Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Labyrinth. Serina, Kelgar, Matilda, Ralir and the storyline are mine.

Chapter Seven

Jareth sat in a window overlooking the Labyrinth, watching as Serina and Kelgar walked through a garden below. It had taken another two weeks before she was strong enough to leave her bed. Every time he thought about how she looked when she first arrived, his blood boiled. She was slowly regaining her strength and no longer looked like skin and bones. It amazed him that she was now wandering the grounds below, chatting amiably with his healer and long time friend.

She had been recovering quickly and looked fetching in the plain grass-green velvet gown that blended in so well with the garden. He was hoping that she'd eventually seen that there was no returning to her world. Unfortunately, she was determined to go back as soon as she could. The healer had tried to explain that if she was to return then the Elder would have her killed, but she refused to accept it.

Jareth had gone back to try and find out more information, and had been appalled when he overheard the First Elder speaking with someone about Serina. The conversation had been mainly one-sided since the Elder was ordering the woman killed on sight. With a sigh, he looked down into the gardens to check on her. Twisting his wrist, Jareth created a crystal and peered into it only to groan in frustration when he saw where they were.

"I will not!"

"My Lady, you are no where near ready to do anything of this sort yet." Kelgar argued as he reached out to take Serina's arm. They had been on their way back to her rooms in order for her to rest when she had spotted the armory. Before Kelgar had been able to stop her, Serina had darted through the doors. "Lord Ralir does not have time to teach you how to handle a sword."

Serina jerked out of his reach and glared angrily at the him. "Who said he would have to teach me anything? How do you know what I am capable of or not?"

"My apologies my Lady, I did not mean to imply that you know nothing about sword fighting. I am merely concerned for your health."

"I must agree with Lord Kelgar, Lady Serina. From what I have heard, you are still recovering from severe injuries." Ralir interrupted. Serina turned angry eyes in his direction. When she had first been introduced to the Captain of the Guard, Serina had been impressed with the man. He reminded her of the Itoran warriors that she had lived with for so long. His short curly brown hair and soft brown eyes gave him a boyish look that belied his straightforward attitude.

Serina stared at the darkly tanned warrior angrily. "Does everyone here go by heresy?"

"What is you problem woman?" Jareth interrupted before either could respond to her.

She jerked her head and slowly glared over her shoulder at the king, completely ignoring the fact that the other two men bowed respectfully at the sight of Jareth. "Other than being kept here against my will and subjected to complete and utter boredom?"

"Come come now, you make it sounds as if you're a prisoner here." Jareth couldn't help but grin.

"Well, your Majesty," she sneered, "Considering the fact that you refuse to allow me to return home; then yes, I would say that I am a prisoner here."

Jareth stepped towards her, his face twisted with anger. "I have given you the freedom to roam the castle and it's gardens as you wish. I have provided you with everything you could desire and this is how you repay my kindness for saving your life?"

"I never asked to be rescued." Serina snarled

Jareth leaned forward, his eyes snapping with fire. "Do not defy me woman! You will remain here whether you want to or not!" A loud crack split the air. Kelgar and Ralir stared in shock and dread from one to the other as silence filled the air. The king's eyes narrowed into slits as he turned his head to stare into her eyes again. "If you ever try that again, you will regret it." he whispered savagely.

"I will do what I want! I am not yours to order around!" Serina spat.

Jareth tilted his head to the side and studied her. Suddenly, he threw his head back and laughed loudly. "My, but you are a feisty one, reminds me of a kitten. A wild kitten backed into a corner, spitting and clawing at the enemy." He looked at her again, deadly serious. "Both the healer and your maid have explained why you can not return to your world. Why can you not accept that you will remain here unless I decide otherwise?"

"Because I will not remain here! I am not some damnable pet to keep till you tire of it! I am not yours, you pompous ass; no matter what you think!"

"I don't see that you have much choice in the matter my dear." He snapped. Serina snarled furiously and lashed out at him again. Jareth caught her wrist in a bone crushing grip. "I have warned you woman. You will remain confined to your room until you can behave yourself and stop acting like some ungrateful whelp." Jareth's voice was dangerously low. "Lord Ralir, escort the lady back to her chambers." Serina glared hatefully at the furious king as Ralir grabbed her from behind and dragged her from the room. Her angry screams echoed throughout the castle as the warrior forced her down the corridors.

Kelgar turned to look at Jareth who was staring at the door, his face cold. "Are you alright Jareth?"

Jareth nodded as he raised his hand to his jaw and rubbed it gently. "That woman is infuriating to say the least."

"It seems that we have underestimated her. Never before have I seen anyone brave enough to strike a king, much less you." He watched Jareth closely, worried about the girl. Though she had been in his care for barely a month, he was already quiet fond of her. Kelgar hated to think that she might have angered the king enough that he would throw her in the dungeons, especially after everything she'd already been through.

"She is under your care Kelgar, I would advise that you instruct her on proper etiquette towards her king." Jareth spat as he stormed from the room. Kelgar sighed and started walking back to Serina's rooms. He knew there would be hell to pay over this.

He found Ralir leaning against the wall outside Serina's chambers and sporting a busted lip. Sighing, Kelgar reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial of healing ointment for the warrior. "Do I even want to know what happened?"

"She caught me by surprise. Slammed her head back into my face." Ralir shook his head and laughed, "Are you certain that's the same woman that was nearly dead a month ago?"

"One and the same my friend, one and the same."

"She's a spitfire, I'll tell you that much. Never thought I'd see someone attack Jareth like that. Least of all a female."

"Indeed. That is what worries me though. We both know that Jareth will not allow things like that to continue. I worry that he'll do something to her."

"Like what? It's not as if she doesn't deserve whatever punishment he hands out to her." Ralir snorted, "I thought he would toss her into the bog for that."

"I don't know. I doubt he would seriously consider putting her in the dungeons after everything she's been through already, but if she angers him enough he might. While I admit, the woman has certainly recovered faster than I thought possible, there is no doubt in my mind that being relegated to the dungeons would destroy her completely. As it is, Jareth ordered her to be confined to her chambers."

Ralir glanced over his shoulder towards the door. Tilting his head towards it, he looked back at Kelgar. "Do you think she'll stay in there?"

"No." Kelgar grinned.

"Neither do I."

Kelgar reached forward and knocked on the door, listening for Serina's answer. When she didn't answer, he looked at Ralir curiously. "Are you sure she's in there?" Ralir nodded.

"She was throwing things around and raging like a mad woman just before you got here."

"If she's gone, Jareth will not be pleased."

"Then again, he might be glad to see her gone. Looks like all she's done since she got here is give him trouble." Ralir shook his head as Kelgar opened the door and peered into the darkened room.

"Lady Serina?" Kelgar looked at Ralir, "I don't see her."

"Maybe she's in the bathing room."

They stepped into the room and looked around. Waving his hand, light filled the room from various candles, and the deepening shadows receded, causing Kelgar to inhale sharply at the sight that greeted them. Serina had nearly destroyed the entire room in her rage. The vanity table was overturned and several vases smashed. Glass and crystal littered the floor everywhere along with feathers from the pillows that she had shredded. It appeared that Serina was more upset about Jareth's words than he had thought.

Kelgar heaved a sigh of relief when he finally spotted the woman curled up in a corner of the room. Unsure as to how she would react, he made his way slowly over to her. Glass crunched under his feet as he knelt down in front of Serina. Calling out her name he received no response; it was as if her body was there, but she wasn't. Gently, the healer reached out and laid his hand against her arm.

"Go away," Her voice was so low that he could barely hear her.

"I can not, my Lady." He sighed, "You must know, my dear, that striking the king the way you did can be considered an act of treason."

"Do I look as if I care?" She turned her head slightly and looked up at him, her eyes devoid of any emotion, almost as if they were dead. Kelgar shivered, this did not bode well at all.