Chapter 6

Sarah stilled, staring with the full force of the rage she felt exploding in her veins, not daring to let her gaze drift to see the look on Jareth's face. "And you're the heartless bitch who collects people like things, because she can't make any real friends or connections." She smiled ferally when the woman stiffened in response to her bitter words.

She leaned against the doorway, swallowing down her fear that she was overwhelmed with and along with her concern for Jareth's safety, the very epitome of boredom etched on her face. "You're surrounded, by the way. I have representatives of every kingdom in this place and if you think for one instant you're walking out of this room unscathed, you're delusional."

The woman simply jerked on Jareth's collar, making him wince. Eleanor smiled. "Not while I have your pretty little King here."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw it. The dragon from before, circling above the estate. It lingered at the edge of the window, smoke curling against it's nostrils. Sarah simply smiled and gave a subtle nod and almost immediately, the silence in the room was shattered as all hell broke loose - a gaping maw of hungry death going after the three armed men near Eleanor.

Sarah didn't wait a second, launching herself at the woman with two deadly crystals summoned in her palms.

As Sarah went to throw the orbs, Jareth and Michael jumped in the way, each being hit with one of the orbs. In her anger, she had forgotten the collar would make Jareth defend Ellenor. Luckily, Jareth was wearing his pendant and his magic was able to block most of the attack. He did still fall back on his royal ass though.

Ellenor laughed. "You must not care for your King at all, for the only way to get to me is through him." She smirked. "Oh and I wouldn't try your trick on the collar. His needed a stronger spell."

Jareth tried to fight the magic from the collar, but his body continued to disobey his wishes. "Sarah, do what you must." He said through gritted teeth as he continued to fight.

"Kill her Michael." Ellenor commanded. "I want Jareth to watch his champion die."

Michael lunged at Sarah and tackled her to the ground. As she wrestled with him, she realized she didn't have her pen. Using the dagger he had in his hand she pricked her finger and used her own blood to draw the runes on his collar. Just as she finished it, he managed to stab her shoulder, causing her to cry out.

Hearing her cry, goblins flooded the room and pulled him off of their Queen. "No hurt Queenie!" They shouted.

Hoggle and Didymus soon followed them in and rushed to Sarah's side. "My lady!"

"Sarah!"

"I'm alright." She said as she stood. She looked over to see Michael's collar had fallen off. "You can let him go. He's free of her spell."

Jareth stood in front of Ellenor, sword in hand. "I can't fight it, Precious."

"It's alright, Jareth." Sarah said sadly, not wanting to do what she knew she had to do. "We'll get you out of here." She touched her medallion that matched his. She felt it surge with power and squeezed it in her hand. "The Labyrinth needs its King and so do I."

She took a deep breath and ran towards Jareth, crystal in hand. Michael stood and grabbed his knife and charged in aswell. Sarah assumed he was going for Ellenor now that he was free. She was gravely mistaken. Jareth realized he was in fact going for Sarah. Feeling a surge of power from his own pendant, he dove at Sarah, pushing her out of the way as Michael went to attack. The dagger pierced his side and Jareth fell to the floor, bleeding profusely.

"Nooo!" Sarah cried as she threw the crystal at Michael, knocking him out the window.

Sarah hurried over to Jareth's side. Still under the control of the collar, his hand reached for the dagger and pulled it out. "Sarah..." he tried to warn her.

Hoggle kicked the dagger from his hand and then he, Didymus, and the goblins restrained the struggling King.

Sarah sobbed softly as she felt warm rivulets of blood seep through her fingers from where she tried to stop the flow from the wound.

The dragon, having made a tasty meal of the three armed guards, roared and turned on Eleanor. Sarah heard the faint sounds of shouts and screams but didn't dare take her eyes off Jareth. Hoggle and the others struggled with what to say, so she spoke harshly without taking her eyes off Jareth. "Go help the others. Everyone walks away from this today. Got it?"

They nodded and joined in the fight. She knew that they would win.

"Sarah..." Jareth rasped, as Sarah pulled one trembling hand away from the wound, etching the runes needed to remove his collar with his own blood.

"You're not dying. I won't allow it," she talked over him, jerking the collar off when it unclicked, dispelled. Shoving the vile thing away, she summoned a crystal and called into it with as much might as she had.

"I wish that the Goblin King would be healed and we'd both return to the throne room...right now."

Crashing onto the floor, she closed her eyes, feeling the magic tug them away.

A moment later, Jareth and Sarah were sitting on the floor of the empty throne room. Sarah had her eyes closed and was hugging Jareth, one hand still pressed against his side. "Sarah," he spoke softly.

She opened her eyes, which were tear stain, and sat up. "Jareth?"

Smiling, he caressed her cheek. "I knew you'd find a way to get me home, my clever girl." She chuckled and grabbed his hand, squeezing it. "Though I hadn't expected you to be so anxious to have me alone." He teased.

She shook her head and check his side. The wound was completely healed. "I'm just glad the Labyrinth was helping, without its magic I would have failed."

"Perhaps, but I'm confident you would have found a way even without magic. You beat me and my Labyrinth without it after all." Jareth told her as he gazed into her emerald eyes. He had dreampt of seeing her again for so long, now that she was finally here he barely knew what to say.

"I guess Ellenor lied about the runes not working on your collar. I tried it out of desperation and it worked."

"I don't think she lied. You used blood to draw the runes, making them stronger."

"It was your blood."

"Mixed with your own." Jareth added as he lifted her blood covered hand and examined it. "You used your cut finger, correct?" Sarah nodded. "Between the blood magic, your pure will, and the magic of the Labyrinth you broke the spell. I'm sure it was a stronger spell than on the others collars, but when you were in danger I felt it weaken. I was barely able to move before and when I saw Michael going after you I felt a surge of power from my medallion. Even now it's pulsing more than ever has."

"You mean this isn't normal?" She asked as she lifted her medallion.

"Tell me, where did you get that?"

"A goblin brought it to me. He said it was from the Labyrinth." She explained.

"As I thought." Jareth grinned. "The Labyrinth has chosen its Queen."

"Jareth?"

"Hmm?"

"Stop talking." She grinned faintly and tugged him close, closing the distance between their mouths. He tensed, surprised at her forwardness, then groaned and responded in kind. She sighed, running her hands through his hair, not objecting when his arms snaked around her waist and drew her closer to him.

A small cough drew them apart, making them slowly look over to their right. Beside them were several of the denizens of the Labyrinth with emissaries from the various Kings and Queens Sarah had gathered support from to take on Eleanor and her cronies.

"Sorry to interrupt," Hoggle grinned faintly, seemingly chuckling at Jareth's scowl, "but we wanted to let you both know that everyone's been returned to their rightful places. The others thank you too, seems they weren't able to figure out where their people had gone off to."

A few of the emissaries nodded, stepping forward and bowing. "Indeed, Lady Sarah. We owe you our gratitude. It seems your call to your Aboveground authorities landed the woman in jail. Her companion, Michael, is being taken care of in his own lands by his own people. He has a long road to recovery but will make one, we have no doubt. In the meantime, we extend an offer for you and your...betrothed? To join us at the next Kingdom Summit."

Sarah's eyebrows raised at the mention of 'betrothed' but Jareth reached forward, thanking them all for their assistance. "Thank you all. Now, if you don't mind...go away?"

The group chuckled and faded from the room. Sarah swallowed nervously as Jareth turned and looked over at her. "Betrothed?" She squeaked.

"If you want it," He smiled. She seemed to think about it, suddenly remembering her family, and he responded quickly, almost channeling her thoughts. "And you can still see your family."

She grinned and launched herself at him as he laughed and they rolled to the ground, returning to their interrupted make out session.