Jareth held Sarah tightly to him, whispering endearments. She let the tears fall freely now, knowing that she could have lost him before letting him know how she felt. Kissing the top of her head, Jareth smiled.

"So, you've finally come around to your king's finer qualities," he teased. She lifted her head and glared.

"You were going to give up on me. How could you have even thought of that?" Her eyes shone with unshed tears and fierce love. He kissed her then, a long, loving promise of better days.

"I wanted you to be happy. I had thought to make you love me, but it is not so in your world. I - I had to learn to let you go and that is when I finally understood your human love. Giving thought to someone other than myself. It was a hard lesson." He sighed. "I do not deserve you."

"No, you don't. But you're mine and you can't take it back. I love you, you know. That's more important than your pride or your humility. And I'll love you no matter what stupid thing you do next."

His eyebrow rose dangerously and he pulled her to him again. "Stupid thing? Pray tell when I have ever been less than brilliant?"

"Aside from your trip to death's door? Hmm, Kissing Eliza, having nymphs sing to you each morning, taking my father into one of your hunts. Setting the cleaners on me and Hoggle," she said and would have continued had his lips not fell to hers so soundly. Long moments passed as they let all of the hurt and forgiveness flow into their kiss and as they finally broke away, both had a look of complete love in their eyes.

"I love you Sarah," he whispered. She grinned, wiping away tears.

"I know."

JSJSJS

Devlin entered the shuttle bay, enraged. He'd have to get the girls off the planet then come back for Rialta's soul. Somehow he'd lost her ring and with it, the means to control her soul. The stupid dwarf had knocked it out of his hand in their ill conceived scuffle. And as for his beautiful Rialta - she was most likely floating somewhere in the in between, waiting for him to claim her again. For a moment, he wondered if Seth would be able to find her then gloated. No, she was not really dead and not really alive. She could be claimed by whoever had that blasted ring and he was going to get it back. As for his other problem, Jareth should be dead by now and Sarah would most likely be preparing to return to her own world. Devlin could not let that happen.

Coming near his shuttle, he froze as he saw Omron, his personal guard, sprawled upon the ground. Devlin ran up to him, kicking him fiercely.

"What do you think you are doing?" The guard slowly roused himself, staring up blearily at his employer.

"Did you get them back?"

"Get who back? Get up, you idiot." Devlin looked over at the shuttle, noting that the hatch was open. And beyond that, the door to where the girls were hidden. Following his boss's gaze, Omron shook his head.

"Lord Devlin, the girls are gone." And with that, he passed out again. Devlin swore under his breath and teleported to the Goblin Kingdom. He'd have to be careful, by now he was certain the guards knew he'd attacked their precious king. He'd have to grab Sarah quickly and then find those brats. He could not leave without them, their combined power was too great to let slip away from him.

Where to look first? He could not teleport to different parts of the castle without knowing where he was going. He'd have to be careful. Shrugging, he made his way to the main gate. He wished he could just teleport inside the castle, but the kingdom's magic would sense him as a threat and alert the guards. No, he'd have to enter the normal way and hope he could find Sarah and the children quickly.

Near the well guarded main gate Devlin noticed Hoggle talking to himself. Devlin shook his head, ready to ignore him. He could see through the open gate as the Phooka guards let goblins out to hunt for him. So they knew who they were looking for - he'd have to move carefully. He heard the dwarf say Rialta's name.

Taking a closer look, he noticed the shiny ring on Hoggle's finger. Rialta's ring. Keeping himself from the guards' sight, Devlin drew a dagger from his boot and raised it to throw at the hapless dwarf before the gates could close. Just as the blade was poised to come down, Alia and Jenata ran to Hoggle, shouting about Sarah and kidnapping and Alia's stronger powers coming to her when Jenata had been in danger. Hoggle jumped forward to greet the girls and Devlin had to retreat behind a wide column, listening as the girls explained how they'd been taken. The gates closed and Devlin cursed to himself. He could still hear them through the doors, though he had no way to see what has happening.

"Sir Didymus is looking for Queen Marissa, to tell - to tell her," Alia paused to take a breath. Hoggle growled.

"Let's get to the rat, Sarah's most likely mothering the fool - no offence, Princess."

Jenatta grinned briefly. "None taken." The three friends ran down the corridor, leaving a very interested Lordos villain behind in the shadows.

Devlin took a moment to think before making a plan to go to the infirmary. If Jareth was still alive, Sarah would most likely be hovering over the pompous Goblin King. Devlin would take great satisfaction in killing him as Sarah watched. And those girls were already there with Rialta's ring. It was just too perfect. His only problem would be to find the hidden hospital - only the most trusted of Jareth's family and friends knew where it was as it was a perfect place to assassinate the weak.

JSJSJS

Karen and Marissa walked briskly through Jareth's castle, hunting for traces of Devlin's treachery. Karen's eyes were taking on the glow of the Fae once more as she protected her family. Now that they knew who to search for, the guards would be watching for Devlin to make a move. But Karen intended to get to him first. She felt a shift in the magical current within the Goblin King's home and growled.

"Marissa, did you feel that? He's back, but where?"

"I feel him, sister," the Crystal Queen muttered. "He's outside the gates though. But I can't be certain of just where he is. All of the unchecked magic flying around here may be blocking my senses. All three of us sisters and Jareth, and Sarah, not to mention Rialta's soul flitting around the castle - it is just too much to sort through just now."

"Devlin knows we are on to him. He could be anywhere. Seline will watch over Jareth and Sarah. We'll have to find Devlin ourselves."

"Logan has organized the guards to do a more throuough search of the grounds and the goblins are outside the kingdom searching as well. Do you think the Ambassador is aware of Devlin's deceit?" They ran quickly down a small flight of stairs usually used by servants. For the maids walking up the stairs, seeing the Crystal queen and her sister was a bit of a shock. Moving out of their way, the servants muttered excitedly to themselves. Was Kareena coming home? Her eyes were the eyes of a warrior, golden yellow with sparkling motes of blinding light.

"No, he is too honest, sister. This will bring him pain, but we cannot allow Devlin to harm anyone more than he already has."

The two Fae made their way to the high tower to get a better view of the surrounding area. If Devlin was nearby as they sensed, he could not hide from their powers for long.