Here's another update. I have midterms this week so I may not update very soon, but don't worry more updates will come.I hope you like this chapter as the drama begins to escalate.

Sarah was watching the remaining guests leave from a window in the library. Their carriages were being laden with all their parcels as they said their final goodbyes to Jareth. The Ingram's were showing noticeable difficulty in concealing their frustration. The expected proposal had not been delivered and so they would leave jilted. If they knew who had gained the King's affection they would have left far angrier than they appeared now.

Jareth had wished to announce their engagement as soon as they returned, however Sarah persuaded him not to claiming they were not yet engaged. Sarah laughed remembering his frustrated face after she said this to him when they returned.

"Sarah, do you not love me?" Jareth asked moments after they reappeared within the labyrinth walls. "You refuse me after I asked you to return as my bride? Are you fickle?"

"No Jareth." Sarah said as she stepped out of his grasp. "I love you alone, but you have done nothing to properly court me. You have only made me jealous and so I do not believe us to be engaged yet."

It was dark when they returned, however Sarah could still see him scowling as he listened to her. "Sarah you are being cruel to me again, but this time with intention."

"You were cruel to me these past few weeks." Sarah reminded. "I am only returning the favor."

Jareth huffed and stared skeptically at her. "Shall I profess my love for you in the stars?" He asked sarcastically. "Or must I throw myself headlong off the edge of the universe just to prove my love for you?"

"You must not do anything as extreme as that!" Sarah cried wrapping her arms around him again. "I only wish for us to wait." She told him.

"And how long must we wait?" Jareth asked holding onto her so she would not flee from his grasp again.

Sarah thought for a moment. "I would say a month at least."

"A month?!" He exclaimed. Jareth sighed and Sarah smirked realizing her power over him. "And then I am allowed to claim you as my bride?"

"Claim?" Sarah said looking up at him. "You must propose, and I must yes."

"Vexing creature..." Jareth muttered without disagreeing to her terms. "The day after you say yes I shall demand that we marry at once." He warned her.

"If I say yes then I will marry you the next day." Sarah promised. "Does that satisfy you?" Sarah asked.

"Hardly," Jareth answered "but within this short month you'll wish you agreed to marry me at this moment." He warned her. "I am proficient at courting my dear Sarah. You'll wish to lay claim to me at once."

"Yes, but I have strong patience Jareth." Sarah reminded. "I can wait a month."

Jareth smirked himself and said ominously "We shall see."

Sarah did wonder how Jareth would act within this short month. They agreed that his 'courtship' of her would begin after all the guests had departed. She looked forward to spending more time with him; however she still had a child to look after.

Toby was ecstatic to be in Labyrinth instead of with Karen or at his old school. He did ask Sarah though if John was alright when he first saw her, and Sarah told him that she believed that John was alright when she left. It was at that time Sarah noticed a dark look pass over Jareth's face when John was mentioned. She assumed at that moment Jareth was jealous of her brief interaction with John. She almost laughed realizing that his jealousy was probably stronger than her own. Perhaps it acted as an ally for her as well.

"Sarah?" Toby was standing in the doorway of the library.

She smiled at him and gestured for him to join her by the window. He hurried over and looked out at Labyrinth.

"Is this really our home now Sarah?" He asked in an awed tone.

"Yes Toby." Sarah said pushing back his blonde bangs from his face. "You're has grown far too long. When was the last time you had it cut?" It was almost past his shoulders. "It's almost a mane."

"And what is wrong with manes?" Toby and Sarah jumped unaware of the Goblin King's arrival in the room.

Toby flinched a little when Jareth grinned at him. He had always been shy, but he did his best to act unafraid. Sarah did not know if this was to be braver than his sister or because he felt a need to act manly in front of Jareth.

"What do you think of my kingdom Tobias?" Jareth addressed Toby formally.

Toby gaped at the King at first, but then quickly said "I like it a lot!"

Jareth looked down at Toby approvingly. "Your sister is as fond of Labyrinth as well. Perhaps she would be willing to give you a tour." He suggested.

"Really?" Toby stared at Sarah eagerly. "Can you show me the Labyrinth now?"

Sarah smiled down at Toby and nodded. "Let's go while the day is still bright." She glanced at Jareth wondering if he would accompany them.

"Unfortunately I have some minor business to attend to at the moment." Jareth said. "I hope to be able to join you both for dinner later on." He bowed to them before vanishing from sight.

Sarah took Toby's hand and led him to the outside of the castle. She decided to wander through the gardens first in search of Hoggle before treading through the Labyrinth. Toby pranced around happily and Sarah felt a small pain in her heart as she was reminded of Adele.

Toby glanced at her again and she hid her sudden despair and was happy to see Hoggle not too far away from them, killing small little fairies with his sprayer. Toby looked and stared when Sarah pointed him out to Toby, and they hurried along to greet Hoggle and Sarah introduced him to Toby.

Toby was about a foot and a half taller than Hoggle. They stared at each other curiously as Sarah made the introductions and shook hands. Sarah invited Hoggle to join them for a walk through the Labyrinth and Hoggle accepted desiring a break from his work.

Toby asked Hoggle many questions walking ahead of Sarah with the small dwarf as he led them through the Labyrinth. Sarah smiled as she watched their interaction. Toby would have a friend in Hoggle, and perhaps the other goblins would enjoy Toby's company as well. She hoped it was enough to make up for her sudden absence from his life. Sarah sighed, Toby had not expressed any anger toward her, but she was certain that he must bear some resentment. If only he would say so.

Sarah noticed the entryway to the grove of peach trees and again she thought of Adele during her lesson with Jareth. It made her stop in her tracks as she remembered the little elfin girl. Her heart was happy to be reunited with Toby, but that could not overpower its ache over missing Adele. Sarah sighed and looked back to where Hoggle and Toby should have been but was empty with empty trails all around her.

"Toby?!" She called out. "Hoggle?!" No response came looking for her. "Oh dear…" Sarah said worriedly. She did not have the yarn that she used to navigate through the labyrinth, and to wander any further without a guide could be risky. If she became too lost only Jareth would be able to find her and he was busy until dinnertime. The peach grove was just there so she decided to wait under the trees until Hoggle or Toby noticed her absence and came back looking for her.

Sarah sat under the same tree where she had first met the Goblin King. She inhaled the sweet scent of the peaches as she recalled that day. Who knew that their first encounter would lead to this love story? She wondered if he loved her at first sight, or perhaps if it was after their first conversation. It made her feel giddy to think about it, but it was interrupted by a growl from her stomach.

Sarah put hand to her stomach. It was not a painful ache, but the peaches in the trees now seemed irresistible to her. She did not need the sustenance, but she was craving a bite from at least one peach. Sarah stood and reached up for one that was hanging in a low branch and plucked it from its stem. She lifted the fuzzy fruit to her nose and inhaled the scent before taking a generous bite.

Sarah swallowed the fruit and instantly felt drowsier than she did before. She nearly fell to the ground if her hand hadn't caught her before she landed. Was it poisonous? She thought worriedly as she leaned back onto the ground entirely. Her eyes were glazed and beginning to see the world morph and change colors all around her.

"Jareth…" She said softly trying to reach out without anything to grab onto as she sank further into the imaginings of the poisoned peach. It frightened and she nearly began to hyperventilate, but then she felt someone stroking her hair to calm her. Sarah looked to see who it was and gasped when she saw Helen, still as young as when Sarah knew her, smiling at her and petting her head gently. Sarah smiled back and began to relax knowing Helen was watching over her now. Slowly she fell asleep as the world swirled before her for an endless time and she was only roused out of her slumber by the cracking of a branch.

Her body opened her eyes in alarm and looked around her for any threats in sight. It hurt her head as she looked around so quickly; she stopped and looked up to Helen to see if she saw anything. Helen was staring at something in the grove and Sarah followed her eyes and saw what had awoken her. She nearly panicked again when she also recognized the woman with them in the grove.

The woman seemed to tower over her. She did not stand directly over Sarah, but she did stare intently at Sarah's form. Her long dress was tattered around the hem, and although it appeared to be brown it seemed to be stained from the abuses it lived through. Her head was cocked to the side, all her tangled mess of black hair hanging over the side it followed. It reached all the way down to her waist. The face of the woman was what alarmed Sarah the most when she saw the woman staring at her. It was the same face that stared at her through her bedroom window when she first arrived here.

Sarah breathing increased out of fear, fear that was tripled from the venom dripping from the peaches bite mark. The woman did not move toward or away from Sarah. She stared intently with a menacing expression. The woman had an expression trapped between scowling and snarling like a feral cat. She was shifting on her feet two as if she was uncertain to charge at Sarah or flee from the grove.

Sarah looked to Helen for reassurance who was staring boldly at the wild woman. Helen's gaze did not waver from the savage woman's. Helen was willing the woman not to attack. Sarah had faith in Helen's will, and so Sarah calmed a little even though she wished to flee or scream for help, but she felt like she was submerged within her own body, suffocated by the poison circulating through her veins until it lost its potency. The only action she felt control over was her eyes and thought process as she trembled internally at the sight of the savage woman.

The woman's lips seemed to be leaning more toward a snarl now as she approached Sarah. She ducked down on the ground and crawled on all fours toward Sarah. She looked Sarah over, even sniffed the half eaten peach on the ground before throwing it away with disgust. Then the woman hovered over Sarah's face and stared her directly in the eye.

Sarah then saw the woman's light green eyes, almost as light as Sarah's. Her face appeared rounder than Sarah's, but Sarah began to realize that she resembled this strange woman. If her face was clean and her hair was combed Sarah was certain they would almost look identical. She wondered if what she saw in the woman's face was affected by the peaches toxin, but she could not contemplate this further when a noise captured hers and the woman's attention.

"Sarah?!" Toby and Hoggle were crying out for her. The woman glanced in alarm down at Sarah before fleeing hastily down a pathway away from Toby's and Hoggle's voices.

Suddenly Toby came charging into her view. Hoggle followed after and his face looked at Sarah with deep alarm. Toby cried her name again and again, but Hoggle hushed him saying they needed Jareth's help in this matter. Hoggle told Toby to stay with Sarah while he fetched help.

Sarah wished she could scream to say no! The mad woman was in the labyrinth with them and was not far off. "Helen warn them!" she wished to say, but Helen had not spoken since she appeared to comfort Sarah. Could spirits not speak?

Hoggle left without hearing her silent pleas. She prayed that the woman would not return when she could not protect Toby from her, but if Helen kept her away as she laid there paralyzed then she little to worry about for Toby.

Fortunately in the time she was left alone with Toby the woman did not return to harm Sarah or Toby. Jareth appeared with Hoggle at his side and immediately knelt down by Sarah's side.

"How could ye not have warned her about the peaches?" Hoggle said holding up the peach she had bitten into. "These things could even knock out a creature the size of Ludo."

"I know!" Jareth said placing a hand on Sarah's face. "I was foolish and forgot."

"Jareth…" Sarah tried to speak.

"She said something!" Toby exclaimed.

"Sarah?" Jareth asked. "Are you alright?"

"Woman!" She tried to warn. "Mad woman!"

"Hardly understand the little lady." Hoggle commented. "That peach has her dazed."

"I am aware." Jareth said satirically. "I'll take us back to the castle." Jareth said lifting her up in his arms before teleporting everyone to his den. He placed Sarah on the sofa and ordered Hoggle to fetch a bowl with cool water and a clean rag. Helen was still there watching over Sarah by Jareth's side.

"Her forehead is sweating." Jareth said worriedly. "I am sorry Sarah but the peach must run its course."

Sarah groaned wishing this would end.

Hoggle returned with the water and the rag. Jareth immediately soaked the rag and ringed it out before wiping the perspiration from Sarah's brow. Helen was touching her hand throughout the whole process and Sarah grasped onto it thankful that her friend had remained with her.

"Sarah?" Jareth brought her attention back to him. "Listen to me." He said his gaze intensifying on hers.

He's going to beguile me. Sarah realized before her mind was captured by his will.

"Rest Sarah…" He said gently. "Rest until the peach is gone from you." Sarah felt a weight on her gaze, but she fought against it. Helen was grasping her hand more tightly, and if she rested Helen would be gone by the time she woke up.

"No…" Sarah begged. "Let Helen stay." She tried to say. Her eyes had shut but she was still consciously fighting off the desire to sleep.

"Sarah, stop fighting." Jareth urged her. "I will be here when you wake up." He said reassuringly.

"Helen…" Sarah moaned. Helen still stroked Sarah's hand as she was beginning to fall asleep. Sarah held onto that sensation before she faded away into slumber.

When Sarah began to felt herself waking up from her Jareth and peach induced slumber she immediately clutched her hand to try and feel Helen grasping it. However, her hand was empty. Sarah panicked and roused instantly leaning up and crying out.

"Helen!" Sarah looked around the room and saw no sign of her departed friend.

"Sarah?" She turned and saw Jareth in chair sitting by where he head had been resting on the sofa. He stood and joined her on the sofa. "You're crying?" He said wiping away a tear that falling from her eye. "What's wrong?"

Sarah began shaking. It felt so real. Had she only imagined Helen in the grove with her? Was the woman a figment of her imagination too? She couldn't be…she left when Toby and Hoggle appeared.

"Sarah what is wrong?" Jareth demanded seeing her crumble emotionally before him.

"Helen's gone." She said quietly. "Helen's gone." She said again with more conviction.

Jareth raised an eyebrow at her. "Who is Helen?"

Sarah leaned against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. "My old friend." She told him. "She was a governess like me, but she passed away a few years ago." She explained. "I thought I saw her when I was under the influence of the peach. I could feel her holding my hand!" She cried before she began to sob in his arms.

Jareth remained silent while she cried her sorrow out. She had not cried for Helen since her passing, but this incident made all the feelings of loss real for Sarah again.

"I'm sorry Sarah." Jareth said. "It's my fault for not warning you about the peaches in that grove. I should have when we first met there."

"It's alright." Sarah told him. "Without Helen being there I might have gone mad from panic."

"The hallucinations the peach causes are quite terrifying." Jareth said.

"No…" Sarah began saying as she remembered the whole experience. "The mad woman came into the grove before Hoggle and Toby arrived." She told him. "She kept staring at me and then she came up close and looked me right in the eye."

"That must have only been your imagination gone wild." Jareth told her. "That crazed woman must have left a heavy impression on you and so you imagined her in the grove with you."

Sarah shook her head unable to believe. "She threw the peach though. It was on the other side of the grove." She insisted.

"It must have rolled far away when you fell, perhaps bouncing out of your hand. The ground is sloped there so it makes sense if it did roll away from you."

"But-" His logic was winning over her argument. "She looked just like me." Sarah told him finally and when she pulled back she saw a brief look of panic pass over his face before it became composed again.

Jareth saw that she noticed and so he said to her "I hate to imagine you…my angel as appearing as crazed as that feral savage."

"Who is she?" Sarah asked. He did not wish her to know before, but now she wondered why this woman was kept here in the labyrinth. "Why is she here?"

"She is nothing but a clever mad woman who often escapes her prison." Jareth told her. "People run my labyrinth often to try and win back their children. She was a challenger with a will that refused to leave after she lost." He explained. "That is all you need to know of her existence Sarah." He did not want her to ask anymore on the matter.

Sarah sighed. "I hardly feel safe knowing she's here." She told Jareth. "What if she hurts Toby?"

"I won't allow that Sarah." He promised. "Her hatred is only for me and me alone, and you have already saved me from her wrath."

"She looked like she wanted to hurt me." Sarah told him. "She looked like she hated me."

"It was only your imagination." Jareth told her again. "You do not need to fear her."

"But Jareth-!"

"Sarah please." Jareth begged. "It has been a trying day and you gave me quite a scare."

"I'm sorry." Sarah said. "I lost track of Toby and Hoggle and so I decided to wait in the grove until they came back. I didn't know those peaches were poisonous."

"I am sorry I forgot to warn you." Jareth said sincerely. "It is my fault that this happened."

"It is alright." Sarah told him. "I don't think I'll wish to go near them now."

"It is good that you will avoid them, but pay more attention when you're in the labyrinth." Jareth scolded. "I don't wish to lose you in there."

"I was distracted." Sarah said. "When I saw the peach grove I thought of Adele, and I stopped to think of her before I noticed Toby and Hoggle were gone."

Jareth frowned at Sarah and took her hand in his. "You have experienced two bad days. First Adele leaves and then you bite into one of those horrid peaches."

"Can you see how Adele is faring?" Sarah wondered.

"Would you like to see?" He asked her smiling again. "I planned on giving this to you after dinner." A crystal appeared in his free hand and he offered it to Sarah who picked it up tentatively. She gazed into its depths and saw an image of Adele appear. Adele was playing in the snow while Karen watches her from the patio in the back yard. Adele was building an army of mini snow men and trying to bark orders at them as if they were goblins. Sarah laughed happy to see Adele doing well in her new environment.

"Thank you Jareth." Sarah said hugging him after she finished viewing the scene. "Will I always be able to see her through this crystal?"

"Whenever you wish to see her you may." Jareth reassured her. "Adele may be back sooner than you believe." Jareth told her. "For it may be five years, but for us it will only be five months."

"How old is Adele?" Sarah wondered. "She looks like she's five years old to me."

"That would be her age in human years, so if she returns in five months she'll almost be Toby's age."

"I told her about Toby." Sarah said. "She wanted to meet him."

"When she returns she will have a chance to meet Toby." Jareth told Sarah. "When his mother realizes what she has done it will up to Toby whether he will return and forgive his mother. If not then he may remain here with us."

"I wonder what he will do." Sarah honestly did not know. She could not imagine Karen changing so much as to beg for her son's return.

"We will see when the time comes." Jareth said.

"Where is Toby?" Sarah asked. The last she saw of him was before she blacked out again.

"He is sleeping in your room." Jareth informed her. "I imagined you wish to see him before you went to bed."

"Yes, thank you Jareth." Sarah said. "If you don't mind I'm still very tired from the peach."

"That is alright. I will take you there." Jareth teleported the both of them to her bedroom and kissed her hand and wished her goodnight.

"Tomorrow I shall have more time to properly court you." He reassured.

Sarah smiled at him. "But you have started so well." She said honestly.

"Knights in shining armor will always succeed." He said. "Goodnight Sarah."

"Goodnight Jareth." Sarah shut the door slowly before shutting him completely out of her sight.

Toby was sleeping soundly under the covers. She smiled and decided to let him rest. Sarah went to her dresser and changed out of her dress into her bedclothes. She was more alert than she was before so she decided to read some of the book on her nightstand before falling asleep. When she lifted it up she was surprised to find a small note hidden under the book.

Did Jareth leave this here or Toby? Sarah wondered as she picked it up. It was addressed to her and as she unfolded the note she examined an unfamiliar scrawl. It was legible, but not nearly as elegant as Jareth's handwriting.

Sarah,

If you wish to know more of the mad woman in the labyrinth, meet me in the peach grove after dark. Do not tell Jareth of this. Whatever he has told you it is a lie. I know the truth, and I will wait every night until you come and hear what I have to say.

-Mason