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The Same Moon
Chapter 4
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"Good Morning Sarah."
She turned from her thoughts at the window to face the interruptence in the room. She hadn't even sensed anyone coming in. But then she had been wrapped up in her thoughts for so long, unable to sleep after the nightmare, that she doubted she would have noticed if a hurricane had swept through the whole of the castle.
Believing that it was the Goblin King who was once again treating her with so little respect she felt her face getting red and anger brewing once more in her chest. Well at least she had a robe on this time rather then a skimpy chemise, at least that was something.
"I know that I shouldn't really invade your privacy like this, but it didn't look like you were going to leave your chambers anytime in this century so I didn't really have that much of a choice,"
No that wasn't the King. There was apology and kindness in the voice. A slight uncertainty in his words, a friendly, easy expression on his face.
Christian.
A warm, comforting smile graced his lips and it was a welcome sign of relief for Sarah. Although she barely knew him, and the fact that he was Jareth's brother was not a good sign, Sarah couldn't help but feel relaxed and safe in his presence. He had after all saved her life. Hopefully he would be a lot more useful than Jareth in answering her questions. But for the moment she just nodded, not sure what to ask, not sure of anything really.
As soon as Christian realised she wasn't angry with him, his body relaxed and a large grin spread on his handsome face. He sat down on a large wooden chair, and Sarah could sense some unsurity and worry in the way he rubbed his hands together and refused to meet her eyes. She perched on the end of the bed in front of him and stared at the ground.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, still fidgeting anxiously.
"I guess I owe you an explanation,"
He breathed deeply, and clicked his tongue trying to figure out what to say. Not sure if he was ever going to speak again Sarah spoke for him.
"Well, maybe you could start with why you rescued me from dying."
He raised his head to look at her, surprised at her confidence and her openness. She continued speaking slowly, testing the water.
"Why on earth you brought me here perhaps, and maybe,"
A pause.
"If I'm ever going to get back,"
She looked nervously at him chewing on her bottom lip and he once again exhaled. Obviously relieved that there was no resentment or anger in her voice. He took a deep breath and leant forward to rest on his knees and finally began.
"If there's anyway to make you understand why I did what I did you're going to have to try and see it from my point of view."
Sarah sighed, why couldn't anyone ever just get to the point?
"How can I see it from your point of view when I don't even know who you are?" Sarah replied swiftly, beginning to get annoyed at the fact that no one seemed to be able to give her a straight answer. She rose from the bed and retreated to the curtain focusing on the vivid blue, almost purple, sky over the Labyrinth.
She could feel the tears of a few hours ago once again blurring her vision, she took a few breaths trying to regain her composure. It was just a dream, she repeated to herself, a dream. Her mind overreacting after everything it had been subjected to. So why did it feel so real? Why did she wake up still smelling his scent on her body? How could she still remember the touch of his caresses upon her back? His breath on her shoulders? His blood on her fingers?
Sarah jumped when she felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Christian stood behind her, concern glinting in his sharp blue eyes, a solemn look of guilt on his face. His black hair was tied back in a band, and Sarah noticed just how emotional his face was. How each expression played on his face with open, and still unfearing honesty. How could he possibly be related to Jareth? She wondered. He was always so cool, so guarded, so expressionless. Come to think of it Sarah couldn't imagine Jareth having a brother at all.
She had thought him alone in his kingdom of peculiar beasts, brain dead goblins. All creatures he could intimidate and rule. She imagined him taking many children, like he had done Toby, then using the people who had wished them away, not knowing the real danger, in a game for his own pleasure. She imagined him treating them like pawns for his own amusement as he toyed and baited them on their almost impossible journey through the Labyrinth, almost impossible she thought, almost.
She took a deep breath, "I didn't mean to snap, It's just that I don't know what the hell is going on, I thought I was dying that night and then, then," She could feel the tears streaming down her face now but she continued, "Then there was you and you saved me. God I never even thanked you."
Christian winced and swallowed hard, but Sarah didn't notice too busy wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I just don't know why you've brought me back here, back to his Labyrinth, to his Kingdom. I know he's your brother but he hates me, and well," She hesitated, "Well, I hate him, It's not that I don't appreciate you saving me," The perplexion and exasperation returned to her voice, "It's just that I wish I knew what was going on and why I'm still here when he obviously wants me gone, I just want to know what the hell happened that night and why you would want to save me."
Sarah's ramblings abruptly stopped, and she lifted her head to meet his eyes, vexation evident in the way her eyebrows were raised in confusion. Her voice was quieter now.
"Why did you save me? Don't you know I almost destroyed the Labyrinth and everything in it?"
There it was plain and simple, she had almost destroyed this magnificent place, it's inhabitants and it's King. She had rebuked all the dreams she had created for herself in the cocoon of fairy tales and stories of her early years when he had offered them to her on a plate. Yet he had rescued her that night, allowed her to continue living, unaware of her crime.
It had hurt her to say it, her eyes threatened to cascade tears again but she had strength and honour. She didn't allow herself the relief of tears if she didn't feel she deserved them.
Christian finally clicked. That was why she was finding it all so hard to accept. She was proud, so proud and to have to accept help from someone who should in all logic resent her. Damn you Jareth could you not be kind for a second? Swallow his pride for once? Christian found himself starting to grin.
She expected the King's brother to get angry, maybe hit her, maybe storm out the room. Cursing himself for not letting her get crushed that night, but instead he began to laugh. It was Sarah who instead got angry.
"How can you laugh? You rescued me after I almost destroyed this place, How can you even look at me?" Sarah broke free from the arm on her shoulder annoyance visible on her body when she shook.
God she was beautiful when she was angry. Finally the girl had some of the spirit back in her that Christian had observed when he had been watching her. No wonder it hurt Jareth when she refused him. Even though she was dressed simply in a cream robe, eyes still puffy and red from crying, dark circles and lines of worry masking what should be a youthful face, she was still radiant.
Although she was still angry, standing hand on hips waiting for his reply, he was still unable to stop laughing. Maybe this would be the end of her endless wallowing, Christian had expected the girl to have been up and around the castle, feisty and demanding answers long before this. But something had spooked her and she had remained in her room not venturing out. He suspected that Jareth had had a role to play in that although he denied all knowledge with a mock innocent smirk on his face. That smirk had been the only other expression to appear his face besides a pout over the last few days. Such brooding had been matched only by Sarah's moping.
Sensing she was about to blow, he stopped laughing but couldn't wipe the grin from his face.
"And who exactly told you that you'd almost destroyed the Labyrinth?" He said it as if it was the most absurd thing he had heard in his whole entire life, "Let me guess; Jareth."
"Who else?" She said sourly, still exasperated by his laughing.
"Please, the only thing you destroyed was Jareth's pride. God he's got some nerve trying to convince you that you almost single handedly destroyed the Labyrinth. Not even the mighty Goblin King himself could wipe this place out. Got a life of it's own it has. Literally."
"But I said the words," She stammered.
"If there's one thing you should know Sarah it's that Jareth goes by his honour. He could have taken you and your brother any time he pleased, but he didn't. He may bend the rules but never does he break them. Never has expected to I suppose, nobody really gave him the need to. Well except for you that is,"
No, he did he broke the rules, she was certain of it. She ran over the events in her mind. He had taken her baby brother. Damn, she thought, after she had asked him to. Thrown her into an oubliette or had she fallen? Locked her in a dream so that she would waste time, but only after she had eaten the peach. She raked her hands through her hair, she'd never thought about it like that before. But that didn't alleviate him from any crime, each time he had tricked her, manipulated her, baited her. He knew she didn't mean for her brother to really be taken away, that the Labyrinth wasn't really a piece of cake. But what else had she failed to see?
"You know about that, about everything that happened?" She couldn't believe that even if her beating him hadn't destroyed him, surely Jareth wouldn't embarrass himself by actually telling someone of his defeat by a teenage mortal girl?
"The gardener let it slip, what's his name? Hoggle,"
Sarah's heart softened at the memory. Christian chuckled, she still hadn't realised had she?
"Did you think it was just coincidence Sarah that I was there that night. Mortals die every second, pretty big coincidence that I would be there when the girl, who just so happened to beat the King was dying, don't you think?"
Sarah remained silent, he had been spying on her? But why?
"After the revival as soon as I heard that someone had actually beaten the King, I was intrigued. She couldn't just be any girl to have beaten Jareth, one of the most powerful Fae in all the realms, and I was right you weren't,"
"So you saved me as a reward for being able to beat your brother?" Sarah's voice was cynical and almost hurt. What did he want her for, an instrument in a neverending war of sibling rivalry? A trophy to remind Jareth that he was beatable? All compassion for this man, suddenly faded, maybe he was just like his brother.
"That was the furthest thing from my mind," His tone was serious now and Sarah began to feel guilty for accusing him.
"You managed to break through some of Jareth's strongest spells for crying out loud. You solved the Labyrinth, By Sirah it couldn't possibly be a fluke, Jareth doesn't let them happen,"
Sarah shook her head, "What are you trying to get at?"
Christian went to speak but before he could reply they were interrupted by panic filled screaming and shouting, which seemed to be echoing from outside the castle. Disturbed, they both ran to the window.
A flock of people had rushed to the cast iron gates and were urgently pulling them open. Sarah couldn't make out what was going on. Some women had begun to cry, and others clutched their stomachs or clamped their hands over their mouths, while others knelt and gathered around something that she couldn't decipher.
Abruptly the frenzy of movement with the harrowing frantic screaming stopped. The crowd stepped back, all the momentary chaos at an end. The only sound was a few sobs. As the people parted Sarah could see some kind of red liquid like a river diverging from the centre of their attention, spreading further along the path at the centre of the gardens, stopping only when it met the freshly cut green grass.
Sarah was still at a loss as to what was going on, but Christian began to shake his head gravely, still staring bitterly at the scene that was enfolding in front of them.
"By Sirah not again," He cursed, "Not again," Then mumbling something she couldn't understand he walked out of the room.
Not sure what to do, but knowing she couldn't stay here with even more unanswered questions despite the fact that she was half dressed she quickly followed him.
Sarah lost Christian but as she left the throne room and entered the corridors a small crowd of people seemed to be rushing from the castle, and so she followed them. Luckily others seemed to be as scantily dressed as herself.
It seemed so strange to see the Castle in the centre of the Labyrinth, once a mess filled with unruly goblins, alive with the scurry of people. Sarah could identify some dressed as maids, some guards, and others who seemed to have no real distinguishable type of dress, yet the manifestation of many fantasy novels and fairytales she had read.
Unable to dwell on it and overwhelmed by the sense of urgency and sorrow of the people she merely followed the crowd along the stone corridors till they reached the gardens. At the bottom of the stone path a crowd of about fifty people had gathered, she could hear voices trying to usher them back to their duties, some complied walking away shaking their heads, others remained where they were in shock. When the crowd dispersed somewhat Sarah was able to make her way to what all the fuss was about. As people moved, no longer obscuring her view she almost stopped dead in her tracks, and struggled to keep hold of her stomach.
Oh God.
Amidst a pool of what Sarah could now identify as blood lay a man, the only thing distinguishable was grey hair now matted with blood about his head The rest of his body was a mass of purple bruises, scratches and gashes which oozed liquid and torn rags of clothing. His face was a complete mess like someone had bashed it in with a large rock, his whole forehead concaved in a deep hollow. Empty. Fragments of bone glinted in the strength of the rays from the hot sun. The humid temperature meant flies were beginning to collect around the corpse, gathering on his limbs. With a shock Sarah realised that his legs were now only stumps and he had no left arm, merely a socket. She didn't feel anything, only numb.
At the bottom of the corpse kneeling in the blood was an elderly women, clasping the remaining hand of the body in her own. Her face was haggard and ravaged by sobs as she rocked back and forwards in the blood mumbling over and over again to herself. Two guards were attempting to move her from the body, but she pushed them away. Eventually a strikingly beautiful woman with long fiery red hair, dressed in a midnight blue shirt, black breeches and ankle boots knelt beside her and murmured something in the elderly woman's ear to which she fell asleep, enabling the guards to move her.
Sarah didn't notice, still transfixed by the sight before her. As people whispered prayers to themselves then solemnly moved away. Although the sun's rays were strong and the air was hot, she suddenly felt very cold.
With the body covered in a sheet and now hidden from view, she was able to break from her trance. Christian now stood beside her, giving orders to the remaining guards to remove the body and have the blood cleared away. When he had finished he looked at her solemnly shaking his head. He took her hand reassuringly and Sarah leant against him grateful for the support. As if things couldn't get even more complicated she mused.
A few guards remained and more elegantly dressed individuals, one of which was the striking red haired woman, who were obviously not maids or workers. They were in hushed and what seemed like weighty, conversation, a few yards from Sarah and Christian. They became silent as seemingly from nowhere an owl swooped in front of them all, transforming apparently on impact into the Goblin King. He was dressed as immaculately as ever in black knee riding boots, grey tights and a long black shirt with a large collar, a contrast to the dishevelled scene in front of him.
Seeing him here, with a river of blood so nearby, triggered memories of the night before of which Sarah desperately tried to push to the back of her mind. A dream she reminded herself, a dream.
Out of breath and a scowl eminent on his face, he stormed past them all, but as he brushed past the woman with red hair she caught hold of his shirt. Sarah expected him to hit her for daring to stop him but instead he turned and looked at her, his face blank, and she saw the woman's expression sink.
After what seemed like an eternity she spoke, her voice refined and serious.
"How many Jareth?"
He said nothing. She spoke again, tentatively.
"How many?"
He shook his head and turned to face the rest of the people gathered around trying to avoid the King's stare. His face was filled with venom and rage, and he was visibly shaking, gold blonde hair shimmering. His gloved hands curled into fists that he began to shake wildly at them all, and his thin lips were curled in menace.
"Where the hell were the Mages? What happened to the guards you all put up? Useless all of you useless! You were meant to be watching every single part of that kingdom," He spat the last few words.
No one spoke, not wanting to feel his wrath. The King breathed heavily out of breath from the rage he was struggling to contain.
"Well? WELL?!!" He shouted it louder this time but by now all had guessed that if they spoke they might end up banished to the bog for infinity, instead they fixed their gazes nervously elsewhere.
Christian stepped forward and Sarah couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.
"It wasn't anybody's fault Jareth. We knew the guards wouldn't last forever, it was just a matter of time."
Jareth snorted.
"They know our magic too well, they know where to hit us and how." Stern, yet aloof he looked to his brother but he narrowed his mismatched eyes staring past, rather than at, Christian. Although he sensed that he wasn't really paying that much attention to what he was saying, Christian continued to speak. At least everyone else was listening intently, including a confused Sarah.
"We have no more tricks left brother if we use Fae magic alone," Christian's tone was that of exasperation and Sarah got the feeling he was in the middle of an argument which had happened countless numbers of time before. Everyone else had fallen silent, uneasy and tense, just waiting for the inevitable when Christian would push his brother too far. By the fire burning in Jareth's eyes and the way his jaw tensed Sarah could tell that he was that close to losing his calm. Christian persisted.
"Our armies are useless, our Mages pathetic. They've been studying our technique for years now, and I doubt this time they will be as careless as before. There will be no way to rejuvenate the labyrinth."
He paused, resolve now eminent in his voice.
"We don't have a choice any longer, the magic must be mixed."
Some people gasped and others merely stood, almost pleased that Christian had said what had been on everyone's mind.
Jareth's face came alive and his head shot up, and intense fury shook the whole of his body. So to stop him from strangling Christian's neck he began rubbing the palms together. He seemed to be willing Christian to shut up with the whole of his being but it wasn't working.
Sarah merely stood feeling completely out of place and awkward, she didn't belong here. No one even seemed to notice she was here, she just merged into the background. Boring and uninteresting to the far more important events occurring elsewhere.
The next person to speak was neither Christian nor Jareth, instead the red haired woman interrupted, outrage shone on her face but she was nonetheless obviously intrigued by Christian's proposal.
"You can't be serious. It would never work. We'd destroy their realm as well as ours." She fingered a dagger at her side as she spoke. Agitated as she obviously sensed the tense atmosphere.
Christian shrugged his shoulders and began to walk to face all who were standing there, while Jareth remained to the edge of the crowd.
"Why not? It's been done before."
The red haired woman laughed, "Christian do you hear yourself?" she exhaled loudly and crossed her arms. "The last time a Fae was stupid enough to attempt it was centuries ago, and do I need to remind you that all Mages involved died taking with them a considerable portion of this Kingdom."
"I'm not talking about centuries ago, I'm talking about merely a few years ago." His voice was serious and inviting, inviting someone to oppose his statement.
Now completely lost the woman rose elegant brows in confusion. "What in all the realms are you talking about?"
From where he had remained during the last exchange, leant against a stone wall which lined the gardens, watching as the blood was cleared away by servants, Jareth said nothing. Even when Christian stared at him taking everyone else's stares with him, he still remained silent, daring someone to interrupt him. He toyed with a crystal between slim leather clad fingers, rolling it in between the creases.
"Are you going to tell them brother? Or shall I? How exactly was it that the Kingdom revived hmmm?"
Silence, Christian walked slowly towards his brother through the blood.
"How did you break the ties from the ninth realm? How exactly was everyone freed from their goblin forms?"
More silence. One leg bent beneath him pushing against the brick wall, still throwing the crystal between both of his hands and uninterested in his brother's accusations, Jareth remained.
From her position in the shade of a willow tree, near the iron gates of the castle, realisation struck Sarah. The goblin's hadn't disappeared. These people were the goblins. She stared at the figures in front of her and some of them almost looked familiar to their goblin counterparts from her parent's bedroom and the fight at the gates of the city two years ago. Flashes of red hair or blonde hair, certain facial features noses maybe ears even enhanced, Now she saw it. Struggling to make sense of the conversation taking place in front of her she returned her attentions to the two brothers.
Christian stood in front Jareth and Sarah could see that even though he put on a brave face that he was tensed, not out of anger, but to stop himself trembling. Around him people shuffled, a look of disbelief on their faces.
Finally Jareth turned to face them all, an uncaring expression on his face somewhere between bemusement and disinterest. He crushed the ball between his palm, and then let fall the crumbs of dust onto the grass below. He clasped his hands together, eyebrows raised in disdain at the way he had been confronted.
Christian persevered, he knew he was treading a fine line but he had little choice. Jareth would make him pay dearly for this spectacle he knew that but....
"Finding a way to steal people from the fifth realm in the first place was ingenious. But then using their untouched power, their imagination to sever the ties. Is it me or was that far more dangerous than what I'm proposing?"
"You're right Christian." his voice was smooth and calm. Christian looked taken aback.
"I endangered the whole of the Labyrinth, the whole of this kingdom by my actions," He remained leaning against the wall, face full of detachment. He shrugged his shoulders, another gesture of indifference and Christian, feeling pleased with himself, although shocked at his brother's reply, made the mistake of turning his back on his brother.
Behind him there was a explosion which sounded like smashing glass, shards brushed against his back lightly, not enough to hurt but enough to draw his attention. Christian spun round, outrage pasted clearly on his face and met the challenge of his brother.
Jareth shot the remaining guards and individuals daggers and hurriedly they left, some walked but most were gone in a blink of the eye or the slightest of hand gestures. All who dared to remain were Christian, the red haired woman and Sarah, not sure what to do with herself but knowing this wasn't the appropriate time to ask.
"I never said I had finished Christian," He spoke through gritted teeth, his voice tense and almost like a feral growl.
Knowing that now was the time for the King to lose his icy calm, Christian pursed his lips and refused to look at him. Now he would pay for embarrassing Jareth and opposing his authority in front of so many people.
"I could slit your throat in a second for that spectacle."
Christian knew when to shut up, and resisted the urge to argue back.
"I wouldn't let anyone else get away with it, Why should I let the fact that you're my brother stand in my way?"
Between gloved hands another crystal glinted in the sun beams and Jareth moved from the wall, one minute the crystal was a dagger, the next a crystal once more. Sarah bit a lip. He wasn't seriously going to murder his own brother? Was he?
Christian could remain silent no more.
"Face it Jareth I'm right. If you want to stop the deaths, if you want to save the kingdom you're going to have to swallow your pride." With his demands Christian cupped his hands in front of him and a strange blue light emanated from within his fingers, creeping out between the creases, a look of menace on his face.
"Don't think you'll be able to do it again then brother hmm? Waning a bit are we? It's okay when it's your idea isn't it? But when your pride is at stake, of course defeat wins hands down, sorry momentarily forgot that, my mistake."
Jareth's eyes became slits and for a moment the crystal in his hands shone, a look of danger and menace on his face directed at the challenge of his brother.
And then with a fleeting gesture, reflexes like a cat his stance broke and the crystal flew through the air, changing into a dagger halfway, aimed straight at Christian.
Sarah squeezed her eyes together and braced herself against the nearby tree trunk not wanting to get involved in the scene in front of her. She had seen too much bloodshed already. She waited with dread for the inevitable scream, or a grunt or anything, something to signal the impact. But she heard nothing, hesitantly she opened her eyes.
The dagger hung mid air a few inches away from Christians nose. His heavy breaths spread steam all over the blade. The red haired woman stood between the two brothers hand outstretched towards the direction of the dagger, with a flick of her fingers she seemed to pull it towards her, till she clasped it firmly in her hand.
"Sorry to interrupt this pissing contest but if you could forget about your testosterone for just one second maybe we could actually come up with a constructive decision rather than cutting eachother's heads off."
Sarah attempted to stifle a giggle at the way both brother's pouted like sulky teenagers who needed to be separated by a teacher in the school playground. Nonetheless both listened to her. Jareth with his arms folded defiantly across his chest, Christian hand on hips, sighing indifferently. Looking at them the woman sighed to herself.
"The fact is that the idea of mixing the magic is not going to be reliable enough to base all our hopes on..."
Jareth smiled triumphantly at his brother.
"But-"
Christian grinned right back at him.
"If it worked once it could work again, and if our worse fears our realised it may be our only hope."
She paused, and once she was satisfied she had both brother's attention she continued.
"So a compromise, Christian trains the girl himself, whilst the army and Mages still prepare, she only attempts the battle if we are all satisfied that she is talented enough, agreed?"
Neither responded. She rolled her eyes.
"Agreed?" She said again louder.
Christian raised his hands in mock innocence, and nodded his head, whilst Jareth merely scowled.
"I'll take it that's a yes then.
She shook her head.
"Really I give up with the both of you, I thought you could put aside sibling rivalry at a time like this."
She raised her hands in mock defeat then walked away.
"Alanna!" From his defeated silence Jareth suddenly became animated and moved to her side where they began muted conversation as they walked towards the castle. His look was stern and disproving but still he didn't seem to disprove of the woman's actions. Sarah felt strange twinge of some emotion deep in the pit of her stomach.
Whilst she spoke to him the King threw a look over his shoulder to where Sarah was leaning under the willow and for a second she found herself staring into his eyes. His gaze was thoughtful, but then with a flicker of his lids he seemed to disregard her and returned his attentions to the woman he had called Alanna talking incessantly at his side, obviously trying to redeem her behaviour for interrupting him earlier.
Sarah sighed, at a loss once more, and rubbed at her head which was beginning to ache. They couldn't have possibly been talking about her before could they? She tried to put together her thoughts. What did she have to offer? What had Christian said before; "Not just any girl."
"But I'm just a normal human being." She whispered to herself.
"Not quite,"
She turned to regard Christian who stood hands in his pockets behind her gazing at the city in the distance masked by the cast iron gates.
"I guess I don't need to explain much to you anymore now Sarah,"
He licked his lips and squinted as the sun peaked behind the city, strong orange rays now highlighting his ivory skin.
"The Labyrinth is dying Sarah and taking us with it, violently and gruesomely as you've seen for yourself. As it weakens so do our powers, although Jareth will never admit it," He exhaled sharply at the mention of his name, "He also won't admit it but you might be one of our only chances of ever regaining any control,"
Mixing the magic, Sarah thought, but she didn't have any magic. It was only willpower that got her through the Labyrinth. Even Jareth believed that, she could see it by the way he looked at her in contempt and how he deemed his brother foolish.
Sarah shook her head forcefully, refusing to believe it. She was a normal seventeen year old, she didn't have any magical abilities, she could never do any of the things Jareth, Christian and Alanna just had. Sensing her disbelief Christian persisted.
"Sarah, you broke through stronger spells then I could ever produce without training, imagine what you could do with it."
He paused and turned to face her, eyebrows set deep in his forehead in sheer determination, the curve of creases above emphasizing every word.
"Look at yourself, You've spent the whole of your life knowing something was missing. You live pretending that you're content but you're not meant for earth. It's too bland for the likes of us."
He smiled, "You got the gift girl, just trust your feelings for once. It feels right, doesn't it? Why do you think you were drawn to fairytales to fantasy and magic? You've got ties to places like this. Some people on earth just have, few ever get to find where those ties lead."
He paused, "Look I know you haven't started off on the best of terms with the Fae."
Sarah knew what he was talking about and gave a slow nod.
"But the fact is that eventually what is destroying our realm will soon start on your own. It already exists there Sarah in your materialistic society, in arms races and genocide, in racism and pollution, the only reminder of your world's true heritage in myths and legends, fairytale and fiction. Soon that will be too much and your world will be destroyed too. Help us get rid of it now before it has the chance."
He looked at her, desperation in his eyes, pleas rolling from his tongue.
The Labyrinth was dying. It hurt Sarah more than she wanted to believe that it might be gone. She realised that she never really believed before that the place did not exist, it still flourished in imaginations and peoples' minds. She could remove all the books and toys from her room but she could never remove the memories and desires from her soul, which were only allowed free in her subconscious as she slept. Faced with this now she could no longer convince herself that she felt no ties to this place and the magic within it, it was after all, a part of her.
Christian's eyes still bore into her, and she closed her eyes slowly resting her soft lashes against her cheek.
All along she had been kidding herself that she didn't care, that it all meant nothing to her, that she didn't believe it anymore. Christian was right, in a quest for fulfilment she was inexplicably drawn to a place beyond what her own world could offer. In this place she found she didn't miss earth and her old life as much as she should of. She missed Toby sure, but compared to this everything else just seemed so mundane. She had been in love with the Labyrinth ever since her mother first told the story to her as a child, she couldn't just sit back and watch it die and all those in it.
She had visited it once and refused all the dreams it offered, but this time it wasn't a dream, it was a responsibility. But it was only Christian who seemed to have any faith in her. She seemed to be unimportant and a nuisance to everyone else. But then she had solved the Labyrinth, beaten the Goblin King.
No, she was kidding herself again. A powerful Fae King couldn't possibly love her and the fate of the Labyrinth couldn't rest upon her shoulders, could it?
Christian was still looking at her intently.
"I'm asking you to help us Sarah, Please," His voice softened, "You have the power."
Sarah wasn't sure why but his last words caused great unease within her. Power didn't always mean control.
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