After the adventure in the Underground.
After she defeated the Labyrinth and celebrated her success with her friends, Sarah couldn't help but puzzle over the things the Goblin King had said to her. Firstly, she was still convinced that she had somehow dreamed of him long before this night, or something of that nature. He felt so... familiar... to her. His appearance, his attitude, everything. And yet, surely, she would have remembered him?
And then there were the words themselves. After telling her over and over to say her right words and choose carefully, she wondered if he had taken his own advice when he told her that she ought to just love him, fear and obey him and he would be her slave. Wasn't that a bit... odd... for a King to say to just some little nobody? It's not like she was a royal, or something.
Sarah shook her head. She was only 15! How was she supposed to know what this man was on about? How was she supposed to know what he was saying or asking of her? And... she had to know. She had to understand it, because she had suddenly understood so much more tonight than she ever had before. Her 16th birthday was coming soon, and even though no one had said much, she now understood how important it was to move forward, to grow up. So... she had to know what he was talking about.
So she went to the mirror and hesitantly, she called to him.
There was a swirl of glitter behind her in the mirror and when she turned, there he stood.
"You have won, Miss Williams. What more do you want, Precious? I can only give so much before I have nothing left." He looked... hurt? She was floored by this revelation. "What... what did you mean? What did you mean you would be my slave if I only loved and feared and obeyed you? How is that even possible, any ways? I... I don't understand, Goblin King."
Jareth felt torn; how could he tell her he had been by her side for years now? Watching her grow and falling more and more in love with her as the days passed? She would probably be horrified. But the look on her face now... the confusion and devastation... they were much too much for him to bear. And apparently, she had forgotten the bit in the book where the King of the Goblins falls in love with the girl. He sighed. "I could show you something, Sarah. But, would you trust me?" A crystal, summoned suddenly, shimmered in his hand. He saw her watch as he rolled it around, her eyes narrowed, as if waiting to see if he was playing some sort of a trick. She took a deep breath. "Do I have your word you won't try to trick me into anything? You're just going to... show me something? And that's it?"
A single nod of his head was his only answer.
"Go ahead then, Goblin King. Show away."
Those words sealed his fate... he tossed the crystal at her...