Out of the maze

Jareth arrived at his castle and started to look for his mysterious new guess. He just hoped it was not the beginning of a new fairy tale.

The birth of a fairy tale is always a dangerous time in the underworld because it meant it was a time of changes, and anything could chance. In a realm where life went on almost forever, very little changed. But in very few occasions, things would be set in motion and no one knew the outcome, there was no way of foretelling what would happen. The last time it was Sarah. He got himself a wife, his kingdom got a Queen"¦ but now, now he could lose his kingdom, many of his friends could die, he could die, Sarah"¦ Sarah, he could lose Sarah. He had to find this person soon.

Jareth began to feel something he almost never felt. He felt fear. He was almost running through his castle when he came upon a door which was almost never there. The door to the council. As he stood in front of them, the doors opened and he could see the whole council gathered inside. No good.

"King Jareth of the underworld" a voice announced.

Holding his head up high, Jareth marched in and sat at his chair.

"My King" said one of the elders "it has come to our attention that a new fairy tale has started"

"I've notice that" snapped Jareth "what I need to know is if it is a small one or a big one so we can try to control the damage it makes"

"My lord" he heard someone say "is one of the major ones. There is simply no telling who much it will affect us"

"Well, don't just stand there, tell me all you know. Where is its focus?"

"It's on the new arrival, my lord"

"The mortal child? The focus is a human?"

"Not a common human, my lord. The child is a wizard"

"Fine" Jareth sighed "just tell me all you know"

******

Jareth found Sarah sitting in the forest were the wild gang lived. She quite enjoyed their music and would come down here often to dance with them, especially now that they knew better than to try removing her head. She had became a very powerful fae.

"Hello, my love"

"Hello, darling, how is the game going?"

"Yes, the game"¦ Darling, we have to talk"

"What is it, Jareth?"

"The boy's cousin does not want to play" Jareth notice that Sarah seemed very pleased at this.

"Then he is ours!"

"Not quite"

"What? But the law"¦"

"His cousin is a child, love. He has until his 13th birthday to demand his turn at the labyrinth"

"Oh!" Sarah seemed lost at this, she kept looking at some point over his shoulder.

"What is it, darling?"

"He is not going back"

"Sarah! You know the rules, we can keep him until his cousin comes for him and if he solves the labyrinth we have to let them both go"

"No, I refuse" Sarah stood up and paced a while. She seemed to reach a decision and stopped in front of Jareth, taking his hand "Darling, I want you to meet someone"

Sarah let Jareth through the forest, towards the wild gang's music. Jareth could hear them play way before he could see them. The wild gang was all there playing and dancing like always, but what caught Jareth's attention was a little boy dancing with them. Just one glance at the boy and Jareth knew he was in for a world of trouble and he also knew he would die in a bloody battle before he would allow anyone to take the child, because dancing happily with the wild gang was a perfect mix of his and Sarah's traits. It was their child.

"Harry" Sarah called "come here"

"Oh! Look is King Jareth and Queen Sarah" and the wild gang started to jump up and down around them making a big fuss over their visit.

Harry was laughing so hard it took him a while to notice Jareth kneeling down next to him.

"Hello, Harry. How do you like my kingdom?"

"Oh! Hello" said the boy suddenly very shy "I like it very much, sir"

"Good, how would you like to live here for a while?"

"Really?" Harry's eyes lit up in hope, only to be cast down again "but my uncle won't allow it"

"Well, you see, he doesn't have a choice. Your cousin is the only one that can try to get you out of here and until he decides to try, you have to live here, that is the law"

"You mean it?"

"Yes, I mean it. How do you like that?"

"I get to live here with Sarah"¦ I mean, Queen Sarah and you sir? And the wild gang and the goblins?"

"Yes, of course, with all of us"

"I would love that, sir"

"Than is settled" said Sarah taking Harry by the hand "and for as long as you live here you can call me, mom, and you can call Jareth, dad, and you will be Prince Harry. How is that?"

"wow" Harry was astonished, that had to be the very first time his cousin ever did something nice to him. He couldn't even begin to describe how happy he was.