Disclaimer; I do not own any of the Characters used in the movie, Labyrinth, even though I do in my dreams. But that's another story in itself.

Chapter 3

Myra yelled out, "Sarah? Sarah?"

Just then, Jacob came rushing in, "What happened? Is everything OK? Where's Sarah?"

Myra looked at him, still in shock, "Uhhh, Sarah left, she went out the back door, that's all."

"Then why are you yelling after her?

"Uhhh, I just remembered something I had to tell her. Hey, it's none of your business anyway!" she said pushing past him.

Jacob watched her leave and turned back to the room. He noticed a small book and a doll on the floor. He walked towards it and leaned down to get a closer look. A wide grin spread across his face.

Sarah, who had also been shielding her eyes, opened them to find herself at the hillside overlooking the Labyrinth.

"I don't believe it. It worked! Myra, you're a genius!" After a small happy twirl her eyes settled on the enormous maze before her. She felt a small pang of guilt in her chest.

The Labyrinth was in ruins. It was far more deteriorated than she had seen in her mirror a few days ago, which meant that time was running out.

"Well, let's go feet. It's time for another adventure." Sarah thought out loud, remembering her first steps of her last trip.

As she came upon the fountain where she had first seen Hoggle she looked around for any sign of her friend. The fountain itself was dried up and the stone was cracked and crumbling.

"Hoggle, are you around? It's me, Sarah. I'm back", she called still looking around.

She walked toward the doors to the Labyrinth only to find that there were no doors. It had crumbled and all that remained was the door frame. She stepped over the rubble into the maze and had taken a few steps when a loud crash made her jump. She turned to see the door frame crumble as well, creating a wall of dirt and bricks, blocking her only exit. Determined she walked on in the same direction that she remembered calling, "Hoggle, Didymus, Ludo, I'm here. Where is everybody?" Just then she heard a small voice, "Allo". Sarah knelt down to find a small worm. Only it wasn't the same worm that she had met on her first trip. This was a female worm, "Hello Ma'am, Can you help me? I'm looking for my friends"

"Have you come for a visit?" the worm asked.

"No, I'm sorry I can't but do you know where I can find them?"

"No, I'm just a worm. But maybe my husband can help. Wait right here. Can I get you some tea?" the worm asked before heading into a small hole in the brick.

"No, thank you" Sarah replied as politely as she could.

Just then the worm she HAD met 12 years ago came out. "Allo, why. I remember you. It's nice to see you again. Will you be joining us for tea this time?"

Sarah smiled, "well, I'm kind of in a hurry. I need to save my friends. You wouldn't happen to know where I can find them?"

The little worm looked down and shook his head sadly, "Well, the last time you were here the King was livid that a child had defeated our great labyrinth. They say he was never the same after the loss."

Sarah listened but didn't understand, "I'm sorry but what does my solving the labyrinth have to do with where my friends are?"

The worm continued, "His Majesty was so heartbroken that he fell into a deep sadness and wouldn't leave his chambers. I'd never seen him like that and I've been 'round a long time. So consumed by his sadness 'e never even noticed that someone was running the labyrinth until they were half way through and by that time The Goblin King knew that we would have another champion. And he couldn't let that happen. Now the next part is anyone's guess but from what I 'ear the Goblin King released a spell to take the intruder to the farthest oubliette but the intruder was a sorcerer and changed the spell and everything started to crumble and die. From what I 'ear The Goblin King is being held prisoner along with all who helped you on your journey, they are being held captive in the dungeons of the Goblin Castle."

"Who is the intruder that is holding them prisoner?" Sarah wondered.

"His name is ÆRNAY and he is a powerful sorcerer but I'm sure that 'e wants the Labyrinth for 'imself?"

"I've got to hurry. Thank you for all your help" Sarah called back as she rushed toward her journey to the castle beyond the Goblin City.

She had finally gotten to the hedge maze where she had first met Ludo, hanging upside down and being tortured by some goblins. She shook herself back to the present time, "Now is not the time to stroll down memory lane" she chastised herself. She pressed on through the forest but had to stop to take in the sight that was before her.

No longer were there lush green leaves everywhere and shimmering bark. A low mist had descended upon the forest and the trees had been reduced to dark twigs protruding from the ground.

She began thinking about what the worm had told her.

The thought of the Goblin King being forced to do anything was just too strange for her to comprehend let alone being taken prisoner, 'who could be so powerful as to take him prisoner?' she thought to herself. 'Wait a minute, what was it that Myra had told me about Jareth's amulet? Only someone deemed worthy will be able to touch it, so if this ÆRNAY has been deemed worthy, who am I to interfere?' She pressed on trying to reach a clearing when suddenly she felt the ground envelope her and she began falling…falling…falling.

She finally landed on some soft ground. It was almost slimy. She looked around only to find an awful smell in front of her. She had found the Bog of Eternal Stench. But where was it? It was only a thick green circle on the floor. To the left she saw a newly constructed bridge made out of stones and rope. And the tree that Sir Didymus called home. She walked over to it and knocked on the door already knowing no one would be there to answer. That was when the reality of her situation had hit her. It wasn't that long ago that this wouldn't have fazed her but it had a rough 12 years her will wasn't as strong as it used to be. She had never felt so alone and powerless. She sat on the ground with her head in her hands and started wringing her hands when she felt the first tear momentarily blind her, "I can't do this" she said between breaths. She sobbed and sobbed until she was so emotionally drained that she barely heard the wings flapping around her. She felt a light breeze surrounding her and lifting her from her kneeling position. She looked up and saw what looked like an angel. He looked like a young boy of 15 with long straight brown hair and very large hawk like eyes matching the same color as his hair. And beautiful shimmering wings that were twice the size of his body. He was long and thin and was one of the most beautiful beings she had ever seen, next to the Goblin King.

"Who are you?" Sarah asked in awe.

"I am Briegal, why are weeping? Have you been hurt?" He flew down to examine Sarah more closely. He had a beautiful voice that sounded like a soft summer breeze. As his feet touched the ground Sarah noticed how graceful and elegant he was.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to stare at you, but are you an angel?"

Briegal tilted his head to one side and a small smile began spreading across his face.

"No, I am a Sylph. Mortals call us Windsingers. I was on my way back to the mountain when I saw you there. I couldn't leave you there, now could I? May I assist you in any way?"

Sarah tried to smile, "I don't know if anyone can assist me. I'm trying to rescue my friends, they are being held in the dungeons of the Goblin Castle"

"Who are you?" Briegal asked wide eyed.

"My name is Sarah?" she said.

"Are you THE Sarah that solved the Labyrinth?" Even though she thought it impossible his eyes opened even wider.

She nodded. "Why?"

"I was sure that the Goblin King would've told you the first time you were here."

"What?"

Briegal began pacing back and forth as if he was thinking of the correct way to ask his next question, "How did you come to be here?"

Sarah's face held the confusion of his words, "I'm sorry. What do you mean?"

"Did you say the words to wish yourself here, to run the Labyrinth?"

"No, a friend of mine made me touch some objects from the first time I was here. I turned around and I was just here on the hill."

"Wow, then it truly is an honor" Briegal said and bowed low almost touching the ground with the top of his wings.

"What? Briegal, please stop bowing and just explain because I feel like I stepped into the twilight zone?"

He slowly stood up with confusion written on his face, "I assure you, my lady, you have not stepped into any zone of any kind. We do not have zones in the Underground, as far as I know we have sections of the city but they are just called sections…"

She smiled and moved forward to touch his arm fearing his going further into his geographical lesson of the Underground. He stopped when he felt her touch.

He shook himself as if his thoughts could be shook back into his head before he continued, "My lady, no one may enter the Underground without wishing themselves here. In order to run the Labyrinth you must say the words. But you say you simply touched some object and turned around and here you were. Is that correct?"

Sarah nodded.

"These must have powerful amulets that you touched or your friend is a powerful sorcerer because only someone with great magic can send someone into our world. The Underground has wards and various protections to keep anyone from entering or exiting. Only the Goblin King has that much power. Well, at least he HAD that kind of power. There is no way of knowing what will happen now." Briegal's face seemed to fall with the realization of what was happening in the Underground.

"Sorceress? No, she isn't one. Like I said all I touched was a book and a…a… doll."

"Doll?" He asked as if what she had said was absurd. "What kind of doll was it?"

"It was a doll in the likeness of … The Goblin King." She quickly continued, "I'd had that doll for years it's not like I bought it after I came here the first time I just had it."

"I normally would not be so quick to dismiss enchanted objects but for some reason I don't think any object could hold the amount of magic it would take to transport you here. It almost sounds like you willed yourself here to the underground." He stepped back and looked at her as if trying to decide to proceed, " I have heard of a prophecy that tells of a mortal, who would solve the greatest challenge in the Underground and therefore be named ruler of the Labyrinth. This mortal will be able to use the Labyrinth's magic as their own. I'm sure the Goblin King knew that mortal was you. Now it was never announced to the population as is the custom here but as your story began to circulate and the announcement never came we assumed you had refused the throne. "

Sarah didn't even realize that she had sunk to the ground but there she sat with her mouth hanging open. There was no way. Her, the Ruler of the Labyrinth? Queen? "Wait a minute. But what about the Goblin King?"

"The Goblin King does not rule the Labyrinth. He never has. He is the Ruler of the Goblin City and out laying lands. The Labyrinth has its own identity and its own will. Therefore, it chooses its own ruler."

"But you said something about magic. I don't have any"

Briegal looked at her, " My lady, you willed yourself to the Underground that is not possible without magic. Have you even tested it? OK, wish for something. Like a fruit and then close your eyes and picture it in your hand"

Sarah said out loud, "I wish for a pear" she closed her eyes and began to feel a light tingle in her chest and felt a small round object in her hand. She opened her eyes and in her hand was the most perfect pear she had ever seen.

She looked up at Briegal with a smile.

"That, My lady, is your magic."

An idea came to her and with a wave of her hand she made a small round crystal appear on her fingertips as she had seen the Goblin King so many times before. "Show me Hoggle" Sarah looked intently into the crystal but all she saw was darkness.

Briegal touched her shoulder, "You can't expect to be able to do everything on the first try. Give it time. I must be going but I promise to look for you. If you need me just call my name into the wind and I will hear it."

Just as he was lifting off the ground. Sarah thought of a question for him , "Briegal, do you know how I can help the Labyrinth?"

He looked at her, "The Labyrinth is dying because it will not tolerate anyone but its Ruler to posses its magic but now that ÆRNAY wants it as well as the Goblin Kingdom it is destroying itself. The only way the Labyrinth can begin to heal itself is to destroy those who wish to posses it. I do hope that you can rescue your friends but remember that all royals must be appointed to their throne by another royal. And right now the only one that can do that is the Goblin King. Unfortunately, he may need some rescuing himself. " With that Briegal lifted off the ground and transformed into a wisp of smoke and was gone.

Sarah so confused almost forgot to thank him for all his help.

"Thank you, Briegal!" Sarah yelled after him.