A/N: This story is kind of different, but I got the idea and I just wanted to try it. Each chapter is told from either Jareth's or Sarah's POV. The chapters are pretty short, but it's finished, and I'll post the whole story even if no one reviews, although I'd appreciate some feedback; let me know if anyone likes this!

Disclaimer: I'll only put this on here once, since I would think it's fairly obvious that I don't own Jareth or Sarah, seeing as how I spend my time writing stories online and not spending the millions I would have.

Ch 1

Jareth

I don't watch her every day. Not even every week, or every month. I believe I have managed to get that voyeuristic urge out of my system. At least, for the most part. There are days, like today, when I feel especially alone in this dark, dreary castle, filled with nothing but dim-witted goblins. These are the days that I might conjure a crystal, sometimes without even realizing I'm doing it, and just watch her. I tell myself these glimpses into her privacy are just an amusing way to pass my time, nothing more. Sometimes I watch for a minute, or two, or sometimes an hour, or two. It doesn't matter how much time I spend here, staring into crystals, for there is nothing else for me to do.

I supposed I could go to work in my study, for although my kingdom is imaginary to most and overrun with goblins, nevertheless there is still work to be done. But I decide against that. I supposed I could visit the Goblin City, speaking with my subjects and interacting in their lives as a good king would. But I decide against that as well. I supposed I could resume my nightly flights, for as an owl, I loved to spend hours gliding over my land, checking that all was in order and enjoying its beauty. But I cannot do that anymore.

My kingdom seems to have lost some of its beauty. Although the fields are still green, the flowers still bloom, and the seas still shimmer, somehow it doesn't hold the same fascination for me as it used to. I tell myself that I have just lived too long, that I have become jaded, so of course the land would eventually lose some of its beauty in my eyes. Of course I would grow tired of interacting with goblins for hundreds of years. Of course the tedious but necessary paperwork would seem dull.

I tell myself it is just a coincidence, the timing of my loss of interest in my kingdom. There was no event that started my decline into seclusion. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

But as difficult as it is to lie, it is all the more difficult to lie to yourself, when you know the truth but deny it in order to fill your head with untruths.

It's becoming too hard to lie to myself, and I have to admit now the real reason behind my depression. Ah, depression. Yes, that is most certainly what this is, this dark, cold feeling of loneliness that constantly surrounds me. I think I use this depression as a shield against the truths I am holding back from myself.

But I can do it no longer. I have tried to hold back the truth as long as I can, because as long as I stay in denial, I do not have to deal with the feelings that the truth will bring. But I can't keep it back now, it wants to make an appearance, and is forcing its way out. Whether the truth will save me or kill me, I do not know.

But the truth finally emerges. I am in love. Yes, I ,the cold, cruel Goblin King, am in love. Like a fool, I didn't manage to hold on to all of my heart during her brief visit, and when she left me, some of my heart went with her.

Oh, why do fools fall in love? Why does something as solid and real as a heart become so intangible and uncertain when it falls in love? I do not know, and don't waste time dwelling on these questions, for fear that I will never be able to answer them.

But I have finally admitted the truth to myself, and in doing so, I feel a layer of my depression lift, as if the truth has cleansed it away. I narrow my eyes, thinking, for now that I have admitted the cause of my state of mind, perhaps I can fix it.

For five years, I have been brooding about my castle. I have shown no interest in my kingdom, and I know my subjects are worried. But now that I have identified the source of my problem, perhaps I can finally do something about it.

I contemplate doing nothing. Is it not enough that I have admitted to myself that I am in love with the girl? Can't I just go on with my life as I used to?

I sigh. Of course I can't. What would be the use? I realize now that my kingdom holds no interest for me because she is not in it. For thirteen hours, these lands seemed brighter, more majestic, simply because of her presence. When she was gone, she seemed to take some of that beauty with her.

I want that beauty back. Am I talking about the beauty of the lands, or the beauty of the girl? I ask myself this question, and come to realize that the two are one and the same.

I also realize that beauty will never again grace this kingdom for me. She would never come back to me. She could never see me as anything but a heartless villain. Oh, if only she knew what was in my heart. I close my eyes as I realize I am destined to rule this land alone, for all eternity, and for that eternity, life will seem bleaker and bleaker with each coming day. As I sit and ponder on this terrifying future, a single word escapes my lips.

"Sarah…"