And its thunder-that spell that I'm under. Its thunder. -Thunder, Runaways

Sarah

I stared blankly at the space Valerie and Maverick had been in a few seconds before, mulling over Valerie's promise.

It was really almost too good to be true-and I knew that I needed to get out of the Goblin Kingdom, if only to get away from the king-and I was unsure what to do now.

I looked up at the rows of books. Could I find my answer here? Though I was uncomfortable with the Goblin King so near-and could easily figure out what I was trying to do just from what I was reading.

"Precious," I jumped from my spot as I whirled to see him leaning as casually as ever by the door. Though I noticed that he had for once dropped the 'thing', it was an only slight comfort.

He cocked his head to the side-as if examining me the same way his brothers had.

I stood there, unsure of what to do. I wished for a second I was one of those types that could stand up for themselves and simply fight back.

"We truly have to decide what to do with Lillith's child," he said, stalking towards me. "You have disagreed with bestowing him with becoming a goblin-but the child will not stay here."

"And why not?" I stopped at the sound of my own voice saying the defiant words. Wish granted.

"He is Lillith's child," he was now right in front of me. "She could use him as a way to get in the Labyrinth, though it is highly unlikely she has even thought of the idea."

"So let us go," I said, looking at the ground. I watched his leather-clad foot step forewords and stop when it was nearly hidden under the long skirting.

I felt his gloved hand under my chin, and he lifted it so I had to look at his face.

He seemed utterly calm, and I braced myself for whatever would happen next. Surly he would be angry.

But then he laughed, throwing his head back and laughing with pure humor as if I had told a joke rather than a defiant statement.

"I remember the pregnancy hormones from when my mother was pregnant with Maverick-as well as some of the mother's of my half-brothers pregnancy," he smiled, showing off his sharp canines. Any sharper and he could pass for a vampire, the completely irrelevant thought went through my head. "No, I will not allow my only child to be raised anywhere but here."

"But you want my brother to be anywhere but here," I snapped, knowing I would regret it if I got in a fight with him now.

"He is only your half-brother, and really precious, I would prefer it if my own children were not raised with any of hers," he purred. I could see a spark in his eyes and had a feeling he was trying to reign in his temper.

"And he is my child's uncle," I pointed out. "He has as much right to be a part of this child's life as Maverick and Berdium have!"

"Less, actually. He has as much right as my own half-brothers have-and as far as I can see they have no right to be a part of my child's life at all," he said coldly, moving away slightly.

"And my brother was legit," I said, looking back down now that he had released me.

"He is also the child of Lillith," he said shortly, turning away. "What did you and Valerie talk about?"

"She asked how I met you, and told me about Lillith and your father," I said, seeing no reason to lie-and skipping the rest as if it had never happened.

"Ah, something she would not be an expert on, I see," he said, walking to a table by one of the windows. He waved his hand ideally over the table-causing several silver trays to appear with golden lids on them. He pulled one of the chairs back. "Come sit."

I was about to protest when I smelled the food-and I was starving by this point. I stepped towards him cautiously; before sitting in the offered chair.

The chair over looked the labyrinth, and I wondered if what she had said about Jareth and his brothers building it was completely true. It seemed nearly impossible to believe-and I remembered a few weeks ago when I had met Desiree-after I told Jareth that she had told me about Lillith. The labyrinth itself had seemed to take on his mood.

Jareth

Berdium walked into the throne room and glared at where I sat-feet resting on the side, hand covering my mouth, riding crop tapping against my calf.

"Some of the shadows we had on Lillith were reported dead," he said crossly. I moved my hand to my chin so I could speak clearly.

"Such a pity," I said, my mind trying to absorb what Maverick had said. Trying to wrap around it. Hell, it had been a week of torture. Trying to think about it while running a kingdom of goblins-and I had finally gotten some time to myself when my brother chose that moment to appear with news that he claimed "had to be dealt with imperatively."

Berdium's nostrils flared. "Clay."

A fae guard-one of the shadows-stepped foreword. "My lord."

"Tell Jareth what you told me," Berdium said, still glaring at me as he walked towards the window.

"We were watching the house-the three of us-I was going to take my turn for a rest. Thats when they fell," Clay made a gesture I saw out of the corner of my eye. The gesture of respect for the dead. "There were knives in their backs. Thats when I saw through the window, Lillith kill the mortal man. The room went dark. And then I woke up with Eden trying to rouse me. The man dead; and my fellow companions dead as well."

"Eden," I said, still not looking at them. I saw him step foreword out of the corner of my eye.

"My lord," he said with a slight bow.

"How accurate is Clay's report?"

"As accurate as I can confirm. Two of my men dead. The mortal man dead as well," he said, making the gesture that Clay had only seconds ago.

"Anything else to report?"

"M'lady is with the lad. Daemon and Hywel are outside the door, while Vijay and Colwyn are doing their patrol," he bowed, and stepped out of sight.

"You are both dismissed," I stopped tapping the riding crop.

Berdium waited for them to leave the room before speaking.

"She has an ally that knew about this."

That was the only explanation for it.

"But who?" Berdium walked back toward my throne. "Who knows and would dare tell her that we had shadows placed around her?"

"Other than the obvious," I said, impatiently.

"Other than the obvious," he agreed. "All of the guards are unwaveringly loyal. I told a few of my own security-such as Khalid. However, all that I told would never tell."

He pressed his knuckle against his forehead.

I was numb at this point. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts-to really think about what Maverick had said.

Sarah

Toby rested his head against my shoulder as I rocked him. I could tell he was tired-and he was just starting to give in to the idea of sleep.

The past week had been confusing-nothing that had happened was expected. Well, some was. But where Jareth was concerned…I was still forced in his bed at night-but he only took advantage of that once. Other than that, he left me to my own deices and Creatcher's care-occasionally watching me, but only a handful of times had he approached me-kissing me either roughly or tenderly.

We hadn't talked about Toby's fate since the day Valerie and Maverick had visited-and I was beginning to worry he had chosen to take Toby away from me.

I kissed the top of Toby's head.

"M'lady!" Creatcher rushed in, breathless. Toby's head jerked up-he formed his lips as if to cry-but just relaxed against me again.

"Shh," I whispered. "What is it?"

"High kingy iz 'ere!" she whispered. "Majesty want me to tell yo's that yo's gets 'crowned' (she had some difficulty saying the word correctly) soon!"

"They've arranged it?" I asked, not surprised, but a little panicked.

"One week!" she tried to whisper in a squeak. "Majesty sayz to bring m'lady to throne room!"

"Alright," I said, laying Toby down-he was too tired to notice the change.

"Bye," I told Ninny-who was the goblin Jareth had chosen to watch over Toby.

"Bye!" she whispered, jumping up and down as she waved. I smiled at the action as I walked behind Creatcher to the throne room.

There, Jareth was slumped foreword in his throne, listening to Berdium. He looked up, and smiled. Its almost predatory the way he smiles sometimes, the thought floated through my head.

Without his reminding, I curtsied to Berdium-and I saw Jareth nod approvingly.

"Come here precious," he stood and held out his hand. I stood by him-but didn't take his hand.

I saw Creatcher scamper from the room out of the corner of my eye as Jareth lowered his hand.

"We were just speaking of your coronation," Berdium took my hand and kissed it-as he had the first time we had met.

I didn't know what to say to that-well, what was proper to say to that. I wanted to tell him he just not do it-but what would the Goblin King's response be to that?

Luckily-or unluckily- Jareth wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to his side.

"Berdium has offered to have someone teach you etiquette-since Desiree arranged it for next week," Jareth said in an almost off-hand matter.

Berdium laughed, and shook his head. "It wasn't an offer. No matter how good her manners are she was still raised in the mundane world."

"Of course," I could hear something unrecognizable in his voice. Something that made me want to tell Berdium to back down least what he was feeling be unleashed full force.

"I decided against a tutor-not enough time," he said, ignoring Jareth's tone. "My daughter has had nothing to occupy her time. I asked her to come and teach Sarah."

I felt the Goblin King tighten his hold on me.

"That is very much appreciated," he said, his voice smooth velvet. "However, I believe I can handle this."

I looked back at Berdium, his eyebrows were raised. "While running a kingdom? I think not, besides," he grinned at me. "It would be good for Sarah to have some female company."

Jareth opened his mouth-but Berdium turned on his heel.

"She'll arrive tomorrow," he called over his shoulder.

Short, I know,(and not all that great) but I was having trouble getting inspiration in addition to some personal problems my family and I have been going through. I can't promise a quick update-but I will try to get something out as soon as I can.