Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the labyrinth in any way shape or form... though at times I wish i did. The ONLY thing I do own in this story is the OC and husband. Please enjoy this Labyrinth Fanficiton.
A Long Journey
Prologue
Why now? After twenty six years, why now? Why have the nightmares just now returned?
"Sarah, honey, relax," Stephen, my beloved husband, said in an attempt to comfort me. "It was only a dream," he added as I sobbed into his chest. Yes, it had been a dream. But it had been so vivid and realistic. He began to stroke my hair as he waited patiently for me to calm down.
"Stephen…" I murmured, trying to find my voice.
"I know Sarah. It's alright. Nightmares are horrible, but you just need to remember they aren't real. They can't hurt you." His words provided me little comfort, for I knew better. Dreams did mean something; everything meant something. After all this time, I knew that I wouldn't suddenly have a nightmare of that place for no reason at all.
"Sarah, sweetie, you and I both know that goblins don't exist," Stephen added when I didn't reply.
"What?" I began, pulling away from him to stare at him. "What did you say?"
"You were saying something about Goblin City." With a small shake of his head, he turned to the nightstand and picked up a small red leather bound book. "I think this book is getting to your head, dear," he said, handing me the book.
"Where did you find this?" I whispered. This wasn't amusing at all. I hadn't seen this book since… since I had solved the Labyrinth. I had packed it away in a box and it was lost to the dark abyss of my closet. Surely I would have remembered digging it out and taking it with me to college.
"It was that desk of yours downstairs. I read it, and I have to admit it is a rather interesting book. But you really shouldn't take it so seriously." He stared at me with a sad expression. Why did he have to sound like a parent lecturing their child?
"But it's real," I said before I could stop myself. Why hadn't I ever thought to stop and think about what I said before I said it?
He stared me with a blank expression before saying, "Sarah dear, it's just a book. It is not real."
"You don't understand," I said, trying to defend myself. "When I was fifteen, I… I wished away my baby brother. I went to the Labyrinth, and I got him back. But I know for a fact that it is real. All of it." I knew I sounded crazy, but I had to tell him the truth; I had kept it hidden for so long.
"Sarah, that was nothing more than a dream. And I can prove it," he said with an exasperated sigh.
I looked up at him quickly, eyes wide and fearful. "Stephen, don't," I begged. "Please."
"Sarah," he began, ignoring my attempts to stop him. "I wish the goblins would come and take you away, right now."
My heart skipped a beat, and my entire body went cold. I couldn't breathe, and I didn't dare take my eyes off of my husband. I didn't realize that I had been gripping his arm tightly until a moment later. The minutes passed slowly, and with each second my fear seemed to grow until I felt it was going to consume me. Eventually, I began to realize that nothing was happening.
"See, nothing," Stephen added, obviously sensing my relief. He placed his hand softly on my cheek, his black hair dropping slightly into his face as he stared at me with his calm brown eyes.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," I said, finally regaining my breath. A sense of peace washed over me as I cuddled up in his arms. "It was childish of me to believe that the goblins would come and take me away," I added with a laugh.
"I love it when you're childish," he said lovingly. He pulled away from me slightly, only to bring his lips down to mine lightly.
"Good night, Sarah," he whispered as he broke the kiss.
"Good night, Stephen," I said.
He smiled at me before he turned off the lamp. I felt his arms wrap around me as we laid back into the pillows. As I laid in his arms, drifting back to sleep, I could have sworn I heard the soft scuffling of feet against the carpet.
