Toby sprinted as fast as he could, scanning the sides of the corridor for any opening to get away from the beast at his heals.
"Wait! Fwend!" bellowed a deep voice from behind him, goading Toby to pick up speed.
Pottsy tugged at his hair, "Wait!" she screamed. "Go back!"
A gruff out of breath voice called out. "Toby!... wait!" He glanced back, hobbling a ways behind the monster was Hoggle. He didn't seem happy about running. "Wait... dang it!"
Reluctantly Toby slowed to a stop, the rapidly approaching monster caused his stomach to clench in nervousness but he stood his ground. He trusted Hoggle and Pottsy, it they weren't afraid he wouldn't be either. He asked Pottsy, "Who's that?"
"Ludo." Pottsy beamed. "He's a friend!"
Ludo had caught up and grunted softly at the sound of his name. He grinned and nodded. "Ludo help."
Toby held out a hand in greeting. "Uh... nice to meet you, Ludo. I'm Toby."
Ludo blinked in confusion for a moment before raising his own huge hand to tap Toby's outstretched palm. "High five!" he grinned, "To-by fwend."
Toby couldn't help but smile at the gentleness of this giant.
Hoggle was huffing and puffing when he finally caught up, he leaned on his knees to catch his breath. "Don't... go... that way!" he wheezed "It... heads straight... to the... bog!"
...
The window ledge in the throneroom had an excellent view of the Labyrinth but the intricate beauty was lost on Sarah as she squinted attempting to find any sign of her brother. Her dad and Karen were again huddled on the bench that Jareth had arranged for them in the pit, holding the crystal. Whatever they saw caused them both to gasp in alarm.
Sarah was off the ledge and beside them in three strides.
Still intent on the crystal Karen exclaimed, "Oh thank goodness!" holding a hand to her chest and breathing a sigh of relief as Robert hugged her shoulders.
Inching closer Sarah asked. "May I join you?"
They both jumped at her words and her dad scowled. "It's your castle isn't it?" Sarah's eyed pricked at the venom in his words.
"Robert!" Karen frowned at her husband and tapped the cushion beside her.
Sarah tentatively accepted the invitation. "How's he doing?"
Robert pointed an accusing finger. "As if you care! You put him there!"
Karen shot a disapproving glare at Robert before tuning her attention back to Sarah's question. "Well, he has had run ins with a giant spider, a talking hat, and a furry monster, but he seems to be okay."
Clearing her throat Karen continued. "Sarah...I know that you don't really want to think about it, but... what will happen to us if Toby doesn't get here in time?" Her eyes pleaded.
Sarah sighed, Karen was right, it wasn't fair of her to leave them in the dark, leaving them to imagine the worst. She chose her words carefully. "The unclaimed wished away become citizens of the Underground, they cannot go back Above."
"But what does that mean? Would we be prisoners?" Karen wrung her hands anxiously.
Sarah took her hands in her own gently. "No, from what I understand you would be free to choose your residence here or in any of the neighboring kingdoms."
Karen's voice was tense, "And what would happen to Toby?"
"Technically runners are returned Above but I believe he would be free to decide if he wants to return above or remain here with you."
Karen's eyes went wide. "But above... he'd be alone!" Her knuckles were white from how hard she was clenching them.
Booted steps rang out and they all jumped, When did he get back?
Approaching the trio on the bench Jareth knelt and looked Karen in the eyes. "If Toby wins things will return to as they were. If he loses I will personally see to the comfort of your accommodations." He held a hand to his heart, "I promise that no matter the outcome I will keep your family safe."
Karen nodded in understanding but her knuckles were still clenched in worry.
Unimpressed by Jareth's promise Robert crossed his arms. "What about Sarah? You've pulled her into this mess too."
Jareth eyed Sarah appreciativly. "Sarah has always had a knack for finding her right words, I am certain that she can navigate her responsibilities in both worlds."
Sarah frowned, if Hoggle was right then Jareth was outright lying. She stood. "Jareth, may I speak with you... privately?" She turned to Karen, "Keep an eye on Toby, call us if anything happens."
Jareth took Sarah's hand and they arrived in what appeared to be a study. Sturdy wooden shelves piled with dusty tomes, a large desk haphazardly piled with books, quills and correspondence.
Sarah leaned against a bookcase, arms crossed.
Jareth proped himself against the desk, suddenly aloof. "What does the Lady wish to discuss?"
Sarah took a deep slow breath. "Why did you lie to me?"
He seemed taken aback by the accusation. "I have not-"
She jumped up. "Yes you have! Making me believe that I have a choice when you have already bound me here!"
His face fell, "I did not bind you."
"What else would you call tricking me into accepting the pendant?"
He shook his head. "If you must know, you were bound long before you accepted the pendant."
Her blood ran cold. "All of this... was just a trap..."
"No-" he approached her, hands raised in a placating gesture.
Her voice cracked as she cut him off, her hand slamming on the desk. "You lied to me!"
"I did not lie." At her frown of disbelief Jareth sighed wearily. "Although it is true that there are some things that I did not disclose to you, not wanting to overwhelm you at that time."
She pursed her lips. "So you lied by omition."
He shook his head. "It was not my intention to deceive you..." He gently placed his hand over hers, his face tightened. "I had suspected a bond and only thought to let you ease into your responsibilities with no pressure... "
She yanked her hand away from him. "How am I bound?"
Jareth clenched his empty hands, pained. "How exactly you were bound is still unclear. However, do you recall when we spoke in the throneroom, I said that during your run you made changes?" She nodded, he continued. "That in itself was not unusual, those with vivid imagination often influence their runs, but those changes always disappeared at the end of the thirteen hours... but all of your changes remained, even long after you left."
"So?"
"Only the reigning monarch can make permanent changes to the Labyrinth."
"How... How could I be bound since my run? I didn't accept your offer! And I've been Above for nine years!""
"Nonetheless you already wield the same powers as myself."
"So what? You noticed I have powers and you've been waiting to trick me back here to take the throne?"
He shook his head. "Remember I could not contact you at all, I had no way of knowing if and when you would return." He sighed and sat on the edge of the desk. "I had noticed that there was evidence of you possessing certain power and I have not hidden the fact that I wanted to see you again. However, no matter how much I desire to have you with me, I would not keep you here against your will."
"So am I trapped or not?"
He took her hand again gently, apprehension in his eyes. "As far as I can tell, your bond with the Labyrinth is similar to mine. As such you are free to travel between worlds, as I do."
She didn't move her hand away this time but her expression remained closed. "I sense a "but" here."
He nodded and paused, searching for the right words which only added to Sarah's apprehension. She indicated for him to continue.
"My bond with the Labyrinth necessitates proximity. If I were to spend too much time Above I would suffer strain, fatigue, even illness."
"So I have to abandon my life above."
He made a placating gesture. "Not abandon, simply be careful in managing your time."
"And if I were to choose to live Above permanently?"
"It would be possibe, but you would have to sever the bond."
"And that would mean that I could never come back?"
He simply nodded.
Sarah scrubbed her face with her hands and collapsed into a faded armchair.
Jareth features were tight, he swept the hair from his face in frustration. "I shall give you a moment." He stepped to the window and his body shimmered, faded, until a white barn owl emerged from the glitter. He stretched his wings and took flight.
Sarah watched him disappear, so many questions still brewing in her mind.
...
Once in the air Jareth soared high over the Labyrinth, wishing that the wind could clear his disquieting thoughts.
Scanning the passages below he found Toby and his helpers in a portion of the maze that bordered on the the forest. He dove into a break in the canopy of branches and found a branch to observe without being seen.
Turning a corner Toby huffed in exasperation. "This maze is impossible!"
"No it's not!" Pottsy quipped proudly from her perch on Ludo's shoulders. "The Lady beat it."
Toby blinked at her in surprise. "You mean Sarah? Who did she wish away?"
Pottsy looked at him expectantly, Ludo looked thoughtful, Hoggle's eyebrow quirked.
"Oh..." his face fell as the implications hit him.
Hoggle pointed to the branches overhanging the wall. "Look! The forest is right there! Should be a door to the left soon."
From his hidding place Jareth shook his head, the dwarf was interfering too much, he would have to intervene.
The three contined down the corridor, when it widened a bit Toby ran ahead searching for openings, turning a corner the corridor split into three seeming identical options.
He stood at the crossroads, turning to ask Hoggle, "Which one should we take?"
But Hoggle was not there, instead he faced an imposing brick wall.
Toby kicked the wall and screamed, "That's not fair!"
Jareth chuckled inwardly at the boy's outburst, he had sounded very much like young Sarah for a moment.
At the crossroads Toby deliberated a moment before taking the leftmost corridor.
Jareth watched Toby wander down the passage and disappear arround another corner before taking to the air, heading back towards the castle.
...
As Toby walked he ruminated on what he had learned. His sister had wished him away! How could sh-
A spot of color among the monotonous sandy stone broke him from his brooding. A vine had infiltrated itself into the cracks in the stone of the corridor. Bunches of tiny flowers peeked through lush emerald green foliage. Each flower had a white center but the petals flickered and pulsed with every color of the rainbow.
Mesmerized he grasped at one of the bunches. Unseen within the petals and leaves sharp thorns pricked through his skin.
"Ouch!" He dropped the blooms and inspected his sore fingers, there wasn't any blood but where the thorns had pricked him there were drops of an iridescent, dew like substance.
His vision blurred, blinking he shook his head but only succeeded in seeing double. His feet wobbled beneath him and he clutched a wall to steady himself. "I feel dizzy"
Slidding down the stone, he was asleep before he hit the ground, beside him a few tiny shriveled black blooms.
...
Author's Note
Sorry for another cliffy, but hey, at least this update was faster right? :)
Thanks to Gloria47, mae-E and Guest 2021 for the reviews :)