Disclaimer – I own nothing, am not making a profit from anything related to the Labyrinth, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette or Rock of Love, all original characters are owned by Henson et al.
Chapter 2
Meanwhile, Aboveground, a twenty-four year old Sarah Williams was returning home after a day of work at Elstree Studios. Following selling the rights to her adaptation of the Labyrinth, Sarah had managed to forge a moderately successful career as a screenwriter. It was a remarkable trick of fate that she was able to do so, as Sarah believed her story was based on a pre-existing book. However, following her dream of the Labyrinth, Sarah's red bound copy had mysteriously disappeared and any attempts she had made to track down another one, or even a mention of the existence of the book, had proved futile. She mused on her good fortune.
At age eighteen she attended University in London, where her roommate Sal had 'borrowed' Sarah's story and gave it to her Dad to look at. He was an up-and-coming film producer, who was looking for an idea for a children's adventure movie. He loved the story and approached Sarah with an offer to make it into a film. She explained her story was based on an old book that she no longer had, which inspired her dream and thus her adaptation. Following a lengthy investigation it was determined that the original story did not in fact exist or was lost forever. After taking legal advice the project was given the 'green light' and Sarah sold her rights to her story, just happy that her university education was now paid for. On graduating, Sarah decided to stay in the UK as she had fallen in love with the English countryside. Its sense of history and magic was food for her creative powers, but she travelled back to the States at least once a year to visit her family.
On entering her tiny cottage that was situated on the outskirts of Hertford, Sarah pressed 'play' on her answerphone whilst filtering through her mail.
BEEP
"Hey honey, it's Dad. Just wondered if you had got around to booking your flight yet? Our schedule is getting pretty busy and we want to make sure we can collect you from the airport. Call me back."
BEEP
"Hey Sarah, it's Elaine. Warner have phoned again wanting to know if the second draft is ready. They are getting pretty arsey, so can you please get back to them today, at least with a timeframe, cheers ma lovely."
BEEP
"Urgh!" Sarah moaned, slipping off her heels whilst opening a bottle of red. It was whilst pouring a healthy glassful that she noticed the crystal sitting on her kitchen table. Her entire body froze. No one had access to her home but her, how the hell did that-
"Shit!" Sarah gasped suddenly, the wine overflowing onto the table. She quickly reached for a cloth to mop the spillage, grabbing the crystal out of the way. It began to glow a bright white in her hand and she dropped it instinctively, in its place stood a small goblin in official looking robes. With a flourish it produced a tatty scroll and began to read.
"Ahem, Sarah Williams, you are cordially invited to attend the Beltane Feast to be held at the Castle Beyond the Goblin City, two days hence at 7 of the Above o'clock. To accept the invitation merely tap the crystal once, at which time it will turn blue. To decline the invitation tap twice and it will turn red," the goblin then bowed with more grace than she would have given it credit and promptly disappeared.
"Wait, what? Hey!" Sarah shouted but found herself alone with a crystal once again. Oh God, Oh God, Oh God, Oh God! Sarah sat on the floor staring in amazement at the crystal. It was all real, I didn't dream it. Then that means… Sarah scrambled up from the floor and ran to the mirror in her bedroom.
"Hoggle, Hoggle are you there?" Sarah called, tensely waiting for a response. When nothing happened she felt herself relax. Then a voice inside her head echoed "Not when you ask the right questions."
"Hoggle, I need you," Sarah called. The mirror shimmered and there sat her old friend. "Oh Hoggle it's you, you're real!" Sarah cried reaching her hand forward to touch the glass.
"Sarah, what's you doing calling? It's been years, you never have before!" the dwarf's amazement quickly turning to wounded pride.
"I never thought, that is I can't believe it was real. Oh Hoggle I am so sorry," Sarah whispered and they both sat there looking at each other, neither were prepared for the conversation and were unsure how to continue.
"Ahem, well, how have ya been Sarah?" Hoggle asked, hating the awkwardness.
"Um, great yes, no, just argh sorry Hoggle. I have only just realised that the Labyrinth is real. I spent the last nine years believing I dreamt it all," Sarah said.
"Why on earth would you think you dreamt it girl?" Hoggle asked, rolling his eyes at her perceived stupidity.
"Oh come on, how the hell could it have been real? There was no trace of anything to do with my adventure afterwards, it all seemed so hazy. I was ill with the flu for a few days after. I guess I convinced myself it was a dream brought on by the onset of fever." Sarah replied "It's a good job really, otherwise I may have ended up in the nuthouse. Which I am guessing is still an option now!" Sarah groaned rubbing her temples.
"The flu eh? Well smelling the bog for the first time can do that to you. I was laid up a week the first time after I smelt it," Hoggle shuddered at the memory. "So why did you make a film of us then? If we were just a dream."
"You know about that?" Sarah asked, not realising that they had television or indeed electricity in the Underground.
"Whole Underground knows about that. Did you have to show me peeing into the pond Sarah? I couldn't walk into a tavern for months afterwards without everyone saying, look there's 'Can't hold it Hoggle! Watch out Nymphs protect your ponds!'" he groused.
"Oh Hoggle, I didn't actually write that screenplay or get involved too much in the making of the film. I didn't know they'd include that, I guess they thought it would be funny," Sarah ventured.
At Hoggle's glare Sarah swiftly moved on with the conversation. "What about Ludo and Sir Didymus?"
"Ludo was made 'The Kingdom Rock Caller', seeing as though a large portion of the Goblin City needed to be rebuilt following your run, and what with his skills with rocks an' all.." Hoggle trailed off. "Sir Didymus is now in charge of morale, instructing the castle goblins to be brave. Since the bridge over the bog's no longer there he found himself without a vocation. Not sure he is happy about it though. When 'He' isn't there the goblins are almost uncontrollable. The King can be very sneaky in his appointments, as more often than not they feel like punishments."
The mention of Jareth brought Sarah up short. Ofcourse if the Labyrinth was real then so was he. Not being able to register how she felt about that she asked Hoggle "And the Goblin King, is he OK, I mean was he really mad at you all about what happened?"
"He was at first, but there was so much to do after you left and then there was the political fallout and explanations to the High Council. By the time he got round to dispatching vengeance on us he had calmed down a bit," Hoggle reflected. "We were all put on clean up duty and he keeps a very close eye on us now as I said."
"So what about you Hoggle, what do you do now?" Sarah asked.
"Me, same as always. I greet runners at the start of the Labyrinth, plus a bit of pest control if I get time," Hoggle muttered.
"Runners, you mean there are more?" Sarah asked.
"Oh Sarah you don't know the half of it. Since your film came out the number of wish-aways has gone through the roof," Hoggle declared.
"Why? The story behind the film is supposed to be a moral, not to take things for granted. Why would people be prompted to make the wish?" Sarah exclaimed.
"Might have something to do with the popularity of a certain Goblin King?" Hoggle grumbled.
"Oh no, Oh god," Sarah moaned putting her head in her hands.
"Really Sarah did you have to portray him as temptation in tights?" Hoggle reprimanded.
"I didn't-" she began.
"Well you could have fooled me!" Hoggle snapped.
"But those pants were nowhere near as explicit as the real thing..." Sarah trailed off and took a sudden interest in her shirt cuff.
"He's seen as quite the catch among young mortal girls now, they've been wishing away all sorts just to get a chance to meet him," Hoggle continued ignoring her previous comment.
"But it was not supposed to be real, it was just a film," Sarah defended.
"Don't get me wrong, the film has provided enough magical sustenance for the Labyrinth to last ten mortal lifetimes, in the beginning we were all overjoyed. However the King is now struggling with the number of wish-aways, so let's just say you are not his favourite person at the moment," Hoggle warned.
"Of all the ungrateful," Sarah could feel her hackles rising then dismissed it as not her problem. "Fine, can't he just not respond to a call! Anyway he can't be that mad at me, seeing as though I have been invited to the Beltane Feast," Sarah rationalised.
"What?" Hoggle gasped, thick eyebrows raised in astonishment.
"That's how I knew you were real, that's why I called." Sarah went on to relate her incident with the crystal.
"Ah, erm so what yer going to do?" Hoggle asked, his unease growing.
"I don't know, what do you think Hoggle, should I go? Sarah asked.
"Well, it's not for me to say like-" Hoggle began.
"It's not a trap is it, to keep me in the Underground, I mean if he is as cross as you say he is?" Sarah said.
"Never knows with His Nibs. Although there has been a lot of activity at the castle recently, more so than usual for the Beltane Feast. I will check with Didymus and get back to you. Call me again same time tomorrow," Hoggle said.
"But what about the crystal?" she asked.
"Don't touch it for now, we don't know what we are dealing with," Hoggle advised.
"But the feast is on Saturday, that's two days Hoggle," Sarah said.
"Well, you can always refuse the invitation to be on the safe side," Hoggle suggested.
"What if it's my chance, to see you all again. What if it's harmless and I am turning down an amazing opportunity?" Sarah said, her anxiety rising with Hoggle's impending departure.
"Well then I better get going to find out all I can. Remember to call for me tomorrow. Goodbye Sarah," Hoggle called.
"Goodbye Hoggle," Sarah whispered, touching the mirror surface as her friend's face faded away.
GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~ GK~GK~ GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~
Jareth entered the throne room, a spring in his step as he whistled the theme tune to 'Rock of Love'. He had spent the afternoon going through season two and had come up with more interesting ideas to test the successful runners. He was particularly interested in the pole dancing challenge!
"So, how are the arrangements coming along, Tariq?" Jareth enquired, sprawling on his throne.
"Very well your Majesty, all the crystals have been delivered and so far I have had five acceptances," Tariq replied.
"Any issues?" Jareth asked as he produced and manipulated a crystal.
"Most of the ladies took a few hours to adjust to their memories being returned. One, a Susan Briggs, reacted quite violently to Squeek. I think the combination of retaining her memories and finding a goblin in her lounge was a bit too much," Tariq replied. "The healer is with him now."
"What did she do to him? Goblin's are resilient creatures," Jareth's attention on Tariq, his curiosity now peaked.
"She was, erm, naked when she picked up the crystal, had just finished showering so Squeek was more of an unwelcome surprise than expected. Naturally she went into self-defence mode and needless to say it looks unlikely there will be any mini Squeeks running around any time soon," Tariq grimaced.
Jareth burst into laughter "Susan Briggs, I remember her now, the ginger spitfire! Sounds like she has the makings of a good queen." Jareth's chuckling slowly ceased. "What of the Champion?"
"I believe the first thing she did was contact Hoggle," Tariq replied.
Jareth returned his gaze to the crystal "Did she accept?"
"No response as yet Sire," Tariq said.
"Send me the dwarf," Jareth commanded.
"He is already here visiting Sir Didymus," Tariq said.
"What?" and with that Jareth vanished, it wouldn't do for Sarah to have a heads-up, not 'fair' on the others one might say.
GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~ GK~GK~ GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~GK~
In another part of the castle, Sir Didymus was filling Hoggle in on the Royal gossip.
"Blimey!" said Hoggle.
"Quite," Sir Didymus replied.
"How on earth is he planning on getting them to agree to all this?" Hoggle asked.
"Most of them will jump at the opportunity, they did after all wish things away just to meet His Majesty. The incentive to become Queen and immortal is an honour," declared Sir Didymus.
"Sarah won't see it that way," Hoggle observed.
"I believe His Majesty has a plan B in that instance," Sir Didymus whispered.
At that moment Jareth appeared. "Ah Hogbrain, just the dwarf I was looking for."
"Your Majesty," Hoggle genuflected.
"Enjoy your visit with Sarah?" Jareth asked.
"Ah, yes Your Majesty," replied Hoggle, not sure what the correct answer was supposed to be.
"Did you talk about the feast?" Jareth asked.
"She may have mentioned it," said Hoggle.
"Hogwart, you know very well I am enquiring as to her response to the invitation," Jareth snapped.
"Hasn't made up her mind, says she's not sure she can trust you, to be bygones and the like," Hoggle confessed.
"She needs to attend the feast Hoggle, as you are probably aware thanks to Didymus here," Jareth glared at the Knight "unless we at least attempt to get ourselves a queen, you will be doomed to deceiving runners for the next twenty years," Jareth paused for effect "without a holiday!"
"What?" Hoggle squeaked.
"Well there are just so many of them Hogbrain, so I am afraid time-off will not be possible," Jareth innocently stated, strutting back and forth. "Unless ofcourse I can change the summons."
"But we don't need Sarah for that," Hoggle said.
"Well Hogball, let's see. Who would you prefer to have as Queen? I believe Sarah was the only one to stir such loyal feelings in that disgustingly treacherous heart of yours," Jareth sneered.
"I guess so," said Hoggle "but what if it's not what she wants?"
"Well there is always Susan Briggs," Jareth stopped pacing, playing his ace card.
Hoggle visibly paled and gulped at the memory of the terrifying red head. "Well when you put it that way Your Majesty."
Jareth beamed at the dwarf, now confident of his assistance.
All of a sudden the 'Gong' echoed loudly through the Kingdom and Jareth and Hoggle groaned.
"It appears there is another summons Your Majesty" declared Sir Didymus. With a scowl Jareth vanished covering both of his subjects in glitter.
Hoggle stood up and dusted himself off. "Bloody stuff gets everywhere," he complained.
"No time to chat dear Hoggle, you must get yourself into position in case the wisher chooses to run the Labyrinth," Sir Didymus said.
"Bloody film!" snapped Hoggle.
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A/N Thanks for those of you who took the time to review and message me. Note I do not have a Beta so all mistakes are mine : )
Bit of a longer chapter this time. Sorry it's more informative than fun but we can't go straight to the feast without introducing Sarah and establishing what happened to everyone since the film left off. Also I have taken poetic licence on the whole Sarah's copyright of the Labyrinth issue. I know it's more likely a production company wouldn't touch it with a barge pole unless there was an extensive re-write. But for the purposes of this story she got to sell the rights to her adaptation OK? If you can suspend your disbelief that there are goblins hosting a reality TV style matchmaking contest then you can play along re the copyright wobblyness : ) Next up the feast!