A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse! Richard III
I was born on a storm-swept rock and hate the soft growth of sun-baked lands where there is no frost in men's bones. Liam O'Flaherty
Be thou spirit of health or goblin damned,
Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell,
Be thy intents wicked or charitable,
Thou come'st in such a questionable shape
That I will speak to thee. Hamlet
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Outside the castle a strong wind blew, rustling bushes and swaying trees in the timeless dance of a coming storm. Swiftly, large dark clouds rolled in as thunder sounded in the distance filling the night air with expectancy and power.
When Jareth said that he wanted to have a "chat" Sarah knew he meant she and Hoggle had some explaining to do. Looking at Hoggle she moved back to the table and sat down. Just as she thought, the Goblin King made no move to speak, he just waited patiently to hear what they had to say for themselves.
Bolts of lightening illuminated the black sky as torrents of rain pelted the goblin city. Sarah was momentarily distracted as she noticed the flashes through the dining room's window. It reminded her of the night Jareth had taken Toby, the night it all began.
Moving past the distraction Sarah addressed the Gobin King, "Your majesty, we deceived you about my illness knowing you probably wouldn't want to see me again. But I had to talk with you about your coming marriage." Jareth lazily put his elbow on the table and rested his head in his cupped hand, never removing his eyes from hers softly exhaled, "Really?" Sarah hurried on, "I had to warn you that it would be a mistake to marry Sonya, everyone's afraid of her, they are also afraid to tell you they're afraid." Sarah stopped as she realized she sounded silly, but it was the truth all the same. Hoggle nodded his head and interjected, "That's right yer majesty." Jareth remained looking at Sarah and responded in the same bored tone, "You don't say." Sarah became a little unnerved at his demeanor but wasn't going to let that stop her. Now was the chance to really help her friend and she was fired up, "That woman is evil and her influence...."
Suddenly a gust of wind extinguished the all the light in the room except for that coming from the fireplace. Sarah had a feeling of déjà vu as a flash of lightening outlined a dark form standing in front of the window. The shadowed figure arrogantly strode into the dim light clapping his hands. "Very good Sarah."
Sarah was speechless as she gazed at Sarial. She always thought the devil would be hideous and foul, instead she found this creature's seductive beauty, carriage and voice were disturbingly alluring. Her intuition sensed the incredible power and intelligence that emanated from him like something tangible. Lightening cracked as Sarial stared at her for a second too long then walked behind her chair and lightly grasped the back of it with his hands. He leaned over and whispered behind her ear, "You don't mind that I call you Sarah, do you?"
Jareth and Hoggle didn't at all like the way this was going. Jareth drawled, calling attention to himself. "Satan, I presume." The dragon looked at him and smirked, "You can call me Sarial, Goblin King." It was unnerving to address someone behind you but Sarah found her voice, "You have a name?"
The storm suddenly ceased and the room's torches lit as Toad appeared in front of the fireplace, "He had a name until he became a viper." Looking at Jareth Toad continued, "Goblin King, my name is Ishmial. I am sent by the Most High." Ishmial was no longer dressed as a harlequin; instead he wore a plain brown robe without adornment covering his perfect features. "The Almighty has remembered you. The time has come to make your choice between the sheep and the goats."
Jareth stood, "Toad...I mean Ishmial, I should have known. Your skills spoke of your true nature." Ishmial bowed at the compliment. The Goblin King continued, "I cannot decide until I know what my choice will bring. What do I gain or lose either way?" Sarial laughed without mirth, "A King after my own heart." Then his eyes blazed at the Goblin King, "You have thirteen days to make your choice or you automatically forfeit to me." Ishmial added, "At any time you may call either one of us to teach you what your choice will bring. Your thirteen days starts at dawn tomorrow. "
Jareth took a step towards Sarial, "What happened to Sonya?" Sarial was absorbed in lightly touching the back of Sarah's hair without her noticing, "Who?" Sarial drawled, "Oh yes, Sonya...let's just say she's no longer the same woman you knew." Jareth demanded, "What do you mean?" Sarial was obviously bored and replied, "Perhaps we will speak of her next time we meet, till then Goblin King." Almost as an afterthought Sarial added, "Oh, and Sarah too." With that he vanished.
Jareth turned quickly to Ishmial, "What did he mean and Sarah too?" Ishmail replied, "She was chosen as your champion in deference to your part human soul. She must be present. Farewell Goblin King." He too disappeared.
There was silence in the room as Sarah, Hoggle and Jareth absorbed what they just saw and heard. Jareth slowly walked to the fireplace and Hoggle broke the silence, "Sarah, remember what Toad tolds ya...be careful. I don't like that Sarial, he seems to be up to no good and sneaky on top of it." Jareth glanced at Hoggle, "So you've spoken with Ishmail before?" Hoggle nodded, "He protected Sarah from harm, he told us about your choice and Sarah's reason for being here."
Turning now to fully face them Jareth's set features and rigid posture intuitively told Sarah there was more on his mind. She wasn't surprised when Jareth said, "Hogstill, I believe your mission regarding my marriage has been accomplished. I would like to speak with Sarah alone. Bid us good night."
Hoggle immediately responded, "Yer not planning on doing anything to her are you? I mean this was all my idea, I asked her to help and..." Jareth interrupted the dwarf with a slight smirk on his face, "Afraid I'm going to throw her into the bog of eternal stench? No, Hoggle...I give you my word as King no harm shall come to Sarah this night." Hoggle knew Jareth meant it, with his word as king and all, but he was still uneasy about leaving her alone with him. Reluctantly he said, Ok, yer majesty, I will rely on your word." Hoggle looked at Sarah and said, "See yous tomorrow Missy, and remember if yous need me..." Sarah responded, "I'll call."
Sarah watched Hoggle make his way to the door and casting her one more meaningful glance of "be careful" left the room. Sarah expectantly turned and looked at Jareth's impassive face. Not moving a muscle except his lips he quietly asked, "Sarah, do you trust me?" Sarah looked down as she searched within herself, finding the truth she looked up into his eyes and replied evenly, "Sometimes," Jareth's lips slightly curled upwards, "Let this be one of those times."
Sarah suddenly found herself rhythmically carried forward by the powerful strides of the horse under her. Moving swiftly through the night she realized she was held fast in the saddle by one of the Goblin King's arms encircling her waist. Jareth asked for Sarah's trust so she relaxed her body into the horse's gallop and lightly rested her back against Jareth's chest. "Where are we going?" Sarah called over her shoulder loud enough to be heard over the wind. "Someplace you've been before, long ago." Jareth replied.
Sarah laughed as she responded, "That's about par for the course, and I never know where I'm going to end up when I'm with you." Jareth didn't know what "par for the course" meant but he figured it was probably an appropriate metaphor and laughed along with her. Sarah focused on enjoying the sights and sounds of the night as they galloped steadily to an unknown destination. It was invigorating to feel the warm air cool slightly as it moved past her cheeks and pushed against her hair. Looking up she noticed the moon was waxing but bright, giving everything a slight gray cast.
Sarah wanted this feeling of freedom to go on forever and was a little disappointed when the horse started to slow indicating their arrival to a destination. As the horse walked up the hill Sarah realized where they were; the same hill that overlooked the Labyrinth where she stood with Jareth at the beginning of her journey. She recalled how she felt in those moments, awestruck by the sight of Labyrinth and castle before her, overwhelmed by Jareth's presence as he stood behind her and mockingly challenged her with his tone, "Time is short." determined to push away any doubt that she could make her way to the castle beyond the goblin city.
What had she thought of Jareth then? She thought of him as powerful and frightening; she believed he had total control. After all, he took Toby and set the rules of his release. Now she knew she could have demanded Toby back that very instant by saying the right words, but she didn't know the words then. She had to learn them by going through the journey and making them her own. The horse stopped and Jareth easily dismounted then grasped Sarah by the waist and helped her to the ground. Retrieving his hands he placed them on his hips as he turned and walked to the crest of the hill and stood where Sarah had stood long ago.
With his back to her he asked, "Why did you come here Sarah?" Sarah was surprised at the question. Wasn't it obvious? "I came to help my friends, I didn't want them to be hurt by your marriage to an evil queen." Jareth didn't turn around, "Is that all?" Sarah felt a little uneasy but would speak the truth, she owed it to him, "I also found out you had to make a decision and I hoped to be of some help to you." Jareth turned and faced her, "Why would you wish to help me? Why would you help the very person who took your brother and would have turned him into a goblin?"