I really have no idea where I was going with this story, but I felt like it needed an ending. So I wrote the must sappy, mushy, sugary, ending I could stomach. Merry Christmas.
A Leaf From The Tree of Songs
By Adam Christianson
When harpers once in wooden hall
A shining chord would strike
Their songs like arrows pierced the soul
Of great and low alike
Aglow by hearth and candleflame
From burning branch to ember
The mist of all their music sang
As if to ask in wonder
Is there a moment quite as keen
Or memory as bright
As light and fire and music (sweet)
To warm the winter's night?
Sarah felt the world come undone around her. It was a subtle thing really—just the slightest sense of vertigo and then, in the blink of an eye—she found herself bathed in the red-orange glow of an otherworldly sun. A smile formed on her lips before she could stop it.
Jareth stood by her side his canny eyes watching her. But, Sarah had attention for the Labyrinth alone. It was covered in snow. Every tree and all the little goblin houses were wrapped up tight in multicolored lights. The castle itself was wreathed in holly and the yellow light of candles flickered in every window of the ruin.
"What is this?" Sarah asked the Goblin King.
"It's part of the game," Jareth smiled.
"How?" Sarah could hardly contain herself. She was aching to get lost in the maze of festive wonder. It was like a bizarre rendition of a holiday village. It was perfect.
"I thought we might play pretend," Jareth stepped in front of her. "We can make believe that we know one another. Stroll along the walks, point out the pretty lights, and possibly engage in a little…snow ball duel or snow angel making?"
"And then?" Sarah felt her heart begin to skip a few beats—awe of the labyrinth being replaced by awe of its master.
"I believe hot chocolate is customary," Jareth replied with a thoughtful expression. "We can sing a carol or two? More if we spike said hot chocolate."
"But, I can't sing," Sarah smiled.
"Oh, but I can," Jareth pulled her red scarf out of thin air and looped it around her neck before grasping her wrist in his gloved hand. "You can't back out now. You already said you'd play." He said with a frown when she hesitated ever so slightly.
The stars were beginning to show themselves in the indigo sky as it darkened into twilight and the Christmas lights cast their multicolored gleam across the snow, across the Goblin King, and her heart hurt with the whimsy of it all.
"May we build a snowman?" Sarah grinned, a mischievous gleam twinkling in her own eyes.
"Will a snow goblin be acceptable?" Jareth asked as he pulled her laughing into the winter wonderland.