Chapter 13, Those Who Strive

"Cowards! Come out and fight!" Byron's blade followed the movement in the shadows surrounding him. He could hear four, maybe five separate figures circling him. "Enough." He said, conjuring a crystal and smashing it to the ground.

It shattered into an array of bright light, illuminating the forest. The creatures started to scream as the light blinded them. The first leapt out at him, and he slashed it down with one movement. Blood dripped from his blade as he waited for the next.

Jareth scanned the entire castle, but she was gone. He conjured crystal after crystal, but he couldn't trace her. He hoped Byron was close enough.

"Conniving whore." He spat under his breath. He stopped running to catch his breath. Wait, why was he running when he could just teleport? He needed to calm down, to think as clearly as possible. He forced himself to stand still, he was nearly frantic. "There isn't much time...I mustn't waste the little I have." He rationalized. Conjuring another crystal, he poofed himself to the forest where he had spoken to Byron.

Jareth looked around, extremely cautious. He was alone, Byron was no where to be seen. A golden haze hummed through the forest, it was sparkling down into darkness. Byron's spell was wearing off. He knelt down and examined the scene further. There were dark blotches covering the area -blood. From his lowered perspective, he saw something, under a bush. He approached the limp Troll and pulled it from it's hiding spot -it was dead. Jareth pieced together that the blood had stemmed from the dismembered corpse of the Troll laying before him, and that whatever battle had just taken place, was now long gone. He stood, and looked around once more.

A smile creased his lips.

"Byron, how wonderfully clever." As the shimmering light settled, it formed a path. He'd marked a path for Jareth to follow.

He started off at once, zipping through the forest with incredible speed. He wondered how far they had gotten. As he ran, he saw dark blotches staining trees and bushes. He hoped he could get there in time.

"Pitiful." Byron said, pulling his sword from the last of his combatants. After slaughtering the first lot, the rest had taken off into the woods. He left a marker for Jareth, searching after the remaining band of Trolls. He was thankful that they were not a highly intelligent race, leading him straight to the mouth of a cavern in which he assumed held Sarah.

He winced as he drew back his blade. There was a deep gash in his right arm, but he pushed the pain away. He stood, looking upon the dark entrance. He conjured another crystal, and held it out in front of him. He let it go, and it hovered before him. He stepped into the shadow, and the orb started to glow, lighting the way. He thought a moment, there were two tunnels.

Sarah sat on the damp stone floor, with her back against a wall. Every time she'd made an attempt at moving from the light of the torch, she was met by a small entourage of snickering creatures, herding her back against the wall, only to disappear into the shadow once more.

She felt odd, as if her stomach had grown an extra fifty pounds. A cold sweat had glazed her skin. She was panting, and focused hard to maintain her composer.

"I'm just afraid, it's just nerves. I'll be fine." She told herself, trying not to worry about her physical state. her panting grew. her chest moved up and down uncontrollably. She shut her eyes and used every ounce of strength not to break down. "Jareth, where are you?" She asked nothing.

Her eyes darted up when she heard something, a door? She grew more rigid when she heard the echo of footsteps.

"Who is there?" She demanded, trying to stand. She was answered by a familiar snicker.

"Oh, your Highness. Please, down get up on my behalf." Said a snarky feminine voice. Sarah winced in the darkness.

"Serena?"

Byron moved swift and practical, maneuvering his way in and out of various tunnels. He left behind small markers to indicate which direction he'd taken.

He stopped. He heard something. Looking to the side, he saw there was a tunnel. Sensing there was something at its end, he turned and started walking, drawing his blade as he did so.

"Aw, my lady, you don't look so good." Serena teased. Sarah was growing more and more exhausted, something was happening, she could barely keep her eyes open.

"Why are you doing this? What have I ever done to you?" Sarah asked, residing to take her seat on the ground once more.

Serena stood just inside the rim of the light, staring down at the Goblin Queen with distaste.

"My dear mortal, you have ruined everything." She sneered. Sarah looked up. "You should have just let things be, at least you might have lived." She spat. Sarah tried to think of what she was talking about.

"What are you talking about Serena." Sarah demanded. Serena gave a huff, turning her nose up at her.

"Everything was turning out so well. Jareth would abdicate the throne, then die because of you. It was a brilliant plan, if Alasdair could only keep his mouth shut...Never count you chickens before they hatch, I guess." She looked off to the side. "Oh well, where Alasdair failed, I will succeed." She glared down at Sarah's stressing form.

"Alright, what do you have to do with any of this?" Sarah asked, trying to keep the conversation going as long as possible.

"You really know nothing do you? Such ignorance, I wonder why Jareth would chose to have you so blinded. It will get you killed." Sarah said nothing, she was fighting just to stay conscious. "I am Princess of the Troll kingdom, that much I can assume you know. My family is next in line for the throne. With Jareth gone, I would marry Alasdair, and my family will be integrated into the High throne. And then you came, and now he's dead." Serena was finding it hard to maintain control over her ow emotions. Sarah sat, and thought.

"You didn't love him, you couldn't or you'd be dead. You were using him, slut." Sarah tacked on. She knew she shouldn't have said it, but things weren't looking good either way. She might as well show some backbone. Serena looked abashed to say the least.

"You dare insult me? In your position? Stupid mortal, you would rule the day if you live until tomorrow. I don't know if you've looked around, but what do you think is happening? You're going to die right where you are sitting. And I'm going to start by cutting those abominations out of your gut." She flailed. "Still feel like giving me petty insults?" She finished. Sarah's breathing had become hoarse and heavy, she focused hard to give a response.

"Jareth's going to cut your head off like the squawking chicken you are." She said, tilting her head back against the wall.

Serena's face turned red with rage. She wanted to kill the girl then and there, but her pride got the best of her.

"You realize your precious Jareth has no idea where you are? Even if he did find this place, it's a maze. He'd never find you. You think I just plopped you in here? I have an army roaming these tunnels. Don't forget, I am a Fae as well. His magic won't work here." She started to laugh to herself.

Suddenly, there was a crash. It echoed though the room, growing louder and louder. Both Serena and Sarah whipped their heads to the door.

"Are you sure?" Sarah retorted.

Serena looked to the shadows.

"You, go. Kill whatever you find, make sure he doesn't enter this room." And with that, a group of Trolls made their way through the door and towards the mysterious ruckus.

Byron found himself alone, standing in a dark room. He knew he heard something, he knew there was something watching him. The crystal floating in front of him shone brighter, lighting up more of the room. He drew another sword and stood firm, ready to fight. The walls were lined with the scraggly forms of Trolls. There were dozens, crawling along the stone, watching him. Without waiting, he sent the crystal higher in the air, and it exploded, covering the trolls with gold sparkles. For a moment, nothing happened. But, with the snap of his fingers, the dust ignited, burning the sorry creatures. They screamed and hollered, falling to the floor in agony. Some came after him, hurdling there flaming bodies at him. He slashed and dodged, striking down as many as he could.

He was swift and nimble, but there were too many. The sleeve of his jacket caught fire, along with one of the legs of his pants. He patted down the flames, and was caught by one of the Trolls. It slashed and clawed, ripping at his flesh.

He grabbed the creature by the neck, throwing it to the side. He jumped back, and staggered. He fought and fought, and still they came. The room smelled of charred flesh and the walls were damp with blood.

His spirits heightened when he realized the numbers were starting to dwindle, but he was tired. He had burns along his limbs, and deep gouges throughout his body. There was a cut on his head, blood had started dripping down his face, stinging one of his eyes. He clamped it shut, there was no time to orient himself.

Just when he thought he was upon the last of his foes, a small hoard entered through a hole in the wall. Serena must know I'm here, if she's sending reinforcements. I must be getting close. He thought.

"Hear all those screams? That's your army dying." Sarah said, mustering a weak smile. Serena started to fidget. She heard the shrieks just as well as Sarah did, she was running out of time. She looked down with a cold stare.

"It seems I have to kill you now, then." She said, taking a step towards Sarah.

She hadn't noticed the screams had stopped, she hadn't heard the footsteps as they approached. She reached out and grabbed Sarah by the hair, yanking her up. Just then, there was a crash through the door.

Jareth made his way through the forest, and was now standing at the mouth of a large cave. There were trickles of blooding along the ground. He had a sick feeling of who it belonged to. We will succeed Uncle. Sarah, I will find you. He thought. He continued to follow the path his uncle had left for him. As he ran, he grew slower and slower. He knew he shouldn't be tired, but he was feeling more and more exhausted. he knew what it was, but wouldn't believe it. No, she's not dying. She can't. He felt their bond weakening. He would die without her. He couldn't let that happen, he had to -he would save her. He started running again, leaping over dead Trolls as he neared where he hoped Sarah to be. He stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a scream.

Sarah's eyes widened when she saw it was Byron who burst down the door. Serena released her grip on Sarah's hair, moving into the shadows.

"Kill Him!" She shrieked. The remaining trolls emerged from their hiding places, lunging at him.

"Byron!" Sarah screamed.

He was so close, he'd found her. She was alive. His spirit was on fire, he would be victorious. He slashed and jabbed and tore at the Trolls. Sarah watched with terrified hope as Byron struck down the first Troll. Her smile slowly turned to a look of worry as she saw just how worn he was. His swinging held less and less momentum, and his grip slipped from the slick river of blood gliding down his arm. Tears swelled in her eyes, as she sat helpless.

Serena was in a panic, she wouldn't let it end so quickly. She pulled a knife from her dress, and crept through the shadows. Sarah was too distracted to notice she'd come up right behind him. The moment she saw the glimmer of the blade, it was too late.

"BYRON!" Sarah screamed, a sound so frightening and helpless, it echoed through the entire cavern.

Tears streamed down her face, she tried to move, to run after her, but couldn't. Byron stood, and looked to Sarah. A look of lost love and defeat on his face.

"Sarah...I am sorry." He said. And then it was silent. His eyes stared into hers, but they were blank, gone.

"No!" Sarah cried, shrieking as she watched his limp body fall to the floor.

Serena pulled the blade from Byron's back, sneering at the blood that dripped from it. She was about to laugh, about to take a step towards Sarah. Sarah shut her eyes, unable to control what was happening. She couldn't move, couldn't escape. Byron was gone, and Jareth was no where to be seen. She was going to die, and her children would never even take their first breath.

She waited, but nothing happened. She heard a thud, and a gurgle. She opened her eyes and gasped. Serena had been thrown against a wall, with a knife plunged into her heart. On the other end, stood Jareth, with his hand around her neck. He snarled at her. Fire shot out his eyes, as he twisted the blade further into her chest. She dropped her knife, and her mouth fell open as blood bubbled up through her throat. She stared at him, and he watched as the life left her eyes. He grabbed her by the hair, and through her against another wall.

Sarah's heart was racing, threatening to pound out of her chest. Her eyes were glued to Jareth, unable to believe he was really there. He stood with his back to her, trying to control his rage. Sarah's eyes grew heavy. The rush of adrenaline she'd just had was wearing off. It was over, so suddenly, it was over. Her vision grew foggy as she watched Jareth rush to her side.

He crouched beside her, engulfing her in an embrace just lose enough not to crush her. Tears of anger and relief ran down his face. He clung to her, refusing to let go. Sarah tried to lift her arms to return his embrace, but found herself unable. Her heart was pounding so hard it hurt. Her breathing escalated once again, and she started to let lose small cries of pain.

"Sarah." Jareth said, pulling away from her. Her eyes were clamped shut, trying to focus on the pain.

He pulled his hands away, to give her room to breath. He felt something, wet on his hands, and looked down. He was completely aghast, when he saw she was drenched in blood.