Chapter Fourteen

The Ring

Leah woke startled and looked around, she couldn't remember where she was. She remembered Jareth, and Hoggle, and them rushing her out of the castle. Oh no... she'd fallen asleep. But she remembered what Jareth told her, and she'd keep repeating it to herself.

A tall man with wavy light hair stomped into the room. He glanced at Leah as she studied him. He wore very loose clothing, with a pair of boots that Leah couldn't help giggling over. His face, shaped almost like Jareth's, yet, more shadowed. And his eyes were red and green, not brown and blue.

"I take it your Logan," she spat.

"Ah," he laughed "my reputation exceeds me."

"Yes," she said "I've heard lots and lots of awful things about you."

"Good," he laughed and sat her down and held a ring in front of her "do you know what this is?"

"A ring," she said bluntly.

"No," he said "not just any ring, it's a magic ring. It serves a few purposes. One would be that it can only be removed by a true love, aww how romantic. The second is, that it'll suck the very hope out of you. And third of course, is that it's a wedding ring." He crammed it on Leah's finger and she screamed and tried to yank it off. Nothing worked.

"I'd rather cut my own finger off," she spat and he laughed.

"Sorry," he chuckled "that won't work either." He laughed again and started leaving the room "we'll be married in two hours," he said "I'll send someone with the dress."

Leah screamed loudly in anguish. She didn't want to marry Logan! She didn't love him, she loved... she waited a moment. Did she love Jareth? She wasn't sure. She went through the list of what she'd feel.

Dizzy spells? When didn't she feel dizzy? Wanting to be in his arms? Well duh. Quick breathing? More like she'd just run a mile. Comparing him to others? He was SO much better than Logan. Leah nodded, she must have loved Jareth. She let out a sigh, well, then he'd come for her.

She smiled. If he really loved her, he'd come. And he told her he loved her! So he'd save her from Logan... she knew he would.. she knew.

:Almost two hours later:

She was hoping he'd come for her, she was hoping he'd come and save her. The ring was taking effect and she was feeling very depressed and alone. Moments before Logan had come into the room to see how his bride to be was doing.

Her dress was pitch black, to match his heart, while her eyes grew duller by the moment. The ring was sucking the life, the very zeal out of them. And before long, they'd be white. The words Logan had spoken bounced around in Leah's skull. No one wanted her, or loved her, or needed her. She was nothing, long forgotten and now she was beginning to believe it.

It was such a blur, the whole thing. Walking down that long strip towards the preacher and the man with the evil smirk on his face. The preacher reading the words, all accept one part.

"Do you take this lawful man to be your husband?" the preacher asked. Before she could start shouting 'hell no' Logan put his hand over her mouth and laughed a little.

"She does," he assured him "she does."

"I now pronounce you," the preacher said happily "you man and wife." Leah fell into deep despair. She thought Jareth would save her! Rescue her! But he'd left her with Logan to be controlled like an animal.

She stiffly walked into her husband's room and sat in front of the vanity. Her eyes now a milky white. Every bit of hope had been drained from her body. Nothing left to do now but wait for Logan to come in so she could get it over with. Why hadn't Jareth come? Why hadn't saved her? Now it was too late.

Her memory started to fade, like her colorless eyes. Jareth loves me she though to herself Jareth loves me. Jareth loves me. Jareth loves me. Jareth.. loved .. umm, loves me. Jareth loved me. Jareth....loves me. Loves me? Who loved me? Mom loves me. Sam loves me. Becka kinda does. Who's Becka? Who am I?

Leah stopped, she couldn't remember her own name. She didn't care though, all she knew was that she was married to Logan and her mission in life was to be his slave. Nothing more. He didn't need her. She should feel special for him doing this for her.

She started brushing her hair. A man faded in behind her. She spun around.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Leah?" Jareth asked "are you alright? What happened to you?"

"Who?" Leah asked.

"Oh Leah," he sighed, brushing the side of her cheek with his glove "I'm so sorry I didn't get her sooner."

"Do I know you?" Leah asked almost a whisper. He only looked at her and out of nervousness moved her hand to her neck. She felt a slight bump in the shape of an X. She looked in the vanity.

I've already been checked on, ALL morning; I don't need YOU babying me too.

Yes you do.

"Yes," he said quietly.

"No," she said "I don't. I don't know anyone." Out of habit Leah put her hand on her neck, out of nervousness. She felt a scab, in the shape of an X.

You ARE mine.

I don't belong to anyone!

Leah's eyes flickered wildly from white to brown. She was trying SO hard. Her head pounded from the pain, but she HAD to keep trying, there was something... important she had to remember.

Show me.

Leah looked at her wrists, she had scars once. Why not anymore? She started to cry, why couldn't she remember!?!? She looked from the man with the mismatched eyes to her wrists.

"Why don't I have scars?" she asked, tears running down her face.

"Because," Jareth said softly "I have made it so." Jareth took her hand and tugged at the ring, it slid off. Even though Leah's ring was gone, she still had a hard time remembering. Jareth loves me.

Jareth," she whispered "what is my name?"

"Leah," he said and sat next to her, brushing the hair from her face.

And you'll forget everything.

"Jareth," she asked looking up at him "do I love you?"

"Yes," he whispered and Leah buried her head in her hands. She felt like tearing her own heart out because it burnt so much.

His majesty only likes you, he can't help himself.

"And," she said holding tears back "do you love me?"

"More than you'll ever know," he said quietly. Everything stopped. Life stopped. Leah stopped breathing as she remembered what she believed was the most important moment of her life.

"Leah," Jareth said, shifting uncomfortably "I will love you no matter what you do, no matter where you go, no matter what."

"Jareth-"Leah started but Jareth raised his hand for silence.

"I have waited hundreds of years," he said "for the perfect person for me. Leah, that's you."

Suddenly everything came back and Leah's eyes stayed a brown. Leah sighed in relief and Jareth smiled. He leaned over to her but she moved away.

"I can't," she whispered "I'm married."

"Did you say that you do?" he asked.

"Well no," she said.

"Then your not married," he whispered and Logan happily walking in the room. He stopped dead, seeing Jareth standing there with a very upset Leah.

"Brother," Logan said worriedly "hello... um..." Leah soon felt her confidence returning, much like her memory and stood up.

"You always were the jealous one Logan," Jareth sighed "but this time, you went too far." With that Jareth tossed the crystal to Logan who quickly caught it and dropped it to the floor. It grew to an uncomfortable size and then trapped Logan within itself. Then it took off, out the window. Leah didn't bother asking what would happen to Logan; she figured she'd rather not know.

"Can we go home now?" Leah asked, and Jareth smiled.

"We defiantly can," he laughed.