Warnings: none. The term “queen” is used but not supposed to be seen as a gendered name in Jareth’s silly little eyes.
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A beautiful day in the Labyrinth! The sun was warm against my skin, I was working in the garden, it was great! I had my hair tied back with a bandana as to not get in my way and wore more informal clothes. I hummed as I worked, the labryinth gardens were always stunning.
“Excuse me? Could you help me?” I turned around to see a teenage girl in a white shirt. She had long black hair clipped away from her eyes and big hazel eyes.
I had never seen her before.
“Oh? Hello.. I’ve never seen you around here before,” I held my hand out, “I’m y/n.” I spoke with a certain warmth that had grown with me from living in the labryinth. She took my hand and shook it.
“Sarah, Sarah Williams.”
“SARAH??? SARAH???!!!!” Hoggle came hobbling through the bushes. I looked at him, sort of curious.
“Hoggle?”
“Oh! Y/n!?” He bowed his head in respect,
“Nonsense, I told you to stop with that.. you know Ms.Williams?” He crossed his arms,
“We have a deal.” I nodded a bit confused, she looked at me again.
“Do you know how to get to the castle beyond the goblin city?”
I nodded, “yes, I do. Is there something you need from the king?” She nodded frantically.
“Yes, yes. He gave me thirteen hours to solve the labryinth, he has my baby brother!” The realization hit me like a truck.
“Oh, so you’re running the labryinth… Hoggle is helping you..?” He looked at me, nervous. “You know the king will have your ass for that.”
“I ain’t doin’ nothin’! Like I said, we have a deal.” I look back at Sarah, and around the labryinth, making sure Jareth isn’t in sight, but knowing that he’s watching. I decide to humor him a bit.
“Look Sarah, I can take you as far as I can go, but I can’t promise anything. It won’t be far… but I know my way around.” Hoggle instantly seemed suspicious, but then again he had every right to be. The girl was filled with hope as I put the watering bucket down.
“Come along.” I started heading through the hedges, through ways she would have never found. I knew Jareth was messing with the Labryinth. Some passages were moved off. It was only a few minutes when I knew he was near.
“This is as far as I can take you.”
“You’re just going to leave us here!”
“Hey- I said I’d take you as far as I could go. Unlike some of you, I don’t want my head on the kings wall.”
“You’re just scared.” She spit out.
“Scared or smart? You choose.” I suddenly felt a looming presence.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” An older goblin, hunched over.
“Nothin’” Hoggle knew what was going on.
“Nothing? Nothing? Nothing tralalal?!” I took a few steps back myself, smirking to myself as Jareth revealed that it was him in all his glory. He always liked big entrances.
Hoggle gasped, “your majesty!” He bowed. Jareth spotted me, he had a playful glint.
“Are you two helping the runner?”
“No your majesty.”
“No sir,” Jareth’s eyes held a playful look, enjoying himself immensely.
“I’ll banish you both to the bog of eternal stench. You two better watch yourself.” Hoggle fell to his knees, begging. I didn’t bother as much to nod. He wouldn’t do anything to me, and I knew it. I rolled my eyes a bit as I watched him work, intimidating Sarah and eventually cheating her out. Suddenly the cleaners started to come, he disappeared and I climbed up the ladder, watching Sarah and Hoggle run. I shrugged and figured I’d never see them again as I climbed out the passage. I started my way back through the hedges as I felt two arms snake around my waist.
“You didn’t seem very frightened by my threat, my love.”
Jareth, of course. My husband.
“You wouldn’t, you love me too much.”
“Perhaps.. what were you doing with the runner.”
“I knew you’d catch up with us, so I wanted to have some fun with it. That’s all. Don’t worry, I didn’t even lead her towards the castle.” I could feel him chuckle.
“Good, pet. Why don’t you come back to the castle with me, hm?”
I smiled to myself and let him take my hand.
“Sure, I’ve got nothing I need to be doing.”
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It had been a few hours since my interaction with Sarah Williams. I had sat in the throne room with Jareth as he obsessed over his runner. The goblins kept taunting the poor baby. Suddenly, a goblin ran in and informed Jareth that she was inside the city. He sent his goblins out and left to god knows where. I sat on his throne, lounging in the sun. It was a very nice day for the mood that Jareth was in. Suddenly a voice disrupted me.
“Y/n…?” I looked across the room to see Sarah.
“Damn- you really made it? With half an hour to spare..”
“What are you doing..? Why are you on his throne.. we thought that he took you prisoner.. I can help you.. I can get you home.” I smiled at her generosity.
“Home? Sweetheart, what do you mean?”
“I see you’ve met my queen, Sarah.” Jareth was standing there, eyeing her like prey as she talked to me. Obviously displeased with her wanting to take me away.
“Queen? You’re working with him Y/n? I thought you were a human?”
“Oh? I am.. Jareth is my husband.” I held up my hand, showing off the ring on my finger. Sarah went to look over at Jareth but he was gone.
“I’ve got to go find Toby!” She looked back at me on the throne, a look of pity on her face, as she ran through the stairway. I didn’t follow, I knew the routine, I had done it myself. I knew how this would work, down to the very words she’d say. It didn’t take long for Jareth to return to me, head hung low, a scowl on his face.
I frowned as he walked over, I stood up and let him sit on his throne, placing myself on his lap. I kissed his cheek.
“Bratty girl..” he mumbled.
“Did she insult you?”
He glared, obviously she did. I twirled one of his strands of hair,
“Poor thing.. it’s okay,”
“She insulted you.”
Oh.. oh?
“Me?”
“Yeah. She said you were brainwashed into staying with me… is that true..?”
“Absolutely not.” I spit out, “I love you Jareth. If I didn’t, I would have left a long time ago.”
“Yes.. you’re right. You are the queen after all.” I smiled and kissed him gently, the sun setting.
“It was funny seeing her shocked face.. you should do that more often.” He spoke, surprisingly.
"through dangers unknown and hardships unnumbered I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the goblin city to take back the child you have stolen, for my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom as great . . . you hold no power over me."
