I was rushing to consume this story in one gulp, itching to move forward, but at the same time feeling compelled and take a breath every other passage and pause. Just to let it all sink in. Not to miss any taste, any feeling, any emotion it evoked in me along the way. To savor it properly, like a swirl of fine wine, allowing its taste to develop on tongue before swallowed, as well as dwell on the lingering aftertaste.

The story itself is not new. It has been told in fiction countless times, ever since Greek mythology (I'm getting a distinctive Hades and Persephone vibe here), as well is in fanfiction and, in particular, in the Labyrinth fandom. Oddly enough, this is exactly why this story has made it my favorites list and is being re-read on a whim countless times ever since. I love this narrative. I truly cannot get enough of it, but there are only a handful retellings thereof that have been made as tastefully and as skillfully as this.

Jareth here is truly a mythological figure, shrouded in mystery and danger. Sarah keeps wondering, what he is and what is it that he wants from her. While the latter is pretty easy to understand ("surely my technuiqes are not so opaque"), the former remains unanswered. Although he indeed is referenced as a couple of times as the Goblin King, this title does not do him justice in this story. He is too large to be contained by such childish category. He calls himself a god and it truly feels like one - the god of old, one of many ("the touch of gods"). God that is selfish, determined and willing to go any lengths to attain what he feels is rightfully his ("I have not taken anything that does not belong to me"). God that is cruel in his emotion.

I have always loved this notion that Sarah was only able to solve the Labyrinth, because the first time around it was "her story". The one that she controlled and set pace for. It has always been clear to me that Labyrinth was a coming of age story, a tale of a girl beginning to "put away childish things" and coming to grips with her emerging womanhood, while Jareth was the quintessence of masculinity, whom she fears, whom she confronts, but at the same time to whom she is secretly attracted, even beyond her own understanding and awareness. So when she tells the story as a narrator, she manages to triumph with her magical set of friends in a classic 15 year old fairy tale way. However, not without a promise of things to come - she has attracted the attention of a powerful being, and that is not a good thing at all ("the King of Goblins has fallen in love with the girl").

This story belongs to Jareth. It is very clearly stated more then once, however, even if it wasn't, the feel of this is so Jarethy, it can't be anyone else's. It gives me shivers.

The whole idea of Sarah being split in two is beautifully written out. Especially the notion of her transcending to the other world (the Underground?), but still managing to escape into her "dream" self, lying in a coma in some sterile hospital. And Jareth, frustrated by her defiance, trying his best to beguile, to tempt, to scare her into his arms, is thrilling, if somewhat terrifying. He sends her one horrid image after another (I did get the distorted ballroom dancers, but the story with a hunter and ugly smock puzzles me to this day), just to make his embrace look like the most tempting offer.

It is not entirely clear to me, however, what actually happens in the end - does she strike a bargain? Is the real-life Sarah left in a coma above, only to be unplugged from life support by her grieving family? Or does she die without Jareth's further involvement, thus completing her passage to the Underground? Or is the passage only complete with "le sex"? What is clear, however, is that Sarah has definitely passed through waters of Lethe, as she remembers nothing of her past life, when entering into the beautiful realm of Gods, as infinite.

I absolutely love this piece. And sorry, I cannot hate Jareth, even if each and every action of his taken out of context is atrocious with regards to Sarah. He is not a man but a god so the measures of men do not apply. Sarah got divinity out of this, with Jareth in tow. I'd say she drove one hell of a bargain!

But seriously, how unfair is the fact of you having just two pieces of fiction here, one of them being incomplete? What kind of a miracle would it take to make you come back and at least finish what you started? If it's not a review of this length written exactly on a 12 year anniversary of this being published, then I do not know what will. So here's to hoping.

"A milk-blue lake." Damn, now that is a descriptor. That is damned awesome. Hot damn, is really what this makes me say. So wonderfully, fully written as a dream. Describing the orbs for leaves is what really made me able to picture that scene. So...fairy-like, and so dream-esque.
The hospital scene is freaking EERIE, not to mention sad...this is really reminiscent of "Erlkonig," and since I'm a chicken I have a hard time reading it - but I can't look away, because it's too well done.
And "hay-moon hair." God, stop being amazing! And "intestinal" is the PERFECT description of the castle hallways. Your description of how Jareth loves saying her name is both delicious and deplorable - just like the Goblin King.
I like the picture you paint of the transcendent Sarah, and the bitter sadness that comes with the necklace of thorns - the collar that shows how hurt she really is.
The sex scene was wicked, horrible and beautiful, all at the same time - which is exactly as it should be. Three cheers and then some for a great concept piece!

Strange and confusing, but compelling

I have to be honest...i was confused throught the entire story but dreams have never really been straight forward have they? So you get points for that. I couldnt get a grasp on why jareth wants her n how she was between worlds. I felt that bit was left unexplained and I think you could have gone into depth to explain her ultimate destination a bit more. Still i enjoyed the way you wrote in detail and jareths level of torture was twisted and menacing and cruel and written brilliantly. I good confusing read lol. If you write about dreams this is the way to go ;-)

"the prick of his voice like a tiny crow pecking her eardrum"

Like this a lot.

oh my gosh that was sooooooo good! absolutely brilliant work actually, I love the style it flows in. so beautifully written. but Jareth is so evil! ;_;

This is one of the best Labyrinth fics I have ever read.

Adult Labyrinth is so tricky to write. You have given Jareth all the essence of the cruel Fae, and not given us too much as readers. It is always better to give a little too little when writing, so it stretches the readers imagination and gives us space for our own story.

This is masterfully done. You said this was based on a dream you had. Must have been some dream.

*shivers* Creepy, yet utterly fantastic. A highly original story that you have crafted here, one that I must commend you upon. Being both a fan of Labyrinth and A Nightmare on Elm Street, I found a strong liking to the "dream-invasion" scenario that is central to the plot of this fic. I also liked the present-tense tone, as it makes Sarah's predicament all the more surreal and confusing. Its hard to find the words that can accurately describe the sheer eerieness that your fic effortlessly exhibits, but make no mistake, the "creepy" factor makes this story absolutely remarkable.

And Jareth *shivers again*... I can honestly say, this is one of the creepiest portrayals of his character I have seen to date. He is just so cruel and sinister and... again, its difficult to find the exact words to describe him. I could'nt help but give off a slight shudder after reading each of his scenes.

I also loved the way in which you portray Sarah; she just seems so innocent and helpless, specifically in her scenes with Jareth. Even though she is twenty-four in this fic, I couldn't help but feel that she was just a young girl. She just seems so fragile, specifically in the scene where Jareth offers her food after starving her;

" 'Sarah, ' he coos her name. ' Would you like something to eat? '

She nods, ready to burst into tears.

' Of course you do. Poor thing.'"

God, Jareth is just so sadistic in that scene. I couldn't help but shudder at the coldness and cruelty he exhibits there.

All in all, this was a fantastic read. Definetely one of the better fics here on the site. I hope to see more of your works.

Cheers :)

This is written in that abstract sort of style I love, so I am probably quite biased. But I loved it ;) Awesome job.

I thought this was a very powerful and beautiful (even in its more grotesque moments) take on, what I perceived as, the Persephone/Hades tale. Very well written, thanks for sharing!

I can't even think of what to say. I really enjoyed this, though. It was so deliciously dark!

Oh my, wow.

What a fantastic story! Very detailed and dark. Admittedly, I didn't exactly get what was going on half the time, but it didn't really matter because the action was very intense.

Okay, I hope that all made sense! Lovely job!

A really delicious story.

I think my favorite part (the whole story, full of psychosexual imagery, is well done) is how you weave together grotesque and disgusting elements together with the beautiful and transcendent. It's not all velvet and lace, it's jewelry made of slime and crowns made of brambles. That's almost the essence of what faerie is like, I think, and why I love this story so much, despite the Persephone-style ending.

I really hate to see Sarah die, because in terms of mythology she's done the hero's part in running the labyrinth. Then again, we all know what the Goblin King replies to "it's not fair."

Loved the surreal quality of this and the switching between horror and something slightly less sinister. The small snippets of "real" life where her body was dying (thanks to Jareth's pushing her mentally, if you ask me) and the dreams he was putting her through to break her and turn her into the slightly celestial woman he could have contrast well. Each is their own horror.

Well done, I'd say. It creeped me out, but kept me thinking at the same time.

I liked the dreamlike quality of it but in some ways it was a bit too intangible to reap the emotions of the moment. Perhaps that was intended, as a full-on realizing of them would have taken away from the murky aspect of her comatose state. Good work though.