Author's Note: I don't own Labyrinth!

So this chapter may be my new favorite, I hope you all enjoy it! Let me know what you think!

Chapter 34

Sarah woke with a start. She sat up immediately and scanned the room for Jareth, but she was alone. She must have been asleep for hours, unease set in. If he was still gone then the meeting couldn't be going well.

She got out of bed and dressed quickly in a gown of deep purple satin, the collar was stiff and high enough to graze her jaw, which contrasted with the narrow, plunging neckline. The wrists of the long, fitted sleeves and the bodice buttoned snugly. A glance in the mirror gave her pause, the style of the gown made her look like a woman from another time, a Victorian lady. Maybe I was a Victorian lady, she thought, if Jareth's story of her many past lives was true. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the nagging questions she had.

Nolwynn popped her head in from the adjoining sitting room, "I thought I heard you, feeling better?"

"Yes, I didn't expect to sleep so long." She said as she nervously fiddled with her hair, deciding to just braid it.

"You look lovely, Sarah." Nolwynn smiled at her.

"Thank you, any word?"

Nolwynn shook her head, "No, nothing. Don't worry too much, I wouldn't be surprised if he's gone well into the night. When you live thousands of years you don't rush these sorts of things."

Sarah sighed, at a loss of what to do, knowing the waiting would drive her mad.

"I have someone here I would like you to meet," Nolwynn said, "I think any questions you may have about Jareth and the prophecy can be answered by him."

Nolwynn stepped aside so an older looking man in simple robes could enter the room, his kind eyes took Sarah in before he bowed deeply, "It is a pleasure to meet you once again, Your Majesty, and to be of service to you."

Sarah shook her head in confusion, "I think you must have me mistaken for someone else, we've never met and I'm definitely not a queen. I don't know what Queen Nolwynn told you…"

"Oh, Her Majesty only told me I was needed. She did not need to tell me who you are." He chuckled slightly.

"How?"

"I saw you long ago, before you were ever born. You've always had the same eyes." He said, the benign smile always present on his face.

"You're The Priest?"

He bowed once more, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"My name is Sarah, I suppose you know that, but I am definitely not a queen." Sarah repeated, uncomfortable with the title.

Priest wanted to explain to her that, yes, she was the Queen, married now for centuries but he could sense the doubt and turmoil she was feeling, "Perhaps you have questions?"

"More than I can count. What should I call you?" She sat stiffly on a dainty silk upholstered chair.

"I am simply The Priest, Your Maj-, Madame." Priest decided to ease away from her rightful title for now.

"You don't have a name?"

"I did once, of course, but once I took responsibility for The Book I gave up all things from my life before." He answered.

"Oh." Sarah replied, at a complete loss for something else to say.

"Would you like to begin?" He asked patiently.

"Yes, I would, but let's go outside. I feel like I will start climbing the walls." She was trying not to worry, to remain calm like Nolwynn, but the agitation would not cease.

Priest bowed as Sarah passed him, she bit her cheek to stop from correcting him once again. Clearly, he meant to treat her as Queen, even if you did not address her as such.

They remained silent until they entered the limited gardens of the fortress. The Goblin Castle lacked the beautiful landscaping of High Castle but it would do.

All her questions rushed to the front of her mind, all the questions she could have asked Jareth last night if she had not blown up. She shrugged a bit as she sorted through them all, best to start at the beginning, she thought.

"Were you the one to first see the prophecy?"

Priest nodded, his smile still present, "Yes, the day of King Jareth's birth."

"Is it something that happens often?"

"All the children born into the ruling class appear in The Book, whether they are to rule a kingdom or not, but King Jareth's birth was unusual."

"Does The Book always choose," she paused a moment struggling with how to ask the question, the word wife scared her, "partners for the rulers?"

"No, you are the only one to appear because you are the soulmate to a ruler."

"You seem very certain it's me The Book chose, but Sarah is an extremely common name in my world. Couldn't it be someone else?" Sarah fidgeted with her fingernails as they spoke, feeling very awkward and unsure of herself next to the calm Priest.

"Of course, it's you, My Queen."

Sarah stumbled a bit at the word queen, was this actually happening to her? Why couldn't she just have a normal life?

Priest reached out to steady her, their eyes met and Priest spoke, "I think you already know it's you in the The Book."

"Well, yes, the Goblin King told me last night."

Priest shook his head, "Perhaps you didn't need His Majesty to tell you. When you listen to your soul what is it telling you?"

Sarah fell silent and continued circling the garden, Priest fell behind her a few steps, giving her the space she needed.

For months now she had felt a pull to Jareth, no, she thought, she had felt that pull for years. Even before they met face to face she was drawn to the Goblin King in her little story book. She had told herself time and again that it was simple attraction mixed with a dose of fear. Since he had rescued her from Jason that last time she had been aware that her feelings were changing into something more complex, she would rationalize it as her attraction heightened by danger. Just when she felt herself ready to give in to those feelings something held her back, doubt ate away at her. How could she ever be a match for him?

She heard Priest sigh behind her before he caught up to her, "I know this is all very overwhelming. Perhaps instead of answering questions I should tell you a story."

"A story?"

"Yes, I think it will help you understand."

Priest began his story from the day Jareth was born. Sarah listened intently to descriptions of the young Prince Jareth as he prepared to take the throne. It was clear The Priest had great affection for Jareth, he continued on finally reaching the point where Jareth learned of the prophecy and began looking for her. Her heart broke as she heard how time and time again he failed. The story of the young noblewoman that would rather die than be Goblin Queen was too much for Sarah.

She stopped in her tracks and held a hand up to Priest, "Please, a moment."

"Of, course."

"Why does he keep on? Why does he try time and time again?" She asked as she fought back tears, overcome with feuding emotions.

"He did stop several times, especially after the noblewoman. He went to a very dark place, and he tried to harden his heart to you and ignore the prophecy. He watched you from a distance when you were reborn, but this is the first time in centuries that he has tried to fulfill the prophecy. It is quite different this time."

"Different? How so?" She asked as they both took a seat on a bench, her royal purple dress spread around her, in deep contrast to Priest's simple robes.

"His Majesty cares for you deeply, I cannot say with confidence that he ever has before." Priest knew Jareth always felt a sense of responsibility towards her but the past few years had changed the Goblin King, especially after Sarah ran the labyrinth, something about that time had sparked new hope in Jareth.

"His Majesty has said as much." She had accused him of lying about his feelings for her to fulfill the prophecy. All the information Priest had told her made that seeming highly unlikely, guilt blossomed in the pit of her stomach. She had said some awful things to him last night, and now who knows if she'll get a chance to apologize.

"Thank you Priest, you've helped me a great deal." She stood up, Priest followed and bowed to her once more.

"It was an honor, Your Majesty."

"All those years I read that book, I never actually thought any of it was true." Sarah said it more to herself than to her companion, he wouldn't have any idea what book she was talking about.

Priest chuckled, "Oh, yes, the little book. I have to say, I was quite proud of myself."

Sarah stopped in her tracks, eyes wide, "You were behind the book?"

Priest soft smile grew, "Yes, Your Majesty, I thought perhaps you would be better prepared for your place in this world if you were familiar with it."

"Did you not realize you made him a villain?"

Priest chuckled again, "I wouldn't say a villain, Your Majesty, not completely. Besides, haven't you always found the knights in shining armor and fairy tale princes rather boring?" With that Priest walked back to the castle, leaving Sarah glued to the spot as she watched him walk away, amazed that Priest seemed to have her pegged so perfectly.

Nechtan's screams still echoed through the building, though the stone walls muffled them greatly. He needed to return to the dining hall as soon as possible, or else The Nightmares would finish Nechtan off before he could confess before the High King and members of court.

Jareth found the High King in a bedchamber clearly meant for a low-ranking guest or courtier. He approached the bed, poised for any magic that maybe guarding him. Though the High King's eyes were open, they were unseeing. Reaching for the King's hand Jareth was relieved to find him alive.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?" Jareth tried to rouse the King in vain, whatever Nechtan had done to him kept the High King from communicating.

"Don't bother, Jareth. He can hear you but he can't answer." A familiar voice came from behind, Branna entered the room, dressed in a black velvet robe embroidered with Nightshade flowers.

"Branna. I would say I'm shocked you would allow for your own father to be treated in such a way but that would be a lie. What have you done? What did you let your husband do?" Jareth spoke calmly as he watched Branna saunter around the room, as if she did not have a care in the world. She had always been spoiled and selfish but there was a new hardness to her, she was still beautiful but unappealing and cold.

She ignored the questions, "I suppose I have you to thank for the sound of my husband's screams. What are you doing to him down there?" Her eyes sparkled as she smiled humorlessly.

"I'm sure you could figure it out. In fact, you could share in his torment." Jareth offered, matching her cool tone and smile.

She laughed before lounging on an upholstered bench, doing her best to pose seductively, "Thank you but no, I'll enjoy his screams from a distance."

"Your own father, Branna." Jareth said in disgust.

Her smile faded as her pale skin turned red in anger, "Don't! Why should I feel a drop of sympathy for him? After he married me to that horrid swine? Making me live in the wretched kingdom, the daemons whispering in my mind, draining me of every happiness!"

Jareth realized then that Nechtan had been allowing his subject to feed off Branna, something that was expressly forbidden. Her years of mental torment in the hands of her husband had broken her.

"Why did you allow this to happen?" He asked, gesturing to the High King.

"Because, I knew he would lose. Nechtan was enraged that our son was not given a throne, he was sure marrying the daughter of the High King would ensure a throne. He wanted your kingdom, he wanted to join the Daemon and Goblin Kingdoms, he was sure with the two kingdoms in his control he would be chosen as High King." Branna spoke with bravado, mocking her husband's desires, "Of course, being the coward he has always been, he knew he couldn't just take the kingdom from you. You're much too powerful for him, I'm sure when you met him downstairs he didn't put up much of a fight."

"No, he didn't." Jareth answered, his hands twitching to cast another crystal, sending his ex-lover in the dungeons of the Goblin Castle until her father could punish her, but she was divulging too much information. He needed to know how they found out about Sarah.

"I thought not. I knew as soon as he set his sights on you that I would let him go along with his silly plans. I knew you'd beat him and I would be free of him." She smiled, stretching herself farther on the bench.

"Your husband is far from dead, I'm afraid."

"Tsk, you must try harder, Jareth. If you finish him off for me, I'll give you a present." She fluttered her long black lashes as she freed a leg from her robe.

"I don't want anything from you, Branna, those days are long over." He was beginning to lose his patience with her, Nechtan's screams started to quiet, morphing into pitiful whimpers.

"I don't believe you. You couldn't possibly be satisfied with that little human you've been mooning over. I couldn't believe my eyes when I actually saw it, when Nechtan told me I thought it was some sort of joke." Her laugh full of disdain.

"How exactly did Nechtan find out about the her?" Jareth raised an eyebrow, feigning interest in the display of skin Branna was showing. He had learned long ago that if he acted interested or attracted to her Branna would say or do about anything to keep him enthralled.

She smiled, "You know, he never would tell me. Once he heard about her he thought he had his way to end you. If it got out you were chasing after some little human you would lose the respect of the court, then he would be able to take your throne from you, if not for himself then for Ninian."

"It's a ridiculous scheme."

Branna laughed, "Yes! Perfectly preposterous, I knew it would never work, but I let him go on with it. I knew you'd beat him, and I would be there to reward you."

"But what of my 'little human', why try to harm her?" He had to use all his self-control to smile as he questioned her, his lip twitched momentarily as a sneer threatened to appear.

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot about Blagdan. Nechtan never gave his reasons, I suppose if word spread that a daemon was able to attack a human in Dearmad then he could argue you were losing your control over your kingdom. He really didn't tell me much about his plans for her. He was always so jealous, that we had been lovers, perhaps he saw it as a way to get back at you, since he knew I'd much rather be your queen than his." She continued to try to seduce him, uncaring of her father on the bed.

"That was never an option Branna, what we had once was fun, but long over." His smile faded away, his true feelings clear on his face. He wasn't going to get any more information from her, he was certain. Now he just needed to get the High King to safety.

Branna's friendly demeanor disappeared, her face once again hard and cold, "How dare you reject me!"

She stood quickly, her chest heaving, her breath coming out in ragged huffs. Jareth turned from her, prepared to ignore her fit and tend to her ailing father. It was a misstep, though Branna grasp on sanity was tenuous she still was in full control of her power. With a flick of her hand she flung Jareth into the wall next to the bed.

Jareth gasped as he hit the stone wall, momentarily dazed he fell to the floor. Branna took advantage of Jareth's shock and pointed a manicured finger at him before curling her hand into a fist. The gesture caused Jareth's chest to tighten, his lungs unable to expand. Several moments passed before he was able to break free. He flicked his wrist in the long-practiced habit, a crystal appearing in his palm, before Branna could react he threw it at her chest, freezing her much like he had her husband.

"You should calm down Branna, your husband is no match for me, and neither are you."

Branna's eyes were wild and wide with fury as she stared him down, struggling to break free of the spell.

"Now I have to decide what to do with you. I can't kill the daughter of the High King, no matter what she's done, though I would love to." Jareth couldn't help but get some satisfaction at finally having Branna and Nechtan at his mercy, helpless as Sarah had been when they set out to torment her.

"Perhaps I should let my 'little human' decide what's done with you."

That was enough to cause Branna to break free from Jareth's spell, her unhinged mind overtaken by anger made her more powerful than Jareth had prepared for.

"When I'm done with you I'm going to finish off your little human, she'll be begging for death after I let my daemons drive her mad!" Branna screamed, magic sparking around her, giving her an ominous red glow.

She threw her hands above her head, preparing her spell, giving Jareth a seconds long window. Quickly, he shot another crystal at her, this time she shrieked when it made contact, before disappearing from the room completely. He twisted his hand, the crystal appearing easily, peering into it he could see Branna in the throes of a fit as she realized she was trapped. He had sent her to the dungeons of the Goblin Castle, where she would wait until her father was well enough to deal with her.

Jareth returned to the side of the High King, who remained unchanged, "Your Majesty?" He asked once more with no answer. Jareth sighed, placed a hand on his King and sent him to High Castle, where hopefully he would be in the care of allies.

He left the small bedroom and returned to the dining hall. Another crystal ridded the room of The Nightmares, banishing them back to their home in the forest. Nechtan appeared physically unharmed, though he seemed unable to focus on Jareth as he moved closer. Releasing the Daemon King from the spell that bound him to the chair, Jareth was not surprised when Nechtan fell in a heap on the floor. Drenched with sweat he mumbled incoherently as Jareth propped him up to access the damage.

Nechtan still looked the same, black hair and eyes, larger than Jareth in height and build but clearly beaten.

"Look at me." Jareth said calmly, almost friendly.

It took Nechtan several minutes to comprehend the order and comply. When his eyes met Jareth's uneven blue eyes he began to whimper.

"Your name." Jareth said firmly.

"N-n-n-…" Nechtan trailed off, unable to form the word.

Jareth sighed, The Nightmares and sensed his anger and had not held back in their torturing of the Daemon King, he was unsure if Nechtan would ever recover. He regretted having to go to such lengths but he wasn't left with a choice. Like Branna, Jareth sent Nechtan to another cell in his dungeon, far away from the rantings of his wife.

Satisfied there was no one else in the castle waiting to ambush him Jareth left for High Castle. Unsurprisingly, the reappearance of the High King in such a state threw the court into chaos. The Priest was summoned, hoping his knowledge of potions and magic could solve what had happened to the High King.

Jareth, exhausted, waited hours to hear word from Priest. When the older fae finally emerged, he searched Jareth out.

"How is he?" Jareth asked somberly, expecting the worst.

"He will recover, thankfully. They had been using poisons to weaken His Majesty. I also sense daemons, they must have allowed them to drain the King of energy. It has been going on for months, if a weaker fae had been subject to such treatment they would not have survived." Priest shook his head in astonishment, the High King's own daughter and son-in-law, torturing him almost to the point of death.

"Thank you for coming, Priest." Jareth said. Now that he knew the High King would recover he was eager to return to his kingdom. He needed to speak to Sarah.

"Of course, Your Majesty." He paused a moment, "I was at the Goblin Castle with Their Majesties."

"Their Majesties?" Jareth asked, confused.

"Queen Nolwynn and Queen Sarah." Priest said innocently.

Jareth raised his eyebrows in disbelief, "Sarah is not the Queen, Priest. We discussed this." The thought of Priest address Sarah as Her Majesty sent Jareth in a panic, her reaction last night made it clear she wouldn't welcome such a title with ease.

"Of course, Your Majesty. Queen Nolwynn requested I speak to her about the prophecy, she hoped I could help, Her Maj-, the lady understand."

Jareth's panic doubled, he had wanted to explain, to let her know in her end it was her decision alone, "What did you tell her?"

"The truth of the prophecy, and her past lives." Priest answered calmly, unperturbed by Jareth's anxiousness.

Jareth wanted to throttle the smile of Priest's face, clenching his fists he took a few steps away from him, "I have to go, see what damage you've done." With that Jareth disappeared. Priest smiled and headed back to the High King's side, confident the prophecy he witnessed so long ago was finally coming to fruition.

Sarah wandered around the Goblin Castle, going from room to room. Most of the castle was a mystery to her, she had only been in a handful of rooms since she arrived and was curious about the rest of it. Besides, it gave her time to think and tick off the minutes until Jareth's return.

She made a list in her mind of the things she was sure of. She knew the prophecy was not some made up fantasy by Jareth. She was sure she had lived many times over, though she did not remember any of those lives. She was sure Jareth had failed many times to make her his queen. She was sure Jareth loved her.

She then made a list of the things she was not sure of. She was not sure she was ready to live the life the prophecy foretold, she was not sure she loved Jareth.

She went over the lists several times when she realized she was near Jareth's private rooms. She decided that was the best place to wait for him and made her way into one of the rooms, breathing deeply as his rain and forest scent wafted around her. She had only been in his bedroom once before, deciding she was not ready to meet him there she entered the next room, which was a sitting room. She strolled around the room for a few minutes before curiosity got the best of her and she opened the door to the next room.

Jareth's private study was decorated in a masculine color scheme of dark wood and deep blue. The heavy velvet drapes shut out most of the light, she pulled one of the curtains open, a thin ray of light pierced the room, landing on the opposite wall, drawing her attention to portrait that hung there. Unlike the other paintings throughout the castle this one was a simple sketch. She opened the curtain fully and gasped at what she saw.

It wasn't just one image but a series of sketches, the style of each identical, and familiar. Each woman looked different, their hair varied, each face was unique, except for one feature. They all had the same shaped eyes, and even though the sketches were in simple black and white she felt certain the women's eyes were all identical in color.

She could hear her breathing pick up as she looked to the corner of the last portrait of a sweet-faced nun, the initials left no room for doubt. She had drawn these women, though she had no memory of it. The date below her signature brought back a memory and the words of a Jackson Square fortune teller.

"You've had many past lives," the palm reader's voice echoed in her head. "You've been touched by another world…"

Images came to her, disjointed and unfamiliar. Other times and other people flashed in her mind, white owls always watching, a familiar scent of the forest, fear, but mostly a sense of being protected.

"There is another linked to you…" the fortune teller continued.

Sarah turned to leave but stopped short when she saw Jareth in the doorway, his eyes wide with surprise to find her there. They both remained silent, taking each other in.

"Through time they have reached for you…"

"They're me." She finally blurted out.

"Yes." He answered, his voice almost a whisper.

She made her way to him, blinking back tears as she looked into his, uneven and wary.

"You must surrender…" the woman's voice insisted.

He watched intently as she took his hand in hers, removing the black leather glove. She lifted the hand and placed it on her cheek.

"Surrender."

She closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his cool hand on her skin. All the while he remained quiet and still, letting her take the lead. She opened her eyes, looking up at the one the fortune teller had described, one of light and shadow, old and young.

"Surrender."

"Surrender."

The echo persisted as she leaned forward, stretching toward him until she felt their lips meet. His hand fell away from her cheek only to wrap around her waist, securing him to her as their kiss deepened. Tears slid from her eyes, as the strength of the emotions running through her became overwhelming.

Jareth reached down, lifting Sarah up at the back of her knees. Returning to kiss her as he carried her to his bedroom his lips found their way down the narrow trail of skin her dress revealed. Sarah clung to him, fingers tangled in his hair.

"Sarah." He whispered as his lips grazed her skin, "Sarah."

He made it to the bed, gently lowering her onto the velvet coverings before joining her, continuing the study of her body.

Through it all she became aware of a hum, she had heard it before but now it was stronger, she could feel it in her bones. Jareth did not seem to notice or chose to ignore it, even when it sounded more like singing. It did not take much for the distract to subside, with each kiss and caress Sarah's old doubts faded away, every rough whisper of her name thrilled her.

They remained undisturbed for hours, the only two in the world, as thousands of years of waiting finally came to an end.