Sarah heard her feet slap against the cobblestone as she ran. She knew her time was limited. Scouring the wall and crevices, she couldn't seem to find any creature. Damn it!

The labyrinth hadn't changed. Well, that wasn't entirely true; it was always changing; it was alive in that way. But the pathways seemed like home to Sarah, the moss and chickens were a welcome sight. It was like she was visiting a childhood home. If only the creepy uncle didn't still live next door.

She was running so frantically that she almost ran into the old man with a bird head. "Oh, hello."

"Yes….hmmm? Oh, yes, hello." He mumbled.

"Pretty girl! Pretty woah-mannn!" The bird squawked. "Don't we know you?"

Sarah gripped her knees and said between heavy breaths, "Yes, yes! I'm Sarah. I asked you for advice years ago. I gave you a ring, remember?"

"Hmmm… maybe," the old man responded, shifting his large eyebrows, "but sometimes the people we know are the ones who don't know us at all."

"Oh shut up! Yes, lady, we remember you. How can we be of service this time?"

"Have you seen my friends? Hoggle, Ludo, or Sir Didymus?"

"Who are are friends really?"

"Oh, shut up!" The bird then turned to Sarah, "We have. They were by those obnoxious knockers last time we walked by. But at the rate this one moves, that may have been hours."

Sarah turned to leave, "thank you!"

"Wait!"

She turned back around, leaving one foot facing away. She was eager to find her friends.

The old man shook his donation box. She sighed but realized that he had actually been helpful this time. Her skirt had no pockets, so no hope there. She felt at her ears to see if she had bothered putting earrings on that morning. No luck. She looked forlornly at her hands. There was one ring on her left one, but that was special. The round-cut diamond caught the sunlight as she stared.

"Oooh! We'll gladly take that one!" The bird was leaning almost past the nose of his ride.

"No." She responded quickly, tucking her hand into the folds of her skirt. "I need this one. How about…oh!" She grabbed a beaded chain around her neck that held her reading glasses. Pulling the glasses off, she hooked them onto her shirt collar. She then held the chain up to the duo for approval.

The bird looked disappointed but then nodded.


Jareth was so focused on the crystal that he did not notice the usual ruckus around him. A goblin swinging from the ceiling only caught his attention when he swung into the back of Jareth's head.

"You fool!" He grabbed the offender by the neck, holding him so that his feet dangled in midair. "Can't you see I'm busy?" With that he flung the goblin away from him, smashing him into the stone wall of the throne room.

The goblin recovered quickly, stood up and scurried to the other end of the room.

The king returned to his spying. "Oh Sarah, what are you up to?"


"Hoggle!" Sarah shouted flinging her arms around the unsuspecting dwarf.

Hoggle leaned back to see her. "Sarah? Sarah, is 'at really you?" He smiled and gave her a solid pat on the back. "So it is! How'd ya get back down here?"

Sarah only hugged him tighter. "Oh Hoggle, I'm so glad you didn't forget me!"

The dwarf pushed her off. "All right, now that's enough. Whadaya mean, remember you? We talked only last week."

Sarah replied only with a smile. I felt so good to see her dear friend, she had to force herself to remember that she needed him.

"Alright then, be all mysterious. Come along to my hut. Sir Didymus and Ludo are over for tea. I jus' stepped outside to get away from their noisy chatter."

Sarah could not stop her joy from escaping into her movements. She practically skipped to Hoggle's house, and she ended every sentence with a childish giggle.

When they arrived at the hut, Ludo and Didymus jumped from their chairs to hug her. Ludo nearly knocked her over in his excitement.

"Lady Sarah, it is wonderful to see you! What news do you have from your life in the Aboveground?" Sir Didymus inquired.

"Well," Sarah said failing to conceal a smile, "I'm engaged." She beamed, showing splaying her fingers so that the ring was visible for all.


Jareth clutched the crystal in his fist, making the tips of his fingers turn white with pressure. "WHAT?" He roared.

The crystal shattered into several fragments which he dropped to the floor.


When the shouts of "Ludo happy for friend!" and "Congratulations!" Had died down and tea had been served, Sarah finally told them how she had come to the Underground. They all listened attentively until the very end.

"So now I have," She glanced at her watch, "three more hours? That can't be right." Jareth, you cheater.

"How can we help, m'lady?" Sir Didymus asked.

Hoggle stood up with a huff, "Yeah. Just tell us what t'do."

Sarah made sure to speak each word carefully. "You can help by not forgetting me. I have an idea where Jareth may take me, but I'm afraid you all may forget me."

"Ludo no forget friend!"

"Lady, how dare you think such a thing?"

Sarah made eye contact with Hoggle. He nodded so she knew he understood.

For the remaining three hours, the old gang made small talk about the fairy population, the breeze from The Bog, and each other's lives. Sarah shared stories about her teaching and told them how Toby was now becoming very talented with his guitar; Sir Didymus shared his heroic tales; and Hoggle complained about the number of rocks that had been appearing in his garden.

And then it was time.

Jareth appeared in a cloud of glitter and smoke. Despite being hunched over in the small hut, his presence filled the room. His eyebrows were furrowed and his glare made Sarah feel cold despite the warm fireplace.

He did not say a word. The Goblin King simply took a long step forward and grabbed onto Sarah's shirt collar.

Before Hoggle could blink, both his friend and his king were gone.

"Okay guys, here's the plan."