"So, how long before battle?" Xaiden asked as Mannonda went to retrieve the remainder of their small army.

Jareth took a deep breath. 'Inhale, exhale.' "I am not entirely certain, but I believe it will be very soon. I can sense her growing near," he responded, his eyes remaining closed.

"Listen, uh... I'm sorry."

One of Jareth's eyes opened and slid to look in Xaiden's direction before closing again. "Nothing more than words," came from his mouth, his tone dark. "Do you truly think it so easy to obtain my forgiveness for what you've done?"

"Well, I can see you haven't changed a bit."

Jareth was on his feet, nose to nose with Xaiden before he even realized he'd opened his eyes. "I have changed. I have made many changes. It is not my fault no one notices the benevolence I have obtained over the years."

"It's been a century, Jareth," Xaiden spat, his eyes on fire. "An entire century and you're no different now than you were when I last saw you. My apology is sincere. Why you can't just let the incident be water under the bridge, I can't understand. While I know I made your kingdom more of a challenge to run, you should also take notice of the fact that, without my error, your kingdom would probably be sparse in the population department."

Jareth's hands balled into fists and it took all of the power he had not to throw a punch at Xaiden. He spun around and began to pace like a caged tiger, trying to push his anger out with every stomp in the dirt.

"You haven't a clue what your little prank has done."

"It's not my fault you felt the need to have your own kingdom. You could have turned the offer down."

Jareth stopped and took a series of deep breaths, his back to Xaiden, his eyes closed.

"Why did you find it necessary to come back and apologize?" Jareth waited through the pause.

"What do you mean?"

"I realize being banished had to have been difficult, but there was nothing saying you had to make any contact with me upon your return. There's a whole underground for you to roam. Why did you come here, feigning remorse?"

"When you got the goblin kingdom, I was jealous. I acted rashly, putting the curse on you. It wasn't until I had that century to think on it that I realized what I had done had caused way more damage than just a little prank would have caused. And, while I'm sure that, with your iron fist, you had no issues handling things, I realized it was extra stress that you didn't need in addition to ruling the goblins that were already here."

"Your Highness."

Jareth glanced to his side to find Mannonda there, her hand on his arm. Her eyes flicked in Xaiden's direction.

Jareth sighed, running a hand over his face. "You are forgiven," he said. "You don't need to be here for this battle. Go. Find yourself a safer place to be."

He waited through another long pause.

"I can't."

Jareth turned to face Xaiden. "Why? For all that is underground, why?" All of the emotions he felt on the subject, the frustration, the confusion, the self-pity, were released in this demand for an explanation.

"Your maiden told me who you're battling. I didn't want to be a part of it at first. Not after..."

Jareth's eyes took on a look of surprise as he watched Xaiden swallow hard.

"The witch you're taking on is the one that made me... forced me to... she controlled me! I didn't even realize it until it was over, I'm such a fool."

"Lenna?" Jareth questioned.

Xaiden nodded. "I've never killed a person before and the one time I did it, it was unjust in every definition of the word. I want that witch gone as much as you do."

Jareth nodded, surprise still etched across his face, before putting his mouth by Mannonda's ear. "You didn't tell him," he breathed, almost too faint for even himself to hear.

Mannonda shook her head. "I felt that was her decision to make," she responded, equally inaudible.

Jareth took a step back and stared into her eyes for a moment, then nodded. He looked past Xaiden to see Sarah standing by the castle doors. "Where is she?" he asked, still keeping the conversation private, turning back to Mannonda.

"She said she needed a few more minutes to prepare. She'll be here, though. I was unable to talk her into staying in the safe confines of her room."

Jareth shook his head. "Why would I be surprised that Sarah's friend is as stubborn as she is?" he remarked before turning to face Xaiden.

Xaiden, however, was occupied by other matters. Jareth watched as his eyes widened and his hand reached for his sword. Hazarding a pretty good guess as to what was approaching, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath in preparation.