Take me back
To
The Labyrinth.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Labyrinth (even though I wish I did). I don't own any of the characters, or anything to do with them, including the songs. Any songs you don't recognise are probably mine. apart from my own songs used, I only own the plot. Oh, and Sarah's tormentors in the first chapter.
Chp 1: We Meet again.
I looked into his mismatched eyes. He looked so hurt.
"I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave". He said, holding the crystal ball. I looked down.
"For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great…." I whispered, trying to remember the line. Then it dawned on me. I looked back up at Jareth.
"You have no power over me" I said. Jareth looked defeated. He threw the ball up into the air. It fell, and as soon as I touched it, it burst, like a bubble.
"Sarah…"
I sat bolt upright in my bed, breathing heavily. I ran a hand through my dark hair.
I kept on having dreams of that night in the Escher. I kept on seeing Him.
"Jareth…" I whispered. I growled at myself. I hated that man. He'd put me through Hell. I'd almost lost my baby brother to him. Yet, strangely, I regretted saying those 6 words. When that crystal ball touched my hand, I still wanted him. I still do want him.
"Sarah!" I heard my step-monster, Irene, call. I groaned.
"What?" I called back.
"If you don't get out of bed now, you'll be late for school!" Irene called back. I growled, then dragged my butt out of bed and got ready for school.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey, freak. Seen any of your goblin friends lately?" Came the snide comments of one of the many people who teased me at school. I ignored him
"Hey, Sarah! Where's your Goblin King? He probably realised what a freak you are!"
People laughed.
"He probably saw how ugly she is and only took Toby because he felt sorry for him" More laughter.
I growled, then ran into the girls bathroom. Tears stung my eyes. I looked down, leaning on the basin.
"How you turn my world, you precious thing…" . I gasped and looked up into the mirror.
"Jareth?" I asked, hope filling my chest.
"Jareth, please… Take me away. Save me…" I whispered, more tears falling down my cheeks.
"Sarah…."
I looked into the mirror again, and stumbled backwards into a body.
I whirled around.
"Jareth!" I cried, fear replacing sadness.
"Hello, Sarah. Miss me, did you?" He asked, smiling. Anger soon replaced fear altogether, and I slapped him, hard. His face whipped to the side. He looked back at me, and I slapped at him again, but he grabbed me by the wrist, so I slapped at him with my other hand. That too he grabbed by the wrist. He whirled me around and shoved me up against a wall.
"Now now, Sarah" He said, clearly mocking me.
"That was for everything you put me through! That was for stealing my baby brother and for putting me through Hell to get him back! " I hissed. Jareth sneered.
"I can't believe I have to remind you that you asked me to take the child! All I did was make your wish come true! Never heard of the saying "Be careful what you wish for"? Now, tell me why you wished me here" Jareth said, letting go of my wrists and walking away from me a couple of steps before turning around to me.
"I don't know what you're talking about" I growled. Jareth smiled. He conjured a crystal ball and showed it to me.I saw myself just a few minutes ago, crying over the basin and saying "Jareth, please… Take me away. Save me…".
I felt a sob wrack through me, then cursed myself for it.
"Probably because I'm sick of not fitting in to this place. Ever since I left the Underground, things just haven't been right. I confided in my closest friends and told them about the Labyrinth and everyone in it, including you. Of course, they let slip to just about everyone in school. Now I'm being mocked. My Dad and Irene are favouring Toby over me. Nobody cares about poor little over-imaginative Sarah Williams anymore" I said, spitting out the last sentence bitterly.
"I do" Jareth said, and I looked back up at him.
"You do?" I asked bitterly. Jareth nodded.
"Yes" He said. I looked down.
"Are you truly unhappy here?" He asked. Tears fell down my cheeks again.
"Yes" I said. Jareth gently took my chin in his leather gloved hand and lifted my face to meet his.
"Do you want to come back to The Underground with me?" He asked. Another sob wracked my body.
"M-More than anything" I said. Jareth enfolded me in his arms, holding me close.
"Then close your eyes, Sarah" He whispered. I did.
The sound of the school and the smell of the toilets disappeared. It was replaced with a warm breeze and the echoing sound of movements within the walls of a castle.
"My Lady!" Came an all too familiar voice. My eyes flew open.
"Sir Didymus!" I cried, breaking away from Jareth and running over to my friend. I scooped him up into my arms and whirled him around.
"Oh, my Lady! Please put me down!" Sir Didymus cried. I stopped spinning and put him down.
"Sorry, Didymus" I said, grinning sheepishly as the poor fox tried to stay on his feet.
"It's perfectly alright, my Lady" He said, smiling up at me."Sawah?" Came a deep voice. I turned."Ludo!" I cried, running into the arms of the furry giant that was my friend, Ludo.
"Sawah back!" Ludo said. I smiled.
"Yes, Sarah back. Oh, how I missed you, Ludo!" I said. I pulled away from him.
"You too, Didymus!" I said. I looked around, realising that someone was missing.
"Didymus, where's Hoggle?" I asked, looking at the fox goblin. He sighed and swept his hat from his head. My eyes widened.
"No. Please, no!" I cried, whirling around to look at Jareth, who had his head bowed. I looked back at Didymus.
"How.. When…" I said, looking lost. I fell to my knees, tears welling in my eyes once again.
"He was in his oubliette, and there was an under-earth rumble. The oubliette- the oubliette was unstable and…." Sir Didymus said, trailing off, unable to continue. He didn't have to.
"Hoggle…." I whispered, sobs threatening to wrack my body again. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked. It was Jareth. I fell back on my bottom, crying now. Jareth slipped a hand under my knees, his arm following. His other arm wrapped around my back. He lifted me up in a bridal carry. My arms wrapped around his neck and I held on to him. He carried me up the stairs. We walked along a hallway, passed what I recognised the entrance to the Escher. We continued along the hallway and turned right into another hallway that was lined with doors. Jareth stopped at the very end of the hall. He gently kicked open a set of double doors.
"These are my chambers" He said. The doors opened and my eyes widened. His room…. His room was magnificent. Everything was white. On the wall across from the balcony sat an elegant four poster bed. The drapes were white and hung around the bed. The balcony doors were open. The curtains were also white. A soft breeze blew into the room, moving the drapes and curtains. The Goblin city lay below, glittering in the setting sun. There was a white wardrobe on the other wall. Beside it, a vanity desk and mirror.
Jareth carried me over to the bed. The sheets were white also. He laid me on the bed. He pulled my shoes off, then pulled the covers out from under me. He placed them over me. He tucked me in, then leaned down and kissed me on the forehead.
"Sleep, Sarah. I'll come and wake you up when it's time for dinner to be served" He said. He smiled down at me, then turned and walked out of the room, closing the doors behind him. I snuggled down in the covers. My forehead tingled in the place Jareth had kissed me.
I smiled softly, then closed my eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~
I was dreaming again, dreaming of the night in the crystal ball where Jareth had trapped me. The look in his eyes when we were dancing together. Him singing to me…
"I'll paint you mornings of gold,
I'll spin you valentine evenings.
Though we're strangers till now.
Were choosing the path between the stars,
I'll leave my love between the stars"
I'd sung that song so often after I'd returned to The Aboveground."Sarah, wake up" Came a deep, masculine voice.
My eyes fluttered open. Jareths' face hovered above mine. He smiled when he saw my eyes open.
"It's time for us to eat, Sarah. There are dresses in the wardrobe. Pick one and wear it for dinner" He said. He stood, then left the room once more, closing the doors behind him. I slid out of the bed and padded across the floor to the wardrobe. I opened it. There was an array of dresses. I skimmed through them, before picking one. It was a white strapless dress. Around the waist, there were white ribbons. And from the bust down to the hips, there were tiny diamonds sown onto the dress. I undressed, leaving only my underpants. I slipped the dress on. It fitted perfectly. I found a pair of white sequined flat shoes and slipped them on. I left my hair down and my face make-up less. I opened the doors. There stood Sir Didymus.
His fox eyes widened.
"M-My Lady…. You look positively breathtaking" He stuttered.
"Why, thank you, kind Sir. Am I to assume that you are my escort to the Dining Hall this evening?" I asked. He bowed and I curtseyed.
"Yes, my Lady. Your assumption would be correct" Didymus said. I giggled.
"Come this way, my Lady" He said. We walked down the hallway, but instead of going back the way Jareth had brought me, we went down another hallway. The sound of people talking got louder. Two goblins opened the double doors. I gasped. Before me was a large dining hall. Diamond chandeliers lit the hall, and below them was a large dining table. People were sitting at the table, talking amongst themselves.
"Sarah Williams, the first and only runner to beat the Labyrinth" Called one of the goblins. All eyes turned to me, smiling. At the top of the table sat Jareth. He was smiling. Didymus lead me to the table, a seat on Jareths' left. Jareth took my hand and kissed it. I blushed and sat down in the seat. Goblin waiters entered the hall and began serving the starter. I thanked Goddess above for my etiquette lessons that Irene had practically forced me to go to. I knew how to eat at fancy dinners like this. Jareth stood, raising his wine glass.
"Friends, I'd like to say a toast. To the return of the first and only runner to beat the both the Labyrinth and myself. The girl who had the strength, courage and wit to not only challenge me, the Goblin King, but to face the Labyrinth itself and win, to give up her dreams, everything she'd ever wanted, all in the name of saving her brother. To my first and only love, Sarah Williams" Jareth said. I gasped.
"To Sarah Williams" Everyone repeated, raising their glasses. Jareth sat again and took a hold of my hand and brought it to his lips. He pulled away and let my hand go. He turned to everyone.
"You may begin" He said. With that, we all began to eat. Jareth kept stealing glances at me, and I couldn't help but feel a blush creep up my cheeks. He leaned over to me.
"Be careful, Sarah. Your feelings are showing" He said. I smiled behind my napkin, hiding my huge grin. I managed to calm myself so I could begin to eat again.
After the starter was done, the main course was served, then the desert. Jareth looked at me with a cheeky grin, then stood.
"Dance, magic" He said. I smiled, as music began to play. Goblins appeared.
"You remind me of the babe"
"What babe?"
"The babe with the power"
"What power?"
"The power of voodoo"
"Who do?"
"You do"
"Do what?"
"Remind me of the babe"
"I saw my baby, crying hard as babe could cry, what could I do?
My baby's love had gone and left my baby blue, nobody knew!"
"What kind of magic spell to use?"
"Slime and snails"
"Or puppy dogs tails"
"Thunder or lightning"
"Then baby said…" Jareth sang, looking at me.
"Dance magic, dance ( dance magic, dance).
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance),
Put that baby spell on me.
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free" Both Jareth and the goblins sang.
"I saw my baby, trying hard as babe could try.
What could I do?
My baby's fun had gone and left my baby blue, nobody knew!" Jareth looked at me, and his gaze seemed to go right through me.
He then walked over to me and took a hold of my hand. He pulled me out of my seat gently and began to twirl me in time to the music. I giggled, dancing with him.
"What kind of magic spell to use?"
"Slime and snails"
"Or puppy dogs tails"
"Thunder or lightning"
"Then baby said…"
"Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free.
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that baby spell on me (ooh)"
"You remind me of the babe"
"What babe?"
"The babe with the power"
"What power?"
"The power of voodoo"
"Who do?"
"You do"
"Do what?"
"Remind me of the babe"
"Dance magic, dance, ooh ooh ooh Dance magic, dance magic, ooh ooh ooh. Dance magic" The goblins sang while Jareth danced with me.
"What kind of magic spell to use?"
"Slime and snails"
"Or puppy dog tails"
"Thunder or lightning"
"Something frightening" Jareth and the other goblins sang.
"Dance magic, dance,
Dance magic, dance.
Put that baby spell on me"
"Jump magic, jump,
jump magic, jump.
Put that magic jump on me,
slap that baby, make him free" The goblins sang solo. Then Jareth joined in.
"Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance).
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance).
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby"
"Join in, Sarah" Jareth whispered in my ear. So I did.
"Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic..
Slap that, slap that baby make him free.
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)" We all sang together, finishing the song. The other guests applauded. Jareth took me in his arms, his arms around my waist. My arms wrapped around his neck. I felt safe and warm as he hugged me.
"Everything I've done, I've done for you. I love you, Sarah" Jareth whispered in my ear. My eyes widened and I pulled away slightly.
"Y-You do?" I asked.
"Yes" He replied. He leaned forwards, his lips touching mine. I heard a resounding gasp across the room. My eyes closed, feeling his body against mine, the warmth, the energy from his powers. We broke the kiss, looking at one another. Jareths' eyes were sparkling. I couldn't tell if they were sparkling with tears or not.
"You are dismissed" He said to his other guests, still looking at me. I heard the scuffling of chairs and feet as everyone left. Jareth then lifted me into a bridal carry. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on as he carried me out of the dining hall.
"Do you wish to see Hoggles' grave?" He asked. I nodded.
"Yes. I'd like to say goodbye to him" I said. Jareth nodded. He carried me along the hallway and back down to the throne room, but instead of walking out the main doors, we went through another set of doors into what appeared to be a garden.
"Hoggle created this garden after you left. In the centre of the garden, we buried Hoggle" Jareth explained. He carried me over to a tombstone in the centre of the garden. Strange, white flowers surrounded his grave. Jareth set me on my feet in front of the grave. I gathered up my dress from the ground and knelt in front of the grave.
"Hi, Hoggle. It's Sarah. I'm back. Jareth is here with me. Didymus told me what had happened to you. It's awful. I'm so sorry, Hoggle. I wish I could have come back sooner. I really do" I said, looking down. I looked around at the garden, feeling Jareths' eyes watching me. I looked back at Hoggles' grave.
"You've made a beautiful garden, Hoggle. Some of the flowers I've never seen before. Probably because they don't exist in the Aboveground. But it is truly beautiful, Hoggle" I said. The two moons that lit up the Underground were rising. A ray of moonlight hit the garden.
"Sarah, look at the flowers surrounding the grave" I heard Jareth say. I did. The flowers had once been closed in the daylight. Now, as the moonlight hit them, they opened, emitting a soft glow, much like the moonlight itself. I gasped.
"Oh, Hoggle. Moonflowers" I whispered. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up.
"It's time to go, Sarah" Jareth said. I nodded, then looked back at the grave.
"I need to go, Hoggle. I'll visit often. I promise" I said, before standing up. Jareth took my hand in his, and together, we walked back into the castle and up to the hall of bedrooms. We stopped outside a door that was next to Jareths' one.
"This will be your room for a while. Until you can trust me" Jareth said. I nodded. He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine briefly, then pulled away.
"Goodnight, Sarah" He said.
"Night…" I said, trailing off.
I opened the door, then walked into my bedroom. I stopped dead, my eyes wide with shock.
"Oh… my…. God" I said. It looked exactly like my bedroom had before I'd been in the Underground. I felt tears come to my eyes. Everything that I'd thrown away as part of my "Grow- the- Hell- up- Sarah" phase when I'd returned to the Aboveground, was now here, in this replica of my bedroom. I ran over to my wardrobe and squeaked. My dresses… and my clothes from the Aboveground. My peasant shirts and my horse riding leggings…. I held a hand to my mouth.
I heard a tinkling noise and looked over to the vanity desk. My music box. There was only one new thing, though. There was a balcony. I closed the bedroom door, then walked over to the balcony. I opened the double doors and walked out onto the balcony. It over-looked the Goblin City. It looked beautiful in the moonlight. I smiled, then returned to my bedroom, closing the doors behind me, and got ready for bed….
R&R, please!