The Most Unlikely Foe

Author's Note:
And here is the final instalment, up as quickly as could be. Thank you so much to all of you for your reviews, especially of the last few chapters; it would seem the story finally gained a few fans towards its end.
And especially for you Ashes2, for being such a reliable and lovely reviewer, I have some Jareth/Lego action (well as much as the current rating will permit). I do hope it helps to fulfil your fangirl dreams.
Hopefully you will enjoy the final chapter of this and please review; it really is lovely when you do.

Eleven
Striking A Bargain

With the distraction of the smaller Fellowship running his Labyrinth disposed of Jareth looked forward to returning to his castle to deal with his new acquisition and so wasted no time in transporting himself back into his throne room.

"Now, now Legolas. I really thought we were past all this." Jareth sighed heavily as he appeared in his throne room to see Legolas perched precariously on the window ledge.

"We were. But that was before my companions failed to complete your Labyrinth in time."

"You, wont. I know you wont, you didn't before and you wont now. You have something keeping you here, don't you?" Jareth lent casually against the wall and folded his arms across his chest.

"I did before but as I am now trapped here in this world my purpose has been stripped from me and I assume our quest will continue on without me. So I really have nothing keeping me here now."

Legolas keep his eyes on Jareth while he swung his legs out over the edge of the window. Jareth lunged forward slightly but halted his steps when he realised the Elf was smiling at him with mocking eyes. Jareth narrowed his eyes in anger both at the Elf perched in the window and at himself for behaving in such an unrestrained manner.

"Would you be upset if I threw myself out the window?" Legolas questioned as he tipped his head to the side like a curious sparrow.

"I don't know if upset is the quite the word I would choose to use. But I can't say I would approve of you throwing yourself out the window. I would certainly be very disappointed."

"Well then Goblin King I have a proposition for you."

Jareth raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the strange gleam in Legolas' eyes.

"Very well, I'm listening."

"Now that the tables have turned in your favour you stand between me and my freedom to return to Middle Earth and continue with our quest."

"Oh you wont be going anywhere Legolas. I can assure you of that."

"Wait until I've finished before you answer. Now if you truly do intend to keep me trapped here in your castle for all of eternity…"

Jareth smiled and nodded, interrupting the Prince once again in his explanation.

"…then I have little reason not to throw myself out the window."

Now it was Legolas' turn to smile as the cocky smirk slipped from Jareth's face.

"That doesn't sound like much of a proposition." Jareth said as he took a cautious step forward.

"That's because you keep interrupting me before I can finish. Now they way I see it you have one other option regarding me, set me free or I'll jump."

Jareth only laughed and this served to unnerve Legolas slightly.

"As much as I would hate to see you splattered across my courtyard Legolas I'm afraid I can't set you free without receiving something from you. A trade if you will, your freedom for something I want."

Legolas sat on the window ledge for a few moments contemplating his options. He didn't particularly want to end his life, in fact up to this point he'd been rather enjoying it. However if it meant spending the rest of his immortality here then it was probably the better option. But then hadn't Jareth said something about a trade for his freedom?

"You mentioned a trade…my freedom for something you want, yes?"

Jareth nodded slowly a small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Very well Goblin King." Legolas raised his head and straightened his back as he leapt gracefully back to the stone floor of the throne room. "If you agree to set me free once I have completed my end of the bargain I will…"

The Elf faltered slightly before bright blue eyes locked with Jareth's odd one's, the enlarged pupil seeming to pull him in as he stared into it. Jareth waited patiently as the Elf seemed to loose himself for a moment before gathering his thoughts and finally continuing.

"In exchange for my freedom I will go willingly into your bed for you to do with as you please for one night." A pink tongue flicked out to wet dry lips as blue eyes roamed over the lithe body before him.

Legolas sauntered up to Jareth as he spoke, he could certainly be flirtatious and provocative when he wanted to be. Jareth was yet to see this side of the Elf and was quite surprised when Legolas draped himself along Jareth's chest, slipping a delicate hand into the open front of the Goblin King's shirt and tracing long fingers teasingly across his pale chest.

Jareth raised an eyebrow but did nothing to halt the Elf's advances. If Legolas wanted to begin feeling him up in the middle of his throne room he was certainly not going to be the one to stop him. Legolas pressed his body hard up against Jareth's and the Goblin King couldn't hold back the tiny moan that escaped his lips as he did. The Elf lent in even further and brushed his lips over Jareth's, flicking his tongue out to taste the Goblin King before the lips parted and his tongue was meet by Jareth's. Jareth broke the delicate teasing kiss with a smirk, brushing the back of his hand down Legolas' cheek as he spoke.

"And what if I decide, upon completion of our shared night together, that I do not want to send you back to Middle Earth? What if I decide to keep you for myself?"

Legolas backed away from Jareth, the sensual smile that has graced his lips only seconds before now turned down in an icy frown. He put a good amount of space between himself and the Goblin King, all the while staring him down with a cold look.

"You cannot. If you make this deal with me you must bind yourself to your word with your own magic, then if you break it you will suffer a fate which I will choose."

"It really sounds as though you are getting the better end of this deal Legolas. I could take you right now without your consent if I chose too, then you would not get the end of any deal."

"But you wont, I can see it in your eyes. You would rather see me arch beneath you, my golden hair spilt across your pillow, your name falling from my lips, as I act as a willing partner in your bed. Wouldn't you. You really have no desire to see me broken and unwilling do you?"

Jareth shuddered visibly at the pleasurable images Legolas' words were conjuring in his mind, however the Elf was too close to the truth for Jareth to enjoy them for long. Though he hated to admit it the Elf was in a fantastic bargaining position. If he didn't agree to his requests the only way he could have the Elf was unwillingly and that he did not want, not to mention he didn't doubt that the Elf would throw himself from the castle's window if he believed there was no hope of returning to Middle Earth, and what a tragic waste that would be. However he didn't wish to share one night with him only to have to send him home the next day. Then again perhaps it was better than nothing and the Elf did say he would be willing for the entire night did he not? A smirk tugged at the corners of Jareth's mouth as he took a step towards Legolas.

"Very well Prince of Mirkwood, you have yourself a deal."

Legolas was not entirely comfortable with the smirk on Jareth's face.

"You are agreeing that in exchange for my willing partnership in your bed you will return me to Middle Earth come tomorrow morning."

"That was the deal." Jareth said, barring sharp canines.

"And if you fail to keep your word you will give up your magic forever."

Jareth raised an eyebrow. The Elf certainly knew how to strike a bargain in his own favour, once committed to such a deal he could not afford to go back on his word, without his magic……well Jareth didn't even want to contemplate the disastrous results that would come of that.

"Well?" Legolas asked impatiently.

"You have my word fair Elven Prince."

With nothing but those words spoken the deal was sealed and Jareth closed the distance between himself and Legolas in few purposeful strides. Legolas did not move nor shy away as Jareth pressed up against him and snaked an arm around his waist. Jareth lowered hungry lips to the Elf's pale neck and trailed hot kisses along the smooth flesh, nipping occasionally and delighting in the soft moans escaping Legolas' throat.

Their lips met in a hungry and demanding kiss and Jareth was most pleased to find the Elf not only allowing him to kiss him but also responding. Not only was he returning Jareth's kisses but Legolas was playing the submissive role Jareth desired of him; so the Elf was truly going to make Jareth's end of this deal worth his time, of all things so far that Jareth was most pleased with.

Jareth began to slowly back the Elf in his arms towards the wall until Legolas' back collided with the cold stone and he gasped slightly in surprise. The sweet and unexpected sound served to further arouse Jareth and he eagerly slipped a knee in between Legolas' legs, forcing them apart just enough for him to stimulate the Elf with his knee.

A groan rumbled deep in Legolas' chest as Jareth slipped his knee between his legs. The Goblin King fisted his hand in the Elf's golden locks and forced his head back, exposing his neck to him once again. Jareth traced sharp canines over the Elf's taunt pale skin, flicking a wet tongue out over the vein that throbbed in the Elf's neck before pointed fangs pierced the skin. Legolas cried out in surprise but it quickly turned to a moan as Jareth's tongue returned to lap at the small wound, soothing it until it bled no more.

Suddenly Jareth pulled back from Legolas and smirked as the Elf stared back at him with heavy lidded eyes darkened by lust.

"I think I should like to move this to my chambers now."

Legolas said nothing in reply but his breathing had certainly quickened and he was pressing his body tightly to Jareth's. The Goblin King wrapped both arms tightly about the Elf and transported them to his bedchambers; right now he did not have time for stairs or long winding passageways.

Legolas looked about in surprise while the Goblin King chuckled deep in his throat. He then threw the Elven Prince to his enormous bed in a most lustful manner before crawling up to him and covering his body with his own, where they resumed the exchange of fiery kisses they had broken before.

With the wave of a delicate hand Jareth dispensed of both his own and Legolas' clothing, leaving the Goblin King lying naked atop the now exposed Elf; two lithe naked bodies pressing against each other in desperation, crying without sound for release. Jareth trailed hot kisses down over the Elf's bare chest before raising up on both hands, straightened arms supporting his weight as he hung about the Elf's body. Hungry eyes swept over the beautiful figure beneath him and Jareth smirked ferrely as he thought of all the ways he would enjoy the Elf throughout the night.

"You know Legolas. You really are quite striking." Jareth breathed into the Elf's ear as he lowered his body back down to continue his trail of kisses down Legolas' body.

Frodo and Sam finished packing their belongings and threw them into the Elven canoe. They prepared to launch the vessel into the fast flowing river when the heard several loud thumps close behind them.

Both jumped in surprise and spun around to find, much to their surprise, Aragorn, Boromir, Gimli, Merry and Pippin all in a pile on the rocky ground.

"Get off me!" Gimli grumbled as he tried to pitch Boromir off his back.

The man stood up and dusted himself off before helping the others to their feet. Aragorn was the first to spot the two Hobbit's standing by the waters edge.

"What are you two still doing here?" He sounded most shocked by their presence and the Hobbits couldn't understand why.

"What do you mean what are we still doing here?" Sam questioned. "You're the ones who are back early, I thought it took thirteen hour to run that Labyrinth and you've only been gone just over ten minutes."

It suddenly dawned on Aragorn that that passage of time in their world and that of the Underground must be different.

"We have been gone for thirteen hours but you say it has been more like thirteen minutes?" He quickly questioned the Hobbits.

They both exchanged a look before nodding.

"Where's Legolas?" Fordo said as he glanced around in search of the Elf.

"We lost I'm afraid." Aragorn stated glumly as he began to prepare the other boats for launch.

"You mean Legolas…"

"He's not coming with us." Boromir added as he threw their belonging into the two canoes Aragorn had dragged to the water.

Sam and Frodo glanced over at Merry and Pippin who hung their heads as they walked past them.

It took them some time to load everything into the canoes as none was really in much of a mood for doing anything. It was a good while before the downcast Fellowship, now yet another member down, was just about ready to set off again.

In a most downcast manner the Fellowship loaded themselves into the swift Elven canoes. Boromir took Merry and Pippin with him in one while Aragorn instructed Frodo and Sam to sit in the canoes he would paddle. Gimli was going to have to go in one on his own but maintained he would do fine paddling it without his Elven companion.

As Aragorn took the back of the boat in which Gimli was now seated and prepared to launch it into the water a voice behind him halted his actions.

"You expect Gimli to paddle an Elven canoe all on his own?"

Aragorn spun on his heal to find his Elven friend standing, unharmed and with a smile upon his face, behind him.

"Legolas?"

The Elf smiled at Aragorn as he passed by him and stepped into the canoe, balancing with perfect grace.

"Don't worry Gimli I'll be sure to get us where we're going with no trouble at all."

"Ahh it is good to have you back Elf!" Gimli grinned up at Legolas.

Aragorn launched the boat before hurrying over to clamber into his own.

"But Legolas…how did you get away? You were his, he said so himself."

"That really is something I'd rather not discuss right now thank you Aragorn." Legolas replied in all seriousness, wincing slightly as he sat himself down in the small boat.

The tiny wince of pain certainly didn't escape Aragorn but when the Elf only smiled at him he assumed the topic was, for now, closed for discussion. As it was now it was simply good to have the Elven member of their party back, they could do with his help more than he would ever admit to.

And so the Fellowship, numbers back up to eight, set off down the river towards the Falls of Rauros and the rest of their quest that waited for them beyond.

END