2. Cinda's turn
Sarah was visiting her friends one afternoon. She sat down by a pond and played with Ludo's fur. The beast sounded like he was purring as she stroked him. He loved it when she played with his fur. Her touch was so gentle. It was a clear day for once. Lately it was raining a lot. She was really enjoying herself. She was smiling as Ludo cocked his head at her. He gave her a big toothy grin.
Ambrosis was lying in the grass on his side asleep while Sir Didymus was doing his exercises with his staff. The fox hoped his queen would send him on a quest soon. He was getting bored with the goblins that came near his tree.
Hoggle leaned against the tree and placed his hands in his pockets. He loved Sarah deeply, but knew nothing would go farther than what it was now. She was his queen and dear friend. He would do anything for her and if Jareth ever did something bad to her, he would beat the Goblin King up or die trying. "So, you father thought you were crazy?" He asked as he watched her as she curled her fingers in the fur.
"Yes." Sarah answered and looked at him. "My dad thinks that I got kidnapped and stuff." She ran her hand through the red fur. It felt so inviting and soft.
"Ludo loves Sarah." Ludo said.
She smiled at him. "I love you too, Ludo." Sarah patted him on the head as she let out a long sigh.
"Your father only thinks what is best for you." Didymus replied as he hit a branch with his staff. "He never been over here, so he doesn't know what your life is." He kicked another dead branch out of his way. "Aha!"
Sarah watched the faeries fly over them. They were coming closer to Hoggle and laughing at him. She watched him make a terrible face at them and tried to squash them with his hands. He missed and cursed at them under his breath. "Where's my spraying can at?" He asked and turned around to search for it. "I hate those things."
Then they saw a flash of light at the castle. Sarah stood up and looked up to see anything that made it. "Your Highness!" A voice yelled. "Your Highness!" It came closer and it was a goblin that lived in the castle. He looked like a small devil with horns sticking out of his head. He bowed at her boots and panted, "Your Highness!"
Sarah looked down at him, "What is it?"
He stared up at her and said quickly, "There's a human boy in the throne room. He has red hair. The king wants you to return at once."
Sarah looked over to her friends. "I must go. I'll tell you what's up later." She started to make a mad dash to the Goblin City. She whizzed her way through the Labyrinth. She ran through the junkyard and the city gate opened for her. She made her way through the city and the courtyard as the citizens hummed with excitement. This was the second time another human has appeared. The castle gates swung opened as she ran up the stairs. She finally made it to the throne room. She grabbed her right side as she looked over to Jareth. He was standing by his throne staring at the boy. She placed her hand on the wall and looked over to the boy as he turned. Her eyes widened and screamed. "Toby!" She yelled.
He waved at her and smiled, "Hi, Sarah."
"What the hell are you doing here?" She replied as she walked over to him. "Toby, say the phrase now." She looked around. "Where's Becky?"
"She's at home." He said.
"This is the first time I ever have a child wish them self in my Labyrinth." Jareth said as he crossed his arms over his chest. He took a few steps toward Toby and studied his face. "This is the second you have been here, child. Why did you do this thing?"
Sarah proceeded over to Jareth. She was totally shocked and surprised that Toby ever thought such a thing. "Toby, go back home now." She pointed to the left like that was the direction to go.
"No, Sarah." He replied plainly. "I want see if this was all true." He glanced over to Jareth. "I remember your face." He looked at the goblins. "I remember some of them, but that's all."
Jareth took Sarah aside. "I suggest you let him stay for awhile. This is the first I have a child just wish themselves here." He smiled at her. They didn't see a greened hair pixie fly in from the window. "Since he's your brother, I can leave him alone or I can send him to the beginning and solve the Labyrinth in time before he turns into a goblin."
"What?" Sarah asked. "I want him to go back home. He doesn't belong here, Jareth." She wanted Toby to go home and that's it. She knew her dad would be furious toward Toby if he finds out.
"I have a suggestion," replied a female voice playfully.
Toby yelled, "Sarah!"
Sarah and Jareth jerked their heads toward him and saw Cinda's pale arm around his neck. The other arm was holding the boy's arms together. She gave them an evil grin. "Why don't I take him to my realm?" She was enjoying herself. She sneaked in without the two knowing it.
Jareth's brow narrowed. "Let him go, Cinda." He made a crystal as Sarah snapped her fingers for the guards.
She pulled Toby closer to her. "Oh, I don't think so, Goblin King. I'm not done with him." She wrapped her wings around him and laughed. "If you want him back, come to my realm." Toby tried to fight her off as they vanished.
Toby looked around and saw nothing but a wall in front and behind him. Cinda let him go so he can run to the edge of the tower. "There's no where to go, boy, but down." She pointed her finger to the ground as she smiled.
He saw that she was right. It was a direct drop to the ground far below. He felt his heart was in his throat. He turned slowly back to the fae as the wind blew hard. "What do you want from me?" He asked as he wiped his cheek. He didn't know that he was crying.
Cinda steeple her fingers and said, "Nothing. I thought I caught your scent again. I had to go to the Goblin King's castle to see what was going on. This is my chance to mess with the happy couple again." Her green hair fell in her face and she brushed it away with one delicate hand. "This will be so much fun."
"You have no power over me!" He yelled and smiled. He thought that he would return home. He knew what phrase Sarah was talking about. He shifted his eyes and waited. Nothing happened.
The fae let out a villain's laugh. "It doesn't work here, child. You have to be in the Goblin King's realm in order for it to work since you went there in the first place." She lifted off the floor with grace and grabbed the tail of her black dress. "I will see you later."
Toby sat down on the stone floor and watched her fly away. He looked at the floor. He thought that he would see Sarah and have some fun. He never thought this would happen at all. He sighed deeply, "This wasn't in the book."
Sarah sank to the floor as rage built inside her chest. "Man, I can't believe that bitch!" She slammed her fist into the stone floor. She ignored the pain that rushed up her arm. She stood up and turned to Jareth, "I'm going." She had no choice.
He grabbed her by the shoulders gently. "Not without me." He stared into her eyes. "I know it may be a trap, but you will need my help."
She lowered her head and sighed, "Yep, it sounds like a trap, but he's my brother. I can't let the wench win." She looked up at Jareth and nodded. "Let's do it then."
Jareth returned her nod and took a long deep breath to clear his mind. He hated going over to Cinda's, but they have no choice in the matter. He knew what would happen to Toby if they fail. She would turn him into a frog and eat his legs for breakfast. He took her by the hand. "Keep a sharp eye out for anything. She will send anything and everything at us."
Just as Sarah blinked, they stood in Cinda's Labyrinth. Everything was green. It was morning there. This was the third time for her. The first was in her dream state and the other was for those items to make that immortality potion. She looked toward the castle. "There it is."
"Not so fast." Replied Cinda as she materialized in front of them and Sarah took a step back. "You have nine hours to get Toby." She pressed her palms together and an image of Sarah's brother appeared. "This is my realm and you go by my rules."
Jareth remained silent. He knew what Cinda wanted.
Sarah on the other hand protested. "You want us to solve your Labyrinth in nine hours?" She placed her hands on her hips.
"You solved his," Cinda motioned to Jareth. "In nine hours, my dear. You can use your powers all you want, Goblin King." She peered over to him and smiled as she made the image disappear. "But no flying and teleportation from either of you. My faeries will be watching for that."
"That's not fair." Sarah said. She wanted to slap the woman so hard and Jareth grasped her shoulder.
"You want to play games." He replied as he stared at Cinda coldly. "Then we'll play."
Cinda clapped her hands with glee. "Wonderful." She turned away from them in her light and vanished.
Sarah twisted to her husband. "Why are we even doing this?" She placed her hands on her hips. "This is totally stupid."
Jareth ignored her and went over to the mermaid that was sitting at the edge of the pond. "I see you are still banished." He said to her. She was the one he met earlier.
"Yes." She replied. "My name is Mista. My mistress is really bored that's why she took him." Mista said to Sarah.
Sarah came up to them. "She's bored?"
Jareth replied in a plain voice. "We get bored from time to time, Sarah. We take things from each other and have some fun." He turned to the right and the gate opened. "This Labyrinth is a lot bigger than mine. Time is short, Sarah." He went in.
Sarah shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe we're just walking in and not popping to the castle to get Toby." She turned and waved good-bye to Mista. She followed him and continued to talk. "Jareth, you surprise me every time."
He turned to her and smiled, "Cinda is dead serious when it comes to this. This is the first time I will solve it like a human would." The walls were so big that you couldn't see the light of day.
Sarah sighed. "You sound so confidante." She looked at the walls and noticed that they were twigs.
"Shouldn't I be, Sarah?" He replied and stopped at an opening. "You decide which way."
Sarah went in the gap and looked at the right and then the left. "They look the same." She bit her lip. "Let's try left then." She remembered the worm that she met long ago. He was very helpful to her.
Jareth took her hand. "Left it is." They said nothing and went down the path.
Sarah was visiting her friends one afternoon. She sat down by a pond and played with Ludo's fur. The beast sounded like he was purring as she stroked him. He loved it when she played with his fur. Her touch was so gentle. It was a clear day for once. Lately it was raining a lot. She was really enjoying herself. She was smiling as Ludo cocked his head at her. He gave her a big toothy grin.
Ambrosis was lying in the grass on his side asleep while Sir Didymus was doing his exercises with his staff. The fox hoped his queen would send him on a quest soon. He was getting bored with the goblins that came near his tree.
Hoggle leaned against the tree and placed his hands in his pockets. He loved Sarah deeply, but knew nothing would go farther than what it was now. She was his queen and dear friend. He would do anything for her and if Jareth ever did something bad to her, he would beat the Goblin King up or die trying. "So, you father thought you were crazy?" He asked as he watched her as she curled her fingers in the fur.
"Yes." Sarah answered and looked at him. "My dad thinks that I got kidnapped and stuff." She ran her hand through the red fur. It felt so inviting and soft.
"Ludo loves Sarah." Ludo said.
She smiled at him. "I love you too, Ludo." Sarah patted him on the head as she let out a long sigh.
"Your father only thinks what is best for you." Didymus replied as he hit a branch with his staff. "He never been over here, so he doesn't know what your life is." He kicked another dead branch out of his way. "Aha!"
Sarah watched the faeries fly over them. They were coming closer to Hoggle and laughing at him. She watched him make a terrible face at them and tried to squash them with his hands. He missed and cursed at them under his breath. "Where's my spraying can at?" He asked and turned around to search for it. "I hate those things."
Then they saw a flash of light at the castle. Sarah stood up and looked up to see anything that made it. "Your Highness!" A voice yelled. "Your Highness!" It came closer and it was a goblin that lived in the castle. He looked like a small devil with horns sticking out of his head. He bowed at her boots and panted, "Your Highness!"
Sarah looked down at him, "What is it?"
He stared up at her and said quickly, "There's a human boy in the throne room. He has red hair. The king wants you to return at once."
Sarah looked over to her friends. "I must go. I'll tell you what's up later." She started to make a mad dash to the Goblin City. She whizzed her way through the Labyrinth. She ran through the junkyard and the city gate opened for her. She made her way through the city and the courtyard as the citizens hummed with excitement. This was the second time another human has appeared. The castle gates swung opened as she ran up the stairs. She finally made it to the throne room. She grabbed her right side as she looked over to Jareth. He was standing by his throne staring at the boy. She placed her hand on the wall and looked over to the boy as he turned. Her eyes widened and screamed. "Toby!" She yelled.
He waved at her and smiled, "Hi, Sarah."
"What the hell are you doing here?" She replied as she walked over to him. "Toby, say the phrase now." She looked around. "Where's Becky?"
"She's at home." He said.
"This is the first time I ever have a child wish them self in my Labyrinth." Jareth said as he crossed his arms over his chest. He took a few steps toward Toby and studied his face. "This is the second you have been here, child. Why did you do this thing?"
Sarah proceeded over to Jareth. She was totally shocked and surprised that Toby ever thought such a thing. "Toby, go back home now." She pointed to the left like that was the direction to go.
"No, Sarah." He replied plainly. "I want see if this was all true." He glanced over to Jareth. "I remember your face." He looked at the goblins. "I remember some of them, but that's all."
Jareth took Sarah aside. "I suggest you let him stay for awhile. This is the first I have a child just wish themselves here." He smiled at her. They didn't see a greened hair pixie fly in from the window. "Since he's your brother, I can leave him alone or I can send him to the beginning and solve the Labyrinth in time before he turns into a goblin."
"What?" Sarah asked. "I want him to go back home. He doesn't belong here, Jareth." She wanted Toby to go home and that's it. She knew her dad would be furious toward Toby if he finds out.
"I have a suggestion," replied a female voice playfully.
Toby yelled, "Sarah!"
Sarah and Jareth jerked their heads toward him and saw Cinda's pale arm around his neck. The other arm was holding the boy's arms together. She gave them an evil grin. "Why don't I take him to my realm?" She was enjoying herself. She sneaked in without the two knowing it.
Jareth's brow narrowed. "Let him go, Cinda." He made a crystal as Sarah snapped her fingers for the guards.
She pulled Toby closer to her. "Oh, I don't think so, Goblin King. I'm not done with him." She wrapped her wings around him and laughed. "If you want him back, come to my realm." Toby tried to fight her off as they vanished.
Toby looked around and saw nothing but a wall in front and behind him. Cinda let him go so he can run to the edge of the tower. "There's no where to go, boy, but down." She pointed her finger to the ground as she smiled.
He saw that she was right. It was a direct drop to the ground far below. He felt his heart was in his throat. He turned slowly back to the fae as the wind blew hard. "What do you want from me?" He asked as he wiped his cheek. He didn't know that he was crying.
Cinda steeple her fingers and said, "Nothing. I thought I caught your scent again. I had to go to the Goblin King's castle to see what was going on. This is my chance to mess with the happy couple again." Her green hair fell in her face and she brushed it away with one delicate hand. "This will be so much fun."
"You have no power over me!" He yelled and smiled. He thought that he would return home. He knew what phrase Sarah was talking about. He shifted his eyes and waited. Nothing happened.
The fae let out a villain's laugh. "It doesn't work here, child. You have to be in the Goblin King's realm in order for it to work since you went there in the first place." She lifted off the floor with grace and grabbed the tail of her black dress. "I will see you later."
Toby sat down on the stone floor and watched her fly away. He looked at the floor. He thought that he would see Sarah and have some fun. He never thought this would happen at all. He sighed deeply, "This wasn't in the book."
Sarah sank to the floor as rage built inside her chest. "Man, I can't believe that bitch!" She slammed her fist into the stone floor. She ignored the pain that rushed up her arm. She stood up and turned to Jareth, "I'm going." She had no choice.
He grabbed her by the shoulders gently. "Not without me." He stared into her eyes. "I know it may be a trap, but you will need my help."
She lowered her head and sighed, "Yep, it sounds like a trap, but he's my brother. I can't let the wench win." She looked up at Jareth and nodded. "Let's do it then."
Jareth returned her nod and took a long deep breath to clear his mind. He hated going over to Cinda's, but they have no choice in the matter. He knew what would happen to Toby if they fail. She would turn him into a frog and eat his legs for breakfast. He took her by the hand. "Keep a sharp eye out for anything. She will send anything and everything at us."
Just as Sarah blinked, they stood in Cinda's Labyrinth. Everything was green. It was morning there. This was the third time for her. The first was in her dream state and the other was for those items to make that immortality potion. She looked toward the castle. "There it is."
"Not so fast." Replied Cinda as she materialized in front of them and Sarah took a step back. "You have nine hours to get Toby." She pressed her palms together and an image of Sarah's brother appeared. "This is my realm and you go by my rules."
Jareth remained silent. He knew what Cinda wanted.
Sarah on the other hand protested. "You want us to solve your Labyrinth in nine hours?" She placed her hands on her hips.
"You solved his," Cinda motioned to Jareth. "In nine hours, my dear. You can use your powers all you want, Goblin King." She peered over to him and smiled as she made the image disappear. "But no flying and teleportation from either of you. My faeries will be watching for that."
"That's not fair." Sarah said. She wanted to slap the woman so hard and Jareth grasped her shoulder.
"You want to play games." He replied as he stared at Cinda coldly. "Then we'll play."
Cinda clapped her hands with glee. "Wonderful." She turned away from them in her light and vanished.
Sarah twisted to her husband. "Why are we even doing this?" She placed her hands on her hips. "This is totally stupid."
Jareth ignored her and went over to the mermaid that was sitting at the edge of the pond. "I see you are still banished." He said to her. She was the one he met earlier.
"Yes." She replied. "My name is Mista. My mistress is really bored that's why she took him." Mista said to Sarah.
Sarah came up to them. "She's bored?"
Jareth replied in a plain voice. "We get bored from time to time, Sarah. We take things from each other and have some fun." He turned to the right and the gate opened. "This Labyrinth is a lot bigger than mine. Time is short, Sarah." He went in.
Sarah shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe we're just walking in and not popping to the castle to get Toby." She turned and waved good-bye to Mista. She followed him and continued to talk. "Jareth, you surprise me every time."
He turned to her and smiled, "Cinda is dead serious when it comes to this. This is the first time I will solve it like a human would." The walls were so big that you couldn't see the light of day.
Sarah sighed. "You sound so confidante." She looked at the walls and noticed that they were twigs.
"Shouldn't I be, Sarah?" He replied and stopped at an opening. "You decide which way."
Sarah went in the gap and looked at the right and then the left. "They look the same." She bit her lip. "Let's try left then." She remembered the worm that she met long ago. He was very helpful to her.
Jareth took her hand. "Left it is." They said nothing and went down the path.