A/N: Well this was fast! This is just a bit of filler with a tad of movement in it. Not something real serious, but I felt like writing more quickly. I hope you enjoy! And read and review, let me know what you think! Thanks for following along with me!

MAY EVE

If we opened our minds to enjoyment, we might find tranquil pleasures spread about us on every side. We might live with the angels that visit us on every sunbeam, and sit with the fairies who wait on every flower. ~Samuel Smiles

Chapter 5: The Little Things

Sarah slept for the next few days only to wake to eat and take her medicine. Each day she seemed to get better and better, and each day she'd spend time with Toby and Jareth. It shocked her how generous and how caring the Goblin King was. Perhaps he was always this generous? After all, how was it that she was the only person - ever - to solve the Labyrinth? If she were honest with herself, she'd bet he truly did re-order time and turn the world upside down for her so that she could make it all the way to the Castle beyond the Goblin City.

And if she were even more honest with herself, his offer was generous and selfless as well. Fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave. At fifteen she felt that he was asking her to become his slave, but really the requests he had were nothing compared to what he had offered, what he had already done for her.

And there he was, just the other day, ready to give it all to her again. Was he really the villain? Was he really that bad?

He was taking such good care of her, and Toby seemed well enough. Plus, Sarah hadn't felt so alive in. . . Her hand flew to her mouth as she looked out through the open balcony doors from her bed. It's been ten years, today that I ran the Labyrinth, she thought.

"Breakfast will be out in the castle gardens this morning, Sarah. Your last dose of medicine for a walk in the fresh air?" Jareth was suddenly standing in her doorway and she gasped. "Is everything alright, Precious?"

"You startled me, I was just thinking. I'm fine." She blushed. He strode over to her and handed her a goblet. She grimaced, it never got easier to drink that garbage, but he promised her she'd get out of bed if she took it so she threw her head back and gulped it down quickly. "Ugh! I think I've finally pin-pointed the taste. It's mud, the smell of dirty socks, spoiled milk, and a dash of peach and grass." Jareth chuckled.

"Well done, Sarah. Even I would have refused that disgusting concoction. Though, I wasn't the one dying." He smiled and sat on the edge of her bed. "I'm sorry I left you alone for so long. It began as my pride, and then the longer I stayed away the more you stopped believing in us all. I am convinced had you not called on Hoggle at that very last moment you wouldn't have made it another night. Please forgive my behavior." He bowed his head and closed his eyes.

Sarah stared at him for a short moment. His wispy white blonde hair sticking everywhere and down his back, his flawless pale skin seemed to have a moon glow to it, and his body seemed almost carved of precious stone. He was a beautiful creature, she'd never have denied such a thing, but sitting here, pleading to her, so close sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn't help but reach out and place her delicate hand to his cheek. She felt a smile tug at her lips when he seemed to nuzzle into her touch like a cat. "Of course you're forgiven! Everything's OK now, right?"

His head shot up and his miss-matched eyes bore into her stunning green ones. "So easily you forgive me! You astound me, Precious."

"Eh, it's nothing. We both made mistakes," She blushed at that. "And we've both begun to make up for it, I think. Now, if you don't mind, I need to get dressed because I am starving!"

Jareth grinned wickedly and snapped his fingers, when Sarah glanced down she saw that she was dressed in a cream colored gown. It was simple with an empire waist, the waist accented with a champagne colored ribbon that tied in a bow at her back. It had a scooped neck line with capped shoulders and tight long sleeves. When she wiggled her feet she saw they were encased in golden flats. Reaching up to touch her hair she noticed her bangs - the length of the rest of her hair almost - were twisted like two raven ropes and knotted together at the back of her head, the rest of her hair flowing halfway down her back.

"Well, that was easy!" She laughed happily and Jareth stood and offered his arm. That was when she noticed he was wearing nearly the same colors, cream leggings, a white poet's shirt - open nearly to his waistband - and always his pendant. His riding boots were brown today and clicked deeply as they headed out to the castle gardens.

~M*E~

Toby had been out of bed and down in the gardens running around since dawn. He'd gotten bored already in the castle and the previous day Jareth had shown him to a safe place outside still within the castle grounds. Hearing of Hoggle's dislike of fairies Toby wanted to figure out why. He had heard that they bit, but he thought if he found one and was nice to it, perhaps it would grant a wish.

As he played in and out of the shorter shrubbery of a much, much smaller labyrinth he came across a little flying girl. She had the darkest black hair he had ever seen, nearly blue in hue and the prettiest cerulean blue eyes. She wore a little black dress and had blue and black knee high stockings on her feet with tiny little black shoes. Of all the things that amazed him it was her clothes. Who could make something so little, especially the shoes?

He walked up to her as she perched herself on a sunflower and cleared his throat. The little being fluttered her silver wings and stood just in case she had to escape. "Hi, I'm Toby." He smiled awkwardly and the little person seemed to relax.

"I'm Arianna, nice to meet you, Toby." The little thing seemed to glow scarlet as she hid her tiny head in her tinier hands. "You startled me!"

"Oh, I'm sorry! It's just that I haven't met anyone new around here and I was excited." Toby kicked the dirt with his shoe and became fascinated with it. Suddenly he felt a flutter of wings by his ear and a small pressure on his shoulder.

"Your hair smells like sunlight." The girl said and grabbed a few strands to bury her face in it. "I like you, Toby. Be my friend?"

"Sure!" Toby giggled nervously. But, I'm supposed to meet my sister and Jareth at breakfast, want to come?"

"The King? You're a friend of the King?" The little thing shuddered slightly. "He scares me."

"Are you a fairy, Arianna? Cause another friend may be around later and he doesn't like them." Toby asked,

"Of course I'm not a fairy! Fairies wouldn't even speak to you! They'd swarm you and bite, I'm a Pixie." Arianna replied proudly. "But, uh, we're sort of rare, and if the King finds out he has one in his realm he may capture me."

"Nah, he wouldn't do that. Especially if you're my friend. I'll keep you safe, Arianna." Toby would be brave for this little lady, he like her, even if she was only half a foot tall.

"Please, call me Ari if we are to be friends." She smiled and her wings buzzed with excitement. Gripping his shirt in her tiny hands to stay on his shoulder the two of them headed for breakfast.

"What is that thing attached to your shirt, boy?" Jareth asked, seemingly disgusted. Sarah had to hide her shock and amusement. Had her brother tamed a fairy?

"She's Ari, she's a friend." Toby replied, head held high.

"Fairies don't belong near the castle." Jareth grumbled.

"Well, that's fine, but Pixies are, right?" As soon as Toby spoke he heard Ari squeak. Right, she didn't want Jareth to know, I'll have to apologize later, if she'll let me. Toby thought.

Jareth's eyes widened in surprise and a wicked smile spread across his handsome face. "A pixie you say?" He purred.

"Yeah, she's my friend. Can I keep her?" Toby asked, giving Jareth the best 'puppy dog eyes' he could muster.

"Fine. But she must pledge herself loyal only to my kingdom, understood?" Jareth raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, your Majesty." Ari's high voice squeaked with nerves.

"Fine then. Sit and eat you two." He waved at the table and Toby sat with Jareth and Sarah while Ari flitted down to a bowl of grapes. She snatched one up and began devouring it. The grape itself was bigger than her little head.

"That's nice of you to let Toby have a new friend." Sarah whispered over her cup of tea.

"You have your motley crew, it is only fair he collects his. In reason, of course." Jareth agreed.

"I've never seen a pixie before. Of course I'd never seen any of the likes of my friends before, either." Sarah laughed.

"How is your breakfast, Precious?" Jareth changed the subject. The talk of those creatures was ruining his appetite.

"Oh, it's delicious! So much to choose from makes it difficult though. If I eat too much I'll be ready to sleep again, and I think I've done enough of that for one lifetime, thank you." Sarah replied.

"Shall we walk? Leave the boy alone with his flying pest?" Jareth grinned and Sarah frowned a little. She could never understand why he never liked it when she had friends, and he seemed to be taking on the same attitude with Toby. Perhaps, yes, this was a good time for a walk. She could ask him this in private. She nodded and he helped her up, nodding to Toby they headed off into the beautiful, colorful garden.

"Can I ask you something?" Sarah glanced up out of the corner of her eye to see him smiling slightly.

"Of course." He replied.

"Why don't you like our friends?" She stopped and turned to see him clearer, he frowned.

"They're just beastly creatures with barely a full brain between them all. It just seems silly to befriend such ignorant beings. Especially, when you have me!" He answered, looking a bit put out.

"So it's what I think it is!" Sarah laughed, her voice light on the air. Jareth glared at her.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You're jealous!" She exclaimed.

"I am nothing of the sort! How dare you accuse me of something so absurd!" Jareth looked as if he was getting angry, but Sarah knew better, she knew he was simply caught.

"Prove to me that I'm wrong." She said, putting her hands on her hips, still smiling at him.

"And how am I to do that, Dear One?"

"For the rest of the day you are not to say one ill word about any of our friends. In fact, you must say something nice, at least one thing, by the end of the day." She nodded feeling proud of herself.

"I am the King, I don't have to be nice! You are asking entirely too much of me." He shook his head.

"Is it really too much, Jareth? For one whole day?" Sarah's fun had quickly been ended. When Jareth would be sweet to her she'd forget he could be stubborn and downright cruel. She shook her head and frowned a little as she turned and walked on without him.

What was it they always said? Things aren't always what they seem in this place, well that's for certain. Here I thought Jareth was truly kind when he's just stubborn and mean. She was feeling pretty upset and found that this walk wasn't something she'd like to continue. Perhaps one more nap won't kill me, she thought.

"Jareth, I think I'm going to go lay down." She sighed. He was in front of her instantly.

"What is it? Do you need the doctor?" He looked so concerned. Oh well, he'd survive.

"I'm just feeling a little. . ." She didn't know what to tell him, and as his pretty eyes searched her face she found it harder to think.

"You feel what, Love? I can get you a doctor instantly, just say the word!"

"You truly do care about me, don't you?" She cried.

"Of course, what is this about?" He asked more worried by the second.

"Until you can swallow some of your pride I don't think we should spend any more time together. The way you treat me and Toby is wonderful, but the way you treat anyone else is repulsive. I can't keep letting you make me feel special when I know it's not completely who you are." Tears welled in her eyes and she wiped them away furiously.

"Sarah, I am the Goblin King. I can't traipse around here as if everything is sunshine and daisies. These creatures are only ruled and controlled by fear. If they didn't fear me they'd be completely out of control and destroy this place. Do you want that? What is it you want me to do?" Jareth grumbled.

"Think Jareth, I've just explained it to you." And with that she left him standing by the brightly colored Gerber daisies where the bright colored caterpillars liked to roam.

"Oh, bugger off, cretins!"