Jareth enjoyed talking with the little girl. He found out her name was Allie and she could already read a little. She saw creatures out of the corner of her eye mostly, but sometimes, they would visit her and tell her stories. She was a fascinating little thing, with wide blue eyes and a smile that lit up the room when she allowed it to show.

"And where is your mother, little one?" Jareth asked, letting her onto his lap. She yawned and snuggled closer to him. The nurses were amazed, Allie had never talked to anyone in the ward before besides Sarah and here she was being held by a total stranger.

"In Heaven, she gets to play with angels now. Daddy said she misses us a lot. Daddy drinks a lot but he says it's so he can see Mommy in his head better. I told him I can see her without drinking that yucky beer but he just...well, he didn't like it."

"I'm sure he is grieving too, pet," Jareth said softly. He felt a bit tired, and he missed Sarah. He wondered if Sarah would grieve for Jareth when he died. He tossed the thought out of his head, she hadn't rejected him yet. There was still time to win her heart, if he deserved to do so. His heart was only going to slow further as the months went on, until she chose him completely, or she cut him from her life - and his.

"I know. Sarah says the same thing. She told me that even though people do things you don't understand, you still should give them a chance to make it right."

"Did she? Do you talk to Sarah when she visits?" Jareth smiled at the child, enjoying his time with her.

"Sometimes we talk, other times we draw together. She is the best artist. Look over there," Allie pointed and Jareth glanced at a colorful mural on the far wall. It was the Under Ground and he was pleased to see she'd done it justice with her talent. Ludo, Didymus, Hoggle...even that blasted worm forever trying to get people to somehow crawl into a hole in the Labyrinth wall and drink the horrible tea its wife brewed.

Off to one side, holding arms outstretched as to welcome visitors was Jareth himself. He was happy his glamour was intact, he wouldn't want to explain to a bunch of nurses why Sarah had put him in tight grey pants and a huge amount of glitter. But his expression was what got his attention. Sarah had painted him looking out with such love and devotion, he would swear he was a kind man. Was this how Sarah saw him? As a kind man - a good person? He knew he was a fair king, but was he a good man? So much to learn, he thought, and so little time.

"Does she see you too?" the girl asked, gazing up at Jareth's pensive expression.

"Yes, yes I think she does," Jareth said, his voice catching. "Better than anyone I've ever met."

"Sarah says that sometimes life isn't fair but that's the way it is. She gets a little sad when she says that, like she's missing someone."

"Really? What gives you that impression?" Jareth asked, curious. Allie smiled again.

"She looks at the mural a lot and sighs when she doesn't think anyone's watching."

Jareth let himself think on that for a time and idly hummed to the girl, relaxing her. He brushed her mind gently with his own, getting her address without her realizing it. Then he rocked her to sleep, continuing to hum a soft lullaby. Carrying her over to the nurse, he was guided to the young girl's bed. He tucked her in and kissed her forehead.

Walking around the ward, he was amazed at how cheerful most of the children were. He wished he could track down each one of the people who had hurt these children but he could only help those who sought him out. He sat in the center of the room and pulled out a crystal, letting it run over his arms and fingers nimbly.

"Look, he can juggle," a little boy named Brandon said happily. He ran over to Jareth and sat down, enraptured as the king produced another crystal to chase the first. Soon there were quite a few children watching him play.

"He's got quite the way with children," the head nurse said to Karen.

"He does indeed. He's always been like that, protecting those who needed it. I've always been very proud of him. He's dating Sarah now and Robert and I couldn't be more thrilled."

"Ah, a fine young lad like that, your Sarah is quite the lucky one!" Nurse Beckham said approvingly.

"Well sometimes luck needs a little push, you know Robert," Karen confided. The old nurse burst into laughter.

"I can just imagine Robert giving Jareth the third degree. As long as Jareth treats Sarah like the queen she is, it'll all work out in the end."

Karen nodded as Toby giggled in her arms. "Truer words were never spoken."

JSJSJS

"So what are vampires really like?" Sarah asked and Seline smiled.

"They prefer the term Lordos actually, their planet is called Lordonia and it is very beautiful. Jareth brought back some plants from their for me and they are thriving. You shall see them later this afternoon if you'd like to help me tend to my plants."

"Oh I'd love to!" Sarah was feeling better now, though she still had her doubts about Jareth.

"Good. Lordos are a fun race actually - they love to play tricks and they have such a way of words about them. Their poems are legendary. They also have a strong pull - an attraction to those they meet. It's how legends about them started. People call it hypnotism or mind control but it is actually more of a joy they surround themselves with - it catches everyone around them into it."

"And the blood sucking part?"

"Yes, I think I mentioned how that was a mutual part of the mating process. They don't go around draining young beauties for sport or hunger," Seline said, amused.

"I'm sorry, you did tell me that. I'm just a little nervous," Sarah admitted. "I never thought Goblin Kings and vampires would be part of my future. I'm not complaining, but I'm happy and excited and well, I don't know how to explain it."

"You're doing a fine job, my Lady," Didymus beamed. "You are eloquent and quite thrilling to listen to - all who hear your words would agree."

"Thanks Sir Didymus," Sarah giggled. "Sometimes I just need a little encouragement - especially when it comes from such a distinguished knight."

The old knight sat up straighter and coughed. "Everyone in the Under Ground is most pleased you agreed to be courted by King Jareth. He has never courted another and we did not believe his goblin heart could be turned towards love." He bowed toward Seline. "No insult intended to your fine son, my queen."

"None taken, friend Knight."

"He lost his heart so long ago, you see. In battle. A Fae has never been known to survive with another creature's heart, but our good king is strong and true and honors his fallen comrade by accepting his heart."

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked, puzzled. Seline grimaced at the memory.

"Many years ago, Jareth was not Goblin King. He was our heir of course, but had not yet earned a kingdom of his own. His magic was not strong, in fact, he was easily beaten in trials given to our young. He wanted to see the world and learn more of it before claiming a kingdom. In his travels, he came across a goblin, Mennos. The goblin told him that slavers had been taking goblins and hunting them for sport. Jareth at the time was not very mature and did not care if slavers were raiding the lands for mere goblins."

"That's horrible," Sarah cried, dismayed. Sir Didymus patted her knee.

"He was young and foolish, my Lady," Didymus said knowingly. "As we all are once upon a time."

Sarah felt a twinge of embarassment and readied herself to listen to the rest of the story.

"He allowed the old goblin to travel back to our castle so that he might petition our aid. On the way, they came across a goblin prison camp. I will not lie Sarah, it was not pleasant. Even the young ones were being tortured. Jareth had not realized goblins could also be so young and defenseless as Fae young or humans."

"What happened next?" Sarah asked, wondering how this ended up with Jareth's heart being replaced.

"They were captured," Seline said simply. "They were tortured for weeks. We did not know where he was, and the slavers blocked Jareth's magic so we could not find him. He could have escaped many times, but Jareth never gave thought of it, he encouraged the goblins to stay strong and promised if he could, he would find a way to aid them."

"He told stories to the young ones and helped take care of the older slaves who could not work as hard," Didymus said softly. "He never once thought himself better than they were from what the goblins told me later."

"It sounds horrible," Sarah said, her eyes welling up with tears. Jareth was so strong and powerful. And he stayed in a prison camp to give hope to goblin prisoners. "How did he get out of there?"

"Finally, after many weeks, Jareth's magic was mature enough to fight back. He and Mennos fought side by side with the other goblins and though many died, many more lived. Jareth was leading them back to the High Court when one of the slavers rose up from the ground and plunged his sword into Jareth's heart. Without thinking, Mennos worked a spell and placed his own heart within Jareth's. After that, Jareth recovered slowly and when he was well enough to do so, he claimed the goblins as his own. He may not seem like it, but he is devoted to them."

"He has a goblin heart, and no one has ever had one given to them in such a way," Didymus said proudly. "King Jareth inspires such loyalty from his people because he is loyal to them as well."

Sarah pondered this and nodded. She'd thought that Jareth had just been handed a kingdom, she'd never dreamed that he could have earned it in such a loving, loyal way.

"And while his heart is goblin, the blood still runs Fae," Didymus said in a low voice. "It can still be shattered."

"What?" Sarah was sitting up, terrified. Seline gave a warning look to the knight and patted Sarah's leg.

"If Jareth is loved, his heart will stay strong. It is our way. But I think his heart is safe within you Sarah. Please don't prove me wrong."

"I don't know what to say, your majesty. I don't know if I could ever love Jareth. But I do know I'll never intentionally hurt him." Sarah pledged. The queen nodded, content.

"That is enough for me to know, young Sarah. My son has chosen well."

The carriage pulled up in front of the Crystal Palace. Sarah gasped. It was the most beautiful place she'd ever seen, with silver and crystal spires rising into the clear afternoon sky. A pure rushing river seemed to surround the castle as its moat, multi colored fish jumping out of the water.

The palace was larger than any she'd ever seen. Multiple spires graced the roof and windows shimmered with hints of rainbow at each one. Sarah could hear singing from within and a feeling of peace settled over her.

"It's beautiful," she gasped, staring up at the castle.

They were led into a large, formal sitting room and served refreshments. Sir Didymus took his leave to find his queen and let her know of their arrival. Sarah looked around at the staid, calm room and frowned.

"It's not like your sitting room at all," she noticed. "There aren't any paintings or momentos."

"Marissa keeps her momentos closer to her than that," the queen allowed but would not elaborate. "Remember, when you meet the Lordos, do not show fear. They would not hurt you, but they do enjoy a little teasing."

"Well, I'm used to that," Sarah said, rolling her eyes. "Your son is pretty good at mental torment."

Seline laughed and winked. "More than you realize, young Sarah."