Chapter 54.

Meep shook himself awake, sniffed the air and growled. "Someone's been a messing where they shouldn't have been a messing!" He checked the girl. Seeing she was safe and still asleep he drew a sigh of relief.

"She is not touched?" an unseen voice asked.

Meep looked around, knew the voice and answered. "No…My Liege. She remains pure."

"For how long?" the High King's voice questioned. "I should have removed her."

"You can't!" The little Pixie protested. "She is the Mystic! She is a champion! She has to stay here. You know the rules, you set them up."

"Hoist on my own petard." The High King became visible, his beautiful face lined with worry.

Meep bowed. "Sire."

Oberon looked down at the sleeping girl. "So much responsibility for one so young…"

The Pixie puffed out his chest proudly. "Our Sarah is up to it! You'll see."

Oberon sighed. "I hope so, little Meep. I truly hope so."
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Quinn awoke to find himself surrounded by the Clutch. "Angus?"

"Here Laddie, mine." The old Dragon drew near.

"Am I a guest or a captive?" Quinn felt unable to even rise.

"Both, my boy. I am sorry lad, but this is how it must be." The old one sounded remorseful.

"But the Goblin King must answer summons…" protested the weakened Fae. "You can't keep me captive." He struggled to rise but found he could not. He felt weak as a kitten and as helpless as Jareth was in the mine.

A wing swept over the Fae. "Sleep, Quinnie…dream…and learn your heart." The voice of the old Dragon said.

Quinn closed his eyes. "Sarah." He whispered. "Sarah, save me…save us."

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In a room at the other end of the castle a girl with eyes like green lava awoke with an angry start. The High King watched as the fury raging in the girl gave voice to a scream that rocked the walls. She had not seen the High King. She had not seen the Pixie who was watching her with his mouth having fallen open. She kicked off the coverlet and roared. "Angus you bastard lizard! I'm going make Lizard hash out of you!"

Giles entered, still dressed in his night shirt. "Sarah?"

Anne and Ryan, sleep still in their eyes entered as well.

Sarah turned. "Angus holds the King!"

Anne yawned. "Are you sure? You sure you didn't dream it?"

Turning on her friend like a tigress, Sarah grabbed the girl and shook her. "Listen to me! I know the difference between a vision, a dream and a premonition! That God Damned LIZARD HAS THE KING!"

'Now,' the inner voice in Anne's head said. 'Now is the time.' Anne shrugged. "Well let him keep him until hell freezes over. It's only Quinn after all."

Sarah felt the arms of the Archer pull her off Anne. "ONLY? How dare you…He's not only Quinn, he's both of them…HE's the two of them….and if we lose one we lose both."

Ryan could not understand the tone his wife was taking. "Anne…"

Anne shoved him aside. "So what you going to do about it?"

Struggling to free herself, Sarah clawed at the arm of the Archer. "I'm going to recue the man I love!" her nails dug into Giles arm and he let her lose. She headed for the door. "With or without help from the rest of you!"

"Hey, put some clothes on!" Anne shouted, and watched as the girl magically changed into her Mystics garments as she stormed out of the room.

Ryan helped Giles up. "You'd best see Talbot about that." He then looked at Anne. "What the hell did you just do?"

Anne looked at the two other Champions. "Daughter of the Fallen will battle both Healer and Scribe."

Giles looked at the blood on his arm. "I don't recall a portion saying she blooded herself on the Archer, do you?"

"She has to fight, fight for the soul." Anne said.

"I hope you know what you've just done." Ryan said heading back toward their rooms. "We'd better get dressed and see if she needs a hand." The room emptied.

Meep was alone, "Sire?" he whispered. "Shouldn't someone warn the old Dragon?"

"He knows," the unseen sighed.

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The Mystic entered the mounting grounds of the Wyrn, the young woman stepped into the courtyard with her head held high. Sarah had discarded the storybook night gown in favor of a magical creation of her own. A back less halter of brocade that was in muted tones of peach and green. The sleeves held to the shoulders with mail and crystal orbs of varying sizes. The neckline was plunging but the plunge was also covered it the crystal encrusted mail. Her hipline was a belt of mail with crystals; the front panel and back panel of the skirt were split up high on her thighs on either side, and joined on either side of her hip with mail. The skirt matched the halter-top. The crystal Juliet cap was set into her hair and long locks had been woven in and out. In her hand was a Holly staff with a large Crystal orb held by what looked like wooden fingers carved into the staff. Her feet were covered in high-heeled boots that laced up the front of her legs.

Cairbre and Solea had been awakened by a change in the air. The fabric of magic was fired up. They appeared in the hall and followed the procession of champions that were now on their way to the Wyrn.

Sarah closed her eyes, drew energy from the very land. The Labyrinth rose like a wild animal and groaned. Opening her eyes Sarah called out to the cavern opening. "Alright you overgrown handbag. You want words; I'll give you words…." Sarah positioned herself directly in the opening. She opened her arms and began to sing.

"For She who sees beyond held the key to winning the Last Battle. She can wield the Crystal Power. She holds the Sword That Cannot Be Touched. The sword that dances in mists and dreams

He who is dead yet lives. The north and the east must be as one. The west and the south must be as one. The two must be as one. If you would live, you must die.

Daughter of the Night, walks again. The ancient war, she yet fights. Her new lover she seeks, who shall serve her and die, yet serve still. Who shall stand against her when she frees the captured soul? The Shining Walls of the old Kingdom shall kneel to her.

Once the Dragon, for remembrance lost.
Twice the Dragon, for the price he must pay Twice dawns the day when his blood is shed.
Once for mourning, once for birth. The Dragon Reborn must kneel before the Crystal Throne before the Daughter of the Fallen
Red on black, the Dragon's blood stains the Shattered Soul.

For She who sees beyond held the key to winning the Last Battle. She can wield the Crystal Power. She holds the Sword That Cannot Be Touched. The sword that dances in mists and dreams. To her alone shall the dragon bow."

Angus, the Father of the Clutch moved out of the cavern opening. "So ye learned Dragon Song as well," he taunted the girl. "How nice. Now, Daughter of the Fallen….Nephilim Spawn… what do the words mean?"

"It means you stand between me and my beloved." She said placing hands on her hips.

"That it does, lassie," the old Dragon snapped. "So what do ye intend to do about it?"

"The Shattered Soul belongs to me, he's mine." She proclaimed.

"Which half lass, which one do ye want?"

"Which one?" Sarah glared back at the dragon nearly as maliciously as Angus glared at her. "I'll tell you which one! I want the entire package. The whole shebang! The kit and the kabootall!"

Angus laughed. "Really?" He taunted. "Would ye not like one half better than the other? There's Jareth with his sweet boyish side. Ready to play a game; chase ye round the Labyrinth offering you yer dreams." He snapped. "With his warm tender kisses and his words of love sung to you in a poisoned peach."

Sarah gasped, not expecting the taunt of the experience of the peach. "It was part of the game." She fought back.

"Aye, part of a game, one he meant to win, even if he had to cheat to do so." Angus laughed. "He stole time from ye, did he not?"

"Yes." Sarah admitted. "He did."

"So do ye really want him?" The Dragon was now circling round the Mystic looking for weakness. "And remember, he even wagered on ye with his own brother…his other half."

"Fae wager on everything," Sarah scoffed. "I've learned to live with it. Now give him to me, Angus."

"Not so fast, Lass..There's the other half…Quinn….with his smooth manners, his bedroom eyes and his hot kisses. His dark desires for ye…would ye not rather I gave that side of the shattered soul to you?" The old lizard crooned in a sing song voice. "Quinn who made ye bargain for the life of his brother…who gave his own life up so that ye could have the man ye thinks ye loves…Quinn who can curl yer toes with his passion…Think Sarah…Ye could have Quinn…"

Sarah looked at the Dragon Lord, "Give me the child," Sarah said, in a voice that was low, but firm with the courage her quest needed. She halted, her hands still held out. "Give me the child," she repeated. "Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City, to take back the child you have stolen." She bit her lip and continued, "For my will is as strong as yours ... and my kingdom as great ..."

Angus narrowed his vision. "You used those words on Jareth, do you really believe they will work on me?"

"I am Sarah, also called Sareth! I am the Maid of the Labyrinth…Mystic of the Goblin King." She said aloud. "I have come to claim what is mine."

"Show me your power, girl" Challenged the old Dragon his wings spread wide blocking her from the entrance. "If ye can."

Sarah took a stance, drew a crystal from the air.

"Nice little trick girly girl," the Dragon taunted. "But a crystal orb is of no use against me."

Sarah looked sad for an instant, and then twisted her wrist and the crystal orb became a crystal sword. So fine was the crystal that it was nearly invisible. "I wield the crystal power!" She announced. "the Sword That Cannot Be Touched, The sword that dances in mists and dreams ."

"Pretty words, for a pretty child," the dragon said, but he kept an eye on the sword in her hand.

"Give me the child!" She ordered.

"NO." Angus laughed, and then cried out in pain as the sword in the hand of the Mystic tore into his wing with her upswing of the sword.

Sarah hated like hell stabbing the dragon, but knew it was not yet over. "Give me the child!"

Angus roared, turned and fled into the cavern.

Solea and Cairbre were watching and keeping track as the other Champions entered the grounds where they mounted the dragons on a daily basis. Sarah held out a hand, halting them. "No! I have to face him alone."

"Why?" Giles asked as he moved toward her. "Why should you have to face him alone?"

"Because that's the way it's done," Sarah replied. "Giles, Ryan, Anne." She looked at them. "Thank you, but I have to do this alone. I have to fulfill the prophecy." She left them and entered the cavern. "Alright, Dragon! You won't come out and bring my beloved, I'm coming in."

Solea who was carrying a goblet of water said the incantation and turned it into a Scrying Pool.

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The cavern was dark, and Sarah held the sword up. "Illuminati!" The sword lit her way as she moved.

Angus snarled and the rest of the dragons backed off, and hid in passages.

"You can run Angus, but you can not hide!" The girl warned. "I'm not leaving here without my man!" Sarah was not sure but she could have sworn she heard a Dragon laughing at her.
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