Ack! This chapter was so hard to get out. Hope you all enjoy it. The countdown is on.
~Ravyn~
Disclaimer: See first chapter!
Sarah felt the world tumble down around her and Jareth, but at that particular moment in time, all she could think about was the way his lips felt against hers.
Sarah slipped her arms around his neck, since her knees had gone weak. She liked to believe it was because of him, instead of the dancing foundation.
Feeling his lips pressed against her caused the wall on her memories to shutter. As the curse broke, shattered around them, the bounds separating the soul bond between them broke as well. Sarah was aware of what he was feeling, knew what the emotions meant to him, and knew that he was getting the same from her.
Jareth was dealing with a something completely different. When he finally let her go, which not until he ran completely out of oxygen, which was slowly happening.
But he also knew the instant he lifted his head, his world would have changed again. It changed when she beat him, and now that she loved him, it all changed again. He felt the last of the spell dissipate, and the wards that he and Linka had spent years learning how to craft, fall into place.
He felt the Labyrinth completely heal, felt the power of the pack come back to fully rest with Sarah, his precious Sarah, and he felt the links between the three kingdoms come back into full power.
He was once again, King of the Goblins, and heir to the underground. He was once again in complete control of the pieces. If he could just let her lips go.
It was actually Sarah, who broke the contact, her face flushed. Looking up at Jareth she saw the man she had just declared to love, but there was something different. She could not quite put her finger on it. Trying to find something to say, she turned her head.
Sarah gaped at the window. And the rock, and everything else around it.
The Labyrinth had always been an extremely beautiful place. But it was even more so now. The hedges had lost all the darkness that had sucked away the life. And now everything was bright green.
Fairies that could only be seen when they wanted to be where now glowing balls of fire. It reminded Sarah of fireflies. Wherever they went, the hedges grew green and flowers bloomed.
The dark stone of the castle, always depressing, and dark hallways, where now formed from pale stone, light colored and fully lit the place was now open and airy. It had lost all the darkness that had choked its life off.
Wide eyes turned back to Jareth. Jareth smiled down and her and brushed away a stray strand of hair. " Thank you." His eyes said much more than his words, and Sarah felt a shiver run down her spin.
Sarah just looked at him not quite sure what to say. Luckily Linka and Derian took that moment to come rushing up.
Linka dove at Sarah knocking the girl out of Jareth's arms. Spinning her around Linka whooped like an Abovegrounder. " You did it!"
" What did I exactly do?" Sarah laughed. Her lips where pulled into a bright smile.
" You gave us back what was stolen." Linka said giddily, her pale violet eyes sparkling.
" YOU!" Came a low hiss, the sound enraged, unhappy. Four bodies spun to see Morgath with a heaving chest. Her hands were raised and her eyes snapping. " I will KILL YOU!" The darkness was gathering in a force around her, its intent deadly.
Linka stepped in front, as if to take the blow, but it never got there. Jareth simply flicked his wrists, and hot magic raced at her. Morgath screamed as it buried itself into her flesh.
" You forget who I am, Morgath. Your plaything to torture no longer. You spell has been broken, my wards are in place, and they are now active, and the only way to get to me this time is to break the circle's magic. Even if you steal it, there is not way to break it. I am back to full power, and you will bow to me."
" Well spoken, my son." Came the lightest voice Sarah had ever heard.
Turning her head, Sarah gasped.
A medium sized woman with a cloud of soft white hair stood there. She had firm blue eyes and cream colored skin, as white as Jareth's. Her form said she was used to power, and was used to being in charge. Her word was law.
" Titinia." Morgath hissed. Her dark eyes where filled with fear.
" Yes, Morgath. For a thousand years I have waited for my son and daughter to be reunited. I have waited for the spell to be broken that I so foolishly allowed. I know rectify the mistake. You are banished from here on to your tower. You are stripped of rank and power." Her eyes glowed.
" And you will never harm my family again."
Morgath screamed as a gentle pale pink light infused itself with her own magic, and then disappeared. A single crystal ball, tinted with pink instead of clear, rolled at her feet and then she was gone.
Linka dropped to one knee, as did Derian. Before she could, however, Jareth took her hand.
" Mother."
Titinia looked at her only child and smiled something she rarely did.
" Come and give me a hug. Linka, Derian, get off those knees. It has been forever, and you know I don't stand on formality with family."
Jareth leaned over and allowed himself to smile back, hugging the smaller, female version of himself.
" Only you came? I would have expected my entire family to be busting down my castle doors." Jareth said with a wry smile as he pulled back from the hug.
"You father is keeping the court busy. And I told them to stay, or face me. You must come soon and see us, or you will have you castle doors knocked down." Turning she looked at Sarah.
" Lady, I thank you. You once told me to keep faith in my son, for all things good win in the end. I doubted you and him. The love that you have for each other will not be doubted any longer. You have my blessings." Sarah blinked.
Titinia looked back at her son. " We will have a ball in two weeks." She raised a brow. " Make it official." With a swirl of glitter as impressive as her son's, she was gone.
Sarah looked at the three smiling Fae and raised a brow. " Does anyone want to explain what just happened?"
" That was Queen Titinia, Queen of all the Underground, Ruler of All, and staunch believer in stubbornness. She just gave you and Jareth the go ahead to get married and have as many kids as you want."
Sarah flushed and choked slightly. "What?" Sarah croaked.
Linka elbowed Derian in the ribs. " Ignore him. Actually the spells binding Jareth to Morgath, the power drain, all of that is gone. Jareth is now in full power, the Labyrinth is healed, and all is back to normal." Linka said cheerfully.
Almost, Ton said. His ton was low and his eyes dark. Silver is outside with the Pack.
Linka sighed. " Damn. I knew this was coming, I has just hoped it would take longer."
Jareth raised his eyebrows. " Does she presume to wait in my Labyrinth?"
Ton shook his head. She does not know that I know. The challenge will come mid day, and then Sarah will be expected to provide a Moon weave, or she will be executed.
Sarah blinked in surprise. " I will WHAT?"
"Die. But Silver forgot something very important." Derian said softly, his eyes glowing with anger. " You may challenge her to a moon weave as well. So even if you fall, she will not gain control like thought. Besides, you have the full power of the Pack at your beck and call."
Jareth looked at Derian for a moment. " What makes you think Silver is going to play by the rules? She has something planned. Be sure of it. Ton make sure the others of your Pack are near by. Nothing must happen to them."
Jareth turned to the others. " Lets go sit in my study, which should be around here somewhere, and have something to eat. We can plan battle plans after we have full stomachs."
Linka looked at Sarah in amusement. " Nice of you to offer, since our other lunch was so rudely interrupted."
Both women laughed softly. Stress relief was always welcome.
~*~
Sarah watched the orange sun begin to set in a serious of purple and pink clouds. Lanterns had been lit all over the castle and the fairies still twinkled over the landscape. IT was, all in all, a beautiful sight. And possibly one of the last she would ever see.
She could see the outline of the Monqu Wolves that sat outside of the Labyrinth walls. It was a terrifying site. She was reminded as a child when she used to watch wolves on the Discovery Channel, stalking their prey.
Sarah felt an arm wrap around her shoulders and turned to see Jareth, his features outlined in the dying sun. Sarah snuggled under his arm allowed the warmth of his body to warm her cold one.
" I have no idea of what I am gong to face." Sarah whispered, fear causing her voice to waver.
Jareth rested his head on top of hers and breathed in the sent of her hair. Smiling gently he sighed. " I do not believe the fates to be so cruel as to allow us to come together again after so long, only to take us away again. Whatever happens, I will be by your side."
" I just wish I knew what was driving Silver to do this."
" Hatred for the human kind. I remember even as a puppy she disliked those who where not Monqu. It has been so long since she has been under Monqu royalty rule, she had forgotten what it is like to serve with honor."
Sarah turned to Jareth with surprise. He laughed at her look and lowered his head and stole a soft kiss. " We will have much to talk about, once this little matter is over. Do you think you can handle it?"
Sarah laughed outright at that. " Jareth, I defeated your Labyrinth, tromped all over the Enchanted Forrest in my nightgown and bare footed, and am suddenly thrown into a world where I am a princess. Two words for you. Bring it."
Jareth raised a brow. " Is this one of your aboveground terms?"
Sarah jus laughed. " Just hold me."
Jareth complied.
~*~
Silver paced up and down outside of the thrice-damned Labyrinth gates. She would find a way to bring Sarah down. It would be the only thing she did right in this lifetime.
She hated the Fae. Hated them for the power they held and the way they treated her people. She needed to destroy them. She would. And she would start with this Sarah.
Whelp…here is another chapter. Sorry it's so short. As always, thank you for the constant reviews, and keep up the good work!
