Chapter 1: Cassius' Legacy and Mourning

Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth.

Poor fae, the citizens of the Labyrinth whispered amongst themselves, everyone from the milkmaid to the pixies were speaking about the king.

His marriage proposal had been rejected. Oh, Sarah…. Why? He wondered.

He had done what was proper. Grant her wish, take the child. He didn't understand why she was so sad, so hurt that the screaming baby was gone. He did something he should never do; He reversed the rules.

"You have thirteen hours to solve the Labyrinth before your baby brother becomes one of us…Forever." He had emphasized, brushing his lips against her ear. She had shivered before pulling back, her face determination. Such beauty, he thought before sighing. He summoned a spell to bring him to the castle as his last words echoed in the air. "Such a pity…"

He supposed he understood why she was so determined to get Toby back after spending an hour or two with the tyke. He was so bright, and Jareth felt bad for taking him. However, he realized that his Sarah was also forgiving as well as fiery, and he hoped when the time came she would forgive him too.

That hadn't happened. With the help of his own people she had won the Labyrinth. He didn't know why they betrayed him.

Hoggle hadn't understood. He as a Dwarf didn't court the same way (Hoggle would say simpler, while Jareth would say more barbaric) and believed he had been cruel to the girl. As a citizen of his Labyrinth who had been around since the last kings reign, he understood Hoggle's betrayal, really, he did. For the dear reader to understand, they must understand this;

Jareth was a good king. Really, he was. The past king Cassius however, was a vain man, caring not for his subjects. He was unfair to his people, making them slave away to make the Labyrinth as beautiful as his vision. He nearly wiped the Lich extinct, sealed the false alarms and oubliettes away, and often beat the goblins when they accidently brushed against his clothes, claiming they were too fine for such ugly things. Yes, the time of Cassius was a terrible time indeed, and it would have no doubt been longer had a fed up half-fae named Yvonne not poisoned his tea. She was executed of course, but everyone in the Labyrinth was in tears that day when her last words were not to the Kings family, but the citizens of the maze.

"Please. Take care of my brother." She had begged.

Then the executer swung his axe, and that was the end of that. The brother of Yvonne became the rightful king by way of concession since she had no parents or other kin aside from the young fae. He was a mere 500-year-old, merely a child in the eyes of many and many feared he would be like Cassius. For 30 years' time passed like that, until one day an old trash woman spilled her trade at his feet. The trash covered his shiny black boots, covering them and his pants in garbage. Everyone held their breath, awaiting his response. This was the true test, to see if he was really like Cassius, or nothing like his predecessor.

"Are you alright, Madam?" He had asked her, concern (actual concern in his voice!) clear in his voice. The shaking woman nodded, and expressed her condolences in an equally shaky voice before kneeling. The new king laughed it off and helped her up. The rest of the square was shocked. The king touching who he thought was a mere peasant?

Little did Jareth know that that trash woman was known throughout the Labyrinth as one of the wisest creatures around. Priety was her name and she knew that in that moment, a kinder king there could never be. She gave him a gap-toothed smile and a pretty trinket (a spinning figure of a faceless girl falling through a room full of stairs.) and sent him on his way. The second he left, all the goblins, elves, dwarves, faeries, and other creatures gathered around her, eager to hear her word and spread her judgement. She smiled again, as her words filled the breathless square.

"Long live the King." She said softly, inclining her head to the receding form of the new goblin king. And the citizens of the Labyrinth knew then, that they were in good hands.

A/N: Review, let me know what you thought. PM me if you have questions.

I am, therefore I spread,

Pain