Accepting Chapter 2

'Maybe I should have asked Jareth which house they were in before I left' Sarah mused as she wandered out of the castle and into the city.

She needn't have been worried, for their house was easy to recognize, being that ten or so goblin guards surrounded only one house in the city.

One of the guards caught her in the corner of his eye and bellowed "Yer ladyship!" and bowed low. The other goblins followed suit and chanted similar greetings.

Seeing the power that she now held over the rabble, she walked over to the biggest, and least unclean of the pack, assuming that he was their leader.

"Excuse me, but your services are no longer needed here, Guard." She elaborated when he stared at her with confused eyes. "These three are no longer under house arrest, you may leave."

"Oh, er… as yer majesty wishes…yer majesty." And with that the group dispersed.

Sir Didimus burst forth from the door first followed by Hoggle and Ludo.

"What cunning wit! What magnanimous thinking! Tricking those brutes into leaving…" Sir Didimus praised.

"Is it true, Sarah?" Hoggle asked interrupting Sir Didimus's words of admiration. "Did you really marry Jareth? Are you now his queen?"

"I'm afraid it is true, Hoggle." Sarah admitted to her friends

"Cor.." Hoggle breathed.

"But Sarwa, why?" Ludo asked, eyes wide and brimming with tears.

"He asked me to stay and I agreed. I didn't know that I would have to marry him in order to do that."

"Well, he had better treat you good or I'll…" Hoggle started but Jareth finished.

"You'll what?"

"Er…um…I'm just sayin' that you better treats her good, is all." Hoggle stuttered while twittering his thumbs and moving a few cautionary steps backward.

"Yes, well, you should know that I would never harm her and I will treat her like the queen she is and deserves to be." He huffed back at the cowering gardener. He turned his gaze to Sarah. "I've only come to tell you, that I must take care of some business in the northern territories of the labyrinth for a few hours. You are free to explore the city and the castle, but do not go into the labyrinth or the west wing of the castle, as I have warned you before." And with that the Goblin King dramatically summoned a crystal, and was gone in a plume of silver glitter.000

It had been a few hours…and a few more and still the King had not returned. Sarah had explored the city with her friends and after a promise to visit again, left to explore the castle that was now her home.

She explored her room, and then the tower, and then the filthy throne room, the kitchen, the dining room, the library, and many other rooms that she did not know the names of. Sarah was now standing at the entrance of the west wing, wrestling with her curiosity.

'He's not home yet, and what he doesn't know won't hurt him.' One voice in her head disclosed.

"But he's been gone for so long, he must be coming back soon. What if he catches you? What would he do?" Another, more rational, voice stated.

'Who says he won't be gone longer? And when will you get another chance to peek inside? It can't be that horrible, whatever he's hiding back there. And if it is, shouldn't you know now and leave while you have the chance?'

Sarah agreed with that last statement. What if he has the bodies of his other wives in there? She couldn't be the only girl that has made it through the labyrinth. The curiosity was killing her. Slowly she opened the door and…

There was a hallway, with another door at the end.

She walked to the other end of the hall and stared at the door in front of her. It was old and locked with a large, rusty, metal bar across its width. She put her ear to it. Nothing. She knocked. Again, nothing. Slowly she removed the bar. Still no noise from the other side.

'Maybe I shouldn't do this.' Her mind raged but in the end her inquisitiveness again prevailed.

She grasped the heavy clasp and opened the door in one swift motion…and screamed in terror at what leapt at her from the darkness within. 000

Short chapter I know, but i wanted to leave off here. Thanks for all the great reviews! You guys really give me the confidence i need to write more!