In Love With A Monster
A Labyrinth FanFic
Author's Notes:
I'm not really a fan of long and boring author's notes so I'll make it quick. This is my first published story. If I get some good reviews I'll continue on with it. If you all hate it just let me know, it'll only help me in the long run. Also I'm not a huge fan of the Labyrinth but I've seen the movie a few times and always loved all the fanfics about Jareth and Sarah and love their love. So I thought I'd take a swing. I don't own the labyrinth or any of the characters, obviously. Also if I do decide to continue on with this story just letting you all know that I work a full time job with a schedule that is always changing. Therefore my updates probably won't be on a regular basis but if you like the story just let me know and I'll be sure to keep posting updates, or at least let you know if I'm gonna let it die or not.
CH 1
We Meet Again
Before I start I just want to put it out there, I never thought this could happen. Never even imagined that I Sarah Williams would even consider calling on the monster that was the Goblin King. The same Goblin King that stole my baby brother from his crib and put me through the torture of the labyrinth to get him back. All the tricks and low blows that pushed me to the brink of exhaustion and tested my faith in my own capabilities. Nope, never thought I'd see the day when I'd be calling his name out loud. Wishing he were here. I don't know what compelled me to do it. To say the words that I promised myself and baby Toby that I would never say. But I did. Now here we are.
"Shit." I said staring at the smirking man in front of me. What have I done? It was a mistake. I didn't mean it. My life is over. All the childish thoughts ran round and round in my head but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of voicing them. That's exactly what he would expect, and as soon as he was proven right he would come back with some condescending quip that would make me feel fourteen again. Nope not going to say it. Instead I decided on a simple, "Hello." My voice quivered, I was sure of it and it made me cringe.
"Hello Sarah." Jareth said with a wide cheshire smile, "Long time no see. How long has it been exactly?" His mismatched eyes sparkled with something I couldn't quite place so I decided on mischief.
"Ten years now." I said casually, in fact today was the ten year anniversary. Maybe that's why I called on him. To prove to myself after all these years that he was just a figment of my overactive imagination. That it was all a dream caused by my crazy teenage hormones. Nope not a dream. Shit. At least I could say that I'm not crazy. Unless this is me going crazy after ten years of paranoia and fleeting glimpses of small odd shapes and whispers in the dark, when I'm walking downtown or hanging out in the apartment.
"My my, all grown up now are we? So what can I do for you, Precious? Surely there was a reason for your call? Unless you just wished to lay eyes on me again, in that case I'm happy to oblige, however I am a King and run quite a tight schedule." Jareth said teasingly with that same sparkle in his eyes. I gulped. What do I do? If I don't come up with a solid, strictly platonic, reason then he will think this is some sort of social call. That I actually did want to see him and then what is he going to think. Oh goodness this really was a big mistake.
"The thing is," I stalled trying to come up with something, anything, then it hit me, "I know you have been spying on me." I said crossing my arms and pulling on all my courage and strength to stand straight with my shoulders pulled back. "I want it to stop. Now." I said with a final lift of my chin, looking straight into his slightly surprised yet always amused eyes.
"You know do you? What makes you think that I would waste valuable resources on you Sarah? I have very few trusted spies and they all have far better things to do then watch you carry on your mundane lifestyle." He said with a small laugh. My blood boiled at this, of course he would insult me within the first ten minutes of our first conversation in ten years. He could never just treat me as a person. To much to ask of the Great Goblin King.
"Excuse me, but my life is anything but mundane. I lead an extraordinary life with an amazing job and lots of great friends. Frequent nights out with a respectable number of suitors. Therefore I do not appreciate your commenting on my life when you apparently haven't had any insight into it for quite some time." I replied with my cheeks slightly burning. I don't know why I had mentioned the part about suitors. In reality I hadn't been on a date in a few months. Friends? I had two, one of which was my eleven year old brother. However if he wasn't spying on me as he said then he wouldn't know any of this.
"You're a terrible liar Precious." He purred my given nickname and I shivered. Not in a good way, right? Damn. "Why don't you just tell me the truth." He said taking a few steps toward me. "You miss me, you miss the Labyrinth and Belowground," A few more steps, "this life you're living is draining you of all your creativity and imagination." He stopped right in front of me and I tried to back up, only to realise I had been backed up against the wall somehow. I guess my feet had been moving of their own accord while my eyes and attention had been settled on the handsome king in front of me. How had I gotten myself into this mess. "Come back with me. You'll find life in my castle much brighter and exciting then your boring nine to five job here." He lifted his gloved hand to my cheek and I couldn't breathe. What to do what to do. I couldn't actually go with him, talk about crazy. To go live in the castle of the antagonist of my nightmares, no way. 'What about the other dreams though?' What? 'You know the dreams where he isn't the bad guy.' Nope I banished those dreams to the depths of my cluttered mind. That small voice in my head wasn't going to let up easy though, not with Jareth's hand caressing my cheek and his eyes locked on mine. Oh goodness that look, my knees quivered a bit and my lower stomach grew warm. Knock it off hormones. Not going to do it, can't do it. He must have seen something in my eyes because the corners of his mouth tilted up a bit in a sweet smile that I didn't think possible for him. Wait why am I looking at his mouth, crap. Where do I even look, is he leaning in more? What do I do? I turned my head away and tried to get a hold of my racing heart.
"I c-can't. I-I have things here. I have friends and family and an apartment. I have a cat." All of these excuses came pouring out of me and I knew that's exactly what they were. My one friend besides Toby was a highschool friend who I rarely kept in touch with since she moved two states away and got married. My family, ha, besides Toby well my father and step-mother they never understood me and therefore were better at pushing me away then encouraging me in my life decisions. So really all I had was Toby. My baby brother who loved dinosaurs and dragons. Who kept his mother running in circles to keep up with him. The master manipulator who always knew how to use his big blue eyes to get what he wanted, even from me who knew every trick in the book. My apartment was really nice. It took me forever to get it exactly how I wanted it. Maybe my life wasn't perfect but my apartment was and Toby was only twenty minutes away. I just bought a sofa with a pull out bed so that he could come over and stay on the weekends. And my cat, Calypso. She was a beautiful calico with bright emerald eyes that matched my own. She could be a real brat sometimes but I loved her and couldn't imagine leaving her behind.
"That's all you have to keep you here? A cat and an apartment. I know you don't have many real friends. I also know you barely speak to your father. Look at me Sarah." Jareth said softly using his long slender fingers to tilt my chin back towards him. I kept my gaze cast downward but otherwise didn't fight him off as I should have. Something in his voice kept me still against the wall. He wasn't trapping me there I realised, I could move away whenever I liked. Yet here I stood with my back against the wall, mere inches from the Goblin King.
"So you have been spying on me then." I said defiantly looking up at his face to see his reaction. He was smiling a sharp toothed grin that just had sly fox written all over it.
"Yes, it seems we both lied some." Jareth said with a small chuckle. His soft breath hit my cheek and the scent was intoxicating and foreign. I found myself wondering what his lips would taste like. I shook the thought from my head. No no no. Not going there.
"Yeah it does, doesn't it? Obviously this whole relationship, if you could call it that, is just poisonous and wouldn't last long if I did decide to accept your invitation." I said raising my chin again, careful to keep my eyes off of his mouth and that ever present, all knowing smirk of his.
"So let me prove you wrong. You could be a queen and you will want for nothing because you will have it all. You can bring your cat with you by the way so that excuse is off the table. Also visiting isn't a problem so you could see Toby whenever you wish." His tone was soft and calm but he had this pleading look in his eyes that almost seemed familiar. I'm not sure what it was but something in me gave a little and I could feel the tension leave my body. His quick eyes picked up on it instantly and he leaned closer. When I thought he was about to kiss me he passed my lips and settled by my ear and whispered softly, "Please Sarah, grant this one wish of mine." I couldn't breathe. How could this have happened? Stay strong Sarah. Get a backbone would you? You can't take him seriously, this has to be some sort of game to him. Well I wasn't going to play. No sir. Not today. He was looking down at me again with a look of such hope that I almost reconsidered but no my mind was made up.
"My answer is no Jareth. I can't leave my life behind to be another pawn in your kingdom. I won't give up everything I've made for myself here." I said beginning to slide along the wall to where I wasn't underneath his majesty's cool gaze. A strong arm flew up lightning quick to stop me in my tracks.
"Do you never listen? In what part of my proposal did I mention you coming back to be a simple pawn? Nowhere. You know why? I have enough pawns. I have pawns to spare actually. So I do not need an insubordinate little girl to add to all the other dimwitted pawns that fill my kingdom. No. I need a queen. That is what I offered you, however, just like before you have thrown it back in my face. With that said I'll leave you to your pathetic mundane life that you enjoy so much." Jareth's cold voice filled the room and I resisted the urge to wrap my arms around myself for warmth. No I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. I stood stubborn as always as he backed away with a look of annoyance and, could it be, hurt painted on his face. That look made me want to reach out to him. Say something or take his hand but I refrained because it was a trick, it had to be. None of this was real. It was all an act to get me where he wanted me. Whether that be stuck in his castle as a scullery maid or a pet he could dress up and show off to his subjects and friends. Either way I wouldn't be fooled into thinking he would make me a queen, his partner in ruling his kingdom. Best case I would be a queen only in name. Told to sit still and look pretty on a throne next to my all powerful king.
"What kind of queen would I be?" I asked, surprising myself. Nothing he would say would sway me. But maybe I just needed to know. Needed to hear it from him.
"What kind of question is that? A queen is a queen. You would be the Goblin Queen. You would be my consort, my trusted counsel, my partner." He said with a flourish of his hand.
"Partner? As in an equal partner, or a silent one?" I asked finally voicing my biggest fear. My fear of being paraded around as some sort of arm candy or fascinating specimen that a human would be to a lot of the citizens of the goblin kingdom. What would I be to the rest of them? A joke? A fraud?
"That all depends on you Precious. Do you think you have what it takes to be my equal?" Jareth asked with a sad smile. That smile told me what he thought. He didn't think that I could do it. He believed I would travel to another world to simply play the part of his porcelain queen. Sitting next to him and quietly supporting his every decision without my input or thoughts. What kind of self centered, sexist piece of cow turd did I invite into my home?
"I know I have what it takes, that's the thing. It's not about what I think. I know. The problem here is that you don't. You don't think I could be anything other than your trophy wife. You want to make me your queen and then put me on the shelf next to all your other pretty little things. You don't think I'm worth anything more than my looks and witty banter and that is why I refuse you. I'm waiting for someone who will respect the strong and intelligent woman that I am. I would make an incredible queen, too bad you won't get to see it." I spat out with as much venom as I could. I'd be the last to admit it but knowing that he didn't believe in my abilities hurt, a lot. I wasn't sure why. Maybe because some part of me did want to be the Goblin Queen. Even when I knew it couldn't happen.
"You're correct, I underestimated you, again. It seems I'm making a habit of it. Sarah, I didn't mean to offend you. What kind of queen you become is completely up to you, because I'm entirely confident you will become a queen with or without me. That's who you are Precious. You were born to rule a kingdom of your choosing. It'd be my pleasure if you chose mine and me as your faithful and loving king. That's all I've wanted since you bested my labyrinth and left my kingdom behind as a victor and force of nature that no one could stop. Not even me, the most powerful king of the belowground. That's what I need in my queen." He finished with a slight bow of his head and yet again I found myself surprised and breathless. It seemed every time my mind was made up he circled around and undoes it all. This was the most frustrating conversation I had ever had, it made sense that it would be with him. He was after all the most frustrating man I'd ever known. 'Frustrating and incredibly good looking too.' That voice popped up again in the back of my head and caused me to groan.
I looked away from the king and tried unsuccessfully to keep my blushing cheeks hidden behind my dark locks. "I don't know what to say, okay? I can't just make a decision this moment. I have responsibilities here. I have stuff." I finished lamely looking down. I really was torn. A part of me still wanted me to not put my trust in him. Then the other part was swooning at the idea of dresses and jewelry and tiaras. It was my dream as a teenager to be a queen, not a princess rescued by the prince. No I had always dreamed of being the respected and loved queen of a kingdom all my own. Most times there wasn't a king by my side but if there had to be a king then Jareth would be the one, that was for sure.
"Say that you will think about it. At the least." Jareth said quietly standing by my side once more, pushing my hair out of my face. I looked up into those sparkling eyes full of hope and sincerity and I couldn't help but nod. He did something to me. I couldn't explain it. Something in the way his eyes held nothing back. I didn't expect him to be so open about his feelings. My heart fluttered and I smiled slightly. It had been awhile since my heart had decided to speak up and put its two cents in. Now I had to decide for myself whether I was going to explore more of this feeling or shut it down and leave it behind like the last time.
My head was tilted back quite a bit to be able to see into his face. I had only gained about another inch or two since the last time I saw him and he still towered over me. He smiled back down at me and leaned in slowly and before I knew it my eyes were closed and he was kissing me softly. His hand rested on my cheek softly and I wished it would tangle itself in my hair. I couldn't let this go too far though, could I? I sighed slightly against his lips and against my better judgement parted my lips a tiny bit inviting him to deepen the kiss. He practically purred as his other hand circled around my waist and pulled me in closer. What had I gotten myself into. My fingertips began to tingle and my knees grew weak. How am I supposed to say no to this? I knew I shouldn't have given in. What was wrong with me? I was weak, that's what. Spineless. I can't really trust him can I? What if I just got it over with now and then carried on with my life. Just because I give in tonight doesn't mean I'm saying yes to his proposal. 'You saw the hope in his eyes though, could you really lead him on like that strictly for your own pleasure?' That stupid voice, all night it had been trying to lead me to this and now that it was here it had to grow a conscience. With a groan I pulled away. Catching my breath I looked at the bemused face of the king who apparently didn't expect the festivities to end so soon. I laughed softly.
"I'm not going to be won over so easily Jareth, and I'm not the kind of girl who lets it go too far on the first date. And this wasn't even a date so really I shouldn't have even let you steal that kiss." I said taking a step back out of his reluctant arms. He may have been disappointed by the way things ended but I could see the triumph in his eyes as if he thought he had won.
"Well then, I guess we will have to do something about that won't we." Jareth said with a small smirk plastered on his perfect face, "I'll be seeing you soon Precious." He said with a wink and then he was gone in a shower of fine glitter before I could respond. I shook off the remainder of the dizzy feeling that kiss had left me with. A kiss had never left me dizzy before. That couldn't be a good sign, it had to be an omen or something. The universe had to be telling me that getting into bed with this man, literally and figuratively, would be bad for my health. 'Or it could be that dizzy feeling is from a lack of oxygen because that kiss was too darned good to stop to breathe.' Stupid voice in my head, shut up. This was the most the voice had said in forever. I was tempted to give it a name since it was apparently inviting itself into my life. Nope that would probably cross me over the line into crazy town. First you give it a name and then you start talking and having conversations and then the next thing you know it's your best friend keeping you company in a padded cell. No names.
I looked around and groaned loudly. Half the room was covered in that stupid glitter. It would take me all day to clean it up I was sure. At least tomorrow was Saturday but I definitely hadn't planned on using the day to clean up after Jareth's mess. Not that I had any other plans besides a movie marathon of some sort, I hadn't yet decided. I like to live in the moment I guess. 'You were just going to sleep all day like you do every other saturday which is why you never pick out a specific movie, because you know you're never gonna watch it.' Stupid voice wasn't wrong. "Whatever, any plans I had are now ruined thanks to glitter butt." I mumbled before shuffling to my room. It was one o'clock in the morning. Time for bed.