Epilogue

Finally, the heavens abated its purge and the world was fresh and new after its dousing. In the darkness of midnight, the grass sparkled with beads of water and droplets fell from the leaves and the eaves.

Out of the stillness crept a strange host. They came from the wooded lot which lay empty, waiting for imminent excavation. But it was not empty, really. It was filled with oaks and ash, brambles and aster and the soft fuzzy golden rod which made the lushest of beds for tiny people.

They crept and flitted as silent as moonbeams to a bedraggled figure lying in the deep grass of one of the mortal dwellings. They knew him of course and some of them wept when they saw his state.

He lay on his back, his beautiful hair spread out around him. His face was white as star shine but with none of the glamour they were used to from the Goblin King. He was mortal and they could feel this. A tiny and beautiful fairy perched on his neck and sprawled herself across his cheek weeping piteously, a tiny sound like the squeak of a mouse. She would never have dared such a thing had he been awake, but so moved was she by this tragedy that she could barely contain her emotion. She kissed his lips with her own tiny ones.

A tall hamadryad came out of the wood leaving her tree to tend to the unconscious King. She cradled his head in her lap and stroked his brow, looking with worry at the strange angle his arm made on the wet grass. How could this be? All were astounded to find his Majesty so.

Then through the trees came a bright light, a shimmer and a sparkle and the luscious smell of burnt leaves and autumnal spice which accompanied strong magic.

The Fairies bowed low, and the hamadryad inclined her head for here before them, where he surely had never been before, was Oberon, the Great Shadow King.

No party had he, except for Robin Goodfellow. Oberon in his shining arraignment, his own silky blonde hair moving gently in the breeze, knelt in the dew at this son’s side.

“Oh Jareth,” he murmured softly, pressing his hands on the poor, broken arm. Jareth moved slightly in pain but instantly Oberon healed him and placed the mended arm on his son’s chest.

“Master,” the Hobgoblin said, looking with sympathy upon what all inhabitants of Faerie considered to be the worst fate to befall one of their kind: mortality. “What will become of his Highness?”

Oberon held Jareth’s hand. He was deeply unconscious and the Shadow King did not wish to interrupt the transition his child’s mind was making as it moved from one state of existence to another.

“He must stay here now. For a time. That is beyond my magic, in any case.”

“And what of the mortal girl?”

“Queen Sarah, Puck.” Oberon admonished his mischievous and rude little servant. “She is there, safe.” He pointed to the Williams house and Puck looked up and saw the dark windows. Sarah was sleeping, unknowing of her husband’s fate. Unknowing of her husband at all.

“Her memories are there as well. Safely tucked deep within her mind.” Oberon sighed and rose.

“But Highness, what is to become of them?”

Oberon smiled in such a way that the Hobgoblin could not help but smile back and he knew that all would yet be well.

“That has yet to be told, Robin, dear. That has yet to be told.”

Fin

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A/N-- Hello gentle readers! Obviously I am working on the sequel! When I outlined it, I realized the story was simply too large for one fanfic. Hopefully you liked this one enough to want me to finish this tale so let me know, even in a PM! Of course, I am hoping you want to hear the rest of the story!

Acknowledgements

First and foremost I would like to thank all of you readers who have patiently followed this tale and a special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to post reviews which made a great deal of difference to me. You gave me the incentive to keep writing!

Thank you to Lisa, Hannah and of course D. and A. for your encouragement, inspiration and patience throughout these past four months.

I would like to acknowledge the following:

Jim Henson- Labyrinth

David Bowie- Song Lyrics

Maurice Sendak- Where the Wild Things Are

The Bible-Letter from St. Paul to the Corinthians

Jefferson Starship- Song Lyrics

W.B. Yeats- Sailing to Byzantium

The Time Life Enchanted World Series

Loreena Mckenitt- My musical inspiration

Love

Your Author,

Lampwicke

xxoo