Luna wanted to see Apollo and Artemis one last time. Jareth and the others were preparing a podium to have a speech for the Underground beings. Lillian spoke with the royals to make sure they were taken care of. The four babies were left with Hoggle, who was currently passed out on a sofa. Primrose and Howie were napping, but the twins were awake. Luna seized the opportunity to see her children alone.
"I'm sorry that I have to leave you guys. It's for the best, truly it is. My mom and Jareth will take good care of you two. I promise. Apollo, I want you to watch out for your sister. Missy, I want you to do the same for your brother. Remember that Mommy loves you more than anyone in this world and the next. I know the two of you will make a great king and queen. I know that you will make me proud. You are my sun, and you are my moon," she cried.
Luna brushed their cheeks, but made no effort to pick them up. They smiled and cooed at her. On the side of Apollo's crib, she used her nymph powers to make a sunflower grow there. On Artemis's crib she made a dark purple rose. She gave Apollo a kiss on the forehead. He wrapped his tiny fingers around a lock of hair.
She smiled at him as a stray tear went down her cheek, "My handsome prince Apollo." She freed her hair and went to Artemis. Luna kissed her cheek. The babe grabbed her nose. "My beautiful princess Missy."
With tears in her eyes and a weary heart she left. Luna was doing the right thing. She knew it. Though it was hard to do, she had to put her family first. If this meant they would never see hear her voice or see her smile again, so be it.
Sarah fixed Jareth's collar. He wanted to look his best for the announcement. It took much thought for him to decide what to wear. Finally, he decided on wearing a black leather Jacket and matching tight pants. Luna had always liked the way he looked in black so he hoped he could be in her favor before the wedding. Though he was happy that he was getting the family he always wanted, he was still heartbroken. He loved Sarah, and the pained look in her eyes was killing him so. Jareth was beginning to reconsider the whole wedding.
Luna did not want to be with him, that much was certain. Sarah and he were very happy together. Sure they had a few bumps and bruises along the way, but who didn't? She had a fire that truly matched his own. Maybe he was infatuated with Luna, but not really in love with her. Most men liked the idea of a pretty young girl warming their bed at night. It could also be the forbidden love aspect of their relationship. Maybe he was so in love with the idea of her that he failed to notice the real person there. The truth was that Luna was a broken soul that he could never fix.
Jareth was so caught up in his own thoughts he did not notice a stray flowing from Sarah's face, "Do not cry, Sarah. Nothing wounds me more than your tears." He used his thumb to wipe her tear.
"Sorry, I want to happy for you. I really do, but−"
"I know. Maybe in another lifetime we could live together happily," he whispered, aching to see her smile at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and pushed her lips against his. Jareth held her close to him and returned all of the love she gave in the kiss. As much as she hated herself for doing this she had to feel his lips on hers one last time. She needed this to move on. He left her lips and started kissing her jaw line and neck. When she cooed, he let out a dark chuckle. Though there was not much time, he intended to take this far as he could. That was until he heard a crowd outside cheering.
Did someone already break the news? They looked to the window curious as to what the commotion was. He debated on whether or not he should get the children, but figured they were in good hands. Hoggle had taken care of them this long, hadn't he? Sarah and Jareth walked out to see everyone in the kingdom celebrating. Some goblins were chanting that the evil queen was gone. He assumed they must have found out that they got rid of the daemon. Even though, they enjoyed the freedom of her ruling they missed Jareth because that is what they knew.
Surprisingly, they saw smoke emanating from the center of the crowd. A bon fire, perhaps? Whatever it was, it smelt awful. Goblins did have an odd way of celebrating. They both rushed past the beings. Jareth did not want any of the goblins harming themselves or others in the fire. He stopped when he felt little hands on his knees.
"What are you doing, Didymus?" Jareth asked. Sir Didymus seemed more distraught than he had ever seen him. His eyes were a bloodshot red.
"I believe you should not go any further. Something terrible has happened and would like to tell you in private," he whimpered. Jareth kicked him off his leg.
He looked down at the animal, "I will see what is happening instead of wasting anytime. I have announcement to do today." Jareth trudged on without another thought. The closer they got the more smoke they saw. When they reached the center they saw a stick with a rope attached to the hanging corpse of a woman covered in flames. It was only when they saw Christina, Toby, Lillian, Roberto, Pashmina, and Dillon they realized who the woman was.
Christina was hysterical with her hand clasped over her mouth, and Toby stood perfectly still like he was struck with Rigor mortis. Roberto was on his knees like he was pleading with God. Lillian stood by his side unsure of what to do. Dillon was standing, but shaking furiously like his legs would give out any minute. Pashmina held on to him. Jareth dropped to the floor.
Luna had hung herself.
"OH GOD WHY! LUNA!" Sarah screamed at the top of her lungs. She went to grab her daughter, but Toby pulled her back. "LET ME GO! LET ME GO! MY BABY! OH GOD LUNA!"
He held her tight as she broke down in his arms. Jareth was at a loss for words. There was the mother of his children burning in flames before him. There was nothing he could do stop it, nothing he could do to save her. He knew she did not want to get married, but he never expected this. If he would have known she was thinking death was the only solution he would have let her leave. Anything would have been better than this. Now, his children were left without a mother. Now, Sarah was left without her daughter. The whole family was lost in a swirl of emotions that they could not yet name.
It had been three days since Luna's death. Three hellish long days. Lillian, Jareth, and Aldred had to give speeches about the changes that were taking place. Jareth did not want to talk. He really did not want to leave the bed in the morning, but he had to. There were duties he had to the kingdom. It was hard, especially after he found her suicide note on her desk. It was specifically written to him. She had some final wishes that he swore to himself he would carry out.
His new duties as father proved extremely difficult. The twins had been crying nonstop. Even though they had no idea what was going on, it was as if they could sense it. Jareth had not gone much sleep between their crying and his nightmares. He dreamed that they were in their oubliette talking or kissing, and all of sudden she would burst into flames. Sarah had to wake him a few times when he started screaming.
She had been silent for the most part after her daughter's passing. Maybe she never had the best relationship with Luna, but that did not mean she did not love her. A parent losing their child is the worst pain imaginable. She felt hollow and numb. The whole thing was surreal. The little girl that she fed and bathed and changed was dead. Sarah thought about when she first held Luna, and when she took her first steps. Now, she was gone and Sarah was like a ghost.
Lillian was getting the final arrangements for the funeral done. She was indifferent to the situation. Of course she felt bad for the others, but this woman, well her body, killed her husband. The pixie queen did not allow herself to feel anyway about it. Roberto was a mess. He spent the days drinking, sobbing, and reminiscing. She took care of the babies to give him the space he needed. If she ever lost Primrose, she would probably need the same. It hurt her to see him in pure agony.
Dillon's sadness took the form of anger. His temper was getting so thin it would break if an ant stepped on it. Out of nowhere he would start punching walls or screaming. Pashmina knew that he was just having problems working through the emotions. She would try to help him calm down the best she could, but when that did not work she would leave. Though she hardly knew Luna, this was taking a big toll on her. Toby was not even close to his usual self. Normally, he liked to joke around and laugh. Since her death, he just moped around. He would not let himself cry though, out of fear that once it started it would not stop. Christina found herself constantly shaking from the imagery. After all, she was the first to find her. She saw when Luna still looked like Luna before she was completely charred and burned. One of goblins set her on fire after Luna had hung herself to celebrate her passing.
Now, they were on their way to the funeral service. It had to be a secret ceremony because they did not want anyone to defile her body out of anger. They were dressed in black and in black carriages pulled by black Pegasus. The ride was eerily silent, even the babies did not make a peep. The sun was beginning to set just as they arrived. They walked out slowly. Hades and the dark creature were standing by a dimly lit gondola. Luna was lying there peacefully, an image of perfection. A rose was in her hair, and she wore a pale green dress. Her skin was glowing in the light.
He whispered to Jareth, "I did an enchantment on her. I hope you do not mind. I did not deem it proper to have her seen in the state she was in before."
"Thank you. She looks beautiful," Jareth sighed.
"Do not worry. She will be in good hands," Hades assured him with a pat on the shoulder. There were times Hades was completely ruthless and insensitive, but he knew better than to make any comments further than that. They all stood around Luna's boat. First there was Hades, then King Aldred, Lillian, Jareth, Sarah holding Artemis and Apollo, Roberto holding Howie and Primrose, Toby, Christina, Dillon, Pashmina, Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus, Lady Adora, Willow, Grog, and Sprickle.
Silently, the family was blaming themselves. Dillon blamed himself for wishing them away to this place. Roberto blamed himself for not waiting Aboveground for Jareth to bring them back. Sarah blamed herself for wishing Toby away all those years ago. They would have never gone Underground if she had not done that. Toby blamed himself causing Sarah to wish him away. Jareth blamed himself for toying with the poor girl, leading her on when he loved her mother. None of those reasons mattered now. What's done is done.
Jareth went to the podium near the boat. He had a speech prepared for the funeral, and took the crumbled paper out of his pocket. This felt cheap to him. Luna deserved something from the heart. He ripped the paper in to pieces and through it to the side. They all stared at him as he kneeled by the boat and held her hand in his. He sung:
"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."
Sarah joined in with her voice thick with tears:
"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."
Dillon sighed before finishing:
"As the pain sweeps through,
Makes no sense for you.
Every thrill is gone.
Wasn't too much fun at all,
But I'll be there for you-ou-ou
As the world falls down . . ."
[[Hey guys. First of all, as you probably know "As the World Falls Down," belongs to David Bowie. This chapter was so freaking hard for me to write. I was in tears the whole time. I was dreading writing this bit from the beginning, but it had to be done. There will be an epilogue coming up after this chapter. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. I greatly appreciate it. Toodles.]]
