The Truth About Goblin Kings and Jedi

Disclaimer:Standard stuff applies. I don't own anything from Labyrinth or Star Wars. So there.

Chapter 4

Later that night, after dinner, as they lay in bed, Mara told Luke everything Jareth had told her. Luke listened, maintaining great patience through all the details. He could tell his wife had been overwhelmed a bit, because she usually didn't talk this much. "And I really don't know what I want," she finally said, leaning back, forming a crystal. The image it contained was that of the Underground with its huge moon in a cloudless sky. The light coming from the moon made the castle look like something out of a fairy tale.

"You've been searching for your parents for a long time," Luke answered. Mara nodded. "And now that I've found my father and know my heritage, it isn't at all what I thought it'd be like. But it sure explains a lot of things that have been going on, lately, including these crystals," she said, making the one in her hands disappear. "The Force works in mysterious ways, Mara. I suggest sleeping for now, and an answer will come to you eventually," Luke told her, kissing her softly. Mara returned the kiss, then the two slept in each other's arms.

Meanwhile, LeAnn was busy speaking with Jareth. "I've yet to reach knight-hood, Jareth. I'm just a senior padawan. I can't control dreams. I don't even know if a Jedi Master like Uncle Luke or Master Yoda would be able to do that. Besides, even if I could, I wouldn't. It's wrong. And besides, Aunt Mara would feel it in the Force if I did try it." Jareth frowned down at the young woman before him. "Do you expect for me to do it myself? I can't. My bond with Mara's is too strong. She can sense Fae magic."

LeAnn sighed. Why did Jareth have to keep coming to her every time he ran into a snag in this little father-daughter problem? "Listen," she said. "Why don't you just let the Force work? It'd probably be best for everyone involved if Aunt Mara took the path the Force decides to guide her down, and if she's meant to accept her heritage, her bloodline, she will, alright?" The Goblin King nodded slightly before disappearing, leaving LeAnn to finally get some rest.

Mara found herself on a hilltop over-looking a battle. She realized where she was. She was in the Underground. And someone was attacking her father's castle. She almost didn't realize it was a dream, and when she did she willed herself into the throne-room, to help her father. But no one was there. She ran, something, most likely the Force, guiding her to the Escher Room. There she saw two people fighting with swords. One was her father, but the other had darker, slicked back hair, and wore a black coat, edged with purple and silver.

In a flash, Mara drew her lightsaber and, finding she couldn't use the Force here to aim it at the man trying to kill her father, she started running. As she dared to glance at the two men fighting, though, she saw the second man's rapier aim straight for her father's stomach.

Mara screamed aloud, sitting bolt upright in bed, covered in sweat. Luke held her. He had felt all of her emotions through-out the dream through their Force bond, and knew it hadn't been a pleasant one. After a moment, Mara pushed away and, pulling on her robe, called out for Jareth. The Goblin King appeared immediately, apparently having been asleep himself. He smiled at her. "I take this to mean you've made your decision, Mara?" he asked. She nodded. "I have," Mara answered. "I've decided to accept my heritage, all of it."

After a brief embrace, Jareth handed Mara a crystal. "Just use this whenever you and Luke are ready to come to the Underground. You'll be transported directly to my castle, unless there's danger, which there may be. Our neighbor to the west, the Gnome King, has been making threats of war. He's been after my throne for a long time. If there is danger when the two of you arrive, you'll be transported to the hill over looking the entire Labyrinth. From there you can will yourself anywhere within the Underground." Mara nodded slightly, her dream coming back to her, but before she could ask her father about it, he was gone.