Sarah walked through her apartment door and immediately headed for her bedroom. Giving a great sigh she collapsed among the deep feather pillows onto the thick comforter. Turning over she looked at her vanity mirror and let her mind comb over her conversation with Libby not more than an hour earlier.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Libby abruptly stood up and walked into her small kitchenette. Bracing her warm hands on the cool countertop as she thought about Sarah's story. Her initial reaction was to think she was lying, but who wouldn't think that. Goblins, a dwarf, a dog knight, a monster, and above all else: a Goblin King. It was harder to swallow than their peanut butter chocolate mixture. Thinking of the mixture, Libby turned her head and stared at Sarah. They had been eating that stuff for a long time. Friends for a long time. She knew Sarah, and Sarah was not a liar. So she came to the most obvious conclusion. Sarah was on something and she believed in this place.
Releasing the counter Libby walked back into the living room even paced, and never taking her eyes off Sarah, who in return never lifter her eyes from the floor.
She hooked a footstool with the curve of her foot and swung it in front of Sarah before positioning herself directly in front of her best friend.
"Sarah, sweetie, you know I would do anything for you. You don't have to worry about me judging you. Hell I'm the last person in the world that needs to judge anybody!" Reaching out she placed her finger under Sarah's chin and brought her eyes upwards. Libby was not surprised to see tears in Sarah's eyes. Drugs can make you emotional, she remembered.
"Sarah. What are you taking?"
Instead of looking offended or upset, Sarah simply put her head in her hands and laughed uncontrollably. Looking a little bewildered Libby pushed herself back and crossed her arms.
"Sarah I –
But Sarah held up her hand and took a few deep breaths to calm herself.
"Libby I know what you are thinking. I rehearsed this story a million times and you know what?"
Libby shook her head automatically.
"It never sounds real. So I'm not going to force you to believe me. If I give you a urine sample and it shows I'm not on drugs you'll only make another excuse. Only you can stop making excuses and believe me, because as far fetched as it sounds. It's true. I wished Toby away. I ran the labyrinth, made friends, defeated a Goblin King, and then for some unknown reason, let them all fade from my life. I don't know why. Maybe that's the way it was supposed to happen. Or maybe I was just a terrible person to forget my friends. Only I didn't forget about them completely. So a few weeks ago I called one of them. And it was real Libby. Sir Didymus came to see me. And I thought I'd be able to sort out all the issues in my life. Find the right priorities and figure out why I've felt a hole in my world ever since I left the underground. But now none of them are answering my calls and I feel more lost now than I ever have. Especially since that," Sarah lifted her eyes searching for the right word, "vision. Visions of the underground do not happen for no reason Libby! "
After Sarah's speech Libby noticed how very quiet the apartment was. It seemed like no one was outside making noise. No lawnmowers or children playing. Even her normally noisy upstairs neighbors seemed to be missing today. Only her and Sarah existed in the world. And since they were the only ones that existed, that mattered….. Libby believed her. She knew that in the next few moments a child would laugh, or a car would start, or her neighbors would finally wake up and make some noise shattering her newfound world and belief, but for this exact moment it was only her and Sarah. And she believed her.
"What are you going to do?" Libby whispered, afraid to make too much noise and break the calm.
"I have to go back. Somehow. If my vision was true and something has happened or will happen to my friends I need to help them." Sarah sighed and looked down at her hands, "Even if I can't come back."
Libby frowned and stood up, "What is that supposed to mean. Even if you can't come back. What if your vision is right. You'd be wishing yourself to a place already destroyed with no way to come home."
"Libby, I have to do this. My friends risked their lives to help me get Toby back. They could seriously need my help. I couldn't live the rest of my life knowing I knew they were in trouble and did nothing to help them."
Libby opened her mouth to argue again but Sarah cut her off, "I'm going to go home and have some dinner, pack a bag, and get a good night sleep. Lord knows I may need it. In the morning I'm going to wish myself to my friends." Sarah smiled. She knew the underground was real and still saying aloud that she was wishing herself away sounded so silly.
Standing up she went and gave the now speechless Libby a hug. Holding her friend tightly Sarah wondered if she'd ever see her again. Kissing her lightly on the cheek Sarah stood back and wiped a tear out of her eye. Before she changed her mind she nodded at Libby and walked to the door. Opening it she quickly walked out but stopped, holding the door open, "Who knows. It may not even work and I'll see you tomorrow." But the look on both girls' faces said neither believed that. Smiling sadly Sarah walked down the hall of the apartment complex starting slightly as the door slammed behind her.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Back in her bedroom Sarah stared at her vanity mirror.
I'm crazy for even thinking about doing this. What if I can't get home? What if they just don't want to talk to me?
Sarah shook her head. Hoggle wouldn't wait all that time for her to call, only to ignore her once she did. Sarah groaned rubbing her eyes. There are a million reasons why I should not do this………But one very important one why I should. If something is wrong in the underground, with Hoggle, Ludo, Didymus,...or even the Goblin King……then I have to help. I could never live with myself if I let something happen to them.
Sarah thought of the grey monsters in her dreams. Closing her eyes she tried to push away the memory of Ludo's attack.
I won't let that happen!
Feeling more resolved Sarah slumped off her bed and headed for the shower, grabbing a towel from the linen closet along the way.
As Sarah stepped into the shower her vanity mirror rippled.
Time to go, Sarah. We cannot wait until morning. ************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Libby pounded hard on Sarah's door.
"Come on Sarah! Open the damn door!" she yelled not really caring that she was probably pissing off some of Sarah's neighbors. All she cared about was making sure Sarah was all right.
Libby started pounding again. Increasing the force as her anxiety increased. She was determined to leave Sarah alone for the night. Let her sleep off whatever she was on. But not too long after Sarah left Libby set out after her. Something just wasn't right and Libby had to make sure she was ok. And the fact that Sarah had yet to answer her door was increasing her dread.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Sarah pulled on a pair of running shorts and a fitted tee. The shorts were old and a little short, showing off her curvy long legs but they were comfortable and perfect for sleeping. She stood in front of her vanity mirror looking at her reflection with a critical eye. She was curvy in all the right places. Flat stomach, nice boobs that were not big but curved just right, long legs, long dark hair. She reached out and touched the smooth surface of the glass.
I wonder if he'll even remember me?
Sarah yanked her hand away. Why was she thinking about him? She never thought about him. Grabbing her hair brush off the vanity she sat and started brushing her wet hair. No, that's not true. She did think about him. In fact, she thought about him a lot. She just never wanted to admit it. Not even to herself. He was a villain and you didn't think about villains. But she could never put the Goblin King completely out of her mind. His voice always lingered on her subconscious.
I'll paint you mornings of gold, I'll spin you valentine evenings
Sarah continued to pull the brush through her hair. She would probably see him. He would probably have to send her home. Setting her brush down she stared into the mirror. Would he send her home? Was she going to be trapped there? Rubbing her temples Sarah groaned.
"I can't be thinking about all this now. I've made up my mind and I'm going."
Sarah stood up and tried to push the Goblin King to the farthest corner of her mind. She started for her closet, intent on putting together a survival bag for her trip to the underground tomorrow, when the sound of water caught her attention. She glanced towards the bathroom, thinking she had left the shower on a little causing it to drip. But a quick inspection showed the faucets to be tightly turned with no leaking water.
Sarah shook her head and headed back into her bedroom. Hearing moving water again Sarah looked around and froze as her eyes landed on her vanity mirror.
Her mouth hung open slightly as she saw her mirror rippling as if the surface was indeed made of water. Sarah stood, unable to move as the mirror shifted and Hoggle's face appeared. Although his mouth did not move Sarah heard his cry for help.
"Please come now!"
And with that Hoggle was gone. Only the rippling water remained.
"HOGGLE!!!" Sarah ran forward.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Libby burst through the door in time to hear Sarah yell someone's name. She dashed through the small living room and slammed through Sarah's door.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Velron snapped his head up. He had been dozing in one of the leather overstuffed chairs in his office. The only sense of sleep he actually got these days. Yawning, he quickly scanned the room for the intruding noise that had awoken him. His fae ears picked up on the faint humming sound coming from his fireplace.
Narrowing his eyes Velron slowly eased himself out of the chair and walked towards the sound. He scanned each of his hanging crystals. There in the middle. A pure black crystal hung spinning for all it was worth.
Velron reached for the crystal.
Sarah reached for the mirror.
Libby reached for Sarah.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Velron was a mere inch away from the crystal when it exploded, knocking him backwards over a discarded chair and slamming his skull on the table. The fire had gone out, but from somewhere near the hearth he could see a figure slumped on the floor. Velron touched his hand to his head and felt the sticky remains of blood. Taking deep breaths so as not to lose consciousness, he pushed his magic into relighting the fire. Warm orange light filled the room bringing into focus not one but two women. Two very unconscious women. Concentrating, Velron produced a deep green crystal and spoke one name.
"Jareth." Before slipping into his own slumber.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Klara sat in the niche in her window. Looking up at the star sprinkled sky, she rhythmatically brushed out her long silver streaked red hair, gently humming a love song she remembered from long ago.
There such a sad love, deep in your eyes, a kind of pale jewel, open and close within your eyes, I'll place the sky within your eyes
Closing her eyes she let her mind wander to open fields and young souls. Sighing she set her brush down and eased herself out of her niche. Stretching her arms in the air and arching her back Klara yawned. It had been a long day. The mortal girl that Jareth had acquired a few days ago had been taken before the fae court. Since the royal family was in mourning still, Klara took charge of the girl and made sure the change went as planned. Klara smiled as she remembered the change. A wood nymph. As soon as the child's form had shrunk and sprouted the wings of a wood nymph, Klara immediately sent word to the King and Queen of the wood nymph colony just outside the gates of Balasmasna. They had been thrilled to have another member of their colony. And everything had gone smoother than Klara could have hoped.
Klara glanced at a picture on her small night stand before blowing out her candle. A young man with pale blond hair and twinkling green eyes.
"Goodnight my love. I shall think of you every night until we are together again." She whispered, a sad smile gracing her pale pink lips.
She was half way into bed when the messenger crystal came.
"Oh dear Lord. Who the devil is sending a message at this hour?"
Klara was known for her calm and patient demeanor, as were most sprites, but she was anything but that when someone disturbed her while she was trying to prepare for bed. And heaven help the soul who woke her if she was truly sleeping.
Grumpily she yanked the covers back off and stomped over to her candle, relighting it. She turned and walked quickly to the window where the crystal was resting. Seeing the deep green color she recognized it as one of Velron's. Running her hands over it she quickly scanned the crystal for any attached spells. Seeing there were none, she snatched the crystal out of the air and growled at it, "Reveal!"
Velron's pale blood streaked face came into view. Klara pressed her knuckles to her mouth as he gasped Jareth's name and collapsed. Clutching tightly to the crystal she ran over and flung open her bedroom door and dashed down the dark stone hallway.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Jareth was having the most wonderful sleep ever, mainly due to the fact that it was a rare occasion he wasn't dreaming about Sarah, when the frantic banging started.
Groaning Jareth turned over wrapping his silk black sheets tighter around his lean muscular body, "Go away!"
"Your majesty!"
*Inaudible groaning*
"Jareth!"
"I'll deal with it in the morning."
"YOUNG MAN, OPEN THIS DOOR NOW!"
Jareth jerked his head up and nearly fell out of his bed.
Grumbling, he untangled himself from his sheets and pushed himself out of his warm plush bed. Jareth headed towards the door snarling. He dared not say anything since he knew that voice, and even the High Prince of the Underground did not argue with Klara when she used what he and Velron affectionately referred to as the "mom voice."
Taking a deep breath and trying to refrain from sending her to some oubliette for the night, Jareth swung the door open and forced a smile at his housekeeper and old nanny.
"Yes?"
Whatever Jareth expected it was not for the strong willed sprite to burst into tears and thrust a messenger crystal at him. He briefly recognized the deep green color before Velron's face appeared and Jareth saw the same message Klara had witnessed moments before.
Immediately, Jareth's face hardened, "You're in charge until I get back. You know the procedures."
Klara sniffed and nodded.
Jareth wasted no time in producing a traveling crystal but Klara's hand on his arm stopped him before he dropped it.
Looking down he tenderly noted her tear streaked face, "Please, Jareth, send me word when you know what's happened."
She didn't have to say anything more. They both knew that Velron and himself had been more than charges to the nanny sprite; they had been like sons to her, and still were.
Jareth didn't waste his time with frivolous reassurances. She had seen Velron's crystal. Instead, he leaned down and kissed the nanny sprite on the cheek, "You'll be the first to know. You have my word."
Solemnly Klara nodded and removed her hand from Jareth's arm, giving him unspoken permission to leave.
Without another word Jareth dropped the crystal he held and disappeared.
Klara made herself walk back to her room before collapsing on her bed in a heap of despair. She calmed by reminding herself that Jareth was on his way there. She knew she was too emotional when it came to the young princes, but she had raised them like her own. When they were happy she felt happiness too. When they suffered she suffered twice that they did knowing no happiness until they were better.
Knowing she would find no comfort in sleep that night, Klara picked up her brush and resumed her earlier activities at her niche in the window. All the while searching the sky for a crystal from Jareth. Hope and dread buried deep in her chest.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Jareth appeared a mile outside Balasmasna's main gates, cursing the wards that kept him from appearing directly in the castle. He quickly scanned the outer gates, immediately spotting a gatesman just a few hundred yards away. Jareth dropped another crystal and appeared directly in front of the burly guard.
"I need a horse. Now."
"Of course, your majesty." The guard slid a gold encrusted dagger from its sheath at his side and held it in front of Jareth. Within seconds the blade was glowing a deep blue.
"I'm in a hurry." Jareth snarled, barely keeping his temper in check.
"Yes, your majesty. I apologize. Standard procedure." The guard turned and stabbed the blade into a slot in the stone wall surrounding the castle. Immediately the stones pulled apart revealing a walkway with horses grazing inside.
Jareth rushed forward and grabbed a large bred grey stallion. Not bothering to saddle the horse he took off in the direction of the castle. Fear riding hard on his heels.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Jareth's leather boots made a solid stomp as he raced down the hall towards Velron's study. A quick scan of his bedroom showed no sign of him, and Jareth was starting to panic. Upon reaching the door to his study Jareth's fae ear's picked up the sound of groaning. He stopped and stood silent listening for any clue as to what he'd find behind the door. Hearing everything fall silent again, he quietly pushed the door open.
The fire was burning brightly as Jareth silently slipped into the room. He couldn't immediately place his finger on it but something seemed off, and there was still no sign of Velron. Still keeping a watchful eye, Jareth started around the table, nearly tripping over his fallen cousin.
Jareth sucked in his breath to stifle a cry of surprise. Velron wasn't just his cousin, he was his best friend. Gently he knelt beside his Velron's body and ran a hand over him checking for injuries. He noticed the gash on his head, but a full scan showed no cracked skull or other serious injuries.
Jareth waved his hand and produced a crystal, "Klara, Velron's fine as far as I can tell. He hit his head and is unconscious. I'm sending for a healer. You'll know more when I know more. Get some sleep." Letting the crystal go Jareth produced one more.
"High Healer Parain. I need you in Velron's study. It's an emergency. Please hurry."
Jareth blew the crystal away and turned back to Velron. Gently he reached around and picked his cousin up, laying him flat on the long hard wood table.
Hearing a soft moan from behind him Jareth withdrew his dagger and spun around in one swift motion. Scanning the room he saw a faint movement in the shadows near the hearth. Silently, Jareth crept by the table and came up on the side of one of the plush chairs directly behind the shadow. Closer up saw the outline of a kneeling form. Slipping up behind the shadow Jareth quickly grabbed the person around the neck and slid his dagger around pressing it tightly to the intruder's throat.
"Don't move." The deadly warning in his voice was more than apparent to the frozen form.
Yanking the intruder roughly forward, Jareth spun the shadow around and let the light from the fire play across the intruder's face.
The dagger clattered to floor and Jareth took a step back, "Sarah?"
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Sarah groaned and tried to sit up. Pressing her palm to the back of her head she squinted her eyes and tried to blink away the black spots invading her vision.
Sarah's blood froze in her veins as someone grabbed her roughly around the neck and she felt cold metal press against her throat.
A deep husky voice whispered, "Don't move."
She was sure she was going to fall again when the man behind shoved her forward, but at the last minute he jerked up and spun her around. Light flooded over their features and Sarah felt her heart skip a beat.
"Sarah?"
"You. You're the.." grabbing her throat Sarah dissolved into a fit of dry raspy coughs.
"Did I hurt you?" Jareth started forward to help her into a chair but Sarah's outstretched hand and violent shaking of her head stopped him.
Catching her breath, Sarah pulled deep even breaths down her bruised throat.
"Sarah, please sit down." Jareth strode past her and pulled a chair out from the table. "Let me get you a glass of water and we can figure out what is going on."
Glancing wearily at him, Sarah forced out one more defiant cough before deciding sitting down and a glass of water would actually probably help. She has taken two steps toward him when her eyes wandered to the body lying on the table.
Stumbling backwards Sarah jerked her eyes to Jareth and let out a high pitched scream.
"What did you do to him?"
Jareth looked at her with a confused expression before he realized she was talking about Velron.
Getting annoyed with a near hysterical woman Jareth looked at her and smiled, "I was just about to have lunch. Want to join me?"
Sarah let out a strangled cry and fell backwards just as the healer burst into the room.
Slightly out of breath the healer looked at Jareth completely passing by Sarah,
"Jareth. I just got your crystal. What happened?" The healer asked as he went directly to Velron and began running a staff over his body.
Shooting a pointed look at Sarah, Jareth replied, "I don't know. I received a messenger crystal from him. When I arrived here he was unconscious and …. He had guests."
"Mmmmhuh." The healer cast a quick curious look at Jareth before return Velron's examination.
"He's got a pretty serious gash on his head. But nothing's broke. As I'm sure you know." The healer shot Jareth a look before putting his staff away and placing his hands on the back of Velron's head.
Mumbling a long verse, velvety brown light began to run from the healer's hands into Velron's wound.
From across the room Sarah stood quietly, taking in everything with intense detail. She didn't know how or why she was in the underground. But the limp form on the table seemed to be the most important thing at the moment.
The healer was just finishing closing up Velron's wound when a third person burst through Velron's door that night.
The High Queen of the underground wrapped her shawl tighter around her bare shoulders.
"What's happened? Klara sent me a message saying Velron was hurt."
Jareth rolled his eyes. He should have known the sprite would alert his mother. He conveniently forgot the fact that he was about to do just that himself.
"He is fine, your majesty. He seems to have knocked himself unconscious by hitting his head on the table." The healer turned and bowed to the queen. "I will take him to his room. He needs to be left alone to sleep as long as possible. He will be fine but will have a nasty headache in the morning. I will check on him again when he is awake."
"Of course. Whatever needs to be done. Thank you so much pa." The queen walked forward and embraced the older man tightly. He knew how hard the past couple of days had been for his queen and his heart went out to her.
Parain patted the queen's hand with daughterly affection. Looking past her he noticed Sarah for the first time.
"So this is the guest Jareth spoke of."
Jareth shrugged his shoulders and turned back to look at a previously missed form lying on the floor.
"We have another one over here."
"Oh my gosh, Libby!" Sarah cried noticing her friend's clothing from across the room. As Sarah rushed to her side the queen raised a surprised eyebrow at her son.
"What in all the underground is going on?"
"You are asking the wrong person mother." Looking over at Sarah Jareth smirked at her, "Missed me so much you had to wish yourself back here?"
Sarah looked shocked, for about a second. Then the anger took over once more, "I most certainly did not wish myself back here. I just," Sarah threw her hands up and glanced around, "ended up here."
Jareth and Sarah continued to glare at each other.
Seeing the situation about to escalate, Seriana decided that now would be a good time to take charge, "Parain, please take Velron to his room and make him comfortable."
"Yes, your majesty." The healer bowed once before turning to Velron. Waving his staff over Velron's body he levitated him up and guided him out the door.
Turning back to Sarah, Seriana offered her a warm smile, "I know you must be very confused right now, but please try and calm down, Sarah. I promise we'll get everything straightened out. Let's have a seat and discuss everything that's happened tonight, shall we."
Swallowing hard, Sarah nodded and took a seat in a plush chair that the queen led her too.
"Jareth, please take our other guest to a more comfortable room."
Sarah stood abruptly, "I'm not letting him take her anywhere!" Sarah had already concluded that saying the man on the table was his lunch was some sort of joke, but that did not mean he wasn't evil.
The queen gently laid her hand on Sarah's arm, "Please child. Jareth will cause your friend no harm. I can fully promise you that. She is going to need her rest. The transition between our worlds can be very hard on a person if not guided here."
Sarah narrowed her eyes at Jareth but nodded and sat back down.
Jareth in turn smiled sweetly and turned to pick up Libby, "I'll take her to one of the guest quarters on the fourth corridor."
"That would be lovely sweetheart."
As the door closed behind Jareth, Seriana let her smile fade and turned to Sarah. She knew Sarah would have questions but right now there were more important things that needed answering.
"Sarah. There are many things that make this situation quite difficult. So I need you to tell me everything that happened. From the very beginning. Leave no detail out."
"May I have a glass of water first…please…your majesty?" Sarah looked questioningly at Seriana.
"Of course child." As Seriana walked to Velron's cabinet and poured Sarah a glass of water she took the brief moment to ease a little of Sarah's mind.
"Jareth is a good boy. He won't hurt your friend."
"Is she going to be all right? Why is she still unconscious and I'm not?"
"Well, I can't answer that in detail until I know how you got here, but part of the reason is that you've been to the underground before. The transition is already one you've made."
She handed Sarah the chilled glass and retook her seat. Sarah gratefully gulped the water down her sore throat and sighed.
"I know you're tired, but I need to know how you came to be in the underground. Did you wish yourself here?"
"No. No I didn't I swear." Sarah said panicked.
The queen held her hands up and Sarah quieted, "I know that you contacted Sir Didymus nearly two weeks ago. Can you start from there and tell me everything that's happened since then.
Sarah nodded, "I'll try. I actually called for Hoggle, but Didymus said he was," shooting a quick look at the queen Sarah hesitated, "…he said Hoggle was helping the Goblin King."
The queen interrupted, "His name is Jareth. He is the Goblin King and High Prince of the Underground. You will need to let go of this notion that he is evil but we will conquer that bridge when we get there. Please continue."
Sarah didn't really know what to think of this new Jareth but decided to just continue with her story.
"I talked with Didymus for no longer than half hour I'd say."
"What did you talk about?"
Sarah briefly relayed her talk with the small soldier dog.
"Hmmm. Nothing relevant there I think. Go on."
"I spent the next few days getting things in order in my life. Pondering things I hadn't in a while. I don't know why but I wanted to be ready when I talked to Hoggle this time."
The queen smiled, "Yes. Well Hoggle is a little more," she pressed a finger to her lips as she searched for the right word, "blunt. Yes, blunt. A person would want to have things in order."
Sarah nodded, "but when I called him, he never came. I tried calling him numerous times over the next few weeks but nothing. I thought of everything. He didn't want to talk to me, or the Goblin…um…Jareth had them, but nothing really fit. That's when I started to think of coming back to the underground. I told myself it was foolish but then I had this vision."
"Vision? What vision?"
Sarah told the queen about her rippling television and the vision that accompanied it.
The High Queen sat still for a moment.
"Sarah. Visions just don't come to people. You have to have seer blood to have a vision, but it doesn't sound normal either. I'll have to discuss this with Jareth when he returns."
She waited for her to argue, but Sarah only nodded.
Perhaps getting Sarah to see the real Jareth wouldn't be as hard as she had hoped.
"Please go on, Sarah,"
"I told my best friend, the one that Jareth is putting to bed, about it. And then I told her about my initial trip to the underground."
The queen smiled humorously, "Did she believe you?"
Sarah thought about it and smiled, "At first she didn't, but she'll have to now."
The women shared a quiet laugh as Jareth came back into the room.
Sarah sobered immediately. She thought she remembered him from her first visit but seeing him again so close made her realize all the small details she either forgot or failed to notice in her teenage year. He was a gorgeous man. There was no denying it. Wild blond hair, smooth exotic features, beautiful mismatched green and blue eyes, and a hard muscular body. Sarah tried to harden herself to him, but there was something about him. Something that made her think of him every night, mere seconds before sleep claimed her.
Then she would dream of him. She dreamed of wild nights and warm days. But when morning came she could never remember the details that held the truth to her life.
Sarah looked towards the fire to compose herself.
"Sarah was just telling me about how she came to be here."
Sarah steadied her breathing as the queen filled her son in on what had already been said.
This is ridiculous. This man tried to turn my brother into a goblin. He… He…
Glancing over a Jareth, she realized he hadn't really done anything wrong. She'd come to that realization years ago. She herself had wished Toby away.
Still, it's a horrible thing to turn innocent babies into goblins!
"And that's where we're at now. Sarah why don't you tell us what happened after you told your friend about the underground."
Sarah blushed and returned her gaze to the fire, "It all seems so childish now, but I was afraid something was going to happen to my friends. To the underground itself. So I decided to wish myself back." She looked back into Jareth's eyes, "I would never have forgiven myself if something had happened to them and I did nothing."
Returning her intense gaze Jareth spoke softly, "Sarah, it is not childish to want to help your friends. In fact, that's very courageous if I may say. You thought your friends were in trouble and you went to help them."
"But I didn't! I mean. I was going to. I was going to wish myself away in the morning. Right before I ended up here, I went to pack a bag to bring with me. Then I heard water and I saw my mirror rippling with water. Just like my television did that time. Then I saw Hoggle's face. He said help me. Well he didn't actually say it. His lips didn't move but I heard it. Then he disappeared. But the water was still rippling in my mirror and I rushed over to it. Next thing I know. I'm here."
Jareth and Seriana exchanged quick glances before the queen stood.
"Sarah, it's been a long night for you I'm sure. Why don't you let me set you up a room and we'll talk with Velron and your friend in the morning."
Standing up Sarah looked more than a little irritated, "I get sucked into the underground in the middle of the night and you expect me to go to sleep without any explanation?!"
"Sarah. We don't know how you got here. In fact," Jareth looked at his mother who was shaking her head, "She needs to know mother." Looking back at Sarah he continued, "My aunt and uncle recently passed away a few weeks ago. They were King and Queen of the portal realm. In honor of their memories we closed all portals for one month. They've been closed only two weeks. So in reality you shouldn't have been able to come here even if you did wish yourself here. That's why you couldn't talk with your friends, all the portals are closed."
Sarah knew her mouth was hanging open but she couldn't seem to function. After a few attempts she said, "But then one of you….higher people could have brought me here. Right?"
Jareth shook his head, "The portals were closed by Velron. He's the prince of the portal realm and only he could have brought you here. But not mentioning that he had no reason to bring you here, what you said about rippling surfaces sounds like unmentionable magic. What you would call dark magic. We'll talk with Velron when he awakes in the morning. Maybe he knows more about our situation. Please. Let me take you to a room. We'll discuss it more in the morning, I promise."
Sarah knew she didn't want to sleep. She wanted answers. But she also knew she wasn't going to get them tonight.
"All right."
Jareth smiled and Sarah was shocked to find herself smiling back.
"I'll take her to the room adjourning her friend's." Jareth said motioning for Sarah to follow him."
"Of course dear." Seeing a Jareth didn't say goodnight the queen knew he'd be back to talk. Taking a seat closer to the fire the queen sat deep in thought waiting for her son to return.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Jareth walked briskly towards the wide stone stairs that led to the high levels of the castle. He watched Sarah out of the corner of his eye as she took in all that made the Imperial Castle elegant.
He saw her eyes fly over the carved statues, antique paintings, and colorfully painted ceiling. Even the marble floors were crafted to hide brilliant colors among the white and grey.
He didn't know what to think of Sarah being back in the underground so he said nothing and simply studied her while she was preoccupied examining her surroundings.
She had grown, and matured. Her dark hair was cut in a long layer that framed her high cheekbones and silvery green eyes perfectly. Her build was trim and curvy. Long legs and firm breasts. Besides the hair style, she looked exactly the same as when they were lovers.
Jareth mentally berated himself.
That was another time and century. She had the chance to remember and she didn't. There's nothing more that I can do. I've let go of her. This changes nothing.
Jareth quickened his pace, ready to be rid of his charge.
"Please keep up."
Sarah looked at him questioningly but quickened her pace.
She opened her mouth then closed it. Narrowing her brow she looked at him determinedly, "May I ask you a question?"
"You already have."
Sarah rolled her eyes and stopped walking.
"Your room is this way." Jareth gritted out through clenched teeth. He had a lot to think about and wanted to be very far away from this particular mortal.
"You may be fine with the tension that exists between us but I'm not. I do not know how I got here and unless you just lied to me…"
"I do not lie!" Jareth growled.
"Fine. Then you really have no idea how I got here either. So we are apparently going to have to spend some time together figuring this situation out. So can you just answer one question for me so I can decide whether you are even worth trying to get along with?"
Jareth sneered at her, "What makes you think I even want to get along with you?"
Sarah groaned and threw her hands up in the air, "If that's how you want it then fine. I know we are not ever going to be friends but I thought we could at least act like adults and ease some of the tension between us. But you're right. Why would you want to get along with me?" Sarah smiled at him with false compassion, "I am the one who beat your labyrinth." Jareth stood stone faced with arms crossed so Sarah started walking again.
"You don't know where you are going!" He called after her.
"Wondering around lost is better than being with you!" She retorted.
Jareth pondered just letting her roam but knew his mother would just send him after her anyway. Sighing he sent a quick prayer to his god for patience and dropped a crystal.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Sarah was too busy walking and muttering under her breath about evil rotten Goblin Kings that she wasn't really concerned with finding her room at the moment. She was content to keep walking and muttering. So fate sat laughing as the very person she was cursing appeared in front of her. She noticed him mere seconds before she would have collided with him. And although they weren't touching she did end up close enough to feel his warm breath on her cheek as he sighed.
Every nerve in Sarah's body felt electrified. Her heart quickened and she felt a strong pull to reach out and touch him.
Instead, she took a very big step back.
I'm just nervous. I'm tired and nervous and … nervous.
Had she not been too occupied getting her own nerves under control she might have noticed that she wasn't the only one trying to get composed.
Jareth took a deep breath, "Let me take you to your room. I am a prince and I do have things to do. I can't spend all night chasing you through dark hallways."
Sarah looked ready to spit fire. Her earlier "nervousness" gone she stood firmly, "Not until you answer my question."
Jareth stared at her unbelievingly then narrowed his eyes, "Oh for heaven sakes. What?"
Sarah chewed the bottom of her lip for a second before answering, "Do you really turn children into goblins?"
"Yes. Now follow me."
She knew she should have expected that answer but it still shocked her. For some reason she had wanted to believe that he wasn't evil.
Jareth stopped and indicated to a thick heavy looking red oak door.
The fact that she refused to look at him shouldn't have bothered him. He didn't care about this woman. But he just couldn't leave her letting her think what she must.
"Sarah. Perhaps I should have explained my answer a little better." When she looked up Jareth was surprised to find a small glimmer of hope in her deep green eyes.
"But I'm afraid it's a very long and complicated tale."
"I doubt I'm going to be able to sleep tonight anyway."
He knew he should just bid her goodnight and return to where his mother was surely getting impatient. Instead he ushered her into he room and closed the door behind him.
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Candles flared the instant Sarah stepped into the room. Taking a deep breath she
exhaled loudly. It was such an elegant room. Her heels sank into the deep purple carpet as she walked towards the huge four poster bed beautifully done up in lavenders and silver. Jareth strode over to massive stone fireplace and set to starting a fire. She was surprised to see a small section of the large room had marble flooring with a large tub with golden faucets built into the stone wall. She crossed to the tub and saw it was deep enough for her to stand in and nearly large enough to swim. A full length mirror and wash basin were positioned a small way from the tub. On the other side of the room Sarah saw another door.
"Where does that go to?"
"That would be a closet. Although it's empty now we'll have a seamstress come in the morning and take your measurements."
"You don't have to. I'm not sure how long I'm staying."
"Well you can't wander the castle in those." He replied indicating to her small t-shirt and short shorts.
Sarah blushed and looked towards the window. It had a niche with an massive pillow. Taking a seat, she looked at him and waited.
Jareth pulled out the chair from a small desk and straddled it backwards.
"When a person wishes a child away to me many things happen. There are the basics. I come and take the child away, placing it in the castle beyond the goblin city. The runner is given thirteen hours to complete the labyrinth or the child will be one of us. But something else happens. The labyrinth connects to the runner. It searches the mind, soul, and heart of the person and decides what kind of labyrinth the runner will meet."
"What do you mean, "what kind of labyrinth"?"
"Let me finish. You see I don't get very many American children wished away. The majority of the children that are wished away come from small countries and villages where legends are passed down from generation to generation and are still firmly believed. They are children who are sick and the parents can not cure them, or from families who are too poor to eat. They are wished away with the hopes of them finding a better life."
Sarah looked ready to object but said nothing.
"Most of the children who are wished away from villages like those, their wishers do not come after them. They believe in their hearts it is for the best. But there are the occasional wishers who do run the labyrinth."
"So the labyrinth looks into the runner's heart and decides if the labyrinth they face should be filled with dark terrors and endless traps, with a vague possibility of reaching the center. Or if they should find a difficult but magical labyrinth filled with light and friends to help along the way. Every runner who enters the labyrinth sees it a different way, depending on how they feel about the child in their hearts."
"That's why I was able to get Toby back."
"Yes. You loved him. You didn't really want him gone and you would have given anything to get him back. That's the only way you can beat the labyrinth."
"How many have gotten their children back?"
Jareth looked down, "Only you."
Sarah sat with mouth open, "I don't believe it."
"Not many people wish away children wanting to actually have them back."
Sarah's surprise quickly turned into anger, "So then you turn them into goblins!"
"Yes, but not all. I said the child is changed into one of us. I meant one of us in the underground. When the runner fails they are sent home. No one but the runner even remembers the child even existed. Then the child is taken before the high court of the underground and changed."
"Into what?"
"That depends on the child. Most children become one of the creatures of the underground. Sprite, nymph, fairy, dwarf, and so on. Really nasty and misbehaved children though could become goblins or ground trolls. Those are just a smaller form of troll. Also there are children who are very ill. So ill they will die very soon. The only form that could cure their illness is that of a goblin. Since they are the only creature in the underground immune to illness."
Sarah sat staring into the fire digesting this new information.
"It's late and I've still much to do." Jareth stood stretching his long form.
"Will I see you in the morning?" Sarah felt as if she were just getting to know the real Jareth and she didn't want this to be their last meeting.
"I'll be here to bring you down for breakfast in the morning." In fact he had planned on returning to the castle beyond the goblin city at sunrise but he couldn't seem to tell her otherwise.
Sarah smiled. The first true smile she had in his presence and it nearly took his breath away.
"Good night Sarah."
"Good night...Jareth."
************************************************************************IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"I thought you'd forgotten about me." Seriana blinked the sleep from her eyes.
"I apologize. She had questions." Jareth replied, seating himself in one of Velron's high backed chairs.
"I figured as much. What did she want to know?"
"Mostly about how I turned children into goblins."
"Interesting."
"How so?" Jareth asked distractedly.
"She was more concerned with you than how she got here. She wasn't very upset to be here. Confused maybe. But she adapted well. I doubt the same will be for her friend."
Jareth nodded. He had noticed that Sarah took to the underground seemingly well.
"She is a very level headed woman."
"She always was."
Jareth jerked his head up, "Stop. She is not my Sarah. She never will be. It is foolish to hope for it. Sarah…my Sarah….made her decision."
"Jareth. The High God said she would return…."
"And so she did. Remember! She cast me away. Feeling nothing of what once was."
"She was a child. She was not ready!"
"ENOUGH!" Jareth stood and made his way to the door, "I'll be escorting the two women down for breakfast in the morning. We can discuss them being here then. Goodnight mother." Jareth left before she could reply.
