XXIII
Jareth stalked from the throne room, leaving the Master Jedi called Yoda to wander the halls of the castle alone. He moved swiftly down the halls and twisting corridors until he reached the nursery. Pushing the door open slightly, he peered inside as the children played. He remained there for a long while, listening to the sweet echo of childish laughter as they chased each other around the room causing Hoggle more grief than the poor old dwarf deserved. Then, as he pulled away from the cheery scene, an overwhelming sense of sadness took hold of him. These children, like all the others that had been wished away, would never truly belong to him. They would merely become pieces of his realm, relics of some past conquest. This nursery, Jareth thought sadly, should not be filled with the children of strangers but with my own. He could watch them no longer. As he turned to hurry off toward his chambers he stumbled into a rather sturdy obstacle.
"She is fading, your majesty. We need a way to keep her sustained until the Queen manages to reach the heart of the Labyrinth." Obi-Wan surveyed the myriad of emotions that flashed across the Goblin King's face before they settled back into their perfectly impassive expression. "Take me to her," He ordered coolly and the pair hurried down the corridor toward the throne room. "Please," was all Obi-Wan could manage as he dropped to Padmé's side and took her lifeless hand.
"If we lose her before Sarah completes the Labyrinth, Sarah will be lost inside. You will have to watch and make sure she remains breathing," Jareth levelled a frosty glare on the Master Jedi. "Of course," Obi-Wan replied hastily. "Then lift her up, a sitting position if you please." Jareth commanded as Obi-Wan gathered Padmé in his arms.
Jareth stepped back and drew his hands together, then slowly slid them apart. A small crystal appeared in his palm. "I am going to induce a dream state. It should keep her alive long enough for Sarah to complete the Labyrinth." Jareth stepped forward and gently pressed the crystal to the crown of Padmé's head. With a soft hiss it dissolved into thin tendrils of smoke, which quickly dissipated. "Keep a careful watch on her, keep her breathing." Jareth looked to Obi-Wan once more before making his swift exit from the throne room.