Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the movie Labyrinth. The Labyrinth characters and events in the movies belong to Jim Henson, may he rest in peace as his legacy lives on through all of us. I seek to make no profit from this venture and I promise to return everything back the way I found it.
Your Eyes
Story by Jessica Arbuckle (Jessi, Princess of Impatience)
June to possibly August, 2005
Chapter Three, Call Him Back…
(Almost a year later)
"But what no one knew was that the King of the Goblins was in love with the girl," Sarah said to the four year old blonde boy in pajamas tucked against her side, her voice trailing off at the words.
A breeze blew from an open window as they sat cuddled on the bed in the boy's room. The floor was strewn with toys, from small metal cars to plastic dragons. Various fantasy creatures cast in porcelain sat on shelves around the room. Above the bed, a ragged golden bear sat on a fancy shelf with a back cut like turrets on a castle.
Unknown to them, a white owl sat perched outside the open window where it had many times before when the story was told, his head twisted as if to listen to the voice floating from the window. A set of mismatched eyes glowed against the fading light.
Toby turned at Sarah's side as she paused in her tale, a combination of their adventure and the story in her old red book. He leaned out from her as he looked cautiously up at her. He wanted to ask a question that had been pricking at his young mind for some time now, as he had begun to realize something about the way she spoke about the Goblin King, a way he, even in his youth, saw his mother and father speak about and to each other.
"You loved him too, Sarah?" he asked softly, tugging on the hem of her tank top to get her to look at him instead of into space.
'YES!' her heart screamed, the answer almost tumbling from her lips loudly. She looked at Toby, seeing the inquisitive and determined look on his face, and she sighed. She knew Toby better than anyone else and he would insist to know the answer to his question and would not relent until she told him. For a four year old, he was persistent and only a true answer would do.
"At the time, I didn't know I did. All I could think about was saving you, no matter the cost. There wasn't any other way," Sarah stated, trying to convince both Toby and herself that there really hadn't been any other choice.
Toby stared at her. He knew people who loved each other should be together, like Mommy and Daddy. He commanded, "Call him back."
'No, because I can't stand to know the truth, that he no longer cares for me,' she thought sadly, but said, "I can't Toby." She sighed heavily, staring into the upturned blue eyes that, while not mismatched, never failed to remind her if him - especially when Toby used that princely tone of childlike command. "I defeated him, he wouldn't want to see me."
Toby frowned unhappily. The answer confused him because Sarah often won the games she played with him and he still wanted to be with her. But his mind wandered - he was eager to get back to the story, so he asked, as he often did.
"How long ago did you wish me away?"
"You know very well how long it has been Toby – three years tonight. If you don't stop asking questions and let me continue, I'll do it again," she said, wagging a finger at him in mock irritation, a smile on her face for him to see, although as her heart broke. 'It feels like an eternity,' she thought sadly.
Toby giggled in delight and settled back against Sarah's side as she continued with the story. He never got tired of hearing it. He had been waiting, since spring, for Sarah to return from college and tell him the story again on her first night back. It just wasn't the same over the phone, so he only let her tell it when she was home with him.
Outside the white owl launched into the air, the breeze carrying him away from the window, but not away from the house.
a/n: Love to all of you who reviewed - Lady Saffron of the Daggers, Victoria, Jibiathon, franz-bama, LaPittura, TsudratsYggiz! Saffy, I PROMISE he is on his way in the next chapter, which I am posting with this. Jibiathon, I agree about wanting Sarah to be mature, I think her experience in the Labyrinth would have resulted in just that, a better understanding of Jareth. Franz-bama, I am so glad my story will be your door to Laby fic, I hold a special place in my heart for it. HP as well, but Laby was my beginning. And don't worry about the reviews, it is nice that there are any at all:)
As always, please R/R, I would just adore it!