*I know its been months and I do hope you will forgive me. Thank you again for your continued support*
**I do not Own Labyrinth or any of its characters**
Chapter Thirteen
A king with only a Kingdom
Sarah woke to warmth and something heavy laying across her middle. For the space of a few heart beats she felt nothing but content in the calming warmth wrapped around her. Light was on her face, forcing sleep away as it brightened. Sarah blinked from the light as the rising sun crept its way through the trees. Across the remains of the campfire, day was beginning in the forest.
Behind her, a warm breath sighed across her shoulder and the weight along her middle tightened. Heart in her throat Sarah looked first at the arm holding her tight and then slowly turned her head ever so slightly and looked into the peacefully sleeping face of the Goblin King.
Heat flushed her face and her stomach went first into a tight knot and then flooded with a million butterfly's. It was suddenly hard to breath. What should she do? What did this mean, something or nothing?
Turning again back toward the remains of the fire Sarah tried to calm down. He just fell asleep and got... cuddly in the night? Swallowing against her too tight throat Sarah shut her eyes and tried to calm down.
Jareth took a deep breath and Sarah went completely still. She felt him lean in closer to her neck and a shiver that had nothing to do with the cool morning air skittered down her spine. Her first instinct was to turn and curl into his embrace but she was frozen by fear and instead made sure to not move, pretend she was asleep and hoped he moved away quickly before she could make a fool of herself.
This means nothing, its just because its cold... She told herself as Jareth shifted again.
"I'm a fool..." He sighed, his arm moved lifting off her, "Too close," he whispered as he moved away from her.
The cold shock of air against her back was nothing compared to the heat inside her own body. Behind her the sounds of him riffling in their bag filled the quiet morning. Willing her heart to calm Sarah remained where she was as she considered his whispered words.
He moved around the small fire. Sarah took his distraction as a chance to "wake up" without being obvious, she hoped.
Rolling over Sarah made a show of stretching and yawning. "Mornin," she mumbled rubbing at her arms.
Jareth only nodded her way as he continued his task of putting away their gear.
"So, um..." She began trying to think of something to say that would hide what she heard him say and the feelings it caused. "Today's the day?" she asked remembering that they should be at the heart soon.
Jareth nodded again saying nothing.
"So its almost done right?"
"Hardly," Jareth sighed, "the gateway might be guarded, either on this side or the other. I have no idea what awaits on the other side. My kingdom could be in ruin, or nothing changed. I may find my subjects abandoned me for their new queen,"
"What? They wouldn't do that!" She insisted in defense of her friends. Though she knew Hoggle complained a lot, he was loyal like Ludo, same with Didymus and she was willing to bet his goblins as well.
"Optimistic as ever." Jareth shook his head. "We will approach the heart with extreme caution and I will trust none."
"Well I will trust my friends," Sarah insisted as she combed up her hair into a mess of a bun. "All of them," she added laying a hand on his arm.
He said nothing, his eyes avoided hers and he simply stood and kicked dirt onto the remains of the fire.
Sarah too remained quiet at his mood, he seemed very low in sprits, depressed even. Did he really think his subjects would abandon him? Following him as he walk into the trees Sarah considered the chances he might be right. Sure Hoggle complained but he was loyal to his king. The goblins too, from what she had seen as well as been told by her friends, loved their king.
Surely he worried for no reason? The idea cad her confidence wavering and as the day stretched silently along Sarah soon found it difficult to keep her own spirits up.
The sun was near its highest point, filtering down through branches that were much closer than they had been in the past few days. The thickening forest made walking in a strait line almost impossible. Sarah was glad Jareth knew where he was going because she had long lost her sense of direction.
"Any sign of trouble?" Sarah wondered as he stopped for a moment to get a drink.
"Nothing," Shaking his head Jareth looked back at her. "As far as I can tell,"
"Maybe your plan did work after all?" she suggested.
Jareth sighed, "Perhaps, or they will be at the heart waiting."
Sarah frowned, hoping he wasn't right. She had no idea what might be waiting but based off their last two attackers it couldn't be good. Their conversation that morning lingered in her mind. Surely some of his subjects would be coming to his aid? Why did he think he was so unwanted and unloved in his own kingdom?
"Jareth?" she began, he didn't respond but that didn't stop her. "Were you born to rule the goblins?" He still didn't answer so she tried to clarify. "Is your crown hereditary or did you gain it somehow?"
Jareth didn't stop walking, but he sighed heavily. "It was given to me."
"Given?" Sarah perked up at that. "someone just gave you a kingdom?"
Jareth paused and looked over his shoulder at her, a small smile played at his mouth "I was the only Fae in more than a millennia that could rule the Labyrinth and its subjects. They called it a gift but I didn't really have the choice to say no."
"Who has the power to gift an entire kingdom?" She asked, mind full of the idea of such a gift.
"Within my world there are, well, more than a few kingdoms. Fae range from both what you would call completely Evil and dark to pure and good, each side holds a large amount of power but only one is linked to yours."
"The Labyrinth?" she supplied
"Yes," he nodded then began walking again.
"Well, what led to you being given an entire kingdom?" She asked, hurrying to his side genuinely curious. "Who's was it before you?"
Jareth shrugged, "It changed hands a few times, for a while the high court ruled it but the chaos of Goblins was more than they could deal with. Then the dark court took over for a time, but they were too evil and the goblins began to suffer, not to mention your world, as the wild hunt would enter your world for sport. Though I never did enter your world at that time," he said pausing to take a drink from their canteen, "I was quite young in those days, when the dark court had control of the Labyrinth."
"What court do you belong too?" Sarah wondered, at first she assumed the dark one, but then he wasn't really that evil, or dark. He had a kindness to him that ruled out that to her, and yet she would never go so far as to say he was pure good either. There was a wild darkness in him as well, a purely wicked streak that liked to mess with people.
Jareth sighed and those blue eyes looked up at her, a deep pain hidden in them. "My mother kept me in the High court with her but I never really fit in." He smiled again, this one was small and strained but he shook his head as if to forget something. "You see, my Mother is high court but my father was not."
He started walking again. "My father was a part of the wild hunt. Some legends call them the unseelie court. Mother foolishly thought he was different, somehow he convinced her that he was and I was the end result. I am neither high court nor am I of the dark court. I am somehow in the middle, I am what you might call wild magic. I have the great misfortune of being one of the few who can bend Chaos to my will." He stopped again. "I belong to none of the courts, I was given the labyrinth because it fit who I was. I have no court only a kingdom." Jareth ran a hand through his mess of wild hair and shook his head, "It was the only place I fit and the humans only seemed to suffer when any other court ruled the gate into your world."
Sarah was wrapped up in his words, the small insight into who and what he was. Looking at his face though, she knew it hurt him, he was alone and his Kingdom was all he had. And while being alone was horrible, so too was being somewhere you didn't fit in either. He might not see that way but she knew, from personal experience what it felt like to not belong anywhere. Sarah smiled despite the look on his face and nodded "Makes sense." she said.
Jareth slowed his steps and blinked a few times in apparent shock, "Why?"
"Well I wouldn't call you evil," at his snort of amusement she shook her head. "I wouldn't, not anymore, now that I know you." He shook his head again and turned to walk away but Sarah took his hand, a little surprised by her own actions but sure he needed to hear this, "You aren't evil or good all the time, it makes sense to me. You're like we all are, humans I mean, are both good and bad and so it makes sense that you are the ruler of the Labyrinth, The Goblin king."
Looking down at their joined hands he shrugged "Perhaps," he admitted. "Both courts tried to keep sway over me though."
"Well, its a one of a kind kingdom right? Maybe they regret giving it too you?" Offering up a smile she let his hand go despite how empty her own hand felt without it's warmth.
Jareth stared at her for a long moment, "You might be right..." he whispered as his eyes widened.
"What?" she wondered at his sudden change.
"The plot against me may have come from one of them. An attempt to regain access to your world."
"The dark court?" She guessed.
Jareth chewed on his lip, "While the more likely, I wouldn't put this past the High court either." He admitted.
"Would your parents be involved?" She wondered.
Pain washed over his face, "No," he said shortly. "Impossible."
"Are you sure?" she pressed, "I mean most parents make mistakes if they think its in the Childs best interest."
Jareth shook his head again, "It's not possible because they are both dead." he kept up the pace not looking behind him.
Sarah could almost feel her heart break for him, "Oh, Jareth I," she began.
"It's been hundreds of years Sarah," he shook his head. "Its of little consequence now."
Sarah didn't respond. What could she say? Her parents were divorced but she still had both of them. To loose even one parent, she couldn't imagine such pain.
But Jareth raised a finger to his lips he shook his head. "We are close."
Sarah nodded, he clearly didn't want to talk about it.
"We need to be silent, approach with caution. My enemies likely know what I plan and will be waiting for me..." Looking down at her, his face pinched in worry.
Sarah smiled bravely and with a nod took his hand and gave it a small squeeze.
Jareth relaxed some, though he was far from being at ease he seemed to take comfort in her gesture.
No more words passed between them as they moved closer to the end of this part of the adventure.
The path became thick enough that their hands could no longer remain linked. Sarah missed the warm feeling of safety his larger hand offered. His eyes were intent and she felt sure he was seeking anything that might be a problem as they drew ever closer to the heart that she knew was ahead.
Moments past, and then minuets but before too long Jareth stopped.
Standing at his side Sarah felt her breath taken at the sight before them. "Its beautiful." Sarah whispered. The tree was huge, and ancient and completely alone. A large clearing surrounded the tree, like a king on a throne it sat apart from the rest of the tree's. A few flowers and low shrubs were all that stood between them and the ancient tree.
A serene quiet surrounded them. Sarah scanned the space, looking for anything that would mean a threat but she couldn't detect anything. "Nothing here, maybe on the other side?" Sarah suggested turning back toward him.
Jareth shook his head, "I don't trust it."
Sarah nodded, heart speeding up, in fear or anticipation she wasn't sure, "Okay, so what's the plan?"
"I will go, make a gate open and we will wait and see if something comes through" Jareth said, "You remain hidden, if nothing seems off..." Jareth shook his head. "Sarah this is," he paused, a frown creased his brow. "This may take more than I have to give, if I am weakened and we are attacked again, I..."
"We could wait another day?," She suggested, "Give you more time to regain your strength?"
Jareth seemed to consider it, his eyes scanning the clearing. "I fear any further delay." He admitted.
"Okay, yea," Sarah agreed "Well I can hide." Sarah smiled up at him. "Stay back and will watch your back, you know if anything happens. It will be fine."
"Ever the optimist." He sighed. "This is a huge risk." He continued as he shook his head, "Once I start I will not be able to stop until its done. If we are attacked while I work..."
"Jareth," Sarah took his hand in hers. "It will work out, I have faith in you." She offered, and though she was terrified it wasn't a lie for his benefit. Sarah really did have faith that Jareth would succeed, that her friends would be on the other side, ready to help. He called her overly optimistic but that was okay, she would be as brave as he needed. "You need to get back your kingdom. You need to get back home, you can't stay here." She added for good measure.
"Very well." he nodded, moving from her side he approached the tree.
As he walked Sarah searched the ground around her, finding a decent sized branch she lifted it, a meager protection but it made her feel a little better. Jareth stood before the tree he placed both hands against the tree, Sarah remained crouched in the shrubs. The sense of magic grew slowly. Now that she knew its touch she could feel it build like a wave. She watched his back, his hair wild, the slight glow around his entire body. Before him the tree creaked and groaned. Beneath her Sarah could feel the earth shake.
"So much power..." Sarah whispered, awe struck by the way it felt, like the air was warm honey, thick and heavy.
Behind her, the air suddenly felt like the complete opposite. Ice filled her veins and a cold wind whispered around her. Branch at the ready Sarah turned. Nothing, the forest looked completely normal.
Just the wind? Sarah wondered, turning back to Jareth her heart froze within her chest.
There was something standing next to him, its shape humanoid but it was smoky, moving like a liquid in the air.
Jareth held his hands against the tree, but his shoulders were beginning to slouch.
"Jareth!" Sarah yelled jumping from her cover. "Get away from him!"
Whatever it was moved, smoothly it left his side and almost solidified into a humanoid form. "You.." it whispered. Its voice sent a shiver down Sarah's spine.
"Sarah.." Jareth said, voice strained but unmoving. He couldn't help, this would all be up to her. He did warn her he wouldn't be able to stop once he started.
So, she had to keep this thing away till he was done. Easy enough... she thought.
The thing charged at her, Sarah only just dodging it as she jumped to the side.
Cold tendrils of the thing brushed against her hand. A cry escaped her at its icy touch. Like frost against a window pane the cold began to move up her arm.
Hissing against the pain Sarah watched the thing circle the clearing, heading for Jareth again.
"Oh no you don't." she called running to get between them she threw her branch at it. The thing dissipated for a moment as the bit of wood went through it, only to reform a moment later.
Sarah grimaced, Okay, can't hurt it but that slowed it, she thought as she scanned the ground for more objects that might be thrown. Tossing anything she could get her hands on she kept the thing at bay but her supply was painfully small to begin with. She couldn't keep at it forever.
Jareth made a grunting noise and the air shimmered around him as there was a pulse of power that she felt right down to her toes. Throwing any rock branch or even dirt she could get her hands on Sarah felt rather than saw when it happened.
Light filled the clearing, brighter than the sun it consumed every shadow. Before her the thing seemed to waver in the light. "No..." It hissed.
Knowing he must have succeeded Sarah turned to cheer at him but the call died on her lips. Laying before a large glowing portal that swirled with magic Jareth slumped into the ground.
Her moment of shock almost cost her as the thing charged again. This time it was intent on her. Out of rocks Sarah ducked, covering her face she waited for it to hit.
A roar cut through the air as the impact she expected never hit. Blinking Sarah dared to look up. A friends ugly little face face met hers from a few feet away. "Hoggle?" she breathed.
"I knew it was you!" he said though his face was pinched in an angry glare, "I'll never forgive 'im." He grumped a wetness in his eyes Hoggle choked back tears. "No time Sarah, run!" Hoggle insisted pointing to Jareth, "The king!"
Shocked to see him but too grateful to question why or how Sarah ran to Jareth's side, noting in passing that the thing was busy fighting with a very angry Ludo who didn't seem to have trouble grappling with the thing. Happiness flooded her at the sight of another friend but she couldn't stop now.
In a moment Sarah was at Jareth's side. He was out cold again. "Too much," Sarah complained. "You used too much!" Around her Rocks began flying, coming from everywhere as Ludo began calling.
"My King?!" rang from within the portal before her.
Sarah's heart soared, she knew that voice! "Didymus?" She called back.
"Sarah?" came back at her, voice heavy with concern. "Where is the King?" he asked.
"He's here but he, he's not awake!" Sarah called back, "What do I do?" she begged needing direction.
"He needs must return, so he will heal!" The Knight called. "Get him through," he instructed.
Sarah nodded, it made sense. "Come on, get up," she begged trying to heave him up.
Ludo was heading her way while his rocks flew through the air, keeping the thing in a constant state of mist.
"Jump Sarah!" Hoggle yelled as he dodged rocks too, running right at her from the opposite side.
Jareth blinked at her slowly, "Come on," she begged again glad for the small sign he might be waking. He struggled to rise, though he leaned heavily against her they stood before a swirling portal together.
Fear clenched her heart for a moment as they stood on the brink but she took a deep breath, calling up every ounce of bravery she muster Sarah jumped back into the Underground.
**End**
***Up next, Returned at last***