AN: In chapter nine, 2 or 3 days have past since Sarah's body was discovered.

Disclaimer:I don't own Jim Henson's Labyrinth or any of his characters. I lay claim to only my original creations.

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Chapter 8

Ashes to Ashes

The morning rays found the weary king still lost in insomnia. Sarah's cold body had long sense been hauled out of their chambers yet he still could not bring himself to venture near the room. The funeral would commence today following the announcement of her death to his subjects. The rumors had already spun their way through the realm and many far beyond the Labyrinth's walls. Leaders and long time comrades of Jareth's had arrived late last night for the burial that gloomily loomed over his head as he readied himself to face his kingdom.

Like ever morning his personal servant waited in his dressing chamber as though today was to be some ordinary day. It was for from the usual. He mechanically stepped into his drab attire trying not to dwell on the mournful ebony of the cloth. Dressed he waited for the curtain to part and for the sea of his subjects to be revealed standing below patiently in wait of his announcement.

With his strong ready façade in place, Jareth began his speech, "Loyal citizens, it is with great remorse I find myself before you on this early morning. As some of you might have already heard our queen is no longer with us. As heavyhearted as we are in this time of loss we must go forward as the strong and able kingdom she was always proud to call her own. In remembrance for my wife and your queen, today will be marked as a day of rest. Go to your homes and embrace your family, it is in times such as these we must be grateful for our blessings even if we have them for but an instant." As his speech drew to a close he could feel his carefully chiseled face of stone crumbling with hot tears that he barely held at bay. Quickly leaving the balcony he transported to his study just so his burst of emotion would not be so public. 

Once behind closed doors he let the pieces fall. He hastily removed his suffocating leather gloves and ripped off the gold band he had so long cherished as a symbol their love. Running his tapered fingers along the cool gold of the band he remembered warmly of how she insisted they have her world's customs. How gingerly she had taken his hand so much larger than her own and placed upon his finger this ring. Her claret lips enraptured him as she smiled up at him saying, "Like this band are love has no end." He could almost see that smile if he shut his eyes tightly enough and clung to the memory, almost real.

Just as he shed his last tear there came a firm knock upon the oak door. Torn away from that distant thought the king's annoyance to the sudden interruption was rather obvious, "Enter if you must".

Standing but a few feet in height Hogle stood firmly in the doorway, "Your Majesty, the priest has arrived for the ceremony." The king found Hogle's presence to be the only positive event of the gloomy day. He always felt like he had Sarah close when Hogle was near. It was as though he carried her essence with him. Where Hogle was Sarah had always been close. 

Snapping out of the hypnotizing thoughts he realized the Dwarf still was waiting for a reply, "Thank you Hogle, I'll be right there"

Though small in stature the dwarf had a heart of pure gold, "Whatever can do for you- to help you- ya know…get through this-"

"Thank you Hogle. You being here is enough." Gathering himself from the edge of the desk the king quickly transported himself out of the room.

His reappearing form found itself on the Cliffs of Belnai, the farthest western point of his kingdom. It was at the place of majestic beauty that there lied generation after generation of his kin next to the soundless sea.

The wind tousled his already disheveled hair as he finally made his way to the assemblage of black. Standing silently in the middle of it all, he watched as her delicate form disappeared into the ground, forever gone. The druid's kind words simply faded away completely wasted on the king. All that remained in his mind was the unbearably numbing pain. In his disarray Jareth's mismatched stare darted about the crowd, trying to not focus on the hurt. From one noble figure to the next his eyes fell until they came to a lost brown stare. He had actually had the audacity to show to his wife's funeral after being ousted as a treasonous felon. All it would take was a single signal and his guards would encircle him and he would be gone, forgotten in some bottomless oubliette. Yet there was a familiar loneliness in Tehran's eyes that Jareth hated to admit he too felt. What was it his foe was thinking of that was bringing those crystal tears to his eyes…

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~Clover

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