"Sarah," Jareth shouted, trying to run to her, but feeling as though his legs were made of lead. Sarah spun toward him just in time to have the Goblin King tackle her to the floor. Everything seemed to be in slow motion. Jareth's eyes blazed fire as Sarah licked her lower lip, staring at his mouth. How crazy was it that she wanted him to kiss her? As for his reaction, Jareth looked at her as if she would disappear if he looked away from her intense stare. She sighed, a half smile on her face as one of her hands made its way to his cheek. His eyes closed and he groaned, she was so lovely, even now. Sarah cupped his face gently and took a deep breath. She would have that kiss and he'd know that she loved him.
The door flew open and Seth stood there, glaring down at them both.
"Back away from this door," Seth told Sarah who just stared at the dead prince. "You shouldn't be here."
"Jareth shouldn't be here," Sarah shot back, struggling to stand. "And just who are you anyway?"
"Seth, have you come to escort me to the Fade?" Jareth asked, never taking his eyes off of his younger brother. His hand found Sarah's and Seth glanced down at his brother's hold on the girl. A slight grin flashed over his face before he schooled his gaze into a harsh warning.
"Jareth, you seem to be in a hurry to die. Are you that eager to have Toby named King - he's just a child."
"Seth? As in Prince Seth?" Sarah asked, eyes wide. "As in dead Prince Seth?"
Marissa's voice came through the link with Sarah, "Seth? Are you there?"
Next to Marissa, Seline paled. Her son, her baby boy - was he lost to Devlin's power even now? Karen shook her head. "I can sense he's in the doorway to the Fade, Devlin cannot touch him as long as he stays where he is."
"But he can touch Sarah?" Robert growled, standing up. "Not while I have anything to say about it. I'm going to go look for him. I can't just sit here and watch my daughter risk her life while I do nothing." Before anyone could stop him, he ran out of the room. Karen shook her head. Reasoning with Robert would be a waste of energy and right now, Sarah needed her.
Back at the doorway, Seth stood, ready to push Jareth back into the limbo and towards the world of the living. "Devlin did this. He enchanted Rialta's spirit and held her in the in between. Why isn't she here with you?"
"Rialta?" Jareth spat out in disbelief. "What does she have to do with any of this?"
Seth and Sarah explained as Marissa and Jareth listened. When they were finished, Jareth's eyes glowed and Sarah took a step back, even as she held his hand tightly.
"We will return your bride to you, brother," Jareth vowed. "And we will destroy Devlin for his treachery."
"We'll keep Jenata safe too," Sarah said firmly.
Seth nodded, his face worried. "Rialta should be here, his hold over her is gone. Find her before Devlin does or I fear my wife will never find her way to me. And our dear Jenata..."
"We'll help you, Prince Seth," Sarah promised. Jareth's eyebrow rose. She gave him a questioning glance.
"You've never called me King Jareth," he reminded her and her temper rose.
"We're betrothed - I don't have to call you anything but pig headed, and how could you try to end our relationship before you've even kissed me like you should and tell me love me the way I love you -" her words were cut off by his lips over hers and for long moments all she could do was melt into his arms and moan into his mouth.
Seth grinned in spite of the situation. "Looks like you already know how to handle a mouthy woman, brother. Good luck." He faded from view and the door slammed and locked.
"Tell me again," Jareth ordered, as Sarah's arms wrapped around him.
"I love you and you love me and we are still betrothed so deal with it," she ordered back at him.
"This is not just to save me so that Toby would not become king?"
"So help me Jareth, after everything I've been through since I've met you, you had better get your head out of your royal butt and stop acting like a self centered jerk. I know what's best for you."
"And that is?" Jareth asked, a hint of coldness in his voice. She smacked him.
"Me, you idiot. Now shut up and kiss me again."
He stared at her then laughed, long and happily as he spun her around, kissing her as if he'd never kissed anyone before this moment. His body, back in the hospital room started to heal and Sarah could feel the strength return to her love's kiss.
"Come, my queen - let us go back to the physical world and continue this where I can really touch you."
"Yes, my king," she smiled and led the way out of the darkness.
JSJSJS
Hoggle slowly made his way to the front gate of the Goblin City, looking over his shoulder and muttering about invisible bossy women. He was stopped at the gate and he frowned. Usually, he'd just walk through and not be noticed, but the Goblin kingdom had just been put on high alert. The King had been wounded and all visitors were being magically searched. The imposing seven foot tall Phooka guards (borrowed from one of the other kingdoms) glared down at the little dwarf and barred his way. Hoggle gulped and stared up at their animal heads. One rabbit, one wolf - both with long, sharp fangs and red, murderous eyes. They seemed to consider whether or not Hoggle was a threat.
"The little one has no business here," the wolf headed man said in a friendly enough voice. "Off with ye, little one," the rabbit said in a thick Scottish brogue.
"I lives here! I can enter if I want to!" Hoggle stammered angrily.
The wolf tilted his head and pondered. "The wee one looks familiar, what say you, dwarf - what are ye called?"
"Hoggle - I'm King Jareth's gardener and," Hoggle gulped again not wanting to spit out the words, "his loyal subject."
"I din't remember a Hoggle," the rabbit growled, "Jareth is always yammering about some Higworth - or Hogwart."
"That's me! The rat - um, I mean his majesty likes to tease. King of Goblins and all that. Hoggle's been here before, any of the goblins would vouch for me." One of the goblins looked up and stuck his tongue out before running off to cause mischief. Hoggle rolled his eyes.
"Listen - Hoggle's a good subject and a friend of Sarah on top of that. She'll vouch for me if the little cretins won't."
"Sarah? The girl Jareth just dumped?" the wolf man asked. The man with the rabbit head smacked him. "He din't dump the lass - he told er she was free."
"That's the same as being dumped, Loren," the wolf said slowly. The rabbit shoot his head. "Tis not - he gave her a choice and she's here, ye ken?"
"Yes, but she's with her mum and dad - it might not have anything to do with Jareth."
Hoggle tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for them to stop their debate. Hoggle, just run - they aren't watching. Hoggle jumped, almost forgetting Rialta was riding along in his body. Taking a deep breath, he ran towards the tunnel that would take them to the Goblin King's hospital, deep within the castle's center. He was running so fast that he didn't see that Robert was running towards him with a determined look upon his face. They collided in a heap of arms and legs.
"Why don'tca watch where's ya going?" Hoggle demanded then froze. "Yer Sarah's dad. What's going on? Is she hurt?"
"No - you're that dwarf that visits her, Higgle? Hobble?"
"Hoggle. And I've gotta get to Sarah." Jareth - you have to get to Jareth, Rialta reminded him. Hoggle shook his head. "The rat's fine without us." Robert frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Hoggle rolled his eyes. "I've got to get to Jareth and give him somethin' - then I can go see Sarah."
"Jareth's not in any condition to see anyone," Robert said, but Hoggle was already running toward the intensive care rooms to find his king - then get to Sarah before anyone could hurt her.
JSJSJS
Jenata woke slowly, her head swimming. Devlin was nowhere to be found but Alia was lying in the cot next to hers. She looked around and figured out they were in some sort of shuttle cabin, almost like the one she rode in when she travelled. Uncle Jareth was always letting her visit other parts of the planet with him when he went to parties. She wondered if Sarah would be going with him now.
Sarah, was she in danger? Devlin was a mean man and mean men had to be stopped. It's what her uncle would say and she was just as brave as Uncle Jareth, wasn't she? She shook Alia gently.
"Alia, come on - wake up. We have to get out of here." Alia's blue eyes opened and she sat up, rubbing her forehead.
"Jenata? Where are we? Uncle Devlin!" She looked around wildly and Jenata held her hand.
"He's not here, we have to go." She stood up, pulling Alia to her feet. Alia glanced at the cabin again and frowned.
"This is our family's shuttle craft. It shouldn't be here - I mean - it's usually on board our larger ship and that's not supposed to be here till next month. Grandfather told me that it was coming to take us home for a visit."
"Then why is your uncle trying to take us early?" Jenata asked as she tried opening the cabin door. "And where is he?"
"I don't know. His eyes - did you see them? They were cold, like he was going to hurt us."
"Then we need to get out of here. But the door is locked."
"You just need to know how to open them," Alia said and waved a hand over the lock, chanting a few words Jenata did not understand. The door opened and Jenata looked at her friend in surprise. Alia shrugged.
"Since I've been back from Sarah's world, my powers have been growing. Come on," Alia said, sneaking toward the shuttle door leading outside, "we've got to get to your uncle and warn him."
Jenata nodded. "Good idea, I hate to say it, but your uncle is a jerk."
Alia nodded sadly. "I'm beginning to see that."
The two girls quietly crept from the shuttle and made their way past the sleeping pilot nearby. Just as they were leaving the hanger, a loud voice startled them.
"Princess Jenata - Lady Alia, where might you be going this fine day?" Sir Didymus called out loudly, waking the pilot. He glared at the girls and stood up, running toward them.
"Quick Jenata, let's go," Alia screamed, heading towards Sir Didymus. The fox terrier stood there in surprise as the two girls ran to him, calling out his name.