AN: Okay, I needed to take some time off to sort out my ideas, but now I'm back. Just a bit of a warning, I'm adding a new character here, but this fic is not going to be a SxOC, and if fact this really isn't a SxJ. I don't know what you'd classify it as, but if you stay with me for a few more posts, you can tell me for yourself. So, you know the drill. Please, read, enjoy, and review!
The next morning, Sarah woke very early. The goblins had not arrived with her breakfast yet, but she was not hungry. Her night had been rough and her sleep tormented by unanswered questions. But she pushed these thoughts away from her mind as she readied herself for the day's journey.
Sarah washed up, and then turned to her closet. She had made up her mind that since her journey was to be longer that day, she would wear her jeans and t-shirt. But when she was dressed, she did not feel comfortable like she used to. To set her mind at ease, she searched for a dress and found one reminiscent of her old costumes. She shrugged as she slid the dress over what she was already wearing and looked in the mirror.
The image reflected back at Sarah made her shiver. She looked just like when she was younger, before the Labyrinth had come into her life. But her face was different, for she had seen and learned much since then. Sarah's heart ached for the days of her youth. Her family was ever present on her mind, and tears pricked her eyes.
The family she had known might not have been perfect, but they loved her. They loved her more than Jareth would ever pretend to. But she shook her head at these thoughts. Hoggle lay at the outskirts of the Labyrinth, and she needed to seek him out.
Sarah made it out of the castle, seemingly without Jareth's knowing. She assumed that he was not much of an early riser, and was grateful for his absence. Her life had easily adapted to her constant struggle to avoid him and Sarah smiled as she mused over this. The goblins did not bother her today, for most seemed still asleep, and those awake took no notice of her. It seemed that her novelty had worn off, and once outside of the city's walls, Sarah retrieved her crystal.
Her crystal. How easily she had accepted Jareth's gift this time. But that line of thinking could only cause her more grief, so Sarah ignored it. She let the crystal jump from her outstretched hand. It raced through the rubbish filled outskirts and Sarah lifted her skirt to her waist, exposing her jeans as she ran after the little orb.
Laughter escaped her lips unexpectantly as she let the wind whip back her hair. Her mind was clear, and the only goal in sight was to catch up with the racing orb. This was just like playing a game as a kid again.
Sarah's run ended shortly after it started, for she had lost her breath quickly, and now she followed the crystal at a brisk walking pace. She had pulled her dress off after a few minutes into the journey, and had tied it around her waist. It's billowing skirt was too much to bother with as she attempted to keep track of the crystal. This time, the crystal had taken her through parts of the Labyrinth she had never ventured in before, but Sarah did not pay attention to what she passed. From past experience, she knew that it was futile. The Labyrinth changed at will, and her only sure way through it was Jareth's help.
After what seemed like hours of walking, Sarah found herself in the long passageway that she had first stepped foot in after meeting Hoggle by the Labyrinth's doors. This was the place that she had met that polite worm, and she smiled with the memory. She could feel that the doors to the Labyrinth were close, and she knew that beyond them lay Hoggle.
Impatience took over, and Sarah trotted the rest of the way down the long corridor. The doors had to be close! And they were.
The crystal pulled to a stop in front of the two massive doors, and as Sarah followed suit with the orb, they slowly opened with a long and low creak. While her passage was now unblocked, the crystal didn't move. She looked down at the it and frowned.
Sarah picked it up, and walked outside of the Labyrinth, looking into the crystal. It appeared to be clear glass, nothing magical about it. Sarah turned back, looking at the Labyrinth and said, "It must not work outside it's walls."
Crystal still in hand, she walked through the dying landscape in search of Hoggle. She did not come upon him, but instead, found the spot where she had first met the little guy. The slightly raised pond looked just like she remembered, and stepping up to look down into it, Sarah realized that the only thing that had changed in this world was herself. Even Jareth looked no different from the last time she had seen him. While studying these reflections, Sarah did not hear the footsteps approaching her.
"My Lady..." A chillingly familiar voice started. Sarah jumped at the intrusion of her silence, and the crystal slid from her hand, into the pond. She turned around with a gasp and saw a man standing behind her. He was a tall, thin man, but there was a sense of authority to him. And his chivalry clearly spoke through, "I'm sorry if I startled you."
"Who are you?" Sarah asked, and then shook her head. "Nevermind. I need to get my crystal."
She turned from the man and looked into the pond, trying to figure out what to do. The man's voice continued on, though, as if he had her full attention, "You're crystal? How did you acquire such a thing?"
"Well...It's not mine." Sarah said absently as she untied the dress from her waist and laid it next to the pond. She knew she had to get into the pond to find her crystal, but she was not trilled with the idea. The water was murky, and she could not even see the bottom. With these concerns on her mind she absently added, "It was a present, and I need it back."
The man stood in a few moments of silence and watched as Sarah sat down on the raised edge of the pond,swinging her legs into the water. She also didn't like the idea of wading around in this pond with a complete stranger watching, but there was no other choice. Before she tried to stand up in the water, the man said, "I would not do that."
"And why not?" Sarah asked, not waiting for his reply. She pushed off of the ledge and tried to stand, but her feet never touched the bottom of the pond and she dropped down into the murky cold depths of its water. Panicing as she was fully submerged, Sarah kicked for the surface, and when she broke through the stranger's hand helped her to crawl out of the pond. "What the hell?" Sarah asked, looking back at the water. "It couldn't possibly be that deep."
"I tried to warn you. It was not a wise act. The water is too deep to find your crystal." The man said, trying to be nice as Sarah rung out her shirt.
"Well, maybe you should have said something sooner." Sarah said, not meaning to be so harsh but she could not hide her anger. She was soaked, and he could have at least prevented that. "How am I supposed to get back to the castle now without that crystal?"
"You live in the castle?" The man asked, his eyebrows rising with the idea. "What is your name?"
"I'm Sarah." Sarah replied in a huff. "And who do you think you are?"
"My name is Maxim, and I must get to that castle too." Maxim explained.
"Really? Well, that's unfortunate for you." Sarah said, looking back into the clouded water. The ripples from her little swim were already gone and the water was returned to its normal smooth surface. Then, shaking her head, she turned back to the man. "And I guess it's unfortunate for me, too."
"Do you live there alone?" Maxim, continued, ignoring her dripping clothes. He was curious about her, and did not hide it.
"No, it's Jareth's, The Goblin King." Sarah said, and then looked around the dry land. She had been distracted, but now remembered that she was looking for Hoggle. "I'm sorry, but I'm supposed to be looking for an old friend, and I don't have much time."
Sarah picked up her dress from the pond's wall and started away from the man, but he followed. "I could help you find your friend, if..."
"If what?" Sarah asked, turning back to the man and snapping, "What do you want from me?"
"Could you show me the way through the Labyrinth?" Maxim asked. The way he asked reminded her of when she was first given the challenge, and Sarah instantly felt bad for being so cruel.
"Yes, of course, but that crystal showed me how to get through. Without it, we just have to do it by ourselves." Sarah tried to explain. "Do you have thirteen hours to get through, because we should start right away, if so."
"No, no," Maxim said with a laugh. "I do not have a time limit. My journey has been several years to begin with, so a few minutes to see a friend will not bother me."
"Really? No time limit? Well, that would have been helpful the first time I had to go through the Labyrinth." Sarah mused aloud as she searched for Hoggle.
"You mean you made it through the Labyrinth before? Without the crystal?" Maxim asked.
"Yes, I had to find my brother...but that's not important now." Sarah said, trying to hold back the tears the memory brought. "Right now, I need to find my friend."
"Ah, well, if you are looking for Hoggle, he had a little cottage just beyond that tree, if I remember correctly." Maxim said, pointing straight ahead. He was right, and after seeing the little cottage, Sarah turned back to Maxim.
"How did you know I was looking for Hoggle?" Sarah asked, but Maxim's reply was cut off by a familiar voice.
"Sarah?" said the gruff voice, and Sarah turned to see Hoggle running as fast as his little legs could take him towards her. "Sarah!"
AN: Okay, thanks for reading. Next post will be on 8/16/06! So, please review, or I'll be mean and just "forget" to post it. Mwah ha ha!