Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth or any of Jim Henson's wonderful characters. (Sadly)

Chapter 9

Tempers

Sarah landed rather ungracefully in a heap in the middle of the throne room. A few dozen goblins stared at her, open-mouthed, before yelling, "HOORAY! QUEENY HOME!" They proceeded to hug her until Sarah was immersed in a pile of the creatures.

Wonderful, she thought. That fluffy, stupid bastard took me here and now I'm going to suffocate underneath this dog-pile. I don't think any of these goblins have even showered in weeks!

Suddenly, the weight was lifted off her shoulders. Sarah gasped for breath on her hands and knees before looking up at her savior.

Jareth eyed the young girl with a mixture of amusement and annoyance, though she wasn't sure the latter was directed toward her. With a quick flick of his risk, he sent a chicken flying out the throne room doors and down the stairs.

"Well?" he drawled. "What are you waiting for? Fetch."

The goblins scrambled to their feet and raced after the poor bird as it tumbled down the steps. It took them a while for them to sort out the bottleneck they made at the doors and actually exit the space, so Sarah had time to move to the other side of the room while they were leaving. After the last goblin was out, Jareth flicked his wrist again and the doors shut with a bang. The sound of a blot sliding into place told Sarah she was trapped.

"So now I'm your prisoner?" she spat.

"Prisoner?" Jareth repeated. "No. More of an honored guest." He moved to the throne and sat down, throwing one leg elegantly over the side of the chair. "But you are mine." His mismatched eyes bore into her, and she felt her heart quicken. Whether it was from fear or anticipation, she did not know.

"You have no power over me," she countered, sounded braver than she felt.

"Sarah, Sarah," he tisked. "I have every power. You chose this. You chose to return to the Labyrinth. You are… and always will be…. Mine."

"You delusional."

"Really? And what makes you think so? You seem to be in possession of some knowledge that I am not privy to."

"In thirteen hours I'll be home."

He threw his head back and laughed. "You don't honestly believe that witless goblin can solve the Labyrinth. Don't lie to me."

Sarah gritted her teeth. Oh, how she wanted so desperately to slap him – to wipe that smug smile off his perfectly sculpted face.

Jareth was immensely enjoying the situation. Oh, my precious thing. Can't you see this is where you belong? With me? "Sarah, is it truly so horrible? Being back in your childhood fantasy?"

"A fantasy wouldn't include you." Wrong, her libido sang. She thought she saw him flinch slightly at her words, but the movement was so fleeting, so must have imagined it.

Jareth rose from his throne. She took a step back. "Sarah," his voice was cold. "I have been generous up until now."

"DON'T! Don't start with me Goblin King! You lying, sneaking, two-timing bastard! You twisted the rules – and for what?! I am not a part of your sick game any longer! I've grown up!" Her hands clenched at her sides. "You are not generous. Don't pretend to be."

He was suddenly in front of her. The calm demeanor was completely gone now. His eyes swirled with fire and his lip curl back over his teeth in a snarl.

But I can be cruel, echoed so loud in her mind, almost as if he had spoken the words again.

His face loomed inches from hers and she had to crane her neck to maintain eye contact. To her credit, she did neither flinch nor move. "Is that the game you wish you play, Sarah precious?" he whispered, his voice carefully controlled.

"I have turned the world upside down!" She found herself hanging in the Escher room, her feet on the ceiling. "I have reordered time!" The world was spinning – she was falling…. "I have done it all for you." She fell to the floor. The room still whisked in circles around her. Jareth stood upright in the middle of the storm. Dark clouds seemed to form within the chamber. The air hummed with electricity. "Isn't that generous?" Sarah scooted backwards until her back hit the wall. The world did not stop spinning. She covered her head with her hands. "ISN'T THAT GENEROUS?"

"Yes!" she gasped. The spinning stopped. Sarah felt like she was going to throw up.

"Sarah…." His voice was much calmer now –almost regretful. "Don't make this worse that it needs to be. You could be happy here…" With me… the words remained unspoken.

She said nothing and kept her head in her hands. Minutes passed. When she looked up, the Goblin King was gone and she quietly began to cry.

Jareth paced his study. He grabbed the first object from his desk that his hands fell on and flung it against the wall, shattering it completely. He hadn't meant to lose his temper. She was just so frustrating! The most beautiful, infuriating creature. She didn't understand.

For years he had dreamt about the moment she returned to his castle, and now it was all wrong.

Jareth conjured and crystal ball and watched her huddled in the throne room. His heart ached when she was in pain. He couldn't stand to see her hurt – even more so when it was his fault.

He flung the crystal away, and it popped like a bubble before reaching the ground.

I am not her Prince Charming. I am a king. She needs to understand that.

After indulging her self-pity a little while longer, Sarah wiped her eyes and stood. She crossed the throne room in a couple quick steps and jiggled the handle of the door. Still locked.

"Ugh!" She banged the door once with her fists and threw in a kick for good measure.

A floor tile behind her began to lift, and Sarah starred at it apprehensively. A goblin's eyes and nose emerged. It appeared to scan the room for more danger, before raising the tile up completely.

Sarah walked toward the creature slowly, not wanted to startle it.

"Hello," she said. "Don't worry – I won't hurt you."

This seemed to reassure the goblin, and he moved closer to her.

"Goblins made Queeny a present," it said. He pulled a package out from behind its back. It was very small, wrapped in a strange patchwork of papers taped haphazardly together.

Sarah smiled and took the gift. "Aw, that's so sweet of you! What is it?"

The goblin gestured excitedly at her to open it. By now more of the creatures were climbing back into the throne room. Sarah pulled off the wrapping paper to reveal a necklace with a chicken feather and a pouch hanging from a long strand of twine. "I love it!" The goblin blushed bright pink and the others grinned broadly around him. "May I know the name of the bearer of my gift?"

The goblin scrapped his foot over the ground and looked down. "Me's Humphrey, ma'am."

"And I'm Pumpernickle!"

"I's Lowie!"

"Me called Thris!"

"And I Bernie!"

The goblins all cried out their names so Sarah had trouble attaching any of them to an actually face.

"Thank you!" She smiled. "All of you! And as a sign of my appreciation, I want to give you something."

"Cookies?" a voice called out hopefully.

"No," she laughed. She slipped off her socks. "Here. You can you them as puppets! See?" She demonstrated, and the goblins hooted with joy. Once the lot was distracted, she looked at Humphrey. "Humphrey? I need to ask one more thing of you."

The little goblin nodded and held himself up straighter. "Anything for you, Queeny!"

"How do I get out of the throne room?"

He tilted his head as though she had just asked something as basic as how to eat or drink.

"You gets out there." Humphrey pointed to the doors. They were open.

So I'm finally saying my right words…

It's been years since I've written anything for this story. Literally. I do apologize to those who had read it before – I can be very lazy lol

I am still writing without a set plot, and this chapter took a turn even I wasn't expecting, but it felt more realistic to have Sarah pissed off (as she should be). Future chapters will get steamier between our two main characters, but for now, that is the way it is.

I hope you enjoy this next step in the story! Let more know what you think and where you want me to take the tale!