Sarah stared out of the window thinking how just three days ago she had turned nineteen, the occasion had passed in her home with her friends, father, step mother and Toby all gathered around her, they had laughed, sang, eaten cake.
It was four years since Sarah had called the Goblin King to take Toby away, four years since she had traversed the labyrinth, since she faced Jareth the Goblin King and defeated him, and it had been four long years since the dreams started. Every morning she would wake up with tears in her eyes, crying for something that she could never get back, something she longed for with all her heart. Each night she would dread going to sleep, for some unknown reason. She would fight to stay awake until in the early hours of the morning sleep would claim her, then the dreams would come. Sarah dreamed of a dream in far away land. A dream of love and fear and confusion. She dreamed of dancing the night away in his arms, and when the clock struck she did not have to rush away and break the mirror, she dreamed of what could have been if not for Toby. The dreams, did not effect her waking hours though, Sarah carried on her life as she always had, going to school, shopping with her friends or Karen, taking Toby to the park, dreams or no dreams life went on.
As Sarah drifted off into a daydream, musing how things had changed since the labyrinth, her relationship with Karen had gradually improved until they shared a close, almost sisterly bond. Karen could never replace her mother, and she never wanted to, but Sarah mused, Karen performed every motherly duty that Sarah needed her for. When she was sick Karen cared for her, Karen took her dress shopping for the prom. When Sarah's boyfriend dumped her for another girl, Karen had spent an entire weekend, plying Sarah with chocolate, new clothes and a new haircut, all the time telling her that one day she would be glad she was free of him and he didn't deserve a girl like Sarah. Karen hadn't replaced her mother Sarah decided, she just did what needed to be done.
Toby and Sarah were now so close they could almost finish each other's sentences. Sarah told him stories of the Underground and the Labyrinth, of Jarith, Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus, of stolen babies and heroines, and Toby loved the stories, although Sarah neglected to mention that she had wished him away. Sarah had never told a single living soul what had happened to her that night, nor did she ever intend to. It wasn't the fear that she wouldn't be believed, but the fear that this may somehow bring the Goblin King back, that he would snatch away Toby in the night.
Suddenly a wail from Toby's room next door caused Sarah to snap out of her daydreams. Her father and Karen were off visiting some of Karen's elderly relatives for the evening, so Sarah had been left to watch Toby, and unfortunately Micky. Micky was Toby's best friend, and while not a bad child, he was somewhat mischievous. Sarah sighed as she got up from her seat next to the window and headed into Toby's room.
"What on earth are you boys up to in here?" She scolded gently, "There's no need to shout Toby".
Toby glared at Micky, who glared right back at him. The two boys were well matched thought Sarah. They were both playing in their pajamas ready to go to bed.
"Well I wouldn't have shouted if Micky hadn't stolen my Hobbit Book." Replied Toby sullenly.
"Well I wouldn't have stolen your Hobbit book if you hadn't called me names" said Micky impatiently.
"Well I think it's bedtime" snapped Sarah, putting an end to the argument before it could really get started. "Come on Tobes, I'll tell you both a bedtime story." The boys clambered into bed, while Sarah picked up a few stray toys.
"Can we have the one about the labyrinth please Sarah" enquired Toby sweetly. Even after Sarah had told him this story a thousand times Toby never tired of listening to it, and Sarah never got tired of telling it to him.
"Well, Once upon a time" said Sarah slowly "There was a young girl, who selfishly wished away her brother to the Goblins, although she didn't really mean to..." Sarah went on to tell them about her adventures with Hoggle, the hedge mazes, the firerys, Ludo, the bog of everlasting stench, Sir Didymus and Him, Jareth King of the Goblins. "And then she faced the Goblin King and remembered the magic words to defeat him" even four years later Sarah could remember this moment as if it were yesterday.
He stood before her, splendid in white and ivory robes with a menacing look on his face, she looked back at him, for the first time since entering the labyrinth matching his gaze as his equal.
"Give me the child"
"Sarah beware, I have been generous until now. But I can be cruel."
"Generous? What have you done that was generous?"
"Everything!" He snapped angrily, then continued in a calm voice that dripped with menace.
"Everything that you wanted I have done. You asked that the child be taken, and I took him. You cowered before me, I was frightening. I have reordered time, I have turned the world upside down and I have done it all for you. I am exhausted from living up to your expectations. Isn't that generous?"
"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the goblin city. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingd-"
"STOP, wait" he cut her off. "Look Sarah, look what I'm offering youeH." He conjured a crystal in his hand and held it out to her "Your dreams."
"And my kingdom as great" she continued determinedly, stepping towards him, as he stepped backwards. She was winning.
"I ask for so little. Just let me rule you and you can have everything that you want."
"And my Kingdom as great", she repeated softly, breaking eye contact "Damn! I can never remember that line"
He saw his opportunity, the confidence washed over his face as he realised she didn't remember that all important line "Just Fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave
"My Kingdom as Great, my kingdom as great"
"You have no power over me"
"'You have no power over me' the girl cried as the clock struck thirteen. Then suddenly she was safe, back in her own home with the baby. And the girl had learned her lesson, she now loved her brother as she should, and never again wished that he would be taken away". Sarah finished "Well goodnight boys".
She closed the bedroom door behind her, hearing the boys already starting to bicker. She paused in the hallway, deep in thought, what would it have been like if she had accepted his offer, would he have truly loved her? Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard Micky's raised voice.
"Shut UP Toby! I wish the goblins would come and take you away! Right Now!"
"NO!" Sarah span and opened the door, there was no sign of Toby. "Micky what did you do?"
"I didn't mean it, really I didn't mean it. Have they really taken Toby away?"
Sarah didn't have chance to answer, as suddenly he was in the room
"Jareth" Sarah gasped.
