"We are soul mates, beloved..." With those amazing words echoing in her head, and feeling a strange weight in her arm, Lili slowly opened her eyes a couple of hours later.  She blinked and the first thing she saw was Jareth's blond hair.  He was curled up against her, and had his head on her arm.  She smiled and blushed furiously as she thought of what had happened last night... and how she had behaved! "Thanks God for Anatomy class," she whispered, but that made her flush even more.  Hey, it was one thing to study and read about it, but to experience it was simply... overwhelming.  She took her hand to his head and gently began to strike his hair. Feeling his hands caressing her body and hearing his tender words had been... magic. Now she fully understood her friends' comments and Sarah's words.  You will find your soul mate, Little one, her sister had said.  At that time, Lili had not believed her, but now... well, the most handsome -and bad tempered- man she had ever met, was embracing her! "I love you so much, your Majesty," she said softly, kissing his head.  "So much, Jareth" she repeated and she could not help but smile in delight when she thought about the loving way he had said her name and-- Lili stiffened and suddenly descended from her blissful cloud as she abruptly realized... he had never said her name.  Not even once... She sighed deeply and had to fight the tears that had formed in her eyes.  He didn't know the truth about her... that she was Sarah's sister. Lili bit he lip and carefully rolled on her side, so as not to wake him. What would she do now?  She was afraid to tell him... but she knew that he would learn the truth sooner or later... and, besides, she just could not live in a lie.  It was one thing for a maid to lie to her employer, but now-- She suddenly stopped as a question occurred to her.  What were they now?  Lili smiled sadly.  She would gladly give up her dream of becoming a doctor for him... or the possibility of ever seeing her family again...  But would he be able to forget his revenge for her?  Can a night of love overcome twenty-two years of hate?  Would he- Jareth, who slid his arm around her waist to embrace her tightly, abruptly interrupted her thoughts. Lili blinked in surprise, but then relaxed and trembled in delight.  Maybe she was overreacting.  True, she knew Jareth would get terribly mad-- but then, he was always mad, wasn't he?  If he truly loved her, he would understand.  What mattered though, was that she must tell him the truth... and the best time to do it would be when he awoke... preferably with a delicious breakfast. Feeling a little better, and trying to ignore her rising unsettlement -and fear-, Lili gently managed to free herself from his grasp and silently rise.  She picked up his black robe, put it on, and after a last look at her beloved, she went to the bathroom to take a warm shower. With his eyes closed and with the grin still on his face, he extended his arm to hold her, but to his disappointment, the only thing he found was a pillow.  Jareth opened his eyes and confirmed that she was not there.  Stifling a yawn, he sat and leaned back on the headboard.  It was then when his gaze was drawn to a golden object over the bed.  He smiled and picked it up; it was Lucy's jewel.  Curious, he looked at it. The medal had the image of the Mother and the Child in one side and, to his surprise, the other side had an inscription.  His grin widened as he read it.  Be happy little one.  "And you will be, I shall see to it," he whispered tenderly, leaving the medal on the nightstand. A couple of minutes passed and, as she did not return, he tilted his head and folded his arms across his chest.  Where was that child?  He blinked and the grin returned to his face as he realized, that in spite of everything, he still thought of her as a child.  Suddenly, a mischievous glow twinkled in his mismatched eyes as an idea occurred to him.  Maybe now that he had returned her the memory crystal, his magic would be able to locate her.  Not sparing a moment, he raised his hand and a sphere materialized on his palm. "Show me my love," he commanded in a soft voice. His grin widened as the sphere complied.  The image of his redheaded young love appeared.  She clearly had taken a shower and now she had her hair wet and she wore his black robe, but what really had made him smile, was the fact that she carried a tray with his breakfast!  Did she still not know what he wanted for her?  He just rolled his eyes. Then, realizing that she was about to enter, he quickly extinguished the sphere.  He had the feeling that she would not be very happy to know that he had been... looking at her like that.  As the door opened, he struggled to keep the impish grin from his face. Lili silently opened the door, but to her disappointment, he was seated on the bed. "Hi, I wanted to surprise you," she said, leaving the tray over a table and opening the curtains.  She gasped in delight; the sun was setting and the labyrinth was bathed in a reddish light. "Oh, but you did surprise me, child," he said in his deep, seductive voice, as he watched, fascinated, how the light reflected like fire on her red hair.  "Come here," he said then, extending his arm to her. Lili smiled and approached him.  She took his hand and Jareth gently pulled her down toward him, holding her waist with his free arm.  "There is no reason for you to keep doing this," he said, cradling her against his chest. A blushed Lili raised her head and looked up at him.  "What?  Lying on top?" she asked innocently. He looked at her with a bemused raised eyebrow.  "What did you do with my Lucy?" he teased her and then rolled his eyes and smiled.  "Lucy, you know what I mean.  You are not my maid anymore." Lili became serious and looked intently at him.  "Then... what am I to you, your Majesty?" she asked softly. His eyes slightly widened at her question.  "Well, my Queen, of course," he answered in his deep voice.  He was about to kiss her again, but she broke free from his embrace and rose. "Lucy, what--" "Please, no.  I have something to tell you first," she interrupted him as she went to get the tray and carefully placed it on his lap. Jareth just stared blankly at the food and then at her.  What kind of reaction was that?  He had just... proposed to her and she... brought him breakfast!  "Lucy, what's wrong?" he asked. As an answer, she began to pace up and down the room.  "I have to tell you something," she repeated, without stopping.  "Something very important," she added, clearly nervous.  "Something that--" Jareth blinked, left the tray on a side, put on his black pants and then vanished... to materialize just before her. Lili gasped in surprise as she bumped into him. “You’re cold!” he exclaimed, as he held her hands.  "What is it?" he asked, truly worried now.  She swallowed.  "Do you really, really love me?" she asked, deadly serious, her eyes strangely sad. Jareth's eyes widened at the question.  "You know the answer to that, child," he said softly. Lili shook her head.  "Please, tell me," she insisted. Jareth smiled.  "I love you, Lucy." A small grin played on her face, but then she became serious again.  She took a deep breath and, to his surprise, she went a step back.  "Jareth, what I... will tell you probably will upset you... a bit, "she began to say.  "Okay, here goes nothing," she muttered, clasping her hands tightly.  I... I... I am Lili Williams.  Sarah is my sister," she said at last, never taking her troubled gaze away from his... Sarah is my sister... Jareth’s smile faded and he could only stare at her in utter shock.  Time just seemed to stop for him and, slowly, a cold shield began to wrap his heart. "Jareth?" Lili timidly insisted at his silence, her heart shrinking at the sudden look in his eyes. "This is not funny, Lucy," he finally exploded, in his full Goblin King mode, all the tenderness gone from his voice.  "Tell me you are lying!" he ordered her, grabbing her arm. Lili shivered.  For a second, she was tempted to tell him she was joking, but gathering her courage, she decided against it.  She shook her red head and sighed, defeated.  "Sarah is my sister.  The girl you showed me that day is the real Lucy, Sarah's maid," she quickly explained, trying in vain to ignore the pain his grasp was causing her and her rising fear.  Every hope she had had that he would understand, was vanishing.    "I--" Jareth paled as the truth began to sink in.  Now everything made sense.  Now he knew why he had not been able to locate Lili Williams.  It had been his own spell that had protected her!   "Shut up!" he barked, tightening his grasp until his nails dug into her flesh, causing her arm to bleed.  He had trusted her, how could it be that she had deceived him in such a horrible way?  How could have she done such a thing to him!  She was worst than Sarah had ever been! "You’re hurting me!" a now terrified Lili exclaimed. Jareth glared at her.  Blinded by the pain and rage –and with his pride hurt beyond belief- he did not see his love anymore, he saw his enemy's sister and what was worse, he saw a traitor... and a liar.  "You betrayed me!" he stated, disgusted, rudely throwing her to the floor.  "YOU BETRAYED ME!" he yelled, his body glowing in anger.  “YOU BETRAYED ME!”  So powerful was his scream, all the crystals of the castle exploded and a furious storm began across the entire kingdom.  "No!  I never betrayed you!" Lili exclaimed loudly, desperate, looking up at him in disbelief, shaking.  Was this the same man she had slept with?  She knew she had hurt him, but this was too much.  How could her dream have turned into such a nightmare? How could he have turned into such a... monster?  She balled her hands into fists.  She painfully rose and shook her head.  "Please, understand... You just appeared out of nowhere... I was scared!  Please, Jareth forgive me.  I--" "Silence!  What you did is beyond forgiveness!" he thundered, in the edge of losing control.  "Do not ever dare to mention my name again!  You are only a servant!  She stared at him, wide opened eyes.  "But... but... you said... you loved... me," she whispered like a child whose promise had been broken to.  "And I... do love you," she added, her heart shattered into million pieces. For a brief second, his gaze seemed to soften, but he recovered quickly; he would not fall into her game again.  He laughed harshly.  "Well I guess I lie.  How does it feel?" he spat.  "Now, clean this mess," he ordered darkly.  "I shall decide what to do with you later." With that, he stormed out of the chamber. Once alone, too shock to cry and emotionally drained, Lili just remain frozen in place, her head bowed, until one word screamed in her head, waking her up.  RUN! Jareth materialized in the Escher room, his eyes blazing in anger and pain.  He fell to his knees and violently hit the floor with his fists.  How he could have been so blind?  How he could have been so foolish?  HOW! She had dared to deceive him!   He opened his eyes wide and froze as a sudden, horrible, humiliating thought occurred to him.  What if she had planned everything... with the Trickster's help?  How much they must have laughed at his expense!  At that, Jareth simply lost the little control he had left.  His body tense and he screamed, his powerful rage felt all over the Underground... "LILI!" Oblivious to the sharp stones that hurt her feet and to the branches that tore at her skin, Lili ran through the labyrinth.  She was soaked and frozen, wrapped only in Jareth's black robe and she had nowhere to go, but she did not care.  She just wanted to run away from him.   Her heart was broken beyond cure and her soul was simply too tired... Suddenly, she stumbled with a root and painfully fell to the ground.  Panicked, she tried to rise, but her foot was trapped.  It was then when an incredibly loud thunder roared... her name! She looked up... only to see a lightning striking the nearest tree.  "NO, JARETH!" she exclaimed, raising her arms in a protective way... and then... everything went black. "NO, JARETH!" That desperate plea went right through his wrath and suddenly awoke him.  The Goblin king stiffened and, in spite of himself, a deep concern raised within him. However, he rose and shook his head, annoyed, and decided to simply ignore her.  Why should he... worry about... a traitor?  As the anger returned to him, he balled his hands into fists and began to pace.  Yes, she had betrayed him in the cruelest way.  She had pretended to be someone else and she had-- Jareth abruptly stopped dead in his tracks as a wave of pain suddenly shot his body.  So strong it was, that he had to lean on the wall for support.  Seconds later, it passed.  He shook his head, as he stood straight again.  He braced himself.  The pain had disappeared, but the dreadful feeling he had experienced a moment ago had grown stronger... Unable to stop himself, he materialized a crystal to see her, just to assure himself she had cleaned his room... but when he saw the requested image, he froze in shock and the magical object just fell from his hand.  Her sweet, but desperate voice now echoed in his head and in his heart...  "Do you really, really love me?" But you said... you loved me" "And I do... love you" It was then when he finally understood... He was the real traitor. Slowly, Lili opened her eyes and was not surprised to see branches and leaves covering her.  She tried to move, but it was useless.  For a brief moment she wondered why there was no pain, but soon the answer hit her.  Being a med student, it was clear to her.  She was paralyzed.  She also noticed each time it was more difficult to breathe... perhaps one of her lungs was damaged...  Lili smiled sadly... so this was how it felt... to be dying... As strange as it was, she was not afraid.  Maybe this was for the better... because what other choice did she have?  Jareth hated her now and he would surely use her against her dearest sister... Not even Puck would be able to help her...  "Sarah," she whispered, closing her eyes again, just waiting for the end...  She was so incredibly tired... Jareth silently appeared in the rose garden... or in what was left of it, after the violent storm.  He had to bite his lip to keep himself from screaming when he saw the helpless figure crushed by a fallen tree.  He approached and, with a wave of a hand, the tree immediately vanished, revealing his beloved's injured body.  She was deathly pale, her skin covered with bruises and scratches and she was bleeding in several areas. "What have I done," he muttered in despair, kneeling by her side.  He carefully checked her pulse and let out a relieved sigh.  She was still alive.  Barely.  Gently, he picked her up and rose.  It was then when she opened her eyes and fixed her hopeless -and scared- gaze upon him. "Lili..." was all that he could say. A single tear slid down her cheek.  "Why... do you... hate.... Me... if I... love you... so much?" she whispered in a barely audible voice... before she was lost to consciousness again. That was too much for Jareth.  He could not stop his own tears.  "I am so very sorry, my love," he said as he transported them back to the castle and to his room.  In the blink of an eye, the chamber was clean again.  Very carefully, he lay her atop his bed and began to chant a healing spell.  After a moment it ended and her wounds were all gone, but Jareth knew it was not enough.  No.  She had been too close to death; there was something else that needed to be done...   In order to save her, he would have to reorder time... "Do not worry, beloved," he whispered, tenderly removing a strand of hair out of her face.  "You will not remember anything... but I..."  He just could not finish the sentence.  Shaking himself, he took the final step.  He bent over her and, as he cast the last spell, he kissed her lips.  Slowly, her body began to fade... until she was completely gone. Consumed by guilt, grief-stricken and exhausted, Jareth just collapsed on his bed... but not before whispering one last word... "Lili." "What have you done, Goblin King!"  Titania exclaimed, horrified, taking both hands to her mouth, as she watched in disbelief through the crystalline waters of Avalon. "I will kill him!" Puck yelled angrily, balling his hands into fists. "You will not interfere," Titania ordered him, turning to face him.  "Do not interfere," she repeated sadly.  "Or do you think Lili would want you to harm him?" That seemed to calm the enraged Fae.  Puck sighed and shook his head.  "It was my fault.  How could I have been so wrong?  I should have been there to protect her!  I promised her!" Titania smiled gently.  "You could have done nothing, Puck.  No.  We all knew he would get angry when the truth was revealed to him...  Including Lili.  She took a great risk in telling him..." "And she lost," Puck interrupted her. The queen of Avalon shook her head.  "No.  Jareth does love her... Unfortunately he realized that... too late." "This cannot be the end, my queen!" Puck exclaimed, desperate, raising his hands. "The future is not written in the stars," a sad Titania soothed him.