Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Labyrinth. The storyline and other characters are mine.

Chapter 16

"Serina?" Jareth poked his head into the library where Serina was stretched out on a couch reading. She glanced up and arched a brow at him questioningly. Jareth opened the door wider and walked over to her. "There is a ball in two weeks. You will attend it with me."

She merely stared at him in confusion, "I thought you preferred avoiding the courts? What's the purpose for this ball?"

"It's the Yule ball and I thought you could use a change of pace, kitten." Jareth sat down on the edge of the couch next to her. She snorted.

"There is more to it than that Your Majesty. You've declined all the other invitation in the past six months since I've been here. Why not this one as well?"

He sighed and leaned over, bracing his elbows against his knees. "My parents are hosting it." Serina suddenly reached over and touched his arm.

"Say no more. I will attend with you." Serina said softly. Jareth turned his head and looked at her over his shoulder. Suddenly smiling, he leaned over a dropped a kiss on her lips before vanishing. "Silly fae." She muttered as she got up and stretched.

Serina shook her head in confusion, not really understanding her King half the time. Things had settled down between them and she no longer considered him to be the enemy. Not that she would admit it to anyone, but her life had been a lot better over the past several months. She and Ralir worked together to train the troops. Ralir had surprised her when he approached the king about naming her his second in command. At first she thought it was all a joke until Jareth agreed that it would be a good idea and made it official.

Afterwards, Jareth had started teaching her about ruling his kingdom in addition to controlling the fire magic she carried. Already she could sense the changes that he had warned her about, the signs that she was slowly absorbing magic from the Underground. They had also developed a close friendship of sorts between them, though Serina delighted in causing havoc for him.

She stepped from the library and turned towards her rooms, passing his private study on the way. She was startled to hear a strange woman's voice come from the room and was almost tempted to stop and knock. Shaking her head, she decided that who ever it was, was really none of her business. She had barely taken four steps down the hallway when the strange woman's voice began yelling angrily. Serina's head snapped around and she spun on her heel, backtracking to the study.

"Is there a problem Your Majesty?" Serina asked, opening the door and stepping into the room. Her eyes automatically went to the King, who barely shook his head in dread then darted to the petite blonde woman dressed in a pale blue frothy concoction that stood before him. Jareth recognized the tone of her voice and the stance she held, it was the same she used when dealing with contumacious troops.

"Really Jareth, shouldn't you train your servants to knock before they barge into a room?" the woman snapped when she saw Serina enter the room. Jareth caught the flash of fury in the warrior's eyes before they turned to green ice.

Jareth rose to his feet with a feline grace and inclined his head towards Serina. "Lady Serina, allow me to introduce you to Princess Tonia of the Fairy Kingdom."

"Princess." Serina bowed stiffly to the girl, and then turned back to Jareth, her voice hard. "Do you require my assistance for anything Your Majesty?"

"No my Lady. Her Highness is merely displeased that I will not be escorting her to my parent's ball." He resisted the urge to wink at Serina, settling on a scowl instead which he directed towards the other woman.

"Very well, my Liege." Serina nodded sharply and started to leave, but Princess Tonia's voice stopped her.

"How rude! You are too lax with your servants Jareth, really! That creature should be flogged for not showing the proper respect to her King!" The girl continued to rant about servants barging in on private conversations and not having the proper respect for their rulers.

Serina turned back to face the princess, her eyes glittering dangerously, which caused the princess to step back suddenly. "I am no servant Princess, I am second in commander to the King's Army and as such, I am entitled to go where I feel I may be needed." Her voice had dropped dangerously low and Jareth stepped forward, intent on keeping Serina from attacking the princess.

"You? A mere mortal female!" The girl sneered; eyeing Serina up and down distastefully, Tonia took in Serina's clothes. Similar to Jareth, Serina wore a loose silver shirt topped with a tight emerald green bodice, tight black leather pants and high black boots. Her long red hair was twisted into a braid that draped over her shoulder.

Serina heard Jareth groan as he stepped between them. "Believe me Tonia, Lady Serina is extremely capable in what she does otherwise she would not hold her position. I warn you to avoid angering her at all costs."

The princess sniffed disdainfully and glared at Serina. Serina smirked as she drew herself up into her most militant posture and stared coldly at the other girl. "Really Jareth, a woman in charge of your military? You'll be the laughingstock of the Underground!"

Serina growled warningly at the princess as she crossed her arms across her chest. Jareth glanced at her swiftly before turning back to Tonia. "I think it is time for you to go Princess. I regret that I am unable to escort you." Jareth said casually as he tossed a crystal at the fairy princess. Tonia began screaming insults at them as soon as she saw what Jareth was doing.

He stood silently for a moment, staring at the space the woman who stood only to jump as a door slammed. Looking around, he saw that Serina had left and he sighed heavily before following. Stepping out of his study, he looked down the hallways in both directions and caught a glimpse of a black heel vanishing around the corner to his left. He shook his head and turned in the opposite direction, heading for his throne room, knowing that now would not be a good time to approach the warrior.

Jareth went to his throne in the reception hall and dropped down into it, sprawling elegantly across the wide seat. The goblins in the room had quieted down a little when he came in, but after a few minutes their noise level rose again. With a sigh, he made a crystal and peered into it, finding Serina exactly where he figured she would be. Jareth watched in amusement for several minutes as the woman worked her swords in one of the outside training arenas. At least most of the time she opted to work out her anger in the training fields instead of on him now.

Such fire, he thought as he watched. I hope I am not making a mistake by escorting her to this ball. Oh well, if nothing else, the only one I'll have to worry about trying to kill me would be her. Who better to accompany me to this thing than my own bodyguard?

Jareth barked suddenly at one of the goblins. A small goblin with purple eyes and wisps of white hair sticking out everywhere detached itself from the others and scurried over to gaze fearfully up at the King. "Lady Serina and I will be leaving at the end of the week. Tell Matilda to ensure our things are readied on time."

The little goblin bobbed a bow and ran from the room. Jareth heard the others in the room begin jabbering again and watched them apathetically. After a few minutes, he got up and crossed the room to perch himself in the window that overlooked the Labyrinth, kicking a few goblins on the way.

"Jareth, must you do that?" an aged voice chided from behind him.

"Hello Mother." he muttered with a jaded air. "How nice of you to visit."

The woman sniffed daintily as Jareth turned to face her. His mother stood there in a flowing gown of royal blue that was accented with gold threads shot through the material. Her brown hair was coifed elegantly in the latest court fashion. "I just received a very distraught visitor, son."

"Ah yes, Princess Tonia I presume?"
"Yes. She said you refused to escort her to the ball."

"She spoke the truth." He interrupted coldly.

"You have to attend with someone son."

"I have already chosen the one I will attend with mother." Jareth was quickly losing his patience.

The Queen gave him a scathing look, "Princess Tonia said you were bringing one of your mistresses. Are you sure that is wise Jareth."

He straightened at the word mistress and turned to look at his mother again. "I would take care in how you address the Lady Serina, mother. I cannot guarantee how she would react." He smirked inwardly, knowing that fiery tempered woman would most likely go after his mother and he was not at all sure that he would stop her either.

"Do I know this woman Jareth?"

"Not yet mother, though Lisae is well acquainted with her."

"Lisae! You let my daughter associate with your mistresses?" the woman hissed. Jareth glanced down at the training grounds and paled when he saw Serina was no longer there and knowing that she would be coming straight to the throne room. Briefly, he considered leaving the room to avoid the fireworks that were sure to happen. Especially when he heard the goblins begin chattering.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he closed his eyes and shook his head. Knowing she was close by the way the goblins were chattering, Jareth rose from his seat in the window and turned to look at the doors. His mother stood between him and the doors and was steadfastly ranting away at him. He watched in wry amusement as his mother spun to face the woman who had just been admitted into the throne room.

"Is that the creature you are bringing Jareth?" She snapped irritably. Her blue eyes flicked over Serina, taking in the green shirt and gold bodice she wore; gasping when she saw the swords belted around the woman's waist. "What is she doing wearing that in your castle?"

Jareth groaned inaudibly as he hurried over to Serina, muttering a warning to behave under his breath as greeted her. "Mother, may I present Lady Serina. My Lady, this is my mother, Queen Nessta."

Serina flicked her eyes at him before turning to face the Queen. "Your Highness," she said politely as she curtsied. Jareth captured her hand and tucked it in his elbow when she rose.

The Queen sniffed again, glaring down her aquiline nose at the woman. "A human peasant dressed up and given a title. How quaint Jareth. I knew your fascination in mortals would bring you down one day."

Serina stiffened at the words, her head snapping up higher. Jareth squeezed her hand in warning as he glared angrily at his mother. "I do believe mother, that you are jumping to conclusions."

"Apparently, Your Highness, you are not in possession of all the facts." Serina interrupted, ignoring Jareth as she stepped forward, her eyes glittering dangerously.

"How dare you address me in that tone woman." Queen Nessta turned angry eyes to her son, "I will not be talked to in that manner by one of your mistresses Jareth!"
Serina was incensed by the Queen's words, though her voice was chillingly calm. "I will address you in the same manner of which you address me. I dare because I will not stand aside and allow either myself nor my king to be insulted." Jareth closed his eyes and groaned again, louder this time.

"What gives you the right to talk?"
"I am Lady Serina Vaelden, second in command of his Majesty's army. I am not some peasant playing dress up, Your Highness. I am a blooded warrior and do not take kindly to having my King or his judgments questioned. Not that it is of any concern to you, but I am no one's mistress." Her free hand rested lightly against the hilt of her sword in warning.

"She's a positive beast Jareth!"

"Mother," Jareth warned icily.

"I will not permit you to associate with this uncouth woman Jareth. Dismiss her at once!" Queen Nessta snapped angrily, only to draw back when she heard the woman beside Jareth snarl.

Serina rounded on Jareth and glared furiously at him. "Not now kitten," he offered her a gentle smile and nodded slightly to the doors. The warrior glared back at the fae queen and sneered before storming from the room, followed by over half the goblins. Jareth watched her leave before turning back to his mother. "If you insist on my attendance at this ball, I will be escorting Lady Serina regardless of your desires. And for the record Mother, the Lady Serina is not my mistress. I consider her to be my personal bodyguard, head of security and one of the leader of my armies." He stepped closer to his mother, "She is also extremely dangerous and you would do well not to anger her further. Now if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to."

Queen Nessta watched in stunned silence as her son turned on his heel and left the room. The goblins that remained all snickered up at her, taking great delight in the fact that neither their King or his Favorite was mad at them for a change. She sneered down at them in disgust before waving her hand and creating a portal back to her home.

ooooooooooooooooooo

Serina was furiously pacing her rooms when Jareth found her. "Now you understand why I try to avoid all court dealings." Serina spun around and glared daggers at the King. Jareth leaned negligently against the doorway, smirking at her.

"Not to be rude Jareth, but if the rest of the court is anything like your mother and that little fairy brat, I would just assume to remain here."

Jareth was before her in a blink, leaning over her menacingly. "Take care how you talk of my mother, kitten." His eyes softened and he smiled, running a gloved fingertip down her cheek, "Though personally, I do agree with you."

"Do I have to attend that damn ball?" She sighed sulkily

"Yes kitten, you do." He stared down into her green eyes and smirked, "I am required to attend, and I will not go without my personal bodyguard."

"Bastard."

"Oh come, come now. Surely you would not want to send your King off without the benefit of security would you? What ever would happen if I was kidnapped or killed?" His tone was serious, but Serina caught the teasing glint in his eyes.

She gave him a baleful glare "They would send you back within five minutes." She relented at the sour expression he gave her. She snorted and smirked up at him, "Good thing I don't need weapons to fight then isn't it? I do not think your parents would take kindly to having a mortal peasant dancing around with swords on."

"No, they wouldn't. So I suppose it's a good thing I'm not escorting one to the ball. But truly my dear, you will need to be on your best behavior while there."

"Jareth, I realize that the Underground is vastly different from my old world, but I have dealt with royal asses before." She batted her eyes up at him coyly, "Besides, I seem to handle you well enough." She spun away from him, laughing when he chased after her.