Title: Something's Missing
Author: Kathea
Pairing: Jareth/Sarah
Rating: PG.
AN: Ok folks, this IS the last chapter. I would like to thank all the wonderful people who have stuck with me through this story. I'll tell you the moral of the story when we get to the end. Love, Kathea.
Chapter 11: Changing the Past
Sarah waited pensively in the throne room of the Goblin King's castle. Jareth was still giving commands and directions to assorted court members and goblins. What she thought would be a simple and private act turned into a kingdom wide activity. Of course, she understood that should they not make it back that certain preparations should be in place to protect the underground populations. The Lords and Ladies of Aquatia, Felenia, Ledona, and Centera had wished Sarah luck and safe journey earlier and now waited with other representatives on the far side of the throne room. There was so much hanging on her getting this right. Sarah hadn't felt this much pressure since high school. Finally Jareth motioned her to join him on the dais. He said some parting words in a language that she didn't understand then turned to face her.
Sarah took the next step knowing that this was now her show. She slipped her arms around Jareth's neck and leaned in until their foreheads were touching. Taking a few deep breaths Sarah effortlessly slipped into a trance state and reached out for Jareth's mind. She felt his awareness waiting and beyond that the invisible support of the crowded throne room. She said one quiet phrase before launching herself and Jareth into the past. "Heaven help us."
Shades of gray swirled around Sarah and Jareth and they hurtled through time back towards the past. They went back towards that fateful day when Sarah made a choice and threw everything into chaos. Hazy people and places flashed by them as they moved until suddenly Sarah jerked them to a stop. She stumbled on the rough ground and would have fallen if not for Jareth's strong arms supporting her. She looked around wildly hoping that she had brought them to the correct time and place. Far above her she could see her teenaged self falling through the crumbling Escher room.
"Quickly, Sarah." Jareth mumbled into her ear.
"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin city to take back the child that you have stolen. For..."
Before she could complete the sentence a crystal rose up between the two of them. Sarah watched in fascination and her dreams swirled beneath the thin glass.
"Wait Sarah, before you make a mistake hear me. I offer you your dreams, everything you have ever wanted. All you have to do is love me back."
"What?" Sarah asked confused. "That's not what you said the last time."
"I know. But all I ask now is that you love me with the intensity that I love you and I will fulfill your dreams. Every last one of them and I will make you happy and love you and only you for eternity." Jareth finished solemnly. Tears began to stream down Sarah's face at his words. Jareth leaned forward and planted quick kisses to her forehead and eyes and cheeks. "What is your answer Sarah?"
"I will accept this crystal," Sarah said, "and all the things you have promised." She loosened one hand from around his neck and grasped the crystal firmly in her hand. Instinctively she brought the crystal close to her heart and placed it against her skin. She was not surprised when the crystal vanished into her skin. The strangest feeling engulfed her then. For so many years she had felt empty and alone and now she didn't. Her heart felt complete and full. Sarah began to cry again as she realized what she had been missing. Jareth and his love was what she was waiting for all this time. Like the breaking of a dam, the walls around her heart crumbled into dust as Sarah clung desperately to Jareth.
"Sarah, you must take us home." Jareth said as the time drew to a close.
"Yes, let's go home." Sarah said with a watery smile. She closed her eyes and quickly transported them back home to the future. When Sarah opened her eyes again she wasn't standing in the throne room but on the hill overlooking the Labyrinth where she began this journey so many years ago. The Labyrinth glinted under the morning sun and stretched out for miles into the horizon. The castle on the far side shone brightly in the light and faintly you could hear a cheering form from the direction of the castle. There was no darkness, no stain, and no hint of corruption to be seen. They had won and the underground was safe again.
Jareth grabbed Sarah gently by the shoulders and turned her away from the maze to face him. His eyes were bright with relief and joy and the most amazing smile graced his lips. "How do you feel Sarah?"
"Whole. So completely whole for the first time in my life. Jareth I am so sorry that it took me so long to realize what you and this place meant to me. I am sorry for your sake and for mine." The words tumbled from her lips as she looked into his eyes.
"Sarah don't apologize, things had to follow this path. We had to go through everything in order to reach this point. I could not have done this without you."
"Jareth, can I tell you something?" Sarah asked shyly.
"Sure." Jareth responded with a smile and sexy wink.
"I love you." Sarah said and expelled a big breath.
"Oh Sarah." Jareth said floored by her honesty. "I love you too. I have for a very long time." At the confused look on Sarah's face Jareth continued. "Don't you remember the line from the book? 'The king had fallen in love with the girl' I did fall in love with you."
"All this time?" Sarah asked incredulously.
"All this time." Jareth answered. "Are you ready to have your dreams fulfilled?" Sarah only smiled and slipped her hand into Jareth's. "Ok, I only have one question. Will you marry me, Your Majesty?" Sarah grinned up at him and lost herself in his eyes.
"Yes I will, Your Majesty." And before Sarah could blink Jareth had leaned down and captured her lips in a searing kiss. His hands cupped her face and slid into her hair. His tongue invaded her mouth and met with the sweetness there. Not pulling away from the kiss Jareth transported them back to the castle.
And they lived happily ever after.
THE END.
Ok. I hope everyone enjoyed this story. The response and support that I got from the readers was impressive. You guys keep me writing. Let me know if you want an epilogue of the wedding or anything like that. If I get enough suggestions I'll do it. Thanks so much. Love, Kathea.
PS. The moral of the story is: Dreams change as you age but you should never give up on them.
Author: Kathea
Pairing: Jareth/Sarah
Rating: PG.
AN: Ok folks, this IS the last chapter. I would like to thank all the wonderful people who have stuck with me through this story. I'll tell you the moral of the story when we get to the end. Love, Kathea.
Chapter 11: Changing the Past
Sarah waited pensively in the throne room of the Goblin King's castle. Jareth was still giving commands and directions to assorted court members and goblins. What she thought would be a simple and private act turned into a kingdom wide activity. Of course, she understood that should they not make it back that certain preparations should be in place to protect the underground populations. The Lords and Ladies of Aquatia, Felenia, Ledona, and Centera had wished Sarah luck and safe journey earlier and now waited with other representatives on the far side of the throne room. There was so much hanging on her getting this right. Sarah hadn't felt this much pressure since high school. Finally Jareth motioned her to join him on the dais. He said some parting words in a language that she didn't understand then turned to face her.
Sarah took the next step knowing that this was now her show. She slipped her arms around Jareth's neck and leaned in until their foreheads were touching. Taking a few deep breaths Sarah effortlessly slipped into a trance state and reached out for Jareth's mind. She felt his awareness waiting and beyond that the invisible support of the crowded throne room. She said one quiet phrase before launching herself and Jareth into the past. "Heaven help us."
Shades of gray swirled around Sarah and Jareth and they hurtled through time back towards the past. They went back towards that fateful day when Sarah made a choice and threw everything into chaos. Hazy people and places flashed by them as they moved until suddenly Sarah jerked them to a stop. She stumbled on the rough ground and would have fallen if not for Jareth's strong arms supporting her. She looked around wildly hoping that she had brought them to the correct time and place. Far above her she could see her teenaged self falling through the crumbling Escher room.
"Quickly, Sarah." Jareth mumbled into her ear.
"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin city to take back the child that you have stolen. For..."
Before she could complete the sentence a crystal rose up between the two of them. Sarah watched in fascination and her dreams swirled beneath the thin glass.
"Wait Sarah, before you make a mistake hear me. I offer you your dreams, everything you have ever wanted. All you have to do is love me back."
"What?" Sarah asked confused. "That's not what you said the last time."
"I know. But all I ask now is that you love me with the intensity that I love you and I will fulfill your dreams. Every last one of them and I will make you happy and love you and only you for eternity." Jareth finished solemnly. Tears began to stream down Sarah's face at his words. Jareth leaned forward and planted quick kisses to her forehead and eyes and cheeks. "What is your answer Sarah?"
"I will accept this crystal," Sarah said, "and all the things you have promised." She loosened one hand from around his neck and grasped the crystal firmly in her hand. Instinctively she brought the crystal close to her heart and placed it against her skin. She was not surprised when the crystal vanished into her skin. The strangest feeling engulfed her then. For so many years she had felt empty and alone and now she didn't. Her heart felt complete and full. Sarah began to cry again as she realized what she had been missing. Jareth and his love was what she was waiting for all this time. Like the breaking of a dam, the walls around her heart crumbled into dust as Sarah clung desperately to Jareth.
"Sarah, you must take us home." Jareth said as the time drew to a close.
"Yes, let's go home." Sarah said with a watery smile. She closed her eyes and quickly transported them back home to the future. When Sarah opened her eyes again she wasn't standing in the throne room but on the hill overlooking the Labyrinth where she began this journey so many years ago. The Labyrinth glinted under the morning sun and stretched out for miles into the horizon. The castle on the far side shone brightly in the light and faintly you could hear a cheering form from the direction of the castle. There was no darkness, no stain, and no hint of corruption to be seen. They had won and the underground was safe again.
Jareth grabbed Sarah gently by the shoulders and turned her away from the maze to face him. His eyes were bright with relief and joy and the most amazing smile graced his lips. "How do you feel Sarah?"
"Whole. So completely whole for the first time in my life. Jareth I am so sorry that it took me so long to realize what you and this place meant to me. I am sorry for your sake and for mine." The words tumbled from her lips as she looked into his eyes.
"Sarah don't apologize, things had to follow this path. We had to go through everything in order to reach this point. I could not have done this without you."
"Jareth, can I tell you something?" Sarah asked shyly.
"Sure." Jareth responded with a smile and sexy wink.
"I love you." Sarah said and expelled a big breath.
"Oh Sarah." Jareth said floored by her honesty. "I love you too. I have for a very long time." At the confused look on Sarah's face Jareth continued. "Don't you remember the line from the book? 'The king had fallen in love with the girl' I did fall in love with you."
"All this time?" Sarah asked incredulously.
"All this time." Jareth answered. "Are you ready to have your dreams fulfilled?" Sarah only smiled and slipped her hand into Jareth's. "Ok, I only have one question. Will you marry me, Your Majesty?" Sarah grinned up at him and lost herself in his eyes.
"Yes I will, Your Majesty." And before Sarah could blink Jareth had leaned down and captured her lips in a searing kiss. His hands cupped her face and slid into her hair. His tongue invaded her mouth and met with the sweetness there. Not pulling away from the kiss Jareth transported them back to the castle.
And they lived happily ever after.
THE END.
Ok. I hope everyone enjoyed this story. The response and support that I got from the readers was impressive. You guys keep me writing. Let me know if you want an epilogue of the wedding or anything like that. If I get enough suggestions I'll do it. Thanks so much. Love, Kathea.
PS. The moral of the story is: Dreams change as you age but you should never give up on them.