Jareth sat Danae down in her favourite chair; it was old and slightly battered, cream in colour with roses embroidered onto it. It had a low back, and was comfortable, while still ensuring that her back was poker straight. Jareth knelt before her taking her hands in his.

"Danae listen to me." Danae looked worried. He paused, not knowing how to continue, "Something happened. There was an unprovoked attack made on the labyrinth."

"What?" Gasped Danae "Where?" No attacks of this nature had occurred in the last 300 years. An attack of this nature could be construed as an act of war, disrupting the fragile peace that had been resting between the nine kingdoms for Danae's entire life.

"Outside the boarders, just where my control stops."

"When?"

"This morning."

"Are there any survivors" Jareth shook his head sadly. Roland and everyone that had accompanied them had been slaughtered, brutally. The only good news was that Ivanen was not part of the group, as he had left them to go and visit Hestonia on a diplomatic mission.

"Danae, the attack was made on Roland's envoy." Danae's already porcelain skin paled. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She simply stared past Jareth out of the window, a soft breeze was moving through the trees, making them sway slightly. She moved her gaze back to him, her eyes misted over with unshed tears. "Danae, I'm sorry, but we didn't hear of the attack in time, he's…"

"No" She suddenly stopped him; the grief in her voice broke his heart. "No, Jareth. It cannot be true."

"Danae, please. Let me finish." He ran his fingers through the lock of hair and looked at her. A single tear was rolling down her cheek.

"No, I can't." The tears coming freely now.

Jareth began to get angry, there was no easy way to break the news, but she was making it impossible. He stood up and turned his back on her "Why are you being like this 'Nae?" reverting to her baby name to try and offer some comfort. When he turned to her again she was standing next to the bookcase, staring out of the window.

"Fine" she spoke calmly, evenly, although tears were still streaming down her face. "Tell me." Jareth simply stared at her. "Tell me that I have just lost my chance of being his wife. Tell me that he's gone!" her voice broke into a sob, "Tell me that he is never coming back. Tell me that I have lost him forever" she fell to the floor weeping. Jareth moved towards her and she screamed at him "Tell me, go on then Jareth. TELL ME!"

He stopped in the middle of the room, pausing for a second, before walking over to the broken girl on the floor, kneeling beside her and holding her in his arms. He cradled her face in his hands. "Danae he's dead" he said calmly without emotion.

"No" she groaned. "No it can't be. Tell me that there's been some mistake." Her voice raked with sobs as she begged "Please Jareth tell me it's not true." And she wept so hard that Jareth believed that she would never stop. She went limp in his arms, beating her hands against his chest. Soon she became still, weeping into his chest, and he lowered her to the floor gently. Eventually the tears stopped flowing and she was silent, she lay on the floor, not moving. Jareth called for Camille and Sarah to come in. Sarah stood on the edge of the room nervously, not knowing what to say. Camille immediately bundled the girl up in her arms, cradling her gently as fresh sobs started.

"Shhhhhh my darling"

"I cant breath Camille, it hurts too much." She gasped between sobs.

Camille wiped a stray strand of hair from her face "I know darling, I know." She sat there murmuring comforts to Danae until she had quietened again, at which point she led her, by the hand, upstairs to lie down.

"I'll stay with her Jareth; you do what you have to do." She said ushering the distraught girl out the room, leaving Sarah and Jareth alone.

Jareth collapsed in a chair next to the one Danae had been previously sitting in. Sarah walked over to him and silently slipped her hand in his, and gave it a comforting squeeze.

"She's never going to forgive me you know."

"What for?" Sarah's face etched with concern.

"For being the one who had to tell her."

"Of course she will, none of this is your fault."

He sat up, and sighed, his duty was only half finished. "I have to go Sarah."

"Go? Where?" Sarah was surprised; she imagined Jareth would want to stay close in case Danae needed him. He stood up, his face grave and drained of all energy.

"I have to go to Elgard."

Sarah didn't recognise the name, so Jareth cleared things up for her. "I have to visit Roland's parents and tell them what has happened."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

He shook his head sadly "I think perhaps it would be better if I were to go alone. I need you to stay with Danae. Roland's death will be hard for her to bear. I will be back within the hour."

Her pressed her hand to his lips and vanished.

Sarah wandered upstairs and sat on the bench outside Danae's chambers, shortly she was joined by a red-eyed Camille. "Why don't you go in and sit with her for a while?"

Sarah entered the room tentatively, she looked over to where Danae laid on the bed, staring silently out the window, and her heart broke for the girl. Danae's normally perfectly tidy hair was tangled and matted around her head, and her face, which was normally so serene, was red and puffy from crying.

"Hey" said Sarah softly.

Danae turned towards her, having just noticed her presence. "Hey" she croaked back weakly. Sarah climbed on the bed behind Danae, and put her arms around the princess, stroking her hair softly. They both laid there for what seemed like hours until Danae eventually drifted off into an unrestful sleep.

Sarah stole out of the room, careful not to wake the sleeping princess. As she closed the door softly behind her she noticed Jareth sitting in the corridor, looking at her anxiously.

"How is she?" he asked hoarsely.

"She's sleeping now." Sarah replied soothingly.

He stood up slowly "You look tired" he said looking at the bags under her eyes, and pulling her to his chest comfortingly.

Sarah felt tears leaking out of her eyes. "It's all so awful. Poor Danae." Jareth clutched Sarah to him tighter, kissing her on the forehead.

"I'll take care of Danae tonight, go and get some rest. It will be a difficult week, I think, for all of us."

Sarah, did as she was bid, going straight to her room, and getting into bed, however it was a long time until sleep claimed her, she lay in bed, the events of that day running through her mind, first Jareth's kiss, then Roland's death. Her concern for Danae was overwhelming; her entire world seemed to be falling apart.

If Sarah had stayed by Danae's room, she would have seen a lone figure sneak in there in the dead of night. He sat in the armchair next to her bed vigilant, in case she woke up and needed him during the night. Eventually, before dawn's early light he fell asleep, her hand in his.