To the Victor Go the Spoils

Please read part 30 immediately before this. Theme: Suil a Ruin by Liza Kay. ANs at the end. L.S.

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To the Victor Go the Spoils

Part 31 ~ Footprints

Time stopped for the two souls that huddled together next to a dying fire. Sarah could no longer say whether it had been a short or a long time before Jareth's sobs died down and he fell into an exhausted slumber. She could only feel a deep sorrow for the child Jareth had been and was not allowed to be, and a strong desire to protect what was left of the heart he had abandoned along with his childhood.

She held him close to her; she could not have been there for him then, but she could stay with him now. For as long as he wished, she would be there for him. Well, she thought with a tiny smile, maybe longer than he wishes. Who knew better than she how stubborn he could be? He would probably awake tomorrow morning with that same idiotic, stone-idol mask of his and return to his position as Goblin Lord-on-High. But Sarah knew better now; she knew there was a very human, very sensitive soul underneath and she wouldn't let go until she knew he had healed.

Hearing a soft rustle in the grass beside her, Sarah looked up to find her grandmother standing beside her. "Abuela?" she asked softly. "How can people be so cruel?"

With a small sigh, Libertad sat next to the girl. "It is our legacy, mi nina. Long ago, we were innocent, pure. But we chose knowledge and knowledge has both good and evil in it. And we have free will, so we can choose between them. For some, the call of evil is strong and they give in to it. We can only hope that someday, someday evil will lose its strength and good will triumph. Until then, we can only do so much to fight it, live with it, heal from it." She gave Sarah a small hug. "And from the look of things, I would say the two of you have taken a large step tonight in doing that."

"But he was just a child, Abuela! Why do things like that happen to children? How can God let them happen?"

Libertad took Sarah's face gently in her hands. "We cannot know what God has for us, mi nina. But as our Father, He gave us the freedom to choose our own lives. To interfere overmuch would take that gift away from us. The consequences are what we make them. What we do about the consequences is our decision. What happens now is your decision."

Suddenly, Sarah felt exhausted. "What should I do, Abuela?" she asked in a small voice.

"That is a question I cannot answer for you, mi nina. You must answer it." The woman stood. "Come. It's time and past for good souls to be in bed. Perhaps you will be granted an answer in your dreams."

"Si, Abuela." Sarah felt like a small child again, ready for someone to lead her by the hand and tell her everything she needed to know. From the shadows, a large man walked silently towards them. Sarah smiled at him as he lifted the fae from her lap as easily as he would lift a baby.

Jareth was laid on the spare bed in Libertad's room and, after some small argument, Sarah prepared herself to occupy her grandmother's bed. With a nervous glance over her shoulder, she changed into the nightgown her grandmother had given her and slid underneath the soft blankets.

She could not sleep. Her eyes continued to watch the man who lay only a few feet away from her, his hair bleached to a shimmering white by the bright moonlight, his face finally relaxed, at peace. It was a revelation to see how tightly he must control his features during his waking hours and the revelation saddened her. But there was also wonder in her contemplation, for though they say that everyone looks young when they sleep, Jareth did not. He looked ageless, unearthly, something both extraordinarily close and yet far beyond her reach.

He was beautiful.

Sarah padded quietly to his bedside and knelt there, watching the carved features, the slight movement as he breathed. Slowly, almost fearfully, her hand moved to his face, brushing the long locks from his eyes, caressing the lines of cheek and jaw.

Jareth leaned into the touch, sleeping still. "Màthair*," he murmured.

Sarah nearly cried.

His eyes fluttered open. "Sarah?" he questioned, his voice child-like with sleep. "Acc," he said, disappointment in his voice, "An aisling. Nammà an aisling*." And with a small, sad smile, his eyes closed once again.

"Jareth?" the girl questioned softly.

Now Jareth awoke fully. "Sarah?" he said again, a strange look in his eyes. "What--?"

"Shh," she whispered, placing a finger over his lips. "Sleep." He gazed at her in wonder before feeling a familiar twinge. Both he and Sarah convulsed as the Labyrinth was once again decimated by the release of the Fae magic Jareth had accumulated. Before he could recover, he was once more drowned in waves of agony.

Sarah had felt the perfect peace of the moment before feeling fire rush through her veins. Instinctively, she knew it was not her pain but the Labyrinth's and so the first thing she sought out when the pain released her was Jareth.

It was hauntingly familiar to see him drawn in upon himself, the blank look in his eyes. Once more, it was instinct that told her that her magic before had helped him heal only; it could not stop what he was experiencing.

"Jareth?" Her hands wandered over his face, his arms, his hands, feeling the tension in them, willing him to react to her touch. "Jareth, please!" She grasped his hand tightly, hoping somehow she could reach him. "Please be all right. Please." As the moments dragged on like hours, Sarah searched her mind for something, anything she could do. "Madre de Dios," she prayed, "ayuda-me por favor. Please. Help me."

A quiet voice chimed within the depths of her soul. "Trust in your strength, mi nina," it told her. "Trust in your strength."

Sarah reacted instantly, almost without conscious thought. Closing her eyes, her mind sought out the man before her. She saw every thread, every fibre of the pain that ran throughout him. And in one swift movement, she gathered all of them, drawing them out of his body.

And taking them into her own.

Jareth's return to consciousness was like that of a dreamer awakening from a nightmare. Every part of him was alert. And afraid. He shook his head, trying to clear the last of his confusion. After a moment, he was able to focus on what was in front of him.

"Sarah?" He looked at her more closely to see her eyes shut, her body tightly curled. Jareth finally felt the iron grip of her hands around his. "Sarah!"

It had been quite a long time since Jareth had felt fear, felt pure, unadulterated terror. He hated it. He hated not knowing what was happening. He hated not knowing what would happen. He hated how his world depended on one single being.

He hated feeling helpless.

"Dammit, Sarah," he muttered. "Sarah, can you hear me? Answer me!"

There was no response.

He swore. "Sarah, curse you, this is the price I must pay! Didn't you know the pain could kill you? Come on, Sarah, answer me. Say something, dammit! Tell me why! Why are you risking yourself like this? Why?"

You should ask yourself . . . why you did.

I care about the people around me. That's why.

I love you, Jareth. You cannot love me in return, so I shall be content with shouldering a part of your burden.

With his free hand, Jareth sought out Philip's letter, which lay in a hidden pocket in his shirt. Until now, it had been an intellectual puzzle for him to try to comprehend. But in a moment of enlightenment, the meaning behind those last lines had become painfully clear.

The fae slipped from the bed to the floor, cradling the girl in his arms. "Please, Sarah," he whispered, "be well. Dear God, let her live. Just let her live. I--

"God help me, I love her with all my heart. Please don't take her from me now."

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*Old Irish/Gaelic terms:

Màthair: mother

Acc: no

An aisling: a dream

Nammà: only, just

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Well. I hope y'all enjoyed. Sorry to take so long, but this part just wouldn't come out right for some reason. Write and rewrite and rewrite again. What do you think of the final version? Anyway, the title "Footprints" is from a poem of the same name by Mary Stevenson. Today's theme can be found at mp3.com. And everyone knows the disclaimers at this point.

Ladymage Samiko ;)