Thanks to you all for reading. No more cliff-hangers - I promise. Here are the final chapters and the story is now complete.
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Sarah beat her wings furiously against the rain, so she wouldn't lose sight of Jareth and Corran. They were too far away for her to see in the darkness, so her only guidelines were when the lightening lit up the sky and she would catch a glimpse of them. Jareth had been right in his warnings to his brother; it was definitely not easy to fly in this weather and Sarah was grateful that she was even able stay aloof. As she passed over the Goblin City and then the beginning of the Labyrinth, she was astonished to see how it looked with her new vision. She didn't know what was because of her Fae traits or what was due to her owl eyes, but the sudden lack of colours had to be caused by the owl form. It was very weird, almost like being in an old black and white photo, but at the same time it made everything much sharper and easier to see, so even without the lightning she could see clearly at least 300 feet away. Being Fae inside, she was also able to see the mists of magic this time. They were swirling slowly around in the Labyrinth and didn't seem to be affected by neither rain, nor wind, nor the walls of the corridors. The shimmering glitter seemed almost ghostly, as if it was the remains of a current or a river long past, that had left a fain trace of magic and wonder in the Underground.
Her speed was good, but no match for the experienced flyers, and every time she was able to see them, they seemed a bit further away. She desperately hoped that the raft maze wouldn't be that far away, and tried to forget the impressive distance she knew it was after having seen it on the map in the panorama room. After a while she didn't even peer down anymore, but simply focused on moving her wings and looking straight ahead. She desperately needed to rest and get out of the rain, but she knew that if she stopped even for a little while, she would never find the brothers again and probably not even have the strength to get airborne again.
Finally she noticed some changes in the Labyrinth beneath her. It seemed as if the Mists grew sparser and didn't move as gracefully as before, and suddenly they were gone and the maze beneath her seemed gloomy and disturbing. She could easily see why the goblins had been so scared of walking in the mist-less maze – if they had been used to all this magic sparkle all their lives, the darkness would surely be horrible to witness. Further out in the distance, she could just spot a glowing rim of sparkles that she knew must be the wild mists. In the next lightening she saw the two owls suddenly much closer, and they were circling downwards as if to find a good spot to land.
This was not the raft maze, Sarah could see, as she full of relief attempted her first landing, but instead a thick jungle-like forest with only a faint traces of paths leading through it. If she had not had the night-vision of the owl it would have been completely impossible to find a safe spot to land, but she could make out enough of the treetops and branches to determine a safe route down. She dared not land right next to the brothers, but decided to go down a bit further away, so they would not notice her. Folding her wings closer and aiming for the ground, she suddenly lost balance in the air and flapped frantically to get it back. Her already tired wings could hardly keep her up anymore, and she hit a branch and then another, as she tumbled to the ground in a wet and miserable heap of feathers. The ground was soft and mossy, but still Sarah's breath was knocked out of her as she hit it hard.
Gasping for breath, she wanted to feel normal again and be herself, and she furiously wished to be herself again. I want to be Sarah, normal Sarah, not owl, but Sarah!
Feathers vanished, fingers returned, and her wet naked face was pressed against the moss she hadn't been able to feel before. She kept still for a moment trying to find out if she had been seriously hurt, but checking arms and legs, she felt only a bit soreness and the tiredness from flying, not anything broken or truly hurting. With relief she slowly lifted her head, only to find herself surrounded by almost total darkness. She mentally cursed herself – of course she wouldn't be able to see anything in this darkness without her owl eyes – there was no moon, no stars, no artificial lightning of any kind nearby. She had never really experienced anything like it – back home, there had always been some light in the sky from a nearby city, or she would have had artificial light with her. And in her previous night in the Labyrinth she had had the crude homemade torch. How was she ever going to find Jareth and Corran now?
A furious roar of anger tore through the silence of the forest behind her. She jumped up, but couldn't see a thing except the faint outlines of the closest trees.
"What is this, Jareth?" she heard Corran shout. "You accuse ME of trickery and look what you've done to the Labyrinth! Where are the Mists?"
Sarah's heart began to beat faster, and holding her hands out before her, she walked as fast as she dared towards the sound to get close to them.
"Corran, what did you do to her?" Jareth's voice was quivering with suppressed rage and the cold indifference had completely disappeared. "Where is she?"
"What do you mean? You know very well you'll not get her before our business is concluded."
Sarah was almost there, and as another lightning gave her a chance to see her surroundings, she could see the brothers in a clearing, standing close to each other and glaring at each other. Jareth reached into a pocket and threw something at a group of vines, and they exploded into flame, illuminating the mist-less clearing where magic could not be used. The silent rain made the fire smoke and sputter, but it did not go out.
"Corran, I warn you!" Jareth drew his sword and advanced on his brother. The fire was reflected in his eyes and he looked as if all reason had left him. "The Bog is clearly retreating. Your plan has failed! But that also means that Sarah is no longer in the Labyrinth. Now, tell me what you did to her or I swear you'll regret it with your dying breath!"
Corran drew his own sword with narrowed eyes. "Dear brother, I had no idea you cared so much about that wench. I should have had some fun with her then, while I had the time. So, maybe she's dead – I don't care. I waited long enough and the throne is mine!""
"Liar!" Jareth screamed and struck out, and the ring of their blades meeting sounded louder than the thunder above. Sarah suddenly realised that her transformation to Fae had also reversed the Bog's spreading, and Jareth could not know why, as he didn't know about it. He must think she was dead or gone from this world! Their blades met again, and Sarah could see from the grief etched in Jareth's features and the savage uncaring way he fought that he did not care whether he lived or died, as long as the person whom he thought had killed her would die as well. The brothers circled each other, ready to strike, and the cruel knowing smile on Corran's face was more than Sarah could bear. She looked around frantically, wishing Ludo was here to help her, but managed to find a good round rock on her own. Taking careful aim, she threw it with all her might at Corran, and it hit him square on his arm, making him yelp in surprise and pain, and both of the brothers spun around to face the unexpected attacker.
"Jareth, be careful!" she cried and stepped out into the light where they could see her. "His blade is poisoned!"
Jareth jumped back, just in time to escape a furious attack from Corran, who has lost his composure at the sudden appearance of Sarah. Jareth, on the other hand, seemed to grow in size as the presence of his beloved registered and he could see she was safe. His confidence and superiority returned before their eyes, making him truly look like the invincible Goblin King, and Corran shrank back in fear.
"This time there's no escape, brother," the King stated flatly and whirled his sword easily before him, showing off his skills. "You're no match for me, even with your pathetic attempt at cheating."
And then he lunged at Corran and the air was ringing with the sound of clashing swords. To Sarah's untrained eyes they were both good swordsmen, and the grace and dexterity with which they handled the long slender swords was amazing. Their feet danced across the ground as they attacked and parried each other's attacks, and the steel blades seemed a blur that she could hardly follow with her eyes. But Corran quickly began to pant and sweat and she could see bloody scratches appearing on his face and arms as the King's attacks rang true and penetrated his defences. They were both soaked to the skin by the continuous rain, and their hair hung in wet strands plastered to their necks.
"Damn you, Jareth!" Corran cried frantically. "I'm your brother! It's me, Corry? You can't do this! Remember all the good times we had together? "
The Goblin King's face hardened and he didn't respond, but kept attacking. Corran tried to keep up with him, but his movements grew slower and more strained, and suddenly threw away his sword and dropped to his knees before his brother.
"OK, you win," he panted and spread out his arms in surrender. "I give up. The throne is yours as it has always been. I promise I'll go away and not bother you again."
The Goblin King stopped and Sarah could see the conflict in his face, as the regal façade slipped away. For a moment it was just Jareth looking at Corran, an elder brother looking at his wayward younger sibling, who was completely at his mercy, like he had surely often been in the games they had played as young princes. She could see the pain in his face, his fervent desire to go back to the way it had once been, to reach down and help his brother up. She held her breath and her heart went out to Jareth, who stood completely still as if frozen in time, while the rain streamed silently down his face like tears.
"Please, Jareth?" Corran begged in a child-like voice as if he too could see his bother's internal conflict. "I'm sorry, please forgive me…"
Jareth slowly lowered his sword and Sarah could see real tears glittering in his eyes as he looked directly at Corran. "I'm sorry, too, Corry," he murmured softly. And with a swift and sudden move, he lifted his sword again and thrust it into his brother's exposed chest, causing him to scream one last time and then collapse in a crumbled heap at Jareth's feet.
Sarah stood completely still and didn't know what to do. The fight was over, her beloved had won, and yet the scene before her had been so horrible and heartbreaking to watch that she could not rejoice. Tears started running down her face, and as Jareth let go of the sword and turned to her, she ran out in the clearing to him and threw her arms around him, pressing her wet body against him and clinging to him as if her life depended on it. He returned her embrace, almost crushing her, and then carried her away from the body on the ground and in under the trees for shelter from the rain.
"I can't believe you are here," he whispered brokenly in her ear, as he sat on the ground keeping her close on his lap. "Don't ever leave me, Sarah!"
"I never will," she sobbed and looked into his burning eyes, as she stroked his forehead and cheeks, brushing away the wet strands of hair. "I'm so sorry it had to end like this."
"How did you get out here? Did the goblins show you the way?"
Sarah smiled faintly. He hadn't even noticed yet! "No, love," she said gravely, "I flew after you."
He stiffened and grabbed her harder. As he got a good look at her, his eyes widened in realization, and he let his fingers trace her changed ears and eyebrows, stroking and prodding her curiously.
"I don't believe it," he murmured incredulously. "How did this happen?"
"I don't know – it started this afternoon. I passed out, and when I awoke, I was Fae."
"So that's why the Bog is retreating," he said, still touching her in the dim light as if to make certain it was really true. "And you flew? As an owl?"
She nodded. "But I could use some practice on my landings."
"I bet you could," he smiled and kissed her lightly. "I remember my own first tries very well, even though it has been centuries."
"I love you, Jareth," she said solemnly and returned his kiss. "I admire your strength today – I could see how much it hurt you to do what you had to do."
He drew a deep shuddering sigh and let his hand drop. "Please, let us not speak of it. This is also a night I will remember for centuries. I know with absolute certainty that he would have broken his vow and tried again, but that doesn't make it any easier."
"Of course it doesn't," Sarah whispered and took his hand. "Just remember, you saved us all. The goblins, the children, the Labyrinth. And you avenged your father."
"Yes, it had to be done." Jareth's voice was tired and strained. "But I will never forget the look in his eyes. My poor little brother…"
Sarah hushed him and kissed him gently, pouring all her love in the kiss and he returned it desperately. He tasted of salty tears and sweat and his body was warm and firm under her, despite the wet clothes. He tightened his grip around her and lowered her to the ground, kissing her furiously on her face and neck.
"Help me forget, Sarah," he pleaded and pushed up her skirts. "Show me you love me, please." She felt the passion surge through her at his need for her, and gave into him willingly, easing him into her and clinging to him, as he thrust into her again and again, as if he wanted to claim her body and soul. She murmured reassuring words of love in his ears and as he climaxed, his cry sounded more like a sob that racked through his body. Sarah held him close, and he continued sobbing against her, burying his face against her neck. The burning vines in the clearing were slowly extinguished and the darkness of the night grew deeper, gently covering the King and future Queen of the Goblins who lay huddled together on the soft moss.