Gosh I'm sleepy. Sorry this took so long to come, went shoe shopping today and got rather distracted then suddenly thought late in the evening 'When did I last update?' So I forced this onto my screen.
Forgive me I just couldn't resist bringing a certain someone back into the story. I love him I can't help it he's so much fun to write!
I LOVE MY REVIEWERS! Darien presents them each with a Sponge Bob Squarepants toy and sweeps a low bow.
The end is near my readers...the end is near...
Sarah woke earlier than usual. The sun was just beginning to rise, birds were sleepily twittering in the cold morning air. Jareth was still sleeping peacefully which was odd as Sarah had never woken up earlier than him before. Keeping one eye on Jareth she dressed quickly, glad of the warm cloak, gloves and scarf after her chilly pyjamas. With her sweeping cloak and flowing hair she herself looked like some mystical being in the winter landscape.
Her boots crunched through the snow as she walked away from the sleeping figure. The scenery was breathtaking. She could no longer see the former greenery which they had travelled through, everything was covered by a blanket of snow and sparkled. Her breath came out in puffs of vapour and her nose tingled. It's beautiful!
Thump Sarah hit the ground as she trod on a surprisingly icy patch. "Owch!" She quickly looked back to see Jareth fully dressed and leaning against a tree shaking with laughter.
"So graceful"
"Shut up"
"Ever considered ballet?" A feeble attempt at a snowball came his way but fell short. "Pathetic"
"Are you going to help me up or not?"
"Not"
"Bastard" Struggling to her feet she stomped over to the Goblin King who observed her coolly.
"Come on, breakfast." he said turning away and heading back to where they had spent the previous night.
After they had eaten and were once again on their horses Jareth turned to Sarah "We're ahead of schedule we should get there quite quickly, in fact it should only take about another three hours"
"Really? That's great!" she replied as he kicked Sparta forward closely followed by Robin. Is she really that desperate to leave me?
Sarah noticed Jareth seemed rather subdued this morning. "You okay?"
"Fine" he snapped back not turning round.
Sarah frowned but didn't ask again. So last night was our last together...Dam...I thought we had one more night...something interesting could have happened, he's in a bad mood anyway so maybe it's for the better.
They rode on in silence each lost in their thoughts until they came to a large and ornate stone archway that seemed to lead deep into the mountain. Strange pictures were engraved on the arch though they were worn by time and the elements. Sarah could just about pick out what looked like a child, a sword and a...croissant? That's definitely a croissant!
They dismounted and left the horses to wander, they would come back if Jareth called them. Approaching the cave Jareth stopped dead in his tracks and covered his eyes with a gloved hand and moaned.
"God no!"
"Jareth what? What's the matter?"
As an answer he parted his fingers slightly and pointed to...a tabby cat.
The tabby cat was just sitting there quietly in the snow watching them unblinkingly, its tail twitched occasionally. What the hell?
"Jareth it's just a cat"
"No it's..."
The cat stood suddenly and bounded forward with a joyful meow. Sarah's eyes widened as it grew larger and changed into a young girl with large blue eyes, an impish face and shocking pink hair which went down to her waist in flowing curls, she was wearing a simple yet elegant flowing white dress and electric blue boots.
"Jareth! You came!" She launched herself at Jareth and gave him a rib crushing hug. She then turned her attention to Sarah while speaking in a gabbled rush.
"Who's this who's this?" she enquired studying Sarah. "Jareth she's not your girlfriend is she? If she is then Felix will just die! He's being saying that you were a lonely old spinster but I stood up for you. 'Jareth has a lot of responsibilities' I said and Mama agreed with me but he just went and fed his dam parakeet which I think is silly. I tried to eat it, I did but he whacked me on the head with a frying pan, a frying pan! Can you imagine! Mama told him off of course but not half as much as I would have liked her too. I always say, I do, that she is too soft on him, he punched me real hard but got away with it, told them it was me who poured syrup on the rug, it was but you shouldn't snitch on people it ain't right is what Gorgol says, he's wise as usual..."
Sarah stood stunned as the tirade of sound continued. Jareth raised an eyebrow while he gently pushed her through the archway gesturing for Sarah to follow and nodding at appropriate parts of her story.
"...and then he told me my jumper was on back to front!" Sarah caught the last part before she was squeezed by the girl. "I'm Jasmine by the way but you can call me Jazz, we're going to be such good friends, you being Jareth's girlfriend and all."
"She's not my girlfriend"
"Oh shame, so what's she doing here?"
"I want the Elders to send her home to the Aboveground"
"The aboveground, awesome you're a mortal! So tell me have you met Brad Pitt is he really as hunky as he is on TV?"
"Um no I've never met him I'm afraid" Sarah laughed as they continued down the stone passageway which was lit by flaming torches. "Though I would like to!"
"Gogol sensed you coming and decided to help you out with the firewood isn't he a doll? I know he is just going to love you! Finds mortals fascinating!" Jazz stopped suddenly and looked very sombre. "What's your name, sorry I didn't catch it"
"Sarah"
Jazz shot Jareth a look but he simply shrugged and strode on ahead. Jazz and Sarah followed.
They entered a huge room which was richly furnished and lit by more torches and a great chandelier with dripping candles. Sarah's eyes widened "This is amazing!" Jazz shrugged.
"It's okay I suppose, bit small, you should have seen our other house, we had statues carved out of real ice everywhere but we had to move out due to a banshee attack, we beat them of course but banshee remains were everywhere. How long ago did we move Jareth about...3 decades ago?"
Jareth nodded and sat on one of the large sofas. Jazz joined him and Sarah sat opposite.
"Where are the others?"
"Hang on I'll call them...FELIX! GOGOL! MAMA! DARIEN! HIRO!" Jazz screamed making a surprising amount of noise for such a small girl. Sarah and Jareth winced simultaneously.
"Darien's here?" asked Sarah hopefully eager to see a familiar face in the strange surroundings.
"Sure he is, arrived 3 days ago."
"3 days ago?" asked Jareth "He could have brought Sarah with him then we would have been saved the trouble of riding all the way here!"
"I could have but it's so much more fun this way don't you think?" Darien stood in one of the many doorways leading off from the hall. "Sarah, glad to see you're alive" Sarah grinned.
"Just about, had a scare with a tree dragon though" Jazz looked at her strangely
"Tree dragons are herbivores"
Sarah nodded "Yes but someone forgot to tell me that" she glanced at Jareth who looked thoroughly bored and irritated. Darien plopped down on the sofa next to her and stretched his arms out along the back.
"The Elders are waiting to see you, they're very curious as to this visit."
"Where are they?"
"West wing"
Jareth stood as did the others. Darien winked at Sarah and with a "See you there" he and Jazz disappeared.
"Come on" snapped Jareth to Sarah as he strode down one of the passageways. The place was a maze of turnings and dead ends, rather like the Labyrinth except this was underground and had rich carpet, Jareth led the way confidently leading Sarah further and further in to the stone web until they came out in a room similar to the one they had just exited though this was a bit smaller. Darien was lying on a sofa against the wall munching on what looked suspiciously like pom bears. (The bear shaped potato snack!)
Jareth pulled Sarah into the centre of the room and she noticed an imposing looking curved table was facing them intricately carved with what looked like the same markings on the arch. What is with the croissant?
"Say the words!" called Darien from his sofa.
"Why? They know I'm here"
"They like the drama"
"Fine..." he cleared his throat before saying loudly and clearly "I, Jareth, King of the Goblins wish an audience with the five members of The Elders to pass judgement on the mortal who stands before them."
Sarah gulped Judgement?
Grey smoke enfolded them for a couple of seconds before it cleared to reveal four figures sitting at the table.
Sarah had expected wise old men with long grey beards but the reality was quite different.
On the far left was Jazz who grinned and waved at Darien before fixing Sarah with a sombre look her hair in a neat plait and wearing grey robes like the others. Next to her was a tall elegant fey woman with sharp features and short dark curls, her hands were neatly folded on the table and she exuded the air of dignity and grace. Her eyes were green like Sarah's but hers seemed to glimmer in the dim light. Beside her was an empty seat and then a reasonably old man with no hair but bushy eyebrows whose face seemed fixed in a constant frown. The last of the Elders was a young fey male who was grinning and had a parakeet sitting on his shoulder nibbling at his dark, short and spiky hair.
"Where the hell is Roux?" asked Jazz looking at the empty chair "This totally ruins our entrance!"
"I'm here, I'm here!" called the final elder as he jogged past Jareth and Sarah and settled down in the chair. "Sorry" he whispered loudly "I was asleep." He looked similar to Darien, his hair was also done in a pony tail but his hair was a coppery brown and there was no ribbon. He gazed into Sarah's eyes as if reading something with his yellow, cat like eyes before shooting her a quick wink.
Sarah was stunned, the five people in front of her dressed in their grey robes were completely different from what she imagined. Roux cleared his throat and spoke as if addressing a crowd. "We are the Elders, the wisest and most experienced Fey in the Underworld. We were handpicked by the people, for the people. Today we are gathered here to hear the plea of the Goblin King Jareth and pass judgement on the mortal." He glanced at Darien "This is witnessed by Darien, son of Seth..." he paused "who is currently eating pom bears which will be confiscated by me, head of the elders and eaten without his consent" Roux waved a hand and the pom bears disappeared from Darien's hand and appeared in front of Roux who sat down. "Introduce yourselves" he mumbled starting to eat while Darien sulked.
They each said their names in turn.
"Jasmine" this was accompanied by a grin which she quickly wiped off at the sight of the woman next to her shooting her a glare.
"Rebekah"
"Roux" the now empty packet of pom bears was scrunched into a ball and thrown at Darien.
"Gogol"
"Felix" he gestured to the parakeet "and this is Lemon"
Sarah nodded as each said their name and mentally repeated them over and over. It would be mortifying if she forgot who was who.
"So Jareth" it was Rebekah that had spoken "what brings you here with this mortal?"
"I wish for you to return her home" I wish she would stay.
Rebekah's eyes moved to Sarah who shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny.
"Is she the one who solved your Labyrinth?" Jazz interrupted.
"Well duh Jazz we all know that!" cut in Felix
"I'm just making sure! If she wasn't then you guys would look like idiots!"
Gogol spoke quietly but everyone instantly focused their attention on him.
"Sarah do relinquish the power you have taken from the Goblin King and therefore give him power over you?" Jareth tensed beside her as if he expected her to answer in the negative. She nodded "I do"
"And do you wish to return home?"
"Yes" she shot a sideways glance at Jareth but his face remained impassive. Doesn't he care?
"Right then that's settled" broke in Roux "anyone have anything else to say?"
"I do!" Darien called leaping up and down.
"Darien?"
"Goodbye Sarah" he said softly before sitting down again.
"Wait!" she interrupted "Not now?" They can't be sending me away now!"
Roux stood and walked round to where Sarah stood and clasped her firmly by the hand his eyes trapping hers with his own. The world seemed to shift just as she realised what was happening.
"Wait" she pleaded quietly turning towards Jareth. His eyes met hers as his image began to fade. "No! wait, please wait! I'm not ready!" I can't leave, I can't!
"Jareth!" Sarah screamed fighting to break Roux's grip on her. The Goblin King looked up and gave her a heartbreaking smile before turning his back on her, everything went dark. Jareth! Jareth No! I don't want to leave! How can you just let me go? Jareth!
Jareth!
Jareth!
JARETH!
Darien watched as Sarah and Roux seemed to fade before them. "Wait" she pleaded quietly turning towards Jareth. His eyes met hers as his image began to fade. "No! Wait, please wait! I'm not ready!"
"Jareth!" she screamed yet the Goblin King just turned away and then she was gone. Shaking his head sadly he approached Jareth"You okay?"
"Fine" he replied in a monotone.
The remaining four elders left the table and went their separate ways. Jazz and Felix came over to them.
"Did we do something wrong?" asked Jasmine "I thought you wanted her to leave..."
Jareth let the sound of their voices wash over him as he stared at the spot Sarah had been just moments before.
--
Light burned Sarah's eyes as the darkness gave way to the beaming sunshine in her living room. Roux stood before her and grinned. "Safe and sound!"
His grin faded as he noticed the tears streaming down her face. "What's the matter did I hurt you?"
"Take me back" Sarah sobbed "Please, take me back!"
"I can't, it's not physically possible. You have now broken all links to the Underground." He patted her on the shoulder as if she were a child. "I'm truly sorry."
"But you don't understand!"
He simply shook his head and vanished.
Sarah collapsed onto the sofa and sobbed without restraint.
There's such a sad love
Deep in your eyes.
A kind of pale jewel
Open and closed
Within your eyes.
I'll place the sky
Within your eyes.
Sarah lay there and let the tears flow. Much later she lifted her head and saw that the sky outside had darkened, the first pale stars had come out and her eyes ached. "Jareth" she croaked and summoned the energy to stumble into her room and gaze into her mirror.
"Hoggle!" she cried resting her forehead against the cool glass "Hoggle I need you!"
There was no reply, not even the tiniest ounce of magic came from the mirror reflecting her pale face and watering eyes.
"Ludo! Sir Didymus!" Tears she thought had run out trickled down her cheeks.
Wiping her eyes fiercely on her sleeves she glared at her reflection.
"Get a grip Sarah" she hissed at herself before clearing her throat. "Jareth" her voice broke halfway through his name and she once again gave into the demands of something lodged in her heart which made her sob and tears stream from her eyes. Collapsing onto the bed she cried herself to sleep hugging curled in a ball.
"Jareth" she whispered through her tears.
"Don't leave me"
"Not now..."
"Not ever..."
There's such a fooled heart
Beatin' so fast
In search of new dreams.
A love that will last
Within your heart.
I'll place the moon
Within your heart
Jareth lay on the bed in the room which had been prepared for him. A single tear slid from his extraordinary eyes and silently slid down his cheek. Deep within his chest his heart was breaking. She's gone.
Where art thou, Muse, that thou forget'st so long
To speak of that which gives thee all thy might?
Spend'st thou thy fury on some worthless song,
Darkening thy power to lend base subjects light?
Return, forgetful Muse, and straight redeem
In gentle numbers time so idly spent;
Sing to the ear that doth thy lays esteem,
And gives thy pen both skill and argument.
Rise, resty Muse, my love's sweet face survey
If time have any wrinkle graven there;
If any, be a satire to decay,
And make time's spoils despisèd everywhere.
Give my love fame faster than Time wastes life;
So thou prevent'st his scythe and crooked knife. W.S Sonnet #100
What's said is said, what's done is done.
It's only forever...
THE END
NOT!
READ ON FOOLS!
Down...
KEEP GOING!
A sharp rap on the door broke Jareth from his thoughts. Darien entered the room and whispered in his ear.
"I have a plan"
DUM DUM DUM!! YES THIS IS THE AUTHORS NOTE!
I'm not sure whether or not this is a load of crap so I hope it makes you sad. The Shakespeare sonnet happens to be one I'm studying so I thought I'd throw it in. ONE MORE CHAPTER LEFT!
STAY TUNED IT WILL BE POSTED EXTREMELY SOON!
REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW