To Serve a King in Need

By: Tal J. Smith

I do not own the Labyrinth or its characters from the Jim Henson movie Labyrinth or the Manga!

Chapter 1: Visitation

Sarah was driving in her red Lexus SUV heading to a field visit about half an hour from her office; it was her last trip for the day, and it was already late in the afternoon. The roads were slightly slick from an afternoon rainstorm. Hopefully she'd get done early before the sun set, then she could head home instead of going back to the office.

Singing to the music on her Ipod she reached down to change the song and with a loud thunder crack, Jareth the King of the Goblin's unceremoniously and very ungracefully landed in her passenger seat. He turned and looked at her with a confused expression on his face. He did not seem very happy.

Sarah jerked the wheel and swerved sharply to the left. Cursing under her breath she tried her best to regain control of the vehicle and maintain her lane and speed. This cannot be happening, this cannot be happening. It's been 15 years since the Labyrinth, what could he possibly want now? Oh God is he pissed at me? OK, ok, first get the car under control, now calm down Sarah, there's no need to panic.

She glanced over at the Goblin King, "Couldn't you have given me some kind of warning or something!" She was still shaking from shock… "Something like hey Sarah, howya been? Haven't seen you in oh say 20 years, you mind if I drop in on you tomorrow while driving?!" She sounded hysterical, she tried to get her breathing back under control.

Jareth continued to stare at Sarah….his brows started furrowing at the sight of her, and Sarah vehemently refused to look in Jareth's direction. She thought she was dreaming or hallucinating. Her heart was trying to rip out of her chest and she was having trouble breathing. What am I going to do? Why wasn't he saying anything??!! She tried to calm herself down and pay attention to the road ahead. The car fishtailed a bit more on the wet roads; her hands still shook, but she got it righted after a second or two. Sarah bit her bottom lip and her eyes darted back and forth nervously. She had a death grip on the wheel now.

She had an impulse to chew on her nails, but a friend convinced her to get acrylics because of her habit, and it's just not the same. Her peripheral vision told her he was still there staring at her, saying absolutely nothing.

What the hell is he doing here; he obviously wants something from me. Why isn't he demanding my attention, or being rude, taunting, and overbearing. This is completely unlike him to be so silent. What if he's in trouble? Should I help him? She started to calm down a bit at that last thought. Something must be wrong, very wrong.

I guess in a way he helped me. I would never have grown up and been so confident in this world if I hadn't beaten the Labyrinth, heck; anything is simple compared to what I went through. I wouldn't be where I am without him. That settles it. I'll see what he wants first, and I'll try to be polite, nothing is solved by yelling, and I'll help him as long as he's civil. But one false move and I'll kick him to the curb.

Jareth landed in the passenger seat hard. He was not sure if he had enough magic left to actually transport him into a moving conveyance, but he had to chance it. The timing had to be perfect lest he be delivered to another vehicle, or worse, in front of one. He hit his elbow a little harder on the door frame than was comfortable. He tried not to wince.

When Sarah noticed him in the car, there were several moments of terror until she got the vehicle under control again. Jareth held on for dear life, hoping he hadn't scared her too badly, his elbow finally started getting the feeling back. He wondered in the few minutes it took her to gain control of the vehicle, as well as herself, if she would at best curse him for appearing uninvited, or at worst throw him out of the vehicle. They did not part on the best of terms, and he felt so weak today.

He continued to stare at her trying to remember what it was he was supposed to say to her. He'd practiced it so many times, and now his mind was blank. He noticed the determination on her face not to look at him. He was expecting loud protests and screaming, cursing, or at least a look of extreme fear from her, but it never came. Well there might have been a bit of cursing, but in her situation he might have done the same. The king studied her face and posture, she looked confused and unhappy.

He also noticed how different she looked than when he last saw her. She was thinner in the waist and larger in the chest than he remembered, but she was a child then, now she was all woman. She was much more confident, the confliction of the moment, judging how best to react to his presence, was showing clearly on her face. Her grey-blue eyes were getting dark with her furrowed brows and intense concentration on the road. She was dressed in blue jeans, thick steel toed work boots, and a blue polo shirt. Her waist length black hair tied in a loose pony tail. Blue tanzanite earring studs in her ears sparkled in the sunset. Her hands were turning white on the wheel from her iron grip, but the Goblin King could see several silver rings with blue and green stones and short manicured painted nails. He looked to her left hand, No wedding ring? Interesting. He knew something of mortal customs. He knew he should say something, but what do you say to someone you haven't seen in 15 years after a rejected proposal?

She continued driving in silence, he noted she was sitting in a very strange unladylike manner, with one leg resting on the car door and the other stretched out in front of her. She looked casual, but he was not used to seeing women in such a stance with their legs held so open. He tried to think of what to say. I'm sure she will throw me out if I'm flippant, I must be polite, no matter what her reaction, and I refuse to show her any weakness.

Sarah took a deep breath and glanced over at the Goblin King looking him in the face. She opened her mouth to speak and her eyes wandered down the length of him. Damn. I forgot how gorgeous he was. She closed her mouth forgetting for a moment what she was going to say, exhaled loudly, and looked back at the road, still at a loss. How can I speak to someone that exudes sex, I can't keep my thoughts straight. He's got be a sidhe, any doubts I may have had are all but answered; no human can be that sexy without meaning to. The warmth flowing off of him made her want to adjust the air conditioner, and take off some clothes.

He was wearing a black and dark purple fitted leather jacket that had a military look to it, gold buttons traveled along the side of the jacket rather than down the middle coming up across the shoulder and to his collar. There was some sort of design etched in the shoulders that traveled down his back. Under it he wore a cream colored poet's shirt where the sleeves were just barely poking out at the ends of the jacket around his black leather gloves. He had on thick canvas like black pants with black boots with no heel that she could tell. All in all not the flamboyant garb she'd seen him in before, but still otherworldly enough to know he was not from around here. He still had the same haunting mismatched eyes. Both of them blue, but different colors, one a deep cerulean and hazel, and one a clear blue crystal color. His blond long hair still stood in wisps that went several inches above his head and came down past his shoulders to his waist. His hair was a little longer then she remembered, and he may be a bit thinner, but nothing else had changed.

She strengthened her resolve and tried to break the silence. She looked to Jareth and as if nothing was out of the ordinary and asked, "Have you eaten yet?"

He raised a delicate eyebrow temporarily broken out of his train of thought, "Eaten?" That was the last thing Jareth expected her to say.

"Um, You do eat don't you." Sarah wondered aloud.

Sarah quickly continued. "I've decided to dine early, so again I ask…Have you eaten?" Jareth looked at her speechless. "My treat; I'm figuring I owe ya one, for the hard lesson you taught me way back then, and also for allowing Hoggle and Sir Didymus to continue to speak to me through my mirror. I know that you could have forbid it, but didn't, and for that I thank you." Jareth did not answer, but looked at her curiously trying to find some humor in her eyes. Was she serious, she was thanking him?

Sarah decided to go on looking straight ahead, "I was thinking it would be easier if we talked over dinner. Do you have a preference, Italian, Mexican, Greek?? I was going to head out to a job site for an inspection, but my plans have apparently changed." And get you out of this car; his warm lithe body in this enclosed space was making her uncomfortable. She tried to keep her thoughts straight. Hey didn't this guy try to steal your bother!? Keep your head together girl. He doesn't like you, he needs something from you. Sarah continued to look ahead, not glancing at the shocked expression of the Goblin King.

Jareth sighed and rubbed his eyes, "I think that would be wise, I really must speak with you of an important matter. And no, I have not eaten nor do I have a specific food preference. Whatever you decide will be acceptable. I am hungry." Jareth started to falter in his confident demeanor, he extremely unhappy about being at her mercy. He looked up again and changed his demeanor slightly. "I will admit I did not expect you to be so calm about my arrival. I am still expecting an unhappy outburst or violence from you. Have you changed so much?" Jareth was unsure of how to act around this woman, she was not the person he encountered so many years before, and so much was riding on her acceptance of him.

"I thought about it, I'm not the same girl that ran your Labyrinth…your majesty…. But couldn't you have waited and met me somewhere else? Jumping in my car the way you did was really not a good idea. We could have been killed." She looked over at his stern expression. "Well I could have been…..and anyway, what good would throwing a fit do me, then we really might have gone off the road? Besides, I really don't think you're here by choice are you?"

Jareth winced at the sarcastic "your majesty" remark but was stunned when Sarah continued.

She wanted to get something off her chest as well. "Cause if I were you, I would have tried my damnedest to forget about me. I feel horrible for what I said to you the last time we…… spoke. I can't believe I was such a brat. I regretted it the second I got home. I had really wondered if you would come to the party when I got back." She said a little softer, "You were invited you know." Sarah had the urge to bite her nails again.

Then Sarah lowered her voice even more, and took another slow deep breath, "So I just wanted to apologize if I hurt you, it wasn't my intention, I was too young to understand. Besides the whole "fear me, love me, do as I say," stuff really freaked me out." Keeping her eyes on the road and trying not to see Jareth's expression, she made a short quick laugh, "Heck, if it happened again now, I probably would have just negotiated with you to stay in the Labyrinth. I don't know why, but I really liked it there." Jareth was too flabbergasted to respond. What was she saying, had she changed her mind? Only years of court training kept his emotions from being betrayed on his face. Why had she never called him, then?

Sarah pulled into the parking lot of her favorite Italian restaurant located not a block from her house. She put the SUV into park, turned off the engine, and finally looked at Jareth. "And whatever it is you need, I'll try to help you. You helped me all those years ago, and I took me a long time to see that. But any mind games from you and I'll kick you out." She added under her breath as she started to grab her purse and cell phone. "And as long as you stay away from my little brother."

Jareth was caught by surprise with Sarah's admissions, but hid it under a mask of cool aloofness and stopped on the sidewalk to the restaurant. "The apology is accepted, but un-required. I merely did what my job entailed. To do any less would have let you win far too easily." He pulled his black leather gloves tighter on his hand as a nervous gesture. He had not wanted to bring up the past. But alas she could not let the subject lie. "And no, my feelings were not bruised by your refusal; I was disappointed yes, but not hurt." He tried to say his last sentence in an aloof snide way; he was not sure if he succeeded, or if she saw right through him.

Sarah caught the nervous gesture and decided not to pursue the issue, after all, her apology was accepted, and unless she wanted the conversation to lapse and get caught eyeing his perfect body, yet again, she'd need to sit somewhere quick. "Let's go inside where we can talk, and you can tell me why you're here." He nodded and made a gesture for her to go in front if him. She was careful to keep her eyes on the door of the restaurant, and not on the silently graceful man who followed slightly behind her. Why can't she look at him? Are the Sidhe that naturally seductive? He hasn't even said anything erotic, and I'm ready to melt into his arms?

Sarah suddenly realized Jareth's attire, "Um your majesty, couldn't' you change into something more (hummm or something less…no stop thinking like that) like, um Aboveground attire?" Sarah started to blush, Jareth did not miss this.

"No, I am unable to at the moment." Jareth frowned.

"But you changed at least a half a dozen times when I was in the Labyrinth?" Sarah asked confused.

"I am currently without my magic." Jareth looked frustrated at having to admit this to the girl.

Sarah took in the information, "Ok then, we really need to talk."

The waiter inside the restaurant took one look at Jareth's outfit and then at Sarah. Since she was a regular there the waiter said nothing but lifted his eyebrows and led them to a table. People already sitting were eyeing Jareth. Passing them Sarah said, "Comicon Convention," and people seemed to accept that. Let them guess the rest. Although some of the ladies at other tables seemed to look a little longer then the men.

They were put at a corner booth in the far back of the restaurant, supposedly to hide Jareth from the rest of the patrons. Sarah decided to tip the waiter extra this time. While they were being seated, Sarah called in to her boss on her cell. "Mr. McCandles, something personal came up and I'm not doing the field visit. I'm not sure the issue will be resolved over the weekend but I'll call in on Monday if I can't make it." Thank God it was Friday. Things were swamped at the office as it is.

"Sarah is everything alright?" Mr. McCandles knew she never called in for personal problems. Sarah was one of his only employees who were relatively drama free.

"I'll be fine, it's just something unexpected has happened, and there's a few things I have to take care of that's all. I'll call in again when I can." Sarah said goodbye and closed the cell phone, and let out a big sigh.

Jareth just watched her silently. Sarah looked up at him with weary eyes. "Ok, your majesty, do you know what you'd like for dinner? Or do you want me to order for you?" Sarah was in uncharted territory, she did not know if she was breaking some sort of royal cotillion law, or etiquette faux paw, insulting a King by asking to order for him, but she was determined to be polite. This was not his world and he may not know how things are done. Waiting for him to answer she saw he was not frowning, but he was not smiling either. He was probably wondering how best to deal with my wanting to help him, I don't think he is used to relying on others.

He just looked at the menu, then up at Sarah, "Call me Jareth please, we are not in the Labyrinth, and you are not one of my subjects. You have no need to be subordinate to me Sarah, and anything but chicken will suffice as I am unfamiliar with these meals." Sarah, silently questioned the aversion to chicken and raised her eyebrows at the "subordinate" statement, but bent over the menu and began to study it carefully with a look of serious "concentration" on her face. He leaned back in his chair and studied her. This was not at all what he was expecting.

He was most definitely unaccustomed to having someone else responsible for his meals and well being, but this would give him much needed time to plan how best to approach the subject of his situation. And she really seemed to be intent on choosing something to his liking. The idea she was trying to please him was not unpleasant.

Sarah ordered for them both. She ended up with Chicken Piccata and ice tea, and ordered veal parmesan and an ice tea for her wayward king. Did she just think of him as her wayward king? Great, just great, he's already got my body's attention, now I'm having a protective streak. Shit.

Wine would have been nice with the meal, but she decided she wanted a clear head just now, who knows what he has to say. Besides she was starting to get a headache from thinking too hard. She closed her eyes, took out her pony tail and shook out her shiny black mane of hair, running her hands through to get out some tangles. Jareth stared transfixed and his lips slightly parted. She opened her eyes and looked at Jareth she said, "Alright, Your Maj…..um, sorry, Jereth." She blushed slightly calling him by name, "Tell me what's happened." She was so direct; Jareth did not know where to start. He took a deep breath and sighed.

The server came with the drinks, he placed them down and left in a hurry after a very stern "please not now" look from Sarah.

Jareth looked surprised at Sarah's boldness, and then sat back and sighed, "Well, I need your assistance." He took a sip of tea and leaned forward a bit looking into Sarah's confused blue eyes. Oh Gods he forgot how those eyes could pierce him. He continued, "The Labyrinth is under siege by my, as of recently banished, twin brother Jacent, and my magic has dwindled to dangerous levels from fighting him. My army is severely outnumbered, and without my magic, I cannot save my kingdom and my people from his plans to usurp my throne." His eyes grew cold and his voice turned a bit harder, "and I refuse to let the Labyrinth fall into the hands of that tyrant!" He looked around at people giving him questioning looks, knowing he was making a scene, and lowered his voiced once again.

"I also fear Jacent does not understand that I rule along with the Labyrinth, I do not control it. I have since attached my remaining power to the Labyrinth in order to sustain it from further harm, but I fear it is weakening. The Labyrinth is a sentient being unused to the brute force which my brother is employing; it feels every life upon it, and every soul within it. This war is taking its toll, and I have no choice left but to seek aid aboveground. If the Labyrinth dies my kingdom will fall into ruin." Jareth tried to hide his desperation from his voice, choosing to put forth the image of the confident and powerful king she remembered. But he could not keep the anger and frustration from his eyes at her seeing him so weak and desperate.

"I often wondered if you were a good King, seemed to me that the "things aren't always what they seem," lesson I learned in the Labyrinth, might have proven true for you as well." Jareth looked at her confused and shocked, but kept his reactions well hidden. He's had centuries to practice his emotional mask.

Sarah eyebrows furrowed she pushed back a strand of hair behind her ear, "And what happens if the Labyrinth dies while your magic is attached to it and you are here?" She asked afraid of the answer. She looked into his intense gaze and his mismatched crystal blue eyes.

"I too will perish, along with whomever remains in my kingdom. It would happen whether I am here or back in the Underground. I wonder if Jacent knows he is destroying the very land he wishes to conquer." Jareth cocked his head to one side and looked at Sarah wondering what her reaction would be. Would she care enough to help? Would hold a grudge from the past? No, she's already shown she cares with that apology. And her thinking he was a good king….where in the Underground did that come from? What difference did it make to her if I was a good king? But, would she help if she knew part of her life may be at stake? Should he tell her what throwing her lot in with him might mean?

"Do you have a successor, or does Jacent automatically get the throne if you were, um, incapacitated and couldn't rule?" Sarah, tried not to sound too ignorant, but she really wanted to help.

Jareth was surprised; she was handling this as if she cared to solve this dilemma. "As of now, I do not have an appointed ruler in my absence, nor have I announced a successor. Jacent is the next of my linage able to rule the Labyrinth." Jareth stared at his drink not looking into Sarah's eyes.

Sarah sat and processed this information. "Well Shit. Whay don't you appoint one? And why's he hell bent on destroying it?" She stopped and looked up in alarm, "Are Ludo, Hoggle, and Sir Didymus alight!? I spoke with Hoggle around Christmas time and he didn't say anything about a war. Has the war reached my friends?" Her eyes pleaded to the King. He just looked away and down at his hands without answering.

She looked up and away from him, trying to keep from crying. A single tear slid down her cheek before she got angry. I will help the Goblin King with all I am. Here's hoping he's not close to his brother because I will rip him to shreds for what he's done! Jareth let her regain her composure. He just didn't know what to do with a grieving woman. It seems he'd seen so much grief lately that he was numb to the feeling anymore.

Sarah rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, and seemed to come to some decision, "Ok, then where do I fit in? Did you just come by to let me know what was has happened to my friends as a courtesy or can I help in some way? You said you needed my assistance. But I have little to offer in your fight against one of your kind, although I am more than willing to help you destroy that guy. I do have some skills, but I am sure I am no match for a Fae or Sidhe or whatever you are."

Sarah was trying to take this all in. She wondered if the situation was that dire that he had to swallow his pride and ask for her help? The arrogant and proud Goblin King I know would never ask for help. Although I may not have been the only one who changed, and I knew him for what, only 13 hours?

Jareth decided to tread lightly in his explanation. She still held the power to do irreparable damage to himself if she so wished it. Still she could help him as a debt owed, couldn't she? "When you beat the Labyrinth and refused me, I was angry at first, my ego was slightly bruised in my defeat, but then I wanted to help you. I wanted you to succeed as the champion of the Labyrinth, you deserved so much better. I went against my better judgment to give you some of my power as a gift should you ever had need of it. I wanted you to protect yourself if for some reason you never called out to me to protect you. And now,……now I am afraid I need that power more then you do. For without it I can not transport myself back to the Labyrinth let alone defeat Jasent."

"Um, I don't have any powers." Sarah tried to think back, after the Labyrinth, the only thing different was her ability to call to Hoggle from her mirror. "Do I?"

Jareth's avoidance of the past was growing more difficult, "Do you not remember what you said back then in your story to your brother? He quoted….. "But what no one knew….was that the Goblin King had fallen in love with the girl, and had given her…."

"Certain powers." Sarah finished, and then looked confused. I'll ignore the Love part for now…. "But I made up that part of the story just for Toby!" She stated. He must be mistaken, she couldn't do anything special, and she had no new abilities…….and wanting her protected, protected from what?

"Well, I had planned to grant your request from the story, particularly since I took your bother when I was aware it was a careless wish with no real heart into it." Sarah blanched….he knew I wasn't serious when I wised Toby away??!! Jareth continued before she could interject with an outburst, "And when you defeated me, I bestowed upon you the gift of wishes." Sarah frowned. "Whatever you wished fervently for would come true." Jareth looked at Sarah intensely. "I am afraid I have no choice in the matter but to take unwanted children, even if I recognize the wisher is just being a sullen child. It keeps the balance between our worlds. It is part of my duty, however unpleasant. But at least I can try for redemption by granting you the power to protect yourself, as I knew you would never call on me." Jareth looked at her almost hopefully.

The meal came. Sarah was grateful for a distraction, her mind was reeling. Her headache was getting worse. She picked up her fork and started digging into her picatta, putting a large bite into her mouth wondering which piece of information to react to first. He knew she didn't mean wishing away Toby?! He doesn't have the power to get home? I have the power of wishes? Hummm what to do.

Jareth sighed again, looked at his dish, and tried to do the same. It had been so long since he'd had a warm meal. His first bite of veal and melted cheese was steaming and slightly too warm, but he loved it. He closed his eyes to savor the taste of warm freshly cooked food. When he swallowed and opened his eyes, he found Sarah looking at him strangely.

He looked abashed, "I have not had the luxury of a warm meal in months. This is a fine meal Sarah, you chose well for me." Jareth continued to cut off more of the cheese covered meat. "I understand this must be difficult for you, and I am placing you in a difficult situation, but know this Sarah; I had always wanted your well being. I am no longer your adversary, but now at your mercy."

She took another bite of her chicken trying not to think erotic thoughts watching the way he ate in ecstasy and explained to her he was no longer an enemy; she took another drink of her tea for distraction, "I guess I didn't realize I had the power to wish for things, after the Labyrinth I think I learned another lesson, I never "wished" for anything ever again." She chewed silently. She started thinking back to all the times the power of wishing would have definitely come in handy.

"Well, after your first wish gained my particular attentions (Sarah hid a smile), I could very well understand. So I included a spell that allowed you the power of wishes only if your full heart was in the wish. So you could not wish for anything without really meaning to. Just think…. if you "wished" you could own the Nile one day, and the next minute you find yourself the Queen of Egypt, that would not be a good idea. But alas, therein lays my problem. I need for you to "wish" power back to me, but in order for this to work; your entire heart has to be completely in it. All of what you are has to wish for it to be so, and it will come true. But I am afraid my dear, that will not be easy for one such as you."

What does he mean, that doesn't sound too hard? I can do that right now. She swallowed her bite, and said matter of factly, "I wish you to have your power back so you can go and save the Labyrinth." Sarah was thinking that this would be simple. She waited a few seconds and raised her eyebrows questioning. Jareth just shook his head. "Well, did it work?"

"Sarah, you don't understand, your whole heart must be in the wish. If there is the tiniest seed of doubt in your wish, it will not work. You are a very strong willed woman. If there is some small level of your mind which does not want to see me with power over you again, it will not happen."

Well Shit, that made sense…

Jareth, stared into her eyes with a pleading look, "I know how pleased you were fifteen years ago when you realized you had the power to leave the Labyrinth after all. Are you sure that you want things reversed? To grant me, the Goblin King, power over you once again? To go so far as to "give" that power to me freely?"

Sarah looked horrified. What he said continued to make sense on some level. She knew in her mind she didn't want the Goblin King (or anyone else for that matter) to ever have the power to take anything from her ever again. Too many life lessons taught her that. She lowered her brows and pursed her lips making her face all scrunch up in thought. Jareth thought to himself it was a very unladylike gesture, and slightly comical looking, but it seemed to suit her, and made him relax as well. He was ready for an outburst or frustrated cursing, but not this level of concentration.

Jareth, sighed and took another bite chewing it slowly. After a pause he looked up, "Don't worry, I did not think this would work immediately, this is a great burden I place on you. I did not expect you to trust me at first. I will try to help teach you what your heart is thinking, and help to sort out what is blocking your wish. Although I do fear I will not last but a week in your world; especially surrounded by all this iron. At my full strength, it would not have affected me so, but I weaken by the day." Jareth wondered if she could ever be made to trust him fully. That is not something even fae can do easily, no matter how long they have known each other.

"Well, you would never ask me for help if you weren't desperate. But didn't you say you have to go back immediately; you said the Labyrinth could fall at any time. So, tell me how I can do this now!" Sarah was getting worried. I want to help, I promised I would help! How in the hell can I help him if I doubt him? I need to get over this, especially for Hoggle, Ludo, and Didymus.

"I knew there was a risk in coming here, but you were my last hope, the only one to ever solve the Labyrinth, the only one with enough power to rebuild my strength. I knew you would help, you owed me that." Jareth suddenly looked tired, "I didn't think you would deny me twice, even you are not that cruel." He produced a lazy smile. Sarah could see the weariness behind his eyes begin to show. She rolled her eyes at the cruel comment, and strengthened her resolve to help him.

Something occurred to her then. "Does Jacent know about me? Does he know about my last visit to the Underground?" Sarah looked worried. Jareth nodded once and gave a small smile.

"Sarah, most everyone in the Underground knows your name. I hear it everywhere I go. You have become quite the legend." He took a sip of tea, and took another bite. The tired look was gone and his face was now a blank mask. Sarah thought of her name going through the Underground as a legend and found she liked the idea. But to have hear the name of the girl who defeated you over and over for 15 years? The poor guy!

"Humm, I don't like that he knows who I am. If you found me, so can he right?" Sarah asked quickly.

Jareth, pondered the thought, "I suppose, but he does not know I would come to you for aid." Jareth silently wondered how many of his Labyrinth knew of his feelings for Sarah. Most thought he hated her, but he knew Hoggle suspected otherwise, but never said anything; he had become the king's most trusted confidant after Sarah had left. Hoggle's loss was quite a blow to him.

While the king was lost in thought, Sarah started to gather her things. "Well Come on then; let's get the rest of this meal to go." Sarah motioned to the waiter for the bill. "We don't have time sit and chat. I just hope you like big dogs!" I can't believe I am willingly taking him to my house!! What am I thinking?!