The next morning Sarah had no intentions of rising. The bed was soft and she was warm and content. She knew nothing of the previous night’s dreams. Magically the glass door opened and an owl fluttered in and perched on her bed.

“Lemme sleep” Sarah grumbled

“Sorry, I can’t” Jareth said “There’s too much to do today.” That surprised her. Never had she heard the Goblin King apologize for anything, if you could even call it an apology. He chuckled to see her sit up, a quizzical look on her face.

“Dear Sarah…” he chimed “why are you looking at me like that?”

“I think I just heard you apologize. Maybe I need my hearing checked.” That got a laugh out of him. “Go away, I have to get dressed.”

“I’d rather much stay if you don’t mind”

“But I do mind.”

“Still, I think I’ll stay.” Sarah scowled and got up out of the bed and marched over to him.

Jareth grinned at her reaction. As she came around the bed it was easy for him to admire her form. The pale green nightgown was very revealing. He liked that.

Sarah’s eyes shot daggers when she saw where he was looking.

“Honestly,” she said “one would think that you would have obtained some sort of maturity in your lifetime. Now go!” A white owl flew out into the day. Sarah smiled as she closed the door then mentally hit herself. This was no game. She needed to return home, but why did she enjoy playing so much? Never had she thought that she could possibly enjoy her stay in the Underground.

“You’re only polite because he can get you home.” She reminded herself as she rummaged through the closet looking for something to wear. Most of the dresses, and they were all dresses, were very ornate. Near the back Sarah found a light yellow one that almost looked like a picnic dress. Glancing around the room to make sure Jareth was gone she changed then went out into the hallways to find him. She finally made her way to the throne room and found him dressed for travel.

“Well, I’m glad you finally decided to grace us with your presence.” He said then frowned. The playfulness of that morning was gone; all that remained was her cold, cruel heart. “I’ve told you before.” He said eyes fixed on hers “Your eyes are so cruel. We are taking a little walk today” he continues then approached Sarah and offered her his arm. She did not take it.

“I have no interest in walking with you.” She coolly replied, “I want to know how to get home. You’ve tactfully avoided the question this long.”

“Darling, I’ve told you that I am not returning you home…” she cut him off

“You said for me to find my own way home so I’m asking what I have to do.”

“Sweet Sarah…”

“Stop with the flattery and answer the question” he grimaced

“There are three ways of entering and exiting these worlds. One is the way you came here, an accident that we have no control over. The second is to will yourself there, but that requires a lot of magic that may I remind you that you do not possess. Even I rarely go between worlds this way. It takes far too much energy and is not worth the effort. So you see, it is impossible for you to get home on your own accord.”

“The third way?” she pressed on

“To fly.” So those were her three options. None of them sounded possible.

“Flying” she mused, “You turn into an owl.”

“I do, that’s how I cross between realms. It’s much more leisurely if you’re not in a desperate hurry.”

“So I have to grow wings!” she demanded outraged

“Grow wings, yes I suppose so. Shall we go now?” Without a word he dragged Sarah out into the Goblin City.

The city itself was much better then she had remembered. The houses looked neater and better kept. Animals no longer roamed freely about in the street, but rather were locked up in their respective places. Jareth noticed her wide-eyed stair and chose to comment

“When you attacked the city it took a lot of damage. We had to rebuild most of it.” Sarah nodded dumbly as he guided them out of the town and into the labyrinth

“Where are we going?” Sarah asked

“You’ll see,” was the reply, but Sarah continued to peer quizzically at him “It’s a surprise he added.” The two of them made their way down the paths of the Labyrinth. The day was warm and sunbeams constantly made their way through the canopy of leaves that hung overhead. If one had seen them walking you might have thought they were lovers going for a rendezvous’, but that was not the case. Silence drifted between the two as Jareth looked for a way to engage Sarah in conversation and Sarah looking for a way to avoid his questions. After a half an hour of this Jareth suddenly stopped walking.

“What is it?” Sarah asked

“Why do you hide behind the past?”

“What?” Sarah was shocked by the new topic

“Why do you keep hold of the past? I know what happened seven years ago. You wished your way into my labyrinth and played the game you set up for yourself, why?”

“You were the one who took Toby away.”

“You’re the one who wished him away!”

“ I didn’t think it would happen, it wasn’t real”

“Oh, you didn’t?”

“No, I did not!”

“Then why say the words in the first place if they meant nothing to you?”

“Because!” Sarah was in an outrage

“Because why?” Jareth asked, his temper flaring. Sarah didn’t answer. “Because you did believe. You read that book over and over until you made yourself believe every part of it. I only played the part you gave me.”

“You? Play a part? You didn’t have to pretend. That’s who you are, a mean, selfish, cruel, cold hearted, bastard!” The Goblin King’s eyes flashed dangerously and for the first time Sarah felt her old fear of him returning. Jareth grabbed Sarah and pulled her to him so that she was crushed in his arms and no matter how she struggled his iron hold would not release her.

“I played my part.” He said, voice in a deadly whisper. With that Jareth bent his face down and placed his lips on Sarah’s.

The first thing Sarah felt was shock and anger that gave way to a passion she did not know existed inside herself. Her hands wandered upwards, one to grasp the back of his neck and the other to put itself into his golden hair. The feel of his hands on the small of her back and all the places where their bodies met burned with a fiery sensation. Being in his arms, in his hold, in his kiss, was intoxicating. Sarah pulled away for a moment locking eyes with Jareth then renewed their kiss with vigor.

Jareth was surprised with his own actions, but the moment his lips met hers he could not help himself. Seven years of repressed passion flared into his kiss. The taste of her lips only drove him crazy for more. At first her could feel her try to push away and he was about to let he go when she began to kiss him back. This only stimulated more pent up feelings within him and Jareth leaned in to deepen their kiss. Sarah pulled away slowly and their eyed locked, in moments her lips were back in contact with his. Oh her sweet lips… Slowly he walked he backwards until her back was against a tree and slowly the two, still intertwined with each other, sank to the mossy floor. Jareth lay on top of Sarah, his hands maneuvering all over her form while she did the same to him.

Sarah let herself be pulled to the ground. This pleasure was heavenly. Her heart cried out for the man who had been the topic of her thoughts over the last seven years, but her head told her to stop.

“He’ll only hurt you in the end, he’s the one who kidnapped your brother, he’s only cruel and heartless.” The battle between her mind and heart raged while Sarah ran her hands over his back and chest. She wanted to rip the clothes off him, to feel his bare skin pressed against hers… They broke off their kiss for a moment to look into each other’s eyes. What Sarah saw there frightened her, such a vase amount of love pouring from two colored pools. It was only then that she realized what had just happened. Pushing up from under him she stood trembling while he remained seated.

“Sarah, what…?” Jareth was puzzled by her actions

“I…I…um…I…” Sarah couldn’t speak. Not now. She fled down the path into the labyrinth.

“Sarah!” Jareth yelled.

“Let her go, boy.” Said a voice. Jareth turned quickly and then gave a sigh.

“It’s only you, Arthan.” The old man, just as high as Jareth’s shoulder, gave a quirky smile.

“I was just walking by, collecting some herbs, when I… witnessed the little scene you put on.” Jareth sighed. “You really love her don’t you?”

“I love Sarah more than my life. I would do anything for her.” He paused “I offered Sarah her dreams twice and she rejected me. Why can’t she see that I love her? Why can’t she let go of the past!” Jareth stood only to face the tree and bang his head on it.

“Stop that now” Arthan ordered. Jareth stopped and looked down on the man that had been his boyhood teacher. “You need to take your time with her. She’s shocked by her own actions and thoughts, just coming to realize what she feels for you.”

“A vast amount of hate” Jareth put in. Sighing Arthan continued

“A vast amount of love.”

“Love?” Jareth said “She’ll never love me.”

“And how would you know that?”

“She continually tells my she hates me and only wants to return home.” As Jareth stared at the forest floor Arthan began to laugh.