THE SECOND TIME
Many moons had passed, before again he laid his eyes on her. The magic of the Labyrinth was fading, shattered into as many pieces as he himself found himself to be. In this time of darkness She returned, bringing light and life in Her wake. She was the champion of the Labyrinth, he understood that now. In the days of its need She was summoned, and always She answered the call. And though he had sworn never again to lay eyes on her, Jareth found in himself a deep longing – his heart yearned to see Her once more, to see Her face, and nothing more.
So he stole out from his castle, from that silent, empty tomb, to find that face which so long had had his heart enthralled. And when he found her, standing triumphant in the moonlight, standing in the fullness of the Labyrinth, healed and restored to even greater glory by Her overpowering light – seeing Her there, he could not have spoken even if he had wished it, so he stood afar off, and marveled at Her beauty. She was older now, and wiser, yet fairer still, more beautiful than even She had been in memory.
She turned, and looked at him, and for another moment time stood still. Though a moment ago he had been unable to speak, the moment their eyes met he found words sliding, unbidden, from his lips.
"Sarah"
He paused a moment, but found himself compelled to continue:
"I had not thought to see you again. In your absence, I have been made despondent. My heart was broken, and is still broken yet – and I fear that it will break worse, now that you have come again. Yet I regret it not. Leave, if you must, but know my heart is yours."
And so it was that the King of the Goblins came to speak the truth of his heart a second time.
She stared at him for a few long moments, as though She would pierce his soul – but She spoke no words.
