Opportunity came and she found herself outside and alone. Her captor had taken to leaving off her restraints due to the alarming amount of times she had to use the restroom. He didn't think she could run in her condition he was wrong of course she would never tell him that. She liked the fact that he grew more lax-ed in duty it gave her time to plan and plot her escape, not once in the past three years had she not wondered if she could get away. She had for a good majority of the time pretended he had broken her spirit, she was after all a great actress. She never smiled, always walked dragging her feet, never did he see her not slouching her shoulders and back. She was wonderful at acting as if she cared for nothing, going so far at times as to seem as if she was truly depressed, yet still on a few occasions he would beat her, slapping her face or hurting her arms or legs, just never her stomach.
Her hair was brown and long, in some places it was tangled from her lack of having time to fix it, her body wasn't more then five foot six inches yet there was something over powering about her. Emerald eyes looked to be one of her strongest characters, after all it had been her eyes that had enslaved a king once. Yet three years ago her families car had been in an accident on a back road and the driver of the other car had pulled them out. She remembered looking at her sleeping parents and her little brother, as the stranger at the time checked to see that they were alive and alright, before turning his attention to her. Her hero had brown eyes and declared himself a doctor, yet he had not left her with her family instead he had slipped her into his car and left as she heard police sirens. she recalled well her injuries, two broken legs, 5 ribs had been cracked, her head had been banged pretty hard and worst her right hand had been
mangled and unusable.
She was never very aware of the time while she healed, mostly because the good doctor kept her drugged up and kept moving her. She only knew him and depended on him soon developing a bond with her captor she vanished with him almost a year after the accident. Joel had been very possessive finding an island that was uninhabited and had high cliffs he had seen to building them shelter. He kept her busy and close so she wasn't familare with anything further then the little compound he had created. Unable to explore and given a few of her meager possessions she made the place like home, yet something kept her from ever thinking of Joel as more then her companion.
With time came the true side of him, and it was far from pretty. It started with little things pinches or slaps for not doing what he told her to do. That only lead her to push back and the true beatings began, sometimes he would apologise after other times he said nothing just moving on like her pain didn't matter. She like an idiot mad excuses, until he started trying to become physical with her. He had screamed alot she owed him her life and smacked at her when she fought back, yet he had always stopped short in the beatings that,might end with his raping her. If anything that surprised them both until he made it clear he wanted an heir, that was when the experiments had started. She made excuses of all kinds to dissuade him, only stopping him from physical contact swearing she could not be intimate with any man unless she was married to him. The way he found to take her virtue was cruel and very business like, she still cried at night for the loss of it.
She shuddered even now inching away from the main house recalling how he had tied her in the bed and inserted the cold medal object into her without a second thought, then inserting into her womb his cursed seed. She never had a chance to fight it, she only wished every week after he had done this vile thing that it would see no fruit. She had been so glad as for over a year her wish was granted, yet almost nine months ago her wish stopped coming true and as she looked down just then she could see the fruit of his experiment. Her eyes moved from her swelling abdomen to the woods and she turned back to look in the house seeing through the window he was occupied with something else. She took a deep breath and moved toward the trees, to her it didn't matter that it would soon be night. Impulse took over to run, not to stop or look back, to jump over fallen tree branches, her feet listened and she ran.
Faster she moved, propelled by the thought that the evil man would soon figure out what she had done and follow her. Her feet moved her small battered body as fast as they could as branches and thorns scratched and ripped at her clothing and her skin. No time to stop for if she did she recalled his words of how he would kill her very slowly, baby or not. He had such a quick temper she never doubted he could kill her if he truly was provoked. This would indeed rile him up beyond measure. She tried to pay attention to everything at once, noting for the moment that only her harsh breath and the foliage beneath her made any noise as she ran, her bare feet feeling every twig snap she did her best to ignore all pain.
Hands moved up to cover her face as the trees seemed to thicken. She couldn't hear Joel behind her yet she knew he was there. She kept praying she was dreaming over the last three years, yet now she prayed she wasn't. Her body had seen all kinds of pain and she had survived it she thought , she would survive this as well. Her bulging stomach might have slowed her down if it wasn't for the fact she knew if she was caught she and her baby were dead. The birth was getting closer, another week or so Joel had told her just that morning as he examined her. She hadn't wanted a baby, but she wasn't about to see her child killed or raised by Joel either. she ran without looking and fell to the ground tripping over a log as pain ripped through her abdomen. Panic filled her, she wasn't safe there, there was no way he wouldn't find her if he followed her path if she stopped. She got back up grasping her stomach with both hands and she ran once more. she bit back screams of pain as contractions came, her mind screaming instead for someone to save her and take her away from that horrible place.
Fear and pain alone kept her moving for what seemed hours, it also blinded her to her surroundings as she ran without looking ahead. Almost to late to see the peril ahead of herself she came to a stop at the edge of one of the cliffs that surrounded the island. she fell to her knees trying to breath easier, her mind raced there was no time to backtrack or even climb down the cliff. The moon was full above her shinning light down on the water over a hundred feet below. Wetness dripped between her legs before she realised it was her water broken she let out a muffled scream looking to the forest behind her and a flashlight in the distance moving toward her. She got back to her feet in pure terror as a too well known man came into view. His black hair, neatly trimmed was seen with a look of pure anger. His eyes pure hate were a dark shade of brown as his face took on a murderous scowl. His eyes met hers as his six foot three form towered over her. She spotted the whip in his left hand and the flashlight in his right and winced as the pain of a contraction came upon her, they were so close now minuets if that apart, he screamed at her moving closer, " Come back Sara "
"Jareth" she whispered to herself backing up to the very edge of the cliff, a flood of memories of her past of Toby of the labryinth came in the blink of an eye. Her brain jump started to the begining as her mind sang out ' what no one knew was that the king of the goblins had fallen in love with the girl and given her certain powers'. She took a step back and joel stepped even closer he could see the wetness on her dress from her water breaking and he grinned such a horrible grin. she had a choice and a chance to survive still, if he still loved her. closing her eyes she turned and jumped making a silent prayed falling toward the water below. Her arms wrapped about her stomach as bruised lips managed to form words, " I wish, oh how I wish Jareths goblins would come and take me away to the underground," she shuddered. another contraction and she screamed eyes tight "Right NOW"
The water was warm a second later wrapping around her as she felt her body relax for a moment. Joel didn't jump in after her she was sure of that as the water eased the contractions. she gasped for breath before the water seemed to pour away and warm hands lifted her head from underneath. she opened her eyes as she felt herself lifted from the soothing water grabbing out as the water fell away the pain returned in earnest. She grasped stong hands offered to her as eyes closed again, she felt gloved hands move over her abdomen as she screamed once more the stress of the labor ripped through her. She felt every pain and sting of scratches that had been bathed in salt water, yet none of that pain mattered. She felt someone put a cool cloth over her forehead and eyes as she panted, she knew someone had stripped her bare from the waist down and she shuddered from the warmth of something like a blanket covering her. she took deep breaths letting them out in short bursts and gritted her teeth as comforting hands moved over her.
The pain was harsh then subsided as a hand rested over her abdomin, a husky male voice she knew from somewhere spoke to her in comfort yet she didn't understand him. She was confused yet when she felt the pressure that came with the next contraction she pushed, she knew someone was helping her feeling a small draft under the blanket. She fell back panting and found her back hit a squishy pillow like object that seemed to move, it didn't matter just then what it was as she felt her hips give and the tearing of her body as the head began to crown she screamed and pushed. When the pressure released and she heard moments later the cry of a baby she smiled and passed out. she was not sure where she was or why she was there she only knew that she was safe.
He still loved Sara he had pined for her since she had left him those years ago, after winning her brother back. As she lay there he looked her over and saw the bruises and threw a crystal to the ground to make a bassinet he set the crying child into it for a moment. Moving to Sara he removed the remains of her dress and wrapped her completely in his cape. The goblin's free of their duty as pillows moved to look upon the baby. Lifting Sara into his arms he noted how light she was before he transported Sara and the baby with him into his own personal chambers. Cleaning and dressing Sara by magical means he put her gently into his bed and smiled as she wrapped herself into the pillows and blankets.
Time had been kind to her, yet someone else hadn't been. It seemed funny to him that his magic kept screaming of her virtue when she had just given birth and all. He moved to the still crying baby and lifted her into his arms singing to her he rocked her about until the crying ended. Such a sweet little girl he thought calling forth a bottle to feed her with he moved to one of his chairs. she was so tiny he thought and his eyes were rewarded by tiny soft green eyes staring up at him, so very much like her mothers. He had been around babies enough to know to burp them gently rubbing the child's back he held her to his chest and was quite pleased when she burped before he noted that he was spit up on. He put the child back into the bassinet and smiled before he changed himself in new clothing. His attention moved to the sleeping Sara soon after that.
She had the look of one who hadn't slept soundly in a long time. She looked so peace full while she slept so had to forget her words and deeds, or that she broke his heart once. He vanished and appeared once more in his thrown room and sent the goblins to drain the pit and three were sent to fetch Sara;s companions from years before. She may be will full but rules were rules and without them there would be chaos. He pulled out an orb and searched in it for answers to why Sara was in the condition she was in. He needed someone to run the labyrinth that loved Sara or was at least tied to her, yet her words echoed in his mind she had called his given name in that wish.
Without a runner things could get very complicated. He hunted first for the babbies father wanting to know what had happened that Sara had wished herself to him in laybor and bruised as she was. He wanted nothing more then to know what was gonig on so that he might help her and the sweet baby that she had just had. He knew the laws Sara was his now she had wished herself to him calling his name specifically, yet the baby was still in need of a runner. He had seen her take her first breath and wasn't surprised to feel the magic swell in her from the underground. All children born within this land no matter what their parents were became imbued with magical powers, he was pretty sure the baby would never be able to leave the underground, without growing sick and possibly dying.
He searched the crystal and noted it stopped on a dark haired man standing in the moonlight with a look of such hatred on his face. He held a whip in one hand and the moon illuminated his scowl, he almost reminded him of someone. The man moved to the cliff looking over and screamed hurtling both objects in his hands toward the sea as he cursed Sara's name. Jareth didn't like this man whom ever he was and was sure in an instant he was the one not hurt Sara, he would have gone to him then save the echoing of the castle of a babies cry. He vanished to appear in the room and find Sara holding the baby to her chest as she still sat in her bed. He gently knocked before stepping fully in the room moving toward her. She had such a will in her eyes he thought as he came to stop by the bed, "so my Sara what is it that brings you back to me and the underground?"
Sara noted at once the softness in his voice as she adjusted the baby in her arms her daughter was so small she thought barely big enough if she had only been able to gain some more weight while she carried her. Her eyes looked up desperately at Jareth for help as she was on the verge of crying her bruised lip quivering. She didn't even fidget when he sat beside her on the bed helping her adjust the baby in her arms and as he slid her top open for the baby to suckle he was so gentile. She had dreamed of this man while she was still a captive hoping that he would some day rescue her. she couldn't find words as the baby nursed she leaned into Jareth's chest sobbing silently her body a sack of nerves.
He was taken aback at how she looked at him first, then with her head and body pressed into his he took a soft breath and wrapped arms about her holding her close. She was so diffrent from when he had last seen her. Her eyes were more intense when they weren't filled with tears he thought looking to her slightly opened shirt he brought a hand to gently rub over the babbies head, it wasn't fair this child should be his baby with Sara he thought in a jealouse moment. He couldn't help but smile as mother and baby soon fell asleep once more. His only dillemma was that holding her as he was he wouldn't be able to leave without waking her. A pillow floated to support the baby from beneath as Sara rested against his chest. She had yet to name the sleeping infant and he wondered silently how she knew so little of motherhood.
Answers would not come quickly he noted managing about an hour later to get the baby back into the bassinet and changed for bed wearing silk pajama bottoms he layed back in his bed glad when Sara curled up to him sleeping. His hands moved over her slowly feeling old scars and new scars alike his hands opened her shirt enough to confirm she had many cuts, he called forth the magics he knew to heal her as she slept against him. He soon drifted himself to sleep clinging to Sara as he did so. He would seek answers in a day or so as to why she was in such condition, and find a runner by then as well but for now he wanted to sleep holding the woman he still loved.
He woke only a few hours later to find the baby awake and crying and Sara still sleeping. He slowly sat up settling her back into the bed and moved toward the bassinet, the Fae in him wanted to send the child to a goblin to watch however he would not do such a thing with Sara's daughter. Lifting her he moved about the room sweeping her about he stifled a laugh as she clung with a tight hand to his fingers, feeding her from a bottle he bounced her gently moving about the room singing to her her a song he had only ever shared with Sara before. Nursed from the bottle and burped without being covered in spit-up he settled her on the bed and changed her then from thin air he formed a little white dress about her. He smiled as she fell asleep in his arms and slipped himself into a chair a shirt appearing on him he let a leg hang over the arm thinking as he felt her tiny breaths against his chest.
He wasn't sure what to do Sara had wished herself away yet not the baby, yet she had been carrying the baby within her so that it came through as well. Then again the baby had been born within magic there was no dissuading the fact that this baby would not be able to leave the underground and live. There was a chance at this point Sara might be lost as well if she attempted to leave, the thirteen hour mark had passed, there were ways around the hour mark if he could prove there was no one willing to run the labyrinth at the moment she was wish away. The man was beyond being able to run it he was sure, perhaps he should seek young Toby he thought watching the little babe sleep against his chest.
His right hand lifted an orb appearing in glitter he stared within willing it to show him Sara's family. Within the orb a picture of a house, the house he had seen Sara grow up within came into view, posters hung ruined by rain and time pictures of Sara from when she was younger and something that almost looked like her now only perhaps that picture had more weight to the face and less bruises. He watched as the house doors opened upon Robbert and his wife staring at the TV old videos played of Sara acting. He recognised the play he had seen her in the park so many times in the past pretending she was in his labyrinth in the play she was he suddenly remembered being there that day not long after her visit to him he had seen Toby and Sara in the park and their parents taping Sara as she had fun.
He smiled as he saw himself in the video in his owl form watching over the play acting as the family bonded. He looked past the video and the two watching following up the stairs as the orb came to a closed door. The door opened and a young Toby sat looking out the window of Sara's room. He looked strange sitting there in the metal contraption with the wheels, what humans called wheel chairs was what he sat on. How had that happened he wondered as he made up his mind to go and speak with the boy, pore Toby looked lost and stared at things that had belonged to Sara at one time. Jareth looked to the sleeping baby and smiled it could wait a moment he thought and in an instant he was changed by magic the baby lay once more within the bassinet, his cloak appeared on him and then he vanished from the room and the sleeping Sara to appear in the mortal realm in the room where Toby sat.
Jareth looked to young Toby as he stood within the room hiding a smile at how big his once heir had come. Toby turned in the strange object and stared at Jareth with a startled look on his face before his eyes flew to the wall and a picture of Jareth sketched once by Sara and which he had never had the heart to remove. His eyes moved back to Jareth as he and the chair moved forward Sara had told him so many times the story, and he had read the book. Before the accident where he had lost his ability to walk and his family had lost Sara. He had tears in his eyes as he stopped looking up at Jareth in all his intimidation, " you're him, the Goblin king. Can you help me find Sara?"
Such soft words spoken by the boy Jareth leaned down to look Toby in the eyes. He could see so many wishes in the boys eyes yet one was stronger and wanted more then any other, even walking again to see his sister again. Jareth smiled at the boy and nodded He looked around the room young Toby had left it much the same as it had been long ago. He looked Toby over and smirked holding a finger to his lips and making a hushing noise. Jareth held out an orb to Toby and smirked, " Toby look within the Orb and you will see that which you wish to see more then anything else, but there is a price for each wish it grants you and I can give you no more then three..."
Toby looked into the orb and he saw Sara and he nearly dropped the delicate looking glass, had Jareths hand not helped him hold it, she was sleeping in a bed of silk and her hair was as long as he had ever seen it. She had changed with time yet she seemed so very happy. Toby smiled as the tears flowed freely, he had not cried since that day when he woke to see Sara missing. He had kept speaking then that there had been a man with black hair who had taken them from the car, yet no one had believed him, and so he had mourned alone and withdrew into himself in his hated wheelchair wanting so many things but none more then Sara, for she had always believed him.
Toby nodded at last and looked at Jareth sure that had been his wish he stared back at the orb and Sara, after all he had only asked to see her not to see her in person. Jareth took the holds of Toby's chair and the two vanished a note left on the desk near the door, it simply stated that he had gone to a friends. They appeared in a stone room where Toby felt suddenly tingles through his entire body he looked at Jareth as his leg twitched something it hadn't in such a long time he looked down to his feet he had always remembered begin able to walk and run the feel he had been having physical therapy yet he had never felt his legs like he did now Jareth smiled at him and nodded offering hands,"stand Toby so long as you are here within the underground you have no need of that chair you sit within."
Toby didn't take his hand at first testing his legs wiling them to move and almost calling out in shock as they did. He took Jareths hand and he felt the tingle move through him as he stood up. He had never thought to walk again and doing this now was a dream come true he threw his arms around Jareth hugging him tightly Jareth was shocked he was not used to such signs of affection surely no child or goblin for that matter had ever done anything like hugging him before.
He waited for Toby to release him and then looked to a clock the thirteen hour mark was a few hours away so he might as well bring Toby up to speed, "young Toby let us talk and reach agreement then shall we, but first what will your first wish be"
Toby's eyes flared he hadn't used his wishes yet that meant he might actually be able to see his sister and touch her and talk to her, " I wish to be able ot spent one week with my sister. I've missed her so long, but I don't want that week to be the last time I am able to be with her... is that possible"
Jareth grinned and nodded, " once a month let us say you can spend three days, after the first week, with Sara in a safe place... for as long as you both wish it so"
Toby was quick to agree taking a step and relishing in the fact that he could. "agreed. now what is my price for this wish? " He wasn't stupid he had heard there would be a price for each of his three wishes. Most never understood how he could pay such close attention to detail, there was nothing Toby couldn't due if he put his heart and mind into it.
Jareth looked the boy over, he was more astute then most of his runners, "agree to run the labyrinth for Sara weather you win or lose I will grant your wish"
"Done," his answer quick he would do anything for Sara, she was his sister but still more she loved him completely.
Jareth smiled to Toby and nodded his head, " when the clock comes once more to thirteen we will start, I will give you a bag of supplies and tell you this. To run the labyrinth as you are about to do your wishes can not be used. should you need me while you run you need only call my name and I will come. Yet even if you win young Toby we will give Sara the choice of weather she leaves or not "
Toby looked to the king and wondered why he was being so generous, " Jareth isn't it... how did you find my sister when no one else could? My family has been looking for her for so long now. We were in this accident and it was like we had all been thrown from the car but when we came to Sara was gone. I remember seeing this man putting her into a car but no one else believed me?"
'So that is what happened,' Jareth thought to himself as he watched Toby, well there was no reason to lie to the boy, "Sara wished herself here nearly a day ago in my own time, I believe that is about an hour in your own time. I've never actually understood the time difference between the above ground and the underground. She was not in the best of condition when she came to me, so she is resting and healing as we speak. There is someone else you should meet Toby."
His words no sooner uttered then the two vanished to appear in a room off from his, he didn't want to disturb Sara yet he felt the babies need and heard the cry in his head, walking into the other room he left Toby behind before coming back with a small baby in his arms. Toby noticed how very much like Sara the baby looked. Toby moved closer to look at the child who seemed so at ease in Jareth's arms. a finger reached out to rub at her brown peach fuzz hair and he grinned," she is the spitting image of Sara"
Jareth smiled and nodded looking to the baby he was starting to grow attached to, she would never worry that she might be changed into anything more then what she was. He motioned to Toby to hold her and grinned brightly when the babe moved into her arms. He stepped back and let Toby hold his niece, it was then he slipped into the other room to the sleeping Sara. He moved to her side and cast a fae glamor that she didn't have any visible problems. Lifting her from the bed she stirred and she was changed into a gown. He smiled to her and carried her into the room where Toby stood holding the babe.
He felt Sara stir awake and then he watched her head turn to fall on Toby. He felt her shudder in her arms as he settled her into a chair and bowed to her, " Sara I would like to re-introduce you to your brother Toby and the little one in his arms being your daughter"
Sara looked tired yet at the same time like she wanted to jump up and embrace her brother. That look had him move to take up the babe that the two could embrace like they wanted. He smiled down at the sleeping beauty in his arms as Toby moved to Sara dropping to his knees he hugged her as both sobbed. He knew then that he had made the right choice, he looked to a clock and stepped off to the side to slide into a chair watching the two he then had his attention drawn to a tiny hand clinging to his finger. Was it possible to love anyone so completely in knowing them such a short time. She would have to have a name soon, he would talk to Sara about that as soon as Toby was on his way through, he would have to explain to her that too and soon.
The little one was making herself quite comfortable with his gloved pinky when he looked up to see two sets of eyes on him. He smirked as the two started to laugh, " come now like neither of you have had your fingers tugged by a one day old. This little one has more energy then a chicken running from a goblin"
What a nice comparison he thought as he watched Sara's lips curl in a smile, she knew what he was talking about, Toby had once clung to her that way he was sure. He stayed where he was as Toby settled into a chair by Sara. Jareth took a deep breath he knew how Sara could be if she felt she was being treated unfairly.
"Sara, we have need to talk and young Toby should stay for this first part. When one is wished away to the underground, there must be a runner, for only after the runner wins or fails, can the one wished away be free to do what is in their heart. Toby is here to run the labyrinth for you Sara, but only you, the baby was not wished here it was however born here, her first breath was magic, and every breath since, I'm sorry"
Sara stared at Jareth as he spoke and looked to the baby then she looked to Toby, she loved her family she missed them sometimes but they had moved on since then. she had, had to forget them and survive for herself after the accident when she had been taken away. It hurt to think she might never see her family again, but she had meant her wish to come here to the underground, Jareth had never left her mind. In all the years since she had left the labyrinth, she had always in her heart wanted to return, to be with her friends, and so that the piece of her heart that loved the goblin king could fully realise what that meant. It felt almost strange to her to be here and not want to hate him, but he had only seen that her wishes came true after all, she had been the one to wish Toby away and she had wanted him to be vindictive.
how to make him understand she didn't hate him anymore? She looked as he held her daughter, a child that he seemed to love as much as anything and she nodded, words would not due in this situation she looked to Toby, " thank you Toby. Thank you too Jareth"
Was it possible to be speachless? Jareth had never found himself in such a situation before. Toby looked to the clock upon the wall it was almost time to move himself through the labyrinth, he had read the book several hundred times after his sister vanished, before it vanished when that strange detective had shown up that Toby hadn't trusted went looking for clues. He turned to look at Sara, was it possible that that had been the man that had rescued the family and taken Sara.
"Sara I have to go run the labyrinth outside, but when i am done, we need to talk about where you have been alright, and we have a week for that just ask Jareth"
Sara looked to her brother and nodded, the need for sleep was slowly moving back over her. She turned to look at her daughter in Jareth's arms, she had never even thought of a name and here she was trying to think of one. She looked nothing like her captor, nothing thankfully of Joel stood out in her face Sara smiled to her brother, "alright Toby we will talk when you finish I promise," Toby looked so big she thought as he nodded and moved to run fingers over her daughters face, she needed a name something that fit her child of magic. Eyes looked over Jareth as her emotions played with her, once she had hated him with all her being now she felt nothing but love in her heart. She would have to talk to him later about such things though for she started to yawn before her eyes got heavy and she drifted to sleep once more.
Jareth watched her fall asleep in the chair and rocked the baby gently in his arms, Sara was adjusting slowly to the magic surrounding her. Most mortals were much quicker to take it all in. He smiled and then Jareth the baby and Toby vanished to reappear on the hill overlooking the labyrinth. He looked to the boy acting like the monarch that he was, "you have thirteen hours Toby to solve the labyrinth. At which time Sara will chose weather she stays or leaves, I will still give to you the two wishes remaining, but remember that you must answer a question before you receive your wish, I will give you the same help I once gave Sara and remember I want to win."
Toby looked to Jareth then the clock. He nodded and smiled to his neice before he started to move toward the entrance, he had to try to win for Sara's freedom. He never wanted to lose the ability to see her again. He didn't look back at the sound of the baby crying nor at the sound of the crying fading and changing full direction. It was his chance to do what Sara had once done for him.
He was determined moving down the hill toward what he hoped would be the entrance. He had a pack slung over his shoulder as he contemplated what he might wish, surely he would wish to regain his ability to walk in the real world, but what other wish could he possibly want. He came to the wall into the labyrinth and stopped where was the entrance? His eyes scanned the area until he saw something flying about a bush and he went to investigate, funny it looked almost like he imagined a faerie might look.
His blue eyes scanned the creature before he recalled Sara's long ago warning and jumped to scare it away. As his feet hit the ground again the bush fell away to reveal a small door he might manage to crawl through. getting down onto his stomach he opened the door and suddenly found himself on the other side looking at a particularly angry faerie. He panicked and closed the small door before getting back to his feet, that was interesting. This place almost reminded him of another story he had loved in the past, Alice in wonderland, all it needed was a white rabbit he laughed and turned to see a white almost mouse looking up at him then down at a watch before putting that into his vest.
Alright it was a twisted version of the book he thought, "pardon me sir, have you the time"
The creature looked at Toby and smiled innocently, "it's time to buy a vowel. no no it's time to buy a watch. time to climb the clock. Time to make the donuts"
Toby was sure the creature could go on all day at this rate and though it was funny he thought it best to start moving, picking the mouse up he set him in his top most pocket so he might rattle on his ramblings as he moved forward. Company was after all something he longed for at the moment and the creature didn't seem to mind at all. He moved on left until he came to a blockage and blinked he sighed and looked around where had this come from. He wondered looking about for the worm Sara had once told him about only to find nothing. he looked down to the mouse and sighed."pardon once more friend what is your name"
The mouse stopped rambling and looked out of the pocket it sat in, "George," Lifting the watch it sighed and put it away looking back at Toby "so where are we going, and who are you"
"my name is Toby and we are looking for a way to get to the castle in the center of the labyrinth. Do you know the way George"
George shook his head yes, "nope, not a clue," hey he was as helpful as he could be. being small had plenty of advantages after all and Toby would make a wonderful transport, better then any snail, maybe he could even teach him to tell the time. Oh now to the mouse that would be a wonderful thing indeed. wouldn't it be great to be able to give the time rather than sputter out nonsense?
Toby sighed intent to turn around and found the dead end had moved behind him, turning to where the wall had just been he found a turn and smiled. George would be a fun companion he could tell. He moved toward the opening and smiled letting his feet and heart lead the way.
Far off in the castle Jareth sat in his thrown room watching his goblins play. within the pool of water that was the pit a few even splashed about as if they were in a mud puddle. He had to admit since the salt water bath the castel goblins smelled better. He looked to the clock as a hand moved to cover his eyes, time moved so slow sometimes, an orb appeared and grew so the entire room could watch the new runner at their leisure. Jareth turned his head and watched Toby rattle off to a mouse that was in his pocket and he almost found laughter. Upon seeing the vest jareth was sure that Toby had found George the mouse who thought himself a time keeper, a time keeper that couldn't tell time, he laughed.
How in the world had he found that little annoyance was beyond Jareth but he was almost glad as he heard laughter from Toby. It reminded him of Sara's companions on her trek through the labyrinth. He looked to a goblin guard and smirked, " you go find me hogshead, he will be in the garden of delight," when the goblin started to hesitate Jareth stood,"NOW," the command had the creature off in and instant. Looking around he grinned, wouldn't Sara he surprised when she woke again to find a party with the underground and all her friends. sure he had acted angry at them for being called to her all those times after she had won but he had always let them go. Until that is she stopped calling, and she had become lost to him.
He would send Hoggle, who's name he knew but just so enjoyed making fun of to find Ludo and Sir Diddimus. In the mean time he would prepare a party for the reunion, he would give Sara every reason to want to stay when Toby finished. The king wanted her to stay with him, she had always stayed on his mind since she won. It was funny most said the words and ran, then were forgotten, he almost always gave them back the baby at the end, except when the baby was better off and had less chance of survival in the Above ground. Then the child was raised by the Elves or faeries and eventually became one with them. No child ever became a goblin although there were a few times he had come close to letting them.
Goblins were of their own making, much like mankind they came from a male and female procreating, although they had litters and in many cases close together, they reproduced like rabbits he thought watching his goblins splash about he wondered if he should throw in a few bars of soap. He hadn't heard or felt when Sara stirred awake yet his eyes came up as she moved into the thrown room with the baby in her arms. She looked like motherhood was starting to agree with her. He stood and moved to her side noting she wore one of his robes about her small frame he slid her onto a smaller thrown next to his own, one he had been working on since her return in secret with the aid of his goblins.
It helped to keep them occupied at times with jobs so they didn't destroy the castle and all that surrounded it. He smiled
to Sara and the baby as she looked about the room then settled her eyes on the picture of Toby moving through the labyrinth with what looked like a mouse in his pocket. turning to catch Jareth staring she smiled and looked to her daughter she had been thinking of the perfect name and having some difficulty with it, " Jareth I am at a loss for what to name her. I never really had time to wonder about such things when I was with..." her thoughts and words trailed off as she froze. She was remembering her captor again and realizing the fear was still on her mind, "The horror that has held my life these years."