A/N: I have taken entirely too long, I know, and I am very sorry! I hope you enjoy this next chapter. It was a bit of fun with a bit of juicy information. Please read and review. I swear I won't be such a terrible updater from now on!

MAY EVE

This is a work of fiction. All the characters in it, human and otherwise, are imaginary, excepting only certain of the fairy folk, whom it might be unwise to offend by casting doubts on their existence. Or lack thereof. ~Neil Gaiman

Chapter 6: The Ever-Changing Castle

Sarah stomped into her chambers and flopped onto the bed. She felt a little silly and a little sad for the way she harped at Jareth moments ago. Surely he would understand that speaking ill of her friends spoke ill of her. Someone smart and kind wouldn't have terrible enough judgment to pick terrible friends, so what exactly was he saying between the lines?

Of course she could just be acting out at the whole thing. Being sick for so long and assuming one was going to die and then suddenly being healed and able to live again made one quite emotional. Oh, alright, Sarah thought. I'll apologize. . .

As she groaned at her own silliness she trudged toward her door to head back out and find Jareth when he burst through said door. Screaming and clutching her throat Sarah stumbled back. "Jareth! You scared me half to death!"

Jareth on the other hand, having listened to her little monologue and then having to watch her stomp away was incredibly aggravated at the whole thing. How dare she talk to me in that manner. We may be...dare I think it...friends, but I am still the King! And with that he had ended up there, in the doorway. At seeing her jump he began to chuckle.

"It's not funny, you know. Can't you knock? What if I was changing?" Sarah was fuming which only caused Jareth to laugh even harder.

"Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, you really must learn to control your temper!" He grinned, his eyes twinkling in delight. "Now, I've come to discuss your little outburst earlier. May I come in?"

"Fine." She huffed and walked back toward her bed, flopped down, and pouted.

"Really, that isn't a good look for you." He frowned as he sat in a chair from the corner of the room. "Now, care to explain what had you so upset?"

"I told you, you should already know why I'm mad." Sarah replied, continuing to look sour.

"Is it because I spoke ill of your little friends?" He asked, mocking her expression.

"That's exactly it. How can you speak so cruelly of the people I care about and think I'll just get over it? Let it slide? My friends are an extension of my character and judgment, and you're always putting them down. Therefore you are always putting me down."

Jareth looked at his beautiful companion and truly saw the maturity gleaming from inside of her. Not only had she aged well, she had also learned of things she hadn't known before. She wasn't as naïve as he had once thought. He frowned slightly and sat next to her on the bed. "Sarah. . ."

"Don't, just don't." She sniveled. Jareth tried hard to hide his amusement in her charming - all be it sometimes annoying - little tantrums.

"Sarah, I was going to say that I'm sorry." He replied, a small smile playing at his lips. Never in all of his existence had he ever apologized. He'd rather be hung than say those words, but for Sarah. . . Well, for Sarah, he'd do anything.

She slowly peeked up at him in complete astonishment. "What?" She said, barely above a whisper.

"I will not repeat myself. If one of these goblins heard me my whole world will come falling down. You heard me, now stop your whimpering and sit up. . . Please." Jareth couldn't contain his grin any longer at the sight of her utter shock and surprise.

"Thank you, Jareth. I'm sure that was utterly painful." Sarah grinned, finally getting her bearings.

"Shall we go kick some Goblins? That always makes me feel better." Jareth winked at her and she laughed.

"Yeah, I don't know about that. I'm not one to kick a living thing, not even a cat and I'm not too fond of cats." She replied.

"Then, what would make you feel better, Sarah?" He asked, completely serious now.

"Cake. Cake always makes me feel better." She nodded happily.

"Cake, hm?" Jareth raised an eyebrow. "How about this," And he began rolling a crystal between his hands. "You need your exercise after being sick all this time. If you make it from the top of the castle to the great hall we will have dinner and cake? It's only fair. Your healer wants you in tip top shape, and a good run-around would do just that."

"I'd never find the way!" She exclaimed.

"Oh, but you've beaten my Labyrinth! Don't tell me a castle half its size intimidates you." He pouted playfully, his eyes twinkling in delight.

"But, I had help!" She cried.

"You found help, Sarah. Now, if it gets too late I will just bring you to me. I'll always be watching so that you won't get yourself into any sort of trouble. What do you say?" He offered her the crystal, smiling.

"Fine, if you promise." She pointed.

"I swear. Now, off you go!" He grinned and as she took the crystal in her hand and virtually disappeared from her room she swore she heard him say something about learning her new home.

When the spinning stopped she was at the very tip top of the Castle beyond the Goblin City. It was a quaint turret room with stained glass windows all around. She actually liked it a lot, and wondered if Jareth would allow her to use it occasionally. The only problem, there was no exit. Damn, she sighed.

Running her hands along the walls feeling for an opening she looked at the floor. "My kingdom for a doorway!" She whined, half joking as she let out an aggravated snarl.

"Aye, all you had to do was ask!" A small goblin opened quite a large hatch for his size in the center of the floor. "Here's your leave." Sarah just stared at him. It had to be a coincidence. This wasn't her kingdom and she didn't have one to speak of.

"Thanks." She mumbled trying to make sense of that little situation.

"Anything for you, M'Lady." He bowed. BOWED? She was a bit shaken, but took the spiral staircase quickly before he changed his mind. At the foot of the staircase there led a hallway, void of any doors as far as she could see.

"Well, this is a nice change." She smiled as she took to skipping happily down the stone hall. "I'll be at dinner in no time!" Happily at ease with her simple trot down a winding walkway she paid no attention to the wall ahead of her, successfully running right into it. "Oof! Where did that come from?" She grumbled.

"I'm sorry M'lady, I was just. . .passing through!" The giant wall chuckled, it's voice low and large, it's face resembling the size of his voice.

"But, I have to pass. There's no other way!" She replied.

"Don't be silly, there's a door right there!" It shifted its eyes behind her and to her left. She spun and, sure enough, there was a pretty oak wood door.

"Thanks!" She smiled and reached for the handle.

"Beware, not all doors lead to the way." The wall advised.

"How will I know if it's the right way or not?" She asked, afraid and confused.

"If the handle is cold, don't enter no matter what." He answered and became silent.

Sarah looked at the door and shrugged. Reaching out with her finger she pressed it to the door handle and it was warm to the touch. "One down, who knows how many more to go," she sighed. Pushing open the door she found herself in what looked like a maid's quarters. "Excuse me, is anyone here?"

"Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" A tall and skinny, very ugly creature stepped out from behind a dressing curtain.

"I'm truly sorry but, there was no other door and I need to get to the Great Hall for dinner." Sarah blushed. The creature was nearly naked.

"Go on then, through that door." She grumbled. Sarah rushed over to it and felt the handle.

"I can't." She shook her head.

"You can't what? Open a door? Please child, it's very simple. Take your hand and. . ." Sarah cut her off.

"No, it's not a safe way. Isn't there another door?" She asked.

"Look, you need to get, and get you will through that door behind you!" The creature bellowed.

"What about there, behind that curtain?" Sarah asked, proud of herself for coming up with the idea.

"My closet?" It wrinkled it's pointed nose at her.

"Precisely!" And with that Sarah dashed passed the crude woman and threw open the curtain, not surprised to find another door. Gripping the handle - finding it warm - she quickly passed through and shut it behind her. "This is going to take forever!"

Doors and doors later Sarah was getting incredibly tired, and incredibly hungry. Her body even ached a bit from all the walking and running she was doing. Her head felt a bit wobbly and she could definitely use something to drink. "How much farther?" She croaked as she leaned up against a cold, stone wall.

"It's further than you think, time is short." She heard the most beautiful sound she could have ever imagined. Jareth had come to help her! Or had he? She looked all around, up and down, and he was nowhere to be seen.

"This isn't cute, Goblin King! I'm tired, hungry, and sore. I want to be done!" She whined.

"Giving up so easily, are you?" He asked, his voice echoing on the walls.

"I've had enough exercise. I'm not going to be able to move in the morning if I don't rest soon. Or is that your plan? To have me bed-ridden once again?" She asked, getting more and more annoyed as the moments went by.

"I'm shocked at you, giving up like this." Jareth frowned, suddenly before her. "And the door was only just." He pointed just a little further down a hallway that wasn't there a moment ago.

"That is really not fair! I know I've said a lot of things aren't, but this really isn't!" She cried. "That hall was not there a second ago!"

"Tsk, tsk, Sarah. You need to learn every corner of this castle. Though it's ever changing, it's ever the same. No room, no hallway, no window is new. They are all original to the ground work of this magnificent creation, but all living things like to move around from time to time." Jareth explained.

"Like the Labyrinth. . ." Sarah whispered.

"Exactly, and that you will master as well, all in due time. Now, off to dinner." He smiled, offering his arm.

"Why do I need to know all of this?" She questioned as they slipped through the door. She stared at a huge table with mounds and mounds of food, and of course, cake.

"That isn't important at the moment, just indulge. You've had such a long day." Jareth smiled and pulled the chair out closest to his at the head.

"Were is Toby?" She asked as she piled her plate high.

"He's been in bed for a while now. You've been gone for hours. Now, no more talking, here have some wine." He replied as he watched her nearly inhale the food around her. He smiled at her, enjoying her recovery perhaps more than even she. You'll need all the strength and knowledge you can get from my kingdom, sweet Sarah, for you will soon be my Queen.