Chapter 46: Free at Last

Sarah was furious, frantic, and fuming. She'd tried everything with that damned crystal. She'd tried wishing herself through the door; she'd tried wishing the door to be unlocked; she'd even tried wishing that the previous night hadn't happened. She tried wishing for Jareth to take her away. Nothing changed.

If only she had a battering ram or something, to open the door! Struck by a sudden thought, she took a deep breath and called on the only person she knew who was big enough to act as a battering ram. "I wish Ludo were here. I need Ludo."

And there he was, his gigantic orange bulk nearly filling the dwarf-sized observatory. "Sawah… need Ludo?"

"Yes, Ludo. I need some help." She started to point to the door, but he bent down and studied her face.

"Sawah sad?" He was more observant than she'd given him credit for; he noticed the downcast expression and the dark circles under her eyes.

"A little. Worried, really. You see, the Goblin King is going to propose marriage to me tonight, and I don't know how to answer him."

"Yes or no," was Ludo's helpful suggestion.

Sarah smiled. "Those are the two options, yes… but I don't know which one I'll choose when the time comes. You see, I think I'm falling in love with the king, but on the other hand I haven't really known him that long. And also, marrying him will mean giving up everything I know: my whole life Above, my dad, my brother and everything. So I'm confused."

"King like Sawah," he reminded her.

"Yes, I know. Long time. I remember. But is that going to be enough, Ludo? How can I know?"

There was a long pause while Ludo deliberated over his answer.

Time was getting short; Sarah glanced into the crystal and saw an extremely dissatisfied Jareth being accosted by a blonde fae woman. Terrillia! That pushy bitch was pulling Jareth out onto the dance floor. Sarah's blood burned at the sight. Jareth politely bowed, but then turned on his heel and left the room again. Terrillia pouted.

Ludo cleared his massive throat, ready to make his speech. "Sawah stay here with king—Sawah see brother. Sawah stay Above—Sawah not see king again."

"Really?" Sarah asked, turning pale. "I wouldn't even see him again?"

Ludo shook his head. He groaned with frustration at his inability to get his thoughts across. True, his thoughts were as slow and ponderous as the rest of him, but they were also just as large. Ludo had BIG thoughts.

"King want Sawah stay." It was so simple to him; he took one more stab at getting his meaning across. "Sawah have other man Above?"

She shook her head. "No, there's no one else."

"Sawah want king." It was not a question; his deep, mellow voice went down at the end, making it a decisive statement. "Sawah like king. Sawah stay." He nodded decisively.

There was a long pause, and then a lone tear slid down Sarah's face.

"It's true," she said in a very small voice. "Now that he's back in my life, I don't think I could live without him. I love him." This was such a revelation to her that she repeated it in wonder, a small, forgotten smile upon her face. "I do. I love him." The smile grew as she threw her arms around Ludo's massive bulk. "Thank you, Ludo! I've decided! I'm going to say yes when Jareth asks me to marry him!"

She stopped and looked around at the locked door. "Oh. Right. Uh, Ludo… do you suppose you could help me get out of this room?"

"Sure!" he agreed with equal parts enthusiasm and relief. He walked over the door and, with one blow of his fist, laid it flat.

"Thank you, Ludo! Thanks for everything!" She remembered something. "I have to go to my room and get ready, but would you do something for me?" She dipped the pen and added one more line, and then handed Ludo the message. "Would you please find the king and give him this? It's an explanation of what happened last night."

"Sure."

Sarah darted off down the stairs, and Ludo followed. He held up the crystal that Jareth had given him, and instructed it to "Find king!" Then he dropped it and followed its crystalline ringing as it rolled down the stairs.

A/N: Eariwen -- Good guess, chum--Ludo saves the day, just as you predicted!