Crimson light erupted from the huge windows in the king's chambers. Sarah barely had time to react before stone shattered inwardly, blasting shards across the marble flooring. Choking back a scream, Sarah darted across the floor, careful not to trip and gash herself on the jagged edges.
The view outside was heart-breaking, earth-shattering: The Labyrinth was in flames. Sarah hardly had time to register the horror before another sound reached her ears: Screaming, wailing, trilling voices echoed mournful pleas from the inhabitants of the Labyrinth.
Sarah's face pulled back in mourning and terror at her beloved Labyrinth being ripped apart. There was another explosion and Sarah's heart ached painfully.
Wide eyed and fearful for Jareth, Sarah turned and ran from the room, intent on finding him.
Sarah's heart echoed painfully in her chest and she held back gasps of agonized grief as she searched for her Goblin King.
Her heart lurched painfully yet again as she passed over the broken, twisted, contorted bodies of the various inhabitants of the Labyrinth. More dead Goblins lay sprawled out, their faces pulled back in terror as they had met their end.
There was still no sign of life as Sarah ran full out for the hedge maze, where a great blazing fire turned to black the beautiful emeralds. There was no noise other than the fire crackling and hissing as it consumed everything she loved.
Sarah's silky black dress billowed behind her as a gust of wind slapped her in her face. I must do something! I cannot let it end like this.
Then, somewhere to her right Sarah sensed something move and jerked as the shadow creatures bearing flaming swords surrounded her. They were repugnant and terrifying with black featherless wings sprouting from their backs and their faces were pinched in, almost bat-like.
"No!" Sarah screamed, anger and rage building from inside of her and she let loose a blast of energy that knocked the creatures backwards and took off running through the hedges, losing them within a few seconds. Sarah knew the labyrinth better than anyone except for Jareth and Hoggle.
Sarah tried to call out for Jareth but her voice cracked as she strained to scream. There was still no sign of life other than those creatures.
When Sarah finally made it to the stone part of the labyrinth everything around her seemed to freeze. There was no sign of the fires or of anything but death. The very thought chilled Sarah to the core. She proceeded slowly, and perked her ears to listen as best she could.
There was a muffled noise coming from the fountain waterfall where she and Jareth had been the day before. Sarah slowly crept forward, ignoring the persistent shaking of her hands and the quivering of her knees threatening to give in. Where is Jareth? Why didn't he come for me?
Gingerly Sarah peeked around the corner and her hand flew to her mouth as a gasp issued from her lips. There, in the clearing, bound and gagged, was Jareth the Goblin King. He was on his knees with a shiny silver sword pointed at his throat. It looked as though he had only gone out for a casual stroll when he was attacked.
Poised at the end of the sword was Daire, wearing crimson battle armor that shone menacingly in the glare of the moon. Sarah held back her fear as something else swept along her veins, something more menacing and meaningful than petty fear.
Rage and hate boiled through Sarah and she called upon what magic Jareth had gifted her and strode forward into the clearing.
There was a strange sour smell in the air that Sarah recognized as magic. The sword wasn't the only thing holding Jareth down. Of course not. He can disappear and reappear at will here. The sword is for show.
Jareth's eyes widened in fear as he saw Sarah step into the clearing, bearing as much a regal appearance as he had ever bore.
"This ends now," Sarah ordered. Confidence wound its way through Sarah and she found the words easily enough. She was not afraid. With Jareth humbled, bent to his knees, she would have to be the voice of reason.
A grin spread across Daire's features and he raised a pale finger, "Nah ah Sarah. I call the shots here love. You do as I say or," Daire kicked Jareth's back, causing Jareth to grunt as he collapsed forward, unable to right himself, "your king here gets what's coming to him; If you can even call him a king."
"Let him go and we'll talk."
The grin widened, "Not this time Sarah. You see I've bound Jareth's tools for magic, so there'll be no trickery here. That's his specialty isn't it? He uses tricks and riddles to rule. That's pathetic!"
Sarah defiantly glared into Daire's hollow eyes and stepped forward. She was bluffing, she knew. She hadn't yet figured out how to get them out of that situation but she was confident. Some emotion, some link of magic Sarah had yet to uncover, pulled Sarah forward. It gave her confidence beyond her years.
"What have you done to the labyrinth?"
"What should have been done long ago," Daire spat vehemently, and knocked the gag out of Jareth's mouth with a fierce yank.
Jareth's eyes betrayed the hopelessness and gravity of the situation. Sarah realized with a start, that he thought he was beaten.
"Let him go!" Sarah ordered again, her eyes flashing with barely concealed rage.
Daire's eyes flashed and he cocked his head, the edge of his lips twisting into an even more maniacal grin. "I think not," he paused.
Jareth grunted against the blade and strained to speak, his velvety voice strained with the nearness of the blade, "Sarah, just go."
Sarah looked into Jareth's eyes, feeling dejected. Everything seemed so perfect only a few hours ago. Now it's all gone to hell.
Hazily, Sarah flashed back to just a few short hours before when Jareth and she had been melded together as one. Sarah knew that there had to be a way to fix it. This has all started because of me. I'm Jareth's weakness. As long as I'm around, as long as Jareth is bound to me, Daire will hurt us.
Sarah took another step forward and Daire moved the blade ever closer to Jareth's neck. One little nick and he could be gone. Sarah then looked at Jareth. She met his eyes and held the look as she began to gather up every magical ounce in her being.
"Jareth," Sarah began as the essence wound itself all around her, "I love you more than you can possibly imagine. We've been through so much Goblin King,"
Sarah spoke solemnly as her words turned into a smooth caress, "It's obvious now that we can't be together. You're the stuff of fairy tales. I love you. I will never forget you, but we cannot live fighting for our lives over each other. I will do what I must."
Sarah spoke with conviction but the tears finally escaped, sliding down her fair cheeks as she struggled to stay calm. All of that extra magic seemed to aggravate her senses and more tears welled up in her eyes as her last reserves of magic readied.
Daire looked like he had won, assuming that Sarah would leave willingly with him.
Taking only the most minimal of seconds Sarah let her gaze trail over her Goblin King, from his wild golden hair, to his mismatched eyes that seemed ageless, and downward over his hooked nose.
Sarah's eyes then blazed over as she began to speak, this time the power echoed and laced every word she uttered, surprising both Daire and Jareth. As she spoke she conjured up crystal after crystal. "King of Nightmares, and King of Goblins. Forget me. Forget all of this."
Before Daire could react Sarah readied her crystals.
"You're dealing in magic that is over your head. You've no idea the consequences!" Daire hissed at Sarah.
Sarah continued, her voice booming over the entire labyrinth, "You shall harbor no memory of me or of the events of this night."
Jareth sighed, his voice a smooth caress that sent chills down Sarah's spine, "Oh Precious, what have you done?"
Then Sarah threw the crystals up in the air but as she did so Daire sent out a blast of his own inky black magic, and the crystals fell upon Jareth and herself instead.
A terrible tiredness swept over her. Everything tipped over. Jareth transformed into an owl as she collapsed to the ground.
Everything started spinning as the ground raced up to meet Sarah and as everything went black she thought she still heard Jareth's voice, like a whispering caress, crooning her name as darkness descended while Daire laughed maniacally in the background.