Dude I sobbed like a child. Fucking hell. Best fanfic ever dear god; its perfectly dark and so, so sweet because the love between Toby and Sarah is perfect love. Thanks so much

RIP BOWIE!

An excellently written ending, bravo. Very nice. Quite nerve-wracking. You really had me fooled with that opening chapter, but the narration of Toby throughout gave me doubts.

...well.

Serious things are serious.

And it hits the fan. I am so glad they began talking again, and that some truth came out. So Sarah hasn't actually told Toby about her own adventure in the Labyrinth, though? Admittedly, she was no more than a petulant child actor herself, at the time, but still.

I am very glad the lad has realized life is not sunshine and rainbows for one wishing to succeed a Goblin King.

Toby's development and the overall character development is quite on mark.

I like the duality being formed of Jareth's relations towards both Toby and Sarah. The relationships overall are well portrayed in this story so far, as is the writing-of-the-times in that age voice.

I have to tell you, this is one of my favorite stories. I've re-read it probably a dozen times and I just can't get enough of your characterization and the way you weave together all of the tiny but mighty plot points. I don't know if you even read reviews anymore, but I truly am impressed by your incredible talent. If your muse ever whispered in your ear to come back to fanfic, I would love to catch a glimpse of what is happening to Sarah after she leaves. It would be kind of interesting and poignant if she finally escaped only to find that Toby had already died of old age. But I digress. Great, great job on this one (well, on all of your stories, let's be honest).

This is such a great story. I love how the language changes as Toby ages, and how you close all loops and bring everything full circle. It's so satisfying.

Great use of myth too. I'm so curious who "they" were who trained Sarah up as a "third-rate saboteur" instead of a "proper runewriter, spellcrafter or sorceror." Jareth must be rather infamous in your world if a lot of people want him contained ... and I think that's a key piece to his identity. His earlier comment to Toby about being trapped for two centuries in a lamp, and Toby associating him with light and fire, remind me of the old tales about the jinn, who were trapped by King Solomon and used to build his temple. You couldn't kill them either, only contain them and overpower them for your own uses. Even Jareth has a power sigil written on his hand, which Sarah kisses. I wonder who gave it to him and whose power he's under? Or does it mean something else? And Jareth doesn't understand love either, only power and possessiveness. He seeks to contain Sarah.

I'm also reminded of a great moment in "The Exorcist" when Father Merrin warns the younger priest Damien not to listen to the demon because he'll "mix lies with the truth to attack us. The attack is psychological, and very powerful." Jareth does this here with Toby and really is a master of telling his victims what they want to see. It's interesting how much perception, and not true sight, leads to Toby's and Sarah's downfall. The fey can be quite malevolent according to the old tales, but the way you portray Jareth here with his seduction process puts me to mind more of a demon. Chilling stuff.

I hope you're writing professionally. You're a wonderful storyteller.

I really want to know how you are able to write Jareth like this. I never know if he's going to kiss Sarah or draw blood. Excellent story.

THERE'S that lust-fueled Goblin King we know and love. Love that loophole, so evil and so him. I really hope Toby will appreciate what she's doing here...I'm so fascinated to see how this will tie in with that great prologue.

"First born chlid" seems like an odd trade coming from Jareth. Maybe "get you knocked up WITH your firstborn child," but I'm curious as to what he'd even DO with it. Turn it into a goblin? Or perhaps he just to make Sarah miserable. I LOVE his grand entrance at the end of this.

Boy do they owe Sarah some of those "sorrys." If I were here, I would be FURIOUS. The sexual introduction was...so spot on. He's at the age to start getting it, and it's so...freaky and accurate to what Jareth would probably do, sexy creeper that he is. And since Toby IS still a child, it lapses back so naturally into the innocence of childhood.