A quick message to readers: sorry it took me so long to write this chapter I was very busy. Also I'd like to say to the people who review my chapters that although I love to hear what they think of my stories and what they think is going to happen I must ask that when you review you don't tell me you Jareth and Sarah to end up together (I'm not say they don't you have to keep reading) it's just that I'm writing this story for a friend and I already know where I'm going with it because it's written to suit her. So please keep reviewing but no more comments about how you want it to end. You just have to wait and see!

Chapter 8

Sarah's P.O.V

As soon as Sarah felt her feet touch solid ground again she pulled free of the Goblin king's grasp.

"What did you...?" Sarah trailed off staring around the throne room of the Castle beyond the Goblin City. It was cleaner than she remembered, the clutter and mess had been removed and the blankets and cushions in the pit were clean and fresh. She rounded on the Goblin King.

"You couldn't even let me say goodbye to my Family!" she cried. The Goblin King shrugged his shoulders as he sank down into his throne and watched her, a small smile playing on his lips.

"And what pray, were you going to say to them exactly precious?" He asked one brow rose mockingly at her.

"I..." Sarah stopped what exactly could she have said to them? They would never believe the truth and if they had they would have refused to let her go.

"I would have thought of something." Sarah snapped.

"I'm sure you would have my dear." He replied sarcasm laced his voice.

"I'm here so it's time you uphold your end of the bargain."

"Wouldn't you rather enjoy some pleasantries before we get down to business?" he asked sardonically.

Sarah crossed her arms across her chest and brought her chin up to glare at him.

"No? Well if you insist my Love." He sighed rising from his throne and walking behind it towards the wall, Sarah hurried after him. He stopped and placed his gloved hand against the wall and pressed slightly. A section of the wall swung inwards revealing a doorway.

"After you my dear." He said motioning for her to go through.

The room she entered was a study complete with a desk and two chairs on either side of it. The walls were covered with shelves of books, Sarah glimpsed some of the titles but they were all in a language she didn't understand. The stone floor was covered in warm rugs and in front of a small fire sat a large leather sofa.

The Goblin strode past her and took a seat behind his desk and motioned for her to take the seat opposite. Sarah sat hesitantly; she was confused he was meant to be releasing her friends to sitting down in his office.

"Ah... aren't you meant to be releasing my friends?" she inquired pointedly. The goblin was rifling through papers on his desk.

"All in good time precious, we just have to attend to a few details first." He answered her without looking up.

"Details?" Sarah asked hesitantly.

"You have to sign the contract."

"You said nothing about a contract Goblin King." Sarah said through gritted teeth.

He pulled out an official looking document and placed it on the desk between them with a grin.

"Really Sarah it's only for formality, the contract basically states that you agree to marry me and remain in the underground in exchange for your friend's freedom."

"Anything else?" Sarah asked dubiously, pulling the paper towards her.

"Well by signing that you also agree to obey me and take on all duties of a queen and of a wife."

"I'm fifteen Goblin King." Sarah Snapped.

"As I have already told you my dear age is but a number. But if you feel that strongly about you could wait a few years before you sign."

Sarah's head shot up hopefully.

"Of course you friends might not survive much longer, the dungeons of the Castle beyond the Goblin City is not a pleasant place to find oneself Sarah." Jareth continued that trademark smirk back on his face. Sarah gritted her teeth but she slowly looked back down at the paper her father had once told her never to sign anything before reading it.

"I'm sure your friends won't think you a coward if you feel you need a few more years my dear." Her eyes snapped back to meet his. She saw the challenge in his eyes. Anger surged through her, he called her a coward for not wanting to take up the responsibility of an adult when she was just out of her childhood, one of the things she had learned from the labyrinth was that she was not quite ready to be an adult just yet but the labyrinth had also taught her another lesson, to take responsibility for her actions. She had got her friends into this now she had to get them out of it. Without breaking gaze with the Goblin King she picked up a feather quill from an ink bottle on the desk and signed her name at the bottom.

"Now let my friends go." She demanded leaning back in her chair and folding her arms. The Goblin King smiled.

"Tomorrow morning they will be released and put on trail and then I will decide what is to become of them."

"What!" Sarah cried, outraged. "You said you'd let them go!"

"I said I would free them from my dungeon however they must still be punished. If you had not signed my dear they would never have been allowed a trail and so would have rotted away in their cells. I quite fit punishment if you ask me."

"Haven't they been punished enough? You've kept them locked up for days!"

"They committed treason Sarah I can't be seen to be lenient."

"That isn't fair!"

"Oh so we're back on that again are we? You should be pleased my dear, you've just saved their lives."

"I won't let you harm them!" Sarah hissed defiantly. The Goblin King just smiled and tapped the contract she had just signed.

"But what can you do precious; you just agreed to obey, if you fight me on whatever punishment I choose for your friends you foliate your agreement and your friends go right back to the dungeons."

Sarah glared at him, only now did she realize that the Goblin King had backed her into a corner. If only she hadn't of got angry and signed it so quickly, now there was nothing she could do that wouldn't get them in trouble again.

Sarah could see she had lost this battle but she hadn't lost the war, she still had her mysterious ally who ever she was; Sarah prayed that she wouldn't turn out to be another off Jareth's tricks.

She watched as the Goblin King stood and walk round the desk and stop beside her.

"Now that we have that settled precious, shall I show you to your room?" he held out his gloved hand to her. She stood, ignoring his proffered hand, and motioned for him to go first.

He raised an eyebrow at her then turned and headed back out into the throne room.

Jareth escorted Sarah up winding stairs and long passages. She was relieved that she didn't have to go through the Escher room again, once had been enough and she didn't relish the idea of having to work her way through it every time she left her room. The castle was a lot bigger than she had originally thought, one might just as easily get lost here as they could in the Labyrinth.

The corridors they passed through were well lit by the sunlight that streamed through the glassless windows and glancing up at the walls she noticed wall sconces at intervals where flaming torches could be placed after dark. Sarah followed Jareth quietly trying to remember the way they had come but it was hopeless, the castle had just as many twists and turns as the labyrinth that surrounded it.

She would occasionally catch glimpse of Goblins as they quickly scuttled into hiding as they approached. When Sarah glanced over her shoulder she again caught a glance of them before they vanished. She distinctly remembered them doing something similar in her parents' bedroom on that stormy night, except then they had been quite nosey what with all the sniggering and banging of cupboard doors.

Suddenly Jareth stopped and Sarah only narrowly avoided walking into him. They were now standing in front of a large wood door carved with some kind of leafy vine design. The hinges of the door were gold and crafted to resemble the motif etched into the door. The handle was of a rose in full bloom fashion again from gold. Sarah marvelled at how work and detail had gone into the door, it was simply beautiful.

Jareth reached out and opened the door; he motioned for her to go in ahead of him. She did so reluctantly having resolved after Jareth had stolen a second kiss to always keep him where she could see him. Her mouth fell open as she stepped into the room, like the door the room was beautiful. The room was decorated with the same vine design as the door, the walls were the colour of rose gold with boarders of sky blue. It was spacious but had a cosy feel to it. The room had three glassless windows in one wall and opposite them some glass doors that led out onto a balcony. To the left of the doors was a pretty little dressing table and chair or the right was a small round table. There was a large fireplace that was unlit and set in front and around was a sofa and chairs. To the left of the fireplace was a book shelf filled with leather bound books.

But the object that dominated the room was the huge wooden four poster bed. The bedding and drapes were gold and matched the rest of the furnishings perfectly. The room was magnificent and had this been under different circumstances Sarah would have been overjoyed but although she loved the room very much she couldn't help but see it for what it was, a gilded cage.

"Do you like it" Jareth asked causing Sarah to jump; she had forgotten the Goblin King.

"It's very beautiful" was all she said as she walked slowly into the room.

"It is to be yours for the next four weeks." The Goblin King said as he followed her into the room.

She turned to face him, confused.

"Four weeks?" she asked.

"May Day is four weeks from now and is the date I've set for our wedding, after that you shall have the Queen's rooms which are next to my own." He said the last part with a smirk on his face. Sarah turned her back on him to hide her angry flush. She heard his low chuckle from behind as she struggled to reign in her temper. It would not do her friends any good to argue with the Goblin King while they were still in his grasp.

She felt his hands close around her upper arms and his hair tickle her neck as he bent down to whisper in her ear.

"I have work to attend to precious so I will leave you to settle into your new home. You of cause my go where you please so long as you don't leave the Castle, but I must warn you my dear that trying to navigate the castle on your own would be very unwise."

"I worked my way through the Labyrinth didn't I?" Sarah said definitely

"Ah but if you remember Sarah you did have help." She had no reply to that so she only stood there glaring at him. She watched him as his eyes raked her up and down, making her feel uncomfortable.

"I shall send up your maid to help you choose something for suitable to wear." Jareth said as he walked towards the door. Sarah blinked maid? Then glanced down at her faded jeans and loose blouse.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing now?" she demanded crossly. Jareth turned in the doorway and smiled wickedly at her.

"Oh nothing overtly wrong my dear, but as I told you, human clothing won't do for my Queen." He reached for the door handle and began to close the door but paused.

"One more thing precious. You're to dine with me at dinner this evening."

"And if I refuse." Sarah asked bringing up a chin stubbornly.

"It wasn't a request. Dinner is at six, don't be late." With that he shut the door leaving Sarah alone in the middle of her new room.

There you go Chapter 8 up at last

Thanks to Gareth who helped get this spell and grammar checked