As the World Falls Down…
By : Queen Jereth
Author's Note: Alrighty then! Here's my little fic, written in a fit of craziness a.k.a. my normal state of being. This is about Just what exactly would have happened had Sarah asked to be taken away instead of little Toby. Based extremely loosely on the movie, and I'd tell you how loosely it was based on the book, but I have yet to find a copy of that….grumbles Anyways, I hope you enjoy, and keep in mind that this is absolutely nothing like the movie! Whew, a little lengthy for a prologue, 6 printed pages, but then again on my word processor I'm using lots of fancy fonts, lol. Enjoy!
Queen Jereth
Prologue:
Sarah turned the corners of the streets with the ease of long practice, her eyes riveted on the playbook she had just received, her lines highlighted in a very girly pink highlighter. It's said to be easier on the eyes, and the director wanted everyone to practice as much as possible without going blind. She ignored the quick and sure footsteps behind her, engrossed in the tome in her hand. She jumped in shock as a hand came down on her shoulder.
She whipped around and saw the familiar face of John. He raised his hands plaintively, and said with a laugh in his tone, "It's only me! You really should loosen up a little."
She laughed an continued walking, John falling in step beside her. "I was only a little surprised, I didn't expect someone to come sneaking up behind me while I was reading."
He looked offended. "I did not sneak up on you." he stated clearly.
"Oh, and what would you call it?"
He crossed his arms. "Getting a friend's attention in a sure manner." She laughed, swing her bag in rhythm with her steps.
"So just what did you want when you were so determined to 'get a friend's attention' as you call it?"
He shrugged. "Mainly to congratulate you. I can't believe you landed the leading female role!"
She raised a brow. "Oh? And just role was I supposed to land? The leading male role?"
He got a mischievous look in his amber eyes. "Well I've always thought you'd look good in leather breeches." She gasped and playfully shoved him off the sidewalk. He brushed his shaggy brown hair out of his face and looked blandly curious. "Was it something I said?"
They laughed together and came to a stop in front of Sarah's house. He dropped his book bag on the ground next to him and gave her a quick hug, before bending to pick his bag up. She laughed softly. "What was that for, mister?"
He bent his head forward, his hair covering his face. "For good luck, don't ya' know."
She grinned at him and made a mock bow. "Well then thank you. I need to get inside and try on this costume," she swung her bag to imply the clothes were in there, "and then I'll be right out. Would the leading male like to join me in the park for practice?"
He smiled back, a soft light turning his eyes a sherry color. "I'm sure he would love to. I'll have to go to my house to change though, since I still have to check in with the fire-breathing dragon, also known as my mother. Shall we say at four, next to the pond?"
She nodded and turned, walking quickly into the house. He watched her leave, her thick masses of black hair swirling behind her, before turning in the direction of his own home and taking off at a run.
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Arranging her dress around her, Sarah sat down on a bench that sat on a hill overlooking the pond and trees and the horizon beyond. The breeze wafted through the trees at a lazy pace. Sarah brushed the strands that had escaped from her simple up do back behind her ears. The wind carried the scent of storms, the promise sealed by the dark clouds partially concealing the sun.
Sarah watched as John came into her view. He was walking slowly, and searching her out with his dark eyes. She raised her arm and waved calling out to him. "John! John, I'm over here!" He turned and spotted her on the bench, walking much quicker than before. He looked slightly uncomfortable. She raised a brow. "And just what is wrong with you?"
He shifted his weight. "These pants are a bit tight, don't you think?"
She laughed at him and took a mock-accessing look at his pants. They were made of a shiney black faux-leather. "They look quite good on you from where I'm at." She winked at him and his face turned slightly pink. "Besides, they complement the loose white shirt that they conveniently forgot to sew the buttons on to." She laughed as he turned a brighter shade of pink than before.
Sarah finally decided to put him out of his misery by distracting him. She stood and turned a few circles, the dress flying out around her, and glanced at him inquiringly. He nodded appreciatively. "The white color really brings out the green in your eyes, and provides a nice contrast to all that hair you have tied up."
"I sense that you don't like the hair?" Sarah asked curiously.
He shrugged. "There's nothing wrong with it, I just think it would complement the style more if it were down. I mean, come on now, how many ladies back then had their hair in a French twist held in place by a few carefully hidden ponytails?"
She quickly dispensed of the pins and bands, and her hair fell in long curly waves down her back. "Better?" She inquired. He nodded. Sarah took a few strides toward the shade of a tree. "We can practice here." She stated.
His eyes snapped into focus, and he nodded his assent. "Let's get to work."
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After much time of going over the lines and taking long unnecessary breaks, they finally decided to call it quits for the night. The clock tower chimed once. John glanced up. "Would you look at that, it's already seven." Sarah's eyes flew wide open, and she stood quickly, gathering her things, and stuffing her playbook into her sleeve quickly. "What's wrong? Where are you going?"
"I was supposed to be home an hour ago! Oooh, I'm going to be in so much trouble!" He stood as well, and she turned a sympathetic eye on him. "I'm sorry I have to leave like this, really, I am, but I have to get home, my dad and step mom are going out tonight, and I have to babysit Toby." He nodded his understanding and she gave him a hug. "Good luck!" She quickly pulled her skirt up revealing the jeans underneath and broke into a run in the general direction of home.
When it started raining, Sarah's mood went from bad to worse. She had less than half way closed the distance to her house before it began pouring. Her dog Merlin, who had followed her to the park, kept on her heels the whole way home. When she reached the door of her house her step mom was standing on the porch looking disapproving.
"I'm sorry..." She began, but was halted when the other woman held up a hand.
"I really don't want to here it, I only wish you'd tell me when you plan on being late."
"But I..."
"I don't need to know. What's done is done. Now if you please, you need to come inside, you'll catch your death out there." Sarah nodded sullenly and beconed to her dog. "No. Not the dog. Merlin can survive a night out of your room. He can stay in the garage. Besides, he's filthy."
Sarah glared and stormed silently into the main room. Her father walked in from the kitchen carrying Toby as she ran past. He looked after her, at his wife, and back at her inquiringly before shrugging and walking up the stairs after her.
Sarah hurled herself on the bed, landing awkwardly on her arm. Something dug into her ribcage, and she reached up her sleeve and removed the playbook.
She remembered having been disappointed slightly that the play was not as much like the book as she would have liked. She reached out to her bedside table and grabbed The Labyrinth off the top of a stack of fantasy books, flipping easily to her favorite part, the description of Jereth, the Goblin King. He sounded so handsome, and misunderstood. She felt a flash of envy for the child he took away.
She laid her head carefully down on the book, her eyes fluttering shut. "I wish the Goblin King would come and take me away, right now." She whispered, falling asleep.
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Jereth gazed down at the sleeping form of the girl who had summoned him. He had been watching her for some time now through the crystals, his attention caught and hooked when he saw her vigorous personality and straightforward ways. He walked at leisure about her room. In her mirror stuck several pictures of a woman who looked much like Sarah, and many of a brunette boy she was often seen with. Jereth took him to be a friend.
Scattered across the room were random items related to fantasy themes. The room looked as if it belonged to a child with a love for reading who had no sense of organization, for some things sat in unrelated piles.
Deciding it was high time for him to leave, he picked up Sarah with ease, bewildered why one so pretty would want to leave her nice, safe home to travel to a land of turmoil. He walked off her balcony and into the sandy shaded world of the Labyrinth. "And here you shall stay, my lovely." He whispered.
Author's Note : So? Like? Hate? Mentally throwing tomatoes at me? R&R much appreciated!