Jareth led Sarah into a few more dances. He teased her, joked with her and made good conversation. She had a smile on her face that was starting to hurt her cheeks, but she found that it was hard to hide, so she let the world know how content she was.

"I have to admit that this is much better than the last ball," Sarah said after a while.

He looked interested. His eyes settled on her and his body became tenser as if he was waiting for her to reveal something unsavory. "Is it? Did you not enjoy the last one?"

Sarah's eyes swept across the room. The revelers were calmer this time. They left Sarah and Jareth alone as they swayed across the room gracefully. She looked back at him. His pale skin glowed in the soft light of the ballroom.

"I - I did." And she told the truth. She had enjoyed the ball. Had loved the soft, otherworldly beauty of it. It had been so different from any of the galas her mother Linda had thrown. A hint of danger hidden under the guises of beautiful ball gowns. The dangers in her world were not so subtle, but truly ugly and blunt, and terrifying in a different way than the man standing before her presently.

Sarah continued, "I enjoyed it, but then it was too much. Not only that but it was all also a trick."

He nodded. "I thought as much."

"...Was any of it actually real?"

Jareth was silent. His hands gently tightened on her. "It was," he said after a moment. He offered nothing more than those two words. His voice was hard as stone. Concealing.

It had been real, and Sarah wondered at what that meant for them. What had been the extent of it? Had he made the ball and danced with her all just to trick her? It seemed like such a big thing to do just to distract her. And even then he didn't have to dance with her. He never had to sing to her. Had it been more than she'd thought?

"It was beautiful," she said. Then she offered him a smile. "Although this ball is better because I'm not running away at the stroke of midnight."

"That is true." He gave her a grin in return.

As they circled around the ballroom to a soft, crooning melody, Sarah tried hard to push any romantic thoughts out of her head. The soft music gave her too many ideas, as did the smirking and seductive face of the Goblin King in front of her.

Danger, her mind reminded her. And as if fate was reminding her too, she caught sight of a large ornate clock hanging on a wall. It hung over a wide set of stairs that poured into the middle of the room. The hands on the clock read half past twelve. Jareth paid it no mind as he led them past the stairs, off the dance floor and through the crowd of dancers. She wondered where he was leading her.

Within the ethereal beings, Sarah caught sight of a couple familiar figures. She frowned. A small, red fox stood upon a chair - much to the disgust of the table's occupants - and waved his arms at Sarah. Next to him, wearing a pair of glasses and waving a suitcase around, was the goblin Wiznic. They perked up when she noticed them and began waving their arms faster.

Alarmed by their urgent and silent pleas, Sarah pulled away from Jareth. Her eyebrows knit together. "Excuse me a minute," she said. She made to turn away from him.

"Sarah?" He asked, his voice concerned. Luckily, a woman with a large yellow dress that left nothing to the imagination swept in between them. Perfect timing, Sarah thought. Even though a pang of jealousy swept through her at the beautiful image of the fae woman.

"May I have this dance, your majesty?"

Jareth paid her no mind. His gaze was still on Sarah with concern. He waited for Sarah's answer. Sarah shook her head and waved him off. "I'll be back," she offered.

Jareth nodded and then greeted the woman charmingly beside him. Quickly, before he could change his mind, Sarah turned away from him and pushed into the large crowd of people. They swallowed her. She disappeared quickly from his sight.

Sarah found Sir Didymus and he beckoned her over with haste.

"My lady," he crowed. "Terrible news."

"What's going on?" she asked. The fae couple sitting at the table sighed harshly and stood from their seats. With a glare at Sarah and her friends, they stomped off into the crowd. They ignored them.

Wiznic pushed his glasses up further on his nose. "The goblin Gus has stolen your drawing," he said.

Sarah gasped and grabbed her hair with her hands. "My drawing! That's what I forgot. Oh, God-"

"-That is not the worst of it, fair maiden," Sir Didymus said shyly. "He came to the doors with a rather large portrait and…" He looked down in shame. "I let them in. I believed it to be improper, but I thought it was the King's orders. I apologize, my lady, and beg of you to forgive me."

"What do you mean portrait? Like a painting?" Sarah asked. Her heart felt like a lump in her throat.

Wiznic spoke up. "I mistakenly gave Gus an idea to have your drawing painted. I thought it was an amorous gift to his majesty and wanted it to be perfect. I did not know that he had stolen it."

Sarah withdrew from the goblin. When did he learn to talk like that? Sarah, that is not the problem right now, she reminded herself. "Why would you think that? This is a disaster," she groaned.

"We still have time to stop them, my lady."

"Okay." Sarah tried to calm herself. "Where are they now?"

"Somewhere within this ballroom. I believe they're revealing it in place of the Lady Louise Bowelles' portrait of the King," The knight said.

"How long do we have?" Sarah was already scanning the crowd.

"Until thirteen o'clock, m'lady. They should be showing it at the top of the staircase."

Sarah sighed. "Okay, Wiznic I need you to keep the King distracted. I don't care how you do it, just don't stop the ball." She turned to the Knight. "Sir Didymus, can you help me find them?"

"It would be my honor." He bowed.

Wiznic gave her a salute and scurried off into the crowd.

I'm surprised at you losing your head over a girl.

His own old words came back to haunt him.

He found himself being able to relate to that dreadful dwarf Hoghead. It left quite a bitter taste in his mouth.

He had taken her to the ball in the guise as friends. Wooing Sarah seemed to take longer than he would've liked it to, but he'd learned from the last time he had tried to romance her…

Still, she didn't seem too happy about the politicalness of their 'friendship' and had preferred it to be genuine. That was a step forward at least.

Except now Sarah was avoiding him.

He'd make eye contact with her through the crowd and she would deliberately look away. Jareth scowled and the woman he was dancing with shrunk away in his arms. He smoothed his sharp features and pretended to be enjoying her company.

Jareth found her again across the room. She looked pensive and was pushing through the crowd. Perhaps she was looking for him? He gave the woman he was dancing a pleasant smile and a quick nod, shrugging her off with only the slightest gesture. Just as she stepped away from him another woman fell into his arms - literally.

"Oh - your majesty. I'm sorry. Something tripped me," she said with outrage, though the gleam in her eyes and the tightening of her arms on his shoulders betrayed her. She was clearly taking advantage of the situation. "Would you like to dance?" The woman draped herself on him.

He looked back at the crowd of people around him. Sarah had disappeared, again. Jareth looked at the woman and sighed. "I suppose so."

She'd scanned the entire ballroom. There was not a single goblin in sight. There was only Wiznic, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying tripping court women into the Goblin King's arms. Sarah told herself that she did not mind Jareth slow dancing with other women. It wasn't as if they were more than just friends.

Her eyes spied the clock ticking innocently on, uncaring of Sarah's time limit. She had six minutes.

Sarah put her hand across her forehead. Then she found herself weaving through the crowd towards the stairs. She carefully avoided the Goblin King, who seemed to be enjoying his current dance partner a little too much, she noted.

"Focus Sarah," she growled out loud. A man standing next to her gave her a look and slid away.

She climbed to the top of the stairs quickly. Her slim figure was tense and she ducked so as not to draw attention. Once she was at the top, she saw that there were two doors. They were towering wooden doors facing across from each other. One on her left and the other on her right. She debated which one she should go through before finally settling on the one to her right.

She pushed back wisps of her hair and walked forward with a determined look. Sarah barged into it loudly, startling its occupants.

"Sir Didymus, you found them," she cried.

The knight had withdrawn his sword and was holding it up to a pair of goblins. The two small, green figures held the covered painting up as a shield and were cowering behind it in a corner.

"I have conquered them, my lady!" The fox beamed victoriously. He puffed out his chest in victory.

Sarah turned to the goblins. Gus the goblin saw Sarah's stern gaze and hurriedly shoved his friend in front of him. He crouched down behind the portly goblin who was now staring up at Sarah with a terrified expression.

"Gus, how could you?" Sarah frowned at them with a scowl that could rival their King's. Gus stuck his tongue out at her from behind his friend and the other goblin promptly soiled his pants.

"You's a bully," Gus accused.

"No, I am not." Sarah crossed her arms.

"Yes, you's is."

"Am not."

"Uh huh." He made a rude gesture at her.

Sarah's eyes widened. She stomped her foot - which was not as effective as she'd like since she was wearing heels.

"Nuh uh."

"Yeahh-"

"-Uh, my fair maiden," Sir Didymus interrupted. "It's almost thirteen o'clock."

She gave Gus one last scowl and turned to her friend. Sarah closed her eyes and let out a calming breath. "It's okay, Sir Didymus. Let's just grab the painting and hide it."

Sarah walked up to the two goblins and prepared for a fight. Surprisingly, Gus relinquished it without a fight. A sly smile crossed his face. She snatched the frame from them. Her face set in a skeptical scowl.

"What are you up to, Gus?" she asked as his smile stretched too far.

He giggled.

Sarah turned to the painting. Warily, she uncovered it. When her eyes settled on the painting she gasped.

A pair of icy eyes faced her. Painted perfectly. The King of the Goblins sat upon his throne with a stern, handsome and aloof face. He wore all white, yet it hardly made him appear innocent or angelic. Jareth looked untouchable and powerful. Her hands trembled as the cover slipped to the floor.

It was a beautiful painting. His eyes enthralled hers. He was captured perfectly, but it was not her drawing.

"What have you done, Gus?" She shrank back from the painting.

"Hah! You's too late. I's switched them." Gus beamed proudly at his own expertness."Louise is gonna reveal the wrongs painting anys minute nows." He cackled much like the Goblin King would, and the similarity was quite unsettling.

The clock chimed the thirteenth hour. It's loud, hollow rings filled the air around them. Dread overcame her.

"Sir Didymus," Sarah gasped.

"On it," he said as if he was reading her mind. The fox bowed before Sarah and then took off. He disappeared behind them and out the large wooden doors. She found herself stumbling out of the dim room and back into the bright ballroom with the painting in tow. The clock still rang around them. It was louder in the ballroom than in the small dark room.

Louise stood before the crowd upon the dais. The painting was held up in her thin arms but still uncovered.

"And now," she announced. "Presenting the portrait of his majesty, Jareth, King of the Goblins and ruler of the labyrinth." Her hand raised to the cover of the large rectangular painting. Her fingers grasped it and she began to slip it from the painting.

"No," Sarah gasped and stepped forward.

"-Halt" Sir Didymus yelled.

The next turn of events happened so fast that Sarah would later have a hard time recounting them.

Both she and Sir Didymus shot forward.

Goblins burst into the ballroom. The large doors down below the stairs threw open. Green, small and furry creatures poured into the room with cackles. The crowd turned to the disruption and gasped.

Ludo held the door open with a wide smile.

"Ludo… help… Have… fun…" He said, beaming. Wiznic sat on his shoulder and waved a modern bow-tie in his hands. Which was strange because Sarah hadn't seen anyone in the ballroom wearing one of those.

Sir Didymus tackled the lady. Sarah turned back to Louise at the woman's loud cry. Sir Didymus was apologizing to the 'fair maiden' all throughout their scuffle as he tried to pry the painting from her hands. She put up quite a good fight.

"Get off of me you filthy creature," Louise cried.

Sir Didymus finally managed to pull the painting from the woman. He let out a victorious yell as he raised it above his head. "Ah hah, I win! I win!" He remarked.

Louise frowned up at the fox. Her hair in complete disarray. She huffed.

"I am so sorry," Sarah apologized to the woman. Sarah hurried forward and set the proper portrait of Jareth on the ground next to them. Sir Didymus quickly handed Sarah the offending painting. Sarah stood and turned to help Louise up and when she suddenly made eye-contact with Jareth in the crowd.

She froze. Her face burned in humiliation at his furious scowl.

The King of the Goblins seemed to tremble in fury and began to make his way through the crowd and to the staircase.

Sarah stumbled back. "Didymus," she cried. He looked up and saw Jareth making his way up the stairs.

The fox jumped up and speedily made his way down to meet him halfway. "Halt," he said. He held out his sword. "None shall pass without my permission."

Jareth's eyes narrowed down at the fox with an icy gaze.

"Bog," he growled.

Sir Didymus disappeared with a yelp and a 'pop'.

Sarah gripped the uncovered painting tightly. Her fingers turning white. She met Jareth's icy gaze, and then promptly turned and ran.

She chose the left door this time. Entering the room, she kicked off her high heels so that she could run faster. Sarah had no time to catalog her surroundings as she pushed her way past plush lounges. Her bare feet padded on the stone floors as she flew through doors upon doors without looking back, traveling from room to room within the castle.

"Home," she panted. "Home. I need to get home." She wished with all her heart that she could transport between realms like the Goblin King could.

But she was painfully human, and even traversing through the labyrinth wouldn't change her genetic makeup, so getting out of this situation would be harder than she liked.

She knew any moment the Goblin King could simply teleport right in front of her, so she kept moving.

Her lungs burned. The bottoms of her feet were being torn up from the rough stone of the castle. Still, she continued. Finally, she pushed through another set of doors and found herself in a large hallway.

She shot forward and tripped over a small object. Then she was on the floor. Sarah blinked at the ceiling.

"Hffpht prrhhtt," the form growled but its words were muffled.

Sarah sat up when she realized she was laying on what she'd tripped over. She quickly righted herself and her eyes widened. "Hoggle, you're here?"

The dwarf snorted and slid away from her. He stood up. His voice grumpy and rough. "His majesty - rat that he is - tolds me you'd probably like to see me after the ball. So here's I am." He motioned to himself.

She stood and smoothed down her dress. "The Goblin King wanted you here?"

"That's what I's just said, didn't I?" He huffed and picked up Sarah's painting.

Sarah felt mollified by the perfect evening the Goblin King had planned for Sarah. He'd taken her to the ball, hadn't left her side until she'd forced him, and even invited Hoggle of all people to visit her… Sarah only let herself feel regret for a moment before she hurriedly forced herself back on track.

She rejected the painting when the dwarf tried to give it to her. "Hoggle, take this and hide it. Please. Don't let the Goblin King see it."

He blinked and looked at the heavy painting. He huffed as he tried to balance it. "What is it?"

Sarah blushed. "Just - Just something he can't see. I don't have time." She kneeled down to his level.

"Just get it out of here. It might be too late for me, but I am not going down in humiliation," Sarah said. Her green eyes flashed.

He frowned but nodded. "Alright, I'll hides it. I don't know what you's got yourself into now, but I ain't getting involved. You be careful."

She nodded and watched as he turned down the hall to what must be the throne room. He grunted as he tugged the painting behind him. It was easily twice as big as him.

Sarah shook her head. She stood from her crouched position and turned the opposite way with a sudden idea of escape. It would call for a lot of persuasion, but there was no way she was going to face Jareth's wrath tonight.

Wow, so that did not go as expected.

They're in quite a sticky situation now. Tune in next time to discover what happens next in their wacky lives.

Guess what guys? Wiznic is back with another inspirational quote!

*Wiznic walks on the screen. You notice that he looks both incredibly handsome and scholarly.*

*He is wearing a bowtie.*

*He clears his throat.*

"When you look for advice, advice will be the thing you search for."

*He bows and promptly walks off the screen.*

Wow, thank you Wiznic for those wise words. He's so smart and insightful... Everyone give him a round of applause.

Also, thank you all for your very sweet reviews! They all made my day. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. See you next time! Thanks for following, favoriting and reviewing. :)