AN: I bet you thought "All for the Best" was the last chapter. Well,
for those of you who wanted more…here it is!!! Then again, I hope you
aren't disappointed with this final chapter. Just remember that the
movie is the next time that Jareth and Sarah meet after this story
ends…and maybe a few of the things here will explain why he treats
her the way he does when she wishes Toby away. AND, just because this
is the last chapter doesn't mean I don't want feedback. Tell me if
you think it's corny or doesn't make sense; the more reviews I get
here, the more I know if my writing style is working for my stories.
I hope after this you will switch to reading my other story, "The
Thief, The King, and The Son," which is a sequel to the movie…if you
haven't already started reading it. Thanks again a million fold.
Sorry for being long winded. This chapter was a doozy to edit myself,
so if you find any mistakes I missed...forgive me.

~Alorin



Chapter 9/9
What Dreams May Come
(Finale)

Sometimes, when one does nothing more than the same thing every day
their entire life, they start to doubt their existence. `What am I
doing here? What more is there to live for?' Those are the type of
thoughts that plagued the Goblin King's mind the days following the
Williams's departure. Yes, he knew his duties were to keep the
Labyrinth within its boundaries and humans from escaping its walls,
but as for his personal affairs, he had nothing to occupy his time;
it was all mundane. He didn't care to venture the other kingdoms or
visit other courts; there were very few who would willingly accept
him anyway. All he was to them was someone they could call on if
they needed defense, since he was the one who had ended the last
human rebellion; and he wished he hadn't have had to do that at all.
But that had been six hundred years ago and he doubted anything like
that would occur again. The internal humans too afraid to raise
another riot and the humans of Earth were too unaware of magic to be
a threat.

Maybe it was the knowledge that magic on Earth was dieing because of
failing belief that he found he didn't see a point in his being.
Magic Underground was natural; magic on Earth only lasted as much as
it was wanted, needed. Truly, the knowledge of his world was no
longer spread through folktales and fairy stories. All that was
left, all that kept the gate between the worlds open were the books,
and only the one was accounted for. Whether the other three had been
destroyed was undetermined. In Jareth's opinion, they should all be
destroyed, sever the connection between the two worlds once and for
all to end the paranoia that spread through his people. Then again,
if that did happen and the Fae realized no more humans would ever
come Underground, would there be genocide and all the humans
exterminated? He shuddered at the thought; he was part human and
though he was unashamed of it, he wouldn't want to be included in
their numbers if such a holocaust occurred. His only reason for not
changing, not fleeing his current existence was the knowledge that
without him, so much chaos could happen.

Sometimes he wished he didn't have to go through it alone, but to
include another in his affairs--it would be too much to ask.

Luckily, he did have his goblins to look over, to entertain him.
They could sense when their king was distraught or just moody in
general…they did have primal human instincts of survival, having
once been privy to such emotions in their former state. When the one
who held the balance over their life or death became testy, they did
anything they could to lift his spirits. Now, with him staring out
the window on to his kingdom, they didn't know what to do. He
wasn't angry or irate, so they couldn't do something humorous, he
wasn't bossy, he wasn't in the mood to have them train for any
battles--as he often had them do, though they didn't know why--he
wasn't of any temperament they were familiar with. So not knowing
what to do, they left him alone.

Jareth stared out over his kingdom, watching as the Labyrinth twisted
and changed. It letting the Williams woman through so easily was the
first indication to him that something in it was changing, and these
days since her departure, it had acted the most frenzied he had ever
seen it. He had allowed his subjects who lived within its terrain to
move within the walls of the Goblin City, for a spell had been placed
there when the city was first built to protect it from any magic--
thus, since the gateway was magic, its powers did not work on the
Goblin City, despite the gate being at its very heart. Jareth was
grateful for that magic which kept some part of his kingdom
unchangeable. It was one less thing for him to think about. He
could keep the maze from escaping its set boundaries, but for the
Labyrinth to change so quickly of recent; he wondered what had caused
the change.

Perhaps there were others older and more knowledgeable of primal
magics such as the gateway held who had answers. Though he despised
the Empress, he knew she would be the most learned of all.

"My lady." Jareth spoke into a crystal, quickly conjured.

The Empress always seemed to be prepared for a summons; as far as he
knew she had never been caught doing anything personal and always
answered on the first request. "Jareth, your call is unexpected. Is
there discontent in your kingdom?"

Jareth smiled disappointedly, "Something like that. The Labyrinth…
the magic appears to want escape. I can control it but cannot sense
the cause."

Malora nodded, "And how long has it been like this?"

"Since we last spoke, to the very day."

"The day the lands shook."

"It effected more than just the Labyrinth? I wasn't aware of this."

"What, what did you do?"

"It wasn't so much myself, lady. When I touched the child…something
happened and my magic entered her."

Jareth was slightly taken aback by the fury that flashed in the
woman's eyes, "We were afraid one of the humans was the cause." Then
to herself she muttered, "It was bound to come to pass."

"What was that, my lady?"

"That's right, you don't know," She smiled at this. "But it does not
matter. The child is a goblin, the mother gone."

"The events did not turn out as such, my lady. They both returned to
their own world."

"The woman won? That is odd for you, isn't it Jareth? I remember
quite well you said she would not retrieve the girl, that the child
would be changed."

"Things do not always go as planned," Jareth looked away from the
crystal as he growled his words.

"Indeed." Malora grinned, "Then, pray tell, how did it come about
that both humans left?"

Jareth did not answer her right away, instead looking back out the
window to his kingdom. It was a weakness, him letting that child go;
he had cared too much about her feelings and what was best for her
well-being. Too late to change what he had already done, "I gave her
back, there is nothing more to tell."

"You made that choice?"

"The Labyrinth made the choice," He snapped, looking back into the
crystal at the Empress, "I merely agreed."

"You rule over it; it does not rule you. Why did you consent?" the
Empress pushed, looking like a cat that had cornered a
mouse, "Jareth, don't hide anything of this matter from me. I will
make you tell me, you know I can do it. Don't force me."

Jareth stopped himself from shuddering. The meek and motherly body
that was Malora held much power, power he couldn't touch; her
appearance was deceiving. He was thankful the Underground was ruled
by one inclined to be just and fair instead of being a complete
tyrant. "Very well. Goblins do not hold human memories well when
given proper persuasion to forget. However, had I allowed this child
to be transformed, she would not have been like the others. She had
foreknowledge of becoming a goblin. I have seen others with such
knowledge go insane; destroy themselves and anything around them from
the horror of what they had become. A babe so young should not be
punished for her mother's crime."

"Yet the child could have stayed in some other kingdom."

"As a slave, yes, I know." He hissed.

"Strangely enough, had you sent the child to one of us, slavery would
not have been her fate." Malora stated slyly.

Jareth looked concerned from the suddenly pleased look on the
Empress's face. "What would have been done with her?"

"That is not certain."

Jareth narrowed his eyes, hating that she was being illusive. "If the
child would not go to bondage, then what were the other options, if
any?"

"Do you want my choice or the majority opinion?"

"Majority? The others know of the child?" At the woman's nod, he was
angered and confused, "There was a council and I was not told?"

"Again, you perceive so much." Malora smiled maliciously.

"Why was this hidden from me?"

"Because it concerns you, what more?" The woman brushed back her
silver hair as she laughed at Jareth's scowl, "Oh, Goblin King, you
have been away from us for too long…rumors and prophecies do not
reach your ears."

"Well, out with it!"

Malora's face froze in a dangerous look at his outburst, her violet
eyes flaring. "Do not presume we are equals, MY subject. You will
hear only what I want you to know of this matter."

Jareth wasn't about to argue with or apologize to her. He needed to
know all he could, and if he pushed her, she would tell him nothing.
But he was not going to back down. "Fine then. What is the matter
and what the HELL does it have to do with me? If it is your will to
tell me, of course." He added the last bit smoothly to edge off any
anger that might have slipped with his tone.

Malora stretched out the silence for a moment, loving her power, the
ability to make others squirm in anticipation, "You know King Frokna
of the Trolls remarried a few hundred years ago, to that lowly little
elfin princess, Cestral?"

It angered Jareth how Malora referred to his sometimes companion and
often confidant. The elf may be meek and shy, but that did not make
her lowly.

"Well," Malora went on, "she is a seer of sorts you know, dreaming of
things that have been and that which will be…depending on if we
cannot stop the course of events that lead to such a future.
Strangely enough, Cestral's insights are unmatched; I don't know her
visions to have ever been misleading." She made sure Jareth was
following and only continued when he nodded, "Well, it seems that
nymph dreamt of you gaining an heir with this child..."

"An heir?" Jareth stiffened. This was the first he had heard of it;
why hadn't Cestral told him. "That girl was to be my heir?"

"If you would let me finish," Malora rolled her eyes, "The child
isn't to BE your heir, she is to GIVE you an heir."

"What?"

"Cestral's exact words were `A human child--a girl not of this world
will give the Goblin King a son, and her presence shall shake the
foundations of the Underground.' What exactly she dreamt, she will
tell only you."

Jareth moved immediately to contact the elf queen, desiring to know
first hand so things might make sense, but Malora stopped him. "Do
not try to speak to her just yet. As I said, the course of the
future can be changed, and if I have anything to do with it, it will
be. When the prophecy was first given, we were unsure if it meant
there would be a literal shaking of our lands. Now that it seems
that it was, we can safely assume that girl child was the
fulfillment."

"Explain this prophecy to me again." Jareth growled, a hint of
unsurity in his voice. He couldn't believe it could be serious.

"The one who shook the Underground shall bare you a child. It's not
that hard to comprehend." Malora grinned at Jareth's perplexed
features.

"With all respect, my lady, the child is millennia younger than I,
not to mention only three years old."

"You would not be the first to be in such a position." Malora
reminded him, "Frokna, Tsojin, even Aquinas have younger wives."

"Yes, but those women were borne of this world and weren't remotely
human. Do you really think I could have relations with one of non
magic so willingly?"

"It does run in your family." Malora sneered the insult, "Besides,
once you join with the girl, she will have magic, will she not?"

He laughed at the absurdity, "How is this to come to pass?"

"It has already begun--if you cannot see it."

Jareth shrugged, "I cannot."

"You have already set the child's path in motion to return to you,"
Malora frowned, looking at Jareth as though she was gazing straight
through him, saying the words but her mind being somewhere else. "By
returning her to her world, you have prevented her transformation--
safeguarding your chance to produce an heir and…"

"If I wed at all," Jareth interrupted, "It will not be because a
prophecy claims it."

"You must." Malora stated harshly and urgently, snapping her cool
amethyst eyes back to his, "You must keep control over this human.
She cannot have power over you; I cannot take that risk."

The way the Empress spoke, Jareth suspected there was more, "Why do
you fear the child? What more haven't you told me?"

Malora did look surprised that he saw through her words, her violet
eyes widening, but she shook her head, "That is not your concern."

"I know you, Malora," Jareth wasn't uneasy to use her name, "Nothing
frightens you."

She ignored his remark. "The choice is yours, the fate of this child.
You can do as the other kings suggest and mold this girl's path to
bring her back to you, or you can ignore her. But know either way,
she will come--and there WILL be a child." Then the Empress smiled
cruelly, "Or you could simply heed my judgment and rid the child of
her existence and never think on her again…" At the king's appalled
gleam in his eyes, the aura of magic around him flaring red at the
horrendous thought, Malora softened, "But I can see you are already
attached."

Jareth looked into the crystal to protest his concern for the child,
but the expression on Malora's face caught him off guard. She looked
the most sincere he'd ever seen her. There was a sparkle to her eyes
towards him she had never held; she cared.

"You are attached, whether or not you will admit it." She
laughed, "But, heed this: Humans crave magic, desire to be our
equals. This child is young enough that if you bring her back know,
wean her into the ways of the Fae, perhaps find some minor magic for
her--she might not turn against us. In teaching her, she will be
prepared for the duties as your queen and…"

"My queen?" Jareth interrupted, "You would not put her into bondage?
You of all Fae would grant her a free life?"

"Only for the sake of the Underground," Malora stated. "You are as
needed as any other king in the Underground, more so to protect the
gate. It would do us ill to have you as an enemy, just because your
queen was treated poorly in her youth." The Empress smiled
slightly, "And no slave can be a queen."

Jareth smiled softly in agreement, but his features went solemn again
soon enough, "I will not remove the child from her life. I have no
claim on her."

"Yes you do, and you know it. You gave her back, you can take her
back. I know you can do it; you are the only one who can freely
journey to Earth. She is still young in human years; if you take her
now, she will not remember her world."

"And who would care for her? She cannot stay in the Labyrinth."

"Tsojin has volunteered to raise her. His people are more accepting
of humans so no harm should come to the child." Malora sighed, "It's
either that or leave her where she is, since you will not destroy
her."

No, he couldn't fathom destroying such a perfect soul as Sarah's.
But there had to be some escape from such a prophecy; not an escape
for himself, but for the girl. Jareth narrowed his eyes, "How long
do I have?"

"You have as long as you need to decide…but know that if she stays on
Earth past her prime, once she is in our word, she will forever
remain that age, and I am sure you do not want an old maid as your
bride." Malora laughed, though Jareth did not. "Bring her if you
like, give her to whom you choose, but keep her down. Do not let her
think she could ever match you. Break her before she needs broken."

Jareth didn't bother with given a formal closure to their
conversation. He dissolved the crystal; he was done. For Malora to
be so fervent about this child being controlled, there had to be
something she wasn't telling him. She was offering this girl
everything humans were currently denied; magic, marriage with a Fae;
but why he could not decipher, unless through it Malora hoped to
change the course of the future…HER future. Just because she ruled
the entire Underground should not mean she could interfere with
other's lives just so hers would be protected. And he was the pawn,
it seemed. He was to watch the girl, WED the girl, which was hard
for him to grasp since she was so young. Of course he knew Sarah
would age in time, but he was certain he would always think back to
the one day he spent with her as an infant. It would be unusual.

Speaking to Cestral was foremost on his mind and he didn't just want
to speak to her through a crystal. He needed to be in person for
such a matter that would determine the path of the rest of his life.
But he just couldn't barge into the Troll Kingdom without consent.
So forming another crystal, he called upon the husband of his
friend. It took a moment for the Troll king to answer, which did
nothing for Jareth's patience, but he tried to sound calm.

"Frokna, if it is permissible in your eyes, I would like to visit
your wife."

King Frokna was a stubby creature who might have been confused with a
dwarf had his skin not been a creamy green and two curly chocolate
horns grace the sides of his head. The Troll King bowed his head in
acknowledgement, "I am sure she would enjoy your company. She has
desired to speak with you for days."

"I shall arrive shortly."

Not half an hour later, a barn owl flew into a window of the black
marble castle of the Troll Kingdom. He flew down many corridors
until he finally reached his destination. Jareth transformed in
Frokna's throne room, trying as he might to prevent himself from
breathing heavily from his speedy flight. He went faster than he
should have, but he anticipated seeing Cestral so much he didn't care
that his haste could have caused self-injury. But he was fine and
waited patiently for Cestral to be informed of his arrival.

Jareth was offered a chair next to the troll king. The two sat
rigidly and eyed each other, staying silent and tolerant of the
other's presence. What could a Fae possibly have to converse about
with a troll? They had nothing in common to speak of save for each
held magic, ran a kingdom, and had a common acquaintance in Cestral.
But their unease lasted only a few minutes, for soon the young elf
arrived. Before she even glanced at the Goblin King, she greeted
her husband with a smile and a kiss; one thing Jareth had to admit,
this couple, although quite different, was very happy.

Cestral approached Jareth, embracing him with a gentle hug, her brown
hair sliding forward, covering him. "I'm so very glad you've come."

He couldn't help but to smile at her cheerfulness when she pulled
back, "It's been a long time."

"Nearly sixty years," She smiled sadly, "too long. Your majesty is
here because of my dream. The girl has come."

Jareth nodded, "It seems so."

Frokna spoke up, "This girl has gotten us all in a bit of a bind,
deciding what to do."

Jareth turned to him, "What sort of bind are you referring to?
Malora was evasive in giving me details."

"Well, if this girl comes, things shall be quite different." The
troll shrugged, "Change may be good, but many are against it."

"Change?" Jareth looked to both of them, "What is to change?"

Cestral neared Jareth and took his gloved hands in her own, urging
him to stand, "We should speak where others will not hear."

The elf eyed her husband, who nodded that she could depart with her
companion. She led the Goblin King down many corridors, each proving
that trolls loved to collect treasures and display their wealth--
there were more pieces of gold in those hallways than Jareth had seen
his entire life. It seemed Frokna had come into wealth since the
Goblin King had last graced his castle.

Finally, Cestral stopped in the library. Servants made sure the fire
was well stoked and refreshments ready before the queen sent them
away. She poured herself wine and offered Jareth a glass, but he
declined, too nervous to stomach the liquid. They sat on a couch of
soft suede leather; Jareth lounged himself comfortably while Cestral
sat properly, her face abysmal as she stared into the red liquor in
the glass.

The Goblin King sat straighter at his friend's expression, "What is
wrong?"

A tear escaped from the elf's brown eyes, "I don't know quite what to
tell you, where to begin."

"Well," He sighed uneasily, "You could start by telling me what is
making you cry. I am not that horrible to be around, am I?"

Cestral lightened slightly, "No, but it is you that has made me sad…
or will." Her face scrunched in thought, her pointed ears turning red
with her emotions, "You are so stubborn, you don't let go, don't let
anyone explain. I mean seriously, how could you do that to her?"

"Do what?" Jareth stared at her, "To whom?"

Cestral whipped away her tear, bowing her head in
embarrassment, "Sometimes it is hard to remember some things haven't
happened yet." She took a deep breath, "Alright, from the beginning
then. I have had many dreams considering you, considering the future
of the entire Underground. The dreams always start the same, but
they always end differently. But they all begin with a little child
coming into the Labyrinth and it takes a hold of her with magic…"
Cestral closed her eyes with the memory, "Every time I think it might
kill her--she was too little to take what it forced into her. And it
happened, that is why everything Underground shook. But the girl did
not die, Malora told us that much at council."

Jareth nodded, "I touched her. It was my magic that invaded her…"

"No, that's not what I have seen." Cestral brought her eyes
confidently to meet Jareth's, "The child is its liberator. The
Labyrinth wants her to be your undoing."

Jareth's eyes widened, "It has resisted me since the child left; it
did not want the child to transform…so she could defeat me." He
growled the last words hatefully.

Cestral placed her hand on Jareth's knee, "Don't be angry at her; she
couldn't possibly know what it is she has been given through you."

"Through me?"

"Yes; you did bind yourself to the Labyrinth--it is part of you, and
you part of it. Only through your touch could it reach the child,
thus it was through you it was done."

"Why does Malora insist on my bedding this child if she is to be my
destroyer?"

"It isn't that she's insisting, Jareth, it's just what happens. I
have seen the girl here with you, older of course, but definitely
with child--your queen. You have to understand, I don't see
everything, and I often see different versions of the same path. The
future isn't certain. But one thing has never changed in all that I
have seen. You love this girl and have a son by her."

Jareth looked away from her. He didn't want to believe it, "Does she
destroy me?"

"I have never seen past your child's birth," Cestral breathed out.

"How convenient." Jareth snarled.

Cestral moved closer to him, "Jareth, I think you are looking at this…
no, I've probably told it the wrong way. You hate her before you
even let yourself love her."

"Love her?"

"Yes. How else do you think you are going to get an heir? Unless
you think you can just swoop down into the girl's life, take her by
force and leave her to rot alone with a child. I know you wouldn't
do that." She moved the glass to her lips, but before she drank, she
said, "You're not that cruel."

Jareth pushed himself back into the couch, trying to rub out the ache
in his brow from furrowing so much. "Why are you telling me this?
Right now, I want to stay as far way from the child as possible, for
as long as possible." He looked at Cestral dangerously; "I could take
the child's life right now and be rid of the threat. I will not be
dethroned."

"But Fate is Fate." Cestral smiled, not intimidated by her friend,
though she knew he was entirely serious. But she also knew her dreams
and the strong bond that would form between the mortal girl and the
Goblin King. "I never said you were dethroned. I said the Labyrinth
will be free of you. You simply will no longer control it. You'll
still have everything else."

Jareth rolled his eyes at her. She sounded as though that was so much
better than loosing his magic. In a way, it was. If the Labyrinth
only wanted free will and not his complete destruction, he could
accept that. However, he couldn't be sure, no matter what Cestral
said the future definitely held. And little Sarah was caught in the
middle of it all, unaware of how prominent she was.

"You are certain this child is to be my bride?"

"Very." Cestral answered confidently, "If your course of action does
not interfere with such a future."

"A labyrinth of time and choices," Jareth sighed, relaxing a
bit, "What is my first step?"

"Not harming the girl, for one," Cestral laughed. "The Empress said
you will send the child to Tsojin to grow and learn our ways."

"Yes, well. Malora's word isn't final. If I retrieve the girl, my
choice of guardian will not be Tsojin."

"The Empress will insist." Cestral urged.

Her tone reminded Jareth of how fervent their ruler had been, "Why
does Malora fear this girl?"

Cestral looked away, "I have had a few dreams of this same girl rule…
rule over us all. Malora fears to be usurped."

"A human child govern the Underground?" Jareth chucked, "The child
was intelligent, but her soul had no ambition to rule, I'm sure."

"I am not the only one to foresee Malora's removal," Cestral stated
quickly, "I am only the one who has matched the face to the prophecy,
one that is older than you or I."

Such knowledge had been around for ages and he had heard none of it
before this day. "How long have you known the child is to be my
queen?"

"Nearly three centuries, maybe more," Cestral shied back at Jareth's
harsh gaze. She knew she should have told him sooner, before any of
the signs occurred so he could prepare himself on how to take
it. "I'm sorry, I just couldn't tell you. I didn't know it would
take so many years before she actually came. It's been so long, and
the dreams happened so often that they are starting to become
memories." Cestral took his hand in her own, squeezing it. "And
there are many events I would like to see come to pass for a friend
who has always been kind to me."

"You really think I will love her?" He couldn't bare to look his
friend in the eyes as he asked.

Cestral nodded. In her hand she formed a crystal of her own, which
she handed to him, "Look at this, it will show you some of what is to
come, so you can trust her. Let go of your hate before it destroys
both of you." She gazed at him sadly, "I see two definite futures.
Both full of hate, both full of love. You will each hurt the other
dearly, but since you know it now, you can forgive her easier when it
comes to pass."

Jareth looked concerned, not liking the sound of any of it. He
looked at the crystal but couldn't bring himself to see what it held
within, "What will she do?"

"You do something far worse to her, if you choose that path. It is
far worse than anything she could possibly do to you." Cestral eased
her unusually harsh tone as she too looked at the crystal, "You won't
find it in there though. I didn't include everything."

Jareth looked back to his friend. "I might not do anything to her.
The future is not yet set."

"It is fixed enough." Cestral stated gently.

So, Jareth was just supposed to accept that the Labyrinth would be
out of his control one day, and that someday when she was grown,
Sarah would give him a child; and he would love her? He could accept
the fact that he wouldn't have to rule alone with a bride, but he
couldn't fathom not ruling the Labyrinth. It had been dangerous
before he bound it to himself; to unleash it again would do much
harm. He would believe what he had to, but nothing was written in
stone.

"Then what do your dreams say? Do I bring Sarah here to grow?"

Cestral shook her head, "She lives a mortal life."

Jareth breathed out, relieved to hear Sarah isn't raised under
Malora's glare, "Then I will let her come to me in her own time."

"Is there anything else you want to know?" Cestral asked.

"Since you cannot tell me one set future, I suppose there is nothing
else I can be told. Unless…I know nothing of Sarah, what her life
will be on Earth…how it could change her. Her mother was vicious,
self-righteous. Is she tainted by the woman?"

"Do you suddenly care for the girl?" Cestral knowingly smiled.

Jareth grinned shyly, perhaps the first time in his life he'd been
shy. Apparently he couldn't hide much from one who had such
foresight, "I have cared about Sarah's well being since I first met
her."

Cestral nodded, "Then know this…my confession. I have known of the
girls' coming for centuries, and in that time, I wasn't so sure if
she was worthy to be our Empress. Would my knowledge of a tyrant
being placed on the throne be counted against me? Would I be blamed
if I knew she would be hated? So I looked into the future in
different ways…sometimes by my own magic, sometimes by human means--
yes, there are some who still remember their ways." She added at
Jareth's shocked gape, "But what I saw fascinated me. Sarah, if that
is the girls name, will be very strong, just, and exceptionally wise
from all she experiences in her life." Cestral looked away, unsure if
she should say more, "She will receive more scars from you, from…"

"I will not cause her harm. She's had enough in her young life."

"Then be alone, Jareth. Live forever in miserable solitude—sometimes
the dreams show that too," Cestral chided, so unlike her gentle
self. Then quietly, she added, "You decide your fate, I only retell
it."

Jareth nodded. "If what you have said will come to pass, and since
part of it already has, I know I cannot just leave things to
themselves. I have to somehow protect Sarah, keep her away as long
as I can. All this was forced onto the girl's life because the
Labyrinth wants its freedom. And if the others know…"

"You are the only one I have told this to." Cestral's eyes went wide
with worry, "If they knew that the Labyrinth was not fully under your
control, do you know what they would do to it? Do to you?"

"I could hardly care what they'd do to me. It's Sarah I'm concerned
for. Malora is a jealous woman. She knows already she will leave the
throne; what if she attempts to destroy Sarah?"

"If she does, it will be after your child is given." Cestral held up
her hand to stop Jareth from questioning her further, "There's more
to explain, I know, but now is not the time. It may be decades
before you even have a child. We can save that matter until later."

Jareth nodded in agreement, though reluctantly. There had already
been too much to learn at once; to add more future possibilities to
the mesh--he'd rather just let it wait. He rose from the couch, "I'll
go then."

Cestral rose with him, placing a soft hand to his that held the
crystal, "Look at what it shows you. Let it guide you in your
course."

Jareth flew off with more questions on his mind, even though he'd
gotten all the answers he needed. Now all he had to do was decide
what he would do. Decide, hell, he might as well lie in his room for
the next twenty years and see if Fate truly did have its hand on his
life. Since the others didn't know anything of Sarah other than she
was to one day be his bride, none of them should bring the child
Underground. It would be better for Sarah to back to him on her
own. Then again, if he did nothing and she didn't' come, would his
life be miserable solitude, like Cestral said? Hadn't he started
that very morning questioning his existence? This prophecy gave him
direction. Perhaps it was because Sarah was presently a child that
he could not see a future with her…but Cestral's orb would reveal
what might be.

Jareth couldn't imagine that he would be able to concentrate on what
the crystal would show him if he gazed into it in the rabble of his
throne room. Instead, he flew through his bedroom window and landed
gracefully inside. The room was pitch dark, save for the spot of
sunlight that landed on the edge of his bed; like everything else in
the room, the sheets were black. He remained at the window, sitting
on the ledge, one leg dangling over the side…and heart pounding
heavily. He wasn't afraid of many things, but he was afraid of
looking into this orb, seeing what the future held for him. It could
hold a view of his destruction--since that is what the Labyrinth
desired. Or it could hold the greatest love he would ever know, as
Cestral believed he would find. Whatever he would discover, it would
be of Cestral's choosing. He never had cause to not trust her, yet
he was hesitant and untrusting with what she might be keeping from
him. But he wasn't a coward, so with one deep breath, he looked
inside.

At first everything went by in rapid flashes, scenes of himself with
who must have been Sarah, for she looked much like Linda Williams.
But he couldn't understand anything he was seeing for it would only
last seconds before it would change to a different situation. What
had Cestral been intending; to tease him with glimpses he couldn't
comprehend. She had never been so spiteful before, so there had to
be something he was supposed to do to control the progression. He
concentrated on slowing the images down, and once he found his pace,
he was able to stop the images at will, holding them to one scene.

The memory he was able to stop on first was rather plain. It was an
image of him, sitting in his room--if he gazed away from the crystal
right then he would have been able to see the very same armchair his
person was sitting on within the dream. But he did find it strange
that he was reading. He had never been one for books and the one he
was reading would not be one he would choose for himself. He
listened to his voice, reading out loud the juvenile words no
less. "Little boy blue, come blow your horn. The sheep's in the
meadow, the cow's in the corn. But where is the boy who looks after
the sheep? He's under the haystack, fast asleep. Will you wake him?
No, not I--for if I do, he's sure to cry." As he listened to himself,
the view switched to the front of the chair. Jareth raised his brow
in surprise, for there was a boy on his lap--spitting image of
himself. The child was drowsy and laid his head against his father's
shoulder, though he was obviously fighting to keep his mismatched
eyes on the books pages.

Jareth was a little unnerved that this was the first dream he was
able to focus on. It held nothing that told him of what to do about
Sarah, it only showed this would happen. That he had a child was
unimportant; but the second he thought, that he knew he would regret
it--it seemed as though he would love his son one day if he tolerated
reciting aloud such a horrendous nursery rhyme. But his
disappointment was unjustified, for am moment later he saw Sarah
enter, though his image-self did not.

She was beautiful, more so than her mother. Her presence held a
kindness, regality her mother could never possess. Sarah's eyes
sparkled in the fire light and the shadows played against her
features as she rested her head on her arms as she rested against the
back of the armchair, just listening. Her black hair fell softly
against her cheek as she closed her eyes a moment to listen, but a
moment later she reached a hand over the arm chair and started
stroking his hair. He saw his image-self grin at her touch but
continue on with the story. But when this rhyme ended, father lifted
a limp son into his arms. "Is he asleep?" Sarah whispered, her voice
soft and joyful. His self nodded, and Sarah laughed quietly, "That's
good, because this one's not." She then rested her hand on her
swollen belly.

Jareth nearly laughed out loud to know that he wouldn't just father
one but two, maybe more. He watched as the couple walked to a room
that Jareth didn't recognize in his castle--it must have been created
for the boy. They tucked the child into the small bed, then strolled
down more corridors Jareth didn't recognize, eventually stopping in
the kitchen. And he, the Goblin King who had never cooked his entire
life, fixed a sandwich for his pregnant wife. How curious.

The scene in the crystal changed to one of himself and Sarah, she
perhaps 5 years younger than in the dream before, but Sarah here is
obviously not happy with her king. She was staring at him, fire
gleaming, but not exactly hatred. Jareth saw himself to be sitting
on the throne, an infant in his lap, which he handed to a goblin,
apparently so that he might discuss Sarah's anger. But she ran off
before he could stop her. He ran after her and caught her in the
Goblin City, near the dwarf fountain. She stood there silently,
unable to look him in the eyes, but her tears gave away her anger.

"Look at me." Jareth heard himself say, and when Sarah refused, he
took his hand and made her--only forceful because she resisted.

"What are you going to say?" Sarah sobbed, "That you have no choice,
that it's what you have always done? I told the goblins no!"

"And you do not control them." Jareth stated.

"I did when I told them. Did they not tell you?" She asked--and he
averted his eyes only for barly an instant and she knew they
had, "They did…and you did against my will…"

Jareth saw his self let go of her and head back to the castle,
pointing his finger at her as he went; "You have no say in this,
Sarah."

"No say?" She rushed after him and tried to pull him to a stop. "If I
am going to live here the rest of my life, I am going to say
something."

He stopped and said closely to her face, "What then? I told you my
reasoning and you did not condemn me then, so what do you have to
say?"

Jareth wondered what they were talking about and was surprised to see
Sarah easily backed down. She had seemed so fervent before, but now
she looked impish. He must have been in the right for this
situation. "I'm sorry. It was just unexpected. With the Labyrinth
not being well, I didn't think anyone could go through it. I didn't
make anyone go through it when I was called."

Both his present and future selves were astonished, but the one in
the crystal voiced it, "Someone called on you?"

She nodded, "Before I brought you back. I hadn't even been here 10
minutes and here the goblins brought me a baby. I thought of what
you had me do, so I went to the mother. She knew me by name because
of her copy of the book." Then Sarah scrunched up her face in
remembrance, "She wasn't sure if she wanted her baby…and I got mad at
her. I was going to put her in the Labyrinth out of spite…"

Jareth's self grinned, "Now you know how I felt with you."

Sarah snapped her head up, "You hated me?"

"At the time," he nodded while stepping into her, pressing her body
against his, "but not anymore."

Jareth raised his eyes in wonder at how physical he turned out to be…
of course he knew his son would have to come from somewhere, but he
honestly didn't think he had it in him. He was just about to kiss
her when the faint cry of someone in need floated across the
Labyrinth and Sarah turned towards it, "Is that her?"

His image nodded, "She has ten hours left. She hasn't faired too
poorly."

"Is she safe in the Labyrinth?" Sarah asked with concern.

Jareth shrugged, "It's navigable. I flew over it this morning. It
seems to have returned to its permissible state."

Sarah smiled at him fully, "It's incredible what you can do. What I'd
give to fly over this land."

"You are still learning your magic. Who knows what we will find you
can do," then he leaned into her with a wicked grin, "I know another
way you can fly."

Jareth rolled his eyes at his future self, being so corny…but Sarah
seemed to take the line well. She didn't push him away, not even
when he forced his tongue into her mouth. In fact, that action seemed
to spur her further. Jareth wasn't sure how far she would allow his
self to ravage her, and he might have switched to a different dream
if it hadn't have been for Sarah's sudden collapse. He was able to
catch her but his expression proved he had no clue to what was
attacking her. She held to his body, eyes squeezed shut from pain.
Suddenly they were both in a different part of the Labyrinth. Which
one had teleported them there, Jareth couldn't tell, but it was Sarah
who moved away, touching her hands to the walls of the Labyrinth.
There was another woman with them too, frightened by their sudden
appearance--the wisher, Jareth demised from the way they had been
talking before.

His focus went back on Sarah when she spoke, "Jareth, I can't. It
won't listen to me."

The wisher was babbling about dieing, that it had been futile to try
and save her baby. It grated Jareth's ears.

"Cease your prattle women." Jareth commanded her, causing his present
self to agree. Then to Sarah, he said, "It never disobeyed me. It's
turned."

Then Sarah said something Jareth currently didn't understand, because
he had yet to say anything of the sort to her, "Jareth, use me.
You've said it forever; it is your Labyrinth. Speak to it through
me. Use my magic."

Jareth watched his future self try to make a decision. Even without
knowing the exact circumstances of THIS future, he knew she was
asking him to make her a slave to his magic. He didn't even know how
a mortal could have gotten magic since they weren't wed already…if
they were he would have been able to see the same aura between them,
which was not present. For him to use her magic they would virtually
have to bond their souls--something that could never be broken. Such
rituals were against Fae law without permission and he was certain
they did not have consent. He didn't know who he would be, what he
would choose, but right now, as his present self, he would have
denied her request and found some other solution. But his future
self didn't seem to agree.

He kept urgency out of his voice and asked gently. "Sarah, do you
love me?"

"Forever."

Jareth watched as he gently turned her around so she didn't face
him. Then he placed his right hand over her heart and left on her
forehead. But before he started the ritual that would bind them, he
feathered a kiss on her neck whispering, "I love you." Sarah's body
went ridged at the initial joining of their magics, but soon she
relaxed and didn't fight it. Jareth watched his yellow power invade
her blue…no, not invade but conjoin for she figured out she could
help him. Once there was nothing left of their individual souls,
still holding Sarah to him, Jareth removed his hand from her head,
commanding the wall opposite them to move back. It fought him only
momentarily before it complied. Only one wall need be moved to free
them from the trap. The other walls he commanded to remain
motionless.

When this was done, Jareth finally understood what was happening.
The Labyrinth had chosen to be rid of him, only to have the power
given to Sarah, who it thought it could control. It probably never
intended for Sarah and himself to join in love, in power. Its plan
backfired in THIS future. But apparently there was more to see of
this dream, for it continued.

The wisher, seeing that the Labyrinth no longer moved, gave a sigh of
relief before sobbing and running out. But once safe, she turned to
them. She could have yelled at them, blamed them for trying to kill
her, but she wisely remained silent.

Sarah looked across to her but said quietly to Jareth, turning in his
arms, "Does she still have to do this if the Labyrinth is dangerous?"

"As long as it obeys me, I don't see why not. I'm not yet convinced
that she realizes what she was wished was wrong." He said lowly, "How
can we the child back if we are not sure?"

Sarah leaned against him, "You said `we.' Does that mean you're going
to let me help decide?"

Jareth heard himself say something he would always believe, "I'll
take your suggestions into account, but my word is final."

Sarah nodded but pulled away. Apparently she did not agree with
him. She wondered over to stand before the wisher, her steps
planned, threatening to tell the woman she was not finished yet.

"Are you the Mistress of the Labyrinth?" the woman asked.

Sarah raised her brow at the title the woman gave her, yet said
confidently, "I am. Do you still want to reach your son?"

The woman laughed, "If it doesn't kill me."

"Do not fear for your life," Sarah told her. "This was…just a test."

The woman looked at Sarah knowingly, "You were scared."

"And you," Jareth heard himself say in anger, walking up with
Sarah, "have only nine hours and thirty six minutes left. Shouldn't
you get going?"

"What of my safety?" The woman pressed.

Sarah smiled slyly at Jareth, "Nothing comes for free. You want your
safety, it will cost you time."

The woman reluctantly agreed to loose two hours.

Jareth smiled as the image in the crystal changed, pleased that Sarah
would understand how his methods worked, that she learned his trade.
That proved to him she truly was meant to be his queen. He loved her
now, just with that thought. But his contentment with the revelation
was short lived.

The next image Jareth stopped at filled his mind with confusion.
This certainly was a different future, for Sarah was even younger
than in the last dream, maybe just out of her child years. And in
the last dream, he had not been joined with her. But here, in THIS
future, he was in her bed, making love to her. What the hell would
lead him do that with her when she was so young? He heard Sarah
scream out in pain and saw in disgust that it was because his image-
self had slit a wound into her neck with his pendant and attacked the
wound with his mouth, drinking the blood that flowed from her.
Jareth was about to rip his eyes away from the crystal, to stop the
knowledge that he might one day kill Sarah in a horrible act when he
saw his image leap out of the bed. Then, Jareth wanted to know what
had made himself stop.

Sarah was afraid, confused, but her courage struck him. Her words
showed she wasn't some naive little girl he'd taken forcefully to
bed; she knew what they had been doing. Who ever he turns out to be
in THIS future led her to believe it was their marriage bed. His
self told Sarah his violence was only due to her theft of his magic.
But Jareth could see in her eyes she truly didn't know anything of it
if it were true; but his self wouldn't believe it. Listening further,
though, Sarah knew enough magic to forever curse him. At her wish, he
saw the magic leave his body and how crushed he was for her to have
cursed him like that. Further, she curses him to never know her, and
it too is a wish fulfilled, for he transformed into the owl and
left.

Why would Cestral want him to know this? What could it possibly do
but make him hate Sarah and hate himself? God, he loved the girl
already from just her bravery, but her powerful words in THIS future
will destroy him.

He wanted to move on to the next dream, to find something that would
prove some redemption, some salvation in his relationship with Sarah,
but the crystal wouldn't let him. Instead, it burned a bright white
fire within its depths, blinding Jareth's sight. With the light came
a piercing shriek, something he had never heard before; almost like a
bell but bells don't ring straight noise. Jareth lowered himself to
the stone floor, afraid he might loose balance and fall out the
window if he remained there. He dropped the crystal to the floor,
and it rolled away…and once out of his hand the noise stopped. But a
great dizzying headache remained. He leaned his head against the
wall, willing the pain to subside, but little happened.

A moment later, Jareth opened his eyes and wondered how he came to be
on the floor. His head hurt, but he didn't remember hitting it on
anything. All he remembered was he had left Cestral, she had given
him a crystal. He rose, holding on to the wall for support, for his
head was very lightheaded from the movement.

Jareth felt disoriented, still unable to think clearly, but he knew
enough to form a crystal and call on Cestral, "What have you done?"

Cestral appeared within and looked sadly at him, "What do you
remember?"

He placed his other hand to his head, putting pressure so the
headache would subside, "I don't…Sarah. It had to do with Sarah."

"Yes," Cestral answered, "anything else?"

His eyes were still blurry, the ache too great for him to
think, "Cestral, damn it! What did you do?!"

The elf shook her head, in agreement with only herself, "I did what I
thought best. I let you see your future but also placed a spell in
that crystal so you wouldn't remember what it showed you. BUT only
if you chose to watch one moment with Sarah to the end. You must
have or you would be able to remember everything."

"Why?"

"Why? Because if you knew, you would change things that are supposed
to happen and that's not what prophecies are for. They are to show
us what will be, and though different choices lead to different
outcomes, Fate is Fate, no matter how painful it may be. Change one
event and you can destroy a whole intended time line. It's not just
your life it will be effecting, so I didn't want you to remember."

"But why do I feel like I remember? Like I hate…?" He turned his
head and looked away, unable to confess it.

"You hate Sarah." Cestral answered sorrowfully.

"No, I hate myself."

"And Sarah, what do you feel for her?"

Jareth searched his soul for that answer, for his mind could not
summon it, "Does love also hurt?"

"Yes, it can at times." Cestral grinned, "Do you believe me now,
that you can love this girl?"

"I don't know, since I can't remember." Jareth chided.

"Then create new memories. Watch her, but do it from afar. I am
quite certain she will come to you."

"When? If it is too long…Too many humans have journeyed my kingdom. I
know they did not believe in magic when they left. They probably
remember it solely as a dream. If she comes too late, will she be
able to accept magic, become one with it?"

"I suggest that you send her reminders. Make her believe magic is
real, even though it does not last in her world." Cestral brushed her
brown hair behind her shoulder, "Start now, she will be ready when
she comes."

"Thank you." Jareth smiled to his friend, then raised a challenging
brow to her, "But do not think I will forget you erased knowledge
from me."

***

It had been days that she had been home with Sarah and Linda wondered
why the child had been returned to her. She knew that she had meant
the wish when she had said it and knew that she in no way could ever
love Sarah enough to pay back for what she had selfishly wanted. But
now Linda wanted to make it up to Sarah, to be the mother she had yet
to become--yet she knew she wasn't strong enough to change,
especially not her feelings towards her husband.

After their argument that night Sarah was wished away, Robert became
silent. He used to take an interest in everything Linda did, but he
hadn't even asked her if she'd heard back yet about her audition. All
he was was civil with her. It was as if he knew that when Linda
played with or fed Sarah, she was only mimicking the role
of 'mother', not really putting her heart into it. And it was a role
to Linda, but only because she believed that if she acted it out
enough, she would naturally and willingly begin to do it. Try as she
might, she was pointlessly exhausting herself.

It was storming outside, an unusual storm for August, and Linda
wasn't enjoying it. Not only had the cable television gone out, but
Sarah was spooked by the storm. Robert had called to say he had
gotten stuck twenty miles away with a flat tire, so again it was
Linda's job to comfort the child. But nothing she tried would calm
Sarah, so Linda left her to cry herself to sleep. To keep herself
from being bored--and from listening to Sarah's persistent wailing--
Linda went to the kitchen and blared the radio as she started to
empty the dishwasher.

But the radio suddenly went dead and she felt something solid bump
into her foot. She stared down in dread at a round crystal that could
only have come from one being. Linda watched as it rolled away a
distance and then paused until she figured she was supposed to
follow. It glided up to Sarah's room, where Linda found the child
asleep, laying on the chest of the Goblin King.

"What are you doing here?" Linda asked in a forced whisper.

The Goblin King lay Sarah's little body down with care before turning
on the bed, blasting a cold gaze at Linda, "I don't know why I even
let you keep her. You left her in here alone..."

"Because she wouldn't shut up. I tried to see what she wanted..."

"She wants comfort, but obviously that is too hard for you to give."

"Hey, I tried, alright? Is it my fault she's afraid of the storm?"
Linda yelled down at him, tired of being blamed by someone who knew
nothing about her.

"She isn't afraid of the storm, she's in pain." He spat the words at
Linda, but then turned a soft gaze down at Sarah, brushing the side
of her face with a gloved hand, "I could only heal her so much
before; I only knew of the fever then." He turned his hot eyes back
on Linda, "You should have had her to a physician by now."

"Robert did. She's on medication. But, she hasn't had a fever in
days. How can she still be hurting?"

"The air change brought with the storm hurt her ears, but she
shouldn't feel it now."

A moment later, when the Goblin King had returned his gaze to her
daughter, Linda asked, "Why are you here?"

Jareth rose from Sarah's side, made sure the teddy bear was tucked
snuggly with her, then indicated for Linda to exit the room. She
followed him the short distance to the living room and sat rigidly on
the couch. He remained standing.

"So..." Linda prompted when he looked as though he couldn't find the
words.

He wasn't sure what he was going to say. He had only come to check
on Sarah but found her crying, again being ignored by her mother. He
held her in his harms and made the pain disperse, humming her to
sleep. She trusted him so easily even though she probably didn't
remember him. He didn't want her to forget him, ever. And believing
her to be mistreated only solidified his decision, "I've come for
Sarah."

Linda's heart panicked. She was trying to be a mother, she needed
more time, "No, you can't--you just gave her back."

"Which is proving to be a mistake." Jareth growled.

"Why now? Why didn't you come for her days ago?"

"Because I didn't know who she was until now."

"Who she was? What do you mean?"

Jareth looked straight into Linda's eyes, "She is to be my wife."

Linda had to stop herself from laughing, "She's only three years
old."

"Of course we wouldn't wed now. I'm merely going to take her to..."

"You're not taking her anywhere, got that!!" Linda shouted, "She is
my daughter and I'm not going to just let you take her, like she has
no choice in this. You have no right."

"It IS my right. She is mine, you gave her up to me--remember? I gave
her back only to prevent her from becoming a goblin."

"Why? Huh? Isn't it your job to make goblins? What's so special about
Sarah that you saved her then if you 'just' found out about her?"

Jareth looked off in thought, "I suppose I knew I loved her."

"Love--for a three year old?" Linda huffed.

"Mrs. Williams, in my world we live for nearly an eternity. We are
taught not to judge with our eyes but with our hearts." He knew he
had to find a better way to explain it to her, "You were in the
Labyrinth--did you feel the earth shake?"

"Yeah, there was an earthquake, so?"

"That quake was caused by Sarah."

"How?"

"Somehow, through me, the Labyrinth connected to her."

"Why? What does it want with her?"

Jareth smiled sadly, remembering the reason, but he needn't tell her
that. He only had to tell her what he knew to be official, "All I
know is this was foretold long ago, a child of Earth would shake the
foundations of the Underground and that child would give the ruler of
that land a son..."

Linda stood and glared at him, "So you are totally assuming Sarah is
to give you a son?"

"It is no assumption."

"But do you know where you will be in 20 years? Are you so sure
you'll still be king?"

"Quite certain." He looked down on her, "You aren't going to be able
to talk her fate away. She will come with me, whether you want it or
not."

"So what? Why take Sarah now? She wouldn't be able to even have
kids for another fifteen years at least."

"Do you think I'd want her living that long where she was unhappy
because she isn't loved." Jareth asked coolly.

"I do love her. I try--but...you can't tell me you can do better with
her. Look at where you live--well, I mean, I know I didn't see your
actual home, but everything else was so...weird."

She was right, Sarah was destined to be raised on Earth, despite his
opinion. "What do you purpose?"

"Let her stay here with what she's used to."

"If she doesn't come with me now...your world has no magic, and the
longer she stays, the harder it will be for her to accept what I will
offer her. I do not want to be forgotten."

" I wont let her forget. I promise I can do that."

It surprised him at how honestly genuine Linda stated her words. She
truly didn't want Sarah to leave her. Maybe the woman had changed
after all.

"Give her this." Jareth conjured a ring from a crystal, "Let her know
it is from me."

Linda took the delicate ring, unable to tell if the stone were garnet
or amethyst. The band was astounding; the intricate pattern on its
band was of a maze How such delicate work was in a ring amazed
Linda. But the meaning behind the symbol surprised her more, "A
promise ring. I can't give it to her now--she'd never understand."

"Then someday, when you think she will." Jareth said before he
silently turned to walk out. Best leave now before he changed his
mind.

Linda looked at his fleeting form, "So that's it? You're just
leaving?"

Jareth turned back to her, "That is what you want, is it not? I'll be
watching you, and if I can't, my goblins will. If it is deemed Sarah
is unhappy or mistreated, I will take her. Otherwise, I she will
come when she is ready. Do not let her forget."

Linda nodded and he faded away.

*

Though Linda had her flaws, she actually did keep her end of the
bargain; she never let Sarah forget the Labyrinth. If she saw
something that resembled a creature she had encountered in the
Labyrinth, she would give it to Sarah…like the bookends she found at
some antique store that greatly resembled the dwarf Hoggle. And when
she couldn't find something she thought Sarah should see, the monster
Ludo and the strange Firey creatures, she had them hand made into
dolls for Sarah to play with. Linda never did tell the Goblin King
she would tell the girl it was a real place, she just agreed to keep
it always near Sarah's heart.

As for telling Sarah she was betrothed to a king from some fairytale
land, she just couldn't bring herself to do it. Not that Linda
didn't want to be good to her word and not let Sarah forget him, it
was just so hard for even her to believe. Something in the way
Jareth had looked at Sarah--Linda knew he loved her. His eyes held
a love for Sarah that Robert never shared with Linda. Jareth had a
true love built on faith, not like Linda's that was balanced on
appearance and shared experience. Jareth knew nothing of Sarah but
that he was to love her. He had no idea how Sarah would grow or what
she would think of him and his world; he trusted that she would love
him back. Linda didn't want to ruin that for him or for Sarah. Her
daughter was lucky to have a love waiting. But it was just too soon
for her to say anything to Sarah. Not that she didn't give the girl
the ring; she did that when Sarah was eight because after five years
of trying to stay, she finally left Robert. She gave Sarah the ring
then because she didn't know if she would ever be back to give it to
Sarah properly.

So though Sarah grew up loving the creatures of the Labyrinth, she
thought the gifts dearest to her heart were merely from a mother who
sometimes loved her.