AN: It is my very great pleasure to present the last chapter of my story: "Beauty and the Beast: A Labyrinthine Retelling."

~*~Chapter 28~*~

Tale As Old As Time

"Still, I wonder if we shall ever be

put into songs or tales.

We're in one, of course; but I mean:

put into words, you know, told by the fireside,

or read out of a great big book

with red and black letters,

years and years afterwards.

And people will say:

'Lets hear about Frodo and the Ring!'

And they'll say:

"Yes, that's one of my favorite stories.'"

-J.R.R. Tolkien "The Two Towers"

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

I love you.

All was deathly silent.

Sarah's tear-stained face rose from Jareth's chest sharply, staring aghast at Jareth's stillness.

"Jareth?" Sarah breathed, not daring to speak above a whisper. When she got no response, Sarah called out again, her hand hesitatingly rising to touch Jareth's cheek.

As realization dawned over Sarah's horrified consciousness, she began to shake with uncontrollable sobs. After all she had done…after how hard she had tried to save Jareth, she…she…

Sarah buried her face in Jareth's chest once more, sobbing incoherent curses and laments.

"Oh Jareth…I love you…I love you…"

Time itself seemed to hold its breath as Sarah spoke these words once more. Sarah, blinded by pain and loss, did not notice the auspicious stillness, nor the quiet that had seemed to have descended to blanket the castle.

Then, just as quickly as it had come, the quiet was replaced by a low buzzing and humming in the air, building louder and louder. The storm outside seemed to abate as the noise grew louder. The dark clouds drew back to reveal the dusky sky, which was awash in a fiery glow as the light from the setting sun was revealed.

Sarah looked up as the light of the sunset streamed in through the windows that lined the far side of the room. Sarah's tearstained face darkened in confusion as the humming noise met her ears and the light of the sunset dazzled her eyes. The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up as electricity crackled through the room, making the air feel thick and taste slightly metallic.

Sarah rose to her feet slowly and unsteadily, bewildered by the strange events that were surrounding her, currently building to a crescendo. Sarah took a few frightened steps back as a cool breeze began to whistle through the room, though no windows or doors were ajar.

The setting sun shone brightly in through the windows of the throne room, the light growing so intense that Sarah had to shield her eyes from the brilliant light. Sarah heard a tremendous cracking noise, as if some great stone had just been split in two. Sarah tried to perceive what had made the noise, but was blinded once more by the radiant sun.

Frightened, confused, and devoid of most of her senses, Sarah spun wildly, trying to figure out what it was that had caused the world to turn upside down.

Sarah felt, rather than saw, the sun's beating rays die down, and she cracked open her eyes to try to see what was going on.

Sarah gasped.

Standing before her was a darkened figure, silhouetted by a golden halo cast by the setting sun. The figure stood quietly as Sarah's eyes grew adjusted to the incandescent light.

Jareth took a step forward, spreading his arms wide, a dazzling smile stretched across his face.

Sarah stood motionless for a few moments, hardly daring to believe her eyes.

"J-Jareth? Is that really you?" Sarah managed to whisper, rubbing at her eyes to try to discern if she was hallucinating or really seeing him.

"Yes Sarah, it is."

Sarah ran into his waiting arms, Jareth gladly receiving her, a hand gently tilting her face up to meet his. They kissed softly, silhouetted by the chartreuse sun.

Jareth smiled down at Sarah, his face beaming with joy and love. He took Sarah's hand and gently placed it over his heart, which beat steadily in his breast.

"You have broken the enchantment, Sarah. You have set me free."

"I-I did?" said Sarah, dazed, still happily ensconced within Jareth's arms.

"Yes, precious," replied Jareth softly, tenderly placing a soft kiss on Sarah's lips, "You did."

Sarah beamed up at him, the golden glow that was emanating through the windows illuminating her face.

"You're all right? You're all healed now?"

"Utterly and completely, dearest. Your love has redeemed me, and saved me, Sarah, from destruction brought on by my own hand."

Sarah smiled and leaned into Jareth's caress.

"You keep talking about my love…what about your love, o-Goblin King?" asked Sarah demurely, raising a quizzical brow.

"Hmm…" mused Jareth, feigning a look of deep concentration. "You mean the love that I professed to you, ah, quite some time ago, when you did not care to accept?"

He matched Sarah's raised eyebrow with own of his own. Sarah childishly stuck her tongue out at him.

"Oh dear me, it was so long ago, I can hardly remember how I had phrased it…" He trailed off in mock concentration.

Sarah laughed at his intense countenance. "You are quite the piece of work," she teased, "you know that right?"

"Indeed I do m'dear. Let me see…I do believe that I offered you the moon and the stars, and you refused."

"I don't remember that," Sarah contradicted, raising an eyebrow once more.

"Ah yes," replied Jareth in a comically tragic tone, trying and failing to appear crestfallen. "The sun, you also refused, citing that the sun would not obey you, as it set every day without fail. You would not hear of me giving you your wishes either, as you declared that they were too paltry a gift."

Jareth heaved a huge theatrical sigh, rumpling his hair so that it was wilder than ever.

"I do not believe that I offered you your dreams, however," entreated Jareth quietly, smiling impishly at Sarah.

"No," replied Sarah softly, as Jareth bent his head towards hers, "I don't believe that you did."

"Then it seems that I shall have to rectify this egregious error of mine," murmured Jareth, his lips brushing Sarah's once more.

Sarah pulled back slightly and spoke.

"Just my dreams, though," she smiled tenderly at Jareth, "Nothing more?"

"You demand much of me, my dear Sarah," chuckled Jareth, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"This coming from the same Goblin King that demanded that I-oh, what was the phrase-'fear me, love me, do as I say?'" mimicked Sarah, taking on her most Goblin King-ish air.

"What can I say," said Jareth cheekily, not a single drop of mortification or humility in his tone, "I cannot fall in love with just anyone, 'tis not romantic."

Sarah laughed, rolling her eyes at Jareth. "I think we see eye to eye in that respect, my dear Goblin King." She traced a finger lightly over the designs on Jareth's breastplate. "So, I believe that you were offering me my dreams," demurred Sarah turning the conversation effortlessly back to the matter at hand.

"Ah yes," said Jareth, returning to business as well, "If your dreams shall not appease you, then I am afraid that the only thing that I have left to offer is my heart and all the love that it contains." He looked tenderly at Sarah, who returned his adoration in full.

"Yes, that is what I desire. Your heart and your love are worth more to me than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world. I will treasure it forever."

"And your heart, beloved?" Jareth murmured his breath hot on Sarah's ear, "To whom does your heart belong?"

"To the Goblin King," Sarah replied softly, "For all eternity."

"I am glad of it," Jareth replied tenderly.

They kissed once more as the sun disappeared over the dark forest beyond the castle, casting fiery rays of light that illuminated the couple.

As the two parted, they smiled shyly at one another, and gently entwined their hands. Jareth lifted their joined hands, kissing the back of Sarah's hand, which bore the ring that Jareth had given to her.

"Sarah Williams, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

"Of course," Sarah replied tremulously, not hesitating for a moment.

Jareth beamed at her.

"Come" said Jareth, pulling Sarah gently around the throne and past the pile of chains and iron that lay at its base.

Sarah's eyes fell to the iron that lay there, and then looked at Jareth.

"You're quite sure you're fine?" queried Sarah, looking concernedly at her fiancé.

"Yes, between you and my goblins, I…" he trailed off for a moment, and his eyes widened slightly. "Excuse me for a moment…"

Jareth made his way purposefully over to the door to the throne room, and threw it wide open. Just then, a goblin scampered by, who glanced up at the figure the in the doorway, and then did a double take, staring at Jareth.

"King!" he said in a squeaky voice, stopping so abruptly mid-scamper that he slid a little on the stone floor. "You's alive!" He gestured to a few other goblins nearby, beckoning them closer, hollering, "Looks! The King's alive!"

The grimy little creatures all scuttled over to see their beloved king, who smiled benignly at his subjects.

"Thanks to your help and the Lady Sarah's, I am alive. Please cease fighting with the men. My quarrel with them is over, and I do not wish for any of you to harm them. Spread the word to your brethren that the fight is over. Please do not show them any more hostilities."

The goblins, so relieved that their king was alive and well, tripped over each other in their haste as they dashed off in all directions to spread the order for the end of the fighting. They scrambled all over the castle, spreading the word of their king's recovery. The goblins who were still pelting the men of Bracknell Fen with blows to shins and kneecaps ceased their ministrations when they heard the good news, darting off with their fellows to help spread the good tidings, leaving the men confused and aching from the diminutive creatures.

Back in the throne room, Jareth, still by the door, held out his hand to Sarah, who crossed the room and took it, allowing herself to be led from the room and out into the corridor. She watched curiously as goblins scampered by every so often, hollering greetings to their king, and gazing wide-eyed and reverently at Sarah as they passed.

Sarah and Jareth walked serenely arm-in-arm down the halls until they heard voices emanating from the dining room, catching snatches of discombobulated conversations.

"…I dunno, one minute I was getting the heck clobbered out of my shins by one of those little devils, and then a pack of 'em came by and he just up and took off with all of his mates…"

"…what do you suppose is going on? I mean…"

"…this is why I try to stay away from the supernatural, nothing makes sense…"

Jareth grinned down at Sarah, who looked curiously up at him in return. They passed through the doorway, startling the men who were grouped in the room. Several of the men who were sitting rose hastily to their feet as Jareth and Sarah entered the room, bewildered and frightened, having lost many of their weapons when they had incapacitated Jareth, and most of the rest when they had been harassed by the goblins afterwards.

"Sarah!" Robert called out, taking a few bold steps forward before hesitating, glancing between Sarah and the imposing figure beside her.

Sarah, however, rushed forward to embrace her father, leaving Jareth standing awkwardly by the door, uncertain as to whether or not he should go with Sarah or stay back.

"Sarah," said Robert, as if he could not believe his eyes, "Sarah are you all right? Are you hurt? Oh Sarah, I am so sorry…"

Sarah kissed her father lightly on the cheek, trying to hold in her tears at finally seeing her father again.

"Oh father, I've missed you so!" sobbed Sarah, holding her father tight, smiling at him through her tears.

Sarah, unaware of the extreme discomfort of the other men in the room, most of whom were slightly worse for wear due to their skirmishes with the goblins of the Labyrinth, turned to Jareth and beckoned for him to cross the room to where she and her father stood, not far from the disgruntled and frightened men of the town of Bracknell Fen.

Jareth hesitated for a moment, deterred by the looks on the men's faces, and the scant iron tools and chain that the men had managed to retain, despite their altercations with the goblins, and the attack on Jareth himself.

"Before I do, Sarah," Jareth urged, endeavoring to keep a mildly placating tone to his words, "You had better explain to your father and his friends that I mean to cause them no harm from me, my goblins, or my Labyrinth. I do not wish to engender more fighting."

Robert glared balefully at Jareth over his daughter's head, wary of his eldritch foe.

"And why should I listen to you," mused Robert defiantly, trying and failing to keep Sarah close to him. Some of the other men murmured in assent.

"Father!" said Sarah, slightly shocked at her father's hostility. "All of you, please, just listen to what Jareth has to say!"

She quietly stepped out of her father's embrace and faced Jareth, but not before glancing at the other men, trying to judge their attitudes towards this unprecedented and unexpected occurrence. Desmond was scowling, clutching desperately to a set of iron tongs, and sporting a split lip. Brayden was easing himself back into a chair, nursing his bruised kneecaps, while Murgon surveyed the scene with passive stoicism. Some of the men were like Desmond, frightfully clutching what little bits of iron they still possessed, while others were like Brayden or Murgon, some looking on with blatant curiosity or excitement.

"I am truly sorry for what has occurred here," avowed Jareth, spreading his arms wide in what was to be perceived as a peaceful and placating gesture. He turned to Robert, directing his words now at the man.

"I am sorry for forcing you to send Sarah here. It was unfair and cruel of me to force you to do so."

As Jareth spoke, a despondent tone crept into his voice.

"But you have to understand my desperation at that moment. A man had managed to stumble his way through my Labyrinth, and what was more, he had picked one of my roses, roses that, once picked, depleted me of some of my life-force, rendering my heart more and more stone-like. What was more, he had a daughter and I had the upper hand since this man was trespassing on my property, and was a thief of one of my valuable roses. Such an opportunity had not been presented to me in several centuries. If there was just the slightest chance that I, by requiring this man to send his daughter here to live at my castle, would break the enchantment placed on me millennium ago, I took it, without compunction or a second thought."

Robert didn't speak, still glaring at Jareth, though his brows were softened slightly by pity.

"There was a flaw, however, in this brilliant plan of mine, something that I did not foresee, that I could not foresee…" Jareth trailed off, lost in his own reminiscences.

"Which was what?" asked Robert, the harsh edge all by gone from his voice.

"I was so preoccupied with the idea of making, of forcing, this headstrong and heartstrong girl to fall in love with me, that I did not realize that I had fallen into a trap of my own doing, that I had fallen in love."

Jareth looked at Sarah, his eyes full of an unreadable emotion.

"For all the world, I could not understand how such a force so powerful, so much more than cruelty or death, how I had succumbed to such a mysterious and unyielding force. How I had fallen in love."

Jareth signed and raked a hand through his pale hair, making stand up wild as a lion's mane.

"It was then that I realized how bitter and painful unrequited love could be, for though I loved her more than my own life and well-being, she loathed and hated me, and would have loved nothing more than for me to die. Ironic, is it not? Falling in love when trying to make another fall in love with yourself? I am sure that the enchantress who had placed the spell on me had foreseen that this would come to pass, and that it would cause me more pain and anguish than a slow and unstoppable death by one's heart turning into stone. There is no such pain in all the 'verse that can compare to the pain of falling desperately in love with someone who hates you."

Jareth paused and looked down at his gloved hands, unaware that he held a captive audience.

"I could not force Sarah to love me then, not once I had fallen in love with her. No, I would suffer in silence, until I had passed from this world to the next. I was too selfish, however, to let her go, to free her from this prison that I had imposed upon her. I could not bear the thought of losing her, of never seeing her again, of her falling in love with another. It seemed that I was still cruel, though Cupid's arrow had softened me. As the days passed on, I began to despair and lose all hope that Sarah's opinion of me would change, for who could love someone as cruel and unrelenting as myself?"

Jareth's fists clenched and his face darkened. Sarah, refusing to bear the pain of Jareth's suffering any longer, walked over to where he stood, and silently slipped her hand into his. Jareth smiled weakly from her, seeming to draw some courage and strength from her touch. Without looking from Sarah, he spoke.

"But then, something changed. Some part of the universe finally aligned…something mysterious and miraculous and unexpected and…and…well, perfect happened…"

Jareth gazed affectionately at Sarah, who blushed.

"…And Beauty fell in love with the Beast."

All was quiet as Jareth said this, all eyes trained on the happy pair who stood blissfully gazing at each other.

Robert was the one who spoke first, his voice reverberating with emotion.

"Sarah, is this true? Have you…do you…"

"Yes," replied Sarah, still gazing at Jareth as if he was the only thing in the universe that mattered. She looked at her father, her eyes bright. "I do! I love him! More than anything."

Jareth looked at Robert then, speaking plainly. "The enchantment that was placed upon me could only be broken if I could learn to love and if someone could learn to see past my cruelty and darkness and learn to love me in return. Sarah taught me, and I taught her."

Robert walked over to the pair and lifted their clasped hands, enclosing them in his own.

"Will you both forgive an old man's foolishness and accept my blessing? I feel that if there was such a pair that was destined through the ages to be truly happy together, it would be you two."

Jareth smiled and nodded, while Sarah kissed her father's cheek once more, elated.

The other men, once the mob, but now the witnesses to the 'verse's most perfect love, came forth to congratulate the couple and to apologize for the distress that had been caused and the havoc that had been wreaked upon the castle and its inhabitants.

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

A few hours later, once wounds had been healed and the townsmen of Bracknell Fen had been fed and directed to beds in which they might sleep for the night, a pair stood quietly together, illuminated by the silver moonlight as they gazed out over the dark expanse of the Labyrinth. To a stranger passing by, they were a handsome couple; the man light and sharply-featured, and the woman beautiful, with a cascade of shiny dark hair. More so than physical appearances, however, our hypothetical passerby would have been more awed by the love and devotion that seemed to radiate from the pair, love that the sands of time could never weaken nor dispel, for this love was ordained by the touch of destiny, written for eons in the stars.

The pair gently kissed, the moonlight gilding their features, making them look as if they were the corporeal incarnation of love. And for all time, it would be the Goblin King and the radiant young woman named Sarah who brought down a kingdom and cured a stone heart, that would be remembered as two of the few beings on this earth to experience pure and undeniable love, the physical representation of the ancient phrase: Amor vincit omnia.

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

The day dawned sunny and bright, a slight warm breeze ruffling the hair of the many people gathered on the great front lawn of the castle, all waiting in quiet anticipation. The roses in the garden bobbed softly up and down, wafting their heady fragrance in the breeze.

Robert sat between Karen and Toby, all three dressed in their Sunday best, joyful and full of happy expectation of what was to pass.

Hoggle sat not far from the three Williamses, Sir Didymus and Ludo at his side, blowing his nose noisily on a hanky and dabbing at his eyes.

Other inhabitants of Bracknell Fen were there as well, curious to see the once-dreaded castle of the Goblin King. The poor townsfolk were surprised once they had arrived on the other side of the Labyrinth, to see goblins shuffling about, hanging garlands, arranging chairs, and performing other small duties. The goblins, most of whom had taken baths and had cleaned themselves up somewhat, were now sitting dispersed throughout the assembly, the models of perfect behavior.

A figure emerged from the Labyrinth, his steps slow and deliberate as he made his way over to where Jareth stood, some way off from the crowd of waiting people, dressed in his glittering armor. The creature spoke quiet words to Jareth, who smiled and beckoned towards the space in front of the crowd, where the goblins had hung garlands of roses and vines.

The Wiseman patted Jareth's shoulder and together they walked to the front of the crowd and stood under the canopy of flowers, turning to face the crowd, who stood and turned as well to look at the pale figure making her way down the rows of figures, her face obscured by a filmy veil, and a bouquet of Jareth's beloved roses clutched in her trembling hands.

Sarah paused to smile tenderly at her family as she passed them before turning her attention to Jareth, who had not taken his eyes off of her since she had started to walk down the aisle. She blushed under her veil, and walked to Jareth's side, both turning as one to face the Wiseman, who had procured a very old and very worn-looking book. As they Wise Man spoke, the warm breeze blew gently through the gardens, carrying silken flower petals through the air.

It was a picturesque scene, watching two hearts become one. True, their love had come about from unconventional occurrences and happenstances, trials and tribulations, but then again, the course of true love never did run smooth. And as the sun moved its perpetual path across the cerulean sky, vows were exchanged and a kiss shared, sealing forever the fate of the eternal lovers, who were now fully equipped to create a happily ever after of their own.

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

THE END

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

"Tale as old as time,

Song as old as rhyme,

Beauty and the Beast"

-Disney's "Beauty and the Beast"

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

*Amor vincit omnia: love conquers all.

AN: I want to thank everyone who has reviewed and faved and added me to their watch lists, and to everyone who has helped me to write this fic! I couldn't have done this without all of your kind words and encouragement! Thank you to everyone who has recommended fics or book or movies or whatever to me, as I have enjoyed all of these recommendations! All in all, thank you so much!

I am sure that this won't be my last fic! I have a one-shot that I have been promising for some time, and I have another story bouncing around in my head that needs to be written! We'll have to see what this summer brings!

And for those who enjoy this (I know I do!): so many references this chapter! Harry Potter and Shakespeare and Aladdin and Virgil and Tristan and Isolde and LOST (see you in another life brotha!) and Beauty and the Beast (obviously) and Phantom of the Opera and a touch of Firefly and Sailor Moon and so many things that I couldn't possibly list them all!

Also, I've made Sarah's headpiece from the ball scene in Labyrinth and uploaded images to DeviantArt (links in my profile), and I've made two more, which I have posted on Etsy for sale! Check out the link to my Etsy account in my profile!

Anyways, please read and review! I really makes my day! Thanks to everyone who has already reviewed and added me to their various favorites and alerts lists!

Disclaimer: Labyrinth and its characters do not belong to me. Quotes from the movie belong to Henson, Froud, and Lucas. Quotes from the book belong to A.C.H. Smith.