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Summer Storms and Imaginary Kings	By : Jetredgirl Category: G through L > Labyrinth Views: 5486 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from Labyrinth or it's characters but hey if someone wants to sign them over to me i'll take 'em!

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Thank you all for reading! So excited to see the read counter going up and up! Muah! Okay, here we go, into the fray!
Chapter 10
The next day dawned cloudy. A storm was coming in. Jareth sat at his desk, looking out his window. Storms were most unusual here. Odd, he thought. Not unheard of, but odd.
The morning had been uneventful, he and Sarah had forgone breakfast with his family and dined alone in their rooms. He knew his parents wouldn't be happy about it, but he needed to spend some private time with his wife.
Sarah seemed tired again. This worried him a little. It was most likely the emotional strain of the last few days, but he didn't like it at all.
Caolin was working quietly, filing papers, looking over grievances to see if they needed to be acted upon further, and giving the king his space. He sensed Jareth was a bit bothered by something.
He had known Jareth since they were very young. They had met during training, and fought together in the armies.

Caolin with chestnut hair that fell in waves he kept pulled back, brown eyes, and quiet demeanor was opposite of Jareth in many ways, while Jareth was slender, all sinew and lean muscle, Caolin was thickly built and muscular.

When they were young Jareth was the trickster, with everyone drawn to him, and Caolin was a silent observer of the goings on.

Jareth saved his life in that long ago war, and he declared then and there he would serve him however he could. He admired the man immensely, and knew the burden his power was at times. Very few knew how powerful Jareth was, in fact Caolin suspected Jareth himself did not know what the extent of his power might be.

It was no surprise to him The Labyrinth had chosen him to be The Goblin King. When he had askeed Caolin to come with him as his assistant, his second, he did not hesitate. There was no one he would rather stand beside.

He watched his king lose his heart to the mortal girl, as surprised as Jareth was. He couldn't imagine the man would ever want to settle on one woman, much less a mortal...but he did. He watched as Jareth would sit quietly and knew he was thinking of the girl with the green eyes. When she finally called him, Caolin was thrilled for his friend and sovereign, to find real love, his soul mate.
He thoughts turned to Sherryana, and he smiled. Soon he planned on asking for permission to court her. He knew theirs was not the consuming passion of the king and queen, but a quieter sort of affection. He thought he could grow to really love her, given time. That was more than most immortals could say. They could have a good life together here. Maybe if they were lucky have a child or two of their own someday.
Jareth broke the silence. "What are you grinning about there, Caolin?"
Caoliin looked up. "Oh..I apologize My Lord, my mind seemed to drift for a you have need of me?"
Jareth smirked. He had a feeling his friend was thinking of Sarah's assistant.
"No, it's fine, I am thinking of taking a walk through The Labyrinth today, check on things. Anything to get out of this dreary castle and dreary mood. I wonder what this storm is about as well. Strange."
"Yes it is Your Majesty. Will The Queen be joining you?" Caolin asked.
"I think not." Jareth answered. "She is a bit tired today, I recommended to her she stay close to the castle in case she needed Merrik take a look at her. I may have him do so tomorrow, either way. No matter what she says."
Caolin agreed. "Yes, My lord."
Sarah sat in a chair in her rooms, staring out unseeing at the cloudy sky. She couldn't remember seeing more than a few puffy clouds here before, much less the stormy gray clouds there was today. She had risen and bathed, dressed in simple brown breeches, boots, and a loose tan tunic.

She didn't have much work , nothing Sherryana couldn't take care of and file away. The past few days wore her down a bit. Plus, something was just off, like there was an axe hanging silently over her head, waiting to fall, and why was she so tired? She wondered.

Ugh. She knew eventually she would have to do as Jareth wished and have the healer look at her.
Jareth sent her a message that he would be outside the castle today, checking on things around The Labyrinth proper. for some reason, she was really wishing he had stayed close today.
Maybe she would make her way to the library and find a book to read.
The Healer Perryn was restless, there was something right at the edges of his brain poking at him. Since yesterday he felt he missed a large clue to the mystery of who had poisoned the queen and why. And it felt like the entire world was holding its' breath, waiting for something to happen.

This feeling had started last evening when he had dined with the king's family. They had been talking, not about anything of importance, and someone had said something that has started bothering him. He wished he knew what it was.
Sarah had been in the library for about an hour when the healer's apprentice, Deela burst into the room.
"Your Majesty!" She cried.
Sarah stood up immediately alarmed. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"The Lady Justinia, she is in a great deal of pain, I am afraid she may be losing the babe. She is asking for you, can you come?" Deela said in a rush.
"Oh no..of course!" They took off at a quick pace, Sarah following Deela.
They quickly made their way to the rooms Justinia and her husband had been given and went in.
The girl was unconscious on the bed. sweating profusely.
Sarah gasped and ran to the bed. "Justinia, can you hear me? Are you alright? Deela, go get Merrik, as fast as you can."
She noticed Justinia's gray eyed husband Vernon standing at the end of the bed watching her quietly. Glaring at her, really.
"What are you waiting for? Do you want her to lose your child, to die? Get going!"
The man just stood there saying nothing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perryn kept going over and over the night before, trying to figure out what it was that was bothering him so.

He recalled the conversation.

"The hunt was a fine one, Your Majesty, the game birds living here have the most tender meat." The man Ivan had said. "Don't you agree, Sir Vernon?"

"Yes, of course, quite nice, Your Majesty."

"Thank you Ivan, Vernon, I'm glad you had an enjoyable outing."
Vernon. Perryn thought. He had not heard such a name since...then something clicked.
"Perryn ran to the door and threw it open. "I Must speak with His Majesty immediately, it is a matter of life and death, The Queen's life!" He yelled at the guards standing there.
"Healer Perryn we cannot let you wander the castle looking for His Majesty." One of the guards said. "Besides, we received word his is out within the maze. You will have to wait. We will let you know when..."
Perryn shoved the guards out of the way with all his might and ran for it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vernon finally spoke. "She will be fine. Lady Sarah, Deela gave her a small sleeping enchantment, and added a little extra to make her sweat a bit. For appearances."
Sarah's mouth dropped open. "What? Why? Why would she do that?"
"Because I commanded her to." Vernon said. "If I commanded her to, she would slit her throat, even if it would cost her her life. But as the girl carries my offspring I'd prefer she live at least long enough to provide me with my heir. Although, I will in all likelihood have to end her immediately after the birth. Deela has always been the most loyal of my kin. Of course, she is the only one of my kin left, since your husband slaughtered them all.
Sarah felt her apprehension rising. Something was very very wrong here. She sent a silent request for assistance towards her husband through their bond. It slammed back into her, knocking her to the floor.
"Ah ah ah, Your Majesty. I have the room warded." Vernon told her.
Deela went to the girl on the floor and yanked her up roughly. "What now, Master?"
"Now I bind her, and her magic, then we get her back to my castle as quickly as possible."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perryn was running for his life, for all their lives, the guards weren't far behind him, but adrenalin was keeping him going. He made it to the king's study just as Caolin had stepped out. The guards yelling "Sir Caolin, stop him!"
Caolin, using his significant physical strength, took the brunt of the healer's slamming into him whit only a step or two backwards.
"What on in all the worlds is going on healer?! What have you done?!" He bellowed loudly, putting the man into a headlock.
Perryn saw stars before his eyes, the large man was squeezing the breath out of him. "Must...must..talk to..His Majesty..it's important..." he said trying to catch his breath in between words.
Caolin loosened his arm and called the guards over to hold man. "What is going on?" He demanded.
Perryn bent over a little gasping. "I know who it is, His Majesty's brother-in-law, Vernon..he carries a name of the royal family of The Golden Kingdom..it has to be him!"
"Are you sure of this, healer?" Caolin asked.
"Yes!" Perryn said. We must hurry!"
"Hold him here." Caolin told the guards. "I will fetch the King."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarah had been bound hands and feet, and Vernon had performed some sort of spell that had cut her off from her magic. Then they had placed her on the bed next to Justinia, who was starting to wake up.
"What are you doing with us? Where are you taking us?" Sarah asked the two moving about.
Vernon and Deela were gathering some things together, and readying a transport spell she could see.
"My home, girl. Shut your mouth." Vernon said. "Mortals disgust me. too bad I need you to achieve my goals. I would happily take your life, and leave you for Jareth to find. how I would enjoy watching him suffer. All in good time."
"Who are you really?" She asked him.
He turned and walked to the bed. He grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her to him. "I am Prince Vergul, you twit. Heir to the throne to The Golden Kingdom.

This is my oldest brother's daughter, born not long before Jareth and his army destroyed my family, my people, and my home. With you, I can bring it all back. Now do yourself a favor and refrain from speaking further, or I will have to punish you for disobeying me."

Sarah eyes felt like they were about to pop out of her head, not just from the pressure being place on her neck, but because of what had just been revealed to her.
Justinia eyes opened. "Wha...what's going on..Sarah..why are you here?"
Vernon, now revealed to be Vergul, turned to his wife. "Relax dear, we will be leaving for the portal momentarily. We are going home."
"What? What portal? Vernon what are you going on about? Why is The Queen bound?" She asked, confused.
The man standing above her snarled. "Justinia, I will tell you what I told her. Shut your mouth, or I will have Deela sew it shut. I'm tired of explaining myself to you two."
The redhead shrunk back from him, shocked at his tone and his harsh words.
"We will be leaving in a very few minutes, as soon as our magic is at full effect. You both won't mind if I borrow some of your energy, will you? Never mind, don't answer, The sound of both of your voices irritates me."
Sarah, and Justinia looked at each other, and said nothing. Sarah tried desperately to break the bonds around her magic before the spell was at full power.
A crack of thunder echoed across the kingdom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caolin finally located Jareth near the chair of the Wise Man. "My Lord! You must come!"
Jareth, who had been already startled by the loud thunderclap, turned, alarmed at Caolin's voice. "What is it? Is it Sarah, is she alright?"
"The Healer Perryn has told me your brother in law Vernon, he believes, is who is behind the attack on Sarah. We must arrest him immediately." Caolin informed him.
"Let us go, now." Jareth said. They transported to the castle.
Jareth appeared in the throne room in his full armor. "Where is Sarah?" He asked loudly.
"Sire, the healer Deela, came and told her your sister was in some distress, she went to her." A guard said.
"Justinia?" Jareth asked.
"Yes, I believe so My Lord."
"DAMN IT ALL!" Jareth yelled. "Guards, follow me now! My wife is in danger!"
They transported to Justinia's quarters, only to hit a wall of magic and drop just outside the doors.
The king was enraged. "Who DARE ward me out of rooms in my own castle!" Pounding on the door. "Sarah! Sarah are you in there?!"
All inside heard the commotion outside the doors, Vergul said "Damn..Almost there! hold them out for another 30 seconds Deela!"
The Sarah started to scream. "JARETH! It's Vernon! and Deela! Hurry please!"
Deela felt the wards beginning to unravel. She knew they would not hold much longer against The Goblin King's power.
Jareth, was pushing against the doors with his body and his magic, ripping through the magical weaves surrounding the doors. He had heard Sarah's screams. "I'm coming!" Straining against them..he felt the last threads falling away.
It's time!" Vergul said, He threw Sarah over his shoulder and gestured for Deela to gather up Justinia. Justinia was severely weakened so she could not fight the stronger woman. Sarah was thrashing against him, kicking and hitting him with her bound limbs trying to get him to drop her, but he was so very strong with evil magic it wasn't working. Vegrul felt the last of the ward slipping way. as he screamed "NOW!"
Jareth, Caolin, and the guards burst through the door in time to see them disappear in an explosion of black smoke and fire.
Jareth fell to his knees. "NOOOO! Sarah!"
Seconds later The four, Vergul, Deel, Justinia, and Sarah dropped appeared in another cloud of smoke and fire near a copse of trees, feet from the hidden portal to The Dead Kingdom.
Vergul dropped Sarah hard on the ground. "You stupid mortal girl! How dare you strike me!""
He slapped her harder this time. She glared murderously at him. "If you EVER unbind me, you scum sucking jerk, I will kick you in the balls so hard they will lodge in your nostrils."
He smiled at her, she could see his glamour falling away. Instead of gray eyes, both his and Deela's were now black as night.
"You are a feisty one, Your Majesty. I'm sure Jareth enjoyed your rather ardent passions. Who knows, maybe I will take a taste myself. Now be quiet. It will take a few minutes to open the portal."
He spoke to the woman behind him "Deela, how is she faring?" Meaning Justinia.
"She is weak, but she made it. I would advise we hurry. Elspeth and Elsian should have everything ready when we get there."
Sarah's mouth dropped open again. "Elspeth and Elsian? They are in on this too?"
"Oh yes, vindictive little one, that Elspeth. She administered my poison gladly at Talystra, you know. adopted by the barren King and Queen of the Elves. Let's just say, I commandeered them and left them in the Elf Kingdom. Queen Lillian came across them and fell in love with the golden haired children. Which of course is what I wanted her to do.
"I had originally wanted Elspeth to marry Jareth and become a Keeper, and acquire the power that way, but what do you know? My mother's prophecy came true. The Goblin King lost his head over a mortal girl.""
"We are ready Master." Deela said.
"Shall we go then? Deela, carry the mortal. I will carry my lovely wife." Vergul instructed her.
Deela pick Sarah up and swung her over her own shoulder. Sarah was amazed how strong these two were. She kept trying to break though their magical bonds, trying to reach Jareth. Hot tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she felt the pull of the portal sucking her in.
The Goblin King was frantic and incensed.. After the traitorous Vernon and Deela had disappeared with their captives, they had all rushed to the throne room.
Jareth's family was gathered there, as the guards were instructed to bring them.
He faced his family. "Did any of you know of this? Vernon's plans to take my wife? I warn you, you may be my blood, but I will kill any one of you on the spot for this treason!"
Jastiel stepped forward. "No Jareth, we did not. He fooled us as well. Remember he not only has your wife but my daughter. You may think me cold, but I would give my life for any one of my children, to keep them from harm. Even you, my son."
Just then Caolin and two more guards drug Perryn into the room. Jareth turned his ire onto the older man.
"You Perryn, your apprentice was in on this. How could you not know this?" He snapped. He walked to the healer and grabbed him by the neck, pulling him close. "Perryn, if anything happens to my wife, someone will have to pay. Who do you think it should be?"

Caolin stepped up just at that moment. "My Lord, I do not believe this man has anything to do with this. He came to me, after all, as soon as he realized Vernon was a name from his kingdom."
"Then we know where we must go. Perryn, you will take us to the portal. I will unbind your magic, and we will follow your lead. If you betray me, I will have to head on a stake outside my castle." Jareth said. "Caolin, gather the royal guards. We must leave as soon as possible."
Jareth conjured his two swords strapped to his back, and a short dagger which is stuck in his boot.
His father approached him. "I will go too Jareth. We can leave Ivan here with your mother and sisters for protection. you will have need of my skills as well. After all who taught you?"
Jareth said nothing, just looked at him, then gave him a slight nod.
Illiana and her two daughters stood silently by, Jewel crying openly. Sherryana took hold of her hand and squeezed.
"It will be okay, Jewel, Sarah is strong, she will fight with every fiber of her being, for herself and your sister."
She let go and walked to Caolin who was strapping weapons upon himself. "Take care, Caolin, I would be most...upset if something happened to you as well."
Caolin stopped what he was doing, and reached and grabbed her hand. "I will, Sherryana, I promise, we will all return, with the Queen and Justinia."
Jareth looked around and said to all. "Are we ready? Perryn come here."
The healer walk to the king, facing him. Jareth lifted a hand towards him and closed his eyes. Immediately Perryn felt his magic flood through him like a wave.
"You take the lead Perryn." The king told him, bristling.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Perryn closed his eyes and concentrated, weaving his magic to take him to the portal outside The Dead Kingdom. He felt The king reach out with his magic and latch on to his, and pulling the rest with him.
Over a matter of 2 breaths, they all disappeared, leaving those in the throne room with all their fear and worry at what would happen to their loved ones.
Moments later they appeared near the same spot the other had appeared less than an hour earlier.
Perryn, Then Jareth, Jastiel, followed by Caolin and lastly the goblin warrior guards.
Caolin asked."Your Majesty, do you feel that?"
Jareth stopped and observe a moment. "Yes, forbidden magic. Who are these people really? Do you know Perryn?"
"I am certain Vernon is one of the royal family." Perryan answered immediately. "My Lord, He has to be. his name has the marker of King Vergas. He must be one of his sons. I do not know how Deela comes into this though."
Jareth hissed through his teeth. Blast! He thought. He thought they had gotten them all in the war. Evil vile creatures.
"They will die now, I will make sure of it." Jareth said to the rest. "Let us be off, through the portal."
He felt the mark of a ward, woven over it. Reaching out with his power, he snapped the threads of magic one by one.
"They will feel you breaking through the wards." Caolin said.
"Of course they will, no matter, They will soon feel my sword as I shove it though their bodies."
As soon as it was done, they party went carefully through, reaching out looking for anything amiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarah was tired and scared.
After they had went through the portal, she was shocked, The land they were in was all blacks and grays, dead twisted trees, ash covered the ground, nothing was alive. She knew now why they called it dead. it really was. After a while They had let her down and undid her feet so she could walk, but Deela kept a tight hold on her.
They had transported again, this time withing a few hundred yards from a pile of rubble that Vernon/Vergul called his castle.
"Lovely isn't it, You you see See what your beloved husband did? He killed everyone and everything. My entire family, save Deela and Myself. I thought she was dead too. I found her covered in her parents blood."
Sarah gave him a withering look. "He told me why too. You had become evil, sending a magical plague upon your own people! You killed most of them before they even acted. No need to lie to me."
He grabbed the girl by her face, tightening his grip on her jaw. "You have quite the tongue on you. Maybe I should cut it out, to prevent further annoyances. Then again, I think I would miss hearing your screams for your husband as I do with you what I will. They are here, you know, I felt them come through, maybe a hour or two behind us."
Sarah sagged with relief, she had wondered if Jareth would be able to find them.
"Don't get your hopes up, mortal. I was counting on Jareth coming for you. You see, my first act when I acquire the power The Labyrinth holds through you, is to kill him and whomever he brought with him."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So far, it was quiet. The only sounds where their footsteps, breathing. Nothing lived. Jareth knew this of course. but it was still very disturbing experience.
He turned to the rest. "I do not know what will happen. I want to all to swear to me. No matter what you will make sure Sarah makes it back to The Goblin Kingdom. One of us has to survive, and I prefer it be her, given the choice."
He took Caolin and his father aside. "You know what you have to do, if I become corrupted."
They nodded. They could not allow such an evil to grab a hold of a Keeper. To spread through this world and possibly any other.
He would have to do the same for any of them. It was also slowly eating at him, as they made their way and the ruined castle came into view, that he did not get a chance to tell Sarah what would happen, what could happen.
Fear crawled around his insides, ripping at his soul. Praying to the gods, he did not have to...He gulped. No, she is fine. Scared, but fine, I will find her in time, I cannot do it. She will fight. It could not, would not take her.
They got closer, and they could see candles and torches were burning inside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vergul and Deela made their way to the lowest level hauling Sarah and Justinia with them. They were the dungeons at one time, but now the safest place to stay here. the walls were solid, the roof not crumbling in like the rest of the castle.
Finally they came to a large room with 2 long tables and a few chairs sitting around and a couple of cots.
"Ahh..finally. we have arrived." Vergul declared.
He laid Justinia gently on a one of the cots, noticing she was very pale.
"Deela, check on my wife. While you are at it once you have Sarah restrained on the other cot, check on her as well, I want to make sure she is healthy, and she hadn't been feeling well the past few days."
Deela did as she was told. Sarah was tied to a cot, she fought Deela tooth and nail from touching her, squirming about trying to avoid her hands. She seemed alright though, so she moved on to the other prone, pale girl.
"Master, Justinia is very weak and ill. This trip has been hard on her, especially since she is with child."
"Well heal her..isn't that what I have you for?" Vergul said. "What of Her Majesty?"
"She seems fine, I only did a cursory check but nothing is amiss. She was thrashing to much to be able to be more thorough. I am not sure how much magic I should use on Justinia, sometimes it is detrimental to the fetus."
"Just.. boost her up a bit, we only need her to make it a few more months anyway. Long enough for the child to survive outside the womb, then we can take it and be done with her."
"You're sick!" Sarah screamed at him from the cot "Using an innocent woman to plant your seed in her, then taking her life when she gives birth?"
He stomped over to the cot, smiling down at the queen. "Jealous, my dear? Maybe once your husband is dead, I will plant an heir in you too."
Sarah did the only thing she could think of, she spit in his face "Don't you ever touch me you evil bastard."
Vergul hit her again, this time so hard it made her dizzy and her ears rang. He watched the hand print blossom on the girls pale skin.
"There. I touched you, what are you going to do about it?" He said, smiling wider. "Lay there and be quiet."
He turned back to Deela. "Where are Elspeth and Elsian?"
"Gathering the supplies, Master" She answered.
Sarah's cheek was throbbing and she tasted blood inside her mouth but tried to ignore it.
"Supplies for what? What are you going to do with me?" She pleaded.
Vergul turned back to Sarah, his eyes blacker still. "Fine, I will tell you, what does it matter now. You are a Keeper Sarah. A conduit for the single greatest powerful entity known in all the worlds. I am going to get that power, using you to do it.

Then with a little help of a spell I've perfected over the last 3,000 years, I will do the one thing no magical being has ever done. I will bring back the dead. My kingdom will rise once more, and we will make them all pay for what the did here."
"Oh God." She said, her fear rising to new heights.
"Exactly, girl, I will be as a god here then. and rule the entire realm, and eventually any other realm I choose. Even your pitiful mortal world, that is hardly worth ruling, but your race will make wonderful slaves and breeders for us here."
Sarah was silent as she digested this news. Aboveground? Her family? Everyone she ever knew, slaves to monsters like this one. She could not let that happen, she had to find away to get loose and kill him.
Just then Elpeth and Elsian came into the room out of breath. Elsian spoke first. "We must hurry they will be here before long, maybe 20 minutes at the most."
"Do we have all of the supplies? Then let's get to work." He told them all.
Sarah's cot was only a foot or so away from Justinia's. Sarah looked at her to see if she was alright. To her surprise, her eyes were open and pleading, full of pain, and not just from whatever illness or injury she was dealing with, but from being betrayed so fully by her husband.
Sarah told her quietly "It will be alright, just hang in there okay? They will be here soon."
Sarah knew the other woman was not their target, so she figured she, at least would have a chance to get away.
Justinia just nodded and closed her eyes.
Sarah had an idea. She scooted inch by inch, as the other four people were doing whatever they were doing at one of the tables were concentrated on their tasks, she was able to slide the cot closer to the other woman.
"Justinia"she whispered. "You aren't tied down, if you can somehow untie one side, I can do the rest. I know you are weak, but try."
Just then Deela turned, Sarah quickly recovered her prone position. The apprentice narrowed her eyes, but didn't seem to hear what she had been doing.
She turned back to grinding some sort of herb in her mortar and pestle in preparation for the spell.
Justina reached over to where Sarah's arm was tied to the the cot, weakly pulling on the ropes. It seemed to be getting looser, but she didn't have enough strength to give it the good tug it needed.
Sarah sighed. "It's okay, just least we tried."
The two men them moved Sarah into the center of the room, and they didn't get a chance to try again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside Jareth, Jastiel, Caolin, Perryn and the guards approached the ruins, and started looking for the way in. Perryn was trying to remember exactly where it was.
Jastiel stopped for a moment suddenly. "There are more than 2 magic users here, besides my daughter and your wife. Also Justinia's presence is very weak. We need to hurry son, can you feel Sarah's energy yet?"
Jareth reached out to the place Sarah usually was, and..nothing But there was something else, some other presence, unlike anything he had ever experienced, he could not pinpoint what it was but it was something that inexplicably leading him towards her. It didn't feel evil or threatening, just there like a beacon of soft light, and he knew it was attached to his wife, and as long as it was there, she was too.
"No, I cannot, she is still invisible to me, but somehow I still know she is alive." He said to his father.
Just at that time Perryn called "I found it!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elsian and Vergul moved the cot with Sarah in to the center of the room. She looked at each of them with angry eyes.
"Elspeth, Elsian, why are you doing this? You have a good life in the Elf Kingdom, why throw it away to follow this bastard into hell?"
Elspeth leared at her. "Simple, he saved us when we were orphaned, and trained us well. We were placed in a position so that the King and Queen of the Elf Kingdom would find us. I was going to marry Jareth and become a Keeper myself, but things didn't quite work out that way. So here we are."
"What happened to your real parents?"
"Dead. Good riddance too, simpering fools. Vergul killed them." She smugly told her.
Vergul turned to them all. "Good, everything is ready. Shall we begin?"
Sarah closed her eyes, and pushed at her magical bonds with all her might.
Vergul, holding some sort of old book, began chanting.
Sarah felt cold, then hot, then felt a white light slamming through her body. She screamed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jaret heard the scream coming down the first stairway. "Sarah!" He cried. Taking off at a run. Caolin stopped him. "Look, Your Majesty, What in all the worlds is that?"
A black mist was coming towards them near the bottom of the stairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The white of The Labyrinth was coursing through Sarah's body..Burning her, freezing her making her gasp with pain and fear. What was happening to her?
She opened her eyes and and say Vergul, pulling the light from her, into him, and still chanting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More mists were gathering, taking shape, making a hissing sound. Jareth and his party brought their swords up, waiting to see what they would do. One of the lunged at them, and Caolin drove his sword through it. It burst into a blue fireball and collapsed within itself.

The men looked at each other. "Well, men, I guess we fight through them." Caolin said to the rest.
Jareth reached out and felt them with his magic, and jumped back. "do not let them touch you, they are the black souls of those who perished here. Somehow, they are resurrecting them."
Jasteil said behind his son. "How is that possible? No magic can wake the dead!"
"Well, apparently they have found a way." Jareth said grimly. "Using the black magic created in this kingdom ages ago."
Jareth felt something else then a pulse of something very familiar. "The Labyrinth!. The are using Sarah to tap into it! We MUST hurry! We can't let the blackness get inside of her!"
With that they leapt forward, taking out the mists as the worked there was down flights of stone stairs.

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Sarah was whimpering on the cot, trying to fight the magic coming through her. She coming, but she could not turn her head towards the doorway. She fought the heaviness in her head to try. and as she was trying she heard his voice. she screamed again with the last of her strength. "JARETH!" Then everything went black.
Jareth burst through the doorway, seeing his brother-in-law, Deela, and the twins standing around Sarah laid out on a cot. Vernon was chanting. He felt the power he was was creating through the forbidden magic, and the magic of The Labyrinth bursting into the room hit him like cold fire.
Not hesitating he swung his sword At Deela and she screeched. "Master!"
Vergul turned and smiled at The Goblin King. " It's too late, Jareth, The Labyrinth is mine now. " With that he reached out his the power he now held, and threw the king across the room into a wall.
Perryn had been right behind Jareth. "How could you do this Deela! Your vows! To take life is a death sentence for a healer!"
Deela observed the older man for a moment before speaking. "I have not taken life, Perryn. Nor do I plan to. Regardless, I am not bound to your laws anymore. I am first and foremost bound to the law of my kingdom and my Master.. Now, If you sit quietly in the corner, he may let you live another day. I know you are from here, so we would prefer to not have to kill you." Then she turned away from him, expecting him to back away.
Perryn said nothing, he knew the woman was too far gone to the other side looked to the ceiling and said under his breath. "Gods forgive me, I ask that this not be in vain." Taking the knife he had sheathed in his sleeve, he shoved it into the woman's back.
He feel the burning start deep inside, the pain driving him to the floor. He writhed for a moment, then was still, the knife dropping from his hand, still covered in Deela's blood.
Deela screamed. "MASTER!" Then swayed and fell.
Vergul simply stepped over her body and looked at the other men gathered at the door.
"Well, what will you do now? You King and Queen are quite incapacitated."
Caolin stepped forward, 2 swords raised. "I will kill you. don't you even care one of your own is injured possibly dead?"
The man was obviously insane, laughing crazily at Caolin's words."Her? She is replaceable. She was merely a means to an end."
Meanwhile the twins had been standing silently by, wondering what to do, in reality, without direction they were just sniveling little minions. Vergul had not given them further instructions. They knew they did not want to die, either way, and it seemed they mattered little to Vergul.
If he could let Deela be hurt or killed with so little care, they were nothing to him. They were near the other doorway so Elsian pulled his sister slowly towards it, thinking the could simply make a run for it, and get away.
As they slipped around the corner Elspeth felt a sword at her back. Jastiel and several of the guards had made their way around the other side, to box them in.
Jastiel said quietly. "Going somewhere?"
Elspeth turned slowly her eyes wide with fear."I'm not..I mean we didn't.."
Jastiel grabbed the girl by the throat. "Don't lie to me, girl. You knew exactly what you were doing. No matter what happens this day, you will pay for your actions."
Jareth's head was swimming from smacking in the stone. but he was slowly rising trying to shake it off. He had fallen right behind the cot his sister was laying on, so he pulled himself up to his knees and he laid his hand on her arm. She turned and looked at him, eyes full of tears. "I am sorry my brother. I did not know."
Jareth nodded at her, moving his head hurt, and he could feel blood flowing down the side of his face.
Just then he head a voice in his head. "My Keeper, can you hear me?"
He stilled. "I hear you, Labyrinth" He did not not need to speak out loud, he was able to communicate with the entity through his thoughts.
"What is this vile thing that has access to my power?" It asked.
"He is a member of the royal family of The Golden Kingdom, Labyrinth." He replied.
"I feel his blackness, Goblin King, He must be stopped." He heard in his head.
"What am I to do, Labyrinth." Jareth asked. Knowing the answer and not want to even thinking of it.
"You know what you have to do. Jareth." It answered quietly.
Jareth felt despair take hold. He did know, and he knew once he did it, he may as well ask to die as well.
He stood, and saw his Father and several guards at the second doorway, holding Elspeth and Elsian. He met his father's eyes. He knew his father could see the raw pain in his.
He saw Vernon facing Caolin, and Perryn on the floor, Probably dead, as well as his former apprentice, barely moving and bleeding profusely.
He saw all this in a matter of seconds, and the decision was made.
"Vernon!" He yelled, stalking across the room. Vernon/Vergul turned, startled that the king was conscious, and as soon as he did, Caolin was on him.
Caolin swung he sword and Vergul stopped it with his magic, then the guards came at him, he was able to hold them all at bay with the power he had stolen from the Labyrinth. He could also see more black mists coming down the stairs behind them, and knew he felt his victory within his fingers.
What could not see, was Jareth standing over Sarah's form on the cot. What he did not comprehend was the king pulling the dagger out of his boot.
Caolin, seeing what The Goblin King was doing, charged the crazed Vergul again, to distract him, motioning to the guard behind him to join in.
The king kneeled, and with tears running down his face, touch Sarah's cheek, and kissed her lips. "I love you, always. I am sorry, sorry I ever brought you here, sorry I put you through this for nothing. But I'm not sorry I loved you, and will be forever humbled that you loved me...it won't be long before I join you, but first, I vow all who caused this will pay for what they have done."
His voice thick with emotion, his throat so tight he was almost unable to get out the words.
With those words, he drove his dagger down...severing Vernon from The Labyrinth's power, and ripping his own heart out of it's chest. He felt a gaping hole inside where Sarah had once been. not just the block from before but her total absence in this world. He gasped at the sensation. He had not realized how in such a short time he had come to rely so heavily on her warmth to make him whole.
Through his pain and rage, he managed to stand up, still watching his beloved's blood seep out of her. He hand clenching into fists as hot tears streamed unchecked down his face, mixing wit the blood drying from the wound on this temple.
"NOOOOOO!" Vergul yelled. feeling the power disappear. He fell to the floor. Caolin picked him up, holding a sword at his throat. Saying nothing, too saddened and angry to speak.
Caolin didn't notice the man had picked up the knife Perryn has stabbed Deela with. He swung the knife and managed to swipe Caolin along the neck and shoulder, causing the big man's hold to loosen enough that he wrenched himself away, trying to scrabble to his feet to run.
Unfortunately, The goblin warriors blocked the way, and The Goblin King grabbed him from behind. He pulled the flailing man close, and spoke into his ear, wrapping his arm around his neck in an iron grip.
"You do realize, Vernon, I am about to carve you and your helpers into a million pieces and burn each to cinders...slowly, I will take you to the brink of death, Then I will heal you, and do it again, and again, for the rest of of my life, because I will never be satisfied that you have paid enough for what you have done. Then just before I die, My last act will be to make sure you all go to Hades and he can torture you for the rest eternity. I know the man, he enjoys torture, and he owes me a favor."
Vergul struggled to sneer. "Do what you will Goblin King, I still got my revenge. Your beloved wife is dead, and soon enough you will wither away and join her, even if it takes a few years. You now can experience losing everything, as I have."
Jareth turned the man to face him. The man shrunk back a little at seeing The Goblin King's face. His eyes were no longer cool blue, but burning red with fiery anger and he trembling with restraint from tearing the man to pieces that very second, he was like a wild beast stalking it's prey. Vergul knew The Goblin King would make good on his threats. He felt the enraged king reach out with his power and wrap him in magical bonds, constricting like a snake.
"Your power is rather weak, compared to mine, without stealing something that does not belong to you to help it along, isn't it?" Jareth was losing any thread of restraint remaining.
Jareth's gloved hand closed around his neck, Vergul's breath slowly leaving him as he felt his windpipe being crushed.
Behind them they heard Jastiel's voice. "Jareth! Wait! Look!"
I promise I am most of the way done with 11. I'm a planning to have it to you all by Monday at the latest, hopefully sooner.
- 9
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- 11
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Summer Storms and Imaginary Kings