Sarah took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Rinna took her by the hand and spoke a blessing in the Old Language before focusing on the task at hand.

"You may open your eyes now Sarah. Once you are in the castle, you must use your Fae sense to determine where Penelope and the fairies are - you have just enough magic to do this, any more and Famish would be able to sense you. All you have to do is find them - the fairies will be able to bring you all back with this," she handed Sarah a sapphire the size of a baseball.

"It's beautiful," Sarah whispered and Merliah peered down at it, admiring the shiny stone.

"It is a wishing stone and can only be used once - so make certain you are all touching before the fairies wish you back. If anyone is not touching the stone, they will be left behind and this is our only chance. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but I'm a little nervous," Sarah admitted. Jareth growled something under his breath and Sarah smiled reassuringly at her king. He held her to his chest, looking down at her with fierce love and protectiveness.

"When you rematerialize, call my name and I shall be able to see through your eyes. You must go the way I tell you to go with no arguments and you must move quickly. The sooner you find them, the sooner we can continue what we were doing earlier, my queen." He gave her a sultry smile and she swallowed, nodding. It had just gotten warmer in the room.

"All right then, what's next?"

"Close your eyes and open them when you feel earth beneath your feet once again," Rinna said gently.

"Once again?" Sarah asked, just before she was whisked away in a burst of light, Merliah squawking in surprise.

Jareth looked at his grandmother, concerned. "I know this is the only way, I just wish I did not feel so helpless."

"The life she has chosen is not an easy one, my child. She must face the dangers as we all do - it's part of the bargain."

Jareth... Sarah's voice floated into the room and his head shot up towards the sound.

"I'm ready, my love," he said and concentrated on their bond.

JSJSJS

Sarah landed with a thud. Making sure Merliah was still with her and safe, she looked around the small room she was in and called to her king.

"Jareth."

I'm ready, my love. Focus on my voice - I'm going to see what you see now. Ah yes, you're in a supply closet. The first thing you must do is start thinking about your fairies, you have a connection to them now - not as strong as when you are crowned, but still - it's there.

"All right," she concentrated. Within minutes she felt little sparks of energy nearby, each one distinct in color and brightness. She knew they were her fairy guard and she breathed a sigh of relief. She opened the door and peered down the dark hallway.

"I sense them, I can't sense Penelope though."

You won't be able to since she's not one of your subjects, but I dare say the fairies are with her. There aren't any guards in the area you are in, but you must stay diligent. There are many dangers in the castle from Famish's evil. It's embedded itself into the very walls.

"All right - where do we go now?"

Mistress, let me fly ahead and make certain the way is clear...

"Good idea, Merliah - be careful," Sarah whispered and the little bird flew down the hallway. A few moments later, she signalled Sarah that it was safe.

Good. Now go through the double doors. There will be a stairwell there. Climb the stairs and you should hear Penelope talking with the fairies. They are planning something. Please stop them before they get you all killed.

Sarah ran to the stairs, taking them two at a time and went to fling open the door. A burst of magic hit her and she fell back against the wall outside the door.

"Did you kill it?" Mirium asked her sister.

"It's not an it - it's a she, I mean a her - I mean, oh goddess you just knocked out our queen." Clarice was trying hard not to panic. This was not good.

Sarah heard little voices around her head and she smiled. Was she dreaming? She felt so strange, like she'd eaten too much cotton candy. Opening her eyes she looked around. She was seven years old and should not feel afraid.

"You made her into a little girl!" Vellum shouted. "You turned our queen into a child."

"I thought she was a troll, I thought the youth spell would make it easier to vanquish him," Trinka yelled back.

Sarah - what happened? Sarah?

Sarah looked around - there was a man's voice in her head - how did that make sense? A little owl was staring at her. She smiled at the bird.

"Pretty bird," she said, and was delighted when the owl flew to her shoulder, perching there like she belonged there.

"Who are you?" Penelope asked Sarah. Sarah smiled.

"My name is Sarah Marie Williams and I'm seven years old. Who are you?"

"I am Princess Penelope and I'm seven too - are you with the bad men?"

"Bad men? No, I'm not with anyone - I don't even know where this is - am I dreaming? I've never dreamt of a place this real before though." She noticed the fairies staring at her. "OH are those real?"

"Of course they're real, silly. Haven't you ever seen fairies before?"

"Um, no - Daddy says fairies aren't real."

"Well your Daddy is wrong." Penelope looked around the room. "My uncle is looking for me - he killed my momma and daddy and I think he wants to kill me too."

Sarah, are you all right?

"I hear a man in my head," Sarah frowned. The little owl hooted in her ears.

Mistress you are under a spell. Your king calls to you.

"King? I have a king?" Sarah asked.

Of course you do - what has happened? Oh my goddess, Merliah are you sure? Damn. Sarah, do you still have the wishing stone?

"Wishing stone?" She turned to Penelope. "Are you sure I'm not dreaming?"

"You have a wishing stone?" Clarice asked, excited. "That's perfect, we can use it to go home right now."

The conversation was interuppted by heavy footsteps on the stairs.

"I hear voices up here," a man was saying. "Let's see if it's the princess."

"We have to get out of here," Penelope said, eyes wide. Sarah put on a determined look and motioned Penelope behind her.

"I won't let the bad men get you, Princess," she vowed, her little voice rising in anger. "I'll kick them all in the knee if I have to!"

Sarah, you must all use the stone - now.

The door was flung open and all hell broke loose.