Even Death

by Midtnight

Raising his head ever so slightly, his mismatched eyes gazed up at her lazily through the lifeless strands of his unruly mane. Sitting there as if he was nowhere he had not expected to be, as if kneeling half naked and bloody on the floor of a college dorm room was nothing out of the ordinary for the Goblin King, Jareth smiled softly. Now fully betaed Please read warnings !

49. Vows of Old

Chapter 49: Vows of Old (b)

The cave was silent as the seven souls inside it stared at the eight by eight feet model of the Labyrinth which Ludo had called up.

And they were not using the war to soothe their shattered hearts by drowning their personal pain in the collective agony of their dependents lives. They really weren't. Time was of the essence and not for grieving over a life that hadn't really ended. Because it hadn't. Hoggle would return, a week, a year or a century from now. He would return, as the rivers of magic grew swollen and the burned stumps of the glade grew tall once more.

When that happened Hoggle would take on a physical form again and walk beside them as he had always done. And really what was a century in the lives of those untouched by time? Nothing but an eternity...

Calm hand through his wild hair, Jareth sighed as he met Shivers equally furious and sorrow stricken eyes. The plan that they were discussing was not what they wanted, but given the current situation and it's dire need for expedience there was no choice. Even Shiver had to admit that. And the situation really was most dire.

The heart of the Labyrinth, the glade where the stream that represented the flow of magic through the veil ran, had been razed not an hour after Shiver and Didymus had rescued Jareth, and as a result there was nothing to hold back the drain. Nothing to filter the wild raw magic through, taming it so that it would not burn out the cores of the underground denizens. Without that glen they could not reopen the gateway to earth and that meant that they had only days before the weakest amongst them would begin to die. And no matter the dangers that they themselves would have to face, they could not let that happen. This was the stalwart determination that had tempered their grief with inhumane speed.

Nodding grimly, Lilly stepped up to lace her fingers tightly with Shiver's drawing strength from him as she spoke in a calm voice: "Look none of us likes this plan, but that does not make it not good. And as you said Jareth, sometimes it is the few of privilege who must bear the burdens of the many. I know that Shiver wants me to stay safe but if I am to be a part of this world then I must face the same dangers as the rest of you."

The nearly solid darkness that surrounded Jareth's eyes as he looked up from the model made him look truly terrifying, but Lilly could never fear him, not when his fear was grounded in fear for her life: "Are you certain? If we do this, it is all but assured that you will fulfil the dream visions..."

"Yeah but if you go alone and get killed or hurt then we'll all die anyway. No we have to do this the right way, besides there is a great big hulking wall of actual iron between me and that white blade dude! And can we all agree that I don't look like Sarah in any of Shivers visions? So as long as I keep this pendant on I'll be safe. And if the wall falls I'll get my ass through that handy dandy portal we've got in the basement.

Exchanging worried glances, neither Jareth nor Sarah at his side replied as they resumed looking at the stone miniature with haunted eyes. A few minutes passed in strained silence before Jareth sighed deeply, breaking it: "If and that is a very slim if.. We manage to circumvent the seelie army then we will still need to gain access to the bloody stone. And knowing Oberon he will have the great plaza well defended. He is no fool, he may be arrogant to a fault but he is no fool. We will need an army to breach those defences and we have only some thirty thousand trained warriors here..."

Nodding in sombre agreement Morgaine rubbed her wrinkled forehead: "Not even I can boast of an army large enough to ensure victory. Foolish as I was I believed the word of those seelie traitors, and I limited my standing army to a mere fifteen thousand. That is barely enough to defend the gateway should these fortifications be breached. No there are only two places to find an army of the size that you need, The human, or the Nightrealm. "

"I had come to that conclusion already ": Giving Sarah's hand a light squeeze Jareth gave her an awkward half smile: "Well my precious it seems that we will have to go visit with the family and apologize for wrongs that we have not committed..."

Levelling a questioning look back at Jareth Sarah asked suspiciously: "The family?"

"Yes as you may recall, I carry the blood of all four realms through my eight parents..."

"Right..."

"Well as it happens the current ruler Rzush is my great, great, great. . There are more greats here than I have the patience for, nephew. You see before my birth, Maeda gave life to five birthing's, none of which were changelings. A feat unmatched by all but a few red cap females. She produced three sons and two daughters, the eldest son Roark gave rise to the line that in time gave birth to Rzush effectively making those descents my great nephews and nieces endowing me with a huge family..."

Understanding filled Sarah's eyes: "Oh Okay, So you wanna go and recruit Rzush's help and warriors."

Nodding sharply, Jareth answered: "Yes that is my intention... I plan to use the blizzard that is brewing as we speak to avoid the schools of fairies which are undoubtedly already swarming the sky. And I plan to fly out this very night before anyone has a chance to realize that I am here, and alerts the Seelie's."

"Yeah sounds like a plan to me, and how are we going to let the three stooges here know how it turned out? "

Absently caressing the cragged outer wall, Jareth said: "We'll have to return here and relay it in person, since we cannot risk Titania sensing our presence. And we will have to be supremely careful with how we use our personal magic, the magic of the Labyrinth is wild and nigh on impossible to trace but it is fickle at the best of times, unsuited for real combat, and too weak to keep us safe if we move too far through the veil."

Determination tinged with fear, not fear for her own person, but fear for her entire world, her family, filled Sarah's eyes as dark green shot through with jagged icy blue lightning surrounded them: "Okay that makes sense to me, that way we won't have to cross the scar and the seelie army even though we'll have travel through the Labyrinth to stay hidden."

"Exactly..."

Shifting in his cross legged position Ludo rumbled: "There are tunnels and caverns beneath these fortifications, of which no one but I, the lady Morgaine and Hoggle knows the existence. They can lead you out to surface but three days journey from the great plaza, cutting down your journey to just five days. "

"Good, that will help us immensely... ": Straightening his simple leather jacket, Jareth sighed as he looked from face to face, as if imprinting them in his mind against the very real possibility that not all of them would survive the coming days: "If this fails, then... Then you will have to fight on for as long as you can but you must know this. If Sarah and I both die while the gateway to earth still remains closed then there is a very strong possibility that the veil will swallow the underground, and leave earth isolated as the other realms merge. You must keep The Seelie court trapped here if that happens... You..."

"We know father" : Straightening from where he had stood leaned over the miniature, Shiver smiled sadly at his father: "But that will not happen, you will not let it. And you can stop committing us all to memory, because we will all meet again once this is all over, and you will only wish that you could forget us."

Shaking his head softly, Jareth sighed fiercely: "Never...".

. ... .

The sky above her swirled in hypnotic patterns as the brightly coloured nebulas birthed new stars and planets. Casting a furtive glance at the withered crone who walked beside her, Lilly licked lips that were too full to be her own and said: "So you're like what a goddess of death or something? "

A warm grandmotherly smile lit up the aged face, spilling into her voice as Morgaine replied: "Well yes I could be considered thus though I am more a handmaiden than a goddess. I and my mothers of night collect those whose time has ended, and guide them through the veil to their places of rest..."

"Places? ": Curiosity overrode any fear that the old woman had inspired in her as Lilly asked: "Wait there's more than one afterlife? "

Nodding Morgaine said: "Truly there are many different perceptions of what the final place of rest is, but to most it is a place of summer where they are reunited with those who have died before them. To others it is a place of shining angels and divine grace. In years long past it was a place where warriors would prepare for the final day, where they would fight to bring forth a new world where death would hold no sway, and man no longer needed gods. And those are but some of the afterlives that have been created in the realm beyond."

"Ooh": Falling silent Lilly blew a lock of heavy ebony hair out of her face, and watched the mesmerizing sky, as more snow heavy clouds bloomed into existence above them. The encampment below them had lit up with massive foul smelling fires, as the sun of the Labyrinth had set. And now a mere hour later Lilly still found the anthill activity below both terrifying and fascinating. Yet it failed to hold her attention as a unwelcome question popped up: "So where do goblins go? Is there some heavenly Labyrinth up there? "

Soft starlight played over Morgaine's wispy white hair, turning it into gossamer strands of light, as she spoke in a sorrow stricken whisper: "No they go to a world of great wild forests and lush fields... where rivers teem with fish and the forest's abound with game. It is... Beautiful."

"Really..": Tears shone silver as they fell from the bicoloured eyes that was not hers, And truth be told Lilly had no idea why the thought of a goblin heaven had her suddenly crying, it was not like Shiver was in any danger of dying right now. And if everything went according to their plan then he wouldn't get any closer to the white blade or his troops than he was right now. And yet, turning her back on the churning camp below, Lilly crossed the narrow path of the parapet to look down at the massive courtyard below. Shiver was down there organizing their defences for the siege they were about to endure for, god willing, just a few days. But as Lilly knew that was contingent on the plan unfolding as they hoped, not something they were used to. And that was why Shiver and Didymus had the warriors preparing for the attack that they all feared.

"Morgaine? "

"Yes child..."

"You think that we will live through this? "

"Do you wish for me to placate you? Or do you wish for the truth?"

The truth.. Oh god but Lilly didn't want to know the truth, but she couldn't hide from it: "Truth please."

"I do not know.. This plan of keeping the eye of the seelie army fixed upon us as Jareth and Sarah creep through the Labyrinth, it leaves me with a dreaded sense of doom. I do see it's merit, and I understand the strategic significance of leaving them to believe that we are now lead by a grief-stricken and utterly untried leader. But that does not mean that I have to like it..."

Smiling wryly as she pushed down a sudden urge to wave at Shiver as she spotted him, Lilly shrugged: "I don't think any of us likes this plan, but it's all we have..."

"Yes, it is..."

. ... .

The blizzard shrouded everything in a thick white blanket, covering the milling army in a virgin white ill fitting the cruel beings it consisted off. Orcs dragged massive pieces of wood and fresh glistening intestines to the space held open in front of her tent, allowing the seelie rulers to oversee the construction of siege ladders, that in a weeks time or so, once the drainage of the Labyrinth had had time enough to weaken it's warriors, would see them over the ridiculous iron ore walls that Ludo had erected in their path. Releasing the gossamer curtain Titania turned from the rough and vile creatures to face the imposing figure of her husband as he reclined on a daybed in all his nude glory. He was the horned god, the forest lord, and he was staring at her with a hungrily calculated look in his dark brown eyes. There may be no love in their marriage, but lust had served them well instead of that paltry crippling emotion. Not just carnal lust, but lust for power and the will to act upon that driving emotion. And the knowledge that he, a god of old lusted after her barely clad form had her throwing back her head as a lilting laugh spill from her plump rose kissed lips. Soon, oh so soon they would be rid of that drab and filthy ruin which barred them from the godhood, that had been stolen from them. Licking her lips, she swayed her hip into a blatantly provocative posture, as she allowed her Lord and husband to feast his eyes on her flesh.

As all fey women she was slender like a sapling willow tree, with barely enough curves to call her feminine, but to the fey eye she was perfect. Delicate and pale like ice in the grip of spring. Not fleshy and vulgar like the human whore who had so readily believed every fabrication they had told her. To think that such a base creature could think itself equal to them in any way.

Scuffing at the ridiculous notion, Titania glided across the thick spring coloured rug which covered the wooden floor of their large pavilion, she slid down beside the tall powerful male. There was nothing delicate about the horned god. If she was a willow sapling then he was a mighty oak, proud and strong. Running her alabaster hand over the enticing swell of his chest, Titania sighed: "So my lord how would you celebrate the demise of the bastard runt? Our victory is nigh. A few more days and the drain will render those inept fool worthless, while our orcs will remain as strong as ever."

"Hmm yes ": His words reverberated around the cloth walls as if they were in a much larger space: "Provided that the wench does not reopen the gateway to earth, if she does then we shall have to grind them into the dust. But for now I care not for their short paltry lives.."

Wrapping his brawny arms about her, he pulled her in possessively as he growled: "I have decided how to celebrate..."

. ... .

The trek through the endless winding corridors under the massive iron mountain had been utterly terrifying, but despite the horror that the cramped space had forced Jareth to relive there had been no other choice. There was no goblin alive who did not know the owl form of their king, and setting off where they could be seen would have given the game away. And so Sarah and Jareth had been forced to traverse the underground maze. But it had not been all bad, by using the tunnels they had been able to use what little Labyrinthian magic they had left in their personal cores to coax a blizzard into existence, that would have no trace of them. To all others it would simple be the first of many winter storms that always ravaged the Labyrinth, this time of the year, nothing more.

The trek had taken close to an hour, but it brought them up in a small secluded glade just outside of the wall, and from there it was a six hour flight to the Nightrealm gateway.

The icy wind washed over them as they finally emerged from the oppressive darkness of the tunnel. Stumbling into the early evening gloom, Jareth leaned against the nearest tree, revelling in the feeling of the rough bark against his skin. Goddess but he had come to hate confined spaces, and the utter helplessness they inspired in him. He had not enjoyed them to begin with, but seven years in a bloody cave had made him downright claustrophobic. Shuddering he stood there letting the frigid wind cleanse him.

"Jareth? Are you okay? You look pale as a four day corpse."

Rubbing his forehead Jareth shrugged tiredly: "It seems that I still have some ghosts to battle after my ordeal. Though I have never enjoyed confined spaces, I now find that I can barely tolerate them. I hate to admit it but our journey has taken a greater toll on me than I would have thought possible. "

Her slender hand rubbed at his neck and her voice was laced with concern as she asked: "Can you go on or should I fly out alone."

Scuffing as he turned to face her, Jareth said: "I would be dead before I would allow you to face the Nightrealm alone. "

Stepping back, Sarah smiled up at him, feeling relieved as the shadows fled his eyes and were replaced by the strength that she had come to love, as his voice regained its power: "Time is slipping away from us and with each passing minute we edge towards the death of us all. We do not have the time to mollycoddle my frayed mind."

Squeezing his hand softly, Sarah nodded: "Yeah let's go..."

The gusts of wind that filtered through the heavy forest and into the small glade didn't touch the shimmering azure and silver dust that surrounded the pair as their human forms changed, and fell into themselves, leaving behind nothing but a pair of barn owls. Spreading their wings wide they both let out loud screeches as they beat their powerful wings and sped off into the virulent storm.

The snow obscured everything outside of the glade in sweeping curtains of glowing white. It was brutal, far too brutal to fly in, if one had a choice, but as it stood they didn't. Because the ferocious winds provided them with a cover that they desperately needed, if they were to avoid the hordes of voracious fairies who had risen up in the last day. They were the deadly scourge of the seelie court. The tiny but dangerous handmaidens of their queen, who's minute teeth could decimate a living being in mere second while they devoured their victims cores. They were flying piranhas and with Hoggle out of the picture there would be no way to keep the malicious creatures in check, and it would only be a matter of minutes once the storm died down before the nasty little abominations would rise up like a wall of locusts. The only way to control them were by fire or magic. And though they had both, Jareth didn't wish to risk anyone realizing their plan when flying under the cover of the storm would accomplish the same. And so they were forced to battle their way through the furious onslaught.

. ... .

Wrapping her arms around her unfamiliarly full chest Lilly stared down at the stone table which depicted the ruined Labyrinth and the entire invasive army that was not just camped outside of the wall, as she had originally thought, but which stretched nearly all the way through the Labyrinth, and branched out to surround the castle beyond the goblin city in a iron ring. There were so many, far more than she had ever thought. And the knowledge all but floored her. Because there was no way that they would be able to withstand them if they attacked before Jareth and Sarah reached the summoning stone, whatever that was. And yet the assembled warriors were all looking to her to find a way to overcome this insurmountable challenge.

And to start it all out she had to explain just why Morgaine could be trusted.

Letting out a shaky breath, Lilly forced herself to stand up straight and square her much wider shoulders, as she began: "I am your queen, but I need your help, I am bound to this as much as you are, and if we fail then it is my world that will be left defenceless and in the grip of those who would be gods... I have called you here because Jareth trusted you with the protection of this realm and his person... As you know, Hoggle has been forced to abandon his physical form in an effort to control the rampant drain which threaten us all. Whether he will ever be able to return to us in the form that we have know... I do not know... But for him to have the chance we have to defeat the intruders..."

"And how pray tell do you propose that we accomplish this miraculous feat? ": The speaker was tall with a boar face and massive shoulders, and he loomed over her as he rose up to stand in front of the table with gauntlet clad hands clenched in frustrated anger: "How ? They have at least ten or twelve times as many blooded warriors as we do.. How? How then are we to defeat them?"

The anger that radiated from the blue armoured male was fierce enough that his darkflame flared up eliminating the pale blue of his eyes and adding its ruby glow to the grey lines of his markings. It would be a terrifying sight if she hadn't seen Shiver's markings flare in exactly the same way every time he was scared and angry, not at anyone else, but at his own weakness. But knowing this did not provide her with an answer to give, and feeling every inch as frustrated as she was pretending to be Lilly turned tear-filled eyes to Shiver pleading with him to help.

And ever the proud knight, Shiver stepped forth valiantly: "My lords our problems are dire I will not lie. But we are not without resources. "

Gesturing to Morgaine, Shiver bowed slightly, but with clear respect as he pushed on: "Morgaine has an army that can match that of the seelie court, in power if not in size, and we still have nigh on twenty thousand blooded warriors hidden within the passages of our world."

Holding up his hands Shiver signalled for the assembled warrior to remain silent as he continued: "We must remove the iron congesting the unseelie gateway, and we must do so swiftly. And we must send out scouts to gather as many warriors as possible and stage a guerrilla war to weaken them and delay the attack on these walls, I give this task to you lord Buzull. Gather your knights and use your intimate knowledge of this our Labyrinth to save as many lives as possible."

Turning to Ludo, Shiver looked every inch the seasoned leader as he issued his order: "Ludo go to the gateway and begin dismantling it at once. Then return to me once there is an opening large enough to allow troops to enter. In the meantime, I need you lord Thurlestone, to sort through the civilians and ascertain who may be of aide in the event of an attack. We must know just how many can be thrust into battle should the worst happen... And you lord Garuf gather your men, and as many warriors as you need to keep the parapets manned at all times. We must continue to appear strong... "

Turning his fluorescent green eyes on Lilly, Shiver bowed deeply as he pressed a closed fist over his heart in salute: "I hope that I have not offended thee my queen…"

Hoping that she looked as petrified as she felt, Lilly stammered: "No.. No I'm grateful, I don't. . I.. "

Tears sprang unbidden from her eyes, further emphasizing the deer caught in the headlights look she had been hoping for: "It's too much to take in all at once... Please... Shiver, Morgaine I... I give you the authority to act in my place okay.. I just.."

A shrivelled arm wrapped itself around her too wide shoulders and scant seconds later Lilly found herself pulled into a gentle hug as Morgaine stroked her withered fingers through Lilly's hair while murmuring softly: "You poor child to lose your one true love and then be thrust into a war all in the same day is not a easy thing. It is no wonder that you are overwhelmed and choked. Come let us leave these decisions to the council, I will show you to the rooms we have prepared for you, and there we ca..."

The hug had quickly turned into a gentle guided walk towards the door, as Morgaine continued to speak in a low comforting voice. And they were almost there when the rough bark that served as Thurlestone's voice stopped them as surely as had he physically blocked their path: "Halt! Why should we allow YOU, Hag of winter! To escort our queen? Seelie or unseelie you are all fey! And can we know that you are not in league with our enemies? For all we know you.."

"Silence! ": It was just one word, but in it they heard the breathless whisper of the dying's last words. They heard the ragged screams torn from the lips of battle slain and the hoarse pleas of those clinging to their lives. One word, but it was all there was, Morgaine turned from Lilly to level the full weight of her elemental wrath upon the suddenly cowering and insignificant beings who had dared to put her allegiance to her son into question.

The cold wind of an open tomb whipped through the room, causing all there to tremble in its wake as Morgaine rose from the ground held up by ghostly raven wings. Power radiated off her in waves so strong that no one in the room could ever doubt that they were in the presence of a goddess in her own right.

And when she spoke again it was in a voice that held the echoes of last whispered sigh and defiant roars of the violent death: "How dare you! I who saw him born, who nurtured him as my own child , I who loved him more than any other of his mothers! I who saw him slip from this world to the next... would I align myself with that honourless whore! That vile soulless viper who dares to style herself as his beloved mother... She who ... Murdered him! Had I wanted to remain a goddess in mortal eyes I would not need to slay what I fought so hard to birth."

Her hand lashed out like a predators claws, slashing the air at the level of Thurlestone's throat. And instantly he fell to his knees as he clutched at the neck of his breastplate while his dusky green skin tone turned a nauseous yellow.

"I am the hag of winter, the mother of night... I am Death!"

Letting her hand drop, Morgaine glided around the table to kneel beside the gasping knight, slowly sliding her fingers through his hair like a mother soothing a child to sleep, and as suddenly as his life had seemed to end, it returned to him as he drew in deep shuddering breaths: "But even I cannot end a life before it's time. Even I must obey the will of our great mother. And though I shepherd the dead I too am tasked with protecting the living. But most of all IF I had wished to hurt our young queen I would have done so long before now. I would have snatched her away while she was still in the mortal realm, leaving Jareth to die alone and in pain as the Labyrinth died with him. Now that you know this do you still not trust that I stand with you? "

"Forgive us... My lady... But we know not who to trust."

Nodding regally as she rose and pulled the still shaky goblin with her, Morgaine looked the remaining commanders over as she said: 'There is none to forgive, you did right in wishing to protect your ruler, and you have as such no reason to assume that you may trust me... But know this, I have vowed to protect Jareth and the Labyrinth with all that I possess... I failed him, but I will not fail Sarah. "

Pausing Morgaine held up her hand as a misty crystal materialized at her pursed fingertips, as she said the last words any of the assembled had ever expected: "I pledge my life and strength in the name of Sarah queen of the Labyrinth. If my life or death may aide her cause, she shall have it."

The crystal lifted to hover above her hand held there by a current of magic that carried her words to the stones core, lighting it from within with a pulsing ruby glow: "May the goddess herself hear my vow and slay me should I, or any who are mine to command, allow any ruler of this Labyrinth to come to harm."

The crystal hung like a drop of blood frozen in time while she spoke, then as her final words echoed into silence it burst showering the room in a short flash of crimson.

Stunned silence left every warrior with gaping mouths and eyes that showed their incredibility at what they had just witnessed. Never before had a ruler pledged their lives and subsequently all who owed them allegiance, to another ruler. And the enormity of it left the assembled commanders utterly speechless.

Turning to face Lilly, Morgaine smiled tightly: "Shall we go my queen, I think the good commanders need a few minutes to truly understand what has just transpired... "

Nodding slowly, Lilly allowed the withered hag to lead her by the hand from the room and into the hallway beyond.

Once the heavy stone doors had closed and the pair moved well out of earshot, Morgaine slid her arm into Lilly's smiling at the young woman who hid behind the borrowed face of a queen, she patted the slender hand which rested on her wrist: "You did well child. No one suspected anything. Now we have to wait for our two stray owls to return. But in the meanwhile let us do just what we pretend to do, let us rest. "

"Yeah ": Letting go of a tension that Lilly hadn't even realized was there before she let it go, the girl sighed: "Rest sounds cool.. I gotta admit, I'm getting more than just a little tired... But.."

"Yes child? "

Encouraged by Morgaines gentle prompt Lilly pushed on: "The gateways are closed right? "

"Yes ": Turning right Morgaine led them down a wider and more warmly illuminated hallway, which seemed to have been carved more smoothly and from a much lighter coloured rock type.

"But if Sarah and Jareth reopens them won't that allow Titania and Oberon to bring in more troops too? Won't that make them even stronger?": The fear she felt was clearly audible as she spoke.

"Yes it would make them stronger and allow them to expand their troops, but it would also lure them into believing that thou are as naive and inexperienced as they hoped, buying us the time we need..."

Licking her strangely full lips, Lilly nodded as she heard the truth of Morgaine's words. From what Sarah and Jareth had told her about the Seelie rulers that did sound like a plausible assumption, yet something just didn't feel right. But then Lilly wasn't a strategic master planner. So how would she know?: "Yeah that sound probable..."

What else could she say? Squeezing the frail looking hand that still led her down the corridor, Lilly smiled dully and kept silent...

. ... .

Cold...

Frigid winds so chilled that each gust sliced through their plumage like a butcher's knife through well aged meat, sending blistering pain through their furiously beating wings. The fact that it was a storm of their own making made for cold comfort as the unleashed winds forced them to fight with every ounce of their strength to leave the final few miles behind them. The last six hours had been a tribulation to rival even the hardships they had faced while fighting for Jareth's life and sanity. But now they dove and wove through the razor thorned brambles that congested the area surrounding the Nightrealms imposing gateway. A gateway that was now covered in iron. Iron that drained the gate of magic and sealed them off from all other realms.

Landing in a flurry of feathers and shimmering dust, the two visibly tired rulers emerged to stand side by side atop a large glistening quartz boulder.

At first they simply stood there holding each other as they adjusted to the violent drain of the iron mountain in front of them. But soon Jareth's soft drawl broke the silence.

"Well I did ask Ludo to bury it, but I never imagined that he would take me this literally..

Smiling despite the severity of the problem that towered above them, Sarah snickered: "Yeah well he's a literal kind of guy, but how are we gonna do this? Iron isn't affected by your magic right?"

"No it isn't, but it does not have to, Ludo may be literal but..": Holding out his hand Jareth's brow furrowed with concentration as he called a crystal and sent it hurtling towards the very bottom of the mountain, where it burst leaving a small iron door covered in chains and softly glowing runes.: "He has been my buildmaster for many centuries, he knows the importance of being able to reverse a decision with relative ease"

Grinning as she let Jareth lead her towards the door Sarah said: "Oh of course he knows that you can be fickle, and here I was all worried about what to do.."

Stopping in front of the door Jareth pulled his gloves off and calling up a new crystal he slipped the perfect orb into a round opening at the doors centre, watching with relieved satisfaction as the runes flared to life and the chains fell away heavily.

Pulling one glove back on he gallantly pulled the door open and drawled: "After you my lady."

"Yeah, wait a sec there, so we are just gonna waltz in there and show them that there is a way into the...Labyrinth..."

"It is a risk but we have no choice, Rzush is our only hope of distracting the seelie armies enough for us to reach the great plaza, and so I am willing to take the gamble, now as with the Unseelie gate you were the one who closed it therefore..."

"Yeah yeah I get to open it. Okay step aside."

Moving past him Sarah walked up to the sheet of churning magic and pushing her hand into it she pulsed her magic ever so slightly, forcing the magic to move and open so that the gate bleed slowly back to life. Pulling out her hand Sarah rubbed it as if rubbing away a cobweb or something disgusting: "Eew that was strange it felt like tiny spiders all over my skin... Morgaine's gate didn't feel like that."

"I wouldn't know precious, and nor do I care, come we must move..."

The sensation of passing from the Labyrinth and into the Nightrealm of the Sluagh was like nothing Sarah had ever felt before. Cold fingers of dread enveloped her, setting her skin alive with a thousand ghostly fingers traveling across it. Shuddering violently she stood welded to the spot, unable to move as the dread turned to full blown terror paralyzing her muscles.

Tears of fear trickled from her wide open eyes, as Jareth pulled her in close, resting her cheek against the soft silk of his shirt, letting his comforting scent soothe her, and chase the fear away, before it overtook her completely.

"Sssch I'm sorry precious I should have warned you.. The Nightrealm is a realm of fear and terror. This is where the things that goes bump in the night dwells. And yes they are terrifying, but you need not fear them.. "

Resting his right hand over her heart as he tilted her chin up with his left, Jareth gently kissed her, breathing his magic into her, chasing the mind numbing fear away.

"You are their Queen, and you will never have to fear again."

Blinking up at him with red rimmed eyes, Sarah whispered shakily: "You could have warned me..."

"Yes ": He agreed softly: "I could have, but it is close to two millennia since I last brought another soul with me, and he deserved every ounce of fear that he felt, though he didn't feel it for long.. What I am trying to say is. I forgot. "

"Yeah I got that... So now that I am no longer petrified": Pushing out from his warm embrace, Sarah turned to take in the realm where Jareth had spent a fourth of his childhood and youth.

Pale and naked trees surrounded them, reaching towards the overcast sky like hundreds of greedy skeleton hands. The branches crooked, bleached and seemingly dead. Amongst their roots there were large pock marked boulders that glowed like obsidian, when the washed out sun shone it's sepia light on them. It was a bleak place, and for all that Sarah could see they were alone, and quite a way away from any court.: "I assume that we are going to have to go all owly again... "

"No precious we don't": Stepping up beside her, Jareth offered her his arm as he looked straight at the tallest of the barren and bleached tree's: "And we are not alone... Are we Ladies?"

"Nay my king you are not...": At first glance the woman who seemed to ooze out of the tree's bark looked beautiful, petite and willowy, with ivory skin and hair that shone like cobwebs encrusted in silver dew drops which fell around her shoulders to blend with the foggy white of her flowy gown . It was only when she glided closer that Sarah realised that the delicate elfin girls eyes were soulless voids of merciless black, and that her sensual lips hid row upon row of razor edge shark teeth.

Sarah couldn't help but tighten her grip on Jareth's as the girl stopped just five feet from them to drop into a deep gracious curtsy. Staying in her position of supplication the ethereal being gazed up at them, through her deceptively innocent eyelashes, obviously awaiting their pleasure.

A wait which was cut mercilessly short by Jareth: "Liamartha lady of this withered woods, unveil that which you have been charged to hide. "

"My lord as you ask so shall I obey... "

Bowing at the waist, the lithe girl seemed to kiss the dead soil at their feet, before rising as if drawn up by invisible puppet strings, and throwing out a tiny delicate hand she said: "And the veil shall part before you. "

It was like watching Didymus as he slipped in and out of the veil of reality, only on a much, much larger scale. It started at the top of what appeared to be a massive mountain of obsidian, shot through by great rivers of blood stone, then it rolled down its steep sides to reveal a pair of massive gargoyles that guarded the enormous gate carved from what looked to be the dead wood of the forest before it. Staring at the huge, whatever it was. Sarah realised that she was making a less that Royal impression, and quickly schooled her face back into a more fitting mask of slightly bored disinterest. A effort that did not go unnoticed as Jareth leaned in and under the pretence of kissing her neck he murmured softly: "You must hide your emotions behind thick walls in this place, many of the creatures who dwells here feed of them, and they have starved for far too long."

Nodding almost in perceptively Sarah sighed: " Right, keep everything hidden anything else? "

"Yes they respect strength, physical as well as magical. And they may challenge your strength. Remember if that happens then you must kill that challenger, all challenges are to the death. Well not their rulers of course but you get the gist.": Cupping her chin, Jareth placed a gentle kiss on her lips: "Are you ready?"

"No ": She deadpanned: "But we are going anyway..."

Turning to face the minute creature Jareth's tone kept its softness as he indicated with his free hand and asked: "Where are your sisters and daughters Liamartha? I have never seen the elf maid's forest so devoid of life."

Sorrow flowed in to banish the cold void in her eyes as she lowered her head and sighed in a voice that brought the sound of a winter wind through long dead leaves to mind: "Those who still have their power sleeps beneath the dying soil. And those too young to have tasted flesh they withered away as their trees died... There have been no new saplings in four years. Nor any changelings..."

Turning her back on the pair she began walking up the wide path which now bisected the forest as she continued speaking: "No child has been born alive these seven years my lord... And none less than a century old still walks beneath our sun... "

Nodding silently Jareth kept his expression as neutral as the copper and gold markings around his eyes as he lead Sarah to follow the minute woman.

The forest was silent and utterly devoid of any winds. It felt dead, in the same way that a graveyard felt dead. Each tree a still crumbling marker of a life brought to a halt by the evil actions of Titania and Oberon. Gripping Jareth's arm tightly, Sarah pressed in against him, drawing on his warmth and the raw feeling of security that he exuded, as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her close.

The lack of wind however did not mean that the air surrounding them was warm, because it most certainly was not. To Sarah it felt like being submerged in ice, and she found herself shivering despite the thick velvet of her silvery cream high necked gown and the heavy fur lining of her deep verdant cloak. Shuddering, she cast a sideways glance up at Jareth's inhumanely perfect face, searching for a clue that he too felt the bone racking cold. But his expression gave nothing away as she found herself gazing into the face of the goblin king as proud and fiercely powerful as she remembered him.

His perfect lips curled in a faint half smile: "Yes I feel the cold too, but I am use to it. You will be too. "

It was not a rebuke, but his words told her, that he fully expected and needed her to behave as the queen who had saved him, and not the awestruck college girl she had a habit of slipping back into. He needed her to be the female counterpart and equal to his warrior king, and it that was what was needed, then that was what he would have.

Letting a faint half smile slip onto her own face, Sarah steeled herself for the coming meeting, and faced the looming castle: "Well yes I suppose that you are right .."

The door's were huge, and as Sarah had surmised carved from the same type of wood as the tree's that grew around them. They looked just like any other fifteen feet high door's. Until you stood just below them. Then and only then did it become apparent that it hadn't been carved at all. Its massive doors consisted of hundreds of lithe females like the one who had lead them here, each one bound to her sisters with pale grey bramble branches, creating a solid mass of still bodies. It was macabre in the extreme, yet neither Jareth nor Liamartha seemed to notice the hundreds of small contorted bodies as the doors swung inwards revealing the vast courtyard beyond. Their hard heeled boots made loud sharp clacking sounds as they stepped onto the cracked and stained pavement which covered the wide conspicuous empty space.

Letting her eyes take in everything in the yard, Sarah asked: "Where are everybody? "

"In the great hall my lady... awaiting your pleasure."

"Then ": Jareth drawled in a vaguely indifferent voice: "We should not let them wait."

Bowing deeply Liamartha gestured to the much lower but wider door across the courtyard: "As you wish my lord..."

Memories rolled past Jareth's inner eye like a fast forward film, as they crossed the gloom wrapped plaza that served as the courtyard for the imposing mountainesh castle of the Nightrealm king. The castle if you could call the enormous collection of sharp angles and confusing cave like rooms connected by long winding corridors laced with hidden traps and murder holes, that. It was a structure made for defence and murder, in the thousands of years that had passed since its construction, no army had ever captured it by brute force. Only guile and murder most foul had ever succeeded in breeching it's defences.

And it was home.

Breathing in its rich coppery smell of blood and decaying flesh, Jareth grinned as his darkflame flare to life with enough strength to cast flickering highlights on the jagged and seemingly lifeless stones that surrounded him. Here he had fought and laughed with the children of the darkest night. Here he had learned to fight to survive, and care nothing for the pain of his opponent. And here he had wet his blade with lifeblood for the first time. It had been a harsh unforgiving life, but in it he had experienced a honesty that he had not found anywhere else.

Yes the Nightrealm was harsh when training their young, but without that training most of them would not live long enough to be called adult. Because the Goblins who inhabited the night were a fearsome breed, and the world they called home just as terrifying. Weakness was not an option, and it was punished severely. A fact that Jareth was well aware as he led them past the massive slobbering hell hounds that guarded the ominous looking gate leading into the deeper and infinitely darker main part of the keep. Flaming yellow eyes watched them closely as putrid sulphur ripe saliva dripped from massive jaws to hiss on the acid pitted stone. But Jareth barely noticed the malicious glares or the raised sizzling ridges hidden in the raised hackles. It was not the first hell hounds he had seen, nor even the largest or most intimidating, and so he paid them very little heed as he strode forth, pulling Sarah with him.

"Was that a hell hound? ": Her voice barely trembled, but her grip on his arm was tight enough that Jareth wished that he had worn his black armour instead of the loose frilly shirt and supple leather jacket. Because her fingers were sure to leave a nasty bruise behind.

"Yes those were adolescent hell hounds, beautiful aren't they? "

Shrugging as if it was an utterly trivial question, Sarah managed to sound more cavalier than Jareth would have expected as she drawled: "Well yes I suppose, if you like that kind of beast."

Falling silent, Sarah gave him a slightly weak wink before turning her attention back to their path.

The corridor beyond was more of a natural crack in the massive mountain, than an actual corridor, and it was barely wide enough to allow Sarah and Jareth to walk beside each other. It's walls jagged and torn creating a multitude of tiny crevices and openings for small but deadly creatures to hide in and strike from as an unwary soul passed by. It was as deadly a trap as he remember, and yet it merely brought a smile to his face, as he reached out with his magic letting it brush over every surface, dangling in front of the lingering beings, luring them out like a fisherman using bate. And he was not disappointed as a full dozen desiccated infant ghasts crawled whimpering and mewling from their hiding places, reaching for the unseen wind that enticed them so. If a visitor was too weak to leave the small creatures with a gift of either power or blood, they would decent on them tearing at their flesh and draining their magic until nothing was left but bare bones fit for the hounds guarding the doors. Smiling he ignored Sarah's gasp, as he gently pulled away from her grip to reach down and lift up a ghast so small that it was obvious to any who saw it that its first breath had also been it's only and last. It's eyes burned up at him as it tore ravenously into the tiny sliver of magic he fed it with the voracious hunger of the truly starved. Tiny clawed fingers slashed out ripping through the veil and drawing gossamer chunks of magic into the seen realm like small strands of billowing cobweb.

"What are you doing? That's a Ghast! ": This time her voice shook too much for her to hide as she stared in horror at the tiny creature, with obvious fear and loathing.

Holding the barely registering weight close to him, Jareth shushed it gently as he nodded curtly: "Yes it is, and I need it to prove a point, now come along."

The look he shot her was not unkind, but neither did it leave any room for arguments as he abruptly turned from her and walked through the gaggle of ghasts and on through the near complete darkness that shrouded the passageway.

Not many counted the denizens of the night as those who protected children, an assumption caused by the fact that the children they protected were not those who were wished away, but those who were cast most cruelly aside, those who were aborted or killed at birth or simply left to die unloved and forgotten. These children were the ones who would nestle in the perpetual night of this realm forever feeding on the power and blood of those who had shunned them. But here in this realm they were loved and cared for, the women taking them in and caring for them like their own children. And these children were the reason for the animosity that the Nightrealm felt for the realm of humans.

The passage opened slightly as narrow windows began to dot the walls letting in light in thin razor lines, but it was still barely more than a crack in the mountain, and the sharp slap of their boots ricocheted around him like bullets, heralding their approach as they neared the hall of the Nightrealm kings.

The passageway changed character once more as it dipped, carrying them deeper yet, now it became smoother, more obviously excavated than before, as it widened becoming a true corridor studded with wide windows all overlooking the yard of the kings. Pulling Sarah to a halt with him, Jareth paused by a window, sighing as a familiar heavy pain constricted his heart. There on a slight rise stood the poles bearing the remains of his red cap parents, surrounded by the corpses of every king who had come before and after.

Nodding towards the peeled off bones, Jareth said: "Do you see those two skeletons on the small hill near the far end?"

"Yeah, why are they wearing crowns? Who were they? "

A proud sadness filled his face and voice as Jareth said: "They are my Nightrealm parents Niall and Maeda... I will tell you about them.. one day."

Giving him a soft smile of understanding Sarah bumped his shoulder and squeezed his hand lovingly: "I'd like that very much."

Casting a last glance Jareth nodded curtly as they set off again.

It had always felt strange to see them out there, each time there was a little less left, some shard missing. It was after all natural. Especially in this realm. Where death for a king was not easy. Nor would they wish it to be. In their world only those who died still struggling would be collected by the ravens of Morgaine to have their souls carried through the veil to the waiting arms of the great mother. Those who died in their sleep, or passed through sickness would not be carried on but languish as undead creatures forever roaming the vast wastelands of the darkness. They became ghouls and horrors, doomed things unable to escape the agony of their existence as it diminished until all that mattered were the taste of living blood.

But death was not why he was here, and pushing those thoughts aside he continued his sure stride towards the hall.

There were only so many things that one could change within a castle hewn from a solid mountain, and though it had been nearly a century since Jareth had last prowled these halls he quickly lead the way.

The hall no, hall was the wrong word for it. The cave was immense and utterly natural. Bonfires burned every thirty feet down its centre axis and on each side of the imposing throne, causing the skulls it had been made of, to gleam and glisten as their blood dripped thickly from their sightless eyes. Taking it all in with jaded eyes, Jareth smirked as he watched the hundreds of beings who filled the vast space turn to follow their progress. They were the denizens of the night from the red eyed trolls who haunted the abandoned hovels in search of unwary souls to the tiniest ghasts called forth from the graves of the unclaimed and unmourned dead and the waterlogged voracious nicors. Every manner of beast and creature that had ever gone bump in the night was here, and all watched them with sunken eyes that burned with a black flame as he stalked to the throne in a cloud of his own power and magic and accompanied by a queen who was his equal in every way.

Now the cost of the seven year isolation was fast becoming clear to Jareth. This was a realm of short and intense lives, death and birth so tightly entwined that they were nearly indistinguishable, and as a result the denizens were as a whole even more fertile than goblins, often giving birth to litters of three or four children at a time. And even though most babe's perished before ever leaving the birthing chamber there should still have been a babe on most female's arms or swelling their bodies into bloated shapes. Yet not one babe could be seen nor one woman swollen with life.

Sadness darkened Jareth's markings until they looked like black blood weeping from his eyes. Children were the most precious thing in all of the underground and to know that he had been the direct cause of their demise was a hard thing to accept. One made even more unbearable as he recognised the deep anguish in the haunting eyes watching them, with undisguised hunger. A hunger that resonated through the very bedrock of the realm, as the starved realm reached out trying to reconnect with the power that surrounded him. And it hurt the goblin king not to be able to just end the unfair isolation, but if they did and the Nightrealm turned against him they would be too strong for his diminished army to handle. Leaving him to fight a losing battle on two fronts, with the very survival of everything in the balance. It was a risk that he could not afford but conversely he needed the strength that this realm had to offer, giving him no choice but to approach and access their loyalty himself before settling on a course of action.

Stopping in front of the platform, Jareth ignored the viscose blood as it stained the leather and metal of his boots, as he struck a relaxed pose, pointedly ignoring the low snarled hisses being emitted by the imposing warriors flanking the throne. The tiny ghast flinched and huddled deeper into his arms mewling softly as it hid its face against his shirt in a mirror of what a living child would have done. Running a naked hand soothingly over its neck, Jareth sighed dramatically: "So Rzush king of all that counts the Night as their home, is this how you show your obedience to your king? By remaining seated? "

Surging to his feet like a titan of white flesh over ridiculously massive muscles Rzush towered over Jareth growling wildly: "Obedience? Obedience! How dare you? You who bear the blood of Niall and Maeda... How dare you question Our Loyalty.. We who have bleed and died for you! And what was our reward? To be starved and watch our children die in the womb! Why? What have we done to deserve this? Tad fy ngwaed Why?" (father of my blood)

The fury of Rzush's words burned Jareth like the iron nails that once pierced his body searing his flesh and soul alike, but it was that last desperate why that all but broke his heart. Because he no answer to it. No reason for their suffering. He had nothing to offer but the truth of what had happened even though that might leave him weak in their eyes.

"Why? I will tell you why, you were betrayed by Titania. She who so often professed her motherly love for your king used her goddess given power to bind him with vile spells. And through those spells she sought to bring the underground to its knees so that she might shatter the veil and become a goddess once more... She desires blood, and she will not be generous..."

Her voice was clear, ringing with the utter conviction and authority of a queen, his queen, as Sarah stepped forth heedless of the fact that blood soaked into her gown and that the massive bull necked redcap towering over her could easily rip her frail flesh asunder.

Certain that she had the attention of every soul in the hall Sarah threw out a hand that suddenly seemed like a child's in comparison to the king she addressed: "She, not we, are the cause of your pain! And it is She who is deserving of your rage and rightful vengeance."

Letting her words echo around the hall, she stood tiny and doll like yet holding the weight of a kings gaze which had made great warriors in full armour tremble, with all the cool dignity of a born ruler. Never had Jareth wanted to kiss her more.

"And who are you wench! To raise your voice in my halls? His latest conquest? ": The look that Rzush levelled at Sarah was filled with derision, clearly showing what he thought of any conquest of Jareth's. The insult was too much for Jareth to ignore, no matter how badly he might need the strength of the Night court. But he did not get the chance to react.

Magic flared, a burst powerful enough that only one other than Jareth could have caused it, and it sent the raging king flying off of the throne dais, to crash hard in the middle of the hall with a loud bone shattering thud, yet Sarah had barely moved. And keeping her back turned on the heap of redcap flesh that lay groaning behind her, Sarah turned to Jareth, dropping into a deep curtsey soaking her gown to the knees, she gazed up at him through bright four coloured marking with eyes that burned like twin four coloured stars! As she asked in a deceptively soft voice: "My king, what am I? "

She would never cease to amaze him, this slender girl who possessed a mind boggling ability to read a situation and act in the most perfect way. Shifting the tiny trembling ghast slightly, Jareth closed the short distance between them and offered her his hand as he spoke in a loud voice: "You are my queen, My wife and my equal in all things. "

The smile she gifted him with as he announced her status for the first time was radiant and filled with adoration and gave no indication that she had just thrown a fully grown redcap male twenty feet through the air. Holding her hand, Jareth led her up the seven steps of the throne dais, before turning to face the utterly silent hall: "This is not how I had hoped to announce my marriage, but we do not have the luxury of waiting for the right time. Know then that I Jareth lord of the Labyrinth, king of goblins and high king of the underground, have married this woman before the goddess herself, and to insult her is to insult Me! For we are joined and one in all things! "

Pointing an unsheathed claw at the king who was slowly pulling himself up from the ground, Jareth spoke again, but this time his voice was cold as the winter gale and just as cutting: "And you kin of my blood, would you offer insult to your queen? Would you condemn your realm to a slow death because you cannot control your own tongue! I would have thought that you knew better."

Rising to stand on trembling legs Rzush regarded the regal couple as they in turn regarded him with unreadable eyes. He had know Jareth all his life, and much could be said of the mercurial monarch but he had never been cruel without a valid reason. And he had never punished an entire realm, never caused innocents to suffer on a whim. Gnawing thoughtfully on his lower lip, Rzush considered the strength he felt rolling of off the two in tangible waves. He knew the taste and feel of Jareth's power well, the blue glow of the man himself at the core of the brilliant magnificent that was the magic of the Labyrinth. And those familiar tastes were there, but they were not alone, they were interlaced with a deep emerald green that clearly belonged to the oh so human girl who claimed to be queen. And a thick silver white that was so interwoven into the other three colours that it seemed to Rzush that it had always been there. Four cores.

Four glowing stars of raw pulsing power that called not just him, but every soul here in this starved realm. No one had ever possessed such power, and yet here they stood, awaiting his decision as if he had a true choice.

Dropping to his knees the huge redcap lowered his head in submission, as all creatures both large and small followed suit and knelt.

"Forgive me my king... the pain of the slow death.. It, it causes a man to lose his mind... I beg of you, punish only I.. My people have done nothing to offend you"

A look of understanding softened the harsh lines of the goblin king's face, as he gestured for the king to rise: "There will be no punishment Rzush. I believe that you have learned your lesson. Now time is wasting and we have more pressing matters to attend to. "

Settling in the massive skull throne with the tiny shrivelled ghast clinging to his shirt, Jareth seemed utterly oblivious to the two menacing warriors who flanked it, as he patted his thigh signalling for Sarah to sit with him: "Now, Rzush first I must know whether you intend to honour the vows you gave upon your coronation. "

"No ": The silibrently hissed word echoed through the vast space, whipping all heads towards the speaker in the far end: "No it isss weee who mussst know! Will you honour your vowssss.

She moved like a spider given human form, swift jerking movements that looked odd and terrifying to the eye as she and her gaggle of equally gaunt maidens scurried down the centreline clad in gowns of flimsy cobwebs, to stop below the throne. A long spidery limb raised to point a gleaming gold claw at Jareth. She was tall and whip thin with long hair that hung wet and heavy down her back, soaked by the blood of her latest victims. Pale skin shimmered like heavy silk, and her eyes burned bright with a flame so black that it swallowed the true blue of her irises, from a face that was half formed with a nose that was no more than a ridge and gaunt cheeks that left her cheekbones in sharp relief.

"Aah Queen Neuru! I was wondering when you would grace us with your presence. The hunt was challenging I trust? Any one I knew? "

Hissing furiously the thin woman looked far more menacing than the heavily muscled redcap she called king and husband: "I do not know, My lord do you count thieeevesss asssss friendsss? "

Calm in the face of her righteous fury, Jareth merely shrugged: "Well that most certainly depends on the individual thief... But as a rule I do usually make a point to avoid being too friendly.."

"Enough ": Fire flared in her ebony eyes, and had she had enough power left in her core there was little doubt that those low flames would have blazed to drown them all in their ebony light: "Enough with your fflippanccccy! Our world issss dying, our children and wombsss already dead! How dare you make light offf our pain! "

"No Neuru, I am not here to make light of your pain, I am here to end it."

"End itt ": Sneering out the words she barred rows of black razor teeth: "After ssseven yearsss of tttormentt! Ttttormenttt weee have endured witthouttt the knowledge offf our crime. And no matter how weee pleaded YOU, Oh high king, You lettt our children die! You Deniiiiiiied usss! "

Nodding as he gently shushed the now whimpering ghast, Jareth seemed to consider her words, before speaking: "I have caused you great harm, and the lives that this unjust punishment has cost can never be restored... That I was a victim as much you were matters little, I know... But what does matter is this, I can lead you to your revenge. Honour your vows and I will give you the blood of those who caused this pain."

Letting his intense gaze burn into the royal couple as they stood stunned by his words and the admission they carried. A thousand thoughts filtered through their nightmare eyes, as Jareth handed the now calm ghast to Sarah before slowly and very deliberately rolling up the left sleeve of his shirt, revealing the pale perfection of his prosthesis to the hall: "This is the price of my parents avarice. The flesh of their son and king, the flesh of your kin. Titania and Oberon seeks the death of us all so that they might be the gods that they once were..."

Holding up his arm, Jareth let the flickering firelight reflect off of the thin gold threads as he let his voice ring out: "Will you stand by and let their greed devour all that we are? Or will you follow us to such an end that the ravens will carry you and all you kin through the veil?"

The silence was deafening, no one moved, not even the eternally fidgety kobolts made a sound. Lowering his arm, Jareth leaned back in the throne looking utterly at peace as he watched the silent throng, and they watched him in turn as he drummed his fingers on the large skull which capped off the armrest.

"You offer us blood? ": Rzush's voice was deep and hoarse with the emotions he fought so hard to keep from letting out.: "Here in our own halls you offer us blood as reparation? "

Nodding Jareth replied simply : "Yes..."

"The blood of those who caused this our near ruin?"

Nodding once more Jareth said: "Yes I offer fey blood..."

Reaching up he gently lifted the small squirming ghast away from Sarah, settling it in his lap before he used the claw on his left index finger, to open his right wrist and let ruby blood trickle freely from the gash.

Meeting Rzush's furiously flaming gaze, Jareth held out the tiny ghast revealing it's ruby smeared mouth and the blood dripping from his scored wrist, as he pushed on: "I have failed you all. I know, but I will make right the wrong you have suffered because of my weakness.. And I will help you avenge the lives that her avarice has cost. If I lead, will you follow me to war? Brother of my blood, of Niall and Maeda. Will you heed your vows and defend the Labyrinth as it has defended you for so long? And In return I will offer you seven upon seven years in which to take your vengeance on Titania and Oberon. To reap from them what they stole from you. "

Holding the weeping gash against the tiny creatures mouth, Jareth let it suckle as it's sticklike fingers clutched at his wrist.

The wet sounds of the feeding ghast filled the hall drawing all eyes to the scorched creature as it's skin filled out and paled, going from black to pale golden white. Gently prying it away from the wound Jareth gazed down at the perfect infant girl, watching how it's still soft claws slashed at the air as she mewled out her anger at having her meal interrupted so rudely.

Looking up Jareth shifted her, showing her bottomless black eyes to the crowd as the babe wailed displaying glistening black teeth in a face that was a blank canvas. A loud collective gasp escaped the throng as all eyes turned to their now still sovereigns. Taking advantage of the silence that followed the shocked outburst Jareth signalled for Sarah to rise and allow him to do the same. Once on his feet, Jareth glided down the seven steps to stop in front of the queen who could not tear her eyes away from the squirming babe with blood stained lips: "Look at what I am offering you, a gift, a babe. But not a babe for queen who breaks their oaths. No this gift is for you all if you follow me and fight beside my goblins."

"Why ": She hissed barring knifelike teeth: "Why would we accept these foul fey blood changelings ?"

Bowing gracefully in the face of her pain filled outburst, Jareth met her frightening anger and pain with a calm air: "You would because I would never offer weak lives to the realm of night, I offer the children that survives the transformation, I offer children as strong as those you yourself have birthed."

Gesturing towards her with the child, Jareth said: "Here take the babe, feed it as you have fed your own and you will see."

Disbelief wrapped about her like an invisible cloak, as she reluctantly took the child and offered it a soaked lock of crimson hair to suckle. Eager hands gripped the offered morsel bringing it to it's wide open mouth, to be suckled with loud content noises. A few minutes passed and then a collective gasp passed through the crowd as they all felt the magic that passed through the child, as it suddenly released the lock to let out a loud high pitched screech. Tiny limbs flailed as it howled again and again. The pale cheeks grew gaunt as the nose rose to become a slightly raised ridge like that of the queens and it's eyes grew slanted and full of black flames. The pale skin stretched over spidery limbs like moon kissed milk, mirroring the skin of both redcaps. Gasping softly, Neuru cradled the tiny girl, falling into her eyes as the power of her newly formed core beckoned to her. And turning to Jareth Neuru spoke in a voice made hoarse by her own fear: "Is this a true transformation? Or is she merely a changeling? "

Solemn in the sight of the miracle he had just witnessed, Jareth nodded curtly: "Yes she is real. A true child of your blood. A child as any other. And as any child she will grow and learn as you teach her. As any other child she may live or she may fall ill and die, only the fates know that now. So will you take her, or shall I return with her? "

-"No ": The willowy arms of the queen tightened possessively around the infant goblin, as the proud woman took an involuntary step back putting her hulking king between her and Jareth: "This child is mine, I care not what magic gave her life, she is mine now..."

Turning her blazing gaze on the husband Neuru gave a single grim nod, obviously answering an unspoken question, before sweeping away from the dais and being enveloped in the gaggle of maids following her like fateful hounds. Turning from his retreating wife, Rzush regarded his king for a short tension laden second, then without warning the massive red cap fell to his knees, and bowing his head he rumbled: "You have our Loyalty, as you have always had. And as we vowed we will fight beside you and bring the fey whore and her bastard husband to their knees..."

"Then rise my brother king for we have much to plan."

. ... .

The storm changed direction, blowing straight at them from the south east, with enough strength that it forced the Orcs in it's path to hide in their squalid tent's or huddle against the crumbled remains of the Labyrinth walls, as they struggled to stay warm. It was fierce enough that even the goblins who manned the wall against a attack was forced to crouch behind the parapet and merely peer out of the arrow slits.

Leaning her hip against the sill of the window that faced the snow choked courtyard, Lilly gnawed her fingernail frantically as she watched the whiteness which seemed to flow in in waves.

Sarah and Jareth had been gone nearly a full day, and Lilly was beginning to feel sick with worry as she paced the huge room set aside for her use. According to Morgaine it should take them around six hours to fly down there in this weather, assuming of course that they didn't run into any significant trouble on the way. And assuming that the Nightrealm fell into line quickly it shouldn't take them more than a few hours to agree upon a plan of action, before they returned. It shouldn't have taken much more than fifteen or sixteen hours on the absolute outside. Not the twenty one it had taken until now!

Turning from the window took more out of her than she would ever want to admit, as she met Shivers equally worried gaze: "You think it failed? "

"It can't have": Came the curt definitive answer: "There is no other options.."

"True, but what if? "

"No! There is no what if! They will succeed and they will return here to announce their success."

"Jesus Shiver you cannot be this blind, we have to have a..."

"No": The sound of his fist slamming into the warm stone of fireplace mantle stone startled her enough, that she actually jumped a little: "No they will return, and soon."

There was a desperate finality in his voice that had her freezing in the dark fury of his eyes as he whispered brokenly: "Because if they do not then I will have no choice but to take your life before leading those who remain in a last charge. Hoping without hope that we could succeed in taking Titania and Oberon with us in death, and spare the mortal realm their immortal tyranny once the veil crumbles... "

No words would really do justice to how much his desperate words shocked Lilly. To hear Shiver say that he would kill her before committing suicide, left her too stunned to do anything but stare at him with her mouth agape like a newly caught trout. He would kill her! He...

Physically shaking off the shock she shuddered: "You. . You .. What?! You want to kill me?!"

"No!": Unable to meet her perplexed and outraged gaze Shiver studied the floor as his shoulders slumped and he said miserably: "No I.. No!... But if they have failed then there is no way to get you back to the aboveground, and dying as the veil shatters and releases the forgotten elder gods is a fate too horrible to contemplate... My only choice would be to end your life quickly and without pain before trying to end the seelie regents, and getting killed in the process... It.."

Tears gathered in his eyes as he stubbornly refused to shed them: "I would have no choice... You, every woman and child unable to fight would be sent ahead to the realm of death... It..."

"It shall not come to that, Shiver. Verily our monarchs would never allow such a thing ": Letting the heavy storm grey marble door close silently behind him, Didymus walked into the room with an easy grace that completely belied the weight of the armour encasing him. Gliding to the massive but exquisitely carved bar cabinet Didymus threw open the doors and poured himself a generous helping of the bright amber whiskey that Lilly thought tasted very similar to antifreeze, and yes she did know what that tasted like. Tossing back the drink he poured another before turning back to Lilly, looking tired enough to keel over at any moment: "If both of our regents hath perished then we wouldst have seen the beginning of our certain doom. No they live still. And should you not believe mine words then look no further than to the storm out yonder."

Gesturing to the wide window with his glass nearly spilling the potent liquor in the process: "It has turned, no doubt carrying our dear friends towards us even as we speak. "

Glancing out at the swirling snow, Lilly had to agree with Didymus. If Sarah and Jareth had died then surely they would have felt it by now. But them being alive didn't mean that they weren't captured or something. Not that she gave voice to that particular little thought as she shrugged: "Yeah that does make sense... Look I gotta change the subject here, and ask. What are the orcs doing out there? Are they hunkering down like we are or are they up to something? "

Taking a healthy swig of his glass, Didymus nodded curtly: "Verily the cold is as crippling onto them as it is to us, though it is not them who causes me worry."

"Oh? Then what?"

"The will o'wisps ": Spitting out the name as it in itself offended him, Shiver said: "Filthy little things but they cannot pass over through the wall, they are as unable to touch cold iron as any fey..."

"True ": Throwing back the rest of his drink, Didymus grimaced at the vicious burn as he contemplated whether it would be prudent to pour a third. Deciding against it, he set the empty glass on a low table and said: "Verily thou speakest the truth. But allow me to ask thee this. What should happen if enough converge now that Hoggle can no longer curb their power? Would not their fire swirl and grow onto a wild conflagration. "

Shock drained Shiver of all colour as he gasped: "White fireys... Oh hell ! There were so many other threats that I never thought of them... We must call the firey's.. we."

Slumping into a large padded chair, Didymus sighed and rubbed his face tiredly: "Calm thyself Shiver, I hath sent out the call, and they art journeying here even as we speak."

Scepticism and relief intertwined as Shiver slumped to the floor and leaned against a side table: "The goddess be praised, Didymus you are a true goddess sent... And.."

Slumping even further, Shiver reached out to Lilly visible relaxing as she took his offered hand with a gentle smile: "Please forgive me Lilly I never meant to overwhelm you with my fear. I just..."

Oh she understood his fear as she stepped up to envelope him in unfamiliar arms, and resting their foreheads together she breathed: "It's okay honey, I get it, you are exhausted and overwhelmed. And you just want to protect me. I get it... But Shiver, if the worst comes to happen, and I won't get to live beside you. Then at least let me die beside you. Okay. But right now I need you to lie down and get some sleep, you are running on empty and I need you on your A game okay."

Nodding into her ample chest, Shiver sighed as his arms slipped around her waist: "Yeah, a nap would be good."

"Come on, I've got a couch with your name on it ": Stepping back she tugged lightly on his hand, but he only moved reluctantly.

"No I'll go to my own chambers, it will look strange if I stay here while you are grieving. It would not be proper."

Rising with a tired grunt, Didymus winked and clapped the young knight on the shoulder: "I think that it would not look improper if you should sleep here, thus offering support and safety to our new queen. Verily it would indeed be expected that a young widow wouldst need a friendly shoulder on which to lean and cry... Sleep my friend, rest for we shall need all thy strength. "

Shiver was if nothing else a tactician, he knew when he was defeated, and seeing the need in Lilly's unfamiliar bicoloured eye's he knew without a doubt that he had been outmanoeuvred by the large fox. Shaking his head in defeat Shiver sighed: "Fine but I will lay on the couch by the fireplace."

Stabbing a finger at Didymus, Shiver continued: "And you will make sure that you wake me in three hours at the very most! Do you hear me?"

Grinning widely Didymus bowed with his customary grace as he promised: "I shall, and I will now leave thee to thy rest."

Snorting as Lilly pulled him to the heavily padded couch in question, Shiver gave the fox a half hearted wave as he left, letting the door close behind him, leaving the couple in silence. Sitting down heavily Shiver sighed as Lilly quickly began undoing the intricate lacings of his armour, removing its cumbersome weight piece by piece, and slowly revealing the blood red gambeson and trousers that he wore beneath. Keeping silent until Lilly finally helped him pull his heavy nail studded boots off Shiver licked his lips nervously before gripping her hands and pulling her up to kneel between his long red clad legs.

"Lilly I..."

He had intended to apologize for his deplorable behaviour and for his loss of hope. He wanted to tell her that he could never lay a hand on her, much less end her life, and that those foolish words had been nothing but exhausted desperation. He truly did intend all that, but as always Lilly had read into him with ease. And reaching up, she silenced him with a firm commanding pair of fingers over his lips.

"No! No apologies! What you said is nothing to apologize for. All you wanted was to spare me the most horrible death imaginable, if they fail, which they won't, but that was all you wanted! And let me make this perfectly clear to you. If this through some insane turn of events should come to pass and we lose, then I will fight beside you until we are both swallowed up by the veil and the forgotten gods. I would rather let my soul be devoured than spend and eternity waiting for you in the realm of the dead! Do you understand what I am telling you? Just nod."

Nodding obediently he had to fight to keep the tears that had been burning behind his eyes all day back, as she pushed on.

"Now you are going to make us a nice and springy mattress right here between the fire and the couch and then we are going to take a nice long nap together!"

Moving faster than Shiver would have thought possible, Lilly pulled her loose green hoodie off, taking the pendant with it's spell off with it. It wasn't until he was looking into her familiar face, that he realized just how fiercely he had missed her blue starburst eyes and oddly shaped face. And how much he had missed kissing those perfect lips.

Keeping his eyes focused on her he conjured a crystal and dropped it on the floor without ever looking at it, then still lost within her mesmerizing gaze he snapped his fingers and caused their clothes to vanish in a puff of green smoke, and reappear in two neatly folded piles beside him on the couch leaving them both in their underwear.

Cupping her face softly, he leaned in until his lips hovered just a scant fraction of an inch above her lips, whispering quietly: "I love you, do you understand that? "

"Yes ": Came the breathless reply: "Yes I do... And do you understand that I feel the same way? That I love you so much that the thought that you might leave me causes me physical pain! "

"Lilly!"

Her name spilled from his lips as he closed the distance between them and sealed them together in a passionate kiss. It was not his intention to take it further than a single longing kiss, he never meant cup her breast and tenderly stroke his calloused thumb over the already painfully pert nipple, sending ripples of pleasure through her that arched her back, pressing her silken skin against him. And it was never her plan to bite his lower lip suckling it and making his already half awake cock awaken fully to press against her hip like a scalding metal weight, really it wasn't! But it happened and as their hands and lips seemed to take on a life of their own there was nothing either of them could do to stop them. All they could do was moan and shudder as the tension of the last day found a much needed release.

. . .

The flight out had been strenuous, but the flight back was bordering torture! Beating his screaming wing harshly, Jareth screeched as a sudden gust nearly slammed him into the white clad ground. Normally he loved flying at night, he was an owl after all. But even the prodigious strength of his silent wings were a poor match for the fury of the blizzard he had fanned back to life so that it could shield him. Even if he had been fully rested, which he was not, he would have been struggling. But here close to dawn he was exhausted, cold all the way through and hungry beyond reason. He was actually hungry enough that he would have pounced on even a field mouse if the opportunity had presented itself. But the mice were hiding like every other half brained creature. Snickering to himself, Jareth climbed higher as the ground below him became a rubble strewn scar littered with the stone that were Hoggles true flesh, that said enough about them. Glancing at the ebony form that sped on beside him Jareth screeched, calling her attention to him. Flight was second nature to him, and he knew how to conserve his strength, but Sarah was still relatively new to flying, and he could not help but worry, that even though they had managed to nudged the storm enough that it had turned a full three sixty degrees so that they now had a fierce back wind, that she might still be struggling to keep up with him. But his fears were quickly put to shame as Sarah soared as effortlessly beside him as he himself did. She might be a novice in the art of flying, but she was also a very fast learner. And so content that she was easily able to keep up, Jareth turned his attention back to the ground in front of him.

Flickering firelight turned the snow into falling embers as they skirted the edge of the seelie army on soundless wings. Thousands of roaring fires stretched out below them, and around those milled countless humanoids. Orcs were everywhere as they raced to and fro, readying siege engines and ladders made from not wood but the still bloody bones of his subjects.

Fury roared through him banishing all restraint and reason. Being an owl had its advantages, there was so little doubt, and he virtually never second guessed himself, but it made him reckless to the point of nearly being self destructive.

Summoning the power within his churning cores, Jareth ignored the little voice in the back of his mind that screamed at him to stay back and not put Sarah in any unnecessary danger, as he dove screeching towards the milling creatures, causing orcs and beasts to scatter and flee before him,as he hurled ruby fire down upon them igniting flesh and armour alike. Cooking fire exploded on his command showering those who surrounded them in flames that ate away at them no matter what they did to extinguish it, spelling death and destruction to all it touched. Screaming in fury he circle the carnage with an immense sense of satisfaction. Not only had he killed about a hundred or so orcs, but he had done so using the darkflame and though draining in the extreme, it was well worth the price. Because from each of those who a new dark fiery would rise, and they would devour all life within their grasp until destroyed.

Thus Jareth circled hidden in the oily smoke as he watched the first of the grotesque orcs succumb and crumble into blackened husks. It was a matter of scant minutes before the flames had scoured the flesh from the bones taking the petty malice and wicked cruelty of their race with it. And finally the Flames took on the wavering feathered texture of the magnificent winged firey, causing screams of terror as the orcs suddenly realized what was taking place in their midst. Tall powerful forms erupted from shrivelled burned out corpses, spreading their glaring wings and bathing the part of the camp in flicking light. Seven forms lifted off screaming in fury as the pain of the all but ruined Labyrinth washed over them, turning them on the orcs that now fought each other in their haste to escape.

Claws and beaks ripped through armour like shears through cloth, as the flaming incorporeal phoenix's tore howling orcs limb from limb. Black blood gushed from the gaping wounds soaking the snow and then the sand coloured stone beneath. Owls did not laugh, but nonetheless it was the most apt description of the sound that escaped Jareth as he watched the utter and complete chaos that now reigned supreme. Floating in a lazy circle, Jareth felt a grim joy as he watched the orcs fight to destroy the creatures that had been born of their foul brethrens dying souls. Every droplet of blood, however tainted it might be sacred and full of the same magic as kept them all alive. Thus every drop served to leech it back into the Labyrinth, giving Hoggle the magic he so desperately needed to rebuild himself. It was a glorious spectacle of gory death and it fed into the inherent predator blood lust, filling him with a need that burned. His eyes flared and his wings folded back as the need grew. He needed flesh and blood, he needed...

An ebony form flared up in front of him blocking his path and shocking him out of the red haze that had stolen in over him. His wings threatened to dislocate as he was forced to halt his dive before he had even started it. Screaming at Sarah's ebony form he flapped his wing furiously.

He wanted. No he needed to rip into the milling creatures below him as they screamed and scrambled for a safety that they would not find. But the smaller owl blocking him would not cease blocking his path no matter how much he tried to circumvent her, and despite his building blood lust he still didn't want to take his claws to her.

"Jareth! Stop it ! A few deads orcs aren't worth it! Jareth think goddess damn you!"

Her voice ricocheted around in his mind like a crystal bullet as her bicoloured gaze burned into him, shattering the hold of blood: "Think! You are not an owl Jareth! Damn it don't give in!"

Not an owl, Of course not! Shaking his head forcefully, he screeched and climbed steeply leaving the alluring pull of the blood stench. Breathing in the harsh cold of the storm he let the wind carry him past the carnage below as Sarah fell into place beside him.

"You good?"

Good? Yes, yes he was as she said good, but it had been a close call. Had Sarah not physically blocked his way he would have dived into the chaotic fray ripping and tearing as he went. Announcing his return to the seelie warriors as loudly as a trumpet call.

"Yes thank you precious, you prevented me from doing something very stupid!"

"Yeah well you owe me buster, now let's get a move on my wings are about to fall off here."

The cackling call that was his laughter was barely heard above the wind, but it made the corners of her beak tweak upwards in the ghost of a smile. Yeah he was good that much was clear as they resumed their strenuous flight.

The wind carried them through through the churning clouds blocking off their view of the destruction below. But not being able to see did not mean that they could not feel the effects. And both regents felt the pain of their realm vividly as the corruption of the orcs spread choking off the already drying rivers of magic. The land was dying and it made them both push harder as the shadow of the iron walls loomed before them.

Climbing up as the air currents rose, both owls floated like shadows over the deserted wall and empty courtyard headed straight at the dark window where Lilly had been installed. Once there the silent form shimmered and vanished as they had never been there.

. ... .

Firelit shadows danced on the uneven wall giving birth to fantastical shadow creatures which scurried across the surface only to be snuffed out as a new flame dominated. Landing in a glittering cloud of silver and azure dust, the two tall beings stood like statues in the middle of the spacious room, their eyes burning with a quartet of coloured flames as they scanned the space.

At first glance the suite appeared empty, both the large luxurious bed and the seating area empty. Sharing a slightly worried look with his queen, Jareth glided forward, silent despite the hard soles of his nail studded boots, to peer over the back of the couch that stood in front of the fireplace. Smiling he gestured to Sarah, calling her over to see what he saw.

Lilly and Shiver lay naked and curled into each other on the couch, with Lilly pressed against the backrest and Shiver perched precariously on the edge, held in place only by his death grip on Lilly. Winking wickedly at Sarah, Jareth reached down placing a frigid mail glove on the goblins taut abdomen, startling him awake and sending him crashing to the floor with a loud yelp.

"Great goddess! What the…"

The wicked grin turned into a smirk as Jareth leaned a hip nonchalantly against the back of the couch: "Sleep well? You look... rested."

Scrambling to get off of the floor, Shiver managed a full body blush of an extreme dark green, as he instinctively strove to hide his nakedness, and only managing to emphasize that he had been "Very" happy about lying next to a naked Lilly.

"Father! ? You're back I... Arh umh.. Lilly! Wake up."

"Jesus Shiver! What the hell?": Stretching, she rubbed her eyes sleepily as she yawned, freezing mid movement as she realized that they were not alone and that she was still very naked. Embarrassed heat colored her face a bright beet red as her first impulse to cover herself flared to life. Then her eyes met Jareth's and the amused smirk ignited her stubborn streak, making her cross her arms under her chest and defiantly kept from cowering as she spoke brazenly: "Well that took long enough. Do you have anything to show for it?"

Still smirking, Jareth nodded: "Yes, they will honour their oath. By now the Cobolts should have finished clearing the portal, and the first groups should have passed through and be on their way to begin harassing the seelie army. Soon Neuru will lead her banshees and elf maid's through followed by Rzush, his redcaps and assorted goblin warriors. Once that happens they will begin a regular assault on the seelie army forcing them to pull their forces back or be cut in two by the great plaza.

Sitting up, Lilly seemed to have forgotten everything about clothes as her brow furrowed into a worried frown.

"But won't that make them pull more forces into the very area that we are trying to clear?"

Forgoing all attempts at hiding his nakedness, Shiver scratched his scalp and rested his other hand on his hip: "Yes but it will also keep their gaze firmly fixed upon a much stronger foe, giving us the time we need to dismantle the mountain burying the nightrealm gate. Allowing us to attack them with a strength they are not expecting. If they attack us now we will be overrun. But if we can gain the two perhaps three days that we need, to get Morgaines troops here. Then once we attack we will force Oberon to divide his army and fight on two fronts. But knowing Oberon he will focus all his attention here allowing you two to slip through the cracks of chaos…"

The worried frown on Lilly brow grew deeper as she shook her head in confusion: "But why would he turned towards here? If the Nightgoblins are as badassed as you all say they are. Then why would he turn his back on them to attack us? That makes no sense. Wouldn't you concentrate on the strongest enemy first?"

"Yes": Absently dressing them both with the wave of a hand Shiver was obviously following Jareth's train of thought as he said: "Yes, you would if you saw them as a threat. But Oberon is a fey of extraordinary arrogance. And he does not see them as part of the faerie race, let alone as a serious threat! No he will turn his back on the Nightgoblins the second he is presented with what he would call a true threat. It will be his undoing."

Nodding in satisfied agreement Jareth put in: "Yes and the chaos that will invariably ensue should be the perfect cover for Sarah and I to reach the summoning stone.."

Wrapping her arms around Jareth's waist, Sarah seemed to melt into him as he pulled her tighter against him, leaving her slightly breathless: "And then we end this.."

"Yes": Jareth drawled: "We end it."

A look of grim determination passed between father and son as Shiver said: "For the Labyrinth and for life itself."