Not the Only World to Fall
Sarah is near to having the life she always dreamed of; her career is got her almost headlining on Broadway, she's about to be proposed to and her brother thankfully still isn't showing signs of being a goblin. But what would happen if Jareth's world falls apart, and hers along with it?
Chapter One
Sarah was on a sunny mid-day New York City sidewalk in front of a camera ready to start shooting her final scenes of her latest film in which she was the central star. There was a reporter for a national film magazine waiting for her sitting on a set of stairs off to the side, sipping coffee and waiting for her to finish so they could interview her.
People were fussing all around; lighting checks, camera checks and a new girl was fixing her long hair into a plait. The girl was smiling because she was finally there; Sarah knew the feeling.
Ok, so it was only a dream, but she was allowing herself to indulge. She fixed her dress so it lay flat over her stomach. Her male co-star was approaching from his trailer, he was the best looking actor in Hollywood at the time, and he was privileged to be acting opposite the Sarah Williams.
She was looking forward to seeing this play out, see what kind of actress she was; comedy, serious, dramatic? However, someone else had other ideas.
"A word Sarah?" A sultry voice whispered in her ear. She sighed, so much for a good dream.
"Not now, we're about to start-" She turned to face the voice she recognised and the city landscape dissolved into nothing. "Every time" She muttered as her surroundings refocused. They were now both in the white ballroom she had only ever been to once, but revisited many times in her dreams. "I was having a good dream,"
"It's you who keeps bringing me here Sarah." Jareth replied in a drone, he hadn't aged a day even though she'd aged ten. He removed his leather jacket and draped it over the nearest chair. He then sat down on the one next to it; he looked at her like a bored child. "What have you brought me here to brag about this time? What is little Sarah's subconscious wanting to tell the big bad Goblin King who offered her everything!"
"How do you know it's to brag Jareth?" His name sounded so strange coming from her. "Maybe I just missed your witty comments and cynical drawl." Sarah noticed for the first time she was back in the white gown he'd placed her in all those years ago. "And not so much of the little, it's been a long time." She shuffled across the floor in the heavy gown and sat down beside him.
Of course, it's been what two years since you had me here, actually thought you'd forgotten about me, and it's been ten years since you beat me. No more wishes to bring you back to my land either Sarah? Such a shame, always wanted to know if it was a fluke that got you through my labyrinth; which it was by the way." He raised a glass to his lips "here's to the only one to have ever beaten me." He drank deeply.
"You had any other victims since me?" Sarah looked his two toned eyes, even though it was a dream she was shaken to the core.
"I wouldn't know." He answered simply; she looked at him completely confused. She always forgot that it probably wasn't him; it was a dream after all. He sighed. "I live here Sarah." He pointed out the empty ballroom, then at her head. "You're memory. For all I know, you killed the real me ten years ago."
"You're not dead Jareth." Sarah smiled weakly "And you know it-"
"-because you wouldn't have created me to tell me about your conquests? So what is it Sarah, what other part of my promise have you achieved with out my help? Your brother not been killed by you? You famous now, you in a movie, or you just marrying a film star?"
"Almost." Sarah played with a fork that was on the table. "Toby's fine, haven't seen him in a while though. I've been busy." Her smiled broadened "Dad says he can be a right goblin at times. That's your doing!"
"Actually, I think that was a duel effort." He raised an eyebrow, a warning telling her not to argue. "Now, what is that's been keeping you busy? You'd just got into college the last time I saw you."
"I passed with flying colours, drama and theatre studies, four years ago now- Me! I've been working in the Little Theatre since- Me! And now I'm heading to Broadway- me me me me me! Well, not entirely, that's also the work of my boyfriend, he's bought us an apartment in New York; over looking Central Park." Sarah took the slice of cake from the plate of her blonde nemesis. "All me, not you, and you know what- it was a piece of cake!" She took a bite. "I think Eric is going to propose soon too."
"Who's Eric!" Jareth asked with indignation. He didn't like the name. He didn't like the guy.
"My lovely boyfriend, who I've been with for six years, he's adorable and has lovely hair." She explained.
"So you wouldn't dream of me because you felt guilty, dream cheating as it where."
"Don't be so stupid Jareth, I stopped dreaming about you because I grew up!"
"Then you're over me?" He questioned, standing for the first time since they arrived. "Are you wanting my blessing?"
"Over you! Sarah stood herself. "What are you implying Jareth?" She took a step towards him.
"No, dear Sarah, what are YOU implying- it's your dream after all. You brought me here- to what? Prove to me you're over me." He suddenly grabbed her waist. "Impress me?" He reached onto the table and grabbed the mask he's worn once before. "Or…"
"Or?" Sarah questioned as the first few beats of the song that had haunted her dreams so many times. FIGHT FOR ME! Her head screamed.
"… Ask you for one last dance!" It broke her heart; she knew what he wanted to say. He wanted to say what she was mentally screaming. But both of them knew he didn't need to say it. He was just being his brutishly coy self; As always. They glided across the empty room as the music echoed through the air. "Is this goodbye Sarah? Are you truly happy?"
"I've gotten all you had offered haven't I ? And I still have my brother. What more do I need?" She was trying to convince herself.
"But will he be there when your world falls down?" Jareth stopped dancing, that tell tale gleam in his eye. This time it was really him, after all this time he's finally ventured into her dreams.
"Is that a threat?" She glared at him, could he really be threatening to destroy all that she had worked for. He opened his mouth to answer when a cold rush flooded her body and ripped her instantly from her dream.
"Wakey wakey." Eric had pulled the duvet from Sarah and poured a jug of ice and water over her entire body.
"Jesus Eric." Sarah gasped, stumbling out of the bed; she was finding it hard to gasp her breath because of the cold.
"Morning," He insisted brightly as he pulled her in for a hug. It wasn't the first time he'd woken her with a practical joke, but no other morning had she been in the middle of an important, life changing dream. "It's our last two days here, do you really want to be spending it in bed?"
"What if I do, is that a problem?" She brushed his arms from her waist and headed towards the bathroom.
"You're such a grouch this morning baby. Does baby want to go back to sleep!" He pulled her back into a stronger hug.
"I'm the baby? I'm not the child who threw water over someone because they weren't getting attention!" She threw him forcefully off. She loved him, but he was high maintenance. Always hyper, always happy, Sarah had her down days, her serious days. She couldn't give him 24/7 attention. Yet somehow he still loved her.
"I was being-" The door slammed in his face. "- affectionate" He rasped softly on the door. "Hun, I'm sorry. It's just there's something important I want us to do today. I was figuring we could go pick out a nice crystal."
"A WHAT!" Sarah's heart was thumping as she opened the bathroom door. How did he know about the crystal Jareth had offered her.
"You know, a rock…." Her face was still pale and blank. "A diamond?" She still looked shell shocked. "Baby, marry me!" He bent down on one knee and grabbed her hand. "Sarah, will you marry me!" He repeated.
"Um, ok." She replied bewildered.
"Well, you go get ready, and maybe when you see that ring on ya ringer you'll be more excited. Then we can let your folks know at dinner tomorrow night."
"My dad and my step-mother you mean." She corrected. "I'll be ready in five minutes."
In a whirlwind blur they were at the most expensive jewellers in the area. She had known for weeks this was coming, she had been ecstatic, dreaming about how it would have happened; in a park with her in her best outfit and he would have already picked out the perfect ring and she would have screamed yes before the ring had hit her finger. Instead she'd said um, ok wearing drenched faded pyjamas and another man on the brain.
She had to stop thinking about the dream, after all that was all it was; a dream. Jareth had been the doubt in her mind questioning her reasons for being with Eric that was all. Standing over the counter, she pointed out the first ring that caught her eye. She hated that her whole heart wasn't in it; it had been a mere twenty-four hours before. Now there was some misgiving as to what Jareth would do and what would happen if she was to say yes. Was he still in love with her? He would certainly be a jealous King if that was the case.
"You certain about that one, money isn't an object Sarah. Whatever you wish will be yours if you just love me!" Eric took the ring from the shopkeeper. She nodded and allowed him to place the ring upon her finger. He leant in to kiss her when the ground began to shake. It was an Earthquake, simple as. But Sarah knew different, it was Jareth. She turned to the glass cabinet that housed crystal balls; they rocked off their perches and rolled off onto the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces.