Chapter 5

"Hoggle! I am really glad to see you! Where are Ludo and Didimus? Can you get me out of here?"

Hoggle shook his head, as if clearing it, then nodded. "Yes, but we don't have much time. You nearly blew it a second ago. Take my hand."

Sarah did so, and was just opening her mouth to ask how she almost blew it when she suddenly found herself out of the oubliette and standing in the middle of what looked like a medieval town square. "What the huh? How did you do that Hoggle?"

Instead of answering, Hoggle led her to what turned out to be a pub, where Ludo and Didimus were waiting, Ludo looking ridiculously large in the small space. After greeting her friends, and apologizing for leaving them behind at the carousel, she got down to business.

"Okay. Someone has to tell me what is going on. How did you appear in that oubliette, Hoggle? I didn't know you could do magic."

"I can't. Jareth sent me."

"He did? Why?"

"Don't ask me his motives, Sarah. He's the King. He does what he wants." Sarah couldn't help but notice the shifty look in his eye that meant he knew more than he was letting on, but she let it slide.

"Okay. Then where are we now? Am I any closer to getting out of this place?"

Didimus answered her. "We are about halfway through the Labyrinth, my lady, and are currently in one of the Faerie towns that grace this land."

"Halfway through? That's not too bad. Maybe I'll get out of here after all."

"Yes, Sarah," said Hoggle, "that's the ticket, right enough. Don't give up. Never give up. You came close a moment ago, in the oubliette, but Jareth…"

"Hoggle," Sarah interrupted him, suddenly remembering her earlier question. "Why didn't Jareth leave me in the oubliette the first time I was here? He'd have won the stupid contest no problem if he didn't send you after me."

His image flitted briefly through her mind, bringing with it emotions she wasn't quite ready to face yet. She could still feel his arm on her shoulder; still feel the warmth spreading through her as his lips touched her hair…Fortunately Hoggle interrupted her disturbing train of thought.

"Because it isn't enough to have lost the contest. You never gave up, even in the oubliette. He needed you to give in."

Sarah understood. She thought of the words, the ones at the end of the book she loved so well, the ones that saved her from the Labyrinth. "Power. It's all about power. If I gave up, he'd have power over me. Huh" she sat lost in thought for a minute. "Okay, I get it. Now if I could just figure out how to use that to help me get to the beginning of this place…"

"It ain't as simple as all that now," Hoggle said. "

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing," Hoggle, never a good liar, looked uncomfortable, "I just means that things aren't what they seem here."

"That I already knew. Come on Hoggle, spill it. What's really going on? What does Jareth want from me?"

Didimus, ever chivalrous, jumped in, "My lady, if you still wish to find your way free of this place, we must continue on."

"Sarah, hurry," Ludo agreed.

Sarah sighed. She wanted to press the issue, but they were right. Time was still important. "Okay, lets go." Sarah was able to get a good look at the other patrons as they threaded their way past the other tables. All the people reminded her of Jareth; they were all tall, mysterious and beautiful. She would have liked to stay longer and learn more about these people; these Fae, she supposed they were, but, like Didimus said, there wasn't much time.

Behind them, unnoticed, a young man watched them go. He smiled, then turned to his companion. "That was a close call," he said, "but I think we still have a chance of winning her back."

Jareth nodded. "I truly hope so. For all our sakes."