A Hoggle-Hovel of One's Own

by The Dishwasher

The Goblin King crops up in Sarah's life, every now and then, just like that, and it's the same old Come to the Underground spiel. But Sarah's pretty happy where she is - she's just looking for a nicer place to rent to write her book. If only the Labyrinth would stop getting in the way! New & final: The End.

1. A Hoggle-Hovel of One's Own

Disclaimer - Nothing is owned by me. The usual.

A Hoggle-Hovel of One's Own

He next appeared when Sarah had just left the estate agent's.

'Huh', she said to the Goblin King, who was walking beside her, 'Well, what do you think?'

'Nice enough,' he shrugged, 'If you like that sort of thing.'

'Well I do,' she sniffed, 'It's airy and light and high up, you know... the opposite of where you are.'

'Aren't you paying through the nose for a Hoggle-sized attic hovel in an overpriced and over-rated part of London?'

'It's near my work,' she said.

'Don't you work on a portable computer in those wireless-equipped trendy cafe chains?'

'I have a favourite cafe,' she retorted, 'And anyway, that's not the point. It's in a good location. I can afford the rent. I don't need much space.'

'Hm.'

'Don't 'hm' me! I know what you're thinking.'

'Enlighten me.'

'You're thinking, well now, why doesn't she just drop the Aboveground act, drop her, in my opinion insignificant, work and the, in my opinion pointless, cafes, and instead go and live in my castle beyond my labyrinth, which is a gazillion times bigger and better than this Hoggle-hovel that she is so determined to rent with her tiny, miniscule even, wages, just to prove, as if it needs proving, that I have no power whatsoever over her. '

'Hm,' he said again, and then nothing more was said as they walked on, sort of together but sort of not, until Sarah stopped.

They had reached the corner of the park, by the underground station, where she would usually take a right to head back to her current abode, a flatshare in a characterless neighbourhood with a rather drab interior. It was also the place where he would usually leave, though she didn't quite know where he went or how he got there.

'Well,' he said slowly, 'Insightful, but not at all what I was thinking at the time.'

'I refuse to believe it,' she said.

'Refuse all you like,' he said.

'I will!'

'Fine,' he said, and turned to go, in his usual way.

'Fine,' Sarah muttered, but then despite herself sighed and rolled her eyes.

'Wait. Wait a second,' she said, and added, as disinterestedly as she could, 'OK, so, what were you thinking?'

'You want to know?' he asked, bemused.

'Sure. If you say I'm wrong, tell me what was behind that 'hm' of yours.'

'Well,' he said, 'I was thinking, if I visit, I'd like a bit more space.'

-FIN-