Tempting Fate

Chapter 6: Goodnight The mention of the word "friends" made Sarah think of Hoggle. Wrinkling her brow, she remarked, "I have an idea." Jareth watched with curiosity as she jumped up and headed for the stairs. She motioned for him to follow, "Come with me, I think I know a way that we can find out what's going on in the Underground." Jareth followed her up the stairs, "Where are we going?" Sarah reached the top and turned to face him, "My bedroom." He arched a fine eyebrow and before he could comment she supplied, "You'll see...I just hope this works." His eyes scanned his surroundings as he entered her room. Her things fascinated him. Her vanity was still there, where he had often seen her brushing her hair, reciting lines to her reflection. Her toys and stuffed animals were gone. He looked at the posters of various rock bands with mild interest. He noted that her bed was the same, small, obviously meant for a young girl. He scanned the photos covering the edges of her mirror. Some were of Sarah, with various other girls her age, some with her Dad and Karen. Several of Toby. One displayed a woman he didn't recognize, but he assumed it was her mother. Sarah hurriedly removed some of the photos so she could clearly see herself in the mirror. Jareth watched in silence, not sure what she was going to do. Finally she turned to him and said, "Maybe you'd better stand over there." She pointed to seat below her window. Once he moved, she made sure she couldn't see him in the mirror. Sarah concentrated on her reflection and quietly said, "I need you Hoggle." Jareth stood, watching in silence as he slowly realized what she was trying to do. At first nothing happened, and Sarah repeated, "Please Hoggle, I need to see you." Suddenly the dwarf's image appeared in the mirror. "Hello Missy, Is everything all right?" Sarah quickly nodded. She was overjoyed to see her friend again. Hoggle popped up from behind the bed and ran to Sarah. She hugged him tightly and it was then that he noticed The Goblin King silently watching from the corner. He backed away from Sarah, his eyes wide, "Your...Your majesty...what are you doing here?" Hoggle looked to Sarah, astonishment and worry evident in his face as he whispered, "He hasn't done nuthin to you has he?" Sarah quickly shook her head, "No. It's alright, Hoggle. I've made peace with him...you don't have to be afraid." Jareth crossed his arms over his chest and impatiently drawled, "Hello Higgle." Hoggle gaped, "Made peace...with him?" Sarah kneeled down to his height. "Yes, Jareth and I are friends now." Hoggle eyed the king suspiciously but replied, "Right Sarah, if you says so." She turned Hoggle's chin to face her so he would stop gawking at the Goblin King, "I haven't seen you in such a long time Hoggle. How is everything in the underground?" His wide blue eyes finally met hers as he shrugged, "Fine, I guess." She quickly continued, "What of the Goblins? How are they faring?" Hoggle looked down. "Well after you left, everything was fine...more than fine, actually. The goblins...they don't drink no more and they have picked up the goblin city, you ought to see it, it's real nice. Been nuthin' but peace and quiet since you beat the labyrinth." Jareth listened with great interest, but he let Sarah do the talking. He figured Hoggle would be more likely to speak the truth if Sarah was asking the questions. Sarah was puzzled, "Goblins behaving? Why is everything so quiet?" Hoggle sighed, "Well, When his majesty disappeared, they were scared and went into hiding. They didn't know if Jareth would be coming back. Then one day, shortly after you went home, a lady came to the goblin city, a sorceress, I think." Sarah nodded, "Go on." Hoggle thought a moment. "She told us all that Jareth had gone away for a while, but she said we shouldn't be afraid. She promised 'em that if they behaved, and rebuilt the city, that Jareth may come back with a Queen, and that everything would be fine. Since then everyone has worked together to clean everything up." Sarah looked at Jareth but it was apparent that this was all news to him as well. Hoggle looked at Sarah, "I couldn't really believe it, but one thing was true...His majesty was nowhere to be found. I should have told you before missy. I was afraid he might come looking for you. I was scared for you, but I didn't want to say anything, in case it would make something happen..." Sarah put her hand on his shoulder, "It's alright Hoggle, Jareth is here to make peace." Hoggle looked at Jareth and then to Sarah, "Well...does that mean...are...are you going to be his queen then?" Sarah's eyes went wide and her cheeks flushed bright red, "I don't know anything about that Hoggle, and by the looks of it, neither does Jareth." Jareth stepped forward, and crouched in front of the dwarf, "Hoggle, I can't be sure what I'm doing here, but I assure you I mean Sarah no harm." Hoggle was speechless. Had the King actually gotten his name right? Sarah explained, "Jareth has lost his powers...at least for now, so here's what I need you to do. Go back to the labyrinth and try to find this sorceress. Tell her we'd like to speak with her. I think she has some answers that both of us would like to hear. And secondly, go to the castle and get some of Jareth belongings, clothes and whatever else you can think of that he may need. He may be staying with me for a while. Can you do that for us?" Hoggle nodded, "Anything for you missy." Jareth nodded in appreciation. "Hoggle, ask for the goblin called Snark, he knows where to find my belongings. In the meantime I'd like for you to keep an eye on my subjects for me. Bring them this, to show them that I am alright." With that he removed his talisman and hung it around the dwarf's neck. Hoggle stared wide eyed, at the amulet and managed, "Right. Uh... thank you, your majesty." Sarah gave him a quick hug and bide him farewell. With that he was through the mirror back to the Underground. Sarah stood and sighed, "Wow, I'm really surprised that that even worked." Jareth smiled at her, "You never cease to amaze me Sarah." She looked at him quizzically and asked, "Did you understand anything he was talking about?" Jareth shook his head, "Not really, but I have a feeling that this sorceress he spoke of is the very one that convinced the goblins to make me their King. Hopefully he'll be able to find her." Sarah nodded and tiredly ran her hands through her hair and glanced at her watch. It was almost two in the morning. Well, it had certainly turned out to be an interesting evening. Jareth leaned against the door-frame, dwelling on the thought that this was the first time he had actually been in Sarah's bedroom in person. His eyes fell on Sarah's bed and then on her. Surely she would want to sleep soon. She looked tired and he was curious to see what she would propose for sleeping arrangements. She pushed a piece of hair behind her ear as she brushed past him. Being alone with him in her bedroom made the air feel thick and suffocating. As she came into the hall she asked "So, does the King of the Goblins sleep?" He smirked and replied "Yes, when I am tired." Sarah bit her lip nervously and continued, "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm pretty tired. I think I've had more than enough excitement for one day, so I'll show you where you can sleep...oh unless you are hungry that is..." He shook his head, "I can wait until morning, and you need rest." She smiled, "Well that's good because the last thing I want right now is food, but I'll probably be ravenous by morning." He flashed her a smile as she led him to a room down the hall from her own. "You can sleep here in the guest room, not the most luxurious I know, but It'll have to suffice. I'd let you stay in my parents room, but Karen would find out for sure, and that's an argument I'd rather avoid." He nodded, "Understandable. I assure you, this is fine." She headed back out to the hall, "Well, the bathroom is right here, and if you need anything my room is just at the end of the hall. If I'm up before you, I'll let you sleep, and I'll prepare some breakfast. If you are up first you can wake me as soon as you are up. He smiled warmly and nodded in appreciation. "Good night Sarah" She couldn't help but smile back at him, "Good night Jareth." As Sarah threw her cotton pajama bottoms on she had no idea how she was ever going to get to sleep. She put on her grey tank top and filled her cup up with water for a second time. She downed the water and hoped the worst of her hangover was over. She could hardly believe what had happened, but it was all way too real to be a dream. She had always had a feeling that she hadn't seen the last of the Goblin King. As she tossed and turned in bed she couldn't stop thinking about all that had happened. The voice in her head repeatedly taunted; The Goblin King is sleeping down the hall... And he kissed me... She could almost still feel his lips against hers. After what seemed like an eternity she drifted off in a restless sleep. Chapter 7: Breakfast Fit for a King The next morning, Sarah's eyes snapped open and she lay frozen in bed. She had slept restlessly and now she felt quite hot. She had forgotten how the heat always kicked on in the morning; making her room like a sauna. As she changed into a cooler pair of cotton workout shorts, she frantically wondered, Had last night actually happened? It seemed as though it had all been very real, and she remembered everything in vivid detail. But then, she had heard of drunken hallucinations...and she had been rather drunk. I wasn't that drunk. I couldn't have been... Sarah was fairly certain that it had been real, which meant, that the Goblin King was sleeping in the guest room. She jumped out of bed she opened her door a crack. The door to the guest bedroom was closed. She was tempted to just go and see if he was in there but she had said she would let him sleep. But if she was really quiet... No that's ridiculous! Besides what if he's not wearing any... She stopped herself before she finished the thought, instead she nervously paced her bedroom. Finally she conceded that freaking out was not going help, so she decided to start cooking breakfast. Sarah peered out into the hall. The door was still closed. She crept down stairs trying not to make any noise. She went into the kitchen and started to ransack the fridge. What does one make a Goblin King for breakfast? She grabbed some bacon out of the freezer and threw it in the microwave to thaw. She then headed to the downstairs bathroom and brushed her teeth and threw her unruly hair into a ponytail. She decided to get dressed before Jareth emerged. For some reason the thought of him seeing her at her hung-over morning best horrified her. She quickly retrieved the bacon from the microwave and tossed some into a frying pan. She covered it as she set the heat to medium. She started a pot of boiling water and dropped a few eggs in. Jareth awoke to the smell of simmering meat. He wasn't sure what it was but it smelled really good. He was very hungry and had been pretty exhausted the night before. He got out of bed and threw his tunic on. Just as he was about to open the door he heard footsteps on the stairs. Sarah tried to be silent as she went back up the stairs, but the house was old and squeaked quite a bit. Just as she reached the top, she heard the guest room door open. Sarah nervously continued forward, walking into her room. She saw Jareth approach from the corner of her eye, so she left the bedroom door open as she started rummaging through her bureau for clothes. Jareth slid into the doorway leaning against the frame in his casually arrogant way. He gave her a cursory glance and immediately noticed that she barely had any clothes on. She was wearing what to him resembled some sort of undergarments. Her top had only thin straps at the shoulders, and didn't quite come to the top of her very short pink shorts. He noticed her feet were bare and allowed his gaze to travel upward. His gaze drifted over her long legs, and his eyes traveled higher still as he noticed that she wasn't wearing anything under her top. His lips curved into a satisfied grin as he greeted her. "Good Morning Sarah." Sarah froze as she sensed his eyes on her. Her cheeks grew instantly hot. Hearing the heat in his voice as he said her name didn't help her composure any. Still, she swallowed her embarassment and managed to meet his steady gaze. Maybe if she acted as if this was the most natural situation in the world she wouldn't feel so self-conscious. She decided to ignore the fact that she was barely dressed; as if him seeing her so didn't phase her one bit. "Good Morning Jareth, Did You sleep well?" He glanced down at her figure again, before he answered, "Yes, and you?" Sarah nodded, feigning a comfortable smile. Then she remembered that she wasn't wearing a bra. Obviously he had noticed as well. He cocked his head to the side and remarked, "That is rather interesting sleeping attire Sarah, or is that your ensemble for the day." That's it. She couldn't continue conversing with him like this. She grabbed an old faded sweatshirt from the opened drawer, quickly pulling it over her head as she replied, "No, when I woke up this morning I was hot." He smirked, "Indeed." She irritably replied, "Well for your information, I just about to change. I thought you were still asleep." His eyes danced with amusement, "I was asleep, that is, until that intriguing smell woke me." Sarah could smell the bacon as well. She grabbed her pile of clothes and darted back into the hall, "That's breakfast. It should be done." She momentarily forgot her irritation as she lead him downstairs. She tossed her clothes into the bathroom on the way to the kitchen. She motioned for him to sit at the table as she prodded the bacon and turned off the burners. She dropped four slices of bread into the toaster before opening a cupboard to reach for the plates and glasses. Jareth welcomed the opportunity to admire the back of her legs as she stretched to get the glasses down. She strode over to the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of orange juice. Sarah set the glass in front of him. Her eyes met his for a moment before she poured him some juice. "Thank you." It was almost odd that he was being so polite. It was becoming obvious that she had a lot to learn about the real Jareth. She fixed their plates and filled her own glass with juice. Setting his plate down in front of him, she murmured, "I hope you like bacon and eggs." Jareth checked out his plate and after a few bites he remarked, "This is quite good, I wouldn't have guessed that you would know how to cook." Sarah smiled as she put down her juice, "Well, maybe you have goblin servants or something to prepare your meals, but up here in middleclass America we cook for ourselves or get take out." Jareth furrowed his brow, "Take out?" Sarah smiled, "Oh don't worry. If you plan on spending any length of time with me, you'll find out all about it." Chapter 8: A Crystal Just as Sarah and Jareth finished eating breakfast, a large crash sounded overhead; as if something got knocked over in Sarah's room. Sarah and Jareth looked at each other and simultaneously fled from the table. Jareth was in front of Sarah as they raced up the stairs. Just as they neared the top, Sarah's bedroom door opened, and Hoggle limped out carrying a large sachel. Upon seeing that it was just her friend, Sarah stepped forward. She knew that Jareth made him uneasy. "Are you alright Hoggle?" she asked breathlessly. Hoggle dropped the sack at her feet, "I'm fine. I knocked over your box o'jewels as I was comin' through the mirror. Sorry I'm so clumsy." Sarah hugged her friend, "Don't worry about that. I'm just glad you made it back ok." Jareth approached Hoggle and asked, "Tell us...what did you find?" Hoggle tried to catch his breath, "Well your majesty, I went to your castle and asked for Snark. He took me to your chamber and got some of yer things together for you. Then something strange happened." Jareth furrowed his brow, "What?" Hoggle continued, "Well we went into the wardrobe for a moment and when we turned around, there was a crystal, just lying on the bed. I coulda swore it hadn't been there before. It was like it just appeared there, for us to find. There was a note too. Anyway I brought em 'ere for you to see." Hoggle rummaged through the sack and pulled out the crystal and the piece of parchment, which he handed to the king without further explanation. Jareth read the note aloud, "To the King of the Goblins, Accept this crystal, You will understand at the right time. -Lachesis" Jareth stared into the crystal, but it revealed nothing. "Very curious." Sarah looked incredulously over his shoulder at the parchment containing the note. "Lachesis? Do you know someone with that name?" Jareth shook his head before he asked Hoggle, "What else did you find?" Hoggle replied, "Not much your majesty, I searched the Goblin city and the labyrinth all night. There was no trace of the sorceress and I asked everyone that I met if they knew anything about the note. No one could help. All anyone could tell me was that she disappeared as quickly as she had appeared and no one knew her name. No body heard of Lachesis either." Hoggle sighed and looked down, waiting for the King to express his displeasure with what he had found. Jareth thought silently for a moment. Hoggle held up the sack, "Well anyways I was able to collect some of yer things, some clothes and a few other things that might come in handy." Jareth took the bag, giving the contents a cursory glance. "Thank you Hoggle. There is something else you'll need to do. Go back to the castle and go to the library. There's a book I'll need you to find." Hoggle nodded quickly, "Which book your majesty?" Jareth looked at Sarah, "Do you have something I can write with." Sarah grabbed a pen and a post it off her desk and handed it to Jareth. He looked at the pen curiously for a second then started writing the title of the book. Sarah watched in wonderment as he scribbled various unrecognizable symbols. "What language is that?" He handed the paper to Hoggle and replied, "It's an ancient goblin script. "If you have any trouble finding it, just ask one of the servants to help you. As long as you wear that amulet, the goblins should give you no trouble." Hoggle looked at the paper and replied, "Thank you your majesty. Well, I guess I'll be on my way then...go'bye Sarah." Sarah smiled, "See you later Hoggle." With that Hoggle went back through the mirror which rippled for a second then all was as it was before. Sarah repeated the name, "Lachesis...Lachesis. Why do I feel like I've heard that name before?" Jareth regarded her as she sank into deep thought. "Did you hear it in the underground?" Sarah shook her head "I don't think so, I think it may have been at school, during one of my lessons. I'm not positive where I've heard it, but I'm certain I have heard it somewhere before. I think maybe we should take a trip to the public library." Sarah watched Jareth as he carefully put the crystal and the parchment back into the sack that Hoggle had brought. She looked at him thoughtfully and asked, "Do you think that book will help you get some answers?" Jareth ran his hand through his unruly hair and sighed, "I'm not sure. I think that we are going to be in the dark until that crystal shows us something. We can go to your library if you think it will help, but other than that, I'm afraid I'm out of ideas." He glanced at her. Her face was full of genuine concern. He still could barely believe that he had ended up as a guest in her home. His gaze drifted slowly over her features as if committing them to memory. Sarah looked up and stammered, "I guess I'll have to keep you entertained until we find out what's going on." Jareth smirked at her, "What do you have in mind?" His tone was full of amusement and implied a double meaning. Sarah blushed a brilliant shade of crimson as she replied, "I'm not really sure. Well aside from going to the library, maybe I can show you around later. For now I'd settle for a shower." The delighted smirk was still planted on his face as he waited for her to continue. "I'll use the bathroom downstairs. You are welcome to use this one." She led him into the small upstairs bathroom and explained the intricacies of the shower. Wrapping up her demonstration, she informed him, "I'll be back in my room in a little while. As soon as you are ready we'll head to the library." He nodded and she left him alone in the bathroom. Sarah sighed as she ran her hands through her wet hair. She let her head fall back enjoying the feel of the hot water cascading down her back and shoulders. She was already feeling considerably better now that she had eaten and was under the hot water. She would be relieved to be properly dressed around Jareth the next time. It was like there was a hunger in his gaze whenever he looked at her. Although she was quickly realizing that he was not the enemy that she first thought, there was still something about his presence that made her uneasy. As Sarah shampooed her hair, she thought of Jareth and how he looked when he reappeared the night before, lounging in the shadows. He was full of casual self-assuredness and seemed to radiate sensual energy. There was no denying that she found him attractive. Hell, it was eerily coincidental that he seemed to be the epitome of everything that she found enticing. That was just it. He was too enticing. Even the slightest whisper of her name on his lips, just the way he said it, was enough to send goose-bumps crawling over her skin. During her brave moment of confrontation after she had solved the labyrinth she had said that he had no power over her, but what scared her more than anything was the slow realization that her words were not entirely true. The very idea that he desired her was almost enough to make her do something entirely foolish, like kiss him again. However as appealing as that sounded, she knew she was walking a thin line with the Goblin King. One false move and she could easily lose herself. If she left her heart unguarded and he took advantage than he really would have absolute power over her. Sarah had never been in love before, not romantically anyway. The thought of falling in love scared her to death, since the only people she had ever truly cared for, had hurt her in one way or another. Her mother abandoned her, choosing her damned career over her only child, and her father had grown distant since he remarried. He didn't seem to really notice her like he had when she was young, before her parents had divorced. The only one who hadn't disappointed her was Toby. In fact, her ordeal in the labyrinth had only brought them closer. Still, Toby was just a child. Sarah was sure that there would eventually come a point in his life when he would no longer have time for her either. So far Jareth had been the only person to show real interest. He seemed to notice her in a way no one ever had, and she couldn't deny that she liked the idea of someone giving her attention for a change. However, she simply could not allow herself to fall in love with the Goblin King. There were simply too many variables. First he was Fae, and he was from the Underground...no doubt that that little fact would complicate things. Second, he was a King, which would definitely complicate things further. Third, from what she could tell, he was arrogant, spoiled, bossy, and at times a bit of a bully. He almost reminded her of a child in the way he did as he pleased. It was highly likely that if she did give in to him he very well could discard her and move on. Jareth did have his good qualities too, which unnerved her even more. He could be genuinely charming and he made her feel extremely alive, and he certainly was attentive when it came to her. At times just being around him was like getting the fierce rush of adrenaline that one experiences on a thrill ride. Just the way he looked at her, and the things he said made her very breath catch in her throat. Sarah knew one thing for certain. She had to be careful. She had no idea at the moment who this Lachesis was, or what she had planned for the Goblin King, but Sarah would be on her guard until she found out. Chapter 9: Lachesis Sarah got out of the shower, dried off and dressed herself. It looked chilly outside so she decided to wear a long-sleeved shirt and her comfortable pair of overalls. She knew she'd feel more comfortable around Jareth if she wore more concealing clothes. She grabbed a hair dryer and headed upstairs to her room. Grabbing a pair of socks from her bureau, she sat on the bed. As she was putting on her socks, Jareth appeared in the doorway to her bedroom. She looked up at him, noting he had changed his clothing. He wore black breeches and a white shirt that hung slightly open in the front. Sarah caught herself before she blatantly looked him over. She was careful to keep her gaze focused on his face. "I think we are going to have to find something else for you to wear out." Jareth looked down at his clothing and coolly demanded, "And what is wrong with my attire?" Sarah shrugged, trying to put it somewhat delicately, "Well, nothing. Except that it's a bit extravagant for where we are going. People dress a bit differently here, and I think it'll be best if we don't stand out." Jareth paced the length of the room, stopping to lean against her dresser. "What do you suggest then?" Sarah nodded to her closet, "I'll find something as soon as I finish drying my hair." Jareth regarded her as she tied her sneakers and plugged in the hairdryer. He watched with interest as she dried her hair with the loud machine. As her hair got drier he noticed that it became shinier and silkier as she combed through it. He stopped watching when the desire to remove his gloves and run his hands through her hair became compelling. He was certain that Sarah would not respond kindly to such and intrusion so he focused his attention elsewhere. As Sarah finished and unplugged the dryer she noticed that Jareth was looking quizzically at her stereo. She smiled as she walked over to him. Without a word she hit a button and the room was filled with classical music. He turned to her with a look of amazement on his face, "Impressive, How do you do it?" She laughed and replied "I didn't do anything, It's just one of the benefits of modern technology." She started rummaging through her closet as he toyed with the radio. He found a rock station as she tossed a shoebox out of the closet. The top fell off the box and Jareth noticed the red bound book on top. He picked it up and laid it aside, as he sat on her bed. Inside the box he noticed the lipstick that she had used to mark the way while she ran the labyrinth. As he opened a sketchbook that was also in the box he realized what this box was. Sarah had stored all her memories from the labyrinth here. In the sketchpad were drawings done by Sarah to document her journey through the Underground. Jareth looked appreciatively at each charcoal image as he too remembered. They were all so realistic. Him, towering over her, when he took Toby. Her and Hoggle, standing in the entrance to the labyrinth. The worm. The guardians of the two doors, the helping hands, Hoggle leading her out of the oubliette. Their second meeting, the cleaners, Ludo, the knockers, the Fireys, The Bog and Sir Didymis, the ballroom, the two of them dancing, the gates of the goblin city, and him offering her the crystal in the Escher room. He didn't notice that Sarah had stopped searching the closet and was silently watching him look through her drawings. He suddenly noticed she was watching and he waited for her reaction. He expected her to be angry for prying, but she stood there silently with the same wistful expression on her face. He handed the drawings back to her, "They are wonderful." She blushed red for a moment. "I...I drew them so that I would remember...so that I would always know that it hadn't been a dream." Jareth was about to speak when she held up a sweatshirt and a pair of warm up pants. "I found what I was looking for. You can put these on, I think they should fit." Jareth looked at the garments she was holding out when the realization struck him, "You aren't suggesting that I wear your clothes?" Sarah sighed. She had a feeling he was going to be difficult about this. "Jareth, just put them on. This is all that I have in this house that's likely to fit you. We can go find some clothes that will suit you better later, but before we can leave this house you have to blend in." He shook his head and took the clothes from her and held them up to inspect them. There was a large worn out black college sweatshirt and a pair of black wind pants that looked like they had never been worn. He sighed, "You can't be serious." Sarah protested, "Look, I know they're not the greatest, but they are just for now. After we go to the library I'll take you to get some aboveground clothes of your own. Now stop being difficult and just change into them." Without another word he threw up his hands in defeat and started to undo his shirt and took it off. Suddenly noticing what he was doing, she whipped around, her cheeks aflame, "Whoa...wait for me to leave first." She kept her back to him as she stepped out of the room, blindly reaching behind her for the doorknob she muttered, "Jeez, change right in front of me why don't you." Jareth, who had heard her comment, chuckled replying, "Just doing as I am told." Sarah waited outside as he finished dressing. When he opened the door it took all of her willpower to not burst out laughing. There he was, the Goblin King, in all his splendor, wearing her old college sweatshirt and warm up pants that had been too large for her. It was a quite a sight, and Sarah decided then and there, that if she had still been angry at him for taking Toby, this was all the revenge she would ever need. His glare was deadly as she fought the urge to smile. She quickly turned to her vanity and grabbed an elastic band. He waited, with a look of absolute disdain on his face as she lied, "It's not so bad." She motioned for him to sit, "Just one other thing, I'll have to tie your hair back. This may have been fine like ten years ago but now it's a little out of the ordinary. I think if I just tie it back..." Jareth shot her another deadly glare as she gathered his hair in her hands. He was about to make a biting comment but he was quickly silenced as he felt Sarah's fingers running through his hair. His breath nearly caught in his throat as he realized that Sarah was voluntarily touching him. Her touch was a bit tentative and very gentle as she gathered his hair in one hand and bound it with the elastic with the other. She quickly finished, and as she pulled her hands away, he instantly missed her touch. He inspected her work in the mirror. Not bad, he thought to himself. Sarah fetched a pair of her Dad's old sneakers, which were a bit big but generally fit Jareth. They would do for one day anyhow. Sarah grabbed her keys along with her wallet and cell phone as she lead Jareth back downstairs. "Alright let's go. I'll drive us to the library first then I'll take you to get some clothes." Jareth was about to ask her what she meant by drive when she opened the door to the garage. "What is that?" Jareth exclaimed as she unlocked the doors. Sarah smiled and opened the passenger door for him. "A Honda Civic. Its my car." Jareth warily got inside. Sarah got in and started the engine, smiling as she noticed the worried look on Jareth's face. "Are you sure this is safe?" She smirked and buckled her safety belt and put on a pair of sunglasses. "Buckle up and you'll find out." Jareth frantically buckled his safety belt as she backed the car out of the driveway. Sarah looked around. The streets were deserted so she decided to have a bit of fun with his highness. She smirked at him again and slammed the car into first, peeling out as she headed down the street. It was priceless to watch him grip the door handle with white knuckles. She only went really fast down the few streets in her neighborhood before she started to drive normally. After a little while Jareth noticed that Sarah was in complete control of the car. He realized that she was apparently just having some fun with him and then he started to relax and even started to enjoy the ride a bit. Before long they arrived at the library and as they headed for the large brick building Sarah whispered, "Don't talk to anyone and stay with me, if there's any talking that needs to be done, I'll handle it." Jareth nodded even though he hated the idea of someone else telling him what to do. Jareth peered at the screen from behind Sarah as she searched the Library data base for Lachesis. As a list of sources came up she whispered, "These are all Greek mythology books. Of course! Now I remember. Lachesis is the name of one of the Fates." Jareth was puzzled, "The Fates?" Sarah pointed to the screen. Let's go and get this book I think it should tell us what we need to know. A few moments later Jareth and Sarah were sitting across from each other in a private study room. Sarah was reading from a Greek mythology book, "The Fates, or Moirae, were the goddesses who controlled the destiny of everyone from the time they were born to the time they died. There are three Fates; Clotho, the spinner, who spun the thread of a person's life, Lachesis, the apportioner, who decided how much time was to be allowed each person and determined their destiny, and Atropos, the inevitable, who cut the thread when you were supposed to die. The Fates are old and predate the gods. It is not entirely clear how far their power extends. It is possible that they determine the fate of the gods as well. In any case, not even the most powerful is willing to trifle with them." Sarah looked up from the book at Jareth. His face had become an expressionless mask. "Jareth, this might not be good. If this Lachesis who sent you the crystal, is indeed one of the Fates, she may have your destiny already decided." Sarah licked her lips nervously and continued, "I had no idea that this stuff could be real. I don't know what Lachesis wants with you Jareth, but I'll admit I'm more than a little worried." Jareth looked into her eyes for a moment seeing genuine concern there. He closed the book and leaned back in his chair. He thought for a moment before he softly said, "Sarah, It won't do us any good to worry. We'll just have to wait for Lachesis to make her intentions known. I'll deal with that when the time comes. Trust me, I don't like not knowing what to expect anymore than you do, but I'm not going to let it stop me from living." His eyes darted over her face as his expression softened, "All I can say is that I was given another chance, and I'm not going to take it for granted. I meant what I said about wanting to be friends. I think we should just enjoy each others company while we still can." Sarah looked at him in astonishment. How could he, in one heartbeat, cause her fears to simply melt away. As she looked into his mismatched eyes she felt a sense of relief, as if everything would be alright, no matter what happened. Chapter 10: New Threads and Tiny Crystals Soon after leaving the library, Jareth and Sarah arrived at the local shopping mall. As Sarah turned off the car she looked at Jareth and asked, "Did you bring that crystal with you?" Jareth pulled the clear round object out of the pocket of the sweatshirt, "You mean this?" Sarah nodded and replied, "Can you see anything in it?" Jareth held it up to the sunlight streaming through the window and looked into it, "No...nothing." Sarah looked a bit disappointed. "Hmmm. Alright, let's go then." Jareth looked about as he got out of the car, "What is this place?" Sarah pointed towards the entrance, "It's a shopping mall. I thought you'd like to pick out some appropriate clothing." Jareth nodded as Sarah continued, "Remember, stay with me and don't talk to anyone..." Jareth gave an exasperated sigh, "Sarah, I'm not a child, thank you." Sarah smiled, "I know. I just think it could be dangerous if anyone found out who you are or that the Underground exists. Besides, even if I tried to explain to anyone who you really are they'd probably think I was crazy and lock me away." As they neared the entrance Jareth muttered, "Don't worry I don't intend on talking to anyone, I want to get this over with as much as you do." As they walked inside Sarah scowled, noticing that the mall was a bit crowded. She sighed, and lead Jareth out into the mall, "Ok let's go." Sarah had been to this mall many times so she didn't need a directory to tell here where the stores were. She thought for a moment and led him upstairs to where she knew there was a men's clothing store that might be to his taste. Sarah was relieved that the store was nearly empty as they walked in. She whispered to Jareth, "All this stuff is fair game so pick out something you like and we'll be on our way." After rejecting several of the racks Jareth lead Sarah over to the wall and looked at some black pants. "These would do." He simply stated and motioned to the pants. Sarah shrugged and replied, "Ok, what size are you?" Jareth looked at her blankly, "Size? What do you mean?" Sarah sighed impatiently as she rummaged through the different sizes, "You mean you don't know your measurements? How on earth do you come by clothes at home? No wait, don't tell me...You magically make them appear." Jareth snickered, "No I don't make them appear. They are tailored for me." Sarah let out an exasperated breath, "Well since you don't know your size, you are going to have to try on a few pairs until we find out what fits." Just as she was saying this a short salesmen sauntered up behind her and enquired, "Can I help you with something?" Sarah nearly dropped the pants as she was startled, but quickly stammered, "Uh... No thanks, just looking thank you." The salesman smiled and replied "Ok I'll be at the register if you need help with something." Sarah glared at Jareth who was nearly laughing at her startled reaction. She shoved several pairs of pants at the Goblin King as she pointed to the fitting room, "Just go in there and try these on." On the way to the fitting room Jareth spotted a black button down shirt that he found agreeable so Sarah added it the pile of pants. Sarah waited for Jareth outside the fitting room as he tried on the clothing. After what seemed like an eternity she whispered, "Well, does anything fit?" Jareth sounded rather irritated as he whispered through the door, "Well, how should I know? I've never worn garments like these before. I'm going to need your opinion." Sarah sighed, "Well come out here then and let me see." Jareth quickly responded, "No, you come here." Sarah was about to protest, but decided it wasn't worth arguing with him. Sarah glanced about, no one was looking, so she quickly slipped into the fitting room. The changing room was tiny so she had to press herself into the corner to see the whole outfit on him. Her jaw dropped. He was drop dead gorgeous in black. The tight black slacks fit him perfectly and the silk shirt hung slightly open exposing his alabaster chest. He had let his hair back down and it was in it's natural wild state. He looked as though he had stepped out of her dreams...and not the innocent fairy tale dreams that she dwelled on in her childhood, but the sort of dreams that woke her out of sound sleep, and left her sweaty and breathing heavy. If Sarah had to describe in words what her perfect lover would be like, she would have come up with the exact sight before her very eyes. She blinked and stared, at the moments all words had failed her, so she simply stared some more. Jareth impatiently smoothed the front of the shirt, "Well...Is this suitable?" Sarah's lips parted, but still no words came. She looked him up and down forcing her head to nod. She waited to speak to be sure that her voice wouldn't betray her. She'd be damned if she was going to let him know just how good he looked. She simply stated, "Yeah...that...that looks good." She was still nodding. As Jareth waited for her answer he noticed her eyes dart up and down his frame more than once. Her eyes had darkened...he had seen that look on her face twice now. Once when they had danced at the masquerade and once after he had just kissed her. A slow smirk spread across his face as he replied, "Just good?" Sarah looked away and sighed, "I refuse to contribute to your already over inflated ego...It looks fine. Put the other clothes back on, and lets get out of here already." Jareth smiled wickedly and reached for the buttons on his shirt. Sarah threw up her hands and cried, "After! After I get out..." She rushed out of the dressing room, taking a moment to take a deep breath and compose herself before she dug her credit card out of her wallet. Shortly after Sarah and Jareth had made the purchase, and were on their way back to Sarah's house. Sarah opened the front door and was surprised to find Hoggle sitting on the couch with a tiny goblin as naturally as if they were simply visiting for tea. Jareth followed Sarah into the house as she hugged her friend hello. He couldn't help being jealous that Sarah had never greeted him with that much affection. Hoggle stepped back as Jareth appeared at Sarah's side. He took in the King's attire but thought better of saying anything, since a trip to the bog was not on his to do list. "Your Majesty, 'ere is the book you sent me to find." He held out the heavy book and Jareth took it from him just as he noticed the small furry goblin that scrambled to his feet. "Your majesty is it really you?" The little goblin squeaked. Jareth looked down at his small subject with a wry grin, "Yes, Beezle it is really me." The little goblin gave a toothy grin and hugged the King's leg. "I is so glad to be seein' you alive your greatness. I thought maybe you had gone away forevers... til Hoggle here, showed me you amulet." Jareth smiled, it was nice to know that his goblins did miss him. The goblin climbed up on the nearby armchair as Jareth crouched down to talk with him. "I had to come and see you your majesty. When I helped Hoggle get the big book, I begged him to let me come too." The small goblin spoke very fast as if out of breath. Jareth looked at his subject, "Why the urgency to see me?" Beezle pointed to a green glass bottle on the coffee table, "When Hoggle said you weres aboveground, I be thinking that you would be having no Goblin wine, so I thought I'd bring you some, seeing how much you like wine...and then I could see for me'self that you are alright." Jareth looked at the bottle and then back at the goblin, "How...thoughtful. You may tell the others that I will be staying aboveground for a while as a guest of Lady Sarah." The goblin looked up at Sarah. She smiled politely to Beezle, which made his fuzzy face turn scarlet. He looked down and then pulled out a small sack from his pocket containing three marble sized crystals and handed it to Jareth. "I also give you these your majesty...just in case you be needing a wee bit of magic." Jareth held out his hand and accepted the sack of crystals. "Ah very well Beezle, these may come in handy...thank you." At this Beezle went bright red again. Jareth continued, "Hoggle, you have done well, keep an ear out for Sarah's call should we need you again." Hoggle nodded and offered the king his amulet back, "I don't think I'll be needing this anymore your majesty, the goblins seem to believe me and now that Beezle's seen for imself that you're in one piece, the rest should be satisfied." Jareth accepted the amulet and dismissed them both. Once again Sarah and Jareth found themselves alone in the house. Jareth made himself comfortable on the couch, searching the goblin text for any more information that may be relevant. Sarah sat on the couch beside him. He noticed that she didn't sit right beside him, instead she left a bit of room. She studied the bottle on the table. "What kind of wine is this?" Jareth barely looked up from the book, "It's enchanted goblin wine. Causes a general feeling of relaxation and slight euphoria...which gets stronger with the age of the wine." Sarah nodded "How old is this one?" Jareth glanced at the bottle, "Don't know, the label has been removed. You seem rather interested, Do you want to try it?" Sarah sat back abruptly, "Er... No, not right now...maybe tomorrow...I had enough to drink last night remember?" Jareth attention went back to the book as he muttered, "How could I forget..." Sarah felt a surge of adrenaline rush through her veins and she quickly put the wine back on the table and instead picked up the bag of crystals. She opened it and fingered the clear orbs, "What do these do?" Jareth thought a moment, his eyes never leaving the pages of the book. He grinned as he stated in a very matter of fact tone, "When they are touched, they emit a powerful spell. The person touching them falls hopelessly in love with the first person they see." Sarah dropped them on the floor as if she had been burned. Her breath caught in her throat, as she was afraid to breathe. Her eyes grew wide as he lowered the book and leaned closer. At seeing her reaction Jareth started to laugh. It was more of a chuckle at first, but then he laughed heartily as he saw the furious look on her face. He managed to catch his breath and add, "Actually No...I made that up..." It was impossible for Sarah to remain angry, seeing him laughing like that, it was really wonderful to hear him laugh so effortlessly. But she had to get back at him for scaring her like that. "You ass..." She couldn't keep from laughing, and quick as lightning without even thinking, she lunged at him the way a good friend pounces on another. However Jareth was just as quick, and he caught her by the arms, quickly turning her as he pulled her into his lap. Suddenly she stilled in his arms. She found herself looking up into his face, and his smile quickly faded, as his expression grew serious. They both fell silent as their eyes locked. He broke their eye contact, his gaze darting to her lips, and those annoying bells went off in Sarah's head again. With the instant feeling of panic at the realization that he might kiss her, Sarah quickly shifted, managing to sit up and move away. Jareth smirked and was quick to recover, "Actually those are weak crystals that are only capable of performing small charms such as glamour spells...noting too powerful, no where near strong enough to transport myself back to the castle." Sarah nodded and picked up the crystals from the floor and put them back into the bag. She thought to herself, That was really close...How on earth am I going to resist him if that happens again? Sarah knew it was his eyes that did her in. It was like every time she looked into them she would get lost and had a hard time finding her way back. AN: There you go, second installment. More to come soon. Just FYI, I wrote this story a long time ago. It was my first attempt at labyrinth fanfiction, so it's not my best work. But I decided to clean it up a bit and post it anyway, since I feel it does improve as it goes on...and I think it sort of redeems itself by the end. Eventually it does have a plot, and there will be lots of smut along the way. It shows a lighter less sinister Jareth, not the most popular, I know...but he has his moments.