Guards dressed in red and black came to escort Seline and Sarah to the Crystal Queen's throne room. The walls here sang just as Seline's castle did, but the song seemed different, more intense somehow. Almost as if if it was preparing for a battle no one had yet announced. As they walked, Sarah noticed people bowing. At first she thought it was for Seline, then saw that just as many people bowed to her. She glanced at the High Queen, confused.

"They know of your courtship by my son, the Crystal Heir," Seline said solemnly.

"Jareth is your sister's heir too?" Sarah asked. Seline nodded as they quickly walked the white marble floors. The clicking of their boots echoed amongst the singing walls of the castle and Sarah waiting for Seline to continue.

"The way our kingdom is arranged has Logan and I ruling over the Under Ground. However, Marissa rules our galaxy. We are but one planet in a host of many."

"I keep forgetting we aren't on Earth, but - where are we really?" Sarah asked, looking around at the trolls, sprites and other creatures wandering the palace grounds.

"Our world is known as Avian," Seline answered. "What you know of as Fae are actually Avians - we share traits with Earth birds, but also with other creatures from other realms. We are what you might call shape shifters."

"Jareth turns into an owl," Sarah remembered and hid a small grin.

"Many of your Earth legends came from humans seeing us roam your world many years ago. As times progressed and technology grew, we retreated more into our own world for safety. Jareth is really the only one of the royal family who ventures onto your planet because he feels responsible for the unwanted children."

"But why aren't all of the unwanted children here?" Sarah had to ask. Seline sighed, squeezing Sarah's hand for a moment.

"You have to believe and you have to be wished away. Not just humans, there are many trolls here now due to Jareth's efforts. They were persecuted for centuries by humans before falling into myth."

"Really - trolls?"

"The trolls are from yet another world, their numbers are dwindling now but hundreds of years ago, many of them lived on your planet. It was before they were hunted as monsters. They are responsible for much of the buildings from ancient times. Along with the dwarves of course."

"Are they aliens too?" Sarah asked, thinking of Hoggle. Seline laughed.

"No, they are from your world. What you must understand Sarah is that there are many worlds in our realm and they overlap both in culture and history. We are all interconnected on some level no matter where we originate from and where we choose to dwell. Logan and I watch over this planet but there are many other High Kings and Queens that watch over their own. And Marissa is a sort of gatekeeper to them all. Jareth, as her heir controls the Labyrinth. Of course now that Toby has been discovered, there might be a change in how the line of succession runs. But there will be many years to think on that."

"Toby is heir? Even though Karen left?"

"Toby didn't leave, his mother did. In our world, that makes him just as much heir as Jareth. If Jareth chose not to rule or - died, Toby would become Crystal King someday."

"I didn't think Jareth could die," Sarah said, subdued. Seline's eyes misted a bit.

"Remember my Seth, his heart was destroyed because he believed in the wrong mate." It seemed to Sarah that there was a hidden message in that, but she didn't want to dwell on anything that might make her admit her feelings for Jareth just yet. Instead, Sarah nodded, quiet and thoughtful. Sir Didymus had said that Jareth's Fae heart could be shattered and Seline had mentioned Jareth could die. There was something going on that no one was telling her and she was going to find out what it was.

They reached the throne room and were announced. Walking into the large round room, Sarah was awed by the pure white walls dusted in gold and silver flakes so fine it was like sand. The room had one long window that surrounded the entire circumference, showing the palace grounds and beyond that, the kingdom itself.

Two men dressed in dark blue stood in front of the large silver and crystal throne, bowing to Marissa who had a strained look on her face. Selene and Sarah stood in the back of the room, waiting to be announced.

"Your most Imperial Majesty," the elder looking man said, "we have traced the child to the mortal realm and want only to bring her back to us."

"She is with her human father, is she not?" Marissa asked, eyes narrowed. "I know from experience that humans do not give up their young so eagerly."

"She is in pain, your Grace," the other man said, his blue eyes shimmering like jewels. "We have been able to visit her but cannot touch her, bring her home. Only one of the royals may do so."

"We have heard that King Jareth is amongst the humans," the eldest said. Sarah noticed he looked familiar to her. She'd seen those blue eyes somewhere before. The older man sniffed the air and growled. Turning in her direction, his eyes turned black and he started walking toward her, menace in each step. Razor sharp fangs descended.

Sarah was vaguely aware that she could not move her legs, she was glued to the floor somehow.

Seline put a hand on her shoulder, pulling her behind her. The man growled and guards pulled their spears to the ready, advancing on the man.

"Tell me, girl - where is my granddaughter? What have you done with Alia?"

"I don't know anyone named Alia," Sarah said, terrified. Seline growled at the man and he took a step back, suddenly realizing her presence.

"Why do you shield the child snatcher? Is it because your own son steals babes from their cradle?"

"Orthos, that is enough," Marissa said sharply. "You shall not find your kin in this way."

"She's right Father," the younger blonde man said, taking his arm gently. "Allie needs us to remain calm." The man stared at Sarah, concentrating on her in a way that made her dizzy.

"Allie? I know a little girl at the hospital named Allie," Sarah said quickly shaking off the feeling this man wanted her for dinner. "But she's on Earth."

"With her human father. I can smell her on you faintly. You have been near her." The old man glared at her and she swallowed nervously.

"She's a - one of you?" Sarah asked, glancing at Seline and then Marissa. Marissa nodded.

"The girl - if she is indeed the same one, is Alia de Mortos - granddaughter of Delmorten, ambassador of Lordonia. She's been missing for some time now."

"I don't understand," Sarah said. "How can no one on my world know what she is? She's in a hospital - they take blood, they run tests."

"Lordos children take on the genetics of the father. Physically, Allie is human." The younger man bowed. "Forgive us, young lady. My father gets emotional about our Alia. I am Devlin and you are?"

"Sarah. Sarah Williams," she stammered, staring into gem like blue eyes. She felt a wave of happiness come over her, like she was wading into warm clear water. Her heart started pounding and she could feel her blood strain through her veins to get closer to this man. Her vision blurred and her breath came in short gasps. She leaned towards him but Seline quickly pulled her back.

"There will be quite enough of that Devlin. The girl is being courted by King Jareth."

"This is the girl who was tested by Jareth's Labyrinth?" Devlin looked at her with new respect. "My own cousin Meribel ran it last year and failed. You must be very cunning."

"If the king is courting her, we can see how she won so easily," the old man grumbled and Sarah glared back at him, suddenly unafraid.

"Have you run it? If not, you can keep your opinions to yourself. Jareth does not let people win, they have to earn it. He's a good king and brave and wonderful. And he does not need disrespect towards his Labyrinth when he uses it to test the hearts of people who should know better than to doubt him." She took a deep breath after getting the words out - why did she feel the need to defend Jareth against this man? She felt oddly possessive of the Goblin King and wondered if she was just feeling this way because he'd written her such a sweet letter.

The old man peered into her eyes, seeming to pull out information from her mind effortlessly. He stared at her, in mild disbelief then smiled sadly.

"You harbor much love for your king, he has chosen well."

"What? Love? No - I just don't like people talking bad about him when he isn't here to defend himself is all. He's my friend."

"Friend," Delmorten grinned. "I see." He turned to Seline. "My apologies, your majesty. I miss my Alia and fear for her safety. The queen nodded.

"Understandable. Now - we will tell Jareth of this and let him handle it. And at the end of this week, when little Alia is back safely at home, you will all come to Jareth's ball. We shall celebrate Alia's return together."

The two men bowed and exited the room. Devlin winked at Sarah as he left and she felt her face flaming red. She'd almost jumped into his arms and - well, it didn't matter. She was mortified. And for some reason, she felt very guilty. Jareth entered her thoughts and she didn't bother to shoo the thoughts away. She missed him and she'd admit it, if only to herself.

JSJSJS

As the rain beat down outside, Jareth sat in Sarah's room, missing her terribly. He wondered if their child would be dark haired or blond, would he have magic? Would Sarah want more than one child? He fell back onto her bed and put a hand over his eyes. Would she even admit she loved him before he died a cruel and meaningless death?

Something shiny caught his eye. Looking carefully, he saw a Goblin King doll with something around its neck. A key? What could it be for? Jareth enjoyed a good puzzle and spent a few moments testing the key in the door lock, the bathroom door (though why anyone would lock a bathroom door that didn't even have a waterfall in it was beyond him) and even Toby's room. Coming back into Sarah's room, he noticed her desk. Raising an elegant brow, he put the key in the lock and - there it was. A portrait of himself, holding out a crystal. He looked desperate and passionate and he felt his heart constrict. Sarah.

She'd drawn this and locked it away. Why? The mural had been public enough. Then he looked at the portrait again and smiled with a giddy, crazy smile that made him ache for her even more. Inside the crystal was a pair of dancers. Himself and Sarah.

Jareth.

Mother? Is that you?

Yes - we have a problem. Sarah came with me to Marissa's today and met the Lordos.

What? Have they harmed her? Have they - tried anything?

No, my son, not really. It seems that the granddaughter of the ambassador is at the hospital Sarah volunteers at - she is being held by her human father. Can you get her back without incident?

Allie. I knew there was something about the child. I had planned to visit the father this evening and have a chat with him.

Jareth, just get the child back and bring her to a portal. You aren't to deal with the father. Delmorten wishes that honor.

Jareth thought about that for a moment.

"Can I at least terrify him a little?" he asked the room. His mother's laugh came into his head.

Yes, silly boy. That you can certainly do.