A/N: A very special MAGIC DANCE to Jennifer Blanchette for the favorite on my author's page. Thank you so much!

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to give my story a read, this is my first Labyrinth fanfiction, and I was nervous as all get out about posting it. There isn't going to a set schedule for me to upload the chapters as I have work and real-life issues to deal with.

Please leave a review if you have time, I would love the feedback. And without further ado…

I do not own anything except any OC characters that I choose to add into the story. Thank you.

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XV.

Jareth walked the corridors of his castle, his hand absentmindedly twirling a crystal. His thoughts swirled around as the crystal turned, and he let them, as he would deal with everything as soon as he could. Jareth made his way to his study, not stopping as he neared the door, which opened automatically as he walked up to it. He strode in, leaving the door open, and made his way over to his desk, plopping down into his chair, the crystal still dancing in his hand. As soon he sat, the man with raven black hair, golden brown skin, and violet eyes, his best friend and right-hand knight, Lorcan walked in.

"Jareth, are you not supposed to be resting? Do I need to fetch Ayden?" Lorcan said, his violet eyes dancing with amusement as he surveyed his best friend and king. He made his way over to the desk and leaned against the wall next to it, crossing his arms.

"Leave him be, Lorc. I have neither the patience, nor the mental capacity to deal with him at the moment. I have more pressing matters that need to be taken care of." Jareth replied, rolling his eyes at his friend. "Are my siblings and mother still present?" He asked, letting the crystal disappear, picked up one the sealed scrolls on his desk, broke the seal with a rather ornate letter opener and unrolled the parchment, glancing towards Lorcan and then back, before proceeding to skim the contents.

"Yes. For now. They are currently trying to reset your castle and the staff from being torn asunder from almost losing their current monarch. It is quite a mess." Lorcan replied, the amusement creeping into his voice.

"Yes, yes. But I am here, are I not? And I am not dead, either. Thanks to my brother and his tracking and also my sister with her lovely tracking spells. It was not my idea to begin with, but I needed to see what I could investigate." Jareth replied, jotting something down on the scroll, then with a wave of his hand, it disappeared. He glanced up at Lorcan before grabbing another scroll.

"And what did you uncover?" Lorcan asked, his voice taking on a more serious tone.

Without looking up at Lorcan, Jareth waved his hand and the door to the study shut with a snap. He opened the scroll he grabbed and proceeded to scan the contents. "It was what I suspected in the first place. I have a traitor in my midst." Jareth retorted, his voice hard.

Lorcan raised an eyebrow, "And do you have an idea of who it may be?" He questioned, his violet gaze losing their amusement.

Jareth sighed as he finished scanning the parchment, jotting something down at the bottom and making it disappear as well with a wave of his wrist before he answered. "I have an inkling. But I need to be confident that it is that person before I confront them. No one betrays me and mine and thinks that they can just walk away from this and remain without guilt." Jareth seethed out as he glanced up at Lorcan.

Lorcan put a hand on Jareth's shoulder and gave him a knowing look. "We will find them." He responded, before moving back to lean against the wall again. "They will not advance in their attempt, whatever it may be." Lorcan's tone of voice matched the seriousness of Jareth's.

"I concur. Mayhap they might reveal themselves should their coup go awry." Jareth replied, meeting Lorcan's gaze as he retrieved another scroll from the now dwindling pile on his desk. He sliced open the seal, revealing the contents and began to peruse them.

"Perhaps. Only time will tell." Lorcan responded, crossing his arms again as he leaned against the wall. "Though that situation might be of importance, you have another pressing matter to address."

Jareth paused and spared a glance at Lorcan, "Oh? Pray tell what might possibly be of more significance than a traitor in our midst?" He retorted icily.

"It concerns a certain maiden who was rescued with yourself from that makeshift of a prison cell. What are you going to do with her? Is she returning to the aboveground? Or is the Champion going to be partaking of the tournament?" Lorcan paused as he examined Jareth's face, his eyebrows raising after a moment, "You have yet to inform her, have you not?" He asked, as he smirked at Jareth.

Jareth sighed heavily as he finished scribbling at the bottom of the scroll and then he made it disappear in the same repetitive motion as the other scrolls he had finished before. "Unfortunately, as it stands, I have not yet had the opportunity to inform Sarah of that particular situation. We were only just rescued. I thought it best to give her some time to herself before she is swept into the unforeseen and troublesome circumstances that have kindly chosen to present themselves." He replied gravely. "Do not fret. I will advise Sarah on what is about to transpire. She ultimately has the choice to compete. She can decline." Jareth finished, as his voice faltered a bit on the last word. He hoped that she would decide to compete; daresay he 'wished' it.

Lorcan's smirk morphed into a grin, "I have faith, for that particular maiden might prove at least, that someone can melt our glacial king's heart." He teased.

Jareth rolled his eyes once more and reached to grab another scroll. As he prepared to break the seal, he spoke, "I know not what she will choose. I can only surmise what may happen with the information that I currently possess. Sarah has always been headstrong. As it stands since she is my only champion." He said, breaking the seal and then proceeded to examine the contents. "I cannot and will not force her hand. Never will I take free will of choice away from her. Even if it was by malicious forces which manipulated the course of events that brought her back into my life again." His voice was solemn, but full of pride for his champion.

Lorcan nodded in agreement before he replied, "I can assign someone to be her escort and guide for the duration of her stay, although, if you ask it of me, I will personally be that."

Jareth finished reading the contents of the scroll, scribbled on the bottom, and then made it disappear before he chose to respond. "I have a better idea. How about we allow Cian's wi-" Suddenly, a surge of pleasure hit Jareth like a wave crashing upon the beach. It rushed through him, invigorating his senses, and causing a certain part of his anatomy to swell uncomfortably, albeit pleasantly, in his now awkwardly tightened pants. Jareth sucked in a breath as he gripped the sides of his chair with both hands as a particular feminine presence brushed against his psyche, with a familiar, but sensual melodic voice filtered through with a sharp cry of 'Jareth!'. Jareth released the breath and his grip slowly as he closed his eyes for a moment, wondering what in the goddess' name just happened?

Lorcan stiffened as Jareth cut off mid-sentence and quickly scanned the room for any signs of malevolent magic before turning his attention back to his king. Lorcan watched in amazement at the wave of emotion that passed across Jareth's face and then raised an eyebrow when he noticed the tenting in his king's pants. As soon as it seemed as though Jareth had more control of himself, Lorcan chose to speak. "Should I even ask what just transpired?" He asked, his eyebrow still raised, as a smirk began to form on the corner of his mouth.

Jareth eyes flew open and glared up at Lorcan. "You may, though you will not receive a response." He spat. Jareth shifted in his chair, then gripped the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes again before he continued, "It seems that there are other forces at work which have decided to impress themselves upon me. Lovely." He retorted sarcastically. He cleared his throat, crossed his hands over his lap, and opened his eyes, his expression stoic. "I have work that must be finished before supper. As for what just occurred, speak of it to no one." He waited until Lorcan nodded before continuing. "And as for the champion, send word to Cian's wife to accompany her for the duration of her stay. Mayhap a female companion that is not a goblin would be better suited for this situation. At least in this unique sense of etiquette. That is all." Jareth finished, his voice stern.

Lorcan made a gesture of his fist across his chest over his heart and bowed but didn't lose his smirk. "Yes, sire. I will see it done." He responded before taking his leave. He opened the study door and closed it behind him, but not before he heard Jareth groan quietly. Lorcan smirked as he headed up the corridor towards his goal.