Labyrinth and all that is connected to it belongs to someone other than me!!!
Though the characters of Sally Jendson, Morgan Seliecourt, and other characters not appearing or named in the movie are of my creation.
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Wishes and Dreams of Love
Chapter Two: The Paper and the Note
Ms. Seliecourt had assigned everyone create a paper on the journey of their life showing how they had changed along the way – in their best style of writing. Oh, such a perfect assignment for Ms. Sarah Williams! Was this teacher about to get floored!
As soon as the adults were gone, she set Toby to coloring on the floor of her room and started pulling out her notes from class. Then Sarah found a wax-sealed letter in her book bag. She didn't remember getting it, or putting it in there. Maybe Sally … no, to ornate and renaissance-ish for that modern teen. It had to be Ms. Seliecourt! Weird, but it would have to wait. Sarah had a paper that needed to get written and fast. She would have it turned in before anyone else!
Sarah thought long and hard about that title. What would sum up her life? Then it came as if she were watching her worse mistakes on tape! It would annoy Jareth, and that alone made it too perfect – besides it just fit her life in a nutshell. Pulling up her computer's Word program, Sarah began to type fast and furiously.
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Sarah Williams
9 June 1986
English Literature
Final Essay
It's Not Fair … But That's the Way It Is.
Once upon a time a little girl was born to what could have, and seemingly should have, been a peaceful and perfect life. She had chocolate brown hair and emeralds for eyes. Her parents had been happily married for two years and seemed to be very much in love. Yet, the future is rarely what it sometimes seems, so it not a good idea to take anything for granted. That little girl's name was to become Sarah Rachel Elisabeth Williams.
Linda taught her daughter that all things are possible. Somewhere all legends and stories are real. The only trick was to find the way there. This is where Sarah began to love fantasy, acting, and dreams. Her room quickly filled with toys, costumes, trinkets, books, and the like – many of which are still there to this day.
However, when Sarah was at the tender age of eleven, Linda was put under a wicked spell – one that made her believe that her career was all she would ever need. Linda had been an actress on again and off again since the year before she married Michael Williams, an advertising executive. He believed that she would settle down after having a baby, but it only made the woman feel trapped and alone. At least that was what her goodbye note said.
She hadn't stayed to explain or argue about how selfish she was acting, or how it would affect her husband and daughter. She left for stardom, divorcing her husband and terminating her rights to Sarah. The girl decided since her father was the only parent who cared, then he would be the only one she'd care about. And for a year that was how it was.
Six months after the one-year anniversary of that betrayal, the news came in the night. Linda was driving home to rest for her first movie premiere the following evening. A drunk was swerving in his car, didn't see the stop light, and plowed into the woman's at sixty miles an hour. The woman formerly known as Linda Williams did not have a chance – she died on impact.
Sarah wondered what she had done wrong for six weary months after that horrible accident. But life was not done ripping at the heart of Sarah Williams. For it was now her father's turn to be the betrayer.
At the end of those teary-eyed six months, he brought a woman home to meet his near teenaged daughter. The woman's name was Ms. Karen Henley. At first Sarah tried to be nice and spoke kindly to the woman. The girl only thought that this was a second or third date, and her father was getting her used to this new woman in his life.
However, it seemed that Michael had been seeing Karen since two months after his divorce became final! He had brought Karen to the house so she could see where she would soon be living, and so she could meet her future stepdaughter. Michael had proposed to Karen that very night as it were. The woman tried to be kind and swore she did not want to take the dead mother's place – but young Sarah refused to hear any of it. Sarah then decided that she would never trust another person with her heart again.
Three months later brought about the rehearsal and its dinner party – unintentionally planned without thought to another occasion. Sarah moped and sighed as she quickly retired to her room all-alone on her thirteenth birthday – alone except for the white barn owl that sat just outside her window and listened without speaking as the girl ranted and blew up in her anger and loneliness. If she only knew what significance that bird would someday have for her.
One year later came the birth of Michael and Karen Williams' first-born son. He was named Tobias, though everyone simply called him Toby. Michael proudly praised the baby boy, saying that he finally had a child he could be more active with. This hardened the wall surrounding Sarah's heart all the more.
A year after that was destined to change Sarah and her way of seeing the world forever. After all, how many can honestly say that they had met the Goblin King? Of those, how many could say they openly defied him more than once? And of those select few, exactly how many can say that they had beaten the King's Labyrinth? Zero.
That puzzle had stood for over three eons, yet of all the millions and millions who tried to solve it none had ever succeeded. Until the night that Sarah Williams found her right words.
She had been scolded by her stepmother for being an hour late to baby-sit while Karen and Michael went out on a date. The worse slap to the young girl was when Karen told her that at fifteen she should be having dates. Sarah ran to her room and argued with her father before the two adults left, then jumped into her bed – only to discover that her precious bear, Lancelot, was missing. That could only mean that someone, namely Karen or Michael, had come in and taken the precious toy … once again.
Sarah ran into her parent's room to find the bear on the floor with Toby crying and reaching over the crib rails for it. She began telling him about a poor girl who was abused and mistreated by her stepmother and spoiled stepsibling. She said that the King of the Goblins had fallen in love with this girl, and had granted her certain powers. Eventually the crying became too much, by try as she may Sarah couldn't settle Toby down.
Sarah wished she knew what to say to make the goblins take the boy away. In her mind she suddenly heard the words loud and clear. As she was walking out the door to her room across the hall, she wished her baby brother away without thinking about the consequences of her words. She didn't really believe that the goblins would hear her, or come to her wish.
Any thought given a voice allows any who hear it to answer. The Goblin King had heard Sarah wish Toby away with her own voice, and he happily obliged.
When she noticed that he had stopped crying too abruptly, Sarah went in and looked for Toby. The crib was empty, and the room was full of hidden goblins – all laughing and mocking at her frightened tears. A white barn owl, like the one that had comforted her on that forgotten birthday, was clawing at the door – wanting to be let in, but Sarah was too scared to move!
Finally the doors opened, and the owl was shown to be him – the Goblin King. After a few minutes of arguing and pleading for her brother's safe return (refusing the gift of her dreams come true from the handsome Fae), he set the challenge of her solving the Labyrinth in thirteen hour or Toby would become a goblin, just like in the story she had told the boy.
She truly went through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered to the castle beyond the Goblin City. Along the way she met interesting characters, made friends, encountered the King several times, and learn aspects of herself that were once hidden deep within her heart and mind. In the end it came down to her and the King – if she could only remember the one line she had never recalled without the book in all the times that she had practiced it.
Sarah tried not to heed his words, but they got through to her anyway. Then it was only a ploy to keep her from winning, at least that was what she thought. "Just love me, fear me, do as I say, and I will be your slave."
As if she the words were written before her on the air, Sarah called out that near forgotten line. As she finished the final word, the clock began to chime. The King tossed the crystal with her dreams in the air, and it popped like a soap bubble as it landed in her hand. The look on his face was confusing to her, as if he wished she had chosen her dreams – no it went a little deeper than that. A fifteen year old isn't one for interpreting that look, the girl who is too young and too inexperienced then gives way to age and wisdom of the young woman looking back on it all.
That night Sarah decided that the King had been right when he asked what he basis for comparison was every time she screamed "it's not fair". She decided that the truth was that she hadn't been fair with anyone by blocking away her heart and hurting anyone who wanted inside.
Sarah ran into her parent's room after the owl left, and found that Toby was peacefully sleeping. She took the bear she once would have ripped away to sit in a cubbyhole above her bed, and laid it beside the boy's sleeping body. Then she put away many of her mother's pictures, some of her toys, and the book that first introduced her to the Labyrinth (the last book she ever got from Linda Williams).
She called all of her friends to her room from the Underground, and they celebrated until late when the group tucked their friend into her bed. To save her the pain of explaining and/or cleaning up, they removed all signs of that celebration that (strangely) her parents hadn't seemed to hear. All that remained were notes, drawings, and memories – until the next time any of them wanted to visit.
After that Sarah found that life became somewhat gentler – nowhere near fairer, but not as cruel either. She and Karen began to get along. Toby seemed to remember what had happened, and would lovingly cling to the older sister who had saved him. Even the girl's relationship with Michael got better. So maybe accidents happen for the right reasons. Does that still make them accidents?
Sarah tried to date, tried to become what she thought everyone else wanted her to be. But it never seemed to work out. Karen sat her down and asked what it was she wanted for herself, but Sarah just didn't know how to answer. The truth was that she finally knew what the King had so dearly wanted of her in those last moments; at least she hoped that she knew it. He wanted her as his Queen, and deep inside (since that first meeting) she wanted that as well. But, he would never answer when asked for him to come to her again, so he probably went on with his life. Karen just told the girl to be herself, and Sarah accepted that advice for the rest of her schooling.
The first day of Senior year looked to be a sad one for Sarah Williams. She didn't know what she wanted to do with her life, and nothing seemed to interest her. She wondered if every time she saw a white barn owl was it the Goblin King? There had been times a white owl had saved her from being hurt or worse – but wouldn't he have come to her when she called?
Enter Ms. Morgan Seliecourt. Not only do the days go by faster, but life became brighter. All of the near misses that haunted Sarah since a year after her adventures in the Labyrinth disappeared (though not quiet completely, but who is complaining?). With Ms. Seliecourt there, the young woman felt once again that there was nothing impossible in the world – only paths that had yet to be found.
June 14 will however bring this chapter of my tale to its end, but the story will go on. In all this part of the story was cruel and at times unfair. However, as Sarah learned in the Labyrinth long ago, that is the way it and life sometimes is.
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Sarah looked at the pages as they were printed out to make sure that nothing went wrong. After all, since when did she get an assignment done the day it was posted? Well, outside of one or two other creative writing pieces.
Only then did she remember the unusual note.
Carefully peeling the wax seal open, Sarah was shocked to find a necklace – one that was identical to Jareth's! The note read:
Dearest Sarah,
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation. I know little of Aboveground customs, but Higgle and your friends tell me that this means a great deal to you.
Oh, before I forget, they will all be there for the ceremony. Though only you will be able to see and hear them. I will accompany them to be certain they do so.
I know that you have been told by Hog head and the others that they would keep you safe, but unfortunately there are forces out to do you harm which are beyond their ability to shield you from. This year I sent an agent to care for you in my place, as we have had some battles had that threatened to become wars (do not worry, I quelled all of them).
Now that I have proven that I am still the King of the Labyrinth, just being under my protection should be enough to safe guard you. Wear this and none will dare move against you.
My agent will be returning after the ceremony, as you will no longer be taking that … what is it called, English Literature class? Morgan would miss you terribly if it weren't that as a Seelie Court member in high standing, she has the right to check up on you from time to time – just to be certain of your safety. I warn you now that she can be a bit of, I believe the correct term is mother hen.
Until Saturday … unless you would care to try calling out again.
Jareth
"Would you come to me if I called for you?" Sarah chuckled as she slipped the necklace over her head.
Toby looked up and grinned a knowing smile at the symbol he still remembered at four as vividly as he did at one. "You're not talking to me, sissy."
"No. Do you know who I was talking to?"
"Gobin King!" Toby nearly screamed at the top of his tiny lungs.
Sarah wiped a tear from her eye as she giggled, "no, Goblin King. But you have the right idea. So, do you think we should call him?"
When Toby started jumping up and down with joy, Sarah needed no other prompting. "Jareth, can you hear me? I need you. I'd like you to come for a visit."
Suddenly the winds picked up and into the room flew an owl that quickly became the Goblin King himself. Toby rushed forward and found himself in the once scary monarch's arms. "We do dance magic, please?"
"Maybe later, for now I believe you should wash your hands for dinner – am I right Sarah?"
Suddenly a familiar smell filled her nostrils. But before Sarah could say a word, Toby was squirming to get to the floor out of Jareth's arms. "Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!"
Sarah couldn't hold back her laughter, "get your hands washed first! And I mean it! Or it's head first into the Bog of Eternal Stench with you!"
"You say that all the time, but never do it! Ha!" Toby yelled back as he stopped at the door.
Jareth simply took a step forward with his classic grin. "Sarah might not, but I would. Wash your hands or the Bog … your choice my lad."
In seconds both could hear the water running in the near by bathroom. Sarah turned with a sparkling chuckle in her eyes and throat. Suddenly she felt an unusual need with Jareth this close and no game making them enemies. "Thanks, he always makes that hard on me. Maybe the others would like to visit too."
Jareth began to lead her from the room like he would not accept no for an answer. "They are preparing a surprise for you; a gift of sorts. How would you feel to a vacation in the Labyrinth? I could reorder time again so that you could have a long stay if you so wish with little of your own world's time passing."
"Why would you do that for me? After what I did the last time we were together. I think I now know how to read the last look you gave me after I said those damn words. I am so sorry that I hurt you like that." Sarah couldn't even look him in the eye, she felt so ashamed. She knew that there had been no other choice, but it still hurt after she saw the truth.
Jareth pulled her into his arms, and held her for a few moments before whispering into her ear. "You were too young to see it, and I was too stubborn to see your youth. Can we try again? Let me show you who I have become since you came into my life. I want to get to know you, and for you to get to know me. Please Sarah, come … just for a visit at the least."
Sarah barely nodded; she was so busy breathing him in that she barely paid attention to his words. Jareth just pulled her tighter to his chest and held her in his joy. "You won't regret it, I'll do anything to make sure of that."
"Hey! You have to pass my test buddy before you can date my sissy!" Toby yelled, startling the pair in front of him.
Sarah chuckled as the tears continued to pour down her face and over her smile. Jareth couldn't believe how much lovelier she had become in those lonely years. At least now he had a chance with her – that is if he could get past Toby. "So what is this test I must pass, my fine fellow?"
Toby thought for a few moments, since most guys brushed his challenge off the boy hadn't really thought of any. "You have to … um … have to … let me visit sometimes too – even on dates!"
That sent both adults into fits of laughter. Jareth picked the boy up and then pulled Sarah close to him as well. "If that's all there is to the challenge, then by all means I submit. Now, let's get something to eat."
"First things first, Jareth. Sarah has homework to do." Morgan was blocking the way to the stairs.
"It is good to see you again Queen le Fae."
Sarah gasped involuntarily. "As in King Arthur? The Morgan of Avalon?"
"Who better to guard you, my Sarah? The Queen of glamour and protection, among other talents not used on you my sweet."
Morgan raised an eyebrow to Sarah. "I thought that you understood the letter was not to be opened until after your homework was done?"
Sarah sighed, "it's done. Hang … on?" To her surprise, Jareth summoned it with a flick of his wrist. "One of these days you are going to have to teach me that trick!"
Morgan chuckled, "for that to happen, you would have to be a Fae. Now you three have the night. Behave Jareth. The Seelie Court also has me guarding her from you until the end of the celebration – to which I fully expect an invitation to."
"You have it." Sarah chuckling assured without thinking of the implications.
Jareth gave the young woman one of his half arrogant smiles, "you didn't learn much while researching that paper on fairies did you, my Sarah? We Fae can be tricky, and you did not say to what specific celebration Morgan is invited."
"And she has the gift of sight. Uh, Morgan? Which celebration were you hinting to? Figures that my luck would hold out! She left without answering me!" Sarah moaned.
Jareth simply urged his companion forward. "That means we are not to know what possibilities she sees before us."
The next two hours were full of magic and wonder for both Sarah and Toby. Jareth used his magic to create a mirror that showed whatever story Sarah could imagine. Toby thought it was better than the television, and wanted to stay up all night watching and listening. But, Jareth put the boy into a deep sleep before it was too late. Then the pair left him in his room with the door cracked.
"I should leave. You have school tomorrow, and I have to oversee the preparations for the party that is to celebrate your arrival, your rooms, and the ball." Jareth continued to hold Sarah in his arms. It had been so long since she was close, and couldn't make himself let go of her again.
Sarah was enjoying the moment as much as her King. But she could let the comment pass without being answered. "Hopefully there are no enchanted peaches involved this time."
They both chuckled at her wit. "No, this will be a real ball – not your dreams, my dear. Now you should get ready for bed, and I doubt Morgan would allow me to stay and help."
"A little magic would keep you here a few more minutes. At least to tuck me into bed." Sarah feigned coyness, thought very unconvincingly.
A snap of his fingers later, and Jareth saw his love fully dressed for bed. That sight alone was enough to ignite the dreams that was sure to come in his sleep that night. In far too few minutes, Sarah was in bed and in a deep sleep spell. Jareth couldn't help but sit there as she slept until her father and stepmother returned home at two-fifteen that morning.
He had been given another chance, and he wasn't ready to lose it. This time had to be different; she had to see who he was inside – not just her antagonist in a game, but a Fae who deeply loved her.
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How is this so far?
Who wants to know what the celebration Sarah just invited Morgan to? (That is so way down the road from here!)
The more reviews the quicker you get satisfaction – meaning more chapters! J