Chapter 2 - Terms
"You'll have double the usual thirteen hours to finds them all; both your parents, the mutt, Toby, Hobbit and Sir Didymus. They could be anywhere in the Labyrinth but you have to find them all and make it to my castle at the center in twenty six hours or I get you. Forever. Trapped Underground and never able to return to the surface unless I let you. However, should you actually find them all and make it to my castle within the time limit, you will of course go free."
They were standing on the same monument covered hill, looking out at seemingly the same Labyrinth, stretching out for miles on all sides. The sky, a light pink with a few clouds struggling across it, as if they too didn't want to be here. The same castle was just visible in the distance, marking the center of the giant maze. A clock with thirteen hours was floating in the air, just like last time. It seemed as if she was the only thing different, the only thing not the same; well, she was very different. She didn't whine, didn't complain, she was stronger in who she was. She knew she had to put herself at risk in order to get her friends and family back. She'd also noticed how he hadn't promised to let anyone but her go free. Already he was trying to trick her, "Ok but if, no when, I succeed, you have to set us all free including all my friends here, they come with us and you can't force them back."
"Very well."
"Not only that I want you to leave me alone. Forever. No more of these games, no more kidnappings. You have to stay down here, alone, and rot." Sarah emphasized the last word as hard as she could.
"See, that's a problem," The Goblin King said, starting to stroll leisurely around Sarah. Sarah turned to keep him in front of her, not trusting him out of her sights. "I have one wager against your one but with you adding another, I think I should get to as well."
Sarah didn't like where this was going. She hesitated but she really, really, wanted him to leave her alone after this was over. "Fine, what are you adding?"
"If you lose, not only do I get you, I also get everyone else I've taken," the Goblin King said, wearing that always superior smile.
Sarah had no right to wager their lives but she had the feeling he was planning on keeping them if she lost anyways. He was just toying with her again, adding to the pressure she already felt. Trying to make her buckle under the weight. Well, she could be tricky too. "Ok then, I have one more stipulation, I want Hoggle to help me from the start."
"Well, that's quite the demand. Why should I let the number you have to find drop? It just doesn't sound as much fun."
Seething, he did think of this as just a game!, Sarah practically growled, "Because if you do, you can add one more thing to the wager."
The Goblin King rubbed his chin, staring at the ground, "I might be able to think of something." He looked at her through his eyelashes without raising his head, "I want control over your memories."
Sarah's breath caught, "But…but I am who I am because of what I've been through. If you change my past… I won't be me." She hated how anxious that sounded
"Ah but you still don't quite understand that that's not how my magic works," the Goblin King smirked and stood up straight, hands on hips, "It's true I have no interest in you if you weren't the strong willed, stubborn, yet brilliant girl you are today but my magic leaves no traces of itself if I wish it. No, you'll find yourself suddenly remembering that everyone on the surface hated you, you'll subconsciously make excuses that keep all the major decisions the same that got you here, keep you who you are, but little by little you'll find yourself," an eyebrow arched, "…grateful for me having trapped you down here."
Sarah felt her face pale. She'd lose her memories, not remember why she'd fought him in the first place? Forget her family, her friends? Actually accept her imprisonment? They were terrifying thoughts. She really didn't need Hoggle to help her…but he did know the Labyrinth better than anyone else. And having his help would make her chances of success skyrocket. Plus, having someone there … not facing it all alone… she needed someone else with her. She'd become too used to being able to cry on Ludo's shoulder and having those comforting arms hold her up when she wanted to collapse. Hoggle wouldn't be as reassuring but she thought she could count on him to at least keep her on track. "Fine," she said quickly, trying not to think too hard about the other side, if she really did lose.
"Then we have come to an accord," the Goblin King said reaching out his hand for her to shake it which she did reluctantly, mentally reviewing what all was at stake now. Everything, in short. The Goblin King turned and looked at the clock, "Oh dear, you seem to only have twenty five hours and fifty minutes left." He started to disappear with that infuriating grin, "Better hurry."
She had been tricked, ten whole minutes gone! She kicked a rock in the direction the Goblin King had been standing, "Cheater."
"Well now, I see you've gotten yourself in trouble yet again," a familiar grumbling voice said. Sarah turned to find Hoggle, arms crossed, glaring at her.
"Hoggle," she said throwing herself at him. She hadn't seen him since the Goblin King started trying to block her friends from coming to her world when she called. It slowly become more and more dangerous to even try until only Sir Didymus had the courage to try anymore. Ambrosius was taken from him because of it.
Hoggle stepped back, arms raised to stop her, "Oh no, I remember the last time you kissed me. Jareth has gotten nastier about people even looking at you, much less actually touching you. No, it'll be better if we just nod, smile, and get going." He consulted the clock still floating six feet above the ground, completely oblivious to the anxiety it was causing. "Not much time at all considering we'll have to scour basically every stone in the entire the Labyrinth. Knowing him, he'll hide them behind the stones. No, he'll hide the stones behind other stones and then bury them under the Bog."
"But that's ok Hoggle, you know the way through the Labyrinth. You know where he's more likely to think we won't look," Sarah said, trying to stop a complaining fit before it started.
Hoggle shook his head, "No, I don't. The King's changed the Labyrinth many times since then. The only place I really know is the Bog of Eternal Stench. Which he made me prince of thanks to you and your inability to keep your distance."
Sarah frowned, well that plan had gone bust in record time. Of course! Sarah imagined the tunnel leading out of this place lengthening considerably, the light at the end becoming weaker. Was it just her or did the sky actually dim as well?
Interrupting her disheartened thoughts, Hoggle sighed, "Well, let's get going then."
He waddled off towards the newer Labyrinth as Sarah scanned it quickly, shoving aside her doubts, concentrating on what needed to be done right now. This was not going to be easy but then it hadn't been the first either and she'd still won. Defeated the Goblin King at his own game. Here she was, playing again with people she loved at stake. But he was going to make it a lot more difficult this time. He was not going to be, what had he said all those years ago, generous. Well, she could play at that game too. With determined steps she started after Hoggle, she was not going lose.
Please dear God, a part of her whispered, hiding deep beyond the walls of subconscious where self doubt and fear still reigned, please don't let me lose.
*AN*
And we are now, finally, in that dreaded of all mazes, the Labyrinth. Beware, dear readers, for what follows is a tale of adventure and fantasy. And people refusing to get Hoggle's name right. Are you up to the challenge?
Read and Review. Or not. I'm open. Either way… !
Also, don't you hate it when the plot velociraptors start chasing you at 3 in the morning? I do because they can open the dang doors! There's no escape! Ahhhhhh!
