Sarah wandered her local flea market; she always loved seeing what treasures she could find. The trinkets she saw always reminded her of the stories she created and acted out in her youth. It was a pity, though, that the enamel, the porcelain, the hand painted faces on dolls were a thing of the past. Today's large-lipped plastic dolls for girls just did not have that certain fairytale something that the tiny dancer of her music box had so magically possessed.
Digging through a dusty stall filled with books, she gasped, dodging an errant child and bumping into a stack of books. Eyes wide she watched the stack teeter briefly, then crash to the ground.
"'Hey girl, I hope you're going to pick all those up?" Sarah heard a voice call from behind the stall, but she paid no attention as she could not help but stare at the one book that had fallen open at her feet, revealing a beautiful hand painted portrait of none other than the goblin king himself in all his finest.
"How much is this?" she asked, her eyes never once leaving the page. Her fingers moved of their own accord to touch him, but as she reached out to caress that familiar face, the picture winked at her. Sarah let out an involuntary gasp as she jumped backwards, once again toppling several stacks of books in the process.
"Careful!" the shopkeeper yelled.
"I'm...so sorry..." Sarah stammered as she started cleaning up the mess. The book with Goblin King's portrait caught her eye once more. This time he seemed to be stifling a laugh. Caught off guard, she reached out to close the book and felt heat pouring off the page. Feeling the eyes of the shopkeeper on her, she rose quickly, face burning, and began handing books back to him.
He grunted at her, "Well, do you want it or not?"
Sarah handed it back warily, the book still unnaturally warm in her hand.
The shopkeeper eyed it and then her. "Never seen it before, girl." Before she could say another word, he turned away and began helping other customers.
She was left clutching the book.
Biting her lip, Sarah felt the unnatural heat burning into her hand until a tingling sensation trickled over her skin. Before she could think better of it, she fled the stall with the book still clutched in her hand. On her way back home, the odd sensation, like electricity worked its way over her arm until she couldn't deny it. Like an itch needing to be scratched. In desperation she took a slight detour and defiantly shoved the book through the library's return bin, sighing in relief.
When she arrived home, still rattled, and dropped her bag on the kitchen table, she immediately stifled a scream. The offending book slid out and promptly opened. A ghostly whisper seemed to echo around her at the sight, "Even if you get to the center, you'll never get out again."
A sudden fierce determination took over her mind and she yelled out shattering the silence "that's what you think!"
"But I did," she insisted to herself. "I did get out!"
"My dear, defiant Sarah," Jareth's voice mocked, "Are you so sure?"
Just then, the room around her began to seemingly dissolve. The walls became a soft swirling of colors dripping into the ground below her. Sara looked around her, scared but fascinated. When she turned back to face where the kitchen table should have been, there stood the one and only Goblin King. "Jareth" she breathed.
Quickly looking around her, Sarah realized that she was not in her house anymore but in the throne room of Jareth's castle. Snapping her head back to Jareth, Sarah stood frozen as she caught his intense gaze; Jareth grinned a toothy smile and took a step closer to Sarah.
"Sarah," he replied with a sibilant hiss. It rolled across her skin like lightning.
She swallowed and then straightened with feigned bravado. "You have no right to do this. I didn't make wish."
Jareth's lips bowed again, and the smile curled around her just as his words had. "No, I did."
"Sarah, Sarah, Sarah," Jareth purred, "It seems that the fates have finally smiled upon me. You see as I scoured through my library looking for a way to come to you without you having called me, I stumbled on a little gem. It seems, dear Sarah, that I myself could make a wish. Apparently I may wish someone here if I am willing to run the Labyrinth to gain a Queen."
"That's not fair" she said before realizing.
Jareth's grin grew even wider as he walked towards her "Tsk tsk precious. You can do better than that."
"You have no power over me," she volleyed back with an arched brow.
"Better," the Goblin King laughed. His eyes glinted and his expression drew serious. "If only that were true this time."
Furious and beginning to panic, Sarah blurted, "But you have magic! When I ran to retrieve Toby all I had was a ring, a bracelet, and three non-magical friends to help me through! Hell you even got one of them to poison me!"
Jareth sighed and began to polish his nails against his lapel. "Poison is such a strong word, isn't it? I prefer to think of it as providing a diversion. You were diverted, were you not?"
Sarah thought back to the ballroom. The beautiful gown, the dancing, the...closeness. Between Jareth and herself. An idea suddenly struck her. "You said 'if only it were true' that I had no power over you this time. That must mean that I do, to some extent. So tell me, Goblin King...what exactly is my 'power'."
"You always were a clever one." Jareth remarked with a smirk. "Very well. The terms of your so called 'power' are these. Our roles shall be reversed. I will become fully human, and you will become Fae. I will run the Labyrinth in the time that you allot, and if I succeed, you will be my queen."
"And if you don't?" Sarah asked with hope in her voice. "Does that mean I will be returned to my own world?"
With a smirk, Jareth replied, "Of course that is exactly what would happen, IF I were unable to traverse my own domain Sarah, but really what are the odds of my being unable to solve it? Actually due to the wording of the clause, I would say that I have the upmost motivation to solve it. You see if I were unable to solve it in the thirteen hours, not only would you be returned home but I would no longer have any way of reaching you, wish or no."
"Promise on that last bit?" she said archly, ignoring the conflicting pang at never seeing him again.
"But," he ignored her, "with magic comes... responsibility. I only... interfered three times-"
"Cheated," Sarah corrected.
"Interfered," he repeated pointedly, "three times". As he spoke he produced three crystals. "You shall only have as many tries to distract me with magic. Use them wisely." He handed them over but paused on the third. "And Sarah, if you put me in a ball gown, I shall be *most* displeased."
Sarah's crafty look made Jareth lean in closer, breath fanning her cheek. "You won't be able to sit down for a week *when* I win."
With a shudder that ran down her spine and a smirk that curled her lip in an all too familiar way, Sarah held out her open hand to accept both the challenge and the crystals. "Deal, Jareth."
For a second he hesitated, her sudden confidence unsettled him. He had underestimated her once before but then she had no idea what he was capable of, this was his game, his labyrinth, his rules. The hesitation didn't last, however. The sly grin was back almost as quickly as it had disappeared. Sarah raised an eyebrow. She had seen the flash of insecurity, and it had only steeled her resolve.
"Well then," she said, as a wave of her hand produced a clock, "let us begin."
"Quick study I see, very well let's see if you can transport us to the beginning in one piece," Jareth added with no little amount of sarcasm.
"Piece of cake," she lied. And then silently prayed to every known god for a miracle as she felt the wild magic pull them.
Within a blink they were beside the dead tree on the hillside. Jareth was silently impressed; she had more control over her magic than he had thought but not enough to defeat him. He was going to have so much fun, young naive Sarah stood little chance. He had planned and perfected this. Let the game begin.
"Well, what exactly are you waiting for Jareth, a written invitation?" Sarah said, mimicking the haughtiness usually reserved for Jareth's personal use.
"What no warnings Precious? No bewares or turn back's? Really it's like you're not even trying Sarah." Jareth goaded.
Sarah leaned in with a devilish look in her eye. Jareth's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh Jareth," she purred, "what makes you think that I WANT you to turn back?"
She leaned back again and palmed one of the crystals. "I plan to enjoy this." She nodded at the clock. "You should start running," the devilish look deepened, "and time is short."
"Ah yes, time IS short. What was that delightful little saying you had? Ah yes, I remember now. Come on toes!" and with that Jareth was off to make his way through the labyrinth and gain himself a Queen.
He smiled as he walked towards the entrance. So predictable. She had reacted as he expected. Silly girl.
Jareth reached for his magic, summoning the very essence of his power, nothing happened, not one single shimmer of magic
"Shit" Jareth hissed. He had forgotten the all important rules of the labyrinth. If you ran, you ran as you originally were and he was originally mortal, just as Sarah had been. "Bloody shit." he repeated, frustrated at being forced to play by his own rules.
******************
With one last glance at Jareth's retreating form and a shake of her head Sarah pulled at the wild magic and started to make her way back to the castle beyond the goblin city. Only to find that she was somehow transported to a garden instead. Well at least HE didn't see me goof up, Sarah thought to herself.
As she rounded a corner, Sarah found herself face to face with the most beautiful creature she had ever lain eyes upon. Not 10 feet in front of her stood a girl, not quite woman but also not quite a child, with hair the color of flame running down her back in loose ringlets.
"Hello Sarah," Said the woman child," I think it is time for us to have a little girl talk, you may call me whatever you wish since I am unable to even remember my name after so many millennia. You may know me as the Labyrinth."
To say Sarah was shocked would be an understatement, and she didn't shock easily. But even with the whispers of her childhood Now long from her ears, she couldn't help but be so enthralled at this beauty.
"I wondered when you would appear! Are we going to give his glittery tight pants a hard time." The girl said conspiratorially.
"Umm what exactly would you like to talk about...um Labyrinth?" Sarah asked feeling unnerved by this conversation already.
"Well Sarah, I feel that our dear Jareth may have left out some very pertinent information while explaining the rules of this challenge to you." Answered the labyrinth. "What do you mean 'Left out pertinent information?!" Sarah nearly screamed back, panic washing over her anew.
"Fear not Sarah, I believe you will actually be quite delighted with the finer print this time." And as out of place on her face as it was, the woman-child in front of her smirked.
What the hell is up with all of these smirking immortals, Sarah thought as she rolled her eyes. "For the purposes of this conversation, would you mind if I gave you a nickname?" Sarah asked with a note of trepidation in her voice.
"Absolutely! That would be lovely actually." replied the labyrinth, "What did you have in mind?"
Sarah contemplated the question for a second. She felt a strange sort of kinship with the Labyrinth. She both loved and hated "her." Before she knew what she was saying, she blurted out "Linda. I'm going to call you Linda."
"Linda," the Labyrinth repeated slowly, as though tasting the word. "I've never had a name before." The smile she gave Sarah was almost girlish had it not been for the age in her eyes.
"Now about that information. Our Goblin King didn't mention that if he loses, he loses not only *you*," the smirk returned knowingly, "but all his power."
Sarah sucked in a breath.
"Indeed. He must have really wanted you to risk such an outcome."
Sarah couldn't help a betraying blush. "The odds are stacked in his favour. He's still the Goblin King. He's got scores of little goblins who will help him."
Linda grinned conspiratorially. "Ah, but he also failed to mention that none of his subjects will remember who is while he's human."
Sarah's eye widened in surprise. "Oh."
*******************
As Sarah was learning the full terms of their challenge, Jareth was learning many unknowns himself.
"What the bloody buggery hell do you mean you don't know who I am?!" Jareth bellowed at the little blue worm, "I was there at the birth of your youngest you little blue devil!"
Taking a deep breath, the worm responded, trying to sound kind to the lost human. "Sorry mate, gots no idea what's you're goin on 'bout, but we gots no king 'round these parts. If you be wantin' the Queen Sarah, you's goin hav'ta make yer way through the labyrinth you is."
He'd already explained that to this runner more than once, maybe the third time was the charm he hoped as his steaming hot cuppa was now most assuredly only luke warm. The little worm hated warm tea.
Slowly Jareth began to realize what was happening. He chided himself for not figuring it out sooner. Of course this journey wasn't going to be as easy as he originally anticipated, but he was determined to succeed nonetheless. He bid the worm a curt farewell and entered the hidden passageway directly across from where he stood, leaving the perplexed worm to wonder how he had known it was there.
Being human, albeit temporarily, had already begun to grate at his nerves. There were no shortcuts, no chances to skip ahead or even bend time to his will to shave a precious few minutes off his journey. He he was also beginning to regret his choice of footwear. Heels were hardly a sensible choice when it came to besting his former Champion, but at least he would look fabulous doing it.
At the next turn Jareth was certain he would be entering the hedgemaze, therefore making back excellent time after wasting so much arguing with that damnable worm. Certain...but incorrect all the same.
As Jareth rounded the corner, expecting to see the lush green leaves covering the corridors, he was met by the unmistakable odor of, by FAR, the worst mistake the goblins ever made...the bog.
"How the HELL have I ended up here?!" Jareth wondered in absolute puzzlement.
He grabbed the ruffles on his shirt, thankful that they were only attached at the top. He covered his mouth and nose and started across the bridge.
"I say, good sir," Jareth jerked his head up to see who was addressing him. A grandly adorned fox appeared from behind a tree, riding on a shaggy dog. "I have made it my sacred vow that none may pass this way without my permission!"
"Oh no," Jareth groaned, having forgotten that he had re-instated Didymus to the bog bridge after Sarah had won. At the time he could think of no punishment better for the treason, now however, he could kick his own ass for his short sightedness in putting this obstacle into his own path. "At this rate Sarah isn't even going to have to LOOK at one of those crystals I gave her!" he grumbled to himself.
"Did thou sayest, Sarah?" Didymus asked, his wirey brows rising. "Her majesty, the Goblin Queen Sarah?"
Jareth's lips twitched at the title. "There could be no other."
"May her reign last forever."
"Oh I intend to ensure that," Jareth replied.
"In fact," Jareth added, just then having a stroke of brilliance, or at least he hoped it was brilliance and not in fact just a stroke, "I was just on my way to deliver a most important piece of information to Her Majesty when I seemed to have made a wrong turn and lost my way entirely. Do you think you might be able to assist me with this valiant campaign sir knight?" Oh Jareth knew he was laying it on thick but he also knew the old knight would be unable to refuse a good campaign.
As if on cue, Sir Didymus replied with a most enthustiastic yip of approval to his new cause. "Verily! A most important campaign to be sure! Why you will most certainly need my assistance if you are to succeed in your cause for there is no one more courageous or skilled with the blade than myself!" he effused. With a smirk, Jareth tilted his head in thanks.
Well then Precious, let's see how you like it when one of your subjects inadvertently goes against you, Jareth thought with a smugness only he could hope to attain.
They had not gone far when a familiar shout rang out. "Didymus," Hoggle called, his short legs pumping to catch up with them. "Who's that then?"
"Ah, Sir Hoggle." The fox bowed. "This gentleman has an urgent matter for her majesty. Care you to join our noble quest?"
Hoggle eyed Jareth, a strange feeling of unease overcoming him, and then spit to the side. "Hrmph. Gentleman is he? Don't know why but I don't likes the look of 'im." He shook his head. "Listen, Sarah warned me to keep an eye out for handsome men covered in glitter looking to storm the castle."
"Said handsome did she?" Jareth couldn't help asking, preening just a little.
"What's it to you?" Hoggle turned back to the fox. "So if you do see any handsome ones be sure to lead them astray." He eyed Jareth again. "And get rid of 'im too just to be safe."
"Sir Hoggle! " Didymus said, taken aback at his friend's rudeness. "This gentleman has spoken of a valiant campaign! What reason could Queen Sarah have to keep him from such a cause? We must assist or be lax in our duties to our Lady Queen demand of us? Surly his quest is in service of our most fair monarch!"
The fox turned his eye to the can next to him. "It is, is it not? Thou would not speaketh falsehoods to a Knight of the sword, wouldst thou?"
Hoggle would still be suspicious, regardless of what the answer would be, this man made him nervous and wary.
"You do what ya want, Didymus, but don't come to me for help when Queen Sarah finds out. "
"I would do nothing of the sort Sir Hoggle. Now, I must call my faithful steed and we shall be on our way! Ambrosious! Ambrosious!" The fluffy dog came around a corner and barked at his master.
Jareth was growing impatient as he waited for Sir Didymus to mount his trusty steed. Time was of the essence!
Hoggle muttered to himself as he strode away, so that he almost didn't catch the hissed, "Nice try, Hogwart. It'll be the bog for you."
When he turned back Didymus and the stranger were gone. Hoggle pulled out a rag and mopped his craggy brow. The words didn't make sense but they'd sent a strange shiver down his spine nonetheless and he'd suddenly begun to sweat.
Jareth and Sir Didymus continued on their way towards the Goblin City. Jareth was uncertain of how much time had passed but wished he still had the power to turn into an owl.
Flying would be so much faster and not as painful, he thought to himself as his feet were sore from his boots.
Just then Sir Didymus decided to ask a question, distracting him from his concentrating on where he was going. "Merrily good sir, what is your urgent quest to see Queen Sarah regarding?"
None of your bloody business, Jareth wanted to snap the knight forgetting his situation, just then Sir Didymus stopped and turned to look up at this tall strange man, with wispy blonde hair, high boots and covered from head to toe in glitter , he really was not like the usual runners of the labyrinth and Sir Didymus could not help shake the feeling that he had seen that face before. 'Well ?' He said.
Jareth looked down at the creature and replied, "Why an invitation of course."
The little knight eyed him suspiciously. "An invitation for Queen Sarah, how odd, Invites and other letters or matters of the court are normally sent by owl."
Jareth paused for a moment and replied. "Yes but this is of the utmost importance, you see this invite is to a wedding which she must attend."
"I see." said Sir Didymus. "In that case, onward to the castle."
Jareth grinned as he watched the knight riding off in front of him, and mumbled to himself, "Yes, her own wedding."
The pair of them - or trio, if you counted the fox creature's faithful steed - walked on for some time. The route they took varied from solid stone walkways to uneven dirt paths which were littered with loose stones and crisscrossed with tree roots.
As Jareth's aching feet continued their complaining, he pondered the practicalities of just paving over the whole blasted labyrinth. His patience was already drawing thin as they began to navigate through what appeared to be an endless hedge maze, sinking further and further into what could only be described as a massive royal sulk.
He allowed his thoughts to wander, wondering if Sarah was laughing at him right now. An earth-shaking growl snapped him back to attention in a hurry.
********************
Little did he know, he was not too far off. Sarah was watching him. Only she was not laughing. She was trying to decide on a way to distract him or at the very least slow him down.
Sarah rolled the three crystals on her lap thoughtfully in the throne room, ignoring the cacophony of goblin laughter. She wasn't sure how Jareth ever got anything done in the chaos. They were almost as loud as Toby with his love of dinosaurs and dragons - always growling and breathing fire and running round the family house like a monster, until they were ready to pull their hair out. Pretending to eat her...
Like a bulb she sparked. Sitting up she released one of the crystals into the air. 'Let's see you deal with this,' she thought, a wry smile on her lips.
The goblins stopped their chorus of singing long enough to watch a shape appear in the crystal before it disappeared out the window. They turned and looked at their queen with something akin to awe on their faces.
Even as the thrill of anticipation at her diversion coursed through her, the words of the Labyrinth rang a sobering knell in her mind.
"Each time you use a bit of magic a tie is formed binding you to me - to this place. Use too many and you shall never unravel the knots again." The voice of The Labyrinth said.
Jareth has conveniently failed to mention that when he handed over the crystals, baiting her into using them against him. Manipulative bastard, she thought. But her lips curled just a little. Too late now, what's said is said.
She watched and waited, her lips curling upward a little more with each passing moment.
********************
The first thing Jareth heard was the distinct sound of flapping wings. This was followed shortly by the appearance of a rather large beast with emerald green eyes.
Sarah what have you done? he thought. He then realized that the creature was a dinosaur, one from a bygone era Above.
Sir Didymus, ever the knight, jumped in front of Jareth to protect him. "Fear not good sir! I shall protect you! From what, I know not but I will protect you."
"Son of a..." Jareth began, and a slew of highly inventive expletives followed in at least six dead languages.
"My dear sir!" exclaimed Didymus in abject shock. "Those are the not the words of a gentleman!"
The king snatched the oblivious fox by his collar just in time to avoid a set of claws. "I never claimed to be one. Run you little fool!"
As they ducked to avoid more aerial attacks, Didymus still steadily chastising the king for his colorful vernacular, Jareth had to smile just a little in the realization she must have used one of the crystals. Another cord bound, Sarah.
She *really* should have asked more questions.
Another screech preluded another narrow dodge of lethal looking claws. The creature, Jareth realized upon a most unwilling closer inspection, was a strange hybrid of dinosaur and dragon... which of course meant it's dragon nature was highly attracted to shiny... *glittery* objects. Dragons were naturally vegetarians. Dinosaurs, from what little he knew, were decidedly not.
Vixen. Forget not sitting for a week, Jareth mused darkly, I'll tie her to the bed for a month.
********************
Sarah watched through the crystal as Jareth and Didymus tried their best to dodge the creature she sent.
This should take up some of his time. she thought, amused.
Suddenly, Jareth managed to find a shiny stone just large enough that it would distract the dragon half of this creature.
He set down Didymus and threw the stone. Like a puppy chasing a ball, the creature went after the stone.
I give her credit for creative thinking. Now I wonder how creative she'll be once I have her in my bed, he mused. The thought gave him a shiver of anticipatory pleasure.
Hurtling around a corner, Jareth had only a split second to recognize where he was, before the ground opened up below him, dropping he and the hapless fox knight into a pit filled with thick, grasping hands.
"Well, fuck." Jareth said as he looked down into the abyss.
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Collaborative story 3.
The authors want to thank all the readers and reviewers for your support!
