Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth or any of the characters. Yes, yes, I know. It's a tragedy for all.

Chapter Fifteen

Piece of Heaven

After Sarah had told Jareth everything that Verdant had revealed to her, he simply nodded. She was nervous to the way he would react, but he didn't fly off the handle surprisingly. He seemed almost defeated. This worried her, but finally he spoke.

"We must call a meeting with the court," Jareth sighed out.

"Jareth," Sarah began gently, worming her way onto his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. "If you really don't want to do this… I don't want you to…"

"Sarah, as much as I really just don't like this, we can't let them be taken asunder when they wish to remain good." Jareth wrapped his arms around her waist holding her to him.

"Alright…" She lightly cupped his cheek in her hand, contented when he leaned into her touch. "You know the whole time I was there, a day didn't go by when I didn't wish that I was with you again," she said quietly. "His company kept me sane. If not for that I don't know what I would have done."

"Enough," Jareth sighed, closing his eyes. "I've felt you pulling away from me ever since I brought you back. You used to be able to confide in me, but I feel he not only stole you physically but emotionally away from me. I can't forgive that Sarah; I had no one else to fall back on… I do not ban you from speaking to him because he is your friend, and I do not wish to pull you in half that way," he finished in a more gentle tone.

"Jareth, I… I was never even… If given the chance, I would have come running right back to you, but I couldn't. Not when it seemed so important that I stay around." Sarah forced him to face her, looking into his mismatched eyes with concern.

"It's not that, Sarah. When I brought you back, you wouldn't even let me touch you," Jareth breathed out. "I had already been worried sick over you, and now I could not even comfort you, you preferred that… that…" he trailed off.

"That's not how I meant it. I was just too concerned with where I went wrong, if I did go wrong. It's hard feeling like you may have let the world down. I wasn't thinking about wanting to go back to Verdant because I cared for him more than I did you." Sarah knew that her three day with drawl had hurt Jareth more than she wanted to realize. "I'm sorry," she sighed resting her head on his shoulder.

"Jareth, I love you…"

"Hush love, there is no reason to apologize. You've long since been forgiven, I just needed to understand. I love you." Jareth ran his fingers through her hair, before making them both disappear in a cloud of glitter.

Sarah realized that Jareth had transported them to their bed room. Smiling lightly as he kissed her; making her sit upon the bed. Leaving her there he went to sit at a desk, and pulled out a piece of parchment, quill, and ink.

"What are you writing?" Sarah asked.

"A reply, to say that we will give all the assistance we can. If the Un-Seelie court is able to gain control of the Dark Elves that used to be on our side, then they would have an extra power source; making it possible for them to attack the Seelie court. I will also write to Feyore and Eve and explain everything. As for another court meeting, there is one set two days from now. You must come with me to argue our point," Jareth explained.

"As if I would miss that chance," Sarah said suppressing an eye roll. With Jareth writing away, she went to the bathroom and took care of her nightly ritual of bathing and preparing for sleep.

Dressing in a silken white night gown, Sarah walked up the black marble platform to crawl into bed. Jareth was still scratching along the parchment with his quill; it was lulling her to sleep.

Sarah hadn't even realized that she had almost fallen asleep until she felt two arms wrap around her from behind waking her up a little. Smiling, she turned and snuggled as close to Jareth as she could.

"I've missed this," Sarah mumbled tiredly.

"As have I love," Jareth said, sighing into her hair.

When Sarah awoke the next morning, she found herself still lost in Jareth's arms. It had been one of the best nights of rest she had had in a long while. Looking up to his face, she saw his mismatched orbs returning her gaze mischievously.

"Good morning," Sarah said cheerfully, breaking the silence. Jareth did not reply with words, but kissed her ever so gently, leaving her burning emerald eyes to beg for more.

"Not now, we have the day to ourselves. I sent the letters with Didymus last night, and until the meeting tomorrow, we are free to do as we wish," Jareth said.

"Sounds wonderful," Sarah whispered, wrapping her arms around Jareth tightly, enjoying the moment. This is how their reunion should have been, full of love, closeness and comfort, not despair, distance and worry. In a sense it was the actual reunion, three days ago when he brought her home, her mind was still with the Dark Elf Kingdom. Now, all her senses were focused on the man in her arms, as it should have been.

After another moment, Sarah gently disentangled herself from Jareth's arms and moved to her wardrobe. Dressing in a simple dark green gown, she twisted her hair back and pinned it there with an emerald clip. Smiling at Jareth as he too finished getting ready for the day, they walked arm in arm down to the dining hall.

Breakfast passed by with out a hitch, and they spent most of the afternoon in the gardens, Sarah's favorite place. She talked animatedly about anything that came to her mind, Jareth smiling and nodding most of his replies. It was almost like when he had first brought her here. They continued this way late into the evening, having roamed a good bit of the kingdom. After dinner, Jareth carried Sarah to their bed room to do something with her that he had not been able to for over a month's time.

The next morning they both awoke refreshed, and satisfied. Jareth quickly had Sarah dress in one of the more elegant gowns. It was midnight blue, medieval style, with silver embroidery along the sleeves and neckline. Elda was more than happy to come in and fix her hair up for her. It was clear the maid had missed her company, and she found that she too had missed Elda. Her motherly stature had always been a comfort to Sarah, the way she fussed over her.

Putting on matching jewelry, and a silver tiara placed within the curls upon her head, Sarah was ready to leave. Jareth matched her by wearing the same exact outfit she had seen him wear in the peach induced masquerade dream. Sliding on matching satin slippers, she took his arm. He too had his crown on, a sight she didn't see very often.

Jareth looked at Sarah questioningly.

"Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be," she replied, glad when his arms came about her. At her nod, they both disappeared in a cloud of glitter, reappearing in front of a large marble building.

Sarah gasped. It was off white with veins of silver running through the fine shiny surface. It had pillars going down the sides, making it look like an old roman court house of sorts.

The stairs were made of the same hard marble, Sarah barely realizing that Jareth was gently pulling her up them. There were all sorts of Fae making their way inside that Sarah didn't recognize at all. Some gave a simple wave to Jareth, while others bowed their heads slightly. Most however, didn't seem to notice him, and he seemed just fine with that.

Sarah was beginning to get nervous. All these people, they all had experience in this court, and she just randomly comes out of the wood work to try and sway their prejudice against the dark elves? This was going to be harder than she could have hoped for. Jareth seemed to sense her distress and reached his free hand over to hold the hand she had on his arm. She seemed comforted by this, but she was still on edge as they made their way through the larger than necessary doors.

The ceiling in side the hall was tall enough for 50 foot giants to make their way un-scathed. It didn't look like it from the outside, but the hall was longer than Jareth's own dining hall, with an even longer table made of the same marble.

The chairs were silver and cushioned, and made no scrapping when drug across the ground. They were already filled with several Fae, most dressed in fine gowns and talking casually to those around them. Sarah felt like such an outsider as Jareth led her to sit at one of the chairs towards the head of the table.

Sarah was relieved to see Eve and Feyore not sitting far from them. She did her best impression of a formal wave that she had seen Jareth receive earlier. Eve seemed amused by her attempt, and waved back childishly, perhaps so that Sarah wouldn't feel so up tight. It had worked. Sarah smiled a little watching Feyore good humouredly roll his eyes at his wife.

Sarah didn't know how long she waited, but eventually every seat was filled. Most Fae who passed Sarah on the way to their seats gave her curious glances, turning to talk to their partners. It made her feel like an animal at the zoo, something for people to gawk at and talk about. While Sarah would avert her gaze to the ground in this situation, Jareth would coolly keep his mismatched eyes on whoever dared to stare too long at his Queen.

Finally, the Fae man that had performed Sarah's coronation/wedding to Jareth entered. He made his way slowly, and yet regally to the head of the table. His chair, Sarah noticed, was a high backed marble chair. It looked like a throne, and had silver cushioning. In the same voice that Sarah had remembered, he called the meeting to order.

"I hereby call this meeting of the Seelie Court to begin at mid-morning," he said. Sarah still didn't know his name, but she could have sworn that maybe she had heard it before and just couldn't remember. "We shall begin this meeting with old business. Anyone?" No one seemed to stir for a few minutes, and then a tall man with fiery red hair stood. He was dressed in gold robes and golden crown.

"The case of the unusually frequent sand storms around the fire kingdom has been solved. The culprit has been punished, and it is now safe to cross our deserts."

"Thank you Pherinze," the head of the council said as the Fire King took his seat. "Anyone else?" Again the room was silent, this time no one stood and the head of council began speaking again. "With so little old business we should be out by lunch," the old Fae quipped, earning a few polite chuckles from around the table. "On to new business then… Anyone?"

Jareth tensed beside her, and Sarah knew that this is the time they would speak. She looked to him nervously, and could see Eve and Feyores' eyes upon them. Finally, when no one else would stand, Jareth did. Immediately, all eyes turned to him, but his expression remained cool and collected. Sarah was more nervous for him than for herself.

"I have new business to discuss with you all. It concerns the dark elves…" Jareth said slowly. An audible gasp sounded around the table, but the council leader seemed intrigued.

"Very Well King of Goblins, speak your news."

Author's Note:

I know I took a bit of time on this one, and that it's not that long, but I had a bit of a block. There may be two more chapters. I know I keep saying well one more, well maybe two, but It all depends on how much I put in a chapter and how much more it gives me to work with. So, as always, thank you so very much to all those who have reviewed thus far, It really means a lot to me. Please keep on reviewing, and forgive any errors that slip my eye.