AN: Hello all, a brief return into Laby fiction. I *am* working on Take Me Away. I
have a half written chapter that taunts me from my hard drive. Forgive me for the time
that has passed. I haven't forgotten, but am simply *extremely* frustrated. LOL
This piece came to me thanks to the lyrics of this lovely song, especially the refrain.
The song itself is titled "Regrets" (unfortunately already a name of one of my Laby
stories) and is off an independent effort by the wildly talented Nine Days. May their
newest creation be released soon darn it! I want a real copy.
I disclaim all ownership or rights to song and character. Words are my own. Thank
letylyf for being a wonderfully prompt and thorough beta. All mistakes within are my
own.
A review would be nice. I miss reviews. :)
************************************* Fade ****************************************
** Who's got time for faded words
There's nothin' new we haven't heard
I wish to hell that I could tell the truth
From all the lies we keep inside
Behind closed doors
Inside our minds
I pray to heaven, save us from ourselves
Well, here I am
Another day
A lifetime's passed since yesterday
Still I am no farther than before
Through all the roads and paths we walked
Endless nights alone we talked
Those miles will never mean a thing **
Time had been good to her when it was cruel to so many mortals. Age suited Sarah well,
with well earned lines and weathered skin that spoke of sun and rain and living under the
open sky Above. Her hair was streaked with gray but in sunshine it dappled silver. The
remaining brown was burnished copper. Her smile was much the same as her smile of old,
a mysterious quirk of lips meant to hide, not show. When she smiled hugely, which was
rare, you could see the even stretch of white teeth gleaming in agreement with her
happiness.
Sarah's eyes were the oldest part of her. She had learned numerous lessons over the years
and each one committed to memory deepened the darkness in her sharp gaze. The bitterness
was tempered with serenity. Sarah had done what Jareth could not; accept the inevitability
of life and all the joys and pains that it entailed.
Jareth mused as he watched the woman who was so much. So many things, so many people.
He didn't know one Sarah- he knew dozens, each distinct and individual in their personality
and quirks. This Sarah was one of his favorites. She was more beautiful than the
theatrical actress that had descended in Sarah's early twenties; more proud than the brides
that had walked down six aisles to six different men over the decades. This Sarah was
softer than the defiant child who had stood before him and demanded his obedience, his
world. Maybe the passing years had given her pause enough to understand his immortality,
at least in part.
He better understood her frailty, her determination, the precious loss of each
breath. When he sighed, his breath frosted in the North Dakota air as a stern reminder.
He took the offered iced tea with its accompanying slice of lemon and joined her as she
sat in one of the rocking chairs on her large front porch with a grace that didn't know
the bounds of age. Sarah was beautiful to watch. She flowed like liquid, or black silk.
** And I (I) never thought we had a chance
So you (you) you should fly away, and I will fade **
The Goblin King was at home in her penthouses, and mansions, or in this case, her ranch.
He was a part of Sarah's life, an integral part of the puzzle that spanned three quarters
of a century.
He simply didn't have a place in it.
Jareth sipped his iced tea with a grimace.
** Sometimes life can be so hard
You do your best and still you're scarred
I like you better than myself
And on this point we disagree
You give your love, you're never free
For, break your heart is somethin' I couldn't help **
Sometimes the quiet truths were the hardest to know. They lurked instead of making
themselves known because they were painful. Sarah loved him with a thousand small gestures,
from an open smile that showed teeth to the lemon in his tea. That didn't hurt nearly as
much as the fact that he loved her back, with touches and time and his unwavering devotion.
The most painful truth was tied to these truths. The hardest thing Jareth had
ever known was that, despite his impossible love for a woman who could live a breath of his
own life and experience twice as much, that they would never, ever name that love. That
he would never walk her down an aisle or slip a ring onto her finger to join the
ghosts of six others who were not nearly as worthy as he.
The lesson of unrequited love had darkened Sarah's eyes when she was a youth. These days,
they were almost black.
** And I (I) never thought we had a chance
So you (you) you should fly away (fly away) and I will fade (and I will fade) **
Sarah hummed as they watched the sunset together, comfortable because their situation
should be so uncomfortable. They never should have meant so much to each other. They
could never mean anything less.
The paradox sustained them and when she dared to hold his hand he laughed gentle, mocking
their attempts to claim what had been lost before it was born. She laughed as well,
tears brightly unshed in the darkness of her eyes. Jareth touched her cheek and she
looked away.
Even this Sarah had her pride.
** Have you got time for faded words
I've somethin' here you haven't heard
Wish to hell I could of told the truth
Well, there's all these words I couldn't say
A lifetime's passed and gone away
Still I am no farther than before **
They were staring at the stars and fine red wine had replaced the tea. Usually they sat
in silence, mostly because words were so hard for them, between them. Words had built and
destroyed so much in all the incarnations of their friendship, and quietly endured love.
It was easier not to speak and anything that made their time together easier was accepted
with relief. Neither was a coward, just very tired of living.
He surprised her then, by breaking the spell of the Dakota sky. "I am sorry, you know that."
She glanced at the proudly ragged line of his profile, mostly hidden in shadow. Sarah's
fingers trembled as she reached for her wine glass and wet her lips, leaving them red.
"You can't apologize for the world Jareth." His name passed with gentle longing, distant
and yet part of her. She ached with that distance.
"I can when I created that world."
Sarah sighed, the sound a rush of mortality, and he turned pale moonlight colored eyes to
her, mouth a firm frown that softened his usual severity with vulnerability. "I am sorry
Sarah."
She smiled, a gentle quirk of her full lips, and rose with ease. She took their empty wine
glasses and headed towards the house. She paused in the doorway, "Aren't we all?"
** And I (I) I think that maybe we had our chance
So you (you) you flew away, so I will fade (I will fade)
I will fade
You flew away
So I will fade
I will fade **
When she returned to the porch Jareth was gone. Sarah wrapped her arms around herself
and fancied hearing wing beats of a lone owl flying to the moon. She stayed in her
rocking chair until dawn and when the sun rose, her eyes were darker than ever. Her
breath misted in the chilly morning air as she fell asleep, gently rocking herself with
graceful, absentminded motion.
have a half written chapter that taunts me from my hard drive. Forgive me for the time
that has passed. I haven't forgotten, but am simply *extremely* frustrated. LOL
This piece came to me thanks to the lyrics of this lovely song, especially the refrain.
The song itself is titled "Regrets" (unfortunately already a name of one of my Laby
stories) and is off an independent effort by the wildly talented Nine Days. May their
newest creation be released soon darn it! I want a real copy.
I disclaim all ownership or rights to song and character. Words are my own. Thank
letylyf for being a wonderfully prompt and thorough beta. All mistakes within are my
own.
A review would be nice. I miss reviews. :)
************************************* Fade ****************************************
** Who's got time for faded words
There's nothin' new we haven't heard
I wish to hell that I could tell the truth
From all the lies we keep inside
Behind closed doors
Inside our minds
I pray to heaven, save us from ourselves
Well, here I am
Another day
A lifetime's passed since yesterday
Still I am no farther than before
Through all the roads and paths we walked
Endless nights alone we talked
Those miles will never mean a thing **
Time had been good to her when it was cruel to so many mortals. Age suited Sarah well,
with well earned lines and weathered skin that spoke of sun and rain and living under the
open sky Above. Her hair was streaked with gray but in sunshine it dappled silver. The
remaining brown was burnished copper. Her smile was much the same as her smile of old,
a mysterious quirk of lips meant to hide, not show. When she smiled hugely, which was
rare, you could see the even stretch of white teeth gleaming in agreement with her
happiness.
Sarah's eyes were the oldest part of her. She had learned numerous lessons over the years
and each one committed to memory deepened the darkness in her sharp gaze. The bitterness
was tempered with serenity. Sarah had done what Jareth could not; accept the inevitability
of life and all the joys and pains that it entailed.
Jareth mused as he watched the woman who was so much. So many things, so many people.
He didn't know one Sarah- he knew dozens, each distinct and individual in their personality
and quirks. This Sarah was one of his favorites. She was more beautiful than the
theatrical actress that had descended in Sarah's early twenties; more proud than the brides
that had walked down six aisles to six different men over the decades. This Sarah was
softer than the defiant child who had stood before him and demanded his obedience, his
world. Maybe the passing years had given her pause enough to understand his immortality,
at least in part.
He better understood her frailty, her determination, the precious loss of each
breath. When he sighed, his breath frosted in the North Dakota air as a stern reminder.
He took the offered iced tea with its accompanying slice of lemon and joined her as she
sat in one of the rocking chairs on her large front porch with a grace that didn't know
the bounds of age. Sarah was beautiful to watch. She flowed like liquid, or black silk.
** And I (I) never thought we had a chance
So you (you) you should fly away, and I will fade **
The Goblin King was at home in her penthouses, and mansions, or in this case, her ranch.
He was a part of Sarah's life, an integral part of the puzzle that spanned three quarters
of a century.
He simply didn't have a place in it.
Jareth sipped his iced tea with a grimace.
** Sometimes life can be so hard
You do your best and still you're scarred
I like you better than myself
And on this point we disagree
You give your love, you're never free
For, break your heart is somethin' I couldn't help **
Sometimes the quiet truths were the hardest to know. They lurked instead of making
themselves known because they were painful. Sarah loved him with a thousand small gestures,
from an open smile that showed teeth to the lemon in his tea. That didn't hurt nearly as
much as the fact that he loved her back, with touches and time and his unwavering devotion.
The most painful truth was tied to these truths. The hardest thing Jareth had
ever known was that, despite his impossible love for a woman who could live a breath of his
own life and experience twice as much, that they would never, ever name that love. That
he would never walk her down an aisle or slip a ring onto her finger to join the
ghosts of six others who were not nearly as worthy as he.
The lesson of unrequited love had darkened Sarah's eyes when she was a youth. These days,
they were almost black.
** And I (I) never thought we had a chance
So you (you) you should fly away (fly away) and I will fade (and I will fade) **
Sarah hummed as they watched the sunset together, comfortable because their situation
should be so uncomfortable. They never should have meant so much to each other. They
could never mean anything less.
The paradox sustained them and when she dared to hold his hand he laughed gentle, mocking
their attempts to claim what had been lost before it was born. She laughed as well,
tears brightly unshed in the darkness of her eyes. Jareth touched her cheek and she
looked away.
Even this Sarah had her pride.
** Have you got time for faded words
I've somethin' here you haven't heard
Wish to hell I could of told the truth
Well, there's all these words I couldn't say
A lifetime's passed and gone away
Still I am no farther than before **
They were staring at the stars and fine red wine had replaced the tea. Usually they sat
in silence, mostly because words were so hard for them, between them. Words had built and
destroyed so much in all the incarnations of their friendship, and quietly endured love.
It was easier not to speak and anything that made their time together easier was accepted
with relief. Neither was a coward, just very tired of living.
He surprised her then, by breaking the spell of the Dakota sky. "I am sorry, you know that."
She glanced at the proudly ragged line of his profile, mostly hidden in shadow. Sarah's
fingers trembled as she reached for her wine glass and wet her lips, leaving them red.
"You can't apologize for the world Jareth." His name passed with gentle longing, distant
and yet part of her. She ached with that distance.
"I can when I created that world."
Sarah sighed, the sound a rush of mortality, and he turned pale moonlight colored eyes to
her, mouth a firm frown that softened his usual severity with vulnerability. "I am sorry
Sarah."
She smiled, a gentle quirk of her full lips, and rose with ease. She took their empty wine
glasses and headed towards the house. She paused in the doorway, "Aren't we all?"
** And I (I) I think that maybe we had our chance
So you (you) you flew away, so I will fade (I will fade)
I will fade
You flew away
So I will fade
I will fade **
When she returned to the porch Jareth was gone. Sarah wrapped her arms around herself
and fancied hearing wing beats of a lone owl flying to the moon. She stayed in her
rocking chair until dawn and when the sun rose, her eyes were darker than ever. Her
breath misted in the chilly morning air as she fell asleep, gently rocking herself with
graceful, absentminded motion.