Forgotten Farewells

Ch 2


The next morning, rays of sunlight stretched past the curtains to caress the surfaces of the room. An alarm clock set atop an end table was engulfed in sunlight. Then, as if the suns warmth had awoken it from slumber it began to ring, bringing Sarah into the waking world with it.

Sitting up slowly she moved her legs to dangle off the side of the bed and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes with the back of her hand. Stretching her arms heavenward, she yawned then slowly brought a hand down to silence the device. She slumped there for a moment, just letting her muscles relax as she glanced around her room. Something had been nagging her from the back of her mind; it's what had spurred her to wake up without a fight. Her gaze finally landed on her mirror. Eyes widening, she grinned as she recalled the idea that had struck her just the night before.

She glided towards the mirror to initiate her plan. She glanced momentarily at a snapshot of her and Erin at drama camp, their matching shocks of black hair framing a pair of cold blue and a set of soothing green eyes. Gazing steadily into the mirror, bracing herself against the unknown, she gripped the edge of the vanity. It had been so long since she'd stopped summoning them. The torture of each new goodbye grew more unbearable until finally she stopped calling, thinking it better to have no glimpse of that wonderland than to tease herself with a peak every now and then.

"Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus, I—I need you," she whispered, her heart racing as the words wisped past her parted lips and plunged into the mirror.

The surface blurred. Sarah's face scrunched up in confusion and she blinked hard to make sure it wasn't her eyes acting up. When she glanced back, the mirror was clearing and she could make out the fuzzy outline of Hoggle lounging on her bed. Then she spotted Ludo standing from foot to foot in the middle of her room, his ginger fur brushing against the foot of her bed. As her excitement grew she searched for, but didn't see, Sir Didymus. Despite his absence, a smile engulfed her face as she spun around to greet them, only to find that they existed only in the confines of her mirror so she turned back.

"Oh, I knew it would work, that you'd come!"

They returned her smile as they each greeted her. "A' course we came, we promised ta come if ya ever needed us!" Hoggle huffed as if insulted by her surprise.

"Ludo miss Sarah!" Ludo bellowed, his voice rumbling around the room, sending tremors through her as if he were truly standing behind her.

Then came an unexpected voice, "You, my lady, were sorely missed by us all." It was the high-pitched voice of Sir Didymus, coming from the direction of her shelf of stuffed animals.

Sarah gasped. "I didn't see you there Sir Didymus!" She leaned forward to rest her elbows on the vanity and prop her chin in her cupped hand. "How have things been? Are you all..." The conversation crept on for hours as the four friends reacquainted themselves with one another. Sarah enjoyed the light conversation but had something specific on her mind and finally couldn't hold it in.

"I want to go back!" she blurted out. "To the Underground, I mean." She cast each of them a hopeful glance.

Sir Didymus brightened. "Why, that's a wonderful..."

"No," Hoggle cut him off.

Sarah looked at him, hurt by his unwelcoming tone. "But, Hoggle, if there's a way..."

"No! Sarah, ya just can't. Think of the danger! Think of what Jareth would do if ya did and he found ya!" Hoggle ranted. He looked upset, a little nervous even. He paused a moment before shifting tactics. "It don't matter none anyways, there's no way ta get ya here."

She sank back feeling defeated, but then noticed the agitated way Hoggle's eyes darted around her room.

"You can do it can't you!" She stood abruptly, sending her stool flying. "You know how to bring me back but you won't!"

He peered at her from downcast eyes, shaking his head. "I'm sorry Sarah," he murmured.

Sarah was about to argue when she saw his expression and hesitated, not wanting to fight after three long years apart. Righting her stool she lowered herself onto it, forcing herself to be calm. Once calm, she moved her saddened gaze to Ludo and Sir Didymus, both sporting expressions of confusion and sadness, the foremost pointed in Hoggle's decision.

So it's true then, they know how I can return but won't say. At least Hoggle won't say, the others seem to follow his lead even if they don't want to. Hoggle always was a bully.

"Hoggle you don't understand! Life here is—I can't stand it after experiencing the magic of the Underground! Anything that could happen to me there must be better than this," Sarah pleaded her case whole-heartedly, her throat tight and tears prickling her eyes.

Sir Didymus couldn't stand seeing her this way so he leapt down from his perch on the doll shelf and went to her reflections' side. "I can simply no longer stand to see m'lady so melancholy, I must tell her..."

He was again cut off as Hoggle lurched forward and gripped his snout shut. Hoggle turned to Sarah and backed away, carrying Sir Didymus with him. "We've gotta go now Sarah. I'm sorry."

"Wait! Hoggle— no—not yet!" she cried out desperately, but their image in the mirror was already beginning to blur.

"Goodbye," Hoggle whispered. One hand was still clutched around the little fox's snout, the other hand deftly moving to wipe at the wetness glistening below his eyes.

"Come back later! Please!" She caught a glimpse of Hoggle nodding with a weak smile, Ludo and Sir Didymus waved before they were just blurs of color.

She leaned back, hands trembling. She pressed her palms to her eyes, refusing to allow tears to leak out.

Bolting to her feet she flew down the stairs, stopping before turning into the kitchen, she took a deep breath then entered. Sending a dull "Good Morning" in the direction of her father and Karen, she bent down to Toby so he could lovingly smear a sticky milk kiss across her right cheek.

"Mo'ning Sawah!" he squealed as she ruffled his radiantly gold mane as it sparkled in the sun that poured in through the big bay window across the table.

She laughed, mood easing. "Morning munchkin."

Her father smiled at the two. "I thought we could go for a picnic for lunch, Sarah. We're sorry about last night, didn't realize our outing was scheduled on the same night as your first day of vacation when we bought the tickets."

"It's alright, Dad. You were going to the theatre after all, there are few things worth missing a visit to the theater for."

He laughed and reached for her hand, pulling her towards him when she took it. "We really wanted to celebrate it with you, my dear."

Sarah nodded and leaned down so he could kiss her cheek. Karen took her other hand and cupped it in hers, patting it and beaming up at her.

"We're so proud of you Sarah. You've really grown up exquisitely." Sarah beamed at her stepmother. The pair had never reached a stage where they were comfortable with a high level of affection, but Sarah had learned she was as quick to compliment as she was to scold. It's true that she was no replacement for the excitement she felt from her actress mother's company and knowledge, but Sarah found that that meant Karen was all the more keen to learn about the world of acting from her. They'd shared many conversations where Sarah boasted her knowledge of the backstage workings of her mother's productions, she'd been pleased to have Karen's eager ear.

Sarah squeezed her hand and returned to Toby to readjust the paper towel bib tucked into his shirt before grabbing a banana and leaping back upstairs. She headed to the shower to get ready for the day in a perky mood.

Forty minutes later she entered her room and tossed the banana peel into the trash. Freshly showered, with hair blown dry and wearing an emerald green t-shirt, a fitted pair of jeans and black slip on shoes she strolled over to her window and tugged back the curtains to check if her family had left yet for their weekly morning visit to Karen's relatives. Seeing the empty driveway she settled herself in front of her vanity. Her mood darkened rapidly as she remembered earlier's disaster with Hoggle. She stilled, waiting for the angry tears that were suddenly prickling her eyes to subside. Once composed, she took a deep breath, glared at her reflection.

"Hoggle, Sir Didymus and Ludo, are you there?" Sarah spoke in a much more subdued tone than she had used before. She felt weighted down with dark emotions, envy one of the strongest, as she waited for her friends to appear from the one place she so wanted to be. Not even such a bleak mood, however, could stop sheer delight from bubbling up within her as the mirror cleared and she saw Sir Didymus and Ludo beaming back at her.

"Sarah!" howled Ludo, waving his massive paws in greeting.

"My Lady! What a pleasure indeed!" Sir Didymus chirped from on top of her bed, his smile so wide his eyes were little more than glittering slits.

Sarah greeted them both in turn, then felt her sour mood peak out as she took in Hoggle's absence.

Sir Didymus, spotting Sarah's quickly wilting smile and searching eyes, hurriedly explained.

"It would be best to mention, My Lady, that Hoggle has been called away by His Majesty—" He paused, checking Sarah's face for any sort of reaction, but pressed on when it revealed nothing. "—many hours ago. It seems someone has wished away yet another small tot." He glanced to the ground solemnly. "His return is surely fast approaching," he added lightly.

Sarah nodded glumly. If she couldn't return to the Underground she wanted to at least be able to see all of them. Sarah then grimaced, remembering all too clearly her own time with the king. "The Goblin King is torturing another poor soul is he?"

"It would seem so. Although, ever since you..." He stopped short and quickly backtracked, "For many years now Hoggle has become much more involved with his majesty. The king has even begun sending Hoggle to retrieve the people and bring them to the Labyrinth's start. Hoggle's been complaining that Jareth has almost no contact with those running the Labyrinth these days and that it's increasingly become his job alone to deal with those trying to win back their babies. I've also heard that the Labyrinth has grown excessively wild and gloomy within its walls, also that Jareth has become very unpleasant, err... more unpleasant to be around than usual..."

Sarah was only half listening as he rambled on, running her fingers over imperfections in the wood of her vanity table, her eyes out of focus as she remembered her own journey through the Labyrinth. Now, without the incessant terror of Toby being in danger, she fondly reminisced about all the characters she had run into: the sweet, inviting caterpillar, those goofy guards and the mischievous Fireys. Her mind strayed briefly to the Underground's tauntingly handsome, chillingly formidable King. She felt her stomach tighten as it filled with a surge of contradicting and confusing emotions.

Forcing herself back into the present with a deep sigh, she watched Ludo lumber around her room, exploring. It was then that she noticed the startling change in Sir Didymus's expression that had formed as he observed her weary state. He looked...defiant. As fierce as the first day they met when he was ferociously guarding his bridge.

While Sarah had been reminiscing, Sir Didymus hand scrutinized her expressive face as unchecked emotions flitted across. Taking in her forlorn longing, he gazed past Sarah and into her otherwise empty room. What was his dear Sarah doing all alone every time he saw her? She never even spoke of friends or family. He may not be able to see past the walls of this room but there was a tangible feeling of loneliness that clung to her like wet clothing. A decision snapped into place in his mind.

"Hoggle will be exceedingly angry with me for telling you this, but he is not seeing your face as it appears before me. Sarah, there is a way for you to once again join us here."

Sarah's attention spiked and Ludo turned his massive head to glance at the small fox before he resumed petting her stuffed animals.

"Although, with your safety in mind, I too hesitate to divulge the information."

"Sir Didymus, haven't I already proven that I can more than handle the Underground?" she said.

He nodded in pleased agreement. "You are still the lone winner of the Labyrinth." His gaze grew weary. "Except the Goblin King would steal you away in an instant if he found you here! Hiding will be no easy task," he warned, waving his arms around erratically. "We would, of course, fight valiantly to save you if your whereabouts were revealed but..."

"I know you would," Sarah interrupted gently, "but I have no intention of being found by that fey." She smiled in what she hoped was be a confidence inspiring way. The smile didn't fill her eyes until an excited grin cracked through Sir Didymus's worried expression.

"Well, as long as you understand what you are getting into I shall not protest!" he declared and scampered off of her bed to come stand next to her reflection's elbow. Only the yellow feather on his hat could be seen over the top. Standing on his toes to make himself taller, he began to stretch his arm towards his reflection.

"You must simply..." But he stopped and turned as the door to her room thumped open.

Twisting around with a gasp, Sarah expected to see Karen or Toby, but only saw her door still snugly in its frame. Turning back she spotted a grumpy, disheveled looking Hoggle shuffle in and her tension eased.

"I've been waiting for you." She grinned. She was so close to getting what she so desperately wanted that her previous anger towards Hoggle had been all but forgotten.

Hoggle's eyes widened and shot to her, surprised to see her. He had been sporting a frown when he entered but a goofy grin stretched across his face automatically at the sight of her. It stiffened abruptly however as he spotted Sir Didymus standing at her side, his face guilty and his arm stretched towards the mirror.

"Stop right there you no good fox!" Hoggle hollered as he launched forward and tugged Sir Didymus back by his collar and began dragging him towards the door.

Ludo was rocking from foot to foot in the background, looking confused by the commotion, a stuffed animal still clutched in his paws.

Sarah's temper flared as she panicked. "Hoggle don't do that! Stop being a bully, you're acting petty, like Jareth!"

That got him to stop, a look of surprise flashing across his face, but only for a moment. With a strained glance at her from over his shoulder, he swung the door back open and started pushing Sir Didymus, who was protesting loudly, out. Sarah felt tears fill her eyes as she watched them leaving yet again.

"Don't leave! I can handle going back I know it! I'm not the same silly, little girl anymore!"

Desperation again filling her as Hoggle began to disappear through the doorway; she jumped to her feet and brought the bottom of her clenched fist down onto the surface of the mirror in anger. Her body jerked backwards unexpectedly when her weight was not resisted by the mirror, but sank into its silvery surface. Pulling back until the tips of her fingers were again in view, she stood frozen. Hoggle was still too busy struggling to get the feisty Sir Didymus out the door to notice, but Ludo did. He grinned lopsidedly at her and made a motion for Sarah to keep moving forward.

"Sarah come." He hummed in a hushed, matter-of-fact way.

Feeling marginally less frightened now, she sat on top of her vanity and swiveled her legs delicately into her mirror to dangle on the other, unseen side.

Hesitating just before slipping her body all the way in, she thought momentarily of leaving Toby. While the boy had at one point been simply another annoying glitch in her life, she now doted on the precious blond with all her heart. He was, to her, the one person that cherished her as if she could do no wrong.

Shaking her head and forcefully dismissing the guilty thought from her mind which was a thunderstorm of swirling thoughts, she continued through the mirror as her guilt embedded itself deep into her subconscious.

As the last strands of her raven hair drifted past the mirror's silky surface, her family pulled into the driveway, a specially ordered, celebratory cake for Sarah sat snugly on Karen's lap as she beamed up at her step-daughter's window, anticipating her reaction.

On her desk, a cell phone buzzed as Erin called, eager to begin the adventures of their final summer completely free to spend together before moving into their separate futures. Unfortunately, Sarah had already left him behind.