The Spring of the Eternal

(Sequel to The Goblin Kingdom)

A Labyrinth fanfiction

By Bionca Femme

Disclaimer: I don't own the Labyrinth. I only own the OC's I have created and the story in which they reside.

Chapter 1: The Sword of Legend and a kiss

Brick stepped off the 'Sea Nymph' and onto the familiar sandy shore of his beloved home. Finally after a month he'd made his way back from the hell that was the United States.

He stayed behind in that abandoned warehouse in hopes that he could find and kill the would-be assassin of his King and friend, Jareth the Goblin King. Fortunately, Brick had accomplished the task quickly and with ease. Unfortunately, he was left alone in a Country of pissed off, angry and murderous humans. Humans who were quickly wising up to the way the world around them had changed. His right hand involuntarily stole its way up to his left shoulder and stroked the scar he'd received from a silver knife two weeks ago. He winced as there was a twinge in his shoulder. "Fucking humans," he muttered.

He was met at the docks by a familiar sight, Grey Wolf, Moon Shadow and Midnight Hunter (who was wearing a silly grin) were waiting for him. He assumed that it would have been Grey Wolf or even Moon Shadow that would have been the first to greet him. But Midnight Hunter stepped forth and embraced him in a bone crushing hug. "Its about damn time you got back!" he pulled away and shoved Brick playfully when he noted the confused look upon his face. "Oh don't look at me like that, its been dull around here without you."

Bricks eyebrows shot up and he smirked, "Dull? For the love of Kermit man, you live in the fiery forest!"

"Not anymore," Midnight Hunter's grin spread from ear to ear. "We're living in the castle now. Queen's orders."

Bricks eyebrows shot up and he looked to Grey Wolf for an explanation.

Grey Wolf stepped forward and hugged Brick. Though he had bulked up quite a bit since being turned, Grey Wolf was still a massive fellow and it was reflected in the strength of the embrace he'd given his newly returned clansmen. Brick let out an audible 'oof' before Grey Wolf released him long enough to appraise him. "You've not been eating young pup," he commented on Bricks slightly thinner frame.

"Look here old man, I've been eating. Just not regularly. It doesn't matter anyway. I'm home now and I'm certain that Midnight Hunters little scullery maid can find me something up at the Castle to sate my appetite," he threw a wink at the lithe werewolf.

"She'd eat you alive mate. Believe you me, she's a spitfire that one. A terror with a mop bucket and a scrub brush," he smirked at Brick.

Moon Shadow stepped forward then and clasped hands with Brick. "We've missed you Black Wolf."

Brick nodded and then turned back to Grey Wolf his body going rigid as if bracing himself for bad news. "How is he?" he asked.

Not having to ask whom Brick was referring to Grey Wolf smiled. "His Majesty is well, for the most part. He is still a bit weak. Although, the healer expects a full recovery it may be near the end of the Queen's pregnancy, before he'll be able to move around as he used to without being drained."

Brick relaxed but only marginally. "The pregnancy is going well?"

Grey Wolf's eyes gained an uncharacteristic twinkle. "It is. Although, between his Majesty's tendency to brood and Queen Sarah's alternating between crying and shouting, no one has been sleeping well for the last month. Danny has taken to bunking in the guard quarters with us just to get away," he said chuckling.

Midnight Hunter clapped Brick on the back. "Come on Black Wolf, let's you cleaned up and feed your sorry arse."

Brick smiled, perhaps the first genuine smile of happiness in weeks. "Lead the way my dear fellow!" he grinned.

Brick's eyes regained focus as he snapped out of the memory of his home coming. He looked about as if finally remembering where he was. His eyes focused on the King whom was sitting in a very un-kingly fashion in a chair. By all rights, such a position shouldn't have been comfortable in that particular chair but Jareth made it seem like the most natural position. Sarah was concentrating on Grey Wolf in a pose that always made Brick think seriously about choosing a new career. She listened and recorded information. Mentally cataloging it away for future use. Not only information but observations about the speaker of said information. She would make a mental profile of every person that crossed her path. Later on when she needed it she would use what she learned to her advantage. She used personal weaknesses like tools. He had known this before he even met her. As in the case with Hoggle. He was a reluctant partner when she was first introduced to this land and its King. However, within the first five or six hours of knowing him, (with very little interaction) she had surmised that he had a weakness for jewelry and used it to manipulate him.

Right now she was listening to Grey Wolf go over the mission he was about to drag Brick on. Not that he didn't want Sarah to live forever. Though he wasn't entirely convinced that the lifespan of a shape shifter was relatively short compared to Jareths'. Little to no literature existed on them in the kingdom's libraries nor in the great libraries of Atlantis. He and Moon Shadow had just come back from their second trip to the island and Brick had barely escaped with his sanity. What with Minos's abrupt fixation with randomly launching into love ballads at inappropriate intervals in conversations. And practically seducing a serving wench in the middle of dinner one evening. Moon Shadow seemed to believe that it was Minos's way of implying that their presence was becoming irritating to him. Brick himself suspected that the old wanker was just bored and was using them for his own personal entertainment.

Regardless of the reasons behind the Atlantean King's erratic behavior, they left after a week of fruitless searching. Brick had never been more relieved to be leaving somewhere in his entire life. After several years of doing someone else's dirty work, that was saying something.

"Brick, are you alright?" a feminine voice whispered into his ear, startling him.

Brick turned his head and was eye to eye with his Queen, who was smirking at him in a familiar way.

"You're falling asleep during a briefing," she wrinkled her nose in a way that meant she was messing with him.

"Was not," he countered indignantly.

"Were too," she folded her arms and grinned at him.

Brick started to open his mouth but the sudden silence in the room brought his attention to the others in attendance. They were all staring at him as if he had interrupted them.

"I didn't start it!" he jabbed a finger in the Queen's direction.

Jareth and Grey Wolf both narrowed their eyes at him, while Moon Shadow shook his head. Midnight Hunter and River Wolf snickered, and Raven Claw (his face now bearing three parallel scars across his face) scowled.

He turned to glare at Sarah whom was smiling innocently, "Me? Really now Brick, this is a briefing. I would never interrupt a briefing!"

Turning back to regard the rest of the room, he realized that there would be no other place but on his wolfie butt for the blame to reside. So he ground out and apology and folded his arms. A scowl put a wrinkle between his eyebrows and he clenched his teeth.

A moment later Sarah leaned over a bit towards him without taking her eyes off of Grey Wolf, "Amateur," she murmured.

Brick sighed heavily and lifted his eyes skyward, 'God, if you're up there, I just want to apologize ahead of time for anything that might be considered taboo for passing through the pearly gates. I know you don't really like swearing. Also, let me get through this next adventure so I can return and get her back for being such a pain in the as-, butt. Amen.'

'Minos, Wizard King, self stylized ladies man and all around fruitcake,' thought Brick as he watched the

subject of his scrutiny step off of the Atlantean schooner. He turned to gauge Moon Shadow's reaction to his thoughts and found the slender Werewolf looking at him pointedly. "What?" he asked innocently.

"Sometimes your thoughts are confusing and I wish in my heart of hearts that you weren't so loud about it," the words were soft spoken and were not in anger but rather phrased as a plea.

Brick frowned as Moon Shadow quickly and purposely turned his attention back to the crazy old coot currently yelling at the ships captain for the complete lack of satisfactory pickled beets on the ship.

Moon Shadow had become increasingly distant with Brick after he returned from his hellish journey home. Brick wasted long hours as of late contemplating why Moon Shadow was acting so standoffish.

"You're likely not to understand Black Wolf, please stop thinking about it," Moon Shadow said softly.

Brick started guiltily. He always 'thought loudly' when he was mulling over something that was bothering him. He looked down at the ground and shifted guiltily from foot to foot. "Yeah, sorry."

"AHA!" exclaimed an excitable Minos from the gang plank. He bounced down it at an impossible speed for a skinny elderly fellow, "Black Wolf my boy!"

Brick's eyes barely had time to widen before he was pulled by the mad old fellow into a deceptively strong embrace. He was so unprepared in fact that he let out an, "Oof!" before Minos released him.

"You left entirely too soon! Why, you didn't even stay for the fertility festival," he smirked at Brick and dropped Moon Shadow a knowing wink.

Brick's eyes narrowed at the old man and then stole a glance at Moon Shadow who's normally calm and pale exterior had turned a bit red. It was gone quickly however as he recomposed himself. "We do apologize for leaving so abruptly, Highness. However, the King and Queen had sent us there for a singular purpose and as much as we enjoyed our stay, we needed to report our findings to King Jareth."

Minos snorted, "Which was squat!"

Unbidden a small smile pulled at the corner of Bricks lips and he made a show of glancing behind the King, which made the smile slide off his face and onto the ground, "Where is the rest of your entourage, my Lord?"

"Entourage?" the Wizard King blinked as if Brick had randomly asked if he'd like to try the fish.

"Majesty, your servants?" Brick tried again.

"What about them?" Minos asked, his voice rising in irritation.

"Didn't you bring any of them, guards, anyone?!" Brick's own voice rising and his arms flung themselves in a wild gesture towards the ship to indicate the distinct lack of any Atlantean's besides Minos.

The Wizard King's bushy white eyebrows flew upwards and then quirked in odd formations as though they were white seagulls threatening to fly away. The old facial muscles worked through their owners amusement and decided to give up when he grinned a happy evil grin. "I came by myself, naturally," he straightened his rumpled wizards' robes and eyed Brick. "Don't you look at me like that young man, I could turn your nuts into turnips in two shakes of a catfish whisker."

Brick's look of outrage turned into a black scowl. "Right this way then, Your Majesty," he growled and turned on his heel, not caring whether or not the Wizard King and his Werewolf companion followed after him.

"I can see why you like him," Minos winked at Moon Shadow who paled visibly. Now that he had suitably discomfited both Werewolves the old man followed after Brick, a renewed bounce in his aged gait.

Moon Shadow stood on the shore, too mortified to move.

Sarah smiled as she watched her old friend Sir Didymus reach into the sugar bowl and extricate a lump of sugar with his paws and plop it into his tea. He stirred and sipped it with the practiced grace of a courtly gentleman, and let out a satisfied "ahh".

Grey Wolf eyed the tea as if it were a completely foreign concoction, and instead took a pull from the glass of water he had opted for. He folded his muscular arms over his broad chest and leaned back in his chair.

Turning from her appraisal of her guests she glanced at her husband. He seemed to be recovering from the iron poisoning well enough, though he still got sick if he overexerted himself or lost his temper. She had taken to staying in bed with him most mornings just to listen to the slow and steady rhythm of his breathing. Sarah winced as a pang of familiar guilt stole her moment of joy, her feelings of inadequacy coming to the fore. She should have been there, kept him safe. What was she worth to him if she couldn't even hold onto him? These were not new fears and they robbed her of sleep, making her utterly unbearable to deal with at times. It seemed lately that there were days when only Jareth could even stand to be near her.

A warm hand crept caressingly over her thigh and she was pulled out of her fog of melancholy when the hand of her King squeezed it. Her eyes focused and met a set of clear blue orbs with mismatched pupils. They told her that she was loved and she was not to blame. They reassured her of her worth and she smiled at him adoringly.

"Your Majesties, may I present King Minos of Atlantis," a Goblin servant (who had appeared almost out of thin air) bowed and backed away, disappearing from the terrace. Leaving Minos with Brick at his side, who looked as if he was ready to get violent.

Jareth rose and following his lead, so did Sarah. She watched Jareth incline his head in deference to the aged King and Sarah decided to follow his example. When she again laid eyes on the older King she found a pair of twinkling hazel eyes that seemed a lot younger than the body that held them gazing back at her. He looked quite comical in a red robe that was clearly too big for him. His crown was slightly askew on a balding head, white tufts of hair on the sides of his scalp poked out in improbable directions. Which, gave the casual observer the impression that he didn't comb what he had left all too often. Despite his careless attire and his odd appearance, Sarah got the impression that beneath the surface Minos was no one to be trifled with. She made a mental note to keep an eye on this old man.

"Minos, its good of you to have come to visit us. Please, join us. I believe this is the first time in nearly fifty years that you've come to visit me," Jareth smiled genuinely.

"Yes," Minos chuckled, "it has been a long time. Why, this young man was nothing but a twinkle in his father's eye when I came here last!" he cackled and tweaked Grey Wolf's cheek.

Sarah grinned, perhaps the old fellow was alright after all. She watched with malicious glee as Grey Wolf's face turned red. She'd never seen the big fellow so flustered. She glanced at Brick who was still standing in the doorway. She raised an ebony eyebrow at him which he returned with a twirl of his finger around his temple, indicating that the old King was loony tunes.

She covered her mouth with her hand and coughed, trying to hide her laughter. Which of course did nothing but bring her to the old man's attention.

"Jareth! So, this is the lovely Shape-shifting beauty you've managed to wed, eh? How absolutely stunning! And pregnant as well, you scoundrel! If I were but a hundred and fifty years younger I'd be stealing her away from you right now, pregnant or not!" he made a show of lifting the back of Sarah's hand to his lips and kissing it chivalrously. He released her hand and grinned wickedly, "Personally I think pregnancy enhances a woman's sexuality, it makes her seem so full of life and promise," he glanced over at a scowling Jareth, "Don't you agree?"

Sarah found herself blushing, which felt unnatural to her and she turned to Jareth looking for a rescue and found him smirking.

"Oh, no doubt my Lord. She is a stunning creature. Before she was expecting, I used to believe that she was most beautiful when angry, but I've come to change my mind. She is even more ravishing while with my child," his inflection on the word 'my' made it clear to all present that the direction the conversation was taking was going to end... immediately.

Sarah was torn between annoyance and elation at Jareth's possessiveness. She sighed inwardly as she realized that she wasn't likely to get away from the testosterone motivated pissing contest anytime soon. Instead, she took the initiative (perhaps against proper etiquette) and sat down to finish her tea.

Jareth raised an eyebrow at her and then smiled apologetically at Minos who didn't look at all offended. Instead he took a seat across from the royal couple, between Sir Didymus and Grey Wolf. Once they were all seated again Jareth turned his attention to Brick, who had been watching the scene with interest.

"Would you like to join us, Black Wolf?" Jareth grinned as Brick jumped visibly.

"No Sire," he said immediately and bowed before making himself scarce.

"Quite a delightful lad, if a little dense. Moon Shadow has his hands full with that one," Minos said as he held up his hand indicating to the servant to stop pouring his tea.

Grey Wolf smiled and Jareth let out a chuckle. Sarah's face scrunched up in confusion. "Excuse me, I'm not sure what you mean?" she said.

Minos stirred in a lump of sugar and took a sip before answering her, "Your Werewolf empath has taken a fancy to Black Wolf. Surely you knew that?"

Sarah's mouth fell open as she tried to form a coherent sentence. Jareth patted her hand sympathetically. "She comes from a world where its a little less accepted when people of the same sex love each other romantically my Lord. Please forgive her," he chuckled.

Sarah closed her mouth to glare at Jareth. "Thank you my love, I shall show you how much I appreciate being patronized...later. The only comment I have is that Brick better let him down gently or I'll tear his ass a new one," she drained the last of her tea from her cup.

When she raised her eyes again she found the rest of the table looking at her oddly, Minos with a delightfully mischievous grin. "What?" she asked.

"Tear him a new what?" asked Grey Wolf with a blank expression.

Sarah squeezed her eyes shut to try and stave off the oncoming headache and counted to ten silently. Which was working until she heard her husband muttering under his breath about 'bloody American slang' and its total inappropriateness. Her eyes flew open and she glared at him.

He returned the glare with another lifting of the royal right eyebrow causing Sarah to sneer. "Excuse me your Majesty, but I suddenly find myself in need of some less stressful company," she said and turned from him dismissively to Sir Didymus. "Noble Knight, would you honor me with a bit of fencing practice?"

Quite happy to be offered an invitation to escape the table and the questionable way that Minos was eying the feather in his dashing blue hat, he inclined his head. "I am at your service, my Lady."

She curtsied to King Minos and offered a pleasant smile before striding away with Didymus in tow.

Once they were gone Jareth offered a sheepish grin to Minos and Grey Wolf, the latter of whom was shaking with silent laughter. "It seems my incendiary dove is becoming ever more temperamental, forgive me King Minos," Jareth sighed.

Minos let out a cackle, "Jareth my lad, fire like that is a blessing! Don't you dare try and change her either," he admonished and finished his own tea.

"Not that a visit from you isn't appreciated Minos, but why are you here in my Kingdom?" Jareth asked.

"I'm not actually here to see you Jareth my boy, though I admit to contemplating an extended stay to that end. Given all the entertainment that your lovely wife offers. In truth, I'm here to see Grey Wolf," he turned and smiled a little too broadly at the Werewolf leader who abruptly stopped laughing at Jareth's expense and stared at Minos with astonishment.

"What would you want from me old one?" Grey Wolf asked respectfully. For though Minos seemed to be a tad unhinged, he was older than most believed and much wiser than he let on. Grey Wolf had long suspected Minos of being one of the last true immortals. Those created of the old magic at the beginning of the world, stewards of the Earth and observers of the tides of time.

"I've brought a bauble I thought you might like to have," a twinkle in his eye made Grey Wolf a bit uneasy as he watched the old man reach into his over sized robe and pull forth a sword with a golden hilt from its red velvet folds. Minos handed the blade within its scabbard over to the big fellow.

Grey Wolf accepted it from the old man, the moment his fingertips brushed against the hilt he felt a rush of sensation. A tingling that ran from his fingers to his arm, shoulder to chest, and then straight into his very core. It was as if the blade were alive. Before he even knew what he was doing he had pulled the blade clear of the scabbard and was holding it up before his eyes. The gleaming steel was engraved in ruins. "Take me up," he read aloud on one side then flipped the blade over in his grasp, "cast me away," he murmured.

"Minos!" Jareth hissed.

"Yes?" the old man was beaming with pride as he watched Grey Wolf examine the sword.

Jareth looked at the old man and then at Grey Wolf, feeling as if this had happened once before. This very moment. Minos giving Grey Wolf Caledfwlch, the sword of the King, the sword of legend. "You can't be bloody serious!"

Minos narrowed his eyes at Jareth and they burned with a bright clarity that others rarely saw. "Deathly," replied the old King.

"If you give him this, his destiny is no longer his own," Jareth said between clenched teeth.

Minos nodded. "Let's let him make that choice, shall we?"

Jareth growled. "You meddling old fool!" with that Jareth stood abruptly and his fist hit the table. "You swore an oath! You swore you'd never give it to anyone else-," his shouting was interrupted when the old wizard rose to his own feet and his aging eyes were all at once not so old. But filled with fire and power.

"You listen to me boy!" Minos' voice boomed forth from his frame belying any misconception that he was nothing but a frail old man. "I know what I swore and exactly whose blood I am sworn to! I alone have walked the unseen depths, and I alone have tangled with the very Gods themselves, and I know what I am doing!" he glared at Jareth who had gone pale. The anger bled out of him suddenly and he seemed to deflate becoming once again, a very tired old man. "Forgive me. However, I am not giving it to anyone else. None other than the one to whom I had sworn shall wield it. His spirit, as does all pure energy, has endured."

Jareth (still not entirely convinced) switched his gaze from the old man to Grey Wolf. His friend and Warrior. The Werewolf was still sitting in his seat though his eyes were narrowed at Jareth in contemplation. He stood slowly and inclined his head respectfully. Turning, he held out the sword to Minos, the blade back in its sheath. "I am sorry King Minos. But, I cannot accept a gift that causes my liege so much distress," he said firmly indicating for Minos to take the sword back.

Minos simply smiled gently at Grey Wolf. "It was not a gift, lad. Only something that you left in my care, it was always yours," with that Minos turned back to Jareth, ignoring the fact that Grey Wolf was still holding the sword out to him. "Jareth, if its not too much of a bother could you have someone show this doddering old fool to his room? My bones feel like peanut brittle."

Sighing inwardly, Jareth nodded. "Of course my Lord. Please," he gestured towards the castle, "I'll show you to your rooms personally."

"King Jareth, I-," Grey Wolf began as Jareth was about to leave the table with Minos.

Jareth turned to regard him with a sad look. "Grey Wolf, you are free to do as you wish. I no longer hold you in my service, the sword is yours. You will always be welcome here. As a friend." with that he left the shell shocked werewolf alone to contemplate his words.

'Being Prince of a magical realm has its advantages' , was the thought that ran through a now fourteen year old Daniels' mind as he watched his friend and crush Brianna Richardson laugh as she talked with the Wise man and his crazy avian hat.

"Ugh, its so stimulating being your hat!" squawked the hat after the old man rattled off some obscure wisdom that was for all intents and purposes, a lot of hooey. Something about the way forward being sometimes the way back.

"Will...you...please...be...QUIET!!" the old man roared.

"Alright," the hat said petulantly.

"Okay?" the Wise man asked exasperatedly.

"Okay," responded the hat.

"Alright," muttered the Wise man.

The hat mumbled something suspiciously like, "...grumpy old bastard..."

"What?" the old man glared upwards.

"I said alright," the hat recovered rather well.

"Alright," the old man sighed and then seemed to think there may be further interruptions, "Finished?"

The hat thought for a second and then nodded. "Yes," it replied.

The Wise man cleared his throat and turned back to Brianna, "Quite often young woman, the way to get what you want is quite simply to ask for it."

Brianna blushed and looked down at her toes and then up at Daniel, which sent his heart into his throat and his teenage hormones whirling about within his young body. He looked away hurriedly so that he didn't do anything embarrassing, like squeak out her name as he had done earlier that day. Damn changing voice! As he did so, he noticed that the Wise man had fallen asleep. He chuckled in relief.

"Uh oh!" chortled the hat. "Guess that's you're luck." the old man's hand was clutched around a wooden box and it shook as it held the box forward. "Please, leave a contribution in the little box."

Daniel fished out a copper coin from the purse Jareth had given him to take Brianna shopping with, and he slipped it through the slot at the top of the worn wooden box. It made a satisfying clinking noise at it hit the bottom, along with all the other treasures from the unwary.

He held out his hand to her and she took it, their fingers intertwining as he led her along the path that Sarah had mapped out for him.

"I can't believe we're really here," she said after a few moments.

Daniel only nodded in response and he kept his eyes forward. This was definitely a conversation that could lead him into reminiscing about how they got there. The past was not something that he wanted to think about. He just turned fourteen last week, it was the first birthday that he'd had without his Mom or Dad. It just felt all wrong to him. He moped about all that day until Hoggle had called him out in a game of chess. When the curmudgeonly Dwarf had given him a thorough ass whoopin' three times in a row, he realized that he couldn't go on like that. So he'd shoved all the painful memories deep down into the furthest reaches of his young soul and told the little fuckers to stay put, or else.

"I mean, the Labyrinth. The Goblin King! I thought it was all just a story, and yet here I am walking through it. I'm living it everyday. It still seems like a dream to me, you know?" she turned to him with a smile on her face. Totally oblivious to the dark turn his thoughts were taking.

He immediately plastered a smile on his face and squeezed her hand. "Yeah, and I have Werewolves who think they're my honorary Godfather's. Did I tell you that Black Wolf was trying to get a game of football together with them last week?" he asked with a genuine smile on his face this time, being happy to have something to change the subject with.

Brianna's eyebrows shot up and she grinned with disbelief. "No!"

Daniel laughed, "Yes! River Wolf sat on him. I swear I heard a crunching noise," he made a face.

Brianna laughed. "I bet! They're all huge but the only one I've seen bigger than River Wolf is Ludo. Thank God they didn't ask him to play, or Black wolf would have been a werewolf pancake!"

"You're lucky though, you know?" Brianna said in a quiet voice after a few more minutes of walking.

"Lucky? Brianna I lost just as much as you did," he dropped her hand angrily and started to walk off in another direction only to be pulled back by his arm. He glared at her as he turned to face her.

"Daniel, stop! That's not what I meant," she sighed, her honey colored eyes boring into his.

"Well, exactly what did you mean then?!" he ground out between gritted teeth.

"I just meant that you have Sarah and Jareth, and the wolves, Sir Didymus and Hoggle," she pointed out.

"Oh," Daniel replied sheepishly. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I was just thinking about my parents and it just set me off. That's all."

She nodded and offered him a half smile. "I think we should be getting back to the castle. Being an apprentice to the Royal seamstress is not as fun as you would think."

Daniel nodded, "Yeah, but you get to stay nearby, and I don't have to worry about you." He watched with satisfaction as she blushed prettily.

Sir Didymus whirled and parried Sarah's skillful thrusts, successfully landing another hit to her person, this one solidly on her rump. She yelped and glowered at the little fox who only regarded her with an amused expression. "Milady, you are distracted. Tell me, what vexes thee?" he asked as he once again took his stance.

Sarah fought her inner churning emotions in a futile effort to focus on the sparring session. She knew she was failing horribly, even as she made the first move, her practice foil flashing in a complex series of feigns and thrusts. After each of her well aimed blows were deflected easily, she stepped back and lowered her weapon. "I don't know Didymus. I know that I may be a little oversensitive right now but,

I am not feeling so good about myself at the moment."

The little fox took off his mask and went to rack his foil. "Why ever not?"

Sarah sighed, how was she going to put this into words? "I almost lost Jareth and yet," she paused and racked her own things before she continued using the moment of silence to think, "sometimes he can be such a jerk. I feel guilty for being upset with him. I want every second of our lives together to be really meaningful and I don't want to miss a moment. But, at the same time I feel like he wants me to be someone I'm not. I'm rude, I hate fluffy girlie atrocious gowns, I like beer and I swear to all that is holy I absolutely refuse to use more than one fork at dinner!" she growled. "I'm just not Queen material," she finished.

Sir Didymus chuckled, "Well, that depends on how one looks at it."

Sarah's brow furrowed, "No, I think pretty much anyway you look at it, I am not cut out for this Queen crap!"

"My Lady, forgive me. However, I think you underestimate yourself greatly. A Queen sets fashion and court manners, she does not bow before them. Many a Goblin Queen in centuries past has been a warrior, frequently ruling without a King. Goblin Queen's have a long tradition of being strong, no nonsense, beautiful women. You are a natural born leader and have a strength of spirit and generosity that make men and women follow without question. I think you are more than "cut out" to be Queen," Sir Didymus patted her on the forearm reassuringly.

In response Sarah stooped and hugged him fiercely, her cheeks wet with tears. "Thank you," she said softly.

Jareth watched all this from the shadows and was simultaneously touched and disturbed. Had he been so unbearable lately? Surely, her rough manner had grated on his nerves, especially in the presence of guests, but he had not taken grave offense at her behavior. He'd known what kind of Queen she would be when he married her. Strong, defiant, someone that would provide the support and strength he needed, if things were to go terribly wrong due to the merging of the magical and scientific realms. Things had gotten a little distressing at one point, (he thought about his near fatal encounter with the President of the United States with a wince) but they had pulled through it. Hadn't they?

No, maybe things were not as well with her as she led him to believe. In fact memories of the past few weeks surfaced like murky pond scum, choking the life out of his happy delusions. Sarah clung to him as if he would disappear at any moment when they were in bed together. She rarely let him out of her sight during the day, even going so far as to attend court (where the Goblin citizens would come and have Jareth settle disputes and lobby for new laws or ask favors of the crown)with him. She had not answered any wishers, as per his request. But neither had she let him answer any. Thinking back on it now he realized that she was still terrified of losing him.

Perhaps that's why she was letting him send Grey Wolf, Black Wolf and Raven Claw to find the fountain of youth to make her live longer. Was her true motivation his own protection?

This was a troubling line of thinking. And one he would have to remedy before he let her take the life giving waters that would make her immortal, just like him.

Knowing Sarah as he did, he had been surprised initially when she had agreed to take the water. Sarah was exactly the type to refuse, despite popular opinion, not everyone wants to live forever. To never grow old as all you love dies and changes around you. To forever see man make the same mistakes over and over again. Eventually you would see and do it all, and you would have nothing left to learn or do and all you'd ever dreamed or wished would already be accomplished. Unlimited time, with limited entertainment. How terribly tired of life you would be.

Sarah would not want immortality, if Jareth did not have thousands of years to live yet himself. This way she could watch over him and make sure that he was loved and being cared for.

Thousands of years with a shape-shifter...

Jareth lifted an eyebrow in contemplation and decided that it could be interesting after all. Though, he would still have to talk to her. Before he made a mess of things. If for little else than at least to make her feel worthy of his love and the title of Goblin Queen.

Brick found himself standing on the edge Goblins-bane Cliffs, (so named for the numerous idiotic Goblins that flung themselves off it like lemmings, because they'd never seen a cliff before and thought it looked like fun) watching Moon Shadow who was staring out at the sea. The wind was whipping through the wolfs long silvery hair and his arms were folded across his toned chest as if to ward off the chill. Brick felt a momentary pull, a feeling he would sometimes get when around the empath. Sometimes he would find himself almost pushing a lock of hair from Moon Shadow's eyes or the need to take his hand for reassurance. He would always shake off these feelings, they frightened and excited him all at once. He was confused about his feelings and struggled with them daily, as he did with his lingering feelings towards Sarah. He understood his feelings towards the Queen though. But not this. Sarah was something he could not have. Moon Shadow on the other hand was not so much someone that Brick could not have, but rather he was confused about what he would do with him once he got him. How could he be in a relationship with another man? He'd never had these feelings before now. What if he said or did the wrong thing?

"How long do you plan on standing there staring at me?" Moon Shadows soft voice seemed to carry over the wind farther than seemed natural.

"Until you tell me why you're angry with me," Brick let some of the stubbornness that he'd learned from Sarah seep into his voice.

Moon Shadow sighed sadly, "I'm not angry with you Black Wolf."

"No? Funny that, seems to me you've been in a snit since I came back. What did I do?" he asked plaintively as he stepped forward and grabbed Moon Shadow gently by the shoulder. He turned the lithe werewolf towards him and looked into the amber green eyes, searching for answers.

Moon Shadow pursed his lips together and looked away from Black Wolf. How could he tell Brick what he was feeling? He would never understand. He was not the type of man to take such affections without offense, let alone reciprocate them. Even Moon Shadow had difficulty accepting that what he was feeling was more than platonic.

"Please," Brick grasped both of the lithe werewolves shoulders tightly and leaned a little closer to get him to look at him, "this is driving me insane! I can't stand this anymore. I don't know why, but when you started ignoring me it left this, emptiness," he said with a bereft tone to his voice.

Moon Shadow's breath caught in his throat and his eyes finally snapped open to look at Brick, what he saw nearly made his knees buckle. Concern, fear, need, caring, even perhaps something deeper, a desperate longing, yet unnamed. Steeling himself for the fallout from his next action Moon Shadow closed the distance between them.

His lips met Bricks in a swift and none too gentle claiming. Brick froze for a moment, his brain failing to register the action that his friend had just taken. In that moment of confusion the kiss took on a life of its own, quickly disarming his mind and spreading through his body like wildfire. Before he could

process his own part in the action, his lips and tongue responded by deepening the kiss. Moon Shadow's hands settled themselves on Bricks hips and pulled him forward until they were flush against one another.

It was when Brick could feel an important part of his anatomy wake up that Brick broke the kiss and moved away as if burned. "What the hell was that?!" he near shouted.

Moon Shadow's mouth quirked in amusement. "I think...that was a kiss," he said with a chuckle.

"I know it was a kiss!" he scowled, 'it was quite more than that you ass!' "What I want to know is why you kissed me!"

"Oh honestly!" Moon Shadow threw his hands up in the air.

"Look, I can understand that you don't want to tell me what's going on with you, but hell. Was that the only way you could think of to shut me up-" Brick rambled on, completely oblivious to the blaring truth right in front of him.

"I love you, that's why! You complete and utter boob!" Moon Shadow blurted out almost violently, interrupting Brick.

"You love me? Like, as in a 'I want to ride you like a mechanical bull' type love? Or do you love me in a 'I love you Man!' kind of way?" Brick asked in confusion.

Moon Shadow groaned. "I'm only going to explain this once, because you've made this as painfully embarrassing as possible and I never want to go through this again," Moon Shadow stepped closer to Brick and laid a smooth hand upon his stubble roughened cheek. "I am in love with you, totally, utterly, and without regret. Even if you never feel the same way about me, I would go to the end of all creation just to ensure that you are happy. I know you may think that this is wrong or uncomfortable, but its how I feel and that is why I've been avoiding you."

With that Moon Shadow stepped away from him and turned back to look out at the Sea once more. "Please, leave me be," his voice was once again soft and seemingly far away, effectively shutting himself off from Brick.

For once, Brick had no idea what to say. So rather than stay and say something stupid or something to make it worse, he turned around and walked away. Leaving Moon Shadow to his thoughts.

Author's Note: Hello my friends, I hope that this first chapter finds you well. I know that you've all been waiting for it for quite awhile now. The last time I threw a little slash into a story I lost a reader or two, hopefully those of you whom read the original and liked it won't be upset enough about it to stop reading. I promise its not that bad. =)

Please Review~