A/N: This is it! The official last chapter, with just a tiny sprinkle of lemon zest at the end. I really am going to miss the journey through this tale with you. There will be a short epilogue posted next week. I also will go through and update some author's notes and small corrections at that time.
Shit, how am I supposed to make it all that way in ti-
She found herself standing in the dark puzzle room, the amulet hot in her hand. I guess this thing has its perks. She ran through the twisting paths, fighting her way to the center. The thunder outside grew louder, until it began to shake the stones around her. Finally, she reached the circular platform, where the mirror was beginning to ripple and splinter. She closed her eyes and dove into it.
For a moment she felt as if she had fallen into a tub of jam. Then everything brightened around her, and she found herself in the light puzzle room. The mirror disappeared, leaving behind an open well that began to howl with a great wind that threatened to suck her into the dark pit.
Jareth knelt on the platform, his face an ashen grey. When she emerged, he looked up, eyes glazed in pain.
"We have only moments," he coughed, staggering as she pulled him to his feet.
"Jareth, listen," she said, raising her voice over the din, "Ariadne told me that If we want to defeat the Labyrinth, we have to throw the pendants into the heart." She showed him the ouroboros amulet.
"Gods, the dark amulet…" The color began to return to his face, and he managed a grin. "She would certainly know."
"But Jareth," gasped Sarah, gripping his hand tightly, "It will cost you your dreams." She looked on him with fearful eyes, trying to will him to understand.
He looked at her softly, the way he had as they had sat before the fire. He pulled the horned amulet from his neck with a snap. "No indeed, Precious, it will not."
Hand in hand they stumbled towards the howling maw and cast the two amulets in.
For a moment everything was silent, then a great beam of light shot out of the hole with a keening scream. Jareth shielded Sarah with his body, wrapping his cloak of feathers around them both. The stones began to shudder, and a staircase crashed into the platform perilously close to them.
"Fly!" he yelled.
The owl and raven careened through the collapsing room, dodging flying debris until they spotted the unassuming doorway far below. The owl dropped into a swift descent, back beating at the last moment as he exploded into his human form against the door. He wrenched the handle open just in time for the raven to swoop through. He followed, and slammed the door with a resounding crash. The noises within faded to an ominous whine, then nothing. He slid down the door, head down and breathing hard.
Sarah leaned against the opposite wall, blowing out a deep breath. "I don't think I want to do that again any time soon."
Jareth's shoulders began to shake.
"What's wrong?" she asked, suddenly by his side. "Are you hurt? I-" She was cut short by raucous peals of laughter, and a pair of strong arms wrapping about her waist.
She cautiously placed her hands on his shoulders. "I knew it, you're certifiable."
He looked up at her, and her heart caught in her throat at his expression. She had thought him beautiful before, but now, with real joy illuminating his features, she faltered under the weight of those strange eyes. Then he gathered her in his arms, showering her with bone-melting kisses. When she was finally able to breathe again, he held her close against his heart.
"Sarah, Sarah," he sighed into her hair. "My brave and clever girl. No other could have done it."
He feels right, she thought. Not like the Labyrinth- just like himself. She wrapped her arms around him in return, relief sinking into her bones.
"It's over?" she asked, her voice muffled by his feathered cloak.
"Yes. The Labyrinth is no more, I no longer feel its binding. You and I are free."
"What does that mean, exactly?"
He stood, taking her by the hand. "I think we're going to have to discover that for ourselves." He led her over to an arched window, where they could see snow falling in the twilight over the Goblin City.
"It's winter now," Sarah breathed. "Like it was on the dark side of the Labyrinth."
"The Yuletide is upon us," he observed. "The height of Winter. Your powers wax while mine wane."
She bit her lip. "It shouldn't be like this, I-"
He hugged her close. "On the contrary, love. This is the natural rhythm of things. The ebb and flow of power is restored. The Labyrinth was corrupted by disrupting that flow, and in my ignorance I exacerbated the problem. The time of the Queen has come; I would have it no other way." Here he turned and continued up the staircase.
Sarah followed, feeling the familiarity of the place settle over her. A moment before his hand raised to the large door before her, she knew where they were.
The door opened into the castle solar, which was both familiar and foreign. The fireplace crackled merrily before them, but the bed was hung with rich greens instead of the red she remembered, and it seemed somewhat larger. Sarah walked over to the large wardrobe, to find a mix of feminine and masculine clothing within. Jareth perused the substantial bookshelf, and pulled out Le Morte d'Arthur with curiosity.
"That's one of my favorites," she said, coming up behind him. "A classic. Well, Aboveground it is anyway."
He lifted an eyebrow. "Then I shall be sure to read it." He placed the book on a table at the fireside, next to a familiar velvet chair.
She smiled. "Did you rebuild the castle like this, for us? Parts of it look like...my castle, from the other side."
He shook his head. "I had only restored it to its former glory. I can only suppose that the two have melded together as the Labyrinth collapsed."
"Collapsed? Do you think everyone is ok?"
He closed his eyes and was very still for a few long moments. "I can still sense them, although not as clearly as I once did. I believe no immediate harm has been done. You can sense it, for yourself, if you try."
Sarah paused, and closed her own eyes. At first she could only feel Jareth, but slowly other embers of magic began to twinkle in the back of her mind. If she picked a flicker and concentrated on it she could catch snatches of thoughts, conversations, and even emotions. Then, among the endless constellation of souls, three flared brightly before her mind's eye. She reached out to them, and gasped when they blazed at her touch. She breathed their names, their true names, and when she opened her eyes Hoggle, Didymus, and Ludo stood before her.
Jareth stepped back in surprise, but quickly resumed his kingly mein.
"You're here!" laughed Sarah. "Hu...Hoggle," she said, catching herself. "Didymus, Ludo - We won, all of us. It's over."
"Well now, I knew ye could do it," said Hoggle, nodding in satisfaction. He started a bit at the sight of Jareth, but the Goblin king inclined his head slightly to the old dwarf. Didymus figured an elaborate bow before his monarch and Ludo even managed a friendly rumble.
"My three most rebellious subjects...you have all aided Sarah in her journey through the Labyrinth yet again. And this time, I believe you deserve my thanks rather than my ire. You have aided her ascension to the throne and returned me to mine. There is little I would not grant you in return for so great a service."
"Your majesty, if I may," began Didymus, "I think I speak for all of us when I say that we would be most gratified to be released into the service of her majesty, if it pleases thee."
"Done," he said, a satisfied smile on his face. "Now Precious, these three are your problem. I daresay there are more that will defect to your banner, but perhaps it is for the best."
That night, the castle was ablaze with light. Word of the Goblin King's return- as well as rumor of the long-awaited queen- spread like wildfire through the city. Everyone came out in droves to celebrate. A veritable horde descended on the castle to decorate, and soon the entire place was swathed in evergreen swags and filled with the spicy scents of holiday treats. The great hall of the castle was near to bursting with revelers, with a great Yule log burning in the fireplace on one end and Jareth and Sarah seated at the royal dais at the other.
Jareth wore robes of deep autumnal hues, and was crowned with leaves the color of flame. Sarah wore a gown of luxurious green velvet with a wreath of bright holly rested on her shining hair. He looked over to her, as he had countless times that evening, and luxuriated in how good it felt to have her near. She glanced over at him as well, and gave him a beaming smile that took his breath away.
"Enjoying yourself, Precious?"
"This is wonderful, just like Christmas," she said. "I wish Toby could see all this."
Then a lanky teenage boy dropped unceremoniously onto the table before her. Some of the Fae guests looked startled, but the goblins present cheered and toasted the queen for the 346th time that evening.
"Toby?" gasped Sarah, looking to Jareth for help. Jareth merely sat back in his chair, grinning into his wine glass, obviously enjoying the scene.
"Wha- Sarah?" mumbled Toby in mild aggravation. "Why'd you wake me up so early? I thought Dad said your flight didn't…" Then he managed to look around. "Man, this is one more crazy dream."
A realization dawned on Sarah. "Toby, listen to me. It is a dream, but it isn't. This is the Labyrinth, or what's left of it. Do you remember?"
He swung his legs over the side of the table and flipped the overgrown curls out of his eyes. "Yeah, I think I remember what you-" Then he caught sight of Jareth and went rigid. "You."
Jareth raised an eyebrow and his glass to the boy.
"Tobes, it's ok, really," said Sarah hurriedly. "Look. I just wanted you to know that I'm here, I'm safe - but I may be hard to reach for a while. Except in dreams, like this. There's a lot to explain, more than I can say right now, but I just wanted you to know, okay?"
Toby shrugged, in the careless manner of teenage boys everywhere. "I got it." He looked around. "This place is pretty cool, and you look good. Happy."
Then he stole another glance at Jareth. "What's he doing here?"
"That is an incredibly long story," sighed Sarah. "He is still the Goblin King, although I don't think he'll be stealing any more little brothers." she finished, looking over at him with a smirk.
"Never, by the gods," he muttered into his wine.
Sarah laughed at that until her sides hurt.
"So what are you doing here then, sis?" asked Toby. "Are you guys an item or something?"
"Something like that."
"Girls," Toby muttered. "Ok, if that's what you want."
"Yes," said Sarah, "It is."
Toby was about to say something when he began to fade, and he cut short in surprise.
"I'll talk to you again soon," said Sarah quickly. "Love you, goblin."
Toby grinned widely, and then he was gone.
"Goblin?" queried Jareth. "Was that a pet name?"
She shrugged. "If the shoe fits…"
Later that evening they bowed out of the celebration to retire to their rooms. Sarah looked out over the city from the solar's balcony, enjoying the bite of the winter wind against her skin.
"It looks so alive from out here," she mused, watching the twinkling lights far below. "How much do you think their lives have changed because of all this?"
"It will take some time for the full effects of today's events to surface," he said, coming to stand by her side. "I believe that unrest may come for a time, and perhaps war. Old foes both inside and out will seek to challenge the new order. I have called a council for the morrow among the nobles Hoggle reports to be loyal to the crown. I would like you to attend, if you will. This is, after all, your kingdom as well."
"I don't know the first thing about-"
"You have plenty of time to learn," he said, dropping a kiss behind her ear that made her shiver. "Now come inside, won't you? You appear to be getting cold."
She laughed. "I don't get col-" and squeaked as her gown's ties disappeared, and a slight tug made the velvet fall into a pile at her feet. He raised his hands to her breasts, running his fingers over her tightening nipples.
"I hate to contradict a lady, but you do appear to be cold," he said, with all the innocence he could muster. He failed miserably.
"I'm no lady," she purred, giving him a light push towards the bed that made his clothes evaporate into a cloud of dark smoke.
Sometime later they were curled together in a tangle of limbs in their bed, warm and satisfied.
"No, certainly no lady," he grinned, running his fingers along her spine. "A queen. Glorious."
She giggled, snuggling closer to him. "And you weren't a gentleman from the start so I guess we're meant for each other."
"Sarah, my love," he breathed, "Give me my dreams...marry me."
She propped herself up on her arm, looking him full in the face. He returned her gaze, as vulnerable as she had ever seen him. It's only forever. She smiled. "I thought you'd never ask."
A/N: *Squee, yay immortal love* I hope you enjoyed it. I have a ton of backstory for this, so if you have any questions about the world or where everyone ends up, let me know in the comments and I'll fill you in next week. Thanks again!