A/N: Well, I decided to finally post this story. It was my first attempt at fan fiction, and I never thought good enough to post. A friend of mine read it, and threatened me if I didn't post it (You know who you are, M.). This is the first part, I realized after re-reading it that it was the basis for a story that I posted a long time ago, but is not a Labyrinth fiction, is Harry Potter. How do they relate one with the other? If you want to read the Sequel, Is Harry Potter and the False Ghost. If not, stay with the pre-quel, which will be Labyrinth pretty much until the end. The title does not make sense now, but it will be as the story progresses. Please be gentle.
As always,
DISCLAIMER: Sarah, Jareth, and everything Labyrinth belong to Jim Henson Productions. I only own Mrs. Robinson, Carrie and Charlie. Oberon, Titania and Puck belong to William Shakespeare. As the World Falls Down belongs to the great David Bowie.
And now, the story.
The Searcher
Part 1
"…Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City, to take back the child you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great. You have no power over me!
The Goblin King looked at young Sarah with regret in his eyes, and he suddenly was transformed into a white owl.
Sarah noticed that she was in her living room, and went upstairs to find her brother safe in his crib.
For Sarah had won and vanished the Goblin King. The End."
"Wow, that was a great story, Miss Williams" said a little blond girl.
"Thank you, Brittany" said Sarah.
The kids were leaving the story room with their parents, and she started to straighten the room *Yeah, Sarah wan, but did she, really?* she thought bitterly, and pushed away that thought into the depths of her mind.
It had been what, 14 years?, since she saw him last. She was a 30 year-old librarian, entertaining kids at story time.
She did not know what impulse came over her to tell that story today, with a little bit of sadness. She had not thought of the labyrinth, or the underground for years, until couple months ago.
"Sarah, we finally decided on the theme for the Fund Raising Gala. It will be fairy tales. Who are you going as, and from what book?"
Sarah turned around to face Mrs. Robinson, the head librarian, with a puzzled look on her face "Going as?"
Mrs. Robinson smiled and said "Oh, I forgot to tell you, all employees are going to be dressed up as characters from a book, and to make sure no one repeats, I'm making a list. So, do you know who you want to be?"
Without even thinking, she said "I will go as Sarah, from The Labyrinth." As soon as the words came out of her mouth she thought *Did I just say that?*
"Excellent! Uh, dear, are you going to have a date go with you?"
"I don't think so, why?"
"The gentlemen donating the local insisted to go as the Goblin King, from the same book. Just checking, so we don't have 2 goblin kings in our party."
"Where is the Gala going to be?"
"Remember the old Drayer Manor? Seems that some realty company bought it and renewed it. They are going to use it as a social club, and they thought that it would be good PR if their first event was for a non-profit organization. So we got first dibs to use the manor. Isn't it wonderful? We decided to use the theme of fairy tales, since the manor looks like a fairy tale castle, anyway. Well, got to go, I need to check with the rest. Bye!"
"Bye!" Sarah said, automatically. *Oh, well, what's said is said.* gasping at her thoughts. *Where that thought came from?* shaking her head, she dismissed her thoughts, and continued cataloguing the new books.
"Sarah? Earth to Sarah!" Sarah snapped back to the present with a jolt and saw a hand waving in front of her eyes.
She turned around to find her friend Carrie, at the end of the hand "Come on, Sarah. We are going to be late, we are supposed to pick up the costumes today, remember?"
Sarah suddenly remembered "I completely forgot! Let me grab my purse and we'll go."
Sarah parked her car in front of the costume rental store. Carrie got out first, running to the store, to make sure they did not close. As soon as Sarah entered, she saw Carrie with a pale blue dress in her hands.
"Well, what do you think? Is this a great Cinderella dress or what? Oh, and this is Charlie's costume" pointing to a prince charming costume, evidently for her boyfriend of 2 years, another librarian.
Sarah sighed and said "It's perfect. Now let's look for mine." She had gone to the store once or twice looking for a costume, and could not find anything she liked, like today.
Carrie asked, "Your character does not wear a dress, so what are you going to use?"
"I don't know. There's nothing here that looks like it" replied Sarah, stopping in mid-sentence. "I might have something at home, that I can use, I think. Come on, pay, and let's go."
Carrie paid for the rentals, and after putting the costumes in the back of the car, they arrived at Sarah's house. Sarah's father had been promoted recently after her ordeal and they had promptly moved to a bigger house.
Six months ago, Sarah learned that her old house was on sale, and she decided to buy it. As Sarah opened the door to enter her house, she smiled internally. So many memories. Even sometimes she thought she could feel magic around the house.
Carrie followed Sarah to one of the empty rooms upstairs in which she still had a lot of boxes from her move.
"It's got to be here somewhere..." muttered Sarah.
"What are we looking for?" asked Carrie.
Sarah replied "There is a box with a big DO NOT OPEN sign in black marker. We are looking for that box."
Carrie shrugged and started looking at boxes with her friend. They had been looking for 15 minutes, when Carrie saw a box with something written on it "Sarah, I think I found it!"
Sarah went to her friends side, and looking at the box, she gave her a big smile and said, "Yep, that's the one!"
Sarah took the box and motioned to Carrie to follow her out of the room and into her bedroom. Carrie always loved Sarah's bedroom. It always reminded her of a princess room from a fairy tale. Sarah put the box on top of her bed, and started opening the box.
"I just hope is not damaged… is not!" she exclaimed with delight.
Carrie saw that she took out an off-white dress, medieval style, followed by a crown of flowers.
"That is a beautiful dress! You had it all the time?" Carrie said.
Sarah answered "Yes, but now is the moment of truth, see if it still fits!" Both of them laughed at that comment.
"I'm pretty sure it will, you still look like a twenty year-old. Remember about 6 months ago you were depressed because you were going to hit the big 3-0 and the guy in the bar asked you for an ID? He could not believe you were 29. That was funny, you trying to convince him that your ID was legit." Carrie said in the middle of laughter.
"Well, what do you think?" asked Sarah.
Carrie said, "It's perfect! Now, you only need to put on a pair of jeans under the dress, and you are set! I envy you, at least you get to wear something comfortable for the party."
Sarah took off the dress and hanged it in her closet. She put her shirt back on and they went downstairs at the sound of a horn.
Carrie looked outside and said, "That's Charlie!"
The two friends went outside to change the costumes from Sarah's car to Charlie's. When they were done, Charlie said to Sarah, "Well, I guess we'll see you tonight at the Gala, right?"
"I'll be there!" Sarah answered, and waived back to her friends. She went into the house, not noticing a white owl watching from a nearby tree.
Sarah arrived at Drayer Manor and looking at her watch, she saw it was 7:45 PM. *Good, I still have fifteen more minutes* thought Sarah.
She gave her car to the valet and entered. The place was beautiful! No descriptions could do justice to the mansion. It was decorated in a style that screamed antiquity, but no age in specific.
She was looking for Mrs. Robinson when she heard "Sarah, my dear! You made it! You just have to see the ballroom, it is simply marvelous. Not to mention the gardens, now that was a surprise in itself. Come, I'll show you were everything is."
She let herself be lead by Mrs. Robinson, who was dressed up as Cinderella's fairy godmother.
They entered the hallway, which was filled with pedestals containing antique books encased in glass. Most of them were very well known fairy tales like Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel. But in the middle of all of them, stood an enormous book bound in red leather with a sign in Gold Letters on top: The Labyrinth.
Sarah noticed that this book was very old, even more so than her own, and that the book was open.
Before she could see what part was being displayed, Mrs. Robinson said, "Come, you have to see the ballroom."
They came in through the enormous doors and she had a feeling of déja-vu. She knew it was familiar, but could not place why.
"Isn't this grand? And wait until you see the gardens. Let's go to the balcony, I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised." Mrs. Robinson said, still leading Sarah across the Grand Hall to the doors that lead to the balcony and gardens.
Sarah could not contain a gasp when she saw a giant hedge maze in the middle of the gardens.
"I hope the ladies are satisfied with the place" said a rich, melodious voice with a British accent right behind them.
*That voice…* thought Sarah, as she turned with Mrs. Robinson to the voice.
Sarah was stunned, to say the least. Jareth was smiling, he had on the blue vest with the poet's blouse, tights and black boots from the ballroom dance all those years ago.
*And still looks as good…* thought Sarah, quickly killing that train of thought.
Mrs. Robinson said "Mr. King, I don't know how to thank you for your generosity, letting us use this place for our Fund Raiser Gala. May I present you one of our librarians, Miss Sarah Williams?"
Jareth took Sarah's hand into one of his gloved ones, and saying "My dear Sarah, it's been a long time" took her hand and pressed it against his lips.
Sarah responded "Hello, Jareth. It's been a long time indeed" in the most civilized tone possible.
Mrs. Robinson looked at both of them with a puzzled look and asked "You two know each other?"
Before Sarah could answer, Jareth said "Oh, yes. We met many years ago, but lost contact."
Smiling, Mrs. Robinson said "In that case, I'll leave you alone, so you can catch up" winking at Sarah as she left the room.
As soon as they were alone, Sarah said "What are you doing here?"
Jareth tipped his head and answered "I'm just giving away a party. Nothing more, nothing less. Are you mad at me?"
Sarah answered, "I should be, but I'm not. Strange, isn't it?"
She let some giggles out that she could not contain. Jareth gave her a confused look and arching an eyebrow he asked "What?"
Between breaths Sarah said "Mr. King? Now, that's original. I'm sorry, but it's funny."
Seeing the look in Jareth's face, she sobered up and biting her lower lip said "You haven't changed at all."
"But you have my dear Sarah. And I have to say, I do like the change" giving her a very intense gaze from her feet to her head, making her blush, and she said
"Jareth, stop that! I thought that the last time we saw each other we agreed that we would remain friends."
"Ah, yes, almost forgot" he answered back with a mocking grin, making her know that he was joking.
After Sarah defeated Jareth in the Labyrinth, Sarah kept contact with her friends from the underground. Jareth knew this, so he coerced poor Hoggle to serve as a messenger between him and Sarah.
Sarah was not stupid. She knew what she had lost when she defeated the Goblin King, but she could not have let Toby become a Goblin.
When Sarah said that every now and again in her life she needed them, ALL of them, she was including Jareth in that statement, hoping to see him again. She was delighted that Jareth wanted permission to talk to her.
He had confessed his love for her, and she told him that she might harvest the same feelings for him, but she wasn't sure, to give her time. She convinced him saying that she was still too young to think of relationships like that, and that their age difference merited for her to be at least some years older.
But they agreed that they could at least remain friends in the meantime. Jareth was not too happy with the prospect, but agreed because it was better to have Sarah as a friend than being nothing at all.
The last time they saw each other was the night before she moved to the new house. The new house seemed to be lacking the magic of her old one, she could not even contact her friends afterwards.
She cried herself to sleep many nights after she tried to contact her friends with no avail. She always wondered if it was because her old house harvested some kind of special magic, or if something bad happened in the underground that she did not know about.
She thought that was one of the reasons that made her buy her old house when it came out on the market.
Jareth looked at Sarah and asked, "Why you never called again?"
Sarah looked at Jareth with surprise and replied, "But I did call. Every night for a whole year, but no one ever came."
Jareth frowned at this, for he was sure that he could get to Sarah wherever she was. He had seen her cry herself to sleep, and wondered why she never called.
Seeing tears forming in her eyes, Jareth walked behind her, putting his arms around hers, trying to comfort her, said "I never heard your call. I saw you cry yourself to sleep many times through my crystals, but you know I cannot come unless I'm summoned."
Sarah smiled, feeling very comfortable in the Goblin King's arms, and asked "If that is so, how did you came here?"
He smiled smugly, and said "I heard your call. You were asleep at the time, of course, but after all this years I'll take any opportunity to come back."
She turned to look at him, his arms now resting on her waist. Looking at her beautiful eyes, he said "Come with me, I have a surprise for you."
Sarah was filled with curiosity now, as she was lead by Jareth to the hedge maze at the Manor's gardens.
They stopped at the entrance of the maze, and turning to face Sarah, Jareth said "Now, close your eyes, and don't open them until I tell you."
Sarah did as Jareth told her, and felt her hands being guided by his. After various turns they stopped, and Jareth said "You can open your eyes now."
Sarah opened her eyes, and with amazement she saw that her friends were there.
She ran up to meet them, screaming "Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus! Oh, I've missed you all."
She hugged each one of them, and gave Ambrosias a scratch behind the ears.
Sarah turned to face Jareth and giving him a big hug she said "Thank you. This is the best present anyone can give me."
Sarah realized that she was holding him a little longer than usual, so she stepped back, her face a deep scarlet. Jareth was surprised, but very pleased that she still considered him a friend.
When he noticed that she was not letting go, he hoped maybe something more. As he saw her face when she pulled back, his hope increased.
Smiling very smugly, he said "Come, we need to return to the Gala. You will be missed pretty soon."
She nodded, and saying good-bye to her friends, she promised that she would call them. She was sure now that if she called, they will come. Jareth was proof enough of that.
Once they returned to the ballroom, Sarah recognized what was familiar about it. Turning to Jareth she said "This is the ballroom where we danced in the crystal ball."
Jareth just smiled as a response. Sarah heard her name and turned to see Carrie and Charlie waving at her. She waved back and caught a questioning glance from Carrie while looking in Jareth's direction.
They made their way towards her, and Sarah said "Jareth, I would like you to meet my friend Carrie and her boyfriend Charlie. Guys, this is Jareth, an old friend of mine."
Jareth took Carrie's hand and kissing it he said "A pleasure to meet you." He nodded in acknowledgement towards Charlie while shaking his hand.
At that moment, Mrs. Robinson came in "Mr. King, could I steal you for a minute? There are some people I would like you to meet."
Jareth smiled towards the older woman, and said "My work here is never done. If you excuse me, I'll return shortly."
Turning to Sarah, he took her hand and said "Save me a dance, will you?", kissing the back of Sarah's hand. He turned to Mrs. Robinson and left with the head librarian.
As soon as she made sure they were out of earshot, Carrie turned to Sarah and asked, "I thought you were coming alone. Come on, fess up. Who is he?."
Sarah looked at her friend and said "I did came alone. He is the one giving away this Gala. I saw him here."
Carrie was still not convinced "But you said he was an old friend."
Sarah said "Before tonight, the last time I saw him I was sixteen years old."
Teasingly, Carrie asked "How good of a friend was he? He hasn't stopped looking at you since he left."
Sarah looked at her friend, and with an astonished expression she said "What?"
Carrie looked very subtly towards Jareth and Sarah followed her gaze. What she saw made her blush, and immediately look away. Jareth was staring at her, very intensely.
Charlie went to Carrie's side and said with a mischievous grin, "Come, let's dance and give Sarah a chance to be alone and rescued."
Carrie smiled, and said "I guess I'll see you later.", while being taken away by her boyfriend to the dance floor.
Sarah absentmindedly took a glass of champagne from the tray that was offered to her, when she realized that the waiter was a goblin.
Looking around her, she saw that all the service people were in fact goblins, but only the ones big enough to be the size of a child, or a small person.
Sarah decided to take a look at the antique book exhibition in the hall. She approached the labyrinth book, and started reading.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hoggle found himself holding out Jareth's peach. 'Here,' he said to Sarah through clenched teeth.
Sarah accepted the fruit gratefully. But when she took her first bite, she realized that it was magic, "Tastes strange." Looking at the dwarf, Sarah said "Hoggle, what have you done?"
Hoggle's eyes filled with tears. He turned and ran back into the forest, hating himself and Jareth in equal measure "Damn you Jareth, and damn me too."
Sarah, tried to get a hold of anything, she was getting dizzy, "Everything's dancing."
She slumped to the base of the tree, and then Sarah forgot everything - Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus, even Toby.
There were bubbles floating above her, glittering bubbles that seemed to beckon her to some enchanted place. She could hear the music from her music box far away. She followed them.
The bubbles took Sarah to a white and crystal ballroom. She could hear someone singing in the background. Dancers whirled across the floor. In the center of it all, watching her, was Jareth.
He took her in his arms. 'Please give up this foolish quest,' he thought to himself. He continued singing, declaring his love. The music washed over her as he spun her around in dizzying circles.
She felt herself giving in. Then somehow, she watched the clock striking twelve, and thought of Toby.
'No!' she gasped. Pulling herself off the Goblin King's arms, she ran towards the end of the crystal.
Knowing she could not go any further, she took a chair and smashed it against the wall. In an instant, the ballroom and everything in it crumbled into dust.
Sarah found herself in another dream, floating down into a bleak, grey landscape full of mounds of junk. One of the mounds drifted towards her. She heard a voice…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Found something interesting?", a soft voice purred in her ear.
Startled, she turned to face Jareth, who was smiling at her reaction. She punched him lightly in one arm, "Don't do that! You scared me."
Rubbing his arm mockingly, he said "You did not have to be so violent about it. And here I was, going to invite you to dance with me."
Sarah could not help the smile that escaped from her lips. "Yeah, I will dance with you."
Jareth then stopped, and with his hand in his chin started circling her, while looking at her. It was her turn to frown "What?"
Jareth responded very seriously "If you are going to be seen with me, I'm afraid that outfit is not going to do."
Sarah looked at herself, and said "What is wrong with my dress?"
Jareth answered, "Nothing, if you are traversing my labyrinth. But Sarah, this is a ball. Ah, that is much better."
Sarah looked questioningly at Jareth, and then took a look in one of the hall's mirrors. As soon as she saw herself, she gasped. She was wearing the same dress from the crystal ball those many years ago. Even the complicated hairdo of silver intertwined in her hair.
She smiled at Jareth, and said "You had this planned all along didn't you?"
He smiled at her, and with a bow, he said "Guilty as charged."
Sarah took the hand he was offering her, and they walked to the ballroom.
As soon as they entered, Jareth stopped. When she looked at him to ask why he stopped, she heard someone announce "His Royal Highness, the Goblin King and Lady Sarah."
Jareth smiled reassuringly to Sarah, and they made their way to the center of the ballroom, people bowing to them as they passed by. When they reached the center, Jareth turned to her and bowed. She made a curtsy and they started dancing.
As soon as they started dancing, everybody resumed their dance. Sarah asked Jareth "What was that all about?"
He smiled, and said, "Don't worry, they are just playing along. Many people read the book before entering, and seeing the ballroom and the maze in the gardens, they got the general idea that they are living The Labyrinth."
Sarah looked at him and said "So what you are saying is that they are playing the part of your subjects? Cute, real cute."
They kept dancing, and she placed her head on his shoulder.
Smiling, he held her a little tighter, while they were slow dancing. When that song was finished, tinkling to the tune of "Greensleeves" from a music box could be heard all over the room.
Sarah looked up at Jareth, and the tinkling turned into music. She looked around for the source of the music, and was surprised to find an orchestra hiding in one of the corners of the ballroom.
She looked back at Jareth again, still swaying to the music, and noticed that he started singing that same song from those many years ago. This time she made herself listen carefully to what he was saying.
There's such a sad love
Deep in your eyes, a kind of pale jewel
Open and closed within your eyes
I'll place the sky within your eyes
There's such a fooled heart
Beating so fast in search of new dreams
A love that will last within your heart
I'll place the moon within your heart
As the pain sweeps through
Makes no sense for you
Every thrill has gone
Wasn't too much fun at all
But I'll be there for you-oo-oo
As the world falls down
Falling
(As the world) Falling down
Falling in love
I'll paint you mornings of gold
I'll spin you Valentine evenings
Though we're strangers till now
We're choosing the path between the stars
I'll lay my love between the stars
As the pain sweeps through
Makes no sense for you
Every thrill has gone
Wasn't too much fun at all
But I'll be there for you-oo-oo
As the world falls down
Falling
(As the world) Falling down
Falling
As the world falls down
Falling
Falling
Falling
Falling in love
As the world falls down
(down) Falling
Falling
Falling
Falling in love
As the world falls down
Falling
Falling
Falling
Makes no sense at all
Makes no sense to fall
Falling
As the world falls down
Falling
Falling
Falling in love
As the world falls down
(down) Falling
Falling
Falling in love
Falling in love (love)
Falling in love
Falling in love
Falling in love
Sarah was fighting the tears that were forming in her eyes. How could she have been so stupid? Hurting the only man she had ever… Her heart froze at the sudden realization. She had been in love with Jareth all this time, and still was.
Looking at him into his eyes she said "Oh Jareth, I understand now. Can you ever forgive me?"
Jareth just smiled, and said "There is nothing to forgive. I love you."
Sarah smiled and said "I love you too. Always have and always will."
Jareth's heart leapt with joy at hearing those words. He had longed to hear her say those words for fifteen long years.
A wicked grin crossed his face, making Sarah wonder and ask "Penny for your thoughts."
He looked at her, and with a playful tone he said "You know, if I remember correctly, the last time we danced together you owed me a kiss. I was thinking about collecting, with interest, of course."
Sarah arched an eyebrow, all she could say was "Oh?"
At that moment, Sarah could feel herself being pressed closer to him, and his face lowering to meet hers. When their lips met, Sarah forgot about anything else.
It felt like a thousand suns exploded at the same time, sending her heart soaring into space. She had been kissed before, but nothing had felt so intense, so pure, so right.
As the need for air made them separate, reality came back. Sarah noticed the amused stares of her friends, making her blush.
Sensing her embarrassment, he suggested "Maybe we should take a break. Have a stroll through the gardens, sit down, look at the stars…", and the wicked grin returned spreading on his face while he whispered in her ear,"…engage in some more pleasurable activities." , making her blush even more.
As they left the dance floor making their way towards the balcony, Sarah heard a voice calling her name. When she turned, she saw Carrie coming towards them.
Smiling sweetly, Carrie said "I'm sorry to interrupt, but the librarians are needed for a quick meeting."
With that Sarah looked apologetically to Jareth, and with a shrug, followed Carrie.
While they were walking, Carrie said to Sarah "What's up with the dress and the hair?"
Sarah blushed and said "Jareth."
Looking at Sarah with a smirk, she said "Yeah, some old friend. Where were you hiding him?"
Sarah looked at her friend and said "I have not seen him since I was sixteen."
Carrie was starting to get worried. This did not sound like her friend at all, "And how you explain that display in the dance floor?"
Sarah looked towards Jareth, and back to her friend "I have been in love with him since I was fifteen years old. The reason we met is because of The Labyrinth. You could say we were playing the leading parts. We saw each other afterwards, until I moved."
Sarah continued her tale "I did not saw him again until tonight. After talking for a while, I realized I still love him as much as I did the last time I saw him. He just told me he still loves me as well. I let him go once, I will not do it again."
Carrie smiled, looking at her, making Sarah ask "What?"
Still smiling, Carrie responded "Never thought I would see you so love struck as you look now."
When they got to the rest of the group of librarians, Mrs. Robinson smiled knowingly at Carrie, and then looked at Sarah.
Mrs. Robinson spoke "The Goblin King was supposed to be looking for a Queen tonight. He was to mingle with the crowd, and meet the girl who met his expectations. After the last song, I think we might now who he will choose.", earning some good intentioned smirks, snorts and cat calls from her coworkers.
Mrs. Robinson continued, "I just wanted you here to let you know that we will be cheering and clapping for whoever the king chooses to be his Queen. Just go along and improvise, this will signify the ending of the Gala, like a fairy tale. Any questions?"
Everybody shook their heads, and Mrs. Robinson nodded, giving a signal to the royal announcer, while they were rejoining the people at the ballroom.
"Hear ye, hear ye, His Majesty, the Goblin King wishes to address his royal guests."
Jareth stood in the center of the room, and addressed the crowd. "You might not know this, but the reason for this function is because I am looking for a Queen. I am happy to announce that tonight, I have found her."
Jareth stepped forward towards Sarah, the people getting out of the way as he passed through.
He took her hands, and kissing each one, he addressed her, "Lady Sarah, many think that this might be sudden, but you know how long I have waited for this. For fifteen years I have waited, and even that I am not a patient man, I have learned that good things come to those who wait."
Saying that, he kneeled before her, and said "Lady Sarah, I not only offer you my kingdom, I offer you my heart and my soul. Would you grant me the honor of becoming my wife, my Queen, my all?"
Sarah looked at his eyes and realized that this was not a light request for show, he was really asking her to marry him.
With tears in her eyes, she nodded and said a very thunderous "Yes! I will marry you. I love you."
As soon as Jareth saw her response, he stood up and held her in his arms. Creating a crystal out of thin air, he held it for a few seconds, and the crystal started to glow, until a blinding light was left.
As the light subsided, a ring was in its place elaborately carved with the same symbols as his medallion in silver and gold, and a crystal on top.
Placing the ring on her finger, Jareth kissed her. Voices could be heard all over saying "Long live King Jareth! Long live Lady Sarah! Long live the Queen!"
People started congratulating the couple, when she saw something big and red making its way through the crowd.
Her eyes went wide open, fearing people's reaction, "Ludo!"
The strange thing is that the rest of the people treated Ludo like if seeing a monster was an everyday event.
When he got close enough, she saw that Sir Didymus and Hoggle were following the giant beast. Ludo exclaimed "Sarah, Queen friend!"
Sir Didymus bowed and said "Your Majesties, my most sincere congratulations and best wishes on your impending nuptials."
It was Hoggle's turn, and taking Sarah's hand said "Congratulations Sarah. I just hope you can cope with His Stubbornness."
Hoggle turned to Jareth, but instead of looking scared, he looked at Jareth very smugly, and said "Well?".
Jareth looked at the dwarf sternly for a second, and then threw his head back and laughed. Then he said "Well Hoggle, my friend, I have to admit that you were right. The ball has much better results without the use of a drugged peach."
Sarah looking confused at Jareth and Hoggle, said "What is going on? Why you are so civil to Hoggle?"
Jareth turned to his Queen, and said "Sarah, what you saw in the labyrinth was just part of the game. Hoggle and I are very good friends. Especially when he is my royal advisor."
Charlie and Carrie went to their side, and Charlie patting Jareth's shoulder said "Well little brother, you did it! Congratulations!"
Sarah looked confused at Carrie, and said "Carrie?"
Carrie just smiled and said, "Sorry to have deceived you, Sarah, but we did it for a reason."
Sarah was just stunned "We? Deceive?"
Charlie bowed to Sarah and said, "Please permit me to introduce ourselves properly."
A bright flash of light and glitter enveloped him and Carrie, and they looked the same, a little older, but in medieval-type clothes like the ones Jareth wears.
"I am Jareth's older brother, Oberon, King of the Fey, and your friend Carrie is actually my wife, the lovely Queen Titania."
Mrs. Robinson came to them, and looking at Oberon and Titania, she said "The masquerade is over? Thank the gods!"
Glitter and lights gave way and an elf appeared instead of Mrs. Robinson.
Taking Sarah's hand, he bowed and said "I am Robin Goodfellow, at your service, Queen Sarah. But you can call me Puck, like all my friends do."
Sarah's head was spinning. Who she thought were her friends were actually deceiving her.
Starting to feel the beginning of a headache, Sarah said "Could someone please explain what is going on?"
Jareth took his gloves off and put his hands on Sarah's temple, making her headache disappear, and then glared at Titania "It was your idea, so you better explain."
With a flick of her wrist, Titania transported them to a secluded part of the balcony, where various sofas and chairs were arranged cozily, and motioned for them to take a seat.
Titania stood in front of Sarah, and started "Well, by Fae law, when a Fae ruler reaches certain age, he or she is expected to continue the royal line. If a consort has not been taken by the time they reach that age, the family chooses the consort.
This rule cannot be broken, especially by our dear Jareth, who is reaching that age very soon, and knowing him, he was still brooding over you. I knew he would not take anyone but you, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. If Jareth could not come to you, I was going to make you come to him.
When I saw that you applied for the open position of librarian, I thought that would be the time to put things in motion. The plan was going to be very subtle. Just drop hints here and there for you to think of the labyrinth again. When your house went on sale, I knew I was doing the right thing, fate wanted you together.
When I saw your room for the first time after you moved, I knew that our plan was working, the dreamer in you was returning. Then, about two months ago, owl boy here comes with the news that he can return aboveground, that he had been called by you.
Of course, when he told us that you were sleeping at the time, we knew we had to do something to make you see each other again. Hence, the fundraiser gala. Not bad, we accomplished bringing you and Jareth together, plus the library is going to have a very good budget this year."
Sarah was shocked at all the lengths they had gone through to have them together.
She looked at her love, while asking, "Jareth, what did Titania meant when she said that this marriage rule could not be broken, especially by you?"
Jareth looked at his brother, who nodded, and then he turned to Sarah "There is this legend that states that one of my direct descendants will bring back the protector of the Underground. That is why I must be married, so it is insured I have children."
Then, a wicked smile crossed his face, and leaning towards Sarah he whispered in her ear "I am fifteen years behind schedule, and I would like to get back on track as soon as possible.", making Sarah blush and give him a light punch on his leg.
Sarah looked at Jareth and said "I'm not sure that my parents are going to like the idea of being engaged for only a month, but I think we have waited long enough."
Jareth held her close to him and said, "Even that by Fae law we are already married, a month is going to seem too long to have you as my wife."
A goblin came towards them, bowed and said "Your Majesty, all the guests have left. We will finish the clean up soon."
Jareth looked at the goblin and said, "Very well, but make sure that there is no trace of what transpired here tonight."
The goblin said "It shall be done as you command. I shall go now with your permission."
Jareth dismissed him with a wave of the hand. The goblin bowed and before leaving he said reverently "Good night, Your Highness, Queen Sarah".
Jareth turned to see Sarah, who was stifling a yawn. He smiled and said "You must be exhausted. Let me take you home."
Sarah nodded in agreement, and taking her hand in his, he produced a crystal in his other hand and smashed it on the floor.
All Sarah saw was a blinding flash of light, and afterwards they were in her room.
She noticed that she was no longer wearing the ballroom dress, but a nightgown.
Jareth was pulling the covers off her bed, and said "Go to sleep, it has been a long day for you."
She smiled, and kissed him good night.
He said, "I must leave now, but I will see you tomorrow."
She saw him disappear in the midst of glitter, before going to bed. As soon as her head touched the pillow, she fell asleep, a smile on her lips.
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A/N: Let me know what you think. Your review is greatly appreciated, let's me know if I'm doing a good job or if this sucks.
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