Seeing her lying before him at his feet bloodied and unconscious he did not hesitate as he went to her side. It had been so long since he had seen her, he was surprised to hear her crying out his name. Jareth was even more surprised when he was met with the scene of a large white wolf attacking her. Gently taking Sarah’s injured body in his arms he lifted her from the ground. Her body still in hand he looked in the direction in which the large white wolf had fled, his mismatched eyes narrowing as he searched the surrounding brush. Feeling her stir in his arms his attention was drawn back towards her injured form.

Sarah was still unconscious her brow damp with sweat and blood. She moaned against his chest the pain from her injuries stinging against the contact of his body holding hers.

Magic forming about him he stepped forwards with her in his arms disappearing from the woods. The wolf crept out from its hiding place anger within its eyes. Making its way towards the spot in which he almost had his prey he sniffed at the blood that stained the moist soil her blood still fresh in his mouth. Head reaching up towards the moon he howled into the night.

Lying her gently onto the bed he carefully looked over her. Her dark long brown hair was matted with sweat clinging to her bloodied face. Her red turtleneck sweater torn at the right sleeve where the wolf had torn into her skin leaving small tares and teeth marks within her flesh. The leg of her jeans was ripped as well as bloodied from claw marks left by the wolf’s claws.

With a wave of his hand over her unconscious form her clothes were replaced with a long blue nightgown, her injuries cleaned and wrapped in white bandages and gauze. Satisfied with attending her wounds Jareth vanished from the room.

Leaning up against the side of the window he looked out at his labyrinth his mind in contemplation. How did she get here within the Underground and why would she be in the Glendalian forest? Should he just send her back, did he want to send her back? Why should he care? She had ignored his professed love turned his world upside down and then she was gone.

Jareth grimaced to himself, she was then just a child could she really be able to understand what it was that he was offering, what he was revealing to her. With a flourish of his wrist a crystal appeared within the palm of his hand. Allowing it to hover over his black gloved hand he watched the image of Sarah asleep in his bed. She had changed much since last he had seen her. No longer the teenager she was now a grown woman but still so naïve so innocent.

Her image looked troubled as sweat dampened her brow, her body trembling from a growing fever. Jareth’s expression turned to that of worry as he watched her face mirror that of fear. Dispensing of the crystal he appeared within his room where she slept fitfully within his bed. As he touched her brow his expression of worry turned to that of dread. She was burning up hot to the touch. Her skin was on fire with fever and he had nothing more that he could do to help her. He had already cast a healing spell that should have worked against any type of infection brought about by her wounds.

Whatever it was that was infecting her it was no ordinary infection. His mind raced for an answer as he dabbed a cool damp towel to her brow. She was trembling now, if the fever did not lower soon it would most likely kill her.

She was running her heart racing as she fled from something she could not see. Looking back behind her she could see nothing but she knew that something was there. Something-She felt herself burrow into something, arms surrounding her as she was held tightly in someone’s arms.

Trembling hands held to chest, her breathing was hard eyes slowly drifting upward to see who she had run into. Pale white bare muscled chest greeted her first followed by a strong set jaw line, soft sensual lips, distinct nose, and piercing gray eyes. This was not the face that she had expected with short brown wavy hair instead of the long uniquely style blond. Gray eyes where she had expected mismatched ones. Trying to pull away she found that she could not.

His hold on her tightened, a low growl escaping his sensual lips as his eyes held her eyes to his.

Panic raced through her being as she could not pull away from his eyes nor his grasp. He was strong, overpowering her efforts of escape. Before she could voice her protest his lips crushed against hers devouring her lips with his. Her desire to escape leaving her as something she was not familiar with awoke within her being.

His lips continued to her ear his hot breath stirring against her dark brown hair soothing against her ear, "You belong to me now."

Fear flooded back drowning out the emotions his kiss brought about. Sarah pushed against his unmoving form trying to break the tingling contact. Her voice finally finding itself as she tried to pry herself free as he continued to kiss her along her neck his hands devouring her flesh. "No, stop this!"

Swift in his movements Jareth quickly gathered her into his arms rushing to the adjoining wash room. Tub already filled with ice cold water with the use of his magic. Jareth gently yet urgently placed her within.

Sharp stinging pain all over her skin brought her out of her nightmare eyes shooting open as she screamed out. Surrounded by water as she woke to her surroundings she weakly thrashed about trying to free herself from being pinned within the freezing water. Strong arms held her down refusing to let her go.

"Sarah, stop struggling. I’m trying to save your life. The water will help with the fever."

Her struggles ceased, damp pink lips trembling from the cold as her hands held onto the arms that wrapped around her. Breathing hard her body felt as if she were on fire the coldness of the water bringing about a stinging pain against her skin. She felt weak, cold and hot at the same time, confused, and unsure. Tears erupted as the nights events came crashing back to memory her body soon becoming numb from the cold and the pain.

He held her close to him, his clothes damp but unaffected by the cold as half of his arms were immersed within the freezing water. Feeling that she would no longer struggle he freed one hand stroking her dark wet hair away from her face. "Shh, your safe."

She sobbed against his chest until she had no more tears to shed. The room fell silent no words to be spoken. It should have been quiet, but to Sarah’s ears everything was heard. The swishing of the cold water when she would move slightly beneath its depths, her trembling breath, her own beating heart. She could hear his heartbeat as well, each calm breath that he took, every movement that he made.  The movement of material and flow of water as she was helped up into a standing position, towel wrapped around her soaked form.

So weak, she could barely stand trembling in the Goblin Kings arms supported by only by him. She didn’t have to stand long as he swept her up into his arms carrying her out of the wash room to the adjoining room. Sarah remained silent, to weak to speak and not even knowing what to say or how to react. As he lay her down onto the bed she was no longer wet but completely dry. She just looked at him not knowing what to say, not understanding why he was there, why he was helping her.

Carefully laying her down he pulled the blanket up over her body protecting her from the cold. The fever had left her but she was still weak from the blood loss and the shock of moments ago. He understood her silence, her confusion and the look of bewilderment within her eyes. Her eyes how they captured his within their depths. So long since he had seen her, so long since that dreadful day when she had spoken the words that had banished him from her. Her calling him was the only thing that could break that barrier that kept him from her.

Reaching forwards with gloved hand he silently traced the side of her face with the back of his hand making her look even more shocked than before. "Sleep," pulling back he watched as she had no choice but to give in to his spell. No dreams were to disturb her rest this night.