Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth.

LEGEND

The Act

She stood in darkness, watching.

The stage was set up underneath the starry sky. Drapes hung around the podium, whilst the orchestra, hit behind the foyer, played lively music to cheer up the crowd. Violins and flutes and tambourine raced against each other, competed on that which would play out the loudest tone. Intoxicated, the crowd cheered, but whether the rooting was for the actors who stumbled on stage, for the music, or for themselves, she couldn't say. In their carnivorous masks, people looked just as debauch as the actors.

She sprung forward in the crowd. No one paid attention to her, too occupied in the game of lechery that was played. A man with a donkey's head was standing naked on stage. She shook her head and proceeded.

Those in the audience who noticed her didn't look at her for a long time, thinking she was one of them. She wondered this until she saw a glimpse of her reflection. Sarah cried softly, flinging her hand on her chest to cover herself and her nudity.

Sarah realized then the people weren't following the play anymore, but stared at someone else. She turned on her place and gasped. For a while she thought she was seeing herself, an image of her adolescence me. The slender neck and dark hair piled on the head reminded Sarah about herself. But the girl was not she. This was not the ballroom of her dream, and the girl wasn't wearing a puffy white gown, but normal present day clothes while moving around the outdoor area. Then the girl turned, her face was revealed, and Sarah recognized her at last.

"Linda!"

Sarah moved, trying to fight her way to the girl. But now the people realized she didn't belong with them and wasn't part of their game. They blocked her way and prevented her from reaching the girl. And then she saw him. He was stalking Linda, eyes gleaming of the excitement of the hunt, his lips cast in satisfied leer. She could not rip her eyes of him. Her gaze trailed after him. His back tensed, and he glanced over his shoulders.

The Goblin King's face wavered at the sight of her, but soon he collected himself and gave her a mock smile. His lips moved,

"Sarah…"

She awoke from the dream, jolting up on her bed, gasping for air; and she knew it had been real. Her face grew dark. Somehow the Goblin King had gotten his hand on her niece. Sarah stared at the walls of her bedroom and remembered once more the expression on the face of the Goblin King -- lecherous and predatory. She shuddered at the memory.

"Jareth," Sarah spoke to the empty walls of her apartment, a fearful foreboding clenching around her heart. "What are you going to do to her?"

o O o

Linda was at lost. She couldn't remember what she was doing amongst these carnivorous people. She shivered, feeling their stares while she moved around the open-air auditorium. She tried to get away from the crowd, but, leering at her, they followed. She grimaced at the sight of their macabre masks, and on the act on the stage. Turning on her place, she tried to find an escape route. Her eyes narrowed.

"Sarah…?" Linda muttered, wondering if she really had seen a glimpse of her aunt. She perked her head up while she fought her way towards the place she had seen her. Linda stared at the spot blankly, wondering if she had only imagined the vision.

And then the feeling returned to her; a dreadful feeling that something was amiss and she didn't have much time. She let out a scared gasp, sprinting into move. Her forehead furrowed as she tried to mingle through the audience. She was going somewhere, looking for something – but where and what?

She saw him then. He was standing in the midst of the shadows and people, staring at her. She knew immediately she knew him somehow. Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step forward. But her way was blocked, and when she looked anew, the man was gone.

Linda stretched her neck, trying to find the man again. She saw him on the other direction and took after him. She followed the man, and every time she thought she gained him, some from the audience stepped on her way, and he was gone again. When she was nearly through with this tiresome game, he suddenly stood next to her.

She stared at him, unable to utter a sound. His eyes were gleaming and his smile a little too twisted to be kind. She stared at his mismatched eyes, a voice in her head telling her she should do – something. Her eyes widened when she realized she didn't remember anymore what it was.

She shivered and glanced around, feeling a sense of lost. Realizing, she was barefooted and wore only sweatpants and a t-shirt, while the other were adorned in extensive dresses and jewelry, Linda retreated wary of the man. His eyes turned harder. He stepped forward grasping her, and she noticed only then the gloves covering his hands.

"Come," the man said in a low voice, "and I shall take you away."

She sighed relieved and let the man pull her into his arms. He placed her head against his chest, leading her from the grass ground where people spun around in maddening phase. Their shadowy dance with the high-pitched music was making her woozy. Linda closed her eyes, inhaling deep the night air -- and the man. He smelled odd, strange yet familiar. A tint of danger lingered around him, like an alluring aftershave that made her light-headed. She shivered feeling his fingers trailing on the curve of her neck, and his teeth flashed in the darkness. He produced somewhere a wineglass offering it to Linda.

"Drink," he said. "You are thirsty."

Her throat scorched; and glad of his offer, she accepted the glass. She tasted the wine, and her eyes widened in wonder. It was delicious! Thirsty she took another sip, then another, and another; and before she knew, she had emptied the whole glass.

"Now, my dear," the man purred, taking the glass away from her shaking hands. "Pray, tell me, what is your name?"

She stared him, laughed a little and opened her mouth to speak. All color fleeted from her face the moment she realized she couldn't say.

"I -- I can't remember!" She cried softly, tears welling in hear eyes.

"Now, now," the man said, purring, and stepped closer. "Let me offer you my help," he said. "I'm certain, together we can solve the mystery of your disappeared self," He suggested like just realizing, "Maybe you remember something that might give your character away?"

The girl stared ahead, shivering, and shook her head. "No," she gasped for air. "Nothing." She looked at the man and asked hesitantly. "But may I ask who are you so kindly to offer me your help?"

"I am, in my condition, I do think a King," he said, smiling, "who knows, maybe even more."

The girl cast her eyes away, suddenly ashamed. "Sire, I'm in awe that you grant your attention upon me." She was confused. Who she was and why couldn't she remember?

"Nay," the man, the King, said. "I only recognized a beauty that appeared to be in distress."

"That is most kind of you, sire," she said silently, blushing and thankful for the night.

"Kind? No," he said, stepping closer and took her chin in to his hands. He gave her a lingering look, "Desirable? Yes."

The color on her face deepened. "I'm no such woman, sire," she said at last nervously and retreated from him, but he only smiled.

"But you have arrived here to enjoy the play?" He glanced at the stage where the ass-man crawled on his four like an animal; and the audience applauded at his act.

She blushed even more. "Sire, I do now know," the girl said silently. "But I know that I'm not supposed to be here."

He looked at her curiously. "Where then?"

"I was looking for something..." She said thoughtful.

"And what might that be?"

"I do not know!" She cried in despair. "I swear a moment ago, I know, I had a name -- now; not even that. And I was looking for somebody...?"

"Maybe me?" He suggested.

"No..." She said at last, uncertain. And then a face flickered in her mind; an image of older woman whose hair was already starting to turn grey. She frowned, the name dancing on her tongue.

"Sarah…"

That was when it all returned back to her. She gasped, looking up, and recognized the face on the Goblin King.

"You!" Linda stepped backwards. "What have you done to me?"

He smiled, though not pleasantly. "In my Labyrinth there are twists and turns, and each of them leads to secret place, some unknown truth."

"I would hardly describe this place a secret," Linda hissed, "nor that an answer."

He frowned. "Don't be insolent, wench! It was the answer you asked for."

"Return me back to Labyrinth at the instant!" Linda demanded, stamping her foot on the ground. "I want to solve the maze so I can leave this wretched place!"

He glared at her, saying, "As you wish..."

And at his words, the world fell down.

o O o

The girl lay on his arms unconscious as he descended the stairs. His breath steamed around his head like a misty gauze, the pale glow of the stars glittering on the damp walls. Lower he went, all the way until the very end where neither sun nor stars could reach with their lights. He heard murmuring, almost singing, "Aeei, aeei, aeei…" The lamenting voices echoed all around him as he continued forward, emerged by the darkness.

"Aeei, aeei, aeei…"

As he walked, he could hear the sounds growing stronger, coiling around him like a snake. He carried on to the dark, until soft glow appeared and blemished the blackness of the underground. His eyes cast briefly on the unconscious girl, and his lips purses tightly together before he, bending over, walked through an opening.

The King entered a cave. A smoking torch, casting its waning light, barely illuminated the space. He looked around and heard a rasped voice speaking up.

"What bring'th thee here?" The shadow in the furthest corner moved. "What deed maketh the Dream King come and visit the Kindred Ones? Hast thou brought us a cadaver to treat, a loved one perhaps? Or hast thou brought her 'ere for brews to forget?"

She stepped to his sight veiled in white.

"Neither, my ladies," he said. "The gift I hold is neither for the living or the dead."

He heard a sharp hiss from the other side, and the other woman stepped in the sphere of the frail light. "Ah, dreamer. Begone!" She pointed towards the breach behind him. "'This no place of dreams but dreams lost, of despair and sanguis. That was what thou us sayeth!"

"Nevertheless," the Goblin King said, "I bring her here, to reclaim the boon you once gave."

"O, wretched oath, cursed be thee to reclaim it on hours like these!" The ladies wailed, flinging their hands on their shrouded face, and swayed. "Have thou no mercy? The hearth has grown cold, and where once three rejoiced, remains lone two. Aeei, aeei!" They took off.

"Behave yourself, ladies," he commanded but they paid no heed at him.

"The cursed god of skyfather's eye!" The other woman said, slowly closing on him. "The Owl Queen!"

Her sister continued, snarling, "She robbed us, promised us the land, the sweet scent of sacrifices and eternal bliss!"

"And we, old and wise, blinded by her new law and the just words… Aeei!" They cried in unison.

"Just, she said!" The other spat, stopping.

"Yes, she did!" Her sister wept.

They moved again. "So the old and wise were proven fools when her lies we took!"

Veils fluttering like moths' wings, they circled around him. "She sent us scattering for her beloved Rock King, for her city. And her eyes were cold as were her words ruthless. Begone! So she said; and now here we reside, scared of the sun, the moon, driven into exile from our father's land! Take the woman-child away, we beg thee!"

"A boon is given and yours to keep," the King snarled, grasping the girl tighter in his hands. "So it was agreed."

They halted. "A cruel destiny is what thou force upon us, but we obey – so let not be said the once so proud Furies did not keep true to their words."

"Honour your wows," the Goblin King said, "and I shall reward you; fail, and you will pay!" He stepped towards the stone altar in the middle of the cave and placed the inert girl on it. His hands slithered across her unconscious face as hesitating.

"Take her in. And when she awakes, keep her dreams at bay. I keep to my words. In Under's Ground, none shall have one." He straightened his back, laughing, and after saying this, was gone.

"Aeei, aeei, aeei…" They cried.