The Way Forward Is Sometimes The Way Back:
Sequel to Labyrinth
Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, shape, or form own Labyrinth, its characters, its scenes, or quotes. They all belong to the geniuses Jim Henson, George Lucas, David Bowie, Brian Froud, Dennis Lee, Terry Jones, & Trevor Jones. I only own this fanfic storyline and the characters I made up (if I make up any).
Note: Just a reminder, Sarah and Jareth are going to have flashbacks to Labyrinth throughout this fanfic, so their flashbacks, which will be a flashback of images, sounds, or both, with be written in Bold and Italics like this…
Chapter Seven: Quite Often, It Seems like We're Not Getting Anywhere, When in Fact, We Are!
Sarah was not entirely sure what to expect when Jareth's servant came to bring her to Jareth an hour after they'd conversed in the throne room. She did as he had, oddly, requested: she found a comfortable pair of pants in her closet and put them on with a pair of boots. Sarah tried to think of any hobby she'd need pants and boots for, then she smiled as she thought, Maybe after today I'll learn why Jareth always seems to be wearing pants and boots!
She answered the knock on her door and was surprised to see an exceptionally pretty goblin girl that could not have been more than 13 or 14.
The girl curtsied, apparently carrying out an act that she was ordered to obey, and said smoothly, "His Majesty requested me to bring you to him…"
Sarah smiled sociably and said, "Yes, I've been expecting you…" She extended her hand and said confidently, "My name is Sarah, I'm very pleased to meet you…"
The girl looked at Sarah's hand as if she was unsure of what to do, then tentatively took Sarah's hand and shook it, not realizing she was also expected to respond as well.
Sarah encouragingly suggested, "And your name is…?"
The girl's eyes widened as she realized what Sarah had been trying to accomplish, and quickly said, "My name is Sagira…" suddenly realizing how out of rank she was behaving, added quietly, "…my lady…"
Sarah quickly noticed how embarrassed Sagira was becoming and added, kindly, "Please don't bother with addressing me with formalities, Sagira, please just call me Sarah…"
Sagira looked unsure, but then relaxed and said, as if getting used to the sound, "Sarah…" then remembered why she was there and added; "…shall we be off, Sarah? I should not like to leave His Majesty waiting so long…"
Sarah laughed, thinking of Jareth anxiously awaiting her arrival, then said, exiting her room and closing her door, "No… we wouldn't want to keep Jareth waiting… A vein in his head might pop out…" She continued giggling as she followed Sagira. Sagira giggled quietly, not wanting to overstep her rank more than she already had, but took notice how Sarah address the Goblin King by his real name. She really was "the Sarah" she had heard so many stories about growing up.
As they walked to their destination, Sarah attempted to learn more about Sagira.
"So how long have you been serving Jareth?" Sarah asked, genuinely curious.
"Well… I've been serving His Majesty for as long as I can remember…" Sagira said, "…I was wished away as a baby by my babysitter… I aggravated her by going through her purse and ruining some of her things, I believe…"
Sarah became nostalgic as she remembered wishing her own brother away in a similar moment of heated anger. She empathized with Sagira's babysitter, knowing how provoking young children can be, but she felt extreme pity for Sagira, being taken away from her parents at so young an age. She listened compassionately as Sagira continued.
"I was placed with all the other goblin children, until the nursemaids began noticing little rarities of my behavior and personality they believed could be beneficial to His Majesty… I was hardworking, chivalrous, and self-sufficient… They soon took me away from the normal group of children and put me in the care of His Majesty's other servants… They were very kind to me, teaching me to tend to His Majesty's needs and learning all the things that the close servants of His Majesty have come to learn…"
"Really?" Sarah said, "Like what?"
"Well…" Sagira searched to find the right words, "Learning how His Majesty carries on during the day, his preferences in consistency…" Sagira lowered her voice, and said to Sarah, "and if I'm not being too bold in my rank to say, for I do appreciate and respect His Majesty, but I also learned to familiarize myself with his outbursts and uproars…"
Sarah's face indicated her alarm and she pressed the matter, "His outbursts? Uproars?"
Sagira stopped in the hallway, obviously second-guessing her decision to mention that fact to Sarah. "I mean no offense… Sarah… but, I came to learn, after you left… His Majesty was not the same… The servants told me, after you left, his behavior changed drastically, there were moments we would have to console him in his depression, but other moments we learned to avoid him and leave him be as he would be raging and in an irate frenzy…"
Realization hit Sarah like a ton of bricks, as she comprehended that Jareth's inconstant mood swings were on account of her… her and her rejection. She knew deep in her soul that her rejection had shaken Jareth, but really was never able to learn how much.
Sagira saw the pained expression on Sarah's face and quickly added, "But, Sarah, we began to notice changes in his moods just yesterday, and for the life of me, I couldn't understand why. I asked one of the elder servants why the sudden change in his behavior, and he told me that you'd returned…" She leaned closer for Sarah to hear, and said tenderly, "…More specifically, he'd spent the afternoon with you in the nursery… Midori had told him of what had happened…" Sagira's bright eyes held an appreciative twinkle.
Sarah smiled as she remembered the previous afternoon in the nursery, Jareth's benevolence, and Midori's appreciation and admiration. Unable to keep all her magnified emotions to herself, Sarah instantaneously found herself hugging Sagira.
Sagira, shocked at Sarah's impulsiveness, first gingerly hugged Sarah back, then grew more confident and returned her hug.
"I'm glad I've mad you happy, Sarah…" Sagira said, unsure of what to say to the situation.
Sarah broke away from Sagira, considering what Sagira had said. Was she really happy? Sarah smiled as she realized she was indeed happy with what Sagira had told her. What did this mean? Sarah decided to consider it later as she continued on her way with Sagira.
Sarah was unsure of where Sagira was leading her as Sagira began to lead her to a wing in the back of the castle. Suddenly they were outside and an unfamiliar and rather dirty smell filled Sarah's nose. She wrinkled it as she realized they were in a stable. A very vast, expansive stable at that. Sagira led her through the stable and soon Sarah saw Jareth's smiling face. He was leaning up against the door of a stall and upon seeing him, Sagira quickly fell to the ground, bowing to Jareth.
"Your Highness…" Sagira said humbly, her eyes downcast.
"Thank you for bringing Sarah to me, Sagira…" Jareth said, not moving, but Sarah could see the appreciation reflecting in his eyes.
"I see you've become acquainted with one of my most trusted servants…" Jareth said to Sarah, noticing the how close Sarah and Sagira had been walking together.
"Oh, yes, I've been very pleased to meet Sagira," Sarah said, honestly, "I've come to enjoy her company very much…" She said, smiling at Sagira.
Sagira gave Sarah a small smile, then cast her eyes down again, remembering her humility in the presence of her king.
Jareth showed a small smile, seeing the bond Sagira and Sarah had made, and said proudly, "Sagira is one of my most loyal and trusted servants…" then he suggested, "If you would like, she could tend to you and become your personal servant…"
Sarah smiled then extended a hand to Sagira, raising her from the ground and said, "I'd like that, but I'd much rather like a friend than a servant…"
Sagira smiled at Sarah.
Jareth smiled and said, "Then it shall be so…" he nodded to Sagira, "…thank you, Sagira…"
Sagira curtsied to Jareth, gave Sarah a quick smile and left.
Sarah turned her attention to Jareth and said, dramatically, "Now, why have you brought me to this stinky, filthy place, Jareth?"
Jareth laughed and moved towards Sarah, "Sarah, this place really isn't that bad… It's not the Bog of Eternal Stench…"
Sarah smirked and returned, "Well maybe not today it doesn't…"
He grinned and extended a hand to Sarah, "Well, even so, this is one of my favorite hobbies…"
Sarah took his hand as Jareth led her into the stall.
"I am extremely fond of horseback riding…" Jareth said, leading her up to a beautiful white stallion.
"Oh!" Sarah exclaimed, as she cautiously approached the horse and began to stroke it affectionately. "What's his name?" She asked.
Jareth smiled and said, "Cheval…"
Sarah murmured, "That's beautiful… what does it mean?"
Jareth chuckled and replied, "It really only means 'horse' in French, but I thought it fit him… very majestic and noble…"
Sarah smiled, "Once again, I never would've thought, Jareth…"
Jareth smiled sadly, "There's a lot you don't know about me, Sarah…"
Sarah smiled and said, "I'm willing to find out…"
Jareth smiled back and said, "Now… to find you a horse…" He moved out of the stall and began looking into other various stalls.
Sarah's eyes widened as she realized what Jareth said and she quickly followed him and said, "You mean, we're actually going to ride them?"
Jareth stopped, giving her a funny look, and said jokingly, "That's generally what you do with horses, Sarah…" he chuckled and gestured to her attire, "…You didn't think you were just modeling that ensemble, did you?"
Sarah stopped, realizing what the purpose of the pants and boots were, then quickly added, "But… I've never ridden a horse before!"
Jareth laughed and took Sarah's hand and began to lead her through the stable, "Well there's no time like the present to learn!"
"But… I… You…" Sarah stuttered, suddenly afraid of the prospect of riding, what she saw as, a gigantic animal that could buck her off and knock her unconscious without even trying.
Jareth stopped at a certain stall, opened it, and ushered Sarah inside of it. Sarah found herself standing before a gorgeous chestnut brown mare, with a long, smooth dark brown mane and tail and a little stripe of white along its nose.
Sarah couldn't help but croon over such a radiant creature. She was immediately drawn to it, and stroked it gently.
"She shall be yours…", Jareth said, taking pleasure in seeing how Sarah was drawn towards the brilliant creature.
Sarah continued to stroke the horse as a goblin suddenly appeared and put all the tackle upon the horse. Jareth attached a blanket to the side and Sarah said, "What is the blanket for?"
"I thought we might ride to a little secluded spot just beyond the Labyrinth and have a nice picnic…" Jareth replied.
"Oh that sound fantastic!" Sarah said, excitedly. Jareth suddenly began moving Sarah closer to the horse. "What are you doing!" Sarah said, surprised and scared at the same time.
"You have to mount her, Sarah…" Jareth said plainly.
"But… I…" Sarah began to stutter again, and Jareth suddenly helped her up onto the horse. Sarah said motionlessly atop the horse, scared out of her wits. "Whoa… whoa…" Sarah said, clearly unsettled.
Jareth chuckled as he took hold of the bridle and began to lead the horse from the stall.
"Whoa!" Sarah exclaimed as the horse began to follow Jareth's lead.
Jareth led the horse out of the stable and then turned to Sarah and said seriously, "Now Sarah, I have to go and get Cheval…" he handed her the reins, "…now just wait here, if he begins to move, just pull on the reins slightly to stop him…"
"But, what if she takes off and begins to run and I can't stop him! Or what if she bucks me off!" Sarah began, extremely alarmed.
"She won't take off if you pull the reins back towards yourself, and she won't buck you off… If anything, if you pull the reins too much, she'll just back up a bit, and if she does, just firmly and confidently say "Whoa" to let her know to stop… You'll be fine, I promise…" He said assuredly.
Sarah took comfort in the sincerity and assurance in Jareth's eyes, and nodded slightly, still afraid. Jareth strode off to mount Cheval. Sarah said nervously atop the horse. The horse began to move slightly, and Sarah quickly tugged on the reins. The horse, however, at Sarah's steady tug began to back up slowly. Scared, Sarah said, "Whoa!" but the horse didn't stop. Remembering what Jareth said about confidence, Sarah straightened up and said firmly, "Whoa!" and to her surprise, the horse stopped. Sarah smiled at her accomplishment and the horse turned and nuzzled Sarah's leg tenderly.
Jareth suddenly appeared, atop Cheval, a basket attached to Cheval's saddle. "How are you doing?" He said.
"Surprisingly… good…" Sarah said confidently, patting the horse's neck. "We've come to good terms…"
Jareth smiled and said, "I just acquired her… She's a very gentle, loving creature but she's very shy… She must like you…"
Sarah smiled and stroked the horse's neck lovingly, "Well I certainly like her…"
"Name her…" Jareth said, and when Sarah looked up at him, he added, "…I haven't found the right name for her… and if you like her, you can name her and she can be yours…"
Sarah's eyes widened, then she looked down at the horse, contemplating, then asked, "What is 'magic' in French, Jareth?"
Jareth thought for a moment, then replied, "I believe it's 'magie'…"
Sarah looked out into space for a while and said it over and over, "Magie… Magie… I like it…"
Jareth smiled and said, "So do I…"
Sarah smiled back at him and said, "Alright, Magie it is… So where to?"
Jareth smiled and began telling Sarah how to ride Magie.
Before Sarah knew it, she was galloping along with Jareth along a sequestered trail. Jareth told her the technique of how to get Magie to walk, and after she became comfortable with walking, he told her how to trot, and before she knew it, she was galloping like she'd known all her life how to ride horseback.
After a while, Jareth slowed at a pretty little clove of trees, and Sarah slowed with him.
Jareth had loved seeing how Sarah was enjoying herself; the wind whipping through her long hair, the huge smile on her face, her laughter. As they came to a stop, Sarah was still laughing and was trying to catch her breath at the same time.
"Wow… Oh my god, that was so… so… exhilarating!" Sarah gasped as Jareth helped her down from Magie. Jareth laughed with her as they stood close together, both trying to catch their breath. They began to gaze at each other, lost in their proximity, then Sarah cleared her throat and turned to take the blanket from Magie's saddle. Jareth stopped, then went and unattached the basket from Cheval's saddle. They tied the horses down, then moved and set up the blanket and Jareth began to lay out the meal.
Sarah's mouth watered as she saw succulent meats, freshly baked breads, assorted vegetables and ripe fruits. Jareth gestured to the food and said, "Go ahead… You're probably just as hungry as I am after that long ride…"
Sarah began on the food as Jareth took out a bottle and glasses and filled each. He handed one to Sarah and raised his.
"To today… an afternoon of fun… as friends…" Jareth toasted.
"To being friends… and to learning about one another…" Sarah added.
They both clinked glasses and took a drink. Sarah was surprised to taste the most delicious drink she'd ever been lucky to swallow. It was a savory blend of mango, passion fruit, and she believed, cherry juice.
They began eating and small talking, until Sarah made the first move.
"Jareth… we said we would get to know each other, and even though there probably isn't much we know about the other, your past seems a little more complicated and interesting than mine…"
Jareth sighed, knowing that by agreeing to learn about the other, he was going to have to tell Sarah about his past, that nobody really knew about. But… he knew he had to tell her.
"Well… surprisingly, despite what many people believe… I'm human… Well, I was human… I was actually wished away by my mother… I had been causing her some stress and she'd always loved fairytales and tales of goblins and other such make believe creatures, so she recited the words from her favorite story in a moment of exasperation, and wished me away…
"Lucky for me, the man who was the Goblin King at the time had no heir to his throne and his life force was beginning to weaken… He could no longer carry out his titled and he needed someone to take his place… Apparently, the very core of my existence is highly sensitive and receptive to magic and divination, and when he learned of this, he chose to make me his heir and become Goblin King… I had begun to take on certain qualities of a goblin, but he stopped the transformation just enough so I still look human… So for the most part, I am human… well I'm an immortal now, but I'm technically human and partially a goblin… So I became the Goblin King… and that is how you see me now…"
As Jareth finished, Sarah felt like saying something, but was unsure of what to say.
Jareth, after already telling Sarah his past, continued, believing he could add, "Later, not long after I'd become Goblin King, I used my magic to look upon my mother…"
He stopped and Sarah tenderly said, "What happened to her…"
Jareth, emotion building, looked downward and force out, "She'd forgotten about me… Sh-She actually had another child… She was… happy… without me…"
Waves of sorrow and compassion came over Sarah, and she moved closer to Jareth in an attempt to console him. "Oh, Jareth…" She soon found herself hugging Jareth, holding him as he began to shake with emotion.
Sarah felt tears welling up in her eyes as she realized they shared a common connection. She looked into Jareth's eyes, and said honestly, "I know exactly what you feel like…"
Jareth looked into Sarah's eyes, imploring her to explain further.
Sarah moved a little bit away from Jareth and paused, gathering her thoughts then began, "My mother, Linda Williams, was an actress… She left me and my dad to pursue her career… My dad was determined to find a mother for me, and then he met Karen… She'd seemed nice enough in the beginning, then as she became used to me, she gradually began ignoring me more and more… Soon, my dad did too… I soon became interested in my mother again, as she became a big star…
"I envied her and idolized her at the same time… She had everything I didn't… Fame, respect, people noticed her… Then Toby was born, and any attention they spared me became focused on him… I couldn't even take time to myself, because Karen would make me baby-sit him… That's why I became angry and wished him away…"
Jareth nodded, knowing what followed after Sarah wished Toby away, and let her continue.
"After we got back, my parents treated me the same, but Toby and I grew to like each other… We actually became very close… I adored him, but I could be around my parents any longer, so I went away to Julliard on a scholarship… I hated to leave Toby, but I desperately wanted to have friends and meet new people… But Julliard didn't get any better! They all ignored me and avoided me, they thought I was weird and said I was 'creepy' because of all my 'obsessions'…
"Then my dad died, and I went back home to help Toby cope… Karen didn't help and soon Toby became detached from everyone, including me… One thing led to another, I had to drop out of Julliard, and soon…" tears began forming in Sarah's eyes again, "Toby told Karen to choose: him or me. Karen told me to take what I wanted and leave." Her tears began to fall, and Sarah didn't stop them. She let all her emotions out, and sobbed, "I'd lost everything… My dad, Toby, my scholarship… I had nothing… Nobody wanted me… I-I felt so alone…" Sarah began sobbing frantically, her shoulders heaving from the force of her sobs. She soon felt the warmth of Jareth's body around her as he took her in his arms. He held her as she sobbed, letting all her hardened emotions out for the first time.
He stroked her hair gently and whispered to her, "Shh… It's all right… It's over…"
Sarah began to control her sobbing as she choked out, "We're the same, Jareth… We both share the loneliness… the isolation…"
Jareth realized Sarah was right and whispered gently, "You're right… We are the same…"
They stayed there for a while, until Sarah had calmed down. Jareth lifted Sarah's face up and gently brushed her long hair out of her face and began to wipe her tears away. He continued to stroke Sarah's face, and they gazed deeply into each other's eyes. Without hesitating, Sarah reached up and placed a soft kiss on Jareth's thin lips. Jareth froze as their lips made contact and when they broke, they continued to gaze at each other.
Then they both moved slowly and kissed again. It was a extraordinary moment, as they kissed, they kissed timidly like they had never kissed before, but at the same time it felt strangely right for both. It slowly progressed from small, tender kisses to frenzied, passionate kisses. Their tongues danced ardently as they found their own rhythm.
Jareth moved his hands down Sarah's shoulders and arms, bringing them to Sarah's back and pulling her closer to him. He wanted more of her. He wanted her. His desire for her heightened, then Sarah suddenly pulled away.
Sarah gasped from the intensity of their kiss, and breathed, "Jareth, I'm sorry…"
Jareth, not wanting to let go of Sarah, held onto her back. "What is it? What's wrong?"
Sarah stopped, and tried to reason why she had stopped. "I… I can't do this… We're going too fast…"
Jareth, slightly hurt, began to stroke Sarah's cheek and said quietly, "But Sarah, if was feel this way for each other…"
Sarah looked into Jareth's eyes longingly, but said, "I… I can't… It's too much for me… I can't do this… Can we take this slower Jareth? I…" Sarah found it hard for her to admit why she was so reluctant.
"What? What is it?" Jareth asked, wondering why Sarah had suddenly become distressed.
Bewilderment and skepticism rose inside Sarah, and she heard herself exclaiming, "This is crazy! We go from scorning each other to passionately kissing! Our relationship doesn't make any sense! I mean, I admit I feel an unmistakable attraction to you, but to what end? It's hard not to feel attracted to a person when they invade your fantasies and make you dream about them…" Sarah began to babble, and Jareth forcefully stopped her.
"Invade your fantasies? Make you dream about me?" Jareth began to chuckle sarcastically, as if Sarah was kidding him, "You really think that of me, Sarah? You think I forced myself into your dreams?"
"Well what else am I supposed to think? One moment I'm looking for my brother, the next, I'm passed out after eating a mysterious fruit that you ordered be given to me, the next I'm dancing in a ball with you!" Sarah said, emotions running high as the truth finally came out.
"No, Sarah, you weren't supposed to think like that, you were supposed to reason why I was in your fantasy. Did it ever occur to you to think why you were looking for me at that masquerade?" Jareth got up and said unrelentingly, "I never forced myself into your fantasy… I induced it with the peach but I never created your fantasy or anything in it. You did. You brought me into it…" Jareth suddenly realized the complexity of their relationship, then said regretfully, "…I'd hoped when you figured that out, we could be together… Like we were then…" He admitted, then walked over to the horses and began stroking them.
Sarah took in all that Jareth had told her, not sure how she was supposed to respond. It all seemed like too much, Sarah couldn't handle it. She sat where she was, contemplating her feelings and how they should move on. I brought Jareth into my dream, Sarah thought, so I brought him into my dream because I felt something between us… And the emotions I felt… The feelings I felt… Sarah felt a smile creep onto her face slowly as she thought, …they were real! Sarah looked around at the picnic blanket and thought happily, This… This is all… right… so very right… Sarah looked up at Jareth, who was still stroking the horses in deep thought. But… this is still too much too soon… We need to take things slower… Sarah got up, finally ready to discuss her thoughts with Jareth.
Sarah walked to Jareth and said, "Jareth…"
Jareth didn't turn and continued to stroke the horses, but listened.
Sarah took a deep breath and said, "…I think we need to take things slower… After hearing what you told me, I think we need to slow this down a bit, and really take this one step at a time…"
Jareth moved slightly and stroked Cheval, still not making eye contact with Sarah. Sarah purposefully moved around the other side of Cheval and met Jareth's gaze.
"Think about it, Jareth… It makes perfect sense… If anything real or meaningful is going to come of our relationship, it has to come over time, getting to know each other and learning about one another over time…" Sarah smiled as she added, "…We really have all the time in the world… Literally!"
Jareth gazed at Sarah's beautiful eyes and considered what she'd said. As he looked into the bright pale-green eyes he loved so much, let out a deep breath, then said, rationally, "You're right, Sarah… If anything is going to come out of our friendship, we must let it happen over time…" He cautiously took one of her pale hands in his gloved ones, "…I must tell you, though, how honored I am to enjoy your friendship…" He couldn't help but smile as he saw the relieved smile creep onto Sarah's face.
Sarah let out a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, Jareth, I knew you would understand…" She moved around Cheval and wrapped Jareth in a warm hug. "I am honored with your friendship, too…" Jareth gladly received Sarah's hug, valuing every second she was in his arms, breathing in her scent, feeling her unique warmth.
Sarah broke away, smiled at Jareth then moved towards Magie. Jareth smiled, but deep inside he couldn't help but question the entire excursion. Really, we're right back where we were to begin with… friends… Jareth thought skeptically. Then Jareth began to hear the memory of a voice in the deep recesses of his mind…
Quite often… It seems like we're not getting anywhere, when in fact, we are!
Jareth smiled at the Wiseman's proverb, remembering how he just thought he was a slumberous, ludicrous eccentric. Then he silently commended the Wiseman, Maybe there's some hope for you after all… Jareth smirked, then mounted Cheval, as Sarah was waiting for him, then he kicked Cheval and he and Sarah took off back to the castle.
Author's Note: I hope you liked this chapter… I always wondered what reasons Jareth could have had for always wearing boots and pants, so I decided it made sense for him to horseback ride, and I thought it'd be cute for him to teach Sarah how to horseback ride.
And all the insecurity and apprehension Sarah felt, that's all true… For Sarah's experience with Magie I just plugged in my very first experience riding horseback at my summer camp… By the end of the summer, I adored that horse just as Sarah adores Magie… ;-)