Villdon's army was small, though what they lacked in number, they made up for in the sheer terror of their appearance - they were an ugly mix of creatures: goblins, trolls, elves and pixies to name but a few, each as menacing as the next. Some of them had gathered in the Throne Room where they drank heavily and boasted that their conquest of the castle was down to them personally.

Llynton was little amused by the spectacle. He lounged on the throne, his right leg draped over its arm, and studied the half eaten apple in his hand. With Villdon down in the dungeons toying with Sarah, he had thought it the ideal opportunity to see just how much the throne suited him. "I could get used to this," he sighed, sinking lower in the seat and taking a large bite from the apple.

"Don't bother, you won't be around much longer," a man's voice spat. Llynton glanced up to see Jareth and Kardallen in the middle of the room. The creatures immediately turned their attention to the intruders, and grasped their weapons in readiness.

"Oh! What an unexpected surprise," said Llynton in a jovial tone, he gave the pair a sly smile and turned his attention back towards the apple.

"Where is Lady Sarah?" demanded Jareth, "If you have harmed a hair on her head I'll..."

"You'll what? Kill me? Oh, I'm so scared, practically quaking in my boots," replied Llynton.

"Kill you? Oh, nothing so simple," said Kardallen.

"You underestimate me Llynton," Jareth continued, as he and Kardallen took a step towards the throne. "When I'm done with you, you'll wish I had killed you."

"Don't come any closer," Llynton smiled mischievously as he saw them slowly advancing. With a wave of his hand, five heavy black candles on twisted iron stands appeared around Jareth and Kardallen, trapping them in the centre. "It is you that underestimates me," said Llynton, as each candle lit in turn.

"Oh, you're right Llynton, I never thought you capable of this," replied Jareth sarcastically, making a grand gesture to the circle of candles around him and Kardallen. "Indeed, one could sustain a nasty ankle injury if unfortunate enough to trip over a candlestick."

Llynton did not respond, he merely watched in amusement as Jareth motioned to summon a crystal, and gave a wide smile when Jareth's palm remained empty. Confusion flooded Jareth's face - he stirred the air once more, though again failed to produce an orb.

Kardallen went to lunge past the candlesticks to get at Llynton, though as he neared the circle's edge, he was thrown back and landed in a heap in the middle of the circle. Kardallen jumped to his feet and threw all of his weight at one of the candlesticks, though once again was repelled by an invisible wall that had formed around them. Jareth gently stroked the air in front of him, and saw gold dust forming beneath his fingertip where he touched the solid magical veil. He quickly withdrew his hand when a sharp pain shot up his arm. He helped Kardallen to his feet again and turned to face Llynton, casting him a vicious glare.

"Not so cocky now, are we?" Llynton commented, and continued eating his apple.

Jareth was lost in frustration - how could he save Sarah if he was powerless? He repeatedly tried to conjure up his crystals and to translocate out of the circle, though each attempt failed, and broadened the smile on Llynton's face. His attention was brought back to the Throne Room when he heard a voice echoing in the corridor. Llynton jumped to his feet, and threw the apple at Jareth - it broke upon impact with the wall and went rolling over the floor.

"Lord Villdon I presume," said Jareth, darkly, glaring at the man who entered alone. The man's strange eyes never turned from Jareth as he bowed his head in affirmation.

"What have you done with Sarah?" demanded Jareth.

"Sorry?" Asked Villdon, moving cat-like away from the door to the centre of the room, "Did you say what have I done 'with' or what have I done 'to'?"

"I swear..." began Jareth.

"Oh, don't go jumping to conclusions, why don't you ask her yourself? Sarah, come to me," he commanded.

"What? Sarah!" cried Jareth as he saw her walk into the room. He burst forward, though was stopped by Llynton's spell. He stared at her, confused - she did not run towards him, she didn't even look at him. Her gaze was expressionless, her eyes wide and fixed directly in front of her. She stopped by Villdon's side, looking straight at him.

"Haven't we been here already?" smirked Villdon, cocking his eyebrow. "I prefer her like this." His eyes broke away from Jareth as he stood tall and circled around Sarah. "She's nothing special, you know, just a typical mortal. She talks too much for my liking, with that grand notion of how you will save her ingrained in every thought. Poor little thing should have given up hope a long time ago."

He turned her to face Jareth, and stood behind her. Jareth was hurt by her cold stare. "She's mine now, I control her," said Villdon in a low voice, draping his arms over her shoulders and around her waist, pulling her back towards him. "Just think what I could do to her, and you wouldn't be able to do a thing."

***

Sarah felt sick - she could feel Villdon close to her, feel his arms around her and his breath in her ear. Her skin crawled as he touched it, though she was still unable to do anything about it. She could see Jareth and Kardallen just metres in front of her, their faces full of panic and helplessness. Llynton was looking on in the corner, a satisfied smile of what looked like anticipation on his face. Sarah knew that it wouldn't be long...

"Lord Kardallen," announced Villdon as though passing judgement. "Your father killed mine in battle and it is this crime for which you will pay. I shall reclaim your lands in my father's name and put you to death as an example to traitors everywhere." Sarah looked at Kardallen - he didn't retaliate - his features darkened and a snarl took over his mouth.

"Lord Jareth, your father was a traitor to the House of Villdon... but I shall not put you to death for this crime. You will die for bringing a mortal into the Underground, just as soon as I have killed that mortal."

"No!" cried Jareth, hurling himself in vain against the magical wall that imprisoned him. "Villdon, you can't do this!"

Sarah felt the arm around her waist slide off to the side, though Villdon's other arm across her shoulders remained to hold her in a powerful grasp. The Throne Room fell silent as Jareth and Kardallen looked on in sheer horror, though the silence was broken by a sound just behind Sarah. It was of a long dagger being pulled from it's leather scabbard. Villdon slowly raised his arm high above Sarah, where the long blade seemed to hover for an eternity, glistening in the candlelight.

Sarah wished she could have had the chance to say goodbye to Jareth, just a simple 'I Love You'. But it wasn't to be - this was the end for her. In the eerie peace of the Throne Room, she could hear her shaky, shallow breath and feel her heart beat thumping slowly in her chest. Villdon's evil breath warmed her right ear as he breathed slowly. Would it be the last thing she would feel, or would she feel the knife strike her heart?

Distant bells began to tinkle in a strange harmony, faintly at first, then louder. Sarah could see a light coming from the stairs behind Jareth, it grew brighter and cut through the dusky candlelight of the Throne Room. Wasn't this the way it went? Wasn't she destined to walk into the light? Still the knife waited.

A dazzling ball of light the size of her palm glided down the stairs, and flew into the Throne Room. It dashed about frantically, leaving a trail of silver dust behind it, coating everything underneath with the shimmering powder. It was truly beautiful - perhaps it was an angel sent to meet her, Sarah thought, as it buzzed around the room like lightning.

At least she wouldn't be alone...the thought brought her little comfort, though, as she saw the dagger thrust through the air on its inevitable path towards her heart...