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And he was there.
Suddenly, with no sound or explanation, Vorian was there.
He rushed into the room, mask left behind, and ran to Evelyn, heedless of Raiv. He knelt next to the dying woman, and grasped her hand in his own.
"What?!" Raiv roared.
Jareth's eyes widened, but he was frozen in an instinctive defensive stance.
"Trinity!" Vorian called.
The girl was still on the floor next to Evelyn. She looked at Vorian, dumbstruck as she recognized him as the man that had pointed her and Jareth in the right direction.
"Trinity!" he said again, "Go to the king!"
"But, Evelyn –!"
"I will take care of her!" Vorian shouted, as Raiv started advancing on Jareth again, "The king needs you!"
Trinity whirled, and saw Raiv's advance towards the distracted Jareth. "Watch out!" she screamed, and ran towards him.
Jareth turned, and expertly blocked the blow Raiv had thrown at him. Trinity stood behind him, wishing there was something she could do to help, and terrified. She knew, however, that she was doing all she could be staying where Jareth didn't have to worry about her as well as himself.
Vorian turned to the dying woman, ignoring the battle behind him. "Evelyn…" he said softly, rubbing her hand with his fingers.
She was weak, but she had enough consciousness to furrow her eyebrows. "Why are you here?" she asked softly. "Now Raiv and Jareth know you're alive."
He smiled at her sadly. "That doesn't matter."
"Why not?"
"Because," he said, and picked her up so he could cradle her against his chest. "You need me now. That's more important than safety."
Evelyn didn't respond. She was in too much pain.
Vorian squeezed his eyes shut tightly. There was nothing he could do, except hold her while she died slowly. He would follow soon after. Either that or hold her while they both died quickly if Raiv destroyed the dagger. He was disgusted with himself; he felt so helpless.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help you more," he said, letting two tears fall into her hair.
Then, his chest started tingling. He braced himself, ready for the pain that came with staying away from the magical water for too long. The pain came, but with it came something else, something that hadn't come before, even when he had been nearly on death's doorstep.
It was the feeling of being whole. Before, he had felt only pain, only an enemy. Now, however, that pain seemed…friendly?
Perhaps this is death's way of welcoming me, he thought, holding Evelyn tightly. She was his light. He was pleased to know that he could at least hold her while they died together.
But then Evelyn moaned as a new wave of pain washed over her. She didn't thrash, or scream, as she had before. "It hurts," she simply moaned.
"I know, dearest," Vorian crooned, "But it will soon be over."
As if on cue, his pain began fading. He didn't notice, at first, but finally he realized something was different. Evelyn, at about the same time, also began to relax. Her breathing returned slowly to normal, Vorian noted with surprise. However, his chest started burning, and he reached a hand up to put pressure on his wound.
His scar was shrinking back into his skin. It burned, but with it came that feeling of being whole.
The realization of what was happening hit him like a ton of bricks. He held Evelyn tighter, as she, too, began to feel the pain of her wound healing.
"It's going away, Vorian," she whispered through clenched teeth.
"Yes," he whispered back, closing his eyes tightly as pain roiled through his chest. "We'll be all right."
Jareth was very nearly in a state of shock. Vorian, Vorian himself, was alive! He was right here, right in this room, and he was dying, all over again, right in front of the Goblin King. Rage coursed through Jareth's blood, and with a shout, he focused his attention back on Raiv and grabbed the man's upheld hand. Raiv struggled as the outraged king grabbed both of his wrists and then shoved him back against one of the walls. Jareth grabbed Raiv hard by the throat, choking him against the wall.
"You've had your fun!" Jareth snarled, eyes glaring into Raiv's. "Save them both now, or I'll kill you!"
"Right here? Like this?" Raiv sneered. "You aren't man enough to do that."
Jareth growled and closed both hands more tightly around Raiv's neck.
A sudden cry of pain, coming from Evelyn, forced him to turn his head abruptly and look over at the injured couple. Evelyn's face was twisted in pain, and she held Vorian's shirt tightly in her hands.
Jareth couldn't understand that they were healing. From the lines of worry and hurt in Vorian's face, he was almost positive the two were dying.
Jareth's temporary distraction was all Raiv needed. He quickly reached down and pulled his onyx dagger back out of his boot. His hand began to glow red, burning like the fire that was now raging through the room.
Trinity saw the evil Fae's hand glowing, and she screamed to Jareth.
Jareth immediately turned, and his eyes widened when he saw the dagger in Raiv's hand. He released Raiv and took several long steps back, eyes never leaving the dagger.
"Raiv," he spoke calmly. "I don't suggest you destroy it."
"Frightened yet?" Raiv asked, eyes burning menacingly into Jareth. "I want them both dead."
"Raiv, I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Pity that you aren't me," Raiv glared. "You wouldn't be such a weakling."
"Jareth!" Trinity cried, grabbing his arm. "Vorian can't breathe, and Evelyn's going unconscious!"
"Raiv, listen to me!" Jareth hissed. "It won't just destroy them…"
"Too late," Raiv smirked, and the dagger began disintegrating in his hand.
"No!" Trinity screamed, running to Evelyn and Vorian. "Jareth, you have to stop him!"
"It's too late," Jareth said, turning away from Raiv and hurrying over to Vorian and Evelyn. "I can do nothing."
"But…but it can't be too late! You're magic! You can do something! You have to do something!"
Jareth shook his head and then knelt down next to Trinity on the ground. He pulled her into his arms and then closed his eyes, willing her to be comforted. He felt entirely helpless. There was nothing he could do. It was only a matter of seconds before they were gone…
Raiv watched this scene with vile delight. Oh, how he loved the deaths of entirely innocent people! There was nothing better than to watch painful deaths unfolding before him. He was victorious, triumphant and powerful. No one could stop him now. The dagger was gone, and with it, the lives of his detested brother and a young woman.
Raiv looked at the hand that had held the dagger, completely smug and thrilled. His pleasure immediately turned into terror when he looked at his hand and found, to his utmost surprise, that his hand was gone.
"What?" he growled, and his eyes widened when he saw that the rest of his arm was beginning to disappear. "No!" he shouted, watching as his body simply began to disappear in front of his eyes.
Jareth glanced to the side, pulling Trinity's head closer to his chest so she couldn't see what was happening. He had warned Raiv not to destroy the dagger, but of course the evil Fae wouldn't listen, and now his death was on his own hands, for the dagger held a terrible curse. Yes, if destroyed it would kill whomever it had stabbed, but it would also destroy its master. Raiv hadn't listened, and now it was too late.
Raiv started shouting, and Trinity stirred in Jareth's arms.
"Jareth?" she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. "What is happening?"
"Raiv is dying," Jareth said simply, watching as most of Raiv's body completely disappeared.
"Raiv is dying?" Trinity asked, moving her head to see, but Jareth promptly turned her face back into his chest.
"Don't look," he whispered, moving his fingers gently through her hair. "Don't look, love."
With one last, bloodcurdling howl, Raiv completely disappeared. A cold breeze rushed through the room, and Jareth slowly stood up, Trinity still in his arms. Fire was blazing all around them, but with one toss of a crystal orb, the fire extinguished itself.
Tears were streaming down Trinity's cheeks as she turned to see Evelyn lying limply in Vorian's arms. He also was stretched out on the floor, eyes closed and his arms tightly around Evelyn, holding her to him.
"Can nothing be done?" she whispered, gripping Jareth's hand tightly.
"What could be done has been done," Jareth said, squeezing her hand and leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "They aren't dead."
"What?"
"Look."
Vorian and Evelyn were both completely relaxed, and in no pain at all. His eyes were just opening, and she was breathing steadily. As Trinity and Jareth watched, the young woman instinctively moved closer to the man who held her.
"Oh my gosh," Trinity whispered.
Vorian turned to look at her, and smiled. He sat up, still holding Evelyn. "She was in worse shape than I was," he said, "I think the healing process knocked her out. She'll be fine, though."
Vorian ended up carrying Evelyn back down the stairs. Jareth went first, followed by Trinity, whose hand he was holding. When Evelyn woke up, she and Vorian were about halfway down. He set her gently on her feet, and she walked the rest of the way.
Trinity froze when they reached the door that led to the great hall, causing Jareth to pull up as well. He turned to look at her, confused.
"What are we going to tell the people?" Trinity asked nervously. "They came to this thing because they thought they'd lost their king, and had gotten a new one. Now, the original king is back from the dead. How do you break that kind of news?"
Jareth thought. Finally, he smiled. "I know just what to do."
Then he, Vorian, Evelyn, and Trinity disappeared.
