Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used in the movie, Labyrinth. But everyone else is mine ;)

Act III

Chapter 27

It was the beginning of dusk in the Underground. The sky had turned from crimson to a dark wine. Everything was shadowed as the source of light began to extinguish. But in the garden of the castle beyond the goblin city there was glow that tore through the Labyrinth. It cast a menacing tone as an army began to assemble. An army filled with creatures never seen by mortal eyes. Creatures both dark and powerful, wielding the power to destroy solid rock with one blow. Rows of these large creatures lined up in the garden awaiting orders from their leader. At the head of each row were Fae soldiers awaiting their own orders from the one who would rid the Underground of those deemed unacceptable.

A hauntingly dark and beautiful Fae approached the army. His long hair rolling in waves about his lean profile. The long black cape he wore barely reached the floor as the wind began to whip it around making him look as if he had stepped out of someone's darkly erotic nightmare. With a small gesture they all fell silent and watched mesmerized as the Fae began to speak.

"My soldiers, we are at war. At this very moment the one the prophecy spoke of is in the Underground. The mortal pure of heart and triumphant against the greatest challenge in our world is here roaming the very soil we all tread upon. I will not allow this mortal to become Ruler of the Labyrinth. The young female mortal named Sarah will be brought to me. Unharmed. She is mine to do with as I please and I will not have her touched or spoiled by any creature. Is that understood?"

The Fae soldiers kneeled as did the large creatures behind them.

Clearly appeased by their compliance ÆRNAY waved them away,

"Away with you. Do not forget I will not be pleased if my prize is spoiled"

The army turned and marched into the Labyrinth with one single purpose. To capture their target.

Looking out a small window directly above the garden stood Jacob. Thinking of a good excuse that would remove him from the castle. He had to go to her but he did not want to rouse suspicion in his father. Thinking as his feet carried him closer to his patriarch.

"Father, I am going to join the hunt for Sar…I mean the mortal. I do not trust those creatures not to harm her if they are to capture her."

"I'd thought you'd come to your senses about her, my son. The fiery one upstairs would suit you best."

"Yes father but I still do not trust them and you did say she was not to be harmed. I've fed and cleaned up after the mortal upstairs so she would be best left alone. I will return soon father. With your prize."

He bowed and marched to the entrance of the Labyrinth . ÆRNAY watched his son finding it odd that that he had taken the initiative to go after the mortal himself.

"Perhaps my words have finally found a home in his brain. He can be a wicked boy when he puts his mind to it. One day he will serve his purpose." He whispered to himself before turning to go back to the castle.

Sarah was walking through the field of strawberry blossoms absorbing the pink sun light. The wind picked up her long thick hair whipping it about her face and shoulders. There was a sense of peace, lightness, calm. She stepped further to explore her surroundings but found miles of the same endless grass and blossoms in each direction. Her dress became entangled in an invisible obstacle. She stopped and tugged at the fabric trying to free it from its captor. The harder she pulled the tighter it held onto it.

"You must let it go if you are to be free."

She looked up to find Nejin the undine, standing there in the middle of the field with her beautiful dress made of the light fluid material that still moved as if caught in the tide.

"You are out of the water" Sarah's statement was more a question.

The lovely blue creature floated to her as if she were still underwater.

"I am not here", she lifted her hand gracefully to Sarah's head "I am here"

"What? Do I have a strange power to allow you to breathe above ground?" she smiled looking to her feet. She was not touching the ground herself.

"It's a dream!"

The undine smiled at Sarah's realization, "Why would I imagine you here?"

The velvet that was her voice answered, "You feel safe here. After all Jareth has always used this place as a refuge. Why should you not?"

"Why are we here? Is there something you need to tell me?'

"Is there something you want to learn?"

"Nejin, just tell me. There isn't much time and I need to wake up before something happens between…huh, I don't know who."

Nejin looked at the confused Sarah.

"You don't?" Then why did you summon me to you? I think you know exactly who you are confused about." She began to fade, "When you have accepted what is in your heart I will be there. Until then, please do not deny yourself what you truly feel."

And she was gone.

Sarah soon began to fade as well and she was back at the clearing in the Forest of Sorrows with the Goblin King looming over her.

"YOU CHEATID!" boomed Hoggle's voice.

Ludo, Didymus and a few of the goblins were skipping what looked like small stones across a bald patch off to the side of the clearing.

Ludo's voice could be heard soon after, "No cheat. Just play."

Then Didymus came to the defense of his brother at arms, "Noble sir, you have marred my brother's good name. I must insist you take back that insult."

"No ways. I know he cheatid'"

"Dear Sir. Prepare to defend thyself. I will not allow my brother's honor to be called into question." Didymus quickly rushed toward the dwarf, sword in hand.

The Goblin King soon came between the two feuding friends.

"Now is not the time for such foolishness. We need to keep a clear head." His comment diffused the confrontation and so he turned to look for Sarah.

But what he did not see was Hoggle's browned tongue shoot out directly in the direction of Sir Didymus.

She was leaning against a tree with her eyes closed.

He smiled to himself and walked straight to her. Kneeling next to her he noticed the small rise of her chest and her eyes fluttering beneath her closed lids. A small lock of hair lay delicately across her forehead. He easily tucked it behind her ear. His fingers tingled at the mere touch of her warm skin and his heart contracted at the image of his lips grazing the wonderful curve of her neck, the mischievous gleam in her eye as he lay on top of her not too long ago for her protection, and a dance where he held her long ago. She was but a child but even then he knew she was much more special than even he realized. He longed to taste her perfect berry stained lips, his finger wandered to them as a warning of what was to come. He leaned down to fill his need of her. She began to stir and opened her green eyes. She looked up into his face and he quickly backed away to his kneeling position over her. A small look of disappointment clouded her face a knowing curve of his lip appeared on the Goblin King's thin lips.

"Oh" she sat up alarmed.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Only a short while. I'm not sure how long exactly because I was trying to get this camp ready for …well…sleep. I see, however, that you found no need to wait. I do not think Royalty should need to sleep below a tree and so I've had the warriors and my subjects make you a more suitable rest area. Come."

He took her hand and lifted her to her feet. She was amazed to find a large bonfire in the middle of the clearing illuminating an entire camp. Small tents made out of glittering tree bark formed a large circle around it. The golden light bounced off the glitter of the bark and the canopy above making it the loveliest and most magical place she had ever seen. It was full of light and beauty.

The goblins were dancing and singing around the fire with Didymus, Hoggle and Ludo.

The warriors and the young Sylphs were watching and clapping in rhythm to the goblin's song. It looked more like a party that what it was.

Jareth came up behind her and whispered in her ear.

"Is it to your liking?"

She turned to him and nodded her approval. A huge smile radiating from her face.

"I am glad. I thought perhaps we could use a bit of a distraction."

"I agree. This is wonderful. Thank you, Jareth."

"It is not only for you. It's for me and them. These are the last of my subjects." He looked to his very few surviving charges.

Sarah turned back to the festivities still in awe and began to slowly realize that Myra was no where to be seen.

Without looking to him asked, "Where is Myra and …Paralda?"

Jareth made a point to indirectly watch her reaction. "They are in one of the tents discussing something of great importance I'm afraid."

A small pang of jealousy hit her stomach at the thought of the beautiful, winged Paralda with her friend.

"Well I know everything about Myra so I'm sure she wouldn't mind my interrupting them."

"Yes I'm sure she won't mind" He called after her as she marched off to hunt them down. A strange thought came to him. Perhaps Sarah truly felt something for his friend.

"What does this mean, Paralda? Do I stay here? I'm so confused. What if this Sanpra blames me for what happened or worse?"

"You are an amusing woman, Myra. I've already told you Sanpra is an angel. She is kind and clever and beautiful. She is everything you are. I do remember after she left you up there how heart broken she was. She cried everyday. Jareth was so kind to her and helped her to cope."

Myra's head snapped up to meet his gaze, "Jareth? Do you mean the Goblin King? Are they…you know?"

He smiled, "I do believe they were friends. Nothing more."

"Good because Sarah gets jealous pretty easily. And I don't know if she told you but she's been in love with Jareth since she was 15 years old."

With a forced smile he answered, "Is that so? Well I'm glad to say that Jareth feels the same. It seems that nothing will stand in their way. Except themselves."

"Is something wrong?" Myra saw the unusual reaction he'd had to her comment.

He shook his head and quickly covered his reaction by changing the subject, "I was just thinking about Jacob and Sanpra. You understand that they have a history together and I was wondering about that kiss that you both shared. I must say I was quite surprised by your action."

"Not more than I was I'll tell you that much. But you know what? What surprised me more was that he actually let us go. I didn't think he would. Maybe he actually does feel something for me. Something genuine. I don't know maybe he could even love me. But now that I know what I know I have to wonder if it's because he sees a bit of my mother when he looks at me."

Paralda pulled her into his embrace, "I'm sure he sees what we all see. You are smart, kind, loyal and," he paused while he tilted her face to his, "and breathtakingly beautiful." She smiled a bit uncomfortable by his comment and by his closeness. She breathed in his scent of magic and clean ocean breezes. She couldn't help but hope he would lean a little further but she couldn't possibly have a chance with this breathtaking man. His grip on her waist tightened as he whispered, "The question is what do you feel when you kissed him? When you are near him does your heart beat fierce? Do you feel the world would end if you were not in her arms?"

"Her?" she looked into his eyes as he slowly closed the small gap between them. She could feel the warmth of his lips but could not look away from his mesmerizing eyes. They were perfect gems. Pools of magic that held such genuine tenderness and compassion. She finally closed her eyes and let her arms encircle his waist and allowed him to capture her mouth. He tasted like sweet sugar.

His lips surrounded hers and he lined his body as close to hers as he could.

'Did he make you feel like this?' he sent to her.

She parted her lips to give him full access and he immediately deepened the kiss. She could feel his tongue caress hers softly at first and then with enough force to take her breath away. She could feel his heart beating in his chest sending her entire body to tremble with need and anticipation. His hands began to travel down to her hips where we pressed into her. Warmth enveloped her starting with his point of contact shooting up to her bosom and neck. He reluctantly pulled his mouth from hers and lightly caressed the side of her neck. A small moan escaped her. With a small knowing smile he suddenly released his hold on her. Careful not to let her lose her balance he stayed close to her but his eyes darted about the tent seemingly looking for something. He went to the opening of the tent and closed the flap. He looked to the sunken center of the ground and magically large pillows and throws appeared in the center.

He looked to Myra still standing there all flushed and breathing heavily and motioned for her to meet him on the make shift bed.

She smiled and without hesitation stepped forward without any doubt in her mind that it was the right moment for her to give this man her most precious gift.

Her delicate foot was right at the closest fur throw when a familiar face popped into the tent.

"knock knock, Myra."

"Sarah?" Myra frowned.

"Yup it's me. I was wondering where you two had disappeared to."

Paralda seemed a bit disappointed but still smiled at the intruder.

Politely he stated, "Sarah, Please come in. This will be your tent for the night after all. Now please excuse me I must go and find Jareth to discuss matters of great importance."

'I will be back soon, my sweet' he sent to Myra. He bowed and gave one last longful glance at her before stepping through the opening.

Sarah's bright smile appeared on her face as she fully stepped into the tent.

A/N: I took a little time off to try and rearrange some things in Act 3 that just didn't make sense anymore after all the editing and rewriting of Act 2. I also felt that I needed to catch up on new fan fictions that I have been neglecting to read because this story had taken so much time to complete. I am in awe of the greatness that is AND the amazing amount of talented writers that have recently found their way onto the site. While Act 3 is almost completed I am still in the process of editing and rewriting some scenes and so I can only say that I hope to have the whole story completed in a couple of months time as well as the website with the cast pages. Please have patience with me this is after all my very first fan fiction and it turned out to be far more involved than I thought. But rest assured I have fallen in love with the process and will continue as long as you all keep reading. I also have an original story I am working on over at (please see my bio page for moreinformation) that hopefully will be up and finished before I begin with the sequel to Return of the Ruler.

I am also hard at work lending a hand at editing and brainstorming with westendwordsmith and mcfly85 –their stories are gonna blow your minds! They are by far the most creative and talented minds on this website Kisses and hugs

Wickedgame: Fluff is the best isn't it?

McFly85: Ask and you shall receive.

Calendae: Thank you for your words of encouragement.

Terra Elizabeth: Thank you. I hope you keep reading.

Lhiata: Thanks. You are so sweet!

Battered Child: Thank you. Now that I am back I'll hopefully be updating as usual.