Chapter 13

Sarah looked up with a start as the wind gusted suddenly into her room. She got up from the computer where she had been typing. She was sure the balcony windows were closed, she never left them open, but sometimes the latch did not catch properly. Before she reached the windows, they were pushed open and an all-too-familiar figure in black, billowing cape and all, stepped into the room.

"Sarah, so good to see you," Jareth said smoothly. "You’ll pardon the intrusion, I’m sure."

"You must have gotten the wrong house. I can’t think of anyone who would have wished you here."

"No need to be unpleasant," he chided her, seating himself comfortably on the end of her bed. "I wanted to see how you were doing."

"Sorry, but I find it hard to believe you’d be making a purely social visit," Sarah said bitingly as she sat down once again in the chair at the computer desk across from him. Her gaze as she watched him was wary and distrustful.

Jareth was unfazed. "I suppose you're right. I have actually come seeking your aid. For Edana."

"What did you do to her?" Sarah accused, jumping up.

Jareth gave her a withering look. "Do you really think I’d come here if I’d done something to her?" Sarah said nothing, but it was clear from the look on her face that she was skeptical.

"Was it you in the forest?" she demanded.

"You tell me," he said evenly.

"I thought as much. So you stole her. Have you turned her into a goblin yet?" Sarah spat out venomously.

"I’ve no intention of turning your cousin into a goblin! Edana is in very grave danger," he informed her coldly, his ire rising quickly.

"Oh, I get it. You want me to solve your precious Labyrinth a second time to try to win her back," Sarah guessed caustically.

"It’s not about you anymore!" Jareth snapped, losing his patience. "I should have known better than to ask you for help," he reconsidered aloud, as he stood and moved quickly to the balcony. "I’ll not trouble you again."

Sarah was perplexed. He sounded weary and… could it be? "The infamous Goblin King, admitting he was wrong about something? Come back. I want an explanation!" Jareth turned towards her, and she was astounded to see that his usual skill at hiding his emotions was lacking. He looked terribly anxious and almost… somber. It remained etched in his face for only a second, then his neutral expression returned, but it grabbed Sarah’s attention.

"Edana has been kidnapped by the Overlord of the Dark Elves,’ he explained hollowly. "The man is nothing short of a demon. He does what he pleases with no regard to anyone but himself. Remorse is nonexistent in his perception."

"Oh, sort of like you?" Sarah pointed out acidly. "I’m sorry if you don’t like a taste of your own medicine, but it’s high time if you ask me."

"I didn’t," Jareth said sourly. "And Edana is the one ensnared in the middle here, not me. He has taken her hostage so I will exchange my kingdom as ransom for her. There is no telling what he may do to her before I can attempt her rescue."

Sarah could now see through Jareth’s fragile façade. He was sincere in asking her help. In spite of herself – and, she rationalized, for Edana’s sake – she felt she should do whatever she could to help. "What are you going to do?"

Jareth was torn. "Since she first wished herself to the Underground, she has been nothing but trouble. She has caused me more aggravation than anyone I have ever met, and also more enjoyment. I cannot leave her in such an evil place, she is deserving of so much more. But I cannot give Fafnir my kingdom. If I did, his evil would spread to over half the Underground. It would all become a wasteland. The land of Fey would be the last major force against him. And so the fate of the Underground rests upon my decision."

Sarah nodded. "Quite the dilemma." She considered him for a moment. He looked the same; seductive without effort, eternally youthful, and regal – unquestionably so. She was no longer enraptured by his presence as she had been only a few years ago. His world was not for her, and she would never be able to see him as anything less than her nemesis, even now. "Can you defeat him?"

Uncertainty crossed his features as he looked away. "Perhaps. That remains to be seen. He commands a different sort of magic."

He did not sound very hopeful. Sarah was fascinated. She had never anticipated a side to the Goblin King like this. "I will help you, for Edana’s sake. I hate to see anything terrible happen to her." She saw gratitude, a renewed hope, flare in his eyes. "Why are you doing this for her? It doesn’t benefit you in any way."

One corner of Jareth’s mouth curled into a smile. "You accused me once of not caring about anyone but myself, and you were right until I met you. A mere thirteen hours, and I found myself in love with you, even when you said the words and I knew I could never have you. Then Edana gave me an opportunity so perfect I could not resist it. The two of you were as close as sisters. I knew if I encouraged circumstances so that she would unknowingly say the words, then offered you the chance to free her as long as you stayed with me that you would do it. And then she figured out my plan, and refused, running away and getting herself into all kinds of trouble in the Labyrinth. Damn the girl, the more I tried not to feel anything for her, the more I did just that. She nearly sent herself back, that was when I knew. I couldn’t bear to hear her say that last line, not because she would win, but because I would never see her again. But she couldn’t say it either. She didn’t want to leave the Underground." He shook his head, as though suddenly realizing he had been speaking aloud. "So now I have been honest with you. Bared my soul, so to speak. Never have I revealed my heart to another. And never before have I asked for the aid of one who defeated me with such ease. Two days will have passed since she was taken before we get back to the castle, another before I can reach Fafnir’s stronghold."

"What must I do?" Sarah asked, moved by his confidence in her.

"Come back with me. Not for long," he added quickly at her suspicious look. "Watch my castle. What I need from you is… to believe in me. Ridiculous, I know, but if I know you have faith in my ability against Fafnir, I will have a better chance of defeating him – at any rate, of rescuing Edana. You know my power was strengthened when you believed in me before. And if I must, I will sell my kingdom for her."

"You love her." Discrete surprise was Sarah’s only emotional reaction.

"That seems to be the general consensus."

Sarah digested that for a moment. She was sure now that Jareth was telling the truth. He was obviously shaken enough by something that he had ceased battling to keep his feelings hidden the way he always did. She felt a brief twist of envy. It vanished just as quickly as Sarah realized that she would never have been happy in the Underground. She had not loved Jareth, she had been momentarily enamored with the idea of what and who he was. Often she missed the magic kingdom, but too many of her dreams were tied up in her own world. She would have grown to hate him in a relatively short time, and would have been miserable in his kingdom. Edana, though, was a different matter, Sarah conceded. If anyone could match temper and wits with the Goblin King, it was Edana. She was far better suited to an existence in such a place, anyway. She smiled at the workings of fate. They deserve each other like no one I’ve ever known before. For all the trouble both of them have put me through, and are certain to put each other through…oh yes, they deserve what they each get from this match. "How does she feel?"

Jareth laughed, a coarse, choking sound. "Who can say? To guess, I would say no. We have had our tantrums with each other. No, she could do better and she must know it. But I must try to save her. I cannot bear the thought of her an eternal mindless slave to a maniac."

"We should hurry," Sarah made her decision with finality.

With a wave of the Goblin King’s black gloved hand, Sarah’s room disappeared. Seconds later, they were standing in the tower room of the castle. It was the highest vantage point, from it much of the Underground could be seen. "Come here," Jareth said, crossing to the window and unlatching the shutters so that they could see out. He put one arm around her shoulders and pointed to the West with the other hand. She stiffened at his touch. "If this is going to work, my dear, you are going to have to trust me just a bit," he said quietly, and Sarah sighed, trying to relax. "That is where I am going," he told her. "I’m not sure for how long."

Sarah’s gaze followed his pointing finger and shuddered at the distinct dingy area, which must be huge judging from its borders at the distance from which they were observing.

"Yes, and you’re not even going there," he agreed ruefully. "Nevertheless, it’s long past time I should have left. Dafydd, the Elven Ambassador in the South Wing, will be happy to keep you company. Try not to let the goblins get away with too much. They know you’re in charge. I told them before I left," he said casually, with a smirk.

"What if I had said no?" Sarah asked indignantly.

"You’re here, and you still doubt my persuasive abilities?" he asked. The look he gave her clearly said that he knew he could get anyone to do anything he wanted, given time.

"I was quite in control of myself the entire time," Sarah argued with a sniff. "You are so –"

Jareth patted her on the head. "Arrogant?" he offered blandly. "Insufferable? Pretentious? Trust me, I’ve heard it all since Edana came here. Now, be a good girl and guard the castle, won’t you?" Before she could respond, he transformed himself into a magnificent white barn owl and flew quickly out the window. Sarah went downstairs, deep in thought. At the bottom of the staircase, she bumped into one of the goblins.

"Beg pardon, Lady Sarah," he said quickly as he straightened his cap. "Can I get you anything?"

Lady Sarah? Maybe she would like this job. "Yes, I’ll take a glass of wine please, in the library."

"Right away, milady," the goblin said with a bow as he scurried away.