Ooo WEE! This was fun to write. Extremely fun. Does anyone else find dialogue the best bit of writing? A big thank you to anyone whose given this work a glance and an ESPCEIALLY big thank you to LadyRana and Honoria Granger for their lovely comments and helpful advice.

Seriously, I love criticism. HIT ME WITH IT.

Anywho, enjoy and drop a review? :)

The goddamn Fox was going to get them killed.

Again.

Hoggle lay in the undergrowth, eyes wide and breath held, as Sir Didymus wriggled towards the knotted clump of goblin guards. The survey team had caught Hoggle and the crew by surprise- not many goblins dared to visit the Forest of Sound after all- and they'd only just managed to dodge the armed guards in the last ten minutes. And now the fox was going to give them away.

Again.

"Fear not, Brother Hoggle," he'd whispered, as he scurried away from Hoggle's grasp. "I shall rid ourselves of these brutes, once and for all!"

And now all Hoggle could do was watch the bushy tail of Sir Didymus in despair. In the last five years, since… Sarah (Hoggle had to force himself to think her name, feeling the familiar wave of sadness at her absence) had left them, the gang had been on the run from Jareth's cronies, plunging themselves into more dangerous territory in the hopes that one day no one would be brave enough to follow them. And in all that time, Sir Didymus had caused more trouble than a bull in a china shop.

He inched towards the guards, who were scratching their heads in confusion, raised his cane, and tripped one of them up. Then he was gone, in the bushes, quick as a flash.

Hoggle blinked.

That had been… surprisingly smart.

Again, Sir Didymus darted out, caught the guard round the ankle, and sent him flying. And again, he darted back into the undergrowth, invisible.

Above the hullabaloo, Ludo (who was pretending to be a tree) let out a pleased chuckle. "Friend clever," he said.

The last guard standing whipped around at the sound of the giant beast, but Sir Didymus was on him at once. Suddenly he threw caution to the wind and began beating the floored goblins with his stick, crying out in joy.

"Aha!" he exclaimed. "You fowl creatures have been bested at last! You, my worthy adversaries, have had the pleasure of falling to my sword- Sir Didymus of the Bridge!"

"Your bridge ain't there no more!" Hoggle cried, springing up to drag the fox away from the groaning guards. "And we gotta keep movin',"

"Ah, ah yes," said Sir Didymus, his victory quickly forgotten at this revelation. "I need a new title- something honourable- something to strike fear into the hearts of all, something-"

The goblin guards sprang to their feet with angry grunts.

"How about Sir Shut up and run!" Hoggle cried. Behind him, Ludo cast away his branches and began to stride away in long, loping strides.

"Sir Shut and up and run?" said Sir Didymus, in confusion. "But why-?"

The goblins roared. Sir Didymus glanced at them.

"Ah yes, I do believe that would suit the situation," he said.

"DIDYMUS," Hoggle screamed, over his shoulder. "RUN!"

"Coming, Sir Hoggle!" Sir Didymus called.

And together they plunged further and further into the dark forest.

Xxx

Sarah stared.

She stared some more.

And more.

At some point her jaw began to ache from hanging open too long.

"You weren't kidding," she breathed at last.

"Why would I kid about this?" Martina asked, dryly. She flung her arms out to indicate the entire street and raised her voice to a near shout. "It's a freaking avalanche!"

All around, there lay a thick, white quilt of snow. It enveloped everything- filling the roads, half consuming letter boxes, blocking doorways and clinging to every surface imaginable. A pattern of frost laced every windowpane, icicles jutted down from drainpipes and every word spoken aloud transformed mid-air into a puffy cloud.

Sarah couldn't believe it.

"But it's May," she said.

"Tell that to Jack Frost," quipped Martina. She hugged herself, for she was still wearing the thin, black dress she'd worn last night. "I thought I was still drunk when I woke up," she added, shivering.

Down the street, other people began to emerge from doorways, eyes wide as saucers. Kids laughed delightedly and flung themselves into the powdery miracle. Catching sight of one girl (who literally flung herself in the snow, head first) Sarah reached down to touch the icy layers of spun sugar. It came up to her waist, so she didn't have to reach far.

The initial cold that graced her fingertips sent a shock throughout Sarah's arm, like a series of electric tingles, but then she relaxed and really began to feel the snow. At surface level, it was just like any other flurry, but as it began to melt against her skin, Sarah got the distinct feeling that something was… off.

The texture didn't feel right, the sparkle was too bright and there was a certain… sweet scent in the air.

You know this, a voice told her. You've felt it before.

Magic.

"Er, earth to Sarah," said Martina, waving a hand in front of her friend's zoned out face. "Hey did you hear me or not?"

"Huh?" asked Sarah, blinking.

"I said- do you think classes will be cancelled today?"

"Oh, I er, I don't know. I'll check the website." She turned to go inside, still somewhat dazed, but a cheerful voice stopped her.

"Well, look who's on my doorstep." Said the voice, emerging from the coffee shop.

Martina grabbed Sarah's arm instantly, preventing her escape.

Gil offered them his brightest smile- which was almost disgustingly bright. He was wearing a thick black jumper, skinny jeans and a bright red scarf which was obviously a Christmas castoff. In his hands were two steaming, polystyrene cups which he offered to them, somewhat sheepishly.

"Hot chocolate cures a cold spell- even a freak one," he said.

Martina stared at the offered cup like it would bite her.

"Aw, thanks Gil," said Sarah, accepting both cups and shoving the excess one at Martina. She clutched at it almost robotically. "This is so weird, isn't it?"

Gil nodded, eyes flicking shyly to Martina. She was staring straight at her cup.

"Yeah, news says it's just Vermont too- they don't have a clue what's going on."

An awkward silence. Sarah stepped on Martina's toe. Hey!

Martina glared at her. What?

Sarah indicated Gil with her eyes. Go on.

Martina raised an eyebrow. Stubbornly. Go on what?

Sarah sighed.

"Wonder if the circus will be cancelled, it's tomorrow night, isn't it?" said Sarah, pointedly.

Hope flitted across Gil's face. "No I checked, they have a backup venue, bizarrely- apparently they play in some harsh places- Russia and-" he fumbled, excited. "Yeah, it's still on."

They both turned to Martina expectantly.

With effort, Martina steeled her nerves. She would not become a pile of useless goo. She would not. Taking a firm hold of herself, Martina gripped the hot chocolate, raised her chin and looked him directly in the eye. A fighting stance.

Oh boy, thought Sarah with a small smile.

"If we're doing this, I have a few conditions," she said, trying desperately to remain aloof. "First, don't pick me up, meet me there at five," said Martina, firmly. "Second, no flowers, chocolates, or," she gestured to the cup. "Beverages. And don't be late. Got it bean boy?"

Gil, bless him, couldn't have looked happier. "Sure, no acts of kindness, no gestures of goodwill and immaculate punctuality. I can do that."

Martina's eyes narrowed slightly (despite the slight blush painted across her cheeks) but Gil only grinned. He looked higher than a kite. Sarah gave herself a silent high five.

"Well, we've got to check if classes are still on," said Sarah. She gave Gil a sly wink. "See you later, Gil."

With an over-the-top bow, Gil bid them farewell.

On the stairwell, Sarah couldn't resist a low chuckle.

Martina glared at her. "Oh shut up."

Xxxxx

The Goblin King lounged in an ancient oak tree like a panther, eyes lazily flicking over the frozen landscape below.

The magic trapped in the snow was starting to take effect- that much was apparent. In the Aboveground, where magic was something rare and almost extinct, Jareth found it difficult to maintain his true form. He was a creature of magic after all. For where humans were hewn from earth and flesh, he was spun from starlight and moonlight, like silver spider web. But now that the town lay dusted with the essence of his making, now that the worlds were merging, Jareth found to his amusement that he was caught between the bodies he used in the respected worlds.

The wings he'd grown used to over his years of spying had shrunk into things that resembled arms (though the feathers still clung, fast and thick) and claws adorned his bare hands and feet. The unearthly, mismatched eyes he possessed were still large and owl like- drinking in the chaos below.

Jareth smiled sharply.

"Come now, don't lurk, chap, it really doesn't suit you." he spoke.

After a beat of silence, the Prince of the Many Waters emerged from a frozen pond below. "I wasn't aware you knew me so well, Goblin King." He said, icily.

But Jareth was immune to his foul mood. He felt lighter than a bubble. "Ah," he said, breathing deeply in. "How much sweeter the air tastes, you've done an impeccable job, my Prince."

"But for what purpose, I wonder," muttered the Prince. He folded his arms and surveyed the town below with a critical eye. "What business could you possibly have with the Above dwellers? Not enough children to steal as of late?"

Jareth allowed himself a laugh. "Sarcasm does not suit you either, I'm afraid," he said. "I much prefer your usual, stoic self, your highness." His feather shrunk a little further and Jareth smirked. "The spells are taking effect so quickly- perhaps you are prodigy after all."

The Prince of the Many Waters' eyes narrowed. "I keep my word, Goblin King," he snapped. "You better see that you keep yours."

And with that he sank into the depths of the pond and disappeared.

Jareth didn't even seem to notice. He swung his legs in long arcs, humming a tune from a memory long forgotten, a ball, a dance, a dream…

"Sarah, Sarah," he whispered, summoning a crystal. "How close the hour grows…"

Overhead, snow began to fall once more.

Xxxx

When Sarah finally fished out Hattie's number from the depths of her coat pocket and connected to her phone, the snow had started falling again and the wind had grown restless and bitter. The dial beeped for a long time- so long that Sarah was just about to give up- when it connected with a muffled click.

"'Ello?" said a voice.

"Hattie?" spoke Sarah. "It's Sarah Williams, I-"

"Oh hello, love!" Hattie cried. In the background something crashed and papers scattered. "Oh hell's teeth," she muttered. "Sorry love, I really need to sought the desk out. But heaven knows that pales in comparison to the weather! Such strange happenings- completely out of the blue, and so troublesome too! Some of its leaking through the rafters- I've managed to save our dear Oedipus though."

"Yeah, it's really strange," Sarah agreed. "I just called because- well, even though Student Services told me everything's closed I thought I'd check- wait," Sarah paused. "Hattie, are you at the library?"

"Hmm? Yes dear," Hattie said quickly. Too quickly. "But it's alright dear, you don't have to come in, we are closed after all."

"But how did you get there?" wondered Sarah aloud. "The snow's so thick…"

A moment of silence crackled across the line.

Sarah put some sternness in her voice. "Hattie…"

"Well, I may have stayed overnight, dear," said Hattie at last. "Got carried away with my papers and- hem- well, yes. Nothing to worry about though! I'm right as rain."

Another crash.

"Really, Sarah, there's plenty of crackers in the cupboard from last year, there's a kettle and the pipes haven't frozen over yet."

But Sarah wasn't listening. She was shrugging on her coat and calling Martina.

"Sarah?"

"I'll be there in ten."

Then the line went dead.

Xxx

"Why am I doing this again?" whined Martina. She was covered from head to tail in all the Canadian snow gear she owned. All black of course. Sarah rather fancied she looked like the she-yeti of darkness.

"Because," said Sarah, shovelling snow away from the Library's entrance. "Hattie's stuck inside."

"So?" Martina drawled, shovelling hard despite her protests. "I don't know her- she could turn out to be my sworn enemy and here I am trying to help her."

"I don't think Hattie could be anyone's enemy," laughed Sarah.

An icy layer of sweat had settled across the girls' skin as they worked, and a bright, red flush stained what little flesh was visible. The stone gargoyles overhead watched their work with unseeing eyes, crusted with ice crystals and darkened with age which transformed them into hagged ghouls. They were giving Martina the creeps.

"Well," she muttered. "She hasn't met me yet."

Overhead, a sudden banging caught the girls' attention. They glanced up, just in time to see an arm fling open a frozen window on the second floor. Hattie's head popped out shortly after, and she waved frantically.

"Cooie!" she called, enthusiastically.

"Cooie?" Martina repeated, disbelievingly. "Did she seriously just say cooie?"

Sarah shushed her and waved back.

"Really, you don't have to go to such trouble!" Hattie called down. "I was in the Girl's brigade when I was younger- terrible business- but it taught us to survive the wilderness!"

Sarah waved her off. "We're almost through!" she called back. "And Martina's Canadian- she's built for this."

"You do realise that's racist," Martina drawled, from the side. "Really Sarah, I can't believe we're friends."

Again, Sarah ignored her. "We'll be inside soon!" she called to Hattie. "Why don't you make some tea while you wait?"

Hattie's face brightened. "What a marvellous suggestion," she muttered. "I'll do just that!" and then she disappeared inside.

"Still think she's your sworn enemy?" asked Sarah, eyebrow raised and superior.

Martina started shovelling again. "Ah quick slacking, we've got snow to move and your technique is all wrong."

They laughed and set to work.

Xxxx

Meanwhile, Hoggle was holding a meeting.

Around the table sat Sir Didymus, Ludo and Ambrosias- who had slunk back with his tail between his legs when they'd finally given the goblin guards the slip. Sir Didymus scowled at him frequently.

"Right, 'eres the thing, they've chased us from the Babblin' brooks," Hoggle shuddered, remembering the insistent gossiping of those godforsaken waters. Bloody chatterboxes. "Right into the depths of the forest- which means," he sighed. "They ain't givin' up."

Everyone sagged a little. Well, everyone accept Sir Didymus.

"That is why," he said now, standing. "We should stop this quivering and fight- let us band together as brothers once more and storm the castle!"

"That ain't gonna work, yer idiot!" Hoggle snapped. "Jareth will fry yer before yer get close! Besides…" he trailed off and Ludo spoke up to finish his sentence.

"No Sarah," he said, sadly.

Everyone slumped a little further at that. Even Sir Didymus.

"We need ta find some place no one'd want to follow us," said Hoggle at last.

"Well," said Sir Didymus, airily. "I did suggest that perhaps-"

"I ain't livin' in a bog o' stink for the rest of me life!" Hoggle snapped.

"Really, the name does not do the place justice, Sir Hoggle, for the air is rather sweet- especially in summer time and-"

Hoggle sat down heavily and sighed. "Should've never helped that girl," he muttered as Sir Didymus prattled on. "Only caused trouble, it did, should've led her back to the damned beginning."

Suddenly, something round and solid fell from the trees and hit Sir Didymus on the head. Immediately his cane was out.

"Attack!" he crowed. "We're under attack!"

"It ain't an attack, knucklehead!" Hoggle snapped, he bent down to pick up the object- which looked a little like a coconut. "It's a Decibel seed."

"Oh," said Sir Didymus, straightening his hat. "Of course."

"They don't usually fall until summer," said Hoggle. "Unless…"

Ludo reached out and plucked the seed from Hoggle's hand. "Message," he said, and then he smashed it against the table.

These Decibel seeds were what earned the Forest of Sound its namesake. They absorbed any sound around them like the creaking of trees, the rustle of leaves, and the sound of a person whispering into their openings…

As the seed fell apart, a woman's voice rose up from the remnants.

"I'm a friend," said the voice, promptly. "And if you're Hoggle, Sir Didymus, Ludo and Ambrosias, keep listening."

Another seed fell, and Ludo smashed it open.

"You must come to the Isle beyond the mists, as quickly as you can." Said the voice.

"The Isle?" Hoggle gasped. "There ain't no way-"

Another seed fell, cracked and turned the foursome's world upside-down with four simple words:

"Sarah is in danger."

Xxxx

When all was dark and still, when the stars shone with dispassionate light and nought but the rustle of frozen leaves was to be heard, Jareth moved to strike. He slunk through the shadows and slipped through the darkness like a knife through butter- softly and as illusive as a dream. He honed in on distant voices and found himself before a grand, erected sign which had survived the sudden snow.

Zhelaniy Circus.

Outside, a clown was leaning against a snow shovel, smoking. Another man- the ring master stood with him.

"Come to America," he said, in a thick accent. "And the snow follows us,"

The clown chuckled, smoke billowing. "The Russian curse," he agreed. "But still, these people are so funny- a little flurry and they fall apart."

"Still," said the ringmaster, he was a tall man, fair and rather good-looking. Two tear drops were tattooed under his blue eyes. "There seems to be something in the air, no?"

The clown looked around and frowned. "What do you mean?"

The ringmaster thought about it. "Something… foul."

Suddenly, a large, looming shadow rushed up behind the ringmaster. The cigarette fell from the clown's lips and a scream lodged itself in his throat at the sight of owlish eyes, fanged teeth, feathered flesh and the dull sheen of unnatural claws.

"I couldn't agree more, dear humans." Said a silky voice.

And then their screams erupted and echoed into the silent darkness of night.

And now, a riddle. I love riddles. Incidentally, the answer is the title of the next chapter. :)

Who makes it, has no need of it. Who buys it, has no use for it.

Who uses it can neither see nor feel it.

What is it?