Hurts Like Hell

Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus stood in the center of the throne room, surrounded by yelling Goblins. The three stood in a circle, backs to each other, facing the Goblins. Each of Sarah's friends was trying desperately to calm down the Goblins before them.

"Ain't no use yelling about it," Hoggle said to the closest Goblin.

"I'm certain that His Majesty will return with Lady Sarah shortly," Sir Didymus shouted to his group of Goblins.

"Sarah need break. King help Sarah," Ludo tried to reason with the angry Goblins.

"This ain't working," Hoggle shouted, backing up so his friends could hear him.

"Have you a better idea?" Sir Didymus questioned, not taking his of the screaming Goblins.

"I'm out," Hoggle shouted back.

"Send Goblins search," Ludo shouted over his shoulder.

The Goblins closest to him started up a chant. Soon, the entire room was echoing with one word, "Search!"

The three brothers covered their ears as the noise increased. "Sorry," Ludo shouted.

"It's a good idea," Hoggle shouted back. "Besides, listen to 'em. What choice 'ave we got?"

Sir Didymus nodded. "We can only do this if the Goblins are quiet," he shouted, voice rising in volume until it was just below a scream. As soon as the small knight said the word 'quiet,' the room was instantly silent. "That's better," the fox said in a normal voice as the three friends lowered their hands. "Now, My Brothers, I suggest we split the Goblins into several search-parties and send them out."

"Before they start chanting again," Hoggle added.

The three friends immediately set to work, dividing the Goblins and sending them to various corners of the Labyrinth. As Hoggle sent the last search-party out, he turned to his friends, looking specifically at Ludo. "Tha' was a good idea."

"I agree," Sir Didymus said, also turning to Ludo.

Ludo looked at the floor. The others would swear, much later, that he was blushing beneath all his fur. "We look for King and Sarah now," he said quietly.

Just then, the trio heard two sets of footsteps running towards the throne room. The three looked in the direction of the sound hopefully. They had to fight hard to hide their disappointment when it was not Sarah and Jareth, but Cattie and Llewellyn who came through the door.

"Cattie," Sir Didymus said, "should you not be home with your son?"

Cattie frowned. "I put him to bed already, Sir Didymus," she responded. "Burnie is watching him."

"After what he did this morning, you trust him with your son," Hoggle said incredulously.

Cattie's frowned deepened. In an effort to calm his wife and Sarah's friends, Llewellyn spoke up. "I'm pretty sure Burnie is trustworthy. My darling Cattie scared the both of us too much for either of us to mess up again for quiet some time."

Cattie laughed, hugging her husband, "You deserved it."

"We did," Llewellyn agreed. Wrapping his arms around his wife, he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"Cattie?" Ludo asked. "Llewellyn?"

"Yes, Ludo?" Cattie questioned.

"Know where we find Sarah?" Ludo asked. Llewellyn marveled silently at how well the Yeti was learning to speak English.

"We were hoping you would know," Llewellyn answered, releasing his wife. The smiles on both Felines vanished as the three friends slowly shook their heads.

"Check mirrors?" Ludo asked.

"We checked a couple of hours ago," Cattie responded.

"Come," Sir Didymus said, walking towards the door Cattie and Llewellyn had come through. "Let's go check them again."

The Feline couple looked over at the Yeti and the Dwarf, who both shrugged and followed the Fox. Hoggle stopped and turned to face Cattie and Llewellyn. "We might as well look together. It wouldn't do to loose each other, too."

"You're right," Cattie said, and looked at her husband. He nodded and the two Felines followed Sarah's closest friends.

In another Kingdom, in the middle of the Underground, the High King put a hand to his eyes. "Problem, My Love?" the High Queen asked.

Lowering his hand, the Elf responded, "No, Darling." At the look he received from his wife, King Elvin, King of the Elves and High King of the Underground added, "The Goblin King's mortal is going to cause some problems before relenting."

The High Queen nodded. "At least we know the Goblin Kingdom loves her. That counts for something."