A/N - well things are certainly getting interesting for Sarah. Two men think she's worth chasing...but for very different reasons...oh and I'm gonna be in Mexico on vacation for a week - so no updates till October...I hope you will all be here when I get back!

Sarah was in a huge dark room lit by black candles. There were rows upon rows of pews, like in a church. But she wasn't in a church. At least, she didn't think so. Cautiously, she looked around, trying to find her way in the darkened room. Music played softly, an eerie sort of song that tore at her heart. Walking onward, she saw something unexpected. At the front of the room was a dais where a single golden coffin rested. Gathering up the courage to look inside, she saw wild blond hair and a glittery jacket of midnight blue. Horrified at who she was seeing, she backed away, screaming as she heard laughter surround her. Hands reached for her and as she was pulled into nothing, she felt her heart stop.

Sarah sat up, shaking and trying to calm herself. Where was she? As it all came back to her, she realized that there were no half dressed women singing Jareth's praises. No angry accusations of stealing jewelry or the body of the king. Only the traces of a nightmare that was probably brought on by stress. Breathing a sigh of relief, Sarah quickly washed and dressed, trying to not think about how natural it felt having Jareth in her room last night. His room, she reminded herself, blushing as she remembered calling it her room and the grin he'd given her.

The room could belong to both of you, you know, the little voice in her head purred. She kicked the bedframe and winced. Not the smartest thing she could have done, but at least she didn't hear the voice anymore. She refused to believe it was a real voice. It was too close to what she was really feeling, she'd die of embarassment if someone else actually knew Sarah was getting mushy over Jareth. Lots of people had imaginary voices in their heads, she reasoned. It was her conscience. Or wishful thinking.

Wishful thinking is exactly what you need to claim a Goblin King, the voice said softly.

"Argh," she yelled as she left his room and ran downstairs and hopefully away from the voice. The guards frowned at her outburst, but said nothing. The royal family was known to be eccentric. Sarah was the step daughter of the princess who'd run away from ruling everything Under Ground for a human. That had to have some bearing on the girl's strange behavior.

There were things she needed to find out today and she was determined to figure things out before this courtship went any further. Jareth was keeping things from her, not that it was a surprise, but Sarah found that she was not angry about it. More like confused and just maybe, excited. She'd heard what he'd said last night when he thought she was asleep - that she didn't know how much he needed her. The tone of his voice hadn't been happy. He had sounded nervous which was ridiculous because Goblin Kings did not get nervous over fifteen year old human girls.

She knew that she needed to have breakfast with Seline, but after that, she was going to visit Didymus. He worked for the Crystal Queen now and surely had some idea of what Jareth was hiding from her. Gathering her thoughts, she ran down to the breakfast room and bowed to Seline as she entered.

"Sarah, good morning," the High Queen smiled innocently. "How did you sleep? Good dreams, I hope." Sarah blushed, there was no way Seline would know about Jareth's visit. At least, that was what Sarah was choosing to believe.

You dreamt of a certain Goblin King and his fate if you do not choose wisely. Great, the voice was still there and now it was speaking in riddles. Sarah pasted a bright smile on her face and took a deep breath.

"Um - sleep? Yep, slept fine, thank you, your majesty," she babbled, grabbing a slice of toast and some jam. Seline raised one finely arched blonde brow but said nothing. Sarah shifted in her seat, not knowing why she felt as though the queen knew everything that happened in her castle. Maybe the voice was one of her servants of something, spying on her somehow. Nothing would surprise Sarah at this point.

"What are your plans, child?"

"What?" Sarah was surprised by the question. "Plans?"

"For today - what would you like to do?" Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. No wedding plans from the queen just yet, thank goodness.

"I'd like to sketch the gardens later. Do you think that Sir Didymus could pose for me? I've been wanting to do a portrait of my friends and Hoggle would never sit still enough for the first sketches."

"I'm sure he would love to, Sarah, but he's with my sister. Perhaps you could sketch Ludo? We could invite him to the gardens?" Seline's eyes narrowed slightly and Sarah felt guilty, then brushed the feeling aside. Seline didn't want her alone with Didymus? That was silly, why would she want to keep Sarah from one of her best friends?

"Well, I plan on sketching him too but," Sarah floundered, thinking hard. She decided that she'd tell the truth - at least, to a point. "I need to talk with him about Jareth."

"Really? And what would you like to ask our fearless knight?" The question was mild, but Sarah could see Seline regarding her warily. Sarah had to tread carefully now, Seline was acting weird.

"I want to know about the Labyrinth and how he started guarding the Bog. And - um, if there are any other places in the Labyrinth that are special to Jareth. I thought maybe I could do a painting for him as a sort of gift."

"A courting gift," Seline mused, and Sarah could swear she heard faint stirrings of music in the air. "Yes, he gave you the pin, it is only fitting you give him a gift in return. And your art is most impressive from what my sister tells me. Kareena is quite proud of your skill." She paused, closing her eyes as if listening to something. "I think you should follow your heart, Sarah. You cannot hope to make informed choices if you are not informed, correct? Go, seek out Didymus, he will not steer you wrong in your search for knowledge. He is most discreet when needed and most bold when he seeks to protect the family's honor. You will not find a better companion in my son's Labyrinth." Her eyes opened and she smiled at Sarah. "But this morning is for us - tell me, would you like to see Alia this morning?"

Sarah smiled widely. "Yes - of course - where is she? Jareth said," Sarah froze as the words came out and Seline grinned wickedly at the blush flowing over the girl's face.

"You've spoken to my son - recently?"

"Um, about that," Sarah stammered, staring down at her half eaten toast. Seline winked.

"None of that, a lady must never feel the need to explain her courtship." The queen rose, holding out a hand. "Come child, let us visit Alia. We'll take Jenata with us and the girls can meet."

"That sounds great," Sarah said, thankful not to be quizzed on Jareth's nocturnal visit. They materialized at a beautiful stone cottage, it's walls covered in green vines dotted with tiny flowers that looked like roses. They were in every color of the rainbow and smelled like cookies. Sarah breathed in the scent and smiled.

"They are called Summer's Heart," Seline said, waving toward the blooms. "They are Jenata's favorite."

An old female dwarf came out of the cottage, smiling and bowing. Seline smiled back at her, inclining her head briefly.

"Sarah, this is Henriella, Hoggle's sister. She watches over Jenata when Jareth is performing his duties."

"Pleasure to meet you," the dwarf bowed, sizing Sarah up in a swift glance. "My sister told me that Hoggle's got a bit of a crush on ye - like you were a mum to him. You must be pretty special."

"I - um, thanks," Sarah said and then she felt a bundle of energy bounce up into her arms and Jenata was hugging her.

"Sarah, you came to see me," she squealed. Sarah hugged the child and laughed.

"Yep, we're going to take you to meet someone who's a very special friend of mine. Her name is Alia."

Jenata thought on that then nodded. "The bassdor's granddaughter."

"Ambassador," Seline corrected, laughing. Jenata rolled her eyes.

"That's what I said," she answered, trying to put her hands on her hips and still hang onto Sarah. Seline smiled and waved a hand, making the three of them transport to the Lordos embassy.

Watch yourself Sarah, the voice warned. Someone here is watching you.

JSJSJS

"Jareth - telephone," Karen called from downstairs. Jareth was hiding in Sarah's room, not wanting to face Robert after their little adventure the previous night. Some mighty Goblin King you are, he thought to himself. He jumped off of Sarah's bed and made his way downstairs, taking the phone from his aunt.

"It's a girl," she winked at him and he frowned. Would Sarah have found a way to call him? He held the phone to his ear and waited.

"Jareth? This is Becca," the girl's voice was oddly familiar. Oh yes, Sarah's friend - the one who'd had dinner with them. The one who had convinced her to write the letter.

"This is he," Jareth said, curious. "What may I assist you with, Becca?"

"Um, well - I told you about my cousins. Jake and Elisa? Well, we were all going to go on a picnic and I remember Mr. Williams saying you might want to hang out with kids your own age. Would you like to join us? We're going to the old Miller park near the river."

"The park Sarah likes?" Jareth asked, intrigued.

"Well - yeah I guess she does go there a lot. She used to rehearse her plays there, now all she does is bird watch."

"Indeed," Jareth was speechless. "What birds does Sarah watch for, if I may ask?"

"Owls and it's the funniest thing - I keep telling her that they don't really come out in the daytime, but she keeps saying that there is this rare snowy kind of owl that she needs to keep an eye out for. I think she wants to do a portrait of it if she ever finds one. Anyway, do you want to go?"

"Go? Oh, the picnic, yes. I will meet you there in say, one hour?"

"Sure thing. And get ready for some awesome food. Elisa is a pretty good cook."

"I shall bring my appetite," he promised, hanging up the phone. Owl watching. He stood there smiling until he heard a discrete cough.

"She's very pretty," Karen said lightly. Jareth glanced up at her, confused.

"Sarah - she's beautiful," he said. Karen grinned and shook her head.

"I meant Becca, she's always thought of herself as the pretty one. Not that I think she'd do anything to hurt Sarah," she said, folding her arms over her chest.

"I would never allow Sarah to come to harm, Karen," he vowed. She nodded once, sizing up his casual attitude, knowing it hid a deeper intent.

"Good, because I'd hate to explain to your mother just why I had to send you home early."

"I'm not a child, aunt," he said, rolling his eyes and causing Karen to hide a quick smile.

"I know. And neither is Becca in some ways. Enjoy your picnic, Jareth." Karen turned and walked back into the kitchen. Women were always so melodramatic over such things, Jareth thought as he left the house.

The day was bright and sunny, no traces of the storms that had followed Jareth to the mortal realm. He was calmer now that Alia was safe and he'd seen Sarah. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Nerves, he admonished himself. It was beneath him to feel this way over a girl who hadn't yet chosen him as her own. But the protective feelings toward her were growing even as his confidence that she'd marry him was fading.

"Jareth! Over here," Becca waved at him and he put a pleasant smile on his face. Today, perhaps he would learn more of Sarah. She obviously had friends she trusted - why did she trust them? And could he use that to get her to trust him as well? He resolved to find out more of this human need to trust.

"Hello Becca," he greeted her and nodded to the blond couple seated near her under a large oak tree. The boy was sizing him up for some reason but the girl - she was clearly interested in Jareth. This was not unexpected, Jareth knew his appeal to females and would have been more surprised had he not sensed the attraction.

"Ooh, my cousin said you were handsome but she didn't say how much," the girl squealed. Becca sighed and Jareth hid a smile.

"Thank you, Elisa I believe? I have been told you and your brother are from Norway? Lovely country," he nodded. The girl stood up and moved to stand next to him, casually touching his arm.

"You've been there?" Her clear blue eyes studied him as if he was a piece of meat.

"Many times. My business takes me all over the world."

"You're pretty young to have a business," the boy said, eyeing Jareth's glamor.

"It's a family business. We find homes for unwanted children," Jareth explained. "I am fairly new to the business." Only a few hundred years, Jareth thought, but no need to mention that.

"Sounds fascinating, doesn't it Jake?" the girl bubbled and Jake nodded once.

"I hear you and Sarah have spent some time together," he said roughly. Elisa giggled.

"Silly Jake, Sarah doesn't date. You still have a shot at her when she decides you are worthy of her attention."

Jareth frowned. This - boy - had designs on his Sarah? Part of him wanted to rip the boy's throat out but the other part of him was appalled. Jealousy, Sarah had accused him of this. He would bide his time today and learn more of this emotion. Taking a seat under the large tree, he smiled.

"I'm famished, what is for lunch?" Jareth asked. Elisa sat next to him and for a moment he feared she wished to eat him. She smiled and pulled out food from the large basket in front of them.

"You can have anything of mine," she purred, holding out a sandwich. Jake seemed to be watching him with a barely concealed annoyance - the boy was jealous of him, he could feel it. Taking the sandwich, Jareth wondered if Sarah felt this strange jealousy when the nymphs visited her. He certainly hoped so.