Farewell, fair cruelty. Shakespeare
The opera ain't over 'til the fat lady sings Dan Cook
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Jareth wished that time would stop and the night would never end as he strolled with Sarah through the Labyrinth. They had taken their time and paused in several places as he explained some of the history and points of interest in the maze that she didn't have time to notice during her original journey. It was easy being with her, almost like breathing in pure oxygen, effortless. Even though it took several hours to reach the Goblin City to Jareth it seemed like mere minutes. It was late when they finally entered the castle and the Goblin King grew quiet as he escorted Sarah to her chamber door.
"I enjoyed our walk, thank you for the tour. Good night." Sarah said swallowing hard, refusing to look at him. "Goodnight," he barely replied and she was gone. After being out in the open air the confines of the castle felt oppressive as the dull aching pressure in Jareth's chest resumed. To release his frustration he changed into an owl and silently flew out back out into the night.
The owl flew straight up towards the crystal moon as though it were a destination to be achieved. "This can't be the way it ends for us." Jareth thought as he stared at the moon. "There has got to be another way." The pressure in his chest grew stronger and his wings finally tired of flapping to gain height; they weren't meant for this type of flight. Jareth spread his wings into a glide position and looked down; he had never been this high up before. With the wind whistling in his ears he could see beyond the confines of his kingdom to the edges of other lands that boarded his.
The loss of momentum made Jareth lose height and he slowly glided down as his kingdom rose to meet him. He needed to be alone. Silently he circled down until he reached his destination, the formal gardens. The Guardian would not send the Wiseman unless Jareth wished it so he knew he could assure himself of privacy. With a heavy heart Jareth eased himself into the stone book chair and allowed himself to reconsider his options.
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When Sarah closed her chamber door she leaned against it expecting to hear the sound of Jareth's boots clicking down the hallway. When after a few seconds she didn't hear anything she opened her door and found a deserted hallway. "Well...he must have transported somewhere." She said to herself. Closing the door again she started to ready herself for bed as she thought through her choices.
Choice one – she could choose Sarial's offer – pros of this were having an intact happy family, having her friends (or doubles of them anyway) and control over heartache and pain. Her family would be the real article, she could protect them and they would never experience hurt again. The con of this was losing Jareth forever.
Choice two – she could go back Aboveground – the pro of this was perhaps Jareth would find her. The cons – her family would still be split up, she would never see her friends again and she didn't believe Jareth would find her.
Of course there was the third alternative – Jareth would take up Sarial's offer. Pro – he would have absolute rule, perhaps they would be together. Con – he would have absolute rule - absolute power corrupts absolutely. They would be torn apart by who he would become, of this she had no doubt.
She could not find an option where she and Jareth could be together, even if they both choose Aboveground she didn't believe he would find her. That was a fool's dream and Sarah had seen enough of the cruelty of life that she wasn't a fool. No, there wasn't an alternative she could see other than the one she chose. Her dulled emotions only calculated alternatives now; her heart had grown so cold she could hardly feel anything anymore.
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Jareth looked at what choices he had and how they affected being with Sarah. He finally found love and was damned if he was going to give it up without a fight. Obviously, if he relinquished his body and became spirit he would not be with Sarah. That choice wasn't even worth considering.
If he chose Sarial's offer he would have all the trapping of power at his disposal, while this was alluring it would be meaningless without Sarah. Even if he could convince her to join him he knew he would turn into someone that would not be satisfied with a mere human at some point. He would not lie to himself with haughty ideas that he could handle it. All he had to do was look at what Sarial had become and he knew his fate would be similar. No, he wanted to be worthy of Sarah's love, he wanted to be a better man, not become as Sarial.
As he saw it choosing a human life would give them the only chance of being together in any meaningful way. The only question that remained was if he could find her. Where Sarah doubted Jareth did not; he was convinced that he would find her. Even if he didn't remember anything the strength of the love he had for her would find her.
Tears rolled down his determined face unbidden as the pressure in his chest sought release. Now Jareth fully understood why Sarah wanted a place where nothing ever hurt again.
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A beautiful dawn rose over the Goblin Kingdom but this time Jareth was not watching the sunrise. He had stayed up all night in the formal gardens contemplating a future he didn't want. He remembered the words he sang to Sarah in the Escher room - "Live without your sunlight, Love without your heartbeat, I can't live within you." Those words were particularly apt for how he felt right now.
Knowing no matter how much he wanted to he could not deny the fact that morning had come and time was up. With a slight sweep of his arm he appeared in the royal dining room and waited for Sarah.
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Unlike the previous two mornings Sarah was not in a hurry to get this one started. She still woke at the crack of dawn but she found herself dawdling in her morning regime. She changed her outfit several times and took extra care fixing her hair and putting on makeup. Whether she realized it or not she was buying every moment she could before she left with Sarial.
Not having any more excuses for delay she left her chamber and slowly made her way to the dining room. She surveyed everything on her way, memorizing every detail of Jareth's castle so as to remember what it looked like in her mind's eye.
Entering the dining room she was stunned by Jareth's rumpled appearance. This was not the same king that changed his outfits four or more times a day. On closer inspection she saw that his eyes were bloodshot and his cocky posturing was gone. Before her was a man that looked like he had been to hell and back.
"Jareth...what happened to you?" Seeing her lovely concerned face broke through all the resolve he had for not telling her how he felt. "Sarah, I don't want to lose you." Sitting down next to him she took his hand, "Jareth, I thought it through again last night and I know I've come to the right decision. I only hope the best for you, that you will choose the heavens or a life Aboveground. I know Sarial's offer would eventually destroy the good in you and I would hate that."
Jareth nodded, "For once Sarah we agree." They both chuckled at this, but became serious once more. Sarah said tonelessly, "I want to go now, I don't like long goodbyes."
Jareth raised his eyebrows, "Don't you even want to see your friends?" Sarah swallowed hard and violently shook her head, "No, I want to remember them as they were." Knowing this would ease her Jareth also wanted to be remembered as he always had been. He stood up with all the flair of the infamous Goblin King and drawled, "Very well Sarah, let's proceed to the throne room, shall we?"
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The room was deserted by command of the Goblin King for this morning's events. He still felt Sarah belonged to him and therefore he alone would witness her departure.
They quietly took their seats and Jareth stared at her for a pause and then said, "Sarial we wish to see you."
Sarial appeared standing in front of the circular chair. With a smirk on his face and a mock bow he daunting replied, "Your wish is my command."
For Sarah everything went into slow motion. A woman's voice spoke in her mind, "There is a price for dreams." Jolted by the memory but determined to go on she heard herself say to Sarial, "I have made my choice."
Sarial raised his eyebrows and looked at her with surprise, "So soon? And then with a taunting edge to his voice he sneered, "Are you sure you don't want to think about this some more?" Sarah said flatly, "No. I'm sure." With these words she rose out of her chair and started in his direction.
Jareth suddenly jumped to his feet and commanded, "Stop Sarah...wait." Sarah stopped and turned to him. Jareth looked in her eyes, "What about Toby? Do you have the right to make this decision for him and take his life in your hands?" Those were the only words that could have stopped her, words that burned through her determination and heart. Weeping she fell to her knees. Jareth spoke the truth.