Disclaimer: I wish I owned The Labyrinth. I don't. I wish I owned Jareth (who doesn't?). I don't. Hell, I'd be content to say that I own at least one of the goblins, but again, I don't. I own nothing. If I owned anything I wouldn't be writing fanfiction. I would be busy making a sequel to the movie where Sarah and Jareth live happily ever after. Since there is not such a movie, deductive logic implies that I don't own the Labyrinth. I don't. So if you promise not to sue me continue and I hope you enjoy. And if you happen to be Jim Henson or George Lucas and would like to donate your creation to me, I will gracefully accept. ^_~
Author's Note: I was really depressed when I wrote this so if it is a little unhappy don't be mad. Or be mad. I don't care, just enjoy the story and let me know how I did. I love reviews.
The Irony Of It All
I didn't mean to. I should have known better. It wasn't expected. None of these excuses seem to make my problem go away. I am a king and as such this should not have happened.
That however, does not diminish the fact that it did happen, or that I am in trouble. Or, as you mortals say, 'I have screwed up'. To be politically correct, I could even say that 'I have screwed up royally.'
I was beaten. I can not even say that it was by a magical opponent. No, I was beaten by a mere slip of a girl, and a mortal girl at that. But not just any girl. My opponent, was and remains the most enchanting creature that I have ever come in contact with. A woman-child caught up in something that she didn't quite understand, and couldn't change. She came to me to regain something that she hadn't realized was precious to her, and yet it was all the same. Her baby brother.
She called to me, and I came. But before she called me so she told a story, or so she thought. What she told was the truth. I can still hear her words…. "But what the spoiled prince didn't know was that the handsome king had fallen in love with the young girl,…." Even I didn't realize how right she was. I had been watching her for some time. Seeing her act in the park where she escaped her world and drew close to mine. Watching her cry herself to sleep at night after another fight with her stepmother, who saw her as a reminder that she wasn't the first. Or seeing her lose her father's love one day at a time, and then later when she was alone and would tell herself that it didn't matter.
I became infatuated with her. It was not an accident that her favored play was the one that she would ultimately find playing her. I could see her, but unless she called to me, she could not see me. And how could she know to call me but that she find the knowledge in something that she doesn't suspect? To be honest I needed her to call for me. And so I laid everything she would need in her path, the book, the song, and lastly her dreams.
Oh nothing like what I showed her in my labyrinth, but the dreams that she dreamt before her adventure. The ones that spoke to her and told her that some one could and did love her. She was not invisible, and that if she dreamed long enough, her prince would find her and save her. A small deceit on my part. Actually it was a rather large deceit on my part. She got a king instead of a prince, who came because he was called, and instead of saving her he plunged her into a Labyrinth that was designed for no escape.
Not that I would have left her there if she had not solved it. I wouldn't even have turned her brother into a goblin. But she didn't know that. She didn't even know that I was in love with her (not that I knew either, I was still laboring under the illusion that it was infatuation). Despite what she had said to have her little brother taken away from her, it never occurred to her that if the Labyrinth was real, that every part of the story was real. If she had known that I loved her I have no doubt that she would have used it to regain her brother. It's not that she is ruthless or calculating, it's just that she had finally realized that she loved her brother, and maybe that he was the only one who loved her.
Again this is still when I had yet to realize I was in love with the chit. Or if I had realized it, I was still denying it. More the fool me. I say that because it is when you realize there is a problem that you can take steps toward solving it. Although I don't think realizing you're in love will help you solve it. This is mainly due to the fact that The Fates decided that Love should not be viewed as a problem. Ha! If that were the case there would be no such thing as unrequited love would there?
It makes me wonder though, is my love returned? I can't say. I watch her still. It is too soon to know. I now sit outside her window, and watch as my loyal subjects celebrate with her. Oh they're loyal alright, though it now seems their loyalties lie with both her and I. It's not that it matters, in fact I am pleased she has found such companions among my subjects. She said that she didn't know why but at some point …. "I need all of you…" Does that include me? I wonder……… At least she has finally acknowledged that she needs, like any other creature.
Again to coin a phrase, (you humans have so many…), This is the pot calling the kettle black. I learned how to need no sooner than she. And we both learned that lesson tonight. It took thirteen hours, but is was indeed learned. And now I know. I need Sarah. Sarah said she needed all of us. Now I have to figure out if that includes me.
This is not going to be easy. I have fallen in love with a fifteen-year-old mortal. I doubt she even knows how to determine what love is yet. At least the kind of love that is in question. I only determined it when she broke out of our ballroom. I had been dancing with her and at that moment she was not a child-woman, she was a woman grown, though she didn't realize it. And yet even when I offered her, her dreams; eternal love, some part of her knew that her own happiness must come second, and that her baby brother needed her, and so she sacrificed everything I had given her, including myself.
I know that she feels something for me. I saw it in her eyes when she called me, when she bravely faced me down in the Oubliette, telling me it was a "piece of cake" and the indignant look on her face as she cried, "that's not fair!" (She says that so often, at least she learned that that was how it was supposed to be.) I saw it again when we danced, that look that spoke volumes, saying that she desired me, was afraid to love me, and yet was not afraid of love or me.
But combined, love and loving me, she is afraid of what she can't understand. Such is the downside of youth.
The last time I saw that look was when she uttered the words that ended our game, "You have no power over me…." I saw it in her eyes; regret, love, hope, and apology. She thought that she had destroyed me, soon enough she will discover that she destroyed naught but our illusion.
And so here I sit, outside her window, on the outside looking in, knowing that I belong with her, and realizing that I'll wait for her to realize that she belongs with me.
The irony of it all. It's almost enough to make me laugh out loud. The proud and mighty Goblin King, Lord of the Underground, Master of magic, and ruler of Fae, brought to his knees by a girl, who belonged to the Above, and yet belonged in the Underground. A beautiful woman-child, who is as enchanting as she is innocent, and so heartbreakingly confused. The Goblin King who does not offer his love twice, and yet who had never offered it before, is in love with one Sarah Catherine Williams.
I can't stop it. I'm not even sure I want to. It's strange, to feel emotion like this. After years of nothing but mild amusement and disdain, I finally am caught up in a storm of emotion that is centered around Sarah. I did not know how to make her understand, and so I did the only thing I knew how to do. I asked her for power. "Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave…" I did not know how to offer myself in any other way. I was raised to rule. I was never taught how to be ruled. And yet I am. Sarah has power over me. Great power. Such is fitting for a Queen.
Yes, a Queen. I know that I am right. Sarah is my queen, I suppose she always has been. It feels right; the only one to ever defeat me is the one who is destined to rule with me, beside me. It is her right. Not only because she beat me, but also because she is part of me. Her birthright is her crown, because she and I were born for each other.
It's funny, I learned of this in thirteen hours, and yet I have never been more certain of anything in my life. If only Sarah could feel what I feel. But that will take time. Oh not for her to feel it, she already does, but for her to realize it. It matters little. I will rule and watch from afar, daring to see her only in her dreams, waiting for her. I am not afraid, I know she will acknowledge it someday, she is a part of me, just as I am a part of her. Though it is not a matter a time. I'll wait forever if need be. It's not that long at all.
The End…..or is it?
WHEW! Not bad. From start to finish it took me about two hours. Like I said I was feeling depressed when I wrote this, and I got to thinking how lonely Jareth looked sitting outside Sarah's window at the end. Going back over this I realize that this could be the beginning of a full-blown story.
But that's up to you. Do you think it's good enough to continue? Review and let me know. I adore reviews (they make me feel special ^_~*) So any questions, comments, constructive criticism, or flames are welcome. Especially from my favorite authors, namely Melissa Davis, cutiechelsey, peachdeamer, Unicorn Lady, Ladymage Samiko, and tons more.
Another question…….If this fic does continue, anyone interested in being my Beta reader? I am sure there are mistakes in here, so someone…. Anyone…help? My e-mail is
Anyways-----------------------------gotta go- Lauralye