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Chapter Text

Jareth writhed around on the grimy cold stone floor in agony. The iron manacles around his wrists and ankles were slowly draining him of his powers. His skin had a grey, sickly pallor and it was translucent enough to make the network of blue veins visible beneath it. The shirt and pants the Goblin King wore were dirty and tattered. His hands and feet were bare, stripped of his usually ever-present gloves and boots. Pleading voices and anguished screams echoed around him in the darkness. Jareth ignored them, listening instead to the sound of approaching footsteps. The steady pitter-patter of small feet moving ever closer held his attention. It gave him something other than pain to focus on.

The Goblin King heard his not-so-faithful servant calling to the guards. He bristled at the nickname the dwarf gave him. The creature wouldn't be so bold if he wasn't in irons.

"I've brought the rat his food rations and there's a nice bag of cook's best offal for the both of you," Hoggle said, handing a bloody sack to the two guards.

Grimble and Gromble were brothers and Redcaps, which are nasty dwarf-like creatures with glowing eyes, sharp teeth, and a penchant for raw meat. The gruesome pair were tasked with guarding the prisoners in the castle beyond the Goblin City. The dark and dank dungeons housed various ne'er-do-wells, including the likely, soon-to-be-former king.

"Mine," hissed Gromble as he snatched the bloody sack from his brother.

A skirmish of back and forth broke out. Hoggle took the opportunity to scurry away to deliver the tray of stale bread, mouldy cheese, and stagnant water to the royal prisoner.

"Ah, Higgle," Jareth rasped through clenched teeth. "What a sad state of affairs it is when I find myself happy to see you." His cold iron restraints made it an enormous effort for him to sit upright but he was determined.

"It ain't as if I wants to be here," Hoggle said, letting out a wistful sigh. "I was perfectly content to be a coward. Happy to keep my head down and out of trouble. And then, ten years ago, I went and met Sarah."

The ailing Goblin King's temper stirred at the mention of his former nemesis.

"That green eyed monster with her rebelliousness, turning my world upside down," he snarled. Jareth's anger had the effect of making his waning magic flare. White speckled owl feathers sprouted randomly out of his pale skin and then quickly disappeared again.

Hoggle was more than a little disturbed by the king's outburst but he pressed on. "The High Council wants to know who you've got to speak in your defence. Since we can't find the one individual who might be able to get you out of this mess, you needs some character witnesses. How about a certain someone who chose to solve the Labyrinth and won?" he suggested.

Jareth slumped back against the dank slimy dungeon wall, his fluctuating powers further drained. "She wouldn't come back," his voice was little more than a whisper, "not to help me."

The little dwarf set down his tray and made sure Grimble and Gromble were still busy fighting. "Well, pardon me for saying so, your Majesty, but you ain't exactly got many other options and time is short," he crowed.

"And so are you," the Goblin King jibed, his wit not yet lost.

Hoggle ignored the insult because, despite everything, he was still the bigger man. "I ain't promising nothing. It's been a few years since I last saw Sarah. But if I can convince her to come back and help you, I will. She's the only mortal who remembers her time in the Labyrinth, being as she's the only one who ever beat you."

Jareth grimaced, partly with pain, but mostly with resentment at the prospect of being indebted to his mortal enemy. "I'm touched, Hoggett, truly I am, that you would be prepared to go to such lengths for me. Oh, I know, I'm technically still your king, but I would have thought you'd be on the side of the revolting masses," he sneered.

Hoggle threw his hands up in exasperation. "Believes me, if Lord Grimbald wasn't an even bigger rat than you, I would be!" He noticed the Redcaps had quietened down, thus signalling it was time for him to leave. "I gots to go now, so wish me luck." The little dwarf set off on his mission.

Jareth reached for the tankard of water on the tray with shaky hands. His mouth was dry, and he took a few sips, trying not to spill any of the precious liquid. He held the cup aloft in a mock toast. "Yes, good luck, Hoggle. If I ever get out of here, you'll need it."

"Destiny Longchamps?"

Sarah kept on walking, wishing she'd at least put her sunglasses on. She had decided on impulse to walk the short distance from her apartment building to work. It was a warm sunny day and she needed to clear her head. Unfortunately, her status as a well-known television celebrity often made the mundane things in life impossible.

The hefty middle-aged woman pursuing her was persistent. "I watch Holland Avenue all the time. It's my absolute favourite daytime soap and you're my favourite character. I can't wait to see Destiny and Dax's wedding. Dirk Evans is such a hunk, isn't he?" she swooned. "Will you sign a few things for me, please?"

The enthusiastic fan thrust a copy of TV Guide under Sarah's nose. She forced a smile as she glanced at the image of herself on the magazine cover. "I'm sorry, I don't have a pen," she said, determined to make her escape.

The woman refused to be shaken off. "I've got one," she said, thrusting a sharpie into her hand.

Sarah reluctantly took the magazine and scribbled her autograph on it as a small group of onlookers began to gather around. The fans continued to chatter to her and each other, oblivious to her desire to hail a taxi and be gone. After signing a few more things, Sarah finally managed to break free of her adoring public and headed towards the television studios.

She had once dreamed of being the object of such attention, but not anymore. Acting wasn't all she hoped it would be. Or, more precisely, the part she'd been playing for the last six years wasn't. When Sarah won the role of Destiny Longchamps in the long running soap opera Holland Avenue she saw it as the start of a glittering Hollywood career. Now, it felt like the end. There were only so many ways her character could cheat death, and fall in and out of love. It was acting by numbers and her attempts to find more challenging roles were floundering. Sarah often got told she looked right for a part but that she didn't have the necessary range for it. The one time she had the chance to do Shakespeare on stage, it was a disaster. She kept forgetting her lines and her acting had more ham in it than a pig farm.

"What's the matter, princess? You look like you lost a dollar and found a dime."

Sarah found her co-star and fiancé, Dirk Evans, waiting for her outside her dressing room at the television studios. She stiffened slightly as he moved in to kiss her. He wasn't her type at all with his square-jaw, hazel-eyes, and expertly coiffed short brown hair. Sarah knew she definitely wasn't to his tastes. Her resolve to break off their engagement kept wavering, but only because so much had already been invested in their relationship. She never should have let it go on for so long or agreed to their arrangement in the first place. It was too late to back out now.

Destiny Longchamps and Dax Evergood were scheduled to tie-the-knot in a live television event. Sarah and Dirk were supposed to get married in a private ceremony directly afterwards. Of course, the paparazzi had been tipped off, so it wasn't going to be private at all. The whole thing was a publicity stunt, cooked up by their mutual agent to help their careers. Dirk wanted to break into movies but he knew his sexual orientation would hinder him, should it ever become common knowledge. The studio loved the column inches Sarah and Dirk's relationship generated for the show, with their onscreen characters already being romantically involved. Magazine covers and tabloid spreads were just the start. Sarah realised the whole thing had spiralled out of her control. She had been in show business long enough to know that acting didn't stop at the stage door. But she never regarded herself as cynical enough to marry a man she didn't love to boost her profile.

Sarah turned on her best fake smile. "Oh, it's just nerves, I guess," she said, dismissing Dirk's concerns as they headed into makeup.

New episodes of Holland Avenue were usually taped a couple of weeks in advance. Most of the scenes had been shot already but Destiny and Dax's wedding ceremony was going to be broadcast live. The scripts were often prone to last minute revisions and the addition of new pages was a regular occurrence but the wedding ceremony remained unchanged. The cast even had the chance to perform rare rehearsals. According to the call sheet, there were a few post-vows scenes that required additional shooting but it was all par of the course on a busy soap opera set.

Sarah first began to suspect all was not as it should be when she got out of makeup. Harry the director, one of the writers, possibly Jack or Jim, she wasn't sure, and Rex Saltzman, the producer, were huddled together in a corner. She could hear they were having an animated discussion in hushed voices.

"She's not gonna like it," Jack or Jim, the writer, argued.

"Think of the ratings," Rex, the producer, counted.

"I'll have a ton of editing to do, and we'll need to do a few reshoots, but we can make this work," Harry, the director, sounded gleeful.

Her agent Bernie La Rue and Dirk were deep in conversation on the far side of the studio. Neither of them showed any sign of having seen her and so Sarah edged closer to eavesdrop on them. She managed to conceal herself behind a part of the scenery.

"Don't worry, darling, we've worked it all out," their agent, Bernie, assured Dirk. "You will have to do a few reshoots to cover the storyline changes. But they're willing to be flexible with your schedule if you get a definite offer on that movie role."

"Sarah's already got cold feet. There's no way she'll go through with the wedding after this," Dirk argued.

Bernie laughed. "Of course, she will. What else is she going to do? Honestly, darling, it's better this way. Sarah will be adequately compensated as per the terms of her contract. And if she doesn't play ball, I'll make sure her name is dirt in this town. She'll never work in the industry again."

Dirk shrugged, it was clear he couldn't care less. "As long as I'm not the one who has to tell her she's being killed off by a falling ice sculpture on her wedding day, I'll leave the small print to you."

Sarah felt hot tears stinging at her eyes, she hated them all. It was a stupid show and she'd grown to despise it, but she wanted to be the one to walk away on her terms. This was the final insult after all the awful wooden scenes they made her perform and the lines of dialogue they'd fed her that were riper than Camembert. As for Dirk, there was no way she could go through with marrying him for real now. Let Bernie do her worst. Sarah would play out the fake wedding, death scene and all. But she would have her revenge, somehow.

Hoggle decided he would travel faster without the lumbering presence of Ludo or the well-intentioned, but blustering, Sir Didymus. He informed them of his plan, in case anything went awry, but there was no more time to lose. He set off towards the secret room. Lord Grimbald was forbidden from taking up residence in the castle until he was officially proclaimed as the next Goblin King. His claim to the title had yet to prove successful but it didn't stop him from snooping around.

However, Hoggle was confident Grimbald hadn't uncovered the secret room. It was a hidden chamber that held all the rare curiosities Jareth had collected over the years. Amongst them was a magic mirror. It could locate anyone, anywhere in the mortal realm and also be used as a means of transportation. The Goblin King rarely used it, his own powers gave him alternative means of achieving the same goals. It was a valuable item all the same, and Jareth liked to have things others coveted.

The little dwarf found the hidden door, helped by the fact he knew where to look.

"What is the magic word?" a disembodied voice demanded when he tried to enter the secret room. The invisible barrier could not be penetrated without it and Hoggle hopped around in dismay. "Why didn't that stupid rat tell me about this?" he grumbled before testing out various words in hopes of finding the right one.

"Um, bog,?" Nothing happened. "Stench?" Still nothing. "Goblin, gnome, chicken, peach, pants, bulge, oubliette, owl?" The door remained stubbornly locked. "Oh, I don't know," Hoggle cried out in frustration. "How in the fiery blazes am I supposed to get to Sarah?"

"What's said is said," Jareth's voice echoed out around him as the invisible shield was lifted.

Hoggle jumped, glancing around him until he realised it was all part of the magic and that the Goblin King was still locked up in the dungeons. He should have guessed her name would be the magic word needed to break the spell. The door swung open and he rushed inside to find the mirror. There was something the right shape for what he was looking for underneath a dusty red velvet drape. Hoggle grabbed the corner and pulled, sending a cloud of white specks into the already musty air. The mirror was dull from lack of use and he used his handkerchief to give it a quick polish.

"This better work," he muttered as he shined up the surface. "Find Sarah Williams, Victrix ludorum of the Labyrinth," Hoggle demanded.

The little dwarf's reflection began to swirl and melt away and another image formed in the glass. A beautiful young woman was wiping streaky mascara trails from beneath her eyes.

"The ice crushed me, Dax," she sobbed. "Those have to be the dumbest, lamest last words anyone has ever uttered in the history of soap operas, and that's up against some pretty stiff competition."

"Sarah?"

It took her a moment to realise the mirror was talking to her. "Hoggle?" she gasped.

"Well, ain't you a sight for sore eyes?" he teased.

Sarah was wearing a hideous meringue of a wedding dress, all unnecessary frills and cheap lace. "Oh, Hoggle, is it really you?" she smiled through her tears.

"At least you remembers who I am. I did wonder if you'd forgotten all about me," the little dwarf said, piling on the guilt, and then feeling bad about it because she was already upset.

Sarah blushed crimson and started bawling again. "I could never forget you, or Ludo, or Sir Didymus, and even J- the Goblin King." She plucked a fresh tissue from her Kleenex box to blow her nose. "Oh, Hoggle, I've got myself into the most awful mess," she wailed.

"Well, that makes two of us, or should I say five of us. I mean you, me, Ludo, Sir Didymus and that rat, Jareth." The dwarf realised he was rambling on and he dragged himself back to the point of his call. "Anyway, the long and err, mostly short of it, is that we need your help," he explained, poorly.

Sarah dabbed at her eyes, her career was in tatters and she was about to do something very rash. Things could scarcely get much worse, and yet, she had a feeling they were about too.

Chapter Text

Sarah shook with hysterical laughter and dabbed at her mascara-streaked eyes with a tissue while Hoggle looked on in bemusement. "Let me get this straight," she said, attempting to catch her breath. "You want me to return to the Labyrinth, putting myself in great peril in the process, to testify in defence of the Goblin King? This would be the same Goblin King who used every dirty trick in the book to try and keep me from winning back my baby brother, would it?"

"Well, you did wish for him to take your brother away, didn't you?" Hoggle couldn't believe he was defending Jareth but these were desperate times. "The rat was only doing his job." The little dwarf wasn't above begging either, if it came to it. "I wouldn't be here asking for your help if there was any other way."

Sarah snorted and succumbed to another burst of laughter. The very notion of rushing to the Goblin King's assistance was preposterous. "Oh, thank you, Hoggle, I really needed cheering up," she spluttered. But her mood turned maudlin again when she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. Sarah looked down at her vulgar gown in disgust and she let out a long sigh. The frothy bridal veil fell forward over her face and she swept it back. She plucked the garish tiara from her head as she did so and threw to the floor before straightening her sleekly styled chignon bun.

Hoggle's eyes widened in alarm as he realised the significance of her white outfit. He knew little of human customs but he did recognise the Aboveground style of dress for brides at weddings. "You're getting married?" he asked.

Sarah chewed anxiously on her bottom lip, "Only if I can't find a way to escape from this place unnoticed." She had considered climbing through the window of her dressing room, only to find it locked when she tried to open it. The corridors outside were crawling with cast, crew, and extras, and she probably had a few minutes left to herself before her absence was noticed. Her television wedding and onscreen death was in the can, but the scene was being set for her and Dirk's supposed real-life fairy tale ending. Sarah needed to get out of there, and fast. "This mirror," she said, tapping the glass inquisitively, "I can travel through it, right?" An obvious escape route was literally staring her in the face.

Hoggle leaned in, conspiratorially. "It wouldn't be much of a magic mirror if you couldn't now, would it?" he smiled.

Sarah contemplated her options for the briefest of moments. She could marry a man she didn't love in the hopes of salvaging her career or she could go on a daring adventure to try and save the Goblin King, a being she had been secretly attracted to since before she even met him. He proved to be even more tantalising in the flesh. To her fifteen year-old self, Jareth had been equal parts attractive and unnerving. But, having reached the grand old age of twenty-five, tight pants and big egos weren't nearly as intimidating to her as once they were. Sarah turned her attention back to Hoggle and the mirror. "If I do agree to help out, I can return home anytime I want, right?" She had learned from experience that it was best to check for hidden clauses in any agreement.

Hoggle nodded. "You knows I wouldn't even be asking if it was only the rat's head on the chopping block. But if Lord Grimbald ever does become Goblin King, he'll execute all those he considers to be traitors, and my name is top of that list." His tone grew high pitched with panic.

"Still a coward, then?" Sarah teased.

"Of the highest order," the little dwarf boasted. "Who wants to be a hero? Everyone expects heroes to save the day and rescue damsels in distress but who saves the hero?" he wondered.

"I will," Sarah grinned as Hoggle blushed. "I'm serious. You are a hero, whether you like it or not. Right now, you're saving this damsel in distress, and so I owe you one."

Hoggle held out his hand to her in invitation. "Come on then, I ain't got all day," he huffed with mock annoyance.

Sarah tentatively reached out and touched the mirror, not quite believing it was really magic. The surface rippled under her touch and she recoiled in amazed horror as the quicksilver began to travel up her fingers. The portal in her old childhood bedroom, that her friends from the Labyrinth used to travel through, was nowhere near as dramatic as this. The sound of urgent knocking on her dressing room door removed her doubts and spurred her into action. "Whoa Nelly!" Sarah exclaimed, launching herself through the mirror. She landed with an ungainly thud at Hoggle's feet, her frothy bridal gown cushioning the worst of the fall. "At least it's good for something,'' she muttered using a nearby velvet chaise longue to pull herself upright.

The room Sarah had been transported into was dimly lit by a lone chandelier that held six almost-burned-out candles. She glanced around at all the strange and wonderful artefacts stored there. There was one in particular she felt strangely drawn to and she reached over to grab the pull-cord on a pair of velvet drapes to reveal what lay behind them.

"I ain't sure you should be touching anything in here," Hoggle warned. "His Majesty wouldn't like it."

"Don't tell him, then," Sarah winked and yanked the cord.

"Oh," the dwarf squeaked and immediately averted his eyes.

The curtains drew back to reveal a stunning portrait of a very adult Sarah. She knew she hadn't posed for it but the likeness to her current appearance was uncanny. Her cheeks flamed, as did her temper, at the erotic way she'd been depicted. The modesty of her bottom half was preserved by a white sheet pooled around her waist. As for the top half — the artist, whoever they were, certainly had a very vivid imagination. Sarah hastily pulled the cord to close the drapes and cover her embarrassment.

She began to have second thoughts about her return to the Goblin Kingdom. It would be stupid and reckless for her to flee one sticky situation only to land herself in something even worse.

"I'm sorry Hoggle, really I am, but I can't do this." The little Dwarf was ready to object but Sarah silenced him with a look as she slumped down on the dusty chaise longue. "I can't just run away from my life, full-blown disaster area though it might be. I've got to go back and face the music. My family and friends are waiting for me to walk down the aisle. I should at least go tell them that the wedding is off."

Sarah sighed and scooped up the hem of her ridiculous bridal gown as she prepared to step back through the mirror. However, the image of her dressing room had disappeared and she was left staring at her own reflection. "How do I work this thing?" she asked, searching the frame for a switch or some kind of starting mechanism.

Hoggle watched her struggle. "I ain't telling you how it works unless you promise you'll stay and help us." He wasn't above a bit of browbeating.

"Fine, if that's how you want to play it, I'll figure it out for myself," Sarah said with determination. "Magic mirror, take me home to my apartment right now," she demanded.

"Ah, noooo, please," Hoggle begged as the image in the glass began to swirl.

The bedroom of Sarah's apartment appeared and she realised the magic mirror must have connected to the floor-length one she kept beside her dresser. She stepped through without hesitation and headed straight for her closet. The suitcase she kept for occasional weekend getaways was on the top shelf. Sarah grabbed it and threw it on the bed as she hastily pulled clothes from their hangers. She ignored Hoggle's increasingly loud protests as she continued to search through cupboards and drawers. Eventually, Sarah had to pause to catch her breath. She looked down at the pile of underwear and messily folded sweaters spilling out over the bed before slumping down amidst the chaos. What a mess she had made of everything.

Hoggle remained on the other side of the mirror. He watched Sarah bury her face in her hands with pity but he was still a dwarf on a mission. "Remember I said, if you should need us, all you had to do was call? Well, now it's us that needs you."

Sarah lifted up her head and her gaze fell upon the open drawer of her nightstand. Inside, lay her old battered and cherished copy of The Labyrinth. That book went everywhere with her. It was the one thing from her childhood she could never leave behind. Sarah had tried hard to make LA and her fancy apartment feel like home. She bought pieces of furniture she saw in glossy magazine spreads and art from exclusive gallery exhibitions but none of it was really her. It was only when she took out that old book and reconnected with the girl she used to be that Sarah truly felt at ease with herself.

"Okay,' she threw her hands up into the air in surrender as she caught sight of Hoggle's pleading eyes in the mirror. "I'll help you."

The little dwarf began jigging around with joy.

Sarah glanced over at her hastily packed suitcase. If she wanted to disappear for a while, where better to get lost than the Goblin Kingdom? She got up from the bed and almost tripped on the hem of her frothy dress. "Hang on while I get changed," she called out to Hoggle. "I can't very well rush to the Goblin King's aid wearing a wedding gown, can I?"

"Er, no, I suppose not," the little dwarf agreed.

Sarah went to her dresser in search of a suitable outfit. "Explain to me again how all this got started," she requested.

Hoggle turned away from the mirror to give her some privacy, like the gentleman he was, and began to tell his tale.

"Like I said before, the Goblin King is duty bound to answer every time a child is wished away to him. There are no exceptions to the rule. It's part of the sacred oath sworn by every king when he takes on the job. Five nights ago, a child was wished away to the Goblin King but Jareth didn't take it. He was drunk as a skunk and didn't awaken until the next morning. The Underground High Council were informed that the Goblin King had failed to uphold his duties, and they dispatched High Councillor Kalon to investigate."

"Who informed the High Council?" Sarah inquired as she struggled with the zipper on her dress.

"When a child is wished away, a warning bell tolls in the castle and throughout the Goblin Kingdom. The Wardens of the Labyrinth make sure all calls gets answered, and they have to act if they're not," Hoggle explained.

"Wardens of the Labyrinth?" Sarah had never heard mention of them before.

"They ain't people, they're magical beings, and there's three of them. There's the-Long-Ago, the-Right-Now, and the-Ever-After." The little dwarf struggled to describe their exact nature. "You'll sees what I mean at the trial because they'll be acting as the jury."

Sarah managed to wriggle out of the wedding dress and started fixing her makeup. "And who is this Lord Grimbald again?" She kept getting muddled up and wanted to be sure she was following the story correctly.

"Lord Grimbald is Jareth's half-brother. They were both fathered by the High King but neither of their mothers is the High Queen, if you knows what I'm saying," Hoggle blushed.

Sarah understood the implication. "So, you said Lord Grimbald hardly ever visits the Goblin King but he'd been to the castle twice in the last month. Don't they get along?" she questioned while sorting through her best casual wear.

"They're both rats, so they should get on like a house on fire," Hoggle quipped. "But Lord Grimbald is ten times worse than Jareth, and I don't trusts him one bit," he said, wringing his hands with anxiety. "It don't help that the High King of the Faeries made Jareth Goblin King over Grimbald, even though he's the elder of the pair. Not that being King of the Goblins is considered much of an honour. The fae don't think so, anyway."

"Why not?" Sarah questioned as she discarded yet another outfit choice.

Hoggle frowned. "The fae nobility are all a bunch of fancy-pants. And the goblins, well, they're a rabble of scruffy pests. It's up to the High King to choose who rules over them and the title is traditionally given to the eldest b… — I mean, the eldest illegitimate son. In this case, he picked Jareth, and to say his half-brother was hopping mad is an understatement." Hoggle had heard the stories of the Lord's legendary temper. "I gots the Apothecary to test the wine his majesty was drinking, to see if it was drugged. He found traces of Valerian root. I'm sure Lord Grimbald had something to do with it, I just can't prove nothing," he scowled.

"It sounds like a place to start. We will have to do some snooping," Sarah said, getting into the idea of adventuring again after being stuck in a rut for so long.

"Grimbald is as slippery as a bog eel so we've gots to tread carefully," Hoggle warned, uneasy at the prospect of tangling with the infamous Lord but resigned to the need for further drastic action.

Sarah pulled out a pair of figure-hugging black pants and a pale green sweater. A guy she once dated told her the colour suited her, and so she slipped it on. After adding a few finishing touches and taking a deep breath for courage, she stepped back through the mirror. "Well, will I do," Sarah asked with a bashful smile.

Hoggle blushed as he complimented her on how pretty she looked.

The magic mirror now showed only her reflection and Sarah was glad to see the pale green sweater did set off her eyes and the black pants hugged in all the right places. She chose to wear loafers, which were not too dissimilar to the ones she'd worn ten years earlier. Her black stiletto knee-high boots had called to her, but the Labyrinth was a place for practical footwear. Sarah had released her long hair from the chignon bun and brushed it out. She told herself she wanted to look good for her own self-esteem and definitely not for the Goblin King's benefit. That was her story and she was sticking to it.

Sarah took her little dwarf friend by the hand. "So where do we start digging for dirt on this Lord Grimbald?"

"The trial starts at thirteen o'clock tomorrow. I don't think we'll find anything on him in time," Hoggle fretted.

He had already made sure High Councillor Kalon would accept Sarah as a witness before calling upon her. The High Council would not assist in Jareth's defence, but if the Victrix ludorum was willing to speak for him, they would permit her. It was highly irregular to involve mortals in matters of fae law, but this was a special case. The Labyrinth only had one victor, and Sarah was entitled to be recognised as such. She would be protected for the duration of the trial. But if Jareth was found guilty, well, they'd all be headed for something much worse than the Bog of Eternal Stench.

Sarah kept her tone casual, picking an imaginary piece of lint from her sweater, she avoided her friend's scrutinising gaze. "Can I see the Goblin King?"

"What do you wants to see him for?" Hoggle scowled. "You'll see him at the trial tomorrow," he said, leading her out of the secret room.

"Piece of cake." Jareth's voice echoed around them as the magic shield spell reset on the door.

"What has he said about that night? Has he accused Lord Grimbald of foul play?" Sarah expected many things on waking that morning, but doing detective work to save the Goblin King's life wasn't one of them.

"The rat ain't said much 'cause he don't remember nothing," Hoggle said. There were some details from that particular night he didn't feel comfortable sharing, and she would hear it all at the trial, anyway. "No point wasting our time talking to him."

"I have to see him," Sarah insisted.

The little dwarf resolutely shook his head.

"Either you take me to see the Goblin King right now or I'm going straight back home." Sarah threatened. "I don't think telling the High Council what a good job he did ten years ago, when I ran the Labyrinth, will make an iota of difference. We need dirt on this Grimbald, and fast. Jareth must have something we can use against his half-brother."

In truth, Sarah secretly longed to see the Goblin King again. Over the intervening period, since her victory over him, her mind had played out various fantasy scenarios of how a meeting between her adult self and his Majesty would unfold. They were even fully clothed in a few of them. The portrait in his secret room proved he hadn't forgotten about her as she once feared. Not that she wouldn't give him hell about it, if she ever got the chance.

Hoggle saw the determined look in her eyes and he smacked his forehead with a groan of frustration. "Oh, alright! But we'll haves to get a sack full of giblets first."

Chapter Text

Sarah pointed to the bulky sack her little friend was carrying. "Are you sure we really need that?" It was dripping a blood trail behind them on the stone steps and she grimaced in horror.

"Trust me, you don't wants to risk being around hungry Redcaps," Hoggle warned.

The pair made their way down the dimly lit passageways under the castle to the dungeon entrance. The sound of screams and pitiful groans echoed around their heads, growing louder with every step. Two of the High Council's heavily-armoured trolls guarded the door. After some negotiation and a promise of all the goats they could eat, the trolls judged the visitors to be non-threatening and let them pass. Sarah had a deep sense of foreboding over what she might be about to witness. Fake blood and the like was commonplace in theatrical settings, but she wasn't too keen on seeing a real life horror show.

Grimble and Gromble's red eyes glowed in the darkness, showing they didn't really need burning torches to find their way in the gloom. The gruesome twosome were already slobbering at the scent of raw meat and paid little attention to the visitors.

"We needs to see the rat," Hoggle said as he tempted them further with the sack full of entrails.

The Redcaps nodded vigorously as they hungrily snatched the bloody offering.

The little dwarf tugged at his companion's hand, hastily leading her away from them and towards the Goblin King. Along the way, they passed by a variety of pathetic-looking caged creatures held in chains or other hair-raising devices of torture.

Hoggle brought Sarah to a halt outside the end cell. In the poor light, it was hard to make Jareth out at first. He was curled up on the stone floor, looking more like a thin pile of rags. The heavy cold-iron shackles kept him weighted to the ground. Only the telling shock of spiky blond hair indicated that they'd found the right prisoner. Sarah clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp of shock. It filled her with sorrow to see him brought so low. They might never have been friends, indeed, she had once regarded him as a villain. But, in that moment, her heart ached for him.

"Your Majesty?" Hoggle called out to rouse the king.

There was no movement.

Sarah was gripped by an awful feeling of dread. "He's not — I mean, you don't think he's…"

"Dead?" Jareth answered her half-whispered unfinished question. "Sorry to disappoint you."

His voice was clear and sharp but Sarah could hear his breath catching after almost every word. The Goblin King slowly turned his head to face her. The heavy amulet he wore around his neck clunked and scraped across the stone floor as he moved. His once cream-coloured poet's shirt was covered in grime and his pale skin was almost the same shade of grey as his skin-tight tattered breeches.

Sarah instinctively knelt down, not caring what the grimy floor would do to the knees of her black pants. She didn't feel right towering above him in his weakened state. Ten years on from their last meeting, she couldn't help comparing the reality with the fantasy image of him she'd held onto in her mind for so long. His ethereal good looks were as captivating as ever, despite his sickly pallor.

Sarah gave him a sad smile. "I'm sorry we're meeting again under these circumstances."

Jareth peered up at her. For a moment, he wasn't quite sure if she was real or a hallucination. Her beauty had matured from the pretty girl she was, too young for what he'd offered, into the vision of loveliness staring back at him with pity in her mournful green eyes. He didn't want her to look at him like that. In his imagination, he had pictured her cowering before him, begging him not to do some dreadful thing. That or lying beneath him, pleading for sweet release. Those fascinating green eyes were supposed to regard him with fear or desire, not pity.

"What have they done to you?" Sarah wailed trying to hold back her emotions, but a single teardrop escaped and rolled down her cheek.

Hoggle kept a watchful eye on Grimble and Gromble, and the other on his friend. He didn't like the way she was gazing at the rat, as if she cared about him.

"Come to save me, have you, Sarah? How very noble of you," Jareth sneered. The pain he was currently enduring made his inherent sarcasm all the keener. "Didn't you run off to the City of the Angels to become a famous actress?" he mocked.

Sarah let out a heavy sigh at his behaviour. Must he force them into playing the roles of adversaries again? She was determined not to rise to his provocation this time. "I didn't run off, as I'm sure you know. I graduated from High School, went to college, and my agent eventually got me some TV and movie auditions. Yes, I did go to Los Angeles, and yes, I am an actress. But that doesn't mean I haven't got time to help my friends, whenever they need me."

"Friends?" Jareth questioned, as if the notion was ridiculous.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Oh, for crying out loud, do we have to get into all this now? You are the Goblin King, and I was a stupid, selfish girl who wished away her baby brother. Anyway, you're the one who declined the olive branch invitation I sent you to come to my going away party, when I left home to go to L.A. You told Hoggle that you didn't even remember who I was." She glanced at him through narrowed eyes to see him grinning back at her. "I'm no longer that naive fifteen year-old girl who solved your Labyrinth by the skin-of-her-teeth. I grew up. It's a good thing too, because dealing with one overgrown spoiled child is bad enough," she raged.

The Goblin King might have been half-dead but Sarah made his blood run hot once more. He was gratified to see the pity in her eyes replaced by angry fire. He wanted to see if she would burn with envy. "Hoghead, I can't rely on you for anything," he sighed. "You've brought me the wrong female. It's the beautiful Minerva you should be out searching for. If anyone remembers what happened that night, she should," he winked, hoping to further stoke Sarah's fury.

She was intrigued by the mention of another woman's name and she looked at the little dwarf, whose cheeks had turned crimson.

"I told you already, your Majesty, Sir Didymus and Ludo are trying to track Lady Minerva down, but she ain't been seen for days," Hoggle said, purposely avoiding making eye contact with Sarah.

Sarah decided she would interrogate him later. "What about Lord Grimbald?" she inquired, determined to stay focused on the matter at hand. He was the one who stood to gain the most from the downfall of the Goblin King.

"My half-brother hates me, and I'm not too fond of him," Jareth admitted. "He's been stirring up discontent among my once loyal subjects, getting them to say I'm a bad king. No doubt, I have him to thank for all my present woes but he's far too sly to let anything slip." The Goblin King shuffled closer to the bars of his cell, until his odd blue eyes were only inches away from Sarah's bright green ones. He addressed Hoggle but he kept his gaze fixed on the woman in front of him. "Find Minerva, Hogbreath," he ordered. "Grimbald may well have offered her what I would not, but I'm the one she loves. Once she sees me here and realises there'll be no more warming my bed if I die, she'll testify and find some way to save me."

Sarah felt like a fool for pitying Jareth and for agreeing to come to his aid. Humiliation had been the reward for her trouble. He didn't need her help, and all of her romantic notions to the contrary were just wishful thinking.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, she cursed herself over and over in her head.

"I truly am touched that you rushed to my rescue, Sarah," the Goblin King said, all insincerity.

She matched his mocking tone as she got to her feet. "I'm sure you would have done the same for me." Sarah didn't mind towering over him this time, her only regret was not choosing to wear her killer high-heeled boots so she could feel even more superior to him. "Well then, your Majesty, I guess this is goodbye."

Hoggle could see Grimble and Gromble were done with their bloody snack and he was anxious to get moving.

"Jareth," the Goblin King said, making Sarah swing around to face him again as she was preparing to walk away.

"What?" she snarled.

"Your Majesty is a term for subordinates, I want you to call me by my rightful name," he explained.

Sarah gave him a hard glare. "I won't be calling you ever again, by any name."

She took Hoggle's offered hand and they left without a backward glance.

"Didn't I always say Jareth was a good for nothing rat?"

The little dwarf hurried after his friend as she marched through the castle with no idea as to where she was headed.

"Why did you beg me to come back?" Sarah would not stay where she wasn't wanted. "Going home to face the fallout from my wedding no-show, and attempting to salvage something from the ashes of my career, will be a piece of cake after this," she grumbled.

She stomped down corridors, trying the doors of random rooms in an aimless search for the one with the magic mirror in it. There was a large double door at the end of the corridor and she strode towards it with purpose.

"No, don't go in there," Hoggle yelled out, but his warning came too late.

Sarah pushed against the heavy oak doors and ended up stumbling inside with the force of her effort. She looked around in astonishment at the spacious, richly decorated bed chamber. It was fit for a king with its dark fur throws and finely carved furnishings. The headboard adorning the enormous canopied bed was decorated with horns. It had an air of depravity about it, despite the grandeur.

"The Goblin King's bedroom," she gasped in realisation as the little dwarf caught up to her.

She would wager that Jareth's bed had seen some action, beyond the mysterious Minerva. Only a person who indulged frequently in carnal delights would need such a grand piece of furniture to perform them on. Her double bed seemed positively snug in comparison, and that hardly got used for anything besides sleep these days. Sarah was no virgin, and hadn't exactly been living like a nun, but it had been a while since anything but the Californian climate kept her warm at night.

"Tell me about Minerva," she demanded as she slumped down on the Goblin King's bed.

Hoggle tried to pull her back onto her feet and get her out of there, but she wouldn't budge. "Oh, alright!" he relented. "She is Lady Minerva, a flame-haired beauty from a high-born fae family. For some crazy reason, she fell madly in love with the rat. She begged him to marry her, but he refused and sent her away. That was years ago, though," the little dwarf explained.

"How many years ago? Sarah couldn't deny her curiosity.

Hoggle gave a shrug of his shoulders. "I can't remember, exactly. Ten years, maybe, give or take," he said.

"Ten years?" Sarah questioned. Her vanity made her want to believe she had something to do with the Goblin King's change of heart towards his lover. Ten years ago, she and Jareth first met. She felt a stab of jealousy. "But Minerva was with him the other night, when he didn't answer the call?"

Hoggle nodded in reply.

Sarah could not deny it stung, even though she had no claim on the Goblin King then or now. Didn't Jareth say that if anyone would remember what happened that night, Minerva would? His high opinion of himself knew no bounds. Was he really that good in bed? It annoyed her no end to be forced to concede that she wouldn't mind finding out. Sarah fell back against the soft fur throws and pillows imagining, before she could stop herself, what it would be like to be between the sheets with the Goblin King. It wasn't as if she hadn't fantasised about getting to know him in the biblical sense before, only never while nestled in his bed.

The thought of Jareth and Minerva together soured her fantasy and brought Sarah back to the present. "Wait a minute," she said as something occurred to her. "Didn't you say Jareth got so drunk he passed out? What about Minerva?" Sarah didn't see how the Goblin King could have been much use to his fancy piece in that state of inebriation.

Hoggle glanced at the king's fancy throne-like desk chair and decided to risk sitting down on it. "Her ladyship arrived out of the blue, telling the rat how much she'd missed him. They was drinking wine and then they, um, disappeared upstairs together. One of the goblins saw Minerva leaving this very bedchamber the next morning and she ain't been seen since," he explained.

"Why would she disappear unless she had something to hide?" Sarah queried.

The little dwarf shrugged. "Don't ask me to fathom the workings of the female brain," he said.

Sarah trailed her fingers sensually through the thick black fur she was lying on. It was almost as if she could feel the Goblin King softly caressing her skin. "Oh, Jareth," she sighed, longingly.

Hoggle glared at her with alarm and let out an exasperated groan. What was it about the rat that turned otherwise sensible women into swooning airheads with dreamy looks in their eyes?

Sarah knew she was playing with fire. The warning voice inside her head was shouting at her to get the hell out of there and go home while she still had the chance. But her heart told her she was right where she was supposed to be, and she decided to go with the latter.

Sarah reluctantly got up from the bed and headed for the door. "Where do we start looking for this Minerva, then?"

Hoggle slapped his forehead in frustration. "Sees what I mean?" he shrieked.

"The Labyrinth really is a piece of cake next to fathoming out the workings of the female mind."

Chapter Text

Sarah followed on as Hoggle led her through a network of underground tunnels. After banging her head for the umpteenth time, she decided adventure was highly overrated. She was risking her life in the hope of helping someone who didn't care if she lived or died. Jareth was no Prince Charming, that much was certain. He was an arrogant, rude and conceited, egomaniac. He also aroused her in a way no one else ever had. The two of them weren't going to share true love's kiss and then live happily ever after but maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. At least the Goblin King didn't go around kissing random dead girls in glass coffins, as far as she knew. The worst he had done was to trick Hoggle into giving her a hallucinogenic peach, which didn't turn out to be an entirely unpleasant experience, if Sarah was honest.

"Watch your step," Hoggle's warning startled her out of her reverie and she stumbled against the wall.

Instead of colliding with hard rock, the surface of the tunnel was spongy and began to absorb her into its depths. "What the...?" Sarah cried out.

Hoggle ran to grab hold of her hand and used all of his might to pull her free. "This place ain't what it seems, remember? I warned you about that last time you was here," he said, shaking his head with disappointment as he rebuked her.

Sarah was duly chastened, how much she had forgotten in ten years. Her cheeks burned with shame over her brush with disaster. "I'll be more careful in future," she vowed.

The pair walked on in silence for a short while until Sarah gave voice to something that was bugging her. "So this is the fastest way through the Labyrinth? It's a shame you didn't lead me this way the last time I was here. We could've saved a lot of time and trouble," she complained.

Hoggle was in a crotchety mood. "His Majesty would do a lot worse than throw me into the Bog of Eternal Stench if he ever found out I'd shown you this place."

The tunnel was so dark and dingy, Sarah was sure she could never find her way through it without her friend's assistance. "Your secret's safe with me," she promised.

"Anyways, I would've been breaking the rules if I'd led you through this shortcut the last time around. Challengers ain't allowed no special treatment," Hoggle informed her.

This news perplexed Sarah because Jareth had gifted her with certain powers, hadn't he? But maybe that only happened in the version of the story that existed inside her head and not in the official book version. In all honesty, she had never read it any other way. The same went for the bit about the Goblin King falling in love with the girl. Again, maybe that was simply more wishful thinking on her part.

"Ah, here we are," the little dwarf said, pointing ahead to the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

The pair emerged onto a barren rocky landscape with skeletal trees and dead shrubbery. The ground was sandy beneath their feet and patches of decaying weeds crumbled as they passed by. The outer wall of the Labyrinth was behind them, and the castle was far in the distance.

It all looked familiar somehow and then Sarah remembered why. "This place is close to where we first met, isn't it?" She smiled at the memory of Hoggle relieving himself into the nearby stagnant pond.

"I ain't likely to forget, am I?" He grumbled.

Sarah huffed in exasperation, she was losing her patience. "What's wrong? You've been in a funk ever since we left the castle. You were the one who begged for my help, remember?"

Hoggle stopped in his tracks and swung around to face her. "I saw the way you was looking at the rat. All googly-eyed," he mimicked her fluttering her eyelashes. "So don't go and try to deny it. You might be all grown up now but that don't mean you've got a lick of sense. If we gets the Goblin King freed, you'll end up being just another notch on his bedpost. Don't say I didn't warn you," he waggled his finger in her direction for added emphasis.

Sarah could feel her cheeks flushing. "Don't be so ridiculous," she scoffed. "Anyway, if we don't help Jareth, Lord Grimbald will become Goblin King. If that happens, your head will be on the chopping block too," she reminded him.

Hoggle let out a heavy sigh. "I'm here, ain't I? But I don't haves to like it," he groused.

Sarah gave deeper thought as to why she really agreed to come back. It wasn't only to save Jareth or even her friends. If truth be told, she wanted to save herself too. Strange as the Goblin Kingdom was, it was more real than the fantasy land that was Hollywood. Sarah knew the last seven years spent living in LA had changed her, and she didn't much like the person she'd become. Her cherished dream of one day becoming an award winning actress turned into something ugly. It had reached the point where her agent could persuade her fame was worth hanging onto at any cost.

Sarah could see Bernie now, looking like Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, trying to talk her into the most outrageous things.

"Honey pie, there's lots of ways to make it in this town. The three T's — Tits, teeth and talent will only get you so far. And, I'm sorry sugar, but you've only got the first two, anyways. Dirk's got offers on the table for three major movie roles, but if word ever got out about him being a friend of Dorothy, well, he can kiss romantic lead goodbye for starters. What I'm proposing is a mutual back scratch, if you will. Your relationship can generate enough publicity to keep the job offers flooding in for years to come, if you play it right…"

"I got lost, Hoggle," Sarah confessed to the confused dwarf. "In my world and in my life, I mean. And, stupid and trite as it sounds, I'm kinda hoping I'll find myself again while I'm here. I know there are bigger things at stake, as there were when I took on the Goblin King and the Labyrinth and won my brother back. But I still managed to grow up a little along the way." Sarah could see her friend was still nonplussed by her soul-bearing, but at least everything was clearer in her own mind.

Sarah and Hoggle continued onwards, the scenery slowly changing around them from barren landscape to lush forest.

"How much further?" she asked, her legs growing weary.

She had to admire her little friend's stamina, his pace barely slowed, no matter how many miles they covered.

"We're almost there, but it's a long shot, I told you that," Hoggle warned as he led her through a dark path of towering trees and into a clearing.

In the middle of the grassy glade was the biggest, lushest oak tree Sarah had ever seen. "What do we do now?" she asked as her friend approached the thick trunk and pressed his hands against the gnarled wood.

"We calls Viridianne and hope she's listening," Hoggle said, taking a deep breath in preparation.

"So, Jareth's mother is a wood nymph?" Sarah wasn't sure what to expect.

Back in her teens, she had read some books on the fae and other creatures of folklore. But, she supposed, as with all such tales they were more fantasy than fact. The stories had survived through the mists of time and had undergone numerous retellings until they retained only the tiniest fragments of truth.

Sarah joined Hoggle in pressing her hands expectantly to the tree bark and calling out for Viridianne. The wind picked up around them and the leaves danced wildly in the air. There was a creaking sound as the heavy branches of the mighty oak swayed in the breeze. Eventually, silence fell once more and the air was still but there was no sign of any wood nymphs.

"Didn't I say we was wasting our time?" Hoggle huffed with a dismissive wave of his hands.

Sarah let out a sad sigh as she thought of Jareth in his dark dungeon.

"Oh, ye of little faith," a sweet feminine voice intoned.

Viridianne appeared, seemingly from out of nowhere. She was clothed in a moss green dress and was barefoot. Sarah regarded her to be stunningly beautiful with her white-streaked honey blond hair and eyes the colour of green sea glass. It was impossible to determine the nymph's age from her looks, but she appeared to be mid to late-forties in human years. Her face was pale and unlined, radiating vitality just like her lush surroundings.

"Well, Hoggle, it has been a while," she addressed the little dwarf with a warm smile.

"Too long," he practically swooned in reply.

Hoggle opened his mouth to introduce his companion, but was interrupted before he could begin.

"And this must be the famous Sarah Williams, if I'm not mistaken," Viridianne said, clasping the awestruck mortal's hand in hers. "I know all about you, my dear," she crooned.

Sarah found her voice again. "Famous? What do you mean?"

"You're the Victrix ludorum of the Labyrinth, are you not?" Viridianne's eyes were sparkling with mischief. What she knew of the young mortal woman extended well beyond the knowledge of her title.

Sarah studied the nymph's face for any likeness to Jareth and, finding none, she decided he must take after his father. "Do you know your son is in trouble?" she inquired.

Viridianne nodded. "I have no power to intercede, but I can assist you in searching for our feathery fugitive. I assume that is what you came here for?"

"When Lady Minerva ain't flouncing around castles, she likes to transform into a swan," Hoggle explained to Sarah.

He already had Sir Didymus and Ludo checking every pond and lake they could find.

"Minerva would never make a good wife for my son, she's too like him. He needs someone, well — different," Viridianne said, stopping herself from saying anything more.

Her eyes lingered a little too long on Sarah, making the young woman self-conscious. All these other-worldly females were so beautiful, it made her feel quite inadequate. Sarah knew she was no gargoyle, but these creatures were in a different league.

"We'd best be getting back to the castle," Hoggle said as he noted darkness would soon be falling.

The forest and surrounding areas weren't the kind of places that mortals should be roaming at night. The nocturnal creatures of the Labyrinth could be dangerous and they lurked in every shadow.

"The trial is at thirteen o'clock tomorrow and we needs Minerva by then" Hoggle said as he took his leave of the wood nymph.

Viridianne nodded her understanding. She smiled at the little dwarf and blew him a kiss, which caused him to blush fiercely. "My son is very fortunate to have such loyal friends," she said. In a burst of green glitter, Viridianne reached up into the oak tree and plucked out a jewel. It was a marquise cut emerald, the shape of which was reminiscent of a leaf, on a silver chain. She held it out for the young mortal woman to take. "For you, my dear," she said.

Sarah gazed at it in wonder, she had never seen such a dazzling precious stone. "I — I don't know what to say, thank you!" She scooped up her hair as Jareth's mother helped fasten the clasp of the necklace.

"Please, send my love to my son," Viridianne implored her. "And tell him he made the right choice," she added, cryptically.

"The right choice?" Sarah questioned.

"He will know what I mean. Now, I must bid you farewell." The wood nymph blended back into the natural surroundings and was gone.

The dark silhouette of the castle loomed against the star speckled sky. There was a glow from the occasional window lit by candlelight or burning torches. It had been a taxing day and Sarah longed to get cleaned up and find somewhere comfortable to spend the night. Hoggle thought of staying at an inn in the Goblin City, but the dwellings were far too small for a full grown human.

The pair ate a hearty meal at the inn chosen from their all chicken menu. Then the little dwarf led Sarah to a guest room in the castle that hadn't been in use for a long time. The worn furnishings were covered in dust but Hoggle promised to give it an airing while she tended to her ablutions. It turned out everything about the castle was medieval, particularly the plumbing. Sarah found the wash jug and basin covered in mould. Her request to be directed towards the bathroom was met with puzzlement. Hoggle didn't see why she couldn't be content with a bucket of stagnant water and a chamber pot.

"I'll takes you to where the king bathes," Hoggle relented, leading her down one of the long corridors towards a large arched doorway.

Sarah gasped in surprise as a spacious room similar to a Roman bath-house was revealed. In the centre was a large circular pool full of steaming bubbling water, like a hot tub. The floor was grey marble with matching stone columns.

"I'll leave you to it, then," Hoggle said as he handed over a large towel and robe to his awestruck friend. "I can't sees the attraction meself," he grumbled. A quick wash every other month or so was perfectly adequate, in his opinion.

Sarah waited until he closed the door before quickly divesting of her clothes. The clasp on her new necklace was hard to unfasten and so she left it in place. The water was so inviting, she wasted no time in lowering herself into the pool. It felt sinfully good against her skin and she closed her eyes, letting the heat seep into her aching bones.

The sound of heavy thudding footsteps approaching shook Sarah out of her relaxed state. Her eyes widened with alarm as the door swung open. Two troll guards hauled the ragged and limp form of the Goblin King along in their rough grasp. The trolls completely disregarded Sarah's presence and dropped their prisoner unceremoniously to the floor.

"Clean up. We'll wait outside the door," one of the trolls said in a gruff voice before they both marched away.

Jareth groaned and lifted his head slightly to see a hastily strewn pile of clothing near his head. He reached out a shaky hand to hook the black lace bra with his index finger. "Making yourself at home, precious?" He rasped.

Sarah was mortified and quickly folded her arms over her breasts hoping that the frothing water would preserve her modesty. "What are you doing here?" she squeaked.

Jareth began to slowly wriggle free of his shirt and pants, every movement a great effort in his weakened state.

"You're not getting in here with me," Sarah shrieked in protest.

She glanced over at the towel and robe Hoggle had left for her. There was no way she could reach them without getting out of the water and that would mean exposing herself.

Jareth was completely naked as he crawled towards the pool. Sarah averted her eyes and begged him to do the same so she could exit with dignity.

"Sarah, I've been bound in cold iron for three days and nights," the Goblin King said. "Please believe me when I tell you that all I'm capable of doing at this moment is bathing." He dropped into the water with a splash and disappeared beneath the surface.

Sarah moved as far away from him as the confines of the circular pool would allow. When Jareth didn't emerge from under the frothing spa after a few minutes, her fear for his well-being overrode her other concerns and she dove to his aid. Sarah pulled him from the bottom of the pool with effort as his lithe frame was surprisingly heavy. He was limp in her arms and she held his head above the water, trying not to think about how their naked bodies were pressed close together.

"Jareth, can you hear me?" Sarah slapped gently at his cheek to rouse him and checked he was breathing.

His ivory skin glistened in the torchlight and his long blond hair fanned out where it trailed in the foam. A strange compulsion overtook her as Sarah was struck by the notion that kissing always revived people in fairy tales. She pondered on what harm it could do, especially as Jareth's lips were so inviting. Her mouth brushed softly against his. His strange blue eyes flickered and Sarah kissed him again. Something sparked deep within her and a surge of energy travelled through her body, gathering where her lips met Jareth's.

Chapter Text

Sarah's lips were tingling like she'd eaten too much ice cream. It felt as if some kind of force had been drawn from deep within her and passed into Jareth. The sensation was akin to butterflies in her stomach that flew up and out of her when she had kissed him. But, then again, perhaps it had been nothing more mystical than a side effect of kissing a very attractive magical being.

"Didn't you vow never to call me by my name?"

The Goblin King’s voice startled Sarah from her rumination. He kept his eyes closed but a languid grin spread across his lips. She felt the warmth returning to every part of his body. In the heat of the moment, she had quite forgotten their naked bodies were almost entwined. Sarah released him from her arms with a shriek of embarrassment and retreated to the far end of the pool.

"I was only making sure you weren't dead,” she protested, crossing her arms defensively over her breasts. “So I don’t go and read anything else into it, okay?" 

Jareth floated on the surface of the water, the frothing bubbles only occasionally covering his full naked glory. He glanced over at her with a devilish smile. "I suppose all that kissing was for medicinal purposes only," he winked.

Sarah's cheeks flamed. "Well, it always revives people in fairy tales, so I figured it was worth a shot. Anyway, it worked didn't it?" She refused to look in his direction.

"Oh yes, Sarah, it worked," Jareth said before disappearing beneath the frothing foam.

She lost sight of him for a second and then he surfaced right in front of her. In an attempt to escape, she grabbed at the edge of the pool but his strong arms were around her before she could haul herself out of the water.

"Let me go, right now," Sarah demanded, slapping wildly at his chest.

The Goblin King’s gaze dropped to the chain around her neck. It swung wildly above her bosom as she struggled to get free from his embrace. "I see you've met my mother," he observed, his eyes nodding towards the emerald pendant.

Sarah stilled in his arms. "Yes, I did. Viridianne was very kind to me. She sends her love, by the way." 

Jareth loosened his grip slightly and she ducked under the water to get out of his grasp. Sarah resurfaced at what she hoped would be a safe distance away from him. She decided to risk making a dash for her towel and dashed out of the pool, moving as fast as she dared on the slippery floor. Once her nakedness was covered, she risked turning around to face the Goblin King. 

Sarah gripped the knot she had made to keep her towel in place. "Your mom also said I should tell you that you made the right choice, whatever that means."

Jareth followed her out of the pool with no such concerns about preserving his modesty. He stood before her, rivulets of water running down his naked and glistening lithe body. His long blond hair hung like a damp curtain, dripping down his back and chest. He reached out his hand to her. "It means you, Sarah, I chose you.”

"Oh, for goodness sake," Sarah said, averting her eyes and hooking the robe Hoggle had left over his outstretched hand. "If you're gonna talk nonsense, you could at least make yourself decent first," she instructed.

Jareth gave her a wicked grin as he reluctantly did as he was told.

"Better," Sarah said, risking a peek in his direction. "And what do you mean, you chose me?" she questioned.

Jareth waved his hand nonchalantly as if she should already know and he took a seat on a nearby marble bench. "I always knew that one day you would return to me. I knew when you did, you would be mine, forever," he said, wearing a smug expression.

"Well, of all the vain, conceited, self-satisfied, cocky little b— buggers," Sarah screeched as she unleashed her annoyance on him. "Just because I came back to this godforsaken place to try and help save your sorry ass, it doesn't mean I'll be falling at your feet." She spun around, intending to leave, and then she remembered the troll guards were waiting outside the door.

Jareth was behind her before she could move and he wrapped his arm tight around her waist. “I have more appealing appendages than my feet,” he quipped. “Anyway, if they find me guilty tomorrow, forever won't be long at all.”

His hot breath on her neck made Sarah shudder with desire. She twisted her body to face him bringing their lips only inches apart.

"I get to sleep in my own bed tonight, for what could be one final time," Jareth said, entwining his fingers in her damp dark tresses. "Spend the night with me?" His eyes pleaded with hers as he gently pulled her closer until their lips met.

Sarah gave herself up to his kiss. Sweet and gentle at first, it deepened into something more passionate and dangerous. She broke away from him, breathing heavily. No matter how much Sarah longed to give into desire, she had to keep her head. Her will was strong and she pushed her hand firmly against his chest to keep him at arm's length. "No, I can't spend the night with you,” she said. “I mean we hardly know each other, not really. Anyway, you're already involved with someone else." 

Jareth sensed her indecision. "Minerva means nothing to me,” he asserted. “She was a warm body on a lonely night, that's all." He covered Sarah’s hand with his own so they were joined over his heart. "You are the one I love.”

Oh, boy! Sarah wasn’t out of the woods yet. She knew she was in trouble the minute her eyes met his. He kissed her for a second time, his hands roaming everywhere and hers did likewise. Jareth tugged at her towel and the realisation of what they were about to do hit her. She had to put a stop to it before they went any further.

Sarah pulled away and stepped beyond his reach. "No, I'm sorry but I can’t. It just wouldn't be right, not like this.”

A flash of hurt crossed Jareth’s face but he soon broke into a grin. "You can't blame a Goblin King for trying," he said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Sarah hoped she wouldn't kick herself later for turning him down. "I'd better say goodnight, and I promise I'll do everything I can to help at the trial tomorrow," she vowed.

Jareth couldn't resist one last attempt to sway her. "If you change your mind about my offer, get Hogwart to show you the secret passageway that leads to my bedchamber." 

Sarah shook her head. "I couldn't do that. Hoggle already thinks I'm destined to become just another notch on your bedpost and I'd hate to prove him right."

The Goblin King's good humour evaporated. "That repulsive little scab,” he snarled. “Who cares what Hogbreath thinks?" 

Sarah issued a sharp rebuttal. "I do!" His ingratitude towards her friend was not to be tolerated. "I don't know how you can be so mean. He has been running around like crazy trying to get you out of the trouble you got yourself in. I think you owe Hoggle some respect," she said, emphasising her friend's proper name, even though she was sure the Goblin King always got it wrong on purpose.

Jareth flashed his sharp teeth as he curled his lip in disgust. "The only thing I owe Hoghead is a nice long dip in the Bog of Eternal Stench.” He walked towards the door and the troll guards who were waiting to escort him to his bedchamber. "You know, you can kiss that little toad all you like and he'll never turn into a prince," he sneered.

Sarah was filled with outrage on her friend's behalf. "Hoggle is twice the man you'll ever be," she yelled as he disappeared through the door.

She gathered up her clothes and attempted to find her way back to the guest room. The passages all started to look the same after a while and she was completely lost. She tried a few random doors, finding nothing but hoarded clutter and cobwebs behind them. Sarah began to yearn for her modern apartment where everything, including the bathroom, was within easy reach. As she turned yet another corner, she spied a familiar set of heavy oak doors. The trolls were standing guard outside and she wondered what harm there would be in asking for directions. If the alternative was wandering around the castle all night, then there was no contest. 

Sarah was about to head towards the Goblin King’s bedchamber when a voice from behind her stopped her in her tracks.

"There you are!” Hoggle cried. “I knew you'd get lost." He was relieved to catch up to her before she went and did something stupid. "Come on, it's late and I needs my beauty sleep," he  said, tugging at her hand and leading her away from temptation.

The little dwarf made himself a bed on the floor so he could stay close to Sarah. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Sarah tried to get comfortable on the lumpy mattress. But the room was cold and it still had a mouldy smell even with the window shutters open. Hoggle didn't appear bothered by it and she huffed in irritation as his snores echoed around the walls. Sarah had half a mind to wake him and tell him to find somewhere else to sleep. What did he think he was doing anyway? Lying at the foot of her bed like a guard dog.

The Goblin King's room was sure to be warmer and more inviting, Sarah mused. But it wasn’t really her comfort that concerned her. Jareth had been out of order but she wasn't happy with the way they left things. If he was found guilty at the trial and executed, she knew she would regret leaving him to spend his last night alone. Sarah climbed as quietly as she could from the creaky bed and tiptoed towards the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Hoggle questioned.

His voice startled her because she assumed he was deep in slumber. Sarah froze with her hand on the door knob and turned to face him. His tiny frame was barely visible in the darkness and she could only just make out the glinting whites of his eyes.

Sarah steeled herself for his disapproval. "I need your help with something, Hoggle. It’s not anything you're gonna approve of but, like you said before, I'm a grown woman."

The little dwarf heaved a weary sigh, no doubt anticipating what was coming.

Sarah took a deep breath, too. "I want you to show me to the secret passage that leads to Jareth's bedchamber."

There it was.

"No," Hoggle was resolute.

"Fine, I'll just go knock on his door then and wake up the entire castle. Either way, I'm going," Sarah said, stepping out into the corridor and setting off in the direction of the Goblin King’s bedchamber.

"Argh, no, wait," Hoggle screeched as he caught up to her and tried unsuccessfully to drag her back to the guest room. "I never should have brought you here. I should've left you where you was in that wedding dress. I would've too if I had thought for one second you'd be stupid enough to go falling for that rat," he raged.

Sarah pulled herself free from Hoggle’s grasp as, somewhere in the castle, a clock chimed. "Do you hear that?” she asked, counting the chimes. “Jareth's trial is thirteen hours away and we've currently got zilch to present in his defence. Lord Grimbald is due to arrive in the morning, along with High Councillor Kalon and the Lord High Executioner. Unless we come up with something in the meantime, the rat, as you call him, won't have much more than thirteen hours left to live. Jareth asked me to spend the night with him, and I said no. But I've changed my mind. He shouldn't be alone, not now. I don't care if you think it's stupid or that I am, it's the right thing to do. The human thing." Sarah turned and walked away.

"Wait," Hoggle called after her. "I'll shows you where the secret passage is, but after that, you're on your own." He lit a candle and reluctantly led her to a hidden door in the wooden wainscoting.

"Thank you," Sarah said, planting a kiss on his head.

Hoggle brushed off her affection with irritation. "I don't want no thanks. You just keep your wits about you. Grimbald ain't the only one who's as slippery as a bog eel," he warned.

Sarah carefully made her way along the dark passageway, the light from her candle casting long shadows on the walls. Cobwebs brushed against her face and she shuddered at the thought of all the unseen creepy crawlies waiting to ambush her. The passage led to a small wooden door. Sarah tried to locate a means of opening it as there was no catch or handle she could find. As a last resort, she pushed hard against it. The door flew open, sending her tumbling into the room in an undignified heap.

"My, my, Sarah, so eager?” Jareth couldn't contain his mirth. 

She scrambled to her feet, her cheeks glowing with embarrassment. When she dared to glance up, she found the Goblin King sprawled out on his bed. He was nestled in the dark fur throws and completely naked, except for his ever present amulet.

"Oh," Sarah squeaked, averting her eyes again. "Are clothes out of fashion in the Underground these days, or what?" she questioned with exasperation.

Jareth wore a smug grin. "I simply thought it would save time." 

"How did you know I would change my mind?" Sarah was annoyed by his arrogance and considered going back to the guest room to teach him a lesson.

"You're here, aren't you?” Jareth shrugged. “Come, my precious one, and let me demonstrate how much I love you." He held out his hand in invitation.

Sarah shook her head, taking a seat at his regal desk which was stacked high with books and papers. "I didn't come here for that so you can put your pants back on.” The Goblin King’s offer was tempting, she couldn’t deny it, but her intentions were noble. "I came to offer you my company for the night as a friend, nothing more," she insisted.

Jareth grimaced. "There's that awful F word again,” he said, making no attempt to cover himself.

Sarah frowned, trying her best to disregard his nakedness. “F word?” 

“ Friend ,” Jareth said with disgust.

“What’s so terrible about being friends?” Sarah always wished she had more genuine people in her life that truly cared about her. "This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to reach out the hand of friendship to you. You snubbed me then and you're throwing it back in my face now. Hoggle used to tell all these stories about how mean you were, especially to him. I thought maybe you were just lonely. I was only eighteen, and kinda idealistic, I suppose. But when I sent you that invitation to my going-away-party, I really hoped we could put the past behind us. Maybe if we had been friends, neither of us would be in the mess we are now." 

Jareth rose from the bed and retrieved his robe from an embroidered chaise longue. "You and I weren't meant to be friends, Sarah. It’s too timid a word for what we are to each other, and what we could be. If I had accepted your party invitation, I would have wanted to keep you. Sadly, I knew, at the tender age of eighteen mortal years, you would be no more ready to enter into such an engagement than you were at fifteen. You needed time to mature and experience something of life and of love, in order to have…"

"A basis for comparison?" Sarah cut in with a knowing smile.

"Exactly," The Goblin King smirked and leaned back on his chaise longue.

What made him think he would compare favourably against the other men she had known? Sarah let her eyes roam over his lean, toned body as he'd made no attempt to fasten his robe. Something told her Jareth could blow the competition out of the water. She almost choked with embarrassment as their gaze met. If they spent much more time ogling each other all her honourable intentions would be in vain. A distraction was sorely needed.

"How about a game of Scrabble?" Sarah suggested as Sir Didymus had once led her to believe it was popular in the Underground. "You'll have a head start with the F words, I'm sure," she teased.

She awaited his retort, but none came. 

There was a high stack of papers next to her on the desk and Jareth strode over towards it. "In all the fairy tales about Prince Charmings and Fairy Godmothers, no one ever mentions the amount of bureaucracy that's involved," he grumbled. After a short search, he pulled something from under a pile of scrolls. "Ha, there it is! I’ve got another F word for you — fiancé, ” he sneered. In Jareth’s hand was the copy of TV Guide with a romantically-posed picture of her and Dirk Evans on the cover. The caption read ‘She’s His Destiny’, which was about as clichéd and cheap a tagline as their manufactured relationship deserved. "You got on your high horse about Minerva and here you are engaged to a dandy." The Goblin King’s words dripped with disdain.

"Oh, Jareth, it really isn't what you think," Sarah cringed, not knowing where to begin in explaining the mess she'd got herself into. "The engagement is off, the wedding is off, and well, I took off. I opted to come here instead and try to help save the Goblin King and his kingdom. I guess I chose you," she said, echoing his earlier sentiments to her.

Jareth cast the magazine aside and pulled her into his arms. "We can be friends, Sarah, if that is all you wish us to be." He brushed her lips lightly with his own.

Her will had been strong up until that point. When Jareth deepened the kiss, it crumbled. Before she knew what was happening, they were buried under the furs on his bed.

"Hey, friends don't make out," Sarah gasped, wriggling out of his grasp.

"Does that mean there will be no more F words tonight?" Jareth pouted in mock indignation.

Sarah chuckled, the Goblin King’s bed was infinitely more comfortable than the one she'd left behind. As long as all they did was sleep, she saw no harm in sharing it. She was too exhausted for anything else, anyway.

“How do you feel about being snuggle buddies?" she yawned, the exertions and excitement of the day finally catching up with her.

“If that’s what you wish.” Jareth reached out to brush an errant lock of hair away from her face. Her eyes closed and she drifted into slumber. He pulled the covers over them and moulded his body to hers, pressing a kiss to her lips. "I have one more F word for us, precious. Fate, that’s what this is."

Chapter Text

Sunlight was streaming through the arched window in the bedchamber when Sarah awoke. She sat bolt upright, momentarily confused by the unfamiliarity of her surroundings. It didn’t take long for her to remember where she was. Jareth was slumbering peacefully by her side as if he didn’t have a care in the world and wasn’t a few hours from being put on trial for his life. 

A cool breeze hit Sarah’s shoulders making her realise they were bare. Her clothes had somehow mysteriously vanished in the night leaving her clad in only her underwear. "Maybe it's not such a mystery," she muttered, casting a wary glance at her sleeping companion.

Sarah listened out for any signs of life in the castle and wondered if the trolls were still standing guard at the door. The Fae High Council were awfully trusting. How could they be sure the Goblin King wouldn't decide to go on the lam? What if he used his magical powers to flee? Sarah began to wonder why he hadn’t done that in the first place, instead of submitting to imprisonment.

When she turned towards Jareth, he was gazing at her with a mischievous grin.

"Good morning, sunshine," he drawled. His arms snaked around her before Sarah could evade him, pulling her back under the covers with insistent kisses. "We've still got time, although these few short hours might be all we ever have," he murmured against the soft skin of her neck.

Jareth certainly was persistent and her resistance was low. Only fear over what the trial might bring kept her from completely surrendering to his skilful persuasion.

"Why don't you just do that glittery disappearing act you do? Why risk staying here and being found guilty? You could come home with me to my place, and we could figure out a way to sort this whole mess out without you losing your head in the process," Sarah pleaded with him between kisses.

Jareth toyed with the emerald pendant around her neck as his uneven blue eyes looked deep into her forlorn green ones. "I have been bound in cold iron for three days and nights. My magic has been temporarily drained to practically nothing. Even if that were not the case, I could never leave.”

Sarah wasn’t ready to give up. “What about the magic mirror? We could get Hoggle and the others to distract the guards while we make our escape.”

Jareth shook his head, determined to face his fate. “The fae are many things, but true to our word is what we should be. Believe it or not, I take my duties as Goblin King very seriously. I was greatly annoyed when you solved my Labyrinth and won your brother back. Truth be told, I was prone to the occasional bout of resentment about it right up until I set eyes on you again in the dungeons. You captured my heart the first time I saw you, and waiting for you to return has tested my patience to its limits. I would never have fallen for Minerva's honey trap had I not been so terribly — frustrated.”

"Oh, so it's all my fault, is it?" Sarah huffed.

"No, I have only myself to blame,” Jareth admitted, wearily. “This place, and all the creatures that dwell here, were left changed by your victory. Until you came along, no one here ever did a thing to help anyone else. We were all selfish beings, taking pleasure in the misery of others. Your journey through the Labyrinth helped you to grow and leave behind your self-centred desires. But the transformation didn't end with you. The ripples from your time here passed through every living creature you met on your journey."

"Please, don't hold me up as a shining example of anything," Sarah protested. "I've taken plenty of wrong turns since then. I almost got married just to try and boost my flagging acting career, for goodness sake," she confessed, unable to meet his gaze for fear of seeing the disappointment in his eyes.

Jareth cupped her chin in his hand. "You think I didn't know?"

"What? How?" Sarah questioned, the answer becoming crystal clear. "Oh, you've been spying on me, haven’t you?" Her shame turned to anger.

"I prefer to think of it as keeping a watchful eye," Jareth shrugged without a hint of remorse. "I could see you did not care for that walking mannequin. Nor he for you. I gather I'd be more his type."

Sarah scowled and moved to the edge of the bed. "That portrait of me in your magic bat cave. It wasn't painted from your imagination, was it?"

Jareth appeared genuinely affronted by what she was insinuating. He got up, put on his robe, and walked over to his desk. After retrieving a small key, he revealed a hidden cabinet which he proceeded to unlock and reach inside. "Do you recall posing for this?" he inquired, holding up a glossy magazine for which she once did a topless shoot.

"Oh my God!" Sarah's cheeks flamed and she covered her face with her hands.

"I suppose you consider it acceptable to have strangers ogling you in this fashion but not someone who loves you and thinks you're the most beautiful woman he's ever laid eyes on." Jareth stood before her, more vulnerable than he'd ever appeared before.

Sarah could not help but melt at his declaration. She held her arms open in the hope he would come to her, and he did. "I'm sorry, you're right,” she admitted. “I've made some pretty bad calls in my career. My agent convinced me that magazine spread would revitalise my image in the minds of the public. But it just made me look desperate and drew the wrong kind of attention. My father wouldn’t speak to me for months after that magazine came out." Sarah had been willing to cling onto fame at any cost. “There was a point, not so long ago, when I would have sold my soul to the devil for an Oscar winning role. So, if you can come up with some way of saving your skin, honourable or not, you should do it. Goodness knows, I'm in no position to judge," Sarah said, imploring the Goblin King to do whatever he needed to in order to survive.

Once again, Jareth shook his head in refusal of her pleas. "I never wanted to be Goblin King,” he confessed. “But I swore an oath. I vowed to faithfully serve the Labyrinth and the Goblin Kingdom. If I ran away now, I would not deserve to be king, regardless of any trial verdict. No, my precious one, I must stay and take whatever judgement comes my way." He brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb.

Sarah understood his reasoning and admired his integrity, she just didn't want to lose him. "Tell me what else I can do to help you?" she begged. "Minerva might not be found. Even if she does show up for the trial, we can't be sure she'll help get you out of this. We've got no dirt on Grimbald, apart from his naked ambition to take your throne, which unfortunately isn't a crime by itself. What about the call you didn't answer? What happened to the child that was being wished away?"

Jareth frowned in contemplation. "High Councillor Kalon said the wish was made by a ten year-old girl called Milly. She wanted the goblins to take her baby sister Kitty away because, and I quote, her poopy diapers smelled so bad, " he explained.

Sarah couldn't help but giggle. "I'm sure Milly didn't really mean for her sister to be taken away. I know ‘ what's said is said ’ but surely you have some discretionary powers over these matters?" 

"Yes, I do, but ignoring the call is not an option. Nor is entirely disregarding the wish. The power of the Fae comes from belief, in part. And now, there's one less little girl in the mortal world who believes in magic," Jareth sighed.

Sarah was about to ask another question when they heard a tapping noise at the window. It sounded like a bird's beak pecking at the glass and a look of alarm spread over the Goblin King's face.

"Quick, hide," Jareth ordered, giving Sarah a forceful shove.

"What on earth? What's going on?" she questioned, scrambling to find a place to conceal herself.

"Under the bed NOW," Jareth commanded just before the window flew open and a flurry of white feathers burst in. 

Sarah made for the crawl space, but the bed frame was barely high enough for her to squeeze under leaving her practically pinned to the floor.

A swan landed and padded around before transforming into a tall, flame-haired beauty. Her blue topaz eyes were dazzling and her strawberry tresses fanned out around her heart-shaped face.

Jareth went to greet her as he firmly tied his robe. "Minerva, my dear, what a surprise." 

"Your mother's ragtag band of associates found me and told me you needed my help,” she said, her voice melodious like birdsong. “Oh, my darling, you know I would do anything for you. If you agree to make me your wife, I’ll gladly testify on your behalf. We will have you back on the throne, where you belong, in no time at all." 

Minerva pushed Jareth back onto the bed. The force of his landing made the mattress sag down on top of Sarah, forcing her to stifle a groan.

"What was that?" Minerva glanced around for the source of the strange noise.

Jareth feigned ignorance. "What was what?" 

Minerva shrugged it off and pounced on him again, kissing him before he could deflect her advances. "Swans mate for life, you know,” she crooned as she loosened the laces on her corset.

"Pity then, that my favoured feathered form is an owl," Jareth said, pushing her away. "There are guards outside," he explained, hoping to dampen her amour while also being mindful of the woman under his bed.

"So?” Minerva wasn't to be dissuaded. “I’m sure they could be persuaded to consider this the equivalent of granting you a last request or a final meal." She pounced on Jareth with insistent kisses.

Sarah fumed as the mattress pressed down on top of her. He wouldn't, he couldn't, could he? She knew that buttering up his former-mistress was probably his best shot at securing his freedom but she couldn’t bear it. Before she could do anything rash, there was a loud knock at the door.

" Thank the four treasures!" Jareth muttered under his breath as he extricated himself from Minerva’s fervent embrace and went to answer it.

High Councillor Kalon stood between the two troll guards with a severe expression on his face. "Lord Grimbald is here and he requests an audience with you over breakfast," he said.

Loath as the Goblin King was to grant his odious half-brother's request, it did provide him with an ideal opportunity to escape from the unwanted attentions of his former lover.

"Tell him I shall join him forthwith," Jareth instructed as he closed the door to dress. First, he hustled the flame-haired Fae towards the window. "I'm sorry, my dear, but we will have to continue this chat later." 

Minerva was visibly perturbed. "I want to be a queen,” she stated. “I would much rather be yours. But I'll be his, if I have too," she threatened.

In a flutter of white feathers, she was gone.

"Ouch!" Sarah banged her head on the nightstand as she crawled out from under the Goblin King’s bed.

Jareth was at her side in an instant offering her his hand. "My apologies for the unexpected interruption." He tried to embrace her but Sarah pushed him away.

She was suddenly conscious of being clad in nothing but her underwear. "Where are my clothes?" She began overturning cushions and pillows in search of them.

Jareth followed her around the room as she turned it upside down. "I meant what I said, I want you to be my wife, Sarah. If The Wardens of the Labyrinth find in my favour at the trial, we could be married as soon as tonight.” 

Sarah came to a halt and spun around to face him. "Are you crazy? Maybe all the blood has rushed from your brain to…” she waved her arms around in a vague gesture, …“somewhere else.” Time was running out and so were their options. 

The Goblin King looked on in bemusement as Sarah paced the floor. She had almost married someone she didn’t love for personal gain. It wasn’t to be recommended, and she was glad she hadn’t gone through with it. But if it was a matter of life or death, well, that would put quite a different complexion on the arrangement.

Sarah stopped her pacing and turned to face Jareth. "Minerva almost certainly helped get you into this mess. But now, she's offering to get you out of it. I could testify to what I overheard her say, which wasn't much, but it would be my word against hers. Something tells me testimony from a Fae trumps that of a mere mortal in this world. Anyway, we've still got no actual proof of anything, and unless Lord Grimbald wants to confess all to you over breakfast, Minerva is your only hope," she argued.

Jareth cupped her face in his hands. "If I could not have you, my life would be over, regardless of the trial verdict. Oh, and you, my darling, are not a mere mortal."

Damn him, and his silken words, she silently cursed as he moved in to kiss her.

" Sarah?"

A small voice was calling out her name but neither the king or his companion heard it. 

“We don’t have time for this,” Sarah protested, weakly as she broke the kiss. But she did block the Goblin King’s attempts to unhook her bra. "Stop that and help me find the rest of my clothes,” she instructed, determined to cool his ardour.

“To cover such beauty would be a crime,” Jareth said, admiring her barely concealed assets.

Sarah sighed in frustration. “I don’t know what the dress code is for Goblin King trials but I can hardly attempt to defend your honour dressed like this, can I? You made my clothes disappear so you can just make them reappear right now.”

Jareth held his hands up in the air. "No magic, remember?” He reminded her and then gave her a sly wink. “Not that I've ever required it in these kinds of situations. Clothing seems to disappear, regardless." 

His arrogant swagger on the matter wasn't unjustified but it annoyed her all the same. She glared at him before continuing her search for her missing sweater and pants.

"Sarah, can you hear me?" Hoggle's muffled voice came from the direction of the secret passageway.

Before she could reply, the little dwarf burst through the wooden door in the same hurried manner as she had done the previous night.

"Oh!" Hoggle gasped, covering his eyes at the sight of Sarah in her undergarments and the Goblin King naked under his open robe.

"What is the meaning of this, Higgle?" Jareth roared.

"Sir Didymus and Ludo have returned. Oh, and Lord Grimbald has requested to make your acquaintance," the dwarf spluttered, addressing his friend but keeping his eyes covered.

“Does he, indeed?” Jareth snarled at the thought of his odious half-brother getting anywhere near the woman he loved.

Sarah was mortified as she glanced down at her lack of attire with dismay. "I wish I had a dress fancy enough to meet a Fae Lord in," she sighed with exasperation. In the blink of an eye, and with a tingly, glittery burst, she found herself clothed in a stunning emerald gown with a matching high-leather-collared cape and ankle boots. "Woah!" she gasped, looking to the Goblin King for an explanation.

"Oh, dear!" Jareth exclaimed, appearing rather sheepish.

Hoggle risked a peek to see what the fuss was about and his eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw Sarah.

"Go away, Hedgewart," Jareth commanded.

The little dwarf looked to Sarah, who indicated with a nod that he should obey, she was too shocked to speak. He scurried back to the secret passageway, muttering to himself.

The Goblin King circled around her, his eyes scrutinising her from head to foot. "I should have known when you kissed me last night in the pool,” he said as if his suspicions had been confirmed. “I felt something pass between us. I should not have revived so swiftly after being chained for so long in cold iron. Do you remember those certain powers I gifted to you?" he inquired. Sarah nodded. "Your return to this world must have revived them, somehow. By rights, they should have faded long ago." He was puzzled as to why they hadn't.

"I can do magic?" Sarah gasped.

"It certainly looks that way,” Jareth frowned. “But you shouldn't try doing it again. Magic can be a dangerous thing in the hands of someone who doesn't understand its power," he warned.

Sarah gawked in amazement at her conjured clothes and she wondered what else she could do.

The Goblin King saw the wicked glint in her eyes and repeated his warning. "You need to be on your best behaviour, particularly in front of my half-brother and the High-Councillor. I may not remember committing the infraction that invoked this trial, but I do recall breaking the Labyrinth rules when I gifted you those powers," he confessed.

Sarah recalled what Hoggle told her when they used the secret tunnel to visit Viridianne. Challengers ain’t allowed no special treatment, he had said. She suspected if Jareth had given her any powers, he had done so at his own discretion. But hearing confirmation of his infraction from his own lips still came as a shock.

"You would be bestowed with magic and immortality upon our marriage, so it could be argued I simply gave you the former a little early. But I doubt the Wardens of the Labyrinth would see it that way. I won't ask you to lie for me, only know that if it is revealed, my head will definitely be on the chopping block," he cautioned.

"I am an actress,” Sarah declared, unconvincingly. “I promise, no one will suspect a thing. As for the whole marriage and immortality thing — Well, we’ll cross that particular bridge when and if we come to it." She figured they had enough hurdles to get over before then.

Jareth’s mood soured. “It’s such a bore having to dress oneself,” he complained, heading over to a large wardrobe adorned with spider webs. “I’m in no hurry to see my half-brother but he shouldn’t be left alone for too long with the High-Councillor.”

“I’ll go down with Hoggle. We can keep them company until you’re ready,” Sarah promised. She took a quick glance at her mirror reflection, silently reassuring herself she could handle whatever came her way, before heading to the secret passageway. "Let's get this show on the road."

Chapter Text

Hoggle waited for Sarah at the end of the secret passageway. His disapproval over what he had witnessed in the Goblin King’s bedchamber was evident by his grumpy expression.

"I know what you're thinking," Sarah said, losing patience at his silent judgement, "And you're wrong. Jareth's intentions are honourable, well, mostly. He wants me to be his wife." She tried to keep up with the little dwarf as he shot off down the corridor.

Hoggle refused to slow his pace or make any reply.

Sarah didn’t want to be at odds with one of the few friends she had in the Underground, or anywhere else for that matter. "I bet I could get the Goblin King to be a whole lot nicer to you,” she coaxed. “Just imagine it, no more threats of bogging or getting your name wrong.” Sarah let out a weary sigh when it appeared he had every intention of maintaining his silent strop. "Hoggle, wait, please," she beseeched him.

The little dwarf halted and spun around to confront her. "I don't want you to be nice to him just so he'll be nice to me.” He puffed out his chest with his hands on his hips. “I can look after myself and you should look after yourself because the rat will get bored of you soon enough. He ain’t the marrying kind." 

Sarah's good humour evaporated. "I see now what the Goblin King has had to put up with all these years," she hissed. "You're lucky he's only threatened you with the Bog of Eternal Stench for your insubordination. Most monarchs would not be so forgiving. If I were queen, I would make some big changes around here," she threatened.

"If you were queen?" Hoggle repeated with a mix of horror and disbelief.

Sarah jutted out her chin and swept past him to the staircase. Maybe I will marry Jareth, she contemplated. He's handsome, charming, and good at kissing. Very good, in fact, and he's probably good at __ lots of other things too.

"Sarah, Queen," she heard Ludo's bellowing voice greet her from the hallway below.

"Not yet, she ain't," Hoggle muttered as he followed her down the stairs.

"My lady,” Sir Didymus dropped into a sweeping bow, his plumed cap clasped in his paw. “Sweetest, fairest maiden, thou art indeed a sight for my poor, sore eyes." 

Sarah thanked the little fox and Ludo for their kind words and hugged them warmly as the little dwarf scowled in her wake.

"If your majesty would like to follow me, I'll takes you to Lord Grimbald," Hoggle mocked.

Sarah huffed with exasperation as they proceeded to the banqueting hall.

High Councillor Kalon was a short rotund creature with an expression of permanent disappointment. The fae sat opposite him, a proud and haughty straight-backed individual, was obviously Lord Grimbald. His impressive head of silver white hair flowed down his back in a tidy cascade. Sly sapphire eyes peered out from beneath a noble brow. Grimbald was strikingly handsome, and he knew it. His clothing was frilly and fancy, the bright colours calling to mind those of a peacock. He looked eminently suited to the station of monarch, perhaps more so than Jareth. The current Goblin King was surely a maverick amongst his kind. Sarah couldn't imagine the elegant creature seated before her consorting with his subjects on any level, let alone singing and dancing with them.

"Ah, the Victrix Ludorum, I presume," High Councillor Kalon got up to greet her.

"Please, call me Sarah," she said, stepping forward to shake his hand.

Lord Grimbald gracefully rose to his feet and captured her other hand in his black-gloved palm, pressing a hasty kiss to it. "Enchanted, I'm sure," he said, appearing anything but.

Sarah shrugged off his faux civility and took the seat next to the throne-like dining chair she presumed belonged to the Goblin King.

"That place is reserved for the Goblin Queen," Lord Grimbald's disapproving and clipped tones informed her.

Sarah disregarded his proclamation and sat down.

High Councillor Kalon cast a cursory glance in the direction of the three misfits loitering in the doorway. "Your friends may wait outside," he said with obvious disdain.

Sarah could see Lord Grimbald's disgust and discomfort at their close proximity to him. She nodded at Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus, indicating they could leave and they gratefully departed. On their way out, they passed the Goblin King. He hospitably acknowledged them with a slight bow of his head to their combined astonishment.

"Goblins in the throne room and all manner of monsters roaming about the castle like they own the place. No wonder it's going to rack and ruin," Grimbald ranted.

"I did hear that the Goblin Kingdom was little valued among the Fae," Sarah observed, she could see he coveted it, regardless.

Grimbald glared at her with open contempt. "If it is so, then the reason is because none of its former rulers have ever taken the trouble to realise its potential. I mean look at the place, it's positively rustic ," he sneered.

Jareth chose that moment to make his grand entrance.

"Ah, at last," Lord Grimbald raised one of his regal brows. "I did wonder when you were going to favour us with your presence."

The Goblin King went directly to Sarah and, dispensing with protocol, he leant in and kissed her full on the lips. Her squeak of protest was half-hearted and he sat down on his fancy dining chair wearing a wolfish grin.

"I see how it is," Lord Grimbald grimaced as if he was sucking on a lemon,

"It's obvious you've been giving this mortal creature ideas above her station."

"Hey, your lordship, I'll tell you what is obvious," Sarah rounded on him, her feisty green eyes blazing. "You've got a bug so far up your ass, you're in danger of sneezing it out." 

Jareth pressed his lips together to keep from showing his amusement at her outburst.

“The two of you have been plotting, no doubt,” Lord Grimbald accused. 

The Goblin King’s mirth evaporated. "My dear brother, do not judge me by your own standards, or my precious Sarah by those of Lady Minerva." 

“You were never fit to be king and your reign is almost over, brother dearest,” Grimbald spat with venom.

“We shall see,” Jareth hissed through clenched teeth, his fury barely contained.

“Now, now,” High Councillor Kalon interjected. “You will all get the opportunity to speak at the trial. There is no need to ruin breakfast with such unpleasantness.” 

Sarah didn't think he looked the sort to easily lose his appetite but she held her tongue on the matter.

Goblins began arriving with trays of breakfast platters, which only served to increase Lord Grimbald's revulsion at what he saw as the lackadaisical running of the place.

Sarah took the trouble to thank them all individually before heartily tucking into what proved to be surprisingly tasty dishes. She decided the meat came from a pig and she didn't want to know if it hadn't. Her appetite was such that she didn't care anyway. 

High Councillor Kalon followed her lead, devouring everything that was set down before him with relish. 

Jareth didn’t eat much but he took extra pleasure in savouring his half-brother's discomfort.

High Councillor Kalon offered a slight bow as he went to join the Lord High Executioner and four troll guards outside the hall.

"If we could speak in private, I would be much obliged," Grimbald requested of the Goblin King as they finished up their breakfast. “Alone, if you please,” he said, pointedly in regards to his mortal companion.

“Anything you have to say can be said in front of Sarah,” Jareth insisted. “Once the Wardens of the Labyrinth have found in my favour, I intend to make this beautiful mortal woman my wife and queen."

"Hey, I don't remember saying yes," Sarah reproached, her playful expression suggesting the possibility wasn’t off the table.

"I don't recall you saying no, either," Jareth teased in the way that made her heart flutter.

Lord Grimbald remained unmoved. “Talk about counting your chickens,” he scoffed. “But stay if you must, Miss Williams.”

Sarah decided she would rather not and she got to her feet. "If you two can refrain from killing each other before the trial, I think I’ll go find my friends.” 

"The trial begins in three hours so make sure you don't wander too far, my precious," Jareth cautioned as he rose to kiss her.

"I won't, don't worry," she said, lingering close in order to whisper something in his ear. "It’s crazy but I think I might just love you.”

Jareth broke into a wide smile and kissed her again, not caring that his half-brother was scowling hard enough to curdle the milk.

Sarah gave the king a flirty curtsy and then offered a token nod in Lord Grimbald's direction. He returned the gesture and his sly eyes narrowed further as they followed her out of the room.

‘Yes, better be careful where you go, precious,’ Grimbald sneered to himself. ‘ The Labyrinth can be a dangerous place for mortals.’

A helpful goblin named Bod led Sarah to the castle kitchen where she found her friends.

"That Lord Grimbald's a real piece of work," she remarked, joining the others in picking over the breakfast leftovers. "And I don't know what Jareth ever saw in Minerva. Pretty, she might be, but you could freeze ice on her..." Sarah stopped her rant short as she noticed her friends and some of the goblins were hanging on her every word. She didn't want to be a bad example to them. "Well, anyway, I think you all know what I mean," she said before stuffing a piece of freshly baked bread into her mouth.

"How dost thou rate his majesty's chances at the trial, my lady?" Sir Didymus inquired.

Sarah frowned, not wanting to be negative, but fearing the odds weren't exactly stacked in their favour. "I don't know how they do things here. But in my world, a person is innocent until proven guilty." Her captive audience all nodded in agreement, loyal as they were to the king.

Time was running out and radical thinking was needed. It was a long shot but an idea for how she might help Jareth occurred to her, and Sarah decided to go with it.

"Hoggle, I need your help with something," she said, getting up and beckoning him to follow her.

"Ludo, help?" he offered.

"I am verily at thy service, fair maiden," Sir Didymus said and leapt from his stool ready for action.

"Thanks, you guys. But please stay and finish up here, we'll be right back," Sarah insisted as she practically shoved a reluctant Hoggle towards the stairs. "You gotta take me to that magic mirror," she pleaded to him in a low voice, mindful of spies.

The little dwarf was still sulking and he stood firm with his arms folded avoiding eye contact.

"Hoggle, please,” Sarah implored him. “I know what you think about me and Jareth but it was you that brought me here to help save him. I'm gonna do all I can because, well, I think I love him and I'm seriously considering marrying him. Like it or not, you should probably start getting used to the idea," she warned.

Hoggle let out a groan of vexation.

"There's someone in my world I need to visit. I know I probably shouldn't, and I don’t know if it will do any good, but there is no other way. Please, I can't lose him now," Sarah begged.

"Oh, alright," Hoggle shrieked, taking pity on her. "But that don't mean I approve of you marrying the rat."

" Give me strength," Sarah muttered to herself as they made their way along a maze of corridors.

The little dwarf negotiated the barrier to the secret room much easier the second time around. 

Sarah was amused to discover her name was the magic word. After charging Hoggle with keeping watch outside, she went to uncover the mirror. She stared hard into the murky glass and said, "Magic mirror, find Milly, the child who wanted to wish her baby sister away to the Goblin King." It wasn’t much of a plan but desperate times called for desperate measures. At first, she was sure it wasn’t going to work and then her reflection began to swirl and the reflection of a child's bedroom appeared in the mirror. A young girl, with light brown hair in bunches, was sketching something on a thick pad of paper.

"Milly?" Sarah called out to her.

The child stopped in her task and looked around for the source of the voice.

Sarah waved at her from the mirror on her vanity. "Don't be frightened, I mean you no harm. I’m, um, a friend of the Goblin King and I just need to talk to you for a second." 

The girl tentatively stepped closer, all the time scrutinising her. "Are you like a fairy godmother or something?" she questioned.

Sarah smiled. "No, sorry. I really am just a friend of the Goblin King.”

"So you can't do magic at all?" the girl pouted, obviously disappointed.

"I'm kind of a beginner," Sarah shrugged, apologetically.

"The other fairy lady could do magic," Milly said as she opened up her jewellery box. “The fairy lady made this appear out of thin air. Isn’t it pretty?" she asked, holding up a small crystal swan figurine.

Sarah was starting to connect the dots. "Did this other fairy lady by any chance have red hair?" 

"Yeah, and she didn't look like a character from that goofy TV show my mom watches, like you do,” Milly taunted.

"Goofy show?" Holland Avenue was ridiculous, Sarah couldn't deny it, but the child's words still stung.

"Yeah, you look just like that lady on the show who got crushed by that big block of ice at her wedding. It was really lame," Milly said, rolling her eyes. 

Sarah blew out a sigh of exasperation. "Well, be that as it may, I'm not here to talk about that. The reason I came is to ask you about the wish you made. You wished for the Goblin King to come take away your baby sister, didn’t you?"

Milly turned back to the mirror with fear in her eyes. "I didn't mean it," she confessed. "I just get really sick of her sometimes. But I love her too, and I don't want her to become a goblin."

Sarah nodded in understanding, recalling her own feelings when she had wished Toby away. "It's okay, I know all that. You don't need to worry," she assured the girl. "I am wondering why the red headed fairy lady came to see you, though. Care to tell?" she coaxed.

Milly wrinkled her forehead in contemplation as she picked up the crystal swan.

"She said if I really wanted the goblins to come and take away my sister, I would have to say the right words to summon the Goblin King. The magic lady told me what to say. But they can't have been the right words after all, because the king didn't come." She sounded disappointed, despite not actually wanting her sister to be taken away.

"Ah, but you didn't really mean what you said, and you have to mean it," Sarah explained, mimicking Jareth's style of speaking in the hope the girl would buy her bluff.

Milly frowned. "But it would have been so cool to meet the Goblin King. I drew a picture of the magic lady and I wanted to draw one of him." 

“I would love to see the picture you drew of the magic lady,” Sarah said, intrigued.

Milly was happy someone was interested in her artwork and she went to retrieve it from her desk.

Sarah knew the magic lady had to be Minerva but the sketch confirmed it. "That's fantastic,” she beamed. “You have a real talent for drawing, Milly." A plan was hatching in her mind. "I wonder if I could borrow it, just for a few hours. I promise I’ll bring it right back.”

The girl screwed up her face as she considered the request. "I'll make a trade,” she offered as she waved the paper in her hand with a wily smile. “Something cool and magical for my drawing." 

Sarah bit on her bottom lip as she contemplated her next move. "I'm talking to you through a magic mirror, is that not cool enough?" she asked, already knowing the girl wouldn't be satisfied with that. Jareth had warned her against messing about with a power she didn't understand, so attempting to conjure something up was out. This is where being able to do that trick of turning a snake into a scarf would be useful, she thought. The little scamp could do with being taught a lesson about not trying to blackmail people.

Sarah glanced around at Jareth's secret treasure trove in the hopes of spotting something innocuous enough to trade. Her eyes widened with surprise as they fell upon a familiar object she had thought long gone. It sat upon a small, red velvet cushion and she went to retrieve it.

"This is not a ring for an ordinary girl, do you want it?" Sarah questioned as she held up the piece of costume jewellery she'd one dropped into the Wise Man's collection box.

Milly scowled, sceptically. "How do I know it's magic?" 

"How do you know it isn't?" Sarah challenged, imitating the Goblin King's cocky manner.

The girl was obviously tempted and she stepped closer to the mirror for a closer look. "Okay," she muttered, finally.

"I knew you were a smart girl," Sarah smirked, thrusting both of her hands through the glass and eliciting a gasp of awe from Milly. She took the offered sketch and gave the girl the ring. "Thank you, and who knows, maybe one day your wish to draw the Goblin King will be granted," Sarah smiled as her image faded from the vanity mirror.

The corridor was empty when she emerged from the magic room.

"Hoggle?" Sarah whispered as loud as she dared. No reply came, and she tentatively set off down the passageway looking around for the little dwarf.

"Great time to bail on me, Hogwart, " she grumbled, mocking his name in her annoyed state.

Sarah eventually came to a spiral staircase, and although it didn't look familiar, she needed to get down to the ground floor to find Jareth.

"Hey, what the…?"

The steps began to move under her feet until she was sliding down them as if they were a helter-skelter.

"Whoa, Nelly!" she shrieked, landing with a thud in pitch darkness.

Somewhere in the darkness, something began to hiss. The sound got louder and Sarah instinctively drew back. She considered attempting to scramble back up the sliding steps. But when she felt around for them, they were gone. Something, somewhere, was slithering towards her and she shuddered with fear.

Chapter Text

Jareth leaned back on his throne-like chair, exuding an air of boredom. His half-brother was tiresome company at the best of times.

"High Councillor Kalon has received a communication from father,” Lord Grimbald said, curling his lip with barely concealed contempt. “It appears you really are his favourite misbegotten son after all." 

"I must say, being bound in cold iron for three days and nights made me feel very special indeed," the Goblin King scoffed.

His half-brother cast an icy and impatient glare at him from across the table. "The High King is willing to intercede to spare you from facing the trial and offer you a royal pardon. This is an unprecedented move, and flies in the face of thousands of years of tradition." Grimbald said as if it was a personal affront to him.

"A royal pardon, really?" Jareth's interest was piqued.

His half-brother's lips twitched but didn't quite manage a smile. "There is, however, one stipulation, should you decide to accept it." 

The Goblin King wasn't surprised. Favourite illegitimate son or not, his father's gifts always came at a price. "So, what is it? Out with it," he demanded.

"You must agree to marry Princess Griselda," Lord Grimbald revealed as he fought to contain his mirth. He suspected all along that the Goblin King would never agree to such a proposition. Witnessing the way he fawned over the mortal woman had only confirmed that belief.

Jareth was not amused and he leaned forward in his chair, his eyes cold and cruel. "You know what my answer is and father knew what my answer would be or he never would have made such an offer."

"Oh, I don't know about that. Griselda's not so bad, for a swamp Fae." Grimbald smirked. He wasn't given to outward displays of merriment but, on this occasion, he was willing to make an exception.

"Swamp Fae are rumoured to eat human babies," the Goblin King grimaced in a show of his revulsion.

"There, you see, it’s fate,” his half-brother chuckled. “It’s a match made in heaven if ever there was one." He sobered. "Anyway, you're being rather discourteous, don’t you think? You know how father has long desired to make amends to the Swamp Fae for our great-great-grandfather annexing their land to build the Goblin Kingdom."

"If the High King is that desperate to make amends, why doesn't he command the crown prince to marry Griselda? He has not yet taken a wife." Jareth knew the reason already, of course. A Swamp Fae was good enough for him in his father's estimation, but not for his royal heir.

Lord Grimbald wasn't ignorant to the truth, he simply chose not to speak it.

"Are you saying that if you were Goblin King, you would marry Griselda?" Jareth pressed his half-brother.

"If father commanded it, I would," Lord Grimbald replied before quickly averting his eyes from his half-brother's sceptical gaze.

Jareth rose from his seat. “You may inform the High King that I do not accept his terms and must therefore decline his pardon. Now, if you don’t mind, time is short and I intend to spend the little I have remaining before my trial with my precious Sarah. You have wasted quite enough of it," he said as he swept out of the hall.

" Yes, scurry along, little brother,” Grimbald sneered. “The clock is ticking, for you and your precious Sarah .”

Sarah shivered in the darkness. Something slimy brushed against her leg causing her to recoil in horror. But she couldn't afford to let fear get the better of her. The slithering and hissing sound was drawing ever closer. She needed to find a way out, and fast.

"I wish I was with the Goblin King," Sarah said and she closed her eyes, picturing Jareth in all his wild-haired glory.

In desperation, she waited but it didn’t work and she was left standing in the dark. She heaved out a sigh of despair and took a few uncertain steps towards what she hoped was the wall. If she could feel her way around maybe she could find an exit. Sarah soon faltered on the uneven floor and almost fell. Strong arms grabbed her around the waist causing her to shriek out in terror.

"Sarah, is that you?" a familiar voice enquired.

"Jareth? Oh, Jareth," she cried, holding onto him for dear life. "There's something awful down here. I wished I was with you, but this isn't what I meant," she babbled.

"You have to be more specific with magic and wishes, my precious one. I did warn you not to meddle with powers you don't understand," the Goblin King scolded.

"Pardon me for trying to save my skin. And, anyway, all this is your fault. If I shouldn't be meddling with magic powers, why give them to me in the first place?" Sarah raged.

"It is fortunate that I was alone and in my bedchamber when your wish summoned me here. It wouldn't have been easy to explain away if anyone had seen me disappear, not with my magic drained. You agreed to keep your little gift under wraps, did you not, precious?" Jareth's supercilious tone earned him an unforgiving jab in a delicate place. He took a sharp intake of breath.

"Oh, dear! Did I damage the Crown Jewels? I am sorry," Sarah innocently purred. 

The hissing around them reached a crescendo. It seemed they were surrounded on all sides. Although, in the darkness, they couldn't be sure.

" What are they?" Sarah whispered.

“As you said — something very awful,.” Jareth replied. "Wish us to my bedchamber, now, " he instructed.

Sarah did as she was told, making sure to be careful with the wording. The next thing she knew, they were laying on a bed amidst the Goblin King's decadent fur covers. No hissing or slithering could be heard and she risked a look around.

"What were those things, anyway? Snakes?" Sarah shuddered at the thought.

"Basilisks," Jareth informed her. "The wretched creatures do find their way into the castle on occasion. Their venom is quite deadly and they can kill with a glance. One can usually see them off with a mirror or a cockerel — two things we have plenty of here," he chuckled.

"I don't even know how I got down there," Sarah pondered, suspecting malicious intent on someone's part.

She couldn't believe Hoggle was capable of such a thing, even if he had been annoyed with her. As far as she knew, no one else was aware of her whereabouts at that time.

"The castle is much like the Labyrinth, in so much as it is full of trap doors and secret passageways. I need to give you a proper guided tour, but not right now. We have less than two hours before the trial and I intend for us to spend them in more intimate pursuits," the Goblin King explained before crushing his lips to hers.

Sarah started to protest but her brush with death made her want to embrace life — and Jareth. His fate would hang in the balance again soon enough. But for now, in that moment, they could take pleasure in being alive and in each other.

"Tell me you will be mine, forever," Jareth demanded between dizzying kisses.

"Oh, yes!" Sarah cried out in ecstasy. “I’m yours.”

The pair succumbed to their passion and they didn't care who heard about it. Which was just as well, as none of Sarah's past lovers had ever elicited such an enthusiastic, or loud, response from her.

Sarah blushed fiercely when High Councillor Kalon glanced in her direction. His hearing was very keen, as was true of all fae, and the last hour or so had been quite excruciating for him. He gave her a withering glare as he directed the troll guards to flank Jareth in readiness for transportation to the courtroom. The Goblin King winked at her and Sarah couldn't help but smile even though it wasn't appropriate in the circumstances. As the guards took their places, the light glinted off the Lord High Executioner's axe, dazzling her vision. It caused the smile to die on her lips. The stakes were as high as they could be, and losing wasn't an option.

Lord Grimbald had left the castle in disgust during Jareth and Sarah's tryst. It was understood he would rejoin them when the trial commenced, along with any other creatures who wanted to either spectate, or speak for or against the Goblin King. The trial was to be held in a spacious circular chamber located below the centre of the hedge maze. Beneath the large stone sundial, close to where Sarah met the Wise Man, was the heart of the Labyrinth and the Wardens dwelled there. 

High Councillor Kalon transported them to the chamber in the blink of an eye. There was a golden glow infusing the inner sanctum, although Sarah couldn't detect its source. It was as if hundreds of candles were burning but there were none to be seen. In the middle of the chamber was a raised, curved platform with three seats grouped together on the right-hand side. On the left stood a central throne and another seat set on its own. Rows of stone benches were arranged a short distance away from the platform for the expected audience and witnesses. 

Sarah checked the pocket of her leather vest for Milly's drawing. Her close encounter with the basilisks and even closer encounter with Jareth had prevented her from revealing what she had discovered to anyone else. It was probably better that way, she reasoned. She was hopeful the element of surprise would work in her favour.

"Do not worry, my precious,” Jareth took Sarah's hand and kissed it. “All will be well," 

"I know it will," she said, determined to remain optimistic.

High Councillor Kalon indicated that the Goblin King should take his seat on the throne as the chamber began to fill up. Assorted goblins scurried over and under the benches, causing mayhem as they fought over getting the best view. Sarah spotted Ludo lumbering in, followed by Hoggle and Sir Didymus, and she frantically beckoned them over to her.

"Where the heck did you get to earlier?" Sarah turned on the little dwarf with a stern look.

Hoggle threw his hands in the air and plopped down beside her on the bench with a scowl. "I thought I heard footsteps, so I hid in a cupboard. When I got out you were gone." He glanced over at the Goblin King and then back at Sarah. "Anyways, it sounded like you found another way of passing the time. Ain't his majesty got a Scrabble board?" The little dwarf's barbed comment was accompanied by a look of disappointment.

Sarah refused to be ashamed of her actions. "I love him, and that's that," she stated, folding her arms as Sir Didymus took a seat next to her.

"How fortunate his majesty is to secure the affections of such a sweet lady," the little fox cooed.

Hoggle rolled his eyes and groaned in despair.

"Lord, bad," Ludo growled.

Sarah turned to see Grimbald making his grand entrance with Minerva on his arm. The red-headed fae briefly glanced in her direction and, if looks could kill, she would be stone dead.

"I thought Jareth's mother might show up," Sarah muttered with disappointment as the last of the stragglers were seated and the heavy wooden doors to the chamber were closed.

"She's a wood nymph, and there ain't no trees here," Hoggle explained. "Viridianne will be close by, you can count on that."

The little dwarf gave her a reassuring smile and Sarah's hand went instinctively to the emerald pendant around her neck. It seemed to comfort her and give her strength to take courage for what lay ahead. Jareth needed her and she wasn't going to let him down. Their eyes met and she hoped he could see her love for him reflected in them as she could see his for her.

The goblins continued with their rowdiness until Sarah cast them a glare of disapproval. "I expect you all to be on your very best behaviour," she warned them. "There will be no chocolate treats for naughty goblins."

The boisterous creatures soon obeyed, remembering the promise she had made to them earlier that day in the castle kitchen. Stories of sweet sugary delights from the human world made their mouths water, and they longed to sample the confectionery for themselves.

Sarah observed that goblins were playful creatures, and that a great deal of their mischief arose from boredom. They were rarely genuinely malicious, tending to indulge in pranks only for amusement. In many ways they reminded her of Toby when he was younger. Sarah had learned from experience that keeping her brother busy and entertained usually steered him away from trouble. If all else failed, bribery with candy was always a reliable fallback option when in a tight spot.

The Goblin King watched Sarah command his subjects in awe. She was born to be his queen and his heart swelled with pride.

High Councillor Kalon stood up from his seat on the dias and clapped his hands together three times. Each successive clap brought forth a shimmering ball of light until there were three bright orbs hovering above the remaining vacant seats on the platform.

"Wardens of the Labyrinth, we call upon you to take form and join us.” Kalon implored them. “The Goblin King awaits your judgement." 

The balls of light expanded in size and grew blindingly bright. When the lights dimmed, three figures in gold robes were seated on the stone chairs. The first one was an old sage. He was wizened with a long white beard and matching hair. The second was a man who looked to be in the prime of life. He was young and handsome with flowing golden locks. The third figure was a young boy who looked to be no more than five or six years old. He had piercing blue eyes, as did the others, and his hair hung down in blond ringlets.

"I, the Long-Ago, know all that is past," the old man's voice rang out, possessing the authority of his wisdom.

"I, the Right-Now, know all that is present," the young man declared with vital confidence.

"I, the Ever-After, know all that may be," the boy's tone was sombre, as if knowledge of the future was a great burden to bear.

Sarah gave them due attention but, for the most part, she couldn't keep her eyes off Jareth and he was the same with her.

High Councillor Kalon read out the charge against the Goblin King, namely his failure to answer Milly's wish. He then rambled on about the purpose of the trial which was to judge Jareth's fitness to continue on in his current role. If he was found unfit and unworthy of the title of Goblin King, he would be taken to the sacred stone at the chiming of the next thirteen o'clock and executed. Lord Grimbald would then succeed him by the default of being the High King's only remaining illegitimate male offspring.

"Would the Victrix Ludorum of the Labyrinth, the mortal, Miss Sarah Williams, please approach the platform," High Councillor Kalon instructed.

She took a deep breath and rose to her feet, feeling confident that her testimony would help to exonerate Jareth.

"I must object," Lord Grimbald shouted as he jumped up from his place on the opposite end of the stone bench.

"You will have your chance to speak once we've heard from Miss Williams. Now, please retake your seat," the High Councillor commanded.

The pretender to the throne was not to be placated. He marched up to Sarah and grabbed hold of her arm.

"Hey," she protested, trying to wrestle free.

Jareth sprang up like a ferocious feline. "Unhand my beloved," he snarled at his half-brother.

"This mortal is no Victrix Ludorum. She was only able to solve the Labyrinth through dishonest means, and her partner in crime was none other than the Goblin King himself," Lord Grimbald declared to gasps of shock from around the courtroom.

Chapter Text

"Take your hand from my Sarah, now. I won't ask you again." Jareth's tone was measured but the look in his eyes was murderous.

The chamber was in uproar and the High Councillor, sensing the Goblin King's intention of pouncing on his impudent half-brother, summoned one of the troll guards to block the king’s way and prevent him from leaving the platform.

Lady Minerva was green with envy. She was bemoaning the fact Jareth had never loved her enough to care what parts of her Lord Grimbald had put his hands on.

Sarah jutted out her chin ready to repudiate the charge against her. "Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I fought my way to the castle beyond the Goblin City." She recited her old lines as she pulled free from her accuser's grasp. "And I am no cheat," Sarah glared defiantly at Grimbald.

It was technically the truth. She didn’t know at the time that any rules had been broken. Her victory had been fair and square as far as she was concerned.

Her friends and the goblins cheered her on.

"Only a scoundrel would seek to tarnish the reputation of such a noble maiden," Sir Didymus yapped. The little fox terrier could hold his tongue no longer, despite Hoggle trying to rein him in for his own good.

"We shall have order in this courtroom or else," High Councillor Kalon warned. He turned to the errant Lord Grimbald, his patience running thin. "What evidence do you have to support your outburst? Explain yourself, or return to your seat so we may continue."

The pretender to the throne struck a puffed up pose intended to mark out his superiority. "The Goblin King has coveted this mortal woman since she was a mere chit of a girl," Grimbald proclaimed with a wave of his hand as he cast a disdainful glance from one to the other. "So enamoured of her was he, that the Goblin King wantonly broke his sacred oath to the Goblin Kingdom and gifted Sarah Williams with magic. When she wished away her baby brother and accepted the challenge to solve the Labyrinth, she was already in possession of a willingly bestowed advantage. A trump card given to her by the very king who was supposed to thwart her progress," he said, performing an elaborate swirling gesture as he pointed an accusatory finger in the direction of his target. "I say again, Sarah Williams is no Victrix Ludorum."

The courtroom erupted into another bout of mayhem with the goblins jeering Grimbald in favour of their king and hoped-for-queen. Sir Didymus leapt forward to defend his friend's honour, threatening to fight to the death anyone who besmirched the good name of his lady. Ludo and Hoggle chimed in with their support for Sarah and the Goblin King, leaving the two Fae nobles as the only dissenters. 

Grimbald was not to be deterred. He believed that right was on his side. His only regret was wasting time and effort plotting against his half-brother, when uncovering Jareth's past misdemeanour was all he needed to do.

The Wardens of the Labyrinth sat impassively on the platform, seeing all but saying nothing.

"What evidence can you present in support of your charges against Miss Williams and the Goblin King?" High Councillor Kalon was required to demand proof, although he himself had borne witness to the passion that existed between the accused parties.

"Lady Minerva heard it all from their own lips," Lord Grimbald announced as gawking goblins crept closer to the redheaded Fae.

She fiercely booted them away with her fancy-slippered foot.

"Hey, watch it, lady," Sarah said as she scooped up a dizzy goblin.

"Jareth kicks them all the time," Minerva argued in her defence.

Sarah pinned the redhead with her fierce green eyes. "Yes, but when he does it, it is done with affection," she retorted, knowing that wasn't strictly true, and making a mental note to curb the violence-against-goblins aspect of Jareth’s temper once she was queen.

"Ladies, please, if we may get back to the point," High Councillor Kalon wearily interjected.

Minerva let out a haughty sigh at the interruption. "I happened to be taking the air in my swan form. In need of a place to rest and stretch my wings, I unwittingly chanced upon a ledge close to the window of the Goblin King's bedchamber," she explained.

"Yeah, right, and I'm the goose that laid the golden egg!" Sarah rolled her eyes at the notion of such a convenient coincidence.

Lady Minerva glared at her with annoyance and she resisted the urge to poke out her tongue in reply.

Jareth was forced to stifle his amusement, his Sarah was such a firecracker. It didn't do to rouse her temper, something he would need to keep in mind once they were married.

"Pray, please continue, Lady Minerva," the High Councillor requested as he was already down to his last nerve.

"As I was saying, while resting on the ledge, I heard the Goblin King confessing to knowingly breaking his sacred oath by gifting magic powers to the mortal when she solved the Labyrinth." Minerva delivered her charge with a practiced air of drama, but the pain and longing for her lost lover was visible under her surface bravado.

Jareth turned pale, even for him. He didn't attempt to contradict the accusation for fear of further incriminating himself.

High Councillor Kalon's eyes bored into the mortal woman before him as if he was attempting to detect any magic she might possess.

Sarah kept her gaze focused on Minerva. She almost felt a twinge of pity for her as the Fae did appear to be genuinely besotted with Jareth. Minerva kept casting concerned glances between the Goblin King and the judges and executioner, suggesting she might harbour some regret for her part in the plot against him. Sarah decided her best course of action was to brazen out the charge laid against her and Jareth. She had evidence too and she wasn’t going down without a fight.

"Let's cut the crap, shall we, huh?" she said, reaching into her vest pocket for Milly's picture. "It's as plain as the nose on, well, his face," Sarah pointed to a goblin with a particularly prominent snout, and then offered hasty apologies, in case the creature was sensitive about it. "This whole saga has been a farce from the very beginning. I have actual proof of skullduggery, not some feathery flight of fantasy."

"Who cares what you have to say?" Lord Grimbald asked, waving a dismissive hand in her direction.

"We do," the Wardens of the Labyrinth chorused in unison.

Sarah bowed her head in a mark of respect and gratitude and she addressed her testimony directly to them.

"Hoggle spoke to the apothecary and he discovered that the Goblin King's wine had been drugged on the night he failed to answer the wish made by the mortal girl called Milly. Lady Minerva was with the king at the time in question, as many of the goblins and my aforementioned friend, Hoggle, can verify. She was seen leaving the Goblin King’s bedchamber the next morning but he has no memory of them spending the night together. Lady Minerva was conspicuously absent in the days following Jareth's imprisonment and she has offered no explanation for her absence or for what really happened that night. I have spoken with the mortal girl who tried to wish away her baby sister. Milly told me a fairy lady with red hair visited her the night she made her wish and told her the right words to use to summon the Goblin King. This mystery red-head also gifted the girl with a small crystal swan. I believe the Fae in question was none other than Lady Minerva." Sarah, no stranger to melodrama herself, held Milly's sketch aloft to gasps of astonishment from the crowd.

Lord Grimbald had been pooh-poohing her throughout and he refused to even glance at the picture. "You think the idle scribbles of a child prove anything?” he scoffed.

“I spent the whole night in Jareth's bed. He was too intoxicated to perform his duties as a king but not as a lover,” Minerva insisted, sounding desperate. “Perhaps he's only pretending not to remember in order to spare your feelings,” she added.

Sarah took a step towards her would-be rival, the fire in her green eyes burning bright. "You need to wake up and smell the Bog of Eternal Stench, sister," she said, jabbing her finger at the redhead. "Jareth doesn't want you, he never did, and his lordship is only using you. Grimbald will drop you faster than a bogged goblin the minute he gets what he wants. If you won’t tell the truth, at least have some self-respect, for goodness sake." 

Her sharp words found their target and Minerva burst out crying. Sarah couldn't help feeling bad despite her justification that she was only doing what was necessary. After her own past errors of judgment, it would be hypocritical of her not to be forgiving of other people's. 

Sarah sought to offer some consolation as the redhead sobbed into her lace handkerchief. "Hey, it’s gonna be okay, dry those tears. Us girls have to kiss a lot of frogs before we find our prince," or king, she thought, as she smiled up at hers.

"Everything you said, it's all true," Minerva confessed. "Lord Grimbald promised to make me his queen, if I helped him. Jareth was passed out all night from the drugged wine, and I had to make sure someone would call on him. There are always plenty of humans who want to wish their troubles away. I just chose one at random," she explained.

"You chose well. Milly is a good kid, and she didn't really want her sister to be taken away. She still believes in magic and faeries so no real harm was done in the end," Sarah argued.

The Wardens of the Labyrinth continued to take in every word and deed while keeping their silent counsel.

High Councillor Kalon couldn't wait to dispense with what had been a headache of a trial for him. The whole thing was making him dizzy and he slumped back into his seat to gather his wits.

"I knew my precious queen-to-be would solve the mystery," Jareth proclaimed with pride.

He longed to sweep Sarah up in his arms and take her back to his bedchamber. The accompanying images that filled his mind required him to make creative use of his cloak by draping it over his lap.

"Not so hasty, if you please," Lord Grimbald protested. "The matter of the Goblin King giving magical powers to your paramour has not been addressed." His smugness was undiminished by Minerva's confession. Jareth wasn't off the hook yet. Not if he had anything to say about it.

High Councillor Kalon heaved a weary sigh and pressed on. "Do you intend to answer the charge, your majesty, or do we need to put Miss Williams to the test?" 

Jareth was furious. "Sarah is my only true love, and she will be my wife and queen. She is not on trial here," he declared. 

"Maybe not, but you are,” Lord Grimbald reminded him. “I have heard no denial of your oath breaking from either of you. Therefore, the Wardens of the Labyrinth must find you guilty and sentence you to death.” The Goblin Kingdom was finally within his grasp and he intended to savour his triumph.

Jareth bowed his head, knowing he had to accept his fate. His admission was solemn and heartfelt. "What I gave was given out of love."

His words elicited gasps from the assembled crowd. Even Hoggle, who'd been dead set against the Goblin King marrying his friend, was dabbing at his eyes with a grubby handkerchief.

Sarah left the still sniffling Minerva sitting on the bench next to Ludo and rushed to Jareth’s side. "I won't let you hurt him," she vowed, staring down the Lord High Executioner with his glinting axe. She stood defiant against the High Councillor and the Wardens, silently daring them to try and take Jareth away from her.

The old man, known as the Long-Ago, fixed her with his piercing gaze. "I know all that is past, my child. I have no hesitation in recognising you as the Victrix Ludorum of the Labyrinth. When you accepted the challenge of solving the Labyrinth, your heart was pure as were your intentions. You won back your brother and you did not succumb to temptation. The Goblin King also did his duty. He played the part of the villain for you. His love for you stayed true and he waited until you could return it."

"I do return it,” Sarah declared as she held his gaze. “I love Jareth with all my heart." 

The being known as the Right-Now spoke next. "I know all that is present, and I saw the deception of Lord Grimbald and Lady Minerva. The lady, at least, is sorry for her actions. The Goblin King is innocent and would have done his duty, as always, had he not been prevented from doing so by the drugged wine. I believe the Victrix Ludorum intends for the king to make amends to the mortal girl known as Milly, by requesting that he pose while the child sketches his likeness. This is a wonderful idea, and worthy of a future Goblin Queen. It will more than compensate for the unanswered wish," he delivered his judgement with a beam of approval.

"No, this will not do at all," Grimbald objected with a petulant stamp of his foot. "The sacred oath was broken and I demand that justice be done," he cried, angrily waving his fist as the goblins heckled him.

"I don't know what magic I do or do not possess. But, I swear, I'll kick your butt all the way to the Bog of Eternal Stench with or without it," Sarah promised as she glowered at the errant lord.

Jareth smirked as his half-brother huffily resumed his seat on the bench.

The Ever-After gave his proclamation. "I know all that may be, and I see a future where the Goblin King, his queen, and their future heirs, rule over this kingdom, forever. They care deeply about it and all of its inhabitants, unlike any of their predecessors. No magic is stronger than that which exists between true loves. None shall come between them, not even the High King," he announced.

"We, the Wardens of the Labyrinth, do pledge our power to King Jareth, Queen Sarah and their future heirs, for as long as their love for each other, this Kingdom, and all its inhabitants remains true,” the three vowed in unison.

The Goblin King bowed to them and Sarah echoed his gesture by sweeping into a deep curtsy.

The Wardens lowered their heads in return and a golden glow surrounded them as they morphed back into their natural forms. Their vital energy radiated in waves over their chosen monarch, restoring his depleted powers.

High Councillor Kalon let out a sigh of relief once the matter was settled. He knew how little regard the High King had for this particular corner of his kingdom and he was confident the verdict would be accepted. As long as the Goblin King kept out of trouble, all would be well. Kalon declared the trial officially over and indicated that the trolls should unbolt the doors so that the assembled throng could disperse.

Lady Minerva slipped away unnoticed, but Lord Grimbald had no intention of leaving quietly.

"Father shall hear of this, and I sincerely doubt he will take kindly to having his power usurped by the likes of you," he said before vanishing in a glittery fury.

"I shall report the verdict to the High King forthwith,” High Councillor Kalon addressed Jareth, disregarding Grimbald’s outburst. “As long as you continue to swear fealty to your father and keep doing your duty as Goblin King by supplying the kingdom with unwanted children, I see no reason why he would trouble himself over the rest." Kalon bowed and summoned the troll guards and the Lord High Executioner to him before they all disappeared in a dignified fashion.

"Hail to King Jareth and Queen Sarah!" Sir Didymus led the goblins in a victory chant.

"Hey, I'm not queen yet," she blushed.

"You are, my precious, if the Wardens of the Labyrinth say so," Jareth kissed her hand.

"Oh, really?" she frowned slightly.

The Goblin King saw disappointment in her eyes and guessed at the reason. "Do not fear, precious, we shall have a lavish coronation ceremony. The goblins will also be expecting a royal wedding, and that's exactly what we'll give them," he grinned, knowing full well that as long as there was plenty of wine and ale, his subjects wouldn't care either way.

Sarah was more concerned about what becoming Goblin Queen would entail. But the idea of marrying Jareth wasn't unappealing to her, and she would be lying if she said she hadn’t been picturing the perfect non-meringue-like dress for the occasion. Perhaps it would be best to slow things down and have a lengthy engagement but that wasn’t really her style. Sarah couldn’t see the Goblin King agreeing to it, either. For good or ill, she tended to jump headfirst into things and the Wardens of the Labyrinth did agree she would be a good queen.

“If the goblins want a wedding, we can’t very well disappoint them, can we?” Sarah asked with a grin.

“For the sake of the goblins, then,” Jareth said, playing along, and then he sealed the deal with a kiss. He tugged at her hand, suggestively. “Come, let’s celebrate properly.” 

Sarah shook her head. If she was going to be a queen, she had to start acting responsibly and put duty before fun. Now Jareth was off the hook, she needed to get her own house in order. "First, we have to pop in and see Milly, and then I have to go visit my family and friends." She had skipped out on her wedding to Dirk and then disappeared without so much as a word. Even though Sarah hadn’t been as close to her family as she would have liked in recent years, she knew they would still be worried about her.

"Could we not..." Jareth leaned in to whisper what he would like them to do before checking off the items on her list, “…instead?”

 “Certainly not!” Sarah’s cheeks burned and she playfully swatted his arm as punishment.

"Hungry," Ludo rumbled, as did his stomach.

"Quite right,” the Goblin King said with mischief glinting in his eyes. “We shouldn't neglect our appetites. Back to the castle," he commanded, transporting them all in a glittering whirlwind.

The goblins, Ludo, Hoggle and Sir Didymus found themselves in the castle kitchen and too distracted by their hunger to notice anyone was missing.

"Hey," Sarah complained upon realising she and the Goblin King had landed in his bedchamber.

"Are you sure you don’t want to celebrate our victory first?" Jareth inquired as he drank in the sight of her laid beneath him on his bed. 

“I really should go back to my world and face the music,” Sarah said, halfheartedly.

"If that's what you want, my darling," Jareth purred with no intention of halting his activities. He was tempted, just this once, to use magic to make their clothes disappear.

"Don't you think we should wait until after we're married?” Sarah questioned. “I know we already have, but that was in the heat of the moment. Maybe we should save the rest for our wedding night." Her resolve was weak to begin with and the way Jareth was kissing her neck wasn't helping. Damn him, Sarah cursed to herself as his lips travelled lower. 

Jareth paused and looked up at her with so much love in his eyes, she found it hard to breathe. "I would move the stars for you,” he said. “Anything you want, I am your slave.”

Sarah pulled him in for a lingering kiss. "Never mind moving the stars, I'd settle for some modern plumbing in this place and an en-suite bathroom," she chuckled.

The Goblin King couldn't contain his mirth. "And that is why I love you so, my precious. The jewels and trinkets that other ladies covet are as nothing to you," he said, tenderly caressing her cheek.

"Can we have a bathtub big enough for two?" Sarah asked with a suggestive waggle of her eyebrows.

"Your wish is my command," Jareth grinned.

In a flash of glitter, they were transported, sans clothing, to the frothing hot tub in the castle bathhouse.

Sarah thrilled at the feel of the bubbling warm water and her lover's embrace. "Who needs en-suite, when you can do that?" she sighed.

"Oh, you'll get your wish, precious. But remodelling the castle will take time, even with magic," Jareth promised as he nuzzled her neck. He smiled against her soft skin. "And I'm feeling particularly dirty now."

Chapter Text

"You tricked me," Milly complained. "That ring you gave me isn't magic at all," she pouted.

Sarah smiled, indulgently. "Sure it is. Everything can be magical in its own way. My mother is an actress, and she wore that ring on stage while playing Miranda in a production of The Tempest. She gave it to me when I was about your age and it always brought me good luck. Hopefully, it will do the same for you."

The Goblin King struck a regal pose as Milly began sketching his likeness. It didn't take him long to start fidgeting, as he hated being still. "Out of curiosity," he inquired, needing something to occupy his mind. "If I had answered your wish and taken away your baby sister, would you have chosen to try and solve my Labyrinth to get her back, or would you have accepted my gift of your dreams instead?" His scrutinising gaze remained fixed on her for any tell-tale sign of deception.

Milly paused mid-sketch, pencil in hand, and cocked her head to the side in contemplation. "Last night I dreamt I could fly like Peter Pan and it was pretty cool," she considered. "But I wouldn't choose being able to fly over my sister." Her eyes were full of sincerity.

Jareth nodded, satisfied with her devotion to her sibling. "That is probably just as well, because the last girl who chose to run my Labyrinth got a lot more than she bargained for," he smirked.

"What did she get?" Milly asked as Sarah threw him a warning glance.

"My undying love and devotion," Jareth answered, winking at his fiancée.

Sarah sighed with adoration and leaned in to kiss him, keeping it reasonably chaste in light of their company.

"Ew," Milly protested as she put the finishing touches to her drawing.

Sarah's brow crinkled as she gave deeper thought to the implication of being the last girl to run the Labyrinth. "Did no one else wish a child away during those ten years after I won my brother back?" she questioned.

Jareth tugged at his cuffs in a display of discomfort. "I didn't say that, exactly." 

He was saved from explaining any further when Milly announced her portrait was finished.

"Ta-da!" she beamed, proudly holding up her picture as she expectantly awaited praise for her efforts.

"Bravo!" Sarah exclaimed.

It was an honest rendering and certainly captured the spirit of its subject.

The Goblin King narrowed his strange blue eyes and tilted his head from side to side. "Hmm," he tapped his lips with his finger as he studied the sketch, "I don't hate it," he eventually pronounced.

Milly tacked it onto her bedroom wall, alongside other examples of her art. She then stood back to admire her work. "My friends will never believe I met the Goblin King," she sighed.

"Ah, but you’ll know the truth. And please do feel free to tell your friends about me,” Jareth encouraged. “Let them know I am more than willing to make house calls. But be sure they understand the high price that must be paid for a wish. Here, before you, stands the only mortal who ever won back the child she wished away. Your sister would doubtless have ended up becoming one of us, too. I dare say you would have fought bravely to win her back but I could not guarantee you would have succeeded. No one should ever wish away what they're not willing to lose forever," he warned.

Milly gave a solemn nod of understanding before returning her attention to the picture. A glittery breeze filled the room, and when she spun back around, the Goblin King and his soon-to-be queen were gone.

Jareth noted his fiancée's quiet and reflective mood with concern. After visiting Milly, they'd returned to the castle for dinner and Sarah had scarcely spoken a word to him since.

"What is it, precious? Don't tell me you've grown weary of my company already," he teased, playfully, to mask his vulnerability.

Sarah had been deep in thought about the workings of the Labyrinth, the Goblin Kingdom and the Fae realm as a whole. It struck her, while they were talking with Milly, that she knew practically nothing about what happened to the children that were wished away. Falling in love with the Goblin King had caused her to enter into yet another hasty engagement without giving due consideration to all the pitfalls. She shook her head in despair over being such a creature of impulse.

"Precious?" Jareth reached for her hand causing her to jump and pull away from him. His anxiety over her state of mind was growing.

"I'm sorry," Sarah apologised, noting his concerned expression. "I know you wanted me to wait until tomorrow before returning home to see my family, but I really think I ought to go now."

She was filled with an overwhelming desire to flee. Not forever. She simply needed time alone to gather her thoughts and space to breathe.

Jareth feared he was going to lose her again and he couldn’t risk that. He caught her hands in his as she leapt up from the table. "I beg you, my Sarah, please don't go," he implored.

Tears sprang to her eyes, she didn’t want to hurt him.

"Tell me what I've done to pain you so, my precious, so I may attempt to make amends," he pleaded, his expression wild with dread.

Sarah knew she couldn’t keep running away from her problems. She owed it to herself and to Jareth to face her fears. "This is gonna sound so stupid, and I know I should have asked about it sooner. But with everything else that’s been going on, I haven’t had time to dwell on it until now,” she began, stopping to massage her brow in an attempt to fend off a headache as Jareth scrutinised her every move and expression. "You told Milly no one except me had ever won back the child they wished away and you were evasive when I asked if any children had been wished to you during the last ten years. High Councillor Kalon mentioned something about you supplying the kingdom with unwanted children. What exactly happens to them? Do they get turned into goblins?"

Jareth smiled, now he knew the source of her anxiety, he could set her mind at ease. “No, not goblins,” he replied. "There are plenty of childless Fae couples who are glad to take in unwanted children.” 

"What about the children's real families? How do you know they wanted the child to be taken away to be forever when they made their wish?" Sarah questioned.

She wasn’t satisfied that the children really were unwanted. After all, Toby wasn't. If she had lost him for good, she didn’t know how she would have been able to live with herself.

Jareth pursed his lips as he reflected on his best course of action. "I think a short history lesson is in order," he decided as he sprang to his feet and held out his hand.

Sarah accepted his invitation and they vanished in a glittering breeze. The next thing she knew, they were standing on the hill that overlooked the Labyrinth. It was bathed in the burnished orange light of the setting sun. "Talk about déjà vu," she said, craning her neck to get a view of the castle they'd just left behind.

"It's further than you think," Jareth murmured in her ear, repeating the words he had spoken to her years ago. He captured her in his arms and held her tight against him.

"My great-great grandfather, High King Odhran, was the one who created this place. In days gone by, all this was swampland for as far as the eye could see. It was the domain of the Swamp Fae and amidst the swamp there were small habitable islands where the goblins dwelled. Goblins are simple creatures. Their needs are few and they fill their days with feasting, drinking and mischief-making. It was the latter that got them such a bad reputation. Their favourite entertainment was stealing human babies and replacing them with changelings. This went on unchecked for years by the Swamp Fae until my great-great grandfather decided that something needed to be done to stop the goblins from running amok. Creatures don't need evil intent to do harm, the goblins simply didn't consider the unfairness of their baby-stealing activities. The high born Fae crave order, and creatures of chaos like goblins are an affront to our kind. I've grown rather fond of their ways, but generally speaking, the Fae nobility find them repulsive. The Labyrinth and Goblin Kingdom were created to bring organisation and structure to their activities. The goblins still get to steal babies, but only ones who are wished away," Jareth explained.

Sarah was also fond of the goblins, having spent a little time with them she could see how their nature was mischievous rather than malicious. But the idea of stealing babies, wished away or not, wasn’t something she could readily accept. “There must be other ways to keep the goblins out of trouble,” she pondered. “Why continue taking children from the human world at all? Can’t childless Fae couples find babies here that need homes?”

"It isn’t that simple,” Jareth said, frowning at her lack of understanding. “Children are wished away for all kinds of reasons and not everyone wants the chance to reclaim them. Those who do try usually do so out of a sense of obligation rather than a true desire to win the child back. The children do not suffer and are eagerly adopted by loving Fae couples. Their previous lives are forgotten and they become one of us forever."

“If the child is truly unwanted, why the need for theatrics?” Sarah couldn’t help but feel it was all a game to the Fae, toying with mortals for sport.

“I rather thought someone with your keen sense of injustice would be glad we at least offer the wisher the chance to win back their wished away child," Jareth said, daring her to call it unfair.

"And yet, I'm the only person to ever succeed in doing so,” Sarah pointed out.  When I think about how close I came to losing Toby forever." She shuddered at the notion.

Jareth locked her in his embrace, fearing she was having a change of heart about becoming his queen. “It is the way things are done,” he said, his tone uncompromising.

The light was fading fast as Sarah looked out on the gloomy depths of the Labyrinth. Her mind mulled over the reality of what becoming Goblin Queen would entail. She loved Jareth, of that she was in no doubt. But marriage to him would mean completely turning her back on life as she knew it. It would be even more of a transition than when she went from being a jobbing actress to a household name as a TV soap star.

The magic Sarah was in possession of was something she needed training to use, and the prospect was daunting. Jareth assured her it would soon feel like the most natural thing in the world to her to summon up crystals and vanish at will, but Sarah wasn't so sure. Then there was the business of becoming completely Fae and all that went with it, such as the increased life expectancy. It was a lot to wrap her brain around. All Sarah wanted was to feel normal again for a while, and to be in a familiar place.

"Take me home, please," she requested.

Jareth knew she didn’t mean she wanted to go back to the castle. Both of them were aware she could use her powers to wish herself gone at any time, but she wanted his blessing.

The Goblin King solemnly bowed his head and reluctantly did as she bid him.

"Where the hell have you been?" Robert Williams was uncharacteristically animated over his missing daughter's sudden reappearance. "We've been out of our minds with worry."

“You could have called,” Irene chided.

Sarah could tell her stepmother had more to say on the matter but she was holding back. Toby was glaring expectantly in her direction with a mixture of anger and relief. She took a deep breath and launched into the reasons why she had fled.

"I'm so sorry I left without saying a word, but it was a spur of the moment type thing," Sarah squirmed, knowing they wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than a full explanation. "I couldn't marry Dirk. The whole romance was manufactured for publicity and I should never have let it go as far as it did," she confessed, her cheeks burning with shame.

Irene scooped up a selection of newspapers and magazines from the coffee table. All of them had Sarah's picture emblazoned across the front page accompanied by headlines such as ‘Evans Above! The Wedding Is Off’.

"Well, if you wanted publicity, you certainly got it," her stepmother sighed with disappointment.

Sarah could feel her eyes welling with tears, the whole situation was an awful mess all of her own making.

"I'm glad you're back, sis," Toby said, sensing she needed a hug, he was happy to oblige.

Sarah couldn't hold back the tide any longer, and she wrapped her arms around her brother as she wept. After the tears subsided and she had caught her breath, she steeled herself for her family’s reaction to the rest of her news.

"I actually came back to tell you I am getting married, but not to Dirk, to someone else," Sarah sheepishly explained.

Her family collectively gasped in shock, and Sarah decided she had better save the part about her fiancé being a mythical being from another world for another day.

The phone rang off the hook once word of her return had spread. Her agent was the first one on the line, babbling excitedly about all the offers of work that were pouring in.

"Honey Pie, things couldn't have gone any better if I'd choreographed the whole thing myself." Bernie' s voice was full of glee.

Her agent told her that thanks to her disappearing act, she was in high demand for chat show appearances and the like. There were offers of recurring parts in a couple of top-rated TV shows on the table, and even talk of her being the next Bond girl. The chance to spread her acting wings was everything Sarah had once dreamed of, but things had changed. Her anger over the demise of her soap career had dissipated, along with her need to avenge herself against Dirk. What could she have done, anyway? It would have been beyond cruel for her to expose his private life to scrutiny in an attempt to tank his career. His sexuality was his business and his secret to tell, if the right time ever came. For now, Bernie had found him another starlet to rebound with when publicity demanded it. 

Sarah’s head was spinning and she needed to find someplace quiet to think things over. Her mother had a cabin in the country and it seemed like the perfect retreat. Jareth had promised he would give her some time alone and that he wouldn't come for her until she called. It took over half a day's driving to get from her father's house in the suburbs to the country. The cabin was nestled in a thick pine forest. After unpacking her bags, a long nature walk beckoned. The air was fresh for a late summer's day and a light breeze seemed to follow her on her trail. Sarah picked a spot to rest and take refreshments in a sun dappled glade. She leant back against a tree trunk, her eyes growing heavy as she struggled to stay awake.

"Sarah?" a musical feminine voice she had heard once before, called out to her.

The trees around her swayed in the wind and loose leaves fluttered to the ground. 

"Viridianne?" Sarah said, uncertain it wasn’t all part of a dream.

The branches of the tree closest to her danced in the breeze and Jareth's mother was suddenly standing before her as if she had sprung from her verdant surroundings.

"Hello, my dear, I do hope I'm not intruding but I must speak with you," Viridianne said, radiating warmth and vibrancy.

"Is Jareth okay?" Sarah felt panic rising within her at the idea he might not be.

Viridianne smiled. "Do not fear, he is well. He misses you dreadfully but he is in good health."

They had only been apart for a few days and Sarah missed him too, so much it hurt.

"I understand your need for solitude at this time,” Viridianne said, a look of concern clouding her features. “However, I must tell you that your absence has not gone unnoticed. The High King has decided to honour the judgement of the Wardens of the Labyrinth, but Lord Grimbald is determined to keep stirring the pot. He is proceeding with caution for the time being. But do be assured, he will seize upon any perceived weakness of Jareth’s for his own gain. The power of the Labyrinth has been waning for years as fewer mortals wish children away to the goblins. In order for you, Jareth, and your children to be protected, you must be a united force, and a way to revive the declining magic must be found," she warned.

As uneasy as she was with the child stealing aspect of being Goblin Queen, Sarah had already decided she couldn't live without her king. "I will stand beside your son, no matter what. I promise you don't have to worry about that," she vowed.

Viridianne stepped closer towards her and reached out to touch the pendant she had gifted her. It appeared to glow as her finger brushed against it. She glanced down at her soon-to-be daughter-in-law's stomach. "You have the spark of new life inside you." 

"I'm pregnant?" Sarah gasped as the words clicked with her.

The wood nymph nodded. "Just barely, but my grandchild is growing stronger day by day," she beamed.

Sarah's hand rested against her flat abdomen as she tried to discern any notable change. An expression of wonderment lit up her face as she sensed a flicker within her as if the tiny life was reaching out to say hello.

"You will make a wonderful mother and I know my son will be overjoyed when he hears he is to become a father," Viridianne assured her.

Sarah had already decided her acting career was over. Her heart wasn't in it anymore. No matter what kind of offers were on the table, she no longer wanted to be part of the showbiz merry-go-round. The pregnancy news came out of the blue, but she was fast warming to the idea of having a baby. As for the rest, her thoughts were racing and a number of ideas sprang to mind for how she and Jareth could revive the Labyrinth's magic. Sarah always wanted to write a book, or maybe a movie script. What better subject than her adventures with the Goblin King?

"Everything is gonna work out just fine,” she smiled, fully at peace with her future path. “I know it."

Viridianne believed in her wholeheartedly. After planting a soft kiss on Sarah's cheek, she faded back into the forest.

"You don't have to marry him, y'know?" Hoggle was still hopeful he could talk her out of it.

Sarah smiled down affectionately at her little friend. "I know I don't have to, but I want to," she said, patting her slightly rounded stomach. Her exquisitely embroidered empire-line bridal gown in cream silk was sleek and stylish. "I was determined I wasn’t going to look like a meringue when I walked down the aisle. If we had waited any longer, I'd be wearing the marquee tent for a wedding dress," she giggled.

Their nuptials had suffered a slight delay while her family got accustomed to the idea of the Goblin King from her play book being real. Sarah hadn't yet dared to break the news of her pregnancy to them. She intended to wait until they were less freaked out by the idea of having a Fae in the fold.

The little dwarf sighed and resumed his work of putting the finishing touches to her bridal bouquet. "Just so you know, I'll be keeping my eye on that rat to make sure he treats you right," he warned.

"What was that, Hedgewart?" Jareth appeared next to his fiancée in a puff of glitter causing the dwarf to leap into the air with alarm.

The Goblin King’s affected stern expression did a poor job of concealing the smirk that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding," Sarah shrieked, grabbing a throw from the bed to block his view of her dress.

"I swear I didn't see a thing, precious,” Jareth lied. “Only your dazzling beauty.” 

He looked extremely handsome in a royal blue Georgian style top coat matched with an embroidered cream waistcoat and breeches.

"I came to inform you that I have safely transported your family here. I left them in Sir Didymus's capable paws," he smirked.

"I bet my stepmother was thrilled. She’s not a fan of canines," Sarah said, wondering what Irene would make of the little fox. "Wait a minute, who's guarding the wedding cake?" She started to panic. The goblins had already managed to eat all the leftover frosting and she didn't trust them not to finish the job. She supposed it was partly her fault in the first place for getting them hooked on sweet treats.

"Do not fret, my precious one,” Jareth waved away her concerns. “I have everything in hand." 

"Didn’t I tell you not to leave him in charge?" Hoggle grumbled as he and the Goblin King eyed each other with hostility.

"Now then, you two,” Sarah chided. “Stress is bad for the baby.” She wagged her finger at them in a stern warning. “You are both to be on your very best behaviour until we get this wedding done and dusted, okay?"

"For you, my precious, anything," Jareth vowed, giving her his best smouldering gaze.

"Save it for the honeymoon," Sarah winked. "Now scoot, and tell my father to wait for me outside the great hall."

Jareth bowed obediently before disappearing in a shower of glitter.

"Oh, and make sure no one lets anything slip to my family about the baby," Sarah shouted after him.

It was obvious Jareth hadn't heard her, or he couldn't prevent the news from escaping, when she descended the staircase and saw the stony expression on her father's face.

"You're pregnant?" Robert Williams asked, appearing more hurt than upset about the matter. There was a time when his daughter had confided in him but they were no longer as close as they once were.

Sarah reached for his hand, hoping for his forgiveness and understanding. "In light of the circumstances, I thought it best to drop one bombshell at a time. I promise I was gonna tell you all after the wedding."

Her father took her outreached hand but he wasn’t placated. "You could have said something sooner. Instead, I had to hear the news from whatever the heck that great hairy thing with horns is," he complained.

"Ludo?" Sarah was surprised. She had expected Sir Didymus or one of the goblins to let the cat out of the bag, but not him. "I'm sorry I didn't get to tell you myself, but it's good news, right? You're gonna be a granddaddy," she smiled.

Robert frowned in contemplation. "Will it be — I mean, what will it be? The father is — what was it again? A fairy?" He was still getting his head around the whole other world situation.

Sarah couldn't help chuckling. "It will be a baby, of course,” she said. “Jareth doesn't have two heads or anything, does he?"

Her father couldn't help but break into a grin. "I guess not." He held out his arm for her to take. "We had better not keep him waiting, though. He might turn us into frogs, or something," he jested. "Ready?" Robert patted her hand affectionately as she nodded.

Sarah beamed with happiness as she walked down the aisle on her proud father's arm. It tickled her no end to see Irene sat next to Ludo and Sir Didymus. Her stepmother kept throwing her furry companions odd glances and she made a couple of discreet attempts to squirt a little perfume over them. Toby grinned, amused by the whole scene. 

Jareth stood awestruck by his bride's beauty as he waited at the altar to take her hand. The Goblin Kingdom had finally got its queen, and there was much rejoicing. None were happier than the royal couple themselves as they sealed their union with a loving kiss.

Five months later, the crowds gathered at the castle once again to eagerly await the cries of their new born prince or princess. First, they heard a lot of expletives from their queen. The cursing was followed by groans of pain from their king as Sarah punished him for his continuing insistence that they name their child after him, regardless of its sex. After ten hours of agonising labour, a healthy baby boy was delivered. His parents named him Jarett. It means one who rules, and it was close enough to Jareth to satisfy the king.

THE END.