A/N: Has the story been twisted enough for you etsuki-chan? LMAO!

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

Chapter 22

It took them a week to return to the Labyrinth. Ralir felt the first glimmer of hope surface within him as they rode closer to the city, even though he knew there would be questions regarding his disappearance. Only the five of them knew where he had gone and why, and only he knew that his journey had been successful. If the king was to find out, they would all most likely be put to death. They had committed treason against the crown, a crime that was punishable by death. With Vanessa driving the king's thoughts, Ralir knew that nothing would save them. He only hoped that the Labyrinth would hide Serina within it's walls until the time was right.

He glanced over at the woman riding silently beside him and grinned to himself. In the days they had traveled, he had seen even more of the changes in her. Serina had mastered her control over her magic, which had grown by leaps and bounds during her banishment. The fire was a part of her, and if one looked closely enough, they could see it coursing through her veins. Looking into her eyes, they were no longer the pure emerald color he remembered, now they were flecked with silver. She was now able to create energy balls that rivaled her fireballs, leaving the air around her crackling with electricity as it moved through the air.

Even her armor showed the changes she had undergone. Ralir's jaw had fell when she had pulled the suit on that morning. She had polished the silver until it shone like a mirror and somehow reshaped it so that it encased her form more closely. The chest plate barely skimmed the top of her breasts now, leaving a lot of cleavage showing, where before it had covered her fully. The skirt that had once been a part of the suit was now gone, along with the arms and legs of the armor. A silver circlet encircled her head, holding her hair back from her face, while silver bands wrapped around her wrists and biceps. He had never seen anything like it, and worried that she would be vulnerable in a fight.

Even his old horse had changed. Renoir was now extremely protective of his mistress and followed her every commend without the aid of a bridle or saddle. Indeed, the two had formed a bond that the Underground had yet to see before. Often times, anticipating her commands before she even gave them. Ralir had watched them one night, when Serina had been restless. The stallion had approached her from behind and attempted to shove her into the stream they were camping beside. Serina had turned and chased the horse for a few yards before the horse retaliated by chasing her. As he had watched, he witnessed the bond between them in use as the horse thundered past her and she leapt onto his back without either breaking stride. It had amazed the long lived warrior to see them in action and Ralir knew that they would be an asset in any battle.

oooooooooooooooooooo

"I must return to the castle, my lady. I am sure my absence has been noted by now and the others will want to know of your return." Ralir spoke quietly as they entered the path that the Labyrinth opened up before them. "The Labyrinth will hide you from everyone but those who seek to save the kingdom."

"Are you certain?" Serina still had misgivings about staying in the Labyrinth. No sooner had she voiced her question, when a feeling of complete calmness came over her. Her body relaxed against her will and she slumped from her rigid posture for a moment.

Ralir noticed and smiled gently. "Welcome home, Lady Serina." She smiled slightly back at him then glanced around.

"It is good to be back." Slowly she shook her head as her smile faded. "I don't know what I can do, but for my friends and the Labyrinth, I will try." A wave of pride washed over her at that and she chuckled for the first time in months. "I understand, Labyrinth and I swear to do my best to protect you." They turned a corner and entered a small garden area. Ralir pulled his horse up and looked around.

"This is where I must leave you Lady Serina. The Labyrinth will provide all that you need while I am gone." He shifted uncomfortably, "I don't know when I'll be able to return. They others are anxious to see you, but I do not know if they'll be able to enter the Labyrinth without arousing suspicion."

She slid off the horse and sighed, "While it is good to be back Ralir, I am not fully ready to confront everything just yet. I need the time to prepare just as you all do. You will come for me when the time is right. Until then, the Labyrinth will aid me. Not just with what I need, but information as well."

Very well then. Till we meet again, my Lady." Ralir nodded slightly before turning his horse and disappearing back into the Labyrinth."

oooooooooooooooooooo

Jareth bolted upright in his bed, gasping for breath as sweat poured from his body. For the past week, he had been having strange dreams about Serina. He scrubbed a hand over his face and looked down at the woman sleeping beside him, her blonde hair tousled across the black silk pillows. Trying not to disturb her, Jareth slid quietly from the bed and made his way over to the window where he stood staring out over the Labyrinth.

He whispered her name into the darkness only to receive excruciating pain shoot through his head. Clutching his forehead, the king fell against the wall and groaned silently. He knew something was wrong, but the healers could find nothing. He had thought about going to Kelgar, but each time he had gone to the healer that Vanessa had insisted upon bringing in instead. The healer had performed examined him several times, but never found the cause of it. So Jareth had suffered in silence, taking the potions that the healer gave him. As long as he avoided thinking about Serina, his head didn't bother him, though lately thoughts of Ralir and Kelgar gave him pain as well as thoughts of his sister. Fighting the pain, he turned his eyes back towards the Labyrinth and sighed heavily as the cool night air washed over him.

Eventually, Jareth returned to his bed and the woman sleeping in it. Closing his eyes, he failed to see hers open as she smiled viciously in the darkness beside him. Vanessa knew he had been thinking of the warrior woman again, just as she knew that his every thought of her brought him blinding pain. Soon, she thought, soon the pain will cease and everything will be over.

oooooooooooooooooooo

"Where have you been?" Jareth glared at the man in command of his armies. He had been on his way to the throne room and spotted Ralir entering the armory.

"My apologies, Your Majesty, I was unaware that you were looking for me." Ralir fought to keep himself calm. If Jareth found out that Serina was in the Labyrinth, they would all pay dearly. Jareth eyed him carefully, getting the feeling that something was amiss. Lately it seemed as if something was wrong all the time, but he could never figure out what. It was as if his mind was clouded. But with the upcoming wedding and coronation, Jareth was unable to take the time to investigate. This morning was no different.

"You were gone for a week and didn't expect me to notice?" His voice grew cold as he stalked closer to the warrior, "Where have you been?"

Ralir stepped back, unwilling to outright lie to his king yet his only other option was to hurt him and that was something he absolutely could not do. "I…"

"Jareth?" Vanessa called from the throne room, "could you come here for a moment darling?" Ralir watched as a change came over his king, a distant smile crossing Jareth's face as he turned towards the throne room; completely forgetting that he was questioning the warrior.

"What is it, my love?" Jareth's voice drifted from the throne room as he entered. Ralir heaved a sigh of relief as he turned and headed back the way he had come. He had to find the others immediately.

oooooooooooooooooooo

"We heard you were back." Kelgar handed Ralir a mug of ale as they settled down in the back room of the tavern once more. "Was your mission a success?"

"Indeed it was. Our lovely lady is now hidden within the depths of the Labyrinth." He looked at each of them in turn for a moment. "I warn you now however, that there have been some changes in her. Some are obvious and others not so obvious."

"What kind of changes are you talking about, Ralir?" Lisae arched a brow, worried. He reached out and took her hand.

"Do not fear princess, the changes are all good for the most part. Lady Serina is stronger now, both physically and in magic."

"And the Labyrinth will protect her?"
"Yes, that was the only way she would agree to return. She is still hurt and angered by Jareth's betrayal, but she is willing to do what can to protect the Labyrinth. The Labyrinth has welcomed her home and I do not think it will allow her to leave anytime soon."

"Can I go see her?" Lisae whispered hopefully.

"No Princess, there is no way for you to enter the Labyrinth without Jareth finding out. The Labyrinth will keep Serina informed with everything that happens. Until the time is right, we will be unable to contact her directly I'm afraid."

"She is here, that is enough. There is only three days until the wedding and coronation take place." Kelgar looked up, "Are you sure she'll be ready by then?"

"She is ready. The question is, are we ready? We will be committing treason against the throne."

"We're ready to do our part." Lisae and Kelgar said together. They all knew the risks and they were all willing to take the chance.

oooooooooooooooooooo

The Labyrinth rumbled as it shifted. Jareth growled as the sections shifted before him, preventing him from walking freely. He stopped and looked around, getting the feeling again that something wasn't right. It seemed as if the Labyrinth was leading him around in circles.

"Labyrinth? What is going on?" Jareth reached out for his connection with the Labyrinth, determined to get answers. He could feel the Labyrinth shy away from him and he reached out harder. "I demand answers Labyrinth." Slowly, the Labyrinth greeted him with a shimmering sensation. Frustrated, Jareth snarled, "I do not have time for your games Labyrinth. Show yourself!"

A shimmering light converged before him. "Greetings King Jareth. How may I serve you?
"Why have you been leading me in circles? What is going on?"

"You have changed, my king."

"That is not an answer to my question, Labyrinth."

"But it is Goblin King, you have changed and therefore I must change as well. You find yourself traveling in circles in your mind, your life is in confusion."

"There is no confusion in my life. I am getting married in two days to the woman I love. Things could not be better."

"Are you so certain? There is another you loved."

Jareth glared at the Labyrinth. "There is no other." The Labyrinth's energy pulsed and a silvery laughter filled the air around him, echoing across the land.

"As you wish, my king, as you wish. This is a time of change, not just for you, but for all of us who reside within the Goblin Kingdom. Beware the future, Goblin King." The energy dissipated, leaving the king alone again. The walls rumbled again and a path opened before him, leading him back to the city. With a snarl, Jareth stalked down the passage, wondering at the Labyrinth's words.

Serina stepped from the shadows that had concealed her. She had heard what the Labyrinth said to Jareth as well as what he had said and was left completely numb. She wondered again why she had even bothered to return, only to feel a sensation similar to a lovers caress brush across her skin. As the Labyrinth soothed her, determination filled her and she stepped through a wall, vanishing back into its depths.