Sarah opened her eyes, finding herself back in the castle and dressed in her black armor, leather pants, and boots with the alchemist at her side. The faint clashing of swords echoed through the halls as they were standing by the door of the alchemy lab. It felt like she was only gone for five minutes and it already seemed that the war was practically over. Was it really that quick or was she gone longer than she thought?

"Do you have a sword?" Altha asked with sly eyes, ready for action.

"It's in my room."

"Get it and go to the throne room– I saw the Queen go there. I would come with you, but I'm the only healer this castle has and I'm in the middle of healing five soldiers."

She nodded, getting ready to hurry for her weapon. "I understand. Also, if you find a dwarf–"

"I will keep him safe if I do. Now go!"

Sarah turned around and bolted for the stairs to the next top floor. She managed to get safely to her room to find the sheathed sword leaning against the nightstand where she had left it. She tied the belt around her waist, then hurried out the door– Heading straight to the stairs at the end of the hall. She was almost surprised how she had not ran into a single elf yet, but clearly they were not at this part of the castle. When she neared the throne room, she took a deep breath, and when she peeked around the corner, she found two elven soldiers guarding the entrance way. She pinned her back to the wall, took a deep breath, unsheathed her sword and ran out to them.

The soldiers quickly drew their swords just before she was about to strike and, just like Jareth had taught her, she foresaw their attacks. She dodged and blocked, but not wanting to waste time with them, she quickly hurried up the stairs with them on her heel. When she entered the throne room, she nearly skidded to a halt, finding a sight that made her heart skip a beat: Jareth on his knees with the redheaded Queen holding a sword to his throat.

The two guards ran in after her.

The Queen slowly raised her head to the distraction, giving a brief smirk in disbelief. "You've got to be joking…" Her yellow eyes were twinkling with a strange madness.

Sarah noticed the flare in Jareth's eyes as they locked on her, but ignored it. "Let him go, Nalth, and call off your men."

Judging by the fresh, deep cut on the Queen's left cheek; staining her light-grey skin. Sarah knew that Jareth managed to give her a good slice. She then glanced down at the two bodies of elves by her left. Clearly he had gotten to them, too…

The Queen gave her men a gesture with her head, making them sheath their swords and leave. She then gave a grim chuckle. "Now why should I when I'm so close to winning this kingdom?" She roughly jerked the blade into Jareth's neck, looked down at him, then back to her. "You're the champion of the Labyrinth, aren't you? What in the gods' names are you doing here?" She studied her, then smiled in puzzlement. "No. No, you didn't, Jareth." She looked down at the King again. "You were going to make a warrior out of her, weren't you? After you saved her, you kept her here and trained her?"

His jaw tightened, looking away in frustration, cursing the human and possibly himself.

The Queen leaned forward and quietly said, "After I kill you, I might have her work for me. But don't worry… I'll keep the lonely men away from her."

Sarah felt the rage radiate off of Jareth; trying to control himself with every muscle.

Ignoring the words, a thought ran through her mind.

She stood strongly and announced, "I challenge you to a duel, Nalth."

The King whipped his head to her, growing desperate, but the Queen held his hair tight. "Don't do it, Sarah. She's going to kill you! It's not worth it! Just listen to me for once and leave!"

She gripped her sword, not removing her eyes from the Elven Queen. Never had Jareth raised his voice to her and it almost scared her. Not because of his voice was raised, but the fact that he was truly terrified for her safety. "I'm not leaving, Jareth," she strongly replied.

She felt his stare burn into her as if mentally cursing her once more.

"Now," the Queen began, standing up straight, "what makes you think that I won't just kill him?"

Fear lurched in her heart as she drifted her gaze to the King, who was staring at her– begging her– to leave. She couldn't abandon him. She couldn't leave him to die and his kingdom fall. If Altha hadn't come for her, he would've died and all would be lost. When he told her that he would return for her, he wouldn't have. But now here she was and instead of fighting along side him, she was going to fight for his life and kingdom.

Nalth then looked at the both of them. "Oh, don't tell me…" She looked at Jareth. "You love her." She gave a brief smirk of disbelief. "You actually love her and by the look of things, she completely has your heart." She gave a small pause, then turned to the human. "I accept your challenge and Jareth will have no choice, but to stand aside because he is too honorable to interfere with a duel." She yanked on his hair, causing him to wince. "Am I right, Jareth?"

"Go to hell," he snarled, glaring at her.

"Of course I'm right." She withdrew her sword, roughly shoved him aside, and stepped forward to the woman. "So you are aware: The only reason I had Jareth where I did was because I defeated in him a match." She stood strong and ready. "You won't be any different, human."

Sarah readied her sword, took a deep breath– Mentally going through everything that Jareth had taught her in the past four days. She was nowhere close to being intermediate with a sword, but it was either succeed or die trying. She knew her chances were slim since Jareth, who is a professional swordsman, had lost… But she had to try.

The Queen came at her with a swing of full force.

Sarah managed to strongly block it, and then started slashing. She was almost taken aback by the Queen's skills as she tried to send in a blow, but kept getting blocked. Then when the human nearly stumbled over an elf's body, she recalled that Jareth had a brief upper hand before, and sure enough, Nalth took that brief advantage of sending in a stab, but Sarah jumped aside. She glanced at Jareth, who was standing on the sidelines, watching her with cold worry like a mentor wishing that he could remove his unprepared pupil from battle. But like Nalth had said: He was too honorable to interrupt a duel.

The woman noticed the opponent's attacks and pattern, allowing her to have a comeback– Seeing an opening for offense. Remembering what Jareth did with her, with a strong arm, she swatted the sword from the Queen's hand and pointed her sword at defeated opponent.

Nalth, panting for air, gave a scheming smile as blood continued to run down her cheek and her yellow eyes glinted. "Oh, Jareth taught you well, but not well enough." She jumped to the side, pulled Sarah by the wrist, unsheathed a dagger, and plunged it in the human's abdomen.

Sarah froze in chilling pain as her eyes widened and the sword slowly fell from her hand.

She didn't even hear Jareth call her name as she cringed in agony when the blade twisted deeper. Tears blurred her vision while she felt herself fall onto her back. She blinked the tears away, trying to make sense of what was happening, but the only she could feel was sickening pain. She didn't pay attention to the rough scuffle as her mind was swimming and body was heavy. She knew that she was stabbed, but what was going to happen now? Was she going to die? Was this how it was going to end? Dying in battle? At least Jareth was alive… Right?

It felt like time had stopped, until a person knelt beside her, but even then it felt like the world around them was frozen.

"Sarah?" The voice sounded desperate.

She knew it was Jareth, but she couldn't speak. She tried to take one glance at his beautiful, unique eyes, but he looked away before she could, then she felt pressure on her wound, causing more tears to rise. She inhaled deeply.

"Sarah. Stay with me. Don't close your eyes. You're going to be fine."

Panic.

Fear.

Worry.

He was trying so hard to stay calm.

He always tried to be strong…

She wanted to speak, but her body wouldn't let her. Her eyes were open, but she just kept seeing images of her family… It was true– One's life really do flash before their eyes. Fear lurched in her gut. She wasn't going to die, was she? She didn't want to die… She wasn't ready! She had a family and a career! And what about Jareth? He was going to blame himself! She couldn't die! Not like this…

Then she felt her body being picked up, but she didn't want to move. She just wanted to rest, but her panicking mind wouldn't let her.