Time May Change Me...

Let's dance as the world falls down, wife of mine

"Labyrinth" FanFiction

Happy Birthday David Bowie

Starry nights gave Sarah mixed feelings: she had always preferred day to night in Aboveground, after sunset she found the world cold and felt exposed.

But down in the Underground, when the moon rose the most beautiful landscape awoke: there was a myriad of stars and their light wasn't only white, but had blue, purple and green hues, making the sky look like a see. The earth buzzed with colourful flying insects and sounds of crickets and frogs filled the air.

Everything seemed even more magical than it was at night-time.

Except for the Labyrinth: it looked even creepier when bathed in starshine, it highlighted its wickedness.

It gave Sarah shivers, as from her position on the balcony of her bedroom she could see quite a generous slice of it. She leaned her elbows on the stone railing and breathed in deep. Then her eyes were caught by a quick movement in the sky, she lifted her gaze to see a shooting star leave its wake across the nightly vault and smiled as a tune came to her mind: "Twinkle twinkle…" she hummed.

"What was it?"

She turned towards the voice and saw Jareth approaching: he was dressed as usual, loose white shirt, tight black pants which ended into his high old boots.

"Nothing important, really"

He stopped close to her and raised a leg to set his foot on a rock of the railing that stick out, then leaned his folded arms on his knee sighing.

"How was your day?" she smiled up at him.

He raised his eyebrows, shrugging lightly: "Tediously quiet: documents to sign, Goblins and chickens running about…"

She made a sound of disgust: "I hate those beasts, you should banish them from this place!"

The King gave her an incredulous expression: "Sarah, they may be chaotic and disgusting, but they are ancient creatures, faithful to their monarch: they have always lived here, you can't ask me to kick the Goblins out of my castle"

She blinked, then gave a laugh: "I wasn't talking about the Goblins! I meant the chickens!"

"Oh-"

"Come on, Jareth: they are dirty and stinky, they miss feathers everywhere and some rooms at the ground floor are a real mess, how couldn't you notice?"

Jareth remained silent for a few seconds: "That can be arranged".

"Thank you, majesty"

He returned her gaze with a smirk: "You know I would move the stars for my future Queen, Sarah"

"Yes, I do".

They stood like that a while, none of them speaking, just enjoying the view and listening to the far voices of the Goblins that lived in the city at the Castle's feet, until a gentle breeze started to blow. Jareth lowered his foot and, imitating Sarah's pose, scooted nonchalantly closer to her, their arms touching.

She followed his movements smiling sweetly. He didn't like to show affection in public and it was a long time he didn't show any to somebody: the fact that he was timidly letting himself go around her made him look cute in her eyes. You really hate cold breeze, don't you? she thought.

She reached out to take one of hands in hers: she loved when he wore no gloves and she could feel how warm his palms were, how the touch of his bare skin against hers sent sparks of enjoyment through her whole body.

She leaned her head against his shoulder: "It scares me sometimes, you know?"

"What troubles your tranquillity, precious?"

"The maze"

Jareth chuckled: "Well, I don't blame it! You were the first to win over it, I bet it never wanted your presence here ever again!"

"You talk about it as if it was alive"

"Well… it is like a carnivorous plant: it stays quiet, until it gets a pray and when it does…" he paused.

"…When it does wha-aahh!?" Jareth had suddenly taken her by her sides and lifted her in his arms while spinning around: she laughed out loud, both because he was tickling her and because he had given her a fright.

"It does whatever it can not to allow them neither to reach the Castle nor to exit its twists and turns!" he said laughing too.

Slowly, Jareth lowered her to the ground and pulled her closer to him, forehead against forehead. They started to move their weight from one foot to the other, he slid a hand from behind her to take her hand and set his other palm on the small of her back. Their steps got larger and larger, until it was clear for Sarah that he was leading her into a dance. She slowed down: "Wait. I can't dance"

He smiled: "I've been an absolute beginner too, precious: it's not difficult. Let me teach you". He showed her some easy steps and how to make a sequence, still she had difficulties.

"If I only had my old red ballet shoes! I would be a lot more comfortable!" she said.

"You don't like your shoes?"

"No- Ugh- Yes, I like them, but they are not made to dance!"

"Don't get angry, love, it's normal to mess up the first times… Maybe this can help" He lifted a hand and formed a crystal, blowing lightly he sent it flying over their heads and a soft music started playing. "Now: don't think about the steps, listen to the music and relax. I lead: follow my moves, don't move by yourself"

Sarah closed her eyes, sighing. She let the melody flow through her mind and take the place of her thoughts: she remembered it. Her eyes shot open and locked with his: "That's our song".

"No. It's my song, for you" he started to dance and felt that she was moving with her. Their twirling went on, slow, undisturbed, until the last notes of the music faded into the night and the crystal popped into a rain of thin sparkles. He stopped and waited for her to make eye contact with him.

Sarah lifted her gaze to meet a pair of strange eyes: "What is it?"

Jareth shook his head. He lifted a palm to her cheek and caressed it softly: "You. You look so lovely, I've never seen any woman half as beautiful as you are and, trust me, I've met a lot of Fae princesses"

Sarah made a wide smile, her cheeks had gone red. Jareth leaned in to kiss one of her warm cheekbones: "Why blush in front of the truth?"

"Because no one ever told me the truth" she giggled.

"Well, it was about time" he whispered and earned a tight hug from her.

"Jareth?"

"Yes, precious?"

"I love you"

"And I will love you as the world falls apart and turns upside down, as time goes on and on, as long as I will live"

"…You are immortal, Jareth"

"Oh! What a fool, I had forgot. Well forever is not a long time after all, soon-to-be wife of mine" he lowered and held her close.

She lifted her head to look at him: "Not as long as you are with me"

That night, stars twinkled and watched over two souls under the moonlight, whose love was so strong it could have broken hearts in two. And it would have lasted forever and ever.

Inspiration: "Let's Dance", "As the World Falls Down", "Be my Wife" by David Bowie

Thank you to all the patient followers of this story who wait a year for the new chapter! Thanks for all the favourites too!

I'm not particularly satisfied with this one, there's something wrong (can you hear me Major Tom?) but I can't put my finger on it: Review?