A.N. - So I've read a few stories lately where Jareth is banished or exiled to our world for losing against Sarah, which got me to wondering. What if Sarah had to go back to the Labyrinth for winning? The idea wouldn't leave me alone, despite the knowledge that I still have other stories to continue and finish, so I figured I'd at least see if anyone likes it.

A New Life

Sarah Williams took a deep breath of relief. Everything was back to normal, or as normal as it could be after adventuring in a fantasy land for ten hours. She went to bed wondering if her life would go back to boring or if there would still be some lingering magic. Would she be able to call on her friends from the Underground again? Would Toby remember anything? Would she ever see the Goblin King again? She jerked herself out of that train of thought quickly. Why on earth would she want to see him again anyway? He was an arrogant, self-serving, annoyingly handsome...wait, handsome? Yes, her mind supplied, you know he was. Otherwise you wouldn't have been so tempted to stay with him.

"Ugh, just shut up already," she growled at herself.

"Having an argument with one's self is more productive than one could imagine," came a masculine voice, stemming from near her window.

Sarah spun around, startled, even though she knew the voice didn't belong to the man currently running through her mind. No, the man, if that's what he was, had mottled skin of varying colors, mostly browns, greens and greys, hazel eyes, and short, spiked brown hair. His clothes were comprised of beige trousers, a white linen shirt, and a chocolate colored jacket. He wore no shoes and his feet seemed to be dusted with dirt. "Who are you?" Sarah finally managed to ask.

"I've forgotten my true name, it's been almost a millenium since I had a proper one, but you can call me Labyrinth."

Confusion spread over Sarah's face. "I don't understand."

"I know there wasn't time for the King to explain, so I'll give you the short version. Once upon a time, there was a young man who, through his own actions, was cursed with being tied to a land. His job was to serve under the ruler of the land and to oversee the caring of the land. Over much time, the man and the land became as one, bending to the will of whoever the current ruler might be, though because the land was its own nature, it could decide to help or hinder in certain ways if necessary. My existence has always been to thwart those who would seek to obtain that which they willingly wished away. I've never failed in my task, until you, but you have triumphed where all before have not. And since you've won, I'm here to give you your reward."

"Reward?" Sarah asked. "I thought getting my brother back was the reward."

A gleam entered the Labyrinth's eyes as he said, "No, that was merely the task you had to complete in order to win. Your true reward is that you'll be able to come live in the Underground forever."

"What?! How could I possibly do that? You're asking me to just skip off to the Underground to live indefinitely, and leave my family behind. I had to turn down much the very same thing from your King, so what makes you think I'll accept it now?"

A spark of interest entered the being's voice when he remarked, "So, you were considering the offer. I'd wondered."

A flush spread over Sarah as she sputtered, "Wha-what I did or did not consider doesn't matter now!"

"Actually, it does very much matter, but that can wait. The problem is, if you refuse your reward, your time Above will be limited."

"What do you mean?"

Labyrinth sighed. "When you went to the Underground, your body immediately started taking in some of the magic of the land. Now, if you had lost, it would have been an easy fix, I could have taken away all traces of magic, and you wouldn't have remembered your little trip at all. But you got so far along, that I had to start taking measures, and basically forced the King's hand into that little trick with the peach. I'll admit that that was a mistake. I thought that by eating the fruit, you would lose. You proved far more resistant to the magic than I'd anticipated, however, and broke free of the dream state. Unfortunately, by eating that fruit, you also became permanently tied to the Underground. If you stay too long Aboveground, you will die."

Sarah gasped, tears beginning to fall. "How could you?"

"I know, and I feel just awful about it. If it's any consolation, the King wished to warn you about it, but I forbade him from doing so."

"Why would he care?"

"Nothing and no one is as it seems down there, Sarah. You should have learned that by now."

Deciding to set aside that particular conundrum for the moment, Sarah focused on the more pressing problem. "So, I have no choice then. Where will I live once I'm down there?"

"The goblin city is larger than you envisioned it. I will make arrangements for a house and there are many ways to make a living there."

"When do I have to leave?"

"I'm afraid you'll need to go by the morning."

"And my family?"

"They won't remember you. I'm truly sorry, but it's far easier on them that way."

"What about the King? Won't he be upset by my presence in his land?"

"If you don't wish him to know you're there, I have no right to tell him. However, you will eventually run into him, simply because it is his land, as you say."

"You didn't answer my question," Sarah commented wryly.

"That's because I don't know how he will react upon seeing you again."

"Alright then. I suppose it's ironic, because for a while now I've felt as if I don't belong here, and now I really don't. Let me say goodbye, at least?"

"Of course, though I would advise against letting them know you're saying goodbye."

After Sarah had looked at her family one last time, mentally telling them goodbye, she went back to her bedroom, where Labyrinth was waiting. "I'm ready," she stated.

"Good. Now don't worry, I'm going to help you get adjusted as much as I can."

Before Sarah could blink her eyes, she was standing in a section of the Goblin City she'd never seen before. This area looked much cleaner than the one she'd encountered during her run. The goblins that were milling about looked at her in question, but didn't try to approach her. The Labyrinth turned to her, "I know what you're thinking. The area you saw when you were trying to reach the castle is made specifically for the purpose of the runners, though no one but you has seen it in a very long while."

"I thought you said that I'm the first who's won."

"Yes, but there have been a few challengers who have reached the Goblin City, before the current King's reign."

"How long has Ja-, I mean the current Goblin King been ruling?"

"You remember his name, even though Hoggle only told it to you once?"

Another blush spread over her cheeks. "Well, it's a hard name to forget. Heck, he's a hard whatever kind of being to forget, period."

Labyrinth studied her from the corner of his eyes. The girl was young, but she couldn't hide the fact that she had affections for the King. Perhaps with time... Yes, this could still work out after all, he thought. Out loud he informed her, "Fae, he's a fae. A most atypical one, though, I must admit."

Sarah huffed and changed the subject. "So where is this house you promised?"

A grin that said he wasn't fooled crossed his face, but he simply replied, "Right this way."

She was struck by the fact that the city looked very much like a goblin's version of a human city, but without the technology. There were houses stacked on top of each other, much like apartments or condos, and there was a large town square where vendors of all sorts had set up. There was clothing, crafts, jewelry, strange contraptions, and food. The food even smelled delicious, reminding Sarah how hungry she was. Her stomach growled at a particularly savory scent.

"Are you needing sustanance?" Her guide asked.

"Geez, you talk even more old fashioned than he does. But yeah, I haven't eaten anything since lunch time in the Above. I don't have any money, though."

"Every new citizen is given a small start up fund, by the King's orders. He doesn't expect outsiders to have anything. However, he does expect that they use what they are given wisely. I would suggest selling items of your own make at the Goblin Market here. That's how most thrive. Creatures and different beings from all around come here to buy. I'll show you where your coins are when we get to your house, but for now, I'll buy you something to eat. It's the least I can do for the predicament I've put you in."

"Thank you. That dish smells good, whatever it is."

Labyrinth gave the small goblin the necessary coins to purchase the dish, which was a steaming bowl of meat and rice, smelling of spices Sarah had never encountered before. "I believe this is chicken. Chicken is the goblins' choice of meat, being hardy and easy to raise."

Sarah laughed and when he looked at her askance, she shook her head and explained. "I'm here in this magical land, and eating chicken. I was expecting something more exotic."

"Sorry to disappoint you. There are a few strange meats that occasionally pass through, but we have much the same food as the Above does. Beef and pork are usually found in the farmlands or in the other kingdoms, and fish are rare and pricy. If you want to try your luck hunting, though, the forest is to the West a few miles away."

The way he said that gave Sarah the impression that he didn't believe she knew how to hunt. She smirked to herself. Little did he know that, before Toby came along, she and her dad used to go hunting all the time. He'd taught her how to use both a gun and a bow and thankfully she'd been better with the bow because she doubted that guns existed in the Underground. Her thoughts about possibly going into the woods to hunt were put to the side when she spotted the house that Labyrinth pointed out to her. It was the same type of structure that composed the rest of the houses in the city, but the door was taller. It appeared to be on the ground floor, with more structure and windows on top of it, as well as others just like it on both sides. "So are there goblins living above me?" Sarah wondered.

Labyrinth laughed. "No, this is one house, with three different levels. And there are no goblins in the immediate vicinity, this is the dwarf and halfling district. They're less noisy than goblins and I figured that you would appreciate that."

"That's for sure. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Why don't you go in and have a look around?"

She nodded and went to open the door, but then asked, "Do I need a key?"

"Locks are unneccessary around here, except for your safe where I would suggest you keep your coins. There isn't crime around here, but sometimes a goblin will get in and take things. They're like small children in that they don't always know right from wrong. But the King takes care of any missing items should that occur, and punishes the offenders."

"Does he Bog them?"

"Goodness, no! Bogging is only for the most heinous of crimes, if perpetrated. He would never have actually let you fall into that mire."

"Could've fooled me," Sarah muttered. The King and his motives, whatever they were, went to the back of her mind as she took a look at her new home. It was a lot cleaner than she expected it to be. The house itself was made of stone and clay, but she could tell it was made with care. There were wooden furnishings, such as a table with chairs, shelving, and a counter in what looked to be the kitchen area. There was a comfortable looking couch in the living room, she noted with relief. When she went into the kitchen, she could see a plain ceramic sink and in one corner was an old-fashioned ice box. She dreaded to find out what was waiting for her in the bathroom. The second story led to a loft and a room which she determined was for business as there was a desk and chair, more shelves, as well as a stone safe against the wall.

"Here's the key to the safe," Labyrinth told her, handing her a key that resembled those antique ones you could buy in a thrift shop.

She opened the safe, curious as to what it would have inside. There was a woven sack which jingled when she picked it up. She was shocked when she saw the amount of coins inside. Coins of all kinds were mingled together, of various shapes, sizes and metals. "How much is in here, exactly?"

"Enough to get by for a while, if you're clever enough, and I have a feeling that you are."

"Surely the goblins don't get this much to start off with."

"No, only the more intelligent beings get this amount. The mindset of goblins are too immature to be able to handle too many coins."

"Am I the only human?"

"In the King's land, yes. But there are other lands throughout the Underground where mortals sometimes end up."

Sarah put back the money, locking the safe. Then she headed up to the third level of the house. Here was the bedroom. It was quaint but when she caught sight of the bathroom, which had an actual toilet and shower, she grinned. "So there is indoor plumbing, but not a refrigerator?"

"Electricity isn't a necessity here, but there are some mortal modern conveniences which the King insisted upon."

"Thank goodness for that."

"Well, I must be going. If I stay for too long, the King might begin to wonder where I am and he likes to discuss the days events with me."

"What will you tell him of me?"

"Just that there is a new citizen living in the dwarven district. He won't ask questions if you don't cause any trouble. Like I said earlier, though, he'll eventually see you, so be prepared for that. Again, I am sorry that you had to leave your family and come here, but I don't believe my King would have forgiven me should you have died."

"I...am upset, but not as much as I thought I would be. If I'm being honest with myself, I've known for quite some time that it was time for me to grow up, and that I didn't have a place with my family anymore. Thank you for coming to me and telling me the truth. Will I see you again?"

Labyrinth smiled. "I'll come and visit occasionally. Goodbye, and good luck, Sarah Williams."

"Goodbye for now." And as he strode off into the city, she wondered what her new life held in store for her.