//Denotes mind speech//
Chapter 5
Sarah stared at the ceiling and studied the intricate carving there. Earlier she had awoken with the rising of the sun over the labyrinth. No sparing a thought for the beautiful sunrise that spread golden rays over the land, she had assessed her situation. The wall outside the window was too smooth to scale down it and there certainly weren't enough sheets to make a rope long enough to reach even halfway down. Though her door was unlocked, the goblin guards weren't all that stupid and when she had tried to move past them, they had replied with equal force. Apparently the goblins wouldn't be playing so nicely as they did when she had ran the labyrinth and she had proof - the scratch on her arm, though small, stung with a vengeance as a reminded of the spear used to push her back into the room. Upon searching the bedroom, she had found nothing of use and had to remind herself to have patience. 'The only time you fail to escape is when you're dead.' More good advice from Zail and so she would bide her time.
Knocking sounded at the door and it opened to reveal a young female pixie, cousins to the elven race as they both shared the same pointed ears, though pixies where smaller. Sarah smiled warmly at the girl; maybe here was her avenue of escape.
The pixie gave a small curtsey. "Sorry to disturb you my lady, but his majesty requests your presence for breakfast. Shall I run you a bath?"
Sarah nodded and the pixie scurried off. She may be a prisoner but she sure as hell was going to make the most of it. When she sank into the scolding hot water she knew she had made the right decision. The heat burned at her skin and the pain just bearable made her feel alive and seemed to wash away dark smudges around her soul - if only for a while. Rising from the bath, water streaming down soft skin, she wrapped a towel around her and returned to the bedroom - took one look at the dress and asked in quiet rage "what is this?"
The pixie took a hesitant step back from the woman. "It's what his majesty requires you to wear, my lady. I'm sorry it is not to your liking, maybe I-"
Sarah cut the pixie off, "where are my other clothes?"
The pixie girl looked down at the floor. "His majesty ordered them to be burnt, my lady."
Sarah took in a very deep breath; she couldn't afford to loose her temper. How the hell was she meant to escape in a dress like that? The folds in the dress would prevent any running and by the looks of it, the sheer weight of the material would slow her down to begin with. Bastard. Taking a closer look at the dark forest green dress, she noticed the top half was designed to mould to skin, the stays at the back pulling it in tightly. There was no doubt that little breathing would be done in the thing. Running was definitely out of the question, she would pass out just from trying to breathe too deeply. Seeing her limited options, Sarah donned the dressed and looked at herself in the mirror and knew that Jareth had not chosen the dress for its ability to keep her from escaping.
The material brought out the green in her eyes, making them seemingly have more depth, more colour. The tightness of the top half of the dress she now saw uncovered her feminine figure and the full folds of the dress swirled around her legs enticingly. The transformation from thief to lady was astounding and Sarah stared at the woman who stared back at her. This woman was beautiful and elegant and didn't belong anywhere near the scoundrels of the Underground.
A slow smile spread across Sarah face. So Jareth liked to play games did he? Let's see how he would do playing a different game, a game of adults only. A game of seduction. There was more than one way to skin a cat and in the end Sarah would have her freedom.
***
Flick peeled open his eyes and blinked in the early morning light streaming through a window. A headache pounded in his ears and he felt like he had gone for an all night round at Jumpar's Tavern with the ale.
//I apologize for the pain.//
Flick sat up, startled, and instantly regretted it, the ache in his head forcing him to lie back down.
//You must rest// came the voice again - deep, soothing, calming and definitely male. //The pain will fade quickly then. //
//Who in all of the Underground are you// Flick thought tentatively, unsure and a little bit frightened at the presence which filled his mind.
//Do not be afraid, Flick, son of Zail. I have no wish to harm you. I am the Labyrinth and I need your help. //
//Labyrinth? My help? What for? I don't understand. //
//You must help me find a mortal. I claimed her as mine many years ago and now it is time for her to know that. //
// Know what? // asked Flick sleepily.
//That she is mine. But sleep now Flick, you will need the rest. //
Understanding little, Flick dropped back into sleep and when he awoke next he barely remembered the conversation that had taken place. Deep inside the elf the Labyrinth twisted and coiled up around itself, reveling in its freedom from the crystal. Once it had built up its strength it would not need the boy and could discard him. Yet, while it waited its mind settled around one word, chanting it over and over. Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, Sarah.
Chapter 5
Sarah stared at the ceiling and studied the intricate carving there. Earlier she had awoken with the rising of the sun over the labyrinth. No sparing a thought for the beautiful sunrise that spread golden rays over the land, she had assessed her situation. The wall outside the window was too smooth to scale down it and there certainly weren't enough sheets to make a rope long enough to reach even halfway down. Though her door was unlocked, the goblin guards weren't all that stupid and when she had tried to move past them, they had replied with equal force. Apparently the goblins wouldn't be playing so nicely as they did when she had ran the labyrinth and she had proof - the scratch on her arm, though small, stung with a vengeance as a reminded of the spear used to push her back into the room. Upon searching the bedroom, she had found nothing of use and had to remind herself to have patience. 'The only time you fail to escape is when you're dead.' More good advice from Zail and so she would bide her time.
Knocking sounded at the door and it opened to reveal a young female pixie, cousins to the elven race as they both shared the same pointed ears, though pixies where smaller. Sarah smiled warmly at the girl; maybe here was her avenue of escape.
The pixie gave a small curtsey. "Sorry to disturb you my lady, but his majesty requests your presence for breakfast. Shall I run you a bath?"
Sarah nodded and the pixie scurried off. She may be a prisoner but she sure as hell was going to make the most of it. When she sank into the scolding hot water she knew she had made the right decision. The heat burned at her skin and the pain just bearable made her feel alive and seemed to wash away dark smudges around her soul - if only for a while. Rising from the bath, water streaming down soft skin, she wrapped a towel around her and returned to the bedroom - took one look at the dress and asked in quiet rage "what is this?"
The pixie took a hesitant step back from the woman. "It's what his majesty requires you to wear, my lady. I'm sorry it is not to your liking, maybe I-"
Sarah cut the pixie off, "where are my other clothes?"
The pixie girl looked down at the floor. "His majesty ordered them to be burnt, my lady."
Sarah took in a very deep breath; she couldn't afford to loose her temper. How the hell was she meant to escape in a dress like that? The folds in the dress would prevent any running and by the looks of it, the sheer weight of the material would slow her down to begin with. Bastard. Taking a closer look at the dark forest green dress, she noticed the top half was designed to mould to skin, the stays at the back pulling it in tightly. There was no doubt that little breathing would be done in the thing. Running was definitely out of the question, she would pass out just from trying to breathe too deeply. Seeing her limited options, Sarah donned the dressed and looked at herself in the mirror and knew that Jareth had not chosen the dress for its ability to keep her from escaping.
The material brought out the green in her eyes, making them seemingly have more depth, more colour. The tightness of the top half of the dress she now saw uncovered her feminine figure and the full folds of the dress swirled around her legs enticingly. The transformation from thief to lady was astounding and Sarah stared at the woman who stared back at her. This woman was beautiful and elegant and didn't belong anywhere near the scoundrels of the Underground.
A slow smile spread across Sarah face. So Jareth liked to play games did he? Let's see how he would do playing a different game, a game of adults only. A game of seduction. There was more than one way to skin a cat and in the end Sarah would have her freedom.
***
Flick peeled open his eyes and blinked in the early morning light streaming through a window. A headache pounded in his ears and he felt like he had gone for an all night round at Jumpar's Tavern with the ale.
//I apologize for the pain.//
Flick sat up, startled, and instantly regretted it, the ache in his head forcing him to lie back down.
//You must rest// came the voice again - deep, soothing, calming and definitely male. //The pain will fade quickly then. //
//Who in all of the Underground are you// Flick thought tentatively, unsure and a little bit frightened at the presence which filled his mind.
//Do not be afraid, Flick, son of Zail. I have no wish to harm you. I am the Labyrinth and I need your help. //
//Labyrinth? My help? What for? I don't understand. //
//You must help me find a mortal. I claimed her as mine many years ago and now it is time for her to know that. //
// Know what? // asked Flick sleepily.
//That she is mine. But sleep now Flick, you will need the rest. //
Understanding little, Flick dropped back into sleep and when he awoke next he barely remembered the conversation that had taken place. Deep inside the elf the Labyrinth twisted and coiled up around itself, reveling in its freedom from the crystal. Once it had built up its strength it would not need the boy and could discard him. Yet, while it waited its mind settled around one word, chanting it over and over. Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, Sarah.