Chapter 11
When she opened her eyes, Sarah found herself standing at the edge of the clearing in the center of the Labyrinth. The runes and crystals around her glowed in welcome, recognizing the power of the Goblin Queen. Sarah looked toward the center, seeing the entire kingdom gathered around the statue of the woman that stood proudly in the center, undamaged still.
Sarah searched anxiously for a few moments before she found what she sought. There, striding through the crowd, was Jareth, very much alive and well. Her heart leapt at the sight of him, issuing orders and preparing to battle the dark fae. Sarah glanced up at the sky, noting the quickly approaching storm that loomed just to the east. Even as she watched, the clouds advanced, swallowing the clear sky into their ominous depths. He must be moving quickly. They didn't have much time.
She ran, pushing her way through the denizens of the Labyrinth that got in her way. After several minutes of fighting her way through the crowd, Sarah glanced over at the clouds again. They were even closer than before, and she was still so far from him. "Please move!" she shouted, getting angry. Startled, those around her gaped for a moment before scrambling out of her way. As others became aware of her presence, they opened a path for her, straight to the King.
Jareth looked up just as she cleared the last of the creatures that stood around him. She barely had time to register the look of shocked surprise on his face before she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him tightly and burying her face in his shoulder.
"Sarah?" He hesitated for only a moment before his arms locked around her holding her tightly against him. "Sarah, how-"
She allowed herself a moment to revel in the feel of his strong arms around her before she spoke, her tone urgent. "Please, Jareth, you have to send everyone away." She pulled out of his embrace and looked around. She saw Hoggle, with Mr. Worm on his shoulder, and she remember the grief of the Missus as they trekked through the Labyrinth. Sarah was determined that it wouldn't happen like that this time. She caught sight of Ludo and Didymus, standing close by as well. They all stared at her in wonder, not understanding how she came to be there right before a battle. Sarah smiled quickly at them, watching as Ambrosius snuck off, looking for a place to hide without waiting for his master's command.
"Sarah-" Jareth looked up at the clouds that were starting to cover the sky over their heads. The wind gusted, and everyone shivered. She stepped in front of him, reaching out to take both his gloved hands in her own.
"We can do this, but we have to do it alone." She looked into Jareth's eyes, pleading with him to make sure their people were safe. She spoke softly, as she released one of his hands to touch his cheek gently. "Please, Jareth. We can defeat him together, I know it."
He stared down at her in confusion, even as he leaned slightly into her touch. His eyes roving over her, drinking her in like a man dying of thirst. Then his eyes went wide as he stared at the pendant hanging around her neck. It's twin gleamed on his own chest as he slowly reached out and flipped hers over, revealing the gaelic inscription on the back.
Jareth gasped, raw emotion suffusing his face as understanding dawned in his eyes. His eyes locked with hers and in his mismatched gaze, Sarah saw all the love and protectiveness that had led him to sacrifice himself once already. She caught her breath at the depth of the feelings that shone from his eyes and allowed her own emotions to play freely across her face.
They stood there, communicating in a silent language of expression until thunder cracked overhead and the sky opened up. Torrents of rain washed down over them and Jareth had to yell to be heard over the din.
"It's too dangerous, Sarah! I told Hoggle to tell you it was nothing to worry about."
There was deep concern, and a touch of fear, in his deep baritone voice as he yelled above the sound of the falling rain. Having already faced their coming adversary once, she understood his feelings, but that didn't mean that they didn't still irritate her.
She pulled her hand out of his and glared at him. "Listen up Goblin King I have just been through real dangers untold and hardships unnumbered. I fucking fought my way to the deepest parts of the Labyrinth. I watched my friends die, ripped to pieces in front of me!" The rain slowed but Sarah continued to yell. "I watched the Labyrinth crumble around me! And now you say it's too dangerous!?" The torrential downpour tapered off even further, turning to a slow drizzle as they faced each other, locked in a battle of wills.
She felt the urge to slap him, but resisted. Instead, she reached out and took a firm hold on his face with both hands, gripping his jaw as she berated him, softly now, her recent grief fresh on her mind and evident in her tone. "I fought my way through all of that, only to lose you in the end." He blanched at the sorrow in her tone, reaching out to pull her into his arms once more.
Sarah sighed as he held her. "I need you to help me, Jareth. Stop arguing and help me save us all." She could feel the tension in him as he struggled with his desire to keep her safe. Finally that tension eased and he sighed before he spoke.
"Alright, we will do this together, but understand that I will send you away the minute I think even one hair on your head might be in danger."
He released her and looked around. Raising his voice, he commanded all of the gathered creatures to flee. Thankfully, no one argued. There wasn't time. The ground was trembling and wisps of darkness floated through the Labyrinth as the dark fae tore his way through every barrier.
They were alone for only a moment, just long enough for Sarah and Jareth to share a single look of determination. "Just so you know," Sarah said as they turned to face the approaching threat. "I'll send you away the moment I feel that you're in any danger as well."
Jareth didn't have time to reply. The dark fae stepped out of the far tunnel, immediately invoking his dark magic against them. Sarah smirked and conjured a spell of her own, throwing it toward the enemy in the familiar form of a crystal.
Sarah poured everything she had into the spell as it flew: every bit of sorrow and horror, every injury suffered by her subjects, every single tear she had cried, every fear she had repressed, all the hardships she had faced, her heartache... her anger… her determination… her love. She put all of her strength into a devastating blow that caught her enemy unaware, knocking him to the ground with incredible force.
Jareth blinked for a moment before launching his own furious attack, holding nothing back.
The fae had clearly not been expecting two adversaries, both wielding the power of the Rulers of the Labyrinth against him. The fight was over almost as soon as it began. Sarah stood tall as their enemy fell to his knees before her in submission, Jareth's hand gripping the back of his neck like an iron vise.
She spoke clearly and with purpose as Jareth shackled their enemy. "For crimes against the Underground, for killing a king, and for committing treason against the Goblin Kingdom, I hereby pass judgement as Goblin Queen."
She missed Jareth's hope filled glance at the use of her title.
"I sentence you to be stripped of all magical ability. Your mind will be erased and you shall be exiled to live Aboveground, forever banished from this realm." She conjured a crystal, preparing to carry out the sentence immediately. The prisoner slumped even further to the ground and Sarah paused before casting the necessary spell. Reaching down, she gripped a handful of his hair and jerked his face up to meet her eye. "If you ever return I swear by all the gods that you will regret it," she told him, her voice dripping with menace. "I will not hesitate to plunge a blade through your heart, the next time I lay eyes on you."
Behind the kneeling fae, Jareth spoke. "And if you ever think to attack me or those under my protection again, I will tear you apart from the inside out."
Sarah yanked the handful of hair she held, ensuring that she had the criminals full attention once more. She leaned forward and put her mouth next to his ear. "I've seen him turn into something so horrible it would freeze your blood," she whispered, too low for Jareth to hear. "I watched him destroy the very fiber of your being. Shall I describe it for you? It wasn't pretty."
The fae whimpered and shook his head violently, despite the pain caused by Sarah's tight grip on his hair. "I don't ever want to see you again," she hissed into his ear. Dropping her handful of hair, Sarah stood straight once again. "Do not make me regret my leniency in allowing you to live," she said coldly, just before she smashed the crystal against the side of his head.
The dark fae screamed as he disappeared with an audible -POP-. The gathered crowd of Goblin Kingdom citizens cheered wildly and applauded his banishment. All around Sarah and Jareth, a curious mixture of cheers for them and curses for their enemy could be heard. She and Jareth shared a brief smile of amusement before their attention was pulled elsewhere.
Turning away from Jareth, Sarah walked over to Sir Didymus. She knelt down and gave him a huge hug. "Thank you, my friend. You helped me when I needed it most." Sarah pulled away but held the little creature by the shoulders. "You are my true knight," she told him seriously.
Didymus bowed and then preened with pride as Sarah released him. She turned to Hoggle and hugged him fiercely, blinking back tears at the memory of his gruesome death. "You are the best friend I've ever had, and don't you ever forget it!" She kissed his cheek, causing him to blush and stammer, shooting worried looks at Jareth.
"Sawah Fwiend?" Ludo asked, lumbering up behind her. She laughed. "Yes, Ludo. Friend." She was enveloped in a large hug as she shaggy creature lifted her up in exaltation. When he was persuaded to set her on her feet once again, Jareth stood before her. The crowd fell silent as the Goblin King faced the Goblin Queen.
"Sarah, I-" She placed her fingers gently against his lips, cutting him off. She stepped into his arms, sliding her hands into the hair at the nape of his neck and drawing his face down towards hers.
"Fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your Queen," she whispered.
A soft smile spread across his face. "Done," he whispered back before his mouth descended to claim hers. All around them, their subjects cheered wildly.
