Deep in the Bog's surrounding forest, Sir Didymus had a den of his own far beneath the surface. Only a few honored friends visited him in his sanctuary, Hoggle most of all. Ludo did not care for the underground lair as it was built for shorter occupants so he waited above in the knight's lush garden, a clothespin on his nose to block the smell. They had heard that the knight was going on a journey and had come to see what was happening. Hoggle had heard that the Crystal Queen was planning something, but her plans did not include Hoggle so he was at a loss to know what new business was at hand.

Hoggle watched Didymus as the small knight admired himself in his full length mirror, pinning on medals. Hoggle wondered about some of them, but didn't care to ask. He had important business to discuss. He tried waiting patiently for the knight to speak but Didymus was very particular about his dress uniform. Finally Hoggle rolled his eyes and asked his question.

"So the Crystal Queen's called for ya then? What's goin' on? She hardly ever leaves the place," the dwarf asked. Didymus nodded approvingly at his own reflection before turning to speak to his dwarf brother.

"Her most remarkable highness has requested my protection as she ventures from her palace to that of her sister the High Queen. There is to be a luncheon today - I've been told all three of the sisters will be there."

Hoggle froze at this. Kareena was returning again so soon? He coughed, hiding his excitement. Maybe Sarah would be with her now and he could see her again, let her know that he was her best friend here and that the rat couldn't be trusted. He'd make sure Sarah knew who she should be with and it certainly wasn't Jareth.

"Um, is Princess Kareena comin' alone?"

"Well there is talk she brings the boy again," the knight answered and Hoggle's face dropped slightly. "But I have also heard our Champion may accompany the princess. Now that she knows who her step mother is, visits will be easier and more frequent I suppose."

"Sarah's coming?" Hoggle hid the happiness in his voice. "Ludo and I shoulds go with ya - just to say hello."

"What a marvelous idea, brother - it shall be as you say. Come, the Queen hates to be kept waiting."

JSJS

Jareth sat in his office staring off into space, replaying his last moments with Sarah in the Escher room. He'd asked the girl to love him and though she hadn't told him that she did - she hasn't exactly said she didn't. He'd let his disappointment and anger cloud his judgement. Then drinking three bottles of goblin ale hadn't helped matters. How had things gone so wrong?

You have no power over me.

Jareth pondered the words solemnly as he read the book on his desk. Shakespeare was an odd fellow but he seemed to have much knowledge of his world and the plight of unrequited love.

Thinking back on Sarah's declaration in the Escher room, he rolled the words over in his mind, taking the sentence apart, looking for a loophole. No power over her indeed. How had her will been stronger than his own? He didn't have power over her and that was what had made him send her back home, not the fact that she'd said the words, but that the words were true and he hadn't wanted to admit it at the time. He was used to getting what he wanted simply because he was king. But she was to be his queen and he hadn't given her the respect due her position. She had deserved that if nothing else. He hadn't given her time to explain herself or if she was only quoting the book. He hadn't given himself time to be honest with himself or with Sarah and now he only had himself to blame.

Fear me, love me, do as I say...

Love me, he thought to himself. What was love to Fae was different than human love. If someone obeyed you, feared your wrath and gave you tribute - that was love, or so he'd always thought. He thought on his parents - they seemed to have a bond far greater than that, and while they still quarreled, they had an accord that was rare in their world. Was there more to love than he had thought? Perhaps love was not something you demanded. Maybe it was something you could win - like a game played by two worthy opponents. Her will was as great - he would have to test her other qualities, see if she was up to the challenge of being queen. He'd made it too easy for her to refuse him, he could not afford to make that mistake again.

He glanced down at the book he'd been studying. Romeo and Juliet. Well, he didn't want to take poison and after that whole peach incident, Sarah would most likely never trust him to feed her anything. A knock on his door startled him and he glanced up to see his sister Briella enter.

"Don't tell me you are actually working?" she teased, brushing long blonde hair out of her eyes. He grimaced and tried to bury the book underneath paperwork but his little sister was too fast. Her grey eyes sparkled at his obvious discomfort.

"Romeo and Juliet? How fascinating. 'My only love sprung from my only hate; too early unknown and known too late'. Jareth, this wouldn't have anything to do with a certain mortal girl beating your Labyrinth would it? Planning some sort of revenge?"

"I am planning to court Sarah," he said and sat in stunned silence. Court her, of course. A mortal girl such as Sarah would not bow to demands of love and servitude, she wouldn't understand the benefits. She had no idea of the joys such obedience could bring her. Before she learned this lesson, she must be courted, serenaded. Fae women shunned such things in favor of simply honoring their males wishes and in that way both could find pleasure in each other. He longed to show Sarah just what their bodies could do together, singing in the endless song of bliss. The mere thought of it made him smile and his sister sighed.

"Court her? As in woo her? Brother, this is beneath you - surely you can command any Fae female to be your queen and be done with this curse upon you. I do not wish to see you dead."

"I do not wish it either," he drily remarked. "I find myself quite entertaining. No, I will not die - I will live to convince my Sarah to give our fate a chance. There must be a reason she came to this place, must be some reason I thought her worthy."

"You do not know?" the question came out amazed. Jareth knew everything, his sister thought to herself. He was the smartest brother in the world even when he got a bit distracted. It was all part of his genius. But he was distracted by a little mortal child and while she did not understand it fully, she would help him all she could.

"I know that I wanted her here and so she was here. What I do not know is why it was so important to me. I should not care that she rejected me, I should not be dying a bit more each day, but I am. I feel it in each breath, each thought. She consumes my every moment until I have no recollection of time before her existence. It frustrates me to have these strange feelings and I mean to find out what Sarah is to me."

"You are in love," his sister said simply and Jareth considered this. True, he had asked Sarah to love him, but that was how things were done in his world. To love him would have been to give over her entire life to his will. When she refused, he should have been able to move on - to find someone more suitable. The fact that she still haunted his dreams gave him a troublesome feeling deep inside that he did not enjoy.

"I must see her again." He rose to teleport but his sister held up a hand. He looked at her in surprise.

"That is what I came to tell you - the girl is coming here, with Princess Kareena, for a visit with Mother and the Crystal Queen. Mother is getting ready in her palace and I had to run over here to tell you."

"That was sweet of you," he said, eyes narrowed. "Why did you think it important to come here instead of simply sending a message."

"Oh don't look at me like that, I have no ulterior motives. It was either come here myself of be swept away in one of Mother's cleaning frenzies," the girl laughed and after a moment Jareth laughed too. Sarah here, in his world again. He would have to appear at this luncheon somehow but it would be tricky. The three sisters always put up a protective spell around their rare gatherings to hide their conversations from telepathic subjects who loved to gossip.

No matter, he was the Goblin King and besides, it had been a long time since he'd visited his ancestral home to discuss politics with his father. He would be a good son and report to the High King how his realm was faring. And if he happened to see Sarah while he was there, then - well, that just couldn't be helped now, could it?

He grinned at his sister and bowed.

"It would be rude of me not to escort you home and give my regards to our parents. Father has been waiting for word of my realm's reconstruction - I should go and let him know the progress made." His sister grinned, showing sharp teeth.

"As you command, dear brother." The two disappeared in flurry of glitter.

JSJSJSJS

"Go back?" Sarah asked her stepmother. "Why would I go back? I don't want to see Jareth again," she sputtered, blushing. Karen hid a smile and continued to make breakfast. Robert had left for work early, not wanting to see his wife and daughter leave for 'that place'. Toby sat in his high chair giving Sarah a knowing smile which only made her blush more. Life was so much easier in some ways before she had let the possibilities of magic into her life.

"My sisters wish to meet you and I wish to see them again. Jareth will not be involved, in fact, no one has told him of our visit."

"So he won't be there?" A tinge of disappointment colored her question and Sarah groaned inwardly. No, this was good, you don't want to see him. But she frowned anyway.

"He's where he will be," Karen shrugged. "I don't follow his movements. But this luncheon is for women only. We always put a spell of protection up to block others from overhearing our talks. Gossip runs rampant there, you know. Jareth won't even know we're there." Toby banged his spoon on the table.

"Oh Toby, of course you are coming. I wouldn't leave you here alone," Karen laughed and he giggled. Sarah didn't think she would ever get used to that but smiled anyway.

"Well, when do we go?" Sarah asked.

"Just as soon as you get dressed and brush your hair," Karen replied and Sarah glanced down at herself. No, it wouldn't do to meet royalty in one's pajamas.