The lights were almost unbearable while penetrating her lithe form. She was weak, or rather, she was acting weak. While she recited the last couple of sentences of her last lines, the crowd went still. The curtains drew, and the applause and cheers were an energizing wave that hit her senseless. She smiled at the audience when the curtain was held up again. Mirth and mischief apparent in her eyes. There was no way her boss was going to refuse to lend her a raise. The other actors and actresses went forth with her, and with a practiced ease, they all bowed to the audience. No one was sad, everyone was smiling, grinning from ear to ear. Flowers were thrown, most of them landing at the feet of the beautiful star of the whole show. Sarah. Sarah Williams. She gave one last bow before retreating to her make up room.

She was a huge hit, some papers said. Reporters always shot too many pictures of her beauty, trying desperately to catch her attention for a measly conversation. She was happy, at least. Am I? She thought. She shook those thoughts as she made her way past smiling employees, congratulating her, to her make up room, where her overly- excited friend awaited.

"Oh, Sarah, dear. You were absolutely marvelous! I couldn't have done better!" Sarah smiled at her hairdresser.

"Thanks Mandy. I couldn't have done my hair without you." Mandy laughed, her eyes tinkling. Sarah sat down at the counter, while Mandy closed the door.

"Too bad I'll have to tear it apart." Sarah grinned. She really couldn't do her hair if it was the life of her. She could hold it up with a pin or something, but never weave it into intricate styles, like that one time, when she was in the ballroom...

No, she thought, that was all a dream. She mentally shook her head. For years she's been trying to convince herself that it was all a dream. However, it unnerved her that such a dream could seem so real. She gave up that it was dream just recently, when she'd sworn she saw a goblin eating in her refrigerator. She freaked out, of course, but she didn't tell anyone. Who would believe her anyway?

"You have a wonderful gift Sarah." Mandy's voice snapped her out of her reverie. Sarah glanced up at her friend. Her eyes were focused on getting every clip and jewel out of her dark locks. "You're very special. Did anyone tell you that?"

"Yes." She answered distantly. Maybe that's why goblins show up everywhere, she thought mirthlessly. Everyone told her she was special. Her stepmother always said that Sarah was special, what with her overly large imagination. Her father, though, always said she was special, because she was unique. But, maybe she was special, she thought, she did have a gift. Gift.

This is no ordinary gift for an ordinary girl who takes care of a screaming baby.

"You know, you are very lucky to have a lot of people love you. Just look at all these flowers and gifts. Last week, I heard that there was a letter asking for your hand in marriage." Mandy laughed, almost harshly. She snorted. "As if." Sarah laughed. Funny, she thought, Mandy reminded her of Hoggle.

Should you need us... Yes, should you need us, for any reason at all... I'll call.

She tried calling her dear friends, but they never came. She'd always hear distinct echoes of her name being called in her sleep. Strangely, as years flew past those echoes were heard not as distinct as the last dream, it sometimes felt like someone was saying her name right next to her ear. It all unnerved her.

"Yes, I told myself, Sarah won't agree to any marriage except for one." Mandy said with a look in her eyes that told of a secret she only knows. Sarah grinned.

"Sarah!" Came a familiar masculine voice from behind her make up room's door. Two knocks followed. "Sarah! Open up, sweetheart!"

"Mike, darling, the door's open!" Sarah called from over her pale shoulder. The knob turned, and the door swung open.

Mike was a handsome fellow. Tall, blonde, and with a good background and fortune. He had charm and wit. How could women not fall for him?

"Sarah, my sweet, you were wonderful! You were marvelous! No one could compare!" Sarah smiled warmly up at him.

"Now, now Mike. I suggest you wait till I get everything out of Sarah's hair before you guys engage into some naughty backstage business." Mandy said, waving a finger in front of Mike's face. Mike laughed. Sarah, however, felt her face grow hot.

"Don't worry. I was going to take her to the stars and beyond once we were back at our penthouse."

"Oh, god, you're both unbearable!" Sarah cried out desperately, all the while giggling.

Just then the make up on the counter in front of Sarah, spilled all over her. Immediately she stood, spilling more make up. Coughing from the powder all around her, she glanced at Mike and Mandy. They were searching the counter for something, disbelief written all over their faces. Sarah looked back at the counter. She shook her head slightly. It looked like..., no, she thought, but maybe... was that really a goblin? She inhaled a gasp when she saw a grinning goblin, right behind her hairspray. They were many of them, Sarah realized. One was in the powder, another was in her hairbrush. Mike and Mandy reached for her when she started to sway. It couldn't be!

"Mike, call for help!"

"She's so pale!"

"Go!"

"I'm not leaving her side!"

"NOW!"

Sarah barely heard them as she slipped unconsciously into a dream all about peaches and ballrooms.

No one really paid no attention to the owl perched on the balcony right outside the open French doors.