Jareth just stared where Sarah was once stood for a few seconds with a heavy heart. It was for her own wellbeing. He had no other choice if he wanted her to live and if he does survive, he will go back for her. He loved her and despite their training, there was no way she was prepared for battle. How stupid and naïve he was to think that she was actually going to be prepared to fight for him. Even though she actually was willing to, he couldn't allow her to die for something that was not worth wasting her life.

Calm steps earned his attention to the staircase with narrowed, suspicious eyes.

To no surprise, a red-haired elven woman entered the throne room with a smooth smile creeping across her grey lips. "King Jareth. How long has it been since we've last seen each other?" She said, slowly approaching him with her yellow eyes glinting with slyness.

"I had the misfortune of forgetting," he dryly answered, not removing his gaze from her.

Nalth frowned. "As you had the misfortune of forgetting the betrothal that our families made." Her eyes darkened. "You broke my heart."

He stared at her, suspicious of what she was trying to gain. "Broke your heart? We weren't in love."

A smooth, sad smile crept upon her lips as she stepped forward. "We could've been. I would've been your loyal wife, who would've stood by her husband to the end of time." She placed a grey hand over his chest as her smile faded. "Oh, I can see it in your eyes, Jareth. You long for love. You long to be loved… So cold and lonely. You could've had a wife, but you turned me away. Your only chance for love. Tell me, Jareth, who would've ever fall in love with you? Truly. You're a king. Women want your power. They don't care about love when it comes to marring a king. I was already meant to be a queen." She gave a brief smile. "I was just like you." She took a step back as her hand slid off his chest. "Now look where you are… Alone and about to lose everything."

The thought of Sarah loving him just because he was king made his heart jolt, but he knew she wasn't like that. She wasn't that cruel. If Sarah didn't want to be with him, then at least that was the truth and if she did, he knew that it was legitimate because it was not Sarah's nature to do such a thing. She didn't want power– She wanted happiness.

"I would rather be alone than be in a loveless marriage," he coldly stated, not removing his gaze from her. "Also, how are you not like that? You were going to marry me for that reason."

I wish that the Goblin King would take me back! A distant, familiar voice cried in his head, causing his blood to chill.

Sarah…

I wish that the Goblin King would take me back! She screamed again out of sheer desperation. I wish to see the Goblin King!

"Oh, Jareth." Nalth smiled, bringing him back to the present. "There is no point fooling you. When I found out that I was to be wedded to a prince who once was human, I couldn't help to laugh." She smiled, humored. "I thought my father was joking. Me? Marrying a human raised by goblins? I thought my life was going to be over! Then I began to think about ruling one giant kingdom as two in one! I was overjoyed at the thought!" She grinned, then it slowly faded with anger. "Then you completely ignored your king's wishes– The one who took you in and made you into the Goblin Prince when he could've carded you as a petty servant. He made you who are today and that is how you repaid him?" Dark amusement glittered in her eyes.

I wish that the Goblin King lives, the human now whispered. I wish that the Goblin King lives…

That was one wish that he truly wanted to grant.

"Now," Nalth continued, "I am just taking back what was once to be mine." She whipped out a tri-bladed dagger from her hip, and swung at him.

He managed to catch her wrist as the narrow point was close to his jugular vein. "This kingdom was never yours," he growled, staring death at the woman, feeling her strength in his grasp.

"It will be now, Jareth," she said with a small smile. "It will be as your men's bodies litter your own city while the surviving are in chains. I was meant to be queen of both kingdoms and it was only twenty years ago that my father had finally passed in his sleep." Anger burned in her eyes like a wild fire. "You were lucky! You were named king when you were still a boy and I was meant to rule along side you! I was meant to be queen already and you took that away from me!" She dropped the dagger, catching it the other hand.

Jareth released her wrist and disappeared just before she was going to plunge into his side.

I wish that the Goblin King lives, Sarah pleaded once more

Jareth appeared behind the Queen. Working on it, he mentally replied, despite she wasn't able to hear.

Nalth hissed, spun around, facing him with madness in her eyes. "Why won't you just die?" She snarled and lunged at him.

Swiftly, Jareth grabbed her wrist, spun her around, placed her dagger to her throat with her own hand, and firmly held her by the waist. "Any final words, Your Majesty?" he cooly asked in her ear.

"Men!"

He looked over his shoulder as two soldiers entered with crossbows aimed at him, but stood his ground.

Nalth began to deviously chuckle. "Kill me. See what happens."

Jareth had her right where he wanted. All he had to do was slice her throat, but if he did that, he would have two bolts in the back. If she died though before that could happen, he would win– The soldiers would have no choice, but to surrender. However, if they did shoot him, both monarchs would be dead. He didn't have a heir, but something told him that Nalth had a plan. It was not worth risking for– He had to stay alive for his kingdom.

Reluctantly, he slowly released her and took a step back, glaring at the Elven Queen and her men as he carefully summoned a crystal behind his back.

Nalth turned around and faced him with a twisted smile. "I already won, Jareth. Just surrender, but I know you won't." Her yellow eyes glinted. "Swords nor crystals can save you and right now, you can either take a steel bolt or surrender for further execution."

"Friendly, aren't you?" he coldly retorted, still holding the crystal.

She gave a forced smile. "I wanted my father's blade to end your miserable life, but now I just want you to die."

He smiled. "Sorry to disappoint." He disappeared, then reappeared behind guard, impaling him with his sword. Just as the other soldier as about to shoot at him, he tore the sword from the body, spun around, slashed the crossbow out of the elf's hands, then came back with a swift stab to the side– Killing the elf. He removed the sword, pointed the bloodied blade to the Queen, stared her in the eye, and dangerously said, "Don't underestimate me."

The Queen glanced at her dead soldiers, then back to him with a frown, sheathing her dagger. "Then we shall have a little duel. No magic. No disappearing. Swords only."

He swiped his sword to the side. "Very well." He stepped aside, allowing the Queen to retrieve a sword from a fallen soldier.

The opponents faced each other with weapons drawn, ready for the other to strike first, until the Queen lashed out.

Jareth kept blocking her left and right– Surprised by how quick and skilled she was. If there was one thing he did not except from Nalth, that was being a skilled swordsman. He almost wanted to complement her, but that was giving her too much credit– Especially when he had to jump back a couple of times to avoid the steel blade. Until he gave the Elven Queen a deep cut on the cheek.

Snarling, she came back with fire. Her arm was stronger and filled with rage that it was hard for him to have an offense. Then, to his horror, she snapped his sword out of his hand; clattering away from him.

Panting, Jareth found a sword's tip in front of his face. Since it was a fair match and deal, there was nothing else that he could do. Remembering what his predecessor once told him: Accept your defeat in honor because you did all you could. Defeated, the King heavily went to his knees while the Queen started to circle him like a vulture with her sword still pointed at him.

He accepted his defeat in honor…

"Surrender?" She mockingly questioned.

"It was a fair match," he lifelessly replied, gaining his breath back. "You bested me."

He did all he could…

"I did." The Queen stood behind him, grabbing him by the hair, raised his head and placed the blade to his throat, staring down at him. "Now I want to see the life dissipate from your eyes."

He just stared at her, granting her that final wish.

His life's work, his men, kingdom– Everything that he stood for had crumbled at his feet less than thirty minutes. That was pathetic. What kind of king was he if he couldn't even last a hour? What would the king before him even say? Would he be disappointed and ashamed that the one he trusted to be his heir completely failed to protect the kingdom? Would he regret even taking him in? Or would he be proud?

The King's heart was calm, his breathing was calm, but his mind was not. He was going to die as a failure of a king and when he finally had someone love him, he was going to die. He couldn't accept his fate, but there was no other way to go through it.

Accept defeat in honor…