Chapter 15: Aftermath

Just as things settled down in the castle, hell broke out elsewhere. The enemy broke past the wall and was gaining ground. They were using a special weapon. A monster 30 feet tall the likes of none any Goblin had seen before. A lone goblin rode desperately towards the castle to inform the Goblin King.

Nell felt a pair of lips grace her cheek and a weak smile formed on her lips.

" Good morning my Queen," he purred into her ear. "Its time to get up…" Nell mumbled softly keeping her eyes shut. There was no way she was waking up this early, even for the Goblin King…her… husband. The thought tumbled around in her head merrily. Jareth took the new smile and her still closed lids as a challenge. He gave her a few light kisses, and then steadily the kisses grew heavier and fiercer. Nell couldn't help but lean into them. By the time he pulled away she was to heated to go back to sleep. She opened her eyes with a pout.

"Cheater."

"There are no rules in love and bed games." He said with a mischievous grin.

Nell's jaw stretched open in a yawn and she stretched her arms above and behind her head while her back arched forward. She took in a short breath as Jareth grabbed her back and pulled her forward. She fell on top of him as he lay back. He pushed her hair behind her shoulder. "How about some morning exercise?" He asked playfully. Nell leaned down only to be interrupted by a loud banging on the door. She looked over at the door as Jareth let out a sigh.

"Go away!" Jareth demanded.

"S…sorry sire…I would not interrupt you if it were not a matter of immediate emergency."

With another sigh Jareth continued, "I don't care. Leave or I'll wed you to the Prince of the Bog of Eternal Stench."

The goblin cringed but spoke again," Sire the wall has been breached once again and they…they have a new weapon. They have a monster that towers above all and cuts through our troops like a knife through mud."

Jareth's face grew hard. "Must I do everything myself?" He kissed Nell on the cheek apologetically, "We'll continue this later." Nell rested her cheek on her hand as she laid watching Jareth shrug on his clothes. He gave her a lingering kiss before leaving.

Well, now what am I going to do? Nell thought rolling her eyes. She decided to take a shower and check out what was going on. All cleaned up and dressed, she searched the castle for some chatty goblins to fill her in. She found such a group on the top of one of the towers. They were all staring down over the Labyrinth towards the fighting. Nell's mouth dropped open when she took a look. The monster could be clearly seen from here and it really did tower over everything, even the walls of the Labyrinth. Then she saw him; barely the size of a toy compared to the creature. The Goblin King faced off the beast; magic versus brawn. Nell's stomach fell, she didn't know how she knew…but she knew…he wasn't going to win this one.

"So, who you puttin' ur money on sweety?" a Goblin asked turning around only to shrug her shoulders at the now empty spot.

Nell ran down the flight of stairs, almost falling over herself in her rush. She didn't have a clue what she was going to do when, or if, she got there, but she had to get him out of there. Another door flew open and she headed down the corridor. She hoped her study of the Labyrinth would come in handy now. If this was the correct passage then… Nell caught her breath as the floor gave way and she found herself in an oubliette. She smiled as the torches began to light. Perfect. The secret door wasn't too hard to find and she found herself climbing out of a hole halfway up a wall. Once down, she ran around a few corners and straight into a goblin. They both fell to the ground. She sat up in time to see the goblin get up and continue to run back the way Nell had come. Then she saw a bunch more goblins running her way. She quickly got up and then ran and weaved her way through them all. When she cleared the crowd, she saw Jareth fending off the monster alone. He was still losing ground though. She ran towards him and the battleground seemed to slow down. All the goblins fleeing or fighting the rest of Moraine's army moved in slow motion. The battleground turned silent even lacking the sound of wind.

Jareth fell as the monster pushed through his magical defense and raised its massive arm for the final blow. The arm came crashing down, but it never hit its target. Jareth stared in shock at the sight before him. The creature's arm had come down full force onto an immense force of magic…one surrounding the figure in front of Jareth. Magic swirled around her and she stood rooted to the ground with a snarl on her face and her eyes blazing white.

"Nell?" Jareth barely breathed out.