Be advised - this chapter contains descriptions of homosexual intercourse. If you are offended by this, I recommend not reading the section after the exclamation points. You may scroll to the second set of exclamation points to resume reading the chapter. I just didn't want to neglect my gay couple. Not reading this portion of the story will not effect the continuity of the story in any way.

By now, you know I don't own any part of the Labyrinth but I will gently remind you all the same. No goblins were injured in this fanfic.

Wow, I am overwhelmed by all the lovely comments and continued support. The last couple of chapters have give me a headache. Let me know if they measure up.

Chapter 20

Sarah opened her eyes. The room was dark and quiet. She rolled over and found she was alone. The fireplace gave off a slight glow. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, stepping onto a plush rug. Pulling on a silk robe, she walked to the windows and grabbed the heavy drapes pulling them open. The sun was just peeking up over the edge of the labyrinth. Sarah was in awe of how truly breathtaking it was to behold.

So, now what? Where had Jareth disappeared to? And why was there no clock in this room? She decided it would be a good idea to explore the room a little. The bedroom was smaller than she expected. One the north wall was a huge fireplace that took up almost the entire wall. Before the fireplace were plush black rugs and two chaise lounges covered in golden velvet. That was when Sarah noticed the doors on the east wall. More beautifully carved oak doors. She turned the knob on the first door and found a grand bathroom. The floor was marbled tiles and there was a sunken tub with room for at least six! Had Jareth ever had five others in there? She felt a surge of jealousy. It was not customary for her to feel so strongly without cause. Just next to the tub was a shower enclosure and on the opposite wall was the toilet and sink. Sarah was very grateful that there was modern facilities. After utilizing the facilities, she renewed her exploration.

The second door opened into another set of rooms. The salon was opulent: the furniture and entire décor was shades of greens, golds and rose. There was also a bedchamber in the same colors. This would be the queens chambers no doubt. There was an additional room, with a rocking chair and a cradle. Obviously the nursery. For the first time, Sarah found herself thinking about having a baby; Jareth's baby. Would her birth control pills work now that she was a changling? The thought of getting pregnant before they decided to even marry scared her. 'I need to find Jareth!'

She rushed back into Jareth's chambers and opened the only remaining door in the room. It led out into the corridor from last evening. Torches lit the way but it was empty. That was when Sarah had an inspired idea. "Jareth, I wish you were here right now!"

Jareth heard Sarah call him. He felt himself pulled to her side.

"Good morning, precious." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately.

"Good morning. Why did you leave me to sleep? I would have risen with you."

" I thought after last night's activities, you would welcome sleeping in." His fingers caressing the owl pendent dangling between her breasts.

"I woke up in that big bed, all alone. I don't know my way around here yet, so I was a little nervous. Besides, I have questions."

"Yes, I see. I should have thought ahead. I will help you select a personal ladies maid and she will be able to help when my duties keep me away from you. I have much work to do before the ball tonight. I was going to fetch you for breakfast, but I think we will need to find you some clothing, but that you do not look sexy in my robe."

Sarah smiled. "So, you like this?" She pulled the garment off her shoulder, exposing the creamy skin and the crescent shaped mark. "Well, I couldn't very well prance around naked." She was teasing him.

"You certainly can prance around naked in my chambers, I will not object." He placed a kiss on the mark. "Come, I will show you your wardrobe."

Sitting up against the south wall was a huge wardrobe and when Jareth twisted his wrist, producing a crystal, he threw it against the wall and a second wardrobe appeared.

"I hope the gowns will suit you. I also included some fashions from Above, I only require you dress as I do for official duties. I quite enjoy you wearing most Aboveground attire."

The wardrobe had 5 gowns, but Sarah went straight for the jeans and a pink blouse. Grabbing some undergarments she headed towards the bathroom.

"I will send a servant to collect you for breakfast, I less you would like some help bathing?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"I think I can manage. I don't want to keep you from your kingly duties."

He wasn't able to hide the disappointment on his face and she laughed. Gods but he loved to hear her laughter! "Sarah, you truly can be so cruel."

#*#*#*#*#*#

King Alroy nervously paced, back and forth, along the forest path. This gloomy, dark forest bordered the lands between the Seelie and Unseelie realms. It was an unclaimed land, under no-ones rule. A demilitarized zone of a sort. It was a dangerously wild area. This was a risky endeavor, but an unholy alliance with Queen Ravenna would be the only way to achieve the ultimate goal. And the end justifies the means. So, here he was, hiding like a thief, waiting for her majesty to appear, to discuss the killing of Jareth.

The air took a decided turn towards the cold and a dark mist floating along the ground. Ravenna, Queen of the Ravens, Queen of the Unseelie, arrived on that mist. She was beautiful but in a very frightening way. Her purple-black hair was pulled tightly away from her face, and pinned up to fall in waves down her back. Her eyes were silver and cold like ice. She had a pointed nose and pointed chin. Her skin was pale white. In fact she was so pale she almost looked like a ghost. Her lips were very dark red, nearly black and she held her lips pursed as if perpetually annoyed. She was dressed in a blood red frock, exposing a dangerous amount of her ample cleavage and it clung to her like she had been poured into it. Her cloak was made of raven feathers. The two monarchs cautiously approached each other. A small grimace-like smile broke across her face. "Ah, King Alroy, I am actually surprised you came to this clandestine meeting. Are you really prepared to grant me what I want?"

"Queen Ravenna, I am here to negotiate a mutually beneficial, one-time agreement, I get what I want and if and when I do, you will get what you want."

"And what precisely do you want? What can We do that the High King of the Seelie and the whole Underground cannot accomplish for himself, hmmm?" Her smile widen but it made Alroy's blood go cold in his veins.

"I know you have threatened war against the Goblin Kingdom, wanting the goblins and lands of that realm brought into the Unseelie courts dominion. I also know that the whole of the Unseelie court's armies will be no match to the Goblin armies of King Jareth. What would you be willing to do to not need to go into a war you would very likely lose and still get those demands fulfilled?"

Ravenna pursed her lips and scowled. It is true that her forces, while formidable, were no real match for King Jareth and his army. Jareth was a fierce, battle tested warrior and an unparalleled powerful Fae. She did not wish to go to war, but wanted to fully unite her subjects and she knew the goblins were her subjects. But ultimately, she wanted control of the labyrinth and its unlimited power. "I am interested to know what exactly you would want done to give up such a prize? What is this valuable task?

"If you or a being of your choosing can kill the Goblin king, I will, upon proof of his death, give you the lands and the subjects in those lands. The labyrinth is not to be included in the bargain. What say you?"

"I am fascinated that you wish to have your own son killed. No stomach for committing the act yourself? Or do you fear the repercussions from the prophecy?"

Alroy could not keep the neutral mask of indifference on his face. He was truly shocked that Ravenna had knowledge of the prophecy.

"So, you know of the prophecy. Yes, I wish Jareth to be killed but I cannot do it; if I die there is little point to attempting it."

"But, the labyrinth is in the heart of the Goblin lands. I want the lands and the subjects, including the labyrinth."

"You must know I cannot agree to this. Will you agree to the arrangement? I cannot give you time to consider it; you must answer now or when we part, there will be no further offers and no one will believe we ever even spoke of this."

"I will agree to no such foolishness. I wish you all the luck in your endeavor. I would rather face King Jareth's forces on the battlefield than risk taking on the fates. Farewell, your majesty." She disappeared instantly, taking the cold and eerie mist with her.

"Damn!" That did not go well. Alroy did not fear her turning on him or trying to use this meeting against him, but now his options were truly fading. He was right back where he started from. Damn!

#*#*#*#*#*#

Nigel was feeling badly, as he worked to rearrange the gallery displays. He hadn't meant to be so pushy with Sarah. Obviously, she needed time to herself, but he did hate that she wouldn't tell him where she would be and why he wouldn't be able to call her. And then he had that spat with Bruce. His Bruce was so vexed with him for being such a yenta! It couldn't get much worse; Bruce wasn't speaking to him and Sarah was incommunicado.

Beep Beep Beep. Nigel answered his cell phone. "Nigel here, how can I help you today?"

"Nige? I want to say I'm sorry."

"Oh, Bruce, it's my fault. Please bubie, let me make it up to you for being such a putz." He really was sorry and just hated when they fought.

"Nige, I will come and pick you up and we can go out for a nice dinner and then we'll come back home and have a romantic evening, 'kay?"

"And that is why I love you! You always forgive me! I don't know what I've done to deserve you!"

"Alright, I will be there in twenty minutes and then we can talk and you can show me how much you appreciate having me in your life. I love you, you know, right? See you in a bit." The line went dead.

Nigel felt like he had won the lottery. He had felt that way since he had first met Bruce and just knew there would never be another man for him. Bruce was it.

Nigel had just finished locking up the gallery when he felt strong arms embrace him from behind.

"Hi, hon. I missed you." Bruce kissed him on the cheek. He looked good in his yellow Oxford shirt, brown slacks and bomber jacket. "How about a proper kiss?" Nigel grabbed Bruce's face between his handle and kissed him. They pulled away from each other and smiled.

"So, you're not mad at me anymore?"

"I could never stay mad at you! We have been together for five years.

You can't get rid of me that easily."

The two men chatted as they walked. After a short discussion on where to eat, they decided on the Buddakan. It was a posh place to get Asian cuisine and they both adored Asian food.

"I think I'll have the lobster fried rice. What will you have, hon?"

Nigel scanned the menu and ordered wild mushroom chow fun.

They both ordered the Tranquility speciality cocktail. Even after five years, nothing gave them more pure enjoyment then just being out on a dinner date. After dinner, they strolled leisurely towards their place in the Village. Nothing was ever so broken between them that they couldn't fix.

!

!

!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/

As soon as they got home, they headed into the bedroom. That was something else that hadn't change with time: they still were hit for each other. True, it wasn't the same tear the clothes off each other sex they'd enjoyed in the beginning but it was great sex, more intimate than at first. Bruce was usually the more aggressive of the two. He took charge and Nigel liked it that way.

Bruce kissed him, running his hands down his back, kneading the flesh as he worked down to his bum. He moved around to Nigel's already hard member, grabbing it and stroking him with the skill only a lover could have.

Nigel responded in kind, knowing he wanted Bruce to be ready to take him. "Oh, you are so hard already. I want you." He rolled over and presented his behind, fully committed to receiving what he knew they both wanted. Bruce applied lube to his wait hole as well as to his shaft. He eased into his back door, allowing enough time for him to accept his girth. Nigel's moaning encouraged Bruce to thrust in and out with more force. "Oh, you feel so good. I love you, Nige."

Bruce reached around to grab Nigel's throbbing tool and began to pump it in rhythm with his thrust. They were panting now and Bruce was grunting, as he didn't want to get off before his man did. Nigel came hard, moaning Bruce's name and his orgasm came right after. He moved off of his satisfied lover and they headed to the shower to clean off the results of their passion. Kissing and washing each other was almost as thrilling as their lovemaking. It was the whip cream on top of the sundae.

Drying off and slipping into pajamas, Bruce kissed Nigel. "Have I mentioned that I absolutely adore you?"

"Not as I recall, my love."

"Well I do." They kissed good night and turned the lights out.

!

!

!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/!/

#*#*#*#*#*#

Queen Ravenna arrived back at her castle in a flurry of feathers. "That was a huge waste of my time." What in the name of the gods was Alroy thinking? Murder his own son! She wanted the goblin king and its labyrinth but regicide was a dangerous thing to contemplate, but filicide was the most heinous crime one could commit. It was known that the Fae and the Dark Fae often faced challenges conceiving. Children were protected at all costs. King Jareth supplied babies and children to infertile couples whenever a child became available. It made no sense what the High King was considering. The question now was, what if anything should she do with this information.

"Sentry." She prefer all her personal guards were buggars.

"Yes, my queen?"

"Fetch me Cahal at once."

"As my queen commands."

Yes, her healer would be the best being to confide in. He always gave sound counsel and would help her plot the course of her next actions.

#*#*#*#*#