"So how does it feel knowing you only have one day to spend at home and a ton of catching up to do in the meantime? Not to mention having to deal with all the ladies who will inevitably be asking you for a dance once we get to the great ball."

"I don't suppose you'll be on that list, will you?" Jareth asked slyly.

"Of course not! Why would I want to dance with my best friend who I haven't seen in over a lifetime?" Terra countered, a wry smile on her face.

"How cold of you. What did I ever do to turn you against me?"

The gleeful smile on Terra's face vanished in an instant, replaced by an unreadable expression.

"You left," she said, a strange light burning in her eyes.

It was gone as soon as it came though, and soon her characteristic smile had returned.

Jareth studied her for a second before speaking again, "This from the friend who never even said goodbye to me."

Terrra stuck out her lower lip, "You didn't deserve a goodbye. You can't just spring a 'oh, I'm leaving and never coming back except once every hundred years when the great ball happens' on your best friend without expecting them to be upset! How the heck was I supposed to handle saying goodbye to you after that? I didn't want to look at you let alone talk to you!"

Jareth shook his head in amusement, "You've changed so much."

"You haven't changed at all," Terra harrumphed, crossing her arms sulkily.

The carriage slowed to a halt and Terra and Jareth ducked out into the open courtyard while the crowd cheered and waved.

Terra looked over at Jareth, "No doubt you'll have princely things to tend to."

Jareth nodded, "Yes, but I'll be seeing you at the ball for certain. And I will expect a dance."

He grinned mischievously.

Terra rolled her eyes, "Of course, your highness. I'm not done with you either, you know. I still have questions."

"As do I," Jareth replied, eyeing the blade at her side.

~Time skip~

Terra looked around at her elegant surroundings, remembering the last time she had set foot in that crystal-lit room. That had been a dark day for her, but from it she had grown strong and taken control of her life. She had learned to grow comfortable with her court life; she was now a graceful dancer, a good conversationalist, and a well-mannered courtier. Although she still chose to spend the majority of her time away from people and admire the scenery she had loved as a child. She still had a rebel attitude, wearing her armour and steel even when she was within the safe confines of the court. When people asked her about it she would simply say, "Well, you never know what could happen." People saw her as a thrill-seeker. Maybe she was; she had certainly found it thrilling when she had taken up fencing lessons so many years ago. Another exciting hobby she had taken up was climbing the castle walls. Needless to say, not too many people had been impressed when they first saw her doing it. Somehow, they had managed to grow accustomed to it over the years. Terra didn't plan on giving it up any time soon either; the views from the palace spires were stunning. Terra had also done a bit of travelling through the wild lands, though she had never encountered anything of too much interest. She could be stubborn and arrogant and selfish when she wanted, quick to speak out of anger. It had earned her the nickname 'two-face' at one point, but the names had eventually worn off after time. For many courtiers, her antics were now just a part of everyday life.

Terra was wearing a slim, red, sleeveless dress with black gloves that came up to her elbows. Her hair was tied up in a tight bun, and she wore heeled black boots. She snatched some chocolate off the dinner tables before diving onto the dance floor. She danced around by herself for a while until people started to ask her for dances. It didn't take long for Jareth to show up and steal her away from some poor gentleman who had only just started to dance with her.

"I have to say," Jareth spoke as he swept her across the dance floor, "Red suits you. It brings out the red in your hair."

"I have red in my hair?" Terra asked, oblivious, "I had no idea. I just like the color red."

Jareth laughed, changing the subject, "Well, your dancing has certainly improved."

"I'm a courtier. How could my dancing not improve?"

"No doubt your mother had something to do with that."

"Dead, actually."

Jareth stopped dancing and let go of Terra, looking stunned, "What?"

Terra didn't even flinch as she explained, "My mother is dead. She drank herself stupid one night, wandered down to the lake, and drowned. I am now the proud owner of our estate."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Jareth lips pressed into a firm line and he suddenly grabbed Terra's hand and led her out into an adjoining hall away from the crowd. He let go of her hand and looked straight at her.

"When did this happen?" he asked.

"A few years after you left. Why?"

Jareth stared at her, "How can you say it so calmly?"

Terra frowned, "You can't honestly think I cared for her. She hated me. She blamed me for ruining her life. We didn't even talk to each other after her husband left. She was a stranger to me."

"She was your mother."

Terra shook her head, "No, she wasn't. You knew that."

"She took you in."

"Something we both ended up regretting."

"She gave you a home."

"An abusive home."

Jareth sighed agitatedly and Terra blinked at him in confusion.

"Why do you care so much about this?" she asked.

"It just..." Jareth hesitated, his mismatched eyes clouding, "Reminds me of something. Forget it."

An awkward silence stretched between them. Terra shuffled her feet uncomfortably as Jareth stared off into space. She couldn't help but notice the look on his face. There was sadness there. But what did he have to be sad about? And why was he so upset over how casual she'd been on the subject of her adoptive mother's death?

She cleared her throat, capturing his attention.

"So," she said, trying to lift the black mood, "What's it like being the Goblin King? Is it everything you imagined?"

Jareth brightened suddenly, "Yes, though it can be a little dull at times...and lonely."

Terra stared at him, snickering unexpectedly, "Lonely? I never thought I'd hear that word come out of your mouth."

"Did you believe I was incapable of loneliness?"

"No, but I always thought you'd be too proud to admit it."

Jareth smiled, "Oh dear, it appears I've let my guard down. I am thoroughly ashamed."

"Lucky it was only me who heard you," Terra teased.

"Well, enough about me. What have you been up to, other than learning to become a lady at long last?"

Terra raised her eyebrows, "Oh, I've been up to much more than learning to be ladylike. I'm a skilled warrior now, so you might want to watch yourself."

"Where did you get that magnificent sword of yours?"

Terra smiled proudly, "Made it."

"And did you get to travel like you planned?"

Terra nodded, "Yes, I've done a bit of travelling, but nowhere in particular. The wild lands are so beautiful though!"

"And," Jareth said carefully, "You've become a protector too."

Terra smiled softly. The Fae could always sense the magical aura of a protector.

"Yes," she confirmed, "I achieved my noble dream."

"Noble? I still say boring."

Terra laughed, "Let's agree to disagree."

Jareth raised a finger, "Hold that thought. I'm off to get a drink. I'll be back shortly."

Jareth delved back into the crowd and Terra followed, deciding she could use another dose of chocolate. As she reached the table and snatched up a handful of the delightful treats, a certain conversation caught her ear.

"She was the first to ever solve the labyrinth. It may as well have been a slap in the face to Prince Jareth."

"That's not all; I've heard it's worse. Apparently the prince fell in love with the girl. But when he offered her everything, she turned him down in favour of her baby brother. Prince Jareth must be heartbroken."

"Poor man. Still, he seems to be carrying himself well."

"Hmmmm. I can't say much for his new style. He looks even more unruly then when he left."

"Oh, but he has certainly grown more handsome!"

Terra whipped around, settling her eyes on the two speakers. They were both women around her age, decked out in the most attention-grabbing ball gowns she had ever seen. The dresses had low necklines and diamonds sewn into the fabric. The women themselves had heavily made-up faces and rows upon rows of rings and necklaces. In all honesty, they looked ridiculous.

Terra approached them, catching their attention as she did so. They both turned to look at her in curiosity as she came on. When they recognized her, they both frowned.

"Ladies," Terra said, a cool smile on her face, "It's rude to gossip."

"And it's rude to interrupt a conversation that doesn't concern you," the lady on the right countered, earning a snicker from her companion.

Terra's smile widened, "Well, maybe the prince would like to hear the interesting things you've been saying."

As if on cue, Jareth pushed his way through the crowd, a drink in each hand.

"There you are," he addressed Terra, "I brought one for you as well."

Terra took the offered glass graciously, "How thoughtful of you."

Out of the corner of her eye, Terra could see the panicked expressions on the face of the two ladies.

"Shall we resume our discussion?" Terra asked Jareth, receiving a nod from him in response.

Terra winked at the ladies before returning to the quiet spot in the hall.

"So how's your magic holding up? Still conjuring flowers, Jareth?"

Jareth chuckled, leaning up against the wall behind him and sipping at the tall wine glass in his hand.

"Nope," he said, holding up his free hand.

With a small flash, a round silvery-white crystal appeared in his grip. He balanced it on the back of his hand before letting it roll up his arm. With a swift upward jerk of his elbow, he sent it into the air and caught it in the same hand it had started out in. With a brief wave of his fingers, he made it disappear again. Terra gave mock applause.

"Bravo," she said with a sarcastic grin, "Now do you have anything actually impressive to show me?"

"What about you?" Jareth challenged, "How have you been coming along with your magic?"

Terra frowned, "Can't do much unfortunately. But I can top you any day with my sword skills."

She jabbed an imaginary blade at him and he smiled in amusement.

"Fine," he relented, summoning the crystal once more and holding it out to her, "Just picture in your head what you want to see, and it'll appear in the crystal."

Terra looked into the pale, misty orb. She wondered what it was she should think of.

Spontaneously, the subject of the conversation she had heard earlier sprang unbidden into her head. She couldn't help but be curious. Who was the girl they had spoken of?

Before she could stop herself, Terra summoned up the image of a dark-haired woman in the crystal. The girl's deep blue eyes caught hers and held them for a second.

A sharp intake of breath from Jareth drew Terra's attention. She looked up at his ghostly face, but he wasn't looking at her. He dropped the orb as quickly as if it had stung him. It shattered on the floor at their feet. Terra had a sudden horrid feeling as she stared at the broken glass. Shifting her gaze back upward, her eyes met Jareth's and she saw undisguised pain and longing there.

"How did you know about her?" he hissed.

"I-I..." For the first time in a lifetime, Terra had trouble finding her words. "I overheard rumours of the girl who beat the labyrinth. I didn't mean to think of it, but I was curious. What was her name?"

Jareth turned away, laying a hand on the wall as if to steady himself.

"Sarah. Sarah Williams," he answered quietly.

"Jareth," Terra said softly, taking a step toward him, "What the hell happened to you while you were gone?"

There was a pause before the whispered answer came back.

"Heartbreak."