Sorry for the long delay. I was in Disney World last week... wish I was still there.
Warning: contains some violence and strong language.
Also I don't own Jareth or Sarah. I do own the poo head called Calabar.
Please review!
Groggily, Sarah opened her eyes and moaned. Why do I feel like I have a hang over? Sarah thought to herself. She had to blink a few times before her eyes could focus. When her vision finally did focus, Sarah was quite startled. She looked around and found herself in a dungeon cell. What had happened? Was Jareth angry at her again? She did not recall committing any transgressions. In fact, the last time she had talked to Jareth, he seemed quite pleased with her.
Sarah's panic rose as she looked around. This cell was quite a bit dingier than the cell Jareth had put her in, with only a sliver of a window to merely show if it was dark or light out. She also realized that she was chained to the wall by her wrists. Jareth had never chained her up when he imprisoned her. Something told Sarah that she was in trouble, but not with Jareth.
Jareth paced back in forth in his throne room, occasionally kicking goblins who had dared to cross his path. Silas entered hesitantly, knowing full well how volatile Jareth's anger could be. Jareth looked up as Silas bowed to him. "Report Silas," is all that Jareth said to him. Jareth was not known for his pleasantries when his temper was flaring. "Sire, none of our men have been able to infiltrate the Shadow King's kingdom. Any possible entrance has been barricaded by iron gates," Silas reported, nervous of Jareth's response. "Damn Calabar to hell!" Jareth shouted, sending goblins into any hiding places they could find. Silas flinched at Jareth's exclamation, knowing that he must be angrier than ever before because the Goblin King was never fond of Aboveground expletives.
It is widely known that iron is the greatest enemy of the fae. Its properties have proved poisonous to any fae that had been pierced by iron weapons. Just being near iron can render a fae ill. Jareth had seen it all too well. Many comrades had been killed in battle by iron swords in front of Jareth. He knew that Calabar could not have set up the iron barricades by himself, as he is fae as well. He must have used minions, creatures from other kingdoms that somehow ended up in Calabar's land. He was truly twisted.
What will I do? I have to rescue Sarah. Jareth thought to himself. Jareth's army was made up of all fae men. They could not penetrate the iron barricades without harming themselves. Goblins could technically be used, but they do not possess the brain capacity to function in such a manner. Goblins have never been known for long attention spans. Plus, Jareth could not see risking innocent goblin lives. They would surely be killed.
Jareth walked over to the window. He had to think of something, but what could he do? He looked out over the royal gardens where Sarah had gone missing. He saw Hoggle getting frantic, Sir Didymus preparing for his own battle, and Ludo looking lonely and confused. Suddenly, Jareth had an idea. He had to act fast, so he raced out of the throne room to the gardens.
Sarah's heart began to race as panic set in. She heard footsteps approaching, and she had a feeling it wasn't going to be Jareth. Cold sweat trickled down her face as she heard the footsteps stop in front of her cell door. Sarah kept saying to herself, Be brave. Be brave. She heard the key to the door turn and open the lock. She desperately wanted to close her eyes, but she chose to appear brave, even if she wasn't quite feeling like it. Panic began to set in as the cell door creaked open and there he stood, Calabar, King of the Shadows. Sarah's eyes widened in terror, for he looked quite formidable. He wore armor as dark and gleaming as obsidian. Like Jareth, he wore knee high leather boots. His mouth was twisted into a malicious smirk. He almost reminded Sarah of how Jareth first appeared to her just after she wished away Toby. However, she decided that Calabar was very much more frightening than Jareth could ever be. "Well, well, the Goblin Queen we finally meet," Calabar said to Sarah. She was quite terrified. She didn't know who this guy was or what he wanted with her. Mustering what little bravery Sarah could find, she croaked out, "Who, who are you? What do you want with me?" Calabar snickered maliciously. "Why, I am Calabar, King of the Shadows. As for your second question, I am going to use you to destroy the Goblin King and his whole miserable family."
Jareth told Sarah's friends about his plan. He remembered from watching the mock battle during Sarah's first visit to his kingdom that Ludo had incredible strength and would want to help his friend. Surely, he could break through the iron barricades. Ludo told Jareth, "Ludo help Sarah. Sarah friend." Jareth was more than relieved that Ludo was agreeable with his plan. Hoggle and Sir Didymus also wanted to help, though Didymus's loyal steed seemed less than enthusiastic at the prospect. Quickly, they rushed to where Jareth's troops were preparing themselves. In the distance, Jareth could see the troops of the High King, his father, approaching. They would join in the fight to free Sarah from Calabar.
Though Sarah was no fan of the High King, she would be more than happy to be in his presence than that of Calabar. "I don't understand how I can help you destroy my husband. I won't do anything to harm him," Sarah said trembling. Calabar sneered as he walked closer to where Sarah was chained, "I did not ask you for your willingness. I will do what I please with you, like it or not." Sarah was both frightened and angry. She loved Jareth and knew how ruthless Calabar truly was. Her anger overtook her, and she kicked Calabar swiftly in the groin. Calabar howled in pain as he backhanded Sarah across her face. "Wench!" he exclaimed as he grabbed himself in pain. Tin crimson lines appeared across Sarah's cheek where Calabar's rings caught her flesh. Sarah could feel the heat of her blood as it began to seep out of the cuts. She did not care. She would not let Calabar win.
Calabar twisted his wrists and released Sarah from her chains. Before she could react to the momentary freedom, he had grasped her firmly by her hair and dragged her across the cell to a wooden cot. Though Sarah resisted, Calabar was able to capture both of her wrists and chain them to the hand cuffs that were attached to the caught. Then, he stood up and cuffed her ankles to either corner of the cot, effectively binding Sarah so that she could no longer strike at him.
That didn't stop Sarah from verbally striking at him. She was no longer fearful. Now it was pure anger that coursed through her body. "You son of a bitch. You better watch out because when Jareth gets a hold of you, it will be the end of you!" Apparently, it is not just Jareth who cannot stand Sarah's Aboveground expletives because after she spoke, Calabar slapped Sarah in the face, even harder than before. Silent tears rolled down Sarah's cheeks. She refused to cry out though. She would not give Calabar the satisfaction.
"That was not a wise choice wench. If you were a good little girl, I was going to keep my Jareth form when I take you, but since you insist on being insolent, I will keep my own form while I take you," Calabar said after he smacked Sarah. The situation went from bad to worse in Sarah's mind. "Take me? Take me where?" Sarah asked frantically. Once again, Calabar giggled maliciously. "I am going to plant my seed in you; so that your life will Jareth will end. You will have my spawn. Jareth will lose his crown and ultimately his life. His heart will be broken, he will die painfully." Sarah was beyond frantic at this point. "JARETH!" Sarah screamed before Calabar placed a knife at her throat and smacked her once more.
Finally, Ludo (and his friends) had broken through the iron barricades. Jareth hurried toward the Shadow Castle. Behind him were his army and his father's army. Calabar's troops were waiting for them when they reached the castle walls. Jareth was not going to let anyone stand in the way of him rescuing his Precious. Jareth had just struck a Shadow soldier when his heart felt Sarah's cry. He felt Sarah's pain. He had very little time. He had to get to her and now.
The High King could see Jareth's inner pain. "Son, go to her. We will be fine. Rescue your queen." Jareth did not have to be told twice. He ran through the gate to the castle and right through the castle doors. His heart showed him the way to the dungeons. He quickened his pace when he heard Sarah's cries. Jareth neared the end of the dungeon corridor and stood in front of Sarah's cell door. He quickly produced a crystal and hurled it at the door, effectively shattering it.
His heart nearly jumped out of his chest at the sight he found. Calabar was sitting astride Sarah's shackled body. He also saw Sarah's bruised and bloodied face. "You piece of slime. Get off of my wife now!" Jareth bellowed. Calabar did not move an inch. "If you come any closer Goblin King, I will slit her throat with this iron dagger." Jareth froze. He didn't want to take the chance that Calabar could be bluffing. "Are you really that low? Be a man and fight with me," Jareth said as he drew the sword from his side. Calabar leapt up and drew his own sword. "I never give up a challenge."
The sword fight began. Though Sarah's eye was beginning to swell she was able to see most of what was going on. She made a wish deep down in her heart that Jareth would beat that piece of 'crap'.
No sooner had Sarah made her wish, did Jareth's sword plunge into the heart of the Shadow King. Sarah shrieked when black blood seeped out of his wound. The adrenaline and pain she was feeling overtook Sarah, and she finally passed out as Calabar took his last breath.