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

Chapter Eight

White Shadows

"Sarah, time to wake up," Jareth said gently. He hated to wake her, she seemed distressed through her sleep all night, but he couldn't let her sleep any longer. He let her rest while he asked for a meeting with Feyore and Eve. Sarah groaned, and rolled over to face him. Her eyes were red with dark circles underneath. Even immortals could not rely on their appearance to hide distress.

"Morning," Sarah said sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Jareth smiled, and went over to wrap her in a warm embrace. She sighed contentedly and leaned into him.

"Feyore and Eve will be here very soon, you had best get yourself prepared," Jareth said softly in her ear.

"Alright, just give me a few minutes; I'll meet you in the dining hall?"

"Of course." Jareth leaned down and kissed Sarah lightly before leaving her to her morning routine. He was already dressed and ready so that if the two light elves showed up early, he could entertain them until Sarah was ready.

Everything from Sarah's bathroom had been moved into Jareth's since they now shared his room. Sarah's old room was turned into a private study for her to collect her thoughts or practice magic on her own.

Feeling much better after a warm bath, she wrapped her green robe around herself and went to the wardrobe to pick out a dress. Jareth dressed more formally today, probably since they were expecting guests. Sarah expected that she should do the same.

Rifling through the hangers and puffy dresses, Sarah found a long dark brown silken gown. It was embroidered with a mesh layer of lace with golden designs and swirls that started at the top and became more intricate as they reached the bottom. There were very short sleeves on the dress that just covered the top of her shoulders. The top of the dress was a heart shape, and was form fitting until puffing out slightly at the feet. Sarah had decided that she was very fond of this dress.

Brushing through her hair, Sarah left it to hang in a silky sheet behind her. Digging around in her jewelry box Jareth had given her, there was a gold necklace with a topaz gem chain going down the front. There were always matching earrings, bracelets and hair ornaments. It was if they were made just for the dress that she had on.

Putting the jewels on, Sarah used the matching hair clips to pull the sides of her hair out of her face, lastly putting on gold shoes with a low heel. Deciding that her appearance was more than acceptable, and feeling better just because she looked better, she made her way to the dining hall.

Jareth was standing at one of the large windows with his hands behind his back. Sarah made her way over to him and linking her arm with his once she reached him.

"How are you feeling?" Jareth looked down to peer at her face. Sarah looked a bit better, but he could still easily see that she was exhausted. She smiled slightly, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"I am better than I was last night," Sarah said quietly. Jareth nodded, looking out the window again. They waited a few moments in comfortable silence before a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Jareth said loudly, almost startling Sarah. They both turned in time to see the door open and Dydimus direct Feyore and Eve inside. Eve spotted Sarah at Jareth's side and went over to her, taking the younger woman's face in her hands.

"Goodness child, what has happened to you?" Eve scanned her face worriedly.

"Come now Eve, I say she looks quite lovely this morning," Feyore said with authority.

"Sarah has had a very strange vision, one that was too powerful for her to block. It did not sound like any vision a seer at her stage should be experiencing. I was hoping that you would be so kind as to offer your expertise," Jareth said. His voice tone was arrogant as always when dealing with others, even allies, but he smirked none the less. Sarah could see that he had withdrawn into the cold, cruel, Goblin King in the presence of his colleagues. Feyore and Eve exchanged glances. With a sigh, Eve took Sarah by the hand and led her to a seat.

"Come now dear, sit and tell us what you saw," Even said gently. Sarah passed a nervous look to Jareth who came to stand behind her for support. Feyore took a seat by Eve as they waited patiently for Sarah to start.

"Alright, this is what I saw," Sarah said averting her gaze to the table as she began to speak. She recited everything, the same way that she had told Jareth. She managed to keep it together a little better, only getting a little choked up when speaking about the dark elf killing Jareth.

Once she had finished telling them what had happened, there was an uncomfortable silence as Eve and Feyore passed concerned glances between one another. Sarah's hands were clenched in fists, shaking as she waited for them to give her some sort of explanation. She now understood how people could go mad from seeing visions such as these, always worrying when or if it all it will pan out that way.

"White Shadows," Eve questioned to her husband. Feyore looked to be in deep thought for a moment before nodding.

"It sounds like that is the case," Feyore said slowly. Jareth moved to sit beside Sarah, the icy look in his eyes melting for just a moment as she took a hold of his arm from under the table.

"Sarah," Eve began, "have you been having any serious anxieties about the dark elves?"

"No," Sarah replied. It was true; she had not been worried about facing them until she had that vision.

"Strange. White Shadows are what a seer comes in contact with when the spirit world is trying to warn them. That's why it's near impossible to block even for the most mastered psychic. Now listen, before you panic, White Shadows are not always set in stone." Sarah seemed to calm down at this.

"Yes, they are usually a warning of what can happen," Feyore said. "I expect that you will have another similar vision, the spirit world doesn't usually bother to warn anyone unless the seer requests it. That's why your situation is very unheard of. It's most likely the spirit world will show you a few more visions of the like to this one. As long as the figures are white and almost translucent as you have described them, it means that it is only one ending of many."

"But how do I know which ending will come to be?" Sarah looked between the two of them.

"There is no way to tell, unfortunately," Feyore said. "I don't know why you would be in the midst of the battle, but apparently you end up there for this certain ending to occur. Pay close attention to the next few visions you receive, the details will be the key into choosing which fate you'd prefer."

"That is the only plus of seeing White Shadows as to regular visions, they are the most likely to be able to change," Eve added on.

"When I had other visions come that looked related to fighting the dark elves they didn't look like that at all," Sarah said.

"Then they are probably the events that will occur leading up to whatever White Shadows you see next," Feyore answered.

"Alright, is there anything else I should know?"

"Well Sarah, White Shadows are rare. When seers delve into the spirit world for warning, most often they do not get it. Perhaps fate is trying to give you a choice, one that could drastically alter the future of the Underground," Eve replied.

"Thank you," Jareth replied, cutting the conversation to a close. He could have guessed that something like this would happen, and already Sarah was starting to get nervous about it. "I appreciate you both coming to see us, I would invite you to stay but I am sure you are very busy."

"Think nothing of it, I am certain you would have done the same," Feyore said standing from his chair. "Best of luck to you Sarah, if you need us again don't hesitate to ask." With that said they all stood from the table and exchanged respectful bows.

"Till we meet again," Eve said kindly following her husband from the room.

Jareth sighed, as he offered his hand to Sarah. She took it looking as tired as ever.

"Would you like me to summon your friends?" Jareth looked down to Sarah, moving her hand to his arm as he escorted her towards her study.

"No, I mean, not right now. Could you stay with me for a little while," Sarah asked as they reached her study door.

"Anything for you dearest," Jareth said airily, but not in an annoyed fashion.

After Sarah, Jareth followed her inside as she went to the balcony. Opening the doors she stepped outside in the cool breeze that tossed her hair about. Moving to sit on the railing of the balcony, she motioned for Jareth to sit beside her. Doing as she requested, Jareth sat down taking her hand.

"Jareth, if what Eve said is for real then what am I going to do?" Sarah looked up into his mismatched eyes, her own emerald orbs burning with fear and affection.

"You will do what you believe is right," Jareth said hoping to pacify her.

"What if I am wrong?"

"You will not be wrong love, I have faith in you. After all you managed to defeat me and the Labyrinth with out any powers. The spirit world would not be showing you these visions if it thought that you weren't capable of doing what's best," Jareth said serenely. Sarah sighed and leaned her head upon his shoulder.

"What if the vision with you dying is the right one?" Sarah paled at the thought.

"Sarah, you don't even know what the other visions are yet," Jareth said amused for a moment before turning serious. "If it turns out to be the right one, then it will be for the best."

"I don't know if I can do that," Sarah said, staring unseeingly at the garden below.

"Hopefully you won't have to," Jareth sighed. He lifted his hand to brush it along her cheek. "Will you be alright for awhile?"

"Yea, I think I'll go visit Hoggle," Sarah said smiling. Jareth nodded leaning forward to kiss her deeply.

"I'll see you for lunch," Jareth replied kissing her once more before leaving her to her own.

After gazing down at the garden a little while longer, Sarah stood and went to look for Hoggle. She wasn't searching very long before she came across him hurrying down the hallway.

"Hoggle!" Sarah smiled as her dwarven friend stopped and turned to look at her.

"Hello Sarah, how are ya?" Hoggle returned her smile and walked the rest of the way to greet her.

"I'm alright; just busy trying to learn how to use these powers the right way."

"Yea, haven't seen ya much lately. How's that going for ya?" Hoggle rested one hand on his hip, looking up to her.

"It's interesting to say the least. What are you up to?" Sarah noticed he was fidgety.

"Just running a message for the King," Hoggle said nervously.

"Oh? Who's it from?" Sarah asked innocently enough, but her eyes were narrowed curiously.

"I can't say Sarah, alls I can tell ya is that it's about the Dark Elves," Hoggle was anxious to get away from her now. Sarah grinned and made a grab for the letter. As soon as her skin touched the rough parchment, she froze. Her head began aching as the familiar feeling from last night's vision accosted her mind. She pulled her hand away from the parchment as though it had burned her. Her eyes glazed over as she backed into the wall, sliding down to her knees.

"Hoggle," Sarah whispered, "get Jareth."

"Sarah? Sarah!" Hoggle looked at her worriedly; he waved his hand in front of her face, but received no response. With out a second thought, he took off as fast as his short legs would carry him. Jareth would not be pleased to be interrupted, but he would be even angrier if Hoggle had not told him that Sarah needed him.

Author's Note:

Oh my, what is Sarah going to see this time, just what is Jareth up to all the time and more importantly, who is Hoggle playing messenger for? Well, you'll just have to keep on reading to find out! Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed thus far, it's really motivating! Keep it up, and let me know what you think! Also, please forgive any errors that slip my eye.