Ok... So it's been a while, yeh? Heh heh... *gulp*

I'm definitely still alive! Barely. I was happy to let myself go crazy with this unfinished story, but I had so much encouragement from my friends and family and all the lovely little reviews that I thought, "What the hell am I doing? I need to finish this shit and move on!"

So that's what I'ma do. I got dis shit all kinds of figured out now. Alls I gotta do is get it up on this site!

So here it is. Don't get too excited. I'm extremely rusty. It's been like two or seven years or something like that O.o

Disclaimizzle: I don't own nobody. Sobz.

Sarah and Jareth finished their morning lesson in the garden and made their way across the field to a shaded table for tea. Sarah still felt flushed from the physical and mental exhaustion of constantly using magic. For the past week, she consistently felt herself growing stronger with each passing day, but the ability to successfully perform simple tricks evaded her still.

"Well, my lady," Jareth started, "how do you feel about your first week? Are you ready to try your magic in the practice realm once more?"

Sarah internally groaned at the mortifying experience in Jareth's "practice realm." He created a mock mortal realm in which she could try out her new-found magic skills. The Goblin King said she was not ready to lease her uncontrolled power in the real Aboveground, which was probably the wisest decision for everybody involved. Sarah acted like a loosed cannon in the practice arena. Since then, Jareth kept her on a tight leash, and made her train in baby steps. It frustrated her to no end and he knew it.

"I feel like I'm making progress, but it's so hard to tell when we keep doing to same things over and over again. You're not pushing me hard enough." Sarah huffed. She nibbled on a cookie and ignored Jareth's shocked expression as best as she could. It was comical to see his cool façade broken so easily.

"Sarah, you wound me!" The Goblin King lowered his teacup and placed his free hand to his chest as if the lady's words actually caused him physical pain. "I do not want to overwhelm you. I challenge you with what you can handle. Anything more will only frustrate you." He smirked at her from over the rim of his teacup.

"You don't know that! I could be ready for so much more and we would never know it because you're not challenging me enough!" Sarah allowed her frustration to seep into her tone. She didn't feel the need to hide her true emotions when she was with Jareth, which was something she chalked up to having to do with the fact that they spent every waking hour together going over magic. And for all the hours of study and practice, she still felt that she was not making enough progress. She was convinced it was his fault and not hers.

"Sarah, do try to calm down. I know you are feeling frustrated, but you must trust that I have your best interest at heart. We are only practicing the necessities as you wished, but there are some things that cannot be rushed. How can you expect to progress if you cannot first manage the basics?" Jareth broke a cookie in half and offered her a piece. When she didn't take it, he placed it neatly on the saucer in front of her. Sarah scowled.

"First of all, I am calm." Jareth scoffed and she ignored him. "Secondly, all I need to master is a glamour. How many hundreds of times have I successfully pulled one off? And thirdly, we are trying to rush things, remember? I have a wedding to get to and I don't plan on missing it now!" Sarah finished with a pointed glare in the Goblin King's direction. Jareth moved his wicker chair closer to her own seat at the table. A breeze rustled his hair slightly and blew his masculine scent to her. She shivered and rubbed her bare arms.

"Well, I guess the only thing to do is give you exactly what you want." Jareth sighed.

Sarah's face lit up for a split second before falling to a confused pout. "Wait… Just like that? You mean it?" She wondered if she misunderstood his words.

"Precious, the last thing I want is for you to feel like I am holding you back. I will give you a more challenging lesson, and from that you may decide how our lessons will continue."

"Oh, excellent! When can we start?" Sarah stood up and snatched a cookie that looked like a macaroon. She sniffed it before taking a small bite. Delicious as always, she mused.

Jareth took another sip of his tea, wiped his pristine mouth, and stood as well. "Let's begin immediately." He looked down at the untouched cookie half on Sarah's plate and made a face. Sarah almost missed it as he was quick to cover it. What a baby, Sarah mused. She picked up the broken dessert and popped it in her mouth before walking away from the table. Jareth's answering smile was blinding.

In a flash, the table and food was gone, and Sarah and Jareth stood facing one another, the only other change being the two hooded cloaks on their shoulders.

"What's this?" Sarah asked fingering the nondescript fabric. "Is this a part of the lesson?"

"It is, in a way." Jareth pulled the hood about his head and tugged it down to his forehead. "This is just a tool. I want you to imagine a glamour concealing your identity just like a cloak would. We will go out amongst the citizens of my kingdom and you will hide yourself from them. Should anyone recognize you, question your identity, or even suspect that you are using a glamour, you will read a book of my choosing and… go to bed without supper." His mismatched eyes widened in outrage.

Sarah rolled her eyes, "I hardly think a punishment is necessary, Jareth. I'm motivated enough."

His eyes sparkled with mirth, "We shall see about that."

Sarah cleared her throat, "Alright, so I have to use a glamour and not get recognized. Sounds simple enough."

"Hm… Not as simple as you might think, precious. You forget that the peoples of this realm, Fae and goblin alike, are magic users of varying degrees. Yes… This should be rather interesting." Jareth propped his fist on his hip and smirked.

"Wait just a minute…" Sarah's green eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You're setting me up for failure, you jerk!"

"Come, come, Sarah, I would not do that to you. This will certainly be a challenge for you; furthermore, the focus required of you to succeed will be very similar to what you will need Aboveground. Consider it a mock test with which we may gauge your current ability level to determine how best to proceed with training." Sarah was about to speak when Jareth interrupted her, "the rules are as follows: you may only rely on your own glamour to mask your identity. Nothing else, only your magic. If you can last… Oh, I don't know… 13 minutes should suffice. I will know the second your identity is breached, but you are free to give up at any point. Any questions?" He looked to her and rubbed his gloved palms together with wicked excitement.

Sarah sighed. She should have kept her mouth shut. Of course Jareth would do something ridiculous like this. I did ask for it...

"No, let's do this." She pulled her hood over her head and waited for Jareth to poof them away.

Jareth cleared his throat. "Aren't you forgetting something?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Well I must be if you have to ask." Sarah huffed. She looked about herself and couldn't figure out what she was forgetting.

"Your glamour." Jareth pointed to her face, which immediately flushed hotly with embarrassment.

"Oh… Right." She closed her eyes and imagined her face becoming just as nondescript as her worn cloak. She opened her eyes and watched Jareth appraise her for a moment before he created an orb and dropped it.

They were instantly transported to a busy alley in what she assumed was still the Goblin City.

Sarah caught herself staring at the huts and stores and carts before she snapped to attention. She looked where Jareth was standing and saw a goblin she did not recognize. Gone was Jareth's beautiful visage, and in its place stood a gnarled goblin face on a hunched and hairy body. The only thing that hinted at its true identity was the mismatched gaze.

Jareth brought a boney finger up to his eye and pointed back at her before he disappeared amongst the mass of people and creatures.

Sarah pulled the hood of her cloak further down her face before she heard a voice float through her head.

No cheating, precious. You know the rules.

"Who's the real cheater here?" she growled in frustration and lifted her chin ever so slightly. Her hood still covered most of her beautiful face, but she was not yet confident enough in her glamour as to rely on it completely. She walked aimlessly through the busy streets, moving freely through the current of citizens as they roamed their town with purpose and direction.

Sarah made sure to keep her head down and not make eye contact. She wasn't sure what kind of glamour she placed on herself, but it was too late to try and change it now or else someone would notice.

And then he would win, she fumed silently.

Sarah felt she was doing rather well until she walked straight into a dwarf and caused him to drop his crates of produce. She moved to help him but he brushed her off and told her to open her eyes and watch where she was walking. Sarah looked around her to see if Jareth saw the interaction, but she could not make heads or tails of anyone in the bustling crowd.

She felt that two minutes had passed since Jareth left her side, so she tried to find a low traffic area in which she could spend the remaining 11 minutes. As soon as she walked a ways through the crowd and away from it, the crowd seemed to follow her without any apparent reason.

Damn you, Jareth! She fumed again.

Sarah caught her reflection and immediately moved to cover her face before she saw the flicker of her glamour flit across her visage. She noticed that her illusion made her look rather dull in comparison, and certainly nothing to bother looking at in the first place. She felt a little smug at the discovery and moved back toward the busy shops and food carts.

9 minutes left, she mused. This is a piece of cake! The Fae woman walked with more confidence until she overheard a shrill voice come from somewhere nearby.

"…heard she's from another kingdom, acting as some kind of royal ambassador or something. Kren said he heard a rumor that she was Unseelie. Can you believe it?"

Sarah passed by a group of Fae women gossiping over a cart displaying varying pieces of beautifully crafted jewelry. She tried to ignore them but couldn't help hearing their loud chattering.

"Well whoever this… Lady Sarah thinks she is, she needs to take a seat behind the other noblewomen in this kingdom. Who is more faithful to his majesty than the Goblin Court? There's a prophecy to fulfill and she will no doubt serve as an evil distraction." The other women murmured their agreements and continued gossiping.

Sarah could feel her tenuous grasp on her glamour slip for a split second before she regained control and secured her false image. However that little slip was enough for one of the courtesans to see her and look at her curiously. Sarah watched, frozen in place as the woman nudged her companions and motioned toward Sarah with a dubious glare.

Sarah backed away and turned to run. In her haste, she head-butted a very solid chest bone, whipped her head back in shock and saw Jareth's perfectly upturned smile in a rapid succession. It looked victorious.

"I win."

And they disappeared.

Sarah fumed silently for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. As soon as they returned to the castle, Jareth escorted the loser to her next assignment in the library.

She found a plush reading chair to sit in while Jareth perused the innumerable tomes in his grand library. Sarah would have been more impressed—delighted, even— with the room in any other circumstance.

"I have several titles in mind, but I want to find one that is…" He mumbled to himself as he flitted around the stacks and shelves.

Sarah watched him with unbridled irritation from her neutral position. He blinked in and out of her sight as he transported himself from one level to another. Sarah could hear the Goblin King rustling pages and snapping covers closed as he considered each and every book.

Several minutes passed like that and Sarah grew restless. She stood and walked around a corner to find Jareth stuffing a book back on the shelf. She cleared her throat to get the distracted Fae's attention but he showed no sign of acknowledgment.

"Jareth," Sarah called out in a clipped tone, "You've been at this for half an hour. Just pick something and—"

"Ah HA!" Jareth exclaimed gleefully. He ripped the dusty tome from the shelf and flipped to the first page. "Perfect." Jareth looked up and saw Sarah's bewildered expression. "Oh, there you are. I found the book." He passed the leather bound object to her and she quickly read the title.

"'Warfare: A Goblin's Perspective, by Scrump.'" Sarah read the title back to Jareth emotionlessly. "Shouldn't I be reading something about magic? More specifically, glamours?" She wanted to hurl the book at his royal head.

"This will be most informative, precious. Insightful, really. I might read it again myself." He smiled satisfactorily.

"It was written by a goblin." She deadpanned.

"It will serve you well to start thinking more like one. Some may be brighter than others, but their instincts are what you must strive for." Jareth nodded toward the book and walked past her, making his way for the exit. "You might discover a thing or two in there about magic, but the only way to find out is to read it." In a cloud of glitter and shadow, he vanished from sight.

Sarah wanted to forget the entire assignment and go about her own method of practice, but she admitted to herself that the description of the book piqued her interest. She didn't think goblins were capable of literary finesse, but she had proof in her hands.

One hundred pages… Better get started. Sarah thought to herself and walked a short distance to a sitting area illuminated by a blazing fireplace.

Sarah read the last page of the book and snapped it closed. Her mind was buzzing with newly acquired information and she had to talk to someone before she exploded. I have to find Jareth.

She stood quickly from her chair and immediately regretted the hasty movement. After she blinked away the creeping black spots in her vision and shook off her dizziness, she delayed no longer and rushed out of the library to find the Goblin King.

Sarah ran past some of her friends—old and new—in her haste. She muttered rushed greetings before she brushed passed them. She needed to talk to Jareth first.

Sarah opened the door to Jareth's study and hesitated. She immediately felt embarrassed for barging in at such a late hour, but she couldn't remember the last time she bothered knocking before entering since arriving at the castle. No time to feel sorry about it now, Sarah thought as she stepped through the doorway and into the softly lit chamber.

Inside, Sarah found Jareth in his seat behind his desk furrowing at a paper in front of him. The king looked up briefly toward his visitor before focusing on his work again.

"Do come in, I'm not busy at all." Jareth deadpanned. He scribbled a note on the page before laying it down. Jareth took in Sarah's appearance for a few seconds before a lazy smile formed on his handsome face. "Why, Sarah, you look quite flushed and out of breath. Have you been thinking of me?" He winked.

Sarah scoffed and ignored his comment, "I finished the book."

"Oh, you did?" He feigned surprise. "But it was written by a goblin." He whispered with mock disdain.

"Ok! I was wrong to judge the damn book so quickly! Satisfied?" She growled, and instantly regretted her harsh tone. She wouldn't get any answers from him if she didn't calm down. Sarah sighed and walked toward the Goblin King until she was right in front of his desk. "I didn't come to argue, I just had a couple of questions…" She poked the dark wood grain on his desk and waited for his response. When he gave no reply, she looked up and caught him staring intently at her with his head propped up on one gloved hand.

He broke eye contact first and chuckled, "How can I resist you anything when you look at me so?"

Sarah blushed bright red straightened her stance. "I didn't look like anything!" She crossed her arms.

"Oh, you didn't?" He formed a crystal and started twirling it around. "Shall I show you how you looked just now? Simply breathtaking," he smirked.

"Jareth, please, just answer my questions." Sarah desperately wanted to change the subject. She liked his compliments—probably too much—but she wanted him to be serious more than anything at that moment.

"You have yet to ask me anything. If it's my permission you need, then here, you have it. Ask away." Jareth rid himself of his orb and leaned forward to place both arms on the space in front of him. The weight of his arms rustled and crinkled his paperwork slightly, but he didn't seem to care.

"Thank you," Sarah said as she sat in one of the seats in the center of the room. She faced Jareth and continued, "Are you really Seelie? Or just not very Unseelie?"

"I am Seelie. I have never used Unseelie magic, although I have come close a few times."

"'Come close…?' Ok, I'll get back to that later. What about the goblins?"

"What about them?" He smiled knowingly.

"For starters, they are little, half-brained war machines!"

"Ah, yes," He smile grew with pride. "I thought that little detail might interest you. You did read the book in its entirety, correct?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Then you also read the part where it describes the difference between wartime and peacetime. Right now, there are no wars being fought."

"But if there was a war, they would just snap in to battle mode? Just like that?"

"Only if the standing army falls, and it has yet to meet its match in battle. Do you remember why?"

Sarah furrowed her brow. "Because it's made up of goblins?"

"Well, yes… but mostly because it is led by the King of the Goblins himself." Jareth leaned back in his chair and did not bother to hide his smugness.

Sarah scoffed at his attitude before she recalled one particular passage in the book. It had several accounts of battles won by the Goblin Army… and just one account mattered to her.

"Alright. If the Goblin Army is so great, how did I manage to defeat it when I ran the Labyrinth, hm?"

Jareth's smile dropped. "We were not defeated."

"Ah ah, that's not what the book says." Sarah pulls the book out of thin air and flips to the page she needed. "'The most recent battle fought by the Goblin Army happened in the inner city just outside the castle against the first Champion of the Labyrinth, Sarah Williams. No witnesses have been able to explain how the young human girl defeated the army so effortlessly. His majesty, King Jareth, considered the battle an absolute victory, despite the absolute destruction the city and soldiers endured.'" Sarah finished the excerpt and looked at Jareth expectantly.

His expression darkened ever so slightly, "That—if you must call it a battle—was hardly what I would call 'absolute destruction.'" The Goblin King turned his torso and threw one leg over his arm rest. Sarah likened him to a pouting child.

"Well if it wasn't a crushing loss, then how could it have been a victory if this author thinks otherwise? He must have all the facts about that battle! Not to mention the fact that—Oh yeah—I was there!"

"Sarah, do you really think that is how my Goblin Army operates? Of course you didn't go to battle with any real danger."

"Then why does he—"

Jareth cut her off, "The goblins fight how I order them to fight. They see victories as victories and losses as losses. They don't see the caliber at which they go to battle."

Sarah shook her head. "So you deliberately threw the battle. And now it has been recorded as a mark on your perfect winning streak." Sarah chuckled at the ridiculousness.

Jareth chuckled too, "The book was right when it said I didn't consider the battle a loss at all."

"What did you win?" Sarah's heart fluttered in her chest. Calm down, skippy, you're acting like a teenaged lunatic.

She never heard his answer as they were interrupted at that moment by the sound of the door being slammed open. The stone wall behind the swinging door made an audible crack upon impact.

Zander stood there peering in with both hands fisted on his narrow hips. He started to walk toward them when he noticed the damage he caused to the wall. He looked at the numerous cracks on the wall and couldn't find the one he just created.

"Did I make all of—" he asked and gestured toward the wall. "No matter, I'll fix it next time I come by." The young king beamed and strolled toward the available seat next to Sarah.

"Whew, it's awfully tense in here. Did I interrupt something hot and heavy? If so I can leave." Zander snuggled deeper in his seat, not bothering at all to appear sorry for the sudden visit.

"Sarah and I were just discussing her latest assignment." Jareth looked slightly relieved for a split second. Sarah noticed.

"Oh yeah? What's that?" Zander read the cover of the book in her lap. "Ah yes, ol' Scrump causing trouble again?" He shook his head and looked at Sarah's annoyed expression. He paled and cleared his throat before he made his way toward Jareth's wine carafe.

"Let's just move on," Sarah demanded rather than suggested. "The book also suggested that the Goblin Army reserves the right to use whatever magic they can to win the wars. Does that include Unseelie magic?"

"Yes." Jareth answered simply.

"Then how can you say you are completely Seelie? The goblins are only as magically capable as their leader, which is you!"

"Even you are capable of Unseelie magic. Or have you forgotten already?" Jareth did not rise to Sarah's accusations, but stayed calm as he answered her. "The Goblin Army has not been used in civil wars within the Seelie faction. With that being said, wars against the Unseelie are dirty, bloody messes that must be handled in extreme ways."

"In other words, you just fight fire with fire."

"No, precious. The Unseelie fight with fire. I bring the storm."

Sarah snapped her mouth closed, her retort dying on her lips.

Jareth stood from his seat and leaned over the desk toward her. "I never lose, my lady."

Sarah raised her chin with indignation. Jareth smirked.

Zander could not decide where to settle his gaze between the heated couple.

The Summer King was the first to speak. "Well, I can just leave you two alone to settle this… Discussion… Thing…" He stood awkwardly and made for the door before he went back to refill his glass of wine. "Ok, going now." Zander closed the door in a hurry just to open it a second later to pop his head back inside. "Don't set anything on fire… Ok." And he was gone.

Sarah was the first to break away from Jareth's intense gaze. She cleared her throat and looked down at the book in her lap. "It's late," she said as she stood slowly. "We could both use some rest. I'll see you in the morning. Good night." She said softly and made her way toward the door. Jareth walked around his desk and stood before lit fireplace. The king spoke before Sarah made it to the exit.

"Sarah, I—" The Goblin King paused. "I do not look for battles like some warmonger. And I do not deliberately place my soldiers or my subjects in harm's way." Sarah wondered why he would say something like that. She watched him move away from the fire and closer to her. "And I would never let harm come to you."

Sarah's heart beat heavily in her chest. She thanked her lucky stars that no flush painted her cheeks at that moment. Suddenly, a question was out her lips before she had time to think.

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked too softly; she doubted Jareth heard her at all.

The Goblin King kept walking toward her, his movements as graceful and confident as a feline. She wondered if he made everyone feel like prey.

"Jareth," she hesitated a moment, "Remember the king in that old story I used to read… The one who fell in—"

"Yes, precious." He stood in front of her; his mismatched gaze stared back at her green one.

Sarah's heart hammered away. Shut up, you fool! Why does this even matter? "Then… Are you—"

"Yes?" Jareth's expression made her feel lightheaded. Wait, did he just say 'yes' or ask me 'yes?' NO! Where is your brain, Williams? Abort! Abort! Get out of there!

Sarah felt pressure in her head develop. She imagined all her childhood that she was the heroine from the fairy tale. Is it possible that the story was more than just a story? Of course not! That was years ago and I'm not—

"Sarah." Jareth's voice sounded far away.

Do I even want to find out? Would that change things now?

"Sarah!" Again, far away, but with an urgency she couldn't understand until she lost the sense of up and down.

Are we falling? "I'm sorry, Jareth," She felt her throat hum the words, but could not hear her voice. Jareth's arms encircled her waist before her limp body hit the stone floor.

I'm… fainting. Was her last thought before darkness clouded her consciousness.

When Sarah awakened from her abrupt bout of unconsciousness, she blinked back the stinging light of day and found herself in her own luxurious bed. The sleeping beauty lifted her tangled head to peer about the room before she snuggled deeper into the billowy folds of her blanket.

I probably have time to get a little more sleep before breakfast. I'll just wait for monster maid to come get me... She decided before she drifted back to sleep.

Knock Knock Knock

Sarah groaned and wondered how much time had gone by; she felt like it was less than a second since she fell asleep. She threw the blankets off her body and reached for her dressing gown before she dragged herself to the door of her antechamber. She opened the door and peered out with sleepy eyes. "Yes?" She croaked.

"My lady! Hast thou fallen ill? Verily, thou canst rest assured I will fetch the wisest of healers at my lady's behest!" Sir Didymus' loud and sure voice rang in her head, but still managed to bring a smile to her face.

"Sir Didymus! What are you doing here?" She knelt down and hugged her furry companion before she invited him inside.

"His royal majesty beseeched me to see to my lady's health. King Jareth requested that I, your valiant knight, would see to your wellbeing! Pray tell, fair maiden, art thou growing too weary to continue thy magic lessons? I came at once to see firsthand the state my lady is in the moment Ambrosias and I received word from King—Ambrosias? Ambrosias!"

Sir Didymus stopped his long-winded speech to find his noble steed.

"Ah! Well…" He looked about in confusion. "I am certain he went forth to secure the area of any treacherous villains, my lady! Fear not!"

Sarah struggled to hide her giggles. "It gives me great joy to have my most trusted knight here with me!" He dipped low in a grand bow and Sarah did her best to curtsy in her nightgown.

Wait… How did I get in a nightgown?!

Sarah gestured for Sir Didymus to sit down while she went and changed into something more appropriate for the day. Once in her room, she looked out the window to try and gauge the time of day by the position of the sun in the sky, but realized she did not know how the sun rose and fell in the Underground.

Sarah reemerged from her bedroom in a pair of white fitted jeans and a black chiffon blouse. She felt inspired to dress nicely for her honored guest.

"Sir Didymus, do you know what time it is?" She sat across from him on the plush couch. His little body reminded her of Rumor and she made a mental note to find the little goblin that day. She had missed him since the day before her "test" in the Goblin Market.

"Verily, it is well past midday, my lady." The knight nodded his head confidently.

Sarah felt an ache for the lost time. I've slept half the day away! I should be practicing right now!

Didymus read Sarah's expression and interjected. "Fret not, fair maiden! King Jareth has entrusted me with the task of making sure my lady was safe and well rested this day. Thou shalt relax, recuperate, and commit no strenuous activity for the duration of the day!"

Sarah wondered what all the commotion was about. Jareth had no reason to give her a day to relax, unless he was blamed her fainting spell on their daily lessons. Sarah was about to oppose Jareth's unnecessary edict, but an idea formed in her head and she went with it before she could have second thoughts.

"Alright, Sir Didymus. I promise I won't do anything strenuous today." She leaned back in her seat and pretended to stare off in to space. Suddenly her expression brightened as if she just had an idea. "I know what will keep me relaxed! I'll go find my goblin guardians! They never let me get into trouble. What do you think, noble sir?"

"My lady, thy goblin guardians were hand selected by myself with the utmost care! Thou shalt not find a more worthy guard in the entire realm!"

Sarah stood and grabbed her friend's small hands. "Thank you, Sir Didymus. I'm happy to have your blessing!"

Together they walked out the door. Sarah stood in the hallway as her knight scampered away in the direction he assumed Ambrosias escaped. Sarah ran in the opposite direction in search of her goblins.

Sarah wandered about the castle grounds for the better part of the hour before she finally found the goblins in the smoggy area outside the kitchens.

The low ceilinged section of the castle had steam and smoke pouring out the numerous windows visible from the outside. Sarah peered inside through the dirty glass and saw goblins of all shapes and sizes being conducted by what appeared to be a stout elven man.

Sarah could hear the shouting and clanging inside, but was drawn to the screams and shouts of glee coming from around the corner.

There, playing on the cobbled ground with sticks and stones and wads of what she hoped was mud, were her little goblins.

"LADY SARAH!" Rumor squealed in his high voice. The horde turned and saw the beautiful Fae woman and ran to her as fast as their legs could carry them.

"Hello! Have you been staying out of trouble?" Sarah laughed as they all charged into her kneecaps. Some were just tall enough to hug her about the waist, but most of them just stood there staring with goofy grins.

"We haves lots of games to play!"

"With rocks!"

"And glowworm guts!" Hickle mumbled with a mischievous smile.

Gross. Not mud.

Sarah couldn't help but laugh as they excitedly told her what they had discovered since she saw them the day before. "Actually, I came hoping we could play a little game."

"Yay! Lady Sarah wants to play with us!" Flot screamed!

Rumor poofed and appeared on top of Grumble's head. "What kind of game?" He squeaked.

"Hide and seek! But this time, we can play with magic!"

The shouts of joy were deafening.

"Wait! Wait! There's something you have to help me with first." She looked at them with a serious expression.

"What? Anything! Let's do it and play!" Higgle screamed and threw his hands in the air as if to build team morale.

Sarah leaned down and whispered conspiratorially, "You have to teach Lady Sarah how to use magic like a goblin!"

"Ohhhhh…" They said in awe of the idea. They looked at each other as if the thought was purely taboo.

"What will king say?"

"She's our Lady…"

"But king didn't says we couldn't."

"King doesn't has to know…"

The gnarly group looked about themselves before they shrugged and beamed up at their beautiful leader.

"Ok! Let's go!" Rumor screamed. He latched on to Grumble's bulbous head and reached for Sarah's hand. In a flash, they disappeared from sight.

Heheheh... Ok yeah I know, this shit is weak. But I know where the story is going now FOR SURE so trust me it will get better :3

Leave a review and tell me what you think! Reviews are better than glowworm guts! XP