A/N: Thank you to everyone who takes the time to give my story a read, this is my first Labyrinth fanfiction, and I was nervous as all get out about posting it. There isn't going to a set schedule for me to upload the chapters as I have work and real-life issues to deal with.

Please leave a review if you have time, I would love the feedback. And without further ado…

I do not own anything except any OC characters that I choose to add into the story. Thank you.

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XVIII.

Cian was the first to speak while everyone was tasting their food. "So brother-mine, are you quite ready for the impending company?" He asked, tearing off a large hunk of meat from the legbone he was holding.

Jareth zeroed in his gaze on Cian and glared at him, which went unnoticed.

Before Jareth could answer, the low timbre of the raven-haired, violet-eyed man named Lorcan, traveled across the table. "Almost. The preparations are almost complete for the King's Tournament. We are currently awaiting all of the challengers. Though we have yet to receive a response from the King's Champion on whether she will be competing as well." He said, his gaze resting on Sarah, who looked up at the mention of her title.

Jareth proceeded to stare daggers at him as well.

"King's tournament? Compete? Whatever for?" Sarah asked, bewildered, her hand pausing meer inches as she reached for her goblet.

Avalina chimed in, her eyes glittering with amusement as she noted Jareth's souring expression. "Oh, for the King's hand of course. And all the amenities included. I would say the most coveted being named Goblin Queen of course." She exclaimed, narrowly dodging a bread roll being mysteriously launched in her direction.

Queen Eibhilín nodded after she took a sip from her own goblet before turning to Sarah, "I trust you will be staking your claim on your invitation to the tournament. Surely the one who bested the King himself has a better chance than most." She replied, helping herself to same strange-looking root vegetables.

"And with it being so close to Beltane and all. Who knows what challenges that await in the almighty Labyrinth? But it will surely be a tournament to remember, right my dearest." Brei added, giving a soft smile to Cian.

Cian nodded, "Aye, my darling. Though I worry for my brother-mine. Dealing with this much femininity might be the death of him. Thirteen women in one wing of the castle, I would not wish that upon my worst enemy." He remarked, not lifting his eyes from his plate as he continued to eat.

Sarah's head was reeling. Tournament? For Jareth's hand? To be Queen? The Labyrinth was involved? Why would Beltane be so important? The thoughts were quicker than Sarah could keep up with as she tried to listen. Finally, Sarah did something any sane person would do when they were bombarded with extremely sensitive information while under a mass amount of duress, she fainted, tipping sideways out of her chair.

Luckily, Jareth felt her tension, which had been nagging at the base of his skull for the past few minutes, and he quickly stood and gracefully caught Sarah, pulling her up into his arms. "Enough." He stated, his voice hard. His mismatched eyes were icy as he surveyed the rest of the group. "Look what you have done! You should be ashamed of yourselves. I was going to speak with her about all of this after the meal was done, on my own time, in my own way. It seems that you all could only give a damn about yourselves and could not look past your own turned-up noses to see how incredibly uncomfortable you were making her. I will be excusing the both of us for the rest of evening and most likely most of the morning as well. Hopefully, you will use this time to ponder on what you have done and how you might choose to apologize to her and I. Goodnight." And with a swish of Jareth's hand, both him and Sarah disappeared in a shower of iridescent glitter.

After a moment of silence, Avalina's voice broke the tension. "Well, I for one think that went very well, don't you?" She asked, her voice full of amusement, as she sipped from her goblet.

The others murmured their agreements as they continued their supper.

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Jareth appeared in the Queen's chambers sitting room with Sarah held tightly in his arms. His adrenaline was flowing as he was still quite furious about how his family acted, and he could feel the exhaustion trying to overtake him for using his powers before he was fully recuperated, but Sarah was more important right now. He repositioned her in his arms while he opened the bedchamber door. Jareth waltzed in and strode over to the bed, placing Sarah down gently. He leaned against the bedpost at the end nearest Sarah, before gripping the bridge on his eyes again. He summoned a crystal, whispered softly to it and blew it out of his hand like a bubble. It floated towards the wall and melted seamlessly, disappearing from view. Jareth turned and sat on the edge of the bed, placing his head in his hands, his strength waning. His voice was low when he spoke, "I apologize about my family. I should have known that they would act like that. It was not my intention to subject you to their selfishness." He said quietly.

"Should you not wait for the lady to be awake to apologize? I fear your words might fall of deaf ears at the moment." A calm voice replied.

Jareth's head rose and he met gazes with Ayden. Jareth sighed deeply and placed his head back into his hands.

Ayden smiled gently and walked slowly over to the bed, placing a hand on Jareth's shoulder. "What happened, old friend?" He asked, his voice still calm.

"My family overwhelmed her exactly as I thought they would. That is why I did not want her to meet them. I knew something such as this would happen. I prayed that somehow it would be different, but alas I was disappointed, and my hope displaced." Jareth's voice filtered through his hands, dripping with a multitude of emotions. "Would you please check her over?" He asked, sitting up and turning his gaze towards Sarah, who looked as though she was just asleep.

Ayden nodded, "Lady Sarah has not had enough time to recuperate from her ordeal. And it seems neither have you. As it stands, I should put both of you on bedrest, but…" He paused as he regarded Jareth's hard expression, "I know that you have important responsibilities ahead that cannot be delayed. Not with Beltane almost upon us." Ayden said, releasing Jareth and walking over to Sarah, examining her quickly with his magic. Without looking up, he continued speaking, "She has to decide tomorrow. It is a part tournament and the magic woven into all of this. You are lucky that the Labyrinth has chosen an Overseer that knows how to bend the rules slightly. I can give both of you until after breakfast, but no longer, my friend." He replied as he dusted his hands on his robes and came to stand by Jareth again, a gentle smile still on his face. "Please try to explain the situation to Lady Sarah. She will understand. I am sure of it. Be honest. But first, rest. She will sleep until morning; her body will reset itself." Ayden replied, turning to walk out.

Before he let Ayden take a few steps, Jareth spoke, which made Ayden pause and look back. "I have a question for you, old friend."

"I might have an answer." Ayden replied.

Jareth explained the situation while in his study and the emotions that he felt and voice that passed through his mind, commenting on how much it sounded like Sarah and then took a breath before continuing. "And then at supper, I felt this overwhelming tension at the base of my neck, and it was like instinct took over when Sarah fainted. Almost as if I knew she was going to pass out before she did. That is how I knew how to catch her. Can you explain any of that, old friend?" He asked, genuinely curious.

Ayden tilted his head in thought before he responded, "You have awoken forces that are beyond your control, my friend. Who knows what that will do to you and her? I am quite certain that you both have a bond at the moment. I will do some more research. Meanwhile you should tell her about that as well. Don't leave out anything or she may never trust you again." Ayden made his way over to the bedchamber door, "Rest. I will check on you both in morning after breakfast." He replied, closing the bedchamber door behind him, effectively shutting everyone else out until Jareth or Sarah opened it again.

Jareth sighed deeply after the door was closed. He then conjured himself a decent sized chaise lounge and placed it near Sarah's side of the bed. He magically changed her dress to a nightgown, not touching her undergarments. After he tucked her in under the covers, he situated himself on the chaise lounge and conjured himself a throw blanket, which he placed over himself. He couldn't bear the thought of making Sarah more upset with him. He would tell her everything. About what happened after she left, the bond, the tournament, everything. He would leave nothing out. Jareth's feelings for Sarah hadn't changed. In the time she had been gone, which had been a long 15 years, not once did he stop thinking of her. But he wasn't sure that Sarah felt the same, and Jareth sure as hell wasn't going to ask her. His brain buzzed with all the thoughts and questions he would ask her tomorrow as his eyes began to drift shut. Maybe just this once, things would work out for him. Maybe, he hoped, no…he 'wished'. Jareth's last thoughts were of Sarah's peaceful face across from him on the bed as he succumbed to his exhaustion.