Chapter Seven:

She was getting far too used to teleportation. In fact, her previous aversion had given way to an excited pull in the center of her stomach. It was as if a million butterflies had been released to flutter around her gut and heart. She loved Farnig's magic. The thought of being stuck in the Underground forever was becoming more and more appealing with every hour that passed.

When she opened her eyes, she was standing in a familiar place. The large walls looked more worn, but far less frightening. They seemed more inviting than she remembered them being. They still looked as if they continued on forever but now she could see the narrow entranceways precariously placed along its length. It really is all about perspective. She thought with a slight smile.

"Ello!"

Her smile grew, encompassing her entire face as she spun on the balls of her feet to greet the familiar creature. "Oh, hello!" Eagerly she lowered herself down to her knees, falling to be eye level with the small worm. "Long time no see, old friend."

"Still lost?" He asked, cocking his head to the side slightly. "Or have you finally found yourself?"

"Myself?" She asked, lifting a delicate brow. She wanted to correct him, to make it known that she had never been looking for herself. She had always been looking for Toby. The more she thought about it though, the more she thought he might be right. Maybe she really had been searching for herself all along.

"Come inside and have a cup o' tea." The worm grinned excitedly, jerking his head over his shoulder and towards his small hollow. "Come inside and meet the missus."

"I'm afraid I'm a little too big," Sarah pouted slightly, looking down the length of her slender body. She would never fit inside.

Farnig chuckled slightly. "Six hours basking in our magic and you still have not grasped the idea yet, have you?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, preparing herself to turn and argue with the Fae. Instead, she let out a startled shriek as his magic started running through her. She felt strange, a warm tingling sensation starting in her fingertips and toes and spreading rapidly through every inch of her frame. Her entire body seemed to be shrinking and before she knew it, she was catapulting towards the ground. She reached out, grasping for anything to stop her fall as her life flashed before her eyes. But Farnig was faster than the pull of gravity. He wrapped his hand around her small body, cradling her in the palm of his hand.

"You could have killed me!" She gasped, her heart racing in her chest as she clutched to one of his fingers tightly.

"A thank you would have sufficed." He smirked.

"Thank you." She muttered petulantly.

The Fae rolled his eyes, placing her down gently beside the worm. "Go on, I'll meet you inside."

She shot the man one more disapproving look before nodding her head and following after the familiar worm.

"Meet the missus!" The worm repeated, slinking his way across the stone floor.

The female worm looked just like her counterpart except for the color of her body and hair. She sported purple markings and soft purple hair around her small chubby face. Her smile was warm and welcoming as she greeted Sarah with a nod towards a small table in the middle of a humble room. "Would you like a cup o' tea, dearie?"

Sarah nodded lightly, gazing around in amazement. Everything was rustic, as were most of the places Sarah had visited outside of the Fae community. But it was warm and homey and clearly the perfect place for the two. "Thank you ma'am."

The female worm nodded, busying herself with preparing the tea. "Picking your magic, are you little one?"

"Yes. Farnig is taking me to meet all of the different creatures." Sarah explained, lowering herself into one of the seats. As if on cue, a miniaturized version of the Fae appeared beside her at the table.

"Hello, Mavel." Farnig greeted, to which the female worm nodded again. "What do you think of the life of worms?" He asked, turning his attention to Sarah.

The human girl glanced around the rustic room. "What exactly do you two do with all of your time?"

"This." The worm answered, pushing a cup of tea before Farnig who thanked him gratefully. "We greet the gate."

"It's a very simple life." Mavel smiled, slinking her way beside her husband.

Sarah was quiet for a moment, sipping lightly at her tea. "Don't you get bored?"

"Oh no." Mavel smiled. "We love tea time."

Sarah's features scrunched as she contemplated the life of the worms, turning her gaze to Farnig. The Fae only chuckled. "Not glamorous or adventurous enough for you, child thief?"

Sarah shook her head, an embarrassed blush crossing over her features. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be!" The worm smiled. "We love our life. It's simply not the magic for everyone."

"Finish your tea, dearie." Mavel smiled warmly. "There is adventure out there for you yet."

Sarah took a few deep sips, emptying her glass before rising to her feet. "Thank you."

"Come back any time." Mavel nodded.

"We always have fresh tea!" The worm added.

"Come Sarah." Farnig summoned.

"Goodbye!" She smiled, grasping Farnig's arm gently as they disappeared into thin air.

"Lovely girl." Mavel smiled, slinking closer to her husband.

"No wonder the King is so infatuated with her." The worm answered, nodding his head knowingly.

Xxx Farnig xxX

He watched her with curious eyes as the small girl danced lithely among her newfound friends. She had been just as excited to see the small and feisty pixies as she had been to see all of the other magical creatures he had shown her so far.

What a curious girl. Its no wonder the King is infatuated with her.

He felt a shiver run up his spine at just the mention of his King. Jareth had been determined to keep Sarah in the Underground and while the girl had already decided to leave the mortal world behind, Farnig doubted his King was done with his meddling yet. If there was one thing all his years of service had taught him, it was not to underestimate the Goblin King.

"You're staring."

Farnig blinked back his surprise as the small, dark haired girl narrowed her eyes and stared up at him. Her hands clasped behind her back, her hair falling in disarrays around her pale features. Everything about her was beautiful and tragic and intoxicating. She would make a gorgeous Fae. "I was formulating my own opinions." He answered honestly.

"About what?" She asked, cocking her head to the side innocently.

"About you, child thief. I am still trying to decide which magic you fit best with." At the end of her runner's time, he would have little say in what magic Sarah chose, but he always took great pride in his guesswork. More times than not he knew which magic a wished away would choose before the choice had even really been made.

But Sarah was different. Everything about her was a challenge. Every move she made, every word she spoke and every flutter of excitement was a surprise to him. He knew which magic she would not choose. He knew the lives of worms would be too boring for her and she had already stated she didn't feel she belonged with the Goblins. He could hardly see her as a Firey, dancing the days away without a head or tossing her eyes around like dice. She was far too majestic for their lifestyle. But he could see her as a Fae, or a pixie. There were still so much magic for her to see and such little time for him to show them to her.

"I think I've already made my decision. Though I wouldn't mind continuing to explore." A bright grin lit her features, a warmth radiating off her from sheer excitement. "Jareth said there were banshees."

Farnig smiled lithely, rolling his eyes. "Yes, there are. You've already met one."

Her features contorted into a look of confusion as she nibbled at her bottom lip and tried to sort through all the creatures she had met during her trips in the Underground. "Ludo."

Farnig nodded his head. "He's definitely one of the more unique banshees, but a banshee nonetheless."

"They can't all control the rocks, can they?" Sarah asked. It was easy to see the gears moving in her mind as she worked out the holes in her adventures.

"No, they can't. Only Ludo has such an affinity. There are others who can control water and fire and such. The banshees tend to have a gift for the elements." Farnig explained before lifting his arm out for Sarah to take. "When you're ready."

The small girl hesitated for a moment. She wanted to play with the pixies for a while longer. She wanted to dance and play and sing and see the softer side to the small creatures. The last time she had spent any time in direct contact with them, they had bitten her and pushed her away. This time, they had invited her to play and cause mischief. Their lives were fun and carefree and beautiful. But there was more to see and time was short.

She took Farnig's arm, vanishing once more.

Xxx Jareth xxX

Watching through the crystal just wasn't enough. He could see every movement she made, every time she paused to think about a new magic or a new creature. He could see the excitement and the fear and the acceptance wash over her each at its own time and he longed to be beside her. He knew it was not the place of the King to explain the Underground, but Sarah called to him. For the first time in all the years they had worked together, he resented Farnig.

He watched as Sarah gaped in wonder and awe at the large creatures that flooded the valleys behind the Labyrinth. He watched as they made shows of their magic, manipulating the elements in welcoming gestures. He barely breathed as a particularly strong breeze created by one of the banshees brushed her off her feet and sent her spiraling into a soft bed of flowers. They were playing with her, teasing her and introducing her to the loving and protective ways of the banshees.

And he could see the love she felt for them immediately in her eyes.

"Banshees really are like children, my Lord."

He spun on the balls of his feet, his eyes narrowing as he looked his mother up and down. She didn't often take time to visit him in the castle but he didn't often sentence humans to death with his magic, either. "Twice in one day, Mother? This is a treat." The sarcasm that dripped from his voice was almost palpable.

"Don't be smart with me, boy. I'm not here to fight with you. I've simply come to talk." She practically floated across the room, perching upon a windowsill in the cluttered throne room. She seemed so out of place, a beautiful flower among tarnished things, but she seemed so at ease with herself. He remembered the stories she had told him as a fledgling about her time with the Goblins and how much she had loved them all. He could almost see the longing for those times in her eyes as she lifted her gaze to his.

"I know you disapprove of my actions." He stood tall, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly. "I will not apologize for them. I still believe I made the right choice."

The Queen Mother waved her hand dismissively at her son, a soft laugh bubbling over her lips. "I'm not here to chastise you, darling. My ire has passed. I'm simply here to learn more of your plans for our little dove."

"My plans?" Jareth asked, standing tall and proud. Inside, he felt like he was shrinking beneath her gaze.

"You no doubt plan to make her the next Goblin Queen. I can see your infatuation written all over your smug little features." She teased, rolling her eyes at him. "She is quite a marvelous girl. I've been spying." She glanced over his shoulder at one of his crystals that hovered not far behind his back. "I see you have been as well."

"It is my job to watch both runner and wished away, Mother." His tone was curt.

"Of course it is, darling." His mother smiled knowingly. Slowly she rose to her feet, crossing the distance between them and placing a gentle hand upon his cheek. "You have been alone for so long, Jareth. It is time you found your own piece of happiness."

He leaned, barely, into her touch, relishing in the warmth of her soft touch. "Thank you, Mother."

She removed her hand, taking a half a step back from her child. "Besides. There is a desperately romantic undertone to it all."

Jareth rolled his eyes, "There is no undertone, Mother. I simply wished to expand my own options."

"I won't pretend to be pleased with your decision to take the child thief's choices away from her. But if at the end of the day it is for your happiness, my son, I support you fully. You'll court her, I assume?" The Queen Mother asked.

"The choice will be hers when she has finally chosen her magic." Jareth explained, turning his back to his mother and his gaze to the crystal once again.

She placed a gentle hand upon his shoulder. "What choice does she have? When someone as beautiful as the Goblin King pursues a woman, her heart has no choice but to answer his call. She would be vacuous to refuse you. I do have some experience in this, after all."

He opened his mouth to respond, but the very air around him seemed to fizzle as the Queen Mother teleported back to the Kingdom of the Fae.

Xxx Sarah xxX

She fell to the ground, clutching at her sides as the laughter began to ache deep within her. In all of the memories she had from the Underground and all of the times her friends had come to visit her in her own world, she had never had as much fun as she had in the last couple of hours.

The Banshees had shown her all sorts of magic, playing with her and teasing her until she had laughed enough to last a thousand life times. Her choice to remain in the Underground made more sense with every moment that passed.

"Sarah happy?" Ludo asked, his gruff voice echoing in the valley. He seemed to fit in perfectly with the other Banshees, all of different colors but mostly the same size as her friend.

"I'm very happy." She admitted honestly, leaning lightly against his warm fur. "I think I've chosen my magic." She whispered to him, a light smile pulling at the corners of her lips.

"Sarah stay?" He asked.

"I'm going to stay in the Underground." Sarah nodded her head gently. "Forever."

And the bell tolled seven more times.

Author's Note:

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for your continued support. I'm sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. Things have been pretty hectic lately. I hope to be more punctual moving forward.

VirtualAngel2015: While I haven't made my mind up completely yet, I am thinking about doing a sequel that will be set in the years after Sarah's time as a wished away is completed. I'm not sure if that is going to happen yet or not (but most of my stories get sequels so there is a good chance)

As always: all my love!

Kaasuten