Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth. It would be cool if I did though!

Author's Note: Thanks you all you that have followed or favorited or commented (love the comments) on the story, it means a lot! This story hasn't been super uplifting so far but I wanted to give a heads up that this particular chapter gets pretty dark. I also wanted to share a list of songs that I have been listening to, to help me write. Some of these songs are for scenes I have yet to publish, they are either partially written or rattling around in my head waiting. If you are so inclined you can listen to these songs as well, sort of a soundtrack to the story. A lot of them are older songs, is it just me or do they not make music like they used to?

With or Without You-U2

Wicked Game (acoustic version)-James Vincent McMorrow

Together-The XX

Magic-Coldplay

Always in My Head-Coldplay (as well)

O-(again!) Coldplay

I'm on Fire-Bruce Springsteen

Sara-Fleetwood Mac

Come Undone-Duran Duran

Salted Wound-Sia

The Ground Beneath Her Feet-U2

Wild is the Wind-David Bowie

Possession-Sarah McLachlan

Chapter 3

"Sarah."

Once again a young girl appeared, this time she had long flowing auburn hair to compliment her green eyes. The light sprinkling of pale freckles along her nose were a charming touch Jareth thought as he stared into the crystal orb.

Two hundred years passed before the Goblin King decided the time had come to once again try his hand at claiming his queen. She had appeared a few times in his crystals since his first attempt but each time he had found some reason not to try, he had become unsure in his ability to execute his part of the prophecy. Everything in his life had come easy to him, he was one of the most powerful rulers in his world, he was handsome and charming and magic seemed to radiate out of him. This was anything but easy.

When this incarnation of Sarah came to his attention he saw the circumstances of her birth presented the perfect opportunity for him. She had been born to a wealthy French nobleman and his wife. Her life mirrored his in some ways, born to the ruling class her duty in life had been decided at birth, while he became King she was raised to be a wife to a man like her father. She learned how to run a castle, handling the accounts and the many people it took to keep such a place moving. She was made to believe her greatest achievement in life would be to be seen as the ideal wife.

When Jareth saw this he was struck with a brilliant idea. He knew enough about the human world through his duties as Goblin King and from watching Sarah that pretending to be one of them should be simple. So on the tenth anniversary of Sarah's birth a foreign nobleman appeared at the gates of the castle, a well off traveler in the need of a place to rest.

Pretending to be a human lord was easier than Jareth could ever hope, he was purposefully vague about his origins but it seemed if one had the proper manners and enough gold jingling in their purse their position in this world was not questioned. He had clothing similar to her father's made, it was a bit similar to his usual attire but not quite as ostentatious as he would have preferred.

At dinner he was given a seat next to Sarah's father. It was then that he began to plant the seeds of an idea in the nobleman's head.

"I am returning home from a long journey, I had been promised a wife but when I arrived it seems she preferred one of her father's knights. I believe her father is still trying to track the pair of them down." Luckily, Sarah's father was too deep in his cup to care to ask questions about the particulars of that story, instead he howled at Jareth's colorful story of watching his intended running off with a man of a lesser station.

"God have mercy on her when her father finds her," he said between laughs, "I don't imagine her father will easily forgive offending a man such as yourself."

"She seemed a bit headstrong for my liking, I would prefer a woman that had been taught what a wife is meant to be."

The nobleman nodded in agreement, "My wife is training our daughter now to be such a wife, she's young still but by the time she old enough to be wed she will be perfect. Docile and God-fearing, the perfect wife and mother."

"How old is the young lady?" Jareth knew he was entering the critical point of the conversation.

"She was born ten years ago today actually, she has several years before she is ready to wed."

"Do you have anyone in mind, perhaps? It is never too early to begin to plan, if she is truly all you say she is."

The slightly drunk lord paused, "No one I have met yet is worthy, or rich enough. I'll not have her end up in some falling down heap after all we've done."

Jareth made a sound of agreement, the time had come, "I have recently found myself in want of a wife. If you would like to consider the idea…"

The nobleman looked at Jareth with interest, "I suppose it is time to beginning planning for her. I would prefer someone that I have some knowledge of-"

Jareth cut him off, so close to the goal he began to grow impatient, "What knowledge do you need, I'm wealthy, high born and in possession of more land than you can imagine. My home is far from here, but little birds cannot stay in the nest forever."

Sarah's father contemplated the idea, his wife would resist, a foreign nobleman was not ideal, though he didn't seem uncivilized there did seem to be something dangerous about him, he was too charming, too handsome, too clean the Frenchman thought, hell the man seemed to glow.

"I'm not sure you would be best for her, she is still young. I could not let her go for years yet, especially so far from all she knows."

"Of course my lord, I did not expect marriage tomorrow, I simply thought an engagement would benefit us both. I would have the ideal wife and you would marry off a daughter to a man so rich you did not have to pay a dowry." Jareth paused to let that last bit sink in.

A smile grew on the father's lips as he realized just what kind of deal he would be getting from such an arrangement. A daughter off his hands and not a cent out of his coffers, it was beautiful.

"I believe, my lord, you have just found yourself a wife." The Frenchman slapped Jareth affectionately on the back. "Congratulations, my boy!"

After a few days in the human world arranging the betrothal with Sarah's father Jareth returned to the Goblin City. In six years he was meant to return to take Sarah as his bride, his future father-in-law tried to shorten the wait but his wife remained stubborn, Sarah would not be ready until then. The Goblin King could not be happier at the prospect, finally the prophecy would be fulfilled and he would no longer have to wonder about it. In celebration he summoned The Priest to the castle.

"You wished to see me Your Majesty?"

"The time has come, dear Priest, to congratulate me."

The Priest looked confused, "Of course, My King, for wh-"

"I am betrothed to her, my friend." There was no need to elaborate.

"That is wonderful, Your Majesty, it is a time for celebration!"

"I would agree with you, but we have six years until the wedding and she is crowned Queen. I feel confident in my plan but there are still some things that could go wrong. Until she is my queen I cannot use my magic to protect her, she could die. I also have to watch for any chance she could find herself infatuated with some human." These worries would nag at him until it was all said and done.

"Yes, My King, I can see your point. We can only watch and wait, and have comfort in the fact it is written."

"What's written is written." Jareth said absentmindedly, a common response when The Book's prophecies are discussed.

"You will pull through this, Your Majesty. I have no doubt."

The six years came and went quickly for the Goblin King. He focused on his duties in his kingdom, he focused time on making the labyrinth harder, making it and himself more powerful. He attended parties and balls, took lovers and discarded them. He was as carefree as he was before he took the throne, without the prophecy weighing on him he could occupy his mind with the issues of his world. He still looked in on Sarah through his crystals, though not as much as he did before the betrothal, he did not think much about his lack of interest, his thoughts were focused on his kingdom.

On the eve of Sarah's sixteenth birthday he entered the long unused Queen's Chamber in the castle. It had been thousands of years since a Goblin King had a consort, the neglected room made that fact clear. With his magic he transformed the room from a dull, musty mess into a chamber that he thought would please Sarah. From watching her he knew the colors she favored, the types of flowers she liked and used that to his advantage. The purples and greens that dominated the tapestries on the wall made the room look regal yet warm and inviting, unlike that drafty castle she lived in now.

When the time came to return to the human world he once again donned the rather boring clothes the humans favored and prepared himself for the wedding festivities. He would have preferred a quick and quiet affair so he could slip away with her without making nice with the locals but he had been watching her enough to know a grand celebration was in the works.

The celebration was grand indeed, hours of ceremony were followed by hours of feasting and toasts. Jareth was growing rather tired of it all, parties could last for days in his world but when surrounded by humans and desperately trying to keep the guise up that he was one of them his tolerance for fun was short lived.

Jareth looked over at his new wife. Sitting deadly still next to him she looked pale and tired, her food barely touched. He realized that he had said maybe ten words to her the entire day. She seemed aware of his gaze, she blushed and looked down at her hands. As he studied her he tried to understand his feelings about the young girl. She was beautiful, no doubt, and from his spying he knew she was kind and intelligent, a bit timid at times. He felt connected to her of course and very protective, but he did not love her. Admiration, definitely, and perhaps deeper feelings would grow with time. He thought it rather odd that his proclaimed soulmate did not stir more profound feelings within him. He sighed at that thought and stood, offering his hand to his young bride. She tentatively placed her hand on his arm and stood next to him, eyes demurely lowered to the floor.

"I would like to steal you a way for a moment, I doubt we will be missed." The festivities were taking on a chaotic feel, he could tell she was as tired of his as he.

"Yes, my lord." The response was barely above a whisper, she seemed reluctant to be alone with him, the thought made Jareth sigh.

He led her through the chaos and into a small room, still near enough to the party to hear if they were being missed.

He turned to her as she dropped her hand from his arm, once again she looked down at the floor, head slightly bowed, she looked completely calm except for her hands clutching each other in front of her stomach. Jareth smiled at her, trying to think of the best way to calm her.

"Are you afraid of me?" He asked softly.

"No, my lord, I am nervous and the day's events have tired me."

"I can understand that." He chuckled, his little wife was honest.

"I am nervous about what is to happen tonight, my lord." She seemed stunned with herself for having admitted it, her face began to turn a mottled red.

Jareth couldn't stop the laugh that escaped him, "I'm sorry, my apologies my lady. You do not have to fear tonight, I am a patient man. I am in no rush to force myself upon you."

She seemed to relax a bit at that, "I do not want to offend you, my lord, but you are a stranger. I have not spent much time around men, other than my father."

"I am glad to hear it, since we have been promised to each other for so long."

"I am curious, my lord, where do you come from?" Once her worries of consummation were allayed she became more open to him.

"I come from a place far from here. It is very different, but I know you are meant to be there."

"I hope to be a good wife to you, my lord."

"I'm sure you will be."

"Could you please tell me something of your home?" At last she looked up from the floor to him, the green eyes uncertain and searching.

Jareth thought for a moment, she had to find out at some point he thought, he couldn't keep the charade up much longer, "I can show you. Would you like to see?"

He held out his hand and waited, he couldn't just take her, she had to agree and go willingly. She stared at his hand, puzzled and slowly placed hers there.

"Yes."

With that they disappeared.

Fear and confusion tinged Sarah's voice, "Where are we? What is this place?" Her panicked breathes punctuating each question.

"Please, calm down, you are safe here. This is my kingdom." Jareth reached for her arms trying to still her, her eyes darted wildly around, searching for something familiar. They were on the edge of the labyrinth, from the small hill they could see the castle rising up in the distance. There was nothing of her father's castle in this strange place.

"I don't understand!? How did we get here!?" Despite his attempts her hysteria was mounting.

He tried to speak calmly, his own nerves becoming rattled by her reaction, this was not going as planned, "I am a king, all you see before you is my kingdom."

She looked to him, eyes wild, but trying to comprehend what he was saying, "King of what?"

"Goblins." There was no other way of saying it.

Her panic reemerged full force at that word, "HELP! SOMEBODY, PLEASE!"

Screaming hysterically was not how Jareth wanted to introduce his subjects to their queen, they disappeared from the hill and reappeared in the newly furnished Queen's Chamber. The change of scenery did not help Sarah's mood. She threw herself at the door before Jareth could stop her, as soon as she entered the hallway she encountered several goblin servants going about their day, unaware their king had married. Her screams at the sight of them tore through the castle, she ran back into the room where Jareth was. He his mind was racing with how to fix this situation.

"Please, calm yourself Sarah." He reach her, holding her still.

"I want to go home, please, just let me go home, I can't live here with these monsters!"

"They're not monsters, they are my subjects. My world is filled with creatures like them, like me. You are to rule by my side."

"NO! Please take me back to my father, tell him anything, that you refuse to take me. Just don't make me stay here!" Tears streamed down her face, she collapsed on the floor.

Jareth knelt down beside her, "I'm not going to take you back, you will grow accustomed to this world, there are other humans here, though none of them have an equal rank. This is meant to be Sarah, you need to accept it. This is your home now."

More sobbing was all that answered him. At a loss as to what to do he quietly left the room and locked the door. Hopefully the shock will wear off, she was raised to be a wife, to accept her position in the world, he had to hope that her training would help her to concede to her fate.

Several days passed, Sarah refused to leave her room. She barely slept, passing the hours with fits of crying or staring blindly at the wall across from her bed. Afraid the sight of more goblins would cause another fit of hysterics Jareth used his magic to make sure there was always food and drink available in her room, though she never touched it. Even though she was in a room down the hall he watched her through his crystals, hoping for a sign that she would pull herself out of this state. The few goblins that had encountered her were sworn to secrecy, it could not get out to the other noble houses that the Goblin King had a crazed human running through the castle. At a complete loss he once again summoned The Priest.

Before the older fae could get a word out the Goblin King took him by the arm, "You have got to help, she is losing her mind in there!" Jareth dragged him to the door of the Queen's Chamber.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean?" Through the heavy wooden door the Priest could hear the sobbing of a woman.

"We married in her world, after I brought her here. She is terrified of the goblins, the labyrinth, of me." It was hard to admit to the Priest but any time Jareth entered her room she began shaking like a leaf, eyeing him like a wild animal.

"I will talk to her of course." The Priest gasped when Jareth unlocked the door with his magic, "You're locking her in there like a prisoner?! She's your wife, Your Majesty!"

"I don't know what else to do, at least with it locked she won't fear anyone but me coming in."

The Priest entered the cheery room, the miserable Queen before him on the disheveled bed, "Your Majesty, I am most pleased to see you."

She looked up from the bed, her eyes darted quickly to Jareth and then to him. She took in the older looking man in the simple robes, her eyes widened.

"Oh, Father, please help me!"

The Priest looked to the King in confusion, was she really so far gone she thought he was her father?

"Father is was they call religious men in the human world, you are dressed similar." Jareth explained

The young human threw herself at The Priest's feet and began praying in Latin. He looked once again to the King, at a loss as to how he could help. The desperate look on the Goblin King's face grieved The Priest, by telling Jareth the prophecy he had helped create this mess. He looked down at the frighten woman at his feet, he knelt down to her.

"There, there, you have nothing to fear here. We have been waiting for your arrival for some time." She clutched his hand frantically ask he spoke.

"I don't belong here, Father, he's evil." She whispered, eyes darting to her husband.

"No, Your Majesty, King Jareth is a great king, loved and admired by his subjects and the other rulers."

He eyes widened again, "There are more like him?!"

"Yes, My Queen, King Jareth rules one of the many kingdoms in our world, there are elves, other fae-", the woman's scream cut him off.

She began backing away from him as well as Jareth. Once she backed into a corner she kept pushing against it, as if she could push passed it if she tried hard enough.

The Priest looked to the King, "I do not know, My King, I did not think she would react this way, it is written."

Jareth seemed not to hear him, he simply stared at his new bride, quickly becoming insane at the shock of her new position. There was only one thing to do at this point. He walked toward her, ignoring her cries of fear, touched her shoulder and disappeared from the room.

It was the middle of the night in the human world, the newlyweds suddenly appeared in the empty tower room at the top of her father's castle. He let go of her once she steadied, she calmed considerably once she realized she was back home. He stood back and looked at her, wondering how he had managed to muck things up so horribly.

She walked to the open window and looked out to her familiar world. Her calmness was eerie, more frightening than the crying. She looked over to him, eyes wide and glassy. Once more she looked out the window.

"I'm sorry, Sarah, I wish I had gone about this another way. I have brought you home now, as you wanted."

She was silent for a moment, still looking out into the night, "I am not going to be welcomed back home, I am married to you, whatever you are. My mother and father will see me as a failure if I am returned, rejected by my husband of less than a week. I will be seen as used goods."

Jareth was silent, he knew enough of her world to know the truth to what she said.

"I could return with you, to your world, a world full of monsters," she paused, "Queen of Monsters." She whispered to herself, shaking her head.

Sarah looked towards him, "I have another option."

"What would that be Sarah?" Jareth whispered from across the room.

She smiled slightly and without saying another word threw herself out the window, too quick for Jareth to react except to cry out in horror. He ran to the window to see his new wife, laying lifeless in the courtyard below, tremors of anger travelled through him. He heard the shouting of the inhabitants of the castle as they began to realize what had happened. It was enough to snap Jareth out of his daze, before the lord's men reached the tower room Jareth disappeared into his world.

The Priest had decided to wait until the King returned, wanting to make sure the fragile girl he encountered was alright. The door to the King's office burst open, startling him from his thoughts. Jareth walked in anger radiating from him. Without looking Priest's way he pointed to him.

"I WANT YOU OUT OF MY SIGHT!" A roar of thunder punctuated the demand.

"Your Majesty, I was waiting to find out what happened to the Queen." He nervously said as he stared at Jareth's back, the king was looking out the barred window.

"There is no Queen." His voice was low and laced with poison, he left the window and sat at his desk, his head in his hands as he looked at the wooden surface.

"I don't understand, how can that be."

"She found a way out of our marriage, she threw herself out a window. She chose death." The King struggled to get the words out.

The Priest gasped, horrified, this could not have been what the prophecy had meant. He didn't expect it to be easy but this, it was unimaginable, "I am at a loss, Your Majesty, I cannot believe-how terrible." He was at a complete loss for words, he stood there dumbfounded.

"I told you to leave, I want no more of this damn prophecy. I don't care if it's written, I refuse it." Jareth looked up to the Priest, who was startled by what he saw. The identical bright blue eyes of the Goblin King were forever changed, one eye appeared at always, the other was swallowed up by blackness, all but a thin ring of blue remained. The Priest knew what that meant, though he had never seen it. The aftermath of what had happened would permanently change him. Darkness had found its way into the good King's soul.