Authors Note: I know I said that the chapters would get longer (I'll try!) but it is so hard to keep a story cohesive when I am also doing 42 million other things while writing. Thanks for your patience. Keep reviewing!!
Chapter 4 – Finding the Words
Sarah was stunned; the almighty and untouchable Jareth was dying? How was that even possible? What on earth (or in the Underground) could possibly kill him? Wait, Hoggle said dying, not dead. "Hoggle, how is that possible?" Sarah asked softly. Hoggle sighed, "He wishes it." He replied. Sarah sat heavily on her bed and Hoggle quickly jumped up to sit beside her. Jareth wishes death? What would cause such a powerful.... man to wish himself to death? The Jareth Sarah remembers was so strong, so mindlessly unbending. "What do you mean, 'He wishes it' Hoggle?" She finally asked, getting her thoughts in order. Hoggle shrugged, "Just that, he doesn't want to live anymore so he is choosing to die." Hoggle said this as if it were a perfectly natural thing, when really he was very confused by it. Sarah tried valiantly to contain the tears threatening to fall. Jareth, her Jareth, was dying. "What can I do?" Sarah whispered afraid if she raised her voice at all the emotions so tightly in check would flood out. Hoggle looked up at her, surprised at the offer. He thought he would have to work for her to want to help. Did Sarah love Jareth?
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Back in the Underground Jareth is getting ready to give up. All these years he has watched his beautiful Sarah grow up and live her mortal live in the Aboveground. Jareth never stopped loving Sarah and he enjoyed watching her grow up into a beautiful and mature young woman. Then it occurred to him: When Sarah was done growing up she would forget the Underground! She would forget the Goblin King! This was not a tragedy Jareth could bear. In a moment of absolute desperation Jareth began to allow himself to die. It is not commonly known, even in the Underground, but Fay can die only two ways: cold iron, and great emotional pain. If a Fay ever gives in to great sorrow, despair, hate, or pain they will die. Jareth, being a master of his emotions had refused for a long time to give into the great swelling pain within his heart. Now, it seemed, all hope was lost.
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Hoggle weighted his words carefully. If he said the wrong thing Sarah might refuse to help and then the Labyrinth, the Goblin City and everything he knew would be lost forever. "Sarah, we want you to come to the Underground. I don't know if it will work, but you may be able to save Jareth." Hoggle closed his eyes with resignation and waited for the words that would either doom or save his home. Sarah bowed her head and thought desperately. Go back? To the Labyrinth, No!! That was the place where dreams and nightmares lived, a place Sarah swore she would never return to. Jareth. Could she really just let him die when there was a chance, however small, that she could save him?? Sarah raised her emotion filled eyes to Hoggle, "You said 'We', who's 'We'?" Sarah asked. Hoggle looked up, surprised, "Why, Ludo, and Sir Diddamus of course." Hoggle said in a voice that clearly said "who else?" Sarah smiled briefly at the thought of her other wonderful friends. "I'm not sure if I can do this Hoggle," she said "How would I get to the Labyrinth?" Hoggle laughed, "The same way little Toby got there of course," he said "Wish yourself there." Sarah looked surprised "I can do that?" Hoggle jumped off the bed "Of course you can. Wish Sarah, please." Sarah took a last look at her room, a deep breath and uttered the words that would, for the second time, change her life.