"Are the weapons prepared?"

Mannonda turned to face Jareth, hands folded in front of her. "Yes, My Liege," she replied.

"And you're certain this serum will work?"

Mannonda gave a single nod. "As certain as I can be. It's the most powerful serum I know."

Jareth gave a nod of his own. "It is time, then. Make sure the problem's weapons are soaked with it. I will keep as close an eye on him as I can, but I may need to ask you to step in."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Mannonda's lips. "Should be no worse than the goblins. Simply bigger."

"You'd be surprised," Jareth responded dryly.

"Would you like me to retrieve Sarah and Lenna as well?"

Jareth's jaw set, his eyes trained on the stone floor in thought. "I don't want them involved, but I fear we have no choice. Make certain they are armed, if it's at all possible to arm them against the witch."

Mannonda nodded. "Yes, My Liege, I will see what I can do.

"And make certain Lenna knows her attempted murderer will be joining us."

Mannonda let out a sigh. "Your Majesty, that wasn't him. You know him. He's a womanizer, not a killer."

"That's not how she will see it. If she doesn't feel she can manage, she has the option to remain in her room to recover further."

"I'm sure she'll appreciate having a choice, but from what I've learned of her, I have a feeling she'll be too stubborn to just sit in hiding while we're all in battle, even if it does mean being in the same room as him."

Jareth nodded and Mannonda turned to head towards Lenna's room.

"Mannonda," she heard behind her and stopped to look over her shoulder.

"Yes, My Liege."

There was a long pause and she could hear him swallow, could see the rawness in his eyes.

"Thank you. You've truly proven to be a more than worthy subject."

"I've merely done my duties, Your Majesty, nothing more." With that, she went to gather their army.

Xaiden lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his hands clasped on his stomach as he tried to recover from yet another guilt-driven panic attack when he heard a knock on his door. His eyes moved to glance in that direction.

"Enter," he said, but with a lot less force than he'd imagined it coming out.

"It is time to prepare for battle."

He sat up to find the woman who had brought him to the room and had been delivering meals to him standing in the doorway.

"I don't think I can," he said.

Her eyes stared coldly at him for a very long moment, her lips pursed.

"What, you're going to try to guilt me into it? I'm no killer!"

"I beg to differ," she said icily. "And I promise you, you will have no regrets with this one."

"Why, because it'll help me earn Jareth's trust? I doubt that. The man's never been that easy to win over."

A tolerant smile crossed her face. "The one we're battling is the one who made you run Lenna through."

Xaiden's jaw dropped and he could feel his face go white as his temperature dropped and sweat danced across his brow. "How… how did you…"

"There are many things I know. For instance, I know that you've been lying here, wrecking yourself with guilt, trying to figure out how you remember killing her if you feel like you weren't the one doing the deed. Well, this enemy is the reason."

Xaiden absently grabbed his sword, clutching it in his fist.

"Cover your blade in this," the woman said, handing him a vial.

Xaiden stared into the liquid through the small glass bottle. "How do I know you're not lying to me? You know, just to get the extra forces."

"That would go against policy. Of course, you may also believe that to be a lie. I suppose all I can say is follow your heart. You know what happened the other day and what I tell you will be confirmed when you feel her power radiating through the castle. Be swift. I will be back to retrieve you shortly."

Xaiden watched as she left the room, then went to look out his window to see Jareth meditating out front. He looked back at the vile, then at his sword, then once more out the window.

Sarah opened the door as she heard footsteps approaching to find Mannonda coming down the hall.

"Is it time?"

Mannonda completed her trek to their door before answering. "Yes, but I have some important information for you both before we join His Majesty."

Sarah and Lenna looked at her expectantly.

"You both should sit." In response to their stares, she added, "please."

"What's going on?" Sarah asked, as she and Lenna sat beside each other on Lenna's bed.

Mannonda took a deep breath as she tried to think of how to word it exactly. "The man who..." She looked Lenna in the eyes. "The man who ran you through will be joining us for battle."

"You're kidding," Sarah said, her tone flat.

"Are you nuts?" Lenna exclaimed.

"We were afraid you would feel that way." She let out a sigh. "I know this is difficult to believe, but he wasn't himself when he did what he did. The witch we are battling had control of his mind."

Lenna let her head fall into her hands. "This is too much."

"Are you certain she won't regain control of him during battle?" Sarah asked.

Mannonda ground her teeth. "There is no certainty of this, no."

Sarah sighed, running a comforting hand over Lenna's back.

"But," continued Mannonda, "I can tell you that he's been having panic attacks since he got his own mind back. He's been lamenting what he did to you, Lenna."

Lenna looked up at her. "And what, exactly, does he think happened?"

"He thinks you're dead and that an animal took off with your body.

Silence was the response Mannonda got to this small piece of information and she could tell that the wheels were turning in Lenna's head.

"Lenna, if you would prefer to stay here while the battle ensues, you're more than welcome. You still have some healing to do and I'm sure the last thing you need is to confront the man who tried to kill you."

The corners of Lenna's mouth began to twitch. "Are you kidding? According to you, he was under some kind of mind control. I'd do much worse if I stayed here while you were all out there fighting. I'd be so stressed out. I'm in."

Mannonda nodded. "Very well. Here," she said, handing them each a pendant. "Put these on. They are your armor. I know they don't appear to be much, but the enchantment I've placed on them should shield you against both weaponry and magic. Do whatever mental and emotional preparation you deem fit in preparation of battle. I'll be back for the two of you soon."