Disclaimer: not mine, copyright Labyrinth Enterprises and for 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail', copyright The National Film Trustee Corporation Limited. Not making money of this. Thank you Mr. Jim Henson way up high for creating such loveliness. Thank you Pythons for being marvelously 'loony'.
Enjoy
Ramowen
Diamond Tears
Chapter Two: So what the Heck is a s'Quaerra?
Sarah did not react. He was too near, her senses were in overload with Jareth's warmth his scent, his intense gaze.
And she did not understand any of it.
She kept staring into those eyes without reacting to him. The King, slightly disappointed, stepped back and Sarah felt as if she could breath again.
"What-"
"Yes, my dear?" he teased.
Sarah swallowed. "How much -time- do I have. Should you decide to play it fair, this time."
Jareth sighed and made a dismissive gesture to send Sarah on her way. "Take as much as you like." he said acidly.
"Now that's fair." said Hoggle.
The King eyed him, then shrugged. "I get rather exhausted from rearranging time for you, so I won't. This will be a battle of wits, Sarah. You have already proven your courage and your capability of deceit."
"Deceit! You have been the one deceiving, not me!"
"You never solved my Labyrinth alone."
"You never told me to. Besides- I solved the -doors- alone. So if this is a battle of wits, I already know I will win!"
Jareth smiled tiredly. "Such arrogance."
"Don't tell me it's a pity!"
"I would wish you good luck then, but you do not seem to need it. And Hoggle-"
Hoggle stood back glancing sideways at his King like a frightened little animal. He hated it when Jareth made fun of his name- but it terrified him when the Fey got it right.
"Yes?" the dwarf asked meekly. Sarah threw Jareth a look that clearly warned him -not- to harm her friend and stepped back to stand in between them. The gesture made Jareth smile inwardly and not a little proud of the girl. There was absolutely nothing she could do against his wrath should he desire to avenge himself seriously. But his face remained a careful blank as he straitened himself to his full height, eyes unreadable and looking at Sarah while talking to Hoggle.
"I made you an opener of doors and a guardian of gates- but no longer. You better find yourself a new use to me, or I might be persuaded to rid myself of you after all!"
In spite of his fear, Hoggle stepped away from the girl.
"Aw no- please. I didn't" Hoggle glanced up at Sarah. "But that was how she was able to gets here!"
Jareth smiled evilly and mocked the both of them with cocky denial.
"Really? Well- than our Sarah just will -have- to find another way out of here, won't she? And unfortunately that way out is through me."
"Right through you?" asked Sarah getting angrier by the moment, making fists of her hands and taking a tomboy stand as if she was almost ready to really physically attack the King.
Locking his gaze with hers Jareth chuckled yet tensed behind his veneer of indifference.
"Satisfy my demands, my dear. To you it should be no more than," he smiled without humor, "a piece of cake."
Jareth bowed deeply and courteously with a flourish hand gesture, greeting the pair while he faded and disappeared.
"Damn you Jareth." hissed the Dwarf.
"A piece of cake! Come back you coward and I'll show you a piece of my mind!" shouted Sarah to nothing in particular. Then she turned her attention to Hoggle, all business.
"Hoggle, what did he took from you and what did he mean."
Hoggle sat down on the forest floor, putting his elbows on his knees and his large wrinkled face in his hands. He looked miserable and shook his head. Sarah kneeled in front of him, took his hands in hers and squeezed them lightly. Hoggle looked up.
"You remembers the gate to the Labyrinth when you first came here and asked the way in?"
"They opened when you pointed at them."
"They opened -because- I pointed at them. Same with the door in the oubliette, same with the door when the cleaners where after us- even if we did have to -knock- that one in. I knows what to do with doors to get them to open. Same with the door to your world. When you asked, I opened it- but Jareth took the power away. I still knows what to do- it just won't happen anymore."
"O god Hoggle- I am so sorry."
When Hoggle saw neither spite nor anger in the girl, he shrugged her off, stood, squared his shoulders and looked up at her.
"But we ain't gonna just sit here now- are we? We have to gets you home and if this means playing Jareth's game- we'll plays! He has made the rules- likes it or not- he as to stick to them! You coming?"
Sarah smiled and nodded. "What you did was very brave Hoggle, coming to my defense like that. Thank you."
Hoggle's face became a bit redder while he did his best to look away and pretended to kick at a pebble while there were none there.
"Same to you."
Sarah smiled at her gruff but shy friend. "Come on then. Ludo?"
The gentle beast grinned sullenly, stood and followed. He had no idea what was going on or where, but if it meant going with his friends, then he would.
"First," said Sarah. "Let's find Sir Didymus."
"Brother will come." Said Ludo with certainty. Sarah knew he was right. Every time she came here, her friends knew for her calling. Usually she would find Hoggle first or only moments away from her arriving. Sarah now understood why, he had been responsible for keeping the crossing open to her. Hoggle had been the magic behind her little spell.
But it had been Jareth who had given Hoggle that power in the first place...
Sarah frowned. Jareth apparently had known of her comings and goings all the time and she did not like the trail her thoughts followed. It always had been part of the fun to be here without the Goblin King knowing and by that, fooling him. But if he had known, than whom had been the fool?
The three travelers had walked the forest trail for almost an hour, when they finally reached the wall at the other side. They had heard the Fireys feast in the distance, but luckily the whimsical creatures had not bothered them. The Fireys seemed to have developed some respect for the gentle Ludo and they gave him and his company a wide berth.
The group was now faced with conquering the wall. Ludo shrugged his gigantic shoulders, climbed the sturdiest vine he could find growing against it and upon reaching the top he pulled up his friends. With Ludo's help Hoggle and Sarah descended the other side.
When Sarah turned from the wall, she gasped. For miles and miles and miles a patchwork landscape of flowing hills and meadows, acres, tufts of forest and wide spread villages rolled gently on and on and on. An unbroken rural peace stretched out and without being told, Sarah knew this was the Kingdom within the Labyrinth, a place where -people- lived.
The landscape was crisscrossed with hedges and cobbled roads. Sarah saw carts pulled by cow-like creatures and pure bred oxen, taking home the summers bounty of grain, corn and crops in rainbow colors she could not define. Their drivers gaily greeting the others at work in the fields. Music drifted from below, smoke and the smell of newly baked brad. A proud white castle lay glinting like a pearl in the middle of an azure lake and a host of knights, their ladies and servants, seated on high white and read horses, prepared to enter it's gates.
It was as if she had walked back into mediaeval times, the way they never had been but how everyone imagined them. The place where fairytales were born and knights in shining armor on white stallions were common.
It all made Sarah think of postcards her mother had sent her from Ireland
It was perfect.
Far, far in the distance the world seemed to fall away into the nothingness of the gorge behind the Labyrinth, the one she remembered seeing from the orange hilltop where her adventures in this realm had first started. A mist rising from the gap, hiding all miracles that lay beneath.
"Ye looks far aways, Sarah. What ye'r thinking girl?"
Sarah pulled her mind from the tranquil landscape and shrugged her shoulders. Was this Jareth's land too? Did he belong here too? It seemed inconceivable.
"It is just so weird, you know? The eye of a s'Quaerra? An eye? What does he want with an eye? Use it in a spell or something? It's just such a horrible thing to ask! And what's a s'Quaerra anyway?"
"I don't knows."
"We should have gone the other way and asked the old wise man with the bird hat."
"And how useful was -he- the last time?"
"But how will I ever get home if I don't solve Jareth's riddle! And I don't understand this game of his anyway. He has given me all the time I need, but no clue what so ever. But if I get him his 'eye', than I may come and go as I please. I think it's strange, don't you?"
A new voice called out over the hillside. High pitched and chivalrous.
"The King, milady, has methinks been quite strange of late. And not himself."
"Sir Didymus!"
High seated on his trusted mount came knightly Sir Didymus. Tattered and torn from various fights the one-eyed fox terrier rode towards the small group of friends, leaped out of the saddle, took off his hat and bowed deeply before his lady. Who scooped him up in her arms and gave him a rather embarrassing hug, yelling his name.
After she finally had set him down, he had to steady himself against his saddle for a moment before he could speak again. Ambrosius, the trusted mount, barked like the sheepdog he was.
Sarah smiled confidentially. "Well, now we are all together again, let's go and find this s'Quaerra eye."
"A quest, milady?"
"Given me by the King himself. But the weird thing is, he really only gave me something to win and nothing to loose."
"That's where you are wrong, Sarah. Ye might give up. I says Jareth is counting on that. And then you'll never gets to go home. You won't even be our Sarah anymore."
"So you think he's going to make it hard?" Sarah's chin came up and to give herself and her companions courage she shrugged off her insecurities.
"Well, my will is as strong as his and as I told him before, he has -no- power over me! So. First we need to find somebody who knows what a s'Quaerra is, now won't we. Any ideas? Ludo?"
"Hmph? Nah- Ludo don't know. Sorry."
"That's okay Ludo. Hoggle?"
"The three Fates might- but they are a long way from here.
Didymus shook his head. "Perhaps noble Vafthrudnir?"
"Are you daft! That'se giant!"
"A big giant?" asked Sarah intrigued.
"A frost giant and they are the worst!"
"But he is wise. So is Alviss the Wise. And he is a dwarf like you."
"Likes me? Arw! He was never likes me- And besides- he was turned to stone!"
"Turned to stone?" asked Sarah, a little confused.
Hoggle nodded. "He could not stands the sun, he couldn't. But they kept him talking and talking- till he forgot time and when the sun came up- I believe he's a nice garden thingy in the backyard of one of Jareth's friends now. Besides- he would have asked you too much for the answer."
"That is true, Milady- on the other hand, it's time you were wed."
"Didymus! You can't be serious!"
The fox terrier eyed Sarah innocently. "But you -are- sixteen now...? Yes?"
"Put ye're foot in ye're mouth!" Hoggle said, frowning furiously at the knight.
Didymus looked confused, Sarah had turned beet red and Hoggle almost got angry. Luckily, the knight got a better idea.
"The Bridge!"
Hoggle shook his head. "That will never work- he's crazy."
"Who is?" asked Sarah a little bewildered, hardly understanding the discussion anyway.
"Do you remember, sweet lady, the bridge I had pledged myself to defend?"
"Yes, very much so, why?"
"All through the Underground are brave esquires and knights, like myself, and sages and mages and all other kind of creatures, who have pledged themselves to the honorable task of guarding crossings. Bridges included. Now this particular wise fellow guards the bridge of Death over the Gorge of Eternal Peril and asks all who wish to cross three questions. If thou cants not answer them, thou get throwest into the bottomless Gorge. He is quite the warrior and I am proud to be of his acquaintance."
"He seems quite an agreeable guy." Sarah said dryly. "And if he asks that much, he must know a lot. Okay then. Let's go."
"But, my good fellows-"
The others turned to Didymus who pointed at his steed.
"There is one sleight setback to this particular plan."
"Which is?"
"It's far Sarah, very very far."
"And I fear, my good Lady, my poor mount's paws are not fitted for such a journey."
Sarah sighed- "So we need transport. And food. "
Hoggle shrugged- "Like what." And scratched his head.
Something sparkled in Sarah's eye- an annoying glitter and she looked down to see where it came from. Close to the nearest village a large cart pulled by two horses and loaded with grain made it's way. It's ironwork on the wheels sparkling like silver lightning in the sun.
But a superbly white cotton cloud got in the way and the common cart's nails turned dull and the wheels rattled over the uneven road like those of any cart. Sarah shivered. Unconsciously she glanced round, feeling exposed somehow.
In his throne-room Jareth lay sprawled sideways on his throne on a -thick- green velvet cushion. He had changed his somewhat rumpled and stained outfit to his more usual gray slacks, knee-high boots, the ruffled shirt that showed the crescent pendant on his chest and the black waistcoat. He stared intently into his crystal, concentrating, his pupils as mismatched in seize as his irises were in color. Oblivious to the usual racket his goblins made. Several black chickens ran for their respective lives, there was a pie fight going on, a gambling game and the other usual lunacy. One of the fighting goblins had his helmet hit over his eyes and continued on his own, shouting -let me at him!-. His adversary let slip a handful of marbles and the poor blinded one stumbled and slid until he was stopped at the throne and bumped into one of the King's dangling boots. Jareth kicked the goblin away, but not very hard or far, and turned his interest back to the view in his crystal.
"You're not exactly -getting- anywhere, my sweet." he muttered and tapped the crystal ball. A silver ripple went through the greater sphere outside, blinding the girl for a moment and annoying her. She looked down to watch the road. Jareth blew over the crystal, allowing her to see the illusion of a cart passing by, just to give the child an idea. The girl in the bubble pointed and the King saw the little band of travelers regroup and go on their way. He nodded. "That's better."
The Labyrinth stretched out all round the Goblin City, but by no means ended there. When Jareth had allowed Sarah to enter his realm, he had only shown her a tiny part of it. The desert that seemed to surround the outer wall was no more than yet another obstacle for those he
-really- wanted to loose to him for various reasons. It was not a gentle test and he usually judged it a too hard one for women and children. For most men too.
Behind the goblin castle were the gardens with the old ivy-overgrown pavilion and the winding path to the long steep stairs down the tall cliffs far behind the castle. They led to the Crystal Lake at the bottom those cliffs, a water almost as wide as a sea and surrounded with forests and mountains, hidden under the mist of the gorge.
In the lake lay a small forbidden island was a little temple, now totally hidden by vines and wallflowers.
Everything in the whole of the Goblin Castle's gardens lay there unkempt and forgotten. Once it had been such a happy splendorous place, when the magnificent fountain in the pond still worked and the Fay came to dance and sing and feast.
Those days were forgotten, now. The pond choked on green slime and the only life it supported and bred were bloodthirsty insects, waiting to grow and fly.
The high walls were overgrown with the leafless stems of climbing roses. The grass, in the places where it was not covered with mosses, had turned a wintry brown. A rusty swing hung from an oak, telling the tale of playing children long gone. A stone bench, broken. The paths no longer recognizable but for the vague shadow of old shrubbery's and flowerbeds. Bushes, probably roses too, once when the life was still in them, growing wild. No leaves now, no flowers. The breeze coming from the lake rattled the barren branches.
The melancholy of the place was somewhat broken by the birds that nested here and sang their evensong. By the small furry animals who made the place their home and gathered seeds and wild berries. Once, golden peacocks stalked the grass and rainbow colored pigeons nested here. Some of the pigeons had remained. But they were black now.
The goblins did not dare to come here, none of the Fay ever would. For all it stillness it was one of the few truly cursed places in the Kingdom, and haunted with sad memories.
Wild and dangerous creatures dwelled the forests surrounding the lake, their howls clear in the night. They preyed on the large deer, the King's fowl and boars. The pack of hunters grew every year, for they were well fed on the large numbers of wildlife that spread untamed and otherwise untreated through this part of the realm.
Miracles do happen, even in a land were normal everyday life always seemed miraculous. Near the ivy-overgrown pavilion stood what once had been a pot, now broken. On its spilled soil one single pristine flower grew, still only a bud, its name forgotten. Its dark green leaves covered with the silver sparkles of the Kingdom's life, the Kingdom's hope.
It was the second year this plant flowered. It fed on the music of a warmed soul and broken anger. On a reality that for most creatures would remain illusion and on the hope that dared to set free the beloved ones. When the Rulers of the Realm used their magic to steal babes from their cot or push their subjects into obedience, or tortured with pain and illusions for mere amusement that what was entrusted to them, this particular white flower had no chance to be and withered. But when the High Ruler and King of the Goblins softly gave his breath to an idea in a human child's mind, the flower opened to show its heart.
"It's only an hours walk or so to that village. And we are sure to find ourselves a cart and horse salesmen there." Hoggle declared with confidence.
"Salesmen usually -sell- things."
The others looked a bit surprised with Sarah's obvious statement.
"Yes, milady?"
"As in exchanging goods for valuables. As in if when we have to -buy- something, we have to -pay- for it. And I doubt it my necklace and wallet will be enough."
"Not if we merely request a test ride. Thou does not pay for such."
"And how long do those usually take?"
"Milady, do not fret- I am -not- a knight without means."
"And I haves these-" Hoggle held up his bag with jewelry. His eyes were clear and he seemed to have no remorse in having made the offer. Sarah did not have the heart to insult her friends by refusing, but inside she fumed. Didymus clothing had seen it's best years and he apparently had had no plans for replacing them. A knight with means indeed! And to force Hoggle to separate from his gems- It felt like cruelty- deliberate cruelty. Sarah promised herself she -would- make Jareth pay.
For all of it.
Enjoy
Ramowen
Diamond Tears
Chapter Two: So what the Heck is a s'Quaerra?
Sarah did not react. He was too near, her senses were in overload with Jareth's warmth his scent, his intense gaze.
And she did not understand any of it.
She kept staring into those eyes without reacting to him. The King, slightly disappointed, stepped back and Sarah felt as if she could breath again.
"What-"
"Yes, my dear?" he teased.
Sarah swallowed. "How much -time- do I have. Should you decide to play it fair, this time."
Jareth sighed and made a dismissive gesture to send Sarah on her way. "Take as much as you like." he said acidly.
"Now that's fair." said Hoggle.
The King eyed him, then shrugged. "I get rather exhausted from rearranging time for you, so I won't. This will be a battle of wits, Sarah. You have already proven your courage and your capability of deceit."
"Deceit! You have been the one deceiving, not me!"
"You never solved my Labyrinth alone."
"You never told me to. Besides- I solved the -doors- alone. So if this is a battle of wits, I already know I will win!"
Jareth smiled tiredly. "Such arrogance."
"Don't tell me it's a pity!"
"I would wish you good luck then, but you do not seem to need it. And Hoggle-"
Hoggle stood back glancing sideways at his King like a frightened little animal. He hated it when Jareth made fun of his name- but it terrified him when the Fey got it right.
"Yes?" the dwarf asked meekly. Sarah threw Jareth a look that clearly warned him -not- to harm her friend and stepped back to stand in between them. The gesture made Jareth smile inwardly and not a little proud of the girl. There was absolutely nothing she could do against his wrath should he desire to avenge himself seriously. But his face remained a careful blank as he straitened himself to his full height, eyes unreadable and looking at Sarah while talking to Hoggle.
"I made you an opener of doors and a guardian of gates- but no longer. You better find yourself a new use to me, or I might be persuaded to rid myself of you after all!"
In spite of his fear, Hoggle stepped away from the girl.
"Aw no- please. I didn't" Hoggle glanced up at Sarah. "But that was how she was able to gets here!"
Jareth smiled evilly and mocked the both of them with cocky denial.
"Really? Well- than our Sarah just will -have- to find another way out of here, won't she? And unfortunately that way out is through me."
"Right through you?" asked Sarah getting angrier by the moment, making fists of her hands and taking a tomboy stand as if she was almost ready to really physically attack the King.
Locking his gaze with hers Jareth chuckled yet tensed behind his veneer of indifference.
"Satisfy my demands, my dear. To you it should be no more than," he smiled without humor, "a piece of cake."
Jareth bowed deeply and courteously with a flourish hand gesture, greeting the pair while he faded and disappeared.
"Damn you Jareth." hissed the Dwarf.
"A piece of cake! Come back you coward and I'll show you a piece of my mind!" shouted Sarah to nothing in particular. Then she turned her attention to Hoggle, all business.
"Hoggle, what did he took from you and what did he mean."
Hoggle sat down on the forest floor, putting his elbows on his knees and his large wrinkled face in his hands. He looked miserable and shook his head. Sarah kneeled in front of him, took his hands in hers and squeezed them lightly. Hoggle looked up.
"You remembers the gate to the Labyrinth when you first came here and asked the way in?"
"They opened when you pointed at them."
"They opened -because- I pointed at them. Same with the door in the oubliette, same with the door when the cleaners where after us- even if we did have to -knock- that one in. I knows what to do with doors to get them to open. Same with the door to your world. When you asked, I opened it- but Jareth took the power away. I still knows what to do- it just won't happen anymore."
"O god Hoggle- I am so sorry."
When Hoggle saw neither spite nor anger in the girl, he shrugged her off, stood, squared his shoulders and looked up at her.
"But we ain't gonna just sit here now- are we? We have to gets you home and if this means playing Jareth's game- we'll plays! He has made the rules- likes it or not- he as to stick to them! You coming?"
Sarah smiled and nodded. "What you did was very brave Hoggle, coming to my defense like that. Thank you."
Hoggle's face became a bit redder while he did his best to look away and pretended to kick at a pebble while there were none there.
"Same to you."
Sarah smiled at her gruff but shy friend. "Come on then. Ludo?"
The gentle beast grinned sullenly, stood and followed. He had no idea what was going on or where, but if it meant going with his friends, then he would.
"First," said Sarah. "Let's find Sir Didymus."
"Brother will come." Said Ludo with certainty. Sarah knew he was right. Every time she came here, her friends knew for her calling. Usually she would find Hoggle first or only moments away from her arriving. Sarah now understood why, he had been responsible for keeping the crossing open to her. Hoggle had been the magic behind her little spell.
But it had been Jareth who had given Hoggle that power in the first place...
Sarah frowned. Jareth apparently had known of her comings and goings all the time and she did not like the trail her thoughts followed. It always had been part of the fun to be here without the Goblin King knowing and by that, fooling him. But if he had known, than whom had been the fool?
The three travelers had walked the forest trail for almost an hour, when they finally reached the wall at the other side. They had heard the Fireys feast in the distance, but luckily the whimsical creatures had not bothered them. The Fireys seemed to have developed some respect for the gentle Ludo and they gave him and his company a wide berth.
The group was now faced with conquering the wall. Ludo shrugged his gigantic shoulders, climbed the sturdiest vine he could find growing against it and upon reaching the top he pulled up his friends. With Ludo's help Hoggle and Sarah descended the other side.
When Sarah turned from the wall, she gasped. For miles and miles and miles a patchwork landscape of flowing hills and meadows, acres, tufts of forest and wide spread villages rolled gently on and on and on. An unbroken rural peace stretched out and without being told, Sarah knew this was the Kingdom within the Labyrinth, a place where -people- lived.
The landscape was crisscrossed with hedges and cobbled roads. Sarah saw carts pulled by cow-like creatures and pure bred oxen, taking home the summers bounty of grain, corn and crops in rainbow colors she could not define. Their drivers gaily greeting the others at work in the fields. Music drifted from below, smoke and the smell of newly baked brad. A proud white castle lay glinting like a pearl in the middle of an azure lake and a host of knights, their ladies and servants, seated on high white and read horses, prepared to enter it's gates.
It was as if she had walked back into mediaeval times, the way they never had been but how everyone imagined them. The place where fairytales were born and knights in shining armor on white stallions were common.
It all made Sarah think of postcards her mother had sent her from Ireland
It was perfect.
Far, far in the distance the world seemed to fall away into the nothingness of the gorge behind the Labyrinth, the one she remembered seeing from the orange hilltop where her adventures in this realm had first started. A mist rising from the gap, hiding all miracles that lay beneath.
"Ye looks far aways, Sarah. What ye'r thinking girl?"
Sarah pulled her mind from the tranquil landscape and shrugged her shoulders. Was this Jareth's land too? Did he belong here too? It seemed inconceivable.
"It is just so weird, you know? The eye of a s'Quaerra? An eye? What does he want with an eye? Use it in a spell or something? It's just such a horrible thing to ask! And what's a s'Quaerra anyway?"
"I don't knows."
"We should have gone the other way and asked the old wise man with the bird hat."
"And how useful was -he- the last time?"
"But how will I ever get home if I don't solve Jareth's riddle! And I don't understand this game of his anyway. He has given me all the time I need, but no clue what so ever. But if I get him his 'eye', than I may come and go as I please. I think it's strange, don't you?"
A new voice called out over the hillside. High pitched and chivalrous.
"The King, milady, has methinks been quite strange of late. And not himself."
"Sir Didymus!"
High seated on his trusted mount came knightly Sir Didymus. Tattered and torn from various fights the one-eyed fox terrier rode towards the small group of friends, leaped out of the saddle, took off his hat and bowed deeply before his lady. Who scooped him up in her arms and gave him a rather embarrassing hug, yelling his name.
After she finally had set him down, he had to steady himself against his saddle for a moment before he could speak again. Ambrosius, the trusted mount, barked like the sheepdog he was.
Sarah smiled confidentially. "Well, now we are all together again, let's go and find this s'Quaerra eye."
"A quest, milady?"
"Given me by the King himself. But the weird thing is, he really only gave me something to win and nothing to loose."
"That's where you are wrong, Sarah. Ye might give up. I says Jareth is counting on that. And then you'll never gets to go home. You won't even be our Sarah anymore."
"So you think he's going to make it hard?" Sarah's chin came up and to give herself and her companions courage she shrugged off her insecurities.
"Well, my will is as strong as his and as I told him before, he has -no- power over me! So. First we need to find somebody who knows what a s'Quaerra is, now won't we. Any ideas? Ludo?"
"Hmph? Nah- Ludo don't know. Sorry."
"That's okay Ludo. Hoggle?"
"The three Fates might- but they are a long way from here.
Didymus shook his head. "Perhaps noble Vafthrudnir?"
"Are you daft! That'se giant!"
"A big giant?" asked Sarah intrigued.
"A frost giant and they are the worst!"
"But he is wise. So is Alviss the Wise. And he is a dwarf like you."
"Likes me? Arw! He was never likes me- And besides- he was turned to stone!"
"Turned to stone?" asked Sarah, a little confused.
Hoggle nodded. "He could not stands the sun, he couldn't. But they kept him talking and talking- till he forgot time and when the sun came up- I believe he's a nice garden thingy in the backyard of one of Jareth's friends now. Besides- he would have asked you too much for the answer."
"That is true, Milady- on the other hand, it's time you were wed."
"Didymus! You can't be serious!"
The fox terrier eyed Sarah innocently. "But you -are- sixteen now...? Yes?"
"Put ye're foot in ye're mouth!" Hoggle said, frowning furiously at the knight.
Didymus looked confused, Sarah had turned beet red and Hoggle almost got angry. Luckily, the knight got a better idea.
"The Bridge!"
Hoggle shook his head. "That will never work- he's crazy."
"Who is?" asked Sarah a little bewildered, hardly understanding the discussion anyway.
"Do you remember, sweet lady, the bridge I had pledged myself to defend?"
"Yes, very much so, why?"
"All through the Underground are brave esquires and knights, like myself, and sages and mages and all other kind of creatures, who have pledged themselves to the honorable task of guarding crossings. Bridges included. Now this particular wise fellow guards the bridge of Death over the Gorge of Eternal Peril and asks all who wish to cross three questions. If thou cants not answer them, thou get throwest into the bottomless Gorge. He is quite the warrior and I am proud to be of his acquaintance."
"He seems quite an agreeable guy." Sarah said dryly. "And if he asks that much, he must know a lot. Okay then. Let's go."
"But, my good fellows-"
The others turned to Didymus who pointed at his steed.
"There is one sleight setback to this particular plan."
"Which is?"
"It's far Sarah, very very far."
"And I fear, my good Lady, my poor mount's paws are not fitted for such a journey."
Sarah sighed- "So we need transport. And food. "
Hoggle shrugged- "Like what." And scratched his head.
Something sparkled in Sarah's eye- an annoying glitter and she looked down to see where it came from. Close to the nearest village a large cart pulled by two horses and loaded with grain made it's way. It's ironwork on the wheels sparkling like silver lightning in the sun.
But a superbly white cotton cloud got in the way and the common cart's nails turned dull and the wheels rattled over the uneven road like those of any cart. Sarah shivered. Unconsciously she glanced round, feeling exposed somehow.
In his throne-room Jareth lay sprawled sideways on his throne on a -thick- green velvet cushion. He had changed his somewhat rumpled and stained outfit to his more usual gray slacks, knee-high boots, the ruffled shirt that showed the crescent pendant on his chest and the black waistcoat. He stared intently into his crystal, concentrating, his pupils as mismatched in seize as his irises were in color. Oblivious to the usual racket his goblins made. Several black chickens ran for their respective lives, there was a pie fight going on, a gambling game and the other usual lunacy. One of the fighting goblins had his helmet hit over his eyes and continued on his own, shouting -let me at him!-. His adversary let slip a handful of marbles and the poor blinded one stumbled and slid until he was stopped at the throne and bumped into one of the King's dangling boots. Jareth kicked the goblin away, but not very hard or far, and turned his interest back to the view in his crystal.
"You're not exactly -getting- anywhere, my sweet." he muttered and tapped the crystal ball. A silver ripple went through the greater sphere outside, blinding the girl for a moment and annoying her. She looked down to watch the road. Jareth blew over the crystal, allowing her to see the illusion of a cart passing by, just to give the child an idea. The girl in the bubble pointed and the King saw the little band of travelers regroup and go on their way. He nodded. "That's better."
The Labyrinth stretched out all round the Goblin City, but by no means ended there. When Jareth had allowed Sarah to enter his realm, he had only shown her a tiny part of it. The desert that seemed to surround the outer wall was no more than yet another obstacle for those he
-really- wanted to loose to him for various reasons. It was not a gentle test and he usually judged it a too hard one for women and children. For most men too.
Behind the goblin castle were the gardens with the old ivy-overgrown pavilion and the winding path to the long steep stairs down the tall cliffs far behind the castle. They led to the Crystal Lake at the bottom those cliffs, a water almost as wide as a sea and surrounded with forests and mountains, hidden under the mist of the gorge.
In the lake lay a small forbidden island was a little temple, now totally hidden by vines and wallflowers.
Everything in the whole of the Goblin Castle's gardens lay there unkempt and forgotten. Once it had been such a happy splendorous place, when the magnificent fountain in the pond still worked and the Fay came to dance and sing and feast.
Those days were forgotten, now. The pond choked on green slime and the only life it supported and bred were bloodthirsty insects, waiting to grow and fly.
The high walls were overgrown with the leafless stems of climbing roses. The grass, in the places where it was not covered with mosses, had turned a wintry brown. A rusty swing hung from an oak, telling the tale of playing children long gone. A stone bench, broken. The paths no longer recognizable but for the vague shadow of old shrubbery's and flowerbeds. Bushes, probably roses too, once when the life was still in them, growing wild. No leaves now, no flowers. The breeze coming from the lake rattled the barren branches.
The melancholy of the place was somewhat broken by the birds that nested here and sang their evensong. By the small furry animals who made the place their home and gathered seeds and wild berries. Once, golden peacocks stalked the grass and rainbow colored pigeons nested here. Some of the pigeons had remained. But they were black now.
The goblins did not dare to come here, none of the Fay ever would. For all it stillness it was one of the few truly cursed places in the Kingdom, and haunted with sad memories.
Wild and dangerous creatures dwelled the forests surrounding the lake, their howls clear in the night. They preyed on the large deer, the King's fowl and boars. The pack of hunters grew every year, for they were well fed on the large numbers of wildlife that spread untamed and otherwise untreated through this part of the realm.
Miracles do happen, even in a land were normal everyday life always seemed miraculous. Near the ivy-overgrown pavilion stood what once had been a pot, now broken. On its spilled soil one single pristine flower grew, still only a bud, its name forgotten. Its dark green leaves covered with the silver sparkles of the Kingdom's life, the Kingdom's hope.
It was the second year this plant flowered. It fed on the music of a warmed soul and broken anger. On a reality that for most creatures would remain illusion and on the hope that dared to set free the beloved ones. When the Rulers of the Realm used their magic to steal babes from their cot or push their subjects into obedience, or tortured with pain and illusions for mere amusement that what was entrusted to them, this particular white flower had no chance to be and withered. But when the High Ruler and King of the Goblins softly gave his breath to an idea in a human child's mind, the flower opened to show its heart.
"It's only an hours walk or so to that village. And we are sure to find ourselves a cart and horse salesmen there." Hoggle declared with confidence.
"Salesmen usually -sell- things."
The others looked a bit surprised with Sarah's obvious statement.
"Yes, milady?"
"As in exchanging goods for valuables. As in if when we have to -buy- something, we have to -pay- for it. And I doubt it my necklace and wallet will be enough."
"Not if we merely request a test ride. Thou does not pay for such."
"And how long do those usually take?"
"Milady, do not fret- I am -not- a knight without means."
"And I haves these-" Hoggle held up his bag with jewelry. His eyes were clear and he seemed to have no remorse in having made the offer. Sarah did not have the heart to insult her friends by refusing, but inside she fumed. Didymus clothing had seen it's best years and he apparently had had no plans for replacing them. A knight with means indeed! And to force Hoggle to separate from his gems- It felt like cruelty- deliberate cruelty. Sarah promised herself she -would- make Jareth pay.
For all of it.