Jareth conjured a crystal and sought out Allie's father. While it was true that he could not heal children in this world, he could exact justice. He wished he knew of a way to defend all of the children he came across, but he was doing all he could placing books and other portals in the different worlds he visited. Some children got the same red Labyrinth book Sarah had, without the part about the Goblin King loving them. He hadn't added it to Sarah's book either, but the Labyrinth always did have a mind of her own. He wondered if he had chosen Sarah or if she'd been chosen for him. Did it matter? Perhaps not, but still, he wondered.

Gazing into the crystal, he watched the life of Caromina unfold. She'd run away from her world, much like Karen's mother had - for a man. Unlike Karen's mother, Caromina had chosen a human. He idly wondered if Robert thought Karen was half Fae, half human. It had never really been discussed. At least Karen's mother had chosen someone who loved her deeply. Otherwise she would not have died when he died. The way Jareth himself might yet still perish if Sarah was gone from his life.

He saw how Caromina had met Yuri Bevonov in the cold reaches of a Russian winter. How she'd saved him from a bear attack in the mountains. Yuri had been impressed with the Lordonian girl and she'd let him think his myths of vampires were true. He'd begged her to turn him, but she had made excuses, just enjoying her pretense at humanity with this new world.

He watched their mating - how wild and harsh as was Caromina's people's way. But Yuri thrived on it, craved the violence. And so Alia had been conceived. When she was born, Yuri had noticed the baby had powers, such as levitating over her cradle. Becoming jealous, he again demanded to have some powers of his own. She'd finally had to confess that she could not give him those powers.

Yuri had been a patient man. When they'd come to America to visit relatives, he'd taken his wife and child out for a drive. He'd then threatened the child if he did not get his powers. Caromina had tried to run with Alia, but he had been too fast. He'd shot his wife. Being so far from her world and it's healing magic, Alia's mother perished. He pulled Alia off of the woman and put Caromina back in the car, setting it ablaze. Alia had run to the car, screaming for her mother and burned her arms.

Jareth transformed into his battle armor and formulated a plan even as his heart tried to focus on Sarah.

So, the child lied about her wounds. Why had Jareth not realized it? He was confused. Marriage to a human had destroyed Caromina, but Karen seemed to thrive in her relationship with Robert. Robert was hostile to his world and consistently trying to keep Sarah from his side. Humans had many moods and many motivations.

Would Sarah someday turn on him as well? Jareth did not want to believe it, but human love seemed very fickle. His heart ached with a strange mixture of longing and mistrust. He imagined his arms around her holding her close to him for always. He sensed that there was a potential rival near his Sarah and growled softly. He wondered if he and Sarah were in a battle of wits and emotion and if so, who would eventually win.

ssss

Devlin watched Sarah chat with Marissa and Seline. Marissa said something that startled Sarah and Devlin was intrigued by the way the girl blushed.

"I don't think about it at all," Sarah was saying and Marissa smiled.

"You will at some point be asked how you feel about such a thing," the Crystal Queen answered.

"I can't see myself as Jareth's queen - or anyone's really," the girl protested.

"Nonsense," Devlin interupted. "You would make the most beautiful queen I've ever seen. Present company excluded of course." The two queens laughed at his charm.

"Is your father feeling better?" Marissa asked politely. Devlin nodded, staring at Sarah. His eyes took on a brighter blue and he licked his lips gently. Sarah took a deep breath and pretended not to notice. Devlin did not physically move, but Sarah seemed to feel him take a step closer to her. Her heart rate sped up slightly and she gazed back at him, entranced yet thinking of Jareth.

Devlin frowned. Sarah wondered at that but shook off the feelings Devlin stirred in her, they weren't real. The problem was, Sarah wasn't sure what was real anymore.

"He was very pleased to meet Sarah. It seems to give him a sense of peace though I am at a loss to understand it." He turned to Sarah and kissed her hand, lingering on her palm. Sarah shivered and, seeing Seline's glare, Devlin released the girl's hand.

"Until the ball, my Lady Sarah - I look forward to claiming a dance with such a beauty." Sarah thought she heard a growl, but looking around, saw nothing.

Sarah was quiet on the way back to the High Court. She felt Jareth in her mind somehow but it wasn't like it was on purpose. She didn't feel that he was paying attention to her thoughts, more like he was thinking about her. The funny thing was, it did not seem to be happy thoughts, or loving thoughts. It was almost as if he was distancing himself from her.

She sat, arms folded, frowning. This she did not like at all. She was the one who was supposed to have doubts about this courtship. A little voice inside of her reminded Sarah that this was what she knew would happen. Jareth would get bored and leave. This was what she wanted, to be free of this silly courtship and get on with her life. She didn't know it would hurt so much when it finally happened.

She found herself wanting to talk to the king, see his face again. Truth be told, she wanted his arms around her. Safety and Jareth's embrace were becoming intertwined in her heart. Was she falling in love? She had no idea, only that she needed to see him soon.

"You have never once thought of being queen to my son?" she asked gently. Sarah jumped, embarassed to be asked this question.

"I don't know how everyone thinks I can be that to him. He doesn't think of me that way and I don't love him. I just wish people would stop teasing about something that can't happen."

Seline watched the various emotions cross Sarah's face and tilted her head to study the child. Sarah didn't notice how her pin's eyes glowed softly. Jareth was trying to sort through some powerful emotions and linking to Sarah's heart in the process. If they had been fully bonded, Sarah would understand. But to a human girl with no knowledge of such things, Jareth's musings would confuse her greatly.

"Sarah, I'm sorry if the Lordos frightened you. Jareth will be sending the girl back to us soon and all will be well."

"And what of the father? Mr. Bevenov seemed like a nice man. He came to visit Allie as much as he could before he had to go back to Russia."

"And why did he leave the child?" Seline's eyes glowed slightly. Sarah didn't notice.

"He had a job to get back to and Allie wasn't fully healed. His family in America is taking care of her until she's ready to go home."

"I see. Tell me, did the child ever tell you how she received her burns?"

"Yes, a camping accident," Sarah said, not really listening. Her mind was focusing on the Goblin King. She pictured him as they danced in the ballroom, as he hid, drunk, under her bed. How his arms had come around her in her room that first night and she'd been so tempted to just see what would happen next. She felt his arms around her now, achingly real and yet, so far away.

She felt tears tease her eyes and wiped them away angrily.

"Let me show you what happened to the girl," Seline said and let Jareth's crystal images flow into her hand. Sarah watched, stunned.

"I had no idea," Sarah whispered. "How could she have not told me the truth? I visited with her all the time. She talked about her mother to me."

Seline gave her a hard look. "Sometimes, we love someone so deeply that we do not wish them pain. We hide our deepest torment to protect the ones we cherish."

They arrived back at the High Court and Sarah took a moment to compose herself. Seline seemed to understand that Sarah was fighting something inside of herself and was feeling exposed.

"Come child, let us go to my gardens and relax before the evening meal. We shall discuss this again at a later time."

jjjjjj

Jareth was so absorbed in the crystal and his conflicting emotions about Sarah that he did not notice Robert walk into Sarah's room.

"Are you spying on my daughter?" Robert asked, annoyed. Jareth spun the crystal away and glared at the other man. Robert felt a touch of fear as he noticed Jareth's attire.

"Foolish mortal - does your sun and moon hang on the girl? Could there be no other reason I gaze into my crystals and wear my armor? No, I am not spying on your Sarah. There is a crisis that does not concern you and I am preparing myself for it."

"You're going somewhere you'll be in danger," Robert said quietly. "You're always in danger. If Sarah is with you, she's in danger too."

Jareth was shocked. "Is that why you disapprove of me? Foolish man, I can keep my queen safe, have no doubt of that."

"Sarah isn't a queen, she's a young girl who doesn't know what she agreed to when she said you could court her. When the time comes, I hope you let her down easily."

"Let her down? She'll walk away from me far sooner than even you could hope. This time next year I shall be dead and you will not need to shield her from the evil Goblin King."

"Where are you going?" Robert asked, curious.

"It is not for you to -"

"I know, none of my concern. But for some insane reason, my daughter cares about you. So while you are under my roof, you are my concern."

Jareth stared at Sarah's father and a familiar gleam came into his eye.

"You wish to know where I go, friend Robert? Come, I shall take you with me and you may judge me at my worst."

A flash of lightning and the two were gone.