A/N okay this got away from me so there will be one more chapter after this. Enjoy!

The room grew still as Jareth raised his hands, calling back Devlin's stolen powers from the deepest parts of his fortress. Waves of power pulsed through the walls and Sarah watched as the strain caught up with Jareth - he was newly healed, this could not be good for him to be using such strong magic so soon. The castle protested the intrusion, guarding the threat as it was meant to do, but the Goblin King demanded the return of Devlin's power to the evil Lordos. With a sound that was almost a sigh, a rush of power flooded the room and Devlin yelled in triumph.

Devlin flexed his hands, imagining holding his knife again. Looking up, he saw Jareth smile, sharp teeth glinting in the light like tiny blades. Devlin bared his own fangs as Jareth watched his opponent edge closer. The Goblin King grinned with a look that had frozen lesser demons into submission.

"Looking for something? Perhaps an enchanted blade? I knew the moment it struck my flesh that it was empowered to kill Avians. You sir, are a traitor to your father's work and our treaty. You shall be destroyed."

"One of my finest spells, I'm assuming you're smart enough to realize I killed your perfect little brother." At the flash of pain in Jareth's eyes, Devlin continued to taunt Jareth, circling the king dangerously. Sarah went to go to Jareth, but Karen held her back, shaking her head. Frowning, Sarah watched as the two men glared at each other.

"Did you know he begged for his pathetic life? Begged me to claim Rialta like a real man would and end his humiliation? He was a spoiled little brat and deserved his death. Rialta was to have been mine, she will be mine and you cannot stop it."

Jareth's glare made Sarah's blood run cold. The Goblin King's clothes made way for armor, and his hand rested on the large sword now readied at his side. Sarah didn't want to see Jareth have to pull the weapon, but she knew that Devlin would not survive this battle now. His words had condemned him and even Sarah could understand that.

"Seth died protecting his mate. You have freely admitted to killing a member of the High Royal House. The punishment for that is death. So mote it be."

Another flash of blue light and Jareth was gone. Another flash of orange and so was Devlin.

JSJSJS

Bright, blinding light hit Sarah's eyes and her limbs became heavy, as though she had been thrown underwater. It was so cold here, whereever here was. Blinking furiously, she fought to see where Jareth and Devlin had disappeared to and had to shield her eyes against the storm brewing around her. Angry winds surrounded her and she could have sworn that she heard that ominous music again. Reaching out, she felt Robert grasp one hand as Karen took the other, so that she was safe between them. A slight smile crossed her face as she realized she was lucky to have such loving parents.

"Bertram can ye see me, lad?"

"I cannae see anything but this blasted light," a voice answered. Sarah strained to see who was talking and then a flash of blue light tore through the room, if one could call it that. Pure white surrounded them, no walls or floor, just a white background stretching in every direction. Looking at where the walls should be, she noticed shadows. Two small shadows in the shape of Alia and Jenata. Other shadows were nearby and she recognized Hoggle's and Seline's. She thought she saw two large creatures, one with the head of a rabbit, the other a wolf. Oh, the Phooka guards.

"What's happening?" Sarah asked Karen. The older woman glanced at her and squeezed her hand.

"Devlin has challenged Jareth for his power. None can interfere unless invited."

"Invited? Like having a second?" Sarah remembered that from all of the Regency era romances she had read under her blanket when her parents had thought she was asleep.

"Yes, everyone who cannot assist in in the shadows."

"But I can see you and Dad," Sarah said, frowning.

"That's because we are your seconds."

"My - what are you talking about, Karen?"

"You have been challenged too. And Phookas cannot be enchanted so you see them as well," Karen explained Sarah's unasked question.

"Phookas?" Robert asked. Karen pointed at the guards, who waved cheerfully. Robert waved back slowly, swallowing down an unmanly sort of scream.

"Challenged for what?" Sarah asked, eyeing Bertram and Loren who were watching her with equal curiousity.

"Your body and soul," Devlin hissed, appearing out of the blinding white to stand next to her. She screamed and kicked him soundly. He growled, reaching for her with glowing hands. A flare of blue tinged lightning hit him and Devlin hissed again, looking around wildly in anger.

"You may not touch my queen," Jareth's voice warned, echoing into the distance.

"Where are you, you coward?" Devlin yelled. "Show yourself."

"Foolish Lordos scum, you would almost amuse me if you were not trying to destroy my queen and my kingdom. If you wish to fight me, you shall do so in the way of my people. You, good sir, will run the Labyrinth."

"You hide from me in that overgrown hedge maze?" Devlin laughed. "You leave your precious Sarah unprotected."

"Not at all, little man," Jareth taunted from somewhere and everywhere. "Sarah has her own magic to fight you and fight she shall." Rialta's ring appeared on Sarah's finger.

Sarah, my love, summon the princess to you. You are her protector now and she is yours. She has chosen you to be her weapon.

What are you talking about? Sarah asked mentally. Why are you in the Labyrinth but I'm out here?

Robert stood between Devlin and Sarah, glaring at the vampire lord. Devlin stared at the man, but could not get a reading of just what magic the mortal possessed. After killing Jareth and binding Rialta's soul to Sarah, Devlin would drain this man's powers and examine them as Robert died in agony.

Rialta spoke to you without the ring's magic. The two of you share a bond that will protect you both. She will guard your body and you shall protect her soul. As for your other question, the Labyrinth answers only to me during a time of battle. You would not be completely safe here until you are my queen in word and deed. Please Sarah, call Rialta to you and be brave. Karen knows how to protect you.

I will not leave you to fight him alone.

Sarah...

No, and I don't want to hear another word about it, Goblin King.

As Jareth and Sarah argued, the Phooka guards escorted Devlin to a gate that magically appeared then bowed to the Lordos scum in mock salute.

"Nice knowing you, little man," Loren smirked. "Pity we won't see the king feast on yer bones."

"Now Loren," Bertram chided. "You know as well as I do that the king doesn't eat bones. Just the flesh - the bones he saves for his goblins. Keeps their teeth sharp ye ken?"

As Devlin went to enter the gate, he turned to Sarah, eyes glowing with hate.

"I shall return to you once I kill your pathetic Goblin King. There will be no escape."

"That's right, there will be no escape," Sarah said, running to him as he went through the gate. "You won't get away from me." She hugged him around his waist and closed her eyes and the two of them fell through an enchanted doorway into the dangers untold of the Labyrinth.

"Sarah," Robert yelled, running to where his daughter had stood moments ago. The gate disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared and Robert spun around, trying to find the entrance.

"You can't follow them, Robert," Karen said, pulling him away from the glowering Phooka guards.

"We're her seconds - you said so. She's a child, she can't be in there with them."

"She has to face this challenge, Robert," Karen said. "She's Jareth's queen."

"But she's not his queen, she's not even married to him," Robert sputtered.

"She is not his queen in word and deed, but she has his love and his magic has claimed her. We can watch the battle from the throne room."

"What does that mean - in word and deed?"

Karen took his hand and walked towards the shadows who seemed to solidify before their eyes. Seline answered his question briskly.

"In word and deed, dear Robert, is exactly how it sounds. In words means the wedding vows and in deed would be the, well, afterwards." Robert blushed slightly, not liking the sound of that.

"She's too young for that," he blurted out and Seline smiled gently.

"All will happen in its own time, Robert. Come, let us all go to the throne room and witness Devlin's fruitless battle against the Champion and her King."

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Sarah felt dizzy. She was lying in the middle of path. Vegetation surrounded her and it looked familiar. As her head cleared, she blinked, recognizing the Labyrinth. A low whisper seemed to surround her, and she realized that she was not alone. The Labyrinth always had beings roaming around, waiting for a runner. Jareth

She jumped up, steadying herself against a hedge and looked around wildly. Where was Devlin? A dark cloud was rushing towards her, crystalizing the hedge maze into a finely wrought lattice of sparkling gems. Soon it would overpower her and she wondered if she'd turn into crystal as well, or just be encased in it. She stood there, not able to think, all she could do was watch the cloud cascade over the landscape in its hurry to reach her.

Sarah, call me to you, quickly.

Rialta, is that you? Sarah looked around but didn't see anyone else. The cloud flowed over stones and broken twigs, turning them into jeweled mosaics of color. It was so beautiful, Sarah had to stare in wonder.

The Labyrinth can only allow my existance here if you allow it. Call to me, say, "I accept Rialta into my soul."

I - what? Where are Jareth and Devlin? The stones are so pretty, peaceful. Sarah's eyes started to droop and a strong shake jerked her back into reality.

Sarah, just do it!

"I accept Rialta into my soul," Sarah shouted. Looking up, she saw Rialta standing in front of her, solid and alive.

"It's about time," the princess said, smirking.

"I can see you!"

"Of course - you've allowed me into your soul, we can coexist like this for a short time. Jareth and Devlin are in other parts of the Labyrinth fighting their own battles. We all will meet in the center and then the final battle will happen."

"Wait - I have to fight? I won't fight Jareth," Sarah sputtered.

"You weren't supposed to be here, Sarah. The Labyrinth recognizes two adversaries when there is a challenge. We're an unknown and the Labyrinth doesn't like unknowns it doesn't understand."

"Well wouldn't that be the definition of an unknown?" Sarah asked.

Rialta grinned. "I can see why you had such a time here before, you know to ask the correct questions. And as for your unasked query, you are the only one here who can see me because you've allowed me into your soul." Rialta held out a hand, "Come, Champion, I'll explain more on the way."