Author's Note
It's been a long time since I did any writing and I've been wanting to get back into it for a while now, and I thought since we'll be getting the new Taylor Swift album very soon it would be the perfect time to write the follow up to my folklore story, which I've been wanting to write a part two for basically ever since evermore came out! I hope you've all been well, and I hope you know I appreciate every review and follow and favourite, I would always come back to writing anyway, but all of those things really help me feel more confident and definitely motivate me to write something sooner rather than later! I hope you all enjoy this, I think it will be the end of the story that I started with folklore, but I may end up writing more music-inspired stories in the future.
evermore
part i: moonlit witch
as if you were a mythical thing, like you were a trophy or a champion ring, and there was one prize i'd cheat to win
"As Queen, it's important for you to have meticulous control over your magic," Jareth explained, rolling a crystal over his bare hands as he sat cross-legged across from Sarah in the forest clearing. He still wore gloves most of the time, but when they were alone there was no need. "It took me years of practice for it to come as naturally as it does, so I don't expect you to perfect everything straight away, but I think with me as your teacher you should be able to learn quickly."
Sarah watched him, amused. The dappled sunlight in the clearing made it pleasantly warm, and they were both happy to spend some time together. "Praising your own teaching before you've even started? I didn't think your ego could get any bigger."
He grinned at her, "You love my confidence." He made the crystal disappear and held out his hands, "Now, hold out your hands like this."
She copied him, holding out her hands.
"Focus," Jareth spoke softly, watching her as he gave instructions, "close your eyes, feel for your connection with the Labyrinth, listen to what is around you, then pull that focus into the palms of your hands."
Breathing slowly, Sarah followed his instructions, and began to feel the magic within her. It had grown stronger over the months that she had been Queen, and she had already been finding it easier to feel how it flowed between her and the Labyrinth, like a river connecting them, but actually using it was definitely not as easy as her husband made it look. She focused on the Labyrinth's presence within her, and tried to focus that energy into her palms, visualising the crystals Jareth often made.
Suddenly she felt something between her fingers, solid but light, she opened her eyes and gasped softly at the sight of the perfectly round crystal in her hands. She laughed in delight and looked up at Jareth, who grinned back at her.
"Well done, my love," he said fondly.
Her heart felt light, it might only seem like a small victory to some, a simple crystal, but moments like this felt like true prizes, with him looking at her with such pride.
A moment later her focus wavered, and the crystal popped like a soap bubble, glitter showered over both of them, and they both laughed in surprise.
Jareth looked at her in amusement, "Now you can't just blame me for getting glitter everywhere."
part ii: the dropped your hand while dancing chapter
i dropped your hand while dancing, left you out there standing, crestfallen on the landing
The Goblin King dreamt often, and that night he dreamt of dancing at a masquerade ball, crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the walls all mirrors. It was all strangely familiar. He looked down at his queen in his arms, but she seemed younger, and frightened. She looked up at him with large eyes, clinging to him as the other dancers brushed past them. He held her, trying to reassure her with his gaze, for he could not seem to get any words out, but she only seemed more distressed, and as they spun around once more, she pulled out of his arms, turning away and pushing through the crowd. He tried to go after her, but he could not reach, his heart was shattering, no, no, not again –
"Jareth? Jareth!" Her voice came from somewhere, he tried to catch his breath and opened his eyes, finding himself in his bed, Sarah leaning over him, looking concerned.
He reached up, relieved when he could touch her cheek, he let out a slow breath, and after a moment he managed to say, "I was back there… In the ballroom, when you ran from our dance…"
Looking at him softly, Sarah leant into his touch. "I'm here now," she rested her hand over his on her cheek, "I had to get Toby back then, all those years ago, but we found each other again. We always will, you and me."
He pulled her down into his arms, "I know, I know." He kissed the top of her head. "Sometimes old memories might haunt me, but at least you will be here when I wake up."
part iii: the forever is the sweetest con chapter
with your boots beneath my bed, forever is the sweetest con
Sarah was leaning back in bed, swamped by pillows and blankets. Jareth had a habit of nesting in the colder months, and she did not truly mind it. She watched as he sat at the end of the bed and took off his boots.
"I missed you today," she said softly.
He looked over his shoulder at her with a fond grin, carefully taking off his gloves. "And I you," he sighed, "I would have much rather been in the castle with you than out in the snow dealing with a troublesome runner who couldn't admit they were in the wrong for wishing their sibling away."
She pulled the blanket up to her chin. "I'm not sure what I can say here without sounding like a hypocrite."
Jareth chuckled and turned to her, crawling up the bed towards her. "Well, I think you managed to learn a few lessons during your time in the Labyrinth my dear, otherwise you wouldn't have won your brother back. This boy today wouldn't have known a lesson if I'd hit him in the face with a book."
Laughter escaped her and she reached forward to give him a kiss. "I'm so glad I have forever with you."
He grinned into the kiss, gently pushing her further down against the pillows, "It won't be nearly long enough with you."
no more keeping score, now i just keep you warm, and my waves meet your shore, ever and evermore
They sat curled up together by the fire and watched the snow falling out of the window. Winters in the Labyrinth were long and cold, if you took up the challenge trying to traverse it at this time of year you truly had to be determined, and their most recent runner had not even had anywhere close to half the tenacity of Sarah.
They had taken the wished away baby to an elf couple in a neighbouring kingdom who had been hoping for a child for a long time. The baby would be well taken care of by them.
The little girl had been so sweet, still young enough that she had slept most of the time, her little face so peaceful, her hair had been so soft, her hands so small.
Sarah turned to look up at Jareth, her hand gently resting on his collarbone. "Jareth, I think…"
He looked at her with soft eyes. "Yes, precious?"
She raised her other hand to touch his cheek. "I want to have a child with you."
His eyes lit up so brightly, looking into them was like looking at starlight. "Oh, my love, you make me so happy." He pressed his lips to hers, "I want that so much with you."
Sarah smiled and returned the kiss, "A goblin babe, all of our own."
and he's passing by, rare as the glimmer of a comet in the sky, and he feels like home
There was a comfortable atmosphere in the dining room as the dinner party was in full swing. The guests made pleasant conversation and enjoyed the feast laid out for them. Sarah looked over at Jareth, watching him speak with a duke sitting to his right. He was bathed in a soft golden glow from the candlelight, his smile warm and content as he lifted a glass of champagne to his lips. She felt suddenly struck by gratitude at how lucky she was to know him, her Goblin King. There was only one of him, and he was all hers.
He looked over and caught her gaze, winking. She chuckled and rested her hand on the small bump at her belly. She needed nothing else but this.
part iiii: the ladies lunching chapter
and if you're ever tired of being known for who you know, you know that you'll always know me
Sarah was going to explode. Sitting at this tea party with other ladies of nobility was like someone constantly poking a sharp needle at a sensitive spot. She thought she had left behind her outbursts of anger in her teenage years, but if she had to spend much more time listening to these women gossip and make thinly veiled insults at each other she might end up bringing them back. They did not seem to be against remarks about her and Jareth either, in fact since she was newer to society, they seemed to be testing how much she would let them get away with. She did her best to smile and sip her tea and respond with polite and witty comments, but they were grating on her nerves, and she was getting a little further along in her pregnancy now and did not want to have to put up with mental discomforts as well as physical.
Eventually when one of them turned to her and made a not-so-subtle remark about how perhaps the Goblin King had chosen a human wife because they found it so much easier to get pregnant, Sarah decided that was her limit. She took a deep breath and managed to refrain from slapping the woman, but she still dumped what remained of her tea in her lap.
"Do excuse me," she stood up, "I feel a little nauseous." And with that she left.
Later when she relayed the story to Jareth he had the audacity to grin, "Oh, to have seen her face when you poured your tea on her."
Sarah huffed out a breath. "It was awful Jareth! I couldn't listen to them a moment longer, please tell me I don't have to see them again."
"I'm sorry, precious," he chuckled and leant down to kiss her belly, "I expect we may have to see them again at some point, but I won't make you face them alone."
She sighed. "Well, I can face anything with you by my side." She ran her fingers through his soft hair.
He looked up at her with a soft smile. "You and me together, Sarah, we can take on the world."
part v: gold rush
gleaming, twinkling, eyes like sinking ships on waters, so inviting
Every time Sarah looked into Jareth's eyes, she thought they were the most beautiful she had ever seen. She could get lost, just looking into his eyes for hours. Perhaps it was something to do with him being a faerie, some kind of magic meant to lure her in, but she felt it was just him. He always seemed surprised when she complimented his eyes, she thought he might be insecure about them because one was slightly damaged, but she did not think that made them any less beautiful, they just showed how unique he was.
He smiled at her as she sat in his lap, the two of them comfortable in bed. "Getting lost in my eyes again, precious?"
She smiled in return and rested her forehead against his. "But of course."
He chuckled. "Strange girl."
"That's not how you compliment your pregnant wife." She pouted.
"Beautiful, strange girl," he grinned. "I get lost in the forests of your eyes whenever you look upon me."
Her cheeks felt warm, even after all this time he could still make her blush. She gave him a kiss. "Much better."
what must it be like to grow up that beautiful? with your hair falling into place like dominoes, my mind turns your life into folklore, i can't dare to dream about you anymore
Sarah laid in bed, glad for a moment of rest while Jareth looked after the baby. Thankfully the birth had not been complicated in any way, but it had been long enough, and a week later Sarah still took moments to rest in bed when she could. At least being a queen did have the perk of having plenty of people around you to help, although the moments she had enjoyed the most so far had been when it had just been her and Jareth and the little one, left alone to themselves, their little family. She smiled softly, watching him rock the small blanket wrapped bundle by the window. His hair fell into his face as he looked down at the small child in his arms, but she could still see the awestruck look on his face, it had not disappeared since the baby had been born. The Goblin King of myth and legend, fearsome villain of her childhood fairy tale, stunned by a babe. She could not blame him.
The baby started fussing, making sweet little noises for attention, and he smiled, pressing a kiss to his head, then carrying him over to the bed, giving Sarah a warm smile when he saw that she had been watching.
"I think he misses his mother; I cannot blame him."
Sarah chuckled and carefully sat up, slowly taking the baby into her arms, "Charmer." She looked down at the baby, who looked back up at her with a soft, curious expression. She felt her heart melt and kissed his little nose. "Maybe he needs a story to settle down."
She felt Jareth settle into bed next to her. "You are a wonderful storyteller."
She rolled her eyes at his flattery. "Perhaps I'll tell him my favourite."
"Which is your favourite?" He asked as he rested his head on her shoulder.
"You should know." She kissed the top of his head, and when he looked up at her curiously, she began to tell it…
"Once upon a time, the King of the Goblins fell in love with a girl…"
