So I went ahead and posted the rest of the story because I don't have enough internet time to post regularly. You guys have been waiting long enough. And now to the conclusion.
It had been two-weeks and the Labyrinth was beginning to turn into a lush green maze. Shrubs were growing out of the cracks in the walls and moss and ivy were growing up the sides of the walls. Flowers were budding in the gardens of the Labyrinth and the Bog was turning into a swamp lush with green things. Animals were slowly coming back to the Labyrinth. It was not even a week before Belle heard bird's singing out her window.
Under Belle's watchful eye the goblins organized themselves and began the great task of cleaning the entire castle. Hoggle was not in the least happy about it, but learned that Belle could be more vengeful than Jareth and that there were worse things than the Bog. Once the castle was cleaned than Belle split the goblins into two groups; one group was to clean-up the town around the castle, and the other was to start taking care of the gardens.
Soon other types of creatures were coming to the castle to help with the renovation; centaurs, outcast waster and earth sprites, outcast elves and feys, small winged fairies, and other creatures that Belle did not know the name of. They were all respectful, and referred to her as Princess Belle. She tried to treat them all with kindness and respect and her effort was rewarded. They all seemed to love her and respect her, especially since she helped where ever she could. She liked gardening and being useful and helping rebuild Jareth's kingdom was a very useful pastime indeed.
Nightmare had resisted being returned to his pack in the Nightmare Realm. He was quite attached to Belle, and loved exploring the bright world he had found himself in. He was very trainable and within a week was as docile as a lamb and loved nothing better than to chase the goblins. Everybody loved him and he was always seen in Belle's company.
Jareth on the other hand was rebuilding relations with the outlying towns. He was trying to take back the towns from the crooks, which would prove a very long and hard process. Jareth was also rebuilding trade and political relations with the other Kingdoms, and it would not be long before the Labyrinth flourished. Belle smiled to herself as she crawled into bed. Yes, everything was going well. All she needed to do was contact her parents and let them know what was going on with her life. Oberon and Titiana had given her the permission to confide in her parents and sister about her soon to be new family. At least, she thought it would be soon. Jareth had not asked her to marry him yet, but she did know that he would. They were soul-mates, and she knew that she would never be without Jareth. She fell asleep with a smile on her face and a song in her heart.
The throne room was crowded with feys; noble men and women, merchants, commoners and the poor. All came and crammed into the huge throne room. Rank did not seem to matter while curiosity burned. They had all come to see what would happen to the Crown Prince.
Oberon stood to his full height, his golden throne behind him. Titiana stood up from her silver throne. Both were wearing black; Oberon with gold accents, Titiana with silver. Both of their faces were sad, but also determined. Jareth was standing to Oberon's side and Belle was standing beside him. Gerald, Aqua, and Diana, were standing behind the two thrones. Sarah had opted to stay at home, her swollen belly was uncomfortable and she was afraid Erik would snap and his magic might hit her stomach and hurt or kill the child.
Oberon stood and threw Erik's prison card onto the floor. There was a swirl of light and then Erik stood blinking in the sunshine. He looked around himself and looked puzzled for a moment, but then gathered himself and stood erect.
"Well father…..what is my punishment to be?" Erik asked folding his arms across his chest and glaring at his sire. He had thought the card was punishment, but he appeared there was something more horrible his father had in mind.
"Your mother and I have agreed, as does your siblings and the council that you should be banished for all time and your magic should be stripped from you," Oberon's voice was loud as thunder, but there was a slight tremor in it that only Belle and Jareth seemed to hear. Erik turned a nasty pale of white, but he stood strong. He never said a word, he knew what he had done was against the law. There was no alternative.
Oberon's hand began to turn the color of blood, and Erik's face became even whiter. Belle closed her eyes and took a deep breath. His disobedience was not the problem here, it was Erik's inability to love someone more than himself. He was a selfish, mean-spirited, unhappy man and taking away his home and powers was not going to change that.
"King Oberon, no!" Belle yelled and ran in-between the two royals. Jareth frowned and took a step toward his beloved but Belle put up a warning hand and shook her head. The look she gave him was unmistakable; she knew what she was doing.
"Princess Belle," King Oberon began, "Why are you undermining my ruling and that of the council?" His voice was measured, but she could tell he was greatly displeased.
"I'm sorry sir," Belle began a slight tremor in her voice, "But this is not going to help him. He will still be the same man even if you take his powers and his country. A man like Erik can do a great deal of damage in the mortal world."
King Oberon pursed his lips, and the light faded from his hand.
"Only way to stop Erik from spreading his wickedness is to kill him," Oberon's voice was steady but his eyes were clearly troubled, "Would you ask me to destroy my own flesh and blood?"
Before Belle could replay Erik sneered, "Like you care father. You have never once shown me an ounce of fatherly love. If I spread wickedness, it is the wickedness you gave unto me."
Oberon did not replay, because it was true. To an extent he and Titiana were at fault. Belle turned and glared at Erik.
"Will you shut your gob," Belle hissed, "I'm trying to save your rotten life!"
"Don't do me any favors," Erik hissed back but he did shut-up.
"No my lord that is not what I meant," Belle began her voice strong with annoyance and anger, "I only meant that he would not learn anything. A punishment is only as good as the lesson that is learned from it."
"Then what do you suggest my dear?" Oberon was upset and he was barely refraining from snapping at the girl.
"Erik's main problem is that he is completely selfish," Belle continued and Erik looked as if he was going to argue but snapped his mouth shut. He didn't have the heart.
"He has no love in his heart, only hate and bitterness. He should be banished to the Bog until he can learn to love someone more than he loves himself. A part of this punishment should be that his magic is suppressed under enchantments strong enchantments that show the ugliness that he has within himself."
Oberon smiled at Belle, "Ah yes, I do see where you are going with this. I do believe it is a fairy tale my dear, called Beauty and the Beast?"
"Yes sir," Belle replied with a smile, "It's one of my favorites."
Erik's eyes widened and he sputtered, "Father!"
Oberon locked eyes with Erik and snapped his fingers. Dark green lights swirled around Erik. Belle took a step back and then another. She did not want to be in the way of an angry Erik once this was done. Suddenly the lights went out and in Erik's place was a huge monster. He was easily eight feet tall with ebony fur, razor sharp claws, and a six inch snout. He raised his bear like head up and roared causing the fey to all back up and gasp. Erik's beautiful emerald eyes served the crowd in malice and he took a step forward. The fairy clothes that he had been wearing were still on his body, but where ripped and torn as Erik had grown. Only his cape and come through relatively intact.
Suddenly shackles sprung from the floor and wrapped around Erik's ankles and wrists but Erik ripped them from the floor roaring from anger and humiliation. Finally, Oberon snapped his fingers and Erik was gone. Belle looked at the King and he sank to his throne.
"I sent Erik to the Bog," Oberon replied with a sigh, "Will he be a danger?"
"No," Jareth replied, "Not while I live. I will go now with your leave father and make sure that Erik cannot leave the Bog. He will be imprisoned there until he has learned his lesson." Jareth took Belle's hand and the both of them winked out of the throne chamber and into Jareth's bedroom. Jareth took a crystal from his bedside table and sent it out of the bedroom window into the direction of the bog. Even from here they could hear Erik's inhuman roar. Belle shivered and hugged herself. Closing her eyes and biting her lip she asked, "Did I do the right thing Jareth?"
Jareth pulled Belle into his arms and kissed her lightly on the lips.
"He committed an inhuman act; therefore it is only right that he should become inhuman," Jareth sighed, "Your punishment was very appropriate. It does my heart good to know that you will also try and help our people my beloved."
"Our people?" Belle asked looking up into Jareth's face.
"Yes darling," Jareth replied with a little laugh, "Our people. When we marry you and I will rule jointly, as does my parents."
"But Jareth," Belle replied pulling away and smiling at her boyfriend, "You haven't asked me to marry you yet?"
"Well….." Jareth began but stopped. His eyes widened but then he burst out laughing, "Why you are right. I just took it for granted that you would marry me after all that happened. It was as if I had already asked you to marry me…but I haven't…oh good lord how stupid can I be. I actually forgot to ask you to marry me!"
Belle began to giggle and before long they were both laughing their heads off. Finally, Jareth wiped the tears from his eyes and kneeled before his beloved. One of his crystals landed into his open hand and glowed yellow. The crystal turned into a diamond ring. It was not too small, nor was it too large. It was of medium size and normal cut. The band was white gold with smaller diamonds incrusted in the band.
"My love," Jareth began, "Will you please do an old fool a favor and marry me?"
Belle smiled and said, "Of course my love. Of course"
Jareth stood and placed the ring on Belle's finger. Then he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms kissing her so passionately her toes curled. When they pulled away Jareth dragged her to the doors of his chamber.
"Come on Belle, let's tell the goblins, they will go mad with happiness!"
Belle laughed as he dragged her out the door. She was beginning to realize that she indeed had her happily ever after, after all.
