Chapter 20- Choices

Jareth slammed his fists into the door. This didn't quell his anger, if anything it increased it because now he could see Sarah fuming away. He tipped over a bookcase, sending books and ornaments everywhere. He created a series of crystals and flung them at a rapid pace at nothing in particular. There was so much anger within him. Anger directed at Sarah and at himself. Why hadn't he reacted to the warning signs? Jenny had bloody told him that she was turning human, a clear indication that she wasn't going to survive her sentence. And what had he done? Nothing. He had chased her daughter, like she had asked. Now, said daughter was refusing to talk to her because of his actions.

He called for Crowther and almost immediately after yelling his name he appeared.

"Sire, what is it? What's caused you to be so angry?" He asked walking towards his leader.

"Jenny is human. She's almost human and Sarah wishes for me to save her. I must see the oracle for guidance. You are to take care of things her whilst I am gone. Keep an eye out for Sarah too. If she asks where I am respond that I am taking care of business. Do not tell her where I really am. It will only install false hope in her heart and that will cause the collapse of the entire kingdom." He ordered.

Crowther nodded and bowed. "Of course your highness."

Jareth created a crystal and smashed it before him, transporting himself to his Father's dwellings. He moved quickly through the door and found his parents were enjoying a quiet afternoon tea. They both stood up when their son walked into the room. His mother walked towards him, but stopped when she saw his face.

"Jareth, my dear, what is it?" She asked. "I just put Imogen down for a sleep, do you want her back now?"

"No. Jenny, Sarah's mother, is almost human. Sarah begged me to find a way to save her and I wish to see the Oracle to find out what impact this saving would have on the future." Jareth explained.

"But the Oracle already prophesied that Jenny wouldn't like to see her daughter's achievement. How can this prophecy change?" Auberon asked.

"I don't know, but the only way to ensure that this saving has a positive impact is by seeing her. Is the Oracle free?" Jareth asked his fist tightening in frustration.

"I believe she is. I ensure you know where she is. I also trust that you will see me following your glimpse into the future?" His father commanded.

Despite being in control of his own kingdom and having hundreds of loyal subjects, Jareth was still expected to obey a direct order from the High King, even if he was his father. He nodded, hoping that his father wouldn't notice his growing tension and frustration.

"You had better go dear, I doubt that Sarah is thrilled with this news." Morgan said placing a hand over her son's shaking one.

"Thrilled is not the word I would use to describe Sarah at the moment. Try murderous." He grumbled.

"Jareth, understand how hard this must be for her. She just got her mother back and now she has limited time with her when she thought she had forever." She tried to explain.

"I understand, I do. It's just that if Jenny dies, Sarah's not the only one who will get hurt." Jareth replied before moving away from his parents.

"Father, I will see you following my encounter with the Oracle." He said before leaving.

Jareth made the short journey to the Oracle quickly, eager to see if the saving of his friend and mother-in-law would be possible.

He opened the doors quickly and saw that the Oracle was in her usual position of sitting on the chair. Her back was to him and he opened his mouth to say something, only to be interrupted by her unusually aged voice.

"Jareth, son of the High King and Queen, I know why you are here." She said, still facing away from her.

"If you know why I'm here, then you can give me an answer." He stated, moving closer to her.

"I cannot tell you the answer. You know this, I must show you." She said turning around.

Jareth looked at her youthful face and was once again struck with curiosity about her. How was it that this child had developed such an old voice? This was the same Oracle his parents had turned to, and according to them she had always been this way. He looked down at the aged and withered hands she held out for him to take. They were wrinkled and covered in blisters and sun spots. Her eyes bored into him, as if seeing his very core, and, not for the first time while in her presence, Jareth felt like a young fool.

"Take my hands and I shall show you what will result should you save Hecate's daughter." She said moving her hands closer to him.

Jareth took a hold of the hands and felt the familiar falling sensation take over.

OoOoOo

He stands in a stone hallway. He looks around, hoping to find any indication of where he is. A glance outside, allows him so gain his bearings. He's in his own castle. A storm rages on outside. This is rather unusual. The weather normally reflects his feelings.

Then it hits him. The fury and anger of the lightning and thunder. But the rain, the constant tears from the heavens impacts him more. There is a great sadness in not only his heart but right across the kingdom. The Labyrinth has shut itself up. Refusing to allow anyone in. All those who found a home within its walls have been expelled.

Jareth looks to the floor. There are grubby footprints cross the floor. The Goblins have been here. But they had respected the place. There aren't any marks across the walls. There is only the trail of footprints leading to the end of the hallway. His eyes wonder across the walls. He is in the Gallery. Where all the royals had their portraits. He finds his grandmother and grandfather.

Where were the Goblins going? They wouldn't have visited unless he had granted them permission. He follows their trail until they came to a stop.

Before him is a portrait of his wife. Sarah shined completely. Her portrait had been taken in the sun, where her hair is vibrant and reflects so many unique colours. The green of the grass contrasts well with the emerald green velvet of her gown and her eyes are completely light up.

It is the black veil across the portrait that tells him something is wrong.

Who put a veil over such a lovely painting? Surely not Sarah?

There is something… something in the back of his mind that tells him what is wrong. He had read it sometime in his youth when he was required to study the way of the royal court.

Upon the death of a royal, any of their portraits are to be covered with a black veil. The veil will remain in place for a minimum of 100 years. The spouse of the deceased Royal or the current ruler of the kingdom will decide if the veil shall remain in place for any longer.

Sarah is dead.

That explains why the goblins have been granted permission to enter the gallery. They wish to pay their respects to the one ruler who had shown them any kindness. He has never been kind to them. If he was angered in any way it was them who always received this anger. They are not his subjects, they were her's. They have always been.

There are flowers beneath the portrait, in various stages of life. Some look to be dead, others appeared to be freshly given.

A cry from behind a door, pulls Jareth out of his thoughts about his subjects. The crypt. No one is allowed in there, himself being the exception. He storms over to the door and is about to throw them open when another cry is released. He knows that cry, he had heard it so many years ago.

He slowly opens the door and slips through.

This room is cold. The storm is almost silent, drowned out by the sounds of a grieving mother. The only light is from the candles that surround the alter, on which Sarah's body lies. Jenny holds Sarah's hand and cries. She whispers to her and in the silence Jareth can make out what she's saying.

"It should have been me."

"He saved me, but lost you."

"You were supposed to live."

Breath catches in Jareth's throat. He had done this? It was by his hand that Sarah died. He walks towards mother and daughter. Jenny doesn't react to his movements. If anything she cries harder.

Sarah lies there as if she is asleep. Her face is peaceful and there is a slight smile playing on her lips. She is dressed in white velvet, as is customary. Her lips are painted red and she has dark eye make-up on. Her hair is curled and a lock falls across her body. She is beautiful, even dead she still has the determined look to her. The white emphasises her black hair and her innocence.

"I can't let this happen to you. I can't lose you like this." Jareth says reaching out to stroke the lock of hair.

"You must make the choice, Goblin King." The oracle elder's voice brakes through. "The mother or the daughter? Which one do you want more?"

OoOoOo

I rub at my eyes and look around. I'm in my old room. That must have been a dream. Jareth hadn't returned. That wasn't possible. I shake my head and hold it when I see stars. That was the longest dream I've ever had. But it would make a lovely story for Toby to hear. I smile as I get up out of bed.

I walk quickly to the door and pull it open, expecting to see my hallway and Karen and Dad's room opposite mine.

Instead I find stone.

I close the door and open it again. Same result. The pain in my head gets worse, when I realise that what I thought was a dream wasn't a dream at all. Instead it was reality. Jareth did take me away, I was kidnapped by his brother, I did get to say goodbye to Toby, I did get to see my mother again and she is dying.

The anger returns. I want nothing to do with this stupid castle. I want to return home, with Toby. I want to go back to when I thought mum had ran off. When I was still missing her, because the reality is five times worse.

I slam the door behind me and march through the castle. I don't care what anyone else has to say about my current attire, I am not here to appear as Jareth's fiancé. What I want id an escape route and the only place I'm going to get that is by going back through the flipping Labyrinth. So that's my destination. That is where I am going.

The guards at the gate look at me curiously when I reach it. I glare at them and they shudder.

"Lady Sarah, is you be going out the gate?" One goblin asks.

"I have to. I need to get back." I say to it.

"But it's dangerous, you'll be killed." He argues, tugging on my jeans.

"Touch me again, and I will personally tip you into the Bog of Eternal Stench." I warn.

The Goblin backs away and the gates open in front of me. I walk forward but find someone in my path. Crowther, Jareth's right-hand man. I sigh angrily before walking towards him. I hold my head high and keep my shoulder's back. Go on, go tell Jareth where I am. And when you do tell him to leave me the hell alone.

"Going out for a stroll Lady Sarah?" He asks after I pass him.

"Yes, actually. I'm going to visit an old friend. Your assistance will not be required." I tell him without looking back.

"The gardens weren't lovely enough to meet them there?" He asks. I can hear his footsteps behind me.

"No, I was hoping to meet him somewhere more private. Besides, wouldn't want Jareth getting the wrong ideas?" I say still refusing to look at him.

"So you are meeting a male? If that's the case then I must insist upon escorting you. It simply wouldn't be right for me to leave a young lady unaccompanied in such a dangerous area." He says, finally catching up.

"Hey does this sound familiar? 'Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered I fought my way to the Goblin City'? Yeah that was me and now I'm fighting my way back. Back to a place where my mother was nothing but a long lost memory. Where I wasn't aware of her oncoming death." I yelled at him, stopping only to push him backwards. "Go, run off to Jareth to tell him where his conquest is going. There is nothing he can do to me now that will make me forgive him for not fighting for my mother's life."

"You really are arrogant aren't you?" He shouts at me. "And selfish and a brat."

"How dare you call your queen such words? I don't need you telling me what I am." I yell at him before I slap him.

"So now you're the queen? Make up your mind, Precious. Are you the Queen or are you some stupid little brat who has no one but herself in mind?" Crowther whips at the blood from his lip.

"I am not a brat. I am your Queen and if that is the way you treat one, I shall have to inform my husband that he requires a new assistant." I yell at him.

"Husband huh, before you wanted nothing to do with him. In fact I believe your exact words were for him to 'leave you the hell alone'." He grins at me.

"Stop! Stop making me re-think everything. You have no idea what I'm going through. You realise that your entire existents is reliant upon my ability to stop a war. Stoping a war is one of the few things they don't teach you in High School." I say shoving him again.

"No, but it's something I can help you with, if you'd let me Lady Sarah." He holds his hand out for me to take.

"You? What would you know?" I scoff.

"I know how to plan an army, I know how to train you so that you are able to train yourself and protect those who are most dear to you." He says holding my face so I can't look away from him.

"And what of my mother? You expect me to plan with you and not fight for her life?" I argue, feeling the tension build in my body again.

"I expect you to fight as your mother would want you to. If she dies let her remember you as a warrior, not as the coward who left when things got too hard or confusing. Let her know that you fought so hard to protect her and the people you love that you were feared, that your power was so strong that you were almost invincible. Let them be the memories she has of you before her final day." His grip on my chin has eased.

"You really think you could train me?" I ask.

"Yes."

"And what does Jareth think? He wants me to be the rare flower that people can see but not touch." I ask, crossing my arms.

"He doesn't know of my plan. But I assure you once he sees you he will be a changed man." He says holding his hand out once again. "So do we have a deal?"

I look out into the Labyrinth. It was in there that I really learnt who I was. I was a young stubborn woman who wasn't going to just leave my brother in the hands of a man I saw as a monster. Now, I know that Jareth wasn't a monster and I'd still do anything for Toby. I'm still stubborn, but I'm not as young as I was. I've grown and I know more about myself. I am the champion of the Labyrinth. However I wouldn't have been able to defeat the Labyrinth without help. And I have a feeling that I will need my friends help again.

"Deal" I shake his hand before walking into the Labyrinth.

"Wait, Lady Sarah." He calls following after me.

"Yes, Crowther?" I ask stopping and looking at him with a bored look on my face.

"I thought we agreed you wouldn't go into the Labyrinth?" He says walking towards me.

"No. We agreed that you would train me." I say before I begin walking again.

"But how can I train you if you aren't here to train?" He asks following me.

"I'm coming back. My friends live in the Labyrinth and I think it's time I meet them again." I smile at him before I recommence walking.

"Are these the friends you mentioned earlier?" He asks, reaching a hand out to stop me.

"Yeah they are. They're the most loyal friends I've had and I think I owe them an explanation as to how I got back here and why it took me so long to find them again." I explain to him.

"Do you know where they are?" He asks releasing my hand.

"No, but you're going to help me find them." I reply.

"Why would I do that?" He scoffs.

"Because if you don't, I'll tell Jareth about all the names you called me. I don't think He'll be too happy about you calling me a brat, do you?" I ask, smiling smugly.

"I knew there was a reason you were queen. You are just as manipulative as your husband." Crowther laughs.

"Thank you, now get moving." I reply.

A/N: Hello everyone, Happy New Year. I can't really say that I saw the friendship between Crowther and Sarah that was a surprise for me and only really appeared as I was writing. I was going to have her meet Hoggle again, but I guess that will wait until next chapter. I will also admit to something that RavenBowie picked up on and commented about in a Review. Prior to writing the previous chapter I was re-watching Doctor Who, specifically the tenth Doctor. Before writing this chapter I was watching the second series of Revenge, so I don't know if that will come through or not, but if it does, then that's where I got it from. Thank you to all of the people who follow or favourite, my heart leaps a little after seeing the numbers. Review if you want to…