Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth or any of it's characters.
Summary: Jareth pays a visit to the grave of Sarah Williams, and finds it very hard to keep his composure. Things are not always as they seem, for even in death, you can't stop true love JxS
Jareth brushed away the vines crawling over the cut stone of Sarah Williams grave, reading the words meticulously.
"A loving daughter, sister and aunt, who will be missed, and memories cherished." He read allowed to himself, letting the words slip off his tongue. Loving daughter, sister and aunt… no mother, no wife… She had never married; she had died alone. The thought pained him slightly. He had hoped she was happy. It was all he had ever wanted really, her happiness. Over the years he had convinced himself that that meant she would be by his side, but she never called. Not him at least. He knew she had stayed in contact with her friends, up until the day she died. He would sometimes inquire about her, asking about her life, how she was fairing, if she was seeing anyone. They never questioned his questions, but would sometimes answer warily. They had once reported to him that Sarah had just about stopped aging. She didn't appear a day over 30, 35 at most, yet she had died at the age of 68. A medical mystery, the doctors called it. It must have been the peach, having slowed her aging process. After all, one of the ingredients of Ambrosia, the drink of immortality, was peach nectar. It was strange though; she should have lived well past her normal human life span. Hoggle said she had lost the will to live, watching everyone grow old and die while she was stuck with her youth. People began to resent her, and be afraid of her, calling her a witch or a vampire, staying as far away as they could… it had become a lonely existence for her.
He had gone to her funeral, they all had, disguised and hidden from the mortals crowding around the casket in awe, wanting to see the old woman with a hauntingly young face. It was the only time he had allowed his subjects to see him cry.
Now he stood there once again in front of her grace, his heart sinking fast. He had been here before, many times in fact over the past couple hundred years, and yet the pain and sadness he felt staring at her grave never seemed to dull, but only persist.
268 years since Sarah Williams had entered the mortal world, 252 since the day they met and the day they last spoke, and 200 years since she left the mortal realm. As he was about to leave he felt the mists shift, and the air crackled with a strange energy. Out from the mists swirled an airy figure taking form of a young woman. Despite seeing this many times, his breath caught in his throat. Her spirit remained connected to the mortal realm, determined to act out her childhood fantasies forever.
"Give me the child," She began, turning to face the Goblin king. Though she looked right at him, she did not see him, only past him into the mists.
"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered," Her brows furrowed with determination. "I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the goblin city," She waved her hands in the air and looked around her, as if she was standing there in the underground once more. "To take back the child that you have stolen."
He never responded, what was the point? Why torture him self? But, he had to, at least once, just to talk to her once more.
"Sarah, look at what I'm offering you! Your dreams! I would have given you your dreams…" He trailed off, shaking as he stood there, hanging his head low. He was angry at himself for his weakness; that no matter how much time passed he still ached for her. She seemed to stop, her gaze fixing onto him. It had been 252 years since she had looked at him. If she had any breath, she would've been holding it.
"Goblin King," She said, her tone icy and clipped. He lifted his head, smiling sadly at her. Even in death she was beautiful. His sad demeanor shocked her, and she was visibly taken aback. "Jareth," She corrected, looking on at him longingly. "It's been a long time. "
He nodded, swallowing hard. "Why do you remain here Sarah?" He asked, stepping towards the ghostly figure. "Why are you stuck to this world, practicing your lines for so long?"
"Why are you here Goblin King?" She retorted, her jaw set. "What does it matter to you? Why now after so long do you come to haunt me?" It was ironic, her accusing him of haunting her. He let out a bitter laugh.
"Why now? I've been watching you repeat the same motions for years. You would speak to me, but not to me, just the character in your story. God, woman! You would look right at me—through me…" He struggled with his words, clenching his fists at his side. "I have nothing left to lose Sarah; I've already lost you."
The air around them was deathly silent, and the tension between the spirit and the ethereal king was palpable.
"If it counts for anything," She began, a small sad smile playing upon her translucent lips, "I wish I had chosen my dreams." Jareth let out a sob, an action so out of character for the King. He dropped to his knees, his body shaking. "How did it go again? Just fear me--" He cut her off.
"Just fear me, love me, and I would be your slave," Silence took over once more momentarily.
"That's a heavy offer," She stated.
"I meant every last word," He shot back. "Sarah, I loved you—and love you still. No amount of time or distance will change that for me."
She let out a sob, and when he looked up, he could see her smiling while she cried.
"I'd wipe away your tears if I could Sarah." They were both crying now, hot tears of bitter happiness staining his angular face, while icy ones trailed the translucent face of Sarah, disappearing as they dripped off her chin.
"I know," She said with a reassuring nod. "Thank you." She leaned down, kissing his fore head as best as she could in her ghostly form. "I love you Jareth," She said, before dissolving into mist.
"Sarah! Wait!" Jareth frantically, grasped at the film of her body, his fingers passing straight through her. She smiled at him once more before fading completely.
He was alone once more and her soul was now gone from the mortal realm, passed on through to where it belonged. With a flick of the wrist he conjured a crystal, kissing it briefly before placing it in front of the grave of Sarah Williams.
"I have forever to find you again Sarah, and I won't stop searching." Perhaps he had something to lose after all.
Ambrosia: The elixir that the gods drank as nourishment. It's also the drink of immortality, and will turn a mortal Immortal.
Okay! I have to say, I almost cried writing this.
I have gotten few reviews on this, mostly due to that awful site-down that happened.
I just wanted to say that I will be continuing this, and that I have the next 4 chapters already written! It get's less sad, I promise.
This idea popped into my head after seeing a comic byTang-de-Mango ( .com/art/Waiting-sketch-48772921)
Also, An update to Toby hates broccoli will be up soon. :)