards her menacingly. "Or perhaps you were having too much fun playing the seductress yourself? Do you think I've not had enough women that I wouldn't recognize such games? Do you think I am so foolish as to believe you are here out of some honest emotion? Out of love?" She started to stand and he shoved her back down on the bed. She stared up into his angry gaze with wide eyes, afraid for a moment that he was going to hit her.

He turned away from her abruptly, tiredly. "Sarah…must you torment me further?"

Sarah rose cautiously to her feet. There had been a time when her actions mattered more than any words she could have said, but now was the time to prove that what she did had a deeper meaning.

Just fear me, love me, do as I say...and I will be your slave.

Sarah swallowed. "You're right. You've been very…generous…and I have been cruel." She stared at the floor, the words flowing out of her as if it had only been yesterday that he had first spoken them to her. "I asked that the child be taken, and you took him. I cowered before you and you were frightening. You reordered time... You turned the world upside-down..."

Jareth turned to face her slowly. His expression was unchanged, but somehow she could see beyond the mask he wore.

"You're exhausted..." she whispered.

...And I've done it all for YOU!

His lips twitched in a ghost of the familiar smirk. She was throwing his own words back at him. He supposed he should be flattered that she remembered after all this time. "Desperate words," he shrugged. "I didn't think you heard them."

She stared at him solemnly, her dark eyes sad. "I was only a child."

"You are still a child!" he snapped, advancing on her with one gloved hand raised. Sarah flinched, but the touch on her cheek was gentle, delicate, as if she were made of the finest porcelain. "The Dryn, Sarah, you're no match for the Dryn. I cannot protect you from them." There was a plea in his voice and Sarah clasped his hand in her own, meeting his eyes boldly.

"I'm stronger than you think."

Smoothly, she pulled him down beside her on the bed, his head cradled in her lap. She ran soothing fingers through his silky hair and he gave in to her ministrations with a regretful sigh. Sarah hummed softly, unconsciously choosing the song he had sung to her once upon a time. She broke off abruptly, tracing the contours of his face with the tips of her fingers, smoothing his hair out of the way.

"Jareth?" He opened eyes filled with hidden pains and she swallowed the words of comfort that sprung instinctively to her lips. She had to focus on the future, not the past. Her gaze met his and echoed his torment, but all she said was, "Tell me about the Dryn."

He reached up with a gloved hand to touch the mark on her neck. His eyes closed and the mask slid back into place again. Sarah wondered if he knew how easily and how often he let down his guard in her presence.

"In two days time, there will be a ball. You remember the ball, Sarah." She stiffened in surprise, caught him watching her with half-lidded eyes, and forced herself to relax.

"But...that was just a dream..." she breathed.

"No." Jareth pulled away from her, pacing across the room. "For you, Sarah. But for everyone else it was very real." He gazed out the window, arms folded across his chest, the sunlight in his hair momentarily dazzling her.

"At that time, every creature under my control will be returned to human form and offered as prey to the Dryn. They don't take them all, of course. Most Dryn are only capable of taking one in that time, though some can manage two. It's a night of blood and lust, and in the morning the Dryn leave and take their new...children," his lip curled, "with them and we are free of them for another hundred years."

"But, if they can only take people at the ball, then why-"

"No!" Jareth cut her off fiercely. "No, Sarah, he could have had you yesterday if he so desired." Sarah's face paled. "But it amuses him to toy with you, to toy with someone so close to the throne. Someone so...powerful." His hands were in her hair and Sarah gasped. She had not realized he had moved until she felt his breath against her ear.

"How can they do that?" she whispered. Her heart was pounding from his nearness and she could feel the heat radiating from his body. "How can they just take anyone they want?" She gripped his shirt in her hands, seized with a sudden panic. "You? Could they take you?"

A smirk played across his face. "All of the royal line are protected. The ruler can request protection for others and the Dryn will often obey, but it's still merely a request. You," he studied her calmly, "are not protected."

Sarah gaped at him. "You…you wouldn't ask them...?"

He stared at her with that undecipherable expression until she felt her cheeks burn and lowered her gaze.

"So," she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself with shiver, "that's how it's to be. I have to resist the irresistible to prove my love." She turned away from him, missing the way he twitched at her words. She laughed softly. "That's so like you, Jareth. Still playing these games as if pitting me against my dreams will grant you yours."

...For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom as great!

Sarah spun back to face him, her loose robe fluttering open to reveal more than it concealed. She spread her arms wide as if offering herself to him. "Don't you see that you've already won?"

He was taken aback by her response, by the brazen way in which she displayed her body before him, by the implication behind her words and actions. Since her return to his kingdom, Sarah had done nothing as expected. She had lived only in his thoughts and dreams for so long that now when she had finally appeared in reality, he did not know how to cope with the way she had changed. He had been constantly off-balance since her arrival. In fact, he realized...

"You've been taking me for granted."

Jareth froze, realizing too late that his face was revealing more than he would have liked. He raised his eyes to see an expression of wonderment on Sarah's face as her outstretched arms lowered in disbelief. "You have, haven't you?" she demanded accusingly, eyes narrowing. "You've been taking me for granted!"

He made no move, refusing to confirm her words but unable to deny them. He, the king of the Goblins and master of the Labyrinth, had made a grave error. He had expected one girl to remain unchanged through the years, even after passing through a world where time had no meaning. He watched her silently, waiting for the vindictive words, the triumphant smile, as he was beaten at his own game. Again.

You have no power over me...

Frowning at him, Sarah drew her robe closed, folding her arms across her chest. "It's not fair!"

Jareth blinked.

"What a horrible place this is!" She stamped her foot childishly and Jareth raised an eyebrow. "All this time, all these years, and I finally decide to face my past...no, I finally understand my past and embrace it! I've finally grown up, and what happens?" She chuckled sardonically. "The man of my dreams thinks I'm still sixteen."

"Be careful, Sarah..." Jareth's whispered words cut through Sarah's laughter, silencing it. He strode towards her, predator approaching prey, and saw fear worm its way into her eyes. He cupped her chin in his hands, leaning close enough to inhale her scent. "You call me the man of your dreams, but you know I'm much more suited to nightmares." He let his gaze wander over her lips, her body, before locking again on her startled eyes. He was close enough to feel her tremble.

Don't defy me!

Sarah's lips parted, whether in fear or anticipation he was not sure, and her breath mingled with Jareth's, but at the same instant he gave into temptation and pulled her close, she twisted away just enough to make him pause.

Flushed, she laid one hand against Jareth's cheek. "Your evil tyrant act won't work on me," She smiled coyly at him. "Three years can make a big difference." She moved back into his embrace, but this time it was Jareth who pulled away, alarmed.

"Three years? Sarah, surely you realize that time here does not flow with the same consistency it does in your world."

Sarah frowned in puzzlement. "What are you saying?"

He studied her expression carefully. "Sarah," he hesitated, "it's been over a century."

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Responses to reviews:

Desdemona321: Oh dear, frying pans. ducks Don't worry, Sarah's not beyond redemption yet! And even if she was, who is to say what's possible in this world?

draegon-fire: Where was Jareth? Hmm…I meant for him to just go fly off somewhere until he calmed down, but who knows? Maybe later that lost piece will become a valuable part of the story! Thanks for the idea.

SP777: Yes, you did confuse me for a moment. I don't know a thing about Hope Floats! But I'm glad you enjoyed my other Labyrinth stories as well.

b00kperson: Thanks for the vote of confidence! I used to wait and post stories only when they'd been finished, so that I wouldn't be influenced too much by what the readers expect. But sometimes they do have great ideas. Still, it's definitely good to stay true to my own ideas.

if-666: Sorry to keep you waiting so long! Over a year, wow. If you're even still waiting, I will be truly amazed. /

Kontara: There's no greater compliment you could give me than that my story is unique. D Thank you!

To those that commented via email: I'm sorry, but I don't have records of what you said or I would surely reply to it here. Thank you for reading though and I hope you will continue to enjoy my story! (However slow it may be in coming.)