(AN) Author's Notes: Hi there everyone I apologize for the lack of updates last week I had other occupations and priorities that were distracting me. Plus I had a light cold and I'm still recovering from it I still have a stubborn cough while all my other symptoms have come and gone. The one thing I don't like whenever I get cold whether it's a big one or a small one is that the stubborn cough takes the longest to dissipate and leave. And I only want to be on over-the-counter cough medicine for a while but I'm due in another day's time or so to see a doctor and I'll have to see whether or not I need to take any more medicine.
I want to give my late gratitude and thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes for last week. As for the reader named FireShifter you are most welcome and I'm happy to see that there are people who have families that both celebrate Canadian and American holidays. I'm happy that you're enjoying the story so far I try my best to please anyone who likes to story both me and my co-partner are happy to hear this kind of news.
Again I'm leaving a last final replay of the anonymous reviewer named Guest 2022: I give up on you (throws her hands up in defeat). I never said you were bothering me. I said you were annoying me and I clearly stated why I'm annoyed with y. If you cannot accept the reason why you would annoy the writer then that is your choice but I'm not the one holding a virtual gun to your head and saying that you should stop reviewing any stories I'm updating or making. You are not getting the message and with all due respect, I think you're a bit sick-headed if you can't understand what I've been trying to tell you throughout most of the story. If you cannot be bothered reading the details of the story well that are updated bit by bit then maybe this story is not meant for you to read. It's a free country you are free not to review anymore if you like but to be clear never once said that you are not allowed to do so. I just will not to accept any negative Flames or complaints. That's all I'll have to say to you and hopefully, I won't bother anymore mentioning your username in my AN's.
I once again apologize to my readers who were awaiting an update last week. Now without further or do I bring you chapter 11 please enjoy everyone you've been waiting for over a week and it's been long overdue.
Disclaimer: All copyright rights to Labyrinth 1986 musical fantasy film directed/created by Jim Henson, Dennis Lee with George Lucas as executive producer. Based on conceptual designs by Brian Froud, the film was written by Terry Jones. I also need to give credit and thanks to my new co-partner ElauraGrave who is helping me get this story off the ground so soon. All original characters AKA (OC's) belong to me © authoress smcandy I don't want to see anyone rip off/steal or take any of my original characters major to minor without my exclusive permission otherwise there will be consequences.
Warning: The reading of this story will go probably up from rated T to rated M later for mature scenes and scenarios and for mature audiences. This story is not meant for adolescents or children under the specific age of 16. To all parents out there who are not monitoring their children what they read or do not have certain child block programs put up on their computer use publicly do not hold me accountable for what they find or read on the internet if they lie about their age. They should not be reading stories or content that are not in their proper age group. Do not seek to point blame at me when I give a warning of what the rating of the story is for the age group of readers. Readers you have been warned I do not want to be flamed or reported by your parents for your actions of reading material that was not meant for your eyes until you are appropriate to age!
Chapter 11: Join me for dinner. That's not a request.
The light outside the castle windows was dim and the sky was cast with a rosy, golden tint. Sarah had, miraculously, finished all her tasks for the day long before the clock would strike thirteen. As she closed her bedroom door behind her, she rubbed the back of her neck; it was slick with sweat. Sarah made a beeline to the bathroom to wash up; she almost resented cleaning up for a dinner with the goblin king, but she herself needed to wash away the day.
When she returned to her bed chambers, a large chest that hadn't been there before sat at the foot of her bed. It was beautiful, with a dark brown veneer and golden clasp. Sarah thought it was reminiscent of a treasure chest one would find in a pirate story; she smiled. Her smile slowly disappeared when she remembered what Jareth had said about giving her a gift.
"What tricks will you play now?" Sarah asked out loud.
A chest was more useful than a floating crystal, she thought to herself. Would she receive more clothing to store in it? Sarah couldn't think of any immediate uses for the thing.
"Maybe I should…" Sarah reached a hand out towards the chest and then quickly withdrew it. She realized there could already be something inside, and knowing Jareth, this was a trick. Would she be sucked in, trapped inside like it was an oubliette? Was there a creature or goblin waiting to spring out? Sarah wrung her hands nervously; it was better to find out now than in the middle of the night when she was asleep.
She threw the lid open and stepped back; inside was a pile of vibrant clothing. Sarah was shocked it wasn't empty and forgot about any imposing threats for a moment as the multi-colored fabric shone in the dim light. Sarah reached into the glinting pile and picked up what she hoped would be a new dress.
"How odd…" Strangely enough, what she had thought was clothing turned out to be long sections of cloth. The pile contained a multitude of colors and several varieties of material; Sarah ran her fingers through red silk, blue satin, white cotton, and more. Sarah wondered if the king expected her to make her own clothing. Was that the trick? She could only wear what she could make? Sarah hoped not.
Sarah wished this was the magical chest from one of her favorite childhood fairytales; the princess had owned a chest that could do almost anything, when the princess had put her mind to it. All manner of things would appear inside the chest, if she only wished for it.
"It wouldn't hurt to try…" Sarah thought out loud. She carefully removed the materials and gently set them on the bed. She picked each one up and slowly examined them in the light one by one. Some glistened and some glinted, some were light and some were heavy. Sarah felt like a child playing dress up once more. She finally decided on a piece of simple cotton cloth that was sea-foam in color, much like the dress she had been given upon her arrival in the Labyrinth three days ago.
Three days ago? Sarah felt like the days had been weeks. It was hard to believe she had only been in the Labyrinth for three days. She wondered if her stepmother and father missed her. Would Toby miss her? Her heat sunk; she missed him.
Sarah quickly brushed the thoughts from her mind; now was no time for pining and tears. She set the material into the chest, careful not to snag it on anything. She tried to imagine the dress she wanted to wear. She tried to focus her mind, focus her mind, focus…
Sarah opened her eyes and un-crinkled her nose; she hoped she had focused hard enough. When she opened the trunk, the material had taken on a new form. Sarah slowly drew a fully formed dress out of the chest. "Now that's more like it," she said smugly. The dress was a simple sea-foam green garment the same color as the original ballgown Jareth had given her—except it was tailored to her tastes now.
She stood before the mirror and held it up against her body.
"Amazing," she muttered. It looked to be her size; when she changed into it, it felt like her size. Sarah wondered how the Labyrinth could tailor something exactly to her own clothing size and dimensions.
The V-neckline was now higher and not so revealing, elegantly covering her cleavage. The cinch at the waist was no longer skin tight, and the three-quarter sleeves with bustles at the end were loose-fitting. The skirt was gently pleated and lacked any bows and ruffles, and it hit at mid-calf. Sarah was so pleased as combed her hair with her fingers, she almost forgot the chest had come from Jareth.
"At least he was telling the truth when he said this would be more useful," she remarked to herself, picking up one of the white ribbons. She tied her hair into a bun and let a strand of hair on either side of her brow hang loose. She wet them and spun them around her finger, causing them to curl slightly. Standing before her mirror, she swished her dress back and forth in a childlike gesture of simple pleasure.
The only shoes she had were the little black heels she wore for work, but they complemented the outfit just fine. She preferred this look, she thought, regarding herself in the mirror. The other gown had been beautiful, exquisite even, but she had looked so grown up. She was growing up, but this looked more like Sarah rather than what she previously expected adulthood to be: a childhood dream of pomp and poofy gowns.
"All that glitters isn't gold," she said, heading towards the door. As she stepped over the threshold, she realized that Jareth had never told her where to meet him. Before her foot hit the floor, she was transported once more to the enormous dining room in which she had found herself naught two full days ago. The goblin-fireplace's mouth still gaped wide with flames. This time, the goblin king had skipped the prelude of insubordination, and Sarah materialized in the seat at his right hand. Whatever joy she had found from playing dress-up disappeared as the goblin king's eyes roamed her. His gaze crawled over her, examining every inch of her figure.
"I was expecting something a little more…dressed up."
Sarah scoffed. "I found out how to work your second 'gift,'" she said, sneering at the word "gift;" she would let him know that—no matter how much fun it was to use—she still didn't want it. "And you never told me how to dress. I'm dressed quite properly and I'm already here. I've joined you for dinner like you commanded, only for the sake of my friends' well-being of course, so you don't really have the right to complain how I dressed."
The king just rolled his eyes.
"Couldn't she have worn something less…sweet?" he thought to himself, regarding the ribbons in her hair. As delectable as she looked, the simplicity of her outfit revealed her youth; he preferred when her womanhood was accentuated. Once again, the goblin king ate slowly, reveling in the taste of the treasures the Labyrinth had to offer, while Sarah didn't touch a morsel. He soon saw his gluttonous show was not doing anything to sway the girl's resolve and sat back in his chair with a thump.
"You must eat, you know."
"I must not do anything. I'm not eating anything that is offered by your hand.
"If I wanted to enchant you or poison you, I would've done so already."
"I said, I'm not eating anything offered by you—especially not when we're alone together. I'm fine; not hungry. I had something to eat before." She crossed her arms.
The silence was both awkward and stifling. She didn't actually want to talk with the goblin king, but she cleared her throat and carried on further.
"I know I've asked this already, and I certainly wouldn't want to disturb Your Majesty, but how long am I going to be here?" she asked in easy sarcasm. "Seriously, what is going on? My family is probably worried sick. I left them a note, you know, not to call the police, but if I'm gone much longer, they will only worry more and might make things very complicated for me when I get back home." Sarah added in her mind, not wanting to seem weak before the king, "And I'm worried about them, too. They must be so afraid for me."
"I can assure you that time in the Underground does not run the same way as in the human world, as I'm sure you remember from your last visit. It may seem like days have passed to you here in the Goblin Kingdom, but hardly any time at all has passed aboveground."
"Well, how much time did pass?" she asked earnestly. Jareth simply lifted a goblet to his lips and drank a long, slow draught.
Sarah huffed out an impatient sight, but figured it was better not to fight for an answer he didn't want to give. "You know, Hoggle told me your kingdom isn't the only kingdom down here in the Otherworld," she said, making sure he knew that she had indeed learned about this realm. "If I really have to stay here so long, can we visit them?"
"No," he declared quickly and firmly. "You are to remain here, and you will never visit other lands."
Sarah slammed both her hands on the table and stood. "You are being so unreasonable," she said through gritted teeth. "You really are unfair if I am to stay here as a servant only for the sake of my friends. I'm in prison in this place! I know I'm paying for something you've got against Hoggle, because you're forcing him to stay here too—and he wants to return home! Why can't I visit the other kingdoms? If you continue to be so stubborn, it'd be nice to ask one of them for help," she said, crossing her arms again.
"Sarah, do not even think about it," said the king, rising. "I have good reason to keep you here; in time, you will understand why, and I will explain it to you when I feel like it."
"I am not one of your subjects. I'm not some object to be put on display nor am I a trained animal to be kept in a cage. I don't belong here! And if I'm really meant to be kept here for God knows how long, I should at least be allowed to explore the rest of your world. Get to know some geography, you know?" Sarah tried to speak softer now. "What is your purpose in keeping me here? I get the feeling something is…off." Now it was Sarah who looked the king up and down. "I feel like…you need me for something."
The king threw his head back and laughed. It was cold as ice and empty as a mountain cavern; Sarah shivered.
"If something were off, supposing you're right, I do not ask for help; I take it when I need it. Again, I have my reasons for keeping you here. I'm afraid you can't return home any time soon; it's going to be quite a while. We'll have a lot of time to…" he leaned towards her, bracing his hands on the table, "get to know each other." He grinned malevolently.
Sarah couldn't help but withdraw a pace. "But how long? I have a life back home. I'm going to graduate high school soon!" She tried to appeal to his sympathies. "I wanted to continue studying theater. You can't keep me here forever. My life is just starting, and everything is actually coming together very nicely. The reason I'm here in the first place is only because you were interfering with my life and threatening my friends. I'm still upset about you ruining my date, you know; I deserve an apology."
She paused, knowing that her hope was false, but she paused anyhow; silence. "If you won't explain why I'm here, then I will find a way to leave—with or without your consent. I am not a bird in a gilded cage for your amusement."
Jareth stared at her coolly and offered her a dinner roll. Sarah turned her nose up at it. The goblin king tossed it down on the table again. "Fine by me; if you won't eat with me, you won't eat at all!"
"You're threatening me with starvation now?"
"You brought it on yourself."
"Well that's just fine by me. I'm not giving into your demands and threats. I'm not your subject nor slave."
"Ah but you are indeed a servant to me, and until you learn not to disobey me, you will reap the consequences, which will only get more and more severe."
Sarah didn't want to hear it. The goblin king had barely finished his threat before she turned from the dinner table and stormed away, making sure to totter the chair and send it crashing to the ground. She was so angry, she didn't even worry if the goblin king would follow her or not. Let him follow her; she could handle more chores. Miraculously, or so it seemed to Sarah, the king did not pursue her. She was surprised how easily she found her room again and quickly shut the door behind her. She practically ripped the dress off her body and fumbled into her nightgown.
She mumbled and grumbled to herself as she stomped to the closet to retrieve water and a snack. Miraculously, the water bottle had stayed shut and the food hadn't been looted. Sarah munched on a granola bar and contemplated her dilemma. She knew she could survive up to three days without water and a week, maybe two, without food. Survival was the bare minimum; Sarah knew she'd be miserable even if she'd be alive. Starving herself wasn't going to assist her in reaching any goals, but she couldn't accept any food from him. The anger at what happened last time with the peach still burned hot inside her.
Sarah thanked her lucky stars again she had been able to tear herself from that illusion. She just couldn't trust that tyrant who tried to stop her from saving a baby, her baby brother on top of that.
"I wish the goblins would come and take you away right now" didn't mean "I wish my baby brother would get kidnapped and turned into a goblin." A place with goblins was hardly a safe place for a baby.
Sarah stopped herself from ruminating and focused on the question at hand: how was she going to get food each day if there was a direct order from the king that she wasn't to eat without him? He had probably passed a decree around already to the guards and servants, and that probably included Greta.
The goblin king probably expected her to keel over with hunger and give into his demands. He probably thought she was that same spoiled child, who wished Toby away, but she was determined and what's more, she was strong; she would never give in. Sarah looked in her bag again; she wished she had brought more rations. She had only expected to be gone a day, maybe two at the most. She'd have to ration what little she had. She couldn't imagine it lasting her more than a week or ten days, but she had to try. She tightened the cap of her water bottle and shoved it back in her backpack. She wanted to guzzle the rest of it down, but she had to be smart about this. Her stomach didn't feel full, but she blew out the candle and headed to bed anyway. Tomorrow would be more difficult without her full strength to aid her.
(AN) Author's Notes: The magic chest that was given to Sarah is the equivalent of a modern-day electric portable sewing machine. The only difference is that you just think up the type of outfit you want or in this case dress and the chest will make it for you. Sarah was under the impression or is under the impression that she has to close her eyes to and visualize it. As I mentioned before in a past author's notes/ footnote Sarah has only been wearing or will be wearing dresses from this point onward she's got a fit in towards the attire and culture of the world she's now in. And since the underground is more or less a fairytale-like realm in this matter it would make more sense for her to have attire related to the native world there.
I don't plan any time soon, especially while Sarah is not a back human world to have her wear anything but the dresses here. So if anyone's expecting Sarah while she's still in the Goblin Kingdom or any other Kingdom for that matter to wear jeans or pants then you're out of luck. As I mentioned before Sarah while she's away from her home will not be wearing any pants only fairytale-like maiden dresses for varying types of occasions she's going to have modern, casual and fancy. The chest also has some other sub-functions like being able to use extra leftover material that was not used to make any new dresses to make maybe some extra soft pair of shoes or slippers along with being able to even make medieval fantasy-like cloaks or mantels. Sarah gotta needs those for when she wants to conceal her identity. This was the best I could come up with when it came to handling what Sarah's clothing will be while she stays within the goblin castle and its Kingdom or in Otherworld as I mentioned before this name came up when Hoggle brought it up in the world or realm where Sarah's currently residing. It's the realm of fantasy and Magic it's the realm of the fair folk. It's what I'd put training at what the human storytellers call in probably their world fairytale and only not the way it's portrayed in the movies or books from Sarah's point of view. Since the manga gave us a little more detail or show that The Goblin King's Kingdom isn't the only one there. I got inspired by making a whole new setting or place where Sarah has her adventures or wondering while she's in the Goblin Kingdom.
Sarah still will not eat within the alone presence of the Goblin King she hasn't forgotten the enchanted peach she's tricked into eating in the movie and she cannot trust or be guaranteed that Jareth has enchanted the food each and every time he wants to have alone dinning time with her. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of you guys who are now worrying about Sarah's well-being now that the King has declared that she will not eat unless it's with him but don't worry things won't stay as they are for much longer. I'm not about to starve one of our two main characters in the story but I have to keep the Goblin King as he was meant to be I'm not a fan of keeping Cannon cast characters out of character. So until next time everyone keeps your eyes and ears open, I will update again soon and do time keep your eyes out for chapter 12.
TTFN,
smcandy
