The Christmas Letter

Yes, I know I said I might make it in one chapter, I was wrong, all right? This just seemed to fit with the story. I got the idea while reading The Last Unicorn (which is a marvelous book, by the way, you all should read it even if you have seen the movie), so if you see any references from the book, don't be surprised. And to Danalas, yes, I know the necklace was probably too low a price. I don't really know much about that sort of thing, and did the best I could. Anyhow, hope you enjoy this chapter, and remember to review!

Disclaimer: Oh, on the first day of Christmas my Jareth gave to me, One druuuuggged peach! *Cough* Ahem, I mean I do not own the Labyrinth, and never have. And if J ever catches me singing these songs, I'm in biiiig trouble.

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Chapter 5: The Dream

Sarah was standing in a lush clearing, filled with soft mossy grass, and large trees around like a fence, in a circular shape. There was not one tree or rock within the circle, it seemed, though it was pretty big.

Sarah looked down, to see she was clothed in a beautiful sleeveless white dress, which was rustling and billowing in the calm breeze. She felt like she could run, or jump, or do anything in that dress, unlike most dresses, which are a bit more constricting.

Sarah saw a flash of white out of the corner of her eye, and turned, facing the middle of the clearing. What she saw took her breath away, and tears filled her eyes.

Whiter than the purest snow, and horns of purest pearl, more beautiful than anything in the world, were they. Three Unicorns, frolicking merrily. Mere words could not do them justice in their beauty, so I shall not even try.

Sarah just stood there, watching them. If this was a dream, she didn't want to wake up. But she knew it couldn't be a dream, even her imagination could not have created the three creatures she saw.

Another flash of white caught her eye, and she turned again, wondering if there were more Unicorns. But it was not a unicorn she saw, but a wolf, as pure white in color as the unicorns, slinking silently at the edge of the clearing. It was headed straight for the unicorns.

Sarah tried to cry out, to warn them, but no sound came from her throat. She watched in horror as the wolf began to run, with speed no earthen wolf could possess. The Unicorns finally looked up from where they had started grazing, and saw the wolf. They ran, each in a different direction, with swiftness that would make the cheetah jealous, and with grace unknown to any other creature. They ran around the clearing, though never coming close to Sarah. She wondered why they didn't run into the woods, where they could easily lose the wolf.

The wolf had finally caught up to one of the Unicorns, with almost rivaled grace and speed. Sarah wanted to close her eyes, to scream, to do something, but she was rooted to the spot.

The wolf jumped, and landed a paw on the Unicorn's shoulder, not even drawing blood. The wolf landed, wagging its tail, and ran in the other direction, the Unicorn now chasing it and its fellow Unicorns.

"They're…playing tag?" said Sarah, finally able to speak. Wonder of wonders, she was right. The wolf and three Unicorns were playing like children, having a jolly time doing it.

"How…" started Sarah, until she saw the wolf had started bounding towards her. It stopped a few paces from her, and did a sort of bow, lowering its front, one paw tucked under. The wolf looked straight at her, with eyes of a bright Emerald green. Since when did wolves have green eyes? When, for that matter, had wolves and Unicorns been playmates?

"Things are not always what they seem." Said the Wolf, speaking words Sarah had heard before. In a matter of moments, the wolf had changed into a woman, with long reddish-orange hair tied in a braid, and the same bright Emerald eyes. She was dressed in the same type of white clothes as Sarah, only pants and a billowy shirt. She smiled, her canine teeth pointed like the fangs of her wolfen form.

"Hello Sarah." Said the being, her voice rather deep, with a thick British accent. It was a comforting voice to Sarah's ears.

"Who are you?" asked Sarah. "What is this place, am I dreaming? Are those real Unicorns? Did Jareth send you…?"

"Hush child, one question at a time." Said the being, holding up a scarred hand. Obviously this woman had been in battles. "Most questions have no true answer, and some have many answers, but I will try my best. I am known by many names and titles, depending on where I am. Come, sit with me and talk."

The woman sat down on the grass, never staining the white clothes. Sarah sat beside her, puzzled, curious, and somewhat frightened all at once.

"This is not a dream, and yet it is." Said the woman. "This place is between sleep and wakefulness. And yes, those are Unicorn you see, they are not bound by time and place, such as most beings are. And no, The Goblin King did not send me; I came of my own free will. Does that answer your questions?"

"All but one." Said Sarah. "Who are you? You never really answered."

"And as I said, I am known by many names and titles." Said the woman. "But most often I am referred to as Destiny, or the Lady Destiny, if you want to get titles right."

"Destiny?" said Sarah, in awe. "As in, what is things meant to be, and stuff like that?"

"Yes." Said Destiny, smiling slightly. "Something like that. I am here to help you Sarah, with your problems."

Sarah was shocked into silence for a moment, before she started speaking. She spilled her whole life story to the sympathetic Destiny. When she finished, she waited silently for what Destiny would say.

" You feel empty, hmm?" said Destiny. "No wonder, child. You have made a life for you and your Brother; I will not deny it. But what is that life worth, if it is so empty, and without passion? Yes, you have a stable career, and you shall be able to have it so your Brother will have a good life. But what good is that either, if you spend your life doing things like that, to see life has passed you by without you even noticing it? You mortals rely entirely too much on Time. Time is not something to be trapped and constricted by watches and schedules, that is not true Time. Time is alive as you or I, fluid as water, and mocks all mortals, and yet pities them. Don't you see, Sarah? Life is nothing if it is not lived to its very fullest. You be careful, plan, and what does that really accomplish for you, except a life ill-spent?"

Sarah wanted to argue, to say Destiny was wrong. But she couldn't argue, because Destiny was right. She looked over at the woman, who had looked to be only a little older than she. But she looked closer now, and she still looked young. But she looked Destiny straight in the eye, and saw the ancientness of the being that sat next to her. She had called Sarah a child. Just how old was she, anyway?

"You're very wise, Lady Destiny." Whispered Sarah.

"It comes from being old as I, child." Said Destiny. "I have seen more than you could imagine. I know about Time, and other things. You cannot keep pondering the what ifs in life, or you shall see it's not a life at all."

Sarah couldn't help herself, she had to ask. "Just how old are you, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Older than most." Said Destiny. "Younger than very few, anymore. I have seen countless years go by, and no doubt shall see many more."

Sarah smiled slightly. "Do you ever give a straight answer?"

"Not often." Said Destiny with a sly smile. "I am a true immortal. Even those immortal pass someday into 'the world from which ye never return'. But true immortals shall live until all the worlds are no more. I travel through almost all dimensions; I have lost track of how many there are. I shall live until the last ends. And one thing I have learned, is that there is no 'end'. That is why there are no Happy Endings, because nothing ever truly ends."

Sarah suddenly felt very young indeed, sitting next to Destiny. Sarah looked at her again, and now understood, in the young countenance she looked, the ancient eyes.

"I have lost count of my years." Continued Destiny. "I have not actually been Destiny long, I suppose, but I have traveled not only through dimensions, but of Time itself. My years are somewhere around 1,750, give or take a few hundred years on either side. But we are not here to speak of me. But you can see, how short your mortal life really is, in the grand scheme of things."

Destiny was right, again. She had been denying it for six years, too afraid to admit that she loved the Goblin King. Too afraid of rejection, of the 'what-ifs' of life. No more, she wouldn't be mastered by her fear.

Destiny smiled, as if she could read Sarah's thoughts. Sarah looked over at Destiny, who moved her head slightly to the right, as if telling Sarah to look in that direction. Sarah did, and she saw the Unicorns standing before her.

"Can I touch them?" she asked, in an awed whisper. Destiny nodded, and Sarah stood up slowly, and reached out to the Unicorns. She stroked one, its coat softer than anything she had ever felt before. She again looked over at Destiny, who was stroking one gently, talking to it in a sound like bells, apparently the language of the Unicorns.

"What are their names?" Sarah asked. Destiny looked aghast.

"You would ask me to trap these beings by words? They are Unicorn, that is enough. They have names among their own kind, but no mortal or immortal knows them, except I. There are other colors of Unicorn, those speak and have names known, but not these, the true Unicorns, which are always white."

Sarah felt sorry, and was about to say something, when Destiny held up a hand. "You did not know child, you are forgiven. But let us not spoil our short presence here, with words."

"One more question?" asked Sarah. Destiny nodded. "You said you have many names and titles, but what is your true name?"

"Ah, finally you have figured out the question." Said Destiny with a smile. "My name at birth was Emerald Angel Gemstone, though I hardly ever use it anymore. Those who are my friends call me Emmy. You may call me Emmy, if you wish. But no more words."

Destiny tagged Sarah on her shoulder, smiling like a child, before running. The Unicorns also ran, and she could hear their bell-like laughter. Sarah watched for a moment, as Destiny ran with the swiftness and grace of the wolf she had been, loping along with the Unicorns easily, though she could see they were holding back. She chased after them, and all of them had a joyous time, though how long it really lasted, no one knows. They could have been there minutes, hours, years, or millennia. Time is not to be captured, and never should.

Sarah could feel herself waking up, though she didn't want to leave. The three Unicorns nuzzled her cheek one by one, and Destiny came last, simply standing in front of Sarah with her ancient eyes boring into her.

"Do not forget what you have learned, Sarah." Said Destiny. "We shall meet again, soon."

"And the Unicorns?" asked Sarah.

"You shall see them again too." Said Destiny. "Though it will be shorter than you think, and longer than you would like."

"You really don't ever give a straight answer, do you?" said Sarah, as the clearing faded away. The last thing she heard was the laughter of Destiny and the Unicorns. She never forgot that sound.

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Sarah woke up suddenly, with a gasp. Had that truly been a dream?

No, there was no way she could have dreamed that, it had been real, all of it. She almost cried, remembering the Unicorns, but didn't. Destiny had said she would see them again someday. Somehow, that didn't seem so long anymore. And she said she would see Destiny again too. Sarah was glad of that.

It was only a few days until the party. No matter what happened, she knew it would be the turning point of her life. No more fear, no more what ifs. It was going to be an interesting party...

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*Lets out a deep shuddering breath* Great Merciful Magic, that chapter took a lot out of me. I really put my soul into this one. Not to mention, I have never revealed much of what I said before, at least not all of it. But now I'm depressing myself. Must think happy Christmasy thoughts! Anyhow, hope you enjoyed this chapter, and remember…

"Please leave a contribution in the little review box"

Emerald, The Lady Destiny a.k.a. Emmy-chan