Sarah spent the week working and visiting Toby to babysit. Some things never changed. She supposed she'd be babysitting Toby consistently until he finally moved off to college. The week was also full of Karen's nagging. Business as usual. Along with the dreaded constant inquiries about Sarah's life that made Sarah want to shy away with a crucifix in her hand. Questions such as:

Could you babysit, Sarah? Oh, you're such a doll. Your father and I never go out, you know.

How's your love life?

Any grandchildren on the way? Her father always gave Karen a grumpy side-eye when that one was asked.

And then there were all those indirect hints…

You know, Sarah, if you ever need to cancel babysitting for a date you can. Don't hold back because of us.

When you eventually get married you'll understand.

Oddly, Karen seemed to brush off the fact that goblins and magic existed. She did not bring it up once, but Sarah knew she still remembered. She'd catch Karen eyeing the shadowy corners of the house, and Toby said she was much more sympathetic of him waking from nightmares and climbing into bed with them.

Still, this week felt oddly normal. Which threw Sarah off because she had a small nagging feeling that Bog water was about to hit the fan.

As the week neared to an end, her mind wandered to Jareth. It had done that often as of late. She thought it odd since they hadn't even kissed, but she couldn't get him out from under her skin.

The nearness of him. His intoxicating scent. She'd never felt like this with any other man. Jareth was just so unique in every way.

And dangerous, her mind reminded her. The trek through his labyrinth flashed in her brain and Sarah huffed in annoyance.

Presently Sarah stood, inspecting the final look of her outfit in front of her mirror.

Her gown had been expensive. None of the old dresses had seemed sufficient to bring to an Underground royal ball. She'd gone shopping and towed some goblins along for the ride. Which hadn't gone as bad as Sarah thought it would. Some of them had a knack for fashion.

Probably because of their king, she thought.

He had told her to dress modern and human. Sarah hoped that was good advice. It was quite different from what they'd worn the last time she'd been at the ball. She settled on a black dress that clung tightly to her slim torso and flattered her hourglass figure. It was off the shoulder and had a modern cut. There was a slit that revealed her long, toned pale leg. It gave her just enough freedom to run if she needed to. However, a pair of flattering black stiletto heels made the freeing slit useless in that regard. They did make her legs look great, though.

Her hair had been curled and pinned up with silver clips into a stunning updo. Tendrils of thin curls swooped down and framed her face. Her green eyes were brought out by shades of brown and purple. She opted for a natural lip color to bring the look together.

A nagging sense of forgetting something settled over her again. That feeling had been following her all week. Sarah frowned and then shook her head.

"Nerves," she said. She brushed off her emotions. Likely it was just anxiety stemming from going back Underground. Nothing else.

The young woman breathed in deep through her nose. There was no way she was going to let Jareth see how anxious she was. Nope. Tonight the ball was going to go differently than the last one. She would smile and say all the right things and look the part of a well-rounded grown woman. There would be no shattering crystals.

At that thought, the air around her suddenly shimmered. Next came a quiet humming. She looked up in time to see the reflection of the Goblin King as he stepped into her world out of thin air. He smirked at her and she turned to meet him.

Her eyes swept over Jareth's graceful form. "You look… sharp," Sarah said.

And he did. Traces of sultry red lined his black jacket and peaked out underneath in the form of a silky shirt. His jacket and shirt left a slip open in the middle that revealed a hint of his pale chest and his pendant. It wouldn't have worked on any human man, but Jareth pulled it off and still seemed seductively masculine. He wore his typical tight pants that Sarah quickly diverted her gaze from, black gloves and heeled boots.

If only Karen could see her now. Going to a ball with a handsome fae and a King nonetheless.

Jareth nodded in thanks. His eyes gleaming with a look that said he knew just where her thoughts were heading. He then inspected her cooly, like a fashion designer would their client, and then he paused and seemed like he found her acceptable. But when he spoke there was a huskiness to his voice that suggested he was not as aloof as he pretended to be. "Sarah, you are gorgeous."

She hoped she wasn't blushing. "Thanks," she said.

"Come," he said. "Time is of the essence." He held out an arm and she accepted it.

Traveling to the Underground was much different than it had been when she'd last traveled through the realms. Before it was.. disorienting, to say the least. But now it was as simple as stepping forward, and then suddenly they were both in his castle and leaving the Aboveground behind.

"That was uneventful," She said with surprise.

Jareth seemed to swell with pride. His haughty voice reproached her lightly, "Yes, it's quite different than traveling via goblin, isn't it? Perhaps next time you'll do as I say."

She rolled her eyes and grumbled something like Yeah, right.

He pretended not to hear and led them to where the revelries were taking place. Hope swelled in Sarah's chest. This would be a night to remember.

Gus held a large rectangular object above his head. His stubby hands turning yellow from his tight grip on the frame.

Another goblin stuck his head out from underneath it. "I's gots this end," he said.

"Goods. Alls we has to do is gets it out there when the clocks strikes thir - thirt - one three." Gus stumbled and the painting swayed.

They gasped. It towered over them, easily three times the goblin's size. They each did a little dance around the room to rebalance it. When it stilled they simultaneously let out a sigh.

"Close."

Gus nodded. "Very close. Now comes on! It's almost time." They both left the room, ready to expose the brilliantly vivid painting to the fae court.

Jareth swept Sarah into a dance. She had been hesitant at first. The ballroom had been shockingly stunning. Marble, golden-streaked, floors and pearls strung romantically throughout the room. It was large and filled with beautiful otherworldly men and women. Much to Sarah's chagrin, the revelers weren't dressed much differently from the way they had before. Poofy ball gowns that exposed and hid skin in scandalous amounts. Sarah found herself standing out just as she had been before. Last time she'd been the only one wearing all white. This time it was obvious she was the only human, and the only one wearing a modern, sleek gown. Jareth had dressed to compliment her but he still fit in with his kind.

She figured he had her dress this way on purpose. Whether to show off her mortality and paint her as a giant target sign, or simply make her stand out from the rest, she was unsure.

Everyone was watching the Goblin King. Some with greed, some with lust and only a few with good intentions. He was aware of it and didn't seem to be bothered with it. Jareth even used it to his advantage.

Sarah caught him flirting a few times with some fae women. His cool eyes would always slide to Sarah's whenever he'd make a subtly suggestive remark.

She quickly realized that this wasn't a date. He'd introduced her simply as 'My friend, The Champion of the Labyrinth' to everyone. Never Sarah. Never 'My date'. It was a political move. The painfully human dress. Him constantly at her side with her arm strung in his. His aloofness to her presence yet professed undeterred allegiance to her around others.

He was galavanting her around the fae court as if he was telling them that he had everything in control. That 'The Champion' was not a threat to him or them.

So when he asked her to dance she found herself surprised. She quickly squashed the swell of hope within her as she let him take her on to the floor and sweep her up. Of course, he's asking you to dance, Sarah. You're his escort. Sarah told herself and tried not to roll her eyes at her own optimism. It's just a political move. He has to make it seem as if things are all dandy and good between us. Her face was stoic as he danced her around the large ballroom. She was lost to her own confusing thoughts.

Jareth frowned suddenly and his melodic voice drew her from her anxious thoughts. "Is everything alright, Sarah? You don't seem to be enjoying yourself as much as I hoped you would."

She tried not to stumble in the dance, eyeing the large dancing crowd around her. "I am fine." It came out more exhausted than she wanted it to. Sarah cleared her throat and gave him a little smile. "I'm having a great time. Thank you."

"Good, this ball is for you, after all."

Sarah blinked. Her eyes finally focused on him. "It - it is?"

His smirk revealed rows of crooked teeth. He looked feral. Jareth twirled her and when she came back she was suddenly closer to him than she had been before. He tightened his arm on her waist. Oh, he's good at this, Sarah's brain swooned.

"Of course. This ball is to welcome the labyrinth's first champion to our realm," Jareth said.

She shook her thoughts from the emotional goo that they had melted into and schooled her features. Sarah raised a brow at him. "Really? So this isn't a political move to flaunt the only girl who defeated you in front of the courts?"

He didn't seem fazed by her assumption, as if he had known all along that she'd figure it out. Jareth shrugged. "A little of this and that," he said simply. "Call it killing two birds with one stone."

She rolled her eyes. "Of course, it couldn't just be one thing with you."

"And what does that mean?" His voice was calm, but a barely hidden element of indignation slipped through.

"It means that you always have an ulterior motive. Nothing can ever be simple, or just for the sake of it." Sarah tried hard not to reveal the fact that she'd believed this to be a date up until now. She didn't want to show him just how disappointed she was.

Jareth chuckled. "Everyone has a motive, Sarah. No matter how innocent it may be."

"Yours is hardly ever innocent," she shot back quickly.

"When will you stop living in the past?" His voice was soft, drawing her in. Jareth's eyes stared deep into hers as if searching for an answer in them.

Sarah huffed and looked away. "Whatever. The only reason I'm going along with this is 'cause you're my friend." She halted them in the dance and gave him a warning look. "Just don't go overboard with it. I'm not a trophy on your arm."

This did unsettle Jareth. "Oh, of course not..." He frowned and leaned back from Sarah - only a little. "You would consider me your friend?" His tone sounded hopeful and soft.

She laughed. "Jareth, you've been introducing me as your friend all night and now you're surprised?"

He straightened and pulled them back into the dance as if nothing happened. "I suppose you're right. Friends." Though his face had that familiar mask of indifference, Sarah could see a twinkle in his eyes that hadn't been there earlier. She smiled.

"Friends," she said and let him twirl her around the dance floor. The night was steadily better from then on. His introductions of her became more genuine, and his flirting with the other courtesans ceased completely. Every now and then he would give her a sidelong glance that would make her heart skip a beat. When another slow song came on Jareth pulled her to the dance floor again. The music was soft and beautiful. Instruments plucked in a rhythm much like how the stars twinkled in the sky. He held her close to him.

She found herself fascinated with his eyes as they danced. Her hand tightened on his shoulder. The other one clasped in his gloved hand. He pulled her closer in response. Sarah could feel the warmth of his body through her dress.

They were silent.

Revelier attentively watched the couple dance as if there was no ballroom around them.

"Halt," a loud, sharp and high pitched voice demanded. "Who goes there?" said the fox.

"S - S - Sir Didymus… Uhhhhhs." The goblins stumbled over their words.

The fox looked down at them, making the most out of his one-inch difference, and his whiskers twitched in disapproval. "None shall pass these doors without my permission," the knight said. "King's orders. And I shall fight ye to the death!" He unsheathed his sword and swung it around, narrowly missing the goblins and the large square-shaped sheet they both held on their shoulders.

Gus spoke up, his voice strained from holding the heavy frame. "Kingy's portrait… We's have to unveil it at one-three o'clock."

Sir Didymus studied them with his one good eye. He raised a hand and lifted a white blanket that covered the painting and hid its contents from the viewers. Sir Didymus gasped with outrage. "I say! That is quite a risque painting to show to the courts! And Lady Sarah especially."

Gus twitched. "I's… uh… We'll Kingy's told us we haf to."

"Hmmm." The fox scratched his chin with a paw. "Well, I was under the assumption that Lady Louise Bowelles was to reveal the painting herself. Quite a talented fair maiden, I must say," he said to himself. "But if his majesty commands it, then I shall obey." He bowed before the pair of goblins. "Ludo, good brother. Open the doors!" He pointed to a furry red beast on the other side of the ballroom entrance.

Ludo wore a plaited chest and a tiny goblin helmet that only fit on the very back of his head. He looked quite happy, despite how uncomfortable it must have been.

The beast grunted. "Sure. Ludo… Open… Doors." He walked forward and pushed the wooden entrance open for the two goblins. They scurried through without another word.

Sir Didymus frowned. "Not even a thank you. How rude." The fox sniffed.

Ludo nodded. "... Rude."

The doors closed and they stood in silence. He would never admit it, but Sir Didymus found guarding quite boring. He'd rather be off on dragon-slaying quests across the Underground or saving fair-maidens from towers, but he went where his King sent him. And the King needed him here and he was nothing but a loyal knight, so here he was.

He sighed.

"Ludo… Bored…"

"Quite so, brother." Sir Didymus agreed.

"Pretty… Lady…" Ludo pointed.

"Yes - wait, what?" He strained his eye.

A young woman was walking down the large corridor, a huge covered painting in her hands and a large blue ball gown that kept her from walking as well as she would like. She huffed. "Hello, guards," she said as she approached the couple. "I am Louise Bowelles, the portrait painter for his majesty." She held up a covered painting for them to see.

Ludo groaned. Sir Didymus blinked. "The uh… portrait painter… Of course… I - uh - have been expecting you. You have not sent goblins ahead of you with your portrait, then?"

"Heavens no," she gasped. "It's right here. I wouldn't trust them with my life to carry one of my paintings in." She gave them a look that said 'duh'.

"Uh oh," Ludo said.

"Uhhh, very well, my lady. Uhm." He cleared his throat. "Ludo, let her in, please… I must find his majesty and inform him of… my failures as a guard." His voice was small.

A large pit of defeat swelled within him. He very rarely failed in his duties. In fact, Sir Didymus couldn't remember a time when he had before. He'd even helped Lady Sarah take on the labyrinth and succeed - a task which had never been done before her.

Louise frowned at the guards, unsure.

"Ludo… Let… Pretty Lady… In." He opened the doors and she quickly went through into the bustling ballroom. She only looked back to give them a small thanks.

Sir Didymus cleared his throat. "Right… I shall be back, brother," he said and slipped into the room behind her.

The doors closed and Ludo stood alone. A few minutes passed. He scratched his back. Another few minutes passed.

"Ludo… Bored…"

Sorry for the cliffhanger, guys! You'll just have to wait and see what happens next... ;)

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Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! :)

Disclaimer: In case you were starting to get any ideas - since I forgot to put a disclaimer in the last chapter - I have not acquired ownership of The Labyrinth.