It was felt throughout the Underground, a deep pulling from the very soil itself. Someone was manipulating the magic in the air and twisting it to a very wrong purpose. As the life giving magic was drained an army of shadow warriors slowly climbed from the ground, each a massive shape of horns, and clawed hands clasping weapons that gleamed wickedly in the odd night. Though these warriors knew nothing of why they were called, they knew what they were called for and soon their numbers multiplied. An army stood in a valley, all eyes focused on a figure before them. The warriors stomped and growled, raised their arms above their heads and bellowed to the sky, but for all of their impatience their will was tied to the single being before them.

Tarrence looked at his blood soaked hands and a smile crossed his face before settling into a determined expression. He gazed at the army before him.
The shadow warriors were truly terrifying. They had the heads of monstrous bulls but the body of a man, but the muscles rippling underneath their black skin would be much stronger. They all carried weapons, some axes, some swords, all sharp enough to do what he wanted them to. He had used so much energy bringing them into existence that the recoil was shaking through him. The land was screaming at him, but Tarrence ignored it all. Soon he would have all that he wanted. His second in command stood next to him on the small hill overlooking the army. "They are magnificient, aren't they?"

Baz nodded in appreciation. "They will be an even match for Jareth's army." An echo of a scream floated on the breeze and both men turned their heads to the sky. "This drained many tonight, didn't it?"

"Yes. And it was worth it." Tarrence's eyes were slightly watery and shook in the dim light of torches. "Can you feel it Baz? The magic I use is trying to shape the Underground for me, making it something worth ruling."

"And Jareth cannot do anything to stop it now." Baz slightly tilted his head and regarded the man next to him. "Does this make you happy, now, Lord Tarrence?"

"Nearly so. As soon as Jareth's body is at my feet, then I shall be happy." The creatures below them stirred as one and Tarrence nodded slowly to himself. "Dawn is soon to come Baz, and we must be ready."

Jareth stood in the heart of the Labyrinth. It was a circular room in the center of his castle and was empty except a single pillar that stood in the middle. That pillar extended down to the very core of the Underground and was the closest one got to 'touching' the Labyrinth. Jareth reached out with all of his might to summon the ancient magic that resided there. He was shaking badly trying to control the anger within him. It seemed that his entire life was being shattered around him. The only two Immortals alive at the moment were about to war against each other, and as much as Jareth loathed Tarrence at this moment, he was still brethren. And much more powerful. He could not hope to save Sarah and the rest of the Underground with his magic at its current level and it angered him further. He would not be brought to his knees by someone who slaughtered the innocent for their blood. He mentally screamed at the Labyrinth and it tentatively touched him back.

"The king is angry..." its whispered voice said.

"And in need of your help," Jareth spoke through clinched teeth. Really, his rage was all encompassing and he was fighting with himself to remain in control.

"Aid can be granted to you...if you shall heal the land."

Jareth nodded. "I will do this, but you must tell me how." Jareth sensed a hesitancy and continued, "What is causing the illness." Jareth got an image of Tarrence surrounded by a black mass that swirled around him. It brought Jareth a moment of shock. "Tarrence is causing this?" Jareth thought a moment and then felt extremely foolish. "Of course. He was using humans, wasn't he,
before he tried his hand on the Immortals." The Labyrinth gave an affirmative in feeling.

"It has corrupted the magic of this land. Once released it began to feed on energy that was similar to its calling. It has been turning the humans, but soon it will spread to all of the creatures Underground. It is up to you to repair it..."

Jareth was amazed. The Labyrinth had never, in all of his existence, given such straight answers to him. "I cannot defeat Tarrence without your assistance."

Again Jareth felt the Labyrinth resist, but remained silent. The room took on a heavy oppressiveness and Jareth got the distinct impression that the Labyrinth was saddened. Before he could say anything he was assaulted by the Labyrinth's presence. It was urgent and confusing and Jareth rocked on his feet before putting his hand out to steady himself.

"Aid will be given to you, but first you must swear.."

Jareth's head was swimming with strange pictures from the Labyrinth. Owls, a fox, a large fury beast, a smallish man, a maze...he had seen these before, but had not understood them. He still didn't understand them. "What must I do?"

"Swear first!"

The Labyrinth was literally screaming at him, not just verbally but mentally and Jareth found it harder and harder to think. The visions continued to swirl around him and he found himself lost in a blaze of images. "Fine," he finally spit out a little breathlessly. He would do anything to stop the spinning around him.

"Say it!"

Jareth found himself kneeling next to the pillar, one hand on the ground one hand on the pillar itself. He had never felt such power from the Labyrinth and wondered fleetingly if he was making a large mistake. But it was harder and harder to think coherently. "Fine! I swear to you, whatever you ask." Immediately the images stopped. Jareth began to take a deep breath, and as he did a force of magic coursed through his body, so strong that he cried aloud. It was unlike anything he had felt before and he found himself overwhelmed. Surely if it didn't stop he would be consumed and burn away. That was how it felt, like he was being burnt from the inside out. A brilliant white light flashed through the chamber and as it faded the pain ebbed. His self awareness returned and Jareth found himself standing in the middle of the room, a slightly heavy weight resting on his chest. He glanced down and saw a strange pendant lying against his skin. He lifted it and examined it. He took a deep breath. The power from the Labyrinth was in him now, he could feel it pulsing beneath his skin, running through his veins. The Labyrinth's presence no longer filled the room and Jareth frowned. He had a horrible feeling that he made a bargain that in the end was going to cause his ruin. He shook the feeling of. The Labyrinth would never do anything to harm him; he held on to that thought and left the chamber.

Didymus had been shocked to see Jareth return without Sarah, and even more surprised when Jareth told him of the up coming battle. Didymus had been unable to pry any real information from his king, who had been distracted and left Didymus confused but with a set of orders to waken the men. Didymus did what he was told and for the last hours of the night Didymus had been busy readying the troops and now he saw them gathered on the outskirts of Dorensae. The ground was littered with camp fires and the soldiers were dressed in their finest. Didymus himself was adorned in battle armor; a silver breastplate, shoulder guards, and bracers, his sword hanging from his hip. He surveyed the men again. None really understood where they were going or even who they were battling, but it had not mattered to any of them. All the soldiers were fiercely loyal to Jareth and the Crown and that was all that mattered. The air next to him shimmered and Didymus moved away in cautious curiousity as Jareth appeared in a burst of glitter. Didymus blinked. Jareth had never appeared like that before and Didymus examined his liege closer. Jareth had always been powerful, but now, seeing him in black leather and black armor, a cape flowing down to the ground, and an icy stare in his eyes, Didymus was left with the realization that this person before him was much more powerful than his king had ever been. He found his voice. "Jareth?"

Jareth met Didymus' gaze for only a split second before returning his yes to the army. "The sun rises soon." He stepped away from Didymus, who followed. Wherever Jareth went the men snapped to attention. Didymus was proud of the army. He continued to walk in silence as Jareth inspected the army. There was nothing that Jareth pointed out that needed remedied, and soon both men found themselves at the front of the army, secluded even though a sea of men spread out behind them.

"Where is the battle?" Didymus asked for no other reason than to break the silence. Jareth's presence had never seemed so strange before, almost like Didymus expected him to break into a million pieces right in front of his eyes. It made him nervous and guilty at the same time.

For a moment Jareth did not answer. His thoughts were far away, and it was hard to hold onto one thought for too long. It was almost like his mind itself had become a tangled web, a reflection of the Labyrinth. He forced himself to focus and answered Didymus. "In the Wastes."

Didymus choked back a cry. "The Wastes? Jareth, we will never make it there before sunrise. Is there anyway to cut them off?"

Jareth let a smirk cross his otherwise expressionless face. "He is already there." Didymus paled and Jareth held up a hand to silence him. "Get them ready." Jareth watched as Didymus turned away and shouted orders to the men. The field was filled with the loud sound of several thousands of men stomping and readying for battle. Metal on metal created a sort of sordid song and Jareth listened to it in a sort of haze. Didymus returned, though how long it had been Jareth could not have said.

"We'll never make it." Didymus said under his breath. This time Jareth smiled widely, but it was not a friendly smile. No, it was a cold smile that chilled Didymus to the bone. With a movement from his hand a crystal suddenly appeared resting in Jareth's fingertips. It was another thing that Didymus had never seen before and he wondered what Jareth had been doing while the army was assembled. He would have asked, but Jareth lightly threw the crystal up in the air. It seemed to float for a moment and then it burst and broke into a million shining pieces. It was the last thing Didymus saw before the world turned dark. He didn't know how long it was, but eventually he saw again. The sight was not comforting though. The entire army now stood in the Wastelands and Didymus shivered even though the sands were quite warm. The first rays of morning began to peak over the southern mountains and Didymus caught the first glimps of their advisory. They were creatures that Didymus had never seen before and Didymus could feel the magic radiating off them. He turned to face Jareth.

The sun was rising in true fashion now and Jareth took one step closer to the creatures before him. No matter what, it was going to end here. He unsheathed his sword and held it high above his head. The sound of charging men and beast shattered the quiet of the morning. The battle for the Underground had begun.

Phew. One chapter closer to the end.