Sarah's eyes fluttered open. Revealing she was no longer at her house. The room was drenched in an eerie darkness that made her uncomfortable. The canopy bed she laid on, lay to the furthest wall from the door. Nothing besides her was alive in the room, though the wooden carvings of goblins around the room on the red oak seemed to contain a life of their own. She slowly got up using one of the four posts of the bed. She began stumbling to the vanity and sat on the stool that looked to her as though it was waiting for her.
As soon as she touched her body to the stool, the three candles on either side of the mirror lit themselves. She looked at it in suprise for a moment, but dismissed it just as quickly. She assumed she was in a dream and would wake up at any moment to find her son crying to be fed and find her bills waiting for her return on her dresser. But her aching head and ringing ears seemed just a litttle unusual.
She looked in the mirror and gasped, turning her head away; not believing her eyes. She slowly turned her head back towards the mirror. What she saw made her so happy, she cried.
Her mangled hair was silky and shining. Her lips were full and pouty. Her complexion slightly tan and warm. Her body was slim and fit and her scars lifted like a plastic surgery miracle. For the first time in a long time, Sarah Williams cried tears of joy. For a few minutes she sat infront of the mirror, marveling at her new self. She was beautiful.
Loki appeared in the doorway as she lifted herself up quickly, thinking it was Jareth. She eased herself back to her sitting position as she held her head in her hands. Loki hobbled over and handed her a goblet of water, which she greatfully sipped.
As Loki waltzed back out of the door, Sarah asked him "Am I a prisoner here?"
"No, you can go. We have no power to stop you." Loki said as he continued out of the room into the stone hall. Sarah forced herself up and walked toward the small goblin.
"What do you mean you have no power to stop me?" Sarah inquired, following Loki to the ballroom. The humongous windows that led onto a balcony, were sealed tightly with blackout curtain letting the dusty room gather a dry smell that held no life.
Loki sighed "There's just his Majesty and I. No one else is here." Loki lit a few candles carrying a small step ladder.
"You mean I could leave here?" Sarah said, she was so relieved she could hardly believe it.
"Yes, Sarah, you could go." Loki put the stool down and led Sarah outside onto the balcony. "But there's really no place left to go to."
Sarah's tears almost flowed instantly.
The Labyrinth had changed so much since she first saw it. Humongous pieces were missing of the walls. The emerald green hedge maze was minimized in size, and what was left was nothing more than thick dried branches. Nothing moved. There were no goblins running around, there was no evil cackling. The Underground looked like the desert. Except this desert was once enchanted and ruled over by a king. A king she had once feared so much, she now looked upon in pity.
She worried for her son's safety. Looking around her feet for Loki, she found nothing and headed back into the silent castle looking for him.
&&&&&&&&&&
"Loki, is there nothing I can do?" Jareth asked standing in the throne room, he paced infront of the window.
"Well, there is one thing- no. Too dangerous." Loki concluded and began to exit the room.
Jareth's voice haulted him. "Tell me now, Loki." Jareth stopped pacing to face him. "I'll do anything to save my kingdom and you know it."
Loki sighed "Yes sire. If you trade your life for the Labyrinth, that Labyrinth will be fine, the creatures will return- but you'll be dead."
Jareth smiled smiled half-heartedly knowing in some metaphorical way, he'll have made a difference in the life of his kingdom. " I know, Loki. I know."
Jareth thought for a moment. If he did sacrifice himself for the sake of the Labyrinth, everything would thrive and go back to the way it was before, except he would not be around to see it. What would his life be like without him?
He finally sighed and answered "If there is no other way, Loki. I will."
&&&&&&&&&&
Sarah continued looking for her son. Calling his name that echoed in the stone walls and made the lit candles tremble in fear. She found her way back to the ballroom. She sat in one corner of it. She sighed and sat with her knees pulled against her chest.
"It's not fair!" She yelled as she pounded her fists onto the floor. The candles around the room lit themselves to reveal Jareth standing in the corner, dressed the same way as he had when they danced. Blue sequined coat sparkling, like a gentlmen fashioned with a handkercheif. But something about his eyes changed to Sarah as he stood infront of her, seeming to look her over. Something changed.
They still had the cold-hard stare with the lined eyes that seemed narrowed at her, and yet, they weren't frightening. Her heart sped up with the thought of seeing him in those clothes. She remembered how lightly they danced.
For a moment, the silence reigned over everything else. They simply stared at eachother for a moment.
"You really shouldn't sit on that floor in that gown. It's likely to get dirty." Jareth said as he offered her his hand.
Sarah looked down to find her clothes replaced by the exact gown she had worn before. She stood closely to him and continued their staring match.
"May I have this dance, Sarah Williams?" Jareth asked her almost whispering, as he moved his thumb over her knuckle in his hand.
Sarah gave a reluctant nod and they waltzed lightly together with no music. Jareth hummed lightly, and slowly, the memories came flooding back in her mind. In her mind, the people slowly gathered like long-forgotten ghosts waltzing beside them. Sarah suddenly pulled away.
"Where is my son?" She asked as the people in the masks around them vanished. Jareth's hand slowly fell to his side.
"He's safe. We'll handle business and then you may have your son and return with him if you wish." Jareth said graciously, almost in a manner of defeat.
Sarah looked suspiciously at him. She tried to keep from melting, but found herself almost wavering. "What business would that be?" She asked him.
"The fact is this Sarah, the Labyrinth is dying. And in order to restore the balance, I must get someone to believe in us. Slowly but surely, if you spread the story we do exist and get people to believe..." He trailed off for a second, not wanting to lose his false front. "Well, everything will be better and children and teenagers and adults will call on us again and realize we're alive, too."
He left out how it was also effecting him. That he too, would die in the end. The part about Sir Diddymus and Ludo. And the worm, and the Fireys. All gone. Vanished without a trace.
"The Labyrinth of memories." Sarah concluded. "Long forgotten ghost stories. You want me to pass on your story to children- to MY son, and have him one day call you?" Sarah began to glare at him. "I'll not have it." She stated as she marched from the room quickly. Wanting to get away as soon as possible.
Jareth began to walk after her, but fell against the wall for balance, crumpling to his knees holding one hand to the wall for support. He studied his hand and watched as it slowly faded, and blinked. It hurt. He felt like some force was litterally tearing off pieces of him. He needed someone to believe. Maybe just being here was enough to make her believe. He wondered as a long coughing fit erupted from his lips. Leaving spots of blood on the tiled ground.
Loki stood in the doorway staring at his king. His ears, catlike, fell flat against his head and he looked to the ground as a tear fell down his face.
"It's the end, sir." Loki whispered, helping Jareth stand.
Jareth tried his best to stand, strong and tall. His strength to get up and try faultered.
"I know it is, Loki... I'm sorry." Jareth said as he slowly took his jacket off and began to retreat to his room. He looked like a child no more than five, that waited for Christmas all year long, only to find it happened for everyone else but him.
