Chapter 9 – How Storms Are Made

"And that's why, of all my brothers and sisters, only I left the homestead."

Sarah sighed, she loved Sir Didymus dearly but his stories were so dry. He could talk a tumbleweed into dust.

Sir Didymus looked at her expectantly, "Lady, I hesitate to ask, but might you entertain us with one of your stories? I fear I have run out of tales."

Sarah smiled and nodded, she loved telling stories. Her imagination had never been underused, even when she was on the run, her mind soared. Which one to tell though? She was about to ask if Sir Didymus had any suggestions when she heard a voice.

"Yes, let's hear a story," a completely different voice said with relish.

Sarah felt a shiver go down her spine but didn't turn around to face the owner of that voice. It's not like she didn't know who it was.

Sir Didymus bowed, "Why your majesty, what a pleasure. However, if I might have a word with you about your treatment of Ambrosius here." Ambrosius was trying to hide behind Sir Didymus. The King ignored him.

She just scowled, "Go away."

"No."

Sarah twirled around, "I am not going to tell you anything beyond, 'leave me alone you worthless, creepy freak.' "

The Goblin King's eyes flashed, "I have warned you before, do not trifle with me." A chair appeared and he sat down, leaning back. He smiled, the anger still simmering behind his eyes, "Now, how about a story?"

Sarah shook her head, he really didn't know what no meant, "No, I refuse."

The Goblin King waved at the air, "Ah yes, there's that defiant spirit. I had almost forgotten what that sounded like." That last part was said with as much sarcasm as Sarah had ever heard. He simmered for a second then nodded, "Ok, you want something in return. I can…understand. A deal then? One story and I will, say, send one of your family back to your world. How about it, your beloved little brother safe and sound in his bed even after you lose?"

Sarah considered it, Toby could be safe no matter what? Just one story? She looked at the King, he seemed to be telling the truth. But just she couldn't bring herself to trust him. The many years of being on the run from him had trained her to pick up on tiny cues. It was just one story, not much at all, but something about the way the King was looking at her made her think this was about something more important. So she shook her head, "And I should trust what you say? This isn't another trick Sarah, I'll let you try and rescue your family Sarah," she mocked him bitterly, "You always keep your word."

The Goblin King leaned forward, "I never said that I wouldn't kidnap you and trap you until time ran out."

Sarah stared, "Why would I even think to ask that? Most people assume that when you give someone a challenge, you actually give them the chance to actually finish it!"

The Goblin King shrugged, "I don't see where that's written. It's certainly not in my magic." He leaned back in the chair, lounging again, grinning, "Come on Sarah, story!"

His casual, dismissive, attitude infuriated Sarah so much that she lost any and all caring about whether or not she made the Goblin King angry. She laughed contemptuously, "Goblin King, Goblin King…" She fixed him with a furious stare combined with a superior smirk, "You have no power over me."

After a few seconds of silence, the Goblin King stood slowly from his throne. Sarah expected to see him shaking with rage, was actually hoping to rile him up. To make him make a mistake. Anything that would give her a chance to get out of here and back to her family. But that insufferable smirk was the only thing on his face, or… could she still detect a razor sharp glimmer of anger in his seemingly cold eyes. "Ah Sarah, dear, sweet, Sarah. You will not make me angry. My time of triumph is at hand and I will win. Spend time in your memories, because you won't have them much longer." He vanished with a blinding flash leaving Sarah and Sir Didymus still trapped with time rapidly running out.

_______

"Is it raining," Robert asked, feeling a droplet of cold water hit his face.

Hoggle looked up at the sky in shock, "Yeah, I guess that's what this stuff is. Rain. Haven't seen that here before."

"What do you mean, you haven't seen rain? Doesn't it rain here," Irene asked.

Hoggle shrugged, "Never seen it before I went to your world. Nothing happens in this Labyrinth if Jareth don't want it too." He frowned at the sky, "I would think he ain't too happy right now." He started walking again as they heard a loud thunder clap, "We should hurry." Multiple lightning strikes followed the thunder and he sped up, "We should really hurry."

*AN*

Dun, Dun, Dun!

Yeah, I know, it's a really short one and I'm sorry on many levels, that it's short, that it's late, that I'm almost too tired to even post it. So!, as compensation I'll post the next one sooner than usual. Like tomorrow. Maybe!

*Insert clever comment about reading and reviewing here!* Or not. I'm open. Either way…:-)!