Chapter 13 – The Power of Dreams

Sarah and Sir Didymus finally reached the gates to the city. By now they were in appalling shape; Sarah's hair was frizzy and a mess of tangled knots, having dried once the rain stopped, Sir Didymus's fur was muddy and Amborsius was limping because of a thorn in one paw. Not the best way to face someone's greatest adversary but the nearest spa or salon, brush even, was in another world completely. Sarah stared up at the giant gate towering over her. This gate was in her way and she was too tired to try and break it down. "Open up!"

The gate began to creak open slowly and once there was enough room, Sarah marched right in, Sir Didymus and Ambrosius following closely.

"Of course," Sarah sighed stopping just inside the gate, looking at a silvery and yet clear surface blocking her way, filling every inch of the space in front of her. The half globe wasn't completely solid, almost like the surface of the mirror they'd been trapped in. Sarah could see the Goblin King's castle through it but the air between them rippled. When she squinted and the light from the sun hit the bubble just right, it looked as if the large bubble was made of thousands of smaller bubbles. Sarah scanned the perimeter, noticing that there wasn't any space between the bubble and the walls of the city. She couldn't slip around this one.

"What is it my Lady," Sir Didymus asked, poking the oddity with his always handy spear while Ambrosius sniffed it.

"I have an idea," Sarah said softly. She should have known it wouldn't be this easy. That she couldn't just walk into the castle and claim her victory. The shining things falling from the clouds, the newly formed half globe in front of her; how had he known that this was her weakness, that this was what she feared the most? Memories flooded back filling her minds eye with images; an elegant ballroom, a magnificent dress, a haunting song. That moment in time, coming so close to giving in. It must be why he was trying it again. She'd come so far that he was running out of new ways of slowing her down. He'd just try what had almost worked before.

"We don't have to go through it my Lady," Sir Didymus said, "We could find another way."

The gates were still open behind her, she could still turn around and try to find another way. But didn't want to, this was just another trick, testing her strength. The Goblin King was trying to trap her again but, just like last time, she would come out on the other side. She wasn't scared of him and his tests. "Stay here Sir Didymus," said Sarah as she took a resolute step towards the bubble.

"Never, my Lady!" He and Ambrosius tried to follow her but Sarah stopped them with a gesture.

"I won't put you through this. I don't know if what's on the other side of this bubble is a dream or a nightmare. The Goblin King may very well have decided that he'd had enough of me and this is my punishment. I can't take that chance with your life Didymus. Please, you and Ambrosius, stay behind, stay safe."

"But my Lady!"

Sarah didn't wait for his next argument, she quickly stepped boldly through the surface and instantly disappeared.

Sir Didymus watched as the surface contracted quickly and even as he ran forward to follow her, the globe it became solidified and swiftly flew away towards the castle. "Oh my Lady Sarah, stay strong." Taking a deep breath he urged his dear friend towards the castle where this entire adventure would most certainly end. He would wait for her there.

"Did you hear that," Toby asked, peeking around the corner to see if the coast was clear.

"A scream," Hoggle said, looking around as if he could spot the source.

"Is it just me or did it sound familiar," Irene asked.

"Probably some poor soul who made Jareth angry," Grimples shrugged. "Nothing we can do for them."

Robert pulled his son back behind him and leaned around the corner to check the corridor himself, "So where's this secret room you think Sarah's hidden in again? Are we almost there?"

"We're on the third floor, the locked door is in the high tower. We've got a ways to go."

"You know we could move a lot faster without the giant walking carpet lumbering behind us and slowing us down," Hoggle grumbled shooting Ludo an annoyed glance.

"Ludo not stay behind. Ludo save Sarawh," Ludo replied, drawing himself up so that he really towered over Hoggle.

Hoggle flinched and backed down, "Just sayin'. Don't take it so personally."

"Come on," Toby said, bounding around his father and taking the lead again, "we're getting closer to Sarah!" Ludo went next, catching up to Toby and walking alongside him, keeping his keen eyes on the closed doors.

"He is very much your son Robert," Irene said fondly to Robert, watching their son play tackle Ludo, "such energy."

Robert grinned, "But he's got your brains. And your eyes." Irene smiled and took Roberts hand. Together they followed their son down the hall.

Hoggle watched them in disgust, waiting till they were far enough away to follow and exclaim, "I think I'm going to hurl. Lovevy dovey things like that always make me sick!"

Grimples grinned although with his face it was more frightening than funny, "You know, I used to hear you mumble a name in your sleep. What was it again?"

Hoggle blushed brightly, "Don't know what you're talking about Grimples. Come on, we're being left behind."

Grimples just laughed, "Whatever you say Hoggle, whatever you say."

Sarah pulled the pearl handled brush through her hair one last time, making sure not a single strand was out of place. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and grinned happily, she loved her life. She wanted for nothing, needed nothing, her life was perfect in every way. Her hair was never tangled, she was always healthy, even her skin was flawless, she hadn't had a pimple or mole in ages. Who wouldn't want a life where everything was just perfect?

"Ready my dear?" Jareth, the King of the Underground asked, leaning against the doorframe to her room dressed in his usual attire of loose, flowing shirt and ...tight pants.

"Just a second J, I'm almost finished."

"I wish you wouldn't call me that."

Sarah stood and smirked, "Tough, it's what I've called you for years now." She sashayed across the room to her jewelry stand, enjoying the way Jareth watched her move. "What's this dinner for again," she asked as she wondered which of her many necklaces to wear. The sapphire chain would look good against her green dress. But then so would the firelight rubies roses. "I hope it isn't another masquerade." The last masquerade had ended rather abruptly when some kind of giant, hairy creature had broken down the doors and started on a rampage. Tossing tables of food across the room and growling in fury, it'd only been stopped when she herself had planted herself in front of it and ordered it to. The look it had given her, it seemed almost like anguish, almost like it had real emotions. She'd felt sorry for the poor beast and tried to help but Jareth, in all his wisdom, had quickly realized that the animal was in the grasp of some horrible disease that made it have hallucinations. The beast was dangerous and the only cure for the disease was a painful series of treatments. Weeks later, when the creature was cured, it was, of course, released back into the wild. She'd been concerned for it and searched everywhere she could think of but she'd never been able to find it again.

"No, it's just a little party for the King of the Land of Stench. He's been a little surely lately and I thought this might cheer him up. Plus, he has been hilariously frantic to meet you my dear." He appeared behind her, taking full advantage of that always annoying teleporting ability of his, and leaned around her shoulder, "Here, this one." Sarah stayed still as Jareth draped a beautiful necklace where dazzling diamonds had been cut into dozens of tiny little moons around her neck and clasped it at the back.

Sarah picked up the little charm hanging at the bottom of largest moon and examined it at it, "Who is this supposed to be J?" The charm was shaped like tiny cage with three gold figures of varying height seemingly held inside. Odd. Gold, a very hot color, was an daring choice with a cold looking diamond necklace.

"It's nothing," Jareth said, spinning Sarah around to face him, admiring it with obvious pride, "just an old family heirloom."

Sarah shrugged and dropped the pendent from her hand, "Whatever. Come on I hate being late."

"Allow me to get the door." Jareth said appearing back over by the door again. He opened the door and bowed, "My Lady…"

Sarah smiled and curtsied, mocking him a little, "Why thank you my good King."

The hallways of their castle home looked spotless, as always. The happy little goblins just loved cleaning them. Sometimes Sarah could swear they even sang while they worked. Smiling goblin servants bowed as they passed. J, caring and regal as always, nodded in thanks of their respect. Beautiful wall hangings covered the walls while a loose cloth wave hung over their heads, fluttering in the gentle breeze. Out the windows, the lush gardens of their land stretched for miles in all directions. Radiant rose bushes, fields of brilliant tulips, there was even a corner of the gardens was formed to make a fun little maze. Sarah loved wandering the gardens when she was allowed, just being out there with nature was soothing, almost as much as she imagined the ocean would be. Maybe Jareth would let her change a part of the land into a lake. Some body of water at least. She would love to just sit next to a lake and stare out at the ripples in the water. Yes, she would ask for permission after the dinner. As they neared the grand staircase that lead down to the banquet hall, Sarah's mind wandered into imagining what kind of lake she would like and she fingered the charm on her necklace unconsciously.

Jareth noticed and quickly took her hand. "Hold on a second," Jareth said, looking down at her, eyes sharp and intense.

Sarah blushed, she hadn't seen him look at her like this in awhile, but she liked it, "What?"

Jareth didn't respond. Instead he leaned down, eyes closing, lips pursing.

Sarah's heart fluttered as she closed hers as well and leaned up.

No!

Sarah opened her eyes in confusion, where had that voice come from? She backed away from Jareth and looked around, "Did you hear that?"

Jareth shook his head, "Don't worry about it. Please."

"But I heard something!"

Jareth grabbed Sarahs hand, flashing her a smile, and pulled her down the hall, "Come my dear, you're the one who said you didn't want to be late. You'll love meeting Hogbert, he's such a funny little goblin."

But Sarah pulled back, holding her ground. Something… She pressed a hand to her head, thoughts suddenly feeling muddled. Something…. "But…"

"Sarah." Sarah looked at him, surprised at the pleading tone in his voice. "Please Sarah, don't do this."

Sarah glared at him, both hands pressing against her head, "Do what?!"

No! The room shook violently, vases crashed to the ground and exploded into a hundred pieces, but only the room and the things in it moved, Jareth and Sarah didn't move at all almost as if they weren't really part of this world.

Sarah took a step backwards then another. No, this isn't right!

"Sarah, don't do this," Jareth begged, "Please, don't fight me."

"I'll never stop fighting you Goblin King," a voice said, coming unbidden from Sarah's mouth. Sarah firmly tried to keep her lips together but whatever force was inside her now was too powerful. Dream Sarah lost.

The real Sarah shook her head, clearing away all the fake thoughts and memories she'd had in this dream. Now that she was free of those very unwelcome feelings, she easily recognized the slight hazy, almost muddled look that everything had in one of the Goblin King's dream crystals. She fixed the Goblin King with a stare, "I won't be drawn in by illusions like this. You can't beat me with these petty tricks Goblin King, stop wasting my time." She reached a hand up to tear off the diamond necklace when she realized that it was gone, replaced by her mother's fake-gold locket. She grabbed it and held it in a fist, remembering why this entire world was wrong.

The Goblin King was shaking, not even trying to hide his raw anger. "I've given you so many chances Sarah. I was trying to be kind and I have been very patient. But you have defied me, ridiculed me, taken my charitable nature and abused it." He crossed the distance between them in an instant, leaving Sarah with nowhere to go, "No more. You have the strength to say no to your dreams Sarah. It's a very annoying quality, but I've always known you were strong." He sneered, "But Sarah, over the years I've noticed that there is one thing you could never escape alone… your nightmares. Your guilt. Those feelings you hide deep inside and are afraid to even face. So Sarah, we have come to the end of this game, if I can't trick you, I will break you!"

"Why are you doing this," Sarah asked, backing up, bravery fleeing, feeling her panic rise, "what about the time limit?!"

Jareth smirked, no laughter or superiority in the expression now only raw anger, "What time limit?" He grabbed Sarah by the shoulder and, in one smooth motion, shoved her out the window.

As she fell, she screamed.

*AN*

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