so heres chapter 13 sorry for the long wait but i've been very busy with my job and design work.

Chapter 13

Sarah's P.O.V

Greta pulled Sarah up one flight of stairs then down another. They hurried along extensive corridors and through huge doorways. One door refused point blankly to open until Greta threatened to have it relocated to the bog.

Around five minutes later they arrived outside a large set of double doors. Painting, Greta waved Sarah over towards.

"Are you alright?" Sarah asked, concerned.

Greta nodded and made shooing gestures at her. Sarah turned to face the doors.

They were beautifully crafted, made from an ebony colored wood with a gold leaf inlay. They looked as if they had been made by magic and since they were in the centre of the Goblin King's realm Sarah guessed that they probably had been.

Taking a deep breath, Sarah placed both hands on one of the doors and pushed. To her surprise the door opened easily enough despite how heavy in must be.

She Put her head round the door and peered cautiously into the room beyond. The room, like the door was made of Black wood with the gold inlay. The Candle brackets that lined the wall looked to be made of solid gold and the Massive chandelier that hung from the high vaulted ceiling was wrought gold. The wall to Sarah was right was lined with windows and heavy cerise drapes. At the far end blazed a roaring fire that caused red and gold lights to dance across the walls and floor. The room was very imposing, obviously used to impress anyone who came to visit the Castle beyond the Goblin City and show the immense power and wealth of its monarch.

Sarah's eyes were drawn to the centre of the room, where stood a giant table flanked with high backed chairs. Both chairs and table were made from the same dark wood as the rest of the room. And seated at the head of the table directly opposite the door was the Goblin, dressed in midnight black leather pants with a black leather coat thrown over a crimson shirt. His golden hair shone brightly against the dark colours of the room. He sat with one leg slung over the arm of his chair and in his hand he held a goblet which he turned idly between his fingers.

Sarah thought back to all the stories she had read. The heroes and heroines had always had nemesis's that were evil old crones or repulsive Ogres. She had always dreamed of being the heroine of her very own adventure, of having her very over villain to face. But her Nemesis wasn't an old crone or a hideous ogre. Standing there now Sarah had to grudgingly admit that Jareth did look fiendishly handsome.

Taking another deep breath Sarah entered the room just as a clock began to chime the hour. Jareth looked up as the door swung shut behind and a smirk played across his lips. Sarah remembered how only hours early those lips had been pressed against her own and flushed red.

"Why Sarah, how nice of you to join me, and on time too." Jareth purred at her as she walked down the room towards.

"You didn't really give me much of choice!" Sarah snapped using anger to mask her embarrassment and discomfort.

Jareth raised a finger and shook his finger at her and tutted.

"Come now Sarah you don't want to start off dinner with getting yourself and your friends in any more trouble. I'd hate to have to punish them anymore."

Sarah stiffened at this.

"You punished them?" she whispered

Jareth nodded.

"You promised not to harm them." Sarah voice rose, she couldn't believe this.

"And you precious, promised to obey me. I did not say you could visit your friends and for your lapse in out agreement, I have allowed myself some leeway. Do not look so upset my dear, I have only denied them their evening meal."

"But they're already starving!" Sarah protested, "They did nothing wrong, punish me instead." She pleaded.

"But I already have." Jareth said simply. Sarah was momentarily speechless.

"What! When?" She asked.

"I confined you to your room for the rest of the day." Jareth said taking a sip from his goblet. Sarah remembered now that as he had left her room he had told that she wasn't to leave.

"And by punishing them I also punish you, as I know you'll not make the mistake of crossing me again if you know your friends will suffer for it."

He was right and she knew it.

"You can't punish them if they have done nothing wrong!" Sarah cried, fighting hard to hold back tears.

"I think my dear you'll find that I can. And going without one meal will not do them any real harm, that is the end of it Sarah or do you wish for your friends to go without breakfast as well?"

Sarah closed her mouth quickly holding back the torrent of words that she desperately wanted. While Jareth still had her friends he held all the Power and Sarah was helpless against, she hoped dearly that Allana would be able to get her friends to safety soon.

"I thought not," Jareth removed his leg from the armrest and shifted to face forward, "Now please sit, you haven't eaten today." Jareth motioned to the nearest him, Sarah hesitated, not sure if she really wanted to be that close to him.

"Sarah." Jareth's low voice warned, and she quickly sat in the chair next to him. It was only then that she noticed the food that was laden at this end of the table; there was what appeared to roast Duck, Fresh bread, Fish, Fruit fritters, cheese and ham. Jareth started to fill his plate and Sarah did likewise, she might not want to eat with the Goblin King but she was terribly hungry.

"I trust you slept well Precious?" Jareth asked watching her closely as she slowly ate her food. The food was delicious but very rich. Sarah only nodded in reply, not wanting to know how he knew that she had fallen asleep. She figured that if you just kept communication with him to the basics then she wouldn't risk hurting her friends.

Throughout the meal Jareth tried hard to engage her in conversation and Sarah gave him short but civil replies. She thanked when he committed on how well she looked in her dress and she managed to hold her temper when he deliberately goaded her.

"You see Sarah we can get on quite well when you don't defy me." Jareth murmured leaning in to close to her, "Once you finally give in, I think you'll enjoy living here. With me." The last part was whispered into her ear.

Sarah dropped her knife and fork and straightened.

"If you'll excuse me your Majesty, I have a headache and wish to retire." Sarah said, her tone clipped.

Jareth leaned back in his chair and studied her.

"You don't want to stay for dessert?" He asked innocently, Sarah shook her head, "It's Peaches." A wicked grin flashed across his face. Sarah Stiffened.

"I don't like peaches." She said through clenched teeth. Jareth chuckled.

"Of course you may go my dear."

Sarah quickly rose to her feet and hurried to the door, Just as she reached it Jareth appeared in a flurry of Glitter. Sarah stopped quickly and eyed him cautiously. What now? She thought.

"One last thing Precious," Jareth said placing a gloved hand on the door, "What would you give for your friends to have their evening meal?"

Sarah watched him carefully, is he joking?

"What do you want?" She asked warily

"Hmm, not much. Only one small thing."

"Which is?"

"A kiss."

Sarah snorted.

"You've already had several of those." she hissed.

"No, I have given you several; you have not willingly kissed me yet."

"And that's all I have to do? You'll give my friends food?"

"As soon as you've kissed me you friends will get fed."

Sarah hesitated for a moment

"Clock's ticking Sarah."

Sarah inwardly groaned, she didn't want to do this, it would mean another victory for him, but she couldn't let her friends go hungry. Reluctantly she reached up and pressed her lips against his. Jareth's arms snaked around her back as he pulled her against his body and tried to deepen the kiss.

Sarah had been prepared for this and pulled back breaking his. She smiled sweetly up at him.

"There's your kiss now keep your end of the bargain."

Jareth smirked down at her.

"Now really Sarah, I'm not sure I got my money's worth."

Sarah crossed her arms.

"You asked for a kiss and that's what you got, are you going to uphold your end or not?"

"If my Lady Insists." With that Jareth through a Crystal high into the air. Sarah watched as it flew towards the ceiling before it popped and a cascade of glitter fell down around her and the Goblin King.

"It's done."

"Thank you, now may I please go?" she asked

Jareth stepped aside, sweeping the door open for her. Sarah brushed passed him and out into the corridor.

"Sweet dreams Precious." Jareth chuckled before allowing the door to swing shut.