Sarah woke up, for the second time that day, in Jareth’s castle. She was, again, in the Throne Room, but this time she was being watched over by Goblins. She saw her friends, still in the crystal.

"Ludo? Sir Didymus?" Sarah whispered. She got up cautiously, eyeing the King’s minions, and approached the crystal.

"Get away," warned a Goblin.

"Back off," cautioned another.

Suddenly, the Goblins started to close in on her, telling her to stay away, back off, not to touch it. It was all too much for her; Sarah screamed.

Jareth ran into the Throne Room, surveyed the scene, and grew furious. The Goblins left in a hurry-not wanting to stick around for Jareth’s wrath.

"You idiots!" He shouted after them. Sarah, a little shaken, backed up against the crystal, and tried to breath normally. "Sarah, are you all right?" Jareth took her hand.

"Don’t touch me!"

"Is that the thanks I get for saving your life?"

"Saving my life? Making it miserable, is what you mean."

Jareth turned from Sarah and smiled. "So, have you noticed yet that you can’t escape?"

"I'm not going to marry you!" Sarah shook her head. "Why can’t you understand that? Do you need help?"

"I’m not mad, Sarah." Replied Jareth flatly as he glanced through the crystal. "Pity about Hoggle, isn’t it?"

"Is he…dead? You din't kill him, did you?" Sarah was ready to cry again, but she took a deep breath and waited.

"No, but I will-if you decide you’d rather not be wed to me."

"What happens; you kill them and then what? You kill me next?"

"I could never kill you, Sarah."

"Why not?" Sarah smiled solemnly. Jareth wouldn’t kill her-she knew that even before he said it.

"Because you’re a worthy challenge. And it’s fun to see you try to escape."

"I’ll find a way," Sarah assured him. "Just wait."

"You see?" Laughed Jareth. "So, who’s going to die first?" He held his hand up to the crystal, ready to murder any or all of her friends.

"NO!" Cried Sarah. "Let them go! Please!" She couldn’t help it. She began sobbing, each sob murder on Jareth’s soul.

"Marry me," he managed to say. Sarah put her head in her hands. This can’t be happening, she though. There has to be another way. But there wasn’t. Not this time.

"Jareth!" Sarah got his attention just before he touched the crystal. "I will. I’ll marry you. But you must let them go."

Jareth grinned, the one grin Sarah couldn’t stand, because it meant true evil.

"Agreed." He raised both hands, and the crystal shattered. Sarah held her arms up to protect herself from the glass, but nothing touched her.

When she looked up, Sarah saw Ludo and Sir Didymus survey the room, no longer in their Crystal Prison. She ran to them, throwing her arms around Ludo best she could, then scratching Ambrocious behind the ears.

"Sir Didymus?" Sarah whispered as she hugged him.

"My Lady?"

"Listen closely. You have to find a way Aboveground. It’s the only way to get me out of here and to help Hoggle. Find my father-or my stepmother. Tell them to come with you. Bring them here, and hurry, or I’ll have to marry The Rat." Didymus nodded and bowed.

"All right, enough of that, off you go!" Jareth waved his hand, and Ludo, Didymus, and Ambrocious faded slowly away.

"What’s going to happen to Hoggle?" Sarah knelt next to him, worried.

"He’ll be fine," insisted Jareth. Again, he waved his hand, and Hoggle, just opening his eyes and seeing Sarah, reached out to hold his friend’s hand. Sarah, too reached out, hoping to touch Hoggle’s hand before he disappeared completely. But that, too, was in vein. Hoggle was soon just a vision, and Sarah was left alone with Jareth in the Throne Room.

"So, prepared for the wedding?" Jareth knelt by Sarah and touched her shoulder. She shrugged his hand off and looked him in the eye. Despite their color, they were somehow gray, cold, evil-but there was something else there, too. Sarah couldn’t quite tell what, but it was something.

"Give me a week," She told Jareth. Her tears had started again, and Jareth was hurt by them-he couldn’t stand to see her cry-and he turned away.

"Fine, a week. But in one week, we’re to be wed."

Sarah nodded and stood up.

"Where have my friends gone?" She asked, making sure they were safe.

"They’re within my Labyrinth…somewhere." Answered Jareth, sighing.

Good. She told herself. Ludo, Didymus, I’m counting on you to bring someone back here to help me and Hoggle-wherever he is.

"Where am I going to sleep?" Sarah didn’t even know it was her talking. It wasn’t everyday she’d ask the King of the Goblins where in his castle she would be staying. "I hate waking up in this creepy place." It was obvious to Jareth that Sarah meant the Throne Room, but he acted as if she hadn’t said a thing about it.

"Come with me," Jareth said, more of a command than a request. His voice wasn’t threatening, he didn’t pull her arm, but Sarah followed him as if by some force. She stared blankly ahead, no expression on her face, but Jareth knew Sarah was crying inside. "This is it," he enlightened her when they reached the room. Jareth opened the door, allowing Sarah to go in first. She said nothing, but glanced around the room. There was a bed, a small fireplace, a pile of books in the corner, and, was it really?

"Lancelot?" Sarah allowed herself to whisper his name, despite the fact that her throat was dry from all her crying. She ran to her dear friend, who was lying on the bed, and hugged him tightly-nearly forgetting Jareth was in the room.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat.

"Oh," Sarah jumped a bit, but Jareth didn’t notice.

"I hope you like it here. When we’re married-"

"Go away," Sarah lowered her voice.

"This is my castle!" Jareth walked into the room, glaring at Sarah. "You’re behavior better change, and I mean it! My castle, my rules!"

Sarah felt her face grow hot. Tears welled up in her eyes again, though she quickly blinked them back.

"Quit treating me like a child!" She ordered.

Suddenly, without thinking, Sarah slapped Jareth hard enough to make a cracking sound that echoed off the walls.

Jareth, having never been slapped before, drew back and put a hand to his throbbing cheek. Sarah blinked in surprise. A tiny grin formed on her lips, but it soon faded, and she waited for her punishment.

"You…you’re to stay in here without food or water or any Goblin contact until further notice!" Shouted Jareth. He started to leave, but instead turned around and paced by the only window in the room. "You and those friends of yours-you’ve been planning something, haven’t you?" Sarah sat on the bed and folded her arms across her chest. Jareth grew angry, but didn’t lose his temper. "Never mind," he remarked, and turned to go.

The door slammed shut, and Sarah swore she could feel the bed vibrate. She took a few deep breaths, walked over to the window, and looked out at the Labyrinth below.

"Ludo, Didymus, where are you? Hurry, okay? And help Hoggle, if you can find him." She sighed and, taking Lancelot into her arms, grabbed a book, then flopped on the bed and began to read.