DISCLAIMER. I own nothing, only the story that popped into my head one day. Labyrinth belongs to Jim Henson.

Hey guys, glad to hear a lot of you enjoyed the previous chapter, and I can't wait to see what you all think of this chapter. Enjoy!

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CHAPTER 8

THE BEGINNING OF A JOURNEY

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"Alright. Sarah, I know who took Toby."

Sarah's eyes grew wide with interest. "Who?" she said, her voice raised.

Jareth wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and sighed, walking back over to Sarah's bed and taking a seat there.

"The Labyrinth. Well, the Labyrinth commanded the goblins to take him away, I believe."

Sarah felt slightly confused. "But why?" she asked, rubbing her bare arms, suddenly feeling rather chilled. Probably due to the fact she only wore her thin silk night dress, and the bedroom window was still wide open.

"The Curse, Sarah. I tried to warn you about it; it has taken all your family in death. The only one left was Toby, and now they have him," he said, putting his gloves back over his boney hands.

Sarah thought for a moment, then walked over to her bed and sat next to him on the edge of her bed. "B-but the curse killed the others. Why hasn't it killed Toby? Or..."

She swallowed hard. "Or has it?"

Jareth sighed. "Because the Labyrinth needs an heir. A new king." he said quietly.

Sarah tilted her head to the side, an unspoken question upon her lips.

"Because I am dying, Sarah," he said, his voice low.

Sarah's heartbeat sped up, and tears pierced her eyes. She had heard him say this to her twice tonight, but it had just been background noise, as her mind had been so consumed with finding Toby.

"No... no. That can't be true," she said, her voice strong, even as tears fell silently down her face. It didn't escape Jareth's notice, and his heart was touched to see that she was shedding a tear for him. He shot her a weary look.

"I'm afraid it is true. The curse has started its work on me... that is why you see me in this weakened state," he said, closing his eyes for a moment. He felt so tired.

A sob left her throat, and she swallowed hard, trying to stop herself from crying.

Jareth was taken aback by her sob. He didn't know she cared this much. He leaned towards her slowly, placing an arm around her and pulling her into a tight embrace.

She clutched onto him and shut her eyes tightly, trying to calm herself.

They were silent for a couple of minutes, simply holding onto each other like dear friends at a funeral. Sarah heard him take a shuddering breath. "Jareth," she said quietly, "Are you dying because you told me about the curse?"

Jareth didn't want her to blame herself for this, but at the same time he didn't want to lie to her.

"Yes," he said dryly.

"Jareth, I'm sorry, it's all my fault," she said, tears welling up in her eyes again.

Jareth lifted her face up to his, and he looked into her eyes. "Sarah precious, it is not your fault. You cannot blame yourself for this," he said breathlessly. The pain in his chest was making him feel out of breath and exhausted.

Sarah wiped her eyes with her hand. "But it is my fault, Jareth, if I had just accepted your offer, none of this would have happened. My family would still be alive, and you'd never be cursed. But I didn't. And now, all of my family are dead, all dead because of me! And now you're dying too. Yes, Jareth, it is my fault," she said, her voice low.

Jareth sighed then and stood, bringing her up with him.

"Sarah Williams, you cannot blame yourself for all that has happened. You did what you thought was the right thing to do at the time. You gave up your dreams and desires for your brother, and I admire that beyond words. You have looked after Toby like he was your own child, and you loved all your family dearly. It isn't your fault that they both died. And it isn't your fault that I am dying, Sarah, it is through my own doing that I am dying, not yours. Life is a bitch, Sarah, and unfortunately that's just the way it is."

He sighed softly and bent down towards her, hooking a finger under her chin.

"And it is not your fault that I am beyond in love with you," he said as his blue eyes pierced into her own emerald ones.

"My precious thing," he breathed, and he closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against hers.

Sarah was more than shocked at this. And for the first time in her life, no words would leave her lips. He loved her. Jareth the badass Goblin King was in love with little, mortal Sarah. She didn't know what to say.

He opened his eyes slowly and moved away from her, walking over to her window and letting the cold wind blow through the bedroom window.

"Just like it isn't your fault that you do not love me back... but Sarah-mine, let me help you get Toby back. Let me help you in your hour of need; let me spend the last days of my life as a friend by your side for I can think of no better way to leave this world than in your presence." He turned towards her again, a look of defeat upon his handsome face. "Let me save you from this curse the Labyrinth has put upon us," he said.

Sarah swallowed the emotion she felt in her throat, and she slowly walked over to him.

"Only if you let me save you, too," she whispered, looking directly into his eyes that seemed dark and dim. He looked at her for a long time, an unreadable expression on his face.

"It is impossible for you to save me now. Sarah. I am as good as dead. My magic is leaving me; I am nothing more than a weak old man. Soon when all my magic has left my system, you will be able to see how old I really am," he said, taking a seat upon the windowsill, letting his gloved hands fall between his knees.

Sarah got down on her knees and took one of his leather-clad hands in her own. "I can't let you die," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "Not after all you have done for me. Not after how you saved me, or how you told me of the curse, sacrificing yourself for me. No, Jareth, you're not going anywhere," she said, an unshed tear in her eye, sparkling in the moonlight. Her hand squeezed his tightly in her own.

He lifted his head up, looking at her again, and his heart skipped a beat at how tightly she squeezed his hand and looked at him almost lovingly through her dark lashes. He offered her a smile.

"I thank you, Sarah-mine, but it won't be long till all my magic has gone. And when it has, I will likely die of old age. You see, Sarah, I am almost 4000 years old."

Sarah's eyes widened. She knew he was old, but not that old. "B-but I thought you were fae? Ya know, immortal."

"Indeed I am. But when I lose my magic, I will no longer be fae. Or, at least I will no longer be immortal."

Sarah sighed. "There must be a way." She bit her lip. "Even if it only helps your magic for a little while longer, there must be a way." she said again.

Jareth's eyes widened then, and he stood. "Yes... there is a way, that my magic would stay with me for a little while longer anyway," he said to her.

Sarah smiled hopefully.

"But... it will take me a while to get there," he said.

"What is it?" she asked, rubbing her arms as the cold wind blew in through the window and chilled her thin arms.

"There is a waterfall. The waterfall of magic. In La'melon forest. A forest far beyond the Labyrinth, it is Elven. I went there once as a boy; it took me three days to get there on horseback. It would take much longer on foot," he said putting a hand on his chin in deep thought.

Sarah frowned. "And how will a waterfall help your magic return?" she asked, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"The waterfall itself is magic, which is why it's called the waterfall of magic," he said matter of fact. "When one with magic stands under it, bare-skinned and weak, the water and magic that fall will soak into the skin and strengthens the magic that remains inside. Many who have lost power have stood under it and regained some of the magic they lost," he said.

Sarah thought for a moment. "Well then, what are we waiting for? We need to get you to that waterfall," she said, standing.

Jareth felt slightly confused, and he frowned. "Sarah-" Before he could finish, Sarah turned around and put her hand over his mouth.

"If you have your magic back will you be able to find Toby? Or at least see where he is?" she asked.

Jareth nodded.

"Then... I will help you find the waterfall of magic," she said.

"Sarah, I must warn you. It is dangerous out there."

"Jareth, I have made my decision. I will help you as you have helped me, or at least... I'll try." she said.

Jareth looked at her for a long minute then sighed. "Then I suggest you get dressed warmly. We shall leave immediately," he said, smiling at the woman he loved.

Sarah smiled back at him and ran to her wardrobe.

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END OF CHAPTER 8.

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A/N: So guys, what do you all think? Please let me know in the reviews! Don't forget to favorite! hehe :)