Disclaimer: I don't own anything pertaining to the labyrinth.

Chapter 3

The Return:

Ann woke up that morning covered in sweat. This was the third time she had awoken from having a nightmare of the attack the other night. Everyone that night was worried about her but she had just masked her feelings and went on as if nothing happened. Scott had insisted that she should take a couple of days off to recuperate and reluctantly she agreed. She couldn't believe she almost got herself killed that night, not only that but the person's whose arms she ended up in was non-other than the most popular musician ever in her mind. It all seemed like the worst and best thing that could ever have happened to her. There was also that weird feeling she got when he touch her neck; maybe it was her over active imagination, but it seemed that something had just awoke within her a new since of energy for life. Her life didn't seem as boring as it had just a few days ago. She hated that she had taken off the next two days. She knew that he would be leaving that morning to return to New York. Instead of spending the rest of the day in the bed, she decided to get up and make a cup of coffee for herself and watch the morning new. She had just turned on the television when a special new report came on. "This just in", the newscaster announced, "a private rental jet from continental airline has just went down over the town of Cairo, Illinois. There were only three occupants in the aircraft. The police have just concluded that all three died on impact. Astonishingly one of the occupants was the famous musician David B….

Ann's coffee cup slipped from her hand to land on her carpeted floor, this couldn't be happening she thought tears threatening to spill over. Ann shook uncontrollably, tears now streaming down her face unable to hold them back any longer. As the seconds ticked by, Ann's life seemed to stand still. Unable to keep her emotions back, she threw herself face down on the couch screaming and crying as loudly as she could into the cotton material of her couch cushions. It seemed she stayed like this for hours until exhaustion completely took over as she fell into a fitful sleep.

Meanwhile in a castle beyond a goblin city a kingdom rejoiced the return of her king.

Aiden had just entered the throne room happy to its king lounging on his throne. Jareth had just seen to the immediate attentions of his kingdom and was quite exhausted. Turning in his throne, he saw Aiden enter the throne room. "Well my friend it seems you have done well. The kingdom seems to have been running smoothly in my absence", Jareth smiled gesturing for Aiden to sit in the chair that appeared beside his throne.

Aiden commented, "It is good to see that your powers have returned to you so quickly."

"Yes, It was quite unexpected since I haven't used them for the last sixty years", stated Jareth. "I hated leaving the way I did but….", Jareth fell silent before he could finish.

"Your majesty, I know it was hard but it was for the best. Now, you can start living your life as you should have before the trials. Aiden exclaimed, "Besides your betrothed will be happy to see you again.

Jareth quickly turned away from Aiden, putting his fingers to his temple massaging slowly trying to stop the increasing throb that has just started. Sighing, "Please, don't tell me Selina is already coming to visit.

Aiden's face fell as he saw his King's discomfort at the mention of Selina. "Well the court seems to think it would be best to marry quickly and to have heirs. She will be arriving a fortnight from now."

Jareth couldn't believe this he had just returned to his kingdom and already the seelie court was trying to get him to marry. He wished they would just stay out of his personal life, but to a fae nothing is personal in a relationship. Most relationships were seen as political gain. Masking his discomfort over the situation, "Well I guess I have no choice but to see her. Now, if you don't mind my friend", Jareth rose from his throne and started towards the door and without turning around, "I am going to rest a bit." Before Aiden could acknowledge his dismissal, Jareth disappeared in a shower of glitter.

Elsewhere in the underground, a beautiful young looking fae woman was walking into her brother's study.

"Ah Selina, I am so glad you have stopped by", the young man with jet black hair exclaimed.

"What do you want Brent? I was just looking over the guest list and trying to pick out a proper design for my wedding dress. You wouldn't believe what goes into preparing for a royal wedding", Selina sighed as she sat gracefully in the chair opposite her brother.

"Of course my dear sister I am sorry for interrupting you, so I will get right to the point. You can not fail. We must have you sitting as Queen of the Goblin Kingdom if our plan is to succeed", Brent remarked slyly, hesitating for only a moment, "I have heard some interesting news from the aboveground. It seem that a young mortal woman posses powerful magic.

Selina's face holding a moment of confusion in it, "What do you mean….what does that matter to us."

Brent rose up from his seat and clasped his hands together in front of him, "I was just informed that the only mortals to have had magic powers were all banished 2000 years ago. It was said that mortal guardians used to live among us fae to keep the balance between our two worlds above and below. It was even said that if a fae were to combine both his/her power with that of a guardian they would be in control of unlimited power. So to keep this from happening, the guardians banished themselves from the underground. But, it seems that their line and powers have been passed down through the ages unknowingly to their mortal descendants".

Selina quickly shrugging her shoulders, "So what are you planning to do my brother?"

"My dear, if this mortal is a guardian just think of the power we could have."

Selina smiling at the thought of unlimited power that she could posses not only over the entire underground but the aboveground as well; also being Queen she could rule both worlds effortlessly. Selina looking straight into her brothers evil stare, "Well then lets obtain this mortal's powers but if we can't then she must be destroyed so that no one can use her against us. Brent nodded in agreement even as he was contemplating his plan.

In the aboveground, Ann slept soundly on her couch oblivious to the evil being plotted against her…..

Sorry this chapter was shorter but I am having a little trouble with the plot. Hopefully the next chapter will have a lot of action and a little more length to it.