"Adora Smithson-Cain," the judge said in a severe voice toward the convict.

She stood a little taller, ready for his judgment on her crimes.

"You have been convicted of thievery, burglary, and assault on an officer of the law. You were born a denizen of the Goblin Kingdom, and married a denizen of the Outer Zone. Your marriage has been annulled and your ex-husband has no desire to claim you - nor does your child. Therefore I sentence you to be removed from the Outer Zone and sent back to the Goblin Kingdom, your land by birth."

The judge's eyes were hard and merciless as Adora felt a shiver of fear run down her spine. "You are unwanted here, as are your crimes." The gavel came down in a deafening motion in which Adora saw her future evaporate back into the Bog of Stench.

--

One of his arms slid around her waist, pulling her flush with his rock hard body, while the other one found her hair, tangling the dark curls around his strong fingers he tilted her face toward his.

Her heart beat wildly as she took in the look in his dilated eyes. He wanted her. She tilted her face up, following the not-so-gentle tugging in her hair. His lips came crashing down on hers in something that felt nothing like anything either had experienced. It could only be called a kiss in the broadest of terms - it was more like a primal marking of property.

And it felt wonderful.

When he pulled back for air, she growled low in her throat, causing him to chuckle. "Easy there, darlin'," he whispered huskily, "We've got all night to play."

DG was thoroughly enjoying her reoccurring dream when an insistent knock sounded on the door and she woke up with a moan. It better be damn important for whoever it was to interrupt her before things started to get steamy.

"Come!" she barked at the door as she got up from the bed and donned her dressing gown. When it opened to reveal her sister, DG's tone immediately changed. She ran into her sister's arms, "Az! I thought you weren't coming until next week?"

Az took a good look at her sister as they released each other from their enthusiastic hug, the pendants around their necks pulsing with warmth and joy. "Father and Mother decided that a little holiday was in order," she replied with a smile. "I guess they wanted to spend some time with you. Getting to know the Labyrinth an all."

DG shook her head as she ushered her sister into her bedroom, "Sounds just like them, too, to take an interest in me only when it's expedient for them to do so. This is the perfect chance for Mother to meet my bonded, as well as pass her own judgment on Jareth's bonded."

"Not to mention for Father to see what you've been doing for the past eleven years," Az commented as she sat down at DG's vanity to examine her jewelry while she bathed quickly.

"Ah, yes, because he cared so much before," DG called from the bathroom.

Az waited until she came back out of the bathroom before responding, "He cared, DG. He still does … he just couldn't … Not with how things were with Mother."

DG raised an eyebrow as her hands worked to brush out her long, dark curls, "Were? Something's changed in her perception of who and what I am?"

Az shrugged, "All I know is that it was her idea for us to arrive a week early."

The Goblin Princess sighed as she pulled on her riding boots. "Wanna go for a ride before breakfast?"

Az shrugged with a slight smile, "Sure. I love the horses Uncle breeds."

DG smiled mischievously, "Who said we're riding horses?"

Az's eyes went wide as she thought about it. "Dragons?" She'd never ridden on a Labyrinthine dragon before. She hadn't known the Labyrinth even housed dragons!

--

"I must admit, brother, you did well since we last visited," Aerenesa told her brother as she strolled with her husband, her brother, and his bonded through the gardens that had been constructed to amuse DG as she grew older.

"Hmm," he replied noncommittally, lovingly squeezing Sarah's hand where it rested on his arm. "The people love DG a great deal."

Nesa nodded, "I had noticed. Tell me, could you spare your gardener to come take a look at some of the gardens at Finaqua? This work is marvelous."

Jareth smirked slightly, "I could ask him, but I don't think he'd do it."

Sarah smiled but said nothing about her soon-to-be-husband's relationship with the first friend she had made in the Labyrinth over a decade before.

"Why not?" How odd that her brother would suffer a subject who did not do what he was told.

"He and I are not on good terms." He motioned toward the garden that surrounded them, "This is something he constructed for DG. If she were to ask him - or even Sarah, here, he'd do it in a heartbeat."

Nesa grew pensive as she surveyed the landscape and the woman on the arm of her brother, "He must love her a great deal."

"All of them do," Jareth said, his voice low with reverence to everything the garden represented. His subjects loved DG as must as they could, and it showed. There were some things that Jareth couldn't even threaten Hoggle to do that he'd do with a smile at one word from the Crown Princess.

--

DG and Azkadellia spoke as they walked to the clutch of dragons just south of the castle.

"You didn't tell me there was a dragon clutch so close by!" Az said with a grin, greatly enjoying herself and very pleased with the prospect of dragon riding.

DG shrugged, "I didn't know myself until my birthday. My riding instructor, Captain Squee Inkstain, introduced me to a lovely dragon named Ayla after he declared my equestrian skills as good as any of the Calvary soldiers'. I'm sure one of the other dragons would love to ride with you."

"How do you know?"

"I asked them last week."

"You knew I was coming early?"

"No, but I knew you were coming - and I know how fond you are of dragon riding."

Az smiled lovingly at her sister as her thoughts went back to her close friend, Aamina. The burgundy scaled dragon had been Az's protector and confidant during the times when she could not, for one reason or another, speak to DG.

They were interrupted by the arrival of two courtesans DG had no particular wish to see.

She put on a brave smile and greeted them when they stopped near by, "Lord Xavier; Lord Thornfield. Good morrow."

The two men bowed in greeting while DG and Az bobbed slight curtsies in return. "Princess Dorothia," Lord Thornfield (a short, skinny man who reminded DG of a weasel) replied with a polite, courtly smile. "Princess Azkadellia. Good morrow, your highnesses."

Lord Xavier (a terribly tall man who seemed to bulge at the seams) sniffed pompously. "I was unaware our King Jareth allowed you to roam without guards at your side, Princess."

DG raised her eyebrow skillfully at the two suitors. "You would do well to watch your tongue. Nothing is as it seems, and only a fool would assume that I'd wander around without the necessary protection, my lord," DG's voice was like ice - Az had never heard anything like it come from her sister's mouth. It was a tone that demanded attention and the proper respect due her rank.

"Forgive me, your highness," Lord Xavier bowed again in penance that contradicted his tone of voice, "No insult was intended. It is just painfully obvious to my humble vision that you and your sister lack a proper escort, your highness."

DG's magick responded physically - if not visually - to her anger. The air became electrified and for a short moment Lord Xavier feared for his life. Then the moment was over and DG replied coolly, "You would do well to remember yourself, Lord Xavier. I might not wear a crown or a tiara on a daily basis, but I am still your sovereign and the heir to this kingdom's throne."

"That is, until your uncle's wife bears a child," he reminded her with a glint in his eye.

DG gave him a smile that chilled the blood, "My uncle does not decide who rules after him." She leaned forward slightly, giving the taller man before her goose bumps as the land around his feet seemed to start to lean into him as well. "The Labyrinth does," she whispered.

Lord Thornfield saw this as a perfect opportunity to interject before his good friend said something which would send him to the Bog of Eternal Stench. "To whence are you going, your highnesses? You appear dressed for dragon riding."

"And so we are, Lord Thornfield," DG said, turning her attention to the smaller, much more amiable man.

"We have just come from there," the short man replied with a smile. He liked the princess, especially how she wasn't intimidated by men like Xavier. "The clutch has welcomed a new member."

The surprise in DG's eyes that one of the eggs had hatched so soon in the birthing season was evident on her face, but she was saved having to respond by the addition of two new bodies to their group.

"General Cain," Az greeted happily. She looked down slightly and saw he had his son with him. "How was the trip, Jeb?"

Jeb shrugged but bowed at the waist after his father nudged him with his foot. "Long, your highness."

Wyatt coughed, bowing to the princesses, "It was uneventful, your highness. However, I believe both of us are glad to have made it in one piece."

"Indeed?" Lord Xavier sneered. "I didn't know King Jareth was in the habit of inviting commoners to his state functions."

DG turned on him with the full force of her anger. Dark magick slipped out, creating a cloud around her and causing fear to flood the courtier. "You're beginning to bore me, my lord," she said in a deathly cold tone of voice, cocking her head to one side. "Do not forget who your father was - nor your mother."

The pompous lord stiffened at the mention of his parents, but said no more.

DG grinned without joy, "Very good." Turning her attention to Jeb and Wyatt she asked in a markedly different tone, as her magick dispersed, "How is the dukedom, my lord? I sincerely regret not being able to be there for the ceremonies, but I was told they were memorable."

Wyatt smirked slightly at her choice of words. The ceremony had been two steps short of complete disaster (two words: drunk ministers). "Quite memorable, your highness, thank you. The dukedom is … larger than I anticipated."

Jeb perked up at his father's words, finding it the perfect opportunity to pipe in with, "We have horses!"

At this Lord Xavier opened his mouth, made a quite rude comment about the lack of etiquette and decorum found in Jeb, which caused the father to stiffen at the insult, the son to scowl, and the princess to wave a hand, causing him to vanish into thin air.

"Where is he?" Lord Thornfield asked, frightened for the welfare of his friend, even if he had deserved it. "Where'd you put him?"

DG raised an eyebrow but replied calmly by saying, "Currently he's being manhandled by a group of Helping Hands who will deposit him into an oubliette to await judgment."

"Judgment for what?" Thornfield asked, needing clarification so he could help his friend as best he could.

"For being an ass," DG replied, dark light gathering again on her hands. "If you would like to remain in the sunlight, I suggest you run off and stop being irksome, Lord Thornfield."

After he had scurried off, DG turned back to her unknowing bonded and his son with a pleasant smile. "Horses you say? What about dragons?"

Jeb shook his head, "Mr. Steward said that it's not the right at-mo-sphere."

DG grinned, "Would you like ride on one of mine?"

The boy's eyes grew wide but his father cut in with a voice of reason, "We wouldn't want to intrude on your morning ride with your sister, highness."

Az, feeling as if she'd been silent for far too long, put in her two cents, "Nonsense! The ride would only be improved with your company."

"Can we, Dad? Can we?"

Before he could respond DG added, "The clutch won't mind the extra two riders, if that's what you're worried about, Mr. Cain."

He stared at her, unsure whether or not to accept until he felt his son tug at his hand. He bowed his head, "By all means, lead the way, you highness."

As they neared the dragon clutch DG slipped back from Az and Jeb to walk beside Wyatt. "Will you meet me after the noon meal, Mr. Cain?" she asked nervously.

He glanced at her without breaking his stride. Wordlessly he questioned why she needed to meet with him in private.

"Please?" she whispered. "It's very important."

He nodded, his thoughts racing to the dreams he had been plagued with for the past few months. The dreams always began in the early afternoon.

A/N: Not as shippy as I had originally planned ... but then again, life kinda got in the way (and that last scene kinda took over). Come on, tell me what you think. I can take it. Do you like PMSing DG? I do ... probably because I'm PMSing right now ... but ... he was being mean. It was justified bitchiness (as you'll find out in an upcoming chapter).