Disclaimer: I do not own anything here except the plot and my OC, everything else belongs to Jim Henson & affiliates.

Full Summary: Sense Sarah left the underground, successfully solving the Labyrinth and defeating the goblin king, Sarah’s life slowly became more and more chaotic. Now, ten years later, a mysterious woman is watching her, her things continue to go missing, and she begins to think she is going crazy, and that the underground had all been a dream. Then, late one night after her brothers birthday party, she discovers an entirely different world in his bedroom closet. Even worse, she’s being sucked into it! Now, Sarah must face the one man she had dreamt of sense she was a teenager, and save the very existence of the underground before it’s too late. Sounds like an average day.

Once upon a time, there was a queen, who sat upon her throne day and night, governing her kingdom alone. Though this queen was not alone, for she did have a husband, and yet his throne continued to be vacant next to her. The weight of the kingdom rested on her shoulders alone, for her husband was in a distant land, lost in his own troubles. She rose from her throne, the blue material of her gown twinkling in the faint white light that lit up the throne room. Her people bowed as she passed, her eyes gazing over the beauty of these tall, lithe people. This was the kingdom of the elves, and she was there queen.

She left the throne room without a word, her blue eyes cast downward. Upon entering her rooms, her hand wandered to the blue crystal sitting on the desk in the corner. So he had come, and left her a gift. A tiny flicker of hope shined in her eyes but was quickly extinguished as she saw how the skies darkened outside. A storm, so fierce and brutal was gathering outside. Another night she would spend alone, another night that her lover would be away. In her hand, she held out the crystal, and gazed intently upon it.

“Show me the one who will save us….” she whispered, and watched as smoke gathered and turned within the crystal, before a face appeared. Moss colored eyes and raven black hair. The queen smiled, tilting her head to one side.

“Sarah…” she whispered into the night. “Sarah.”

000

The sound of an alarm rang in her dream. She tossed and turned, wrinkling her face up in frustration. She had dreamt of the strangest thing, the sound of a woman calling her name. Snapping her eyes open she gazed into the darkness, and then over at the digital clock on her nightstand. It was six-thirty in the morning, and she had to be at work by eight. Jumping out of bed, she ran the bathwater and then pulled the clothes out of her closet.

“Sarah, are you awake yet!” called her neighbor, pounding on the wall. She chuckled and shook her head. “Yeah I’m up Laura.” Laura was also her best friend sense her junior year in high school. Both of them worked at the same coffee house downtown. After she was done bathing, she got dressed and combed her hair. She had never actually cut her hair, and now it was down to her waist. Karen always complained about it, feeling it was “out of style.” as she put it.

“Good morning Glen Cove! Looks like chilly weather out there folks, the fall weather is settling in!”

Sarah groaned, hearing the forecast ringing from her small portable radio sitting on the counter in her kitchen. She quickly grabbed a heavy tan colored leather jacket from her closet, along with her a black wool beanie and some matching wool gloves.

“Sarah, it’s so cold out, do you have an extra jacket!” Laura asked through the wall, the sound of her favorite rock band, the “Sex Pistols” in the background.

“Yes…come over when you’re ready!” she answered, cramming a slice of bread into her toaster. Her cat, Rameses lay sprawled out on the sofa, and meowed at her lazily as she hit the light switch in the living room.

“Good morning Rameses.” she smiled and pets the cat, before setting a tray of food down on the floor for him. This seemed to stir the cat, and it hoped down from its place to get breakfast. Sarah grew distant for a moment, remembering when she had lost Merlin. It would be years later before she got Rameses, who happened to have actually found her. He was a stray who had wandered into her apartment early one evening while she was making dinner. Finding him out on her terrace, she immediately took a liking to his sleek black fur, and decided to keep him.

“I’m comin in, so be dressed!” Laura said, bursting through the apartment door.

“Hey…jacket’s in the closet…” Sarah smiled, taking a bite of toast. Laura grinned, and went into her bedroom, returning moments later with a dark brown wool coat. “So…ready for midterms?”

“Nope. Ready for work?”

“Hell no.” Laura laughed. Laura was slightly shorter then Sarah, around 5’5, with pale curly blonde hair to her shoulders and hazel colored eyes. She and Sarah were both enrolled in college, Laura studying for real estate, and Sarah working in the legal department. It seemed that Sarah’s knack for debating carried her into the legal field, giving her a good opportunity to make some money. Karen had some strange obsession with her making ends meat, and having lots of money. Sarah wasn’t really about that, but she figured, she had to grow up sometime, and that’s exactly what she did.

The whole ordeal with the labyrinth, was a dream and that was that. No amount of therapy could calm her though, for many years. She moved out when she turned eighteen, unable to hand Karen’s constant nagging, and though she kept in touch with Toby, she never really spoke to Karen or her Dad. Karen had her Dad so wrapped around her finger that he would agree with her no matter the issue. So, Sarah gave up and just left.

“Hey…were gonna miss the bus…lets go.” Laura said as she left. Sarah followed behind, shutting the lights off and locking her door as she went. The two of them went merrily enough, down the cold streets of Glen Cove, Maine. The wind blew as they crossed the street, bright orange leaves scattering the streets as they went.

“Damn it’s freezing today!” Laura groaned as they climbed onto the city bus.

“Yeah….but you’re the one who wanted to live in Maine, remember?” Sarah grinned.

“Oh shut it.” Laura snapped as the bus jerked forward, heading speedily down the narrow streets of Glen Cove.

000

The sidewalks that curved there way along the cold city streets were slick with a touch of frost as Sarah and Laura departed from the bus, crossing the street and making there way towards the coffee house.

Work dragged on slowly for Sarah, who left hours before Laura got off. By the time it was over, it was around three in the afternoon, and she chose to walk home. Walking a steady pace along the sidewalk, she gazed out to her right, taking in the perfect view of the harbor. It was then she noticed a strange twinkling in the water, and she shrugged it off, assuming it to be the reflection of the sun. Yet as she progressed, the shimmering flow followed, until she stopped only to stare as that shimmering water was not the color of molten gold, but the color of sapphires. She leaned over, gazing down at her own reflection, and found as the water rippled, a pair of blue eyes stared back at her. She let out a gasp, eyes widening the size of tea cups at the sight of a woman who’s curly gold locks flowed past her waist, clothed in a soft shimmering material.

“Sarah…” said a distant voice, just as something dashed out the reflection in the water, the sound of a laughing child nearby. Her head jerked up, spotting a small boy, around seven throwing rocks into the water. She wrinkled her nose, and shook off the strange feeling she had just had. What the hell was that anyways? She thought to herself as she continued walking.

A whole hour passed by before she reached the front steps to her apartment complex. The phone was already ringing as she entered her apartment, and rushed to answer it.

“Hello?” she asked as she shrugged off her jacket.

“Sarah?” asked a youthful voice.

“Hey Toby…” she said, a smiling spreading on her lips.

“Hey Sis…are you coming home for my birthday?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Ok…Mom says to tell you that we’ve got a storm out here so take the train, the planes are all being delayed anyways.”

“Ok….I will. So how are you buddy?”

“I’m good. I miss you Sarah. You promise to be here?”

“Yeah bud…I’ll be there. Put Karen on the phone now ok?”

“Ok.” said the happy voice of her little brother. Moments later, Karen’s voice rang out across the line, making Sarah roll her eyes. Karen never really could find a way to be polite with her.

“Sarah, is that you? Hi….yeah I was going to tell you to take the train, the planes are all delayed out here….there’s a nasty thunder storm brewing.”

“Alright…”

“Toby’s birthday party is next Thursday at seven. Your arriving Wednesday evening right?”

“Yeah.” Sarah replied. She found that one-word replies were best with Karen. ‘

“Ok, well see you then hunny. Oh, your Dad says hi, he’s out back mowing the lawn. How’s the weather out there?”

“Cold.” Sarah replied, as she placed a kettle full of water onto the stove.

“Yeah, that’s what I figured. I told you not to move to Maine Sarah. Then again I suppose North Carolina isn’t any better. Were freezing over here. Well…I need to fix dinner, so I’ll talk to you later alright?” Karen’s voice rang out over the line.

“Yeah, see you all then. Tell Dad and Toby I love them both.”

“Alright, bye Hun.” Karen said and hung up before Sarah could even reply. That woman never let her finish a sentence, ever. With all of that done, she went to the kitchen, and began to make herself a late lunch.

000

“Nienna, Queen of the Elves, Your Majesty.” boomed the goblin across the throne room. Jareth had been lost in thought, absentmindedly tapping his riding crop against his thigh, spread over side ways over his throne, one leg slung over the arm and the other draping downward. His eyes snapped towards the door as the goblin spoke, caught off guard at this sudden arrival.

Before him stood a tall fair haired woman, thick golden curls pulled back into a loose French braid that reached down past her waist, a few tender curls left to frame her face. Atop her head she wore a crown of silver, embedded with sapphires. She was clothed in a heavy silver and blue Tudor style court gown. Blue eyes met his own mismatched ones, and he took in her appearance.

“Out, all of you!” Jareth snapped, and watched the goblins scatter and disappear from the room. He stood, now that He and the lady were alone.

“Your arrival is unexpected Nienna.” he said casually.

“It is, Jareth. Forgive me for not sending word, but I am quiet distraught. You are the only one left whom I can turn too.”

“Come, sit with me.” he said, and with a wave of his hand, a chair appeared behind her. She seated herself as he did upon his throne.

“Whatever seems to be the matter?” he asked, an eyebrow raised.

“Your brother, as always.” she sighed. “The elves are rebelling. I have taken on two roles Jareth. I cannot be the King and the Queen. I have held my kingdom steady till now….but the elves are in an uproar…they do not wish to have a woman rule alone. With your brother gone, I cannot hold this kingdom for much longer.”

“I am aware of that.” he sighed. “Aidan has been lost in the lands beyond for some time.”

“Word tells me he’s headed towards the unseelie territory.”

“He is.” Jareth answered quietly. “My brother is slowly losing his sanity. The stone must be found soon.”

“Tell me about it.” she muttered.

Jareth grinned faintly. “Nienna, why are you here….if it is because you need my help and are otherwise incapable of asking for it, I will surely go and deal with the elves for you, if that’s what you want.”

“Jareth…” she said, her eyes downcast.

“You were always to prideful. A Queen must learn to admit when she needs help.”

“I do need help!” she bit out through gritted teeth. “Do you not think this is humiliating for me? I can’t even control my own damn kingdom.”

“Language, Nienna. I am still the King you know.”

“You are my brother in law, first and foremost.”

“Touché.” he grinned. He tilted his head to one side, the grin fading. “Something still troubles you I think.” He watched as her brilliant blue eyes met his.

He was just as handsome as Aidan. The same fair skin, the same wild hair, except Aidan’s was black as night, and his eyes were the mismatched colors of blue and violet. Twin brothers, as one would call them. Very rare, in the underground. She considered her words carefully, unable to decide how to ask him what she wanted, without getting him angry.

“Aidan needs help.” she said softly, staring at the floor. She couldn’t ask him this….not this….it would hurt him.

“Indeed.” he said, and surprised her by how close he was to her, his fingers under her chin. He raised her to meet his eyes. “The Queen shall never look downcast. We are equals, you and I.”

“Jareth….” she shook her head and pulled away. “You remind me of Aidan to much.”

He grinned. “I am his twin you know….I can sense him too. He does miss you….however….I fear he won’t return home for some time…he is far now…very far.”

She nodded. “I need to send someone to help him…..I….there is someone…”

“A champion?” he said, an eyebrow quirked as he paced the room, tapping his chin.

“Sort of…” she said, fidgeting her hands.

“Well, who is it then?”

“I…you wouldn’t like it.”

“The only champion I could think of…”

“She’s not really a champion Jareth…”

“Not a champion….and…wait…did you say She?” She stood and turned to face him, and gazed up into those mismatched eyes that had darkened so quickly that it sent a wave of fear through her.

“Yes Jareth…I said she…..I mean she did solve your--” he cut her off before she could finish.

“Never.” he spat, anger etched into his beautiful features. “That girl will never step foot into the underground again. You know our laws.” he said angrily, and stepped closer to face her.

“I do, Jareth. I am the Queen after all. She can do it…you know she can. Aidan is needed back home…she can do it….I’ve seen her….in the mist waters…she’s grown up a so much…” she sighed. “I do not think she hears me though…she’s drifted away.”

“Don’t. You. Dare.” he growled. “I do not want ever to see that mortal again. I shall not bring her here.”

“I will do it myself then.” she snapped. “She won’t bother you, Jareth. She’ll be in my kingdom.”

“Oh please, Nienna. You can barely conjure a crystal, let alone transport yourself and a mortal from the aboveground. Your powers are far to limited, and Aidan hasn’t had the time to teach you.”

“I am connected to Aidan’s power, and he can do it.” she retorted quickly.

“Do not, and this is not a request, Nienna. This is a command. You will not retrieve the mortal, do you hear me!” he said, his face inches from hers.

Nienna stared back into his eyes, refusing to back down. “If you think you can intimidate me into submission, it will not work, Jareth!” she hissed. “I am not afraid of Aidan, and certainly am not afraid of you either!”

He stared at her in silence, before turning away quickly. He took a deep breath, and stared out a nearby window. “However does he put up with you, Nienna. He must love you a great deal to withstand your stubborn, hard headed nature.”

She shrugged. “Just about the same way you put up with me I suppose.” She heard him chuckle faintly, and then turn to face her. “Nienna…I am asking you….”

“I know Jareth.” she said softly, and glided to him, placing a hand on his cheek. “I know she hurt you….and don’t deny it either. She could do it though…she could find the stone. You know she isn’t any ordinary mortal….I was just like her once….and then I met Aidan.”

“I do not wish for her to be here.”

“I realize that.” she sighed.

“I will go and clean up the mess in your kingdom, but you know we cannot interfere in my brother’s affairs.

She sighed, with heavy resolve and nodded. “Very well, Thank you.” she murmured and turned to leave. Seconds later she was wrapped in his embrace, and she sighed quietly. “You hug like him too.” she giggled faintly.

“So I imagine.” he murmured as he perched his chin on her head.

“Your just like an overbearing big brother…I swear.”

He smiled at that. “I will look after you as such. If Aidan were to lose you, he’d go insane and I’d be stuck with two kingdoms instead of one.

“But isn’t that what ever King wants?” she said, tilting her head up to gaze into his eyes.

“Heavens no….I don’t know how my brother puts up with those elves anyways.”

“You are heir to the underground throne Jareth.”

“True…but it doesn’t mean I am High King yet.”

“Fair enough.” she shrugged. “I suppose you want the peace and quiet while you still have it.”

He laughed. “Indeed.”

“I should be off.” she said, as they broke away from each other.

“Yes….your kingdom will be needing you.”

“Yes…..” she said as she turned to leave.

“I’ll come by later this afternoon and sort out your brothers paperwork.”

“Thank the gods..” she muttered, and heard him laugh again as she strode out of the hall. “Anymore paperwork I might just hurl myself out the nearest window.” she muttered to herself as she glided into the carriage awaiting her outside the castle.

000

Homework was not Sarah’s choice of fun for a Friday evening. Laura hadn’t come home yet and she was stuck alone, in her silent apartment. She disliked being alone, for so long. Although she had Rameses there to keep her company, something always felt….missing. She threw her pencil down and stood up, sighing. “Screw homework…”she thought aloud. Reaching over she clicked on the TV, and rolled her eyes. Yet again they were showing “The Princess Bride” on TV. Haven’t they figured it out yet? There is no happy ending, no fairy tales….nothing. She learned that the hard way. The prince always turns out to be two-faced.

“Don’t Sarah. Don’t.” she muttered, scolding herself for letting her thoughts wander away to a distant face, from a distant land. “Damn you Jareth.” she muttered, and gasped aloud, slapping her hand over her mouth. “Oh please tell me he didn’t hear that.” she said aloud, and glanced around, checking that it was safe, and then headed into her bedroom. She changed into her pajama’s, and plopped down on her bed, pulling a book from her bedside table drawer.

It wasn’t like she hated Jareth, it was just….she didn’t want to think about him. It hurt to think about him. She had been to young to really understand what he offered her, and now that she did understand, she regretted her decision in some ways. She knew she did what she had to, to save her brother, but if only he’d given her another option….If only she’d asked for one.

“Sarah…” said a distant voice, and she jumped nearly a foot off her bed at the sound echoing in her room. She was on her feet in seconds, whirling around. Her eyes found no one, but strangely enough, she realized that voice was certainly not masculine.

“Sarah…” it said again and she followed the sound into her bathroom, her eyes gazing into the mirror. She gasped, seeing a woman there, smiling back at her.

“Hello Sarah.” she said softly. “I’ve been looking for you.”

000

Nienna gazed at the young girl through the mist waters in Aidan’s study. The mist waters were a powerful, sacred water that rested inside a tall stone pillar, reaching her waist, and a silver bowl embedded into the top of the pillar. Sarah gazed back at her, completely amazed.

“Hello Sarah….I’ve been looking for you.” she smiled softly. “I am Nienna…the Queen of the Elves…..I need your help.”

She watched Sarah reel back, her back hitting the wall behind her. “Who…what….HOW?”

Nienna laughed, soft and musical. “I am, as I’ve told you, a Queen here in the underground.

“Did Jareth…..Oh damnit I said it again….did….what did I do?”

“Nothing child…don’t be afraid….I won’t hurt you…and no, Jareth has nothing to do with this.”

“What do you want?” she said, fear laced in her voice.

“I want your help. My husband…”

“Jareth?” she said again.

Nienna sighed. “No Sarah, not Jareth. My husband is Aidan…”

“Oh…” Sarah said, and her eyes dropped to the floor.

“Listen to me before you speak again.” Nienna said quickly. “I need your help. However I cannot retrieve you…..”

“And…..how do you expect me to get down there….no…wait this is insane. I’m talking to my bathroom mirror….this is all an illusion…I must be dreaming!” Sarah said, laughing.

“Afraid not, my dear.” Nienna said, an eyebrow quirked. The girl was stark raving mad….how in the world did Jareth ever fall for this one?

“Look. I don’t have time for this…” Sarah said, grabbing a towel off the bathroom rack.

“Listen…I know this sounds insane…but--” she cut off, as Sarah draped the towel over the mirror.

“SARAH!” she yelled. “Don’t go, please! I don’t have much strength left to call to you…I need your help…the Underground is in danger!”

“I don’t believe in fairy tales anymore.” she heard Sarah say before the bathroom light shut off and the door slammed shut.

Nienna sighed, and left the mirror. Backing away, she collapsed in Aidan’s chair at his desk. Her strength slowly returned to her as she gazed out the window behind her. Sarah was going to be much harder to convince then she thought.

And that’s that for this chapter. Up next, we meet the Willams, discover how Goblins get back and forth between worlds, and if anyone would care to help, I need a beta. My grammar and spelling is slightly poor…so if anyone would like to help, let me know. J

R/R! Hope you all like it.