Disclaimer: I only own the Councillor, and the two Councilmen Tiana and Flynn. I only borrow the others. I promise to return them when done, no worse for wear.

Author's Notes: This chapter covers the ninth hour. In its entirety. However, this chapter will be written in two parts. Also, apply very humble polly loggies for the very obvious delay. But classes have started again –I swear my honors seminar professor may very well be certifiably insane—, I'm still working crazy hours, and having just moved into a new apartment recently, I still have no Internet at home. We really do have to remedy that. Also, I think we may be nearing the end?

dramatiks: so incredibly sorry for the obvious delay. But in apologies, I dedicate this chapter to you, in all its glorious j/s hinting, and its t/f interaction.

LDDurham: Glad to know you enjoy. As for being on the edge of your seat for this, I won't tell if you don't.

Nugrey: Makes sense, don't you think? About what happens to the people who take tea with the worm…

Vespera3: Thanks. It's an interesting theory, that really all these fantasy worlds we somehow create are all interconnected. I think Aslan from Narnia said it best. That someone who's been elsewhere, just has that certain look about them. But he never specified Narnia…

Though we're strangers till now/We're choosing the path between the stars/I'll leave my love between the stars –-"As the World Falls Down", David Bowie

Flynn inhaled sharply before he exhaled. "The prosecution calls Sarah Williams to the stand, Councillor."

And, that was that. It was done. Finished. Nothing more could be done. Sarah Williams was the end, and the beginning. Tiana looked up from where he sat next to the Goblin King, and all evidence of the flushed cheeks and bright eyes exited his face, and he looked expectantly at Flynn. He didn't dare to look at the Councillor; he didn't dare to look at Jareth, King of the Goblins. He was afraid of how one would speak in response, and he was afraid of how the other would look in response. Flynn was the only thing neutral he could think to look at, could look at, and even Flynn currently avoided his steady gaze.

"It has to be done," Flynn continued. "She was the only other being in that room in those final moments. Besides the human babe."

"Yes," the Councillor breathed, "I know." And, he looked where Tiana was afraid to look, and where Flynn was wary to look. He looked at Jareth's face. And, his heart and his eyes closed briefly at the sight. Jareth looked heartbroken; he looked angry; he looked giddy; he looked to be on the brink of tears; he looked to be everything at once; he looked like he would had he not usually worn his mask; in that moment, his mask had fallen away.

Briefly, the Councillor closed his eyes. Briefly, he closed his heart. Briefly, he shut down his mind from the rising sense of sound surrounding him and the courtroom again, and he knew he could put a stop to this. He could say no. He could tell Flynn to call another witness. He could condemn Jareth, King of the Goblins to death now, be dammed of all possible and non-possible evidence. But he couldn't do that. He wouldn't. He sighed, and he added, "Very well, Councillor. Have the Miss Sarah Williams shown into the courtroom."

If he thought the silence at the sound of her name was deafening, the silence upon her walking in was worse. At this point, even he didn't dare to look at Jareth. Instead, he nodded to Flynn, and ordered him to proceed with the questioning. Flynn took a deep breath, forced a smile, and spoke, "Hello, Sarah. Wonderful to see you again."

Sarah regarded him carefully. "Have we met?"

"Not likely. I don't usually lurk in Jareth's kingdom. Although, I am no stranger to the court of laws he has there."

"I see," she nodded. "Could you tell me why exactly I am here?"

"To give your testimony, Miss Williams. Your words have the power to either condemn or save the Goblin King. Choose your words wisely, Miss Williams, for they may very well be your last."

Sarah jutted her head high, and she narrowed her eyes. "What do you want me to say?"

"Did he threaten to turn the human babe–your baby brother—into a goblin babe?"

"He did." If Sarah heard the murmurings of the courtroom at her statement, she didn't hear. She had ears only for Flynn, and she had eyes only for anywhere but Jareth. "More than once, too. But he didn't mean it!"

"Didn't he?"

"No, he didn't. He was only doing his job. I understand that now."

"His job, Miss Williams?"

"Yes…"

"Please elaborate, for the sake of the courtroom."

"My meeting with Jareth in the Labyrinth was the not the first we had met. Since I was very small, I became aware of a white owl that often watched me. I was never afraid of the owl. When the Goblin King first came into my room that night, he came in his owl form first. And, I felt betrayed. I felt like he had betrayed me, betrayed my trust, betrayed my loyalty, betrayed my compassion, betrayed everything he so obviously pretended to hold dear. And, then he took my baby brother –he took Toby. I had to save him. Don't you see? I couldn't, I couldn't turn back. But I couldn't face Jareth either. So, he did the only thing he knew how to. He played to my personal view of him, of a villain."

"Are you sure of that, Miss Williams?"

"Yes. Very sure."

"But you did state that he threatened your baby brother on more than one count?"

"Yes."

"When did he threaten him?"

"Which time?"

"Any of them."

"On the hill, before I started down the path into the Labyrinth. In an oubliette."

"Any others?"

"That's all I can remember."

"I see." Flynn brought a hand to his face, and rubbed his chin idly for several seconds before he whirled again, and asked, "And what of you? Did he at any point threaten you?"

"Yes… But it wasn't physical!"

"Ah, but he still harmed you. And, for that alone he deserves to be condemned."

"That's not fair!"

"Life's not fair, Miss Williams."

But Sarah didn't hear Flynn's answer. She heard a melodious, slightly nagging voice echo in her mind, "You say that so often, I wonder what your basis of comparison is." Sarah swallowed. "No," she repeated. "No…"

"I beg your pardon, Miss Williams? Are you now admitting to the fact that he should be in fact be put to death?"

"No! I mean, no, he shouldn't be. He cannot be."

"And why not, Miss Sarah Williams? If he so obviously harmed you, your brother, rejected the very rules of the Labyrinth even he is subject to obey, acted in treasonous form, and threatened the very peace of your world as well as ours?"

"Because… because I love him."

And, Flynn stopped. He stopped his pacing, he stopped his mouth, he stopped his voice. Slowly, he became aware that everyone around him was doing the same. Struggling, he searched for and found Tiana's eyes. There things made sense, there he could understand. He saw Tiana nod, saw Tiana give him a gentle mental push, saw him wave his hand; saw that tiny smile that spoke more than any words could.

But when he turned again to Sarah, he found her crying. "Miss Williams?" he asked quietly.

"I've ruined everything." And, despite her tears, her voice was very calm.

"No, I mean, you haven't ruined… everything…" He sighed. "Would you please explain to the courtroom your prior outburst? I fear you've turned quite a few heads."

"He offered me the world, and I rejected him. Four times, I rejected him. And, and… through dangers untold, and hardship unnumbered, I have fought my way to the castle beyond the goblin city to take back what you have stolen… but he didn't steal anything. He did everything I asked him to, and he really was exhausted, from living up to my expectations, to trying to show me his love why still doing his job, and my will wasn't as strong as his, because… because… I rejected him…"

Flynn didn't speak for several more seconds. A calm settled over him. He watched Sarah, watched her continue to nurse her tears, watched as she watched Jareth, before he finally turned again to the Councillor and asked, "Permission to withdraw witness from the line of further questioning?"

The Councillor stared at him. "Granted."

Flynn took another deep breath. "Permission to assert my own will?"

The Councillor nodded. Flynn nodded. He turned to face Tiana. He crossed the steps between the witness stand and the table where Tiana sat. He extended his hand, and he brought Tiana to standing. He took a deep breath, and he leaned forward. And, he kissed Tiana. On the mouth. Full-force.

The Courtroom stood around them in an uproar, begging the Councillor to do something. But the Councillor only watched them, and he shook his head. He would let the four be oblivious for a few minutes longer.

Four separate people. Four separate rejections. He smiled at the apparent irony.