“Where’s Hoggle?” one of the Fireys barked, panting. He came to Agnes’ kitchen running like there was a fire. “No idea, why?” The Firey man took the glass of lemonade she was holding and drank it. “The - princess - wants to hunt in our wood,” he breathed and put the empty glass on table. “What?!” “She’s got a crossbow and arrows,” he said desperately. “Only the king can stop her. We need Hoggle.” “He’s not here,” Agnes tried to find some other plan, but the Firey saw something interesting and his eyes sparkled. “When he cannot be found, we must help ourselves,” he screamed and took something from the chair. As fast as he had come, he left the kitchen; Agnes couldn’t do anything. “Wait! What did you...” she called at him, but then stopped and covered her mouth. “The wig!” she whispered, knowing there were troubles ahead. Jareth turned so slowly like she was aiming a gun at him.  “Hello,” he smiled like a schoolboy, found stealing cherries.  Sarah, dressed in a nightgown, was standing face-to-face with him, sizing him up with an angry look. For two whole years he had waited for this moment and now she was standing there with her arms crossed, cold faced, not saying a word to him.  “Won’t you say hello? We haven’t seen each other for a while.” “What are you doing here?” she asked coldly, not wanting to move a step closer. “What do you think?” he smiled, but seeing her, all his humor disappeared somewhere into an elfland. “I felt you watching me.” “Me? Watching you?” he looked hurt. “I see,” she nodded, silently weighing both sides. “What are you doing in my room then?” For a moment he was just staring, then a wag smile appeared on his face. “You invited me.” “Me?” she breathed out, unbelieving. “It doesn’t seem to me I called you. Or was I talking in my sleep?” she added skeptically and Jareth made his first step towards her. “Maybe,” he whispered and looked at her in such a way she felt herself turning red. She almost forgotten what it was like   being under his influence, but a moment close to him was enough to loose control and self-assurance.  “Anyway... once invited, forever invited,” he touched his lips with his second finger and stepped closer again, while Sarah stepped back and hit the bed. He seemed to enjoy it. “What do you want?” she asked, hoping in vain that he didn’t find her voice nervous and scared.  “I take a good care of what I say, so you... so you can’t simply get me into your game.” He smiled. It was a smile that froze the blood in her veins.  “Oh. Really?” “Really,” she nodded, but she didn’t sound very certain. “And... you wouldn’t like to come back to the Labyrinth? I have a new statue there,” he smirked and rested his hand on the wall. Sarah moved her head to one side, not believing her ears. “You are inviting me into the Underground? Oh! I thought the last loss was enough for you!” she remarked, expecting him to be hurt, but he only looked away and smiled. “A friendly visit? Won‘t you come?” “And why should I?” she crossed her arms again and raised up her eyelids. “Do you think somebody there longs for my company so much?” Jareth’s eyes sparkled.  “I know you’re not seeing your friends anymore, but that would please them. The question is... why?” “Why what?” “Why do you avoid them? Why do you avoid the Labyrinth...” “I don’t avoid them! Or the Labyrinth!” “So you avoid... me?” She didn’t want to look into his eyes, but it was like she was hypnotized. She didn’t say a word, just moved her look; she could almost swear for a moment that she spotted pain in his face. She still felt him looking at her, when he turned fast and made a few steps to her large wardrobe. “You have changed. How you behave, how you look, even how you dress,” he added and touched a random dress, disgusted. “W... what?” “For example this color doesn’t suit you at all,” he said and pointed at dark dress. “I think you should wear something... something...” “What?! How da... give the dress back!” she gave a shriek and pointed back at the wardrobe, while Jareth kept piling clothes in his arms. “What are you doing?! Give them back!” “Come get them,” he smiled the most sweet and the most dangerous smile she had ever seen. “No!” “Are you afraid?” “NO!” “So why don’t you come close, get them?” “Give them to me!” Sarah made a few steps towards him and quickly moved her hand, but before she could grab them, the clothes disappeared and she only touched an air. At the same moment his hand had her forearm and he pulled her close to him. “Let me go!” she shrieked, trying to get loose, but he hold her tight. “Let me go!! I wish you let me go, right now!” “Oh! Those aren’t the right words. Anyway... you need a change of pace and the Labyrinth will only help. You’ll see, you’ll thank me... Sarah.” “NO! Don’t you dare! Can you hear me?” she screamed, but her knees were already weak and everything was spinning. A gentle hand lightly touched the furniture, not only trying its quality, but also feeling its very soul. “May I help you?” Lucrecia turned and her icy-blue eyes stopped at a small women figure.  “I’m just looking,” she answered, a quick smile appearing on her face. “Junk,” Agnes stated and sized up the girl with the silver hair, who woke up strange feelings inside her. As if reading her thoughts, Lucrecia turned back again, her fingers touching the shiny wood.  “I wouldn’t say that.” “Pardon?” “I think these things are very valuable. Not for everybody... but for one person.” Agnes kept standing, not able to say a word. “It’s a pity it ended up this way. I’m sure we would have understood each other,” she turned, smiled lightly and slowly moved the door. “She’s a lucky girl, do you know?” “I do,” Agnes answered, watching the silver-haired girl smile for the last time and then leave through the corridor. “Well, welcome here!” “Aaaaaaa!” “Yes, I know, you’re overexcited. My home simply is that way,” Jareth dreamed and slowly untied his arms, so she could leave his embrace. “YOU! YOU!” “Yes?” “How could you?” “But oh, Sarah,” he took her by her shoulders, leading her into the garden and around the green maze. “You need a change. And the Labyrinth will help you... I will help you,” he smiled. “I don’t need any change. Maybe your do,” she escaped, furious as never before. “I want to go back! I shouldn’t be here! It’s against rules!” “Really?” “YES! I didn’t wish anybody away, at the most you and you... you simply swindled me!” she was angry and his peaceful look made her mad. “I didn’t call you and you came and slept in my room. Then you criticized me, took my clothes and took me into the Labyrinth!” Sarah was gesturing angrily, but he never moved. “What do you want?” “I want you to get rid of it.” “What?!” “There’s something deep inside you and you can’t cope with it.” “Oh, so according to you I’m depressed!” she shouted, while he was standing, arms crossed, watching her. “I’m absolutely all right, it’s just you, every time you make me mad, you do something and then I feel... I feel because of you... I feel...” “Angry,” he prompted. “YES!” Sarah touched her forehead and took a deep breath. “I thought you would relax here a little. And you see, it’s working!” he grinned and Sarah had to hold herself back hard, not to jump at him. “That’s what friends are for, isn’t it?” “But you’re not my friend! You’re not, you’ve never been! A friend tells the truth, a friend helps, he doesn’t bring the other one into a different world without her permission, he doesn’t spy on her and he doesn’t take her clothes. A friend likes the other one, he’s open in his feelings and last, but not least, he would never leave the other one and let her wait alone for two years!” she finished and immediately stopped silent, frightened with what she said. “So you’re angry because I’m not your friend?” She thought he would be both surprised and amazed, would laugh at her, but something different was in his face. A hope and a request. “I can be.” Jareth moved closer. “Do you really want it? Do you want me to be a FRIEND?” Her head was spinning from the way he was looking at her. “That’s... that’s not that simple.” “What should I do?” he whispered and touched her hair. She trembled. “You should... you should...” “I shouldn’t leave you and take your clothes and take you away without your permission,” he specified with a shred of humor, but his eyes were serious. “I should like you.... and tell you...” He bent and his lips were almost touching hers. “Yes...” she whispered and only sensed his hot breath, when his lips touched hers and she, loosing all ability to think, automatically cuddled up to him. “Tell me... say... do you want me to be a friend?” he breathed and embraced her, his lips lightly touching hers again. “N... no...,” she managed to whisper. Then he kissed her so hungrily, that she forgot everything.