She Thought It Was Over…
Plot Summary: Sarah, after eating the enchanted peach, awakens to find herself in a bubble shaped like a ballroom. She dances with the Goblin King, and then continues on her quest to eventually destroy him. This is where my story leaves off, I don't want to give too much away because then you won't read it.
Sarah pondered this for awhile before answering. "But, if the labyrinth changes, why would you need to erase their memories?" "Does it Sarah?" Jareth replied cryptically. "It seems we are at a standstill here, wouldn't you agree? You lost, therefore, you are now at my command. You are my subject. But the question, once again, dear Sarah, seems to be, what am I to do with you?"
Exasperatedly, Sarah rubbed the spot between her brows that had begun to form a crease. "Why can't you just let me go home?" Sarah asked, becoming greatly annoyed at the monarch before her.
"Because Sarah, you lost. Therefore, you must forfeit something. I have decided that you must forfeit your freedom. You must remain in the labyrinth," Jareth explained coolly. Sarah chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip while thinking over what Jareth had said. It didn't seem fair that just because she had lost that she had to remain in the labyrinth for an undisclosed amount of time.
"What about the other people who lost?" Sarah said aloud, more so to herself than to the king.
Jareth chuckled, amused at some joke that Sarah wasn't aware of. "You see, my dear, you are the first person to lose, ever." Sarah's eyes grew wide. Was she really that hopeless? She was the only person to lose? This new knowledge hit Sarah hard. Boy, did she ever feel like a loser, too.
Hanging her head in defeat, Sarah mumbled under her breath just loud enough so that Jareth could hear her, "I wouldn't have lost if you hadn't cheated." Looking up, Jareth's faced had transformed from that of his normal cold demeanor to a look of malice. His eyes gleamed spitefully. "You think I cheated, do you? I gave you everything, Sarah. Your every wish was granted during your little quest. And yet, here you stand. Just as ungrateful as you were when you first wished your brother away." As Jareth spoke, he stepped in circles around Sarah, his eyes boring holes into her.
"Do you think that I don't know you well enough to know that deep down you wanted to lose? Yes, that's right, Sarah. You never did feel that you belonged up there, did you? You wanted to escape. And escape you did. I provided you with the perfect excuse to never return to your so called "life" above." His eyes grew more intense as his grew in ferocity. "And you are so righteous that you deem it fair to label me as cruel. No, Sarah, you are the one who is cruel."
Having heard enough of his taunting remarks, Sarah lashed back out at him. "Let me guess, if I just 'fear you, love you, and do as you say you will be my slave'?"
"If that is what you wish," Jareth admitted.
Sarah was at a loss at what to do. All this new information was so confusing to her. Plus, she was drained both physically and emotionally. Finally she gave up and resigned to her fate. "Alright, Jareth, you win. There, is that what you wanted me to say?" Sarah asked, close to tears.
Jareth grinned coldly at her. "I know I've won, Sarah. But, thank you for reminding me. I will summon one of my subjects to show you to your room." As he spoke, Jareth faded before Sarah's eyes. Knowing that he could be watching her at that very moment, Sarah kept her emotions in check and resisted the urge to yell and scream in order to vent her frustration.
A noise startled Sarah and she looked up to see a small, portly goblin stumbling above her. "Your ladyship, it is my duty and honor to escort you to your room. Please follow me." Sarah had trouble not laughing as she watched the ungraceful creature try to find its way out of the room. Sarah followed while examining the goblin. He didn't look like one that she had seen earlier. But, that wasn't saying anything. She had seen so many of them that they were all beginning to look the same to her. This particular one, however, was very chubby and had a hat that was too big for his egg-shaped head. It hung down over his eyes and obstructed his view.
Finally, they managed to find their way out of the escher room and back into the hallway that led to it. "Follow me," the small goblin commanded seriously. Sarah tried not to step on the tiny being as it led her down a series of hallways. The castle was as much a maze as the labyrinth was. There was no way she was going to remember how to get anywhere.
Their trek led them to a small wooden door that Sarah assumed was to be her room on the other side. "Thanks," she told the goblin. It was already halfway down the hallway. She didn't really care rather or not it had heard her. Taking a breath, Sarah put her hand to the knob and turned it. The dim light didn't let her make out much. To the side of the room was a small bed. By a little window there was a mirror mounted onto a desk. To the left of that was a free-standing closet. It was a very nondescript room, yet it was cozy. Probably the smallest room in the castle, Sarah thought to herself.
Not letting that stop her, Sarah fell onto the bed gratefully. She pulled the warm blankets up to her chin and fell into a deep slumber.
Meanwhile, Jareth was perched on his throne, observing Sarah thoughtfully through a glowing sphere which sat atop his fingertips. He smirked and threw the crystal up into the air where it vanished in mid-flight.