Chapter X: It's Only Me

Grindle walked through the castle halls with an unsure pace. She felt bad that she didn't tend to Sarah the day before, but once she found out about young master Toby's departure, she thought that it would be better for Sarah to be in company of his majesty. He cared for her and she probably would even be certain that he was in love with her. And with the way that Sarah was acting around him, the feelings are probably returned.

The young goblin girl also noticed the dark clouds that were gathering around the Labyrinth and also on the outer ring of the Goblin City. Even the junk people have looked for refuge within the streets of the city. It was getting worse. Soon enough the king would be overwhelmed with pain if more and more of the inhabitants of the Labyrinth are killed or worse.

She was very concerned for some of the dark clouds that seemed to have settled directly over the castle itself, but that would mean that some of those things would be within the castle walls and the king would know if they were by now. She quickly shook it off and continued on with her morning duties as if she had done them for years.

Grindle gently tapped on Sarah's door and walked into the dark room, "Sarah? Are you still sleeping?"

"Hm?" Sarah asked and sat up while she rubbed her eyes. Ambrosius grumbled in his bed at the corner of the room and rolled back over. Sarah stretched her arms over her head and then looked at Grindle, "Morning, Grindle."

"Morning, Sarah," she nodded her head and opened the curtains of to the room. Very little light shown into the room as the Labyrinth sun was blocked by more clouds and dark shadows.

Sarah frowned from the lack of light, joined Grindle at the window and looked out on the sight, "It isn't a magic place with these things, Grindle. Jareth and I will stop them. I promise."

"I hope so, Sarah," Grindle sighed and looked at Sarah hopefully, "Because you may be our only and last hope."

The two looked at one another and then turned back to the view at the window for a little while before Grindle turned away to start Sarah's bath. Sarah stayed at the window just a little while longer. The Labyrinth was slowly dying from these things, she could almost feel it herself. It caused a small pain that pinched at her heart and made a small tear nearly form at the corners of her eyes. She quickly shook her head to shake herself of the thought. She couldn't bare it to loose the whole kingdom. Too many people and beings depend on this kingdom, not to mention live in it.

They were getting closer to ending the shadow's destruction. She hoped it wouldn't be too much longer. She would stop them as much as she could before it totally obliterated the only magic that she knew existed.

"Sarah, you're bath is ready," Grindle called from the wash room and Sarah went through her normal morning procedures in a silent, angry blur.

Meanwhile in his own chambers, Jareth worked desperately to fold the cuffs of his sleeves correctly. He stood in front of his mirror and felt so irritated. He didn't know what came over him, only that he knew that he had to do something and it was of vital importance. He had almost thought that it was to dispatch a letter to the High King, his father, but nothing came to mind as to the subject. And certainly if he must drag his father into the matter, it must be of enough importance that he would remember it.

He shrugged it off as he folded the stubborn cuff correctly and looked over himself in the mirror. He was in his black battle armor. He didn't know quite yet why, but felt as if it would do him some good even if it was to only brood over his subjects once again. It was good to keep them under foot every now and again so they wouldn't run amuck in his throne room any time they pleased. Maybe he would even pay that annoying dwarf at the edge of the Labyrinth a visit and kick him just to put the fear back into him. Besides, the fairies seemed to be getting out of control again the last he checked.

Jareth quickly exited his chambers and nearly tripped over a small container at the edge of his bedchamber doors. He frowned at it, tipped it a little with the toe of his boot, and then began to scream for the nearest goblin within hearing distance. A stout goblin that he could slightly remember from the day before for one reason or another came up and removed the container quickly from the Goblin King's presence.

"Excuse this, your majesty," the goblin with the bulbous head apologized and clutched the container tight to his chest as if to hide it away.

The Goblin King rolled his eyes in exasperation. He already saw the blasted container, what was the meaning of hiding it from him?

"Another container litters my hallway again," he said softly and then leaned closer to the goblin, "It will be your head into the Bog. Then thrown into the nearest oubliette. Am I clear?"

"Yes, your highness," he bowed again and let the king pass him by before muttering a short, "Until it is you under your own bog of darkness."

It quickly scurried off to dispose of the small container which was stained with the darkness of the shadow that once resided within.

The Goblin King walked briskly toward the dining hall and hoped, for the cook's sake, that his breakfast was ready and was warm on his plate when he got there. He swiped his hand in front of him and the doors flung open violently. He stepped in and stared at the table a head of him.

His plate was where it was normally. It was filled with his favorite breakfast. It was still warm by the look of some of the steam coming off of it. But there was something very off with the setting to his right. There was a young woman in a pale blue day gown sitting in it.

"Well, it looks like someone is in an awful mood this morning," she said with a small smile as if to cheer him up and then looked back at her plate of food she hadn't touched yet, "I don't blame you one bit with the way the Labyrinth is looking this morning."

"And what exactly is wrong with my Labyrinth?" he asked with a chill to his voice.

"Other than the shadows?" she looked back at him and actually seemed to look him over. Her eyes scanned him and he suddenly felt on guard as if something was telling him that she was not to be trusted. Her head tilted as her eyes met with his. She looked worried, concerned and even a little scared, "Jareth? What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" he stalked over to her, pulled out her chair and then roughly grabbed her up by her arms out of it, "A woman of whom I have never met is sitting at my table as if she thought herself something of importance. And not only a woman, but a human for that matter. A mortal."

He pushed her away from the table and from him. She held out her arms to catch herself before she ran into the stone wall to the side of the chair she was sitting in a few seconds ago. She looked back at Jareth and then into his eyes. She knew his fury and when to recognize it, but she had never seen it like this. And she had never seen it directed at her.

And did he just tell her what she thought he did?

Did he just do what she though he had?

"Jareth, you know me," she said slowly as if not to push him into a shoving match or possibly something worse, "It's me. It's Sarah."

"I don't know of any Sarah," he said simply and crossed his arms over his black chest plate. She saw that he had worn his battle suit to breakfast and thought that he maybe needed it for the day ahead, but now she didn't know what to think. This wasn't the real Jareth.

"So help me," she growled and shut her eyes before tears would begin to fall. Even though she knew this wasn't really Jareth, it still hurt that he was tearing her apart so viciously, "If this is another tactic of yours to get me to go home, I swear I will never forgive you."

He paused as if he was considering her offer, but then waved a hand in the air to make a crystal ball, "I'm sorry, was that supposed to mean something to me?"

She took a step back to push her back against the cold stone behind her, "Who are you?"

"Strange for someone who calls me in such an informal manner is now asking the who question," he rolled the crystal on his hand as if it was the night they had first met face to face and walked toward her dangerously slow, "The real question is who are you? And how did you get into my castle without my knowledge?"

"You brought me here," she whispered as he was close enough. He leaned on the stone wall behind her with an arm over her head.

"Really?"

"You warned me about the shadows and brought me to get Toby."

"Toby?"

"My little brother," she reminded him and tried not to look as hurt and scared as she really was.

"The Goblin King brought a human into the Goblin Kingdom- into his own castle- to find a wished away child?" he asked and pushed away from the wall to chuckle, "I have to admit that you are quite the funny one."

"He wasn't wished away," she said sternly with a set jaw, "Not this time."

"It would be the only time. No one has beaten the Labyrinth, of which you should be running," he pulled out the crystal again and was about to throw it at her, when she stopped him quickly.

"I've already beaten the Labyrinth!" she yelled which made him drop the crystal to the floor.

Suddenly flashes of the Labyrinth came into view with a much younger Sarah running through the passages. He saw the ridiculous dwarf, a large beast and a small knight follow and help her through the passages. He saw himself holding a baby and her coming into the castle. She faced him… a long time ago… and something about a ball…

"Jareth?" she asked as he grasped the side of his head.

"Stop it!" he held out one of his hands to stop her from her step forward, "What ever enchantment you are using! Stop it!"

"I am mortal, remember?" she said in an even voice, "What enchantment would I be able to use?"

As he struggled within himself he looked back into her eyes and he remembered something bigger than her running the Labyrinth. He felt something deep in his chest almost ready to claw its way out, "… Sarah?"

"Jareth," she sighed in near relief, until a strong shadow settled over Jareth and his eyes turned cold again.

"Don't address me so informal, mortal," he spat and stood to his full height and then slammed the dining hall doors shut with a force of magic, "I am the Goblin King. I am the taker of children and the nightmares in dreams of grandeur. You will address me in the manner that I demand."

"Jareth," she said again with defiance on her face. She took a step toward him despite the anger radiating off of him, "This isn't you. There are shadows in the castle. They have taken you over."

"Don't stand so close to me," he snarled and took a step back.

"Remember me, Jareth," she carefully slipped her fingers down the side of his face, "This isn't you. This isn't the real you. Remember who you are."

"I am the Goblin King," he said with an echo of another voice. Suddenly his eyes grew dark and the indifferent smirk of the cruel Goblin King was back, "Don't you know me, Sarah Williams? The being that took your precious brother from you and planned to make him a goblin?"

"Jareth only took him because I asked him to," Sarah argued with whatever was in him, "And Toby would have been given a good home if I were to fail. But I didn't and I survived. And I will survive you too."

"Pretty words for one in a body so fragile. Humans are always so fragile," the thing inside made Jareth stroke his hand over her silky hair, "Don't fight us girl. We have the last foot hole you had in this world. It's time to give up. Go home and leave us the power."

"Never."

"This Jareth that you know is not the real fae," the shadow said in Jareth's voice and Sarah tried to stay cold as she reminded herself that it wasn't him, "He is one of the many masks of the Goblin King. How many days will you stay by his side when you find that he is as cruel as and even more so than your eyes ever could be?"

"I will always be with him. Because he isn't you," she took a step toward the darker version of Jareth. It stepped back just as he had seven years ago in the last pieces of the Escher room. She continued her own hunt for Jareth, "The Goblin King is not the fae. The fae, Jareth, is the Goblin King. It is one of the masks that he must wear for his kingdom. I've seen beyond the mask, I have seen under the mask and I have experienced the real fae behind it. Give. Him. Back."

"Or you will do what, mortal?" the shadow challenged in the duel voice.

"Or I will be the one you will not only fear, but beg for mercy at the end of this," she narrowed her eyes at the darkness that surrounded not only Jareth, but the whole room. She ground her teeth and then took a stand, "He is all I have. And you will not take him. Give him back, or I will take him back myself."

"Try your best, mortal Williams," the shadow taunted as he seemed to fade back into Jareth's eyes, "He is very well convinced that you are now the enemy."

"But I am not."

"You are not what?" Jareth was back and his anger was boiling over, "You are not welcomed for sure."

"I am not your enemy," she said clearly and a little slower than she normally would have, "You once offered me my dreams and I turned them down."

"I would never."

"You once offered me all that I have ever wanted and more, and I said no," she continued to follow him around the room.

"You are not-"

"You once offered to be my slave if I just loved you," she finally was able to pin him against a wall and stepped within his personal space, "And I took my brother home instead. I am no temptress and I am no enchantress either. Though the Labyrinth has given me wishes, I do not wish to use them against you."

"And why not?" he growled in the back of his throat.

"Because I am not going to hurt you," she said with all the sincerity that she could muster. He should be able to see it in her eyes. He should be able to feel it in her heartbeat. He should be able to break through this, "I don't want to fight against you. I want to fight with you, remember? Fight them, Jareth. Please, come back to me."

She put a hand on his cheek and another flash of a partial memory came back. He was in his chambers, sleeping when he heard something above him. A shadow leapt out and all he could see was darkness.

She's lying! Get the bitch away! Send her to the oubliette!

Suddenly his hand snapped out and struck her across the face and she fell to the ground. She immediately got back up and walked to him again. She reached out for him and he bent her wrist back and threw her to the other side. She cried out from the pain in her wrist and he had to jerk away as if she had burned him. Her yell of pain affected him.

"Why don't you give up?" he bellowed, "You are weaker in comparison and you are resolved not to use magic. What do you think you have to battle me with?"

"With my will, which you know is as strong as yours," she held the injured wrist against her chest and pushed herself from the floor with the other, "And my kingdom… just as great."

"So you are here to usurp my throne, are you?"

"No," she shook her head, "I do not want your dominion. I don't want your crown. I don't want your power or magic."

"Then what do you desire, witch?" he asked.

She paused for only a moment before she quickly ran to him, nearly knocking him off balance. Her lips met his and she wrapped both of her arms around his neck despite the immense pain in one wrist. Her lips were tender despite the hold that she had to have on him for fear that he would throw her again. She had to reach Jareth inside. She had to. Or she would surely die trying.

The voice in the pit of his stomach told him to throw her off. To toss her into the deepest pit he could find in his entire kingdom. But another piece of him wanted to hold on to her, to press her deeper toward him- to keep her safe.

She paused in the forced kiss and whispered with a small voice, "All I want is your heart. You once told me I already had it. Prove to me that I still do, Jareth. I love you."

"Sarah," his voice struggled out from beneath the layers of darkness invading him. She smiled carefully until his staff appeared from thin air and he pushed her away with a good hit in the stomach. She fell back and looked at him from where she hit one of the chairs at the table.

"Go ahead, and try to do more damage," she challenged the shadows, "I will keep on fighting."

Send her to the oubliette… Jareth's staff was gone from his hand even though he continued toward her.

"I will keep on getting back up."

She's trying to deceive you, the voice reminded him and he made a crystal to send her to the darkest oubliette that came to mind.

"I am so in love with you any pain you inflict is worth it when I get you back," she said as he drew near with the crystal in hand. She wasn't talking to the darkness that plagued him any longer. She was now just trying to bring back the man that she loved, "Because without you… I know I will die."

He froze in his spot.

She was in love with him?

He looked deep into her eyes and the tears that were unshed were not from the pain of her injures, but from the pain that was in her heart. The pain he was causing.

"You're not alone anymore, Jareth," she said softly and held on to the chair behind her for support, "I am here, and that's where I am going to stay. I am going to stay with the one that I love. You."

Jareth lost his grip on the crystal and it fell from his gloved hand and to the hard, stone floor below. As soon as it shattered he held his head as all memories shifted in his mind and the false ones disappeared. Memories of her run to save her brother… her ball in the dream… the night he came to warn her… their argument in the Escher Room… how she accepted the child taken.

His eyes opened and he growled at those that still tried to wrestle for control, "You are not powerful over me, shadows!"

We will be kings, they hissed in his mind.

"Not while I am still reigning over the Labyrinth," he said again and he thought about Sarah and her laughter. He thought about Toby and his innocent smiles. He thought about Sarah and how she accepted him. She loved him. She was in love with him.

She said it.

"I will not let you touch her again!" he yelled and suddenly magic surrounded him, not only black but the elemental magic drawn from the Labyrinth itself. In the matter of seconds the shadows that surrounded him were gone and he felt his body as his own once again.

"Jareth?" Sarah asked meekly from the chair at the table.

He looked her over and felt so ashamed of himself. Her pale blue dress was spotted with some blood that dripped from her lip from one of the slaps he gave her. Her hair was whipped in every direction and she looked so hurt. In two steps he had her in his arms and protected, "…Sarah. What did I do? How could I have done this?"

"You were put in a part that you were not meant to play," she raised her good hand and stroked the side of his face. He knew then that she never blamed him for the pain that was caused physically or emotionally. She forgave him before he even uttered the first fowl word against her.

"Never again, my love," he promised her and kissed the back of her hand, "Never again will you be hurt."

"I'll hold you to that," she smiled and looked behind him where there were still shadows surrounding them in the dining hall.

He stood tall in front of her, "You have intruded on my house and attacked the one I hold dearest in my heart. For that you will not be forgiven."

And you will not survive the night.

Suddenly pain shot up Jareth's body and he crumbled to the floor. Another citizen was being attacked brutally. And as soon as the pain from that attack subsided, another began and he was writhing on the floor. He clenched his teeth to not cry out, but Sarah was there in an instant.

"What's happening?" she held his head in her lap as another fit hit him and he felt like his heart was going to explode within his own chest.

"They're killing the Labyrinth…." He yelled out as an extremely painful attack hit him in the chest, "…in the same token, they're killing me."

"No," she whispered and shook her head. She then turned to the ring of shadows that were slowly closing around them. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again and stared at each of the shadows as if they were already dead, "No…"

He is dying, mortal. Give us the power and we will stop.

"No."

But he will die.

"NO!" she yelled and tried to sooth the now weakened Jareth as another attack hit him, "Because this is what I am offering: You stop the attacks now! Or you will not exist by the end of the next ten seconds."

By what power of yours human?

"Ones apparently you would never understand," she felt Jareth slipping and quickly turned to them when they didn't seem to stop the attacks, "I wish that the shadows in the dining hall of the Goblin King were nothing but dust and the attacks that are taking place on the citizens would stop. Right now."

The shadows surrounding her fell immediately to dust and Jareth's head slumped heavily in her lap. Suddenly she saw the dining hall doors fly open and Grindle was on her way toward them both.

"Grindle…" Sarah said weakly. The wish took a lot out of her.

"Sarah, what happened?" she asked and then looked around the hall, "Goblins! Take heed, your king is in need!"

As other goblins surrounded both her and Jareth, Sarah shook her head as some came to her need as well, "No… h-help Jareth…"

"Sarah," Grindle looked at her cautiously before Sarah slumped forward and her eyes rolled back as she fainted, "Sarah!"