Disclaimer: I own nothing…how depressing
Last Time:
Jareth however didn't reminisce on such immaterial. The Goblin King had his mismatched orbs had eyes only for the ebony castle rising from the center of the plain of ash and flowers. And waiting for him and his rescue party was Zaynon dressed in his dark majestic glory.
Pulling Devil to a halt before the King of Dagon Jareth glared the ultimate death glare. "Where is she?" It was said in such a deadly calm all but the Dark Prince shivered.
Zaynon simple misleading smile spread across his even more misleading face as he swept into a deep bow, keeping his eyes still on Jareth. With his raven mane unbound and floating about his slim, muscular leather clad form he almost looked the part of an angel. Course Zaynon was not the angel of life, and all that was bright. He was the angel of sin and all that was far from bright and holy.
"Welcome all to my magnificent home. We're all just dying for you to din with us this evening."
This Time:
Daughter of the Labyrinth
Chapter 20- Cornered, but It's Not All in Vain
No one in the rescue party liked how those words were droned out in Zaynon's sickenly sweet mocking voice. We're and dying did not bode well, and all but Jareth and Vannor shivered.
"Dying indeed," came Jareth's chilled answer, and Devil restlessly stomped a fore hoof. It was obvious that the stallion did not like Zaynon; no racial creature would or did.
The Dark Prince looked over the creature of muscle and speed with keen eyes. "What a fascinating creature brother? Where ever did you get this gorgeous demonic horse?"
Devil snorted angrily into the Zaynon's face, his dark eyes burrowing into the fae.
Jareth grinned with vacant mirth. "This is not my stallion Zaynon; this creature belongs to only Jaden." At that the feline Jareth leap up upon the fae Jareth's shoulder. "This is Jare, another of Jade's close friends."
Jare hissed at the King of Dagon as he swats an ebony clawed paw through the air in the fae king's direction.
"Careful now," smirked Vannor. "He's all teeth and claws."
Zaynon knowing very well that he was being humorously poked at glowered at the rescue party, but said nothing in the form of threats surprising them all. "Please come in; dinner is almost served. It would be an honor to have you all dinning at my table."
"Honor…right…"mumbled Sheera and Crow together as they all dismounted and followed Zaynon into his daunting home.
They soon found themselves in a large courtyard that was empty of all life. There was only the dark black stone, and the foreboding sculptures of gargoyles; maws open flashing fangs and wings unfurled. Though there were some servants about, none held any more life then the gargoyles did. This scene unsettled Jareth, because this was the environment Jaden had been subjected to for a week or so.
The King of the castle led them all into his gloomy nearly none inhabited stable. What animals that were in there were nearly unrecognizable as animals. The near skeletal horses were now more demonic then anything else. Their oily black coats stretched tight over their showing frames was sickening as well as haunting. The ebony manes were course and thin, as if the hair had fallen out and what was left was poorly taken care of. It was the eyes though that shocked the group and it was burned into their memory like a hot brand upon livestock. The eyes of those animals in Zaynon's care were sunken in and dark, extinguished of all life and pride.
"He's horrid neglect did this to them," murmured Sheera quaking with shocked horror. "These poor creatures…"
None saw just how much enjoyment Zaynon took out of the rescue party's horrified expressions. "Come," he said with a smirk. "The dinning hall is this way; please follow me."
Jareth and the others reluctantly followed. Lucky for them though that the Dark Prince had not ordered them to remove their weapons. Course he could have asked, but not a single person would have removed his or her weapons.
So in tense silence, the small company of companions followed their host through his dark foreboding castle. Soon they made their way to a pair of large onyx double doors obviously being the entrance to the dinning hall. Zaynon pushed wide the doors and they entered a large hall carpeted with crimson plush, and a mural of death and war above their heads. The long table was crammed full of delicious food and all knew it was the starving servants that had made it, and they were no better off then the livestock.
"Please have a seat, and relax your road weary bodies," smiled the devilish fae king. "You've all come such a long way in a very short time."
They all silently sat themselves at their end of the table. The group stared across the food at the gently smiling Zaynon as he drank from his wine goblet. There would be no eating this evening for any of them, for their worry for Jade's safety kept hunger at bay. And none trusted Zaynon enough to not have poisoned the food.
Seeing this, the dark majestic fae sighed as he put down his wine. "If you're not going to eat, then I might as well clear it away." With a clawed hand he waved it calling forth servants to take it away. "Share it amongst yourselves, and make it last. I won't be this generous for some time to come."
The servants bowed deeply with murmured thank yous and left with a little more spring in their step; they would eat well this night.
"So what brings you all here," inquired Zaynon nonchalantly as he continued to sip his blood red drink.
Jareth snarled, furrowing his brows in ire. "Cut the crap Zaynon! You know very well that we are here for Jaden, so where is she!?"
The Dark Lord raised a sharp ice flaked amber eye to his younger brother. "She is as well as she has let herself be."
Sheera snarled. "That's not what we want to know! We want to know where Jaden is!! SO WHERE IS SHE!!"
Zaynon glowered at the out bursting thief. "True, but the real question you all want to know is…what Jaden's condition is, is it not. That would be the more important inquiry from a person in your position; so I told you."
Lifting his ungloved hand pale hand, Zaynon snapped his fingers letting the sound ring out hollowly. As the agitating sound of the snap died the door at the dark fae king's back burst open and Kraven and Axel filled its entrance. Over the dark harpy's winged shoulder he carried something white, but before anyone could get a look at what it was, Kraven disposed it in front of his king. Like a limp corpse, the large object struck the wood table with a thump and the identity of the burden was made known, and horribly so.
"Jaden!" cried Jareth as he burst from his seat, sending it clattering to the floor as the others followed suit.
Crow saw as well as everyone else that Jaden was as lifeless as a corpse. The wrath of the rescue party grew to a threatening point and their bloodlust for Zaynon's life thickened the air. The sheer might of the urges of battle thickened the air making it terribly hard to breath.
"You bastard," Crow cried out. "What have you done to her!!"
"I have done nothing life threatening to your precious friend little Crow. What you see before you is the outcome of what Jade did to herself."
"Liar," roared the harpy as he went to leap upon his enemy, but before he could, Kraven was there with blade drawn. "Bastards," he seethed.
"What did you do to her Zaynon," calmly inquired Vannor though he never even looked in the dark prince's direction. "If Jade's present condition is not your doing, what acts of brutality did you commit against this young woman?"
The banished son of the High King grinned happily as he ran his agile fingers through Jaden's silken ebony mane. "Her very blood is her limitless power. In order to get to it, I had to inflict at least a little harm." A mocking pleasant smile spread across Zaynon's handsome face as he eyed the motionless Jareth. "Jade's very sensitive to biting brother, you should try it some time. Course, that's even if our precious little mortal awakens from her slumber that is."
Jareth barred his fangs at his disgusting older brother. "Zaynon, you'll pay dearly for what you've put her through!"
"But I was being nice to her little brother," pouted the ebony haired king of Dagon. "You should be thankful I didn't do worse, and you know I can," finished Zaynon with a sinister sneer.
"You perverted abomination from Hell," screeched Sheera drawing a dagger and went to attack their foe, but before anyone could do anything, thief was pinned to the ground. Above her, pinning her to the ground with his own dagger against Sheera's throat was Axel. "You low life piece of shit! Get off of me!!"
Axel gave a sinister half-smile. "I wouldn't be on you if you hadn't had the sudden urge to attack my King."
The steely ring of a blade being unsheathed rang in everyone's keen ears. No one saw the action or identify the sounds origin before they all found Jareth above Axel. The Goblin King stood above the fire haired fae with his blade's tip at his throat.
"That's my comrade you are threatening, and I don't take kindly to it," stated Jareth with deadly calm, but the razor edge of this blade dug into fragile flesh none the less, shedding a drop of ruby. "Sheath you blade; now."
"Withdraw Axel," ordered Zaynon flatly.
Axel peered at his master with perplexed hurt. "But Master!"
Zaynon pinned his henchmen with a deadly frigid stare. "I said withdraw servant! Now do as I say!!"
Axel nodded reluctantly removing his blade from Sheera's neck and sheathing it. Rising slowly, with Jareth's own blade still at his neck, the flame haired fae stepped back. Returning to his King's left side; Axel became expressionless and as stationary as a statue.
Reaching down with one gloved hand, the King of Goblins helped his thief to her feet. "You alright?"
"Yea, I'm fine," briskly answered Sheera as she brushed herself off. "Pride bruised a little, but I'll live."
Jareth gave a glad grin before turning once more to his older brother. Zaynon still sat where he was before, running his deadly fingers through raven tresses, and across smooth porcelain skin. The mere sight of Jaden unconsciously subjected to Zaynon's touches caused destructive wrath to bloom in the Goblin King's chest.
"Give her to me." It wasn't a request.
Zaynon smiled running a finger down the bandaged neck of the oblivious mortal girl. "Why should I little brother?"
The platinum haired fae king narrowed his mismatching eyes at his enemy. "Because she is of no further use to you," Jareth pointed at the slowly leaking blood that puddle on the table by Jade's wrists. "The more she looses the closer to death she comes. You would have saved every last drop if you could, so it leads me to believe that you or anyone in liege with you can't drink her blood. And with Jade in a deep slumber you can't manipulate her; she's useless to you."
The Dark King laughed at Jareth's words, the mirth cold and dark causing all but Vannor and Jareth to shiver. "How observant of you Jareth; you are correct. Myself and anyone else that is under my influence can't drink Jaden's blood. She said only you, and you alone could undo what she did. However, maybe I'll keep her, and watch her die and slow death?"
Jareth growled and leapt forward in a blink of an eye. In another plink the Goblin King was crouching among his companions with a limp girl encircled in his arms. Zaynon was left blinking in puzzlement as he looked at the empty space before him on the table.
"Jade," Jareth called to the mortal teen in his strong arms. "Jade can you hear me?! Jaden you can wake up now! I'm here; you're safe now! Jaden, it's me Jareth; wake up love!!"
The group waited for an answer, any response that would have been nice, but after a time none came. Jade remained motionless and deep in her comatose. Jareth hugged her close and raised his blue and black spheres to his brother.
"I'll make you pay dearly for this! I'll kill you for everything you've done against the innocent! For every harmful thing you've committed Zaynon, I'll make you pay a hundred fold!"
"Ooooh," smirked the evil fae prince as he eagerly lined forward in his high backed chair. "Is that a challenge I hear coming from your mouth little brother, because if it is…I gladly accept."
"Good," snarled Jareth as he stood with Jaden bridle style in his arms. "Because it was a challenge."
"Then at the first break of light then?" inquired Zaynon as he cold diamond hard eyes came to rest on the unconscious teenage girl.
"When first light reaches the sky, I will meet you in the courtyard." And with nothing more to say, Jareth departed with his father and friends following behind him.
Kraven went to stop them, but Zaynon's outstretched arm halted him. "Master?"
"Leave them be," softly spoke the dark ruler, but in a cruel and angry voice. "He has a night to prepare himself. If Jaden does not wake till the challenge, Jareth will be disheartened and filled with doubt. That my dear friend, is how I want him, so I can cut far deeper then my blade ever will."
Zaynon's shrill haunting laughter filled the chamber and was soon joined by Axel's and Kraven's sinister mirth. Slipping through doors and walls alike, the malevolent laughter soon reached and socked into the souls of the rescue party. However instead of intimidating them, the mirth in fact encouraged the group to fight harder.
Jareth gripped Jaden, drawing her closer to his warmth and weary soul. "We need to find somewhere to stay for the night."
"Well yea," commented Crow all disgruntled. "But where are the guest rooms in this place; there have to be some. Zaynon has had subjects here before, so where are they?"
Sheera shook her head at the boyish harpy. "We need to find the infirmary for Jade instead. If we can slow the bleeding Jade should be able to last longer."
Vannor nodded agreeing as he thought more deeply aloud. "Jade gave you a time limit did she not Jareth; when she visited you? How long does she have?"
"She has little past the break of dawn," answered Jareth emotionlessly. "That was why Zaynon wanted the duel at first light rather then normally at dawn. He doesn't want me by her side should she not wake."
"Ahh hum," coughed a voice from the group's right.
The group spun to their right to surprisingly find a large group of servants. All their pale slightly sunken faces were creased in worry as all their eyes trailed to the lifeless Jaden.
"Can we help you,' inquired Jareth not sure of what to make of the group of servants.
A man walked forward, appearing to be in his prime, but looking far older and wiser with misfortune. "It is more like, can we help you Your Highnesses and Lady," he said strongly, but solemnly. "We have served under her Ladyship and she was so nice to us. When other guests cursed and punished us, she was the only that came here that showed us kindness. We would gladly help acquire shelter for you all in the infirmary so we can look after her Ladyship."
The Jareth and his companions smiled and gave small bows of appreciation and respect; even Vannor, the High King bowed.
"Thank you so much," whispered Jareth as he followed the servant through a pair of double doors into a hall lined with freshly made beds. "We don't know how to repay you."
The pale servant looked over his shoulder at the Goblin King. "All we want is to leave this place. For most of us, this place is the only home we've ever known. Yet this horror filled life and place can't be considered a life or a home. All we want to do is live somewhere filled with life and light and the appreciation of our hard work."
Jareth grew sour at the through of think how a life of servitude beneath Zaynon would mean. The fae king saw his companions glower at the thought of innocent people being treat like scum at well.
Vannor coughed into his hand to get everyone's attention. "Then when this is all over, I will personally see to it that you all live under the roof of a kind and worthy noble."
Joyous cries rang out through the infirmary at the High King's encouraging and promising words.
"Thank you Your Majesty," smiled and bowed the apparent leader of the servants; the young man who had invited them into the infirmary. "We are truly grateful. And while here, should you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask, and we will do our best to accommodate you."
"Then food and a bed would be nice," grumbled Crow holding his growling stomach.
Sheera once more smacked the dark haired harpy upside the head. "Can it Bird-Brain!"
"What!? I can't help it! We've barely had anything to eat for two days!!"
A round of giggling came from the female servants as they eyed the young harpy male, causing the womanizing winged man to blush and stare intently at the floor. Surprising them all by refraining from flirting with the servants, course with Sheera there, all could see why.
Jareth grinned half-heartedly as he gradually felt more at ease here, in the castle of his older twin brother and sworn enemy. "Some food would be nice, and a bed for Jade would be nice as well."
"Right away Your Highness," chimed a young girl as she curtsied and scurried away to grab food with a few more girl who followed.
"This way Your Highness," said the young man that spoke for the servants as he waved to a large bed fresh with white linens. "This bed was more for the Master when he needs to be in the infirmary, but he hardly is. So I think it's alright for her Ladyship to use it. Course if it isn't, I'm not one to care."
Gently, Jareth laid the slumbering girl on the white sheets that mater her ivory dress now splattered with crimson. Brushing aside a few stray ebony bangs Jareth looked down fondly at Jaden as he sat by her slumbering side.
"Thank you, young man. You all deserve more then you've been given, or lack of."
The servant bowed. "It means a lot to the others and me as well to be recognized for the work we do. The young girl was the first to see it, and she gave us a glimmer of hope."
The King of Goblins smiled warmly up at the servant, but soon returned his gaze to his beloved. "Yes…she does tend to do that. But I never caught your name, young man."
The man smiled a broad handsome smile at the young man part, obviously he didn't look young but to Jareth he was young.
"Spero, Your Highness; my name is Spero."
"Well Spero, you have my gratitude, but if it's not too hard, I'd like a cup of warm wine to help me sleep. Otherwise I won't sleep a wink I'm afraid."
"Of course; right away," and Spero was off doing as he was politely asked to do.
Jareth, still sitting on the edge of the bed Jade slept on, let his gaze wander to his close companions. The trio was digging into their meals while making small talk with the servants and amongst themselves. They were at ease for now, and would certainly sleep as well as they could the coming night. Jareth however, knew his worry for his beloved's life would keep him awake. Even as he sat guard over her, he could not save hr from his mistake of having caused this outcome. His slow progress here had driven Jaden to drastic measures. Her death would be his fault if she didn't wake and live; Sarah would have his head.
Taking a limp agile hand in his gloved ones, Jareth peered at the deep slash marring the pearl white flesh. Casting a spell to heal the wound, the Goblin King only found that the blood flow slowed. He had only bid Jade more time to rouse from her comatose.
"Another failure love," he whispered bowing his head mournfully.
Footsteps halted behind him. "How is her Ladyship?" inquired a very concerned Spero, a silver tray in his hands with a single heated wine goblet; he handed it to the Goblin King who took a large sip.
"She's still not waking I'm afraid," murmured Jareth. "I was able to slow the bleeding but that was it; her power is too powerful for me to overcome."
Spero bowed his head, tray now slack in his calloused hands. "I will leave you be then Your Highness," and he left only to be replaced by three others.
Jareth looked up from Jade's sleeping face to the anxious ones of Sheera, Crow and his father. Their faces seemed to be stuck in permanent frowns as their mournful eyes resting intently on the near dead girl. This rescue had been a total failure. Not only did they fail to get Jade out without confrontation as they had hoped, but failed to get her out unharmed. Jareth felt overwhelming regret and grief swell in his chest, but didn't let it show. He just pushed side the raven locks as the sleeping beauty slept on.
"Jareth," whispered Vannor laying a strong hand on his son's shoulder. "Can I speak with you in private for a moment?"
The Goblin King narrowed his eyes as he gazed between his father and beloved. He didn't want to leave Jade's side by the off chance she should wake up; he should be there when she did. On the other hand, Jareth knew his father's words were important just by the tone Vannor had used. And he wanted to go with him; the High King had wisdom and encouragement Jareth knew he needed desperately.
"But…" breathed the platinum haired fae king.
"Sheera and Crow will look after her Jareth," interrupted Vannor. "I want to speak with you now Jareth; it can not wait."
With a small reluctant nod, the King of Goblins rose from the white linen bed with a fleeting glace at the unconscious girl. Turning his eyes once more to the thief and harpy, he gave them a curt but ordering nod. They nodded in return knowing very well that Jareth had order them to stay by Jaden, course orders weren't needed, they weren't going anywhere.
Following his father, Jareth pondered over the reason he had to be taken away from his intended's sick bed. Nothing really came to mind and the Goblin King was forced to wait as they stepped through a pair of doors in the infirmary. It was here that Vannor halted, and Jareth waited staring at his back.
"Jareth," began Vannor calmly but it was obvious that he wasn't calm underneath the High King façade. "Zaynon has had a week or so to take in Jade's blood and power. That small portion of time is plenty for that monster to increase his devastating power."
Vannor turned to face his now only son with a critical look on his face that made Jareth terribly uneasy.
"Father?" inquired Jareth nervously.
The High King sighed, the grave look turning into a more mournful expression as he placed his hands on his son's shoulders. "What I'm about to ask you may be difficult to do, but I will not stand by needlessly and watch my only son get killed by that treacherous dog I also once called son. I ask you Jareth; drink Jaden's blood and even the playing field."
A horror struck Goblin King lurched back as he narrowed his angry eyes at his father.
"Are you mad!?" barked Jareth. "I would never do that to Jaden! Besides, she's loosing enough blood as it is!! I won't add to it!!"
Vannor stared at the ground brokenly. "There's no other way my son. Jade would ask you to do it if she was awake anyway."
"Don't you but words in her mouth High King," snarled out Jareth, his blue and black eyes smoldering with ire.
Vannor raised his head to stare back at his reluctant son unfazed. "You know this fact as well as I do. Jade would beg you to do it if she should. So since she can't I'm standing here in her steed."
Jareth remained glaring and spiting fire with his eyes. "That may be true, but I still refused just as I would her!"
Vannor clenched his jaw in frustration silence at his son's stubbornness. "Be practical Jareth! You and Zaynon were equal in power as you two grew up; your fights would end in devastation, while not a scratch was ever laid on either of you. What do you think will happen now with the power Zaynon has taken from Jade!? You're the only one that can stop him, but you can't do it on your own!"
Jareth glowered at the cold stone floor, knowing very well that what his father said was true. Zaynon and himself would always end up fighting, laying waste to their surroundings and both of them walking away unscathed. With Jade's power circling through the Dark King's own magic, Jareth knew he had no chance, and he hated it to the point that it made him sick.
"I could kill her by taking her blood. If I take what I need, I'll be only speeding up the clock."
Vannor sighed deeply, running a hand through his pale hair. "It's a risk, I understand that; all too well. But it's a risk we'll have to take, one neither of us want to take it, but we have no choice Jareth. There is no other way; we're forced into a corner here!"
"Stuck between a rock and a hard place," murmured Jareth bowing his head. "I know you're right Father, doesn't mean I have to like it."
"I don't either, but we have no choice."
With a mellow nod, the sorrowful pair left the room to return to the main infirmary. Sheera and Crow looked up as Jareth and Vannor walked in. The thief and harpy's face were soon set in to expression of confusion and worry. Together they rose stiffly from Jade's bed to face their kings.
"What's wrong?" rushed Sheera anxiousness radiating off of her.
"Nothing terribly wrong my dear," spoke up Vannor anxiety still in his voice as he struggled to hide it.
Crow heard it and raised a brow as he eyed the silent Goblin King. "What are you not telling us?"
The shoulders of the proud King of Goblins slumped. "To even out the playing field for the duel, I have to take Jade's blood so I'm equal with Zaynon's power. I don't like it, but to win I have no choice."
Sheera went rigid at her King's softly spoken words. "You can't do that Jareth! You could kill her!!"
"Don't you think I know that!!"
Harpy and thief took a nervous step back from the force Jareth had shouted at them with. The Goblin King was very unbalanced now, as all could tell. If Jareth blew it here, people would most certainly be injured, if not worse.
Jareth's slow deep breathing was the only sound in the silent near empty infirmary. The three individuals calmly watched as the Goblin King leashed his explosive temper.
Heaving a sigh Jareth spoke again. "I shouldn't have yelled at you, my apologies."
"It's alright Jareth," ensured Crow with a smile as he patted his friend on the back. "You have every reason to be angry. It's just…if you do this, Jade could very well never wake up again."
"But her death will be in vain if you don't," commented Vannor as he stared down at the motionless mortal creature upon the bed.
Sheera let her eyes wander to her close friend and the turmoil of the dilemma could be seen in her eyes. But after a while she nodded agreeing reluctantly to the idea they were arguing over. Turning back to her king the thief nodded again, but more determined this time.
"So it's decided then," murmured Jareth as he sat on the large bed. "This is the better of the two evils." And the King of Goblins drew the sleeping beauty into his strong arms to cradle her there.
Vannor, Sheera, and Crow stood there transfixed by the scene. However, they knew this was an event that was only for Jareth and Jade; no onlookers would be welcome. So in eerie silent misery the trio made their exit, walking away from the ones they loved. It was Sheera who was the last to leave; with a fleeting glace back she drew the ivory curtain around the pair. Now eclipsed from all few, Jareth and Jade were left to their privacy.
Jareth huddled Jaden closer as he nuzzled her hair as the last of his companions took their leave. He had feared that this would happen, and despised the fact that his lack of action and determination had led to this outcome.
"I'm so sorry Jaden," he hoarsely murmured into the teen's deaf ears. "This wasn't how I planned it. Please wake up love; I'll do anything, just open your eyes…"
To the Goblin King's plea, there was no answer from the slumbering mortal, just the constant even breath of a girl in a deep sleep. This caused Jareth to fall further into sorrow and self-misery. His voice seemed to no longer be able to reach Jade where ever she was in her self induced coma. So with a slow shaky hand, Jareth took hold of Jade's right wrist; blood still trickling away her lifeline.
He raised the bleeding limb to his face as he drew his unconscious bride closer to his warmth. Jareth inhaled, letting the scent of rest and salt filled his head as his senses heightened with the smell of blood laced with limitless power. If I had been under better and different circumstances Jareth would have enjoyed the exotic scent of Jade's blood.
"Forgive me…"
And Jareth molded his lips around the slash.
The instant the thick ruby liquid touched his tongue, the surge of power that flew through his veins was short of nostalgic and mind numbing. Jade's tremendous power flashed through Jareth's body as if it was liquid lightning or molten lava. If the blonde haired fae hadn't been clasping himself to Jaden, Jareth was sure that the sheer force of power would have thrown him back. He hung on though; drinking, swallow the life blood he was taking. Savoring the blood as it flowed slowly and hotly down his throat.
More power Jareth took in, the more he noticed something. There was too much power coming from Jade's blood; more power was he taking then he was taking in blood. Realization hit him with the force not unlike when he first tasted Jade's blood. Even in Jade's unconscious state, she still knew it was him that was hugging her, watching over her. And in knowing that Jade was giving more power to him then merely taking in her blood would do. And in doing so, Jade's death was fast approaching if Jareth didn't stop now.
Wrenching himself away from the bleeding limb, Jareth gulped down air as his senses sparked and sizzled with newly absorbed magic. Looking down with sleep glazed eyes, the fae king found the mortal girl paler and breathing far shallower.
"Jaden," Jareth croaked turning the pale face toward him, but nothing in the slumbering façade changed. "May the Gods have mercy; what have I done?!"
However, the great and proud Goblin King couldn't say much more as the room and scenery of the infirmary around him swirled and reeled around in a whirl of dizziness and nausea. Jareth had enough strength to note it was the overwhelming intake of magical essence that did this to him. He hit the bed's pillows in an unconscious heap
And Jade slumbering the circle of his protective embrace, appeared to be smiling a very small near invisible smile.
A/N: I'm so sorry for updating so late! I lost my notebook that had this fic in it and I looked all over my house for it, and I was coming up empty at first. I was frantic with the possibility that I had lost it when I when to Minneapolis for the weekend. But after a while of sitting on my butt in the middle of my room I though…"What is the most illogical spot it could be." Sure enough I thought to look under my bed, and…vawlla!! My notebook was hiding under my bed, and I can't thin of a signal idea of how it got under there either! Well that's the story and there's only 2 to 3 chapters left so, yippy!
Cheers,
BLAZE
PLEASE REMEMBER TO REVIEW!!