~*~Chapter 8~*~

Into the Arena

"It was, he thought, the difference between

being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death

and walking into the arena with your head held high."

Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose

between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew…

that there was all the difference in the world."

-"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

Karen glared at Sarah as the latter emerged downstairs for breakfast.

"Sarah." The tone of Karen's voice plainly told Sarah that Karen was still peeved at Sarah's outburst the previous evening.

Sarah groaned inwardly. Time to bite the bullet.

She interrupted Karen before the woman was able to burst a blood vessel. "Karen, I'm sorry about my behavior last night. I am just so worried about Papa. The weather is so horrible and he's been away for song long…"

Karen narrowed her eyes at this, but her face relaxed.

Sarah let out her breath with a quiet whoosh.

Toby came bounding down the stairs at that moment.

Boy, that kid has excellent timing.

"Hey guys! Did you leave some breakfast for me? I'm starved!"

His mother set a bowl down in front of him, which the boy proceeded to tear into with such a look of pure relish on his face, that Sarah couldn't help but laugh.

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

That night, the small family sat before the fire, enjoying its crisp warmth. Karen was darning socks, (mostly Toby's, due to the fact that the boy could never quite remember that one needed to wear shoes as well as socks when one went to go frolic out in the rocky yard.)

Sarah and Toby were playing Cat in the Cradle with a bit of yarn that Karen had discarded. This continued for a little while until Toby declared that he was tired of such mundane games as Cat in the Cradle, and that he required more stimulating entertainment.

Sarah, all too happy to oblige, rose from her seat on the hearthrug, intending to fetch some cards or something of that sort, when she happened to glance out the window at the falling snow..

There was something or someone moving outside by the stables.

Sarah let out a strangled gasp and ran to the window, peering out into the darkness. At that moment, the door to the cottage was flung open, snow carried in by the chilling wind.

"PAPA!" Sarah ran to him and captured him in a mighty embrace. Toby joined Sarah in her merriment as Karen scurried over to shut the door.

"Oh Robert," Karen gasped, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Come on, you two! Let the man breathe!"

Sarah and Toby sheepishly let go of their father, but followed him over to his chair by the fire. Robert sank into the chair with a deep, groaning sigh.

Karen fussed about Robert; removing his cloak and boots, fetching him a blanket, and pestering him with questions.

"Robert! How was the city? Was the ship there? What happened? Why are you so shaken? Oh Robert, tell me! Are you hurt…"

He raised a hand, which effectively cut off her stream of questions. From his breast pocket, he produced his stolen rose, uncrushed and still fresh as if it had just been picked.

"For you," he croaked, handing the flower to Sarah.

"Oh, Papa! It's beautiful! Wherever did you find it?"

A dark, brooding look crossed her father's face.

"…Papa?" Sarah furrowed her brows.

"Robert, what is it?" Karen hovered nervously next to his chair, tea and brandy in hand. Robert looked up at her and smiled wryly as he saw the drink. Karen passed it to Robert, and he took a grateful sip.

"It's a long story." Robert took another sip of tea, his cheeks returning to their normal hue in the wake of the steaming tea.

A confused look was passed between Karen, Toby, and Sarah as they sat down in various spots around the room.

"Where to begin," Robert mused, staring deep into his tea, as if it held the answer to his musings.

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

Robert recounted his journey to Wolverston, how he found the boat, received his gold for the goods and his departure from the city. His story continued to how he lost his way in a snowstorm and how he found himself in the Labyrinth.

Sarah shuddered violently at this point. Hoggle had been right. There was a Labyrinth…what if he was right about the rest.…what if…

Sarah mentally shook her head and returned her thoughts to her father's story.

"…and I was so desperately lost. I heard some talking and rustling nearby. It turned out to be goblins."

A collective gasp went around the room. Karen looked positively faint while Toby bounced in his seat with excitement, leaning forward in his chair as he listened to his father.

Robert told of how he followed the goblins to the castle, found a room, was fed, and put up for the night.

Sarah was sure that she knew what was coming next. Her gut felt as though it had dropped to her toes. There was one piece missing from this story, the most critical piece.

"Then I saw them. I don't know what came over me. I've never seen such glorious roses. I wanted to get one for Sarah." He smiled weakly at his daughter.

"Oh papa! Why did you do that? I didn't need a rose, I…"

"My dear, I saw them and I thought of you. I don't know why I did what I did, or why I thought of you. It was as if I was under a spell."

Robert took a deep breath and continued.

"That's when he appeared. At first it was just an owl, swooping over my head, and then it was a man….Well, I think he was more than just a man. There was something about him…he just exuded power and cruelty…his magic…"

Robert broke off, lost in his memories.

Sarah sat, unable to move, unable to process what her father was saying.

So it was true. It was all true.

"He was furious at my thievery. He said that he must have something of mine in return for his stolen rose."

"What did he demand?" Karen whispered, fear clouding her eyes. "Did he want money or land or…"

She broke off as Robert turned his head, looking mournfully at his daughter.

Sarah felt cold.

She stood up, and walked over to the fire, staring down at it, the rose clutched in her hand.

"It's me, isn't it," said Sarah softly, lifting the rose to her face, inhaling it's deep, heady fragrance.

Robert was silent.

"Wh-what!" Karen spluttered, looking fiercely over at her husband. "Your own daughter! Robert, you didn't…"

"No, I didn't." Robert swirled the dregs of his tea.

Toby quietly made his way over to Sarah who stood still by the fire, wrapping his small arms around her waist and leaning his head against her side. Sarah softly stroked his fair hair.

"But you said-" Karen shrilly began, rubbing her temples.

"He told me that I had a week. He gave me a choice, not that that makes this situation any better…When the week is up, either Sarah or I must return to the castle to stay…forever."

Karen uttered a moan and slumped in her chair. Toby ran over to her, trying to rouse his mother from her swoon.

Sarah took one last long look at the fire before turning to her father, a determined look on her face.

"I will go."

Robert visibly protested at this proclamation, half-risen from his chair. "Sarah, no!"

" I must. He asked for me. How do you know he won't try to lure me to him in some other way once you've gone to him? If that were to happen, we'd both be gone. What would happen to Karen and Toby? They need you…I need…I need you to stay here. I need to know that you will be here to take care of them."

Sarah's eyes glistened with unshed tears. She knelt beside her father's chair, clasping his hand in both of hers.

"Sarah-I can't let you do this!" He looked pleadingly at her.

"It's not a question of free will, Papa."

"Sarah," fear shone in his eyes, "How could you I condemn you to such a future? I will go, in your stead. I'm old, I've lived my life! This magician can do nothing to bother me if I know that you are safe."

"My will is as strong as yours, Papa. I can't let you do this. The rose was for me. If you don't let me go with your consent, I will run off in the dead of the night and make for the castle at the center of the Labyrinth. It's my fault that this happened, and I intend to set it right."

Sarah ceased her gentle tirade, her eyes firm with determination.

Robert looked at her hard for one moment. "You-you're sure about this? This is the path that you have chosen? To be stuck in that abhorred castle with the King of the Goblins for all eternity?"

"Yes," she whispered.

Full of despair, Robert gazed at his daughter, who in turn looked resolutely down at the rose clasped in her hand.

"It doesn't seem very honorable of me to let you take the punishment for my folly…." Robert sighed, pinching his nose between his fingers. "But, I don't think that I would be able to persuade you otherwise."

Sarah rose and kissed him gently on the top of his head. She walked over to where Toby was trying to revive a determinately swooning Karen. Sarah gently took his hand and led him to the Kitchen, glancing back at her father for a moment before continuing upstairs.

Robert groaned, his head held in his hands in a gesture of defeat.

"Damn you, Goblin King," he muttered hopelessly, tears glistening between his fingers, "And damn me too."

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

Sarah lay in bed, hours later, staring at the rose her father had brought her. It was sitting primly in a vase on the windowsill, the pale moonlight dusting the petals in the creamy light.

Once she had fallen asleep, Sarah had her dream again. She was dancing in the elusive castle hall, with the man in black. This time was different, however. This time he spoke.

Sarah…

She woke with a start, looking around her room. The stars winked innocently at her through the dark window. Sarah couldn't shake the strange feeling she had. How did that man know her name…well, it was a dream after all, a byproduct of an overworked brain…of course he would know your name, he is a figment of your imagination…but still…

She could hear it, echoing over and over again in her head, the strange, powerful voice of the black-garbed man.

Sarah…

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

END PART 1

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

AN: insert ending theme music from LOST

Thus ends Part 1 of our tale! I don't have much to say here, except for thanks to those who have read (and reviewed!) my story! I appreciate it! I hope that everyone will keep on reading as I move on to Part 2! I admit that I haven't been writing a whole lot the past few weeks, because I was having trouble deciding where I wanted this story to go and roughly how I wanted it to get there. However, I have conquered my writers block and I am now getting a rough plot down, and getting the next chapter finished up!

Off topic: Saw Harry Potter (my first true book-love!) and LOVED IT! I won't spoil anything, I will just say: Please! Go see it! It is fantastic! It is funny, and yet so dark!

My dear readers: Please read and review! I enjoy reading all of your lovely reviews!

Disclaimer: Labyrinth and its characters do not belong to me. Quotes from the movie belong to Henson, Froud, and Lucas. Quotes from the book belong to A.C.H. Smith.

The name "Greatheart" belongs to Robin McKinley, who features a horse with the same name in her book "Beauty."