I am cheap and own nothing...save my sanity...no...not even that...
I am cheap and own nothing...still...no, really...
Sarah fell in a heap on a hard dirt floor in a lightless area. She groped around until she found her lighter in her backpack and began to try and use it, her fingers trembling too badly to work it. Freezing, she jerked her head up, hearing a deep breathing from somewhere near her.
"Who's there?"
A wheezing growl answered her and glowing sick yellow eyes peered at her from the darkness.
Sarah finally managed to work the lighter and a dim light flared up, causing the creature to wince.
The thing looked was shaped like a huge dog but patches of its greenish brown fur were missing. Where there was no fur there was scales dripping mucus. Drool collected in strings from the creatures mouth and bits of it teeth were blackened. Its claws were chipped and it's its elbows were like scabs. It cowered from the light.
Sarah's breath caught in her throat, and she tried to think of anything to do to save herself. Remembering the firecrackers, she slowly reached into her bag, keeping the lighter held towards the creature, and rummaged through the bag, desperately searching for the firecrackers.
The creature began to adjust to the light and creep slowly towards her, breathing heavily.
She finally found the firecrackers, waiting until the creature was a bit closer before lighting the string and throwing it into the gaping maw of the hideous beast.
The creature bit and chewed on the stick for a moment before it's entire muzzle as well as half it's head blew up all over the room.
Dropping the lighter, Sarah curled into the feeble position, her backpack keeping most of her head from being hit by the charred chunks.
A putrid stench rose from the body and Sarah covered her nose, taking in shallow breaths through her mouth as she fumbled for her lighter. Once she found and turned it on, she looked around, wondering where she was.
The oubliette walls greeted her, the pots still on the floor from where Hoggle had opened the broom closet years ago.
Tucking the lighter in her pocket, she glanced in her backpack, which had been covered with creature bits. Not seeing anything she thought she might need, she pulled of her sweatshirt, gagging at its stench. She grabbed her bat and made her way over to the door, stepping around the corpse. Opening the door, she found herself standing at the gates of the Goblin City once more. Looking around, she shrugged, glad that she was closer than last time she had passed through the oubliette.
She ran as fast as she could to the fountain in the city's square and dunked her head under water, scrubbing at her hair to remove all traces of the creature. Running her fingers through her wet, but somewhat clean hair, she stood and once again made her way to the castle gates with a determined stride.
Hoggle stood there, waiting, looking very nervous.
"Where is the king?" she asked in a quiet but hard voice.
Hoggle jumped and his face lit up. He ran over to Sarah.
"You's back!" he said quietly.
"Yes, I'm back," Sarah said, glancing around warily.
He grabbed her hand.
"Jareth saw what happened. I'm spoused to take ya to him. He's worried sick he is."
Sarah's face lit up at the mention of Jareth and she quickly followed Hoggle, keeping a grip on her baseball bat.
Jareth paced the walls in his Escher room. He was dressed in his pajama bottoms, being that he had woken up and seen Sarah speaking with his father. Not even his father knew of this room though, so he was safe. If only Hoggle would hurry up! But what if they had been caught? Worries filled his head, as he twirled useless crystals in his hands.
"Jareth?" Sarah called out breathlessly, looking around the Escher room.
Jareth's head spun around and he smiled at Sarah.
"Jump Sarah. I can't even zap myself right now. Jump and I'll catch you."
Sarah dropped the bat and jumped, trusting him to catch her.
He did and held her quite close while practically welding his mouth to hers. When he pulled away, many minutes later, he stared at her a moment and began to laugh.
"How did you get into the underground?"
"I used the crystal you gave me to zap to the gates," she said, smiling up at him and bringing his mouth back down to hers.
This kiss was much slower but just as long as the first.
"I see. You zapped yourself. I didn't think mortals had magic," he said running his fingers through her wet hair.
"Why is your hair wet? What happened?"
Sarah held him tight and pressed her face against his shoulder. "I don't want to talk about it," she whispered.
Jareth nodded. He sat down and cuddled with Sarah for a moment, pieces of his still long hair mixing with her dark brown as he rested his head against hers. His father had forced him to keep it this way. It didn't matter. He had Sarah back.
"I've missed you so much," Sarah murmured, kissing his jaw.
Jareth smiled. He had missed her too. "There was nothing I could do. I didn't want to leave but I didn't have much of a choice."
"I know love," she said, closing her eyes and smiling at the feeling of his arms wrapped tightly around her.
Jareth thought it time to tell the bad news.
"We have a problem...well actually we have several...but one at the moment."
Sarah sighed, then pulled back slightly to look into his mismatched eyes, gently stroking his cheeks. "What's the problem?"
"I can't zap," he said simply.
"So, we're stuck in here?"
He nodded. "Unless you can think of some way to get out."
Sarah thought for a moment. "Can you create a crystal like you did in the dream?"
He shrugged and nuzzled her neck. "I can make as many as I'd like. But I can't use them."
"I used it before, maybe I can use it again," Sarah whispered, rubbing her cheek against his.
He handed her a crystal without pulling his head away, being preoccupied at the moment.
"I'll try in a minute, for now, I want to stay stuck in this room," she murmured, setting the crystal down and running her fingers through his hair.
He sighed, feeling his stiff muscles uncoil and relax.
"I apologize for my hair being in this style. My father wouldn't let me change it."
"I don't care, I'm starting to like seeing you as a scared flower," Sarah murmured, smiling as she gently kissed his closed eyes.
He laughed, his eyes still closed. "I'm glad. I would hate to disappoint you."
Smiling, she hugged him tightly. "I don't know if you could do that."
His fingers slid into her hair. "I've done it before haven't I? Did it not disappoint you that I was not this Bowie guy?"
"I don't mind you not being a rock star. I mean, after all, you're a king," she murmured, kissing him.
He held her to himself and pressed her against the floor. Her hands smoothed down his back and he shivered at the touch of her skin against his.
He pulled away and lightly kissed her ear. "What are we going to do?"
"I don't know, but we'll figure out something. We can't stay in here forever, that's for sure," Sarah said, turning her head and looking into his eyes.
He traced her jaw line with his fingertips.
"I know. But we've probably already spent a few days in here."
Her eyes widened. "That's right, I forgot how strange time is in here. We should probably see what's happened," she murmured, rubbing her cheek against his hand.
He sighed and nodded, standing and offering her his hand.
She stood and kissed him quickly, then reached down and grabbed the crystal.
"I love you," she murmured, wrapping an arm around his waist and staring hard at the crystal. In a flash of light, they both vanished from the Escher room and reappeared in Jareth's office.
Sarah slowly shook her head. It had been different than when she had zapped here, maybe because she was in a realm of magic. It had felt as if they were gliding through a nothingness, her thoughts directing them towards his office.
Jareth was grinning at her. He wrapped his arms around her.
"You know how. You can control magic," he said, sounding very proud.
Sarah smiled and hugged him to her, still trying to clear her head of the sense of magic that seemed to cling to her.
Jareth pulled back and looked into her eyes, smiling.
"It's almost addictive you know...magic."
"It won't go away, its...sticky," she murmured, knowing she made absolutely no sense.
He smiled, knowing how she was feeling. "It's just like when you touch soap. It leaves a scent on you. Magic is the same way...kind of."
"It's very strange. How come it didn't happen when I zapped over here? And why am I not dizzy?"
"You zapped yourself from a non-magic world into a magic world so it didn't stick. It has to be magic to magic. As for why you aren't dizzy...I think that since you have used magic yourself it has no side effects on you any more."
"Oh, that's nice to know. Would anyone have felt me using the magic?"
He thought for a moment. "I hope not."
"Give me two crystals please, I need to go back and get my bat."
Jareth chuckled and made some crystals for her. He then wrapped his arm around her waist.
"I'm going too. I don't feel like waiting for hours."
Sarah smiled and concentrated on returning to where her bat lay. Once back in the Escher room, she grabbed her bat, returned to the circle of Jareth's arms, then zapped them back to his office.
"Won't you father be looking for you since you've been gone for a while?" she asked, closing her eyes and leaning against him.
"He'll find me sooner or later. I can't hide from him. I don't know what to do except tell him that I give up my position as king and am going back with you to Earth."
"But, what about your kingdom and everything here?" Sarah asked, pulling back and looking at him.
He swallowed hard and cleared his throat before he could speak.
"I-I don't want to lose you again. I couldn't stand having to live for thousands of years and not being with you. If I come back with you my life will be shorter but I'll be happier."
"You'd give up everything, including immortality, to be with me?" Sarah whispered.
He looked confused and laughed nervously. "Well what would you have me do Sarah?"
Sarah continued to look at him for a moment before smiling slightly and kissing him, tears in her eyes from the knowledge that he would give up everything just to be with her.
He pulled away and smiled. "Why don't you go and freshen up? Then we'll wait for my father and see if we can't do something."
Sarah nodded and headed into the bathroom, running a hand through her damp hair.
Jareth sat down on his bed, running his fingers through his hair.
"Where have you been Jareth?"
Jareth's head shot up to find his father glowering down at him.
"I've been...uh...thinking in my private place."
"And where is that?" The king asked.
"It's private."
Sarah heard the king's voice drifting from the bedroom and she grimaced. Dunking her head under the faucet, she washed the shampoo out of her hair, glad it no longer contained the slight smell of the creature.
Jareth stood.
"I have thought about what you have said."
The king seemed pleased. "Ah. So you have come you're senses."
Jareth shook his head. "I would like to hand over my power and kingdom so that I can be with Sarah. If it means no longer being your son, then so be it."
The king stared at him, shocked.
Sarah ran a brush through her wet hair and slowly opened the door enough to peek out at Jareth and his father. The king had his back to her and partially obscured her view of Jareth.
Jareth saw Sarah and his heart lept into his throat. He prayed his father didn't turn around. The king's face twisted and he turned around swiftly.
"You are still here! How?"
Sarah slipped out of the bathroom with a sigh, the bat held loosely in one hand.
"Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the love that is mine. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom as great, you have no power over me," Sarah said, harshly annunciating the last words.
Jareth saw his father gather himself to prepare to send Sarah to some other nightmarish place. He looked to her, knowing he could do nothing.
"Father please!"
"Go away mortal. Don't come back," the king said.
The king spun a crystal and threw it at Sarah but it bounced off harmlessly and fell to the floor with a clunk. The king looked confused.
"So this is where you have been!" said a female voice.
"I thought you were up to something."
With a swirl Jareth's mother appeared in the room and stood, frowning at the king.
Jareth ran over to Sarah and held her protectively to his chest.
"Just what do you think you're doing!" said the queen.
"She's mortal!" the king said irritably.
Sarah turned her head to look at the queen, kicking away the crystal that lay at her feet.
The queen picked it up and turned it to dust.
"Give my son his powers back and go home. Stop harassing the boy. He's happy. Leave him alone."
"I don't want a mortal in my land!" the king said, practically throwing a fit.
"Who's land?" the queen asked raising an eyebrow.
The king pouted and spun a crystal and tossed it to Jareth, who caught it and glowed momentarily before the crystal turned to dust.
The king disappeared, still frowning.
"I'm sorry about that," the queen said turning to Sarah and Jareth.
"Thank you," Sarah murmured, watching the queen from within the protective circle of Jareth's arms.
The queen nodded. "Jareth dear, may I speak with you for a moment?"
Jareth nodded and pried himself away from Sarah and followed his mother into the hall.
The queen turned to look at him, smiling.
"You have my permission."
Jareth looked confused.
"Obviously you want to marry her so I give you permission."
Jareth began to grin. "I thought that the king had to give permission."
His mother hit him playfully on is shoulder. "No silly. Only a parent has to."
Jareth laughed then and hugged his mother. She laughed with him.
"Go on Jareth dear, I'll talk with you later. There are some things we'll have to clear up."
Jareth nodded and ran back into his rooms.
Sarah was sitting on the edge of his bed and she looked up at him anxiously.
He grinned and walked quickly over to her, pulling her to his chest and kissing her cheeks.
"It's going to be okay now," he mumbled.
"I hope so," she whispered, smiling as she turned her head and kissed him.
Jareth lay down on his bed, Sarah still in his arms. He pulled away so he could speak.
"Sarah? Would you be my queen?" he asked, sounding shy.
Sarah smiled at him and gently touched his cheek as she nodded, hugging him tightly.
Jareth smiled and nuzzled Sarah's neck, all worries out of his mind.
Jareth awoke to the soft sounds of his baby daughter making gurgling noises. He climbed out of bed, careful not to wake Sarah, and went over to the crib. His daughter's happy blue eyes smiled up at him, as she kicked and held out her arms for him to pick her up. He did and sat on his windowsill, watching the sun come up, his daughter chewing contentedly on his shoulder.
"You moved," Sarah mumbled, turning on the bed to smile at him and their daughter. She yawned softly and pulled a pillow to her, propping her head on it.
Jareth turned his head to look at Sarah. "Alexandria was already up and wanted attention," he said smiling.
"Mmph," Sarah murmured, slowly rolling out of bed and walking over to where he sat. Leaning down, she kissed him, picking up Alexandria, and taking her place in his arms.
Jareth ran his fingers up and down her arms. "Is it just me or is this window getting crowded?" he asked into her ear.
"Would you like me to move my king?" Sarah asked sarcastically, leaning her head back against his shoulder.
He laughed softy and shook his head before looking out over his labyrinth. Green trees and grass had begun to grown on the outskirts of his maze instead of dirt and dead shrubs. Blue sky shown down onto his land in place of the dark red one that had been there for so many years but as the sun touched it a bit of it's old ruby colored self shown through.
Sarah smiled and kissed Alexandria's forehead, laughing quietly as her daughter grabbed a piece of Sarah's hair to chew on.
Jareth studied his daughter. "I think she's hungry."
"Whatever gave you that idea love?" Sarah murmured, softly tugging her hair out of the baby's mouth.
The child quickly grabbed her father's finger and began gumming it. Jareth laughed. "Perhaps we should get breakfast going. I want to look like a good daddy when mother comes for a visit today."
Sarah nodded and gave him a quick kiss before standing and loosening the robe she wore, allowing Alexandria to have her breakfast.
Jareth stretched and shuffled over to his wardrobe, planning the new day out. First they would relax the morning away, then mother would come and then they would go for a walk among the common folk. They would have lunch in the garden and dinner in his study. After the babe was asleep his mother would watch over her and he and his queen would go out on a flight. He laughed as he remembered the first time he had turned Sarah into a bird. He thought she made a very cute owl. She had other thoughts.
"What time is Margret coming today?" Sarah asked, gently patting Alex's back as she walked over towards Jareth.
"Sometime after breakfast," he said pulling a simple black cotton shirt over his head and tugging a pair of jeans over his legs.
Jareth smiled and took his babe into his arms. He held her over his shoulder and patted her back while walking around the room singing 'dance magic dance.' He smiled. It wasn't so many years ago that he was singing this same song for a different babe. He smiled as he remembered what Sarah had been like then. How she had change. He chuckled and Alex burped. He had changed a bit too.
Even his labyrinth had change, but then he guessed that nothing remained the same forever. His life was just another example of that.
the end
I am cheap and own nothing...still...no, really...
Sarah fell in a heap on a hard dirt floor in a lightless area. She groped around until she found her lighter in her backpack and began to try and use it, her fingers trembling too badly to work it. Freezing, she jerked her head up, hearing a deep breathing from somewhere near her.
"Who's there?"
A wheezing growl answered her and glowing sick yellow eyes peered at her from the darkness.
Sarah finally managed to work the lighter and a dim light flared up, causing the creature to wince.
The thing looked was shaped like a huge dog but patches of its greenish brown fur were missing. Where there was no fur there was scales dripping mucus. Drool collected in strings from the creatures mouth and bits of it teeth were blackened. Its claws were chipped and it's its elbows were like scabs. It cowered from the light.
Sarah's breath caught in her throat, and she tried to think of anything to do to save herself. Remembering the firecrackers, she slowly reached into her bag, keeping the lighter held towards the creature, and rummaged through the bag, desperately searching for the firecrackers.
The creature began to adjust to the light and creep slowly towards her, breathing heavily.
She finally found the firecrackers, waiting until the creature was a bit closer before lighting the string and throwing it into the gaping maw of the hideous beast.
The creature bit and chewed on the stick for a moment before it's entire muzzle as well as half it's head blew up all over the room.
Dropping the lighter, Sarah curled into the feeble position, her backpack keeping most of her head from being hit by the charred chunks.
A putrid stench rose from the body and Sarah covered her nose, taking in shallow breaths through her mouth as she fumbled for her lighter. Once she found and turned it on, she looked around, wondering where she was.
The oubliette walls greeted her, the pots still on the floor from where Hoggle had opened the broom closet years ago.
Tucking the lighter in her pocket, she glanced in her backpack, which had been covered with creature bits. Not seeing anything she thought she might need, she pulled of her sweatshirt, gagging at its stench. She grabbed her bat and made her way over to the door, stepping around the corpse. Opening the door, she found herself standing at the gates of the Goblin City once more. Looking around, she shrugged, glad that she was closer than last time she had passed through the oubliette.
She ran as fast as she could to the fountain in the city's square and dunked her head under water, scrubbing at her hair to remove all traces of the creature. Running her fingers through her wet, but somewhat clean hair, she stood and once again made her way to the castle gates with a determined stride.
Hoggle stood there, waiting, looking very nervous.
"Where is the king?" she asked in a quiet but hard voice.
Hoggle jumped and his face lit up. He ran over to Sarah.
"You's back!" he said quietly.
"Yes, I'm back," Sarah said, glancing around warily.
He grabbed her hand.
"Jareth saw what happened. I'm spoused to take ya to him. He's worried sick he is."
Sarah's face lit up at the mention of Jareth and she quickly followed Hoggle, keeping a grip on her baseball bat.
Jareth paced the walls in his Escher room. He was dressed in his pajama bottoms, being that he had woken up and seen Sarah speaking with his father. Not even his father knew of this room though, so he was safe. If only Hoggle would hurry up! But what if they had been caught? Worries filled his head, as he twirled useless crystals in his hands.
"Jareth?" Sarah called out breathlessly, looking around the Escher room.
Jareth's head spun around and he smiled at Sarah.
"Jump Sarah. I can't even zap myself right now. Jump and I'll catch you."
Sarah dropped the bat and jumped, trusting him to catch her.
He did and held her quite close while practically welding his mouth to hers. When he pulled away, many minutes later, he stared at her a moment and began to laugh.
"How did you get into the underground?"
"I used the crystal you gave me to zap to the gates," she said, smiling up at him and bringing his mouth back down to hers.
This kiss was much slower but just as long as the first.
"I see. You zapped yourself. I didn't think mortals had magic," he said running his fingers through her wet hair.
"Why is your hair wet? What happened?"
Sarah held him tight and pressed her face against his shoulder. "I don't want to talk about it," she whispered.
Jareth nodded. He sat down and cuddled with Sarah for a moment, pieces of his still long hair mixing with her dark brown as he rested his head against hers. His father had forced him to keep it this way. It didn't matter. He had Sarah back.
"I've missed you so much," Sarah murmured, kissing his jaw.
Jareth smiled. He had missed her too. "There was nothing I could do. I didn't want to leave but I didn't have much of a choice."
"I know love," she said, closing her eyes and smiling at the feeling of his arms wrapped tightly around her.
Jareth thought it time to tell the bad news.
"We have a problem...well actually we have several...but one at the moment."
Sarah sighed, then pulled back slightly to look into his mismatched eyes, gently stroking his cheeks. "What's the problem?"
"I can't zap," he said simply.
"So, we're stuck in here?"
He nodded. "Unless you can think of some way to get out."
Sarah thought for a moment. "Can you create a crystal like you did in the dream?"
He shrugged and nuzzled her neck. "I can make as many as I'd like. But I can't use them."
"I used it before, maybe I can use it again," Sarah whispered, rubbing her cheek against his.
He handed her a crystal without pulling his head away, being preoccupied at the moment.
"I'll try in a minute, for now, I want to stay stuck in this room," she murmured, setting the crystal down and running her fingers through his hair.
He sighed, feeling his stiff muscles uncoil and relax.
"I apologize for my hair being in this style. My father wouldn't let me change it."
"I don't care, I'm starting to like seeing you as a scared flower," Sarah murmured, smiling as she gently kissed his closed eyes.
He laughed, his eyes still closed. "I'm glad. I would hate to disappoint you."
Smiling, she hugged him tightly. "I don't know if you could do that."
His fingers slid into her hair. "I've done it before haven't I? Did it not disappoint you that I was not this Bowie guy?"
"I don't mind you not being a rock star. I mean, after all, you're a king," she murmured, kissing him.
He held her to himself and pressed her against the floor. Her hands smoothed down his back and he shivered at the touch of her skin against his.
He pulled away and lightly kissed her ear. "What are we going to do?"
"I don't know, but we'll figure out something. We can't stay in here forever, that's for sure," Sarah said, turning her head and looking into his eyes.
He traced her jaw line with his fingertips.
"I know. But we've probably already spent a few days in here."
Her eyes widened. "That's right, I forgot how strange time is in here. We should probably see what's happened," she murmured, rubbing her cheek against his hand.
He sighed and nodded, standing and offering her his hand.
She stood and kissed him quickly, then reached down and grabbed the crystal.
"I love you," she murmured, wrapping an arm around his waist and staring hard at the crystal. In a flash of light, they both vanished from the Escher room and reappeared in Jareth's office.
Sarah slowly shook her head. It had been different than when she had zapped here, maybe because she was in a realm of magic. It had felt as if they were gliding through a nothingness, her thoughts directing them towards his office.
Jareth was grinning at her. He wrapped his arms around her.
"You know how. You can control magic," he said, sounding very proud.
Sarah smiled and hugged him to her, still trying to clear her head of the sense of magic that seemed to cling to her.
Jareth pulled back and looked into her eyes, smiling.
"It's almost addictive you know...magic."
"It won't go away, its...sticky," she murmured, knowing she made absolutely no sense.
He smiled, knowing how she was feeling. "It's just like when you touch soap. It leaves a scent on you. Magic is the same way...kind of."
"It's very strange. How come it didn't happen when I zapped over here? And why am I not dizzy?"
"You zapped yourself from a non-magic world into a magic world so it didn't stick. It has to be magic to magic. As for why you aren't dizzy...I think that since you have used magic yourself it has no side effects on you any more."
"Oh, that's nice to know. Would anyone have felt me using the magic?"
He thought for a moment. "I hope not."
"Give me two crystals please, I need to go back and get my bat."
Jareth chuckled and made some crystals for her. He then wrapped his arm around her waist.
"I'm going too. I don't feel like waiting for hours."
Sarah smiled and concentrated on returning to where her bat lay. Once back in the Escher room, she grabbed her bat, returned to the circle of Jareth's arms, then zapped them back to his office.
"Won't you father be looking for you since you've been gone for a while?" she asked, closing her eyes and leaning against him.
"He'll find me sooner or later. I can't hide from him. I don't know what to do except tell him that I give up my position as king and am going back with you to Earth."
"But, what about your kingdom and everything here?" Sarah asked, pulling back and looking at him.
He swallowed hard and cleared his throat before he could speak.
"I-I don't want to lose you again. I couldn't stand having to live for thousands of years and not being with you. If I come back with you my life will be shorter but I'll be happier."
"You'd give up everything, including immortality, to be with me?" Sarah whispered.
He looked confused and laughed nervously. "Well what would you have me do Sarah?"
Sarah continued to look at him for a moment before smiling slightly and kissing him, tears in her eyes from the knowledge that he would give up everything just to be with her.
He pulled away and smiled. "Why don't you go and freshen up? Then we'll wait for my father and see if we can't do something."
Sarah nodded and headed into the bathroom, running a hand through her damp hair.
Jareth sat down on his bed, running his fingers through his hair.
"Where have you been Jareth?"
Jareth's head shot up to find his father glowering down at him.
"I've been...uh...thinking in my private place."
"And where is that?" The king asked.
"It's private."
Sarah heard the king's voice drifting from the bedroom and she grimaced. Dunking her head under the faucet, she washed the shampoo out of her hair, glad it no longer contained the slight smell of the creature.
Jareth stood.
"I have thought about what you have said."
The king seemed pleased. "Ah. So you have come you're senses."
Jareth shook his head. "I would like to hand over my power and kingdom so that I can be with Sarah. If it means no longer being your son, then so be it."
The king stared at him, shocked.
Sarah ran a brush through her wet hair and slowly opened the door enough to peek out at Jareth and his father. The king had his back to her and partially obscured her view of Jareth.
Jareth saw Sarah and his heart lept into his throat. He prayed his father didn't turn around. The king's face twisted and he turned around swiftly.
"You are still here! How?"
Sarah slipped out of the bathroom with a sigh, the bat held loosely in one hand.
"Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the love that is mine. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom as great, you have no power over me," Sarah said, harshly annunciating the last words.
Jareth saw his father gather himself to prepare to send Sarah to some other nightmarish place. He looked to her, knowing he could do nothing.
"Father please!"
"Go away mortal. Don't come back," the king said.
The king spun a crystal and threw it at Sarah but it bounced off harmlessly and fell to the floor with a clunk. The king looked confused.
"So this is where you have been!" said a female voice.
"I thought you were up to something."
With a swirl Jareth's mother appeared in the room and stood, frowning at the king.
Jareth ran over to Sarah and held her protectively to his chest.
"Just what do you think you're doing!" said the queen.
"She's mortal!" the king said irritably.
Sarah turned her head to look at the queen, kicking away the crystal that lay at her feet.
The queen picked it up and turned it to dust.
"Give my son his powers back and go home. Stop harassing the boy. He's happy. Leave him alone."
"I don't want a mortal in my land!" the king said, practically throwing a fit.
"Who's land?" the queen asked raising an eyebrow.
The king pouted and spun a crystal and tossed it to Jareth, who caught it and glowed momentarily before the crystal turned to dust.
The king disappeared, still frowning.
"I'm sorry about that," the queen said turning to Sarah and Jareth.
"Thank you," Sarah murmured, watching the queen from within the protective circle of Jareth's arms.
The queen nodded. "Jareth dear, may I speak with you for a moment?"
Jareth nodded and pried himself away from Sarah and followed his mother into the hall.
The queen turned to look at him, smiling.
"You have my permission."
Jareth looked confused.
"Obviously you want to marry her so I give you permission."
Jareth began to grin. "I thought that the king had to give permission."
His mother hit him playfully on is shoulder. "No silly. Only a parent has to."
Jareth laughed then and hugged his mother. She laughed with him.
"Go on Jareth dear, I'll talk with you later. There are some things we'll have to clear up."
Jareth nodded and ran back into his rooms.
Sarah was sitting on the edge of his bed and she looked up at him anxiously.
He grinned and walked quickly over to her, pulling her to his chest and kissing her cheeks.
"It's going to be okay now," he mumbled.
"I hope so," she whispered, smiling as she turned her head and kissed him.
Jareth lay down on his bed, Sarah still in his arms. He pulled away so he could speak.
"Sarah? Would you be my queen?" he asked, sounding shy.
Sarah smiled at him and gently touched his cheek as she nodded, hugging him tightly.
Jareth smiled and nuzzled Sarah's neck, all worries out of his mind.
Jareth awoke to the soft sounds of his baby daughter making gurgling noises. He climbed out of bed, careful not to wake Sarah, and went over to the crib. His daughter's happy blue eyes smiled up at him, as she kicked and held out her arms for him to pick her up. He did and sat on his windowsill, watching the sun come up, his daughter chewing contentedly on his shoulder.
"You moved," Sarah mumbled, turning on the bed to smile at him and their daughter. She yawned softly and pulled a pillow to her, propping her head on it.
Jareth turned his head to look at Sarah. "Alexandria was already up and wanted attention," he said smiling.
"Mmph," Sarah murmured, slowly rolling out of bed and walking over to where he sat. Leaning down, she kissed him, picking up Alexandria, and taking her place in his arms.
Jareth ran his fingers up and down her arms. "Is it just me or is this window getting crowded?" he asked into her ear.
"Would you like me to move my king?" Sarah asked sarcastically, leaning her head back against his shoulder.
He laughed softy and shook his head before looking out over his labyrinth. Green trees and grass had begun to grown on the outskirts of his maze instead of dirt and dead shrubs. Blue sky shown down onto his land in place of the dark red one that had been there for so many years but as the sun touched it a bit of it's old ruby colored self shown through.
Sarah smiled and kissed Alexandria's forehead, laughing quietly as her daughter grabbed a piece of Sarah's hair to chew on.
Jareth studied his daughter. "I think she's hungry."
"Whatever gave you that idea love?" Sarah murmured, softly tugging her hair out of the baby's mouth.
The child quickly grabbed her father's finger and began gumming it. Jareth laughed. "Perhaps we should get breakfast going. I want to look like a good daddy when mother comes for a visit today."
Sarah nodded and gave him a quick kiss before standing and loosening the robe she wore, allowing Alexandria to have her breakfast.
Jareth stretched and shuffled over to his wardrobe, planning the new day out. First they would relax the morning away, then mother would come and then they would go for a walk among the common folk. They would have lunch in the garden and dinner in his study. After the babe was asleep his mother would watch over her and he and his queen would go out on a flight. He laughed as he remembered the first time he had turned Sarah into a bird. He thought she made a very cute owl. She had other thoughts.
"What time is Margret coming today?" Sarah asked, gently patting Alex's back as she walked over towards Jareth.
"Sometime after breakfast," he said pulling a simple black cotton shirt over his head and tugging a pair of jeans over his legs.
Jareth smiled and took his babe into his arms. He held her over his shoulder and patted her back while walking around the room singing 'dance magic dance.' He smiled. It wasn't so many years ago that he was singing this same song for a different babe. He smiled as he remembered what Sarah had been like then. How she had change. He chuckled and Alex burped. He had changed a bit too.
Even his labyrinth had change, but then he guessed that nothing remained the same forever. His life was just another example of that.
the end