Right so this is my first FanFiction and I've gone for an unusual technique, put my music on shuffle and used each song as a new chapter so I am basically making a story out of random music! Don't know if this will work but I'll give it a try :D Chapter 1 is the song Those Magic Changes (Sha Na Na)
Disclaimer: I sadly own no rights to Labyrinth or to any songs featured in this fanfiction
Chapter 1 – Those Magic Changes
How many years had it been now? 50? 100? More? Jareth sighed as he stared out of the castle into the bleak sky above the Labyrinth. His thoughts were constantly occupied by the dark haired, emerald eyed girl that had defeated him all those years ago and in doing so, stolen his heart. He was supposed to be attending a ball in honour of his sister Princess Niamh's engagement to the famous Underground poet, Oisin. But tonight his mind was firmly set on only one person, Sarah. The last thing he wanted to do was celebrate the love another couple had for each other but he knew how his father would react to his absence. Niamh had always been his father's favourite and got anything her heart desired. She adored her brother so quite obviously wanted him present at her engagement ball. King Manannán was anxious that Jareth attend, so as to please his demanding daughter and Jareth knew the hell he would face should he choose to not attend. With one last glance at the night sky, Jareth heaved himself up off the stone ledge which he had perched upon countless times over the years, only to leap from the window after changing to his owl form. Soaring high, he was soon out of sight of the Goblin Kingdom castle.
It is hard for one to imagine the peace and serenity that can be found when all alone in the sky, there is truly no one that could disturb your thoughts. Perhaps this is why Jareth could often be seen gracing the skies in his owl form. His only escape from the pressures and responsibilities of running a kingdom as hectic as that of the Goblins. Sooner than he would have liked, he arrived at the High Court Palace in the Sea Kingdom, home of his father, the High King Manannán and his beloved mother, Queen Fand. He landed silently in the forest adjacent to the magnificent palace and slowly began making his way to the ball. Upon reaching the edge of the forest he lifted his head to the sky and whispered:
"Sarah my love…" as his words were carried away in the gentle evening breeze. He would give anything to have her with him right now, he could just picture how stunning she would look in a ball gown, like she had all those years ago in her peach-induced fantasy. Suddenly she was stood beside him, dressed in her dream pearl white ball gown with the silver hair piece in her perfect chocolate locks. She smiled at him as he held out his hand to her. He too wore the same royal blue jewelled jacket he had all those years ago. He took her in his arms and they danced slowly on the forest edge before she leaned to whisper in his ear:
"Jareth…" and she was gone. Jareth shook his head now realising that yet again, she wasn't here, simply a figment of his imagination. How these small dreams were driving him insane! He needed her back but after all this time, he doubted she would remember her childhood adventure. But now was no time to dwell on his depressing situation, he had to attend a ball, whether he liked it or not. He adjusted his posture so he moved with feline grace and held his head high, every inch the future High King.
He approached the doors to the ballroom, he knew he was late but he couldn't have cared less. He stood at the top of the stairs as the announcer called:
"The Crown Prince Jareth, King of the Goblin realm has arrived"
Jareth then began his descent of the stairs, all eyes on him. He could feel his fathers cold glare and swore he heard his sisters sigh of relief. Without even looking, he knew all the Fae women would be taking in his flawless appearance, he was the most sought after bachelor of the Underground. He also knew he was the most hated man as Fae men had much pride and wanted full female attention. Jareth took that away from each and every one of them, none could compare to him. The most jealous of all was his cousin, Bran. He and Jareth had grown up together as Bran had been orphaned as a young child. His mother perished in childbirth and his father was killed in battle. His uncle Manannán took him in and he was raised alongside Jareth and Niamh. His jealously began at a young age, Jareth was always the more popular of the two princes and Niamh took quite a disliking to Bran, whereas she adored Jareth. She still felt this way now and Jareth was almost surprised to spot his raven hair in the crowded ballroom, he was not the kind of person Niamh would want at any function in her honour. Yet there he was. Jareth ignored his cousin's glances and went straight to his sister.
"Darling sister, I wish you and Oisin every happiness in life, may your marriage live on until the Underground crumbles."
"Oh Jareth, I worried you were not coming! I'm glad you have for it means so much to me, please come and meet Oisin's parents," and with that, she dragged him over to the handsome couple at the edge of the dance floor.
"Jareth I would like you to meet Fionn and Sadhbh, Oisin's parents, this is my brother, Jareth."
"Ah, so good to finally meet you, Jareth," said Fionn bowing before the Crown Prince. Sadhbh swept a beautiful curtsey before saying:
"We have heard much about you Prince Jareth, such an honour to meet you at long last."
"What a delight to meet you too, what a fine son you have in Oisin, my sister could not have found a better match if she had tried!" Jareth smiled at the couple and excused himself quickly. He needed to find the two things that got him through nights like this. Alcohol and women.
He quickly located a barrel of the finest Underground wine and helped himself to a glass, knowing many more would follow. After downing it, he went in search of his first female companion, she would be good for a few dances before he turned his attention elsewhere. All Fae women were the same and he resented each and every one of them with the exception of his mother and sister. He spied one woman who had been watching him the whole night and had an obvious interest in him. He approached her and bowed low before saying:
"Fine lady, would you care to dance?"
Her face lit up but she kept her composure and quickly accepted his request. He swept her in his arms as every other female guest sighed in disappointment and shot jealous glares at the lucky woman chosen by Jareth. She stared longingly into his eyes but Jareth never once returned her loving glances. He stared into space, his mind elsewhere thinking only of Sarah. He paid no attention to the music yet still managed to match it with his graceful movements. The song ended and there was a small round of applause before the orchestra began the next. The first few notes hit Jareth like stones. It was the very same song he had sung to Sarah in her dream all that time ago. As The World Falls Down. He stared down at the woman in his arms and was startled to see his beloved Sarah! He began to dance again and sung the song to her. He felt her melt into him as she sighed blissfully. He had not been as happy in years as he danced around the room with his Sarah, paying no attention to the many eyes that followed them, unable to look away. As the song came to an end he opened his eyes to look down at Sarah again, only to realise it was that Fae woman whose name he didn't even know. He released her from his arms quickly and walked away laughing, in the search of more wine. He never noticed the giggles that came from the surrounding women as he abandoned her on the dance floor, alone. He never noticed her face flaring scarlet in embarrassment. He never noticed her fleeing from the room to escape the humiliation. But most importantly, he never noticed his cousin follow the distressed woman with an evil grin plastered on his face.
Jareth had once again filled his crystal glass with the finest wine the Underground had to offer and was calmly sipping it as he sauntered out onto the balcony. He placed his glass on the marble rail with his hands either side of it. He closed his eyes and breathed in the night air before raising his head to the sky. Slowly, he re-opened his eyes to gaze at the stars, like perfect jewels in the midnight skies. He sighed and whispered:
"You'll come back to me some day, I know."
Right, Chapter 1 done! Hopefully you liked it and I would really appreciate reviews on what you liked/didn't like and any ideas on how to improve it. You could try listening to the song this chapter is based on and see if you can see any connection, each chapter will be based on a particular song's lyrics so you can try listening to the song before or after, up to you. Anyway, hopefully I'll have the next chapter up very soon so stick with me! :D