AN: Hello again. Crazy stuff happening,but I didn't want to wait long with this. Anyway, I just want to thank all of you who have reviewed and given suggestions and great comments. I do take them to heart (even if I still slip up on grammar, sorry). Well, you know the drill. Please read, enjoy, and review!
Sir Didymus led Sarah through woods that she had never seen before since, as she recalled, a suspicious trap door had dropped her into the bog during her first trip. But the path that she was led down was as pleasant as she could have hoped for.
The sudden dissipation of the horrible smell gave Sarah indication that Ludo's home would not be far off. And, of course, her assumption was right. The woods gave way to a little clearing, and in the middle of this clearing stood a wooden table made from an old stump. Beyond that was a sturdy hut. A smile crossed over her face as she imagined Ludo's new life style. She had never taken into account what Ludo's previous life was like, but seeing this display, she could only hope that it had turned out better for him.
"Sir Ludo!" Sir Didymus called out from on top of his steed. "It is I, Sir Didymus! And I have brought with me the Lady of the Labyrinth!"
"What did you call me?" Sarah asked, caught up on the wording that he had used. "Where did you get that from?"
"Most creatures from the Labyrinth have come to call you that." Didymus explained quickly. "You were the only one to have escaped this place. Well...at least you were."
"Could you stop talking in riddles?" Sarah asked, a little annoyed. She was not sure if Didymus intended to answer her, but any chance he had was cut off by Ludo's appearance. He had a pile of wood in his huge arms and upon seeing Sarah, Ludo dropped it all.
"Sarwah?" Ludo asked, looking at her as if she was only a dream. Sure that she was real, Ludo lumbered over to her with his arms outstretched, "Friend!"
"Yes, Ludo. Sarah, friend." Sarah said, laughing as her friend embraced her in his furry warmth. She felt tears prick her eyes as she remembered their brief friendship. It hurt her knowing how easily she gave them up, yet they continued to care for her. "I came back, Ludo."
"Ludo miss Sarwah." Ludo stated, his voice high above her head. Sarah could hear the pain she had caused him, but knew he would forgive her. "Sarwah don't go again."
"No, Ludo." Sarah replied, stroking his fur and feeling the tears roll freely down her face. "I'm not leaving again. I'm here to stay."
"Yes, it is true, Sir Ludo." Didymus said, stepping in to fully explain things. "Sarah is living in the Goblin King's castle."
"No, Sarwah!" Ludo said, pushing away from Sarah's embrace to look at her. "Sarwah live here with Ludo!"
"I can't. I wish I could, but I know Jareth wouldn't allow it." Sarah tried to explain, not fully understanding why things had to be that way either. "He was kind enough to let me find you both, but I don't want to push his...generousity."
"Ludo will understand." Didymus said, motioning for them all to sit around the stump table. He called for Ambrosius and promptly removed a parcel from his steed's side. "I was just about to leave my post to have dinner with Sir Ludo. Since I always bring too much, we will have plenty to share."
Sarah took the parcel from Didymus and quickly set up the table. They were eating and laughing about their previous adventure in no time at all. But through all the mirth, Sarah missed her one other friend.
"So, do you know where Hoggle is?" Sarah asked, feeling that her nonchalant manner did not fool her companions.
"He returned to his post outside of the Labyrinth." Didymus said, taking another bite from his food. "I would have suggested that we go seek him out, but it would be more than a day's journey there and back."
Sarah nodded, understanding that her curfew would come in conflict, but she still wanted to see him. "I guess if I start out early tomorrow, I'll have enough time. Would you two want to come?"
"We would love to, My Lady, but I must not leave my post for long and Sir Ludo...well it would be best for us both to not anger the Goblin King any more than we have in the past." Didymus said. Sarah agreed with him, knowing that she could never wish her dear friends to be in any danger because of her. "And I do believe that if you want to return safely to the castle before nightfall, you should soon be on your way."
Sarah agreed, but stayed long enough to clean up their meal and give her farewells. She promised to return to them as soon as she could, and pulled out her crystal. This time, knowing the drill, Sarah dropped it and let it take her back to the goblin city.
Sarah made it to the courtyard of the castle just as the sun was setting on her wonderful day. She ascended the stairs and the doors opened for her. Standing in the foyer was Jareth, looking at her with curiosity.
"Well, Sarah? There you are." Jareth said with amusement.
"Hello Jareth." Sarah replied without enthusiasm. "Where is the child?"
"What child?" Jareth started, and then shook his head. "Oh, I know what you mean. His brother failed miserably and now the babe is a goblin...Such a pity."
"I can't believe you." Sarah said, looking away from his smiling face.
"Oh, but you have no reason not to believe me. Did you find your friends?" Jareth asked with his usually smug smirk.
"Yes I did, as a matter of fact." Sarah said, walking past him with the intention of fleeing to her chambers. She had enjoyed her day and did not want him to intrude upon it. But he followed her quickened step with ease.
"And are they still your friends?" Jareth continued, taking joy in her futile escape.
"Of course they are." Sarah said, turning to face her Goblin King. "Some things, like friendship, remain constant."
"Really? And what else, may I ask, remains constant?" Jareth asked.
"My dislike of you." Sarah stated. They had reached her chambers by now, and as Sarah opened one of the doors, Jareth placed his hand on it and shut it.
"What strong words you use. But you forget, you are the one who called out to me." Jareth said, loosing his playful tone. "You asked for me, and I graciously brought you back."
"Sometimes, I wonder how generous you really are." Sarah said, opening the other door. She walked into her rooms and closed the door on Jareth. She sighed as she took in the solitude of room, but this moment was quickly shattered.
"I am very generous, Sarah." Jareth said from behind her. Sarah spun around and saw Jareth sitting on her bed. His amused smile was back on his face from her shocked display. "I gave you a life when you let your other one slip away."
"What are you talking about?" Sarah asked, angry with his constant intrusion. She walked over to her vanity and pulled out the pins holding up her hair.
"I thought you were more clever than that. Or maybe you've grown up too much." Jareth said with a laugh.
"Why didn't you just let me jump?" Sarah asked with irritation.
"Oh, but I did, Sarah." Jareth replied, mockingly. "How do you think you got back to the Underground?"
"What?" Sarah asked, some of her strength leaving her legs. She steadied herself on the vanity chair and awaited his explanation.
"You were too old to wish yourself back here, but there was one other way. By jumping out of your world, you jumped right into mine." Jareth explained. Sarah collapsed into her chair and stared at him through the mirror. "You see, that is why I told you that you could only exist in the Underground now."
Jareth stood up from the bed and approached her. Thoughts raced through Sarah's mind as he came closer and the only words her mouth could make were, "You monster."
"Me? If it wasn't for my generosity, you would have just jumped and died. I gave you another life." Jareth said. He now stood by Sarah's side, and to add to her shock, he said, "It was quite funny to see your Aunt's face as you fell from your parents' window, though."
Sarah could not hold in her anger any more. She turned, ready to slap Jareth, but he was quicker. He caught her arm with ease and smiled. Sarah pulled her arm away from him and said, "You've taken everything away from me."
"Well, not everything..." Jareth said, tracing one gloved finger along the line of her jawbone. Sarah shuddered and turned away from him. She watched from her mirror as he walked away from her side and towards the door. A sigh of relief escaped her lips while he opened a door, ready to leave, but he turned back to her. "I give you everything, and I ask for so little."
"Good night, Jareth." Sarah said in an unsteady voice, not turning to face him. Jareth smiled at her discomfort.
"Good night, Sarah. Sleep well." Jareth said, leaving her chambers.
In her solitude, Sarah looked at her reflection in the mirror, questions blurring the image that she saw. Could she believe what Jareth had said? Did she really jump?
But these questions were secondary to her. Her priority was to answer one complicated question.
What had she gotten herself into?