A/n: Okay so here we go my attempt to make this story go some place. I've started two Labyrinth stories and can't seem to keep with the plot I always think of something better. But I have to force myself to finish this and then start a different story plus finishing my other stories is important.

Chapter 6

The wolf's plan

The wolf had been riding down the trail for a few hours now; he was on his way to a place he hoped would give him the answers he needed. The woods were growing darker and darker the further he traveled into troll country. Mountains rose in the distance, they looked like shattered pieces of glass ready to rip open the sky.

He would have to travel through them if he hoped to reach his destination but it wouldn't be much longer now. Soon he would reach his target and he would have everything he ever wanted.

OOOOOO

Sarah was walking through the gardens and was enjoying the sun on her face it was so wonderful. This magical place, this wonderfully magical place, she could practically feel the magic swirling around her and never felt so happy.

She was wearing a pale blue dress and her hair had ribbons that weaved through out making her feel like she was a princess. Everything about this place made her feel like a princess. She wanted so much to just lay down in the grass and soak in the sun.

So she did.

She lay down on a small hill of grass that stretched out away from the castle and smiled. Little did she know that the king was watching, he looked out of the window in his room and stared at her. She was practically glowing life. Her youth still caught the sun's light and soaked it in, her skin still held in the powerful rays of life and vibrancy. She was the most beautiful…

Jareth turned away and headed out of his room, he needed to speak with her again. Last night he had botched things up rather badly and it seemed she had tried to avoid him today. She wouldn't be able to do that very long since it was Jareth's castle after all.

But he knew if he waited for her to approach there was no guarantee she would bring it up. So he would have to be the pursuer once again, not that he really minded.

He made it down through the castle with heist, he ignored most of the please of his little goblins to listen to him. At this point he didn't care what they had to say. It was usually not very important anyway. He would brush them aside or tell them to bugger off. He just needed a few minutes to heal the wounds he had inflicted and to figure out if Sarah was indeed been dreaming of him last night.

Despite the fact he was the keeper of dreams, ever since she had won her freedom from him he had had a rather strenuous time trying to eavesdrop on her and her dreams. And on the very rare chance he managed to view her dreams they were usually blurry or to dim to see.

Jareth resented the fact she had taken so much from him with out giving anything in return but that was how the game was played and he knew that all to well. He had taken mercilessly for a long time until Sarah had shocked him into life.

He finally was on the ground and turned to head back down and around the castle. Jareth never understood the labyrinth sometimes. He was its keeper but he hadn't created it. It had chosen him, and in doing so bestowed unto him it's secrets. He had feared that when Sarah had beaten him the labyrinth would deem him unworthy but for some reason the labyrinth connected with him even more. He felt stronger then ever. Perhaps the labyrinth saw the defeat more its own fault.

The one thing he never understood though was the difference between the back of the labyrinth that rested behind his castle verse the front half. The back was so much greener. The front was forbidding and gray, with a few green splotches here and there.

All you had to do was walk around the castle to view the back, which held grassy fields, a fruit orchard, flowers and other such things. It was like night and day and Jareth had never been able to get the green in the back to wrap around to the front. But the labyrinth was like a big child, it would probably complain to him somehow if he tried to change its ways.

There she was, he stopped in the shadows of the castle and watched her body shine in the sun. The undergrounds seemed so much sunnier since she had come back. Blue skies everyday with not a single cloud, warmth radiated from her and he wanted to lay with her. But he had to keep his distance both physically and mentally until she trusted him.

She hadn't been with the wolf very long; his effects on her had been little to none because she was so strong in will, but every once and a great while she would get nervous around him and she wouldn't allow Jareth to touch her. Whether that was from her short stay with the wolf or her own personal comfort he didn't know but he tried to respect it.

He slowly emerged from the shadows and came to stand next to her, he put his hands on his hips and smirked, "Well aren't we having a good time?"

Sarah's eyes shot open and she sat up, she looked at him with a blank expression and Jareth, keeping a respectful distance sat down next to her. He put one leg out before him and bent the other, his arm rested on the bent knee and he leaned against his remaining arm. He tried to keep this casual but at the same time he needed her to pay attention.

"What do you want?" Sarah asked in neither an aggressive nor curious voice.

"I need to speak to you about last night. I am afraid I was not very clear on what my intentions were and I have a few questions I need you to answer."

"Perhaps we can do this another time? I was going to go meet Hoggle and Sir. Didymus and Ludo for a small game of cards."

Sarah stood to go but Jareth gently took hold of her wrist, "It can't wait Sarah… sit down please." He added the please at the last second which seemed to grab Sarah's attention.

"Now, let's agree… I am aware last night was a strange event. I was not quite myself… but I have to ask you Sarah, and I expect a truthful answer, have you been dreaming anything that has seemed more unfeigned then normal? Have you dreamed anything that seems more vivid or more strange then your normal dreams?"

Jareth saw Sarah grow uncomfortable and he tried to sooth her fears, "You don't have to tell me what they were about Sarah, I just need to know if you have."

Sarah reluctantly met his eyes and then nodded curtly once before looking away and studying a near by hedge which seemed to fascinate her. He nodded; satisfied with the answer, now he felt like he might know what is going on to a certain degree.

"I have also had more realistic dreams and I think I know why… but first I want to test my hypothesis by asking a simple question. And by no means do you have to elaborate or feel embarrassed, but Sarah, does the phrase red silk sheets mean anything to you?"

Her face snapped so hard towards him that he thought her head might rip away from her neck. She stared at him with wide eyes and in that second he knew the truth. She had had the same dreams he had been having. Or perhaps the best way to put it would be that Jareth had been viewing her dreams the entire time they had been apart and the closer she got to him, or the more she remembered him the more vivid they were.

As to how Sarah and Jareth were connected he didn't have the slightest clue, it would take some looking into but first he needed Sarah's help.

"I figured as much, we are sharing dreams Sarah… well you are sharing dreams at least… I am just the one who receives them." Jareth had tried to keep his voice very casual, tried to make it seem like it was no big deal but Sarah seemed to think other wise.

"You… you saw my dream?"

"Dreams darling, every single one for the past five years… I've personally really enjoyed the flying ones but…"

"Shut up!" Sarah stated in an angry tone.

"Sarah please, the dream last night and the others like it… it's nothing to be embarrassed about…."

"Don't you dare start lecturing me about my personal dreams… I can't believe you did that!"

"Did what?" Jareth asked suddenly confused.

"You broke into my dreams! You spied on what I was dreaming… you… you cad!"

"Sarah, you misunderstand, this isn't my doing. It started the day you left true enough but I had no control over it. I did nothing to make it happen, truth be told I did try to view you and your dreams via my crystals but I couldn't. You had earned your freedom I couldn't watch you anymore. I had no clue that what I was viewing when I slept or day dreamed was someone's dreams at all let alone yours. It seems the only dreams I can't control now are yours, when you sleep."

Sarah stared at him and he saw the flicker of doubt in her eyes, it frustrated him. Even when he was truthful with her she still didn't trust him, well believe it or not Sarah he was not the enemy anymore.

He rose to his feet and took a step towards her to see what she would do, she didn't move but she stared at him with her head held high, apparently if Jareth was going to know about her private dreams she wasn't going to allow herself to be shamed by them.

"Please Sarah believe me, I am not who I was the day you rejected my advances. I won't use these dreams against you. I just wanted you to be aware of the situation. I won't lie it is a little worrisome, these dreams are strange."

Sarah seemed to relax a little and she managed to ask in a level tone, "What is the problem with them? Did you not like what I dreamed?"

Jareth stared at her shocked by the question, he tried not to show his shock and in fact he felt he hid it well, he smirked and gave a chuckle, "That is a discussion for another time. The problem is I am not sure I will be able to stop these dreams and if they become too real, soon, we won't be able to distinguish reality from your dreams. You see, dreams are complicated things Sarah. Their possibilities are endless but at the same time dreams are never really valid no matter how genuine they seem, but if your dreams ever actually became real enough they could trick our minds and we may never wake up."

Sarah stared at him, "So we would be stuck in the dream forever?"

Jareth nodded and Sarah seemed to finally understand why it was so important for Jareth to bring it up. He hadn't done it to embarrass her but it was attempts to keep bother herself and Jareth safe.

"The worst part is I can't control when they happen or what happens inside them, all I can do is sit and watch… and as of late feel."

"Feel?" Sarah asked.

"Yes, if I am in the dream I can feel everything that is happening to me as if it were truly happening. Your dreams are getting dangerous Sarah."

"Is there nothing you can do to stop it?" Sarah asked.

"I honestly don't know, like I said, I am in charge of taking care of dreams and wishes but once you won your freedom I lost control of your dreams. They aren't mine to use or command anymore."

"What are we going to do?" Sarah asked.

"I don't know just yet, allow me some time to think and I will keep you informed. For now only go to sleep when you need to. No naps, the more u dream the worse they seem to get."

Sarah nodded and Jareth returned the gesture and then left her to her sun bathing.

OOOOOOOOO

It had taken a little longer then planned but the wolf was finally on the far side of the mountains. He kept his fast pace as he moved down the trails that wound through the thick woods that covered this part of the land. He stayed alert for any trouble and found he could see smoke rising through the leaves.

The wolf rounded a giant bolder that was sticking out of a thick bunch of vines and saw the small cottage he was looking for. He headed for it and soon enough was at the small white fence, he dismounted his horse and tied it up. He then stepped over the short fence and headed towards the door.

He didn't have to knock however because the door pushed open by itself, "Come in Ulrich… I've waited a long time for you."

The dark featured man smirked and entered, "Hello Gurie."

This dark little creature, that most mistook for an old cobbler woman was one of the few beings to ever live that knew the wolf's true name. She used it every time he came but the wolf didn't mind, it was a wonderful sensation hearing someone use his name.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" the hunched creature asked as she rested next to the fire.

"I thought you said you had been waiting for me."

"I had… doesn't mean I know why you are here." The wolf chuckled.

"I have a favor to ask of you. I can produce your usual payment if you can manage to whip up something in the next thirteen hours."

"The time limit only works if I know what I am making Ulrich… it won't be fair if I agree and then you give me an unrealistic task."

"Fair enough, I want to be able to enter someone's dreams and control them. I want to be able to manipulate the dream in my favor."

The old creature cackled at him and Ulrich's eyes narrowed, "You want to be the Goblin King do you? Well let me tell you, coming up with something even close to his powers would take longer then thirteen hours and I don't even know if my magic would be strong enough to do such a thing."

"Come on Gurie, you are the strongest magical being I know. It can't be that hard to create some type of dust or herb or something right? I mean that knock out dust works perfectly."

"That dust is nothing but a few herbs crushed up and turned into a fine powder. Something of this strength would require more then just crushed plants… it would require an amount of magic that I haven't used in years."

"Name your price Gurie I won't spend my day trying to compliment you into doing something well within your range of magic."

The old creature snorted and then sighed, "Fine, take my fun away… I can do it but it will take longer then thirteen hours and I want more then my usual fee… I want something really good this time."

"What is it?" The wolf asked.

"I don't know just yet… but I will make you a deal… you allow me to make you this particular request before we set a price, and allow me twenty six hours instead of the usual thirteen and I will do it."

The wolf stared at her and then smirked, "Fine, but I will be sleeping outside that door until it is done."

"Not quite… to perform this type of magic I need something from the Goblin King. Something that holds his magic… perhaps one of his crystals?" The witch asked licking her lips.

The Wolf's frown turned into a rabid smile, "It just so happens that I got my hands on one of the Goblin King's servants. A dwarf named Hoggle… I used some of that blue liquid you gave me, from last time I visited, and it works perfect. He has kept me up to date with all of the Goblin King's little plans. About two days ago he came to me and just so happened to hand me this…"

The wolf reached into his pocket and pulled out one of Jareth's crystals… the old creatures eye's shined in the dim light and he snatched it from the wolf before he could stop her. She scrambled to her pot and raised the crystal above her head. She mumbled something the wolf could not understand and then cracked the crystal down on the edge of her large black pot.

"Witch! Why did you destroy it! It has taken me years to get my hands on one of those!"

"Fear not you shall have it again… but not as Jareth's bobble as your own. Now go… come back in two days." The creature bid him no further notice. The wolf growled but did as he was told and left. As he exited the house he turned into a wolf and trotted off into the woods, he was hungry.

A/N: Okay so in the process of writing this story I wrote the ending of it the final chapter which was odd because I had to go and cut it out of this chapter and it made this one considerably shorter. Anyway enjoy!