Happy New Year!!!! If you have been waiting for an update...here it is!!!! I have been slacking and apologize greatly for that. Last we left off, Sarah slipped into the cacoon of Morpheus' sweet embrace. In layman's terms, she went to sleep. During all this time we have yet to hear from his glitteriness, so here he goes. Speaking of which, Mr. Jones passing is still hard to believe. While I do personally believe he was knowingly sick longer than what is being said, his passing was still a shock to his fans. At least we still have Betty White. Without further ado, a brief warning and off with the show.
The crackpot author of this story does not own any of The Labyrinth characters or anything pertaining to the movie. Please enjoy and review.
High King Oberion's ball was in full swing in his winter castle. Fae far and wide were invited to the celebration of his Queen's birthday. His own sons were there, dancing and for once not misbehaving, but the night was still young. Loki was off to the corner, along with his cousin Puck, and a very inherbriated Goblin King. "Join us!" Loki said. " It will do you good to see the wonderous flesh of the above ground." Jareth laughed and grabbed for another drink. " I have flesh here, Princess Leahnor makes up more than enough. As for wonders of the above ground, well I have had enough of the above to last several lifetimes." Puck laughed. "So, are you saying the princess has tamed my dear cousin, and perhaps roped him into the idea of love and dare I say marriage?" Jareth spat out his drink. "Dear no! The princess and I have an arrangement of sorts. As for love," Jareth said, taking a sip of goblin wine. "Never have been in love, to speak of. I was in love once, maybe, and it was an awful experience. It rotted me, drained me, and it was a disease. Hateful thing, it was. Being in love is something that breeds brute anger and jealousy, everything but love, it seems." Puck and Loki gave each other a knowing look. "Brother, I know you can't still hold a grudge..." Jareth put his hand up quickly silencing Loki. " I am just trying to say that, well...I have met a woman above and as they say 'dating' her. Puck and I will be going on a night out of town. Puck will be going on a blind date, as it were with a friend of the one I am attempting to court. Perhaps you would care to join us. Her meeting my brother is the next step, we have been dating for three months, and she is quite curious about my family. Tomorrow is when we shall be dining and then dancing. What says you?" As Jareth was about to respond, a woman with bright red locks came up to them and curtsied. "Majesties." She said. "I do hope I am not interrupting." Jareth took her hand to his lips, smiling coyfully, kissing it. "My dear Leahnor, a pleasure as always." She returned his smile and she took her hand and passed it to the other two standing next to him. "Indeed." She responded with a giggle. Loki took her hand first, his lips not touching her hand as he greeted her with Puck following suit. "You remember my brother and prince to the Elvin kindom, and Puck my father's royal advisor and commanding general to his army." She smile at them both. "Why yes, who could forget such charming faces. Why I do hope to take him from you for a spell. He did after all say that we would dance the night away, didn't you love?" Jareth smiled. "Of course. I was just telling these two that I was planning on spending these next two nights in the company of the most beautiful woman my eyes had ever seen, but she was not available. So I guess I am all yours." Princess Leahnor's face turned red as Jareth laughed. Loki and Puck turned their heads to hide their laughter. "Why, if that's the way you feel .." She replied turning away. "Come now. No need to exaggerate. Let us dance, Princess. Do you want a kiss or are you pouting?" Jareth turned towards his brother and cousin, "Perhaps next time. As you can see my dance card is quite full." Without waiting for a reply, Jareth took the princess close to him and disappeared. Jareth reappeared in a room he was staying in during the celebration, with the princess still in his arms. He kissed the corners of her mouth slowly, then released her from his embrace. "Care for a drink? " He asked as he poured one for himself. "Of course. Anything except the wine you bring from your kingdom. No offense, but my pallette is quite delicate for that swill you call wine. Your goblins must smash the grapes with their feet." She said with a look of disgust. "Actually, the faeries pluck them from the vine one by one, and they use only the finest ingredients. Dragons egg shells being one of them, and their gold shells are hard to find princess " Everyone knew that even though the goblin kingdom had many questionable citizens, the wine was considered the best in all the lands. Only the king and those who made it knew the exact recepie. "Touch. Touchy. I prefer from the high king's vintage is all." She smirked. Jareth set his wine aside as he grabbed the princess harshly by the jaw. " You are something aren't you." She smile at him, removing his hand from her jaw. She began to roughly remove his shirt and began slowly sucking and nibbling his neck leaving a trail of marks down his torso. "I thought we agreed no marks." He said. "Just a little reminder in case anyone gets any ideas, wondering if the goblin king is available. I can't let someone come and take my fun away." She said making her way down. "As if that could stop me from finding pleasure elsewhere. Some women drive on competition." He teased. "And what drives you?" She asked pulling away. "If you have to ask, you will never know." Was all he answered. Several hours later the princess made her way back to her room, limping slightly with several bruises on her back that would need tending to. Jareth still hadn't slept, but decided to go to the study office that had been his growing up. It was still his, as his father still had need of him. He stood by the fire wearing nothing but his trousers and boots. He served himself a drink, looking deep into the fire. He sighed, taking a sip of his drink. He could easily heal the marks the princess had left, but had not the strength to do so. Today had been not only the anniversary of the champion, but her birthday. He assumed Sarah had received her gift, as there was an uneaten slice of peach cake on his desk. There was a note next to the platter, a note he refused to acknowledge at the money long with the cake. This was not the first thank you note she had sent, but the first that he was too ashamed to open at the moment. A feeling of shame he was not use to feeling. Might as well get over it, he mused. The note read:
To the Goblin King, Son of Oberion, Keeper and Heir of the Danaans
I hope this letter finds you well. It has been fifteen years since my win and victory over the labyrinth. As you know, it has been customary for the king to give the champion a give each year on the year of the win. Each year you have fulfilled your duty, though never in person. Each year your ift have come with no explanation, but then again they have never needed one, as they have always served a purpose. This year has been no different, as they years have changed me in ways that only you seem to know. Your gifts are very much appreciated, and as customary I send with Hoggle a gift in return. Perhaps one day I might be gifted the gift of explanation seeing as I am clueless how to hide these changes for much longer. At thirty above ground years, an above ground woman typically begins to age. I am sure you are very aware of our technology not being able to stop the signs of aging, only mask them for so long. Keep in mind, that there are other ways to communicate this information besides Hoggle, though he has served as a wonderful buffer. Perhaps an accord maybe struck, a temporary truce as they say.
Greatfully yours
Sarah, Champion of The Labyrinth, Queen of Scrabble, Friend of the Goblin Kingdon and Protector of The Lost
Jareth stood there and sighed. This note was the most said between the two. He began eating the cake, as customary. He knew that she had made this cake from scratch, and that she had used goblin wine to make it. From the taste of it, from his own personal stock. Now that he knew what happened to the missing bottle he was looking for last week, he also knew she did not use the whole bottle to make the cake. The 'slice' was a considerable size, like half a cake, but there should be more that half a bottle left. He would have to find that nit-wit of a dwarf and get the information by force if need be. The disgusting little scab that he was, would most likely have just given it to her. Hogwarts could never say no to her. The more he thought about it, the more he became angry. He finished off his cake, and decided it was timeto sleep. The festivities had yet to end, and he needed his strength for his guest later that next night. 'What a pity." Jareth said.
FunFact: Jareth's remark about love was part of a quote David Bowie said in an interview.
In my story Jareth has not stayed a pining idiot, but has moved on in some sorts. He is aware that Sarah is changing, but does not interfere greatly in her life, just as Sarah seems bound to certain rules when helping her clients. Both can assist by giving advice, but never doing the work for someone else. I hope you enjoy. Tell me you love it, tell me you hate it. Please stay safe out there. The world is a crazy place.
