"I don't see anyone," Sarah said, doubtful. Rialta whispered to her.
"She's weak, that is why Devlin chose now to challenge - he's known she was weakening for some time now."
"But what's happening to her?"
"When you beat Jareth, you took half of the power here. If you had chosen not to mate with your king in the next year, the Labyrinth would perish."
"I thought only Jareth would die?"
"And who do you think powers the Labyrinth?"
The realization hit Sarah hard and she resolved that Devlin would not win. He couldn't - not when so much was at stake.
She looked around and saw they were all surrounded by sharp spikes that seemed to go up into the air forever. Sarah held Jareth's hand as her eyes darted around the area, searching for the Labyrinth. All she saw were the dark silver spikes, and Devlin leering at her. Rialta stood nearby, her face anguished from pain. As the Lordos got his power restored, her face smoothed. Rialta was safe again - for now.
"Where are you?" Sarah called out and a small laugh came from the wind. Rialta shivered lightly and shook her head.
"I am here, as always," the voice answered and Sarah frowned. "Goblin King, you have challenged Lord Devlin of Lordos for your realm. Is this so?"
"It is," Jareth answered, bowing.
"Lord Devlin, what is your response?"
"I accept. I will rule and all will bow down to me as is their destiny." The eerie calm from Devlin sent shivers down Sarah's spine. "I will join Princess Rialta's soul to the Champion and have my queen."
Rialta seemed to weaken at that and had to kneel to conserve her strength. She was fading slightly and Sarah was worried for her friend.
"Not happening," Sarah spat out. A chill burst through Sarah and she gasped at the intensity of the cold. It ripped through her like she'd just walked into a blizzard. Jareth held her closer to him, rubbing her arms.
"Silence. You have no business here," the Labyrinth said harshly. Sarah shook her head, still shivering.
"I have every right to be here. Devlin challenges my king. He therefore challenges me." She glared at Devlin. "He has no power over me."
"You seem to think no one has power over you," the Labyrinth's disembodied voice mocked. "You little humans feel you are above such things as honor and magic. You are here because you believe you have rights. You do not."
Sarah took a step from Jareth as if to say something, but Jareth spoke first, pulling her back towards him.
"She is presumptive Queen," Jareth spoke up to the voice. "She came by her own choice, her own volition. But she need not battle. Send her to an oubliette where she can await the outcome of my battle."
"Your challenge has changed. You will now be fighting for Sarah's life as well as your own, Goblin King. See if you can manage it without her by your side."
"I will not leave," Sarah started to say, and a flash of lightning hit the ground near her feet. She fell into Jareth's embrace, shocked.
"You will do as I command. As long as the Goblin King is without his powers, I am the final authority here."
"Without his powers?" Sarah sent a disbelieving look to her king who shrugged, smirking at her expression.
"The fight must be without magic," he explained.
"But Devlin has his powers," Sarah said. Jareth nodded gravely.
"So that Rialta might survive. His magic is keeping her alive as the ring is still bound to his power."
"But that's not fair," she protested hotly. His right eyebrow shot up and he kissed the top of her head.
"Really, Sarah, I would think you would have learned about fairness by now." He turned to Devlin, bowing.
"I trust you enjoyed your romp through my little hedge maze?"
"I'll enjoy it more when I destroy it and your precious Sarah."
"You will never get the chance to touch her, Lordos," Jareth said, darkly. Devlin rolled his eyes.
"No more talk, I will kill you as soon as the battle begins."
"Then so it begins," the Labyrinth said calmly. Sarah felt herself pulled through a blue mist, coughing and sputtering, until she found herself in a dark oubliette. She saw where she had been taken and screamed in frustration.
"Let me out," she cried.
"No. They have their battle and you, dear Sarah, have your own."
"But Devlin challenged me too," she shouted.
"No, he did not," the voice explained. "I did."
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Jareth and Devlin circled each other. Devlin grinned as he pulled out a knife from his boot. His favorite knife was still at the Goblin Castle, hidden in the infirmary, but this one would work just as well. Pity it did not have the same poison upon its blade, but this fight was to be over with in minutes. Let the great Goblin King drown in his own blood - Devlin's cause was just.
The worm appeared on a nearby tree and called out to them. "Challengers, there are rules here. Get a bit closer so you can hear them. I 'aven't got all day ya know."
Keeping a wide berth between them, the two ventured closer to the small worm who nodded to each of them.
"You will both be free to attack the other at any time to stop your opponent from reaching Sarah's location. If one of you kills the other before reaching Sarah, the other wins by default. If one of you win, you will be obligated to kill the other. It is our way."
Jareth took a deep breath, he did not wish for Sarah to see him kill anyone, or be killed. Perhaps she'd be sent home before either outcome was unavoidable.
"There will be no riddles, no helpful doors or crystals of dreams. There will be no use of magic as the king has given his up to accept the challenge. This is not a fight for small minded magicians. This is a fight for the realm and the queen. Whoever makes it alive to Sarah will claim her. The loser will be executed by the Labyrinth."
"Understood," Jareth nodded. Beside him, Devlin inclined his head slightly but said nothing. The worm rose up to its full height, still too small to intimidate, but with a serious glare directed to each man. The scenery changed, the spikes were gone and an unusually silent landscape of quicksand and dark forests appeared.
Just beyond, the Labyrinth's twists and turns beckoned. They had reached the center, but now would have to run to find Sarah - somewhere in the murky depths of plants and hidden creatures that could kill them without a second thought. Devlin felt his magic tingle inside of him - he would find a way to use it without being found out - rules were for people who couldn't think for themselves.
"Run, both of you, find your queen."
"What? Which way is our path? I'll have you know, this is cheating. Jareth knows this land completely."
"The king knows that the landscape changes each day. Without his magic, he cannot sense where anything is - it will be a true challenge." The worm stared up at him smugly. Jareth had already started running into the forest without a second thought. Devlin swore under his breath and followed closely behind.
"Try to keep up, Lordos scum," Jareth's voice mocked from just ahead. Devlin ran into the trees, searching for his opponent. As he thought he saw a glimpse of Jareth's blond hair, a knife flew past his head. Jareth's laugh filled the woods.
"You'll have to do better than that," Devlin snarled.
"Oh, I plan on it, have no doubt," Jareth's voice answered. And then Devlin was alone.
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"You did?" Sarah asked. Rialta hovered nearby, staring up at the trap door's light.
"I did," the voice confirmed. "You broke a law, you entered during a challenge. You are mine to deal with as I see fit."
"But I'm your queen," Sarah said, bitterly. The voice laughed.
"You are nothing as long as you are not bound to the king. Your petty betrothal holds no sway over my actions. You are little more than an intruder and as such, you are not to be treated as though made of glass."
Sarah heard the bitterness and her eyes grew wide, remembering Rialta's words. "You're mad because I found a way to beat you."
"Nonsense."
"No, no I'm on to something. No one has beat the Labyrinth before I did and now you're feeling vindictive. This doesn't have anything to do with Jareth and Devlin fighting. You just want to punish me."
"You interferred with a Challenge. You broke the law."
"You just can't admit that a teenage girl found her way through your hardships untold," Sarah smirked. "You can't admit that I'm smarter."
"Enough!" the voice growled. "Or you may find yourself struck down where you stand, girl."
"Oh I don't think so," Sarah said calmly. "You need me."
"Need - you? In what possible way could I ever need you?"
"Because I'm bound to Jareth and bring my family's magic to his - I was born for this, Karen told me. Without me, this place will eventually wither. The king needs his queen and the Labyrinth needs us both or can't continue to survive. Devlin was just a bonus of sorts for you - a reason to get me back in here to face you."
"I need my power. You hold a gift that should never been given to you," the voice said, slightly put out.
"And you'll have it, once Jareth and I are married, you'll be at full strength again."
"You will marry him?" the voice asked, sounding tired.
"As soon as I'm able," Sarah promised. "Now can you let me out of here."
"No, I'm sorry, Sarah. You will be safe here until the winner finds you. But by your choice, you have entered the Challenge. While I will not harm you, I can not aid you in your quest." The voice had gotten more and more quiet, until Sarah could barely hear the last bit of her answer.
"What - wait," Sarah cried, but the voice was gone. She glanced over at Rialta. "Now what?"
Rialta shrugged. "Now we wait."