AN: Wow! The response to the last chapter of Cherish was amazing….I can't believe you all yelled at me like that! I had planned on that ending from the beginning. Don't get me wrong, I love stories where Sarah and Jareth end up together…in fact, they're my favorite kind. But, I wanted to write something a little different, and something with an ending that mimicked life a little. And, let's face it, not everything in life is "happily ever after". Still, you have my apologies. Anyway, here is the first chapter to the sequel, as I promised. I was only going to post this part, but, after your reviews, I figured that it wouldn't be enough, so I'm posting the next part as well. Enjoy, read, and review! ~ Saphire
Summary: Set two months after Cherish. Jareth and Sarah have both gone on with their lives, though neither one is quite the same, despite outward appearances. So, it seems that everybody is planning and plotting to get them back together. But, even the most foolproof plans can go awry when a phantom from someone's past makes their own plan. PG-13 for now, but maybe an R…though I don't foresee that.
Disclaimer: Nothing from the movie Labyrinth is mine, obviously. I've never really been good at making these witty, so let's leave it at that. Oh, I forgot in the prequel, the song Cherish was used without permission. So are the characters within. D'Vinnian and the others are still mine, though.
Prologue: The Burial of Hope
After receiving no answer to his knock, D'Vinnian silently pushed open the already ajar door to Jareth's bedchamber. Everything about the castle, indeed the entire kingdom, was exactly the same. And, of course, Jareth was still the Goblin King, every ounce as powerful as he had always been. Still, everything had changed, especially Jareth. D'Vinnian watched as Jareth stood in front of a full-length ornately framed mirror. The grim expression his cousin wore reminded him of a funeral. But, then, in many ways, this would be. Certainly a burial of hope and D'Vinnian had to fight to keep his expression just on the positive side of neutral. Finally, he cleared his throat and claimed the Goblin King's attention.
"Are you ready? It is about to start, Jareth."
Jareth gave a short nod and, in a blink, both had disappeared.
D'Vinnian kept a close watch over his cousin while they waited, but Jareth's face was a mask. He wished for a way to soothe his friend, but knew that the king would ruthlessly squelch any attempts at comfort.
Jareth was, indeed, content enough to wallow in his misery. He leaned against the wall at the back of the church alongside his cousin, invisible to all present. Absently, Jareth wondered why he had even bothered with his appearance as he had that morning, then let the thought pass as the music began. He watched the nervous man who stood in the front as his head whipped around with the notes from the organ. A bitter smile briefly broke out on the king's face. The poor bloke looked more like he was headed into certain death than anything else. However, Jareth's attention shifted quickly with the sound of the double doors to his left opening. First through was a small girl, no more than six, spreading delicate white and pink petals along the carpet every measured three steps she took. Despite the pain he was feeling, the Goblin King cracked a small grin at the concentration the girl was putting into her work. Next out was Toby. Jareth marveled at how much the boy had grown from his trip into the Labyrinth. It was just another reminder of how much time had passed. But, when you had all the time in the world, did it really matter? Jareth sighed, he didn't think it would really matter after today….if it ever had. His morbid thoughts stopped and he focused his full attention on Sarah as she finally came under the archway. She looked gorgeous in her white dress, delicately set off with lace at the sleeves and collar. It was a plain dress, simple in design and stitching….no extra beads or frills, but it looked like it belonged on Sarah. Jareth mused briefly that any wedding dress would belong on Sarah….just not every groom belonged with her. Even though he knew that he and D'Vinnian could not be seen, he still held his breath as she passed, and felt almost disappointed as she walked by, not even casting a glance in his general direction. He shook his head, no longer aware of his cousin, the church, or anything but Sarah. Soon, the people were seated and the priest cleared his throat signaling the beginning of the ceremony.