Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth, wish I did. I am in no way attempting to detract from the movie. I am not making money on this.
Note to readers: This story takes place several years before the Sarah actually runs through Jareth's labyrinth.
Beyond the Labyrinth
Chapter four: Sarah
Sarah leaned out the window and sighed. It was raining…a great grand-daddy of a storm. She imagined that little storm sprites, with wild white hair and gossamer wings flitted outside her window. Just outside. Just beyond the reach of her little fingers. Close enough to be seen and desired, far enough away to taunt her. Her fingers grasped at nothing, no diminutive beauties listened to her invitation to play. Sniffling, she leaned back inside and closed the window.
From her now-closed window, Sarah could see across the street to little Megan Winbrough's house. It was all lit up on the inside, gay balloons fought valiantly to stay aloft in the vicious storm. And if she tried really hard she could hear the music of the party that was going on. She curled herself into a ball on the window seat, hugging Lancelot close. "You know what Lancelot?" She whispered "I didn't want to go to dumb old Megan's birthday anyway! She's snot and she's ugly! I bet she'll be a wicked step mother when she grows up!" As always, Lancelot listened silently to his mistress's pain, and when she subsided into simply crying heartbrokenly into Lancelot's fur a deep fire burned in his eyes. Again, only for a moment…
* * * * *
Sarah finally sat up and sniffed experimentally. Her nose was clogged something fierce from crying and her eyes felt like old gumballs. Keeping Lancelot hugged fiercely under one arm she fumbled for a tissue. Daddy would be home soon and if she looked like she'd been crying, he'd notice. She stood up and realized she could barely see in her room. It was only early afternoon…she should be able to see something…
A deafening crack of thunder, right over her head made her jump and scream. The storm outside had gotten ten times worse while she wept. Tree branches lashed in the wind, almost as if they struggled to capture the wind in their embrace. Mesmerized, she walked to the window, and let out a startled squeak.
Right outside the window was a face, no bigger than Sarah's thumb. It had pale grey skin and pointed ears. Wild, white hair whipped around the face as if it, too, would capture the wind. Delicately, the rest of the body landed on the edge of the window. She, for the creature was definitely a girl, placed both her hands on the glass at shoulder level and leaned inward until her breath blew gently on the glass. A small smile played over her features as she saw the little girl with a teddy bear. She bowed her head, with great reverence, to the small child. Following the sprite's obeisance was a tremendous blue-white flash of light. The fey creature's face lit with such joy that it brought more tears to Sarah's eye, then; she stepped back from the window and rode the wind.
Sarah remembered to breathe after it left. The last lightning flash left her blind for a moment, so she stumbled backwards to the side of her bed and sat. She was real! Her mind crowed Real as my hand! As real as Lancelot! Sarah was so lost in wonder that she failed to hear the sirens of the fire engines that roared down the street, nor did she hear the screams of all the little girls in party dresses that were now sitting in the rain.
* * * * *
The front door slammed some time later, snapping Sarah out of her reverie. "SARAH???? SARAH??? ARE YOU HERE????" a voice in the front hall called. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" Heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs, headed towards her room. Her father opened the door and saw her, sitting on her bed. "Thank God Sarah! I was worried! You didn't answer the phone!"
"I'm alright Daddy. I'm fine."
"Did you know that the house across the street was struck by lightning?"
"It was?"
"Yes, the little girl there was having a party…most the girls are okay, but the birthday girl…never mind. I was worried; I thought you were at that party…"
"No daddy, I wasn't invited. She didn't like me."
"I see"
Sarah looked up at her father, confused by this strange emotion he was showing. "You really were worried?"
"Yes, I was love. I can't lose my beautiful girl can I?" And he lowered his hand to stroke Sarah's hair "Can't have that."
Sarah recognized the caresses on her back…nothing had truly changed. She'd hug the magic of the storm tight in her own mind, less it too be taken from her. "I'm fine Daddy, Lancelot and I had fun."
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And that concludes Chapter four. More to come soon, I promise.