I had a long dreamless sleep.Which I felt I needed after so many wicked events all of the previous nights. Gradually, I opened my eyes to the chirping of birds in the sunshine outside. 'I'm going to make this day normal' is what I thought to myself. Only I had completely forgotten about my agreement with Jareth so it gave me the shock of my life when I opened my eyes to see a huge pair staring back at me. Immediately I screamed. There was something about that creature that freaked me out. Yet back in the Labyrinth I remember greeting him with no fear whatsoever, but now I know never to be too trusting of anyone. Then I realised that there was not just one creature here, there were two. I'd almost forgotten about the Wiseman's bird-hat, the one that never shuts up. Oh, this was going to be great, one man who jabbers on about nothing and an annoying talkative bird, when all I wanted to do was have a quiet day and cosy up with a good book.

"Breakfast is ready for you young Lady" said the Wiseman in a gruff voice. I looked down at his large wrinkly hands and saw that he was holding a tray containing orange juice, cereal and two slices of toast. It looked so perfectly made that I found it hard to believe that the Wiseman had prepared it all on his own.

"Whoo whoo whoo!" said the bird on his head, to which the Wiseman grunted as a sign for him to shut up.

"Thank you very much" I said as I sat up and awkwardly took the tray from him. "But you didn't have to go to all this trouble. I didn't even know I had any juice or bread."

"Trouble? He doesn't even know the meaning of the word. He wouldn't know trouble if it hit him on the back of his head." said the bird.

"Be quiet!…The trouble is on my head and I wish someone would come and hit it" he said to the bird making me laugh a little. "The Goblin King has given me a duty to look after you dear girl, so I shall do my best to make you feel unperturbed in my presence."

"Well thanks but I really don't need any fuss" I said, before realising that he had already nodded off and was now snoring whilst still standing upright.

"There he goes again. Gees, that old fogy can't keep awake for more than five minutes " said the bird.


I had to admit the breakfast tasted terrific. After I had eaten I went into the bathroom to shower, change my clothes and brush my hair. The Wiseman was still asleep when I came out but his hat was pecking at his face.

"Wake up. The girl has gotten ready. Stop being rude and make her some pancakes" snapped the bird.

"No that's alright. I can't eat anything else. Let him sleep" I begged.

But it was too late. The Wiseman had already woken.

I spent the rest of the day listening to the Wiseman's tales of the Labyrinth and we even played a few board games. I had to admit that he was rather good company. His hat was rather annoying but I soon learnt that if we just ignored him then he would shut up. I asked him about Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus and he told me that they had become a very tight group of friends who talked about me constantly and portrayed me as their leader who would one day come back to them. This made me feel quite guilty as I hadn't even thought about them for ages. Besides, they would be too surprised if I ever came back. I still had the same stubbornness as I had before but my light-hearted friendliness had gone. They'd be so ashamed of me if they saw me now. Inevitably, our conversation led to the topic of Jareth.

"What has Jareth been doing for the past six years?" I asked.

"The King has many duties as a leader of the goblins, more than most people contemplate. The Labyrinth is known as the world of truths where people discover mysteries about themselves and others. It changes to suit each creature that enters it. Once that creature's mission has been completed, it is only then that the Labyrinth will be still. Jareth's role is too make sure that those who only want to use the Labyrinth for their own evil purposes stay away."

"Is that what Donovan wants, to use the Labyrinth for evil?" I asked.

"Not exactly, Donovan is not concerned about owning the Labyrinth. His feud is with Jareth and Jareth only. You are only involved because you are connected with the Labyrinth and the Labyrinth leads to Jareth."

"But why does Donovan want to get to Jareth?"

At first he was reluctant to tell me but my pleading eyes told him that I was desperate to know.

"Centuries ago Donovan's older brother Merle was due to inherit the Labyrinth for his own. It was then discovered that Merle had only bad intentions to make the Labyrinth a prison for all the other creatures in his world so the Labyrinth went to Jareth instead. Merle secretly plotted against Jareth, the most evil plan that ever existed…"

"To kill him?"

"More than just kill him. To destroy his entire soul, to make sure that he suffered the most painful anguish even in the afterlife. But Merle was caught and beheaded for his plans. His brother Donovan was locked up for assisting him. But now Donovan is back and wants to finish off what his brother began."

"That's horrible!" I said.

"From your point of view it's horrible. But from Donovan's point of view what happened to Merle was just as unpleasant."

The bird was right, the Wiseman couldn't see trouble, only different opinions. But to take away someone's soul, to make them live in agony every second of their existence was too horrific to even think about. A sudden rush of pity emerged for Jareth. He must be ten times more terrified than me, yet he stayed so cool and stubborn.

"But surely there's a way to stop him, there must be" I said hastily.

"Oh there is a way, but it results in bad consequences."

"What is it?" I asked eagerly.

But before he could answer I heard a knock on my door. Well, it sounded more like several thuds than a knock which made me hesitate to answer it. "Sarah it's me, please let me in…quickly Sarah please!" said Billy.

The angry part of me wanted to open the door just so I could slam it in his face but he sounded nervous, so I thought I'd give him a chance and see what he had to say. I quickly walked over to the door and unchained the locks. But when I opened it I saw something I didn't expect to see, making me gasp in astonishment. What I saw was not Billy, but a goat. A white goat staring up at me.

"Sarah it's me Billy, let me in before anyone sees. I've already been chased by the security guard. I had to bite his butt just so I could run away" said the goat.

I stood in amazement for a few seconds. I didn't know whether to laugh or scream. Jareth said he's take care of him but I never thought in a million year she'd do this. Then I shook my head and opened the door wider to let him in after I'd checked in the hallway to see if Donovan or anyone else was with him.

"Sarah, I don't know what the hell is happening with you but I can tell you, whatever you think I've done I didn't do it" said the goat who was about to trot into the kitchen.

"How do I know that Billy. If you did do it you would tell me that you didn't do it. And don't go into the kitchen!" I snapped realising that the Wiseman was in there. It would just be too weird if Billy the kid and a large puppet came into contact with each other.

"Okay but I'm telling you I didn't do it!"

"So you didn't give me the "package" to deliver?" I said.

"Yes I did but I didn't know that it would get you into any trouble."

"Well who did you take the package from in the first place?" I asked.

"Well Big Dave was out of town, so this dude in a black suit gave me it. He was pretty severe, told me that I was too familiar with the scene so I should get a friend to deliver it instead. You've gotta believe me Sarah."

"Okay, suppose you are telling the truth."

"I am, I'd have never given you those packages if I knew something bad was going to happen to you. I still don't even know what happened to you" he said.

"And you don't need to know, not now. Just promise me, and I mean promise, that you will never do business with Big Dave or any other oversized dealer again."

"Honestly Sarah, do you think I'd ever do that again after what happened me. Why am I a goat? Last night I found myself chewing on my furniture for no reason, and don't even get me started on how long it took before I found a comfortable position for me to sleep in. Now who is that crazy guy who did this to me? And how the hell do I get back to normal?"

"Don't worry I'll try and get you back, just wait there."


I ran into the kitchen and saw that the Wiseman was baking something.

"Erm excuse me, I need you to get Jareth to come here so he can undo a spell" I asked him politely.

"Sorry young lady but I have been instructed to call him only when there is something wrong."

"Well, there is" I lied. "I think I saw Donovan in the hallway. He didn't see me but I'm pretty sure he'll find me soon."

"Really? Well why didn't you say so. I will call the master immediately. You go and make sure that your door and windows are locked."

So I went back in the living room, pretended that I was checking everywhere and waited for Jareth to come.

"Who were you just talking to?" asked the goat.

But sooner than I could answer, Jareth came storming into the living room wearing lighter clothes than he wore before; grey breeches and a white shirt.

"What did you see?" he asked.

Billy started to run around like crazy.

"Sarah keep him away from me. Don't let him do anything worse!" he bleated.

"Jareth I didn't see anything. But I needed to call you here so you can undo what you did to Billy" I declared.

"After what he did to" he said angrily.

"He told me he didn't do it."

"And you believe him" he laughed. "My, you may have changed your attitude and your manners but you're still as susceptible as you ever were."

"Just stop making me out to be a fool Jareth. I know a friend when I see one and Billy has always been a friend to me. Just because you may spend your days with only a bunch of slimy goblins to talk to it doesn't mean that I have to be lonely to!"

Okay so I think that hurt him, but he wasn't exactly cooperating when all I wanted was to have my friend back. Billy was staring up at us both turning his head from me to Jareth. I couldn't imagine how weird this all was for him and how it would feel to be turned into a goat.

"Sarah, you insinuate too much about me. Haven't you realised that I only have your best interests at heart. If this boy really is your…friend, then he wouldn't mind staying as he is for a little longer now would he."

"Jareth this is not the Labyrinth. If anyone sees him they'll take him away, especially if they find out that the goat can talk."

"Well then he'd better keep his trap shut!"

"What on earth are you two talking about" said Billy. "And what is the Labyrinth?

We just ignored him and carried on fighting.

"Jareth he hasn't done anything to you, just change him back!" I said.

"No!"

"Come on guys arguing isn't going to help anyone. Can't we just discuss this like normal human beings" said Billy.

"Yes I'd love to do that Billy but for starters this guy isn't human, and you are a goat" I said.

"And he'll stay like it for much longer if you keep arguing" said Jareth spitefully.

"That's not fair! You can't do this to people. You think that you can mess with us humans as much as you like just because you've got the powers. Well, I'm not letting you mess with me like you did six years ago" I shouted.

Billy started to bleat in order to distract us.

"If the Labyrinth hadn't have happened to you six years ago you wouldn't have ever realised how much you needed your brother. I gave you the chance to do what many other girls in your world would dream of doing. I gave you a challenge, an adventure, a chance to understand who you really are and yet all you did was loathe me for it. You were so blind you couldn't see a good thing when it came to you and now look at you, you have no dreams, no one to love and no future in front of you. So don't you tell me that its' all my fault."

I tried not to let my tears escape from eyes so I lowered my head. Even Billy seemed like he was caught up in the moment as he stopped bleating and stared at the two of us. As much as it hurt to admit it Jareth was right. I had given up all of my dreams and fantasies to become just another miserable girl with nothing left to live for.


Author's Note

Hey, my forum And The Award Goes To has a topic which lets you vote for your favourite Labyrinth song. Only Ripper101 has joined in so far so to anyone reading this - have a go!!…Reviews please xxx