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In A Time Of Winter	By : Jetredgirl Category: G through L > Labyrinth Views: 5645 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from Labyrinth or it's characters in any way. The Original Characters ARE mine, but I don't profit from them either :)

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Sarah was having lunch with the youngest children when it happened.

Karalinda was talking enthusiastically to her mother when she stopped. "Mama why is that lantern swaying?" She pointed.

Sarah turned to look and she opened her mouth to answer when she felt it.

The ground was moving, shifting.

"I don't know, love, come on." She swept the girl into her arms and grabbed her Jariel's hand, walking quickly.

As she was going down the stairs the shaking became more violent. Her daughter screamed in her ear. "Shush! We need to get out!" Sarah used her magic to transport them outside since it was far too dangerous to try and get out any other way.

She sat the two children on the ground. "Stay here! Mama has to go help people! Jariel hang on to your sister!"

Sarah went back into the castle and shooed any beings she came across outside. Not all had magic so she had to transport a few.

There was a crash behind her, making her jump. Turning she saw a large chunk of stone had fallen.

She rounded a corner and ran into Sherrana and her daughter. "Get out!" She told them as she passed.

"Your Majesty!" Sherryana yelled, but Sarah was already gone.
_

Harmony was in the tower room practicing magic when the whole thing began to sway. She ran down the steps, falling a few times, before giving up and disappearing, reappearing in her room to find Lily crawling under the bed. "What are you doing?" She grabbed her sister's leg. "We need to get out of here."

Lily was shaking. "What.. what's going on?" She asked her sister with wide eyes. "Is it dragons?"

"I don't know." She wrapped an arms around Lily's waist and they were outside.
_

Jareth had been about to step into Elsian's cell to begin his interrogation of the man when the world felt like it was turning upside down. He fell against the wall, losing his balance.

A guard helped him up. "Majesty?"

"I'm fine. Get out of here!" He yelled at the goblins. "Caolin!"

The other man was getting up across from him. "Grab the prisoner and meet me outside!"

Jareth was gone, off to find his family.

Caolin threw open the door. Elsian was holding onto the wall. "What..?"

"Shut up." Caolin told him, grabbing his arm and they transported.
_

As suddenly as the shaking had started, it stopped. Jareth found all his children but the twins in the garden.

"Where is Robbie and Perryn?" He asked his two eldest daughters, each holding a younger sibling. He reached out with magic and check them over, finding them sound and healthy, but fearful.

"I haven't seen them, Father." Lily was still shaking.

Jareth hugged her tight to calm her. "Alright. I need to go find them. Your mother?" He asked.

"She has been here and gone several times." Harmony answered. "She was helping people get out."

"I'm here." She said from behind him, with two goblins in tow. "Robbie and Perryn were outside already, they said they were going to visit Ludo and Didymus."

Jareth was there in front of her then, caressing her face checking her over with magic.

She squeezed his arms. "I'm fine. Just dirty. What on earth..well in the underground, happened? Do you have earthquakes here?"

"I have never experienced such an event before. The magic is stabilizing to normal ground movements." Jareth answered. "Is everyone out of the castle?"

"Doubtful, with as many people were in the castle. wait..where is Toby and Jewel?"

"Here, sis." Toby answered, limping up, leaning on Jewel who had their infant son in the other arm. "We were going to go for a walk and were near the door, so got out fast. I tripped and banged my knee."

"I told him to have Merrick look at it but he refused, wanting to make sure everyone else was okay first." Jewel interjected.

A guard ran up. "Majesties! There has been extensive damage to the family residence!"

The residence was the separate building Jareth had had built for his parents. His sister Jolena and her husband and son lived there as well.

"Watch them, please." Sarah said to Toby and Jewel, gesturing to the children nearby. She followed Jareth's lead and vanished from the garden.

First Jareth then Sarah in front of him appeared next to the large building. As soon as Sarah arrived she found herself being grabbed and pulled back. "Watch out!" Her husband said as a stone crashed down in front of them.

The damage was more than Sarah had expected, in fact, it looked on the verge of collapse, so many support columns had fallen.

"I came to help." Harmony announced as she appeared. "Oh my Gods. Is anyone still in there?"

"I don't know 'Mony." Sarah turned to her daughter. "We are going to have to try and use magic to stabilize the structure, you think, Jareth?"

"Agreed." He took his wife's hand. "Follow me." He closed his eyes and reached out to Sarah though their shared magic, adding it to his own. He did not notice until the power increased that his daughter had taken his other hand and both of her parents felt the threads of her magic intertwine with theirs. Technically the monarchs did not need to touch to join together magically, but it was something they always did automatically, because it felt right to be touching physically as well. Harmony's powerful magic was of course well known to them, but this was the very first time they could feel it in depth in comparison to their own.

Jareth took the weave and wrapped around the structures, the walls, the remaining columns, stairs, every inch of it, carefully tightening and weaving a web to hold all the pieces together. He could sense there were several living beings inside as of yet, and he needed to get them out.

When the web of magic is firmly in place he opened his eyes. "Now, let's go. It will not fall but tread carefully." He told Sarah and Harmony.

They went inside, stepping over fallen stone and debris. The stairs to the second floor had collapsed.

"Anyone on the first floor?" Sarah called.

"Majesties!" Came a voice from the area to the left of them. The picked through as fast as they could, to find two goblin servants huddled together under a leaning pillar. "Mah wife, she is hurt!"

He moved to show the other goblin clearly, whose leg was obviously broken in several places.

Sarah gingerly touched the she goblin's leg, and she growled in pain. "Hold on." Sarah said. She let the healing magic The Labyrinth gifted her with come forth, reaching in, willing bone to knit together. In a few minutes the small creature's leg was healed enough to move her with little effort. Goblins did not take much magic to heal. "Now help her outside. She will be sore for a few days. Are there others?"

"A few servants, Lady Illiana is upstairs, and Lady Jolena, and Sir Ivan the Second." The globin answered as he got his small wife up off the floor and they began to hobble out.

Sarah addressed her daughter. "Stay down here and look for anyone. Be careful!"

Jareth had already transported himself to the second floor, so Sarah was alone when she appeared on the shaky landing, being held up only by magic. She stepped carefully as the floor wobbled under her."Sarah!" Jareth yelled for her.

She moved as fast as she could towards her husband's voice.

THe small sitting room to hisp arents chambers was where she found him, picknighis mother up off the floor..

"Are you alright?" She asked her mother in law.

"Yes yes. A little shaken. My beautiful home is ruined." she whined. "Those builders must have done a shoddy job." She told Jareth.

Sarah bit her tongue.

"No one could have predicted this mother." Jareth answered. "The bulding will not fall as long as the magic holds it so get as much as you can and I will take you to the castle. Your old rooms there will suffice for now."

With a thought there were two large, open trunks waiting to be filled.

Just then Van came in, dusty and panting. "My mother...she is trapped."

"Where?" Sarah asked him urgently.

"In her bedchamber. Part of the wall.." He said, distressed.

The king and queen disappeared.

"Help me, Van." Illiana said. holding an armful of belongings.

"No." He said simply. He took off at a sprint to help Jareth and Sarah.
_

Jareth located his unconscious sister under the partially collapsed out wall.

He began flinging stone aside with magic, Sarah helping him. Van was behind them moving the pieces out of the way.

"Jolena!" Jareth cried as he got her uncovered.

Sarah was there then,. "She's alive. She much have been struck on the head by a stone." Noting the bloody gash on her head.

Jareth didn't have to say anything further. His wife had her hand laying on her forehead, weaving her magic before he could even say anything. He always marveled at the gift The Labyrinth had given her. It was the rarest of magic to have. only a handful of immortals had even been given it.

The only problem was is it exhausted her so quickly. Magic was infinite but the energy to use it was not, so she used only enough to stabilize the woman so she could be moved and Merrick could take over. There were too many that may need healing this day to expend it all one one or two.

"Is my mother okay?" Van asked from behind Sarah.

Jolena opened her eyes, looking up at her brother and sister-in-law. "What happened?"

"There was some sort of ground quake." Jareth answered. "You have been injured. Sarah healed you enough that we can move you to the meeting area in the gardens. I will be back momentarily." He scooped his sister up and was gone to the gardens.

"Father!" Harmony yelled form below. "Mother!"

Sarah climbed over the loose stone and grabbed her nephew's hand, pulling him along.

She got to the railing and looked down at her daughter. "Your father to Jolena to where the rest of the family is. What's wrong?"

"All clear down here There were a couple of elves in the kitchens, and another goblin. That's it."

Sarah nodded. "Good. go and take your cousin with you." She waved a hand and Van was downstairs before he could protest. "I'll be there in a few moments with your grandmother."

Sarah went back into Illiana's sitting room, where she had two full trunks of belongs and was sitting on them, impatient. "Where is my son?" She demanded as Sarah walked in.

"He took Jolena out of here. She was hurt. He will be back in a minute." Sarah answered, her mouth tight. She was not looking forward to living in the same home with this woman again, but it couldn't be helped.

"Is my daughter well?" The older woman asked.

"She will be. I have to conserve my energy and only heal enough to get people moved so that I can help as many as I can." Sarah replied.

"The family of the king comes first. Let the servants heal on their own." Jareth's mother said, crossing her arms.

"I can't do that." Sarah replied. Thankfully Jareth appeared in that moment.

"Are you ready mother? I need to make sure the castle is habitable before we move anything into it, so we have everyone in the gardens. Father is there waiting. He was relieved to hear you are unharmed."

"You are letting your wife heal servants?" Illiana asked him as she stood.

"I am not letting her do anything. She is Queen, my equal, and makes her own choices on who she helps. She was given the gift for a reason. Let us go." He answered.

He grabbed his mother's hand and looped his arm around Sarah's waist, and they left from the dangerously unstable home with Illiana's two trunks, appearing in the gardens.

When they were all gathered, finally together, Merrick with the help of Sarah, checked everyone for injuries. Except for a few cuts and scrapes, Jolena had been the worst injury of the family members. She had a terrible cut on her head and the healer thought she would be concussed for a few days, but otherwise she was fine and would recover thanks to Sarah.

Jolena's husband Ivan, who was on a diplomatic trip representing The Goblin Kingdom, was absent. They would send word.

"Oh Jastiel, it was terrifying!" Jareth's mother said in her typical overdramatic way."Our home is in ruins!"

"It can be rebuilt, wife. As long as everyone is alright that is all that matters." Jastiel answered tersely.

Sarah wondered sometimes why he had married the woman. She assumed it was arranged between their families as happened often in her adopted world, but she never asked. Jastiel was not one to speak much of his past and Sarah frankly had no desire to ask her mother-in-law.

Harmony stood to the side, quietly grateful for everyone's wellbeing but she couldn't help but notice Elsian. He was shackled, hands and feet chained together, and sitting on the ground guarded by several goblins. His hair had come loose of it's ponytail and he looked as if he need a bath and a good meal. glancing around she saw everyone was preoccupied so she slowly made her way to within a few feet of where he sat. He looked up and met her eyes.

She smiled at him. "Are you okay?"

He gave her a confused look, and nodded once. The guards looked at each other but said nothing. They were not told no one was supposed to talk to the prisoner.

"I mean, you didn't get hurt did you? If you did I can ask Merrick to take a look." She continued, trying to be friendly.

Elsian just keep giving her the puzzled stare, looking around to see if anyone was really watching. If this was a test.

"No. I am fine. Thank you. I'm not supposed to talk to you." He answered, a hint of sadness in his voice. "You should go before your father sees you."

Harmony found she enjoyed the timbre of his voice. It was pleasing. Soft and deep, but a hint of a lilt like so many from the Elf Kingdom that gave it a musical quality. His eyes were a stunning lavender, his hair silvery white. His cheekbones high, also a common trait in the underground, but there was something a bit different too. His chin was not lean, but strong and a bit square.

She should hate him, but something drew her to him. She sensed a deep loneliness that she understood. Though she had a large family, she had always felt different, that something indefinable made her somehow separate from the rest of her siblings, even her parents.

"If you really want.." She started to speak again.

"Just stop, Princess. I don't need your sympathy." He growled. "Go to your family."

Harmony was taken aback at his tone. Her mouth snapped shut and she backed away.

"I'm sorry, I just..."

He turned his head away and stared into the distance.

Her heart fell and she backed away, then turned and walked back to where her family was.
_

Sarah had seen her oldest daughter approach Elsian. A small lump of worry developed in the pit of her stomach.

She knew exactly what would happen if Jareth saw the obvious attraction Harmony had for the man.

It would Elsian's death sentence. Jareth was barely restraining himself as it was. Today because of the ground quake he was distracted for the moment, but what would happen the next day, or the day after?

She tried to observe without being noticed, and saw Elsian shun her after a few words, Harmony backed off, a touch wounded at the rejection. She walked away, head down.

Sarah breathed a sigh of relief, because Jareth was just returning from a cursory examination of the castle.

"Everyone!" He announced.

The murmuring immediately ceased.

"The castle is safe. Light damage to the south wing, a few fallen pillars. The repairs will take a day or two and finding permanent accommodations for all who reside within will not be necessary though some servants will be moved to the north wing for the time being. Caolin has the list and will post it in several places of who will be moved where. There *is* glass and broken stone and crockery all over, so please watch where you step and make sure no one, especially the young ones, pick up anything sharp. The royal wing is sound. Father, Mother, your rooms in the castle will be opened shortly. Jolena is being looked after by Merrick and will make a full recovery. Van, feel free to join your mother in the infirmary."

He turned and saw Sarah standing across the lawn. "My love?" He held out his hand.

She worked her way through the crowd and took it, his warm hand a comfort. She slipped an arm around his slim waist and whispered in his ear. "Thank the Gods it wasn't worse. What was that?"

"I have no idea. Sarah. I wish I could tell you. As soon as everyone is settled I am going to start looking for answers. I will have Justinia doing research in the library for any precedent, and see if I can get *IT* to talk to me. It has been silent for many years now. The magic is typically a stabilizing force and such events are unknown in recorded history as far as I have ever known about."

Sarah knew he was referring to The Labyrinth. Or rather, the guiding force behind it. The sentient spirit that resided in the maze, but was also part of the makeup of the underground itself. It had been strangely mute for far too long. Sarah had called out several times and was rebuffed. She assumed Jareth had been communicating, but now she knew she was mistaken.

Slowly they entered the castle and moved through the entryway into to throne room. As Jareth had said, everything was largely intact, but there was broken statuary and glass, fallen paintings, and bits of plaster and stone laying about.

Sarah swung her youngest child onto her hip, and Harmony picked up Jariel to keep him from touching anything dangerous. They did not linger but quickly went up the stairs, stepping over fallen debris to their private wing of the castle to get the children settled.

With an unspoken agreement, the king and queen parted, Jareth going to their rooms to check them over.

The nursery rooms were already being put to rights by industrious servants when they entered. Bria and Moirah took the children from Sarah and Harmony to settle them in so Sarah could check out the rest of her children's living spaces. Robbie and Perryn's shared rooms were just beginning to be cleaned, so the boys dove in and started helping the servants straighten everything up. Sarah was happy to see them helping, as she always tried to instill a bit of self reliance in them all. It was too easy to be complacent when you could, in theory, have others do every single thing for you.

That left Harmony and Lily's rooms. Sarah carefully opened the doors and went in. "Wait here." She motioned to her daughters, and did a walk through on her own.

She noted fallen furniture, a tipped over wardrobe, a few broken and damaged bits, but deemed it safe, so waved them in.

"How are we going to pick that up? It weighs a ton." Lily said when she saw the wardrobe.

"We can use magic for this, I think" Sarah answered. "I know we tell you not to use magic for frivolous things that you can do without it, but I would say this is a unique case, wouldn't you?"

Between the three they easily uprighted the wardrobe, but Sarah suggested they put the contents that had spilled out, clothes and accessories, back inside without magic. The two girls began straightening and hanging, folding and putting away.

A servant appeared and Sarah asked her to bring a broom and dustpan, which the servant did, and Sarah got to work sweeping up the broken bits, putting them into a cloth bag for disposal and recycling. Glass and stone could be reused. Glass melted down and stone recrafted.

"Would you like me to do that, Your Majesty?" The elf servant asked as she help set furniture upright.

"Nope. A little old fashioned physical labor does me good." Sarah answered as she worked. "I don't want to get complacent."

Her two daughters groaned. They had gotten many lectures on doing things for themselves from their mother over the years.

Sarah paused. "You scoff, but someday you'll be glad you can take care of ourselves without being waited on." She went back to her sweeping.

Just then Jareth appeared. "I know I'm going to regret saying this, but what do we have servants for, love?" He inquired playfully.

"Oh you." She replied, "Move out of my way please?" She tapped him on the foot with the broom.

He stepped aside and watched her work, shaking his head.

"If the Goblin Queen position is too much for you, I could use a chamber maid, the position comes with a rather fetching uniform." He gave her a leer.

"Jareth..not in front of the ghirls. You know they don't like that." She reminded him.

He turned to the two girls grimacing at each other. "I apologize...just forget I said that."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Used to it Father, but..ew."

Jareth chuckled then turned back to his wife. "I am going to The Heart in an attempt to seek The Labyrinth's guidance, or at least some sort of answer. I wanted to let you know in case you came looking for me. This may take a while."

"Alright. I'm about done here then will head down and check in on the kitchens. I need to know if we will need to replace current food supplies, and make sure everything is in working order. If I don't go there they will all be in my office filing paperwork and it's just easier to go down there myself. I'll send Sherryana to instruct the ogres down in the cellars to check the integrity of of the preserved food stores there."

"Thank you, precious." He leaned in and kissed Sarah's forehead. "If need be we can get by on the preserved food for a bit. I'll tell Caolin to have the water supplies checked as well. We need to make sure the wells haven't be compromised, and if any are, have them fixed post haste."

"The maze?" Sarah asked distractedly.

"Oh it is fine. Self repairing. I could set it on fire and have the entirety of the population go at it with hedge clippers and the next day it would look as it always does." Jareth said as he went to leave. He pivoted back. "Please be careful, all of you. I do not like what has happened here this day and I want my family safe."

Sarah felt his worry through their shared connection. "We'll be fine. You know me."

A lopsided grin appeared on his face. "Yes I do, which is why I said to watch yourself."

Sarah felt a smack on her backside. "Hey!" She turned to admonish her husband and he was already gone, a deep chuckle sounding in her ear for only her to hear.

She rolled her eyes and went back to her work. "That man."

She saw everyone else was stopped and looking at her smiling and trying to hide their laughter.

"Get back to work and quit gawking." She commanded, but was smiling back at them.

Everyone did, quietly laughing to themselves at the king and queen's antics.
_

Jareth took the long walk to the center of The Labyrinth. He needed no map or guide. and the hours long trek gave him a chance to clear his head. Ground quakes were common above. The magic of his realm was the stabilizing force that kept his world secure. Any physical movement of this plane of existence could not be a good sign. The feeling of dread within him he shielded from Sarah and anyone who might sense his unease.

A gloved hand found the stone that triggered a shifting wall, which revealed an ancient opening rarely used.

With a flick of his wrist, the wall shifted back behind him. He created a crystal and sent it to hover in front and slightly above him, to light the spiral stairway leading down under the maze.

It too a good hour to descend the stairs and weave through the tunnels that led to a circular cavern lit with tiny crystal bits embedded in the rock.

The beginning and the end of his kingdom lay here. in the middle of the circle, was a dias, and in the middle of the dias was an ornate box.

In the box was the heart. The heart of the kingdom, the maze, everything. A living crystal of blue and green that was the seed of The Labyrinth's, and his, power.

His hands smoothed over the top of the box, made of metals he could not name and embedded with jewels unknown even to him. For this box was crafted from the hands of the Gods themselves from the elements of the universe.

It was here on this spot, that The Gods chose to create their world, separate from the mortal world, to give their magical offspring a protected safe place to live.

Jareth kneeled slowly, paying respect to those that he answered to. His place in the world was a sacred one, his power a gift from them so that he was able to protect this place. Sarah had been his reward for serving well, a twin flame, a queen to share his life and world. They had been blessed with far more children that he could have ever possibly hoped for. He adored her and his family.

The Gods had been good to him.

"Labyrinth, Great Gods, What is happening here? There is something very wrong. I know it, I feel it. Beyond the ground quake, the sense of doom that overwhelms me, there is something more, deeper, darker. Will you speak to me?" He implored.

He knew he was being listened to. The air in the chamber was thick with power, it's weight heavy upon him as it blanketed the room. The low thrumming hum of the life force vibrating over his skin and through his body.

He closed his eyes and relaxed, waiting.

"My King."

Jareth's eyes snapped open and he brought his head up.

A woman stood there. The woman who was not really a woman, but the spirit of The Labyrinth and of the land itself. Gaia. The Great Mother.

"It has been a long time, My Lady." Jareth inclined his head.

"Yes. It has." She answered, smiling kindly. "Since the oldest child was an infant. Now she is grown."

"Harmony." Jareth acknowledged. "She is...quite special. They all are of course, but she is different."

"Agreed. She is different than the others. I will speak of that momentarily. About your questions."

She paused. "Yes, there are things, a darkness. To the Southeast lies the kingdom of the Trolls. They have brought forth something, in their foolishness."

Jareth felt anger rising. "What have they done!?" He rose. "The fucking trolls! I should have known. Why are they even allowed here?"

Gaia put her hands up. "Unfortunately Gods too have disagreements, must make compromises to achieve their goals. We could not leave them among the humans, but to simply kill them...well, the Underworld Gods would not agree to it. Trolls are of the darkness. They served their masters loyally and in turn were allowed a place had hope they would evolve and some have, but most have not. Vile creatures they are, malice and avarice their specialty. We are not allowed to interfere or it could cause strife among us. No one wants the Gods to go to war again."

Jareth's blood ran cold. The War of the Gods was legend now, far distant in the past. Before The Labyrinth and the times the realms were separated to keep peace.

"No, no one wants that." He agreed. "So we are on our own?"

Gaia smiled at him. "Not exactly. You have the girl."

The Goblin king's brow rose. "You mean my daughter?"

Gaia turned and walked around the circle as she spoke. "When your Queen came to me, I gave her a choice to stay or go. She chose to stay with you. I gave her her own gifts, and the child...well do you know how fragile such a thing is, my king? The new soul of an unborn child?"

"Yes, yes I do." Jareth answered. The unwanted memories causing a lump in his throat.

"So fragile that to survive such a traumatic event would be impossible. However, I saw an opportunity and I took it. I saw a chance to do something unique. Beyond anything that has ever been done before." The woman turned back to face the king. "A chance to create a being of mortal, of immortal, and of the Gods themselves."

"What have you done?" Jareth asked, not sure what she was getting at. "What did you do to my child?"

"Never fear, Jareth. She is biologically as she always would have been. Sarah gave her mortal genes, you the immortal genes, and to save her, I added myself. A sliver of my spirit I fused with hers, to keep her alive. She is blessed with a piece of the Gods themselves within her. Is that spectacular? She is unlike any being that has ever existed!"

Jareth was speechless. Yet, he always knew how powerful the girl was. But he was unsure what this meant for her.

"I really don't understand what you mean to say by telling me this. What will happen to her?"

Gaia stepped closer. "Whatever happens, The girl will be the solution. She will be the most effective weapon against the rising darkness, Jareth."

"I have trained her in magic myself since she was a small child. I can't prepare her for that. To wield the power of The Gods without being one? How could anyone be ready, be trained, for such a thing?" He asked.

"She will be fine, Jareth. She will know what to do when the time comes. All she has to do is trust in herself."

Jareth shook his head. "Are you serious? She is still a child. Just a girl! You cannot put this upon her shoulders!"

"Goblin King, your daughter is no child." The spirit of the maze countered. "She is physically mature, and it will not be much longer before she is make decisions about her position in the world. She is old enough to be betrothed, as well. I am not suggesting she should be, but she is developing her taste and has even found an attraction to someone. You refuse to see this because you are her father and as fathers tend to do, your children, especially your daughters, will always be younglings in your eyes. She has your wife's stubbornness, Jareth. You will not keep her cloistered much longer."

Jareth sputtered. "I do not keep her cloistered."

"You don't? You need to pay attention to how you shelter the girl, my king. This world is a difficult place. The rules your society lives by are harsh. She will have many enemies simply because she is YOUR child. Yet she remains innocent of all this. She is considered impure by many, tainted by human blood, does she know? Yes she may marry well due to her position as a princess, but do you think she will easily be accepted? Not unless she is very very powerful. She will have to earn 100 times the respect of her peers just to be thought of as equal in this world. What I have given her will help with that. If she became equal in the eyes of all, that will give her siblings more power as well."

Jareth glared at the spirit. He growled low in response. "My children will be safe. Always. I would rip the heart from anyone who make an attempt to harm them. You know this."

"Of course. Your rather..feral reputation is what protects them now. There will come a day when they will have to fight their own battles whether you are there or not. There will be a day when you and your bride may choose to retire and pass on your crowns. Or something, The Gods forbid, may happen to either one or both of you. You must be prepared for these things, Jareth. Even while they are still children. Don't be foolish enough to keep them from these things. As I have said, you have enemies. "

The Goblin King crossed his arms. "They would not dare."

Gaia scoffed. "They already are. The Trolls have done a foolish thing, and they have done so in a way, that your kingdom could be accused of aiding them. I will say no more, on that Jareth. Just know soon you will have to move against them and make a decisive blow, or you will have more to deal with than you could possibly imagine."

"What do you mean?"Jareth asked. "I demand to know!"

"The Gods' policy is not to interfere with the actions of your people. We cannot be seen as taking sides or as I have said, we ourselves will be at war. We must remain neutral. The rest do not know what I have done here, but I have a legitimate reason to protect The Labyrinth's future for the good of us all. That gives me something to base my decision to strengthen you daughter's power without consulting them as I require a Keeper regardless of what happens to you or Sarah. Your entire realm is in danger, and you were careless with your magic. Think upon this and you figure it out."

Jareth clenched his fists. "You cannot tell me or you will not?"

"I cannot." Gaia answered. "You are a smart man, Jareth. Smarter than most. It will not take long."

"And my daughter?" Jareth's brow rose.

"You will not be able to stop her, Jareth, once she chooses her path. You will have accept that. She has the right to take her own risks, and live with the consequences. Her place as a powerful force is predestined now. I must go, my king. I do not have the time or inclination to argue with you. Go and attend your duties. I am sure we will be speaking again soon."

Wait!" Jareth commended. The vision before him stopped her fading and said nothing, waiting for him to finish.

"Why has it been so long since you have answered me? You have rebuffed mine and Sarah's calls all this time. Why answer now?"

"Jareth," She answered, sounding slightly exasperated she even had to reply. "You had to learn to seek counsel with your wife, and she in turn had to learn the same. I cannot make your decisions for you. You are wise monarchs but you must learn from your choices, your mistakes and your triumphs. If I were to give you all the answers, What need would I have for you here? Your marriage has brought you much maturity and thoughtfulness you sorely lacked before. Not so brash and reckless anymore. She was so young, that it was best for her to not get attached to having me as some sort of human style therapist to help solve her problems. You are much stronger rulers when you can trust your own decisions, not feel you have to have my approval, when you rely on each other. You know I will let you know if something occurs I take issue with."

"I can understand your motives." He answered, bowing. "Still I believe there were times when your input would have been appropriate."

"I will answer when I feel it is necessary. No more, no less. You do not command me, Goblin King." She smirked at him. She always admired his boldness even when admonishing him. "Now, I must go. We will speak again soon as
I have said already. Of this I am certain. I will call upon you when it is prudent to do so."

The woman faded away as did the light, leaving Jareth is near total darkness, just the sparkling on the walls left to guide his way to the stairs.

The Goblin King took a deep breath, trying to calm his frustration, before walking through the tunnels, climbing the stairs and winding his way through The Labyrinth back to the castle.

:Shock: Yes finally. See I promised I wasn't abandoning it! It will be finished hopefully in 2016!
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In A Time Of Winter