A/N: I seemed to have stumped all my readers with my last quiz. I shall give you all one last chance. The song was an oldie from 1967 that only reached #4 on the charts. It was resurrected by a certain female mallrat in 1987, reaching #1. As always, review with your answers and you could end up in this very story.
Thanks to all that keep reviewing. If you haven't reviewed, yet…please, please, pretty please with Jareth on top, review this chapter and let me know your thoughts. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome.
Disclaimer: Nope…I don't own Labyrinth…maybe when I win the lottery, but not right now.
Sarah found herself sitting on the edge of the dead forest she had seen in her dream. There was no one around. The only sound was her heartbeat. She stood and looked at the desolation of the lands around her. What is this place? How did I end up here? Walking out of the barren trees she ascertained that she was standing on a very lonely hill. She looked out onto the landscape below. What she saw made her gasp and hold her head in her hands in terror. She was back at the Labyrinth surrounding the Goblin City. Only it wasn't quite the same. It was darker and more menacing than before. A chill went through her and she collapsed onto the hill, planted her face in her hands, and sobbed.
Jareth awoke to find himself back in his castle beyond the Goblin City. He was clad only in his sleep pants and he shivered in the cold air. What in Hades is going on here? He was sitting on his throne overlooking an empty room. Trying to get up, he realized that he was stuck to the chair. Grit and determination showed on his face as he tried to extricate himself. It was no use, he wasn't going anywhere. Finally, he sat back and viewed his surroundings. Although it looked like his throne room, it most certainly was not. It was dark, gloomy, and empty. There was none of the laughter or singing that usually took place. He tried to figure out what was going on as he heard a sound coming from his right. Turning his head, he saw Epi coming towards him. The young Fae was dressed in his black greeting armor.
"What do you think you're doing," Jareth growled.
"My, my, my," Epi teased. "What a temper you have there Goblin King."
"You'll see much more of my temper if you don't tell me what in Hades is going on," Jareth yelled.
"If you insist," Epi said, grinning. "You are under a separation spell, Your Majesty."
"WHAT," replied Jareth, seething. Once more, he struggled to get out of his chair. He sat back, exhausted from the effort and stared venomously at his captor.
"You heard me," Epi informed him, smirking at the King's attempts to free himself. "I planted an enchanted rose and a note with your signature on Sarah's vanity. She took a sniff and voila, here we are. I must say, she is beautiful when she is asleep. Almost like an angel, don't you think?"
"I will kill you for this," Jareth said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Epi laughed ominously. "We shall see about that Jareth," he replied. "Your beloved Sarah has thirteen hours to find you before your love disappears forever. I will make sure I'm the first man she sees when that happens. I will capture your love and your kingdom and leave you with nothing."
"You underestimate the Princess," Jareth said with a smirk. "You forget, she's bested my Labyrinth in under eleven hours. She can beat yours, too."
For an instant, Epi's smile faltered. She could not beat him, could she? No, he would not let her win. This was his only chance and he wasn't going to let anyone ruin it for him.
Suddenly, he heard a small sound coming from the Labyrinth. Epi cupped his ear with his hand and lifted his eyebrows. "What's this I hear? Your champion is crying. I must go and comfort her."
Jareth struggled once again to free himself from the spell. "You better not hurt her or, so help me, you will regret it," he threatened.
"Hurt her?" Epi asked. "I don't intend to hurt her, I intend to bond with her and make her mine forever." With a flick of his hand, he disappeared, leaving Jareth alone to ponder his predicament.
Irini opened the door to Sarah's chambers, expecting to see her mistress waiting for her. Instead, she saw the crumbled figure on the floor next to the vanity. The little woman ran to Sarah's side and kneeled before her. She tried to awaken her, but to no avail. "Oh, my Lady," she pleaded. "Wake up." Placing her hand on the young woman's chest, she felt her breathing. At least she's alive. "HELP!" she shouted at the closed door. She began to sob as she held her pretty mistress in her arms, rocking her close to her breast.
"What's going on here?" demanded the guard, running into the room. He looked from Irini to Sarah, his eyes going wide.
"It's the princess," Irini explained between sobs. "I came in here and found her collapsed on the floor. She's still breathing, but she won't wake up." She continued to rock the sleeping girl.
The guard ran back into the hall and called for two of his fellow guards. "You," he commanded, pointing to the younger of the two. "Go get the Queen and bring her here now. You there, get the Queen's healer. I will stay with the Princess until you return." The two men ran quickly down the hall. The guard closed the door again and walked over to the women. He touched Irini's shoulder and she looked up at him. He bent down and put his arms out towards the Princess. Irini let go and gently laid the sleeping girl's body onto the ground. She noticed that she was still wearing her nightgown. She must have collapsed shortly after waking. The guard picked up Sarah's limp body and placed her gently on the bed. He tried to console the sobbing woman while he waited for backup.
Lyndora ran into the room followed by the healer. Seeing her daughter, lying in bed unconscious, she paused shortly in the doorway in panic. After getting over her initial shock, she rushed over to the bed and sat on the edge. Running her hand over her daughter's forehead, she tried to feel for a fever. She looked to the healer, her eyes pleading. The healer gently nudged the Queen to move over. She complied, reluctantly. He sat down next to her and began his examination. A single tear fell from Lyndora's eye as she watched. She took her daughter's hand in hers and stroked her thumb.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Everyone turned to see Tenny run through the door, his face contorted with fear. The Queen stood to meet him. She had never seen him in such a state.
"It's His Majesty," he explained. "I found him on the floor next to his bed, unconscious. I can't seem to wake him." He looked from the Queen to the bed and gasped. "No, Your Majesty. Not the Princess, too." He dropped in a chair and buried his face in his hands.
Lyndora turned to the guard. "Go get the Goblin King and carry him into the throne room," she ordered. She looked at a second guard standing by the door. "You there, carry my daughter into the throne room. I shall meet you there."
She held out her hand and a crystal materialized. She dropped it, transporting herself to her throne room. With a wave of her hand, she produced two identical twin beds side by side. She produced soft quilts and down pillows for each bed. Once she was satisfied that she had provided every comfort, she sat on her throne and tried not to cry. It would be important to keep a cool head if she was to get through this and help her daughter and future son-in-law.
From the throne, she looked up to see the two guards carrying the couple into the room. They walked over to the beds and carefully placed them on their backs next to each other. The healer went back to his examination of the two sleeping Fae. After what seemed like an eternity, he turned to the Queen and sighed deeply.
"Go on," she insisted. "Do not try to spare my feelings. If you know what's wrong, tell me now."
"Your Majesty," he said. "These two are under a separation spell."
"A what?" she asked, confused.
"A separation spell, Your Majesty," he explained. "With this spell, these two will remain asleep for no more than thirteen hours. During this time, your daughter has those same thirteen hours to find the King and confess her love. If she does not complete the task, their love will be forgotten and she will fall in love with the first man she sees."
"Who could have conjured up such a horrible spell?" Irini asked, wiping her eyes with a hankie.
"I think I have an idea," Lyndora said, frowning.
Sarah had stopped crying, but still kept her head in her hands. Her body shuttered from the cold air and the strength of her emotions. The sound of footsteps caused her to look up. She saw Epi standing there in a familiar black outfit. That's Jareth's. Fury began to take hold as she realized that Epi must be behind this.
"What did you do?" she accused. Her eyes held the hatred she felt in that moment. She wanted to strangle the man.
"Tsk, tsk," he clucked, wagging a finger at Sarah. "Such cruelty, my lady." Sarah glared at him and waited for him to continue. She didn't trust herself to speak. "You are much like your little fiancé."
"What did you do to him?" she snarled.
"I merely made him feel what I do every day of my life," he replied angrily. "Alone."
"What do you want?" she asked.
"What do I want?" he laughed, insanity dancing in his eyes. "I want it all. The kingdom, the power, and you."
"Me?" she asked, her voice tinged with fear.
"I want you to fear me, love me, do as I ask, and I will be your slave," he pleaded.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "You're too late and it isn't nice to steal," she said coldly,
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Jareth already made the exact same offer to me years ago," she informed him. "I have already taken him up on it. I love him. He is mine and I am his."
Epi turned on her, his face bearing his anger. "Don't be so sure about that," he hissed. Sarah stared him down, daring him to continue. "I have placed you under a separation spell. You have thirteen hours to complete this Labyrinth. When you fail, your love for Jareth will be forgotten forever. You will be mine, dear Princess."
"I will not fail!" she cried.
"So sure, aren't you?" he asked. "We haven't gotten to your limitation yet."
"What limitation?" she replied.
"You cannot use magic to complete the test," he explained. "You must get to the center under your own power."
"I did it before and I can do it again," she said, setting her sights on the Labyrinth below.
"You will find my Labyrinth a bit more difficult," he replied. "Any more questions or should I let you get to it? The clock is ticking, you know."
Sarah looked down at her nightgown. "I have only one question," she said. "Can I please change into something a little more appropriate?"
Epi raked his eyes over her from top to bottom and smirked. She tried very hard not to squirm under his scrutiny. "Very well, you may use your magic in just this instance. Don't try anything funny. If you break the rules, you lose."
Sarah looked into her hand and produced a crystal. She threw it up in the air and it exploded. Her nightgown changed into a white poet's shirt tucked into brown breeches. A brown leather vest sat on top of the shirt. On her chest, sat an amulet resembling Jareth's. On her feet were brown, knee-high boots.
Epi looked at her, lust showing clearly in his eyes. "Nice choice, Princess," he said. "Don't forget, you have less than thirteen hours to find your King or you will lose him forever." He disappeared, saying, "Such a pity."
"He isn't even original," Sarah scoffed. "Well, come on feet." She started her journey towards the Labyrinth.
Euclid, the Kingdom's greatest researcher stepped into the throne room. He glanced at the sleeping Fae and turned to address the Queen. "Your Majesty," he said, "your suspicions are correct. The rose is the most common method for delivering the separation spell."
"I knew it!" Lyndora exclaimed, standing. "Thank you Euclid for all of your help in this matter." The bookish, little man bowed and left the room, pausing briefly to stare sadly at the couple.
Lyndora paced the throne room in fury. She knew that the Epifanio was up to something and now she knew what. He was trying to take her daughter away from her mate. Her father may have betrothed Sarah, but he was just a vessel for the Fates. It was obvious that the two children were meant for each other. You just had to look at them to know they were in love. She stopped pacing to look at the two. She wanted to cry, but as Queen she did not have the luxury. Although both were sound asleep, they had shifted towards each other. She walked over to her daughter and placed a gentle kiss upon her forehead. She smoothed her hair and traced a thumb across her cheek in a soft caress. Sarah still wore her nightclothes from bed. The queen waved a hand over the sleeping girl and changed her into a beautiful emerald green dress. She then walked over to Jareth. Looking down at him, she placed a hand to his cheek. She thought back to when he was a young boy and smiled. What a handful he had been. She waved her hand again and changed the King from his sleep pants to black pants tucked into black boots, black shirt, and black jacket. She smiled, looking at the blond Fae before her. The strongwilled King will make an excellent husband for her daughter. The thought of the wedding made her frown. She would have to tell the High King and Queen eventually, but how to break news like this about a son? She would let them be a little longer before worrying them with this news. Her thoughts strayed to her ex-husband, Robert and his family. They would have to be notified about this, too.
"Euandros," she called. She sat back down on her throne to wait. The young man stepped into the room and stood before the Queen.
"Your Majesty," he said.
"Please bring me the Duke of Zesti. I need to see him immediately," she ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied. He disappeared and she continued to wait. After what seemed like hours, Euandros returned alone. At her quizzical expression, he said, "He is not in the castle, Your Majesty. No one has seen him since last night."
"Damn!" she shouted. "Bring me the Duke and Duchess of Phos at once," she commanded.
"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied. Again, he disappeared and she waited. Her thoughts were racing as she tried to make sense of everything that was happening. Epifanio's disappearance was further proof that he had been behind the spell. What else could it mean?
Euandros walked into the throne room ahead of Dy and Solly. Lyndora narrowed her eyes at them and stood. "Thank you Euandros," she said. "You're dismissed."
She walked over to them, staring at the two Royals. "I believe you know why I summoned you," she said coldly.
"Why, Your Majesty," Dy said warmly, "we have no idea why we were brought here." She turned at looked at the sleeping couple. "What happened?"
"You know very well what happened," Lyndora insisted. "Your son gave my daughter an enchanted rose. He placed a separation spell on them."
"Why would Epi do something like that?" Dy asked, indignantly.
"I don't know," Lyndora replied. "Why don't you enlighten me?"
"How should I know?" Dy insisted. "My son is a good boy. He would never do something like this. How do you know it was him?"
"He has been seen throughout the castle with a rose," the Queen explained. "It has been determined that the spell was delivered through an enchanted rose."
"My son has a love for horticulture, Your Majesty," Dy said. "He is always walking around with one flower or another. How can you be sure that he was the one who placed your daughter and her intended under a spell."
The Queen stood their, stunned at the brazen nature of the Duchess' lies. How in the world was she going to get proof that Epifanio was behind this? It was obvious that his parents were also in on everything. For all she knew, they were the ring leaders. It would make perfect sense. They take out Jareth, place Epi in a position to receive the Princess' love, he marries Sarah, the current King dies, and they take over the Kingdom of Sol. This would unite the two Kingdoms, making it a very powerful and dangerous alliance. They could even gain control over the High King and Queen through a strategic coup.
"If you are through, Your Majesty," Dy said, "may we be excused?"
Lyndora was going to have to get her proof through another means. Maybe if she let them go, they would reveal themselves through their inflated egos. They will have to slip up sometime. She nodded to the Duchess and waved them away. After they had left, she called to one of the guards.
"Alexander," she said with purpose. "I want you to keep an eye on the Duke and Duchess of Phos, but don't let them know you are watching. Send me frequent reports, but never let them out of their sight."
"Yes, Your Majesty," he said with a nod. He turned and quickly left the room, leaving the Queen in silence once again.