A/N: I'm so sorry it took me this long to update. I got so many reviews and everyone was begging and pleading for more, but I didn't have any inspiration. I can't force the story to come out. It would be crappy. So I apologize for the long wait. ~ Neveada Sierriana
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Chapter Seven: Benedict Arnolds
"The test of courage comes when we are in the minority; the test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority." ~ Ralph W. Sockman
Sir Didymus felt something change. The Labyrinth wasn't the same, there had been another "guest" admitted to the great maze. He felt his fur stand on end. This was a sign. He recalled the pact he and Ludo had made with Sarah the last time she had been in contact with them. "Help them," she told the dog-knight and orange beast, "Anyone who falls victim to Jareth's Labyrinth, you have to help them like you helped me." A promise was a promise and with that, Sir Didymus decided to wake up his brother.
Ludo grumbled, not wanting to wake from his peaceful slumber. He had been dreaming that his friend Sarah was back in the Goblin Castle. This time though, she had a daughter. A small girl who held her spirit, but was pressed down under the horrible complications of something unknown to him. When his brother, Sir Didymus woke him, he felt something unnatural in the air, something was not right, and he suspected they were going to figure out what it was.
Together, the two of them wandered around the borders of the Bog of Eternal Stench, before entering the thick forest of the Firey's. Already upon entering they could hear the vulgar screeching of the natives.
"What in heavens could they be up to now, Ambrosia?" Didymus asked his steed, who was quite a coward, but smart for a dog.
"Sound BAAAADDDDD," Ludo groaned, his voice low and croaky.
"I agree with you, brother," Didymus nodded, heading onward.
The two came across a clearing. Amongst the many rowdy Firies there was one human, a full-grown man, who looked much the same age as Jareth appeared to be. Remembering their oath, the two went running at the brightly colored beasts that were holding him hostage.
"Back, back you cowardly dogs!" Didymus barked, holding his spear in hand proudly.
Ludo, for the most part, wasn't sure which side to be on. He was calling for the rocks, but whom should they attack? This man had a foul stench, a scent of misery was on him, but hadn't Sarah made him promise to help all that came here in search of someone they had wished away? He had to keep his word, she was his friend. So, Ludo picked up the man, carried him under his arm, and Sir Didymus brought up the rear as they retreated from the glen.
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"NO!" Jamylia wailed, hands grabbing her hair. "What did those two idiots think they were doing?"
"Don't worry, baby," Charnee told her, trying to comfort the small pixie. "We'll get that lousy jerk."
"No," she shook her head, quietly, "I have to find the Goblin King. Lord Jareth will want to know about this. That man is after Sarah Williams."
The loud bunch of angry Fireys became quiet. They all stopped speaking when they heard the woman's name.
"Sarah…Sarah Williams?" Charnee asked.
"Yes," Jamylia nodded. "She wished herself away, I could see it in his eyes. He has been hitting her, beating her." The fairy began to cry, hating herself for not trying harder. "I can't let her go back to him, not after what she did here, not after she made the king…" she trailed off, shaking her head harder.
"I'll take you to the palace," Charnee told her, putting her on his shoulder. "Hold on there, little missy." And with that the two were sprinting to the Goblin Castle at top speed to warn Jareth of Jason's progress.
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Meanwhile, the Goblin King was pacing in his throne room and Sarah was pacing in her bedchambers, bouncing Krystal on her hip. He was wondering how her once friends could be helping the man who had nearly killed her, and she was pondering over what could have been so horrible that Jareth had left her. Was Jason coming? Was she going to have to go back to the Aboveground with him? She'd rather die on her own accord then have that happen.
"Why?" Jareth asked himself out loud. Hoggle was standing off to the side, nervously twitching whenever his king made a sudden movement. "Talk to them, Higgle," Jareth commanded suddenly.
"Sire?" he asked, not quite understanding what needed to be done.
"Talk to them," Jareth repeated, grabbing Hoggle by the scruff of his shirt. He carried him over to the nearest window and chucked a Krystal out of it. Then, he sent Hoggle flying out after it. "Don't return until you have changed their minds," he hollered, then left the throne room to find Sarah.
She was sitting on a wooden rocking chair, seated by her balcony doors. They were made of the finest glass, with beautiful Celtic designs sand blasted into their sides as a border. Krystal was in her arms, sound asleep from Sarah's fluid motions. At first he said nothing, but simply stood there staring at her evident beauty, the beauty of a maternal natured woman, the beauty of her angelic face, the beauty that was in her spirit, the beauty that she claimed like no other. She was the most amazing thing he had ever seen and he knew that if he somehow lost her now he wouldn't be able to go on.
Sarah knew he was there, in her doorway, but she couldn't pull her eyes from Krystal's sleeping face to his mismatched orbs. It was too hard to be in love with a man like him, to know that you would do almost anything just to feel his lips against yours, or to know that your heart had been slowly breaking since the day you left him when you were only fifteen. That kind of pain was like a well-sharpened blade of knowledge you had been forbidden to slice the apple of hope with…until now.
"How are you?" he asked. Three plain words he had spoken, but at a time like this it was enough to overfill the dam inside of her. The waters of her emotions had been raining down into one spot for many years. Over the course of her time here, those waters had drained through periods of crying, but now it seemed that they had once again been filled to the brim. She shook her head, trying not to fall weak under the pressure of it. However, one tear slipped free and that was all it took before he was by her side, one arm around her shoulders, the other wiping that same tear away.
"Sarah," he whispered, kissing her forehead. She was shuddering in his embrace, fearing for her child's safety, fearing for her own safety. He had to tell her what he knew. Pulling back, he began to walk around the perimeter of the room. "Sarah, your friends have found Jason. They are helping him. They saved him from being attacked in the Firey's forest. I had one of my spies tag along with him, thought it was against her will. I am not sure whether she survived the attack or not."
Immediately, her eyes fixed on his. "You mean she might have died?" her voice cracked. He nodded. She could not imagine someone, something dying to help her. It made her heart break all over again. Here was this girl, someone she didn't even know, and that same girl might have given her life to make sure she and her daughter were safe. This gave Sarah a whole new purpose. Her tears stopped and she stood taller. "What are we going to do?"
Jareth's worry disappeared and he smirked.
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A/N: I know this is a page shorter than usual, and I apologize again, but I have very little time on my hands and still am suffering from lack of inspiration, so please leave a contribution in the little box and help me along. Thank you! ~ Nev