Disclaimer: Sadly, I still don't own Labyrinth. It belongs to Jim Henson, George Lucas, Brian Froud, David Bowie, etc

Author's Note: Thanks again to everyone for sticking with this story and for following, reviewing, and favoriting. It means a lot! Here's chapter 13.

"The Light"

"Wake up, wake up, the both of you."

Sarah frowned and shook her head, draping her arm across her eyes loosely as she mumbled in protest.

"Would you stop prodding me with that thing!"

"Jareth?" she whispered.

"Ow!"

"Jareth!" Sarah sat up, groping around for something that could be used as a weapon and turning toward the Goblin King's voice. Her eyes widened at the sight before her.

"Hello there, Sarah," Hoggle said, a hand on his hip, "Fancy seeing you in the swamps."

"Hoggle, Sir Didymus, Ludo!"

In an instant, she was off the swamp ground and running. Ludo caught her in a warm hug, his arms encircling her.

"Sarah, friend," he said, swinging her slightly and making her laugh. "Ludo missed Sarah."

"I missed you too!" she said, squeezing him extra tight before he set her down.

Sir Didymus leapt up to catch her hand, making Sarah bend half way over so that he could kiss her knuckles, tickling them with his whiskers.

"Oh my lady!" he said. "In all my days since our parting, I never thought I would see you again."

Sarah responded by hugging and squeezing him tight. She realized with a jolt that it might not be very dignified.

"Sorry, Sir Didymus," she said with a grin.

"No need for apologies, my lady," he said, straightening his little feathered hat from where she had knocked it askew. "I am so very pleased to see you, and to see that those despicable knaves did not lay a finger on you, lest they face the wrath of Sir Didymus!"

Hoggle rolled his eyes as the tiny knight did a fencing move against an unseen foe. "Delusions of grandeur," he muttered. Hoggle cleared his throat when he met Sarah's disapproving gaze. "Well, Sarah. We got a call—"

"By way of magic!" inserted Didymus.

"Yes, by magic—" Hoggle continued.

"Mirror," Ludo said.

"Through the mirror," Hoggle continued, clearly annoyed as Ludo stood, swinging side to side, and Didymus continued to parry. "We heard from your hobgoblin friend that you and his majesty," Hoggle gave Jareth a nervous half-bow, "would be in the swamps and that you might be in a tight spot of trouble."

"So we came to rescue you," Sir Didymus said, finishing his fight with a flourish.

"We don't need rescuing," Jareth said, standing and crossing his arms.

Sarah had almost forgotten he was there. Almost. Now that he was speaking and standing, although covered in grime and leaves, his authority was undeniable.

"We have been getting along perfectly fine," Jareth continued with a sniff as he plucked a dry leaf from his wild hair. He glanced at it in disgust before flicking it away, royal persona in full force.

"He's exaggerating," Sarah said, rolling her eyes. "It's so wonderful that you're all here."

"Come, my lady," Sir Didymus said with a wild gesture. He whistled and Ambrosius ambled over, looking a bit gray around the nose. The old dog stopped to smell some small white flowers growing on the fallen trunk of a tree. "Ambrosius!"

Sir Didymus raced over to Ambrosius and whistled again. The sheep dog paid attention enough for him to hop on his back. "Let's away, to the camp!"

As Didymus began to gallop off, Sarah and Jareth fell into step with Hoggle, Ludo walking a few paces back.

"Camp?" she asked Hoggle.

"Yeah, everyone who survived is there, mostly goblins, couple pixies, an old seer," Hoggle said with a shrug. "It's a hodgepodge of sorts."

"Oh," Sarah said, biting her lower lip. She had never expected things to be so bad.

"In any case, we've got him now," Hoggle said, glancing at Jareth. He mumbled something that sounded like, "thought he was dead."

"No, Hedgewort, I'm in the flesh, alive and well," Jareth said, still pulling leaves and twigs from his wild mane.

"Here," Sarah said, moving beside Jareth to run her fingers through his hair. She bit her lip, hoping that he wouldn't realize she was just looking for an excuse to touch him.

Jareth seemed to catch on, despite her better efforts. While Hoggle prattled away in front of them about the insufferable late night singing of the goblins living in the camp, Jareth caught Sarah's hand and raised it to his lips for a brief kiss.

It was such a sweet, old fashioned gesture. Sarah felt as if she were melting. Jareth seemed to sense it and shot her a knowing glance. Ludo bumbled along the swampy path, Hoggle muttered under his breath about that 'crazy little knight', and Sir Didymus raced ahead of the group, shouting out challenges to the foliage. Sarah and Jareth were trailing slightly behind.

Jareth held out his arm to her and she tilted her head with a bemused smile.

"What?" she asked him.

He laughed. "Well, traditionally, you're supposed to take it."

"Take it?" Sarah asked.

"Like this." Jareth reached over and caught her hand in his, placing it in the crook of his elbow. They're arms touched, and Sarah could feel the warmth from his body. She smiled and leaned a bit closer. Maybe everything will be all right, she thought.

"The Labyrinth," Sarah said.

They had made quick time of racing through the open expanse of barren wasteland that separated the lowland swamp from their destination. Surprisingly, no foes lurking in the shadows attacked, no army of changelings came thundering out in ambush. Now they stood before the Labyrinth, exposed in the scant light from the setting sun.

A prickle of fear and disgust ran up Sarah's spine as she took in the Labyrinth's decimated, drained appearence. A sideways glance to Jareth told her he felt it too.

"It's getting worse," she observed.

"I was about to say the same thing," Jareth whispered in reply, looking concerned.

"What are you two talking about?" Hoggle asked. "You both look as if you've gotten ill."

Sarah stared into her little friend's wide eyes and shook her head. How could she explain her unease to him when she barely understood it herself?

"I'm fine, Hoggle," Sarah insisted, granting him a small smile.

"I'm not," Jareth said darkly. "We're running out of time to stop this. I can feel it, leeching away at the land. If we don't do something soon—"

Sarah's vision went white.

"The light will burn no more," she finished in a hushed tone.

"What?" Sir Didymus squeaked, galloping back.

"I…Did I say something?" Sarah asked, startled. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"Like what," Hoggle asked, shifting foot to foot.

"Like I just bit a chicken's head off and did a funny dance," Sarah said slowly, folding her arms. "Jareth, seriously, what's happeni—Jareth?"

The Goblin King was already standing before the gates, running his fingers over them in a smooth gliding motion. After a moment he uttered a curse and stepped away, pacing before them.

"Jareth?" Sarah asked, venturing a step closer. "What's wrong?"

"It's locked me out," he muttered. Jareth whirled on Hoggle. "You."

"M-me, your majesty?"

"Yes you," he replied. "Now, Hogwart, listen to me carefully and listen to me well. How did you get out of the Labyrinth?"

"I, well, um—"

"Your camp is inside, is it not?" Jareth said.

"Yes, yes it is—"

"Did you ever entertain the idea in that insipid little brain of yours that once you left, we may be unable to get back inside? Did you?"

"No, um, majesty," Hoggle admitted, ashamed.

"I will try it, friend Hoggle!"

Sir Didymus leapt from Ambrosius's back to inspect the gate.

"Open, I, Sir Didymus, implore you. Here me dark forces, release your hold! Release it from your keep!" Didymus finished with a rather impressive flourish of his sword.

Jareth rolled his eyes. "This is pointless. The Labyrinth has sealed us out as a defense mechanism. It was practically impenetrable to begin with. It will not allow anyone to—"

"Keep," Sarah repeated. "Didymus, did you say...ahh."

Sarah pressed a hand to her forehead. The world was dark behind her eyes, utter blackness. A white light bobbed in the distance, so intense her eyelids ached. Someone laughed, the essence of evil. Sarah needed to stop him, it was her duty.

Mine, rang out cold and cruel.

Mine, she insisted mentally, mine to keep.

Sarah groaned and pressed her fingers to her temples. She was vaguely aware of warm hands—hands made for comforting her, and her alone—were on her shoulders as she swayed.

"Sarah, precious, what is it?" Jareth asked her, all harshness in his tone gone.

Sarah pulled back, snapping her fingers and trying to remember. "Didymus said, um he said…"

"Keep!" Didymus piped up.

"Yes," Sarah said. "I don't know why, but...it stuck with me."

She took a step toward the defiant gates, eyeing them carefully.

"Like something out of a dream," she whispered. "Like it's…"

Mine.

Sarah stood just before the gate and closed her eyes. She reached out her fingertips and gently brushed the smooth surface of the gates. White light exploded, the insides of her eyelids red with the brightness. Sarah could feel it, a sweet, sharp ache within her. She felt powerful. The creak of hinges rang in the silent air as the gate swung open.

"My lady…" Sir Didymus whispered.

"Sarah," Ludo said. "Sarah strong."

Sarah opened her eyes and breathed in sharply, as if she had been underwater.

"Sarah, what happened?" Hoggle asked.

"You mean I did that?" Sarah asked. "That thing, with the lights—"

"Yes," Jareth said, slightly dazed. "You…"

His face darkened as he comprehended what had just occurred.

"Jareth?" Sarah asked, panicking slightly. She had never seen him look like that. Afraid. "What's wrong?"

Jareth grasped her wrist. "We have to run."

"What? Why?" Hoggle asked.

"Magical energy, it attracts them," Jareth said directly to Sarah. "Sarah, that was far more powerful than shrinking a pair of boots. They'll attack us, perhaps hundreds of them. And it's getting dark."

Sarah was gripped by fear as she comprehended his words.

"What, what's happening?" Hoggle asked, clearly worried.

"Ludo scared."

"Do not fear, my lady, we shall fight this foe to the death!" Sir Didymus said with a flourish.

"Wonderful, is everyone finished?" Jareth asked, masking his emotions with sarcasm. "Now run."

So they did.

They fled as if being chased by the hounds of hell. Jareth's death grip on Sarah's wrist could not be shaken as he expertly navigated through the Labyrinth. He knew every twist and turn, hidden knots and secret passages. They were moving fast, already in the section of the Labyrinth where Sarah had spoken to the wise man on her first time through.

"Jareth!" Sarah gasped. "Where are we going?"

"The camp is in the forest," he replied over his shoulder, "so we're headed there. I will not see you die."

Ambrosius was almost as fast as Jareth, galloping along with Sir Didymus on his back, who brandished his sword and shouted, "I'm not afraid you knaves! Attack us if you have the courage or flee like the cowards you are!"

"Didymus," Hoggle gasped out from behind them, he and Ludo were struggling to keep up, "don't advertise our location!"

"Yes, kindly shut up," Jareth said.

Sarah could not shake the feeling of inherent wrongness as they sped through those endless twists and turns. Perhaps it was the lack of life. On her first visit, she had been greeted by more colorful characters than she could count, each one bursting with personality and life. Now there was nothing. Just barren trees and gardens, no little worms to invite her in for tea or two headed oddities to challenge her with impossible questions. It almost broke her heart.

Night fell, and with it came absolute darkness. Only shapes and outlines could be seen in the never-ending haze. Jareth still seemed to know where he was going, even in the dark.

The first real shock was the door.

Jareth approached the twin doorways cautiously, reaching out a gloved hand to touch the face which held the knocker in its mouth. It's eyes opened, blank and white, dead and dull inside.

It snapped vicious, pointed teeth at Jareth's fingers. With no hesitation, he struck a match. Sarah dropped down and buried her face in Hoggle's shoulder as it screamed its last scream.

Now, breathing heavily from so much running, they stood in the midst of those swampy, dark trees, a faint hint of the Bog wafting through the air. The forest looked utterly empty.

"Shh, do you hear that?" Jareth asked.

"No, it's like we're all alone in the world," Sarah said softly.

"Shh." Jareth put a finger to his lips. He ventured into the darkness of the forest. "Footsteps."

Sarah closed her eyes and listened. Sure enough, the sound of marching permeated the air.

"Jareth?" she whispered.

He didn't answer, rather made quick work of lighting torches and handed one to Sarah.

"I can't see anything," Sarah whispered.

"Good."

Sarah screamed at the sound of the harsh voice in her ear and swung the torch. It made contact with the changeling, setting it ablaze. Two more death screams followed as Hoggle, Sir Didymus, and Ludo ran forth brandishing their torches. At least fifty pairs of eyes opened, followed by fifty glinting smiles. The monsters were all different sizes and shapes in the torchlight, each made of shadow, but still solid to the touch. They were surrounded.

Ludo, Didymus, and Hoggle were fighting three apiece and Jareth was taking on even more, stabbing with the flaming torch as if it were a dance.

One changeling with oily skin that rose and bubbled around its frame, stood upon a stump, shouting orders.

"Take the girl and the king, kill the others!" it screeched.

Sarah lit another on fire as at least half the battalion advanced on her. She swung the torch in a fury, killing several of the approaching changelings, but there were still too many. One grabbed her shoulder and pulled her flush against it. The smoke of its body undulated against her back. Her torch dropped and rolled away. A stray changeling caught fire in its wake.

"Perhaps our lord won't mind if I have a taste," the changeling at her back hissed. "So sweet…"

Sarah struggled and shrieked as its cold, wet tongue traced a path along her exposed shoulder.

It's mouth clamped down. "Mmm."

Thinking quickly, Sarah pitched forward with all her might, dislodging the changeling from her back and throwing it into the fire. It bellowed in pain as it began to burn. There were still too many, Sarah's heart sunk.

"Ready! On three!"

A hundred flaming arrows flew from the trees, striking the changelings with precision right through the heart. Sarah stared in shock to the branches above, dozens of goblins stood, armed with crossbows. They stood in the trees above them on roped walkways linking branches, the dense leaves dotted with the soft lights of tree house windows.

"Five, twenty-two, seven!" one squeaked and they shot again.

"They haven't quite mastered the countdown, but they're good shots," Hoggle shouted to Sarah, smiling at her stunned expression.

The few changelings that remained ran, bolting away from the light and heat of the fire. The goblins above dumped pails of water on the ground, extinguishing the surrounding flames.

"This is the—" Sarah began.

"Goblin camp," Ludo finished.

Jareth stared on in grim silence.

"How do we get up there?" Sarah asked.

Sir Didymus simply granted her a smile and raised two fingers to his lips to whistle. A rope ladder dropped down from above. Sir Didymus caught it and grinned.

He does have flair, Sarah thought fondly as the Knight began to climb.

A moment later, a small basket followed. Ambrosius clambered in as someone above pulled him up. Ludo went next, lumbering slowly up the ladder, a look of delight on his face.

Hoggle followed behind him in a hurry, saying, "Don't chew the rope!"

Sarah turned to Jareth.

"Ladies first," he prompted.

Sarah stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Thanks."

A frown flickered across his face. Jareth was trying to hide it, but she could sense his unease.

"What? What is it?" she asked.

"It's nothing," he replied.

"No, really," Sarah said and paused with one hand on the ladder. Her voice lowered. "Is this about what happened at the gate?"

He did not deny it.

Sarah shuffled her feet, unsure of what to say when she could barely process it herself. "I understand it was bizarre, and I'm not saying it didn't scare me, but I was having my suspicions that something like this might be happening to me. I don't know if there's anything I wouldn't believe anymore. Between what happened with Derrick at the motel and all those creepy dreams—"

Jareth inhaled quickly and caught her wrist. "You're still having dreams?"

"Yes," she confirmed. "Nightmares. Don't worry, it's nothing. I used to have a recurring dream that I was chased through my neighborhood by a giant cat."

Jareth shook his head, his voice hard and angry. "You don't understand. Things have meaning here that they don't have in your world. Words, dreams, they hold power. There is always something more, Sarah. Did you learn nothing the first time around?"

He stood close, their noses almost touching.

"I think I had an idea," she whispered and closed her eyes. She kissed him softly, gently. Their first kiss had been bruising and desperate. This held something sweeter.

"Hurry up down there, would you!" Hoggle called.

Sarah giggled and pressed another soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. "I guess we'd better…"

Jareth sighed as she turned to ascend the ladder. "Sarah."

Sarah smiled and pressed her hand to his cheek. "I'm fine."

"I'm worried," Jareth whispered. Sarah was sure that she wasn't supposed to hear.

"Wow, Hoggle," Sarah said. "You guys built all of this?"

"Well, not all of it…" he replied sheepishly.

"It's incredible!"

"It is a splendid sight!" Sir Didymus said. "Twelve tree houses, all linked by walkways and ropes!"

It's like something out of a storybook, Sarah thought, gazing out the tiny tree house window to see lights glinting in the trees. Inside, the tree houses were just as charming. They were divided up into small rooms, some larger than others. They seemed to have been built in accordance to the size of their occupants. It was easy to tell which ones belonged to the goblins. Theirs were slightly smaller and bursting with character, with chickens squawking and feathers flying though the air.

Sarah stood on a wooden walkway between two of the larger structures with Ludo, Hoggle, and Sir Didymus, gazing out over the camp.

"Pardon me, miss!" a goblin in a large spiked helmet near her feet squeaked. He carried a crossbow almost as big as he was.

"Where's he going?" Sarah asked.

"Goblins take turns on watch," Hoggle explained. "If there's any changelings, those goblins will stop them, guaranteed. You, Veep, careful!"

Hoggle ran after the goblin toying with an arrow and almost poking out his eye. Sarah smiled. It was nice to see her friends again alive and well. The Labyrinth itself was a welcome sight, even in this drained, warped state. Her thoughts turned to Jareth.

She had flirted outside, she could not resist. He was addictive. After the previous night, the misunderstandings between them, Sarah wanted to know what they were to each other. She wanted to know if wanted her as a part of his life when this was all over.

Then there was the light. Sarah had been dreaming of it ever since her poisoning, but what did it mean? She knew it was connected to what had occurred at the motel. It came from me, Sarah thought. Strange how it didn't disturb or shock her, rather, Sarah felt as if a missing piece had been returned. Yes it was awe-inspiring and terrifying, but there was something about it that felt right. Jareth's reaction, however, had her thinking. He knew something that he wasn't telling her.

"Sir Didymus?" Sarah asked, catching up with the little knight.

"Yes, my lady?"

"Where is the king?" she asked as politely as she could.

"I believe he was in what the goblins christened, the 'kingy tree'," Didymus explained with twitching whiskers and pointed to one of the larger tree houses across the way. "Would you like me to escort you?"

"No thanks," Sarah said. "I'll be fine."

Sir Didymus gave her a sweeping bow, to which she returned a clumsy curtsey. She left him and navigated her way through the trees. When she arrived at the largest tree house, she knocked.

"Jareth?" she asked tentatively when she opened the door.

This tree house held no rooms, it was one large, open enclosure. There were candles lit and placed on roughly hewn wooden furniture and a bed made entirely of pillows sat beneath the single window.

Jareth stood, pacing. He didn't look at her.

"Can I come in?" Sarah asked from the doorway. He simply nodded.

Sarah slipped inside and shut the door behind her.

"Something's bothering you," she stated.

"Yes," he murmured.

"About me."

"Right again, princess," he said with a soft chuckle, but his voice was dark.

"It's the Light, isn't it?" Sarah said, moving closer, but resisting the urge to touch. "Jareth, whatever it is, we can work it out together."

"No, only you—" he cut himself off and closed his eyes.

"Jareth, how did the changelings get into the Labyrinth?" Sarah asked, crossing her arms. "From what you and everyone else here has told me, it's almost impenetrable."

Jareth shook his head.

"I want to know," Sarah insisted. "You have been hiding so much from me, hiding so many things…"

"A condition was met," Jareth said slowly, "a condition set before Time itself began her unending war with the Labyrinth."

He moved to a pair of wooden chairs carved from a stump with a small table in between and raked his hand through his hair.

"What condition?" Sarah asked slowly, sitting opposite of him and clasping her hands in her lap.

"A condition, Sarah. Let's leave it at that," Jareth answered and leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Don't give me that," Sarah protested angrily. "I'm not some child you need to protect."

She realized how furious she sounded. Am I still just a little brat? she thought and lowered her voice. "Please, tell me."

Jareth leaned across the table, eyes dark. "Sarah, if I tell you this, you must understand that nothing will ever be the same."

"I understand," Sarah said and realized she was trembling. "I need to know."

Jareth nodded grimly and pushed himself back. "It all began ten years ago, when a beautiful young girl made a selfish decision…"