May 14, 2011 - 2:46pm — Rutilus
When she had told him of what was to come, his reply had been a quiet 'I will deal with it'. The king had disappeared after that, and had not been seen by anyone in his kingdom for days. Despite the goblins' fear of their king, they had grown worried, and run amock in the castle and its grounds, and all the goblin villages, shrieking and wailing. 'KINGY GONE!' or 'KINGY VANISH!' or 'KINGY LEAVE!' was a constant echo, almost background noise now.
Even miles away, Jareth could not escape the labyrinth he had built to protect himself from all others. It was in his mind, as much as he tried to block it out, and he could do nothing but glare into empty air as the labyrinth tore his secrets away. It always seemed like a female, to him, and so when he spoke to it, he would always think of it and refer to it as a woman. A bothersome woman, but a woman nonetheless. The labyrinth was a wise entity - but Jareth gave no response to its wisdom at that time. He had to think, to work things out.
As much as the High King hated him, he was perfectly aware that Jeremy, Prince of Dragons, would not be allowed to attack Jareth's kingdom - particularly since it was over a girl. Now, the High King had a wife of his own, but love, it seemed, was a petty thing to him, and jealousy even worse. The last part, Jareth fully agreed with - despite being a jealous, possessive creature himself. Hypocritical, really. He had gone to the High King, the ultimate ruler of the Underground, and explained the situation. 'My goblins cannot defend themselves against such beasts,' the owl-Fae had stated in a flat tone. 'She would sacrifice herself.'
Jareth wondered, as he looked into the ancient, dark eyes of the ruler he so despised, if the High King could see that there would be consequences if he let this prince attack the Fae's kingdom, if he let Sierra, former mortal, give herself to him as a sacrifice. And he wondered, Jareth did, if the High King truly cared, or if he was only acting to make himself look better.
'I will let no harm come to your kingdom, or the girl.'
That was all the comfort Jareth had.
He sat there, on his throne, dull eyes set on the stone floor, and wondered what he was going to tell her, how he was going to break this to her. It would not be him to save her as he would have preferred - to be the hero would be an interesting change from being the villain - but the High King, who would no doubt have Jeremy arrested, have his power stripped, put the dragons under somebody else's control, and have the former prince thrown either into prison or into an oubliette, where the Underground would forget about him for good.
Jareth's heart felt heavy as he rose from the seat he loved so much, ignoring any delighted cries that the goblins gave when they realised their precious king was back. It was difficult to understand why the goblins loved him so much, when he could be so cruel - but he could be kind to them as well, and that was what mattered, one supposed.
How was he to tell her that he could not be what she wanted?
How could he possibly say that he could not bring himself to marry her, to take the simple solution, rather than causing even more trouble?
The weight on his shoulders intensified tenfold.
I am just like them.
Just like the four women that had hurt him.
But unlike Mizumi, he had not done unforgivable things to Sierra.
Unlike Sarah, Jareth had not been antagonised by Sierra.
Unlike Tuna, Jareth had never fought with Sierra, never argued with her.
Unlike Chime, he had no other love.
He was simply Jareth, the king that would never have a queen, doomed to solitude, imprisoned in a hated kingdom and the labyrinth he had built, unable to love those who loved him in return, unable to accept the one that might never hurt him.
Such was the story of Jareth's life.
The owl-Fae walked silently out onto a balcony, staring out at his labyrinth, his kingdom.
'Tell Sierra I will be in the garden. Tell her to expect the worst. Tell her I am sorry.'
He wasn't sure if he could say it himself.
Mmm. I like how you write.
And, now I really want to watch The Labyrinth again~
Thankyou! c: And ooh, go do
His words sent a chill down
She went back to her regular routine but she didn't eat and her sleep was less than peaceful.
In a sense she helped the goblins out more because their king was gone but she could sense there worry.
After receiving word that the king was back and after his apology she knew what he was going to say.
Not wasting another moment she gathered some of her skirt in her hands and rushed to Jareth.
She stood there for a moment to catch her breath,but she held her head high.
"Tell it to me straight Jareth"she pleaded with him.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The king's back was turned to
"The High King has arranged to seek out the prince and deal with him effectively. My kingdom will remain untouched, and you with it." His voice was flat, and dull. Empty. Jareth eventually turned around, lips pressed together, looking at Sierra darkly, silent now.
"Jeremy has already sent me
I'm afraid though should you ,,,,,,,,,"she stopped she was going to say if you change your mind I'm still yours but she refrained.
"I'll always remain loyal to you and this kingdom Jareth that will never falter"her heart hammered in her chest.
Jareth looked at her, quiet
She smilled unfortunately
The is for you she said holding it torwards him.
In it lies a memory that can forever be replayed .
It was a memory locket if he should open it he could see her dance to the song at the ball.
His gaze dropped to the
He would not open it infront of her.
Jareth did not speak, but instead waved a hand in the air, crystal sliding down his forearm and onto his palm. He held it towards her, shaking the glass orb briefly, still not saying a word. Within the crystal there swam various images - all memories they'd shared. Sierra listening to the king as he ranted about his subjects; Jareth watching her in her old apartment, from the window, as an owl; Jareth again as an owl, following her in her day-to-day life, making sure no harm would come to the girl; the two laughing together, the king with that rare smile and Sierra with that rare genuine sparkle in her eyes; and the most prominent of them was of a sleeping Sierra, in her castle bedroom, with the king sitting on the edge of the bed, silently tucking the covers around her, murmering a wish for her to sleep well, and kissing her forehead before the image faded.
The king left her with the crystal, and disappeared, locket in his hand.
She held the crystal next to
She escaped to her room where she was finally able to let go.Crying until she had no more tears,till her body quaked trembling from the heart ache.
Sh knew she really didn't stand a chance in the first place but still it was hard in her own way.
For the rest of the night she was left in silence as she watched all the memoried she and Jareth shared.
But in the morning she would brave face,she still needed the goblin king as a friend more now than ever.