Hello! Sorry for the delay, we had our exams last week so I wasn't able to post this.
I see that most of you liked Lancelot so much! If he can move he would be sticking out his tongue at a disgruntled Mr. Owl by now. Another character shows up - I hope you like her too.
Review replies:
Kore-of-Myth: Thank you! I'm glad to know that they aren't OOC. You are right on the rhymes of chapters 1 & 2 - wow, you must have extensive knowledge on nursery rhymes! Thank you too for your 'speech bubble' tip. I never knew that!
FreakyD45663: Thank you! Sarah sure is an optimist! She's going to need sanguinity in the next chapters. Sorry for the delay!
Almaria: Awww! Thank you! What a nice thing to say! Don't worry, Jareth is starting to care - no one is immune to Little Sarah's cute charms!
helikesitheymikey: As of the moment, Sarah is the heir, which may be subject to change later on. If majority would like them to end up together, I might do it in a sequel or something. Maybe. Possibly. I don't know. Sorry for the delay!
notwritten: Thank you for reviewing! Sorry for the delay!
Dr.Pepperz: Come to think of it, they don't sell tootsie rolls from where I live. We have to import them from America or somewhere. I only get to taste those candies once in a blue moon. sigh Thanks! I think Little Sarah is loveable too! Do you think Jareth would let me exchange my baby sister for her? sees the Goblin King's angry glare Maybe not.
Natsuko37: Thank you! Actually, you were right. It was originally supposed to be a stuffed owl before I thought of Lancelot.
The Mad Maiden: Little Sarah is going to find out about the true identity of Mr. Owl soon - she is a smart girl. I think that Sarah talking about her mom was sad, too. Little Sarah loves her mother so much.
samuraistar: Thanks for the compliment! You are a good writer yourself! Thank you also for the new word - I never knew that the word 'Seussian' exists.
Rahpsody: That's what I thought, too, when I added in Lancelot. I was thinking - why was that teddy bear so important to Sarah? Then I thought, because the person who gave it to her was special, too!
Gotta Dance 88: I love teddy bears, too! Little Sarah will find out about Mr. Owl's alter ego soon
13figureskater-Draco'sgirl: You are right! It is Jack and Jill. Jareth is beginning to like her, don't worry, and I agree with you that he needs to lighten up. Thank you!
To the village, to the village to meet new friends,
Home again, home again, jiggedig jig
To the village, to the village to meet new friends,
Home again, home again, jiggedig jig
"You look pretty, Little Miss."
Sarah beamed and twirled around, making her skirt billow. The dress reached passed her knees, swishing near her ankles. It was light green, embroidered with dainty yellow flowers on its trim, reminding her of a sunny, verdant meadow filled with blooming dandelions in the time of spring.
"You think so, Miss Rosalie?" she asked shyly.
Rosalie wove a matching ribbon and ran her fingers through the girl's hair, relieving the tangles.
"I do, child. And the dress fits you perfectly!" she praised, patting Sarah's head. "Now dear, we do have to hurry. The king does not like to wait."
The little girl wrapped her tiny, trusting fingers in the older woman's hand, causing her to smile. Together, they marched out of the room, Rosalie slowing her gait so that Sarah could keep up.
Sarah took the walk as an opportunity to view the castle further. Her room was behind one of the many doors that line the smooth, stone walls. The velvety carpet cushioned the footfalls of those who pass the seemingly endless corridors. She remained silent, trying to memorize her way, and listening to the excited chatter of her companion. Soon, the hallways split into an ornate, grand staircase, whose balusters are as shiny as orient pearls which rose from the ocean. She wondered if it was as slippery as it looked, and how it would feel if she slid down it. The stairs descended to a spacious ball room, and the chandelier hanging at the very center of the ceiling was a spectrum of colors where light had struck its crystals.
"At the East Wing are the King's two throne rooms, little miss. You should see them! Maybe I'll show them to you later…"
"Why does he need two throne rooms, Miss Rosalie?"
"Well," she answered. "The King uses the bigger room is for receiving audience of nobility – lords, ladies and such. The room is only for show, really. The lesser one is where he does his job and keeps those naughty goblin subjects of his. You should stay away from them, Little Sarah. I have never met a rowdier crowd than them."
It didn't bother Sarah much – after all, her classmates loved playing pranks. But something she said caught the little girl's attention.
"What does a Goblin King do, Miss Rosalie?"
She knew that a king was in charge of his kingdom – and all those who live in it. But what was the Labyrinth for? It can't just be for protection – there were a lot of creatures in the Goblin City, and she can tell that they were able to venture in and out of the Goblin King's domain without stepping in the maze. And why were there so many human beings in the Underground? Did they come here the same way Sarah had? Surely, the book Mr. Owl had given her was only partially true – the Goblin King in the story had been cruel…heartless, even. She could not picture Jareth being mean to a little girl. After all, he had been nice to Sarah, right?
So intent was she on her musings that she didn't notice her companion's inner turmoil. Rosalie was flustered. It was obvious that His Majesty did not want to inform his little charge about what he did, and she had to respect his decision. Besides, she didn't want to break the little girl's trust in her master by telling the outright truth. How had the cold and aloof Goblin King gained the trust of the expressive moppet in the first place?
Luckily, she was saved from answering Sarah by their arrival at the Great Hall. Rosalie pushed the lofty, double doors open and ushered her in.
"But what about you, Miss Rosalie?" Sarah asked, noticing that her caretaker made no move to follow.
Rosalie shook her head.
"I promised you that your little friend will be fixed as soon as ye finished your breakfast, have I not?"
"But – but you have not eaten yet."
Rosalie smiled at the little girl's concern. Where had Jareth find such a dear, sweet child? It was impossible that anybody would want to wish her away.
"I will be fine, child. I'll come back for you later." Giving her an affectionate pat on the head, she closed the door with a thud.
Sarah stared at the closed door silently. She would see the kind lady again later, but she couldn't help the feelings of worry that Rosalie won't ever return again, like all the adults who had come before her. It was foolish to feel this way, yes, and she only managed to quell these unwanted emotions upon remembering her caretaker's words and sincere brown eyes.
"The door won't open if you just stare at it, Sarah."
Sarah whirled around at the voice, and saw the Goblin King seated at the head of the table. It was without a doubt the longest table she had ever laid eyes on, and can possibly seat a hundred people at once. The uncovered, sparkly windows welcomed the sight of an exquisite garden, bright with life because of the generous amount of sunshine poured onto it.
She smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, Mr. Goblin King, sir."
Drawing nearer, she picked up her skirt in a wide arc at her side and sank in a deep curtsy, as she had seen princesses in books do.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," she greeted in her best grown-up voice, missing the faint look of amusement in his eyes.
He nodded in reply and gestured to the seat at his right side where an awaiting plate was prepared.
Sarah pulled back the heavy chair and climbed onto it, settling comfortably on the cushions piled atop of it to help her reach the table's surface.
"Are the accommodations to your liking?" he asked.
"Very much so," she answered, mimicking his tone.
His lips quirked, threatening to develop to a smile. He did not just find her grown-up manners cute. Proper and impressionable, yes, but not cute. What in the name of Underground did the word mean anyway?
The little girl reached out and plucked a peach from a nearby fruit bowl. Turning the rather large fruit in her hands, she remembered what she was supposed to ask him.
"Do you have pets, Mr. Goblin King? Owls for instance?"
Did she suspect him? He looked into her guileless eyes and saw the honest curiosity shining through them. No. She was incapable of cunning.
"There are innumerable creatures running rampant in the Labyrinth, Sarah. Why do you ask?"
He did not know Mr. Owl after all? Her shoulders slumped.
"No reason," she mumbled
Jareth lifted his goblet for a drink. Staring at her dejected posture through the rim, he said, "I presume that you would want to visit the barn. There are a lot of owls there. You are free to roam wherever you wish to as long as you remain in my kingdom."
Sarah perked up at that. Swallowing the last of her fruit, she happily answered, "Really, sir? Thank you, Mr. Jareth! Can I go now?"
Practically bouncing in her seat and forgetting about her grown-up attitude, he eyed her with the amused glint in his eye again.
" 'May,' Sarah. You do not use 'can' when asking for a permission."
"Oh. In that case, can – I mean – may I go now?"
He nodded. "You are excused."
Remembering her manners, she curtseyed briefly, before taking leave and merrily skipping away, a bemused Goblin King staring after her. He hoped that she would not take his permission for her to wander everywhere too literally. It is rather hard to find a lost child in the Labyrinth.
Sarah smiled and took a deep breath, gazing at her surroundings rapturously in an attempt to engrave its beauty in her memory.
The Garden.
She took hesitant steps forward, afraid that the garden will run away once it learns of her intrusion. Mother Nature and her four daughters – Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall – must live here, for there was no other explanation as to why the place turned out to be so… beautiful.
The sun in its esteemed position high in the sky looked down with favor at its prostrated subject and only allowed gentle, golden sunshine to tough its grassy skin. The trees were extolled, stately ladies with colorful birds as jewels in their emerald green hair and vines of wisteria and morning glory curled protectively around their wooden trunks served as clothing. A fountain was bubbling merrily, the soothing sounds complimenting the sanctuary's serenity. Mischievous nymphs left bushes of honeysuckle and lavender to thrive anywhere on the ground to trip the careless ones who will pass by. At the center was a pavilion, where she can imagine the magical beings holding a meeting under the light of a full moon.
A noise interrupted her thoughts, so soft that she won't be able to hear it if she were in a louder place. The sound was caused by wails, but Sarah cannot see anything which may have made it. Was it possible that this paradise sheltered ghosts as well?
There it was again! But now she was able to tell that it came from near the fountain. Was the fountain crying?
You are so silly, Sarah! She chastised herself. Fountains don't cry!
She confirmed that thought when she saw a girl with her head in her lap and her back supported by the fountain, her shoulders shaking in grief.
Sarah sat down on the ground beside her, uncaring if her pretty green dress got dirty. Why the girl was crying was more important.
"Why are you crying?"
The girl's head snapped up, meeting her stare. With her black eyes and shoulder-length red hair, Sarah thought that she looked familiar. Where had she seen her before?
"I-I miss my family," she replied. "They love me so much."
Sarah grinned. How alike they were!
"Really? I miss mine too! But you shouldn't cry. Your family won't like it if they see you sad. They'll be sad too, because they love you!"
The redhead blinked in surprise.
"My name's Sarah and I'm six! But I'll be seven soon!"
Wiping her tears on the back of her hand, her companion gave a small smile.
"That makes me three years older than you. I'm Sophia. I haven't seen you before. You must be new here."
Sarah nodded. "I came here yesterday."
"Yesterday? But that means-" She gave a startled gasp, and scrambled to her feet, bobbing a curtsy. "Beg pardon, Your Highness. I didn't recognize you."
Sarah got up too, shaking her head in puzzlement. "No, you don't have to do that. I'm Sarah, and you must have mistaken me for someone else."
"I couldn't be mistaken, Highness-"
"There we go again. I'm Sarah!" she paused. "Will you be my friend?"
Sophia blinked in surprise for the second time. Then she smiled shyly.
"I would love to, Little Sarah."
The younger girl gave a pout, which made the other laugh.
"Rosalie calls me that. I'm not little! I'll be seven soon!"
"And I'm older than you." Sophia said teasingly. "Have you seen the village? I'll be glad to take you there."
"Really? What are we waiting for? Come on!" she grasped her new friend's hand and tugged at it. Then stopped.
"I don't know where to go," she said sheepishly, making Sophia laugh again.
"Follow me!"
Sophia walked to the opening of the Labyrinth, with Sarah trailing along in her wake tentatively.
Seeing the darkening skies and the towering hedges made Sarah falter in her steps.
"Are you sure about this, Sophia?"
"Of course I am! I've used this path many times before. It's a shortcut."
The little girl tried not to focus on the menacing ambience of the maze, growing more sinister as they delved deeper. She tried not to think about how silent everything was, save for a maleficent crow of an unseen bird or a crack of a twig behind them. She refused to see how fast the skies were disappearing, or how the withering trees seemed to want to strangle them with their branches. Were those eyes, eerily glowing in the dark?
"Let's just use the long cut, Sophia. Sophia?"
Sarah turned to her companion.
She belatedly realized that she was alone. Her heart sank.
She was lost.
What do you think? Please review!
Chapter 5:
"I ain't no goblin, Missy. Me's a dwarf!"