Chapter 5 - Mortally flawed
Hoggle went downstairs and followed the voices into the kitchen. Sarah was busily cutting up small amounts of food for a young child. Toby was eating and watching the two girls' antics. The little girl would grab up a piece and hold it out for Sarah, who then opened her mouth to eat it. Sarah would in turn try and entice youngster to take a bite.
"Come on just one bite?"
"Uh huh" Tessa made the sound through tightly closed lips shaking her head back and forth making her blonde curls bounce up and down.
"Not even a little one?"
Sarah looked up to find Hoggle standing in the doorway. "Come in, sit down. I've already prepared a plate for you. I sure hope you like pizza with the works on it."
He sat down in the chair and looked at the food on his plate.
"Pizza? I haven't seen nothing like it."
"You've never seen pizza!" Toby stared, "What planet are you from?"
"You mortals never ask the right questions." Hoggle huffed impatiently. "I'm from a place called the Underground."
"Yeah, so where is that?
"ehh…here and there,"
"That isn't much of an answer."
"Toby," Sarah interjected, "Perhaps it is time I told you the whole story." Looking worriedly over at Toby, she continued "When you were a baby, I wished you to the Goblins. I'm so sorry Toby; I didn't know they were real. The Goblin King came and offered me my dreams but instead I chose to run the labyrinth…."
"Sarah, did you hit your head?" Toby interrupted, "You sound nuts. Nothing you're saying is making any sense."
"What she says is true" Hoggle confirmed. "I'm the labyrinth's gate keeper, gardener and overseer of the runners. That is how your sister and I met."
"Riiggghhhhttttttttt." Toby drawled in disbelief.
"Owwhhhh! It's no use, Sarah! He isn't a dreamer, people like them just do not believe."
"Aren't you the least bit puzzled how Hoggle just appeared in our house when everything was locked up?" She asked.
Toby shrugged, "I figure you gave him a key or something."
"Well, your right, he isn't going to believe." She agreed, throwing down her napkin and standing up. "Toby, do you mind feeding Tessa so Hoggle and I can talk on the porch?"
"Sure thing, sis."
Sarah picked up her plate and Hoggle followed her lead. As they both shuffled out the kitchen door, she quickly snatched up what he presumed was some sort of aboveground version of parchment and quill.
Braxton walked into the castle's kitchen to find his wife, Ida, working herself up into a real snit, one hand on hip, the other waving a spoon ladle to punctuate her scolding of him. "Just where in the Underground have you been? You promised you would help me down in the wine cellar. We'll not get anything done now the day is half gone."
"Sorry, I let time get away from me." Braxton said, having the grace to look sheepish. He couldn't help but think how adorable she looked standing there with batter in her strawberry blonde hair and a smudge of cranberry sauce on her check. Uh oh Braxton thought as he saw her stiffen. Ida had a knack for knowing when something was up.
"Why do I sense aboveground vibrations coming from you?
"I just had to go check on a few things above for Jareth."
"Is something wrong? Did something happen to Jareth? He never sends you aboveground."
"All is fine. Jareth and I can handle things. He just needed a little help this time is all." Braxton reassured Ida pulling her into his arms.
"Are you sure?" Ida asked worried.
"Yes, I think things are going to work out just fine." Braxton reassured and then thought quietly, I sure hope the situation works out. We have a huge knot in destiny's thread to untangle.
Hoggle and Sarah stepped out onto the porch and closed the door behind them to give the two, much welcomed privacy.
"Okay Hoggle, now the truth, why is it after years of calling and you not answering, all of a sudden you just show up?" Sarah threw her hands in the air to emphasize her point.
"Yes, well, Jareth closed the portal and I wasn't able to get back through until recently."
"Well that answers part of the question, but why now?"
"You see's, I was doing a favor for Jareth and he in turn opened the portal." Hoggle hedged his answer. "Sarah, I've missed you," He said quickly to distract her from this line of questioning. Looking down and shuffling his feet he said sincerely. "I've missed having you as a friend."
Sarah smiled and threw her arms around him, "Oh Hoggle I missed you too." While he was glad to have his friend back Sarah's hug only served to make him feel guiltier about doing Jareth's deed. The two friends grew quiet as they ate together staring off into the woods behind the house.
"You know this isn't half bad." Hoggle commented breaking the silence.
"Hoggle, do you mind if I ask you some questions about the history of the underground and its people?" Sarah inquired, holding the parchment and quill looking like she was getting ready to write a letter. "I'm writing part of my doctoral dissertation on folklore and there might be something I can use."
"I ain't promising nothing but I will do my best to tells you all about it next time. I've been away too long from me duties. Even now as we speak there is a wisher due in the Labyrinth."
"Okay Hoggle," Sarah said with a disappointed expression. She laid the writing implements down.
"Goodbye Sarah."
Jareth sat slouched in his throne with a brown haired, chubby checked baby in his left hand and a crystal in his right. There were goblins milling about, celebrating the child snatching; despite the pandemonium the king's attention was centered on the crystal. His eyes were glued to the orb watching, as a 6 year old girl meandered down the outer passageway of the labyrinth. He hadn't watched a runner this closely since Sarah but he didn't dare take his eyes off the child for fear she would run into danger.
"QUIET!" his voice rang out. All the goblins stopped, starring wide eyed at their monarch; each fearing to anger him further.
"Blast!" he said vehemently as his gaze never wavering from the crystal. Everything was going wrong. The book had been sent to the baby's family so the alcoholic mother could wish the children away in a drunken rage. The labyrinth's magic had been circumvented when the little girl had found the book first and done the wishing. Very rarely did they ever have a runner this young but when they did Hoggle usually kept an eye on them. The blasted Dwarf still hadn't returned from aboveground.
Must I do everything! Jareth thought irritably as he handed the baby off to one of the goblins. The little girl didn't stand a chance; it was time to call in some reinforcements. Conjuring up a crystal, he rolled it from one hand to the next. He molded the magic to do his will and sent the crystal to find Sir Didymus. Looking back into the other crystal he saw the child curl up into a ball with tears pouring down her checks. Even with the fox, she wouldn't stand a chance of winning but at least she wouldn't be forced to do it alone.
Jareth felt a shift of power coming from just outside the labyrinth and disappeared. Upon reappearing, he leaned up against a rock waiting for the portal to spit Hoggle out. A squat man leapt out of the mirror just as it shimmer out of existence.
"Well, if it isn't you? And just … where … have …you ….been?" He thumped his riding crop of the dwarf's chest with each word uttered.
"Yo…Your majesty, I got a little held up."
"And did you do as I asked?"
"Yes, but Sarah and the boy found me."
Jareth paused, "And do they suspect?"
"No, not yet. Sarah thinks I came for a visit." The misery in Hoggle's voice was almost tangible.
"Very good Hoggle," The dwarf looked up in surprise. Jareth grinned he knew damn well what the dwarf's name was, it was just more fun to aggravate the irritable little man. "The eldest Arnold girl found the book and did the wishing. I have Sir Didymus with her now in the outer passage."
"Well, what are you waiting for, get going!" Jareth snapped, annoyed the dwarf didn't immediately spring into action. Hoggle stumbled forward and started hobbling as fast as he could go to the labyrinth's entrance.
Hmmm, Now it is time to steer my attention to little Sarah. he thought.