One last Wish

They had been walking for what felt like hours; it felt like the same twists and turns kept passing them by.

Jareth looked at Sarah to the left of him. She was stumbling, her head was dropping to her chest every so often, and snapping up; shaking it back and forth to keep herself awake.

He smiled, proud of her. "Such a fighter, my dear Sarah. Even with all that has happened, you still have stayed strong. I hope that one day, you won't have to show such strength."

They kept walking until finally they passed a pair of doors. Jareth glanced briefly through the windows and stopped walking. He looked to Sarah once again and made up his mind. He walked over to her and picked her up, hooking his left arm behind her knees.

"Come my pet. You need to rest and there is a bed in this room."

She struggled against him but then stilled, placing her head on his shoulder, and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"She's so light. I hope she has been eating properly as of late."

He toed the door open with a booted foot, turning and placing his back against the door. The lights above flickered off and on with soft buzzes of electricity.

He gently laid Sarah on top of the sole bed in the room. He then turned and started rummaging through the many cupboards that lined the walls. In one such cupboard he came upon a neatly stacked pile of blankets that he pulled out; placing a couple over the softly snoring form of Sarah.

As he did, he brushed a strand of hair out of her face. She stirred slightly, but did not wake, instead turning onto her other side with a softly uttered, "Jareth?"

He smiled sadly, softly replying to her words. "I'm here, dear Sarah. I'm not going anywhere this time. Rest now, you need your strength."

Jareth eyed a comfy looking leather chair in a corner across the room and settled down to rest himself.

He was just starting to doze off in the chair as a deep pain gripped him. He placed a hand on his chest, trying to grasp where the sensation was coming from.

He centered the rest of his magical energy on that feeling, following the trail down the winding labyrinth that was the hospital hallways and staircases, until at last he followed the magical scent to a door. He pushed his astral form through the wood and metal that barred his way. Slowly the room behind came into focus for him and he gasped in his horror. *Cianan, what have you done?*

There was blood everywhere. It stained the ceiling, dripping in thick streams down the wall and mixing with the parts and pieces that were left over from the people that were most likely hiding within. He turned towards the window and came face to face with the monster who had done this grisly and sickening deed. Cianan.

His hand wrapped like a steel band around Jareth's throat, pulling him towards his face. "I will have your precious champion, boy. I will enjoy bringing her pain. Slowly."

A dim twinkling of light caught his eye and there around Cianan's neck was the crescent shaped amulet that was a focal point for his own magic.

Dread tore at his insides, gripping him and rendering immobile.

"This is not good, not good at all."A hand on his shoulder pulled him back to his physical body like the snap of a rubber band and he awoke with a jolt.

"Hey! I said are you okay?" the hand shook him again.

He didn't answer at first, but when Sarah knelt in front of him, placing a hand on his cheek, he spoke, "Cianan has the amulet and now he is coming for us."

Tears slipped from the corner of her eyes and she shook her head side to side, "No! How much damage can he do with your amulet, Jareth? It can't be that bad, can it?"

"I'm regret to say that the destruction could be horrifying if he had the ability to control the amulet's power, but fortunately for us; he doesn't."

"Control it? I thought that was what the amulet did?"

Jareth chuckled richly at the confusion on her face, "My dear, dear Sarah. You tend to ask a lot of good questions at the wrong time. Now come, we have rested long enough. We need to get out of this god-forsaken hospital." He stood up and reached his hand down to her.

Sarah nodded grimly and taking his hand pulled herself up, brushing against him. A tingle spread from the point of contact and spread like wildfire through her limbs, settling deep in her belly. She swayed slightly and Jareth clutched her shoulders to steady her.

"Are you okay, Sarah?" He had also felt a tingling sensation when their skin had brushed ever so slightly against each other, so when he had grabbed her shoulders it was to steady his hands as well as her swaying form.

Sarah swallowed hard and licking her lips, replied, "I'm fine, Jareth. Let's get out of here. We don't want that monster to find us in here. It's too small of an enclosed space. It wouldn't be good for our survival if he did."

Jareth nodded in silent agreement as they turned toward the door.

A blast blew the doors from their hinges and hit the Goblin King in the chest sending him flying backwards into the wall behind him. He could faintly hear Sarah screaming as he slumped to the floor not broken, but in agonizing pain. He drifted in and out of consciousness as a voice turned his blood to ice.

"C..Cia..nan."

"Hello again my boy." He threw his head back and his arms to the side, laughing, "You do know how I love to make an entrance."

"You bastard! How dare you-" Sarah raised a fist to strike him, but he caught her wrist; pulling her to him.

"I am leaving now and the coaimhain is coming with me." He leaned towards her with a feral grin on his face and a lustful look in his eyes. "Now say goodbye to Jareth."

Sarah's eyes widened in fear and she struggled against him; looking back at Jareth's semi unconscious form, willing him to move. To save her and take her far from this place and from Cianan.*No, no no! Jareth, get up! Get up damn it! You said you weren't going anywhere! Keep your damn promises!*

---

Jareth's form jerked as her voice echoed in his head.

*You will have to make a choice, Goblin King. The land you rule or the land you could rule with her at your side.*

"She had to give up her dreams, she had to give up you." Anna's voice joined in as well.

"You have no power over me." She said as tears welled from her eyes, a single tear trailing down her cheek.

"Cianan!" He argued as he struggled to stand, "Leave her be!"