Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth; or any of the characters.

Chapter Four

Joker and the Thief

The next morning Sarah awoke to obnoxious giggling. Groaning and pulling the covers over her head, she thought it'd be nothing more than some silly little goblins that had found their way into her room.

"Go away," Sarah mumbled from under the covers.

"Go away? Go away!" Sarah was shocked at the squawky voice as the covers were ripped away from her head. "Perhaps it is you who should 'Go Away'!" The thing responsible for disturbing her was a goblin like creature; the only difference was that it was taller than most. Sarah scrambled off of her bed away from it.

"What are you?"

"What am I? What are you?" The goblin like creature chimed.

"Jare-!" Sarah was cut off in mid cry as the creatures knobby little hands covered her mouth.

"No, no, no little Queen!" The creature's voice was as squeaky as ever. "You don't want to get Joker in trouble, now do you?!" Sarah tried to wrestle the thing away from her face, but it was stronger than it looked. She was too busy trying to get away to realize what the little nuisance had called her to be able to protest. Biting down hard, the little creature howled in pain. "That was not good!"

Sarah made a run for it, getting ready to call out again only to be stopped by another Goblin like creature similar to the first. It used some sort of magic to silence her, no matter how she tried, no sound issued forth from her mouth. By this time, Joker had jumped on her to hold her down.

"Well Joker, you've certainly done a good job in harassing the poor girl." Sarah looked up in rage, still trying to no avail to free herself. She didn't have the time to be surprised by how human this one's voice sounded. "However are we to get her out of here quietly if you are causing her to have a fit?" Joker hissed in pain as Sarah kicked and punched. "No time to dawdle, good night sweet Queen." With a wave of the creatures hand Sarah felt her eyes grow uncontrollably heavy as she was forced into an uncomfortable slumber. "Come now you fool, the King is probably well aware of her distress by now…"

"Well aware indeed," Jareth's irate voice sounded from the door. Joker squealed in fright, quickly jumping away from Sarah, much to the thief's dismay. Before the two creatures could even speak Jareth was hurtling crystals at both Joker and the Thief; causing explosive spells to crash against them. When the smoke had cleared both invaders had gone. Thankfully, they had no time to grab Sarah as they made their get away, lest one of Jareth's spells blow their arms off should they have made an attempt.

Kneeling down beside her, Jareth sighed, furious that he had almost allowed something bad to happen to his Sarah. This would not happen again, he would be sure of it. Brushing the hair back away from her face, it didn't appear that they had managed to harm her, just rough her up. For that, Jareth would be sure that they payed dearly.

Picking Sarah up gently, and cradling her in his arms, Jareth transported them both to his room. Once there, he laid her upon his royal blue silken sheets. It would be awhile before she awoke, and he wasn't about to leave her for anything. Summoning Dydimus to his room, he had the knight prepare extra guards at every door.

Pacing the room, Jareth tried to figure out who would be after Sarah. He had never announced that he was looking for a queen to any of the other kingdoms. Perhaps it was just someone who wanted someone on the inside to over throw his rule. Who would do that? Jareth had never kept much contact with the other kingdoms, but there was never a need to, and he certainly couldn't recall making any enemies.

Thinking it over, maybe he should send her home, she would be safest there away from the influence of whoever was trying to get her. Jareth hardly had time to finish that thought as Sarah stirred. Sitting up quickly, she expected to have to defend herself. Her gaze softened considerably as she saw Jareth approaching her. She was so happy to see him; it almost made her want to cry.

"Jareth," Sarah said weakly, her voice slightly hoarse. Though she was unable to make noise under whatever charm the goblin creature had used, it had still put the strain on her vocal chords as though she had been able to produce screams.

"It's alright Sarah," Jareth said gently, closing the distance between them and sitting on the bed to take her into his arms. Leaning into him, Sarah wrapped her arms around him.

"I… I tried to call out… I was so afraid, so afraid that they were going to take me away!" Sarah's voice cracked as the stress from this morning events had finally crashed upon her. Jareth hushed her kindly, running his fingers through her hair in attempts to calm her. "You came… You came for me…" She finally gave in and let a few tears escape. She had never been in a situation such as that before. God only knew what she would have done if they had succeeded. Though she was clever, it frightened her terribly to be in a situation where she didn't know anything about her captors.

"Sarah, of course I came for you," Jareth said softly. Smiling, he lifted her chin so she would look him in the eyes. "I would never let anyone take you from me, not like that, not ever… not if you wished to stay…" His eyes showed relief as this had earned a small smile from her.

"Why were they after me?" Sarah's eyes went from pacified to confused.

"That is what I intend to find out, but I must go…"

"You're going to leave me?" Sarah's voice rose in panic, but Jareth only smiled that same devilish, arrogant smile at her.

"Not alone, I've had extra guards put on duty, and I will leave you in the care of your friends."

"…Hoggle, Ludo, and Dydimus…?"

"Yes, they will be here shortly. You may go wherever you wish so long as it is within the castle, but I couldn't imagine that you would want to be alone." Sarah seemed to accept this, and nodded. Two knocks sounded at the door. "There they are, I leave you now." Jareth was about to disappear but Sarah stood quickly, holding her hand out. He looked to her curiously as she leaned forward to hug him.

"Be careful, and come back safe." Jareth smirked, not cruelly, at her concern before returning the embrace.

"As you wish Sarah," Jareth said, leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead, disappearing in a cloud of glitter. With a sigh, Sarah lingered in the moment a second longer, before opening the door and smiling at her companions.

Sarah took in all of their smiling faces, it warmed her heart to know that they all came. Leaning down she hugged each one of them.

"How are ya, Sarah?" Hoggle was the first to speak as they entered the Kings room, looking wary at being in His Majesty's personal chambers. Sarah on the other hand seemed to think nothing of it.

"I'm alright, just had a bit of a scare that's all," Sarah lied. It had been more than a bit of a scare, but why make a big fuss of it now? After all, she had been saved, and was surrounded by faithful friends.

"My lady!" Dydimus was the next to cry out. "If I had been there, those, those scoundrels wouldn't have laid a-" Sarah cut him off by shushing him.

"I know sir Dydimus, I know."

"Sawa, alright?" Ludo's big, almost gargled voice was the next she heard.

"Yes, I'm just fine Ludo." Sarah smiled, but noticed Hoggle looking at her curiously. "What is it?" Hoggle blushed, seemingly embarrassed that he had been caught.

"I just, Sarah, you and the King seem ta be very friendly. After last time… What happened?" Sarah was shocked, she had not expected Hoggle to ask such a thing of her. Ludo seemed curious about this as well, but Dydimus knew exactly why the change had occurred. Jareth could no longer be stubborn and arrogant in Sarah's presence, as much as he could control it anyway. Dydimus had advised him several times that acting as though he was simply too good, was no way to win Sarah over. Finally, after two years, the Goblin King heeded his advice.

"He's… He's just been very nice to me. I've never known him to be so kind, and after all, he did not punish you three for helping me," Sarah said slowly, seemingly staring at nothing.

"So a few nice words here and there were enough to win you over?" Hoggle didn't seem to believe this, he was sure that Jareth was up to something more. Knowing otherwise, Dydimus cut in for Sarah.

"Why is it so wrong for one to turn over a better leaf for love? You mustn't doubt him now dear Lady. It has taken a lot from the King to change his ways, two years actually." Sarah stared at Dydimus as though he had just spoken in a different language that she could not understand.

"Why would he do that… Surely not just for me," Sarah said looking imploringly to her friend. Dydimus would say no more, and simply smiled for a moment. Ludo seemed content to just be there with them, while Hoggle still looked skeptical.

"Ah it seems we have missed breakfast, but I can have an early lunch brought up for you," Dydimus said before Hoggle could make anymore accusations. Dydimus did not blame the dwarf, he was only trying to protect Sarah from being hurt.

"That would be great, thank you Sir Dydimus," Sarah said with a smile. Dydimus bowed and made his way to the kitchen. Hoggle let the whole "Jareth Conspiracy" drop for now, just picking up in some idle chit chat. It had been awhile since they had all been able to be together like this. Minutes later Dydimus returned with some impressive looking sandwiches. After eating to their fill, the four friends continued to talk, occasionally going for a walk down the halls.

Sarah did not wish to return to her room, and was growing very anxious when Jareth had not returned by night fall. Her friends kept her company and mind from worrying too much. They continued their idle chatter late into the night. By the time they had caught up with everything that they had missed on the infrequent visits over two years, Sarah was tired.

"Get some sleep dear Lady," suggested Dydimus. "I can't imagine the King would mind you rest in here for the night, we shall keep watch at the door." Sarah smiled gratefully.

"Thanks guys. Are you sure you don't want to rest as well? You've been up with me all day," Sarah looked to them concerned as she sat on the end of Jareth's, too comfortable to believe, bed.

"We'll be alright Sarah," Hoggle said dismissively.

"Yea Sawa, we'll be alright," Ludo harped in.

"Well, alright, you if you get tired, I want you to get your rest."

"Alright my Lady," said Dydimus to pacify her; though he knew they would not be sleeping tonight.

Seeming to accept their answer, Sarah curled up in the covers. Everything smelled of Jareth. It was absolutely intoxicating. Holding his pillow tightly, Sarah allowed herself to be absorbed into it. If magic had a scent, surely this would be it! Sighing contentedly, Sarah had allowed herself to fall asleep surrounded in the Goblin Kings Aura.

~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~

They had been attacked. Jareth flying in his snowy white owl form was beaten and bloodied. They had Iron, a Fae's biggest weakness. He had been lucky to make it out of the court alive, many of the others there were a lot worse off, even left for dead. There was no doubting now who had come after Sarah. If his assumptions were correct, the opposing kingdom had already thought Sarah was his queen. The first meeting he attends after years of absence with the court, and they are all ambushed. Perhaps Sarah's attack was, if nothing else considering the two idiots had failed, an attempt to get all the powerful Fae together in one room. It had worked, and by the crowd, Jareth assumed that the others had seen characters similar to Joker and the thief.

It was hard to focus, too hard to focus. Jareth didn't know how much longer he could keep this up. Hopefully Sarah would still be in his room and able to summon a healer. If he could just make it to his balcony… he had to see Sarah, he had to… Any onlookers would have seen the large bird swerving and falling having to work harder to stay in the air.

Jareth was already flying over the Labyrinth, fueling his flight with thoughts of the beautiful girl that would greet him. Though he would not return unharmed, quite the opposite, he could at least fulfill her wish of returning to her. The balcony was visible now. He made his descent, crashing full on with a loud "THUD" against the hard marble, a bloody trail following to where he lay. No longer was the snowy white owl there, but the Goblin King crumpled and beaten in a heap at the doors. His only hope was that Sarah had heard him, the Iron working against him very quickly…

Author's Note:

Alrighty, well what just happened? Sarah's got a hit out on her, by whom? Well, well, well, you'll just have to read on now won't you? Just where the fack did Jareth get to anyway? That too shall be revealed all in good time. Thank you so much for everyone who has reviewed thus far, and as always PLEASE keep on reviewing to let me know what you think. Thank you!