MY WARRIOR
Sarah paced across her small flat, the phone in her hand. "C'mon, pick up pick up pick up..." she muttered quietly to
herself as the ringing from the other end continued, sprawling onto her bed with a sigh. Her roommate entered and grinned at
her before theatrically tiptoeing over to her wardrobe and miming whether she could borrow a green dress of Sarah's. Sarah
nodded the affirmative and groaned when the answering machine clicked on at the other end of the phoneline. "Hi, we're not in
right now. If you're looking for Sarah her new number is 07073 442 998..." Sarah mouthed along with it, pulling faces slightly
before hanging up. "Your folks still not back?" asked Scarlett, her roommate as she wriggled into the green dress. "Yeah,
must be their camping trip is being a little extended. They could have rung to tell me at least." Sarah complained.
"They're in the middle of nowhere you maniac, how are they supposed to get to a phone?" was Scarlett's flippant response as
she fluffed her bright red curls. Sarah sighed and shook her head good-humouredly. She didn't even need to ask if Scarlett
was about to go on a date, she always was. For a while, when they had first gotten to know each other, Scarlett had been
constantly trying to make her come on double dates with her. Sarah had been more than grateful that Scarlett had made
friends with her, being horrified at the idea of having to spend two years of her life away from her family with no friends.
Scarlett, being the overt character that she was however, had seen no problem with Sarah being a self-labelled 'outsider'.
"See you roomie, don't wait up, I might be staying the night." declared Scarlett, winking exaggeratedly much to Sarah's
amusement before heading out. Sarah's silver blue eyes flashed vaguely as she pondered on how she could be so close to
Scarlett when they were so different. It was ridiculous really. They told each other practically everything, their dreams,
their ideals, their plans for the future, their past... Well, most of it anyway. A slight frown creased Sarah's forehead
as she wondered how level-headed Scarlett would react to her trying to explain what had happened to her when she had been
absorbed in fairy tales and dreams all too vividly.
That was the problem really, when she managed to admit it. She had never quite left those fairy tales and dreams behind.
Then of course there was... him. The reason she had never even bothered with men. Maybe it was
that she never felt she could really trust a man after all that had gone on in the Labyrinth, perhaps she thought subconsciously
that all men were secretly like him, cruel, manipulative, thinking they could take and buy everything they wanted. Or maybe,
and this was an idea that she dreaded, she had thought that no man could ever quite measure up to what he had become in her
mind. Whatever he had been, whatever he had done, the love had been real. He had indeed tried to buy her love with promises,
with dreams and tricks, but something in her even as she had refused him told her with chilling clarity that he would be the
only person she would ever find who would be able to fulfil those promises and dreams.
"Just let me rule you, and you can have everything that you want."
Rule her? It was those words that had inflamed her the most. Did he think he could chain her down, put her in a cage? She
was NOT a goblin, she was NOT one of his slaves. He could not have her if those were the terms in which he wanted her.
Many a time she had thought that she should try to call him again. But she did not think she could bare the humility if her
calls went unanswered. Maybe she would even start to question her own sanity, and she could not stand the thought of that.
"If only there were a way to get back there without having to call him," she thought to herself, standing to go and put a
pizza in the oven or something. It had been years since she had even called on her friends to come and see her. Once she
had got to university, whilst she was ashamed to say her need to see them had not faded, it had become more hard. There was
so much to do, and having a roommate made it impossible. She giggled to herself, imagining Scarlett walking in on her talking
with Hoggle or Ludo. She'd probably pass out! She stopped sharply halfway down the corridor and wavered on her feet as an
amazingly strong languor overtook her. She blinked swiftly to try and snap herself out of it, but her feet felt as though
they were made of clay, her whole body sullen and heavy. Leaning against the wall to clear her head, her eyes drifted closed.
Maybe she should... just... have a nap... As she slid down the wall and came to rest with a gentle bump, rolling on to her
side, she was dimly aware that those weren't her thoughts. Curling up in a ball, the floor feeling as soft as feathers to
her weighted body, she slipped into sleep faster than she had ever done in her life....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She is angry.
Never has she known anger like this, hot, seething, painful, overpowering. It's like the vapour of a drug drowning her
senses in thick luscious fury. She can feel as well as hear her feet drumming a vibrant tattoo as she runs along stone
corridors in strong boots. The haze over her eyes, almost like a mesh curtain, lifts and she can take in the scene. Even as
she does she feels as though she has always known it. She is she... Sarah is... HER. The anger was hers, she was not
skulking in the back of this mind, it was hers. But how could it be? She feels panic, her own panic welling up inside her
as she senses her knowledge, her way of thinking, being melted away into this other angry mind that belongs to this scene, to
this body. 'We are the same." Around her the screams of fury and pain emitted throughout the corridors, a fire erupting where
alcohol had been spilt. The sharp clash or swords around her focuses her attention on the men battling around her, shooting
past as she runs through them. Servants, soldiers, all are up in arms against the invaders. She notices the crest of these
invaders and nods in grim acknowledgement, allowing herself a humorless chuckle. It did not matter. He would not see her
amidst these crowds of people fighting, though it was bitterly ironic that his invasion would prove to aid her escape. The
crest means nothing to Sarah, but her ignorance whilst the other mind was more than aware is alleviated promptly.
As though to confirm it, a stream of armoured goblins fly past her, war cries ripping from their throats. They also wore
these crests. A man steps away from having slain a goblin, blood goring his shirtfront "You there, woman! Declare yourself!"
he yells, stepping into her path, his eyes alight with battle. Not slowing her run, she brings her elbow sharply into his
throat, imbedding her knee in his stomach. The behemoth of a man merely doubles over long enough for her to lay her hands on
the sword of the fallen goblin. Wheezing from the blow to his throat he lifts his sword and advances at her, his face etched
in an anger that almost matches her own. A primal shriek tears from her throat as she spins away from his savage, clumsy
lunge to behind him, her boot coming into contact with his knee, knocking him forwards before she swins her own sword and
removes his head cleanly with a backwards cut. If this could have been avoided it would have been better. Now more men have
seen her, now know her as an enemy. Some even begin to recognise her. Her lungs are on fire from running, her breath coming
out in high, wild gasps. Wiping her gored sword on her skirts, she prepares to run once more...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarah started awake, scrabbling frantically for a second before finding herself in familiar surroundings. As her breathing
slowed she let out a choked sob which initiated a fount of tears that would not stop.
Sarah paced across her small flat, the phone in her hand. "C'mon, pick up pick up pick up..." she muttered quietly to
herself as the ringing from the other end continued, sprawling onto her bed with a sigh. Her roommate entered and grinned at
her before theatrically tiptoeing over to her wardrobe and miming whether she could borrow a green dress of Sarah's. Sarah
nodded the affirmative and groaned when the answering machine clicked on at the other end of the phoneline. "Hi, we're not in
right now. If you're looking for Sarah her new number is 07073 442 998..." Sarah mouthed along with it, pulling faces slightly
before hanging up. "Your folks still not back?" asked Scarlett, her roommate as she wriggled into the green dress. "Yeah,
must be their camping trip is being a little extended. They could have rung to tell me at least." Sarah complained.
"They're in the middle of nowhere you maniac, how are they supposed to get to a phone?" was Scarlett's flippant response as
she fluffed her bright red curls. Sarah sighed and shook her head good-humouredly. She didn't even need to ask if Scarlett
was about to go on a date, she always was. For a while, when they had first gotten to know each other, Scarlett had been
constantly trying to make her come on double dates with her. Sarah had been more than grateful that Scarlett had made
friends with her, being horrified at the idea of having to spend two years of her life away from her family with no friends.
Scarlett, being the overt character that she was however, had seen no problem with Sarah being a self-labelled 'outsider'.
"See you roomie, don't wait up, I might be staying the night." declared Scarlett, winking exaggeratedly much to Sarah's
amusement before heading out. Sarah's silver blue eyes flashed vaguely as she pondered on how she could be so close to
Scarlett when they were so different. It was ridiculous really. They told each other practically everything, their dreams,
their ideals, their plans for the future, their past... Well, most of it anyway. A slight frown creased Sarah's forehead
as she wondered how level-headed Scarlett would react to her trying to explain what had happened to her when she had been
absorbed in fairy tales and dreams all too vividly.
That was the problem really, when she managed to admit it. She had never quite left those fairy tales and dreams behind.
Then of course there was... him. The reason she had never even bothered with men. Maybe it was
that she never felt she could really trust a man after all that had gone on in the Labyrinth, perhaps she thought subconsciously
that all men were secretly like him, cruel, manipulative, thinking they could take and buy everything they wanted. Or maybe,
and this was an idea that she dreaded, she had thought that no man could ever quite measure up to what he had become in her
mind. Whatever he had been, whatever he had done, the love had been real. He had indeed tried to buy her love with promises,
with dreams and tricks, but something in her even as she had refused him told her with chilling clarity that he would be the
only person she would ever find who would be able to fulfil those promises and dreams.
"Just let me rule you, and you can have everything that you want."
Rule her? It was those words that had inflamed her the most. Did he think he could chain her down, put her in a cage? She
was NOT a goblin, she was NOT one of his slaves. He could not have her if those were the terms in which he wanted her.
Many a time she had thought that she should try to call him again. But she did not think she could bare the humility if her
calls went unanswered. Maybe she would even start to question her own sanity, and she could not stand the thought of that.
"If only there were a way to get back there without having to call him," she thought to herself, standing to go and put a
pizza in the oven or something. It had been years since she had even called on her friends to come and see her. Once she
had got to university, whilst she was ashamed to say her need to see them had not faded, it had become more hard. There was
so much to do, and having a roommate made it impossible. She giggled to herself, imagining Scarlett walking in on her talking
with Hoggle or Ludo. She'd probably pass out! She stopped sharply halfway down the corridor and wavered on her feet as an
amazingly strong languor overtook her. She blinked swiftly to try and snap herself out of it, but her feet felt as though
they were made of clay, her whole body sullen and heavy. Leaning against the wall to clear her head, her eyes drifted closed.
Maybe she should... just... have a nap... As she slid down the wall and came to rest with a gentle bump, rolling on to her
side, she was dimly aware that those weren't her thoughts. Curling up in a ball, the floor feeling as soft as feathers to
her weighted body, she slipped into sleep faster than she had ever done in her life....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She is angry.
Never has she known anger like this, hot, seething, painful, overpowering. It's like the vapour of a drug drowning her
senses in thick luscious fury. She can feel as well as hear her feet drumming a vibrant tattoo as she runs along stone
corridors in strong boots. The haze over her eyes, almost like a mesh curtain, lifts and she can take in the scene. Even as
she does she feels as though she has always known it. She is she... Sarah is... HER. The anger was hers, she was not
skulking in the back of this mind, it was hers. But how could it be? She feels panic, her own panic welling up inside her
as she senses her knowledge, her way of thinking, being melted away into this other angry mind that belongs to this scene, to
this body. 'We are the same." Around her the screams of fury and pain emitted throughout the corridors, a fire erupting where
alcohol had been spilt. The sharp clash or swords around her focuses her attention on the men battling around her, shooting
past as she runs through them. Servants, soldiers, all are up in arms against the invaders. She notices the crest of these
invaders and nods in grim acknowledgement, allowing herself a humorless chuckle. It did not matter. He would not see her
amidst these crowds of people fighting, though it was bitterly ironic that his invasion would prove to aid her escape. The
crest means nothing to Sarah, but her ignorance whilst the other mind was more than aware is alleviated promptly.
As though to confirm it, a stream of armoured goblins fly past her, war cries ripping from their throats. They also wore
these crests. A man steps away from having slain a goblin, blood goring his shirtfront "You there, woman! Declare yourself!"
he yells, stepping into her path, his eyes alight with battle. Not slowing her run, she brings her elbow sharply into his
throat, imbedding her knee in his stomach. The behemoth of a man merely doubles over long enough for her to lay her hands on
the sword of the fallen goblin. Wheezing from the blow to his throat he lifts his sword and advances at her, his face etched
in an anger that almost matches her own. A primal shriek tears from her throat as she spins away from his savage, clumsy
lunge to behind him, her boot coming into contact with his knee, knocking him forwards before she swins her own sword and
removes his head cleanly with a backwards cut. If this could have been avoided it would have been better. Now more men have
seen her, now know her as an enemy. Some even begin to recognise her. Her lungs are on fire from running, her breath coming
out in high, wild gasps. Wiping her gored sword on her skirts, she prepares to run once more...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarah started awake, scrabbling frantically for a second before finding herself in familiar surroundings. As her breathing
slowed she let out a choked sob which initiated a fount of tears that would not stop.