"Sarah?' Hoggle belted in complete amazement. "What're you doin' here? I thought I'd never see you again."

Sarah stood and removed the meat from her mouth. She pulled Hoggle into a tight hug. "Oh Hoggle you have no idea how happy I am to see you!" she said swaying him from side to side.

Hoggle pulled away and straightened his vest trying to hide his flushed face. "Gosh, I was just out campin'. But why're you here?"

"Oh right," Sarah said sitting back down and fingering the food. "I followed my brother, you remember Toby. Well he was accidentally brought here and now I have to find him."

"Cor, isn't that what happened last time?" Hoggle said staring at Sarah scarfing down his meal. "Share why don't ya?"

"Oh my, of course." Sarah ripped the meat in two and gave half to her friend. "Yes it's kinda what happened. Only Toby's seventeen now and he did it himself, but I don't know where to find him. Hoggle I am so sorry that we didn't stay better friends. It's like I suddenly forgot all about you."

"Yeah, that can happen to humans as they get older. No hard feelin's I guess. As for your brother, I haven't seen 'im." Sarah hadn't expected him to have.

"What happened here, Hoggle?" Sarah said gesturing around them. "Where did the labyrinth go?"

"You're in it, what's left of it. After you beat Jareth it started to fall apart. It was the strangest thing. All the goblins went on a riot…Stupid things, goblins. But they still live in the Goblin city right where it always were."

"Oh really?" Sarah thought a moment. Maybe she hadn't seen the castle because she was just in the wrong place. "What about the castle that used to lie at the centre of the labyrinth? I asked a goblin when I first arrived and she said it was gone too."

Hoggle scowled. "Don't trust a goblin, Sarah. It's still standing, but no one lives there now. Well no one but a bunch of disgusting goblins, s'more like a gymnasium than a castle."

"Wasn't it always?" offered Sarah. Hoggle had to admit she had him there. Sarah smiled and finished her meat. While they ate, Hoggle told Sarah about Sir Didymus returning to the bog he had always called home, and Ludo's journey to the mountain's to be with the rocks he held so dear.

Sarah was happy that her old friends had the chance to find some normality now that they were free, even if Sir Didymus had returned to that awful bog of eternal stench.

Soon Hoggle finished talking and there was only silence and the sound of the crackling fire between them. Sarah watched the flames, working up the courage to ask the question to which she feared the answer.

"Hoggle?" The dwarf lifted his head. "Do you know what happened to the Goblin King?" she asked her voice soft and nervous.

Hoggle's eyes widened a bit at the question. He obvious didn't think she would ask it. "Why should you care about that old bastard, nice girl like you?"

"I just…I need to know." Her eyes met his with a new intensity. Sarah could see that she'd have to play it tough around Hoggle, like before.

Hoggle shook his head. "He's around somewhere,' he said reluctantly. "Goblins tell tales about 'im 'round here. Little ones better behave or Jareth will come get ya."

"But has anyone seen him?" Sarah pressed.

"Nah, not for ages. Good riddance I say," he spat. "If I ever saw the likes of 'im again in my lifetime, it would be too soon."

Sarah could feel the bitterness in Hoggle's voice. "I guess he's no threat now."

"Hardly, and don't worry. We'll find your brother. Tomorrow I'll take ya to the city. We'll start there. See if anyone's heard of 'im."

"Thank you Hoggle, you're a true friend," Sarah said placing a hand on the small man's shoulder.

"It's nothin'," he insisted, blushing again.

That night they slept on either sides of the fire. Sarah couldn't help thinking about her poor, lost brother. She also had the distinct impression that they were being watched. However, it was pitch black under the canopy of the trees and Sarah couldn't see beyond the firelight. Hoggle told her that as long as they remain close to the flames they wouldn't be in any danger. She hoped he was right.

Hoggle kept his word and in the morning they set off for the Goblin City. It was very much as Sarah remembered it, which gave her a feeling of slight relief. The streets were humming with loud, obnoxious goblins of every shape and size. Some were travelling by foot, others rode on strange mechanical vehicles, and some even got around riding each other.

There were food markets and trinket stands in the already crowded alleyways and town square. The air was humid and the smells rising from the crowds were not particularly pleasing. Hoggle grabbed Sarah's arm and led her to a pair of mismatched doors.

"You go in and get somethin' to drink," said Hoggle. Then he leaned in and added, "I've got an errand to run. Wait for me here, would ya."

Sarah agreed and the dwarf disappeared into the busy market. She had to duck her head as she went through the doorway; inside the ceiling was quite low. She bowed her way up to the bar where, once seated, Sarah sat upright without a problem.

A moment after she'd sat down, a grimy glass of liquid was slammed down on the bar in front of her. "I didn't order anything, yet," she protested.

The barman, who looked more the offspring of a crazed rabbit and a gorilla, glared at the slight woman. "You didn't. He did," he growled indicating a cloaked creature at a far corner table.

"For me?" she asked with disbelief. The barman grunted an affirmation.

Sarah didn't know if she should approach the person who bought the drink. Casually she lifted the glass to her nose and sniffed it. It was fruity and sweet. The glass itself was so dirty and unsanitary that she didn't dare taste it, but she would bet her life it was peach juice.

Revolted she pushed it away and stormed over to the cloaked figure at the corner table.

"Who are you," she demanded. The cloak remained silent and unmoving. "What do you mean by ordering me that drink? Answer me!" The pitch of her voice had been louder than intended and the entire establishment went quiet. Sarah stunned at the attention she'd gotten, looked around and grinned. "Sorry," she said much calmer. Everyone resumed their business.

Sarah pulled up a chair beside the stranger in the cloak. "Who are you?" she asked again.

Finally in a soft whisper a male, accented voice said, "Go away."

"If you didn't want my attention, why did you order me a drink?" Sarah retorted.

"I didn't. It wasn't me," said the voice under the cloak.

"Who are you?" Sarah repeated her question narrowing her eyes. The form shifted as if turning its back to her, facing the back wall. Sarah was insulted. She stood (well nearly, the ceiling was too low to stand fully) and walked around and knelt down to face the creature.

"I was talking to you. And if you won't tell me who you are…" she paused and threw the cloak hood off the form's head.

Sarah gasped as the man gathered the cloak back around his ears to hide his face from the rest of the bar. He was fair, with medium length blond locks. His eyes were mismatched blue and brown just as she remembered, but there was not a flake of make-up to be found on his delicate features.

"Don't do that," he warned her with a glare. Then he realised she was staring at him in awe and he recognised her for who she was. He didn't speak, couldn't speak. The two of them just sat there staring at each other.

TBC

Please Review!