Hello, hi anyone out there- so I don't own the properties, that should be fairly obvious on but here we are. With that being said, I love Labyrinth and the 10th Kingdom and i'm actually p surprised there isn't more content exploring this crossover? Anyway I thought it was a pretty cool idea. I hope you enjoy!
Sarah loved this city- well, mostly. New York lived up to her expectations in so many ways, but dashed them in others as well, it was the perfect backdrop for this emotional tempest she was weathering at the dreamed of living here in this metropolis on her own as long as she could remember, amongst towering historical buildings and glittering lights.
Now as Sarah settles into her humble apartment, she wondered if she was in over her head. Pages upon pages, first drafts, and rewrites were strewn upon her desk. Sarah sighed deeply in irritation, her cheeks flushed under her hands. The apartment was quiet aside from the sounds of the city that seeped in from outside.
The clock ticked in the empty space as Sarah took a few calming breaths, her gaze slid from the mound of paper in front of her, to the empty pantry. She really needed out of this stuffy room, and as her stomach growled she had her excuse. She grabbed her keys and headed out.
Sarah usually walked with purpose, her head held high, she tried to exude an air of confidence. Since high school Sarah more than anything wanted to reassure herself that she was a force to be reckoned with, that she was confident, that she was strong. Her renewed self esteem reflected in her quick and deliberate pace, however...
Today she was totally procrastinating.
She passed a bodega, across the street a pizza shop, she kept walking- she didn't know where. "Just a quick break and i'll feel refreshed- and then I can get back to writing." she promised herself, however she was fully prepared to keep walking around the city for an hour or two as the thought of "I should really get back to work" chanted in the back of her thoughts. That lingering worry dissipated when she felt a warmth in her chest.
Her heart started pounding and her skin tingled at the familiar feeling, like seeing an old friend for the first time in years.
She could feel magic in the air- not that she recognized it as magic of course, but she knew this feeling well, it swathed around her like a blanket. She followed the electricity around her until she found herself in front of a restaurant called The Orchard, it was quaint, more of a hole in the wall really- easy to miss if you weren't looking for it. Sarah almost felt compelled to enter, and upon passing the doorway, she felt energized.
A bell over the door rang in the moderately empty establishment, and immediately, a tall man in a plain white button down bounced out of the kitchen, with a menu under arm.
"Welcome weary traveller to The Orchard! Please come in- sit down, sit!"
Sarah opened her mouth but quickly shut it in surprise, the man's air of dramatics caught her off guard. She stammered out a "O-oh um I-" before he pulled out a chair for her.
"Table for one? Or will you have a guest joining you?" he asked, gesturing for her to sit.
"Oh, oh no, It's just me." Sarah quickly replied before he could continue. He smiled and nodded, sweeping his arm over the small table by the window. Sarah looked between him and the table.
His brows creased together for a moment, his aura changed and the air grew stale- Sarah felt uneasy in the silence, it was almost like he was calculating something, until he twacked the palm of his hand against his forehead and rolled his eyes comically.
"Right! Of course, where are my manners? My name is Wolfgang, I am the co owner of this establishment and I will be your waiter!" He waved his hand in another wide gesture, much to Sarah's relief and budding amusement "Call on me and I will be there!"
"Thank you so much Wolfgang," She smiled, sitting down in the chair he offered "You said you're the co owner? I was wondering how long has The Orchard has been here? I've never noticed it before."
Wolfgang nodded and looked around "Oh yes, we only started operation about six months ago, Virginia and I looked for years for the perfect location." he beamed.
Sarah snorted without meaning to, and Wolf cocked his head.
"The perfect location? I almost didn't notice it!" She laughed, but quickly caught herself, looking up at Wolfgang "Sorry that was rude huh?"
He shook his head "Not at all! I don't want to get into the details or course I know If I did I'd go on and on! Virginia says I ramble-" he spoke quickly.
"Wolf!" a woman's voice came from a back room, and Wolfgang's head snapped to attention "Yes my love?" he called.
"You're close to rambling."
Wolf turned back and looked from the menu under his arm to Sarah and quickly handed it over to her with a sheepish laugh. "Shall I get you a water miss.." he looked to her expectantly,
"Call me Sarah, please." she said before she could think. Wolf nodded "Well, Sarah, I-" he waved his hand above his head in a very Shakespearean manner "shall return!"
As he turned to leave she suddenly realized just how small and quiet the restaurant really was. She felt an odd pang of nostalgia in her chest that made her squirm in her seat. She tried to brush it off as deja vu, but...something gnawed at her, something that she couldn't place, something almost from a dream. She felt her stomach drop as the thought crossed her mind, the flash of a ball gown, the smell of peaches, and the feel of crumbling stone under her feet. In her mind's eye she could see it, a sprawling network of walls, pits, dead ends, and swamps. It sent a jolt through her.
She swallowed a lump in her throat, she didn't have time to dwell too deeply on the feeling as Wolf come back with a tall glass of water.
She thanked him, looking at the condensation clinging to the glass for a moment before looking back up at the plainly dressed man in front of her. "I'm sorry, that is- well, I don't mean to pry, but you mentioned that it was you and Virginia that picked this location- Is she your wife?" Wolf's face lit up at the mention of Virginia.
"Oh yes! Virginia, Virginia, is the love of my life, and the main creator of this establishment! It was her dream to own a restaurant of her very own, and I love to eat- so she and I spent years working towards our dream." a dreamy smile played over his lips at the thought, he shook his head and looked around "I'm sorry I could really just go on and on, and I haven't even taken your order yet, you must be absolutely ravenous!"
Sarah couldn't help but smile and settle into the small space. The time passed comfortably in this little hole in the wall, and as the sun began to set against the skyline outside, the restaurant emptied out. She didn't know what it was about this place that put her on edge and gave her such comfort, but, the thought of what it could be got pushed to the back of her mind. She finished her meal and as she waited for Wolf to come back with the check, a beautiful woman came out from the back room of the restaurant, holding the pudgy little hand of a young boy. She had a wild and curly bob that framed her smooth, fit face, however the most striking thing about her was her radiant blue eyes- a blue so deep that they seemed otherworldly. The boy by her side shared her full head of mousy brown hair, but his eyes were dark. The woman met Sarah's eyes and smiled brightly.
"You're Sarah, right?" she asked her.
Sarah nodded "Yes ma'am." she replied. The woman snorted at Sarah's formality "I'm sorry if my husband weirded you out- he's very theatric but he means well."
Sarah's eyes lit up "You're Virginia then!"
Virginia nodded "I can only imagine the things Wolf's told you."
Sarah shook her head and scooted out of her chair "He's only told me very good things!" Virginia hoisted the boy onto her hip and chuckled warmly, putting Sarah at ease. "It's not what he said I'm worried about- it's just how much he says that's the problem."
The boy at Virginia's hip clung to her tightly and looked over at Sarah with a wary look only kids could give. Sarah's gaze went from Virginia to the boy, and she gave him a small wave, as not to startle him. Virginia noticed this and patted the boy's wild hair affectionately. "This is our son Forrest"
Sarah looked to the young boy "Well hello Forrest! How old are you?" she cooed, and with a small little smile, Forrest held up his open palm, his little fingers spread widely. Sarah's mouth opened comically and she gasped. "Five years old? My goodness young man, you'll be running the business soon won't you?" Forrest giggled and nodded.
"Do you have any kids?" Virginia asked with a grin on her face. Sarah snorted in surprise "Me? Oh, no- I have a baby brother and he's almost too much to handle as it is!" Virginia gave a sigh and ruffled Forrest's hair "Yeah, between this one and his father I have a full plate." As Wolf strode back into the dining room.
"Speak of the devil!" Virginia cried as her husband handed Sarah the check, she quickly paid, gathered her things, and thanked the couple. As she turned to leave she heard Virginia call her name.
"Please take this card, we'd love to see you again!" she slid a business card into Sarah's hand. Her husband join in animatedly "Yes, please stop by anytime! Our number is on the back should you need it" Sarah felt that pang of nostalgia again, this time it struck a deeper chord.
"Should you need us.."
She blinked and accepted the card, said her goodnights and headed out onto the busy sidewalk.
"Damn it's 9 o'clock already!" she muttered to herself, looking down at her watch, hurrying home. She ignored the crackling electricity of magic in the air, she ignored the flood of memories pushing against her conscious mind, and she didn't hear the beating of feathered wings above her.
Instead Sarah Williams ran home.