A Prophecy Speaks

a/n: I do not own labyrinth. The poem recited below is called "He Is Not Dead" by James Whitcomb Riley. I got it out of a book called The Best Loved Poems of the American People.

Chapter 42 –or- Honor

It had been two week since Xandra had been sealed away, and Sarah had been busy. Those creatures had destroyed some parts of the Labyrinth, and had merely damaged other parts.

Sarah had cried for days after the confrontation. The emotional pain had been almost unbearable. It was the kind of pain that left scars on one's soul. She kept seeing Hoggle get hit every time she closed her eyes, saw his body crumpling against the wall. She saw Toby get knocked unconscious. She felt the pain of killing all those woodland creatures that had only been following their queen's orders. Everything has a price.

Now she stood in front of the entrance to the Labyrinth. The doors now lay broken on the ground. She waved her hand and the gate was repaired. There were so many repairs like this in the Labyrinth, and that was how she had been spending her spare time, the little bit of it she had. It took her mind off all of her other problems. It took one thing she needed, concentration.

Roughly three quarters of the goblins Jareth had left her had survived. Ludo was okay, and Sir Didymus had spent almost the entire battle scolding the cowardly Ambrosias. Toby had recovered after a couple of days, and was good as ever. He had been reveling in the attention, especially Princess Cara's. Sarah was pretty sure Toby had a little crush on the pretty princess.

Agee had come to her that morning and told her that Hoggle's body was going to need to be taken care of. The maid was right, and Sarah had admitted that. So Sarah had summoned everyone to the castle courtyard that afternoon for the memorial and the cremation. She was conducting it herself, only because she thought that was the right thing to do. As a matter of fact, she was due to be back right then.

Sarah flew back to the castle on noiseless wings and settled on her balcony. She flowed back into her Fae form and walked into her room. She brushed her hair and put on a long black gown made of satin and lace. It had long sleeves and an empire waist. She slipped on some black slippers and some black ribbons. She put on her ruby jewelry, her formal crown, and took a deep breath before leaving the room.

Everyone was already gathered in the courtyard. The bier holding the body was in the middle. Queen Carla was wearing dark blue. Toby was wearing a sober gray, as was little Aaron. Princess Cara was wearing dark red. Everyone was respectful and silent as she walked out, giving the proper curtsies and bows.

"Sir Hoggle was as brave as any other knight. He defied his king more than once to help me while I was running the Labyrinth. The only reason he helped me is because I gave him a precious gift: friendship. I called him friend, and no one else had ever done that. He was the very first friend I ever met here. After I became Queen he undertook a dangerous mission for me. He went into the Tree kingdom undercover to reveal the treachery of the former Queen of the Trees. He earned his knighthood on that assignment. He worked for the Goblin King for many years after being exiled here. He was a loyal subject, and a loving friend. I am new at this, but in the mortal realm they read poetry or sing songs when someone dies. I have this poem from an author named James Whitcomb Riley. I had to memorize it for some lesson in college, but I think it fits the occasion.

'I cannot say, and I will not say

That he is dead. He is just away.

With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand,

He has wondered into an unknown land

And left us dreaming how very fair

It needs must be, since he lingers there.

And you – oh, you, who the wildest yearn

For an old-time step, and the glad return,

Think of him faring on, as dear

In the love of There as the love of Here.

Think of him still as the same. I say,

He is not dead – he is just away'

Think of Hoggle that way. He will never leave us, not completely. He will always be a part of us. His bones will be buried in a corner of the garden near the gazebo," Sarah told all of them with tears in her eyes. She spiraled into herself and found the flame that had become so easy to use. She lit the kindling and wood surrounding her friend. The flames spread quickly. She began to sing. A high, sweet mournful song filled with regret, sadness, and a celebration of life. No one was immune to her beautiful soprano voice, and soon even the Ice Queen was shedding crystalline tears.

Sarah raised her arms above her head and the sky started raining white flower petals. It coated everyone and everything like snow. Everyone started to move on, they had work to do. Sarah sat next to the funeral pyre until the fire had gone out enough for them to transport the bones to the burial site. The spot was marked with a white marble stone that read: 'Sir Hoggle of the Goblin Kingdom. Beloved friend and loyal subject'.

Sarah walked back inside and removed all the somber décor from the castle. She sat down in her blackwood chair and laid her hands on her ever growing belly. The kingdom was safe. Jareth was fighting for all the other kingdoms in the south. She let her thoughts dwell on him for a moment. Then she heard the calling again.

"I wish the goblins would take you away right now!"

Sarah shook her head as she put on the costume that denoted she was the Goblin Queen. For not the first time Sarah wished Jareth were there to answer the call. She sighed and took her form of an owl before flying off to the Aboveground.