A/N: This chapter would have been posted two days ago, but between problems getting onto the site and driving for ten hours straight yesterday... ehh.. lol! Hope everyone enjoys this chapter, even though there are no cliff's to thrown anyone off of... yet (Looks pointedly at etsuki-chan and grins)... lol! Please review and let me know what you think lol.

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

Chapter 20

Things fell into back into routine over the next several weeks. The goblins eventually began to cause havoc again while children continued to be wished away and the wishers ran the Labyrinth. Everyone trying their best to live life the way they had before Serina had come to them. There were a few changes though. Jareth had proposed to Vanessa only two weeks after Serina had left and she had accepted. Ralir trained his troops harder, unable to forget the fierce woman that had made such an impact on their lives while Kelgar avoided everyone except in dire emergencies. No one spoke Serina's name anymore, but they did not forget her.

Jareth was sitting on his throne listening to Vanessa as she talked about the wedding they were planning. He rubbed a hand over his face and sighed heavily, he was developing a headache from the constant stress. At the same time a robin flew through the window and fluttered to the floor in front of him. Before the bird could land completely, Lisae stood before him, grinning ear to ear. Vanessa's voice trailed off when she saw the king's sister.

"Hello brother." Lisae's grin fell from her face when she noticed the silence in the room. Jareth smiled back slightly, his headache lessening.

"What brings you to my castle little sister?" He was glad to see Lisae for a change.

"I just stopped in for a visit with Serina." She looked around for her friend and noticed that Vanessa was there instead. Nodding to the woman, she turned to look at her brother again. "Where's Serina?"

"You won't find her here anymore, your Highness." Vanessa snapped before Jareth could respond. Lisae saw Jareth flinch just before his eyes widened in surprise at the venom in his fiancé's voice.

"What does she mean, Jareth?" Lisae asked as she grew increasingly uncomfortable. Jareth shook his head and sighed, his headache coming back with a vengeance.

"I sent her away, Lisae." She could see the sadness in his eyes. His words hit her like a rock and she paled.

"You… what?"

"You heard the king. He got rid of her." Vanessa rose gracefully to her feet and stepped over to the throne. Reaching out she stroked a slender hand across Jareth's chest before leaning down to kiss his cheek. He sighed lightly and smiled up at his fiancé.

"No, you- you couldn't have! Jareth! What were you thinking?" Lisae couldn't believe it. Her brother would not have sent Serina away.

"I was thinking of Vanessa's safety. You know how dangerous Serina could be. She destroyed one of the walls in the training room and melted her swords." Jareth snapped as he looked pointedly at the scorch marks that still adorned his throne room. "I had to have my throne replaced after she melted it! Look around you woman!" Lisae turned horrified eyes around the room. Serina would only have done that much damage if she had lost control. She knew her friend, Serina's control was too great to accidentally do anything like this. Sure, she knew that Serina had a violent temper, but she also knew that Serina would never hurt anyone unless they threatened her or someone she cared about. Her eyes fell on Vanessa and narrowed at the sly look in the woman's eyes.

"What did you do?" Lisae felt her own anger boiling. Something wasn't right and she could feel it. She knew how much Jareth cared for Serina. There was no way he would just banish her from his side.

"Me?" Vanessa pouted prettily, "Why my dear Princess, I have done nothing." She shook her head and flipped her blonde hair away from her shoulders. "Your brother was only doing what was right. That creature was a threat to the kingdom and my well being."

"Your well being? Since when the hell do you have a right to decide what goes on in this kingdom?"

"Lisae, please. Vanessa is right. I have to concern myself with the kingdom. I can not take the chance that someone would want to harm the future Goblin Queen." Jareth calmly told her. Lisae stumbled backwards, her hand going to her throat in shock. Goblin Queen? Vanessa?

"You mean…" She pointed at Vanessa and Jareth nodded with a smile. Oh no, no, this cannot be happening! Jareth can't marry that woman! "Where did she go?"

"Who knows." Vanessa interjected. Lisae glared hatefully at the woman and drew herself up regally.

"I believe I was talking to my brother and not you Lady Vanessa. I will thank you to keep your mouth shut."

"That is enough!" Jareth leapt to his feet, his eyes cold with rage. "You will not address my future queen in that tone Lisae. Serina is gone and good riddance to her. If that is your only reason for this visit then leave." Lisae gasped at the acidity of his voice and quickly turned away. She rushed from the throne room with tears in her eyes. Vanessa leaned down over Jareth and smiled sweetly as she traced his lips with her finger. He leaned into her touch and smiled back with a sigh.

oooooooooooooooooooo

Lisae flew down the halls, shifting into her bird shape as she sought out Kelgar and Ralir. They were the only ones she could think of that might even care enough about Serina to help her. She had to find out what was going on. After all Jareth had gone through to make Serina stay with him, it was inconceivable to believe that he would banish her like that. She spotted the doors to the armory and slowed her wild flight. Returning to human form again, Lisae shoved the doors open and darted inside. The room was empty and she could see the empty places on the sword rack where Serina had kept her katanas. She looked inside the training room and paled when she saw the melted stone where Serina had blasted it. Shaking her head in fear, she turned and continued her search. Finally, Lisae found a guard and he was able to tell her where to find Kelgar and Ralir. She shifted forms again and flew out the closest window, flying straight to the tavern the guard had told her about.

Lisae entered the dark tavern and looked around. It was still early so there were few patrons about. The barkeeper looked up at her and smiled as he recognized who she was. The whole kingdom knew the Princess and it was an honor to have her business. If she was pleased then so was their king. He bustled around the bar and greeted her warmly. When he learned why she was there, he nodded and led her to a side door. As she went in, the barkeeper smiled sadly. The Lady Serina had visited his establishment several times before she had left and she had always been kind to him. He wished the Princess luck in finding the woman.

She sighed when Ralir looked up at her, glad to see a friendly face, even if it was drawn and aged more than it had been the last time she was there. They rose and bowed to her. "Its good to see you again Princess. What brings you to this place?" he asked as he helped her to a seat.

"I think you know." They nodded sadly. "How long has she been gone?"

"Just over two months now." Kelgar whispered.

"Why didn't someone tell me?" Lisae fought back her tears. Ralir shook his head.

"The kingdom isn't allowed to speak of her."

"What?"

"It's that woman." Kelgar's words were slurred.

"I knew she had something to do with it!" Both men nodded again. "I think she's put a spell or something on my brother."

"I don't know." Ralir sighed, "Did he tell you what she done?"

"Yes, though I didn't believe she done it till I saw for myself. Something had to have caused her to lose control like that Ralir. You know how strong Serina is." They winced when she said the woman's name.

"Yes. The new queen made Jareth send her away. The training room… that was done the day they came home. What happened in the throne room was done when he told Serina she had to leave." Lisae had trouble understanding Kelgar, his words were so disjointed and slurred. Obviously the elf had finally hit his limit. She shuddered to think of exactly how much ale and wine it had taken for him to reach this point.

Ralir leaned forward and rested his arms against the tabletop as he stared at the princess. "Serina has more control than most, Lisae. I agree with you there. But something had to have happened while they were gone to break it. She wouldn't tell us and Jareth has forbidden anyone to discuss it. No one in the kingdom is allowed to even speak her name in his presence anymore."

She nodded, thinking back to the Yule season. "I don't understand it. When they first arrived, everything was fine. Neither left the other's sight that first night, even though they danced with others. Serina and I were talking at one point, Jareth came up and left a few minutes later to go talk to our parents." Her eyes widened and she looked up at Ralir. "It was shortly after that when he met Vanessa. I remember telling Serina that she was a sorceress."

"What happened then?" Ralir glanced at Kelgar, but the elf was passed out with his head on the table.

"Jareth danced with her, then brought her over to us and introduced her. There was something about the way he introduced Serina that struck us as odd, but we didn't think much about it then. After that, he rarely had anything to do with Serina unless he wanted something. Usually he sent a servant to her or ignored her completely." She wished now that she had paid more attention to Jareth's actions. Now she realized that things had started to degrade between him and Serina that first night.

Ralir studied the princess closely. "You think Lady Vanessa cast a spell on the king?"

"I don't know. It is possible, but his magic is stronger than hers." She looked at him sadly, "Wouldn't his be stronger?"

Ralir shook his head, "I don't know. Jareth is one of the most powerful fae, but there are bound to be some with stronger magic than him. Serina told me that apparently no one knows much of anything about the woman."

"Yes. I told her that. My brother has shunned the courts for so long that he wouldn't know about the things that have happened. Vanessa started coming to the court a few years ago. No one knows exactly where she is from or anything. The only thing that is known about her is that she has taken many lovers within the court."

"Perhaps she had help."
"My mother." Ralir looked up at her curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"Mother ranted for days after she first met Serina. I was forbidden to contact her and mother had hoped that Jareth wouldn't bring her to the castle. Just before dinner, I overheard mother talking with someone about Jareth."

"So you think your mother helped Vanessa catch Jareth's attention?"

"Well, it is possible, wouldn't you agree Ralir? Mother hates Serina."

He thought for a moment then nodded slowly, "If you mother is as against Serina as you say she is, then it could be possible. You do know that such an accusation…"

"Is treason against the throne. Yes I know, just as I know that I am not exempt from being tried for treason as well." Lisae sighed and grabbed the tankard of ale that Kelgar had been drinking. She looked at it for a second before draining it dry. Ralir arched a brow at her in worry. "We need to find Serina."

"I agree, but there in lies the problem. Kelgar and I both have tried to find her, but apparently she's covered her tracks well."

"Part of her training I suppose."
"Yes it was. The Itorans taught her well." His eyes brightened for a moment then faded again.

"What is it?"

"I thought perhaps that we could contact the Itorans and see if one of them could help locate her, but Jareth is the only one capable of doing that and he's already threatened to banish both Kelgar and myself is we spoke of her again." This shocked Lisae, her brother could be cruel, but she had never known him to be that way towards his friends. Ralir, Jareth and Kelgar had grown up together, they were as close as friends could get.

"Why didn't she come to me?" She whispered as her tears finally began to fall.

"Perhaps she felt it too dangerous. I know she was heartbroken when she left. Seeing you may have been too much of a painful reminder of everything." The warrior soothed, un-nerved by her crying. After a few minutes, Lisae wiped her face and took a shuddering breath.

"There must be some way to find her. How did she leave? What direction did she go?" Ralir nodded, thinking hard.

"I gave her my stallion. The Labyrinth made a path straight to the kingdoms borders for her, though Jareth had to threaten it's destruction before it would allow him access to her just before he told her to go." He grinned slightly at Lisae's confusion. "It took over a week before Jareth was able to tell her. She was avoiding him. Actually, we all were. The goblins would go off and get drunk when he sent them after her and the Labyrinth would hide her from him every time she left her rooms. Even his crystals couldn't locate her, they'd break before the left the room." Lisae giggled.

"Seems to me that the Labyrinth knew better than it's king."

"Indeed." He cast a look around the small room and sighed. "Once Kelgar wakes, I think we'll try again to locate her."

"Perhaps the Labyrinth will help find her."

"We could use all the help we can get." His voice dropped, "I miss her."

"So do I. I want to help in any way I can. Just tell me what needs to be done."

"We'll need to come up with a plan first. The barkeep here was very fond of Serina. I'm sure that he'd be willing to give us use of this tavern as our base."