A/N: I assume that everyone reading likes this story since it's received over 900 hits now and only 22 reviews.

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

Chapter 21

Matilda slipped into the back room of the tavern and bobbed a curtsy to the others sitting in the darkened room. Lisae jumped to her feet and waved the woman over. "Please Matilda, there is no need for formalities here." She assured the woman.
"Sorry Princess, it's hard to remember that sometimes."

"Quite alright, Matilda." Ralir spoke up, "Have you heard anything?"

Matilda eased herself down into the chair and sighed wearily. "Not in regards of Lady Serina, my lord." Everyone slumped in dejection. "I do however have something else you should know about." They all looked at her, waiting for the old woman to continue. "As you know, I've been tending to the Lady Vanessa's needs since Lady Serina left. Last night I overheard her telling someone that it was almost time to make their move."

"Any idea as to who she was talking to or about what?" Kelgar queried. Matilda shook her head.

"No sir. But from what I was able to hear, looks like our future queen plans to kill the king on their wedding night. She's waiting to be crowned before they kill him."

"It's the only way she could keep the throne since the kingdom would fall into the hands of the high throne provided the Goblin King does not leave an heir." Lisae stated as she absorbed the maid's words. "We must do something and soon. When will they wed?"

"The ceremonies will take place during the night of the next full moon." Kelgar responded glumly. "Only three weeks away."

"We've looked everywhere for Serina and came back empty handed every time. How will we find her in three weeks?" Matilda cried. She loved her king and didn't want to see that woman he was marrying take over. She had held hope that Jareth would marry Serina, but her hopes had came crashing down when the king banished her from the kingdom.

"There is one place that we have yet to search for her at." Kelgar muttered softly. Lisae's eyes widened and he nodded, "The Salt Plains."

"Of course!" Ralir sat back and smiled. "That's the only place we haven't looked because magic doesn't work there. It would be the perfect place to hide for someone who isn't used to using magic."

"We can't scry the area, so one of us would have to go there." Kelgar added.

"I will go." Ralir spoke up before anyone else could. All eyes turned to him and they realized that he would be the only one capable of making the trip. Lisae's absence would be noted by the king, as would the healer's and the maid.

It was agreed, Ralir would leave at first light for the Salt Plains located west of the Labyrinth. Fae and other beings with magic avoided the place due to the huge salt deposits found there. It was a logical place to look since Serina was not used to controlling magic and after the damage she had done to the walls and swords, she may have headed there. They just hoped that she would be there as she was their last hope. Jareth no longer came to his old friends and advisors, not since falling under the spell of that sorceress. They had to find Serina, their futures as well as that of the king lay in their success.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Serina stepped out of the cave and into the morning sunshine, stretching her stiff muscles. Renoir nickered a greeting when he spotted her. She called out to the horse as she headed away from the cave they staying in. Serina had chosen a secluded cave near the plains, glad of the knowledge she had learned while at the Labyrinth. She knew that the salt would help hide her location, preventing anyone from locating her through magic.

The ebony warhorse trotted over to her, nudging her gently. In the two and a half months since Serina had been banished from the kingdom, the two of them had traveled far and formed a friendship between them. Serina would be forever grateful to Ralir for giving her the horse. If it hadn't been for the horse, she imagined that she would have gone insane for the lack of companionship. She sighed heavily, wondering how the others were doing. She missed them fiercely, even the goblins. A tear slipped down her cheek as she thought about the way things had ended for her.

Suddenly angry, she turned and whistled for the horse. Hooves pounding, Renoir raced towards her, picking up on his mistress's sudden tension. The warhorse slipped past her without slowing as Serina reached out and grabbed a handful of his mane. She used his momentum to throw herself up onto his back and together they flew along the edge of the cliffs. She desperately wanted to forget the pain that still haunted her. Pain caused by the Goblin King who had betrayed her.

Serina spent her days watching the clouds roll past the sky and practicing her skills. Even though she was no longer welcome in the Goblin Kingdom, and swore that she would never serve another, she was a warrior at heart. She could not in good consciousness allow her skills with her swords to fade. The day after she had returned from Jancrest, Ralir had shown the melted swords to her. Serina had been horrified at the sight; knowing that it took an immense amount of heat to melt the blades in that manner. Jareth had warned her that the fire magic was destructive, but she had never seen the extent of that power till then. Shortly afterwards, Ralir had presented her with a pair of blades forged in the hottest fires known to the Underground. When she balked at accepting them, he informed her that he'd ordered them from the weapon smith months ago for her. She fingered the razor sharp blades lightly as the sun glinted off them. Each katana blade had been etched with the patterns of flame, while the hilt was wrapped in red and silver silk. The half-fae warrior had been one of her best friends at the castle, understanding the fury and drive she felt better than anyone, including the king.

Whenever she practiced the magic that was growing within her, Serina had to ride several miles away from her cave on the cliffs. Having to go so far to escape the salt mines littering the area unnerved her since it left her vulnerable to being found. It wasn't that she wanted to remain hidden, it was the pain that she knew she would feel if she ever saw her friends again. Vanessa had turned her king away from her, and possibly her friends as well along with the rest of the Goblin City.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

They raced across the plains, the wind rushing through the ebony mane of the horse as Serina's hair flew out behind her like a wildfire. She had woke that morning feeling unusually energized; something was in the air though she couldn't tell what. All she could sense was that something was going to happen soon. A few hours later, Serina allowed the horse to turn back towards their cave. They had rode farther than usual and both were covered with dust and sweat from the hard ride.

Spotting a strange horse standing outside the caves when they rode up, Serina sat up abruptly. Renoir crow hopped to the side when he felt the conflicting signals of his mistress as she tightened her legs while she sat up. Instantly Serina eased up on her leg grip and he settled down. The other horse nickered in greeting to him and he answered back.

Ralir stepped from the shadows that covered the cave and saw his Second sitting atop the massive black warhorse. He had found the horse's tack inside the cave and had wondered if Serina still had him. Now he stared up at the warrior sitting atop the stallion as if she were the goddess who ruled over nature. Serina rode the high-strung stallion without any means of controlling him besides her own body. He couldn't help but smile at the sight. She had changed in the past three months, her hair was longer and brighter, her skin darkened from the sun. It was obvious that she spent her days working with her swords. She was still lithe and graceful, but her muscles were toned tighter than the last time he had seen her. She now carried an air of wildness about her as well, enhanced by the way she sat on the horse. Both looked as if they truly belonged in the wild.

"What are you doing here?"

His smile fell and Ralir looked away. He hadn't really expected her to welcome him, but he hadn't expected such coldness from her either. He sighed, knowing that she was their last hope of saving the kingdom. "For you."

"Why?" Serina wavered between fear and anger. She knew that eventually they would come looking for her, yet was unsure as to how she felt about it.

"It's been nearly 3 months, my lady."

"I'm not your lady anymore Ralir," she interrupted coldly. Ralir shook his head sadly.

"You'll always be my lady, Serina. That hasn't changed despite what happened." He rubbed the back of his head, suddenly uneasy. After a moment he looked up at her and Serina could see the dead seriousness in his eyes. "We need your help, my lady."

She shook her head. "I was banished from the kingdom."

"Jareth and the kingdom are in danger Serina." He hadn't thought she would be this resistant to returning. With a sigh, he stepped forward only to watch as Renoir stepped backwards, his ears flattened back in a threatening manner. Apparently she had bonded with the war horse in a way he had never been able to.

"Apparently you have forgotten exactly who it was that banished me from the Goblin Kingdom. Why in the Underground would I want to help him?" Ralir's eyes widened at the amount of hatred in the woman's voice and he stepped back instinctively as a tongue of flame snaked around her hand. Even the legends had never spoke of fire magic acting in this manner. He hoped that she was still the one in control of the magic and not the other way around. With a sigh, the warrior plunged ahead.

"My Lady, the king is to marry the Lady Vanessa during the full moon in two weeks. Matilda has overheard her talking to someone about killing the king. Vanessa intends to take the throne from Jareth, along with his life the night they are married."

"What business is it of mine? I would say that the two of them deserve each other." Serina snapped furiously, though inside she was torn. If Vanessa took over the Labyrinth, she would be in control of a vast amount of power that could devastate the Underground if used wrongly.

"I understand your anger Serina, but please look at this from our side. Jareth has changed, you saw that for yourself."

"Yes," she hissed, "I watched as he went from being my king and a friend to being my enemy in the space of a week!"

Ralir stepped forward again, ignoring the snapping teeth of the stallion. "Serina, please! We need your help! You know what will happen if the sorceress takes over the Labyrinth. We are risking our own lives to bring you back home."

"Home?" Serina slid off Renoir and stalked towards her old friend. "Home? I was taken from the only home I had ever known, remember? Your beloved king stole everything from me!"

"Serina!" Ralir shouted, finally losing his temper, "You swore an oath to protect the Goblin King and his lands."

"An oath he voided the day he sent me away! My oath meant nothing to him! I meant nothing to him!"

"He gave you everything you wanted!"

"No! He took what he wanted and to hell with what I wanted. If he had given me what I wanted then he would have sent me home months ago instead of keeping me here! He made me care about the kingdom instead! About him!" She spun and stormed away. She had known that this day would come, when the others would eventually find her and force her to deal with everything.

At first Ralir misunderstood what Serina meant, then slowly it dawned on him. After everything they had been through, he found he didn't understand the woman before him at all. He walked over to her and laid a hand on her shoulder, feeling her trembling from the strain she was under. "You have to understand Serina, Jareth would never have hurt you deliberately. Vanessa has put him under a spell. Please, my lady, you must believe me."

"Even if I did believe you, I can never return to the kingdom." He could tell she was torn, and as much as he hated to do so, he would use every advantage against her he could to bring her home.

"Would you return if the Labyrinth granted you protection?" He saw her pause, a flash of longing flashing through her eyes and knew her answer, even if she didn't.