A/N: So...yeah. It's been a rough 2020. I hope this helps. Just a few chapters to go.

Disclaimer: Labyrinth is not mine.

Chapter 18

Earlier that evening.

It was absurd. Uncommonly foolish too, given his position. But he'd known something was off when the Council had remained at the High King's table long after the king had left, mumbling hurriedly amongst themselves.

The decanters were empty and the trays of food cleared. He was one of the last guests in the Hall, pinned to his seat only out of duty and in the unlikely event they'd need him. But they hadn't once looked his way and there seemed no obvious reason for them remaining as the night deepened and a new day began; they had no rooms here.

Eventually, Corvin must have said something significant because the rest of the Council snapped back in their seats and looked at him, nodding. Corvin had then thrust his own chair back and stood, a familiar sneer overtaking his cool expression. The rest of the Council watched him closely as he left the Hall. Alone.

So Arlyck did what any curious observer would: he followed him.

It wasn't difficult, at first. He'd had a good position in the Hall to watch them surreptitiously all evening: far from their table and steps from the door. The rest of the Council had already turned inwards to ruminate again and Corvin didn't bother to shut the door on his way out, making Arlyck's slip out of the Hall unnoticed.

Arlyck paused just outside to track where he'd went. Corvin was mumbling to himself, shaking his head as he strode down the hallway to his right. If he'd been closer, it might have meant something, but it was unintelligible. Something about a weapon? Breaking a rule? Arlyck looked back once to make sure he hadn't been followed, then picked up his pace.

Corvin turned down another corridor then stopped suddenly, throwing open a door to his right and charging through. The door was slammed behind him. The echo of boots descending stone stairs still rang through the wood.

Arlyck hesitated, then decided not to follow. He knew exactly where the door led. If Corvin was detaining someone in the dungeon, he had no desire to barge in on an interrogation. Or worse.

Still, the timing sent a nervous itch down his back, so he pressed tight up against the door in the hope that he'd hear something assuredly mild—perhaps someone had snuck into the celebration uninvited? There was another voice. Several it seemed, from the low grunts that cut against each other. They were too low to have been Corvin.

A jangle of metal and a heavy satisfied grunt. Then, the patter of steps on stone stairs; someone was coming up. And from the lack of reverberation, it was someone smaller than Corvin.

Arlyck jumped back from the door to lean against the wall across. He feigned boredom, picking at nonexistent lint on his jacket coat as he waited for the door to open. He was more curious than afraid; Corvin wouldn't have let someone out that was dangerous.

A stocky dwarf poked his head out the door before leaning his shoulder into it so it creaked wide open. He paid no attention to Arlyck across the hall as he weighed the small cloth bag in his hands. It jingled again.

"I hope you didn't steal that," Arlyck began, brushing off his coat and giving the dwarf a cool stare. "The High King doesn't take well to theft. And he doesn't take at all to those who steal from him."

The dwarf looked up with a grimace, the angry scar across his cheek amplifying his off-putting demeanor. His one good eye narrowed. "None yer business but I haven't stolen anythin'. I heard somethin' important."

Arlyck's chin jutted towards the bag. "And someone paid you to keep it quiet?"

The dwarf shook his head, grunting. "Someone paid me for the somethin'."

Arlyck frowned. He had no idea what information this dwarf could have heard that intrigued Corvin. From the size of the bag however, the 'something' was significant. "If it's that important, I'm sure the High King will want a direct report, then. Shall we go wake him?"

The dwarf's eyes bulged as his hand squeezed his bag, clearly unsettled by the prospect. "That's not…it's not…"

"I'd be happy to pass it along, of course," Arlyck interrupted with a small grin. "I serve the High King directly."

The dwarf glanced back at the open door quickly, but when nothing echoed from the stone steps, faced Arlyck again with a grim nod. "It's that Above girl. The one who beat the Goblin King." He looked Arlyck straight in the eye. "She got old magic."

Arlyck stumbled slightly, but kept his expression mild. "Who told you this?"

"Told ye, I heard it. She was askin' neighbor for help." He took a large sniff and wiped his mouth before grinning. "Should'a asked fer a place to hide."

Something cold beaded down Arlyck's neck as he considered the dwarf's words. He knew Corvin's propensities well enough. If Sarah truly did possess old magic, Corvin's unsettling desire to dispose of her would have only hardened. And Arlyck only knew of one plan: killing Sarah before Aries reached its apex. Sarah had appeared confident that the Council's interpretation of the text was incorrect; the changes Above were subtle, but the timing seemed to align with her understanding. But, old magic? Arlyck grimaced. That was not something either of them had mentioned.

He needed to read the old text again. And he needed to find Jareth.

Still holding his frown, he waved the dwarf on, and watched as he hustled down the corridor with a heavy jangle. When he was sure he was gone, Arlyck ran the opposite direction, intent on grabbing his copy of the text from his room.

Present

Hoggle was struggling to breathe, scrambling up the dungeon steps as if his life depended on it. Which, he realized as he fell through the door, it probably did.

Jareth was a rat, but he at least never once threatened to kill him.

He shook his head and stood, charging down the hall. He didn't have time to catch his breath. Sarah needed help, and he would be damned if he let her down again. But, he had no idea where he was or where to look. His abysmal sense of direction just made matters worse. Several corridors and up a fight of steps, down one more, around three corners, up another staircase…was that the same tapestry he'd seen earlier? He groaned and slammed a fist into the wall beside him. The pounding echoed down the empty hall.

"Why's there nobody here?" He groaned again. "I needs help!"

A flash of blue ran across the gap at the end of his corridor. "Hey! Stop!"

Arlyck, old text in hand, paused when he heard the desperation in the call and back peddled to the opening in the hallway. Some ways down the corridor, a dwarf—from his stature, not the same one he'd met earlier—was running towards him. He didn't say a thing, but the panic on his face was evident.

Arlyck placed a steadying hand on the dwarf's shoulder when the fellow caught up to him. "What's wrong?"

"It's Sar...," Hoggle pulled in air, still gasping. "Sarah. Dungeon. Tryin' to kill her!"

Arlyck froze. He'd known Corvin had it out for Sarah, but to try something in the High King's castle—on the night of his eldest son's binding—was almost unimaginable. Treasonous. He exhaled sharply. And in that split second, Arlyck made his decision.

"Come with me. Quickly." Arlyck turned back from where he'd come, beckoning the dwarf to follow. If Corvin already had her, there wasn't much time. Finding Jareth would have to wait. "She's in the dungeons?"

"Yes," Hoggle panted. "And she's outnum'ered!"

Damn. Corvin had persuaded others in the Council. That will make this more difficult.

"It's a good thing you found me, then. But I'm going to need your help."

Hoggle nodded. "Anythin'."

Corvin hissed when the iron bit into the side of his face, and he fell to the floor, momentarily stunned. He felt Sarah shift onto his stomach to hold him still, her hands pinning down both shoulders. But his daze was brief, and in one swift move, Corvin flipped her over, slamming her down into the stone floor as if she weighed nothing.

"You will regret that," he snarled, jamming one knee into the small of her back. He touched the side of his face and hissed again when he felt the blisters forming. "Dearly."

"Thorin!" The Council member shot out from the antechamber at the sound of his name, and Corvin jutted his head towards the narrow staircase. "The dwarf escaped. Take the others and find him."

"What about the gir—"

"I'll handle the girl," Corvin snarled again. Thorin hesitated briefly but nodded, and after calling the trio, the four men disappeared up the staircase.

Sarah was furiously trying to push up, but Corvin's knee just kept digging deeper into her back. She cried out as her head was suddenly yanked back by the roots of her hair.

"We will find the dwarf," he growled lowly into her ear. "And then I will take great pleasure as you watch us obliterate him." He pulled her up, twisting one of her arms behind her back until her knees buckled at the pain. With one last snarl, Corvin shoved her into the open cell. Sarah didn't have time to turn before he had slammed and locked the door behind her. "As I will when I kill you."

Her glare was imbued with such hatred that she didn't need speak. And she suspected anything she said to him now would just make matters worse.

His eyes narrowed, but having apparently issued his last threat, he spun around and headed back inside the small antechamber to wait. Sarah heard him fall into one of the chairs and fiercely turn pages.

Fucking bastard. Come on, Hoggle.

It wasn't much later that she heard the creak of a door and the quick patter of boots on steps and she froze, praying the Council hadn't found Hoggle. She only allowed herself to breathe when a familiar copper-headed fey emerged from the bottom of the staircase.

Arlyck spared a quick glance at Sarah, keeping his face blank. "Corvin? Are you down here?"

The rattle of chair legs was followed by more snarling. "In here, Arlyck."

Sarah watched as Arlyck moved quickly towards the small room, arms crossed behind his back. But then, one finger jutted out behind him and towards her cell, pointing. He didn't glance anywhere near her, but Sarah turned all the same and saw…nothing. Sarah looked back to try and grab Arlyck's attention, but he had already made his way into the room with Corvin. Curious, she shuffled closer to the bars to try to hear what they were discussing, but the conversation was muffled. She had no idea what role Arlyck played in all this.

Could he be trying to convince Corvin to let me go? I suppose it's possible, but…

"Sarah." Someone whispered behind her, and she turned again. But this time, she realized what Arlyck had been gesturing towards. At the far-most left corner of her cell, one of the large stone blocks had been pushed from the wall to reveal an opening. Her eyes widened as Hoggle poked his head out of the hole, a finger over his mouth and his other hand waving her over. She silently obeyed, nodding once. Hoggle turned back to allow her room to enter.

The passage was narrow, but she thought it passable, and she didn't waste a second thought in dropping low on her knees and pulling herself through the stones. Small rocks cut into Sarah's knees and bare legs, and she bit down on her lip in pain, but didn't slow down. She couldn't see much except the back of Hoggle's shoes and she followed them as they shuffled for several minutes through the silent darkness.

The night dimmed and the passage eventually emptied into a courtyard. Sarah pulled herself out from the hole, and brushed off the small rocks that clung like nettles to her torn-up legs. She launched herself unconsciously at her friend.

"I knew you'd find help, Hoggle," she cried, wrapping her arms around him in thanks. "You saved me." She pulled back to see his face redden perceptively.

"Arlyck's the one who knew 'bout the path," he mumbled. "Jus' glad I found 'im." He grabbed one of her hands and tugged. "We gots to get out of here, Sarah. Arlyck didn' know how much time he could get us. He told me where we could go hide—"

"But what about Jareth?" She cut him off. "He's still inside."

Hoggle groaned as Sarah pulled away, looking up and around the courtyard. "I've got to let him know what happened. Where we are. I don't know what Corvin will do when he realizes I've escaped." The reminder of his words struck her, and she stumbled. Corvin despised Jareth just as much as he did her, and with her out of his reach…her heart clenched. That something deep inside her stomach flipped again, and Sarah knew.

Oh, God. When Aries calls its match...the match not be to conquered. A battle fought, only leading to surrender...

Her heart was racing.

The time to come when truth accepted.

"I know what to do, Hoggle," she whispered. A small part of her had always known. "I know how to fix this." She glanced up again at the High King's castle and breathed out once through her nose, resolute. Her first need was instinctual. A newly gloved hand flexed once, twice, and she pursed her lips. It was the second she was unsure of. Did he need to be here?

Hoggle's eyes bulged. "Sarah…?"

She suspected he did, but wished it once for good measure. The lack of dizziness confirmed it without the need for a crystal, however. He had to be here; he needed to know.

She started to turn, but hesitated. If this plan was to work, and for it to be over, she needed an important witness.

"Hoggle," she started, dropping to one knee in front of him. "I need you to do me one last favor. Find the High King." He started to protest, but Sarah cut him off, shaking his shoulders. "Find anyone. Tell them to get the High King. Bring him out here to wait for me. Tell him…," and she grinned, "Tell him I'm calling my match."

"You doin' what against the High King?" Hoggle was visibly shaking, not in the least calmed by the sly grin across his friend's face. "Sarah—"

"Trust me, Hoggle."

His complexion turned, and although he was still trembling, he nodded once. "I trusts ya, Sarah. I'll do it."

And with one last hug, Sarah ran towards the marble steps and back into the castle, the wish tickling the depths of her mind.

Arlyck's lip twitched at the sight of Corvin's face when he entered the antechamber. Clearly, Sarah had a fair bit of fight in her.

At Corvin's glare, however, he quickly sobered. He cleared his throat. "You must realize this is a mistake, Corvin. The High King will not take kindly to having his son's queen killed—"

"That queen," he spat, the word twisting, "has old magic. I'll make him understand it was necessary." His grin sharpened. "The fool is exceedingly trusting."

A growl settled at the back of Arlyck's throat at the insult, but he held it in. Arlyck and his father had their disagreements, but Corvin had vastly overstepped his bounds when he denigrated the High King. But he had a part to play. "I would still be careful, Corvin."

Corvin just waved him off, returning his focus to the text in front of him. "Old magic aside, the prophecy cannot come to pass. She cannot be allowed to reach the Labyrinth's apex."

"Sarah has been in the Labyrinth now for far longer than thirteen hours," Arlyck started, holding up his own text. "You noticed the changes Above. It strains credulity that such would occur if what you believe is the answer."

Corvin scowled at him before he rolled his eyes and slammed his text down on the table. "Then enlighten me, Arlyck, what wisdom have you gained from reading the old text?"

"I…we need to speak with Jareth."

Corvin just snorted in response.

Arlyck continued. "If Sarah truly is this 'Aries,' and she possesses old magic, as you say—"

"As I know."

"Then Jareth may know what this last line demands of her," he finished. "It may be something they are presently attempting to achieve. I'd at least consider asking him directly before you do something that cannot be undone."

Corvin was silent for several seconds. Dark eyes narrowed, then relaxed minutely before he growled. To Arlyck, it seemed as if he was at least considering the proposal, but the prospect of seeking Jareth's guidance kept overshadowing the positive equities. Arlyck tried something else; he just needed to stall for a bit longer.

"If it is as you believe, all you will have wasted is a single conversation." He feigned a bit of indifference. "If Jareth refuses to assist, your sway over the High King only solidifies. Try what you will then."

The heat in Corvin's stare calmed somewhat. "Very well. Where is he?"

Truthfully, Arlyck did not know. Their room had been vacant when he'd searched Jareth out, and he had first wondered if they returned to the Labyrinth. But he knew Jareth would not have left without Sarah. Not if what he now suspected was true. He was likely here, searching.

"He's a deep sleeper. Undoubtedly, he hasn't even noticed she's left their room." Arlyck bowed his head slightly while turning on his heels. "I will inform him his presence is required."

"And bring him to the girl?" Corvin tutted, scraping his chair back and standing. "I think not."

And before Arlyck could make it through the door, something heavy knocked him over the head and he knew nothing.

A/N: And all the final pieces are falling into place. All comments welcome.