A/N: This is the last chapter.

Chapter 26

Ah, But It's Only Love

Sarah leaned against the ledge and looked upon the city as the crowd dispersed and the shops closed. The sun had set, the market was over, but she sat still upon the ledge and watched the people, her people, below her go about their lives. She looked up into the brilliant night sky and smiled as a warm breeze pushed back her curtain of hair. And on that same breeze a tinkling reached her ears and she frowned and leaned forward, into the wind. It was music, she could barely ascertain the notes, but they were there; filling the warm air with such sweetness. She scurried away from the ledge and searched the wide open chambers for the king, who she noticed by the fireplace.

He was leaning back in a chair, resting on the back two feet. One hand was carelessly drumming against the armrest and the other was holding a book as his feet were thrown up on a desk. "Jareth," she called him to attention, but he did not respond and she shook her head. He was often absorbed in some book or another; it was just part of him, but she wanted his attention and she repeated his name. Again, no response, and she stormed over to their bed and grabbed a fluffy pillow and chucked it him. The pillow struck him straight in the face and he began to fall backwards, the precarious balance broken, but unlike normal beings, he did not fall. He merely vanished and reappeared beside her, a scowl on his face.

"Was that absolutely necessary?" He asked a little gruffly while crossing his arms over his deep blue poet's shirt.

"Yes," Sarah replied pouting. "You were ignoring me, and…I wanted to show you something," before he could question her, she took his hand and dragged him to the window, pointing off in the distance.

Sighing and humoring his love, he stepped onto the ledge and peered into the night. At first, he felt rather ridiculous; there was nothing there. The few remaining people in the market were scattered and there was nothing else. He was about to turn to her in question when the faint music reached his ears. It floated on the breeze; an enchanting melody and he smiled.

"Do you know where it is coming from?" Sarah asked beside him and he nodded. "It is the Gahboleins." Sarah's face was blank and Jareth placed a soft kiss on her nose. "It is a group of nomads that travel through the kingdoms. They usually stay in the desert south of here around this time of year, but occasionally they venture forth into the forests around Mayair." He stopped talking and the music filtered into the room. Sarah kept her face towards the sound and Jareth smiled, "Would you like to go, Sarah?"

She spun towards him, a mixture of hope and surprise on her face, "They won't mind?"

Jareth gave her that knowing smirk and held out his hand to her, "No, they won't mind. They are nomads, but they are not unintelligent; they know I am the king."

All she had to do was accept his hand, and she did. Instantly, she was standing in a clearing, and the chaos around her was dizzying. Children ran amok everywhere she turned. There were young children of around two and then there were teenagers and the adults were gathered around a blazing bonfire in the middle of clearing where the music was predominating. No one was paying her any mind, in fact, she was not sure if she had even been noticed. "Jareth…" she began, but as she looked up he was not near her. He did that often and she frowned. At least he usually stayed within eye distance and she began looking for the king. If it had not been for the fact that he stood nearly a full foot taller than anyone, and his shining blonde hair added extra inches, she would not have found him talking to an old man. She recognized the body language; Jareth was talking to the leader of the tribe. A smile crossed her lips. He was handsome as he regally stood before the tribesman in blues and blacks. He laughed and Sarah's heart skipped a beat. He could always do that to her. Suddenly she wished to be near him, and as she made a step forward a tiny hand grabbed at hers and in surprise she whirled around, only to be met by the shining eyes of a little boy.

"Yes?" she asked bending down to the brown haired boy's eye level.

He squirmed and wouldn't meet her gaze, but finally he spoke, "You pretty lady."

Before Sarah could reply a cultured voice laughed from behind her. She did not jump though, for she knew that voice. A hand brushed against her cheek and she smiled as Jareth bent down before the boy as well, "She is very pretty, isn't she?" The boy nodded and Sarah blushed. Jareth laughed again, "Do you think the pretty lady can dance?" he asked as he stood, bringing Sarah up with him.

The boy nodded, but Sarah pulled away. "No way, Jareth! I can't dance and you know it!" He had been trying to teach her since she arrived Underground, but she had yet to go one dance, hell, sometimes she couldn't go a few steps, before she stepped on his foot.

He laughed again and reached for her hand, "I was thinking of eliminating the prospect of you stumbling," He told her secretly as if reading her mind and she looked at him suspiciously, but stepped towards him. She met his eyes and lost herself in their depths. It was so safe in his eyes, she could stare forever, however long that would be. She did not notice her feet lift from the ground, she did not notice weightlessness overcome her; all she could feel was his arms wrapped around her. The music stopped; however, and she noticed that. In surprise, she turned her gaze to look at the people, but gasped as they were all below. She clutched tightly to Jareth in fear and he tsked at her, "Do you not trust me?" he asked softly and Sarah instantly stepped away from him. She did trust him, and as she backed away, she did not fall; she merely floated in the air. He smirked at her and turned his attention back to the musicians.

The music began again. A small man near the fire began by clapping two spoons together. A woman next to him began drumming the bodhran in an upbeat tempo, like a heart beat. A fiddle player stood and began dancing as the a stream of notes from up and down the octaves left his fingers and soon he was accompanied by a tin whistle, and soon the entire camp was dancing and clapping and the chaos resumed, and they were all oblivious to the royalty above their heads.

Sarah smiled as the children mimicked the dances by the elders and she made no protest as Jareth grabbed her waist and spun her through the air. It was an odd sensation, how does one walk on air? But she was doing it. "Where did all these children come from, Jareth?" She asked as he twirled her in time with the music, somehow she could dance this dance, she was watching the children from the corner of her eye and she mimicked them, picking up the steps easily.

"They are orphans from Above," he said into her ear and the warm breath tickled her and set the hairs along her neck bristling. She opened her mouth to speak again, but he quickly covered her lips with his. It was intoxicating, all the tastes and sensations, and Sarah quickly forgot what she was asking and simply let him lead her through the sky.

The sun had set and the fingers of night spread through the light blue sky, darkening and tinting the colors with splashes of reds and oranges before deepening into the purples and black of midnight sky. The outcropping of trees reached far into the sky; brushing and painting the stars with every breeze, with every stir. It was peaceful in the wood. Small light bugs danced on the underbrush flickering in and out like candlelight. Addoyn allowed his fingers to graze a bush and he sighed. He had met his match in so many ways. As his world had begun to fade, he had grabbed tightly to Temnestra's broken thread; and his as well. It could not be time to relinquish her; she was all he had ever had. Crickets chirped nearby and Addoyn sighed again. Temnestra, for all her shortcomings, was his perfect match. She was able to thaw the ice around him and fill him with such warmth, even in times when they were arguing. A small smile tugged at his lips. It was only love, after all.

This world would not support him much longer. Already he felt the fabrics of time attempting to rip him from this reality; and that was fine. He did not belong. The whispers of his alternative self were heard in his head, and he knew he could not stay long or he would risk unsettling the balance once again. But, he had no where to go. And he wanted to remember for a while longer, so he held two strings tight to his heart battling with his indecision. He walked silently through the forest, his brown robes swishing against the path covered with leaves and twigs and soft, soft dirt; a fox scurried across the path but Addoyn paid it little heed.

A clearing had appeared. Just a small break in the canopy, and he could see the brilliant night sky; the twinkling stars, and he held back a tear. She was there, in those heavens. Even if her destiny changed, the stars forever hold the soul. She was there, in some form; his powerful Temnestra. She had controlled so many; had rearranged nearly all their lives, had become the Master of them all, but had she saved any? Oh, she released the spell and allowed time to flow freely, but was she a savior? He felt so empty, so lost. His body was weary of fighting; tired of holding his life together. Once, when they were so young, he had such hopes for them, but now, he was left to holding a fragile tie to a dead world. He had become a shadow, all for love.

Silently he sat on the wood floor and kept his eyes skyward. It was lonely in this world. It was full of faces of people he had known his whole life, but they could not know him and should not know him, for he belonged elsewhere. Somewhere in a time that did not exist any longer, but he could not quite allow himself to leave. If…if he could just see her smile at him, once more. It would be worth it.

The stars, as if hearing his request, changed before his eyes. The twinkling light outlined a face, a beautiful face with flowing hair that shone with star dust. It filtered down to the ground like a moonbeam, and before his eyes was Temnestra. Not filled with hatred like he had seen her so often, but his Temnestra from long ago. She was all stars and sky, blue and blacks and glittering silver and he stood quickly to meet her. What could he say to her? He was frozen in between worlds, in between dreams, but it was only she he wanted. She said nothing, but her eyes met his and he felt weightless. She extended her hand, and at first, he was hesitant, but then she smiled at him. That smile melted his heart and all fear was lost. He reached for her, for his love, and let the strings fall.

Jareth paused as a shooting star streaked across the sky and he felt a deep pang in his chest, like his best friend had left him. It was a hollow feeling, a strange feeling, and he kept his eyes on the stars a moment longer, but dropped his gaze as a warm hand cupped his cheek.

"Jareth? Are you alright?" Sarah floated before him, concern shining in her green eyes.

Was he alright? He looked back at the sea of stars and was certain a new star graced the heavens. He furrowed his brows as a memory spoke to him, a memory of a man in brown robes and blue eyes that matched his own…his father? Shaking his head, he focused on the stars. His father was in the palace…but why…why did his heart ache as that star shot through the sky? Sarah voiced another concern, and Jareth turned to her and wrapped her in an embrace, the protectiveness from this morning returning to him. Upon her arms returning the gesture his fears disappeared. This was his life, his love before him. Any feelings of uncertainty drifted away as the music continued below them, and the star became a distant thought as he began to dance again with Sarah.

The air was full of sounds of laughter of music and heat and sweat, but one laugh outshone them all. It was a mortal's laugh, a mortal woman who was dancing upon the air, a mortal woman who still managed to step on her king's foot even in midair. Her laughter rang out and was accompanied by the king's and echoed by the Gahboleins dancing underfoot to a song that was filled with hope and love and energy as wild as the night wind that carried it away.

Fine

A/N: Well you guys, I know this was a bit untraditional, but Alorin had suggested that I do what I wanted, for it is my story, and I did. So, read my thanks to you:

Moonjava: Thank you so very much for continuing this story with me!

Shavaineth: Just because you see a few happy scenes doesn't necessarily mean they have had an easy life, or that they will have an easy life. And true, it did change them, but who's to say they weren't to be this way originally? I hope this chapter answered a few questions. As for Carol and Deirdre, I'll just tell you. Carol has a newborn babe by a man who married her. ;) (Oh, and Addoyn's not a romantic? Riiiight.)

Satta: Thank you so much. I hope you enjoyed this last chapter, and I've always enjoyed stories that make you think, and I like to make my readers think as well; I'm glad it was stimulating for you.

Theshadowcat: Good, I'm glad I've made you happy.

Morrigana: You better keep writing! And, let's see…I may do a little epilogue, but I'm actually thinking of writing the new story of how they met. May be a while though, I want to try my hand out on something more traditional. But what can I say to you, huh? You know I love your reviews and thank you so much for sticking with this story.

Lady of the Labyrinth: (Noticed the spaces) You will like Sarah…you will like Sarah…lol. Thank you for reviewing and not abandoning me!

And to all others I may have missed: I treasure each and ever review so thank you very much.