Chapter Forty-Five: A Happy Ending
The following short excerpt comes from the final ancient book, concerning
the history and prophecy of the Underground.
The king was doomed, and all knew that. No matter what was done, something would be harmed. The curse seemed to loom over everyone's heads, and the evil presence of Destruction had not helped matters. However, Jareth, being the strong king that he was, fought the spell with every breath in his body.
The woman, the key to the prophecy, held the answer within a simple crystal. Using a magic she knew not about, she summoned a dream that broke through Destruction's evil spell and set the king free, but not for long.
The curse still rested there, surrounding them, choking them. It was everywhere, and would not let the Goblin King live in peace. He still loved Sarah with all of his heart, and with that love came the curse. There was but one thing to do, and that was to take the subject of the curse from this land, by means of death.
A dagger, performed the horrid deed, and left Jareth dead. Sarah was granted with magic, so that she might rule the Underground as a kind and fair leader. However, the love the two held would not be broken, and that was made obvious by the way Sarah mourned Jareth, even when she knew that there were other things that had to be done.
However, there was a loophole that no one had noticed, except Katriana. For Jareth had defeated Destruction and had conquered the evil in his soul when he killed himself. He had quieted the annoying curse, and so there was nothing to hold his pure self away. That was when he received the chance to return, without the evil inside of him.
The lovely Sarah was shocked at first, what with seeing a man she had thought to be dead, but finally believed in him, and so brought him back. Their love renewed the Underground and the magic that covered this land. It was reborn in the instant their lips met, never to be ended again.
Sarah sat upon the bed, a silken masterpiece when compared to the 'wonderful' ground she had spent many nights on during her quest. Her gaze drifted from the window and then back to the small leather-bound book she held clasped in her hands. Once again, she moved to open the magical book and read what had been written in the end, but she knew that it would not open. This book had become closed to her, keeping the final chapter a mystery.
However, she already had a good idea as to what was written upon the mysterious pages. She had known that this book was about her and this quest, for a while now. Yet, she so yearned to just see how it had been written. After all, it was her life that was held bound within the binder.
Sarah, after several agonizing minutes trying to force the book open, tossed it to her dresser and then flopped back on the bed, to gaze up at the golden leafed ceiling.
The entire castle had changed dramatically. It still held the powerful air about it, but no longer seemed frightening, and most of the inhabitants of the Underground were no longer terrified to approach it. The outer walls, though still formed from rock, had been carved with intricate designs, and adorned with gold plating and thousands of crystals of every size imaginable. It was quite an amazing sight from any distance.
A gentle knock drove Sarah from her thoughts. She smiled, instantly aware of who it was coming to get her. Sarah sat up and turned to face the door and then smiled.
"Yes?" she asked in her most pleasant voice.
The door was swung open to reveal Jareth, resplendent in a jacket formed from the most lovely shade of blue, one that rivaled the color of his eyes. His pants matched his jacket, and also were adorned with the golden designs. He returned Sarah's smile and then leaned against the door frame, waiting for her to rise from the bed.
"Sarah, you are missed by all the guests. I'm having quite a time with them," Jareth replied with a sly smile.
Sarah sighed deeply, wishing that she did not have to return, so that her presence would be known. She hadn't really wanted the ball in the first place, but it was nearly demanded of them. So, she had relented and invited her friends to come and visit with her. Of course, it had been nice speaking to Leader, Kyper, Tartia, Nerrissia, Hoggle, Didymus, Ludo, Thesper, and even the fairies. However, she did not want all these social obligations right now. She wanted to be with Jareth, alone, for at least a while.
Nonetheless, she rose from the bed, her cream-colored gown flowing around her as she did so. She offered the tiresome book a side-long glance and then looked back to Jareth. He had crossed his arms over his chest, watching her in her depressed and tired mood.
"If I did not know better, I would think that you aren't enjoying all this. It is in your honor," he reminded, a slight grin playing across his features.
Sarah shrugged. She stopped in front of Jareth, looking into his eyes that were so filled with love, and then turned to lean her back against him. He wrapped his arms around her, savoring their relationship and every moment they received to be together.
"Don't you wish we could just leave?" she asked, a mischievous sparkle becoming evident in her expression.
Jareth laughed behind her, and tightened his grip. He had wondered the same thing many times over during the tedious ball. Yet, he was king and Sarah would soon be his queen. They had certain obligations to the kingdom and their subjects. They could not simply leave a ball that had been thrown in Sarah's honor. That would just be a tad bit rude.
"My dear, you don't want to be at your own ball? There will be many more of these in the future," he responded.
Sarah drooped a bit in his arms. She had thought that he would agree with her. After all, the celebration had been going on for hours, and she was growing quite bored with the same old questions again and again. She was sure that they would not be missed, if they only left for an hour, maybe less. She just had to have some more time without the hordes of creatures,
and people, crowding in on her.
Jareth laid his head on her shoulder, brushing away her thick ringlets of hair in the process. He knew what she wanted, and knew how very stubborn she was when it came to getting her way. Finally Jareth relented, with an over-exaggerated sigh.
"I think that I am entirely controlled by you. Okay Sarah, we will leave the ball to itself for a while," Jareth said, dropping his arms from around her waist.
Sarah immediately broke into a wonderful smile. She turned and wrapped her arms around Jareth in an excited embrace. Jareth rolled his eyes at her antics, but could not hide his own joy for being rid of the tiresome ball, even for such a short time.
"Thank you," she said gently.
Sarah pulled herself away from their embrace and rushed over to the book that she had set upon her dresser. Jareth glanced at it and then turned to Sarah for an explanation for the reason as to why she carried this thing wherever she seemed to go. However, she just smiled and turned to the balcony to wait for her love to follow.
"Where do you think we are going?" he asked as he followed her to the balcony.
Sarah offered him a strangely wicked smile and then gestured down. Jareth laughed, amused by her creativity. He produced a crystal, since Sarah was still an amateur with the magic she had been granted, and threw it into the air above them.
The next moment the were bathed in a bright white light, the color of owls and dresses, magic and love. The light faded to reveal the stunning rose garden that Sarah had admired when she had first awakened in the castle. Of course, she had been too proud to admit how lovely it was then. Now, she was able to marvel at its magnificence.
She placed herself upon one of the wrought iron benches, that resembled gold more than iron. Sarah adjusted her skirts, waiting anxiously for the time when she would be able to change into something more comfortable, like jeans, or even her dress from the Mirameds. Anything would be an improvement from this bundle of material, that seemed quite too much for one dress.
Jareth sat beside her draping an arm around her waist as he did so. Sarah leaned against him and then offered him the book. Jareth took it, but not before showing Sarah that he was quite perplexed with this whole fascination with the simple book.
"I'm going to send it to Toby. I can't lose him. I want him to remember his time here, and you, and me," Sarah explained.
Jareth laid the book on the bench and then looked at Sarah. She did not seem to understand that she could not have both the Underground and her old life. She would have to choose. Jareth could easily erase her memory from her family, and all who had known her, but if Toby had a memory of his time in the Underground then he would ruin everything.
"Sarah, you do remember what I said?" Jareth asked, deeply concerned with the way she was acting.
Sarah turned her gaze away from the king. She could recall what he had told her a few short days ago, about what would happen if she chose to remain in the Underground. However, it was just a small little exception she was asking him to make, nothing really important. Sarah could not lose Toby, and she knew that. She and Jareth had enough power to arrange a few visits
with her brother, and give him this book. If Toby knew it was a secret, then he would not spread it all around. He was good that way.
"I only want this one thing, Jareth," Sarah begged.
Once again he felt helpless to deny her anything. It was quite annoying, not having his own mind anymore, but that was the way love was. He smiled and shook his head, and Sarah knew at once that he was going to give in to her pleas. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him tenderly.
"If this ends up ruining the whole existence as we know it, you are to blame," he replied with a laugh.
Sarah shrugged and reached over to grab the book. She tried in vain to open it, but could not do so. Jareth watched her struggles and reached over to offer her some help. Sarah ground her teeth together and then tossed the book to the ground, overcome with anger.
"Temper, temper," Jareth chided.
Sarah turned to him and pointed an accusing finger at the book. She stuttered for a bit, trying to gather her words so that it would appear that the book was to blame for the whole incident.
"That damn thing will not open!" Sarah exclaimed.
"A lady should never use such language," he said with a smirk.
Sarah crossed her arms over her chest, giving Jareth the absolute most icy glare she could manage. She was not about to play his games. Didn't he understand that she wanted some help, and not lectures? She was quite fed up with the stupid book that was so determined to incite her rage.
"Jareth, I will use whatever language suits me. Now, before you turn into my mother, would you please help me with that stupid book!" Sarah asked, trying to not lose her temper once again.
Jareth reached down and retrieved the book from the ground. He dusted some dirt from the cover and offered it to Sarah. She eyed it for a short while and then reached over to take it from him.
Yet, the moment her hand touched his, the book lit up in an amazing golden light. The illumination reflected around the entire garden and in Sarah's wide, frightened eyes. Sarah recoiled from the book, and the light instantly died. Jareth glanced at it and then to Sarah.
"I thought that you wanted it to open," he stated.
Sarah carefully edged closer to Jareth, and the book he held out to her. She was not sure what to think about it, what with the strange light. However, she did want to open it and read the final chapter. Sarah summoned up her courage and then placed a tentative hand upon the leather binding.
"Why must everything have a riddle?" she questioned as the light erupted once again.
It shone fiercely and Sarah actually had to close her eyes. Jareth turned his gaze from the intense glare. The light faded as soon as it had begun, leaving the two of them with a simple leather book. Sarah fluttered her eyes open, afraid that the light would appear again without warning.
She took the book from Jareth's hands and attempted to open it once again. This time, the cover easily turned, as books generally do. Sarah let out a long sigh and then flipped the book to the back. However, Jareth's hand grasped the cover and closed it, nearly catching her fingers between the heavy leather bindings as he did so. Sarah glared at him, truly confused as to why he had helped her and then denied her the satisfaction of finally reading the end.
"You cannot see the end, Sarah, for that is not the way to read. You have lived that book, and so, you should not know the end, ever. The end is what you make it out to be," he answered, a wise glimmer in his knowing eyes.
Sarah grumbled a bit, but knew that Jareth was right. She should not have even opened the book, for now it was too much temptation. She instead, produced a pen from nothing. Sarah smiled at Jareth, quite pleased with her magical skills, and then opened the book to the first page which lacked any writing. She chewed on the tip of the quill for a short time, debating what
to say to her dear brother. She wanted to make sure that he knew what she was talking about, but everyone else would remain in the dark. Sarah removed the pen from her mouth and lowered the tip to the paper. After a brief hesitation, the words seemed to fly from her mind, through the pen, and on to the awaiting paper.
"Dear Toby, I hope that you are safe and well, and that you do enjoy this book. I know that I did. I hope to see you again soon, and so does someone else whom I hope you remember. He is very much looking forward to having you as a guest here. I suppose I cannot say anymore, in fear that someone will take it the wrong way. Let me just say this: Never give up your love
of magic, for it does truly exist!" with that Sarah set her pen down and closed the book.
Sarah tossed the pen to the ground, not thinking much about where it would end up. She was too excited about her gift to Toby, and whether he would enjoy it or not. Sarah grasped the book tightly, and then looked over to the waiting Jareth. He raised a elegantly shaped eyebrow in question and then straightened himself from his slightly reclined position he had chosen
to remain in while waiting for her to finish her inscription.
"Toby will be sure to love it, if you two are anything alike," Jareth responded to her worried glances.
Sarah was not sure whether she should send it. She knew that Jareth was correct, and that her little brother would adore the book, much the same as he had loved the "Labyrinth." However, she was not sure if she should put Toby through the pain of knowing that he was forced to live in a dull land when there was someplace as magical as the Underground.
She gradually set the book down, and then brought her hands away from it. Sarah sighed, deeply troubled about what to do. She had been so determined to give it to Toby and now that Jareth had agreed, she was no longer sure that it was the right thing to do.
"I don't want to make him sad, or feel as if he doesn't fit in. I went through that for far too long, and I don't want to force him to experience the same pain and sadness," Sarah explained.
Jareth reached out and took her hand into his. She brought her sorrel eyes up to gaze into Jareth's. They told her all that she needed to know. Sarah stared into the azure depths that spun with lively lights.
"To not tell him, and leave him without the hope of a land with magic, would be damning him to a dullness that would certainly not be fair," Jareth assured her.
Sarah managed a strained laugh at the word he had chosen to use. She covered her mouth to suppress the rest of the stream of giggles that threatened to burst forth, should she dwell upon it any longer.
"Fair?" Sarah asked.
"Really Sarah, that is no reason to break into a fit of laughter. I was trying to help you, after all," he sounded stern, but there was a trace of merriment in his voice, even while he was lecturing her.
Sarah reached over and lifted the wondrous book into her hands. The story it held was the most important one that would ever be written, for it was her story, her life, her quest, and her love. She was trusting Toby with it, and she knew that he was the best person in whom she could put her faith . Sarah clutched it for a few more moments and then handed it to Jareth, so that he might send it to her brother.
"This is all a mistake," Jareth replied.
A shimmer of laughter shone in his eyes as he laid the book upon the air, as if it were on a shelf instead. Sarah watched in awe as a trio of crystals surrounded the book and formed together to cover it in a truly remarkable wrapping paper. Jareth blew the book away, and into the wind, so
that it might find its way to Toby's night stand.
"What's done is done," Sarah stated.
Jareth turned to her once again, recognizing her sentence as one he had used so very long ago, when he had first beheld this girl, a child then. It was a time when he had not known the love that they would hold together, a love that would save the entire Underground from certain doom. However, he did not want to dwell on the past and the hardships, and the years spent
without her, in denial. He was going to think of the future and enjoy the present.
"Well, with that done, then I suggest that we grace our guests with our presence," Jareth stated.
He rose to his feet and offered Sarah a hand to aid her. She took it gratefully, for the dress was quite heavy. She thought again about changing into some nice shorts. They at least would not be so stifling and horribly heavy. Sarah tugged at one of the many skirts she wore and then adjusted herself so that she might appear presentable before everyone who had come to see her.
"I'm so tired of this celebration. I don't understand why we can't just leave. They would probably never even notice," Sarah said, glancing around the garden as she spoke.
Jareth shook his head and laughed at her childish attitude concerning all of this. He grasped Sarah's hand and held it between his own. He no longer wore the gloves of the past. His hands were bare, and free of their constraints. Sarah was quite pleased with the change. She loved the feel of his hands and the magical aura they held.
"You have much to learn, Sarah," He said, and then dropped her hand.
Jareth turned with a smirk upon his handsome face, and began to walk towards the castle's grand hall. Their guests were probably growing anxious, and quite worried about the king and his future queen. He would leave, and hope that Sarah would finally grow tired of these antics and follow him.
"Now, what is that supposed to mean? Jareth!" Sarah called.
She lifted her many layers of skirts into her hands and rushed, or tried to run, towards the king. Sarah very nearly succeeded in tripping over her own slip. She threw the skirts from her hands and then crossed her arms over her chest, quite fed up with the whole masquerade. Didn't the inhabitants of the Underground understand that women were just as beautiful in gowns as
they were in pants, or simple dresses?
"I cannot walk any further in this dress!" Sarah called, but there was no answer.
She dropped her arms, wondering what the reason was for Jareth leaving her so suddenly. Sarah gazed around a corner and did not see any signs of the king. She glanced around herself, but still could not see anyone, save herself, out here. Once again, Sarah lifted her skirts into her hands and walked, more careful this time, towards the back entrance to the castle.
She carefully avoided several mud puddles that would have done a number to her miraculously pure gown. Sarah was tempted to simply jump in the puddle and rush into the ball, covered with filth and grime. She laughed at such a silly idea and reminded herself that she was to be the queen, and she had to act that way.
"Come now Sarah, what were all those acting lessons for? Surely you can act regal for a short ball," Sarah told herself in quite a demanding voice at that.
She turned again and found Jareth leaning against the wall, waiting for her. He glanced at her, assuring himself that she had not done what she had thought about. He held a hand out to her, so that they might enter the ball together.
"I thought that you had already gone in," Sarah stated as she walked quickly towards him.
Jareth shrugged and flashed her a debonair smile, that simply made her melt before him. She felt a weak flush rise up on her cheeks, and Sarah turned her face away. Yet, Jareth walked forward and raised her head so that he might look into her eyes. He paid no attention to her embarrassment, but instead brushed a hand through her thick mane of hair.
"Forever, and ever," he said, his face having grown serious.
Sarah nodded in agreement and fell into his arms. His wondrous embrace covered her entirely. She laid her head against his shoulder. A warm breeze, that wove itself through the rose bushes and over to them, drifted by. A faint sent of honeysuckle mingled with that of the roses, tantalized their senses for a short time. Both instantly raised their heads, expecting to see the woman who had aided so much, and managed to bring them together after long last. However, Katriana was nowhere to be seen.
"Thank you," Sarah mouthed to the breeze that had drifted away.
Jareth turned her to face him with a gentle touch of his silken hand. Sarah gazed up into his eyes, falling in love with this remarkable man all over again. He bent his head and kissed her, raising a passion that to this very day still burns.
Sarah remained forever by his side, in the Underground. For she was not a normal girl who led a normal life in a dreary little town any longer. She was with her love, the Goblin King, and able to finally follow her magical destiny!
