Silence. Silence filled the air. Nothing moved or spoke. The Labyrinth was giving a moment of silence. And the citizens followed pursuit. Even the very air was still with no soothing breeze or whisper of wind. All this silence set my nerves on fire. Too long had my lighter side been in silence. I needed words, voices, the brush of fabric, anything and yet nothing sounded.

I sat, foreboding, on my bed. The sheets were, thankfully, changed with ones that didn't reek of my dark self. Even the entire room had been cleansed just so I didn't have to have any reminders of the dark. No matter what though, I'll always hold the memory of what I've done while I was succumbed into the dark. The humans I harmed, the sensual actions I did with Sylvanius, and the pain of hunger for blood will always remind me of who I was for awhile.

I became to upset to even think. I threw myself back to lay sprawled out on the cool sheets. Jareth had laid me in his bed until the goblin women and available Tegs could clean out my room. That is where I woke up, warm and in his bed. I remember his bedroom from the time I almost killed him, but it was dark that night. I woke up to the morning sunlight brightening the pleasantly colorful room. I could have gone back to sleep if it wasn't for Jareth's uncanny ability to know when I'm awake because he knocked ever so quietly on the door asking for entry. He came in alone and requested me to rest some more in my own room. Regretfully, I obeyed, though I needed his aid in order to walk. The transformation had taken quite a toll on my weakened body, but I remember that I needed to be weak so that I wouldn't hurt anyone with my dark magic.

I was left alone in my room after he helped me to my bed. As he left he said that he'd arrived with breakfast and a surprise, but that I had to be quiet when the moment of silence came. I patiently waited, at first, until the unnerving silence formed a thick blanket around me. I still laid on my bed, waiting for the first sounds of life to greet my ears. Then, I heard it. Footfalls and whispers. The moment of silence was over.

Thank goodness, too. I thought to myself. Any longer and I would have gone insane with fury... again. I shuddered at the memory of being a full Dark Fae. At least everyone is safe, for now. I still have Sylvanius to get back at. Just thinking of him set my blood to boil. I could feel my magic tingle and tickle my finger and toes. I grinned at all the things I could do to that monster. Slowly, I sat up again and flexed my body, arching my back and pawing the sheets in a cat-like way. The magic grew and enveloped my arms and legs. More thoughts of punishment came into mind.

"Now, really, Sarah. Must you attempt to perform something so early?" A velvet voice spoke.

I put on an innocent face. "I wasn't going to do anything. I was just thinking about... some things... and my magic starting growing."

Jareth smirked. "You'll need to be careful with your magic now. You are much more powerful than you ever were in this life and your previous one."

"Previous one? You mean to say that I'm a reincarnation?" I tensed up again at the news.

"Hmm..." Jareth graced toward a table with a tray of food in his arms. "Have you heard of the duchess who was meant to marry a Goblin King?"

"I had a dream about a duchess, but I think that's about it."

Jareth sat the food on the table and looked back at me. "What did your dream show you?"

"Well..." I slid up to the edge of my bed and dangled my feet over the stone ground, occasionally brushing the floor with my toes. "In my dream, there was a woman that everyone referred to by the Duchess. She was born in the Underground like many of the other fae I've dreamed about, but she didn't really like her home. She was interesting by the world above her, by the humans. She still loved her home, though, so she made music like I do. The Duchess took a hold of any instrument that she could and created beautiful music that could soothe even the mightiest of beasts and boil the very jewels she was surrounded by.

"Then, a deadly tribe of horrible creatures darkened the land. Only the light of music the Duchess made kept her home from becoming subject to the darkness. The leader of the tribe must have known about her, so one night, his warriors and the leader made an appearance at her village and began threatening her that if she surrendered herself, her home would be spared." I flexed my toes and fingers as I recalled my dream. "The Duchess knew that the tribe would destroy her home whether she gave in of not, so... with her most favorite of instruments she stood before the waiting tribe at the edge of her village.

"The leader tried to convince her, bribe her, seduce her, and yet she held her ground and began playing a song, weaving her magic and soul into the notes she created." I looked up at Jareth. "All I remember is a bright light covering up what I could see and then just the duchess standing alone at the edge of her home. Later, she was found dead. Her chest became nothing more than an empty cavity and her fingers no longer ached for her music. In honor of her and her deed, a statue was put up in the village square. Her body, after it was first found, was never found again."

"Do you know why she never backed down?" Jareth asked.

I shook my head. There were few words in that dream. Most of everything I learned from it was from the exaggerated actions of the faes and the dark tribe that I took to be early Othersiders.

Jareth began to smirk as he used to during my run. "Did you know why you never backed down from me even when I was intimidating and demanding?"

I gave a blank stare.

"You have a stubbornness issue. Once you want something, you never let it out of your sight until you have it. You got that aspect from the Duchess as well as her music magic." Then, his smirk went away. "Another reason why she didn't surrender was because she was in love. The Goblin King during that time had captured her heart as she did his. When the 'tribe' came, it was a few months before the marriage of the Duchess and the King. The leader, sadly, didn't die with the rest of his warriors. He came back, and tore out her heart knowing that if he couldn't have it, no one would." Jareth sat in a chair near him. "The heartbroken king whisked away her body and buried her on these grounds that I later built my labyrinth upon."

"Do you know where she is now?" I straightened my back.

"No. He left her grave unmarked. Her bones could be in the forest or in a garden or underneath this very castle. She wasn't the only person buried on these grounds. Your other lives, Sarah? When they died, they've all been buried here. Each one with their own story, with their own past, their own deeds. Each one as beautiful as you and as intelligent. Strong and gentle, Sarah, though each have failed to fully survive the final test. The darkness always came for them just as it had come for you. Each time you died, your next form was magically stronger and wiser than the last. Now, there is you. You, who was born in the Underground. You, who was raised in the Aboveground. You, who solved the labyrinth before your mortality ceased. You, who had..." Jareth faltered.

"... 'who had...' what?" I asked, placing my weight on my feet and held my hands in front of my stomach.

Jareth's blue and brown eyes met mine. I could see that words were trying to form within his throat. His lips almost making sense of what he was trying to say. His efforts stopped when he stole his gaze away from mine. Cautiously, I crossed over to his seated form.

"Jareth? What were you saying?"

His came so softly, a whisper so light as a breath. "What no one knew was that the king of the goblins had fallen in love with the girl."

I smiled. "Me, who had stolen the Goblin King's heart. You, who had stolen mine as well." I leaned over him, placing my hands on the arms of the chair. "Is there nothing I can do about that?"

The mismatched eyes saw into mine again as a playful grin drew unto his lips. "Nothing, tra la la."

I chuckled and stood up straight again, finally smelling the food. With ease, I sat in another chair and began eating while Jareth quietly sat in the chair. After a while, he threw his leg over one of the arms of his chair while tapping his fingers against his thigh, a tick of his. Now that I knew that he wouldn't hurt me, I also knew how to read him better. He was deep in thought. Probably some battle plans or safety protocols to create for the Goblin Realm against the coming threat.

I swallowed the last of my breakfast and set my eyes on him. "Jareth, what will happen now?"

"Hmm?"

"With Sylvanius bent on revenge for so many reasons, I don't think he'll stop at nothing to rid the causes of those problems. If he gets the chance, he will kill you. And your parents. And Toby and me. And everyone else who will stand in his way."

The warmth in his eyes vanished. "Sarah... the worst he could do to any of us have already been done. If we die in this life, we'll come back and have the chance to try again. I've lost you so many times, Sarah. In this life and the others before us. I won't lose you again." He swept himself to his boot clad feet and knelt before me, taking my hands in his. "Sarah Williams, I will stop at nothing to insure that you and everyone else I hold dear are safe."

"Jareth..." I wanted to oppose to him wanting to put himself in danger. I wanted to tell him that if he fails, I would fail. I wanted to wish that Sylvanius was already dealt with, but I knew... I knew that it is inevitable that Jareth would fight. If he goes to fight... "I'm coming with you."

Shock drained the color from his face. "Coming with me? Where?"

I took a deep breath. "I'm coming with you to the battle field if necessary. I won't stand on the sidelines and watch everyone contribute to the freedom of the Underground. I want to fight."

Fear clouded his beautiful eyes. "No... I won't let you. Sarah–"

My arms had wrapped themselves around his slender neck by the time my lips came down upon his. Jareth was trying to push me away so that he could speak, but I wouldn't let up. My plan was to make him forget what I just said and what he was thinking at that moment besides being near me. I grasped his wild hair in fistfuls and delved into his mouth, gaining a slight hum to his throat. His own hands, covered in fitted leather, gripped my waist and cradled my neck while he tried to get off of his knees. I laughed against his lips at his useless attempts as I pushed forward until he started falling backwards, though his grip on me tightened, thus bringing me down upon him.

I lifted myself up on my elbows and looked down into those eyes under me. I could become lost in those handsome eyes like the first few moments during my run the labyrinth. All those years, now that I look back on them, seem to have happened centuries ago. Just being here, in the one place I belong, I am home. I'm not happy yet, though. How could one be happy when a demented creature like Sylvanius is roaming around? I shivered at the mere thought of the Dark King.

"Hey." Jareth's voice whispered. "What's wrong?" His gloved thumb rubbed against my cheek.

"Sylvanius." I sighed. "Jareth, I..." I stared into those wonderful eyes. "I love you."

His body began humming. "Why, Sarah?"

"Why?" I scoffed. "Jareth, you are the most intelligent man I have ever known. You have suffered through so much, but it only made you into a stronger, yet gentle person. If anyone went through what you have, they wouldn't be like you. They would be truly hard, cold, and cynical. You are willing to change what you can for those that you love... even when they don't know that they care about you too. That's another thing! You never give up on anyone or thing. When you watched over Toby, you were family to him. No one else I know would have loved Toby as much as I do."

"I do love that kid. I do wish to change his name." He smirked.

I rose an eyebrow. "Change his name to what?"

With seriousness in his voice he spoke a single word. "Jareth."

My eyebrows lowered until I was sure that they were perfectly parallel with my uninterested lips. "Hardy har-har."

"Sarah," he smirked once again, "I would never change anything about him or you. If only my parents could see you. The High King and Queen would love to meet you and..." His gaze wandered off into the distance. I shook his shoulders to regain his attention. His mismatched gaze flitted to mine. "Marry me."

"What?" I was taken by surprise, yet I wasn't sure if what I heard is what he said.

He sat up, placing me on his lap, but fully face him. His thumbs drew circles on the tops of my hands. "Sarah, marry me. I have loved you in this life as much, if not more, in my other lives. Let's make this union complete. Marry me and break this curse set upon us. Let us ride onto the battlefield, not as king and champion, but as king and queen. Sarah–" His voice and breath quivered. "I don't think I can live without you. I can't live without you. I will be the best husband to you, amazing brother to Toby, and become a better ruler with you guiding me. Your compassion and Aboveground outlook on ideals are so hard to find. Please, please marry me."

I sat there. I sat there unable to say anything. I sat there as his glorious eyes danced around. I sat there... not sure how to say what my heart was pounding into my veins. The longer I sat in silence, the less confident his hands on mine were. I opened my mouth to speak, only to have the words caught in my throat as it tightened in nerves. I pursed my lips together and sat there some more, wanting to say something to his fallen look. I loved this fae, love this great man. Jareth has been the most unselfish and caring living being that I know of.

Yes, he had his little moments when he was completely off the wall, but I forced him to be that way. During my run, I wanted a villain to defeat, a bad person to fall. The dreams I had were not of his doing. They were Sylvanius'. Now that I look back on that, I know that Jareth had been keeping to his kingdom like I -again- forced him to. The only contact he made with me, I realized, was when I wished for better dreams than the ones Sylvanius set upon me.

Jareth was there for me when I needed him. I thought, still unable to speak. He brought me back to the lighter side of life and magic. He loved me, even when I was under the Blood Leech curse. He took care of Toby because he knew that it was my wish. Jareth is... I stared into his face. Jareth is the only man that could make me feel that way I do. I smiled and felt my own eyes water.

Silently, yet full of emotional, I leaned forward and let my hands wind themselves into his untamed hair. His hands, free of mine, slid up to my waist. When our foreheads touched, I lightly laughed for no reason. Maybe because love does that to people. I ran the tip of my nose against his making him laugh as well. My gentle hands turned into ferocious fists as my mouth crashed down upon his. His laugh died out into a light groan caught in his throat. His hands kneaded themselves into my hips as my own hands kept his head close to mine. A moan of my own rose up in my throat when he nipped my lips.

Next thing I knew, I was set upon the table with Jareth standing in between my legs. His hands grabbed my wrists, keeping one another from a distance. His head leaned toward mine with a tantalizing, deliberate slothfulness. His breath played lightly on my ear.

"You've yet to answer, love." Jareth huskily spoke, purposefully washing the side of my head with his warm sweet breath. I held back a shiver and a moan.

"Jareth..." I started, but couldn't finish. His mouth danced along the tendons connecting my neck and shoulders together. "Jareth..." He hummed in acknowledgment against my neck. I tried to free my hands from their prison. It was prison how he kept me from touching him. When I didn't continue what I was trying to say, Jareth paused his ministrations. I let my breath come into check before I attempted to speak again. "Jareth, I will certainly marry you."

The love and lust in his eyes were smothered by pure joyfulness. His hands unleashed mine only to grab my by the waist and spin me around with a laugh so carefree and joyous, I laughed along with him. When he stopped, he set me down and knelt down. Jareth held up a gloved hand where a crystal appeared. The crystal, much like the ones he wanted me to accept before and during my run, shone so majestically in the morning sunlight.

"What is this?" I asked, knowing fully well what that was.

Jareth quickly glanced at the crystal with a knowing smile. "It's a crystal, nothing more, but if you turn it this way and look into it-" As he turned his hand, the orb shifted into an elegant ring, "- it'll show you your dreams. This is no gift for an ordinary girl."

Tears fell from my fae eyes. "I'm glad I never was an ordinary girl, then." I looked at the ring. The ring guard was silver folded gold twisting like a wavy vine around the main engagement ring. "It's so beautiful, Jareth. Where did it come from?"

He stared at the ring for a moment. "It was my grandmother's grandmothers. Before she passed on, she told me that this ring was for the duchess before she was murdered. The previous Goblin Kings before me never used this because they called it cursed. That the woman this was bestowed upon would die the next day, but I look at it now and I realize that it was never cursed. It just needed to go to the person it truly belonged to. Sarah, this ring has always been yours and now in this life, you'll be able to wear it and live. I won't make the same mistakes I did in my previous lives. This ring's 'curse' will end now." His gaze met mine again. "Will you accept it?"

The tears showed no signs of stopping. I fell to my knees to embrace Jareth, nuzzling my face in his shoulder. "Of course I will. It's a token of your love to me in not only this life, but in the others." I lifted my head once again, grinning at my beloved.

He took my left hand and slid on my ring finger the engagement ring, leaving the ring guard in his hand. I would wear both after we marry. The ring now on my finger was also made of silver folded gold, but it held three small diamonds on the top. It was simple and perfect. I was glad for that. I was never one to favor showy pieces of jewelry.

"When do we marry?" I asked.

Jareth took my hands in his, resting his forehead against mine. "As soon as possible."