Author's note: Sorry it took so long. Please forgive me. Oh and my spellcheck is all messed up so there will be more mistakes than usual I think.
The underground tunnel was warmer than the weather above but it was also dark and long. Jareth had illuminated a ball of light in his hand to lead the way, but the walls were quite narrow and the light didn't pass beyond Jareth's broad form. So, Sarah, who was walking behind, occasionally found herself holding onto the former Gobloin King's sleeve and feeling crunchy things beneath her feet. She decided that it was probably better she couldn't see afterall.
"You do know where we're going don't you?" Sarah asked a bit mockingly. It didn't feel like they'd been down there long, but she'd landed wrong on her ankle and although it wasn't seriously hurt it was starting to bother her. Of course she would never complain to Jareth.
Jareth sighed, "Yes, yes of course I do. Besides, these tunnels, if you've noticed, only go in one solid dirrection. It would be impossible to get lost."
"Ya well, that's what I thought of your labyrinth and I got lost at least half a dozen times," she retorted.
"That was because I am a brilliant designer. These mud tunnels were dug by stupid goblins who only know forward and backward. Anything more and they'd have their heads up there asses."
Sarah chuckled to herself. It was strange how she had to keep reminding herself of where she was and how it was only a few days ago that she was in New England packing up her old things and chatting with Toby. Toby, she had to keep reminding herself of him too. This oracle better know his stuff.
Jareth stopped all of a sudden. "Hmmm," he said using the light to look around. Sarah tried to peek over his shoulder, but she couldn't see what was up. "I think we've come to the end of our tunnel."
"So now what? Is there a door?" She asked hopping up and down still trying to get a better look.
"No, no door. It looks to me like someone has blocked this tunnel intentionally and very resently," he observed. "Well we'll have to turn back and try another way around."
"What! Oh no, I'm not going back," she foldeed her arms holding her ground. "What's blocking it exactly?"
"A lot of packed dirt," Jareth huffed. "Now turn around and stop arguing."
Sarah refused to budge, so Jareth squeezed past her. His light shone right in her eyes and she knocked it away. Jareth caught it before it went out and cursed under his breath. Sarah didn't appologise, but grabbed back the hand holding the light and brought it up to the dirt wall before them.
"Make up your mind. You don't want the light, you do want the light," Jareth said struggling against her surprisingly strong grip on his wrist.
"I want it. Right here, right now. So stop resisting and give it to me," Sarah demanded.
"Now, say all that again with less agitation and more sultry seduction," he teased.
"Stop that!" she growled, punching his shoulder. "I know it's been difficult for you to remain even a little human, but please don't revert to being a total perverted pig just yet."
Jareth's eyes widened and then narrowed at Sarah. "I was only trying to improve the atmosphere in here. You are so tense." He moved his free hand to massage her neck, but she swatted him away and gave him another, "Stop that!"
Sarah reached inside the bag sher was still carrying and found her hair clip. Once her hair was out of the way she began to dig with her gloved hands. Jareth rolled his eyes.
"Is this your plan? Dig until your knuckles bleed?" He sighed deeply, then with one swift move the wall of dirt was gone and the tunnel stretched on again.
Sarah blinked in disbelief for a moment, but then her eyes grew cold. "You could have done this in the first place, but yet you suggested we turn around and go back?"
"Well, yes, of course," he admitted frankly. "But my dear Sarah, if you had been listening, I want to save as much of my power as possible. I only removed our obsticle because of your foolish stuburn need to continue down the tunnels."
Sarah sat on her haunches staring at Jareth with a wicked look of furry. She didn't care what his excuses were, she was getting tired of them. She was beginning to suspect that maybe he was making it all up. Sarah couldn't see how his power could be on such short supply. Which meant that Jareth was actually stalling to have more time with her. At other times that idea might not have been too horrible, but right now her brother was missing and this was no time for games.
"Let's go," she sneered. Jareth grimaced and then fallowed her.
Toby awoke again to find himself rested and feeling more energised than before. His head had stopped hurting and finally his eyes focused on the sunlight room around him. He remembered that there had been candles everywhere the last time he was awake, so he figured he'd slept a long time.
There wasn't any sign of the mysterious woman. What had her name been? 'Hope', he remembered at last. He wasn't quite ready to trust her and what she'd said about his sister and the Goblin King, but he knew she was all he had to go on at the moment.
"Sarah," he whispered as he sat on the edge of the bed. "I have to find you." He found a fresh set of clothes lying on a plush armchair. Quickly he dressed in the simple brown pants, white linen shirt and leather vest. He then proceeded to the door.
As quietly as he could, Toby opened the door and stepped into the hall. He then realised how small this cottage was. The hall was short and he could see another room at the end without a door. It looked like a common room with a fire blazing at one end. Off the hall were only two other doors besides the one he came from. He decided he should just look for the nearest exist.
Toby tiptoed to the doorway of the common room and glanced around. It was occupied solely by furniture as lush as that in his room. He didn't see Hope, which gave him both a sense of relief and panic at once. She wasn't here so he could get to the door he saw to the left, but she might come down the hall at any moment.
So with a final survey of his surroundings, Toby ran for the door. Unfortunately, as he swung it open and stepped out into the front garden Hope sat crouching tending to some flowers. She had heard the door creak open behind her and she stood to great him.
"I see you found the clothes I left out for you." She said smiling. Her attire was gardening appropriate and not at all like the revealing dress she'd worn previously.
Toby swallowed hard. He didn't want to be afraid, but he was. He was afraid she was not what she seemed. He had had so many nightmares about this world growing up that nothing about it made him feel at ease. Not even Hope's warm, sweet smile.
"Y-yes, Th-thanks," he stuttered. Toby swallowed again and cleared his throat. "They're great, thank you," he said evenly.
"Good, I'm glad. Oh look at me," she said realising her dirt-smudged dress. "I'm a mess. Why don't you come inside, I'll clean up and we can have something to eat?"
Toby wanted to leave, but Hope was being so kind, and he could feel his empty stomach grumble. What harm could it do to take a few more minutes to eat something? After a moment Toby nodded and the tow went back inside.
Hope disappeared behind one of the doors in the hall. Toby made himself at home, convincing himself he was safe. After looking at her collection of books with titles he'd never heard of and glancing at the various framed pictures of strangers, Toby sat in an old fashioned, carved armchair by the fire.
Hope reappeared in a green dress that matched her eyes and set about gathering food on a tray. Toby seemed to drift off by the fire, thinking about Sarah and how he would find her, until a kettle whistle blew and brought him back.
Hope put the try of jams and breads down on the arm of Toby's chair and rushed to the complaining kettle. Hope lifted the kettle off the hook over the fire and poured the hot water into mugs. She then dropped a metal perforated ball of tealeaves into each one and while Toby was distracted by his desperate hunger, Hope dropped something extra into the Toby's mug. The raven-haired woman grinned wickedly to herself.
"Tea's ready," she said handing the hot potion to Toby.
TBC…
