Jareth watched as the others went through a portal back to Sarah's world. The night seemed darker now, more deadly somehow. He knew the evil was not yet gone from this land, but there would be another night to fight it. Right now his parents were still standing nearby, waiting. He knew they had more to tell him. Giving Sarah a last, loving glance, he turned to the spirits of the people he missed more than anyone else.

"You have become quite the fighter," his father said, eyeing Jareth with approval. "Your mother and I are well pleased."

"You honor me, sir," Jareth said, bowing low to the ground. On one knee, he looked down at the ground, lest tears fall freely in the High King's presence. A strong hand tilted his face up and Jareth stared into the loving gaze of his father.

"You honor me, son. Every day of your life, you honor me and your mother. You have guarded our realm well. You have protected your sisters as a good brother should."

"But Valeria - "

"Valeria made a bad choice of first husband. She was young and foolish. She is no longer so easily swayed. And you have been a good influence on her as she grew into her new confidence. You are the glue that binds us all, Jareth. Never doubt it."

"I know not what to say..." Jareth struggled.

"And you are ready to become High King now that you have found your mate. Live well and happy, my son," his mother said calmly.

"There is much I need to ask, much I do not understand," Jareth stammered. His mother took pity on him and smiled.

"Then we will tell you all you need to know."

JSJSJS

Karen awoke to see several anxious faces staring at her. Robert gripped her hand while Sarah wiped her brow with a cool, wet cloth. Jareth's sisters were nowhere to be found, but the king was sitting in the far corner, near an open window. The owl had arrived just as Karen was waking up and transformed without announcing himself. Sarah noticed him and wondered briefly if he was planning to fly out of it the way he had flown into the room. He looked a bit nervous.

"Karen - you fainted when we got back," Robert was saying. "Are you all right?"

"You - magic," Karen struggled to remember then a slight frown marred her face. "You and Sarah are magical. And you never told me."

"Karen, I didn't think I'd ever have to use it again," Robert said haltingly, glancing at Sarah who sat on the other side of the bed. "Sarah was destined to be pulled into that world."

"As were you," Jareth said softly from the other side of the room. Karen sat up a bit straighter and stared at him. "I have spoken to my parents and much has become clear to me, much that I had no idea about until today. Your power is more than you know Robert."

"What do you mean?" Robert asked. When had Jareth arrived? He hadn't come in through the door. Jareth rose from his chair, stretching slowly. Robert could see a gleam of approval in his daughter's green eyes and tried to remain calm.

"Sarah was always destined to become my queen. I may not have planned for it to happen, or even wished it," he shrugged at Sarah's sudden glare. "But she and I are one soul. Your grandmother knew it, my parents knew it."

"And you know it?" Karen asked, warily.

"I never thought I deserved such love after my parents died. But your daughter has saved me." His eyes softened as he gazed at her and she blushed. "And you, Robert save her."

"I - didn't do anything," Robert stammered but Jareth held up a hand.

"Your gift is to absorb power and transform it into whatever is needed to protect your loved ones. Your grandmother knew this and honored you by allowing you to use your gift or not as you saw fit. You have saved Sarah many times over the years without knowing it, without thinking it."

"Sarah's never been in danger before meeting you," Karen said, a bit of her attitude back. Jareth shook his head, trying to keep his face stern. The human woman amused him. Turning back to Robert, he continued.

"When she was five Sarah was ill. Her fever was not understood by human doctors. They could find no cause of it. They assumed it was due to your first wife's departure. It was actually the fact that young Sarah was coming into the first of her gifts." He paused, searching Sarah's face. "She started seeing Fae."

Sarah shook her head in denial. She'd remember seeing Fae. Jareth grinned.

"You saw them as birds, but they were Fae. Your mind just refused to show you their true forms. I believe that is why you've been safe for all of these years. None can harm a mortal who does not see them as they truly are. Your magic blocked them from your true sight with your father's help, of course."

"I don't understand," Sarah said, confused.

"When a mortal who has been touched by Fae magic is young, their minds are easily won by Fae who would think to corrupt them. But your father's magic protected you from enchantment."

"Touched by Fae - you mean my dad's grandmother?" Sarah asked. Jareth nodded.

"Yes, Fae tend to search out humans who have some history with our kind. You were not ready to believe, therefore - you could not see Fae as they really were. Consider it a defense mechanism, your magic tried to see them but your father's power knew you were not yet prepared for it."

"But I came to your Labyrinth - Toby - " Sarah said, trying to make sense of it all.

"Sarah, you are much stronger now and none can hide their true intent. It is one of the reasons you were not led astray by Eldwin at the dance." His eyes darkened. "We shall consider him lucky that his attempt to woo you did not go further than mild entertainment."

"So I blocked Sarah until she was ready to face your world?" Robert asked. Jareth nodded.

"Yes. She needed time to mature and she needed a pure heart to go into the Labyrinth. If she had known of any of this before that time, her battle for young Toby would not have gone as well. She would not have been a sister fighting for her brother. She would have been a magical being, untrained, untested. It would have been chaos."

"She would have fought you with magic, not knowing that she could have been hurt," Robert mused.

"Indeed. Or that she could have harmed one of my citizens. Unintentionally, but still - untested magic is unpredictable."

"So what happens now?" Karen asked. "What are you going to do with us?"

"Do?" Jareth asked, one eyebrow arched regally. "I plan to wed my Sarah when she becomes of age and hopefully will share a dance with my mother in law." He grinned charmingly and Karen found herself blushing.

"Karen, you know that you are my world," Robert said. "If I'd known that any of this was possible for Sarah - for any of us - I would have told you everything."

"What say you, Mrs. Williams? Have you opened your heart to my world, just a little bit? I can swear to you, we mean you no harm."

Karen looked at her husband and step daughter, seeming to think for a long time. Then she looked at Jareth and nodded.

"I look forward to our dance, your majesty."

"Good. Now if you will excuse us, Sarah and I have a long overdue chat in our future." Jareth held out a hand and Sarah took it instantly. The two of them left the room and Robert let out a loud breath.

"She's really a strong young woman now, isn't she?" he said as the door closed.

"She gets that from her father," Karen smiled and they kissed lightly.