Jareth came into the solar almost like a sleepwalker. Lily noted with amusement that he'd thrown a robe over himself, belted closed over the tights. While she'd found the sight of his outfits for the Run just as hilarious as Garthan and Randel did, she could tell that something was seriously bothering him, so much so that she just didn't have the heart to tease him.

Garthan got a wicked gleam in his eye and had parted his lips to say something before he'd caught the furious glare she sent his way. Swallowing whatever jest he was about to make, he wisely settled back in his chair.

Jareth dropped into the seat next to Lily, his eyes unseeing as he stared down at the table. Something was wrong… seriously wrong.

"Jareth?" Lily asked softly. "What is it? What's wrong?"

He shook his head, almost in wonderment. "I… don't know. Something happened. Something… strange."

"What happened?" asked Randel, in a thankfully even tone of voice. Apparently even he noticed that the situation did not call for levity, no matter how ridiculous Jareth's clothes were.

"I sent a Peach to her," Jareth replied. "You know the Runners are usually hungry by this stage."

"Yes, and then they spend an hour or two in the Dreaming Crystal," said Garthan. "You usually take a nap right about then."

Jareth snorted, "And I tried to take nap this time too." He shook his head again, his expression still confused. "She… Sarah, that is… she… pulled me into the Dream Crystal."

"She what?" exclaimed Garthan.

"Pulled you in," said Randel. "As in… actually pulled you into the Dream Crystal, like a Runner?"

"Yes," said Jareth, dully.

"But… how is that even possible?" asked Garthan. "No one has the kind of power it would take to do that to you… are you sure it wasn't the Labyrinth?"

"I saw it with my own eyes, Garthan," Jareth murmured. "Her power, channeling to the Dream Crystal. Making it what she wanted it to be. And… I saw the power that pulled me in. It had her signature on it."

There was dead silence around the table. Lily looked at Jareth with utter amazement. What kind of power would that take, to seize their King… the most powerful being in the Underground… and put him in a Dream Crystal?

"How the hell can a human do that?" asked Randel, his voice betraying his confusion. "They have no magic… this is impossible!"

"Well, she did," said Jareth. "I have no explanation for it either, but it was her and no one else."

As they all ruminated on this is silence for a bit, Lily finally roused herself and reached for Jareth's hand. "Have you decided what you're going to do with her when this is over?"

"Yes," he sighed. "Her brother is just as desirable for our Kingdom as she is… at least as far as wished-aways go. I thought… I would ask her if she'd like to stay. Stay with her brother. From what I've discovered, she cares for him a great deal."

Lily nodded, "Good plan. Except… she is too young to be a guardian."

Jareth shrugged, "True. With that in mind, I was going to ask if you and Garthan would consider taking guardianship of them. At least until Sarah is an adult and can be Toby's guardian herself."

"Of course," said Garthan. "You know we wouldn't mind at all." Lily nodded in agreement.

"Thank you. I really appreciate it."

"Jareth?" Lily watched as he met her eyes slowly. His gaze was still fixed inward, with some internal debate. "There's something more… something else bothering you. What is it?"

"I… don't know, to be honest. There's just something off about this whole thing. Like I'm missing something."

"Is it that she is a human?" asked Randel.

"Oh, no," he replied slowly. "That does not bother me at all. Aside from her rounded ears and lack of fangs and claws, she does not look any different aesthetically from an Othánas woman. And it's quite plain to see that when she reaches her majority, she will be exquisitely lovely. No… that doesn't give me any pause." He took a breath and sighed again. "I just feel like something deeper is going on… something I can't understand." He shook himself, then rose from his chair. "I'd better let Melina know to be prepared for a transformation tonight. Sarah's run will be over in a little more than an hour. You should get some sleep too, you've been up just as long as I have. I will introduce you to Sarah on the morrow."

Lily watched as he walked out of the solar, his expression just as lost as it was when he'd come in.

Jareth was pleased to find that Healer Melina was still awake when he'd knocked on her chamber door. He shouldn't have been surprised, really. She knew he had a Runner and would be anticipating that her services would be needed.

"So, what do we have?" she asked as she settled into the large, comfortable armchair in her outer office.

"Little boy of about twelve human months. He can walk. He can say a word or two, but for the most part is rather quiet. I don't know if that has to do with innate shyness or some sort of speech issue."

Melina nodded, "We'll know soon enough. Will he be going to the Fae or staying with us?"

"Staying with us," said Jareth. "His sister, the wisher, will be staying as well."

Melina's brows shot right up into her hairline. "That's… different. All right, so… another hour or so?"

"Yes. Once the clock runs out, I will offer the wisher the chance to stay with the boy. He will be transformed to Othánas but she will remain human." At Melina's look of shock, Jareth shrugged. "Rules of the Labyrinth. Transformations can only be done on those formally wished away."

"A full human, here Below? I don't think that's happened in about a thousand years." Melina chewed on her lip in thought. "Jareth… were you going to bring her here for the transformation?"

"You mean to your office?" At Melina's nod, he said "Yes… I suppose so. Why?"

"You might want to rethink that. It's going to be traumatic enough when she realizes that her brother will no longer be human. I suggest you come to whatever arrangement you wish with her, then when the transformation is done, bring them back together."

Jareth had to admit, this made sense. He wasn't at all sure how Sarah would react to her brother's transformation, much less if she actually witnessed it in progress. "You're right. I'll go ask Lily to prepare a chamber for her. I shall see you back here in a little over an hour."

Author's Notes:

Poor Jareth… I do feel for him a bit here.

The magic that allowed Sarah to do what she did was something special that humans have. Imagination, coupled with belief. She pulled him in because she (unconsciously) believed that she could.