Author's Note: I would like to thank UndergroundDaydreams for betaing (is that even a word?) this one shot.
Disclaimer: This story is a spin off of Labyrinth by Jim Henson and this is what I feel happened after.
"Fair maiden, what troubles thee?" The knight searched the young woman's emerald eyes for an answer.
"Something to do with the fact I've done this before." Her mahogany hair fluttered over her face as she gazed at the bridge, her voice a mere whisper on the wind.
"Forsooth , I would remember if I had met a maiden as fair as thee." His voice faltered as clouds of memory veiled her eyes.
Slowly, the memory retreated as the present called her back. "I thank you for the compliment, Sir Didymus."
His ears pricked up and his fur bristled as he tried to figure out how the maiden knew his name. "Thou is most welcome. May I implore thy name?"
"My name is Sarah. May my friends and I have permission to pass?"
"Of course, fair maiden!"
She smiled as Sir Didymus stepped aside. As she and her companions made their way across the newly constructed bridge, he decided that he was honor bound to accompany them on their quest, promptly taking up the rear with a determined swish of his tail.
The band of travelers chatted amiably as they made their way further into the center of the Labyrinth. Upon reaching the forest, the castle visible just over the cliff, Hoggle offered Sarah the poisoned peach, which she accepted only to hurl it as far as she could – she was done with dreams. Her eyes flashed with satisfaction as it exploded on impact with the ground.
With minutes to spare, the rag-tag group finally found themselves inside the castle beyond the Goblin City. Sarah explained over their protests that she must face the Goblin King alone. Reluctantly conceding, they beseeched her to call - should she need them. She promised that she would, though she would simply be repeating her whole story over again.
So many hints, and she had taken them all for granted: the way forward is the way back, even if you get to the center you'll never get out, and so many snippits of conversation that didn't make much sense until after the loop had gone full circle. She tried solving the labyrinth exactly as she had the first time, she tried solving it quicker, she tried to solve it every way she could think of, and she was still trapped. If anybody would know what was going on Jareth would. Taking a deep breath, Sarah braced herself before she stormed the lion's den.