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 21

The young Fae had hidden himself among the trees to get a better look at this so called castle. It was impenetrable. He knew he would need to get Paralda back to ÆRNAY.

His men had been killed by a wave of energy that had seemed to have come from the mountain itself. He walked around the mountain sliding up against it so that no one would be able to surprise him when he felt himself fall right through and he was inside the castle.

He walked past the crystal table, looking for a door, some way out of this room. He had given up and sat down on a filigree chair when he saw the hole in the ceiling. Curiously inching his way to the small opening he jumped trying to reach it. After several attempts he pulled up a chair and climbed it. He easily gripped the edge and pulled himself into the ballroom.

Unfortunately for him the ceiling concealed its door and so his efforts were at a stand still.

Paralda immediately felt the intruders in his castle. He left all his sleeping subjects on the floor of his throne room to see about this lone survivor. Even though he was weakened by the pure energy that he had harnessed he knew that he was the only lucid Sylph in the castle. He didn't have the strength to hold his solid form and so quickly turning into smoke he floated directly to the Fae in the ballroom. Using the skyed ceiling as camouflage he hovered right over the soldier. The young man was seated on a chaise that was leaning against one of the windows facing the Labyrinth. He looked lost in thought. And so Paralda came up with a plan.

He would let this man take him to the Goblin Castle. Once inside he could sense where both his and Jareth's subjects were being held. He would then lead them to safety. He looked though out the Labyrinth and called out to Sylph elders he had sent for. He felt them at a short distance and so he descended directly behind the Fae and said, "Hello".

"SHHHHHH" came from Hoggle's lips. He huddled into a darkened corner. "I thinks it's this way." He hobbled over to a long hallway that had many darkened doorways. He ran to the first and looked through the keyhole.

" Hhmmm. It's too dark. Sarah!" he whispered loudly placing his lips to the keyhole and then quickly looking through it.

He shrugged and went to the next one.

Briegal materialized and looked around. He could make out a faint light coming from a room around the corner at the end of the hall.

He placed a hand on Hoggle's shoulder. And quietly pointed to the illuminated strip of light on the floor. Hoggle's eyes grew wide and took off toward it with Sylphs in tow. He briefly stopped at the corner with his back pressed to the wall. He peaked around the corner and saw five guards at the end.

"I knew it. My Sarah is in this hall. But we needs a distraction. Wheres are them goblins? They was supposed to cause trouble." And as if they had timed it. They heard the loud crash of pots in the kitchens.

Konile and Briegal became smoke as by instinct. Hoggle checked again and there was only one guard left.

"I loves them goblins. I knew I could counts on them. OK, there's one guard left. Wes must be fast. You both float into that room" Hoggle pointed at the room farthest from the one with the light," Make some noise then turn back into smoke and sneak back out. We'll meets back in the closet."

The smoky shape of the twins nodded in unison and off they floated into the assigned room.

The dwarf kept his eyes fixed on the one remaining guard ready to run into Sarah's room to begin this rescue. His heart was thumping so hard he was sure the guard could hear it down the hall. The twins did as they had been told and began with scratching noises suddenly progressing into something louder.

Hoggle suppressed a giggle as he saw the guard curiously inch his way into the room. A few moments later he disappeared into the darkness of the room.

Hoggle jumped from his hiding spot and sprang into action. He burst into the door and looked around,

"Sarah! It's me Hogg…Who are you?" he asked the young red headed woman.

She looked shocked on top of the bed.

"What are you?" she asked somewhat afraid.

"I'm…I'm Hoggle. A friend of Sarah's."

"Hoggle? I'm Sarah's friend Myra. She's told me about you."

"Sure she has right before The Goblin King turned me into a prince. Sorry lady I don't buy it", turning to leave.

"Wait, I can prove it. She told me you speak to her through the mirror and that you were her best friend here and that you helped her to get her brother back and…"

"That don't prove nothing. Anyone coulda told you that."

"Fine. She said that you gave her an enchanted peach and that she was hell bent on never forgiving you but then you saved her from the guard in the Goblin City and that she knew that from that moment on you would be one of her most important friends."

"She told ya' that, did she? What are you doing here? Do you know where she is?"

She shook her head. "No. But I don't think she is in the castle. Can you please untie me? I'm really sore. Quick before he comes back."

"Who ÆRNAY?"

"No Jacob."

Hoggle quickly went to undo the bounds that held this girl prisoner. She stood up and stretched, rubbing her wrists.

"Thank you so much. Let's go." She grabbed his small hand and pulled him out the door.

As Hoggle ran with this young woman he saw in her the same determination and drive he had seen in Sarah on her first visit. He decided that he liked this Myra.

"Wait. This way. Some of Sarah's other friends are waiting in this closet for us."

She nodded and in they went to wait.

Rastrin walked ahead of Sielke and Sarah who were becoming fast friends. Sielke told Sarah about a young Sylph that she had fallen in love with when she was merely 65 but she had been chosen to be a warrior and so could not marry. She was heart broken and she still thought of him often. "His name was Baleto. He was so strong and tall. His eyes were mesmerizing they were a beautiful shade of crimson, like the sky, with flecks of gold. His hair was as green as the finest Glandocks."

" What's a Glandock?" Sarah asked.

"It's a lovely flower that blooms only within the High King's garden. It is a sight."

Sarah stared at her new friend wishing that her old friend Myra were here. They would love each other. She felt her eyes fill with unshed tears but she bit her lip to keep them from falling.

'What is wrong with you? You've been crying too much lately. Enjoy Sielke while you still can. You never know if we will all make it out of this alive' Where had that come from? But she had to admit. There was a real possibility that not everyone would make it out of this alive.

"Here it is." Rastrin rang over his shoulder.

"Neksa Falls" he pushed some bush out of the way and there it was a lush, bright pink pond with a glorious water fall. It took her breath away. Large flowers surrounded the edge of the pond, creating a frame of lavish beauty. Sarah inched closer, mesmerized by everything she saw. "It seems that someone knew you were coming. These blossoms are only this big on rare occasions."

"I guess I was expected." She looked into the depths of the small pond and began removing her shoes and stripping down to her undergarments.

"What are you doing? We've no time for a dip." Sielke ran to her brother to cover his eyes from the Queen's unmentionables.

"Come on guys. Jareth is down there. I need to get to him."

"We can not go in there, Your Majesty. We are children of the air. We will not survive in the water."

"Oh. I didn't know that. I guess I'll need to get him myself then. Be right back." Sarah said and quickly flung herself into the pond in her undergarments. The water was thick, reminding her of Jell-O. It was causing her to stay on the surface.

Rastrin and Sielke watched as Sarah's wasted efforts continued. She hugged her body close to her and then straightened out like a needle. She climbed out and dove head first only to be stuck half way with her legs sticking straight out in the air.

The two warriors tried not to laugh at the Queen but after she climbed back to the yellow grass they all fell in a fit of laughter.

After her belly began to hurt from laughing she wondered aloud, "Now what? I need to get down there."

Rastrin was still smirking when he mentioned, "Maybe you'll need to use a bit of magic."

Sielke nodded, "Sure. That makes sense if that doesn't work I'm not sure anything will."

"Right." Sarah stood up and looked directly into the pond. She lifted her hand and concentrated on her purple orb. She envisioned it surrounding her, forming a protective barrier.

And just like a hamster in a giant wheel she stepped forward onto the pond. Unfortunately, she didn't sink like she had hoped but she was able to stroll around the small surface of the water. She went closer to the pink waterfall and watched as the water fell in large droplets over her bubble. She closed her eyes and imagined the droplets were pink snowflakes cascading downward over her. When she opened her eyes she was surprised that she had caused it to be so. The large snowflakes were as large as quarters. She saw the wonderful designs and beauty of each one. She twirled underneath to see the glorious snow storm she created. When she spotted behind the waterfall a small opening. Her bubble popped and she stepped into the cave producing another orb for light.

"What is this?" Sarah wondered out loud.

She walked forward and thought for a moment. 'I should tell the warriors to come check it out.'

She poked her head out of the cave and called to the Sylphs who seemed to be lost in her snowflake creation. They quickly shook off the spell and turned to smoke and were in the cave in seconds.

Rastrin was the first to arrive and was visibly curious at the discovery.

Sarah handed him her orb and produced a second and followed them both while they checked out the tunnel attached to the room. Sarah made sure to check everything around her. To her left she saw another opening that the warriors had seemed to have missed and curiously stepped through, 'I'll only check for a second' she thought stepping past the entrance. A loud rumbling caught her attention and before she knew it a boulder had fallen in front of the entrance.

"NO!" Sarah ran to it but it was too late. She was now trapped. She followed the walls of this little room but found no other doorways. However, she failed to realize that in the middle of this circular cave lay small pool of bright blue turquoise water.

A/N:

DemonicSympathy: Thank you, sweets.

McFly85: Thank you for the Hoggle comment. And for everything you do for me.

Calendae: I'm so glad and about the tank. LOL

westendwordsmith: Wow. What can I say? It's like a teacher telling me I did a good job. My inspiration materializing before me and allowing me a glipse into your greatness. Thank you for reading and taking the time to review. It is truely an honor for me.

To all of you. Back to the Labyrinth by westendwordsmith is required reading. Please make sure to take a few hours a day to sit down with an epic story.