And the romance begins! Please let me know what you think of this chapter! It was interesting to write, and I look forward to seeing what you think of the interaction between Jareth and Angeletta! Thank you so much for all the reviews that you've already given! They are very encouraging!

Chapter Twenty: Melting of an Ice Heart

"Jareth! Jareth, you can't just leave her there!" Sarah shouted, chasing after Jareth in one of the castle corridors.

"Yes, I can. She only asked that I not betray her to Ravis. I didn't. She didn't ask to be rescued," Jareth said coolly, stepping into his throne room. "Sir Didymus! Come here now!"

"He's going to kill her!" Sarah pleaded and then stopped chasing him. She clenched her fists and snarled. "Ooh! You both are so difficult! Don't tell me you don't care about her, Jareth! I saw you protecting her when Ravis was getting his new powers! You didn't look like you were being very subtle about it, either! What makes you hate her so? The fact that her escape from the Labyrinth forced you off the Fae throne?"

"Guilt, Sarah! It's called guilt!" Jareth snapped, spinning around to glare at her. "Yes, she somehow arrived at the Labyrinth, which I still don't know how it happened, but after she failed the Labyrinth, I could have sent her back home! I could even have reordered time so that it would be as though she never left! You know what I chose to do instead?" He barked, his voice raspy with emotion. "I chose to keep her in the Labyrinth, making that wretched bargain with Arylyn. You want to know why?"

He was completely angry, his face reddening with fury.

"Because I saw, while she was trying to solve my Labyrinth, how her precious Peter treated her! He hardly cared that she disappeared! Not only that, but he married another girl one week after Angeletta was forced into my world! He loved Angeletta for her money and her talent, both of which could make him extremely wealthy and famous! If I had sent her back and altered time, she would have married him and it would have made her miserable! That's why I made that bargain with her father! That, and so that I could at least remain the king of the goblins. Now that's gone, and why? Because Angeletta was forced, by my hand somehow, into my world, and she was trapped here. Because of that, I can never marry, therefore never taking back my rightful throne to the Fae lands. You have no idea what it's like to want to hold a woman, want to have children with her, and not be able to touch her because you cannot marry! Yes, I was the king, so I could have whatever I wanted, but having children would both be immoral and would cause a whole lot more of a predicament than what is happening now! It would be better for Angeletta and myself if she died! Her misery would be put to an end, and she would finally be in a better place, far away from the man she hates!"

Sarah stepped back, stunned by the sudden change of character Jareth had just displayed. He had actually displayed compassion, passion, and, dare she think it…love in only in a few paragraphs worth of words. He had become bitter and hating because he was hurt…hurt because he thought he was responsible for everything that had happened to Angeletta. The fact that she had been involved in his removal from the throne was hardly part of the problem to him. He had cared so much for her that he had purposefully made himself miserable with guilt to keep her safe.

"Jareth," Sarah said slowly, moving to him and putting a hand on his shoulder. "There's something you need to know."

"What?" he asked, trying to regain his composure.

"You didn't force Angeletta into the Labyrinth. Ravis told the whole story. He abducted Angeletta and brought her into the Labyrinth. He made her book come true. He did it, Jareth, so that he could pit you and Angeletta against each other, giving him the time and freedom he needed to conquer the Labyrinth and the Fae lands. His plan worked. Even now, even though you are guilty, you are bitter towards her. Listen to me!" Sarah insisted, grabbing his arm as he began to move away. "Jareth, listen! I beg of you! You are about to make the greatest mistake of your life by walking away! You can't just walk away!"

She spun Jareth so that he was facing her, his eyes once again their natural blue and brown colors.

"Nothing concerning Angeletta's past is your fault. Ravis set it up so that you would hate each other, therefore destroying each other. What you did for Angeletta, keeping her here when you could have sent her back to the Aboveground, was out of concern for her. I think, deep down inside of that cold heart of yours, you really love her."

"I can't love someone I hate," Jareth scowled, pulling his arm away from her.

"Jareth, look at me. Angeletta is about to die, if she hasn't already. If she does, you will be forced to live with greater guilt than you have ever lived with before, and your guilt won't end until you die. You need to have your conscience cleared if you are going to rescue your kingdoms. Bitterness eats you up inside. It destroys you. Ravis knew that, which is why everything with Angeletta has come to pass. Don't you see? If you let Angeletta die, he'll win! You cannot let that happen!" Sarah exclaimed. "Please, please, Jareth, don't make such a deadly mistake. Save Angeletta. It will be the greatest thing you could ever do."

Jareth gazed at her, his face expressionless, but his emotions beginning to play quite a number on him. Most of his and Angeletta's story hadn't been his fault. It had been a trap by Ravis, a trap meant to destroy the both of them. He had kept Angeletta in the Labyrinth because of the pain she would feel if she returned to her home, which was the greatest thing he had ever done for anyone. He had damaged his own reputation to protect a woman's heart.

"Love," he said calmly, "is an extremely trivial thing, Sarah."

"I am not asking you to love her," Sarah said with confusion. "Just rescue her. Jareth, for the first time in over a hundred years, do what's right, not what makes you feel good. Yes, saving her will force you to humble yourself. It may even make you look foolish, but it would be the right thing."

"Your majesty?"

Sarah and Jareth turned to see Sir Didymus standing in the doorway, looking at them with a perplexed expression on his canine face.

"Sir Didymus, prepare for war," Jareth said and then turned away from Sarah. "I shall be back hopefully soon. If I don't return," he said, looking over his shoulder, "do what Lady Sarah tells you to."

Sarah watched, her face shining with hope, as Jareth suddenly disappeared.

Jareth moved with amazing speed when he arrived outside Ravis' castle. He ran through the open doorway, shoved two guards out of his way, raced into the ballroom, and leaped at Ravis' throat. Before the evil lord had a chance to do anything, he found himself being shoved back against the wall, Jareth's eyes burning into his.

"Where is she?" Jareth snarled, beginning to choke Ravis.

"In Frailine! You aren't concerned about her, are you?" Ravis asked, something like a smirk forming on his face.

"How do I get there?" Jareth roared, punching Ravis hard across the face.

"You really want to go there? Oh, Jareth, I don't think you want to do that. No one ever survives that winter wonderland. Not that I would mind, of course, although I did want to see you suffer before I killed you," Ravis hissed.

"Where is it?" Jareth nearly screamed, slamming Ravis' head hard against the wall.

"Everyone, stand back so this miserable Fae can die," Ravis ordered, and immediately, men and women began to part, leaving the center of the ballroom empty.

The well, overflowing with constantly freezing water, appeared in the center of the room, the Aurora Boreilis dancing merrily around it.

"Go there, Jareth, and you will never return," Ravis grinned as Jareth let go of his throat and moved to the well. "Magic does not work in that land."

"I won't let her die alone," Jareth growled. "I promised you, Ravis, that I would kill you, and I will return to do that. Don't think that just because I go to your terrifying world I will never return. Whether or not you stole my crown, I am still king of the Labyrinth and the last of the Fae royalty."

"Brave words from a man about to die. Everyone, say your farewells to the Goblin King," Ravis hissed.

The air was filled with boos, and the drunken Fae threw rum, wine, and all sorts of fruit at Jareth. He found the inner strength to ignore them, knowing that timing was crucial, and stopped in front of the well. He took a deep breath as the water splashed at his breeches, freezing upon contact, and then put his hands on the well.

"Don't think about it. Just do what is honorable," Jareth whispered to himself and then leaped up and into the well.

The next thing he knew, he was drowning. Fast rushing water filled his lungs and sent him spiraling downward. His body slammed hard against a great ocean of frigid water, and he was pulled rapidly along, water filling his nose and mouth. He gasped and sputtered as the water became faster, racking his body mercilessly and pulling him ever onwards.

The water was pulling him towards a great waterfall. He saw the edge of the falls as he approached it, and prayed that the drop wouldn't be a large one. He saw, right before he went over the edge, that his greatest fears were yet to be experienced.

The water dropped perilously for what appeared to be thousands of feet. He couldn't see the bottom of the water, only darkness. Common sense seemed to hit him then, and he struggled against the tide, but to no avail. Within only a few short seconds more, he was tumbling at a horrifying rate down the waterfall.

As he fell, Jareth could see the Aurora Boreilis, the only light he had, dancing merrily against great stonewalls. It cast an eerie glow over the water that churned alongside him, his last bit of comfort.

A great rush of freezing cold air blew up at him from what he guessed to be the bottom of the falls, slowing him down only enough so that he wouldn't be killed on impact with the great pool of water below.

Jareth hit the water at a frightening speed, and he found himself nearly unable to swim to the surface of the pool where he had landed. His breath was knocked entirely out of his body, and the water was so cold, he was surprised it didn't immediately freeze him. Somehow, he managed to move his legs and arms, and he surfaced, gasping and sputtering ferociously for air.

The air that met him was cold, colder than anything he had ever felt. He gazed about him, as he swam slowly to the shore, taking in his surroundings. All around the great pool of water was snow, ice, and great jagged boulders. He could see icicles hanging off the ceiling of the cavern he found himself in, and he knew that death was certain and quick in this place.

Nearing land, Jareth pulled himself up out of the water, still gasping for air, his breath frozen before him. His clothes nearly froze to his body, and he quickly removed his shirt, hoping that he wouldn't freeze as quickly if he didn't have it. He tried calling for Angeletta, but his throat was too cold for him to speak loudly, and he stumbled clumsily along the ground, his feet almost frozen.

Two minutes later, he saw her. She was sitting on a boulder, her long hair frozen over with ice, her body shaking uncontrollably with the cold. She wore a tight black dress without sleeves, apparently having removed the outer dress she had worn at the ball to try and keep herself alive a little longer. Her eyes looked glassy, her lips were blue, and her arms were wrapped hopelessly around her chest. She was rocking, trying in vain to keep her body warm.

As Jareth approached her, he saw tears streaming down her cheeks, freezing almost soon as they touched her skin. The shimmer that usually illuminated her face had turned into ice particles. She looked the utmost picture of innocence and helplessness, and Jareth's guilt struck him in the heart far harder than any ice could.

"Angeletta," he whispered hoarsely, coming to a stop in front of her. "Angeletta."

It took her nearly a minute to look up at him, her eyelids and lashes frozen, and when she saw him, her eyes filled even more with tears.

"Sarah…told…me…th..th..the…truth," Jareth shivered, wrapping his arms around his chest. "Ravis…did…it. Did…it…all. Forgive…me…dearest…one."

Angeletta tried to stand, but her frozen body wouldn't let her. Jareth twisted his wrist slightly, and a crystal, covered in ice, appeared.

"No!" he wheezed, rubbing the orb in his hands, trying to make it work. "Come…on! I'm…too…cold!"

Angeletta tried to speak, but couldn't. She rocked her body wildly and finally managed to stand up. She took one step towards him and fell. He caught her, helping her stand up.

She pulled herself close to him, her chest against his and her breath coming out in puffs of smoke against his skin. She moved her mouth, trying to say something, but no words would come. She shook her head slowly with exasperation and then looked up into his eyes. She studied them for only a few seconds before her eyes came to rest on his cruel mouth, and she stood up painfully on her tiptoes. Slowly, and with great agony, she moved her face towards his.

Jareth opened his mouth to question her, but he was stopped when, a second later, her lips pressed firmly against his. They were freezing cold, but her intentions were not for her lips to be warm against his. To his utmost amazement, she took in a deep breath and then released it, slowly, into his mouth.

The warm air flowed through him, moving all the way down to his frozen toes, and the ice on the crystal began to melt.

Angeletta's breath only lasted ten seconds, and then, with one last gasp, her eyes closed and she fell, unconscious. Jareth grabbed hold of her and then blew on the crystal, erasing the last bit of ice.

"Work!" he hissed, his eyes glazing over. "Work!"

Three seconds later, he and Angeletta disappeared.

To Jareth's complete relief, they arrived exactly where he had wanted them to…in his chambers. As the king, he had the greatest fireplace in the entire castle. It was large enough to fit at least fifteen Fae inside, and it was blazing merrily, almost as though it had been waiting for him. Jareth stumbled to his bed, still carrying Angeletta, and laid her gently on the plush piece of furniture. He then grabbed hold of the edges of his bed and pulled four blankets over her still body. He wrapped her tightly in the blankets and then proceeded to carry her to a great couch that stood only a short distance away from the fire.

With as much gentleness as Jareth could muster, for he was still stiff from the freezing cold, he laid her on the couch. He then pulled a black bathrobe out of his wardrobe, wrapped it over his icy body, and went back to Angeletta.

She looked as though she was dead. Her whole face was frozen, and her breathing was hardly noticeable. Jareth watched her chest, hoping to see some movement, and when he did, he wondered whether it was his imagination or not, for the movement was terribly faint. Her eyes were frozen shut; her cheeks red from the biting cold, and some parts of her fair flesh were sickeningly white.

"I only found you in time to tell you the truth," Jareth sighed, kneeling down next to her. "And even in your last seconds of life, you found the inner power to rescue me."

Jareth's thoughts flickered back to what she had done only minutes before. She had completely humbled herself and had put her lips on his so that her breath could give him life. So that her breath could give him life…

Jareth looked at her face, so pale and cold, and then got off the floor. He bent over her, putting one arm on the couch and one next to her shoulder to brace him. Then, carefully, he lowered his mouth to hers, parting her lips with his own so that he had access to her mouth. He inhaled deeply through his nostrils and then released his breath into her.

Not being quite as frozen as she had been, he was able to exhale for a full twenty seconds, filling her with his warmth. As soon as he lost his breath, Jareth took another deep breath and then breathed into her again.

After the third try, Angeletta's eyelids began to flutter.

Unbeknownst to Jareth, Arylyn entered the room at that moment, having heard Jareth stumbling across the floor after he arrived with Angeletta. The older Fae stood silently in the doorway, watching as Jareth leaned over Angeletta, his mouth pressed tightly against hers.

As Jareth continued his breathing technique, Angeletta's eyes slowly opened, and she gazed at him wearily as he bent over her. She couldn't feel his lips entirely yet, and she didn't understand what was happening. She couldn't feel her body, and she felt so tired…so drowsy.

Jareth saw that her eyes were open, and he promptly moved his face away from hers, his blonde hair brushing against her cheek as he did so. He studied her eyes carefully, noting that she was dazed, unable to comprehend what was happening to her. Any other man would have gladly taken advantage of the situation, but Jareth knew better.

Angeletta moved her lips weakly, trying to speak, but unable to say anything. She let out a slight moan as the ice on her cheeks began to melt away, stinging her skin terribly. She couldn't fully understand where she was. All she knew was that for some odd reason, Jareth was in close proximity to her, and his eyes didn't have their usual coldness.

Jareth wasn't too certain that she was safe from death yet. The glaze on her eyes kept him concerned, and her inability to speak frightened him. If he could just get some spark in her eyes, some fire to appear, he would know she was safe.

A small smile crossed his face as an amusing thought came to his mind. There was certainly a way he could get a spark to shine in those expressive orbs of hers, and she was too weak at the moment to slap him or do him any physical harm.

"I do this for your own good," he whispered and then bent his head down to hers again.

He moved his lips to hers, but this time, he didn't breath into her, warming her insides. He pressed his lips firmly against her, letting them stroke hers gently, the warmth of his mouth softening the ice on her lips. He gazed into her eyes, and noted, with great satisfaction, that her eyes had widened quite a bit and there was certainly a fire blazing in them. She moved slightly beneath him, as though trying to get him away from her, and upon finding that she couldn't move enough to be of any effect, she put her head back down on the couch and allowed him to kiss her.

One kiss was enough to confirm that Angeletta would live, but one kiss, Jareth told himself, wouldn't warm her face, and so, he continued to kiss her, very gently but with so many emotions flowing through him that he almost trembled. He had kissed her once, but that kiss had been forceful, meant as punishment. This kiss, however, was a kiss of comfort, a kiss to soothe his own nerves as well as hers, and he found himself lost in the moment. All thoughts of her being his enemy disappeared in the sweetness of the kiss, and it took a great deal of self-control for Jareth not to turn the gentleness into something passionate. He had never kissed a woman in such a manner before, and the surges of energy that flowed through him thrilled him.

It pleased him immensely when she closed her eyes and drifted into a content sleep, his lips still moving softly against hers. When she woke up and was fully back to herself, she would have her revenge for those actions, but for now, she needed to feel warm and protected, and his closeness did wonders for her shattered nerves and frostbit body.

While Angeletta slept, Jareth watched her, hundreds of thoughts flowing through his mind. He contemplated exactly what it was Ravis had accomplished, and realized that his cruelty towards Angeletta had indeed been a grave mistake.

She looked so beautiful in her sleep, and her body began to thaw out under Jareth's careful watch. Her hair became wet, and her face became a healthy pink again. The glitter sparkled on her cheeks, and the color returned to her lips.

Her lips, those lips that he had claimed as his own for a full three minutes.

Jareth shook his head, disappointed with himself for stepping out of the boundaries of his normal character, and then gently put a hand on her cheek. In order to ensure that she wouldn't have permanent effects from the cold frost that had enveloped her body, he would have to use some of his power to heal her.

Power began to flow through his fingers into her smooth skin, and Jareth sucked in his breath as pain shot in and out of his arm. It had been a long time since he had used any healing powers, and his powers weren't fully returned to him yet, causing far more energy to come from him than he was used to.

Arylyn crept quietly into the room as Jareth remained near Angeletta and, unnoticed by Jareth, quietly took several pillows and one blanket off Jareth's immense bed. He moved to where the Fae prince remained, crouched at Angeletta's side, and placed the pillows on the ground next to him. He then looked at Jareth's face with concern, noting that the younger man's face was tight with pain and concentration, and then left the room, leaving the door open behind him.

Half an hour passed before Jareth was satisfied with his work and was too tired to continue any longer. His hand slipped off Angeletta's face, and he slid to the floor, eyes heavy with weariness. His eyes closed and he fell back against the pillows, allowing the fire to warm his face and body as he drifted into a deep sleep.