Part IV: Jareth's Labyrinth

While the wooden door would not budge for Sarah, the glass door connected to the garden seemed to be calling her name. She hurried, as the wooden door hadn't even been there the evening prior- who knew if Jareth might take away her freedom to even enter the garden? But the glass door wasn't locked and she breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped out into the crisply cool air. Even as she made her way out into the garden, that same harsh whisper returned. You are fighting an impossible battle. But this was her only chance. Maybe the author of the book could help her; obviously, whoever it was had not been on Jareth's side, seeing as he'd given her those precious lines of release. She couldn't have returned home without him. But who was he? And how had she been bound to the book in the first place?

She took in a few deeps breaths and tried to calm herself. The anxiety before had been for the sake of Toby. Now she was concerned about ever returning, never seeing the people she cared about again. And worse yet, what he had said about her desires, which she pushed to the back of her mind. If what he said is true and I am bound here forever, then I at least want to know why. Until then, I won't sit in a corner crying. Fool. I don't care if I am a fool. What have I got left to rely on? Fine, it's true. He's right that I want the magic, the adventure. But I can't stay here forever. Sarah was relying on the obvious fact that she had been chosen before she had ever developed an attachment to this place, as she'd had no idea of its existence. Jareth might taunt and tease that she longed to be with him, which she would deny until the end of time, but nothing he said of her thoughts could be the basis for her coming here in the first place. She was going to find out why. If not fate, then what? She didn't care that he might stop her at any moment, that his anger would be aroused. She wouldn't quit until she had answers. She had always been as stubborn as a mule. Her mother knew it, her father knew it, and it had made waves between her and Karen for years. She wouldn't admit she was wrong or that she'd lost. Obduracy gave her trouble, but it was the one tool she needed most now. How do you intend to fight one who can reorder time? It is not too late to turn back.

She ignored the warning and ran through the garden, past the distracting array of exquisite flowers, to that stone wall she had stood before alongside Jareth. She looked around, up and down. No sign of anything, anyone. The ivy had returned, and there was no trace left of the mystical mirror he had conjured the night before. If I can't go through the Goblin City, then there must be another way. Think, Sarah, think. "Things aren't always what they seem... this place is full of openings..." she recited from memory, the blue worm's familiar little voice echoing through her mind. Sarah walked forward into the wall, hands outstretched. There was a new path hidden from her initial starting point, so narrow she could scarcely walk through it. She immediately hurried forward, her sides scraping the walls. She was forced stand sideways to make it through without injuring herself, slowing her down considerably. The path wound around and continued for what seemed an eternity to her. She felt a bit suffocated by the narrowness, the pressure on her chest. Thank God she didn't have claustrophobia. You will suffer for this.

"Shut up!" Sarah panted, feeling crazy to be speaking to no one and hearing a voice in her head at all. The sound reverberated off the wall and thundered into her ears. But it was enough to make the voice disperse. "And stay away." She barely had enough morale as it was without such nagging. Jareth had spoken of horrific beings and though she'd only seen one, she knew enough to believe him. He'd never exactly lied to her, as crafty as he was. She could only hope that one of these creatures didn't appear where her mobility was so restricted. Where the exit seemed nonexistent.

At last, she spotted something. An iron gate sat between her and a cobblestone road in the center of a field. She touched the gate and felt a spark that seemed to her to be the magic once again, an enchantment over the gate. It didn't fight her, though;an energy snaked its way up her fingertips and then culminated in a firm wallop of pleasure, straight to her head. It does feel good. So, so good. Just as he said. Sarah had stood before him eight years prior, listened to the wonderful-sounding life he offered her. It would be filled with magic, with adventure, with him, and she hadn't even been tempted to stay. How did I do that? I was able to strike down everything that seemed wrong. I grew up. I did what I knew to be right and I went home. Now I'm trying to do the same thing and it's so much harder. Here I am, questioning everything. How was I stronger and so decisive at fifteen? What does that say about me? "I'm an indecisive little human," she muttered. She pushed the gate open, as though that would change what she had just lamented about. The cobblestone road led her through the meadow, one that looked like the one she had arrived in, now beautiful in the brightness of day. She had never seen such vibrant colors, such a deep green, such a brilliant blue sky. Nothing on Earth was like it, a great reminder that she was in an ethereal realm no matter how natural it might at first seem to be. Squinting, Sarah at last spotted a hedge maze about a quarter mile in the distance. Slowly, she approached, drawn to the structure almost as an arrow to a target. Her bare feet took in the sensation of the grass once she stepped off the cobblestones, the dirt pressing beneath her toes. A maze to lead her into the greatest maze of all, she was sure of it. Another way to make it in besides the path through the Goblin City. How many entrances, exits, dead ends, and shortcuts must there be in a place like this? How many bogs and dungeons? After waiting so long to see the labyrinth again, it seemed incredible to her that she now stood about to enter it again, willingly taking on the challenge it presented. Her only choice. The only moral choice, as she saw it.

Sarah took a step into the maze and it immediately began to rain, the profound blue of the sky having vanished in an instant. A threat.

"Don't go near it!"

She stopped in her tracks. That voice was so distinctive, so otherworldly and rough. Even after years, she knew who it was at once before even turning around. "Hoggle!"

"Hello, Sarah." Hoggle approached slowly, looking up at her. "Look at you. All grown."

Sarah knelt down and hugged the small creature, her wet hair sticking to his face a bit when she pulled back. "I was so afraid that he'd done something horrible to you."

"Me? Oh, no, it's the same as ever, following orders." He rolled his eyes at that last word. "Everything's the same. Except that you're here now. Why are you here? I thought you had to stay in that world of yours."

"He brought me back here. But he won't let me leave."

"I knew this would happen," he moaned, shaking his head. "I knew it, I knew it! The master's had that look in his eyes for so long, I just knew it. Said something the other night about mortals and being 'nearly there.'"He looked at her closely. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, so as not to worry him, though he already had anxious eyes. "I need to go back into the labyrinth."

Hoggle squeaked, "Why would you want to go back in a place like that for? Wasn't one time in that place enough?"

"I'm looking for someone." She sniffled in the cold, but there was no shelter from the rain in sight. "It's my only chance out of here."

Hoggled groaned, slapping his forehead. "You've seen how bad it can be and now you want to go back in!"

"Hoggle, please! I have to get out of here. He's going to make me stay forever!" She paused, realizing that their bickering brought her entirely back to the past; she felt like a lost child yet again, raising her voice when arguing with Karen or telling Jareth he wasn't being fair. She lowered her voice and said firmly, "I can't stay."

"You can't go!" he squawked. He was waving his arms around corybantically, leaping in front of her when she stood up. "I won't go along with it, no I won't. And I won't let you got back in there, neither! It's crazy talk! Don't you remember? He'll be watching the whole time."

"We didn't let any of that stop us last time." She bit her lip. I complained, but I never stopped. "If I stay here, I will go crazy. I need to know why I came here in the first place and he won't tell me. I need to know for myself, Hoggle. And...I can't be his Queen. The Goblin Queen. I'm not meant for that." She paused and Hoggle did truly seem contrite. He relaxed, listening to her calmly. "I have to see if there's a chance that I can go home. I have people waiting for me, worrying about me. I can't just stay here and let them think I abandoned them."

Hoggle scratched his head. "You mean like that scary lady?"

Sarah exhaled in amusement, brushing her now sopping hair behind her ears. Finally, she smiled.

One day, long before she'd left for university, Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus, and Ambrosius had come into her room for a party. Even Merlin had come, fascinated by Ambrosius. Ludo had amused himself with the light switches while Hoggle and Sir Didymus argued over some nonsense. They'd been having a merry time talking until Karen had called through the door. "Sarah! Sarah, where's the dog? He's not in your room, is he?"

"It appears we have an intruder!" Sir Didymus declared, leaping to his feet. "Is danger afoot? I'll defend you, my lady!"

"Shhh!" Sarah hissed. "That's my stepmother. You have to get out of here!"

"Hide!" Hoggle yelped, ducking under Sarah's bed. Ludo had barely managed to squeeze into the closet and Sarah pushed the door shut quickly. Hoggle dragged Sir Didymus beneath the bed and Ambrosius followed his master. Merlin went,too, enjoying the scuffle going on beneath.

"I say, must we hide in this horribly dusty place?" Sir Didymus asked Hoggle. "We should be defending the lady."

"Shut up!" Hoggle barked as Sarah said, "Shhh! All of you." She leaped onto her bed as though she'd been napping.

"Sarah?" The sounds beneath the bed silenced at once. Karen opened the door without knocking, as she usually did. "Sarah, the dog?"

Sarah sat up and blinked innocently. "I haven't seen him."

"Then what, pray tell, is that?"

Sarah looked apprehensively over the side of the bed to see a fluffy tail sticking out, wagging back and forth.

"I..."

"Sarah, I've told you time and time again that he can't be in here." Her stepmother was exasperated with her yet again. "Not again, do you hear me?" Sarah nodded and coaxed Merlin out from under the bed and he followed Karen out. Sarah shut the bedroom door. Her friends emerged from hiding.

"Aack!" Hoggle said disgustedly. "She sounds dreadful."

"She's not so bad," Sarah said with a laugh. "But that was too close. I wish I had a lock on my door."

"We'd better be going, my lady," Sir Didymus said. "Come, Ambrosius." The dog sat still, uninterested. "Ambrosius! My loyal steed, must you always be so stubborn?"

Sarah laughed. "Oh, no. Looks like you have Merlin!" Merlin jumped up at the sound of his name.

"Bad Ambrosius!" Sir Didymus moaned. "However are we to get him back in here without that frightful lady spotting us?"

It had taken two hours for Sarah to finally be able to switch dogs and get Ambrosius into her bedroom without Karen or her father seeing anything. But it was one of her fondest memories to look back on.

"Yes, Hoggle," she said now, back to the present. "The 'scary lady' is part of my family, too. They're all going to worry about me. And he won't let me go back to even tell them I'm all right."

"Well..." Hoggle grunted.

Sarah was starting to freeze, conjuring horrid recollections of her return. "Can we at least get out of the rain? Where does this path lead to?"

"It leads many places," he said brusquely with the wave of his hand. "Some paths back in the corridors, others to the swamp, the dungeon, the…"

"The what, Hoggle?" Sarah was perplexed. If he was afraid of something, he usually wouldn't hesitate to talk about it. Griping was one of the things he did best.

Hoggle shook his head in refusal. "Never you mind. It's not for soft ears." He looked all around. "The master is preoccupied at the moment, with some matter deep within the castle. He's asked not to be disturbed. But it won't be long before he starts watching, if he's not already. You'd best get going if you're really going to do it." He crossed his arms, his face surly and unchanged.

Sarah looked at the gate in the distance almost expectantly, even though she knew if the Goblin King chose to show himself it could be anywhere. Yet somehow the sound of an uppity Hoggle cheered her up. It reminded her of the journey's start, her unchained optimism as much as she moaned and groaned during bouts of frustration. "Do you know why I first came to the labyrinth? A book. It's what got me to summon Jareth for the first time. I need to find whoever wrote it. Do you have any idea who that might be?"

"I don't know nothing about no book…but did it tell you how to break away from him? Is that how you got out last time?" She nodded and he sighed heavily. "There is someone in exile, not far from the swamp. If you can find your way to her, she may just tell you what she knows. She'll probably give you better answers than the wise man."

A glimmer of hope. "Will you come with me?" When he didn't say anything, she said, "I do need you, Hoggle. I'm so sorry about what I said. I never should have sent you all away."

"We always hoped you might change your mind," he admitted. "But we knew you had to grow up and get on with your life."

I never should have sent them away. "Are the others nearby?"

"They're within, somewhere. But it's been ages since I've seen 'em."

"Did he know you all spoke to me?"

"'Course he did. Think we can hide something from him?"

"And he didn't mind?"

Hoggle traced the ground with the toe of his shoe. Obviously, talking about the Goblin King was making him uncomfortable. "Never said one word about it."

Sarah found that odd. Why didn't he mind? That had continued for a good three years off and on. It was even more astounding to her than that five years had already passed since she told them she was fine on her own. Feeling like an icicle, she said, "Will you show me the way?"

Hoggle seemed sure to refuse. But looking up into Sarah's face, drenched by rain, he clearly didn't have to the heart to say no. He led her through into the hedge maze. "Stay close to me. I can't promise nothing, but I'll do what I can."

"Thank you."

He grunted. "Don't mention it."

"He told me there are horrible creatures, many more than I saw last time. Is that true?"

"That may be. But I know my way around far better than most of 'em." He led them through the weaving paths until they reached a dead end. "Here it is, the best way. Are you ready?"

She hesitated. "Is it true he hid these monsters away when I was here?"

Hoggle gestured for her to put her hands on the hedge. "There are many things here you'll never want to see, that is true. But you have me as a guide and I know the way. So stay with me and you'll make it through in one piece. As long as he don't stop us first."

She nodded slowly, laying her hand on the rough hedge. Then she pushed with all her strength. The wall gave way, falling into a void. She nearly fell right in after it. Pure darkness awaited them up ahead, with no hint of any distant lights. The silence unnerved her more than the darkness.

"It's a long way to go." Hoggle took her hand. "But the quickest. Follow me. It's too late for either of us to turn back now."

On the count of three, they jumped, tumbling into the dark abyss. Sarah felt reminded of her return to the Labyrinth in the rain, at how her gut was reeling in fright, twisting nauseously. She stifled any sound of fear for Hoggle's sake, but when they started to fall faster, she began gasping. He squeezed her hand tighter. "Hang on, Sarah!" And then they were suddenly back in the Labyrinth's core, that familiar maze she'd almost missed. It was bright, sunny. Better yet, they were now dry. Shakily, she got up on her feet and looked around, recognizing the area where she'd found Ludo. But there was no sign of him.

"This way." Hoggle was going as fast as he could, fear of Jareth's inevitable intervention hanging over his shoulders. What he didn't know was that Sarah was even more frightened than he was. He led them around corners without hesitation. How easily she would have conquered the maze if he's been with her from the beginning the last time!

"Other humans have been here," she said as they walked. "I remember the boulders talking about them. I even wondered if one of them wrote the book. It's stupid, I know. Especially knowing what I know now…"

"I told you I don't know a thing about no book. But I do know there have been humans before. He's always been fascinated by them."

But did he make such offers to any of them? Jealous? Of course not! "And what happened to them?" She was trying to push those thoughts away, budding with images of other young people- young girls- wandering these same corridors.

He cleared his throat, clearly thinking his words over before speaking. "They didn't pass the test."

Her stomach dropped. "Did he kill them? Imprison them? You said the labyrinth was full of oubliettes."

Hoggle's grimace was more significant than Sarah realized. "It sure is. And they're around here somewhere. You won't see them."

"Why not?" He said nothing in reply and she didn't push it. "Why were they here to begin with?"

"I don't ask Jareth why he does what he does. I just follow his orders to save my own skin."

"That's okay. I just need to know how the book ended up in my hands the way that it did. It wasn't a coincidence." Her eyes were trailing up and down the glittery walls.

"Her magic cannot rival his, but she is your only chance. She'll know who wrote that book of yours. Perhaps she can even tell you how to get home."

"Do you think she could save the other humans, too?"

Hoggle shook his head. "They're beyond saving." The softness in his voice made the realization all the more devastating.

Sarah closed her eyes for a moment. She thought of the door that led to death, which she'd managed to avoid thanks to logic. Of course, now she had to wonder what really would have happened if she had failed, seeing as Jareth had been so "generous." "Well, who is this woman?"

"Her name is Alaeia. Queen of the Faeries."

"The faeries?" A memory of Hoggle shooting the faeries down came to mind, her being bitten by one. "Does this have anything to do with what you were doing to them when I came here?"

"It was his order to knock them down, make it so they couldn't fly. I didn't question it, considering that they are vindictive little things. But it was right before then that Queen Alaeia was exiled. Faerie's ain't had such a good time around here since. They hide now, knowing the bigger creatures are free to eat or kill them, if they like."

"Do you know why?" she asked, looking around as if to spot one.

"No idea. Never asked."

Of course not. Who would dare ask? "So the faeries were safe before?"

"Oh, yes. It was forbidden to touch 'em when Alaeia was still in power. The two of 'em were thick as thieves."

He had someone he was close to...so why did he banish her? "But Hoggle, isn't Jareth a Fae?"

"He may be Fae, but like no other before him. No other faerie has powers like that. What he is exactly is anyone's guess."

"Why would he let people hurt others of his kind?"

"Not really of his kind, though, are they? The King of the Goblins don't even respect his goblins or care what becomes of 'em. Why would he care about the faeries?"

"You're right," she sighed. "I don't know why I asked."

She'd always been convinced that he was some sort of a Fae, having spent as many nights in the library alcoves as she did trying to trace him to any sort of connection, be it legendary or labyrinthine. His beautiful, practically humanoid appearance and qualities had led her to that conclusion. Faerie folklore had so many variations, but she couldn't help thinking of the stories of abductions. All those nights in the library looking at works such as "Sir Orfeo," Sarah was almost certain that she was the only one on campus, perhaps in the world, to have entered a magical kingdom and defied a Fae King just as Orfeo did. If Jareth was one of them, they couldn't all have powers like him. Something about him ensured that he was the King. Who else could reorder time? There may very well be lesser faeries, but he seemed too complex to pin down into one category. Her head already hurt enough without bothering with the origin of Jareth. Or the connections between their worlds.

A burning question emerged from her lips. In truth, she had dozens about him. "How long has he been the Goblin King?"

"Long as I can remember, he's been our King. Before that...I never thought about it before. I never thought to question it. What is...well, is. What was is no more."

What a life that was! To accept all without even knowing what had come before. As she processed this news, Sarah felt a strange breeze rustle against the back of her neck. She realized immediately that she had lost Hoggle. She called out to him, spinning around in desperation. "Where are you?!" She felt that standing still she only remained a tantalizing target. She decided she would run back the way she came to look for him. "Hoggle? Hoggle! Where have you gone?" He had just been by her side only moments earlier. How had he just vanished?

"Sarah!" Hoggle's voice seemed to be coming from only a few feet away, but she couldn't see him. Her eyes trailed to an opening in one of the walls. "In here, Sarah!" Cautiously, she poked her head inside, her hands still on the outer wall. The first thing she realized was that she was staring into what could only be the room of a regal palace. The walls were covered with paintings in gilded frames, the bed with gold linens, the furniture with lush satin. It was a feast for the eyes, from everything to the paintings that spread across the ceilings to the tapestries on the walls.

She didn't need to announce herself. She was aghast to see that she was being watched by several women, just like the one in Jareth's visions. They were elf maidens, with slightly pointed ears and bright skin without a single blemish, sitting in silence. Their hair was swept into golden and silver nets that rested elegantly at the bag of their necks. Several of them appeared to have small crystals near their eyes. Their regal velvet robes of blue, red, green, and purple gave them all the air of a Queen. Sarah was enthralled, telling herself I can believe there are faeries here, but not elves? She wanted to speak to them; perhaps they would know the way. But she held back, understanding fully they could also be quite loyal to their King. They had already been gazing unblinkingly and indifferently at the entrance before she even entered, as though they were blessed with the gift of foresight. She stepped into the room, leaving one hand on the wall outside just in case.

"It appears we have a guest." The speaker was a young-looking man, another elf. His hair was a dark shade of silver, his eyes a beautifully contrasting emerald green. He, like the others, was stunning in every sense of the word. He stepped forward and took Sarah's free hand before she could back away. The other remained plastered to the wall outside, for safety reasons. Somehow, she felt so at ease just at the look of him. "Have you come to see the elves, my dear?" The tone of his voice was very polite, concerned even.

"I…" Sarah was mystified by the sight of the magnetic hues of blue, green, and even purple eyes that watched her, their emotions not readily apparent by simply looking into them. Their mouths seemed stubbornly put into straight lines that would not tell, would never divulge nor emote. "I've come to find the land of the exiles." Why did I say that? Shouldn't that be a secret?

He had no overt reactions to her words, which she was still pondering over in perplexity. She had expected to finally see some emotion, an opinion. Instead he drawled, "But first you wanted some enchantment, am I correct?" He smiled at last, a slight upping of the corners of his mouth. Sarah's hand began slipping away from the wall, very slowly. She felt as though invisible hands were gently guiding her within. "These maidens please the king and serve him well. I, too, do his bidding in my own way."

Sarah stared up in awe. "It's strange that I didn't see you the last time I was here." Again, her thoughts seemed to be drawn from her lips without her consent. She was feeling uncomfortable, but enthralled. Idiot! She admonished herself, nails of the hand in the corridor scraping into the wall. I should leave. Yet even as she told herself so, she felt more inclined to stay.

"This place has thousands of nooks and crannies. You would need more than a human lifetime to discover each and every one of the labyrinth's secrets and holdings. And even then, there would still be more to uncover." He drew Sarah forward slowly, leading her gently from the path she had come from. Her hand slid from the outside wall and she completely entered the room. His words and countenance gave no impression of danger; but Sarah knew something was off. There was an aura here, one she had not been fully able to feel until she entered the room all the way. And it wasn't a good one. Yet one look into the man's eyes and she continued gliding forward with him, as though she was walking on water. The floor seemed strange, giving her body a sense that it was floating. He led her to stand among the maidens. They still regarded her with what she could only presume was apathy. Something dark came into her field of vision and she realized it was her hair, floating gently around as though it was underwater. Her dress, too, was not straight and the skirt of it was also in mid-air, floating majestically in unseen water. In confusion and marvel, she tried once more to read into the eyes of the maidens, to see if she could spot coldness or warmth; she saw neither. The man was observing her, taking in her confusion. None of the effects were visible on him and his clothing and hair remained forced down by gravity, as did those of the women. A telling mortal, she thought, but somehow she did not feel afraid. It felt too good for her to fear. "My ladies, show our guest how you dance."

The cloaks were swung off readily, circling in the air and even falling with grace, very slowly as Sarah watched in fascination, unable to tear her eyes away. Their clothing consisted of remarkably thin dresses that went to the ankles and were barely kept on by a small strap about one of the shoulders. A peculiar sort of music encased the air. Sarah suddenly felt heavy as she watched them begin to move. The elfin man only watched, holding Sarah's hand still in a nurturing sort of way. The women spun, moved slowly, deliberately…sensually. She felt she did not belong there, just as she had not at the grand ball all those years before. It was not a world she should be a part of and she felt upset, for some reason. She wanted to be part of the fantasy world, to embark in its lore…didn't Jareth say I belonged here? She snapped out of her thoughts, in disbelief that she had asked herself that, half-wondering if she was in a trance. Her eyes kept trailing back to the door, but nothing she did allowed her to move. She knew that ability had been stripped from her the moment she'd taken her hand off of the outer wall and entered the room.

The elfin man slipped a hand on her stomach, slowly tracing her curves. She knew Jareth must be watching, could even imagine she saw him sitting and eying her in amusement. The elf held her in his arms and began to dance with her, much faster than at the last ball. Sarah tried to break away, but the magic held her in bondage. She tried to run, to gasp, to say something, but nothing happened. He spun her around, dipped her, and held her close. "Do not fear." That laugh that should have sounded friendly instead seemed cruel. "I cannot tamper with the king's property. I can only better her to please him." He spun her faster and faster, her hair whipping behind her wildly. Suddenly, Sarah was dancing with the women, that sensual manner. Initially resistant, it suddenly started to seem pleasurable. Her dress vanished and became an elfin dress, bright white while the others were colored. She shut her eyes and spun and moved with the women, running her hands along her own body, as they did. The music was heavenly…she could hear a harp, each and every lull of its strings tapping her heart, it seemed. A voice that could only have been that of an angel was singing with it. The combination was an impenetrable spell. One maiden reached for the strap that held her gown on. She pushed it and in her dance, the red material came off. The others all followed suit, colors sinking to the floor. Sarah, still imprisoned by the magic, tried to fight as her hand attempted to do the same. An intoxication of pleasure and resistance filled her. As a result, her hand shook against the invisible force.

"Do not try to resist, my dear. The magic is far too strong for a human." She was still dancing, while her hand tensed at the strap, her inner self trying to desperately not to remove it as the naked elves danced all about. She fought harder, but he increased the magic. "Go on…please your king."

It hit Sarah right then that this man was probably one of the ones at the masquerade. One of those who had watched in silence, hidden behind the shield of a facial adornment. Perhaps the one whose face had been so close, tilting as she looked away from Jareth momentarily. She could remember the laughter of those women, laughter at her naivete, her innocence. He was trying to draw her into that dark world against her will. Sarah refused, albeit silently. She managed to lock eyes with him while dancing. It crossed her mind how many creatures here would no doubt work to keep her from her target, just like last time. But she realized in dismay that the last time they hadn't used such harsh magic on her. It had been so much easier. "Once the magic touches you...it will never release you," Jareth had said. His voice echoing through her mind, Sarah spoke with all the conviction she could muster. "I won't."

His face did not change a bit. Had he been silent, she could even have found those eyes comforting. "I could not hurt you even if I desired to do so. You belong to the king, after all." He took her hand again.

"What happens to those who defy him?" She was trying very hard to make a fist with the struggling hand so it could not pull down the strap. It was even harder to maintain than forcing her words out.

"A fate worse than death." To her, this seemed melodramatic, like something out of a movie. "Do not scoff. I shall elaborate for you. Trapped in an oubliette for all eternity, waiting to die, but death never comes. Going mad, deprived of light. Or sent into nightmarish illusions, never to escape." Sarah looked into his eyes when he squeezed her hand hard enough to make her gasp. "Sent into the harem. Once discarded by him, shared among all the others he has given authority here." He looked into her eyes so deeply she felt her face burn. "Go on, dance for him. You know he's watching."

Sarah had never cursed her mortality so much. How susceptible she was to everything, to magic and loss of control. And if Jareth spoke the truth, being bound didn't help matters. "No," she tried to say again. I can't even gather my own thoughts. How can I expect to win? Her mind was slowly becoming apart from her own mindset, a new personality altogether. The magic…the beauty… the pleasure. The man touched her as pleasure flooded all around. "It feels so good. You cannot wait to give yourself to the king. To share his power. To offer yourself entirely and purge all that is your human essence." He was poisoning her mind, she was sure of it. How so if you already want him?

"Yes." Her words came out broken, for deep inside the true Sarah was still fighting, about to shatter into a million irreparable pieces.

But something else broke instead of Sarah. She could hear the sound of glass breaking (my mind?)and suddenly she was back to her senses. Hoggle stood at the entrance, a broken bottle in his hand, its juices dripping onto the floor, a threateningly bloody red. "Run, Sarah!"

She ran towards him and before the elf could react, Hoggle threw the bottle at him. "Go! Now!"

One of the elves lifted her arm up and Hoggle immediately went flying through the air, smacking into a wall.

"Hoggle!" Sarah screamed as the dwarf went tumbling to the ground.

"Get out, Sarah!" He yelled, getting himself onto his knees. "Through the opening!"

Not daring to look back at the elves, Sarah jumped through the open doorway, her clothes were immediately as they were before. Hoggle was right behind her. They ran for several minutes until they decided to hide behind a large, glitzy rock. They were not pursued, but that didn't comfort Sarah. With that sort of magic, they could just reappear at anytime. Sarah hugged herself tightly. "I can't believe I almost…."

"Magic is powerful, more powerful than humans or most creatures at all. You were strong enough to hold it at bay longer than most. Don't blame yourself for it."

Shakily, Sarah stood. "But what he said…have the humans ended up there, too?"

"Oh, the elves can be very evil. Those ones in particular love to prey on lesser beings. It is better to steer clear of all of them, just in case."

"So elves are evil, too." Sarah shook her head in disappointment.

"Wouldn't trust 'em farther than I could throw 'em. I knew they'd love humans. No offense, it's just you all give in so easily."

"So who can we trust?" She was feeling rather desperate after the experience, the sensation of the magic and elfin man's touch lingering.

"Why d'you think I never had a friend before you? Can't be too careful in here."

"And this faerie won't be evil?"

"Queen Alaeia was almost Jareth's partner for as long as I can remember. Never thought much about her before."

"Even though she was so powerful?" Sarah asked in surprise. One would think Jareth's partner would garner heaps of attention.

"Didn't pay no attention to her. It was Jareth I had to listen to." Jareth's partner...as in leadership? Love? "If it's against Jareth, she'll help you, I think."

"You really think so?"

"What other choice do you have?" Hoggle's voice was surly, as it had been when they first met. Of course, she knew he was right.

She squeezed his hand. "How have you been treated here? He hasn't been threatening you, has he?" She knew that Jareth could have easily killed them all, or sent them down into the bog. She was somewhat surprised that he hadn't done any of those things.

Hoggle still wasn't looking at her. "Things aren't so different from before. He really hasn't done anything too unbearable- I mean…not really." Sarah didn't like this answer. She knew Jareth had done something.

"At least tell me he didn't hurt you."

"He didn't."

Sarah was suspicious. She knew that he had at least been overworking him. "What has he had you do?"

"Working in the palace and gardens. I like that job. It's really nice for me."

She decided to let the matter drop. Like her, Hoggle was also extremely stubborn. "I'm glad he hasn't been hurting you. I really worried that he would punish you all."

Hoggle smiled. "I'm sure the others will be glad as I am that you still think of us."

Sarah wished she had allowed herself to see them during university. She had decided that she needed to face adulthood with her own independence, but there had been times when she should have let herself see them, called to them in times of stress or upset. Instead, she would either bottle the emotions within or cry quietly to herself. She wished she had done otherwise. But always, she had felt uneasy about Jareth, and all the connections her friends had with him through the Labyrinth. It was one unmentioned reason for breaking contact with them.

"I have never forgotten about you," she said softly.

Hoggle squeezed her hand tighter. "Just as we haven't forgotten you. Let's go now. We'll find Alaeia in no time."

Sarah had a very bad feeling when they entered a giant square area that was impossible to go around without turning back entirely. For one, the floor was entirely composed of ice. Her feet burned at the sheer frozen sensation once they stepped upon it.

"We must cross slowly so it doesn't crack. You don't want to fall down there."

"Can't we go another way?" She looked at the ice, deceptively iridescent, beautiful. It seemed a disaster waiting to happen. "This looks too dangerous."

"The only way I know to get to the exiles is this way." She hesitated. She had a gut feeling that there would be worse things than cold, deep water and a long swim awaiting them if they fell through." Sarah, if you want to see the faerie...we have to cross. There's no other way."

She nodded slowly, trying to beat down the renewed fear in the pit of her stomach. Holding hands, they moved slowly and Sarah tried not to look down. "What's down there?"

"I don't ask such things. I wouldn't want to know. If it stands between the exiles and the rest of the place, it's got to be bad."

Sarah stopped. Looking beneath her feet, she saw that the ice was now completely clear and she was able to see into the waters below. There were people, eyes open, lying under the sheet of ice. They were humans. "Oh, my God."

Hoggle looked terrified, blabbering to distract himself. "I was wrong, then, wasn't I? That you wouldn't see them... oh, let's hurry…" Nervously, he kept his eyes ahead of him. They were about halfway across at this point.

"And the exiles can't leave?" She was talking, asking only so as not to focus on the fact that humans were trapped below them, not to think too much about it. Hoggle had said they were beyond saving. The elfin man had been telling the truth. What a horror…they didn't seem to be alert, but heaven only knew what was going on in their minds. She could not help but be drawn to the sight of them and allowed herself to look again before throwing her eyes back to the other side of the ice, which seemed very much likes the other portions of the labyrinth, with a glittery path leading away from them. Was Alaeia really on the other side? How would she receive them?

"Well…" Hoggle also was struggling not to look below them. "If they try, I'm certain Jareth deals with 'em."

Sarah began to shudder, realizing that the eyes were moving in the inert faces, following them. "A-and are there many of them?"

"Hundreds, maybe." He could see the people just by looking ahead. They appeared to be floating up right into the ice, faces pressed against it. "Dear me."

"I'm surprised he just exiles them," she muttered, disgusted by the countless number of people below them. "Who are these poor people?"

"Unlucky enough not to be just banished. They must've done something horrible. At least the exiles have…"

"Leniency." The Goblin King's voice.

Sarah halted and Hoggle stood in front of her, cowering.

"Do you see him?" Hoggle asked her, his voice shaking.

Her eyes scanned the room and above. She half-expected Jareth to be sitting on one of the walls, peering down at them. "No, but he certainly sees us." They waited and the ice began to burn Sarah's feet with the sting of frost. She remembered how near death she had felt upon her return in the freezing rain. The feeling flowing into her toes was only reminiscent of that sensation, when all had seemed lost. Hating to stand still, she said, "Let's just go. If he's going to do something, it's inevitable. But I'd rather get off the ice first."

"Almost there now. Too late to turn back." She wished he wouldn't keep saying that, as true as it was.

Once they got partway across the room, she spotted a face that seemed to be active in more than the eyes. There was a familiar light brown shade of skin. Ebony curls, floating and sticking to the top of the ice, framing the face. "Elle?!"

Her roommate's eyes seemed to follow, latching on now that they'd spotted Sarah. She was speaking in a panic, it appeared, but her words could not be heard. Bubbles and water cascaded from her mouth, a silent and disturbing spectacle.

"Oh, my God. That's my friend!" She felt utterly sick at the sight of her. "Oh, my God."

"It's a trap, Sarah!" Hoggle insisted. "Don't look at it."

"Help me! Sarah, help!" Elle's cry could be heard only faintly through the ice. "It hurts!" She began pounding from below the surface. "SARAH!"

Hoggle tugged at her hand. "Hurry!"

"What if it's not an illusion?" she cried.

"It has to be. Come on!"

She followed, but screams muffled beneath the ice got her attention. "Oh, my God." Sarah's eyes traveled to see several of her other friends nearby. Toby was crying, his nails scraping at the ice. "Sarah, help me! Don't leave me here!" His voice, his eyes. Everything about him seemed genuine.

"God!" Elle's familiar voice was now a scream. "Get me out of here!"

"He wants you to break through the ice and fall right through, Sarah. Those aren't your friends! Listen to me, don't look at them!"

"But you said the other humans were real!"

"Well... even if it's not an illusion, you cannot break through the ice!"

Something burst through the ice and sprang to the surface. A crack tore its way all the way through until it reached them. "Run!"

Closing her ears to the cries surrounding her ears, she followed Hoggle to the end of the room. "What if it is really them, Hoggle?"

"Can't fall for it..." he panted heavily.

But now they both realized that they weren't only looking at humans as they got to the shore. Ludo, Ambrosius, and Sir Didymus were there, motionless. Even with the broken ice, it seemed as though none of the figures were able to rise to the surface. None of them were moving now, but she could still hear cries, her name being called.

"No!" Hoggle said, starting to leap forward.

Sarah grabbed him before he could step into the water. "It's an illusion," she said shakily. "It has to be." Or else they're here because of me...

Then she realized that she saw Alex through the ice. A silver chain was around his neck, a ring at the end of it floating to the surface. He was one of the ones whose face did not move. Amidst the wailing of Toby and Elle, Sarah stood to her full height and walked to the edge of the ice, which was now full of cracks. "I've been meaning to do this for a long time." She ripped the necklace from her neck, the one that matched his, and tossed it into the water. "Now I know it has to be an illusion." Alex had given her the necklace and she'd been reluctant to get rid of it. She still wore it as she had liked it so much, but she knew now was the time to move on. To let go. Just as she was letting go of any attachment to the figures in the ice who were part of an illusion. I'm stronger than this. Jareth could never use Alex against her effectively again.

She took Hoggle's hand and they ran, leaving the screams behind until there was silence.

"I'm all right," she insisted when they stopped. "These horrible things just make me want to keep going."

"It's no piece of cake." His voice was bitter; he was no doubt thinking about Sir Didymus, Ambrosius, and Ludo. If they really had been there... "Let's rest for a minute," he puffed, clearly too dazed to walk straight. He and Sarah leaned up against the wall.

"Ok, but just for a minute. We're almost there, I can feel it."

"Stubborn Sarah. Just like the last time."

"I was always stubborn," she said, finally laughing a little. "I remember in first grade, I got sent to the hall for telling a teacher she was wrong. She said magic wasn't real." She smiled at the memory, running a hand through her hair. "And I said it was."

"Well, looks like she was wrong, now wasn't she?"

"I was happy to discover she was wrong. Then..."

Hoggle put his hands on his hips. "Something else is bothering you. Why don't you just come out and say it?"

"He told me I wanted magic and wanted to be here more than anything in my human life."

"But isn't that true?"

Hoggle looked so earnest she couldn't say no. "But I don't want to be his. He tried to say that, too."

"The Goblin King is a great master of words, you know that. Don't let him bother you. Surely you know what you want best."

She felt it was much more complicated than that. Do I? "Are you sure I'm not putting you in danger?"

"Are you suggesting you run off by yourself? Nonsense. Besides, you need me." As he had stated, the Labyrinth was full of oubliettes. And as Jareth had stated, monsters of every sort. "You could live for a thousand years and still you would never see every corner of this place."

She wanted to cry, touched at how devoted he was to her. He had thrown down all of his resistance to help her, even at the risk of his own life. She'd been headstrong enough to argue with one who knew the labyrinth better than most, throwing them both into danger with her demands. Even knowing all the danger they had to face, he still accompanied her. What better friend could she have? "There's good magic here, right, Hoggle? Good and evil?" she asked, her voice wispy.

"Aye. But one master."

How much she had simplified this place in her mind, thought she had experienced the labyrinth. It was so much more than those goblins and things she had encountered the last time. So much more than pure good and pure evil...complexity, as Jareth had put it. The fact only made it harder to progress. It had been so easy to look around and see her opponent as evil and therefore necessary to thwart. Now nothing, even dissecting her own thoughts, was easy.

"This way," Hoggle called, having started walking ahead. "She should be just a little farther."

She hesitated for a moment to look at a large opening in the ground. The next thing she knew, a shove sent her flying forward.

She awoke with her cheek on cold marble. Opening her eyes, she saw she was in an oubliette alone. One candle sat, flickering slightly. That gave her hope of a way out, but it turned out to be a mere crack in the wall causing the draft. And now Hoggle was gone, no doubt by Jareth's doing. She ran her hands all over the walls, even punch them and meticulously scanned the ground. But there was no escape. She would be there until Jareth came. Her eyes trailed to the corner of the room. A tray sat, an assortment of fruit on it. One of them was a peach. She ignored the pangs of hunger that set in at the sight of it. As long as she didn't touch it, he wouldn't come, she felt certain. But of course, that would only buy her time.

"I will search every nook and cranny in this place, mark me I will."

"Hoggle!" Her eyes shot open and she began pounding on the wall. "I'm in here!"

"And I won't eat nothing, neither, 'til I do!"

"Can you hear me?" she shouted at the top of her lungs until she thought her voice would break.

"I wonder…" he was saying. "What's in here?"

"Do you really want to know?" Jareth asked, his voice billowing into the room, a force of its own. Sarah felt her blood freeze. She stepped back from the wall.

"Jareth!" Hoggle was groveling. "I-Your Majesty, how unexpected…"

"Running away again? I thought you wanted to help her."

Sarah waited, her body shaking. Her heart felt as though it was being squeezed.

"She's behind one of these three doors. Which do you choose?"

"Well, I—" Hoggle's stuttering voice seemed weighted with anxiety.

"Go on. I thought you were concerned about her." Silence. "Afraid to answer? Then I shall make a deal with you. If you select the correct door, I will allow you to release Sarah."

Sarah shook her head in disbelief as Hoggle said, "You don't really mean that, do you, Your Majesty?"

"Have I ever lied to you, Hogwart? I feel I've always been rather direct."

"And…" Hoggle was clearly weighing the options before him. "What's behind the other doors?"

"Not Sarah." Hoggle must have hesitated because Jareth continued airily, "Are you going to abandon her? How unkind of you. I thought the two of you were supposed to be such dear friends," he added with contempt. "She even forgave you for poisoning her and yet you turn your back on her."

Sarah pounded on the wall again, but obviously, she was not going to be heard. She could just picture Hoggle, looking guilty, probably thinking of the peach all these years later.

"Then go on. Make your choice, Hedgehog. You with your knowledge of my maze must have some idea of what to choose."

"And if I'm wrong?"

"Then she won't be freed. Don't worry, I won't be punishing you. But you had better not cross me again."

She felt sweat break out onto her forehead. Jareth had to be lying, didn't he? What if Hoggle really did win her freedom? The rattling of a doorknob could be heard.

"Is that your choice?"

Sarah couldn't tell if it was her door or not. She bit her lip. "Come on, Hoggle."

Jareth's beautiful voice declared, "Once you open it just a crack, turn that knob even slightly, you have made your choice."

Hoggle's nervous mumbling was audible and the doorknob stopped rattling. "Wings." She then heard the sound of another doorknob, this one closer, being shaken. "Sun."Her hair stood on end when she heard a loud creak of a door being hesitatingly opened. "Seashell..."

"HOGGLE, NO!" Sarah screamed. All of her studies now taught her something at last. A wish can be very powerful. And so can the imagination. Think of the folklore, Sarah...Minos. The Goblin King mentioned him multiple times and for good reason. Wings on one door for the two men who had managed to escape Minos' labyrinth by means of flight. The sun for the treachery of that escape, as wings had been singed by the sun, causing one of the escapees to fall from the sky. A spiral seashell that Minos had crafted to crush an enemy, but which had only led to his own demise. "It's a minotaur! Hoggle, don't open that door!"

In the dimness, she looked around desperately, unable to find a thing. There was no door on the floor to put against the wall as Hoggle had last time. No way out. Worse yet, she felt the floor vibrate. It was walking. She heard a terrible sound just then. It sounded like screech and a roar put together at top volume, so much so that she cowered with her hands over her ears, her stomach juggling itself it seemed. It was so much worse than what she had heard in the forest. So much worse.

"Oh, no!" Hoggle cried, sounding so fearful that Sarah immediately burst into tears. "Hoggle, no! Run!" she continued to scream even though no one could hear her piteous cries. She heard the pounding of footsteps, the rapid vibrations of the floor, and then one sharp cry from the minotaur, one scream from Hoggle. And then there was silence. No footsteps, no breaths. Nothing. Sarah's breath came in short little spurts. She collapsed and slid against the wall and sobbed until her body was numb and all she could do was curl into a ball.

Across the room, a new object appeared. Starting from the pages themselves and working its way down into the binding, the book began to glow.