A bright red, white tipped tail swishes with impatience. Sir Didymus did not like standing idle, being quiet, or waiting, yet that seemed to be the only things he was allowed to do in the castle.

He shifted the cards in his paws and looked up to Ludo, who was supposed to go next in their game of "Go Fish." It was a game Sarah had taught them to play when they first entered her world. Personally, he liked "chess" best, especially when he was in possession of the white knights.

Aahh, now that game had merit, he thought. How noble my knights are; to always sacrifice themselves in order that the queen may escape the treacherous black overlord.

He was constantly forgetting the rules Sarah had taught him, that it was the king, not the queen that needed protecting, and that the knights did not always need to be sacrificed. No for him, the game was about honor, not logic. Sir Didymus smiled, imaging himself a noble knight on a white steed, flying across a giant checkered board; so much so that he was oblivious to Ludo, who sat in front of him, stuffing the remaining cards into his mouth.

"I don't likes it," mumbles Hoggle, polishing his trinkets with a dull rag. He is the only one sitting at a small wooden table, adjacent to the doorway.

Ludo looks up toward Hoggle, one cheek slightly bulging with soggy cards, and makes a "Huh?" sound.

"I concur," says the fox, his tail now lying limply next to his feet, exposing his suddenly melancholy mood.

"Sarah…sad," whines Ludo, who now spits out the cards. It is a giant wad that falls with a sticky thud.

Sir Didymus also throws down his cards but in a fit of anger. "How can we just stand around idle when our lady is in trouble? She may be under some evil spell, one that needs three noble knights to find a cure!"

"Can it Sir Didymus!" hisses Hoggle, "you'll wake the kid."

Sir Didymus, looks over his shoulder to the crib near the window. The baby is still asleep.

"My apologies," says the noble fox, humbled. To protect the child of his fair lady, Sarah, was a very noble undertaking in his mind, albeit sometimes boring.

Hoggle stops polishing his trinkets and holds the rag between both hands forlornly. "Why would she do it?"

Everyone, even Ludo, understood what "it" he meant.

"She won'ts talk, nor eats, she jus stares and stares at the damn wall."

"I would think we should refrain from such words in front of the young one there," at this Sir Didymus jerked his head in the direction of the crib.

"Well, why can't Jareth do anything? He's supposed to be soooo powerful." At this Hoggle folds his arms in front of himself, "it's been two days since she woke up."

Methodically pulling at the ends of his whiskers, Sir Didymus peers at Hoggle with his one good eye, and then bows his head ever so slightly.

"I…don't think the king can help her."

Ludo looks between the two and softly whines, "Sarah…saaaadd."

"Argh! You just said that!" Hoggle thumps his hand on the table, "he's a king, with powers! Yous telling me that he can do absolutely nothing?" Hoggle clenched the rag in his hand and looked in the direction of Sarah's room. I can understand Sarah not speaking to that crumb Jareth, but why not me? I thoughts we waz friends?

Hoggle felt a small paw on his shoulder; he looked to find Sir Didymus perched on top of the table. Pretty quick for your old age, I didn't even hear you.

"The king is bound by rules," at this the knight dips his head reverently, "like you and I…and sir Ludo too, we are bound to serve his majesty as befitting our rank. The king is bound to the rules of the labyrinth, regardless of his personal feelings."

"You meanz…"

"He can cajole her, coax her, tease, flirt, yell at her, but he can not go against her will. If my lady will not speak, he can not make her, and if she wants to return to her world…"

"Jareth can't stops her." Hoggle sighs. He can't help feeling like something is off though. Sarah woulds have left if that waz what she wanted. She woulds have said something…that means… at this his mind is starting to whirl, Sarah's silence is a call for help!

Hoggle turns and briskly walks out the room, leaving Ludo and Sir Didymus to watch over Melody, who had just started to wake up and cry for food. Hoggle is starting to walk even faster now as a memory takes precedence in his mind. Sarah, in her room, looking forlornly into her vanity mirror, speaking to a reflection of him.

"Shoulds you need us…for any reason at all," He had said.

"I do need you, Hoggle." She had spoken quietly, afraid perhaps it was the last time she would see him.

"You – you do?" He sat up surprised, that after all the danger, when she was safe and happy at home, she would still want his company.

"I don't know why, but every now and again in my life, I need you."

She needed him, him…short and old, greedy Hoggle. To everyone else he was nothing but a stupid old dwarf, but to Sarah…he was a friend.

To hell with everyone else. To hell with the rules.

Down the hall he ran, forgetting his fear of where he was going.

I won't disappoint you Sarah. At that Hoggle runs out of the castle and in the direction of the junk heap, to visit the gray witch.