DISCLAIMER - I don't own Sarah or Jareth or the Labyrinth (unfortunately) they belong to Jim Henson & Co, and I'm definitely not making a profit from this. (Bummer) All other NPC's are a figment of my own imagination.

Chapter 22 – The Memory Remains

She groaned as she rolled over, finding another bruise on her butt as she sat up. The room she found herself in was sparsely decorated, and the bed small but richly covered in warm furs. The sun was shining through the small window and she could see down into a small green valley where wild flowers and shrubs grew in abundance. She jumped as Jareth stalked into the room and slammed the door behind him, making the room seem suddenly much, much smaller as he glared at her, anger darkening his mismatched eyes.

"I was going to apologise, but you could have warned me first!" She said climbing off the bed and reaching for a glass of water on the bedside table. She stared at her shaking hand before picking the glass up trying not to spill its contents. She sniffed it carefully first, but it smelt of fresh rain and spring, she downed it in one, wincing as she caught her cut lip on the edge of the glass.

"You're insane." He told her, shaking his head.

"And you're meant to protect me! It's not just my fault! I can't see why you won't at least take some of the blame yourself…" She said getting off the bed and walking unsteadily past him to look out of the window. She gulped and stopped as he wrapped a hand around her neck, pulling her back to him.
"Did I not warn you it would be difficult?" He whispered in her ear, sending ripples of pleasure down her spine as his lips and hot hands grazed her skin. She nodded mutely and moved slightly so her body was closer to his. He chuckled and left her. She sighed.

"Did it work?" She asked finally giving into her curiosity as he flopped down on the bed and put his feet up, boots and all.
"Better than I expected. You are much stronger than any of us thought. I shall have to guard myself against your mind in future."
"I didn't know." She said shrugging, not sure what else she could say.
He climbed off the bed again left the room, motioning for her to follow him. Curious she followed, looking about her, impressed at the changes they had wrought. The corridors and halls were carpeted in fine rugs, and in small alcoves stood beautiful statues and fine pottery, though there were many gaps amongst those remaining.

Returning to the great throne room she stopped and gasped in surprise. The ceiling dome was now clear of ice and snow letting the sun shine down into the room, highlighting the large throne at the far end and the milling children of Shayéne, gathered in small groups muttering as Jareth lead her up to the throne.
He raised his brow and looked her over offering her the throne. She nodded at him and sat down calmly, shivering as he touched her face and took away the bruising and cut lip. He moved and lounged on the armrest, looking as much as home here as did in his own throne room.

"This IS my throne room." He said quietly.
"Nothing like marrying for an ulterior motive." She said sarcastically.
"Only the best."
She rolled her eyes and then smiled as Isenith and another tall young Fae walked over to them.
"Majesty. We just wanted to say thank you for returning Shayéne to her former glory." The young man said, bowing to her politely.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?"

"Rohaéim Your Majesty. Elected leader of our people before Isenith was able to return to us, and King Jareth brought you back." He said bowing again.
"You and Isenith will still have to do much of the running of things round here." Jareth said picking at his fingernails. "I will be busy for a time with the Labyrinth and Selindé has much yet to learn before I can unleash her without worrying that she'll start another war with the rest of the nations. Plus we still need to get back everything she told him to return."

"I beg your pardon?" Rohaéim said looking blankly at Jareth.
"The price Selindé made him pay when they had their little chat..." He said smirking at Isenith.
"10 leagues of land to be forfeited from his and Magénne's borders and the return of every single thing he stole from Shayéne. Plus the matter of him being returned in small boxes…" Sarah said smiling as Rohaéim grinned.
"I'm impressed Your Majesty. Quick thinking. What about trade?"

"They are forbidden from trading with us. Our new trade routes will be north through the Goblin Realms and then east to Kel-Thályn. I'm sure my King will provide us with guards." Sarah said thoughtfully.
"Only if you ask me nicely."
"Perhaps we should talk about that later." She said archly.
"Do we have any requirements that can't be made or harvested here?"

"No Your Majesty. Now the ice and snow is gone, the animals and vegetation will return. We will be self sufficient in a short time, and King Jareth always provides us with anything we need. Now that you have opened up the mines again we can begin harvesting the most valuable of Shayéne's assets. I only have one worry, that others will come, seeking their own fortune and glory in our city."
"Would you deny those who legitimately request to move here, to work beside everybody else?" Sarah asked him as he paused then shook his head.
"There is always chaff mixed with the wheat until you sieve it out. Perhaps you will let us interview those who come to see if they are chaff?"

"By all means. You will be the ones living and working with them after all." Sarah nodded feeling suddenly very exhausted. "Perhaps I should leave you all to do your own thing. I don't have very much experience with running a Kingdom, and it certainly looks like you're used to doing it yourselves. Jareth can call me if you need me for anything." She said getting up from the throne and walking towards the doors.
"I think I just need some air." She muttered as Isenith looked at her concerned as she passed him. He nodded and stepped aside.

She walked out of the palace and inhaled the clear mountain air, untainted with the coldness of the snow and ice. The courtyard was now clear, a small fountain sparking in a corner were the sun hit it. The marble colonnades were now ice free and unbroken where the children of Shayéne walked and laughed and played, bringing out linen and clothes to air in the fresh breeze.

She walked on out through the thick archway protecting the palace and took in the perfect sight of the towers of the city gleaming with their domes of gold and silver once more intact, the buildings whole and unscathed by the passage of war and siege. The entrance gates stood tall and straight again, their iron bindings and hinges untouched by time. Sarah sighed, relieved that the magic she and Jareth had created had worked so well, that now the dead city was once more alive, its heart beating below her feet.

"It would have been very different if you had managed to bring back the dead." Jareth said stepping out from a handy shadow.
"I'm not strong enough for that." She said sadly running her hand across his chest as she stepped past him.
"I'm glad. Having to face your father even when I wasn't his son in law was hard enough." He said with a serious expression taking hold of her hand and walking with her back up the hill.
"I'm so tired." She said as they reached the top and turned to look back down at Shayéne.
"Come." He said wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into the veils.

They returned to the heat of the Labyrinth and sat in the cool shade of the Rose Courtyard, where Lucia joined them, bearing cold fruit drinks. She smirked at Sarah knowingly who blushed, clashing slightly with a small rose that wouldn't stop tangling itself in her hair.
"There's no need to say anything dear. We all know how good Jareth is in bed." Sarah looked at her blankly wondering if she dared ask how his sister could possibly know such a thing.
"Its not as though he's been celibate all his life." Jareth looked at his sister, wondering if he could gag her without Sarah noticing.
"Thank you Lucia, for revealing my sordid past."
"You're welcome." She laughed.

"I just wanted to let you know that Tilingdor has returned Shayéne's things. You might not however want to examine some of them too closely, that's if you can get into the throne room in the first place…" She said wrinkling her nose before walking away to her orangery.
"Well that was unexpected." Sarah murmured taking a sip of her drink.
"If I didn't know better I'd be thinking that Lucia had a new toy the way she's acting, but I'm fairly certain she's still entertaining the same people she was yesterday." Jareth said shaking his head.
"People? As in more than one?"

"She is single, rather good looking and from a brotherly perspective, rather a good catch. She's more than entitled to entertain whomever she wants, just so long as its not Theo's father I don't care."
"Theo's father is still alive then."

"Unfortunately. I did try to have him assassinated, but he's a slippery little sod. Caused no end of nightmares when we had to invite him to the family estate. I don't think my mother ever forgave him for relieving himself in one of her favorite urns. Particularly since it was the one she kept my fathers unlamented ashes in." Sarah stifled a snigger and drank more of the juice.
"It's still somewhat beyond my comprehension that Lucia agreed to his petition in the first place. The thought of that slimy creature even touching her, let alone having the mental and physical capacities to shag anything never ceases to astound me. Especially when Theo turned out as well as he did."

"Some of us can see past the "I'm God" behavior. Occasionally." Sarah remarked standing up and walking towards the throne room.
"I resent that. I've never admitted to being God, just Godlike. I'm your King, and you shouldn't talk about me like that, its rude, and I could make it punishable by death."
"If you like. You know how much I crave for death. What could be better, death by my own King's hand? It would make a really good romantic trash novel. You'd be famous."
"I already am famous. Infamous."
"Yes. For stealing away small children in the night and seducing young girls."
"I never seduced you."
"And you are a terrible liar. You didn't have to. Your pheromones did all the work." Jareth couldn't help but chuckle as he followed her into the tiny space by the doors of the throne room.

"When you said they stripped the place bare, I wasn't sure whether you were joking or not. Now I see that you weren't, did he have to take my demand quite so literally?" Sarah asked sighing as she noticed a slightly used chamber pot underneath an extremely worn rug. "Perhaps you could…" Sarah waggled her hand towards the rest of the throne room as Jareth rolled his eyes.
"I'll make it up to you, promise!" She said batting her eyelashes at him. He pulled into his arms and kissed her breath away. When he finally relinquished her she noted with satisfaction that the throne room was empty. "Oooohh, multitasking!" She said grinning as he led her out towards his private chambers where he could ravish her in comfort, proving to her just how well he could multi task.

"Why don't you let the Others go to Shayéne? They could help with getting the trading under way." Sarah said as they lay together after their lovemaking, discussing Shayéne and its children.
"That's a good idea. I'll ask when I'm next in their vicinity." He said stretching. "Damn." He sighed clambering from the tangle of limbs and bed sheets.
"What's the matter?"
"I have been called." He said shrugging as he pulled his shirt on as she nodded, feeling his sadness.
"I'll be here when you get back." She said kissing him passionately before his disappeared through the veils.

It became something of a routine for her to wait for him in the Rose Courtyard, or in the library if it was raining, after he had been to deal with a wished away child. She could see his resignation to the job, his hate of the people who wished their children away that was rarely satisfied when they were given to their new Fae family. She didn't ask, and he didn't tell. All she could do was support him and it seemed to be all he needed from her.

He continued to teach her magic, how to twist the elemental nature of the Labyrinth into greater and more complex shapes, pushing her boundaries and mental reflexes. He forbade Isenith from telling her about the continued attacks from Elindah's assassins and had Isenith move all of the Others to Shayéne, making sure their protection was assured.

It was during a particularly warm afternoon as they lazed in the comfort of the shaded Rose Courtyard that he suddenly muttered and stood up abruptly.
"Another?" Sarah asked sitting up and looking at him.
"Two. I must call Isenith." He sighed.
"Can't I help?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No." He growled.

"Pretty please?"
"I don't have time to teach you."
"I already know how it's done." Sarah said standing up and clipping her hair away from her face. "I was there remember?"
"I will have to teach you how to travel the veils."
"I know how to do that too."
"Selindé shut up. I'm talking about the veils between here and the Aboveground, it is far more dangerous than travelling about the Underground."
"Oh." She said.

"You must swear to me you will not use this ability without making sure I know exactly where you are going, do you understand?"
"Don't you always know where I am anyhow?" Sarah shrugged.
"Do you want to do this or not?" He asked glaring at her as she nodded. "Then swear it." She reached up and touched his cheek.
"I swear it." She smiled as he caught her hand and kissed it, at the same time she concentrated on the explanations and rules he poured into her brain, making it ache for a moment, as she comprehended the essence of traveling between the worlds. She suddenly felt the pulsing need to go to whoever it was that was wishing away their sibling as he taught her how to tap into his powers over the labyrinth.

"Now do you understand the danger?"
"Yes." She whispered looking up into his mismatched eyes and falling in love with him all over again.
"Later." He said kissing her swiftly. Snapping his fingers he drew a beautiful silver and black robe from her dressing room which he placed over her shoulders.
"Are you ready?" He asked, waiting for her to nod before he pulled her into the veils.