So sorry I haven't updated in many many months. My life has been nothing short of hectic since I last wrote. I hope this next chapter is good!
Alas, Labyrinth and its characters are not my property.
Sarah slowly opened her eyes. For a moment, she felt quite lightheaded. When she fully opened her eyes, she looked right at the Goblin King. Sure enough, he was staring back, concerned with how Sarah was feeling, both physically and emotionally. "Are you alright, my dear?" Jareth asked. Sarah was quite sure if she was. She felt like the world was spinning. "Yes I think I'm alright," she answered. Jareth sighed. He knew that she was not feeling alright, and she was holding back her true feelings. One day she will be able to reveal her feeling to me. I hope that one day comes soon, Jareth thought to himself.
Sarah began to look around at her surroundings. She was in a vast bedchamber. She saw an unbelievably large canopy bed in the middle of the back wall. The bed comforter was the deepest shade of crimson Sarah had ever seen. She liked that. In most stories or poems she had ever read, the word crimson was used quite often. It was never burgundy, cranberry or even plain red; it was always crimson. To the side of the bed she saw something that she liked- large glass doors that led to a beautiful balcony with ample seating. Sarah always enjoyed sitting outside at home with a good book or with nothing but her own thoughts.
Jareth watched as Sarah examined the bedchamber. He really hoped that she liked it. After all, she agreed to spend eternity there with him, and as it is said it's only forever, not long at all.
Sarah had to admit she liked the room a lot. It seemed strangely comfortable for how short of a time she had been there. Jareth led her over to a door and opened it. It revealed a large bathroom complete with shower, tub, and jacuzzi. Sarah could get used to relaxing in a jacuzzi every night.
Then, Jareth led Sarah on to the balcony. For a while, the two stood in silence staring at the sight of the palace grounds and the labyrinth beyond that. Sarah could not tell how much time was passing during this uncomfortable silence.
Finally, Jareth took a deep breath. "Sarah, we must discuss something. There is something you should know. This is no fairy tale. I am not a Walt Disney creation. There are certain standards that you must meet. Should you fail to meet them, then I must punish you. You will be expected to obey me. The people of this land see me as the absolute head of power. If they were to see you disobeying me, their respect for me would dwindle. This may never happen. The people of this land are harmonious, and we do not want anything to disrupt that harmony. Your foul language will not be tolerated either, as well as your tattoos. They will be removed." Sarah cut him off. "And how do you expect to remove my tattoos? Lasers?" Jareth let out a small laugh. "Dearest Sarah, do you forget? I am a fae and therefore, quite magical. I am quite capable of removing your tattoos without lasers." Sarah felt dumb for a moment. She had briefly forgotten that Jareth was magical.
Sarah felt very conflicted. She felt so attached to her tattoos, but on the other hand, they were just that and nothing more. She thought to herself, "Perhaps this can serve as the gateway to my new life." "Okay Jareth. It's cool. I understand," Sarah said to the Goblin King. Jareth quickly rolled his eyes at Sarah's informal language. He hoped in time that would change.
"Lift your shirt so that I can remove your lower back tattoo first," Jareth instructed. "Alright… Wait a minute, how did you know about that tattoo? The only ones who know about that one have seen me…" Sarah couldn't say the word naked, not to Jareth. Her face instantly turned red when she realized Jareth had spied on her while naked. Then a feeling of horror overcame her when she thought that it may have been while she was 'entertaining a gentleman suitor'. Jareth looked slyly at her, "Well I had to keep an eye on you. It is not my fault that some of the times I came to you, you were in, shall we say, compromising positions." Oh dear, Sarah thought, he did see me when I was with other men.
Sarah remained quiet and did as she was told. She tensed up, expecting the experience to be painful. To her surprise, all Jareth had to do was run his ungloved hand across the tattoo. Just like that, it was gone. It was the same for the other tattoos. Sarah could not ignore the warm, tingling sensation she felt when Jareth's bare hand caressed her back where her tattoos once sat.
Sarah spoke very little as of yet. She still had a lot to take in. She still had a hard time believing Jareth truly loved her after everything that had happened during her Labyrinth adventure. Jareth could not take it much longer. He had to know her true feelings.
"Sarah, I must know how you truly feel about me and this marriage. Please do not hold back," Jareth said. Sarah took a deep breath and bit her lip. "I definitely feel something for you. I always have. I find it hard to trust you after all that happened during my time in the Labyrinth," Sarah admitted. Jareth couldn't believe what she had said. What did he do to her that was so bad? He did what she asked of him. She wanted her baby brother taken away. Jareth did that. Toby was never harmed. In fact, he had a great time playing with the goblins. Most importantly, Jareth taught Sarah an invaluable life lesson- not all things in life are fair and you just have to roll with the punches. "Sarah, I did nothing to betray your trust. I did what you asked of me. Your brother was never in any danger and neither were you," Jareth replied. Sarah was shocked he said that. "Jareth, you sent the cleaner machine thing after me and not to mention your army." Jareth chuckled. "What's so funny?" Sarah wanted to know. "First of all, the cleaners would never hurt you. They just look imposing. Second, that was not my real army. Do you really think I would want those little goblins protect me or my land? I was allowing them to pretend play with you. I was watching over you from my castle. You were never in any real danger," Jareth explained, "Everything was all for you."
Sarah was in a state of shock. She was never in any real danger? Jareth did it all just to please her? Wow, she thought, he did more for me than I ever thought. Maybe I do really love him. That explains so much of my life; the dark stuff anyway. He was the void I felt. Sarah took a deep breath, "Jareth, I do love you. I guess I always have loved you, but I never could admit it." Sarah could say no more because Jareth had embraced her tightly and locked his lips with hers.