Morning had come too soon as she still lay awake, head resting against Jareth’s warm comforting chest. What was it that Alia was trying to warn her about? There were so many different possibilities and not enough information to go on. Sarah knew things, things she could not explain how she knew them, but she did. The Wolfen had a long history going back long before the Fae ever came into being. Genard had formed the Hunters out of his hate for the Wolfen all because Alia fell in love with someone else and became Wolfen. All of those slain, all of those made to suffer, just because Genard could not have the one in which he loved.

To make things worse not only was she supposed to stop Emian and his pack, she was supposed to try and lead them, to make them change their ways. Emian was not always like the way he was now. He was a good Wolfen who befriended many only to have his heart twisted by hate and revenge for the murder of his mate and five children. She pitied him.

Then there was Damien, she had but one choice if she wanted to be free of him and that choice frightened her. She had tried to reason with him but to no avail, he was so driven and twisted by his thirst for power and dominance that no amount of words would have mattered.

Sarah felt trapped into this with no escape. Jareth could not save her from what it was that she would have to do, to face, but at least she would not have to face it alone. Jareth was her one saving grace; he was her anchor and her strength. Another question plagued her, how was she different from other Wolfen? She felt it and Alia in her dream told her as much but how was she different? So many questions and not enough answers, it was greatly upsetting.

He could sense that she was awake and had been for quite some time. Opening his eyes he drew her closer to him as he could sense that something was troubling her. Was it what happened last night?

Turning to face Jareth she smiled up to him with love, "Good morning."

"Good morning love," he returned with a grin. "How long have you been awake?"

Her smile turned to that of a frown as she laid her head back on his chest, "For a while."

His hand tangled through her hair as he watched her closely, "Bad dreams?"

Sarah sighed, "Kind of…no not really. Not a dream but…"

Jareth stirred as he started to rise forcing Sarah to follow suit as he did so. Resting his back against the headrest of the bed, he took her hand in his bringing her to sit beside him, "Tell me about it. I might be able to help."

She smiled weekly to him, "Alia visited me." Jareth’s eyebrows rose at this. "She told me that Emian and his ways must be stopped, that I was to lead the Wolfen back from extinction. That…" Jareth remained silent as he waited for her to go on. "That I was to present the Wolfen’s case to the court, show them as I did you what wrongs have been brought upon them. She said that I would be able to make it so that the Wolfen could live in public and no longer have to hide their existence. First though, I would have to stop the Wolfen from following Emian and his ways."

Jareth studied her for a moment before replying, "That is quite a list!" Hands cupping her face he leaned forwards laying a soft butterfly kiss on her lips, "You won’t go through this alone."

She held his hand to her face, "I know, it’s just…"

"You don’t feel ready for such a responsibility, that everything seems to be happening too fast."

"Exactly!" she breathed. Sarah wondered if he had somehow read her mind or did he just know her too well.

Pulling her to him he held her tenderly in his arms, "Sarah, you’ve solved my labyrinth, faced dangers untold and hardships unnumbered. You have had your world turned upside down and still have managed to find love. You have a strength of heart and of character that I’ve never seen matched. If there is anyone that can make a difference, I know for a fact that that person is you. I believe in you Sarah, and no matter what happens, know this. You will never go through anything alone, I will be beside you every step of the way, and I will love you always."

Sarah wanted to cry, his words had touched her deeply, "Jareth, I don’t think that I would be able to get through this without you. I love you so much."

The clearing was a perfect place for sparring as he drew his sword taking his fighting stance. Sword held outward, Genard imagined his opponent, blocking an imaginary blow and countering it with one of his own. He turned on his heel as he brought his sword about aiming for the throat of his next imaginary target. It was difficult to practice without a visible opponent but Genard was managing.

She had taken a break from the lessons in magic that Jareth had been training her on. Sarah had caught to it quite quickly, amazing Jareth with her ability to successfully learn how to call upon her powers. She still had much to learn, but now with the new knowledge she felt more confident. There was much for her to accomplish and she wondered for the millionth time if she would be able to do what Alia had asked of her. Could she really truly be able to take a life, to kill?

The sound of something slicing through the air and labored breathing brought her towards one of the clearings within the garden. Even before she reached the clearing she knew who she would find, his scent was unmistakable. Sarah watched as he battled an invisible enemy obviously practicing his skill.

He sensed her approach but continued with his practice as he was coming to an end. This would definitely give him the opportunity to speak with her. Genard had only spoken with her a few times and that was at least a day ago. Finishing he came about sword swiftly moving up stopping in front of his face as if in salute. Sheathing his sword he bowed to Sarah in greeting, "Good day. I hope that you are well?"

Sarah smiled though she felt weary of this Fae, especially knowing his past as she did, "Yes I am, thank you."

Genard grinned at the weary look he could see clearly written on her face, she still did not trust him. Approaching her, he smiled warmly to her as if he had not noticed her weariness, "I trust that your lessons with the King have gone well?"

She really did not want to speak to Genard, the mere sight of him made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. He had murdered so many and she needed his help, he would pay for his crimes soon enough. A forced smile in play, she started her way with Genard she noted at her side, "Yes, he says that I’m a quick study. Jareth says that he has spoken to you about our situation with the Wolfen."

Genard’s brow rose at this, "Yes, he wishes to avoid bringing this up with the courts as of yet and something about assembling his Goblin army to ready for an attack."

Sarah’s jaw tightened, "I wish that we did not have to but Emian has left us with no other choice. He has brought back the old long ago forbidden ways of the Wolfen. I just hope that he will listen to me and agree to change his ways."

Genard stopped in his tracks, not sure if he had heard her right, "Excuse me Lady Sarah, but do you mean to try and reason with him?"

She stopped, turning to face him, her eyes looking over him closely; she could not pick any kind of emotions from him as if he were blocking her. Both Sarah and Jareth had discovered this as one of her little gifts of being Wolfen. "You do not approve?" she asked with raised brow.

Genard sighed, "Not really. I know Emian, he will not be swayed by words." He could sense that she was trying to read his emotions witch told him that she was rapidly gaining control of her power.

A sad, haunting look crossed Sarah’s face as she took in his words, "I must try. He was not always the way that he is now. The betrayal of a friend and the loss of his mate and children have chilled and hardened his heart."

His eyes glared daggers at her, though she did not see it as she was facing away from him. How did she know? This Wolfen was more powerful than he had first thought. He might have to kill her sooner than he had planned. Emian deserved his loss, he had taken what was rightfully his. He is the one that betrayed him by making Alia his mate, knowing that Genard had feelings for her.

Something passed through the barrier that kept his emotions from her senses. It was only for a moment but in that moment she sensed anger, loss, a deep pain, and betrayal. She already knew that Genard was the friend that she was referring to, knew how he had murdered Alia and her five children because of his denied love for her, just because she chose Emian instead of him. The Fae before her disgusted her but they needed him.

Genard bowed slightly to her, "As much as I am enjoying our conversation, I’m afraid that there are some things in which I must prepare for." Stepping away he cursed at himself for his moment of weakness, he allowed some of his emotions to escape his mental barrier and knew that she had sensed it. Her knowledge about his past disturbed him greatly. How could she know about something that did not even occur within her own lifetime? Indeed this Wolfen was unlike any that he had ever come across and for the first time in his long life that frightened him.

She watched him go, a sense of dread for the coming events that were to come to play. Many would die if she could not persuade Emian to change his ways and it all depended on her.

The edge of the forest was filled with Wolfen as they assembled themselves along the forest’s rim. Emian stared out at the Goblin King’s castle knowing that soon all that they had worked hard for would either come to a successful end or defeat. It all started with the Goblin Kingdom and their success in defeating its King. Sarah was now beyond their reach and he frowned at the knowledge that Damien would lose his intended mate.

Damien approached his father his eyes following his father’s line of sight towards the Goblin King’s castle, "She is there, I can feel it, but she has been able to completely block me from her thoughts."

Emian placed his hand on his son’s shoulder, "Sarah will have to fall with the Goblin King and his kingdom. We tried…"

Damien glared at his father, "NO!" he growled shrugging Emian’s hand from his shoulder, "When the King is dead she will be mine! After he is dead and if I still can not bind her to me then and only then will her life be forfeit."

Emian sighed, "Very well, but you run the risk of your own death if she tries to free herself from your hold."

He scoffed at his father’s words, "That will not happen." Storming away he knew that she would be his, that she would not be able to stop him, and once the Goblin Kings was out of the way there was no stopping him from making her his mate.