Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Labyrinth. All other characters and the storyline are mine.
Chapter 23
The skies were clear that night as fireflies and faeries danced around the courtyard. The entire city had turned out to witness the wedding and coronation ceremonies. Dwarves, goblins, elves and a variety of other creatures enjoyed the feasts that had been prepared for them. Music floated across the courtyard and gardens, allowing the guests to dance as they pleased. Jareth and Vanessa sat on gilded thrones located on a raised dais near the castle.
Finally, an aged priest in flowing white robes stepped forward and commanded everyone's attention. All eyes turned towards the king and his soon to be wife. Jareth rose to his feet and held a hand out to Vanessa, who took it and rose gracefully. Together they stepped forward as the priest turned to face them. After bowing to them, the aged man began the ceremony by reciting an ancient tale that told of a king's love for his queen.
Serina waited just inside the Labyrinth, until the priest finished the tale. She mounted the warhorse when the signal from the Labyrinth came and rode into the city. The only sound heard was that of the priest's voice, still droning away. Not even Renoir's hooves made a sound against the cobbled streets as he pushed through the crowds before them. As people began noticing the warrior woman on the ebony beast, they moved aside to allow them passage. Not even the guards attempted to stop them as she rode towards the dais. Once they reached the dais, Renoir stopped and stood silently behind the priest who didn't realize they were there. Jareth spotted the mounted rider and tried to see beneath the cloak that concealed the rider's identity. Vanessa ignored the rider though and squeezed Jareth's arm where her hand rested.
"Be there any here who would speak against the union of King Jareth and Lady Vanessa?" the priest quoted. He paused for the traditional moment before starting to continue. However he was interrupted by the rustle of a cloak behind him and hot air blasting his back. With wide eyes, the priest turned to look behind him and paled as he fell back a step. A huge horse, blacker than night stood before him carrying a flaming haired woman dressed in armor that stared down at him with flaming eyes.
"I protest this union." Her voice rang clearly across the courtyard, sending murmurs rippling in its wake. Jareth's eyes widened in surprise while Vanessa's narrowed with rage. Serina stared at them both and held her ground as the horse beneath her pawed viciously at the cobbles.
"W-who are you?" the priest stammered, completely terrified.
"I am Lady Serina Vaelden, sworn to protect both king and kingdom, chosen by the Labyrinth as its protector and champion." Her voice was steady as she continued to stare at the king and sorceress. "I will not allow this ceremony to continue."
"Serina…" Jareth stepped forward, pain flashing through his eyes.
"Silence!" Serina snapped, raising a flaming hand in the air. Her hair whipped around her like living flames as she studied the king who had betrayed her. Jareth's grew angry, no one dared speak to him in that manner. Vanessa pulled back away from him, suddenly terrified of the wild woman before them. Never had she seen anyone command fire magic in that manner. Emerald eyes turned pure silver turned towards the king's fiancé. "I shall deal with you later Goblin King. For now I want her."
"Why?" Jareth stepped between Vanessa and the enraged warrior, determined to protect his love.
"I swore an oath, Goblin King. Though I am banished from your side, my oath still stands. The Labyrinth does not wish this woman to be queen. It does not wish your death by her hands."
"This is madness you speak!" Vanessa hissed suddenly. Somehow, her plans had been discovered and whoever knew had brought this warrior back to the kingdom. She would deal with the warrior and then whoever was behind this. The Goblin Kingdom and it's Labyrinth would be hers.
"What are you talking about Serina?" Jareth glared at her angrily.
"Exactly as I said King Jareth. Your bride intends to take control of the Labyrinth and the kingdom, along with your life this night." Horrified whispers filled the air around them as those gathered heard the exchange.
"Who told you this?"
"It matters not how I know. What matters is the safety of the Labyrinth and its king. I challenge the Lady Vanessa to battle."
"You're mad! A woman does not fight with swords like a man. She would not stand a chance against you!" Jareth was not about to let his future queen battle this warrior, it would be suicide.
"I do not need swords to destroy this creature," Vanessa whispered to him. "I warned you that she would be a danger to us."
Jareth turned to look at Vanessa, "My love, I can not allow this. Serina will surely kill you!"
"No. I will destroy her once and for all. Then we can put this mess behind us and live our lives without fear." Jareth smiled at her, though his eyes reflected his worry.
"I cannot allow it my love, I will fight her instead." he stared into the blonde's eyes, unwilling to let her go against Serina. Not when he knew how the warrior fought.
Neither saw Ralir and Kelgar step forward until they grabbed the king's arms and pulled him back. Serina slid off her horse, casting her cloak completely aside. The torch light reflected off her armor and awed silence filled the air. Slowly, Serina walked up the dais steps and stood before the sorceress. Ralir and Kelgar held Jareth a few feet away at the edge of the dais. Serina held up her hands, one wrapped in flames and the other in streaks of lightening.
Vanessa backed away from the woman, trying to devise some way to get away from her. Almost as if Serina was reading her mind, she warned that there was no escape. Desperate, Vanessa threw a bolt of magic at Serina, who merely waved the hand covered in flame and batted the attack away. At the same time, she retaliated with a ball of pure energy. The orb hit Vanessa in the stomach and sent her flying backwards. Jareth struggled against the hands that held him in place as he shouted for Serina to stop. She turned and looked at the king with cold eyes for a second before lifting her hand again twisting it. Another ball of energy formed in her palm and she flung it at the sorceress. Repeatedly, they threw spells at each other, Vanessa taking most of the damage as the Labyrinth shielded Serina from the attacks. Finally, the sorceress fell to her knees before the warrior.
"I surrender!"
Serina sneered down at the battered woman, "Admit to your crimes against the crown!"
"I have committed no crime."
"Confess!" A sphere of fire hovered in the air above Serina's hand as she glared down at the woman.
"Alright! I cast a spell on the Goblin King so that he would fall in love with me. I forced him to banish you. Jareth was to die tonight after I was crowned queen! I wanted the power of the Labyrinth!" Stunned silence surrounded them.
Serina stepped back and glanced towards the king who stood there in shocked silence. "You have confessed to treason against the crown with the intention of murdering the king." She turned and gazed out over the crowd, "You know the punishment of treason Lady Vanessa." The ball of flames grew in size as it shot towards Vanessa. Screams of pain and terror rang out as the fireball enveloped the sorceress. A moment later the flames died away and silence filled the air. A gentle breeze wafted across the ground and scattered Vanessa's ashes across the kingdom.