Author's Note:

Dear Readers,

I know this is where most writers would insert an apology and a reason for their absence. Well, since I am the king and Fae I see no reason for me to apologize. Now, because I am feeling generous I shall give an explanation (only because I feel generous). As I explained before there was an influx of runners but once that ended another crisis came up. Alice and her "friend" had an "incident" (if you are reading her book, you will understand) and I have been looking after Alice as a dutiful fiancée should. That is all the explanation you are going to get.

Jareth, Goblin King

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Sarah's POV:

I sat up in my bed as the goblin answered Jareth.

"Sir, she has won." My jaw dropped. I hadn't expected that at all. For some reason I thought that I was the only one who could beat the labyrinth. But, I had been wrong.

Jareth was furious. I could see the anger glowing in his mismatched.

"I guess one of us shall have to take her home." He hissed as he dismissed the goblin with a wave of his hand. Cocking my head, I asked,

"Take her home? What do you mean?" No one had taken me home and I was confused. Surely, I hadn't been the exception!? Besides, couldn't magic take them home?

Jareth threw back his head and laughed. "Of course not, Precious thing." I scowled as I realized he had read my mind again. The one thing I hated about him was that ability. "It is tradition for the Goblin King or one of his servants to escort the runner home. We must make sure nothing happens while they are en route." He smirked and sauntered over to me. "I couldn't do it with you." He sat down beside me and stroked my hair. "It hurt too much. I entrusted you to my crystal balls and they took you home. I didn't have the strength to do it."

My eyes welled with tears as I was again faced with what I had done to him. I didn't respond to it but simply said,

"Who will take her back?" Jareth stood up and paced at the side of my bed.

"Well, I don't want Gareth to take her back. After all, he decided he was going to marry her. It would be too hard for him." He ran his hand through his long blond hair and sighed. "I can't go. There is too much work to be done with the kingdom. I shall have to send her with a goblin."

I couldn't let him do that. The goblins were a little frightening to one who wasn't used to them and I didn't want to have her frightened.

"Jareth, let me take her home." That was the only way. Besides, it was time I got out of bed. It wouldn't be too bad. I needed some fresh air anyway. Jareth planted his feet firmly in the ground and shook his head.

"No, Precious thing. No. You are not well enough to do that. It isn't an easy trip with a wound like yours." He shook his head again. "Put the thought from your mind."

I locked eyes with him and through them expressed my determination. I had to do it. I had by now set my heart on it. Our staring contest ended with him saying,

"Very well. Just promise me one thing, Precious." I looked up at him happily and said,

"What?" He walked over and ran his hand through my hair. "Be careful." I nodded and he vanished, most likely to tell whoever needed to be told that I was taking Alice home.

I got up and dressed myself, careful of the wound beneath my breasts. It was healing well but I still had to be careful. Very careful. After dressing, I magicked myself to the tower room where I had learned previously was where most were kept until they could be returned home.

I appeared in the room and saw a young woman standing, looking out of the window at the Labyrinth.

"Hello?" I said softly. She jumped and turned to look at me. Her eyes widened and I quickly said,

"My name is Sarah. I have come to take you and your sister home." Alice nodded numbly and picked up her sister who was sleeping soundly on the small cot. I reached out and took her hand in mine. She didn't say a word but seemed deep in thought.

Our journey would be a long one because I wasn't good with transporting people. As the first ten minutes passed without conversation, I decided to say something,

"So, how did you like my husband's labyrinth?" She looked up at me and her brows furrowed.

"You're the Goblin Queen?" I nodded and was about to say something when she went on. "I don't know. It was a challenge. I like challenges." She sighed and looked at the child in her arms. "I don't know why I don't feel like leaving." She whispered to herself. I barely heard the last part. She glanced up at me and chuckled nervously.

"I guess I shouldn't have said that." She murmured. "Gareth says that words mean something." I nodded and replied,

"To the Fae they do." I looked her over. "Why would you want to stay in the Labyrinth? Most want to leave as soon as they can." She shrugged.

"I don't know. My home isn't the best." She chuckled nervously and looked at me. "How old are you?" I thought about it for a moment.

"Eighteen, going on nineteen." I said with a laugh. That was my mortal age. As well as my Fae age, I guessed. I needed to have Jareth explain that so I wouldn't wrongly count my age. Her head whipped around and the look on her face was priceless.

"You've got to be kidding!" She looked me over long and hard. "You have to be older." I shook my head.

"No, I am only eighteen." The girl seemed in shock as the once again looked me over.

"You look much older." I sighed and tried to laugh. I couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not.

"It was my transformation into a Fae that made me look older. We all do." I smiled in memory of my shock when I had found I was no longer human. I looked the girl over and wondered what kind of Fae she would make. She was a pretty girl all thing considered.

"Transformation?" She asked quietly. I nodded.

"Yes, I was human until a few months ago. When I agreed to marry Jareth, I became Fae and immortal." Her eyebrows knitted and she seem to be trying to reconcile the strangeness of all that she was hearing. She had to be under great stress from it all. Suddenly, she asked,

"Is there any way for me to become Fae?" Her question surprised me but I didn't over think it.

"Yes, you must marry a Fae." The girls shoulders drooped and I then asked. "Why would you want to become Fae? You aren't laying on a bed dying with your old nemesis offering you immortality." She looked at me curiously but decided that must have been my story.

"No, but I don't want to go home." She looked down at the girl in her arms. "I'm not accepted there. I'm not wanted. Abi is. All of my sisters are loved. No one seems to understand me." I nodded understandingly. I had thought that once. I had found it was almost true. Not quite, but almost. A smirk befitting Jareth passed over my face.

"You don't have to go home." She looked up at me and frowned slightly.

"I can't stay in the Labyrinth. I beat it and that is the end of our contact. The Goblin King told me so. He said I would never have to think of it again." I laughed.

"Jareth never said you couldn't move there. He was simply saying it wouldn't affect your life in any way once you got home." She nodded slightly and fell silent. I left the silence there. I didn't want to interrupt her thinking.

We arrived at her home and stood in her room. I had never seen anything like it before. Every inch was covered in poster of singers and bands and there was tons and tons of black and white. She left the room for a moment, making a gesture for me to wait.

A moment later she returned and pulled out a bag to start packing. It took me a moment to realize what she was doing.

"You're coming back with me?" She nodded.

"I might as well. Where else do I have to go?" I shrugged.

"Well, if you come back, you must marry. In fact, my husband shall choose your match." She looked around her room and then back at me.

"Anything is better than this." Packing the last few things, she closed up the bag and said,

"I'm ready."