Hardships Un-numbered

By: JasmineRose

"Through dangers untold and hardships un-numbered..."

Yes, they had been hardships. I had never felt so confused. It had taken hours of my toiling through that labyrinth of dreams to finally decide to say those words to him. Jareth had looked so heart-broken, and yet I was falling apart inside. I knew Toby had to get home, I couldn't let him become a goblin. He had his own magic, and it wasn't my choice to make to change him. However, I wished so much that I could have stayed.

Toby would have been alone with her. I wouldn't have wished that on anyone. No, until I turned eighteen, I had to stay and care for him, make him understand how special he was, before Karen could push him into submission as she had with me. I remained isolated from her, avoiding her at all costs. She had tried to rid me of my magic, my spark. "You should have dates at your age." was just one of constant reminders of my social life, or lack thereof. But how could I date? Not even the foot-ball quarterback could even hope to kiss Jareth's boots. He could not be touched in my mind, and therefore, nobody could touch me.

The evening before my eighteenth birthday, I called to Hoggle. I had tried to keep him out of this all, but I knew he was the only one that could help me.

"Did you bring it?" I asked, my breathing quickened and my heart began to beat harder.

"Of course Sarah, though I believe you be owing me a proper explanation for why you'd need it." Hoggle looked confused at the whole situation, but also happy to see me. I understood he was hurt that when I had called upon him, after almost three years, it had been to ask him a favor. However, I had wished to call to him so many times before that, but I couldn't leave my own problems on his mind.

"I have to go back Hoggle. I have to see him, even if he rejects me, I need to see him." I felt a tear fall down my cheek, wiping it away as I tried to stay calm.

"He hasn't been the same, he's more intimidating and violent than ever. Nothing seems to make him happy, he always wears the same sad look. I do not know how he will react to your return."

"Either way, I must, can you meet me in the tower of the goblin city?"

"I'll try Sarah, but Jareth has all of us pulling the strangest hours, If I'm not able to be there, I'll grab ahold of Ludo or that prancy Didymus. Or perhaps you'd rather me send the Fire Gang as a welcome party?" Hoggle looked at her, a mischievous smile painted across his face.

"Oh Hoggle, I've missed you so much!" I picked up my friend and swung him in my arms, where he proceeded to struggle to get free until he finally gave up.

"Oh Sarah do ya have to? Always with the emotions and the hugs and the kisses, remember what happened last time?" In fact, I did remember that time, hiding a laugh asI visualized Hoggle hanging above the Bog of Eternal Stench. He half-heartedly smacked me and got ready to leave. At the last moment before he left, he threw me my salvation.

"It's a crystal, nothing more, but if you turn it this way and look into it, it will show you your dreams."

There it lay, a crystal, but it was something more, it would bringme back to the land I loved, and the manI loved even more...