Yay I updated! thank you guys so much for the reviews, Code Green (the real author), really enjoys hearing from y'all. She's actually writing another Labyrinth story right now, so I'll think about puttin that one up for her to when she's done. Anyways, enjoy!
As The World Falls Down
A loud, terrifying crashing sound awoke Sarah out of her sleep, and she stood up to see Jareth standing at the cell window, gazing out of it with a strange, glassy expression on his face. "Jareth, what was that?" Sarah gasped, stepping into place beside him.
"See for yourself," he said simply and then moved away, his face tighter than usual.
Sarah stood up on tiptoes and looked out the cell window. There in the far distance, visible beneath the moon and starlight, was the bridge that separated Crystalla from the Labyrinth. Huge pieces of stone and crystal were plummeting at amazing speeds into the flames and water below, the crystal shattering into hundreds of pieces and the stone sinking to the bottom of the waves.
"The bridge is gone!" Sarah gasped, turning to look at Jareth. "You have to save the Labyrinth, Jareth!"
"While King Strast remains on the throne in Crystalla, the Labyrinth will survive," Jareth said, leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his chest. "Only when both leaders of the two worlds are apart from their lands will the worlds be destroyed."
"The Labyrinth is already empty of its king, Jareth! King Strast will not be alive much longer! He looked positively sick when I saw him!" Sarah exclaimed.
"He always looks sick," Jareth said easily. "Rest your fears, Sarah."
"I cannot! I have been sitting in this cell and sleeping in this cell all day and night! I want some excitement, and that would require you to save your world!" Sarah snapped.
An amused smile crossed Jareth's face, and Sarah suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable.
"Excitement you say, Sarah? Do you not realize that you are in the same prison cell as Jareth, King of the Goblins? How much more excitement do you need?" Jareth asked, walking towards her, his arms outstretched. "You know that you were never able to forget me after your first adventure in the Labyrinth. And why was it that you couldn't forget me, you ask?" He put a finger on Sarah's lips as she opened her mouth to talk. "You couldn't forget me," he said coyly, circling her, his finger still on her lips, "because of the feelings that I stirred within you. Oh, I made you feel loved and beautiful Sarah, more so than anyone else ever could. Don't tell me you haven't missed those thrilling feelings over the past several years."
"I have had the love of my fiancé, Jareth," Sarah gulped, her voice sounding weaker than she would have liked. "And you are not respecting the fact that I am engaged."
"Engagement doesn't mean commitment, my dear," Jareth smiled smugly. "Why don't you test your true love and see if he will be faithful to you even if you haven't been so to him?"
"My brother was right. You are a creep," Sarah scowled, pushing Jareth's hand away from her. "I didn't come here to be your entertainment, Jareth. I came here to save your world and rescue a princess."
"Indeed, you are saving my world with every passing second."
"Enough with the flattery, Jareth. I told you, you have no power over me anymore. I'm not dazzled by your appearance or your thoughts towards me. Good night," Sarah frowned, walking over to Ludo, who was sleeping on the floor, and cuddling up next to him.
Jareth watched Sarah make herself comfortable and then sat back on the floor again, his eyes shining wickedly in the darkness. So, the bridge was now gone which would mean Majeste was more lost than ever. He was greatly enjoying his pretend admiration towards Sarah, and he could only hope that Majeste was able to witness every sweet word, every romantic gesture.
The next day passed painfully slowly for Sarah who did everything in her power to keep Jareth away from her. She didn't know what he was up to, but every time he had a chance, he would put his arm around her or his head on her shoulder. What she really hated was when he would sneak up behind her, put his arms around her, and put his mouth next to her ear. It was in those instances that Sarah had to remember that she was engaged and that Jareth was a goblin. But oh, he was so good at romantic endeavors and his eyes could glow so darkly!
The second night in the crystal cell arrived, and Jareth was awakened from his sleep by two of the guards grabbing at his arms and pulling him to his feet.
"What is the meaning of this?" Jareth asked, struggling to his feet.
"King Strast wants to see you," one of the guards barked and dragged Jareth out of the cell.
"At this hour of the night?" Jareth frowned as he was pulled into the throne room.
The guards didn't answer but shoved him towards the throne and then took their places at the door.
Jareth stumbled a bit, having only one boot, but then he stood up straight before King Strast, his arms folded across his chest and a scowl on his face. "You called me?"
"That I did," King Strast said very quietly, and an amazing chill swept through Jareth. "I needed to speak with you one last time before…"
"Don't tell me you are going to die, Strast. You can't."
"Why can't I?"
"Because your kingdom needs you. If you die, then that means Majeste will be queen, and if she's queen, well, obviously, she isn't here," Jareth stammered.
"And your precious Labyrinth will be destroyed?" King Strast chuckled weakly and then erupted into coughs.
"What do you need me for?" Jareth asked, fear surging through him as he watched the king coughing.
"You aren't your father, Jareth, and no matter how hard you try to be like him, you can never be half as cruel as he was. I know you and my daughter aren't enemies. I need you to end the timeless curse between Crystalla and the Labyrinth. Find my daughter, repair the bridge, and then return to your kingdom. I want to make peace with you," King Strast said, his eyes glazing over.
"Why? Peace is nothing in comparison to battle. Battle keeps everyone occupied. Peace leaves them feeling…"
"Content?" King Strast finished. "Don't you want to be content for once, Jareth? All your life you have been restless and easily bored, like your father before you. Don't you want something different?"
"How do you think ending the war will bring me contentment?" Jareth growled. "I'll be more bored than ever before."
A crystal suddenly appeared in King Strast's hand, and he held it up to Jareth. "Contentment, Jareth, comes from the heart."
Jareth looked into the crystal to see Majeste, spinning around in the rain, her laughter sounding above the rain.
"You want Majeste, Jareth. If you have her, you will be content."
"Your daughter doesn't want me, Strast," Jareth growled.
"Because of the age old battle between the goblins and the people of Crystalla. Tonight, Jareth, no matter where she is, she will become queen of Crystalla. She will need someone to help her, at least to overcome the pain. If you don't bring her out of your Labyrinth, Jareth, Crystalla will perish and so will your world. The time has come to bring her back. Your game is over."
"I don't think so," Jareth scowled.
"Just let my daughter come home," King Strast whispered and then lay back on his throne a bit. "Tell her I love her."
"You can't leave me to tell her. She would kill me," Jareth growled.
"She loves you. She won't kill you," King Strast said, his body beginning to change shape.
"Don't go!" Jareth pleaded. "With you here, the Labyrinth can't die!"
King Strast didn't answer, but he breathed one last time and then, in a state of complete peace, he died. Jareth watched as the puppet form of the king suddenly transformed into the human form of the king long ago. "I once loved your daughter," Jareth said quietly, covering the king's face with his cape, "but now I fear that we shall never love again."
Jareth left the throne room and returned to his cell where Sarah was sitting up expectantly.
"What happened?" Sarah asked.
"I need to repair the bridge so that I can save the Labyrinth," Jareth hissed and then opened the cell door wide. "Time to go. Get those two lugs up, will you?"
Minutes later, Jareth, Sarah, Ludo, and Hoggle were again in the crystal tunnels. Jareth seemed to be in no hurry to get to the bridge, for he constantly flirted with Sarah, who truly was beginning to think there was some greater plan behind Jareth's attitude. There was also the matter of Jareth's missing boot that slowed them down quite a bit. Jareth was able to walk for about twenty minutes on his own before he began to limp terribly, his foot very sore. Sarah could only sigh and offer to help support him, and he was much too pleased to have his arm wrapped around her shoulders for her comfort.
There was also the matter of the crystal fairies that caused a great deal of trouble. Now that the king of Crystalla was dead, they felt that they could finally take revenge on Jareth for the years of their mistreatment by the goblins. They swirled around Jareth, pulling his hair, biting him and kicking at him with their tiny legs. This torture lasted for ten minutes before the lead fairy, our old friend with the blue hair and costume, landed on Jareth's nose.
"Give up, Goblin King!" he squeaked, kicking Jareth hard on the face.
"I've had about all I can handle of you," Jareth growled, his eyebrows narrowing amazingly. "I warn you to take yourself and your army away from here."
"We aren't scared of a helpless Goblin King with a missing boot," the fairy chirped and stabbed Jareth on the nose with his spear.
"Fine then!" Jareth shouted, grabbing hold of the fairy. "I don't believe in fairies!"(1)
"Ahhhh!" The little piece of crystal dust shrieked, grabbing hold of his chest, his wings fluttering frantically. He buzzed about like a drunken bee, gagging and choking. Once his little dance of death was over, he fell to the floor, and Sarah grabbed Jareth's arm and pulled him away from the dead fairy before he stepped on him.
"Any more threats?" Jareth growled, and all the other fairies, in a great swirl of color, disappeared down a different tunnel.
"I hear the waterfall," Sarah said, stopping for a moment. "We are almost out of the caverns!"
"That's not a waterfall," Jareth said, turning his head in the direction of the sound. "That's some of the water and fire from beneath the bridge. There must be some holes in the ground surrounding the lake. We're going to get swamped."
"What do you mean?" Hoggle gasped as the sound became louder.
"Ever felt the pleasant sensation of drowning?" Jareth asked, a wicked grin appearing on his face.
"Jareth!" Sarah gasped, grabbing hold of his arm.
"Now you grab me," Jareth grinned and then turned to the far end of the tunnel. A great wave of water and fire became visible and Sarah screamed. Jareth promptly grabbed hold of Hoggle and pulled the crystal orb out of his pocket.
"Hey!" Hoggle shouted. "Ludo, get the orb from him!"
Ludo lunged clumsily at Jareth and Jareth ignored him entirely. He held the orb up in front of his face and then threw it at the wave that was rapidly approaching.
"Jareth!" Sarah screamed, her nails digging into the Goblin King's arm.
Jareth ignored Sarah's screaming and then watched as the orb dissipated into thousands of pieces, each one driving back a lick of flame or a wave of water. The water and fire began to recede, and ten minutes later, the whole body of liquid and fire was gone. The orb appeared again in Jareth's hand, and he smiled as he gazed fondly at it.
"That was all very well done," Sarah admitted, reaching out to take the orb. "Now give it back."
"Give it back," Jareth sneered, turning to look at her, his eyes blazing. "I don't think so. Obviously, I am the only one who has the power to use it properly. I will keep it with me."
"Jareth!" Sarah growled and then lunged at the orb. Before her fingers touched it, it disappeared and Jareth grinned at her. "Where did it go?" Sarah gasped, looking around. "That was our only way home!"
"It's where it belongs," Jareth said simply, and then turned, beginning to walk down the tunnel again.
"Jareth, I will not let you just walk off like that! I need that crystal!" Sarah shouted, grabbing hold of Jareth's shoulder and pulling him around to face her.
"Your touch is most beguiling," Jareth said, sparks of mischief in his eyes.
"Give me the orb!"
"You don't know where it is?"
"It's in your coat! It must be in your coat!" Sarah shouted, grabbing Jareth's high collar.
"I'm not giving it to you, Sarah."
"Then I'll get it myself!"
"Really?" Jareth asked, an amused expression on his face. "Go ahead."
Sarah suddenly noticed that she was still holding Jareth's collar, pulling his face towards hers. "If I don't get that orb back," she reasoned with herself, "then I won't be able to get back home and get married. In that case, I have to get it back."
"Jareth," Sarah said sweetly, moving her mouth towards his ear. "It would be really, really generous of you if you gave me that orb."
"And since when am I generous?" Jareth asked, a bit thrown off by Sarah's change of behavior.
"You've always been generous to me. You placed the sky within my eyes and the moon within my heart, or have you forgotten?"
Craftily, Sarah put a hand in the back of his collar, trying to find the orb. Had she been able to see Jareth's face, she would have seen that his eyes were shining brilliantly and that he was smiling with amusement. So that's what she was up to, was it? Pretending to be sweet so that she could get the orb? Now, of course the orb wasn't anywhere on Jareth, for he had the power to call it to him or make it disappear whenever and wherever he liked. He liked this game, however, and figured he would play along.
"You know, Sarah," he said craftily, wrapping his arms around her. "I can give you so much more than that. I can give you everything."
"So I know," Sarah said, beginning to get frustrated because she couldn't find the orb. "How about a crystal orb? Can you give me that?" She took her hands away from Jareth and tried to step back, but his arms were too tight around her. "Jareth!" she shouted, trying to pull away. "Let me go!"
"Come now. I thought you liked being close to me," Jareth mocked, tightening his grip instead of loosening it.
"I do not want to be embraced! Let go!" Sarah shouted, kicking at him. "Hoggle, Ludo, help me!"
"Oh, they don't want to help you," Jareth hissed, looking over Sarah's shoulder at the two. "If they do, they'll be princes in the Bog of Eternal Stench. Wouldn't you boys like that?"
Hoggle and Ludo both shook their heads no, and Sarah screamed in protest. "Jareth! Let go!"
"I tell you what," Jareth said, a grin on his face. "You keep your hands off my magic, and I'll let you go."
"All right!" Sarah shouted, and Jareth promptly let her go. She fell to the floor and then stood up, glowering at Jareth. "That was a terrible trick," she frowned.
"You were the first one to try it," Jareth said, and then turned and limped further down the tunnel.
By the time night came, Jareth, Sarah, Hoggle, and Ludo had found their way to the waterfall outside of Majeste's chambers. It had taken them that long due to Jareth's missing boot, Ludo's slow gait, and several more episodes of rushing fire and water.
"We will stop here," Jareth said, sitting down in on the crystal ground and stretching himself out.
"Ludo hungry," Ludo said unhappily, his stomach growling.
"Here," Jareth said, holding an apple out to him that had appeared in mid air. "Eat."
"That's not enough for him," Sarah sighed, lying down in between some crystal stones.
"One apple is more than enough for anyone," Jareth said. "For you, I have a different gift."
A peach appeared in Jareth's hand, and he held it out to Sarah.
"I'm not a fool," Sarah growled, gazing at the fruit. "I know that trick."
"Very well then. You shall have to go hungry," Jareth said, a plum appearing in his other hand. He threw the plum at Hoggle and then laid back, his eyes closed. "Good night, everyone."
Sarah gazed at the peach in Jareth's hand and remembered what had happened the last time she ate one of his peaches. The vision of dancing goblins and Jareth had frightened her, and yet, Jareth had still entranced her. It hadn't been too terrible a dream, and now that she was older, Sarah believed she would all right if she dreamed it again.
"Jareth," Sarah said slowly. "I want the peach, but it better not be poisoned."
"I have never had poisoned peaches," Jareth yawned and tossed the fruit to her.
Sarah watched Jareth carefully out of the corner of her eye as she held the fruit up to her mouth. His eyes were closed and he looked very comfortable. If he was asleep he wouldn't be able to play any tricks on her, so it must have been safe to eat the peach. Sarah bit into the peach, and the sweetness of it astonished her. She began to eat quickly, savoring each bite of the fruit.
The peach was gone in a matter of minutes, and Sarah tossed the pit towards the water. Before it could land in the water, it disappeared, and Sarah stood up tiredly. She caught sight of Ludo lying on the ground and walked over to him. Hoggle was asleep against the large beast's warm legs, and Sarah curled up in Ludo's arms. She then fell asleep, very peaceful and satisfied.
Jareth opened his eyes and glanced over at Sarah, his eyes glittering maliciously. He had an idea, a dreadful idea, and he stood up quietly. The best way, he knew, to get Majeste to want him was if he lay down next to Sarah, looking as though he was extremely comfortable and enjoying himself immensely. If he could get Sarah's arm around him without waking her up, the scene would be even better. Oh, how that would get Majeste's attention!
Jareth took a step towards Sarah and then stopped. There was something familiar about the way she was lying down, her long hair loose about her shoulders and her face partially covered. The face of someone else suddenly appeared before Jareth, and he sat down, memories beginning to run through his mind as rapidly as the water from the waterfall was pounding down.
"Been visiting the princess again, Jareth?"
Jareth looked up to see Harin standing before him, arms crossed, his eyes glittering wickedly at his son.
"Of course. She's enchanting. I am helpless against her charm."
"Jareth," Harin chuckled, beginning to circle him. "You think you love her, don't you?"
Jareth gulped, uncertain as to what his wicked father was getting at.
"Goblins aren't permitted to love. Love makes us weak," Harin scowled. "We must be stronger than Crystalla. You are to avoid Majeste at all costs. If you don't, I will see to it that you are punished."
"You want her for yourself!" Jareth snapped, his eyes darkening.
"Yes. If I take her, we can end the curse between Crystalla and the Labyrinth and carry out our sweet revenge. No more thinking about her, Jareth. You are becoming weak and spineless. I haven't seen you cause anyone misery in years."
"That's what makes one great and powerful? Causing misery?"
"It's what pleases me, and what pleases me is all you should worry about, since I am your king. No more time with Majeste, and start behaving like you used to. You are a goblin prince and shall someday be a goblin king. You must be hard and cold, Jareth. Softness and love, oh, the filth of that word, are to be avoided at all cost."
"I will do as you say," Jareth bowed, and then left the throne room.
But Jareth did not stop meeting with Majeste. His heart became hardened as his father forced more and more responsibility and wickedness on him, but he would not stop visiting with the princess. Then came the day that Jareth was seen on the bridge by one of the goblins. He and Majeste had been dancing, and as soon as Jareth left the bridge, the goblins came and brought him before Harin.
"Did I not tell you, Jareth, to stay away from Majeste?" Harin screamed at his son as Jareth was thrown before him.
"I have become hardened and cruel as you wished. That should please you," Jareth scowled, breathing heavily.
"I warned you to stay away from the crystal princess," Harin shouted. "You did not heed my warnings! Now, you shall be punished!"
A door suddenly opened in the dark throne room, and five enormous creatures entered the room. All of them were tall, broad, and had flaming red hair. Their eyes were yellow and their hands huge.
"Take Jareth out of the palace," Harin ordered, "and kill him. I will not have blood shed in my throne room."
"I am your son, and yet you dare to kill me!" Jareth shouted as the creatures grabbed him and dragged him out of the room. "How can you do this to me? I have hardened myself, even my heart, for you, and you order my death!"
The creatures dragged Jareth through the castle and then through Confucius. As they dragged him towards the outskirts of the Labyrinth, Jareth's eyes began to glow with anger and hatred. He had done everything Harin had ordered him to do except for staying away from Majeste. He had sacrificed his feelings of love for those of hate, hardening him just as he had been told to do, and had become a cold and cruel prince.
The creatures threw Jareth against some of the stones near the bridge and began to beat him, slamming their large sticks against the prince and bashing stones against him. Jareth's heart became harder with every passing blow, and on the twentieth beating, he stood up violently and shouted. His cry was unearthly and terrifying and the five creatures suddenly disappeared. These are the creatures that later appeared in Slime with Sarah, threatening to take her head off and being entirely insane.
Jareth turned to see Majeste running towards him from Crystalla. She was unable to stand on the bridge, and so she stood close to it, gazing worriedly at Jareth across the way. Jareth stepped onto the bridge and began to walk slowly towards her. Before he was halfway across the bridge, he fell onto his hands and knees but continued to move towards her crawling. As soon as he was close enough, he grabbed her hand and she dropped onto the bridge next to him, tears streaming down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around him. "That was too close!" she cried into his shirt, gasping. "I feared you would be killed!"
"You must leave!" Jareth ordered, gazing about, having thought he heard a familiar, cruel laugh. "You are in danger here."
"You are hurt! You won't be able to make it to the castle by yourself!"
"I'm going to hide. I won't go back to the castle."
"Come with me to Crystalla! You will be safe there!"
"What a pity," a voice suddenly said, and Majeste and Jareth turned to see Harin standing on the Labyrinth side of the bridge, the expression on his face frightening. "What a pity that my son should disobey me and see you once again."
Harin stalked onto the bridge and grabbed hold of Majeste's arm. He pulled her away from Jareth and towards the Labyrinth. He then stepped off the bridge with her and turned her towards him. "If you love Crystalla at all, you will stay with me. The war between the goblins and the people of your world will be finished, and you will have been the one to bring about peace."
"You don't want to stay with him," Jareth growled, dragging himself back to the Labyrinth's side of the bridge.
"Silence!" Harin shouted and threw a great slab of stone at Jareth. The slab hit Jareth in the head, and he fell, unconscious, to the bridge.
"Jareth!" Majeste screamed, and then looked up at Harin. "How dare you even suggest I stay with you! You are nothing but a cruel, heartless goblin!"
"My son shall be the same way," Harin growled, his teeth flashing at Majeste. "Come with me and end the war."
Majeste turned to see Jareth beginning to stir on the bridge, trying desperately to get up. Harin saw him also and threw another stone on him, this one much bigger than the first. The light in Jareth's eyes began to fade, and Majeste screamed. "Stop this!"
"You can stop it by simply coming with me," Harin said, and Majeste gazed at Jareth to see that Harin was starting to kill him without even touching him. Surges of something deadly were racking through Jareth's body. "What have you to lose, Majeste? I am charming and powerful, and you can have whatever you wish."
"No, I can't," Majeste whispered, stepping away from him and nearing the bridge without noticing it. "I want Jareth."
"What? I am offering you my world, and all you want is another evil, heartless goblin?" Harin snapped. "How could you want such a pathetic whelp who will treat you the same way I am?"
"I want him," Majeste said, her foot nearly on the bridge, "because I love him. I am willing to step on this bridge even though I know I shall possibly die in simply an attempt to get to him. All I have to do is touch his hand and I will be safe. I have always felt safe with him."
Harin made a strangled sound in his throat, and he gasped, "Don't say that again!"
"Say what?"
"That word! That miserable, wretched word!" Harin said, beginning to cover his ears.
"I love Jareth," Majeste said again, and this time, Harin's reaction was incredible.
Harin began to choke, his face turning blue and purple. He then keeled over and fell onto his knees on the stone ground, clutching his throat and looking very much like a dying frog. His appearance alone frightened Majeste, and she stepped back, without noticing it, onto the bridge. It wasn't until Harin collapsed onto the ground, twitching violently and making terrible sounds, that Majeste saw where she was, and a look of power came across her face. "I love him," she whispered, and then, quite suddenly, before her very eyes, Harin exploded. It wasn't a bloody explosion, for one moment Majeste saw the king keeled over on the ground, and the next he was completely gone. Even though it wasn't violent, Majeste screamed and then fainted.
Jareth, still lying on the bridge near unconsciousness, grabbed hold of Majeste as she fell and held her close to him. "My life," he gasped, breathing heavily. "Is yours."
Jareth shook his head and saw Sarah again, sleeping peacefully next to Ludo. "My father was right," he growled, "I am spineless and pathetic."
He turned away from Sarah and sat back down again in between the rocks. "I want to see her," he whispered, holding up the thick necklace that hung around his neck and rested on his chest. It had been a gift, long ago, from Majeste, and the crescent shaped charm on the end had the power to grant one wish. "Let me go to Majeste," Jareth whispered, and a strange feeling that he was fairly familiar with overcame his body. He began to feel weightless and feathery. A hole opened up above Jareth, and the owl that was Jareth flew up into the night sky, the hole closing behind him.
Jareth flew towards his castle, for the winds told him that was where Majeste was. She, Toby, and Sir Didymus had arrived there only a short while ago after having made their way through Earth Meets Sky and the Goblin Village. The goblins had threatened them upon their arrival, but upon having recognized Majeste, they immediately fled, fearing that something worse than their goblin transformation would occur. It was because of that cowardice that Majeste and her comrades had been easily able to get into the castle.
Jareth caught sight of Majeste while he was still a far distance away from the castle. She was lying down in the window that he often sat in to look at his kingdom. From that window, one could see the whole Labyrinth.
Jareth flew to the window and then flew over Majeste's sleeping form into the castle. He could see Sir Didymus and Ambroscious asleep in one corner of the room, and in another corner was someone that he didn't recognize. He wasn't too interested in those three; however, for he had only wanted to see if they were asleep. Satisfied that they were, he turned again to Majeste and landed next to her. He gently moved one of his wings, resting it on her neck for a moment, and then he was transformed from an owl into his goblin form, his hand on Majeste's neck and his face close to hers. He was wearing the white outfit that he always wore after having been an owl, and he breathed heavily, the transformation having shaken him up a bit. The feathers on his shirt moved as he breathed, and they brushed gently against Majeste's skin.
The princess' eyes opened, and she sat up suddenly, gasping as her head hit Jareth, causing him in turn to hit her in the neck with his head and fall very clumsily onto the floor.
"You!" Majeste gasped, standing up and moving away from Jareth. "What are you doing here?"
"I only have a few minutes," Jareth said, getting off the floor and standing in front of her. "I bring you news."
"Did you just get here?" Majeste asked suspiciously, running her fingers through her hair.
"Yes. I bring you bad news, Majeste."
"Yes, you do. You are here."
"That is bad news?"
"Considering everything you have been tormenting me with, yes," Majeste said, choking on her emotions.
"Majeste, I tell you something else," Jareth said, his voice suddenly gentle as he placed a hand on Majeste's neck. "You are now the queen of Crystalla."
"What?" she gasped, pushing his hand away from her and stepping back.
"Your father perished last night."
"My…father…" Majeste stammered, and even in the dim lighting of the room, Jareth could see tears streaming down her cheeks.
"The bridge is now gone, which means that I need to save my world. The Labyrinth is being destroyed."
"The Labyrinth? Your world?" Majeste gasped. "You were with my father when he died, weren't you?"
"Of course I was."
"How dare you come to me! You have been tormenting me terribly with Sarah, and now you come to me telling me that your world needs to be saved! What about my world?" Majeste gasped, her voice drowned in tears. "I never asked anything from you, and look what you have done to me! You have banished me from my land and now you expect me to help you!"
"I only have a few more minutes," Jareth snarled, becoming frustrated. "I know your father's death hurts, but that makes you queen of Crystalla and you now need to save your world. Stop crying over it and be the queen you are supposed to be!"
"Get out!" Majeste cried, her body becoming weak. "Leave me or I shall turn you into an owl forever!"
"You wouldn't!" Jareth snapped, grabbing Majeste by the neck and pulling her to him. "I have a world to rule and even if it's by force, you will come to that bridge so that I can save the Labyrinth!"
"You shan't rule it with my help!" Majeste gasped. "For all I care, the Labyrinth can go up in flames and you with it! How can you hurt me so? You are acting just like your father!"
"My father," Jareth growled, pulling her to him, "would have taken everything from you already."
"I saved you!" Majeste sobbed, putting her hands on Jareth's shirt. "My father had no hard feelings towards you!"
"I have plenty of reasons to be against your father," Jareth said, finding a strange feeling of pity flowing through him and fighting it with all his might. "He resented me because I am a goblin, and he had more power than I."
"Jareth," Majeste gasped, having difficulty breathing through her tears of grief, "hold me!"
"We fight and you ask me to hold you?" Jareth asked, stepping back from her. "I came here to save my world."
"Both of my parents are now dead, and I am alone. Please, hold me so that I can find the strength to continue!" Majeste pleaded. "One touch from you is enough to comfort me."
"You shall never again feel a touch from me," Jareth snarled, folding his arms across his chest. "You lost your chance."
"You loved me, Jareth!"
"That was long ago! I have a world to save!"
"As heartless as you appear to be, I know you still care," Majeste said, stepping boldly towards him. "I can see it in your eyes, and why else would you have come here?"
"To convince you to get to the bridge as soon as possible," Jareth growled, watching as Majeste drew closer to him. He disliked the feeling of compassion that was raging within him and very much wanted to turn away and disappear. The look in Majeste's eyes, though, and her exquisite beauty, froze him.
"You do not move," Majeste whispered, her voice soft as she spoke through her tears.
"I can't," Jareth frowned. "What spell have you cast on me? I am stuck in place!"
"I haven't done anything to you."
"Stop crying, Majeste."
"Was that compassion in your voice?"
"No!" Jareth shouted and then frowned as Toby moved in his corner of the room. "I have no compassion!"
Majeste stepped forward and placed a trembling hand on Jareth's face. "Look at me and tell me you don't care."
"I…don't care!" Jareth said quickly, and then, in a flurry of feathers and passion, he grabbed her and held her to him.
"I've lost you, Jareth! I've lost you and my father both! All hope is gone! Come back to me, Jareth!" Majeste cried into his shirt. "Save me from this frightful world!"
Jareth was at a loss for words, so he simply held Majeste and let her cry. He could never understand how she was able to overpower him, how she was able to stir up such outstanding emotions within him. Majeste seemed to calm down in his grasp, and as her gasps and sobs became softer, Jareth, wanting very much to love her and at the same time wanting to appear cold and heartless, kissed her gently on the head. "As the pain sweeps through, I'll be there for you," he whispered so that she could not hear him and then let go of her. "This war isn't over yet," he added, his voice cold and hard. "Until you help save my world, there will always be war. You aren't safe simply because I've been generous to you now. Farewell."
Majeste looked up to see him, again as an owl, flying out of the castle and into the night.
1 - no this is not a blatant Peter Pan mockery > >