Dear Goblin King,
You cannot possibly expect this letter from me, the stubborn young woman you once knew and faced in a challenge. I have changed, you know: I am no longer the child that ran your labyrinth. Fairy tales are just that to me now, nothing more, nothing less. I still dream of a Prince Charming to whisk me away, but I know that it is just a dream, a simple dream. Your challenge changed me permanently, and for that I must thank you. I grew up in those thirteen hours, and I owe it all to you. Back then, I did not appreciate your offers, but you helped me see my folly. Perhaps I ought to tell you that I never considered my actions. That doesn't make it better, I'll admit, but you should know that I just followed the book. How could I think of anything but saving my infant half-brother Toby? I could not condemn him to the life of a goblin because of my own stupid mistakes. You must know that, in your infinite wisdom. What did you expect, after all? I believed I was the perfect heroine, and had to follow through as any other would. I would save the child, defeat the villain, and return home victorious. In my youth, there was no other course in front of me, it seemed.
I shouldn't babble; it detracts from the meaning of this letter. If you have made it this far through my letter without giving up, I apologize for the prattle. I simply had to tell you, one time before I die, that I love you. I have always loved you, the only one to ever offer me the means to get my dreams. Even at the young age of fifteen, I loved you. You were the enigma I struggled to solve, the puzzle that forever fascinated me. Now, on my deathbed, I must admit my true feelings. Here, in the aboveground, I searched for someone who could hope to compare to you, but no one came close. In my life, I lived without your sunlight, without your love, just my memories sustaining me. Now I can truly begin to understand the pain I caused you, and I'm sorry. Please, don't forget me, even if the only thing you remember is my ungracious victory over you.
Signed,
Sarah Williams
Sighing, I put my pen down, folding the paper lovingly, biting my lip. I stood shakily, walking to my mirror, calling Hoggle for the last time. He knew I was dying; I could not very well hide my symptoms from him.
"Hoggle, I need you!" I spoke the familiar words, and he appeared in front of me, his face stained with tears. Silently, I handed him the letter fro Jareth.
"Sarah, I just want you to know that I'll never forget you…" His voice was filled with grief as he continued, "You were my first friend, and I'll always miss you." He struggled with words after this, his tears closing his throat. His hands were clenched around the letter tightly, his knuckles a sickly white.
I hugged him, stepping through the mirror, my eyes falling on the beautiful Labyrinth. "Hoggle, thank you for everything!" I looked away, wiping at my leaking eyes, trying not to let my weakness show.
A year before, I had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and the chemotherapy failed. The doctors released me from the hospital, letting me live out my last days in peace. The sickness had sapped my strength, and the chemotherapy left me bald and pale. I sighed, knowing my last minute was forever nearing. Hoggle hobbled away, carrying my letter to his king, the man that frightened him so, for my sake.
I sat in the gardens surrounding Hoggle's home, where flowers bloomed in great numbers. The aromas were exotic and foreign to me, and ensnared my senses. I laid back, the soft grass cushioning my body as I relaxed, placing my arms behind my head. Above me, I watched as the clouds created fantastical shapes, and I amused myself for quite some time in this manner. Such was my afternoon, and I fell asleep peacefully, the light breeze tickling my face.
Some time later, I opened my eyes groggily, only to find a face above mine. Confused, I blinked, rubbing my eyes slowly, trying to dispel the illusion before my eyes. When I looked again, I still saw the same angelic face hovering over me. Unbidden, a single word rose to my lips, escaping in a whisper, so quiet that no mortal would have heard it, "Jareth…" I knew I was right as my eyes came into focus. His wild blonde hair fell over his infinitely deep, mismatched eyes and I sighed contentedly.
"Yes, Sarah?" his voice was eager, his lips formed into a smile unlike one I had ever seen him use before.
I smiled back, sitting up and turning to face him, "Why are you here?"
He didn't answer, he just hugged me close. His long arms wrapped around me, his hold firm and unbreakable. At first, I was shocked. I froze, sitting as still as a statue, but when he didn't let go, I settled into the position, his warmth penetrating the chill that had set in during the afternoon.
"Jareth, why are you here?" I insisted, unwillingly pulling away from him, my eyes searching his face for the answer that eluded me.
He looked away, seeming lost in thought, and I began to grow impatient. Just as I was ready to ask yet again, he turned to look at me again, his eyes shining with some hidden emotion. "Was your letter true, Sarah?"
Knowing now that Jareth was about to reject me, I fled, pulling myself out of his grip. Before he could say a word, I was through my mirror, and had shattered it with my fist. The glass flew all over the room, showering my bed and floor in bits of sharp pieces. I fell into the chair in front of my vanity, my chest heaving with my sobs. I could not bear to think of Jareth, the only man I had ever loved, and so hid the statuette I had under my bed.
Like so many nights before, I cried myself to sleep, my dreams turning into nightmares as my subconscious dredged up my worst fears, replaying that afternoons events over and over, all the while adding a concrete rejection rather than a simple look in his eyes. I tossed and turned all night, my face twisted into a mask of anguish as my nightmares plagued me constantly.
I awoke the next morning, finding tears on my face, my pillow wet from my crying jag the night before. Later in the day, I returned to the hospital to do some final tests, mostly to confirm the doctors' suspicions. I entered the lobby, and a nurse escorted me to a plain white room with a bed and a rolling tray. In one corner sat a hard couch and a TV was mounted on the wall. The sign on the door read "MASKS REQUIRED." I sat on the bed, holding my arm out so that the nurse could insert the IV into my vein. As she did, I gritted my teeth against the pain and I lay back against my pillow. I closed my eyes, trying to close out all feeling, wanting to be numb, so that I would not feel her prick my finger. She was humming a haunting melody, and it took me a moment to place it. Her song was the same one Jareth had sung in the Escher room. I blinked, visibly shaken as a memory plagued me yet again.
"I can't live within you"
Jareth's face seemed etched into my mind, his features perfect in my mind's eye. Try as I might, I could not think of anything but him, and I blushed scarlet as I remembered the thoughts and dreams I'd had of him in the past, none of which were suitable for children, if you catch my drift.
I was unable to leave the hospital until the testing was done, and so I dejectedly turned on the television across the room, flipping channels until I came across something I could tolerate. While the movie I had turned on was intriguing, I could not help it when my mind began to wander back to the afternoon before. My brain echoed with thousands of unanswered questions.
"What if Jareth still loves me?"
"What if Jareth hates me?"
"Will Jareth cry when I died?"
"What can I do to make him forgive me?"
These thoughts echoed louder and louder until I could hear nothing else. My guilt surrounded me, smothering me like a gag in my mouth.
After waiting for what seemed to be forever, a woman knocked on my door. Her hair was pulled away from her rounded face, and her green eyes were magnified by her glasses. She wore an expression of shock, her mouth slightly open. "Sarah?" This woman had been my doctor since I had first been diagnosed, and I literally trusted her with my life.
"Yes?" I turned to look at her, knowing she came to announce my death date.
"Sarah, your case is a miracle! I've never seen such a turn around!" My eyes widened in surprise. Was she referring to what I thought she was? "You're officially cancer-free! Somehow, you've gone into remission!" There was a light in the doctor's eyes that I had never seen before, a kind of triumphant expression twisting her features. I knew that this kind of thing was why she loved her job. I had gotten lucky, my doctor was one of those people who did what she did for the results, not the money.
I gasped, my relief palpable. "You mean, I'm cured?!" I practically shouted. I leapt from the bed, running to hug the doctor. Before I could reach her, I was pulled back by the IV tube that was still attached to my arm. We both laughed, and she hugged me as we shared my joy.
"You are free to go home," she laughed, removing the IV from my arm. "Just make sure you come back every year for a check-up, to make sure it hasn't come back, ok?" She sent me to the main desk to check out, and I skipped down the hall and out of the hospital.
Upon reaching home, I remembered shattering the mirror. I rushed into the bathroom facing the mirror there instead. "HOGGLE!" I screamed, struggling to contain my excitement.
He looked up, surprised to see me smiling so broadly on what he assumed was my death day. "Yes, Sarah?" He stood up, walking closer to the mirror on his end.
I stepped through again, hugging him and swinging him around. "I'm cured! I'm cancer-free!" I cried, unable to stand still as I fiddled with some of Hoggle's knick-knacks.
"That's great, Sarah!" He replied happily, his face lit up by his smile. For hours, we celebrated my miraculous recovery, my second chance at life. Sir Didymus and Ambrosias rode over to investigate upon hearing the ruckus. Once they hear the news, they too joined in the celebration. Next, Ludo came to the party, crying his delight and inviting his rock friends. By the end of the evening, every creature I had met along my trek through the labyrinth was collected in Hoggle's gardens, save one. Unnoticed by the crowd of well-wishers, I slipped away, leaning against the labyrinth wall.
My face felt frozen in my mask of joy, but behind it was grief. I had run from the only man I wanted, and he would never forgive me! A single tear escaped my eye and rolled down my face, a pure contradiction to the smile I still wore. I closed my eyes, picturing his face, his undeniable beauty.
"I cannot be without him!" I whispered to myself fervently. I would go to the ends of the earth for him, and further, if I could. I was willing to prove my love in any way possible, and so I set off to find the door to the labyrinth, the only way to reach Jareth's castle without an invitation.
The gates were easy to find, and upon request they opened silently. I entered the labyrinth, and turned right immediately, following my path from years before. After running a short distance, I came across the hidden doorway and went the way I had originally intended. Sure enough, I found myself at the gates of the Goblin City within minutes, and they creaked open without a sound.
"How strange!" I thought. "Where are all the goblins and the other creatures that should be blocking me?" I silently wondered. Suddenly, the realization hit me. "They're at Hoggle's!" My inner voice cried delightedly. I could reach Jareth without the struggle. There would be plenty of that when I finally got to him. My feet led me through the deserted city, bringing me ever closer to the Castle. I could only hope that Jareth was yet unaware of my presence, so that I might surprise him. I reached the immense castle without a problem, but I didn't know where to go from there. I walked in through the main door, and the sight that greeted me was quite different than the one that had greeted me seven years before. The front hall was a sparkling white marble, with a red rug lying on the floor. I followed this carpet, awestruck by the sheer magnificence of His Majesty's castle. Obviously, the castle I'd seen last time was another illusion, a test. I smiled now, knowing just how much had changed since I had last visited this place. By following the rug, I found myself led past several rooms, including the kitchen (which was HUGE!), the dining room (which seemed to be able to hold thousands), and a ballroom (which looked exactly like the one from the peach-induced dream). The carpet ended in front of a grand throne, which was sadly empty. A crown sat on the cushion of the chair, glittering in the moonlight which now streamed through a window. Looking around, I noticed a single staircase, hidden behind the throne. Hastily, I ran over to it, bounding up the stairs a few at a time.
The stairs led, as I knew they would, to the Escher room. This time, I knew that it was pointless to look for something, or someone in this room, because if I did, they would inevitably move away. Nonetheless, I tip-toed through the room, hoping to stumble upon my king. Of course, I did not have such luck, and found myself back at the entrance after an hour of exploring. Knowing that I would not be able to find my way out on my own, I took the hint, and quickly leapt back down the stairs, ready to continue my quest. As I reached the bottom stair, however, my eyes flew to the throne, which was now occupied by a very grumpy looking Jareth. I stopped in mid-step, trying to decide on a plan. Quickly, I pulled my hood over my head, and zipped up my jacket. I bowed my head low and hid my shape using a poor posture. Humbly, reverently, I crawled before the king.
"Your majesty?" I whined, trying my best to sound like a servant.
"Yes what is it?" He waved his hand in my general direction, never once looking at the huddle thing in front of him.
"I was wondering, would you mind giving me a tad bit of advice?" I kept my voice gruff, disguised, and I kept my face to the floor, lest he recognize me and ruin my plan.
"Yes, yes, out with it, so you can leave me in peace." His annoyance was clear, and I nearly backed out, afraid that my plan would just further his anger.
"Your Majesty, sir, I've fallen in love with someone high above me in station and who could never love me!" I mumbled, barely coherent. He leaned toward me, trying to hear the intriguing subject. "However, after I admitted my feelings, I fled, and he'll never forgive me, Highness! What am I to do?" Grief colored my statement now, as I continued my charade.
He tapped his riding crop against the side of his throne, deep in thought. "What is your name?" He asked me, his tone curious.
I pulled back the hood before answering, "Sarah, sir." I swallowed. This was it, the moment of truth. Now, I would know his true feelings, once and for all.
His shock was clear. His mouth was open, and his eyes roamed over my body time and time again as he verified the statement. "Sarah?" He gasped, slowly standing.
"It's me, Jareth… Any words of advice for a love-sick girl, Your Majesty?" I smiled weakly, my eyes desperate, yet full of hope.
Once again, he did not say anything, and I feared all was lost. I truly feared rejection as he stepped ever closer. When he was no more than a breath away, he took my hands and led me in a dance, music magically playing around us. When I looked down, my clothes had changed and I was wearing the same gown I had worn long ago. My hair was curled around my face. My eyes grew wide as I realized that. I had hair! I wasn't bald!
"Thank you Jareth!" I breathed, my eyes full of gratitude.
He merely shook his head and continued to spin me around his throne room gracefully. "Sarah, my advice to you is: say yes."
I pondered his words for a moment before answering, "Say yes to what?" I looked at him quizzically, totally unaware of his intentions.
He stopped dancing as the music ended, and he knelt in front of me, holding my hands in his. "Be mine?" He asked simply, his eyes focused on me, my mouth open in shock, mirrored by my eyes.
I leapt on him, my lips meeting his for the first time as I tangled my hands in his hair. My eyes were closed in pure bliss when he responded in kind, lifting me into his arms as our kiss deepened. When we were both gasping for air, he set me gently on the floor, holding my left hand in his right, a beautiful ring made entirely of crystal in his left.
"I'll take that as a yes!" He smiled, a brilliant smile that made his whole face glow. I laughed, my eyes brimming with tears of happiness as he slipped the ring on my finger.
"Of course I'll be yours, Jareth! Yes!!" I giggled quietly, wrapping my arms around him, pulling him closer to me. We stayed like that until a pounding on the throne room door demanded Jareth's attention.
"Come in!" He called authoritatively. The door was pushed open, and Hoggle ran in breathlessly.
"Your Highness!" He bowed low, his nose almost touching the floor. "It's Sarah, sir! She's made a full-" He cut off here, finally noticing my presence next to his king. "Sarah! We were worried about you! You can't go disappearing on people in the middle of a party in your honor, you know! It just isn't right!" He huffed, his face going red as he glared at me playfully. Realizing he had just interrupted a private moment, Hoggle excused himself from the room, babbling about stunning faeries and other chores he 'had' to do.
Jareth and I looked at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter after the door shut. "This was going to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship," I thought to myself as Jareth walked with me to the balcony that overlooked the whole labyrinth, "A beautiful relationship indeed."
What do all ya'll think? I'll write more if I get reviews requesting it, and I've already got some ideas brewing. I'll tell you what, for every five reviews I get, I'll add another chapter, as long as supplies last (lol!) Deal? I've got some other fanfics that are feeling pretty neglected now, so you could read and review those, after this one, of course!
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