I do not own "Labyrinth" or any of its characters, locations, etc.; "Labyrinth", etc. belongs to Jim Henson, Henson Associates, The Jim Henson Company, and Lucasfilm.
Throbbing, searing, stretching pain riddled various places over his body. His master, the king of the Labyrinth, had become furious with his inability to perform the tasks put before him as head butler in the castle. The king had been executing punishment for weeks now, It's a wonder that I've even survived this long…he thought half-amusedly.
Suddenly, the door of the prison cell opened with a shrieking hinge. He's back…the king is here again… Fearful for his life, he retreated back into the corner of his cell wall, hoping to escape more chastisement from his unhappy master.
But instead of another backhand blow to his face, or another slicing of flesh, he heard a strange click and felt the shackle fall away from his ankle. Curious enough to venture a glance upward, his eyes met those of someone he'd seen only seldom before then.
The young man, his master's son, was bent to the ground beside him. His expression bore some mixture of shame, mercy, and satisfaction. He spoke, "Get up, man; we've work to do if we're to make you fit to care for the Labyrinth."
He frowned, "What d'ya mean, Prince Raejath? Your father sentenced me to die in prison—"
Raejath smiled, "My father is dead. His commands no longer have sway over the living."
His eyes grew wide as Raejath stood over him, a proud and dignified figure even in the dim and dank light of the prison cell. He finally obeyed Raejath's command and stood to his feet, though his muscles and skin screamed protestation at the movement.
Raejath smiled again as he looked down at the dwarfed man, "I release you from this prison and hereby appoint you Official Groundskeeper of the Labyrinth."
He bowed low as Raejath finished, "You are freed from this prison, pardoned of all actual and perceived crimes. I am king, and I declare it to be so…but what is your name? I don't think I ever heard father call you anything."
All of a sudden, words completely escaped him; he didn't remember his name anymore. And how long had it been, anyway? Weeks? Years? Decades…there was no way of knowing. He shrugged before his king, ashamed of his bankruptcy of identity.
The king stroked his chin as he thought, "You don't recall, do you? More's the pity…
"Well, we'll have to call you something, won't we?" Raejath was quiet for a minute, and then it came to him, "There's a tree outside the west castle gates, called a 'Hogglewort'. What say you to being called 'Hoggle' from now on?"
Thinking it over, it seemed to be a good idea. Any name is better than nothing, I suppose. He nodded ascent to his king.
King Raejath nodded, "Right. Well, Hoggle, shall we see to it that you are provided with everything you'll need in your new position? Come with me." Raejath exited the cell.
Hoggle stood and followed his new master out of the prison, never to set foot in that place again.
.oOo.
"Hoggle? I need you."
From within the Mirror Garden, where he stood trembling with anxiety, Hoggle heard Sarah calling to him. His heart sank. The morning had arrived when he was to come and visit her for their yearly gardening party. But this year, Hoggle had made a terrible mistake. By challenging the Goblin King, Hoggle had inadvertently extended Sarah's invitation to come to the Over Ground on to Jareth. Hoggle wished with all his heart he could take back his words, but it was too late. After all, what one said in the past was indelible. How can I…what will she think of me after…Jareth, you dirty rat!
But Jareth was not with Hoggle in the Mirror Garden at that moment. In fact, Hoggle hadn't seen the king once in the Underground week that had passed since their altercation. The dwarf was holding on to hope that Jareth did not know the exact day when Hoggle would leave to go Above. Hoggle had glimpsed neither hide nor hair of his master in the time since last they met.
All the same, Hoggle glanced over his shoulder once more, seeking any sign of the Goblin King's presence. Even if I don't see nothin', it don't mean Jareth ain't watchin' me from the castle. Bet he's just waitin' to spring out from a shadow somewhere… Finding no indication that the Goblin King knew of his plan to depart, Hoggle looked back to the mirror before him. Hoggle tried to press through the wavering glass as quickly as he could, in the hope that, even if he had been watching, Jareth wouldn't catch him in time.
A large hand on his shoulder proved his hope vain. Jareth was indeed following him to the Over Ground.
They were soon in a short hallway, a long mirror behind them in the entryway of Sarah's house. Jareth separated from Hoggle and cast a disgusted look at the dwarf as he went. He growled lowly, "Make no mistake, I will be watching and ready. One word indicating my presence and you will regret having ever known what it is to be alive."
Hoggle sighed mournfully as the Goblin King disappeared out the back door; literally. Jareth cast an invisibility spell over himself as he exited. Hoggle tried to sneak back through the mirror, but the Goblin King had placed a barrier over the glass. He cursed Jareth's name three different ways before finally resigning himself to his circumstances. For the second time, and not the last, Hoggle cursed himself for falling into Jareth's trap. Mostly, though, Hoggle cursed himself for putting Sarah in the path of danger from which he could not save her.
With his head hanging low in shame and defeat, Hoggle walked out the door to find Sarah and begin their gardening.
.oOo.
I shoulda fought more back in the Labyrinth. I shouldn't have given in to that dratted king at all. Maybe I coulda taken my words back if I tried harder? Maybe it wouldhave been better if I hadn't stayed friends with Sara—
"…but I'm just not sure. What do you think, Hoggle?"
"Eh?" Hoggle came out of his brooding abruptly at the sound of his name. Sarah was before him, holding two plants in front of him; a geranium and a creeping myrtle.
Sarah sighed and put the plants down, "Are you all right today, Hoggle? You've hardly heard a word I've said all morning."
Hoggle hung his head. If you only knew, Sarah…you'd never speak to me again. "I'm sorry, Sarah…it's just—" He stopped, an idea suddenly occurring to him. Maybe I can still beat Jareth. It might mean I'll never see Sarah again, but it also just might give her time to get away… He decided to try it.
"Just what, Hoggle?" There was a note more concern in Sarah's voice than there had been, and Hoggle decided that it could play into his plan nicely.
"It's just that dirty rat Jareth has been…well, pretty angry lately. More than usual, I mean." Hoggle threw in a sad-sounding sigh to try to stir up some of her sympathy.
It worked very well. Sarah's voice dropped low and her expression turned dark. "What has he done, Hoggle?"
Hoggle swallowed hard and hoped that the Goblin King wasn't too near to them. I gotta say it real fast and give her a chance before he can stop me… the dwarf thought. He decided it was better try to than to give in without a fight. Again. He began, "He hasn't given up on you, Sarah. He's trying to—" but he suddenly found himself thrown forward into a shrub.
"Hoggle!" Sarah cried out.
The dwarf got up as quickly as he could disentangle himself from the bush. He whirled around to see Sarah caught in the grasp of Jareth's hands, very surprised and a little scared, though one could barely tell.
"Hello again, Sarah," Jareth smirked in all his glittering glory, "have any plans for tea this afternoon?"
"I might, actually," Sarah had regained her composure and some of her bravery, "And anyway, you have no power over me, Jareth." Sarah tore away from him and backed away a few paces, "Get out."
"Not this time, precious thing. I can't stand to leave our business unfinished for another minute; you'll come with me today." Jareth advanced toward the young woman.
Sarah backed away toward the house, clearly afraid this time of what the Goblin King would do.
Hoggle leaped to stand between Jareth and Sarah, "You heard her, Jareth; get out."
"Out of my way, Higgle. This is between the Champion of the Labyrinth and me." Jareth flicked his wrist and Hoggle found himself pinned to the ground, flat on his back.
Sarah turned to run, but the Goblin King was too fast. She yelped as he caught her in his arms.
Jareth's expression turned evil in the relish of his victory, "Shall we be off, then, milady?"
Sarah braced herself to once again feel the strange sensation of being transported out of this world by goblin magic. Hoggle cried out in anger that Jareth had so easily overpowered them. Jareth shot a derisive smile at him and moved to summon a transportation crystal…
…but nothing happened.
Hoggle felt the pressure which held him down release, and he sat up slowly, a bemused expression on his face.
Sarah became confused also as Jareth's expression changed from one of absolute triumph to near panic.
Jareth threw Sarah aside and looked at his hands. He snapped his fingers a few times, made as if to conjure a crystal, and then clapped his hands together in front of him with as tremendous a force as he could manage. Still, nothing happened.
Jareth turned to see Hoggle staring at him in puzzlement. Anger flared in the Goblin King's eyes, "Did you have something to do with this, Hoggle?"
Hoggle paled, "Who? Me? I didn't…I couldn't, even if I—"
Jareth roared, "If I find out that you were even remotely involved, you little scab, so help me I will—"
"You'll what, Jareth?"
Sarah and Hoggle both jumped at the sound of a new voice. And what a voice it was! Simultaneously soothing and fearsome, it rolled over them like a long gust of hot summer wind before a storm. It demanded their attention and yet they found the compulsion to obey strangely…agreeable.
Turning, Hoggle saw the face of the speaker and dropped down, prostrate on the ground.
Jareth had withered slightly, like a child caught tracking mud over his mother's heirloom carpet.
Sarah could only stare in wonder.
There, at the top of the back porch stairs stood a man of otherworldly dignity and beauty. The newcomer was tall, obviously strong, and his head was crowned with a diadem of a craftsmanship unheard of in our world. Sarah saw images glinting over the surface of the metal; pictures of people, creatures, and kingdoms Sarah was sure were subordinate to the man standing before her. The Labyrinth was included in those images.
The king – for that was his title, surely – smiled kindly and acknowledged them each in turn, "Good afternoon Sarah. Hoggle, you're looking well…" His smiled faded and he sighed, "And you, Jareth…you and I have much to discuss."
Turning to Sarah again, the newcomer bowed slightly at the waist, "Allow me to introduce myself; I am Kurios, the Sovereign King of the Underground, overseer of each of the Twelve Realms, the First and Last Word in all things."
Sarah tried to respond in kind, but her voice merely squeaked a pitiful, "Hi there." Embarrassed, Sarah looked to see if Kurios was displeased with her. His expression showed only attention and patience, however, so Sarah cleared her throat and tried again, "I mean, hello, your majesty. I am Sarah Williams and I…live here." Sarah blushed at the simplicity of her name and place of residence.
The Sovereign King only smiled again, "Do not trouble yourself for my sake, Sarah. Your home is wonderful. There is no reason for you to feel ashamed of your life before me. I would like to stay and visit with you, but I am afraid that I cannot stay longer than it will take me to sort out my business with Jareth and Hoggle."
Kurios took a few steps toward Hoggle, and then bent to whisper something in the dwarf's ear. Hoggle gave the king a strange look, and then turned to go into the house.
The Sovereign King turned to Sarah again and said, "Sarah, I'm afraid that I may have to make a request of you that could prove…bothersome to you. All that I ask is that you hear me out from beginning to end before you make your decision."
Sarah blinked, "Erm…go ahead?" She gasped suddenly, "I meant, 'go ahead your majesty,' of course." She blushed deeply at her flippancy.
Unfazed by Sarah's slip into nonchalance, Kurios smiled, "Thank you, Sarah." He cast an assessing look over Jareth and then nodded.
Clearing his throat, he began, "Jareth is to be forbidden entrance to the Underground indefinitely, as he has proven insubordinate, rebellious, and immature in his handling of the kingdom which he was given.
"Until Jareth 'grows up', so to speak, he is to remain stripped of his power and title and banished from the whole of the Underground."
Jareth's eyes widened. He obviously hadn't expected such a severe reprimand for his actions.
As for Kurios, his mouth was drawn into a tight line, like a father who has been forced to take measures of extreme discipline over a child whom he loves dearly. Seeing that, Sarah felt pity for him and became even more inclined to listen to his story.
Kurios continued, "I am very sorry for all that has happened, Sarah. It was unjust of Jareth to involve you in his life in the manner which he did. I am fully convinced, however, that good will yet come of this mess. But I must ask a favor of you."
Sarah was wary of having anything more to do with Jareth. But the Sovereign King was good in a way that Sarah couldn't deny, even for a moment. It seemed that everything he had said so far had been thought out to the minutest detail so that it would bring about good for all who were involved. Sarah realized that she trusted him fully, and that realization was alarming to her sense of caution. Yet still, she was comforted by his obvious concern for good to come of all he was planning. She urged him to continue, "Yes, sire?"
"May Jareth and Hoggle stay here during Jareth's trial?"
Sarah nearly choked on her own oxygen. How does that seem like a good idea to him?! Sarah stared at Kurios with wide eyes, completely forgetting decorum, "Excuse me?"
Kurios nodded, understanding her surprise. He went on, however, explaining, "I would like for Jareth not to be exposed as the Goblin King to more people than already know of his existence. You are one of the five people who have had actual experiences with him in side this realm, and I would like to keep that number where it rests, if I may.
"You needn't worry about housing them; the guesthouse here in the back will suit just fine. And I will see to it personally that nothing…unseemly would occur during their stay."
Sarah saw the truthfulness in Kurios' eyes. She understood the logic behind his reasoning for wanting Jareth to stay there. But still, it was hard for her to accept that Jareth might actually live with her and her housemates for an indefinite amount of time.
Her housemates…
"Sire,' Sarah began, "I agree with your reasons for wishing for Jareth to stay here…"
'But…?" the Sovereign waited for her to voice her concern.
"Well, I am only one of the tenants of this house, sire. I don't even own this house in part; I just rent my rooms and pay for some boarding costs. So, I really have little to no say in this matter." Sarah hoped that Charis would think the same of the situation that she did; Jareth could not be allowed to live in the guesthouse. And Ethan would agree with his sister, surely. Sarah had nothing to worry about.
Agreeing with her words, the Sovereign nodded, "Quite right, then. Are the owners at home now, and can I speak with them?"
Sarah gestured toward the back door of the house, "Charis is just through the first left of the hallway, in the kitchen, I think. Ethan is probably upstairs but Charis can call him down for you," Sarah replied. "If they give their consent, then I won't complain about Jareth being here." Not that I think Charis would ever agree to this harebrained idea. Sarah thought, confidently.
"Thank you very much, Sarah. I'll just show myself inside." The Sovereign King smiled again, with sincere gratitude. Sarah blushed, a little ashamed of her slight untruth.
But the Sovereign King didn't seem to notice. He bowed to Sarah once more, and then looked to the Goblin King, who raised his brows in mere slight interest. "Jareth?"
"Yes?" Jareth answered.
"I have yet to speak with you directly. Make no mistake; I am not finished with you yet."
Jareth might have paled somewhat at that, but if he did it was hardly noticeable (except to Kurios, whose gaze remained severe.)
The Sovereign King bowed at the waist again, "Please excuse me while I go and find the owners to gain their permission for Jareth and Hoggle to stay here for a time." He then made his way up the back porch stairs.
As he reached the top step, Kurios turned around to look at Jareth. With a quizzical, amused expression, he asked, "Kidnapping, Jareth? And you were serious?"
Jareth's ears turned pink, but no one else truly noticed. The once-Goblin King made no reply to the Sovereign as he cast his eyes to the ground.
Chuckling, Kurios went inside to find the housemates whose approval was needed for his plan.
As the door closed behind him, he heard Sarah speaking to Jareth, "Oh, yeah. Speaking of kidnapping…"
"Now, Sarah, what's said is said, but I didn't actually—No, Sarah! Don't—"
Confident in the knowledge that Sarah could not truly harm Jareth, even while he was powerless, Kurios continued on inside.
.oOo.
Huh. I guess Jareth doesn't rule quite everything in the Underground, after all. What's in store for our characters next?
…Like I'd tell you now!