Jareth sat on his throne surrounded by his subjects, but unlike all the other times he had sat in the throne room, all was silent. The usual squawk of chickens and jabber of goblins was absent, though the room was packed. No, no one made a sound which was a rare thing indeed.

Jareth was stunned to say the least, his brain taking in what he had just heard.

"I love you," he whispered aloud, using his mind-link with Sarah with some difficulty. The Goblin King wanted to say more but he couldn't find the words. For some unknown reason, he couldn't bring himself to say more to her.

"I know." Sarah's honest answer drew gasps from almost all the goblins and several actually fainted dead away.

Jareth inhaled slowly; had Sarah just admitted something? For once she hadn't denied him. The King was in complete shock.

The Goblins crowded around so they could stare into the crystal orb that was currently resting in their King's hand, anxious to see what was going on.

The crystal showed a beautiful girl with dazzling dark green eyes who was sitting at a table with a crazy grin plastered on her face. A delicate, rosy blush covered her soft cheeks, a visible sign of Jareth's complement a few moments earlier.

"Look at 'er," a round, stocky goblin called out from where he was currently stroking one of the chickens whose name was Patsy. "She's got some meat on 'er bones! Lady Sarah's looking mighty healthy nowadays, ain't she?"

All the goblins were happy to voice their agreements. Lady Sarah was healthy and beautiful to boot! And anyone could see that the girl had matured extremely in a year's time. All in all she was a very attractive young woman.

Mariya stood next to the king waiting for orders. But instead of staring at the bobble like her fellow goblins, she looked to her master. She watched Jareth's eyes go from passionate to anxious in a heartbeat.

The Goblin King waved his hands over the crystal and it clouded over the image of the Lady Sarah, becoming a mere crystal once more. Then without another word, Jareth stood swiftly and left the throne room.

As soon as Jareth was out of sight, all the goblins started talking at once.

Every goblin had just had the privilege of hearing Sarah sing and the room was abuzz. The goblins hadn't heard a voice like Lady Sarah's since Lillian was alive. She most definitely had some magic running in her veins. But what would her element be? Fire or Water; Wind or Earth? Or would she be the unspeakable element of the Void?

The room quickly became chaotic as the discussion of magic grew, as well as the aspect of Jareth finally taking on a queen. They had waited many years for Jareth to marry and now he had found one worthy to stand by his side. The Lady Sarah Williams would the Goblin Queen.

Mariya tried to hurry after her master but with Jareth's departure her fellow Goblins had lost all sense of control. As a way of celebration they all began to dance and sing happily. And poor Mariya was lost in the crowd.

When she finally exited the room of rowdy Goblins, Jareth had disappeared.

Mariya ran about the castle looking for him, her concern getting the better of her. The Goblin King had not looked well when he had left the throne room.

After looking through his personal chambers Mariya headed for the Royal Gardens. And that's where she found him.

Jareth sat on the bench nearest to the Sacred Doorway; a stone door made at the beginning of time by the Rulers. The Rulers were the Holy Beings who had created the Underground. So the door was a Holy Relic to the Goblin people.

As Mariya approached the Door she bowed deeply and offered a small prayer, as was custom, before she joined Jareth.

The Goblin King stared at the door solemnly as if it was the very devil.

"I wish there was another way," he said as fresh tears ran down the sides of his chiseled face.

His eyes forlornly traced the outline of the Doorway and landed on the symbol in the very center. It was the symbol for Queen in the old Goblinish. The holiest being within the Goblin religion was the Queen, for she was the connection between the Rulers and the Goblin people. She was the ultimate bond between the two worlds that kept The Rulers divine intervention in place. Without a Queen, the connection was severed.

"Sarah is strong, but she has been through so much already." The King turned to Mariya as he continued. "What if she can't make the connection . . .?"

Mariya seeing how distraught he was dared something she hadn't done in years. Gently, Mariya pulled Jareth into a comforting hug and to her relief he hugged her back. Though originally it had been Mariya hugging Jareth, it switched when his large arms engulfed the small Goblin woman and she simply let him cry.

Since Jareth could remember Mariya had been there for him. She was more of a mother to him than his own had ever been. And because of this, he loved her and trusted her above all others. Though he usually didn't show it, Jareth needed her. The discouraged King buried his head into her firm little shoulder just like he had countless times as a child, and felt himself let go.

"Chuvla, there is no need for fear." She assured him using the goblin word for child. "Lady Sarah is more than capable of passing the Viviari Trials. She is strong willed young woman, and a high dreamer. She was able to beat you my son and that is no easy feat. I'm sure she'll be just fine."

Mariya smiled, stroking his beautiful blonde hair lovingly. Hoping he wouldn't be angry, about her calling him son.

"She very much reminds me of Queen Gracen," the old Goblin continued.

"She is like mother, isn't she?"

Mariya nodded.

"But the tests are brutal and I won't be able to protect her." Jareth's voice cracked as he voiced his fears.

"If she has any magic within her she will have a fair chance." Mariya answered. "After all, Lillian was from the Aboveground, as was your mother. You have chosen wisely My King, and she will pass the trials."

"But my mother was half Fae and Lillian. . ." Jareth stopped, his face scrunching in pain as he said the name. "She- She had elemental Air magic within her voice. Both Father and I knew what to expect with our brides; Mother and Lillian. But Sarah is so unpredictable . . ."

He shook his head sorrowfully.

The Goblin woman smiled at him. "It is the unpredictable factor that attracted you to her, Jareth. And I'm sure Sarah has magic of her own."

When Jareth remained silent Mariya added, "She sang like an Air Mage."

"She could very well be," Jareth admitted. "But even if she is, I'm not sure she'll use it."

Mariya let go of Jareth and shrugged. "Weither she does or not, Sarah will have to do it on her own. Finding your Magic is a personal matter. You can't interfere with the process, my dear."

Jareth knew Mariya was right but that didn't mean he had to like it.

"You can't fight her battles for her Jareth." Mariya said as she looked deep into his missed-matched eyes. "Sarah must conquer The Viviari Trials and find her inner magic on her own. It is the only way she will be ready to be our Queen. If she cannot pass the trials, she will not be strong enough to bare an heir or heiress. . . Jareth, only by passing the trials will she be strong enough."

"I know. . . I know it must be done. But I can't lose her. I can't see her in pain." Jareth closed his eyes, as the heartache from the past hit him hard in the chest. Behind his eyes he saw his beautiful Lillian smiling, her lovely green eyes shining with mirth. And then her smiled faded, replaced by a grimace of pain. He once more saw her limp body covered by her own blood; her horrible death replaying for the millionth time.

"I can't lose Sarah. . . Not like that." The Goblin King said in a choked whisper. Jareth remembered sorrowfully, of how Lillian had looked as he held her in his arms for the last time.

Mariya brought him out of the terrible memory by giving him words of hope.

"Jareth you underestimate her greatly. You will not lose her to death, as you lost the lovely Lillian. Do not despair." She wiped his tears away with her withered old fingers. "The Lady Sarah has the Rulers on her side, Jareth. You must believe in her."

"I wish I had your confidence Alta," He said quietly, using the old word for mother.

Mariya smiled tearfully.

"You called me Alta."

Jareth smiled at her through his own tears and cupped her wrinkly round face in his hands. "You are my Alta."

The words made the old goblin woman cry.

"You haven't called me Alta in years," Mariya said in awe.

"No I haven't. . . Not since Lillian died." Jareth agreed solemnly. "I forgot just how much I needed you." Jareth admitted tenderly, to his old nurse.

"Have you remembered, My King?"

He hugged her again and whispered in her ear the word that made her old hope return.

"Yes."

The old goblin woman laughed happily as they hugged. It had been many years since she had felt loved by Jareth and even more years since she felt needed. She kissed his forehead gently and pulled away to look at him.

"I thought you had forgotten me Jareth."

"I could never forget you Mariya."

Mariya smiled before she asked him a question she had longed to ask for almost fifty years.

"Do you remember your people, Jareth?"

The Goblin King's brow visibly drew up into frown lines. He was silent for a moment before he answered her carefully.

"I did not realize until Sarah left, how much the goblin people have suffered. I thought of only myself, and I am sorry for that."

"Do not apologize to me, dearest King. Apologize to your people," Mariya advised.

"I will make it up to them. No matter what happens to Sarah, I will not abandon my people again." Jareth vowed as he looked back at the Sacred Door once more. Mariya gently pulled his face to hers so that their foreheads were touching. It was near the equivalent of a human mother kissing her child as she bid them goodnight. It was a gesture that made both the King and his old nurse smile.

"Chu le hitacar lye benae," she said soothingly.

"What will be, will be," Jareth translated, in agreement.

"Nuth catra veerala," She urged him gently. "Do not be afraid."

"I only fear for her." Jareth replied, worry hidden deep within his heart.

Jareth turned his back on the Sacred Door, pushing it far from his mind, though he knew that he would have to face it in the days to come.

For the time being, Jareth had other things to think about. He had to prepare for Sarah's arrival and he needed to begin to make amends to his people. Jareth had made a promise to Mariya and he would keep it. He would make things right. It had been too long since the Goblin City had known peace. So he would fix it. . . He had to.

"You are not alone Jareth," Mariya reminded him.

"I know." Jareth answered. "I have you and young Marshus on my side."

"You've met my boy?" She asked in surprise.

"Earlier today, actually. I had no idea your eldest had already started an apprenticeship?"

Mariya proudly nodded, "He works under me. . . But I didn't know he had served you yet."

Jareth grinned, his old self returning almost instantly.

"He gave me my towel and was very polite, for one so young." Jareth recalled with amusement.

"I am proud of him, as I am proud of you." Mariya laughed happily.

Though Jareth didn't show it, the words meant more to him than all the treasures of the Underground. He had felt so alone in the past hundred years. Perhaps he could find happiness again? Perhaps he wasn't as alone as he had believed.

"I will give you more reason to be proud within the days to come, Alta. I will be strong for all of our sakes."

The old goblin woman smiled up at him, with a motherly affection.

"That's the Goblin King I know."

They walked back into the Castle together, leaving the Doorway and the past behind them.