A/N: Hi everyone, this is my first attempt at a Labyrinth fanfiction, and I couldn't get certain images to stop flashing in my mind, so I figured they should be written down. I hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except a copy of the movie.

Clarity

Chapter One: Frozen Waves of Past

The afternoon was bright and clear, with the sun lazily spreading its rays across the lush diversity of flora that presided in the garden. To many, this was a beautiful and peaceful Saturday meant to be spent with friends and family and for some, this Saturday would be a day that was remembered as the start of something so magnificent and monumental that they would wonder for years to come what it had all meant. However, for this young woman, today was simply the day she was marrying the man she loved.

To call this day as something simple was an understatement to say the least. Despite their relationship going strong for several years, she still did not have the acceptance of her fiancés' family and with this thought, she gave a disheartened sigh. I doubt they will ever truly accept me as their daughter-in-law, she thought bitterly to herself. She looked down at her fingers as they pulled at each other nervously and glanced quickly out the window.

Her spot on the windowsill had one of the best views, and she wished she could appreciate the beautiful lushness of the gardens, with its soft green grass and neat rose hedges that she could see were straining to grow wildly. She couldn't forget the harsh and cruel words her future husband's mother had screamed at her when they had told his family they were preparing to become married, and she couldn't forget the look on his father's face either - a mixture of disdain, disappointment and barely concealed anger. Was it spiteful then that she was secretly glad that her fiancé had decided to forge ahead with the wedding, his family be damned?

She gave herself a small smile. No, it wasn't spiteful, but she was fully aware of all the hardships that would come with being a newlywed family without the financial support of his family. I wonder if these hardships will be unnumbered too, she thought to herself with a slight giggle. She looked out into the gardens once more, her mood suddenly lightened. She could see the large marquee set up, with long tables being set with cutlery for her reception later in the evening and the helpers stringing fairy lights across the trees and hedges. A sudden image flashed into her mind.

Giggling softly with a quiet melody lilting the background, her bare feet trod across soft blades of grass with a small modicum of rhythm, whilst the gentle moonlight washed over her pale skin. The gentle feel of their clasped hands brought a peace to her heart and she let herself be twirled whilst the full skirt of her dress twirled and swished with her. She was twirling and laughing and twirling some more and the fairy lights on the trees were starting to blend together and oh! she was starting to get dizzy. She opened her mouth to start berating him when her foot stepped over the other and she fell forward, her hands outstretched waiting to bear the brunt of the impact onto the grass.

"Do you believe I would let you fall, precious?" his soft words tickled her ear as she realised she had never hit the ground, but was instead encircled with strong arms snaking around her waist. For a moment, all she could hear and feel was the thundering of her heartbeat and the heat from his chest radiating into her back. She placed her hands over his and rotated her body so his bare hands now rested on the small of her back, where he could lay claim to the creamy expanse of flesh that was revealed with her backless dress. Slowly placing her hands onto the patch of bare chest that was revealed by his silky shirt, she raised onto her tip toes and whispered into his ear with a sultry smile "Oh, but my dear lord, I've already fallen..".

With movement as quick as lightning, he grasped her wrists in his hands and took possession of her mouth with his own. He attacked her mouth with a demanding aggression, taking advantage of her shock by stealing any gasps away with his dancing tongue. She gave a small moan that was quickly swallowed by more of his unrelenting passion.

When they pulled apart, their breaths were ragged and he assessed the state of her lips with a smirk - they were now swollen and looking thoroughly ravished.

"Sarah ..."

"Sarah!"

A loud pounding on the wooden doors awoke her from her daydream and she brought her fingers up to her tingling lips. She gave herself a little shake of the head to shake off the remnants of the memory. No point thinking about the man in those dreams anymore Sarah. Today, you're marrying the man of your actual dreams, she gently chided herself. She ran her hands over her gown once again and fiddled with the neckline. "Come in! The door is open!" she called.

Karen walked in, dressed in her finest outfit with Toby trailing behind wearing a rather smart suit himself. Sarah beamed at them and rushed over to the door to give Karen a hug, before bending lower to also give Toby a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She could see that Toby was not in the best of moods, with a pout and wrinkled eyebrows portraying his unhappiness. Schooling her features into something that resembled Toby's face, Sarah looked at Toby and pouted.

"What's wrong Toby-woby?" she asked in a mock grumpy voice.

The 12-year old crossed his arms gruffly. "I don't want you to get married."

"Toby!" his mother chided.

"Well, it's true. If Sarah gets married, then she won't play with me anymore."

"Aw Toby! Even when I'm married, I'm still going to play with you! You're still going to be my favourite little brother." coaxed Sarah in a gentle sing-song voice.

All she received was a gruff "hrmph" in reply.

Sarah looked back to Karen, to see unshed tears brimming in the older woman's eyes. "Oh Sarah, you look absolutely gorgeous. Brian is so lucky to have you!"

Sarah could do nothing but blush and do a small twirl for her stepmother that she had now come to regard as a close friend, if not a parent. Karen regarded the woman she had come to love as daughter with respect and sadness. She had grown up to be a remarkable young woman, and it would signify the start of a new chapter in the Williams' lives once Sarah had left.

With a sad smile, Karen told her that it was almost time to head out to her wedding ceremony. "Your father is just waiting outside Sarah. We're both so proud of you, and just know that we'll always be here for you."

"I know Karen. Thank you so much for everything. Is Angela outside as well?" Karen nodded. Sarah grabbed her bouquet from the small wooden vanity and gave herself one more look-over in the mirror. The off-the-shoulder neckline of her dress framed her face wonderfully, and her black hair was pinned up with white rose blossoms decorating the curls in between. She gave one more hug to Karen and ruffled the hair of Toby affectionately before she called in her dad and best friend to the room.

"Daddy?"

Robert William's head popped into the doorway and on seeing his daughter dressed in all white, ready to be given away to her husband, a sudden surge of emotion hit him. "Oh Sarah, look at you … "he whispered. "You're so beautiful; I don't want to give you away at all!"

"Oh Daddy, I'll still be your little girl. And I'll visit all the time!" Sarah laughed playfully, even though she felt tears welling in her eyes as well. Her relationship with her father had not been well when she started dating Brian, and it was only in past two years that their father-daughter relationship had really healed.

"I know darling, I know. I still remember when you were a baby on my lap … ". Robert's eyes glassed over as he headed down memory lane and Sarah took the opportunity to call in her best friend.

"Angela, thank you so much for being here today. You've been an amazing friend, and I don't know what I would have done without you!"

Angela only gave her a wide smile in return. "The pleasure's been all mine sweetie. Now, I'm going to head downstairs and get into position. This is your day, so don't let those two old warts mess it up, okay?" Without waiting for an answer, she headed out of the room and proceeded to the ceremony.

Sarah took a deep breath in. She was as prepared as prepared could be. "Daddy? I'm ready"

Walking down the aisle with her father, Sarah felt light-footed and light-hearted. With her gaze fixed steadily on her groom's face, she barely felt her father pass her arm over to his and his whisper "You take care of her now". She smiled dreamily at Brian, before registering the minister had started to speak.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony." The priest paused for a moment to look at the happy couple before continuing. "Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace."

With the minister's words, a swirl of memories crashed into Sarah and her face turned ghostly white.

I don't want you to get married …

… I won't let you marry him, precious …

… You're mine …

Before she could gather her thoughts cohesively, all she heard were two words that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

"I object."

A/N: Please review! I know what is happening in the next few chapters, so reviews will urge my fingers to type faster!