Sarah slowly opened her sleep crusted eyes and groaned loudly as her temple began to ache. Slowly she sat up, grasping both sides of her head tightly she held her breath, praying that the pain would subside.

"Traveling between realms is a hard on beginners, milady. Don't worry though; it will pass before the hours' out."

Sarah jerked upward in the bed and instantly regretted it as the pain intensified, and she almost fell off the bed. After a quick moment of recovery, the girl peaked over the foot board of the bed and saw the owner of the unfamiliar voice.

A small Goblin woman with long white hair that was pulled into a bun on top of her head, stood at the base of the bed, with a kind smile on her wrinkled, aged face.

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

The Goblin chuckled and dipped into a low curtsy, "My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Mariya Grimbold, Royal Mage of the Goblin Kingdom and Attendant to his Majesty the Goblin King." She said regally with a wave of her hand and a happy smile.

Sarah felt her stomach sink miserably as she listened to Mariya's full title.

"Then it wasn't a dream, was it? Jareth bringing me back?"

Mariya shook her head. "No, Sarah, it wasn't a dream. Jareth brought you back to the Underground earlier this morning. "

Sarah felt tears burning her eyes and for once she didn't care if anyone saw. She cried aloud, her headache all but forgotten in her moment of despair.

Mariya walked over to the bed and sat next to her, hugging the girl in a motherly fashion, and took to consoling her with soft words and gentle gestures. At first Sarah was ridged as the goblin hugged her, but after several moments the girl hugged her back, grateful for the comfort and the shoulder to cry on. And they remained that way for quite some time, in silent company as Sarah cried herself out.

And then all too soon a small head poked in around the door looking around anxiously.

" . . . Mother? Mother . . . Is Lady Sarah ready? The King is awaiting her presence in the dining hall."

Mariya looked up at her son, continuing to stroke Sarah's back.

"No, my darling, she is not ready. Tell his Majesty that she needs another hour."

Marshus nodded and left immediately to fulfill his duties.

Sarah had stopped crying by this time and looked at Mariya with a wet, timid grin. "He's your son?"

"Yes."

"How old is he?"

"Only forty," Mariya answered.

"Forty!?" Sarah repeated with wide eyes, "Really?"

"Goblin's age differently than humans, my dear," Mariya explained. "It takes Goblin's many years to mature. And even more to learn common sense."

Sarah felt her mood lighten as she was met with a familiar topic. "I met several Goblins when I was in the Labyrinth and I just assumed they were in their adolescence. . ."

Mariya nodded, "That was a fair assumption." Then she continued, "My people are very slow learners. It takes time and patience to learn even the simplest of tasks. In the Aboveground you I believe you call it a learning disorder?"

Sarah nodded.

"Marshus, my son, is an extremely fast learner. He made apprenticeship by the age of forty years. It takes most of us until we're sixty or older to even consider it. But I suppose that is because he isn't full Goblin."

"So he's only half Goblin," Sarah asked in curiously, to which the old Goblin woman nodded.

"My mate was a Fae . . . So all of my children have an advantage to better themselves and have better educations and knowledge so their lives will be better."

Sarah thought about what she had been told and was silent for several minutes. It was fascinating to listen to the little Goblin woman. She seemed to have wonderful stories to tell.

"So how old are you Mariya?" Sarah asked before she could help herself and instantly was ashamed.

Mariya laughed pleasantly, "That's not very polite to ask, my dear."

Sarah started to stutter an embarrassed apology but Mariya stopped her. "It's alright, dear. I know you didn't mean to be rude. And to answer your question, I am very old; older even than the King himself

"How old is Jareth?" Sarah asked with lifted eyebrows.

"I'll let him tell you," Mariya said as she stood up and walked over to one of the giant doors that dotted the room.

"Where are you going?

"You must prepare for the day, so I was going to draw you a bath."

"Oh . . . You don't have to do that." Sarah said, as she stood from the bed and began to follow Mariya. But as she took her first step, the girl fell to the floor.

Mariya rushed to her side and helped her up.

"You mustn't strain yourself," Mariya chided gently. "Like I said before; teleporting is draining for beginners. Take things slow for a while."

Sarah let the Goblin woman help her walk into the bathroom, and the girl's mouth fell open.

The bathroom was larger than her whole house had been, with beautiful carvings on the walls and flowers hanging from the ceiling, seeming to grow right from the plaster. And the bathtub was the size of a public swimming pool; with a waterfall and water lilies floating on the surface.

Mariya bade Sarah to sit as she reached down to touch the calm water surface, and smiled in satisfaction when it began to churn and steam rose from the depths.

"Would you like help undressing, dear?" Mariya asked as she poured different colored liquids into the pool.

"No . . . I don't think that will be necessary."

The Goblin woman smiled knowingly as she poured the last of the liquids into the water. "Then I will leave you to it. But if you need me I will be nearby."

"Thank you, Mariya."

Mariya nodded and she closed the door behind her, leaving Sarah alone to bathe.

Sarah stripped and eased into the water, letting the warm water wash over her sore body. She washed her hair and body thoroughly, and then spent the rest of the bath soaking. When she finally started to get wrinkly the girl got out and toweled herself. Then she made her way back into the bedroom.

"Mariya, the pain is almost gone! Do you know where I can find some clothes? I-" Instantly Sarah stopped, her body freezing in place.

The Goblin woman was nowhere to be seen, but Sarah was undoubtedly not alone.

Jareth stood near the large bed, and his eyes grew wide with surprise as he took in Sarah dressed in nothing but her towel. And despite his best intentions, the Goblin King's eyes traveled the length of her body, hungrily, taking in her curvy shape and long wet hair.

For a moment the two just stood staring at each other before Sarah finally reclaimed control of her body functions. And with a loud squeaked she dived back into the bathroom and closed the door frantically.

"Why didn't you move!?" Sarah felt her body grow warm as her embarrassment overcame her. "Why did you let him see you in your towel? This is not good! . . . Not good. . ."

Sarah didn't know how long she stood there, lost in her thoughts, but all too soon muddled thoughts were interrupted by a quiet knock on the door. She retreated from the door as if it was a poisonous snake and to her dismay, her arms and legs felt like deadweight.

"Please don't be Jareth. Please don't be Jareth. Please don't be Jareth!"

When a Goblin head poked around the door, Sarah thought she might die of happiness. Mariya looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "Are you alright, Sarah? You look very flushed."

Sarah gripped the side of the large marble sink and let out a sigh of relief. "Jareth was in the room when I came out. He saw me, like this," she gestured to her body that was still only covered by the towel.

"I suppose he was looking for you, dear. You were supposed to eat breakfast with him, and he's been waiting for nearly two and a half hours."

Mariya crossed to where the girl stood and laid a hand on her shoulder, with a large smile. "Calm down. He's gone and I promise you he didn't do it to make you feel uncomfortable. Calm down, sweet. Take deep breaths."

And at the Goblin woman's words, Sarah instantly felt a peaceful warmth travel across her body and fill her, almost as if she had drank a cup of hot chocolate.

"I'm sorry," Sarah apologized closing her eyes. "I'm just on edge. I have lost everything and I am in a place that I swore I would never return to. . . Everything I ever cared about is gone . . . And-And he shouldn't have walked in on me!"

At the end of her little speech, Sarah was angry and her hands had begun to shake, as her voice crept higher into a hysterical sob. "He's taken away my home, Tetra, Hoggle and Ludo, and my baby brother! So he can wait! He can wait for an eternity! Why should I give him anything when he has taken everything from me!?"

"Because we will all die," Mariya said simply.

Sarah's head snapped up and her green eyes met with muddy brown ones. And she saw there was nothing dishonest about them. Mariya spoke the truth.

"How," asked quietly

"The Underground and its people were created by The Rulers- you might call them our Gods- but they left us to live in the Far-Plain. Though they have left us, we need them in our lives to survive."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"The only being that can make the connection between the divide of realms, is the Goblin Queen. And Jareth has made it clear that he will not marry another. So you are our only hope." Mariya answered solemnly.

"But why did he choose me?" Sarah begged the goblin, her eyes pleading. "I'm nobody. I'm not magical, or beautiful, or special in anyway," Sarah said in frustration shaking her head.

Mariya just smiled. "If you aren't special or magical, then how are you able to block my power?"

"What?" Sarah eyes went wide.

The Goblin woman merely chuckled. "You. Are. Blocking me, Sarah Williams." She enunciated good-naturedly. "Since I entered the room I have been attempting a calming spell on you, to help you relax. I've been trying to comfort you this entire time and I haven't been able to keep a hold on your emotions yet. And I am a rather accomplished Goblin Mage."

At Sarah's shocked face she continued, "The only one who has ever truly resisted me, is Jareth. So don't doubt yourself, my dear. You have magic deep within you, and I can't wait to see what type. "

"I'm not doing anything." Sarah objected.

"Maybe not consciously," Mariya agreed. "But your mind has trained itself to shield unfriendly spells and charms. That is obvious from the way you deflect it."

"I don't feel anything."

"A moment ago you did. You felt warm spreading across your body, am I correct?"

"Yes," Sarah whispered.

Mariya patted the girl's hand, "You needn't worry about me trying to hex you, dear. I just wanted to see if I could help."

Sarah shook her head, "I don't know wither to be grateful or upset. . ."

The Goblin woman shrugged, "I would suspect perhaps a bit of both," before she continued. "But enough of that, we've got a whole day ahead of us! I have laid out clothes for you on the bed and any accessories you may want are kept behind the door next to this one. Once you're ready, my son will be outside your door waiting to escort you to breakfast."

"But. . ." Sarah protested, clinging to the Goblin's arm.

Mariya kissed her forehead and smiled, "I will find you after you've had your meal with the King. And you needn't worry; Jareth merely wishes to speak with you about your agreement and have your beautiful company."

The girl thought about this for a moment in silence before she nodded. "Alright, Mariya, I'll get ready."

The old Goblin woman patted Sarah's arm one last time before she headed back for the door. But before she closed the door Mariya said something that made Sarah smile for the first time that morning.

"Jareth released your friends earlier this morning, Sarah. They were cleared of all charges and all have been officially pardoned. I thought you might want to know."