It takes thirteen hours for the Labyrinth to be completed, but due to all of the traps and guards that were in the Labyrinth, there might be less than half of the army that could arrive at the castle by that time. However, despite the odds of them making it to the castle, the guards and Sarah were ready for battle– Jareth was just casual about it and that almost scared the woman, but trusted his judgement. She and the guards stayed in the throne room, huddled around the King, who held a crystal in his hand that showed the first group of five in the north, wondering around.

Sarah watched the group question about which direction to take, then decided on splitting in two.

"And they are lost already," Jareth dryly stated. He waved a hand over the crystal, changing the image to another group just as three of the six fell into a trap.

Sarah couldn't help, but smile at the sight as the goblins laughed.

"Oh, this is going to be too easy," Jareth laughed, joyously tossing the crystal in the air and catching it. He waved a hand again, switching to another group from the south that a woman with long red hair, dressed in mail with a silver circlet on her head. "Ah, and here is Her Royal Majesty herself."

"That's her?" Sarah asked as the image zoomed in on the young elf's cold, grey face with dark, yellow eyes.

"Queen Nalth, my former fiancee." He tilted his head with wonder. "Do you think if I send her flowers, she'll forget the whole thing?" He smiled with humor, straightening his head.

The goblins cackled around them.

The image zoomed out and just before he was about to change it, a motion of a guard beside the Queen caught Sarah's eye. "Wait. Zoom out."

He did so and in front of the guard was a dwarf.

"Hoggle," she whispered in cold horror.

Jareth frowned. "Why do I have a feeling that he accidentally said too much?"

"I have to save him!" She cried, about to leave, until he grabbed her arm.

"Yes," he sarcastically snapped. "Let's have the champion of the Labyrinth encounter a queen with five soldiers just to save your friend. I protected you from them for a reason and don't think that you stand a chance."

Sarah listened and thought about it, knowing that he was right, and was trying think logically about all this.

Hoggle returned to his home about two days ago by the gate and now, he was in danger. She didn't stand a chance against five solders by herself and there was no way she was going to risk goblin solders nor the King just to save her friend, but he needed help. As long as the dwarf was alive and unharmed, that is all that she could ask for. "They're using him to lead them to the castle, aren't they?"

"More than likely."

She turned to him with large eyes. "So he'll be okay if he does so?"

"Yes, but he will lead them straight to us."

Sarah looked away and nodded. She remembered her friend saying that he was scared of Nalth than he was of Jareth, so there was no doubt that he would do what the Queen says.

Jareth gently lifted her by the chin to look her in the eyes. "If they do arrive, there will be less of them than they started with and I will keep an eye on your friend."

She just nodded. Then, she sighed. "Jareth," she glanced away, then back at his eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt you and–" She gave a yawn, covering her mouth. "Excuse me."

The King just stared at her, unamused. "You need sleep. I'll send a guard to wake you when anything happens."

She was about to open her mouth, then he said:

"You need it."

Seeing that he was right, she nodded. "Okay. Good-night, Jareth." Then started to walked to the stairs.

"Good-night, Sarah," he gently replied, watching her leave.

His men began to quietly snigger again.

He shot them a warning glare, causing them all to immediately stop. He looked to the clock by his throne and saw that it was only ten at night. Sarah only received less than thirty minutes of sleep and after a long day of training, he understood why she was tried. Not only that, in thirteen hours, they had a war to fight. He tossed the crystal in the air as he started to walk away, leaving a guard to catch it. "If anything happens, wake me."

In her dream, she was dancing with him for one last time like they had done fourteen years ago. She couldn't believe that he still loved her even though what she did, and something told her that he will always love her. Before something happens either during or after the war, she had to let him know that she truly did love him, but she was going to return home, wasn't she? Family over love, right?

Her shoulder started to be shaken.

"Sarah," a voice hissed. "Sarah."

Sarah stirred, then remembered the elves. Alarmed, she rolled over, finding herself looking into a dark, furry goblin's red eyes. "What happened?"

"The King summons you. It's six in the morning and the elves are almost here!" The goblin's eyes grew with panic.

The woman blinked, then jumped out of bed. "I'll be there in a minute!"

The goblin scurried out, closing the door behind.

Sarah quickly threw on her armor once more, then hurried out the door to the throne room. They were almost here? How many were left? Was Hoggle alright? She practically ran to the throne and found Jareth now dressed in black armor and leather pants; lounging on the throne while staring at a crystal. "What's happening?" She demanded, briskly approaching him.

"Six of my men were killed and fifteen have been captured," he coldly answered, not breaking his gaze from the sphere with the Queen making a turn with soldiers following as Hoggle was taking the lead.

Her mouth dropped, horrified. "How many elven soldiers are left?"

"They lost a quarter of their men to oubliettes and three groups are lost. Hoggle is taking the Queen right to the castle and other groups after managed to find the right way."

Ten hours and only a quarter was trapped and only three groups were lost? Than that meant a little over of the army was on their way to the castle!

Jareth looked at her with a heavy heart. "Sarah. Are you sure you want to stay? Once they break into the city's doors, hell will break lose."

She shook her head. "I'm not leaving. What of Ludo?" She knew that Didymus was safe in the bog and was disappointed that she didn't get to see him yet. Maybe after when all of this was over…

"The beast has summoned his rocks to chase away some soldiers."

At least something was going right…

She released a sigh, looking the King in the eye. "How sure are you that you will win this war?"

"My men will be slain or turned into slaves," he heavily began as he stood up, dismissing the crystal with a wave of the other hand. "I will refuse to surrender. Even if I have no man left standing or able to fight, I will not surrender and I will be slain where I stand. The only way I can end this war is if I kill Nalth herself– Which I will not hesitate to do so– and the elves will surrender." His eyes darkened. "It is her life or mine and my kingdom's, but her men are strong and I may be outnumbered by the time they reach me. You never know with war." He stepped forward, locking their gaze. "But I will make sure that your friend will make it out alive as long as I am still standing."

Sarah took a strong breath as he slowly approached her. "And will fight at your side, Your Majesty. I–" She hesitated as he gently placed a hand on the nape of her neck and leaned forward to her.

"No need for formalities," he whispered just before he gently kissed her.

Sarah slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, then she rested her head on his chest. "I'm sorry that I hurt you," she whispered as guilt still gnawed on her heart. "I'm sorry that I–"

"None of that matters now," he murmured, then bitterly smirked. "If I am to die, at least I got to kiss you again."

"Don't say that," she grumbled.

"Fate is cruel, Sarah. Tell me… Do you actually love me or is it to say what I want to hear?"

She closed her eyes, savoring his presence. "I love you, Jareth. I really do."

They just stayed like that for another moment, hoping that this wasn't the last time.