A/N: My thanks to Etsuki-chan, Kelsi78 and Tiraspy for your reviews. They are greatly appreciated :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Labyrinth. All other characters and the storyline are mine.
Chapter 24
"Serina, just go talk to him." Lisae demanded after cornering her as she made her way to the grand hall two weeks later. Serina spun on her heel and stared at her.
"He's still locked away in his rooms?" Lisae nodded sadly. She had tried for days to enter the tower, but Jareth had sealed it against everyone. "Damn him! He should be the one out here running the kingdom, not me!" Serina's eyes snapped with silver fire as she ranted.
"I know dear, but he's suffered a terrible blow. This is the first time anyone has ever taken advantage of him like this."
"I'll deal with him after I finish here."
"Oh dear, the emissary from the west is here today isn't he?" Lisae's eyes widened.
Serina nodded, "Yes and instead of the king greeting them, I'm stuck with it. I'm not even supposed to be here!"
"The Labyrinth refused to allow you to leave again?" Lisae couldn't help but smile to herself. Serina had tried to leave several times the day after she destroyed Vanessa, but the Labyrinth had close off all exits to her. The warrior was trapped within the kingdom despite her banishment. Renoir had been returned to the royal stables, though no one was able to go near the beast without risking their life. Lisae found the entire situation amusing, save the problem with her brother. She dreaded to think of what things would have been like if Serina wasn't there.
"Come on," Serina turned and fluffed her long velvet skirts. It had been surprising to find that everything she had left behind in her rooms was still there and carefully tended. Matilda had welcomed her back with open arms. The elderly woman had cried when she saw Serina. Since Serina had been staying in the castle, Matilda had done everything she could to pamper the young woman despite Serina's protests.
They entered the Great Hall and Serina made her way towards a chair that sat along one of the walls. Kelgar and the others had tried to get her to use the throne, but Serina refused, stating that she had no right to it. Instead, she had asked that a chair be brought in. The delegates were seated before her chair already and they rose when she walked in. Greeting them cordially, she sat down and they began discussing peace treaties and trade agreements.
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"Jareth, open the door." Serina stood outside Jareth's doors two hours later and pounded on the door. She knew he was in there, she could sense him. Suddenly she stepped back and gathered a small amount of energy in the palm of her hand. Calling out that she would tear it down if he didn't open it immediately. After waiting a few moments, Serina hurled the ball against the door. The energy smacked the door hard enough to rattle the heavy wood, but did little damage. It served as warning for the missing king.
Jareth's voice wrapped around her from the other side of the door, "Go away Serina."
"No I will not go away! I am trapped in this kingdom and now thanks to you I'm having to run it! Open the blasted door NOW!" Serina screamed furiously. She slammed a slightly stronger energy ball against the door and it shook in its frame. "Open it now or I will destroy it!"
"Is this how you do things now, Serina?" Jareth snapped as he flung the door open. "Destroy anything that gets in your way?" She stared at him in shock, her third energy ball dissipating into thin air. Jareth's hair hung in lank strands around his face and his face was gaunt. He looked as if he hadn't slept in ages.
"I will destroy the whole damn castle if I have to! What in the Underground do you think you're doing?" Her anger returned and she shoved him in the chest and he staggered backwards. Serina continued to advance on him as he backed away from her. It had been many months since Jareth had seen the woman this riled up and the sight was startling. "You should be out there running your kingdom instead of hiding in here and sulking about some bitch who planned to kill you!"
"Who do you think you are? I am still your king!" His eyes narrowed dangerously.
Serina looked at him for a moment before she busted out laughing. "You? Still my king? I have no king anymore! My king turned against me and banished me from his kingdom! I think that entitles me to talk to you however I want." The air crackled around them as she glared hatefully at him.
"Why are you still here then?" Jareth moved closer to her, curiosity overcoming him.
"Someone had to deal with the kingdom since you were too busy feeling sorry for yourself. Besides, the Labyrinth refuses to let me leave."
"What?"
"Your Labyrinth will not release me! I get as far as the outer wall only to find myself back at the city gates. It refuses to obey my demands now, even though it knows I am no longer part of your kingdom!" He stared at her. The Labyrinth had been obeying her commands? It barely obeyed his commands, and even then he had to threaten it at times!
"How long?" She looked at him in confusion. He growled impatiently, "How long has the Labyrinth been obeying your commands? How long have you been back in my kingdom?"
"I returned four days before the night I saved your sorry ass. Other than letting me leave the kingdom, it has continued to obey me." She turned and walked to the window. "So all in all, it's been close to three weeks. Two of which have been spent trying to run the kingdom since neither Ralir or Kelgar would even consider it. Even your sister refused!" She spun and paced the room, "I know I'm not welcome here, so if you'll tell the Labyrinth to release me, I'll leave immediately."
She turned to look at him, only to find his sitting on the edge of his bed in stunned silence. Serina was uncertain as to what to do. Slowly, she approached Jareth and laid her hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. Jareth looked up at her with sad eyes, his entire body limp with exhaustion. Neither spoke as he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face against her stomach. Serina stood there and held him tightly, wondering what would happen next.
"Don't go."
His voice was so quiet that at first she thought she had misunderstood him. She started to pull away from him only to feel his arms tighten. "What did you say?"
He burrowed his head deeper into her stomach, "I will not beg, Serina. The kingdom needs you." This time she pulled away and took a few steps back, watching him.
"No, your Majesty." She turned and walked back to the window. "I can't stay here. I was banished from the kingdom in case you forgot."
Jareth sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face as he stood up. He walked up behind her and slid his arms around her waist. Serina tensed as he buried his face in her hair against her neck and sighed. "Serina, I made a mistake when I sent you away."
"What said is said." She interrupted.
"And what's done is done." He breathed in her scent, "I was wrong to banish you. If I had been able to do so, I would have tracked you down and brought you back myself."
"That may be so, your Majesty, but it changes nothing. I only returned because Ralir said the kingdom was in danger."
"So that was where Ralir had disappeared to for so long." She spun to face him, pushing him back away from her, the flames leaping into her eyes.
"Touch him or the others and you will regret it, your Majesty."
"Relax, my kitten, I would never hurt them for bringing you back to me." Tears came to her eyes when he called her kitten. She hadn't realized how much she missed him calling her by that horrid nickname. She stiffened her resolve though, knowing it had to been nothing more than a slip of the tongue.
"I'm not back, your Majesty."
"Since when did you start using my title when we were alone?"
"Since I was no longer under your rule." He closed his eyes and lowered his head with a sigh. "Serina, please." She looked at him sideways.
"What?" He led her over to the settee and sat her down.
She watched as he knelt before her, arching a brow. "Serina, please, I do not want you to leave. If it takes the Labyrinth to keep you here then so be it." He grabbed her hands before she could move. She looked at him with hard eyes.
"You would keep me here against my will again? No, I will not put myself in the position of being hurt again." She stood up and stormed to the door. "You hurt me Jareth. I will not give you the chance to do it again." He sat there on the floor, staring as she slammed the door behind her. Never before had he felt such regret.
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Serina slapped her hands against the wall as she screamed in rage. He actually thought she would willingly stay! After she had stormed from Jareth's rooms, she had returned to her own, avoiding everyone. Those she couldn't avoid had turned tail and run when they spotted the pure rage that showed in her eyes. Finally, Serina had had enough. She stormed from the castle and went straight to the training pens.
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Jareth had heard Serina's raging screams and knew that he was the cause of her anger. For once, he wished that the volatile woman had taken her anger out on him. Anything to show that she cared. He still didn't know exactly how everything had happened, except that the sorceress had poisoned his mind. He had to find some way to convince her to stay.
He dropped a crystal at his feet, using magic to clean himself up and change clothes quickly before transporting himself to the throne room. Thankfully only Kelgar was in the throne room when he arrived. The healer looked fearfully at the estranged king for a moment and relaxed when Jareth granted him a slight nod.
"It's good to see you again, your Majesty." Jareth grinned suddenly and Kelgar grew nervous. They were all expecting retribution for bringing Serina back from her exile.
"Rest easy, my friend." Jareth caught the look of worry in the elf's eyes. "Where is she?"
"I-I don't know, your Majesty. She came through here and left without saying a word." He knew very well who the king was looking for, though he wasn't sure why. A sudden scream ripped through the air and both men raced for the window. Looking down, they saw Serina dressed in her armor, fighting a group of minotaurs and a much larger demonic looking minotaur. Ralir burst into the throne room, gasping for breath and white as a sheet.
"Your Majesty! What happened? Serina ordered everyone to vacate the training pens and threatened to kill anyone who stayed behind." Ralir panted.
Serina darted away from the minotaur's massive axe and scrambled to her feet. It roared in challenge and it turned to follow her movements. Her katanas arched around her, trails of flame in their wake as the creature tried to land another blow. Jareth ran into the yard and yelled for Serina as he threw crystals at the minotaur. She screamed for him to get out of the way when she heard his voice, fear taking over as she ran towards the beast. Mentally, she cursed at his stupidity for endangering himself when he had never fought a creature like this before. Determined to keep the minotaur from going after Jareth, she attacked the creature furiously.
He watched in silent horror as the creature used its massive arms to capture her. His heart stopped at the thought that she was going to be killed by this demonic creature and knowing full well it was her anger at him that drove her to summon the beast. He fell back when a roar ripped from the beast's throat as Serina's body burst into flames. She dropped to the ground in a kneeling position and watched over her shoulder as the minotaur went up in flames.
A gust of wind swept across the yard, sending the dust and ash into a maelstrom. Finally the wind died down and Jareth watched as the dust cleared to reveal Serina covered with blood, soot and dust, her mirrored armor dulled from the filth. The swords were still in her hands, though the flames were now low. Head bowed, Serina merely knelt there attempting to catch her breath and regain control. Finally, after several minutes she took a step forward, her face completely blank. She walked blindly past the Goblin King and continued straight into the castle, her eyes lifeless. Jareth turned to watch as she left, and finally he followed behind her after casting one more glance over his shoulder to her battlefield.
When he entered the castle he found Ralir waiting for him. "Where did she go?" Jareth asked in a shaken voice. Ralir pointed up, indicating that Serina had retreated to her chambers again. With a sharp nod, Jareth followed the stairs and corridors that would lead him to Serina's chambers.
"My Lady! You must allow me to see to your wounds." Kelgar ranted through the heavy door. The man's yells drilled painfully through the king's head and the man continued to pound on the door, demanding entry. Jareth dropped a weary hand on Kelgar's shoulder, the man jumping at the contact. The king reached out and sent a tiny jolt of magic through the lock and opened the door. "Thank you, Jareth," the healer said as he rushed through the door and looked around for the woman. "Serina? Where are you child?"
Jareth's head jerked up sharply at the healers question and glanced around. Panic filling him, he began searching the room. "Serina!" The fear in his voice was evident as he lifted the unconscious woman in his arms and laid her in the bed. Serina had collapsed on the other side of her bed. She whimpered slightly and Jareth froze, suddenly feeling the sticky wetness on his arm. "Kelgar, hurry!"
They removed her armor and rolled her to her side and Jareth paled when he saw the wound. There was a gash across her shoulder clotted with dirt and her hair. Jareth cleaned the wound with his magic as the healer sent her into a deeper sleep and prepared to stitch the wound closed. "She'll be fine, your Majesty. Though I would recommend she not be moved for a while."