After his defeat at the hands of Sarah, he had mourned for a long time. He watched her, sometimes, living the life she'd hated for so long. He'd offered her everything, and yet she still chose to leave him. It left him aching.

He became angry, taking out his failure on his goblin subjects, who took the abuse without much complaint. They were much too stupid to understand most things, anyway.

This continued until he heard you.

Reciting the words of the Labyrinth to yourself each night. He heard your call. It had started with him watching you in his owl form. He found you beautiful. Unique, in a way. He watched you for hours.

Before long he was watching you much more than he was watching Sarah. He hardly even checked on her anymore. He could feel his obsession brewing just beneath the surface. You were just so fascinating... gentle. Kind. Soft. He began to fantasize about you.

Would you accept him, as Sarah had not? Would you smile if he offered his hand to you? His arm? He couldn't stop wondering, really.

And, well... The decision to reveal himself had not been one that he made terribly rationally.

No, in fact it had been the opposite. A spur of the moment move that Jareth had long since decided was going to happen. He could no longer be content with watching you from afar, no. He needed to see you in person, and for you to see him as he was. Not some silly bird.

The night was stormy. The wind was blowing cold, and rain splashing against the window. You were sitting at your mirror, slowly brushing your hair. He flew in through the open window, shifting forms to be a man once more.

Then, slowly, he approached the mirror, letting you see his reflection. His lips curved upwards when he saw your shoulders stiffening just slightly and your eyes hold his in the glass.

"It's been too long, pet." His voice was soft, gentle, but managed to carry across the room without much obstacle. He glanced back towards the open window, transformed to be a door to his world. His castle wasn't far. You could see it where he stood.

Then, he wordlessly held out a hand.