Chapter 12.

Toby felt the winds of change, being a part of the fabric of the Labyrinth. Even the laughter and the taunts of the Halfling could not alter the balance of power. Instead of railing at the man who was his captor, Toby went very still and calm. He placed his hands behind his back, to address the man, letting the voice that was in his head guide his words. "Halfling," the word caused the man to cease his laughter. "Do you really believe that this foolish cage within a cage suspended in midair will protect you from the wrath of the Labyrinth?"

"I am not on Labyrinth soil," reasoned Jefferson. "There for Labyrinth has no power over me…"

"Wrong," the boys voice distorted altered and shifted. It was no longer that of a child, but of a creature that had no age, no sex, and no human body. "The air within my realm is part of my very breathe and you have violated the most sacred pact betwixt the Fae and me." The child's hand rose up, and a storm rose with it outside the bubble.

Huddled with the goblins Hoggle groaned, "Take cover!"

--

On the windswept hillside that overlooked the gates of the Labyrinth, two men stood. "It begins," Woodbine observed.

"It will not end well I fear," Oberon answered.

"These things seldom do," Ridge sighed, "I can only hope that there's enough of him left to take home to his mother."

"I am sorry," Oberon offered.

"It is not your fault," Ridge reasoned, "Anymore than my missing my summons before you was mine."

"I intend to get to the bottom of that," promised the High King.

"No," Ridge shook his head, "Do not rend your house asunder to avenge mine."

"Someone purposefully did this," Oberon protested.

"Someone," chuckled Ridge, "We both know it was the High Queen's sister."

Oberon had not allowed himself to even give that thought a moment in his mind. "You are certain?"

Ridge sighed, "She had the freedom of you place, she was above suspicion~" he paused. "The only other person would be your wife, and I don't for a moment think that the High Queen is that stupid, or arrogant."

"No," agreed the High King, "Proud, but not arrogant… that's my fault, not hers." He looked away from the storm. "I cannot allow her to go unpunished… to get away with this."

"What did she get away with," questioned the handsome Fae Lord. "Banishment was the making of me. I found my soul mate, and my love." He chuckled unexpectedly, "In fact I owe the good Queen's sister my thanks."

"That's twisted," Oberon chuckled as well.

"Indeed," Ridge sighed, "Indeed.

--

Jareth looked out the window, "Toby and the Labyrinth are beginning their… lesson." He kissed Sarah's temple. "I must go my love, before they get carried away."

"Stay safe," Sarah said softly.

"I will," he promised.

--

Jefferson addressed the creature that was speaking though the child, "Do you value this… boy?"

The storm silenced, "You know we do."

Thinking he had the upper hand Jefferson said boldly, "Tell your king and his captive to meet me at the windswept hill… outside your gates…. And we'll make a trade."

--

Sarah heard the voice of her one time groom as if he were in the same room with her. On the hillside both the Fae men heard the voice as well and the father shook his head. Jareth heard as he moved through the Course.

--

"Trade," glowered the creature, "You dare suggest that one life is not as important as the other?"

"I suggest your king took advantage of this boy," he pointed to the body hosting the voice and spirit. "I suggest he give me back my bride and he can have the boy."

"I cannot trade one for the other," Jareth said arriving in a shimmering cloud of glitter.

"You don't have to," Sarah said suddenly appearing at his side.

Jefferson's nostrils flared with fury, "Where's your gown," he demanded.

"I'll never wear that hideous thing again," Sarah said firmly.

Taking his eyes off the woman, Jefferson addressed the Goblin King. "Here's my offer, you give me back Sarah and you can have the boy." He sneered, "Refuse and I return to my world with the boy…now."

Sarah put herself between the King and the Halfling, "He means it…" her voice held panic, "That's certain death for Toby…" She shook her head, forbidding tears to fall. "I cannot allow that."

"Sarah," Jareth found it hard to speak.

Her finger tips touched his lips, halting whatever he would say, and silencing him. "You once offered me my dreams," she said gently. "Because of you, I lived them." She looked over her shoulder, "Let him have what he's asking for." Jareth closed his eyes and stepped back, Sarah turned to meet the face of the man who held her brother captive, "You may find, Jefferson, that having is not as pleasant as wanting." She moved to stand before him. "Release my brother." She commanded.

With a flick of his wrist the gage holding Toby flew across the space. Jareth made the cage disappear and he held the child. Thinking he might be tricked, Jefferson grabbed Sarah's wrist, with a strange sound they vanished. Jareth buried his face as he held Toby.

Oberon looked at Ridge, "We must…go."

Ridge nodded, "There's still a chance," he urged.

--

Jefferson returned them to the church; the guests were sill frozen in time. He looked at Sarah angrily, "That dress will never do," he bitterly complained. "You can't be married in that… thing."

"No," Sarah said as she took a staggering step away, "But I can be buried in it."

Looking at her with disdain the man asked, "What do you mean buried?"

Feeling the life force drain, as she knew it would, Sarah smiled. "I'm dying."

"Don't be silly," Jefferson objected stubornly, "You can't die… you're being married today…"

"No," Sarah said, her features were draining of color and her voice became ragged. It was hard now to breathe. "No Jefferson… I'm not being married, today you murdered me." She felt her knees go week and sunk to the cold stone floor of the church. "To save my brother this is such a little price to pay."

"Sarah," Jefferson knelt to hold her, to keep her from falling to the floor. "I'll get a doctor," he promised.

"There is no doctor," a voice harshly informed the young man. Standing over them was the High King of the Fae, "Give her to me you fool," he commanded, "Before she dies."

Confused Jefferson relinquished his hold allowing the High King to take the limp from him. "But why… why is she dying?"

Oberon breathed on the girl, her color improved but only slightly, "Because she is now of the fabric… and you removed her," he looked at the young arrogant man with contempt and scorn, "You were so quick to use the powers that you've inherited, but did little to learn about how actions have consequences." He turned to Ridge, "I leave his education to you." He looked about the church, "Clean up this mess."

"As you will My King," Ridge bowed as the High King of the Fae vanished with the seemingly dead girl cradled in his arms. When the pair was gone he turned to his son, "For one who is so dedicated to the law, you really don't understand it."

Jefferson looked at the congregation, frozen in time and then saw that Sarah's parents were fading as if in a dream. "Father," his voice wavered with fear. "What is happening?"

"Time is being reordered," he explained gently. "To before you sought to wed Sarah, and remixed to present."

"But Sarah and I…"

"There never was a Sarah and you," Ridge stated firmly. "Sarah was never yours." He placed a hand upon the shoulder of the confused Halfling. "Jefferson, I tried to tell you this before, but you refused to listen to me. When you first brought Sarah to meet your mother and I, didn't I tell you over and over that there was something about the girl?"

"I thought you meant she was special…" Jefferson argued.

"You thought what you wanted to think, like you always do." Ridge stated saddened by his son's lack of understanding. "I have tried over and over to educate you, to enlighten you to the burden you bear being the child of a Fae." One by one the wedding guests began to fade. "You were always intrigued by the power, but you didn't listen when I told you that power carries responsibility."

His face darkening Jefferson glared, "I'm listening now."

"I have given you the history of my people; I have told you over and over that when a Fae becomes enamored of a human that human is off limits to all other Fae creatures." Ridge sighed. "I tried to discourage your union with Sarah."

Jefferson shrugged, "I thought you were just being… snobbish."

Ridge chuckled, "Hardly," he moved about the area now almost devoid of guests, "I happen to be extremely fond of mortals," he looked at the peaceful gaze on his wife's face before she too vanished into thin air. "And you can thank your lucky stars that I am."

"Why can't I have Sarah," the young man blurted out impatiently. "She's perfect for me!"

Ridge turned to look coldly and soberly at the young Halfling. "You don't love her," he said frostily. "You only wished to possess her because she fits the shoes you thing belong to the wife of a politician."

"She does," Jefferson barked. "She's perfectly suited to me."

"No," Ridge disagreed without emotions. "She is not suited to you, and never was."

"Why," his son demanded his voice echoing in the empty church.

"Because my son," Ridge purred. "She's been touched, and once a mortal is touched by a Fae, they are bonded… a bond that even death cannot break." He sighed deeply, "Too bad this is a conversation you will not remember." He placed his hand to his son's face, at the temple. "Forget," he whispered softly, seductively. The Halfling also vanished, and Ridge was left alone in the empty and darkened church. "Gods and Goddesses," he prayed aloud, "Give me a chance to right this… to redirect that young man…" Slowly he too began to turn to vapor.