Jareth nudged the witch's body with his boot.

"It looks like Xaiden did a number on her," Sarah remarked as she took in the wounds.

"I'm glad he impaled the right person this time," Jareth said dryly.

"Speaking of, how are we going to get them down from there?"

Jareth let out a thought-filled sigh as he flexed his fingers. "I may have enough power to bring them down."

It took less time and effort than expected to retrieve them from the barricade, but getting them cleaned up and set up in their own rooms to heal took some time. Sarah could see the exhaustion radiating from Jareth's eyes as they closed Xaiden's door.

"You should get some rest," Sarah said.

Jareth reached out and gently caressed her cheek. "You as well."

It wasn't until he'd said that that Sarah had felt her own exhaustion. She nodded in agreement.

The next morning, Sarah walked into the dining room to find Jareth already sitting there, lost in contemplation as he held his forgotten cup of tea in his hand.

Sarah smiled, caught for a long moment by his internally focused eyes. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Jareth's eyes slid over to look at Sarah and he smiled briefly. "How would you like to pursue this relationship?" he asked.

"Well," Sarah said, sitting in the seat cattycorner from him and leaning on the table, "I have classes I need to finish back home."

Jareth looked taken aback. "Whatever for? You don't need a degree to be my queen."

Sarah blinked at him. "You know, not to say that there's no possibility of that, but I feel you might be taking things a bit fast."

Jareth looked over at her and stared for a moment. "Yes, I suppose I am," he finally sighed.

"Besides, I do need to finish what I started. It's an accomplishment I've been working towards for a few years now. Somehow I don't see you being interested in someone with no ambition."

"Very well," he said, trying to fight back the amusement that tugged at the corners of his lips, but to no avail.

"I've only got a couple of semesters left after this one. It'll be over before you know it. Besides, it's not like we can't see each other at all during this time."

Jareth nodded and laid his free hand on top of hers.

Sarah studied their hands for an immeasurable amount of time. "Jareth?"

"Hm," he said, his focus back on the wall across from him.

"You... you said you didn't think you could win my love in time," she let out after a couple of beats of hesitation.

Jareth swallowed. "I did," he confirmed.

"In time for what? Why was it so important?"

He turned to peer into her eyes, clearly trying to decide something. Sarah's breath caught and she could feel her heart quicken as she sensed the seriousness of the matter.

"I used to be a much harsher ruler. Xaiden paid to have me cursed by being forced to take unwanted children. Unfortunately, the witch made it her business to take it a step further. She gave me a century to win someone's love. The catch was that no one would see me as I truly was, only as they imagined me to be."

Sarah swallowed. "Was death a part of the deal?"

"If I couldn't find true love within a century, I would remain in my owl form for life. During that century, the only time I spent out of my owl form was when there were visitors from outside the kingdom."

Sarah sat in thought for a moment and her eyes widened as a realization dawned on her. "Mannonda, she doesn't care for your animals. She's been caring for you."

A stiff smile spread across his lips. "She has done so diligently. I was very fortunate she witnessed the incident where the curse was put upon me. Otherwise I would have had no one to assist me in keeping things running smoothly. Or, as smoothly as they can when it comes to goblins."

She cocked her head. "You really care about them."

Jareth took a long gulp of his suddenly remembered tea. "After a few instances of taking them away from their families and those who wished them away not being able to win them back, I began to feel a great deal of concern for them. They were wished away and trapped in a strange world. Thrown away like garbage. Of course, I don't believe they remembered any of this, especially after the transformation. And the goblins did take them in like they were their own. Still." He downed the remainder of his tea.

Sarah watched him for several minutes. "You planned to die for them," she finally stated.

Jareth looked back at her.

"You didn't want to leave you kingdom to the witch."

"As frustrating as they may be sometimes, they are my people and it is my responsibility to take care of them."

"It's more than that," Sarah said. "You let your guard down at dinner the other night, remember?" she asked with a smirk. "You're attached."

Jareth couldn't hold back the quirk in his own lips. "They do become endearing," he admitted.

Sarah smiled and squeezed his hand.

It was at that moment they heard noise at the door and both turned to look, finding Xaiden entering the room.

Sarah took in the shocked expression on Xaiden's face.

"You're...you're alive," he said, staring at Jareth.

"You can thank Sarah for that. And for me not being an owl for eternity."

"Thank you for taking care of that witch, by the way," Sarah cut in. "It's nice to know that that adventure is over."

Xaiden nodded.

"What freed you from her spell?"

Xaiden looked at the wall. "Lenna. The witch, she re-opened Lenna's wounds and when I saw the blood, it freed my mind."

Sarah noticed how shaken he looked. "She's fine. I found her and Mannonda both. Neither of them were wounded."

"Mannonda," he said, registering the name. "She's the one who sealed Lenna's wounds. I can't be entirely certain, but, after seeing the blood that soaked her dress after I got Lenna's heart pumping again, I have a feeling she did it by transporting the wounds to herself. It must have been easier for her to heal them that way."

"Is she okay?"

Sarah looked to the door to see Lenna standing there. "She's fine," she said, standing up and walking over to hug Lenna. "Thank God you're alright, too. I'd have been absolutely devastated if you'd died."

"Yeah, me, too," Lenna said with a smirk, returning Sarah's hug and walking over to the table. Lenna looked at her options and tried to make her decision to sit beside Xaiden look nonchalant.

"Good morning, My Lady," he said to her.

"Good morning," she mumbled. She looked up at him and stared, solemnity etched over her features.

His brow furrowed. "What?"

"Thank you," she said.

"Mannonda's the one who saved you, just as you're the one who released me. I believe this should be the other way around."

"You helped," she said. "She may have closed my wounds, but you're the one who got my heart pumping again."

"So," he said, leaning back in his chair, "have I earned a new status in your book?"

Lenna grinned and took in his playful expression. "For now," she said. "How you behave on our first date will determine whether that's official or not."

"Well," he said, "I guess I'd better be on my best behavior, then." He rose her hand, brushing her knuckles with his lips.

Sarah looked over at the doorway when she heard the soft footsteps entering the room. Her eyes were caught by Mannonda's and she frowned.

"Are you alright?" Sarah asked.

"He was right," she responded.

Confusion crept onto her face.

"He never gave up on you. I didn't think he'd be able to win your heart, especially with some of the unorthodox methods he chose to use, but he did. You were the one." She looked over at Jareth. "Apparently taking advantage of that song that she heard was the move to make after all."

"So glad to have your approval," he replied, amusement painting his face.

"Psh," Sarah let out. Feeling eyes on her, she looked up to see everyone staring at her. "Oh, come on. Obviously he's the one who got the song to Lenna. Since when does a music store get one copy of an album that hasn't even been released yet in their shipment? With his boasting of his ability to reorder time, obviously he's the one who got it there."

Lenna's eyes widened and she rushed over to Jareth, throwing her arms around his neck, which, much to Sarah's amusement, surprised him.

"Thank you!" she said, kissing him on the cheek.

Jareth let out a laugh and patted her hand. "You're quite welcome. Thank you for subjecting Sarah to it. We wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for you."

After Lenna returned to her seat, he turned to face Mannonda.

"Come, sit," he said, gesturing to the table.

She did so, watching him closely the entire time, clearly trying to figure something out.

"Mannonda, in return for your loyalty and diligence, you are acquitted."

Mannonda blinked as Jareth produced a crystal in his hand out of thin air, something she had seen him do numerous times.

He walked over to give it to her.

"What is this?" she asked, peering at the crystal.

"It's a crystal," he said, returning to his seat. "Nothing more."

She stared into it.

"It will take you anywhere you would like to go, at any time. You were as effected by this curse as I was. To show my appreciation of your services, I am giving you the ability to travel. Go on holiday. Meet some people."

Mannonda was silent for a time and Sarah could see her trying to figure out what to say.

"Th-thank you, Your Majesty," she finally let out. She looked over at him. "I don't know where to go. It's been so long. I don't even know how to interact with new people."

"Nonsense," he said, moving to take a dramatic sip only to find disappointment in his cup being empty. He looked back up at Mannonda. "You did just fine with Lady Sarah and Lady Lenna. You even handled Xaiden well, which was a great achievement in itself."

Sarah's eyes flicked over to Xaiden briefly to catch the glare that he shot in Jareth's direction.

Mannonda looked nervously into the crystal, then back up.

"How about," Lenna cut in, "you start with our world? You could come back with Sarah and I. It might not be so bad if you start with a place where you already have a couple of friends."

Mannonda blinked.

"Do you think we could smuggle her into the dorm, Sarah?"

Sarah smiled. "With you involved, anything is possible."

"A dorm," Mannonda said slowly. "Is it big?"

Lenna shook her head. "Not really. It's cozy, though. And I'm totally giving you my room, so you won't have to worry about being stuck on the couch."

"I don't wish to impose," Mannonda said.

Jareth let out a sigh and snapped his fingers. "I won't have any of you sleeping on a couch," he said. "Your dorm just got an extra room.

"Oh, I would love to see the people at the college scratch their heads at that one when we move out."

"You will," Jareth assured. "It will open our celebration of your successful obtaining of these degrees the two of you seek."

"Ah, yes, your studies. I imagine you look forward to your completion," Mannonda injected.

They both nodded.

"It'll be nice to get back to them after this adventure," Lenna said.

"Probably nothing compared to last night," Xaiden said.

Sarah's eyes slid over to Jareth and she smirked before looking back at Xaiden.

"It's a piece of cake."