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 4

'I can't be a ruler. I'm a receptionist' Sarah thought to herself. 'Why wouldn't Jareth tell me about this? Maybe he doesn't want me to rule the Labyrinth., why else didn't he want me to come back?'

She began walking across the small bridge remembering the last time she had attempted to cross it. The stones began to crumble and she had ended up hanging from a tree branch until Ludo called his rock friends and created a path across the Bog.

Happily, this time she made it across without incident.

Still digesting everything Briegal had told her she thought she should practice her new abilities she closed her eyes and concentrated on a field of flowers. She opened them expecting to find what she saw in her mind to be reality but she was disappointed. 'Maybe I'm trying too much like Briegal said, I'll concentrate of something smaller.' Again she closed her eyes and thought of a single rose. This time she knew it had to happen she pictured the rose on the ground directly in front of her, feeling a familiar tingle in her chest. She opened her eyes and a beautiful rose was before her, the blossom was as large as her head and it was the deepest shade of purple. She knelt down and caressed one of the petals with the tips of her fingers. She couldn't believe that she had created this ethereal flower. 'It's not red but this is better' she thought to herself.

So distracted by her new found power she found herself in a small field of yellow grass and unusual flowers. Just over the horizon was a picturesque mountaintop. 'That must be where Briegal was headed' she thought. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a small movement but when she turned all was still. Again, she saw another but could not quite see who or what was moving. She began walking across the field when she heard,

"Ouch, watch where you're going!" Jumping back and looking down toward the ground , she saw a large pink polka dotted flower moving to reveal a small man that looked like a potato with arms and legs.

Sarah bent down and said "I'm dreadfully sorry. I didn't see you down there," she looked across the field, "are there any more of you on the field?"

"Of course, this is our village. And who are you missy?"

"I am Sarah."

The little man began to tremble. "Sarah?" he asked then flung himself to the ground.

"I am sorry. I did not mean any disrespect. We weren't told of your return to the Underground. You are the solver of the Labyrinth? Yes?"

" Yes but please stand."

Sarah smiled at the little man, "Maybe you can help me. Do you know how to get to the castle beyond the Goblin City? I seemed to have lost my way."

The little man stood up and stared at her, "Of course, your highness, but…" he looked confused and stepped closer to her, "why haven't you transported there? We was told that you wield the power of the Labyrinth."

"Where did you hear that?"

The brownie pointed to the mountaintop at some wisps of clouds. She looked up and noticed that the clouds were not clouds but thousands of fluttering wings. It was thousands of Sylphs. "Don't you hear then singing?" the little man asked, "They tell stories of the Underground and its peoples. They are the great record keepers of the Fae. If there is something you need to know, they are the ones you need to ask."

"I didn't know that. I met one a few hours ago."

"Your Highness, you can wish yourself to the castle doors if you so wish…" he paused for a moment, then continued, "But perhaps now is not a good time for a visit. ÆRNAY is in possession of the castle at the moment and he is not one to be trifled with."

"That may be but I still need to rescue my friends. They have been taken to the dungeons. You wouldn't happen to know anything about this ÆRNAY, would you? I could use all the help I could get."

"Excuse me, your highness, but I mustn't say, all you need to know is that he is powerful and evil. If he gets a hold o' you, you good as dead." He turned to run back to the field.

"One more thing, please" Sarah knelt down as he returned. "Has Lord ÆRNAY taken the Goblin King's amulet?"

The brownie stood on the tips of his feet and whispered, "Your Highness, no one may take the amulet. It cannot be touched by any hand that it does not belong to. It must be passed on to the next in the royal line. I must go now." Bowing and picking up his flower he called over his shoulder, "Good luck to you, your Highness." and ran off.

'Maybe, I should help Jareth. Briegal did say I he needs help. She sunk to the ground exhausted leaning against a nearby tree. She's been walking for hours nonstop. She closed her eyes telling herself it would only be for a moment and began drifting off to sleep.

At first, all she saw was a large ballroom full of masked people swaying to a haunting melody. They seemed happy, laughing and clinking their wine glasses. She felt uncomfortable and out of place. Looking down she discovers she is dressed in a white ball gown with puffed sleeves. She begins walking through the crowd, she sees him, who is he? Her heart skips a beat. A dancer twirls in front of him and he's gone. She moves further into the crowd trying to find him, just one more glimpse. The dancers block her at every turn, mocking and laughing. She decided to gives up, but then she looks up and there he is, surrounded by woman, right in front of her. Her mouth goes dry and her heart tightens. He walks past the women straight to her to take Sarah into his arms. He pulls her out to the dance floor as they dance she feels his calming warmth through the simple touch of his hands. She feels at home in his arms as he begins to sing to her,

" But I'll be there for you. As the world falls down . Falling ….Falling…Falling…As the world falls down…Falling…Falling…Falling…Falling in love"

His mismatched eyes are hypnotic. She has to look away or she could be easily lost in his gaze. As she turns she notices everyone in the room as they laugh and stare. A clock chimes, she realizes she must save her brother, and reluctantly twists out of the Goblin King's grip. Pushing through the crowd she picks up a chair and shatters the illusion he created for her.

She falls…falls…falls; noticing a sudden darkness rising from the ground until she is surrounded by it.

She feels a light caress on her shoulder and a soft velvety voice in her ear, "Sarah, you must come for him. He will die. You are our last hope." She turns in the direction of the voice trying to see who it was and sees long blue hair floating as if underwater. As the hair begins to separate to reveal the speaker's face.

Sarah awakens against the tree beside the yellow grass.