I closed the door softly and threw the bolts. Alyia seemed like such a
wonderful person, it was kind of odd to find someone I could understand so
well from such a bizarre accident like loosing Toby, but at least the
evening turned out well. Striding through the kitchen I walked into the
living room and picked him out of the blankets, checking his temperature
again. He was his usual healthy self so I hoisted him onto my hip and then
wrapping my arm around his back began walking up the stairs.
His room was a mess and I waded across the floor for fear of stepping on one of his toys or another but finally arrived at his bed. Throwing back the blankets I laid him on the sheets before wiggling him out of his sweater and jeans and then coaxing him back into his flannel pajamas. Finally, I tucked the blankets back around him and sat down next to him smiling as he instinctively hugged Lancelot to his chest.
He had grown a lot since then, had a chocolaty mop of hair that was growing darker each year, that and his clear blue eyes. He'd be a knockout when he got older. Tousling his hair playfully I walked to my own room.
The mirror shone dully from above the vanity, clearly a poor representation of the friendships I also had. Tiredly I lay back on the bed and recited the words. "Hoggle I need you."
He appeared without dazzle or sparkle, just appeared like he always had for the last three years. Wobbling over to the bed he climbed the small stool set there exactly for that purpose and sat himself on the edge.
"Hello Sarah." He didn't say more than that, and I was grateful. Over the three years we'd come to know each other very well, well enough that I would wait for him to tell me his problems without pressing him and he would do the same for me.
"Hoggle."
"Yes."
"What.what would have happened if I had taken his offer."
Hoggle sighed. I knew we'd had been over this before, but I needed to hear it again, needed to question the dead answer just to be sure.
"Jareth may be a jerk but he's a man of his word." He recited.
I licked my lips. "What if years passed? Do you think he'd feel the same?"
Hoggle froze, just as the subtle implications began to sink in. "I don't know."
"Do.do you think he.do you think he would be mad?"
Hoggle thought for a moment before answering. "I don't think so.he might be surprised but he'd probably view it as a win in either case. He would hate to do that sort of thing, I know that much."
I swallowed the lump in my throat willing it not to return and turned the conversation back to safe topics. "So how's the Ludo and Sir Didymus?"
"Oh they're the same as ever, the bridge is rebuilt just a few days ago. Goblins everywhere, Sir Didymus tried to knock them in until they gave him an official document. Ludo actually is at a rock fall now, making friends or whatever he does with them. And as for me it's fairy season again."
I smiled knowingly. "What's the count so far?"
"Three thousand one hundred." He announced proudly.
I smiled and clapped. "You've gone above and beyond Hoggle. I'll have to make you a cookies or something to celebrate. Chocolate chip right?"
"Those are the ones with the funny chocolate lumps right?"
"Yep."
"Yeah, those are the ones then." He replied nodding vigorously.
"Alright, I think we have the ingredients. Thanks for talking with me, but I better get some sleep or I'll end up hibernating." I joked.
"Har har har. You better not, I want those cookies." He replied amiably.
"Yes Hoggle, g'night."
"Goodnight Sarah."
"Say hello to Ludo and Sir Didymus if you see them please."
"Yeah yeah."
Without any flash he simply disappeared again, and reaching up above my head I flicked off the light switch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Alyia (in the labyrinth)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I awoke as soon as the sun began to rise. Reaching out a hand I groped for one of the soft firm peaches muttering threats to Apple if it turned out to be enchanted. Apple laughed, shaking her leaves so that they fluttered and hissed against each other. The two trees began wandering back up the mountain to the teleport. I've never so keenly felt the lack of Pear. She wouldn't have liked the journey but there was a distinct lack of her there that ached in me. Apple seemed to understand because she gave me another peach, this one imbued with content something she normally didn't do but was appreciated for all the same.
I gave them hugs again, gave them the knives, since I'd probably be gone for a while, and thought of bicycles.
Sarah looked particularly torn this morning. Kind of like she wanted to talk about last night but didn't know how to without being rude. I had lots of experience with that though, so I went ahead and did it for her.
"Remember you promised me last night. I've already started on mine."
She nodded eagerly. "I wanted to ask you about that."
We sat down on 'swings' and began 'swinging' back and forth lazily.
"Hmmm..how do I put this." she muttered. Then suddenly a light came to her eyes, a cautious one but a brilliant one all the same. "Have you read the book Labyrinth?" Not really, but I don't think I had to, to know what was in it. And I was no longer under the effects of my peach. "Yeah." I let anger and agitation creep into my voice.
She slowed a little on the swings. "Do you know the Goblin King.?"
"Jareth? Yeah." I put definite wariness into my response.
That got her attention. "Alyia have you.?"
I didn't want to lie, because then I'd have to remember it so I thought of a comprimise. "You too!?!" I asked with obvious surprise, and then in a more resigned tone. "Yeah, he's refused to return something to me as well." Pear.
She was off the swing in an instant, and clutching the chains of the swing staring me right in the eye, not inches away. "Honestly, did you wish one of your siblings away?"
I closed my eyes, it was getting harder and harder to stay on the truth here. "He wears a golden amulet alright?"
"Did you get your brother or sister back?"
"No, he refused to return my baby."
She sat down abruptly in the grass at my feet her eyes flickering back and forth as she thought. "Did he.what did he say to you just before you left?"
I racked my brain for a moment. "No one said life was fair, is fair. Something like that."
"Did he say anything else?"
"No."
"Then what happened."
"Well.that was it."
"I'm sorry."
I frowned a little. "Why should you be sorry it's not like you.did you.beat the Labyrinth?"
She nodded, a bit guiltily. "I wished Toby away, three years ago."
"Wait..wait just a minute. So last night..when we..were you.?"
She nodded.
I slumped heavily in the swing, I really should be an actor. "Wow." I started laughing, just because it did seem kind of ridiculous, that I was here and she was here, and we'd both been to the Labyrinth, and she didn't already suspect something. I suppose since I'd admitted to loosing something that would help.
"So what should I do, you've dealt with him too right?" she asked.
I tapped my chin. Already knowing my answer. "Well.I suppose you'd have to get back underground for a start."
She nodded. "Then I'd have to manage to see him somehow."
"Why not go right up to the castle? If it's anything like other books I've read he probably has petitioners daily right?"
"Right, so then I suppose I'd go up and ask to stay."
"Only more formally." I urged, getting excited. The girl had it right on. "It's gotta sound impressive, he's a king right?"
"Yes!" She agreed. Then pointing upwards with her pointer she exclaimed. "I've got it! I'll ask for honorary Labyrinth citizenship!"
I clapped my hands. The cards loved me in this game. "Yes! Only minus the honorary, what are you going to tell him when he asks why though?"
She stilled resting her hands on the ground as she thought. "Good question. I suppose I could mention something about dreams, that's what he offered me you know. My dreams."
I'd have to send her late in the day so too many didn't witness this blatant show of affection. "What do people usually go to a foreign country for, I mean it can't be that different right?"
"Well work and jobs and sanctuary but I don't need that."
"Why don't you ask for the work then, ask for a job. What are you good at?"
"Well I like to read." she admitted.
"How about a teacher then? You could read up on the subject then teach it, or a librarian.or a story teller." I was at a loss. Maybe the petitioner idea isn't such a great idea. I suppose I could have her get into trouble on the way to it though.and she would naturally call out.he always hears when his name is mentioned. I don't think he could miss her.
"A librarian would be best I think. That way I could learn about the underground too." She decided vibrantly.
I was getting excited too. "So how are you going to get there though?"
She smiled at me slyly. "I've got connections."
That tore the ground right from under me. To cover my horror I squealed, a very girlish noise, and very false sounding but she ate it up, giggling with me. "This is so 'cool' it's just like a continuation of the book."
Oh no, I'd have to find them now, and give them information or lead them astray.something so they'd present the same view to her as I did. Otherwise I might loose her trust for good. That would ruin everything.
Then if she did get comfortable with the King she'd hunt me down, and if she didn't he'd hunt me down. It was better to remain the supportive mortal friend. Yeah.
Back to business. "Out of curiosity, who are your friends?" I asked. Then to take off the suspicious edge. "I made a friend too. Three.. actually."
She smiled warmly, understandingly. Except that I was lying so she couldn't possibly. "Hoggle, the dwarf, he's a gardener for the de-fairy's the gate, Ludo, he's a big hairy thing but perfectly harmless, and Sir Didymus, he's the bog's bridge guard."
"Ulgh the bog, I've no wish to remember that place." I commented. I glanced at the clock tower just visible above the trees. "Ahh, I've got to go again. I'm always in such a rush." I told her, rolling my eyes.
She smiled and nodded. "Yeah I've got to get Toby back."
"Okay." I walked ahead and knelt down to where he was. "Who talks with her the most?" I whispered. "Hoggle, Ludo, or Didymus?"
"Hoggle." He whispered with a wink.
"Bye Toby." I ruffled his hair and then waved at Sarah as I trotted deeper into the park and nearly leapt on the rock. Apple and Kestrel leapt apart at once, hiding the knives behind their trunks with obviously guilty auras. I could hear the clash of metal still ringing in my ears.
"Don't prune each other or anything." I muttered. "You can keep the knives, but I need them now and then you know."
They hummed agreement as I swung up into Kestrel. "We need to get to the gate, pronto."
There was a little bit of disagreement. The gate wasn't the most wonderful place in the world but that's where we needed to go, and go before Sarah called on him again.
"It seems we must consult dwarf hoggle on his de-fairying expertise." I told them fluttering a pretend fan and pretending to gossip. "This-a-way they can inform Miss Williams most accurately. Rumors are such atrocious things."
His room was a mess and I waded across the floor for fear of stepping on one of his toys or another but finally arrived at his bed. Throwing back the blankets I laid him on the sheets before wiggling him out of his sweater and jeans and then coaxing him back into his flannel pajamas. Finally, I tucked the blankets back around him and sat down next to him smiling as he instinctively hugged Lancelot to his chest.
He had grown a lot since then, had a chocolaty mop of hair that was growing darker each year, that and his clear blue eyes. He'd be a knockout when he got older. Tousling his hair playfully I walked to my own room.
The mirror shone dully from above the vanity, clearly a poor representation of the friendships I also had. Tiredly I lay back on the bed and recited the words. "Hoggle I need you."
He appeared without dazzle or sparkle, just appeared like he always had for the last three years. Wobbling over to the bed he climbed the small stool set there exactly for that purpose and sat himself on the edge.
"Hello Sarah." He didn't say more than that, and I was grateful. Over the three years we'd come to know each other very well, well enough that I would wait for him to tell me his problems without pressing him and he would do the same for me.
"Hoggle."
"Yes."
"What.what would have happened if I had taken his offer."
Hoggle sighed. I knew we'd had been over this before, but I needed to hear it again, needed to question the dead answer just to be sure.
"Jareth may be a jerk but he's a man of his word." He recited.
I licked my lips. "What if years passed? Do you think he'd feel the same?"
Hoggle froze, just as the subtle implications began to sink in. "I don't know."
"Do.do you think he.do you think he would be mad?"
Hoggle thought for a moment before answering. "I don't think so.he might be surprised but he'd probably view it as a win in either case. He would hate to do that sort of thing, I know that much."
I swallowed the lump in my throat willing it not to return and turned the conversation back to safe topics. "So how's the Ludo and Sir Didymus?"
"Oh they're the same as ever, the bridge is rebuilt just a few days ago. Goblins everywhere, Sir Didymus tried to knock them in until they gave him an official document. Ludo actually is at a rock fall now, making friends or whatever he does with them. And as for me it's fairy season again."
I smiled knowingly. "What's the count so far?"
"Three thousand one hundred." He announced proudly.
I smiled and clapped. "You've gone above and beyond Hoggle. I'll have to make you a cookies or something to celebrate. Chocolate chip right?"
"Those are the ones with the funny chocolate lumps right?"
"Yep."
"Yeah, those are the ones then." He replied nodding vigorously.
"Alright, I think we have the ingredients. Thanks for talking with me, but I better get some sleep or I'll end up hibernating." I joked.
"Har har har. You better not, I want those cookies." He replied amiably.
"Yes Hoggle, g'night."
"Goodnight Sarah."
"Say hello to Ludo and Sir Didymus if you see them please."
"Yeah yeah."
Without any flash he simply disappeared again, and reaching up above my head I flicked off the light switch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Alyia (in the labyrinth)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I awoke as soon as the sun began to rise. Reaching out a hand I groped for one of the soft firm peaches muttering threats to Apple if it turned out to be enchanted. Apple laughed, shaking her leaves so that they fluttered and hissed against each other. The two trees began wandering back up the mountain to the teleport. I've never so keenly felt the lack of Pear. She wouldn't have liked the journey but there was a distinct lack of her there that ached in me. Apple seemed to understand because she gave me another peach, this one imbued with content something she normally didn't do but was appreciated for all the same.
I gave them hugs again, gave them the knives, since I'd probably be gone for a while, and thought of bicycles.
Sarah looked particularly torn this morning. Kind of like she wanted to talk about last night but didn't know how to without being rude. I had lots of experience with that though, so I went ahead and did it for her.
"Remember you promised me last night. I've already started on mine."
She nodded eagerly. "I wanted to ask you about that."
We sat down on 'swings' and began 'swinging' back and forth lazily.
"Hmmm..how do I put this." she muttered. Then suddenly a light came to her eyes, a cautious one but a brilliant one all the same. "Have you read the book Labyrinth?" Not really, but I don't think I had to, to know what was in it. And I was no longer under the effects of my peach. "Yeah." I let anger and agitation creep into my voice.
She slowed a little on the swings. "Do you know the Goblin King.?"
"Jareth? Yeah." I put definite wariness into my response.
That got her attention. "Alyia have you.?"
I didn't want to lie, because then I'd have to remember it so I thought of a comprimise. "You too!?!" I asked with obvious surprise, and then in a more resigned tone. "Yeah, he's refused to return something to me as well." Pear.
She was off the swing in an instant, and clutching the chains of the swing staring me right in the eye, not inches away. "Honestly, did you wish one of your siblings away?"
I closed my eyes, it was getting harder and harder to stay on the truth here. "He wears a golden amulet alright?"
"Did you get your brother or sister back?"
"No, he refused to return my baby."
She sat down abruptly in the grass at my feet her eyes flickering back and forth as she thought. "Did he.what did he say to you just before you left?"
I racked my brain for a moment. "No one said life was fair, is fair. Something like that."
"Did he say anything else?"
"No."
"Then what happened."
"Well.that was it."
"I'm sorry."
I frowned a little. "Why should you be sorry it's not like you.did you.beat the Labyrinth?"
She nodded, a bit guiltily. "I wished Toby away, three years ago."
"Wait..wait just a minute. So last night..when we..were you.?"
She nodded.
I slumped heavily in the swing, I really should be an actor. "Wow." I started laughing, just because it did seem kind of ridiculous, that I was here and she was here, and we'd both been to the Labyrinth, and she didn't already suspect something. I suppose since I'd admitted to loosing something that would help.
"So what should I do, you've dealt with him too right?" she asked.
I tapped my chin. Already knowing my answer. "Well.I suppose you'd have to get back underground for a start."
She nodded. "Then I'd have to manage to see him somehow."
"Why not go right up to the castle? If it's anything like other books I've read he probably has petitioners daily right?"
"Right, so then I suppose I'd go up and ask to stay."
"Only more formally." I urged, getting excited. The girl had it right on. "It's gotta sound impressive, he's a king right?"
"Yes!" She agreed. Then pointing upwards with her pointer she exclaimed. "I've got it! I'll ask for honorary Labyrinth citizenship!"
I clapped my hands. The cards loved me in this game. "Yes! Only minus the honorary, what are you going to tell him when he asks why though?"
She stilled resting her hands on the ground as she thought. "Good question. I suppose I could mention something about dreams, that's what he offered me you know. My dreams."
I'd have to send her late in the day so too many didn't witness this blatant show of affection. "What do people usually go to a foreign country for, I mean it can't be that different right?"
"Well work and jobs and sanctuary but I don't need that."
"Why don't you ask for the work then, ask for a job. What are you good at?"
"Well I like to read." she admitted.
"How about a teacher then? You could read up on the subject then teach it, or a librarian.or a story teller." I was at a loss. Maybe the petitioner idea isn't such a great idea. I suppose I could have her get into trouble on the way to it though.and she would naturally call out.he always hears when his name is mentioned. I don't think he could miss her.
"A librarian would be best I think. That way I could learn about the underground too." She decided vibrantly.
I was getting excited too. "So how are you going to get there though?"
She smiled at me slyly. "I've got connections."
That tore the ground right from under me. To cover my horror I squealed, a very girlish noise, and very false sounding but she ate it up, giggling with me. "This is so 'cool' it's just like a continuation of the book."
Oh no, I'd have to find them now, and give them information or lead them astray.something so they'd present the same view to her as I did. Otherwise I might loose her trust for good. That would ruin everything.
Then if she did get comfortable with the King she'd hunt me down, and if she didn't he'd hunt me down. It was better to remain the supportive mortal friend. Yeah.
Back to business. "Out of curiosity, who are your friends?" I asked. Then to take off the suspicious edge. "I made a friend too. Three.. actually."
She smiled warmly, understandingly. Except that I was lying so she couldn't possibly. "Hoggle, the dwarf, he's a gardener for the de-fairy's the gate, Ludo, he's a big hairy thing but perfectly harmless, and Sir Didymus, he's the bog's bridge guard."
"Ulgh the bog, I've no wish to remember that place." I commented. I glanced at the clock tower just visible above the trees. "Ahh, I've got to go again. I'm always in such a rush." I told her, rolling my eyes.
She smiled and nodded. "Yeah I've got to get Toby back."
"Okay." I walked ahead and knelt down to where he was. "Who talks with her the most?" I whispered. "Hoggle, Ludo, or Didymus?"
"Hoggle." He whispered with a wink.
"Bye Toby." I ruffled his hair and then waved at Sarah as I trotted deeper into the park and nearly leapt on the rock. Apple and Kestrel leapt apart at once, hiding the knives behind their trunks with obviously guilty auras. I could hear the clash of metal still ringing in my ears.
"Don't prune each other or anything." I muttered. "You can keep the knives, but I need them now and then you know."
They hummed agreement as I swung up into Kestrel. "We need to get to the gate, pronto."
There was a little bit of disagreement. The gate wasn't the most wonderful place in the world but that's where we needed to go, and go before Sarah called on him again.
"It seems we must consult dwarf hoggle on his de-fairying expertise." I told them fluttering a pretend fan and pretending to gossip. "This-a-way they can inform Miss Williams most accurately. Rumors are such atrocious things."