Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used in the movie, Labyrinth, even though I do in my dreams. But that's another story in itself.

Chapter 25

Jacob was still standing on the very spot where he and Myra had shared a kiss waiting for the soldiers to catch up to him.

"Lord Jacob. Have you seen the sylph leader?" one said bowing.

"NO. I have not. I am appalled at you all for allowing this to happen. I want every room in this castle checked. All but the mortal girl's room. I will check that one myself. You are to report back to me with any progress."

"Yes, my Lord." Once again bowing before leaving the room.

Jacob's features relaxed and soon became a knowing grin. Somehow everything looked different even the dirty, rotting castle. It was like someone had lifted a dark veil from his eyes and his heart. He'd never had this feeling that ran into the depth of his entire being. All he could think of was protecting Myra, helping her in any way he could.

He heard the clicking of heals on the marble floor and turned. His father stood before him.

"Why are you so happy?" ÆRNAY sneered.

"No reason father. Has he been found?"

"Of course not. I'm going on a flight over the Labyrinth to try to spot them while the guards check the castle. I would ask you to join me however; I remembered that you do not have a spirit animal. Yet another one of your many deficiencies." He turned and transformed into a black crow leaving Jacob to stare after him.

As he watched his father take flight all he could manage to see was Myra's beautiful face as she turned one last time before disappearing into the gardens. He couldn't help but allow the feeling to capture his features.

Jareth still held a drained Sarah on the ground. He caressed her hair with one hand but the other remained around her shoulders.

"Sarah, may I ask you a question?"

She lifted her tear stained face and nodded.

"When did you start calling me Jareth?"

She couldn't help but laugh.

"Do you really want to know?" she sniffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

"I think it was around the time I returned from my first visit. I don't know if you knew this but I was afraid of you on my first visit."

"Were you? You could have fooled me. I assumed that you feared nothing besides being yelled at for losing your baby brother." He smirked at her.

Ignoring him she continued, "When I was at home after everyone had left I started to rethink everything I did. Right there at the end when you …said what you said I was so focused on getting Toby back and playing the game that I didn't hear or understand you. I decided right then and there that I would put away all my childish things including that doll I had of you on my vanity."

"Doll? I do not remember a doll made in my likeness. I do, however, recall a quite handsome action figure."

"I should've known you wouldn't be able to help yourself." Playfully slapping him away.

"I am sorry. Come back. I promise to be good. For bit." That last part was but a whisper so she had not heard it but she did catch the mischievous twinkle in his eye and his uplifted eyebrow. She knew she was in trouble because she knew she could not refuse him anything. She again leaned against him and continued," Anyway, after abut a week I realized that I missed...the action figure. I would fall asleep thinning about you guys."

"Who are us guys exactly?"

Sarah felt his grip tightening around her waist. She could barely concentrate with his arms around her. His breath warming her forehead, his scent wafting around she felt dizzy and felt the need to get up and away from him.

"What's wrong Sarah? Am I making you uncomfortable?" he flashed his delightfully naughty grin. With her back to him, "Of course not. I just…needed to walk around a bit. You know all of you. Hoggle, Didymus, Ludo. I knew I wasn't afraid of you anymore. But I was curious."

"Of what my dear?" pretending to be interested in the grass below his boots.

She was amused at his avoiding looking into her eyes, "I wanted to know if you would come to me if I called you by your given name. But you didn't." She tilted her head in thought, "I thought you were angry with me for sure."

He was so taken by words that he did not notice the two warriors appear through the opening behind the snowflake waterfall.

"Your majesties." They both bowed before flying over tot hem. Sarah turned almost surprised that they were not the only two people in the world. It was so easy to feel that way with Jareth.

She smiled at her friends, "I've found him." Even though she wished they had a few more moments alone together.

"Yes your majesty. And so we must go to the Forest of Sorrows to meet with the others. Paralda will have rescued the younglings by now."

"Wait. There is something I Must do."

They all turned to Jareth as he removed his amulet from his neck and handed it to Sarah. "For your friend, my queen."

She quickly ran to him wrenching it from his hand only to replace it around his neck.

"Don't you dare make this decision for me." her arms held tightly she looked into his eyes as hers filled with moisture.

The two warriors looked to each other. Sielke sent to her brother, 'Let's give them am moment.' Pulling him away from the scene.

They were silent and unmoving for what seemed an eternity with only the sounds of their beating hearts.

"I must do this for you. I…owe it to you." He said pulling her arms from around his neck.

"What do you mean? Owe it to me, how?

"Oh Sarah. I pulled you into this world. I forced you here…"

"No. I was meant for this. I know that now. I felt it. Except that somehow I knew it all along. I dreamt this. I dreamt you. When I was 15 I knew who you were even if I had not read that book. I would've known who you were the instant I saw you. The Labyrinth only confirmed something I already knew."

"The Labyrinth? It spoke to you? How? What did it say?"

"It said that the High King was going to die. There is nothing to be done for him. It was all predestined. It said its main purpose for these last hundreds of years was to find a new Goblin Queen. Now that the Goblin King would be named High King."

He quickly turned from her.

"That's not possible. My father can not die."

Sarah's hand was at his shoulder.

"I can see that you are very close to your father. I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that so bluntly." She felt him stiffen and when he turned she saw the stoic and emotionless face she's remembered from her youth.

"You are not to talk of my father again. Are we understood?"

She nodded as he walked past her. "Good, then I suggest you put on your dress and we should go to meet the others."

Confusion was clearly written on her face as she turned to look at him. She suddenly remembered that she was in pantaloons and a camisole. Her hand and arms instinctively crossed over her front as she ran for her dress that still sat in a pile on the side of the pink pond.

Ludo, Didymus, Hoggle, Briegal, Konile and a few Goblins they found along the way were walking through the tunnels toward the Forest of Sorrows. Myra had been silent the whole journey trying to sort out what had just happened. Jacob had let her go. It shouldn't have surprised her. She had felt goodness buried in him. What did surprise her most was her own reaction to him. She was touched by his comment where only a few days ago she would have been offended by it.

Paralda watched the lovely red head battling with her emotions. AND even heard some of her thoughts. She had not said a word since they'd left the castle. Actually not since the confrontation with Jacob. He hadn't anticipated that the girl would return those feeling for Jacob. Now he was conflicted with himself. Should he reveal that Jacob's deep affection for her was his doing? She may be hurt. However, he had only built upon Jacob's own true feelings. He did feel for this girl. And he could see why. Aside from her beauty, she had an air of confidence about her, much like Sarah's. He wondered if she was as lovely as Sarah on the inside as well.

His thoughts were interrupted by Hoggle, "If we go down this tunnel we'lls be at the Forest of Sorrows in a short while."

"Are you certain? The Forest is at the Northwestern border of the Labyrinth."

"Yup this tunnel takes us directsly there."

"The Labyrinth? Are we underneath it?" Myra seemed to have come out of her trance.

"Yes. Have you not seen it?" Briegal inquired.

"No I don't even remember how I got here. I was unconscious."

"You did not say the words?" Asked Konile.

She shook her head.

They all stopped and looked at Paralda who had a far off look in his eyes. He sent to them all except for Myra, 'Go on ahead. We will follow behind. I have a feeling about his one."

Myra watched as they all went on without them.

"Where are they going?" She asked turning to the sylph leader.

He seemed as if he was waiting for them to be out of earshot.

She was confused and more than a little intrigued. He finally looked at her, the corners of his mouth lifting, "Tell me Myra. Are you "special" Aboveground?" Her eyebrows caved in at the inner corners, "what do you mean?"

He began to walk around her. Circling, trying to figure out the proper procedure in which to explain his suspicions.

"Are you considered an outcast? Have you ever felt that you did not belong up there?"

"Doesn't everyone? But I guess you can say so. Yes. What are you getting at Paralda? You're acting weirdo. Just tell me. I'm a big girl. I can take it."

He sighed, "I'm not so sure you can. I'm not certain of this yet. I will need to look into your inner being, with your permission of course to make sure."

"This doesn't have anything to do with our clothes ending up piled in a corner does it?" her sarcasm returning. Paralda was confused by her comment.

"What? No. No." finally getting her meaning he began to laugh.

"I would however need to touch you. May I?"

She quickly nodded as he lifted his hand to her right cheek.

His fingers easily slipped into her hair. His touch was like a soft breeze that caressed her delicate cheek. Her eyes began to close as she received an image. One that both she and Paralda shared.

A beautiful red haired woman wrapped in a man's embrace. She pushed him away a she spoke. "It will mean war fro our people. I can not do this. As much as I love you. I can not. MY people are being transported underground. I will never see you again."

"I will not live without you. It seems the only answer is for me to go with you."

"No. Stay here with your people. Fall in love. Have babies with a mortal woman. I want only your happiness."

He ran to her to capture her in his embrace once more.

But she pulled away. Turning form him, tears slipping down her cheeks she utters, "I did not know how to tell you this. But you give me no choice. I do not love you any longer."

The man stood frozen in his spot as he watched his love leave him forever. Finally whispering to himself, "Then there is nothing for me here." He walked to the edge of the lovely cliff they were standing on and looked out over the ocean with his last strength he sobbed falling to his knees then into the jagged rocks underneath.

Then there was another image.

The same woman was in the Underground the evidence of this was the crimson sky. She was standing on a lonely hilltop with her back to them. The breeze played with her lovely velvet green dress and long red hair. She turned to walk carefully down the hill that was when Myra saw the small bulge of her abdomen.

And another image.

The woman had a small baby in her arms. She was pale with a shock of red hair atop her beautifully shaped head. The woman kissed the small infant as she placed her in a basket that looked like it was made out of thick glittering vines.

The woman went back to the hilltop carrying the basket and then disappeared. She was standing in the middle of Times Square in NYC. Myra recognized the Giant Cup O Noodles sign in Times Square. She was confused. Ready to go back to the Underground she saw a familiar face. Jacob. "This is the Aboveground. Aren't you glad we left it all behind? And where are we off to Sanpra, with that lovely basket." He walked over to her peering with curiosity. She quickly pulled the basket behind her protectively.

"What is this place? I need to find him."

"Who? You don't mean Josef? Do you? You truly are naïve. You really had no idea how different you both were. Josef is dead. Killed himself on the very day you left. OH Sanpra it was so romantic. Flung himself against the rocks he did." He said in a mocking tone. He watched as tears poured down her cheeks. His face showing small signs of remorse. His eyes followed her slow descent to the ground.

"I'm sorry. 3000 years have past here. I didn't want to cause you to suffer."

"Yes you did." She snapped at him. He stood up with a hurt expression and was gone.

A young couple past the red haired woman. Concerned they went to her.

"Hey are you OK lady?" Can we help?" She turned to them and handed them the basket and disappeared.

The young couple held the basket stunned by what they had just witnessed.

They both looked inside to find a beautiful baby held within.

Myra immediately recognized her parents or who she had believed to be her parents.

Paralda let go of her and stepped back.

"Was that what you'd guessed?" Myra asked the shock apparent in her shaking voice.

He nodded, "Yes, it was exactly what I had guessed. I am sorry that you saw that. I forgot that you would be able to see it as well. Being that you are Fae yourself."

"I'm what?" her eyes showing the extent of her surprise.

"You are Leanan Sighe. Well half anyway. Myra, I know this is a shock but you must have suspected something. Hadn't you wondered how you and Sarah found each other at such a young age? It was only natural that you would seek the other out being that you were both meant for the Underground."

"Whoa cowboy" she nervously began playing with her hair. "So this Sanpra is my…my"

"Your Mother. It would seem so. I thought you looked familiar. You look just like her."

"Did you know her?" continuing to run her fingers through her hair.

"I still do. She's alive and well. After we get to the High Castle I will send for her."

She quickly nodded still pulling her hair. Noticing her distress he gently took both her hands into his.

"You'll be fine. I promise." he placed a kiss on them and she instantly felt calmer.

"Now we should catch up with the others."

"I think Jacob mentioned her before."

"Yes, he does have a history with her. But the important thing right now is for you to ask yourself what are your true feelings for him."

Thanks guys for reviewing and reading my little story. You have all been my drive to finish. The final chapter in Act 2 will be up pretty soon and then I will be taking a break (not too long-I promise). But I will be putting up pictures on my website for this story.