Once upon a cursed king

Chapter 14: Epilogue

Sarah and Jareth reappeared into an empty throne room, that was rather surprisingly clean.

"Oh god, she's been cleaning again." Jareth groaned.

"Who?" Sarah began to ask just as the Goblin Queen walked into the room.

"Yes, Jareth unlike some I do not enjoy living in a pig sty." She scolded.

Jareth smirked at her and she smiled at him holding back tears. Sarah was frozen in complete shock, shaking her head she glared at the Queen.

"You, you had something to do with all of this, didn't you. Jareth she's been bringing me here through my dreams, telling me she's your wife and that it was my fault that all this happened." She told him barely containing her anger.

"Mother what have you been up to?" He asked her as he walked towards her and hugged her.

"Mother? But I don't understand she told me she was your wife and that the fae can't lie." Sarah said dumbfounded.

"No, Sarah I actually told you to think of me what you will. It was your own mind that took that to mean that I was his wife. We fae cannot lie but we are very adept at word games." She explained.

Jareth moved back to Sarah putting his arms around her comfortingly.

"I still don't understand why you would do that!" Sarah frowned.

"Well, first of all, I'm going to introduce myself properly, my name is Cordelia and I am Jareth's mother and temporary Goblin Queen while Jareth was missing. I tried for many years to find him to no avail when it was suggested to me to try and find you as a last resort. Upon you entering Storybrooke it almost acted as a trigger on your connection to the labyrinth and I was able to find you. I realised that Jareth must have been there with you, I tried to come to you but I couldn't get past the barrier. So instead I brought your dream self to me, a little bit riskier and problematic but it was worth a shot." Cordelia explained.

"Why is it more problematic?" Sarah asked a little more gently.

"When we enter a person's dreams we are but mere servants controlled by the expectations of the dreamer. The same can be said about the labyrinth." Cordelia started explaining.

"What you mean the labyrinth is a dream?" Sarah interrupted.

"No no you misunderstand me. The labyrinth is on a completely different level of complexity. You see when someone challenges the labyrinth, it forms a connection between the labyrinth and the runner so that the labyrinth has access to the imagination of the runner in order to change itself to meet the expectations of that particular person, to a certain extent of course." Cordelia continued.

"So when you said to me that you were exhausted from living up to my expectations of you, you meant it literally," Sarah asked Jareth quietly.

"Yes, and I would do it all again if it meant having you here now precious." He said gazing lovingly at her.

"I think, I will leave you to it. I am so pleased to have you back my son and Sarah I am truly sorry for the way that things happened but as you now know I had no choice in the matter. I do hope you will forgive me for any hurt I caused you, you and Jareth are absolutely made for each other. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing him back to where he belongs." Cordelia gave her a small hug and left the throne room, leaving Sarah and Jareth alone.

"So, what happens now?" Sarah asked tentatively.

"Well, you stay here and become my queen of course." He said matter of factly.

"Oh really and when exactly were you planning on asking me to marry you?" Sarah tried to put on her best haughty voice but couldn't quite hold back the smile that was beaming across her face.

"Right now. Sarah, I have loved you from the day I first saw you, as it is written 'the king of the goblins had fallen in love with the girl.' I am not only the King of the Goblins but of dreams and wishes as well. I have granted more than a fair share of wishes and if I could have but one of my own wishes granted it would be that you agree to be my wife, my queen and my forever." Jareth knelt in front of her on one knee holding her hand close to his heart.

Tears of pure joy streamed down Sarah's face, she sank down on her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Yes! A thousandth times yes!" She kissed him passionately.

A loud cheer broke through their passionate embrace as they broke apart they realised that the room was now filled with goblins and all the other creatures of the labyrinth. At the front of the crowd was none other than Jinx, Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus. They all rushed towards Sarah eager to greet her and congratulate her and Jareth.

Jareth slowly moved away allowing Sarah time to catch up with her friends, he noticed his mother standing in the corner and walked over to her.

"Congratulations my son, she will make a wonderful Queen." She complimented. They both stood silently watching Sarah as she easily interacted with the creatures of the labyrinth not showing one bit of disgust as many of the fae often do.

"Yes, yes she will." Jareth agreed. Smiling as all the loneliness and bitterness he had felt over his reign finally left him for good.