Disclaimer: We all know I don't own Labyrinth! I also want to mention I don't own Rigoletto (the 1993 film, not to be confused with the Opera) which this story is heavily influenced by. I also don't own the song lyrics. "The Curse" was written by Michael McLean.

Chapter 40

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The Curse

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Weeks passed and Sarah did not see or hear from the Goblin King. For the first few days it was a relief not having him around to harrass her at every turn, but as the days passed by she found that the Castle was exceedingly boring with out him around. She tried to visit her friends when she could but they were often busy with their own lives and duties. Stranger still was that every time a child was wished away to the Labyrinth, the Goblin King had Gavin and Sarah locked in their rooms.

"Why is he doing this?" Sarah seethed, bored out of her mind under yet another lock down. Just when Sarah had begun to accept the fact that Jareth had at least some decency inside of him he pulled this. She plagued Priya with questions that caused Priya to leave in a fit of rage, leaving Sarah with unanswered questions. Without her lessons to preoccupy her mind Sarah began to dwell on her situation and everything that the Goblin King had taken from her. "To think I was almost considering him to be a friend." she scolded herself, angry at being locked up, angry most all for being left in the dark.

"Ahem! Excuse me." an unfamiliar voice startled Sarah from her brooding. Sarah stood and whipped around, about to give the intruder a piece of her mind. She turned to find an agitated looking fae staring at her rudely.

"Who are you? How dare you barge into my room!" she vented her anger upon this unexpected stranger.

The man looked at Sarah with much distaste. "My name is Palther, I shall be training you from now on." Sarah could tell that the man was not thrilled about this. Sarah was not thrilled by this prospect herself as she crossed her arms stubbornly. Sarah was hurt more than she cared to admit and she had a feeling that this man would be far worse than Jareth.

"Now begin with showing me all that you have learned thus far." the man commanded. Sarah glared at the man but did as he asked, going through the motions that Jareth had taught her.

"This is going to be a long day." she thought miserably to herself.

-

Gavin paced in his room, bored as usual when he had nothing to do or Priya to keep him company. He smiled warmly as he thought of Priya, she was so beautiful and strong, and witty yet she had a fragile and sensitive side as well. To Gavin, she was perfect. Gavin sighed deeply, "Oh what is the use. I fall for women that I have absolutely no chance with. Priya could never love an uneducated farm boy such as myself." he frowned in self pity.

"Hullo Gavin." Priya's sweet voice broke him from his reverie. Her voice made him forget his sorrows of self doubt.

"Priya!" he smiled charmingly. "Where have you been? I'm going out of my mind." he teased.

"My duties call, as usually." she sighed.

"I know it makes you upset when I bring this up, but you really can't leave me in the dark any longer." he pleaded with her.

Priya looked agitated at first but then softened. "I suppose it would not hurt to tell him." she considered, she had been needing to get her frustrations off her chest and she could not think of a better person that Gavin to confide in.

Priya grabbed his wrist and led him to a set of chairs, they sat and she pulled her chair in very close to his. "If I tell you...you must swear on your life to never speak of it, especially to Sarah." she whispered but her voice held a dangerous urgency.

Now Gavin was really curious. "Of course, I swear it." he promised. Priya contemplated for a moment but decided she trusted Gavin over anyone else.

"Do you know the legend of the High King?" she asked still whispering.

"They say the High King abdicated his throne long, long ago. The council rules in his stead, they say the throne is left open to him unless he dies. Rumor amongst the common people is that he went mad or was stricken with a curse." Gavin found himself whispering back, enjoying the secretive moment he was sharing with the beautiful elf.

Priya nodded her head carefully. "The High King was cursed. He was cursed by one of the enlightened...at his presentation ceremony when he was still a babe."

"What are you saying Priya?" Gavin asked anxiously.

"The Goblin King is the cursed High King of Thanvaanit!" her voice was stressed. Gavin's eyes widened with realization. "It's becoming worse...he's beginning to change now. He hasn't much time left." Priya was sorrowful.

"How is he changing?" Gavin asked with morbid curiosity. Priya sighed and made him swore once more to never speak of this to Sarah or anyone else. After he had sworn again she explained everything to him.

"What can we do to make Sarah see?" he asked after she had finished.

Priya shook her head. "You cannot reveal anything to one who is capable of breaking the curse. It would kill Jareth. She has to see on her own."

The clocks around the castle began to chime the thirteenth hour. "I must go...remember your oath Gavin!"

-

Hours Later

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Sarah had come to visit Gavin but he had made up a lame excuse not to see her. So she took to aimless wanderings around the castle, the thirteenth hour had tolled hours ago lifting the lock down. Sarah's lesson had not gone well, her knew trainer was much more infuriating that Jareth had ever been. He was rude and impatient, Sarah wanted to smash his head in by the end of the lesson. Secretly she wandered the halls hoping to catch a glimpse of the Goblin King.

"How do you expect Sarah to break the curse when you hide from her?" Priya argued with Jareth.

"I expect nothing!" he shouted. "You came here for your lesson! Not to talk about Sarah." he growled.

Priya shut back tears. Why did they both have to be like that? This could have been all over long ago...she sighed and took her place beside the piano that Jareth was sitting at. Jareth began to play and Priya began to sing.

Sarah was still wandering the halls when she heard the faint sound of beautiful music being played somewhere within the castle. Curious, she followed this sound. "Pryia?" Sarah wondered as she heard the angelic sound of a females voice, she had not heard Priya sing since the Ball on that fateful night. The beautiful melody was coming from the room that Priya had made Sarah promise to never enter. She stopped cold when she heard yelling between two people, Jareth and Priya she assumed. Then they music continued as though it had not been interrupted.

Sarah struggled with her desire to enter the room and her desire to keep her promise. She leaned up against the door, pressing her ear against it to hear better. The song was sung in a language that Sarah did not understand, the music sounded like a piano but a bit different. Sarah's heart ached as she listened to the sweet melody. The piano stopped but Priya continued to sing, "I wish I could sing like her." Sarah thought wistfully.

Finally one desire overwhelmed the other and Sarah twisted the knob and opened the door quietly. Sarah's view was at once obstructed by a bookshelf, she quietly moved inside the room and peeked around the corner. She saw a desk, littered with papers and beyond a strange looking piano and Priya singing with her soul. Sarah let out a screech as she felt rough hands grip her wrist and fling her painfully into the room, she spun against the desk and gripped onto it so she would not fall.

The room had fallen to a deathly silence and all Sarah could hear was her heavy breathing and the racing of her heart. "You were told to never enter this room!" she heard the Goblin King scream at her from the dark shadows of the room, his face lost to her sight. Sarah had never been more scared or intimidated of the Goblin King in all their encounters.

"Jareth, leave her alone." Priya argued in Sarah's defense.

"GET OUT!" he screamed at Priya. Priya hesitated for a moment. "I said get out!" his voice was low and dangerous. Priya turned and walked swiftly out of the room, looking back at Sarah apologetically.

"Why did you enter this room." Jareth snarled, still hidden in the shadows.

Sarah had been caught by surprise and her guard was down. "I, I just heard the music and I thought..." she began.

"No you don't think, you don't think of anyone but yourself!" he spat. "I've sacrificed much for you and still you take from me and give me nothing in return!" he yelled stepping out of the shadows.

Sarah pressed herself further against the desk as the Goblin King came into view. She was horrified at what she saw, half of his face was distorted and no longer held the beauty it once had. Half of his hair was wirey and grotesque. "You're a goblin!" Sarah exclaimed, truly horrified.

Jareth looked at Sarah with murder in his eyes. "Yes Sarah." Jareth advanced on her and Sarah looked away from him. She felt the rough goblin like hands clutch her chin, his long yellow nails grazing her skin. "Look at me Sarah. Look what you've done." Sarah was forced to look upon him, she stared into his eyes which were still beautiful and mismatched. Sarah saw something more hidden in the depths of those orbs and she felt pity overtake her fear.

Jareth finally let go of her and walked away, sitting back down at the piano. Sarah knew she should flee the room but something kept her there. She stood watching him in silence before she walked over the the elvish looking piano. "Did you really teach Priya how to sing?" she asked quietly.

"Yes." Jareth answered her as he began to play a sad melody.

"Can you teach anyone to sing like that?" Sarah asked hopefully.

"No." Sarah frowned at his answer. "The beauty already has to be there, I simply set it free."

Sarah perked back up. She considered her next words carefully. She assumed that he had stopped seeing her because of this unsightly transformation and she knew it had to do something with that mysterious curse that no one would tell her about. "Can you teach me to sing like that?" Sarah asked full of hope.

Jareth looked at her, here was another chance for him to make things right between them. Before he could soften his heart protested and hardened again. Jareth let out a cruel mocking laugh. "You? You sing like a goat! My ears...they could not take the torture." he spat.

Sarah stared at him, any pity she had for him was gone now. Jareth had hit a soft spot, tears formed in Sarah's eyes. "I do not! You wouldn't know beauty if it smacked you in the face!" she shouted at him. "You are black and ugly on the inside, and now you're looks will match it!" she continued venomously.

Jareth stood up, tall and menacing. Then her turned and shouted. "Priya! Priya come!"

Priya who had been lingering outside of the doorway rushed into the room. "Yes my Lord?" she asked.

"Play!" he ordered, pointing her to take a seat at the piano. Priya looked confused but did as she was told. "The Curse" he muttered. Priya tried to hid a smile on her face as she began to play. Sarah stood transfixed, still angry but not knowing what to do or expect.

Jareth strode over the the window and stood, looking full of sorrow and rage. As Priya continued to play, the Goblin King began to sing, in a deep rich voice that Sarah had never heard the equal to.

"We heard the tale since we were young,

Heard the songs that have been sung,

About an evil spell.

Someone beautiful is cursed

We feel sad through every verse

Til a kiss and all is well

The message that no one can teach

Is clearer to someone like me

There is no curse or evil spell

That's worse than one we give ourselves

There is no sorceror as cruel,

As the proud and angry fool.

And yet, we cry life isn't fair

Beneath our cries the truth is there

A power that will break the spell

We should know very well

Is locked within ourselves

Yet we'd rather blame,

And curse our faith and change

We run from everyone to hide from the pain

And all the shame

The story's long we knew it well

About a wretched evil spell

A power that will break this curse

Oh I know all too well

Is locked within myself"

Sarah was filled with sorrow and regret as she listened to the King sing his song. She struggled to breathe as she felt her heart was being crushed. Jareth's song ended and she hung her head before looking up at him. "I'm sorry she whispered." her eyes filled with tears. "No one could sing like that and not be beautiful." she said before fleeing the room.

Priya's eyes were full of hope as she watched Sarah flee from the room. She looked at her king who looked shocked, but weary and broken too. "Did you hear what she said Jareth?" her voice could not contain her excitement.

"Go." he mumbled quietly.

"But Jareth..." Priya insisted.

"I said leave me!" he shouted angrily. Priya frowned and left the room.

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Author's Note: Well there you have some more information about the curse. Gavin knows a bit more than you do im afraid, but you'll know everything in due time. I want to thank all these people before I leave on vacation. This is probably the last chapter you will see until I get back. sorries! Big Thanks to these people who have left reviews between ch 36-39: Mint Tea Rose, Notwritten, Artemisdesari, TriGemini, C.E. Hobbit, Avispa, AvitarGirl, Bookworm37,Patienceless, MotherBear, LabylvrPhx, Katchelle97, yodeladyhoo, FireShifter, janeitesarah, saskia2,Rhiannon A. Christy, FaeriesMidwife, Myra of the Flame and Cloud97. Sorry if I missed someone!

Oh I forgot to add, Myra of the Flame has started "The Duke must Die" club -