Look, I finally posted it. Go me! I tried to do Hoggle's accent, it didn't go to well. This will probably be done in three chapters, I hope. The last chapter will be a song fic using No Doubt's song Bathwater.

BTW: I made up a new word. 'indeportable'. Not deportable.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

"TOBY!" Sarah shot up in bed, the sound of screeching tires echoing through her mind. "Hoggle," She called between sobs, "I need you." The dwarf appeared at her bedside; she helped him up onto the mattress.

"Did ya' 'ave that dream agin' Sarah?" The twenty-six year old chose not to answer the now rhetorical question. "Ya' avn't had a good nigh's sleep in months."

"It's only been a year. I still can't believe he's gone." The young dreamer paused. "After Karen and Dad's divorce, and Daddy's heart attack," She choked on the words. "It was just the two of us. I thought that we could still be a family if we just stuck together."

"Ya still 'ave em, Tobe and yer da. They're right here." He pointed to her heart. "Ya can do it Sarah, ya can make it."

"Don't you see Hoggle, I can't. Toby and Dad, they were all that held me here. This world never fit right, you know that, I don't fit in." She buried her face in her hands, and cried. Hoggle placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. They sat in silence for a long while. Finally, the dwarf spoke up.

"I can ge' ya a job in the castle, houskeepin. I can't promise that yous'll like it, but the head maid owes me a favor. You'll be the only human, but there'll be some human-like characters around.

"Humanoids?"

"Yeah, humanoids." Sarah could hardly believe it, she could go back Underground, to stay.

"Hoggle, do mean it?"

"Would I a said it if'n I didn't?" She enveloped the gate keeper in a hug. "But I has to warn ya, if'n ya stay, ya prolly won't be human long. The Labyrinth changes ya, it isn't 'is Majesty's magic that turns them babies inta Goblins, it's the Labyrinth." Seeing the look on her face, he further elaborated on the topic. "Ya only become a goblin if ya be a goblin at heart. Look at me, I became a dwarf and the Fae were human once, though they won't admit it." Sarah relaxed and felt the joy of going someplace she would fit in, at least a little.

"You were wished away?" The gardener nodded. "What about Didymus?

"Yes and Ludo too." The dwarf answered.

"Are all of the creatures children who were wished away?" Her companion shook his head.

"Most are descended from the people who first crossed the barrier, only a few were wished away." Hoggle climbed off of the bed. "I's should be goin. I'll talk to the head maid and come get ya in two days." He started to fade out.

"Two days?" The human questioned; Hoggle nodded.

"His Majesty is goin away for a while, I's wants ta get ya settled afore ya 'ave top start avoidin him. 'e isn't gonna like you's comin' so we won't let 'im know till ya be indeportable. I mean's till ya race is changed." Sarah nodded, not wanting to deal with the monarch until absolutely necessary.

"Then I'll see you in two days." The dwarf nodded assent and faded all the way out.

Two Days Later

Sarah followed Hoggle down the long halls of the castle; they entered the servant lodging. A short creature, similar in appearance to Hoggle, but taller and more human, stood next to a door, obviously waiting for something. Hoggle walked right up to her.

"Bruhild, this is the girl I spoke to you's about." The little creature, Sarah decided to think of it as a Halfling, looked her up and down critically.

"She's a mortal." A female voice exited the genderless form.

"Yes, she is, but she knows the Rules as well as a human can." Hoggle had questioned her about every form of mythology she know, and some she didn't. A little book now sat in her pocket, she was to read it and report what she had learned to Hoggle. "She will do as she is asked, so long as the demand isn't ridiculous."

"Good. Come child this will be your room

. Being the only human right now you get you own, but as soon as another human comes or you start changing you going to bunk with others. The bathroom is through there, you'll share it with any future bunkmates. Put your things in that dresser, I'll be back in a bit to get you started." The being headed out.

"Thank you." Sarah called after the Halfling; the creature waved it off. Hoggle entered the room.

"Thas' Bruhild, she'll be yer boss. I gotta go now though, there's a infestation of faries in the King's tulip garden." Sarah waved him off, mentally questioning. Tulip garden?

The young adult proceeded to place her things around the room, at Hoggle's suggestion she had donated most of her possessions to charity. She finished unpacking just as Bruhild returned.

"Finished?" At Sarah's nod the Halfling headed out of the room, the human followed. "Every morning you will start in the kitchens, washing the dishes as they are used." They passed through a black door, nearly invisible on the dark wall. Immediately, they were engulfed in sound, clanking, shouting, banging, bombarding her ears. There was movement everywhere; Sarah was forced to shut her eyes for a moment so as not to get dizzy. Bruhild grabbed her hand and pulled her to an open sink. "I will come back when you're finished and take you to your next task." As an afterthought, the Halfling added, "Have you eaten yet?" Sarah nodded, still overwhelmed by the scene. "Good, I'll leave you know, if you need anything just yell for it, one of the runners will hear." With that last bit of information she disappeared into the mass of people. Turning to the sink, the young human got to work.

Three hours later a surprised Bruhild appeared at her side as Sarah put the last dish on the drying rack. "You're fast for a mortal." The head maid grudgingly admitted. "Come on." The pair went to yet another room. "Can you sew?" Sarah shook her head. "Thought not, you can pull stitches though, correct?"

"Yes."

"Good. Grab a chair and a basket. A runner should be bringing lunch here soon." The mortal did as she was told and began pulling stitches out of the hem of a pair of trousers. More workers soon filled the room, gossip filling the air. The subject of  conversation near Sarah soon turned to her as her presence was noticed.

"I say she was only recommended cause she gave old stony some pushin' pleasure." Sarah's face grew red with anger and no small bit of embarrassment. However, someone else spoke before she could retort.

"Not only would Hoggle not stoop to that level, but its obvious to anyone with half a brain that his interests do not lie…there." Bruhild did not look up as she defended he friend, but she did when Sarah spoke up.

"I do agree with your assessment of Hoggle, but what do you mean by 'his interests do not lie there'? Surprise filled the Halfling's features, a nearby elf snorted. Bruhild continued.

"You don't know? I thought you were friends with Sir Didymus and Hoggle."

"I am."

"And you don't know?" The maids staling caused Sarah to become frustrated.

"No, I don't know. Will you just tell me already?" Her anger got the better of her and several nearby sewers flinched.

"Got a temper like his Majesty, she does." The mortal glared at the dwarf who had spoken. Bruhild finally answered Sarah's question to stop whatever argument might come.

"Sir Didymus and Hoggle are…together."

"What do you me…oh." Didymus and Hoggle, a couple?

Four hours after the conversation about her friends, Sarah found herself following Gruhild to yet another room. The doors to this one were plated in silver and engraved with images from all over the Labyrinth. Something told Sarah to run as far away from these doors as possible, but she followed the Halfling in regardless.

"This is His Majesty's suite." Sarah's breath caught at the idea. Note to self, trust my instincts next time. "You will be responsible for changing the sheets, dusting the mantel, bringing in his clean clothes, and cleaning the bathroom. You are not to touch any of his personal belongings apart from his clothes and with a duster. Sarah was in shock, all she could do was nod an affirmative when Bruhild asked is she understood. Having to deal personally with the king had not crossed her mind; she had hoped to avoid dealing with him at all. It was a big castle, what were the chances of her encountering him? According to Hoggle he would be out of the castle for two more weeks, she would have that long to adjust before there was any chance that she would interact with him. Hopefully, by then she would be familiar enough with the castle to avoid him.