Author's Note

I am so glad everyone liked the first chapter of this story, it's something I'm really enjoying writing so I am very happy people are enjoying reading it!

Chapter Two: Across the Faux Sea

Her parents protested of course, they did not want her to take such a big risk, or to feel it was her responsibility to look after the family. But she was an adult now, it was her choice to take the risk and she wanted to take it. They accepted that she was going in the end because Sarah was as stubborn as a rock and would go no matter what.

It turned out Toby was the most upset, and it was him she gave the longest hug to before she left. She was not going forever, she knew that, she would see her family again. That did not make it easier to leave them, even for just a short time, and when she lifted her little brother into her arms, she held him almost as tightly as he held onto her.

"I promise I'll come back, Toby," she said softly, "and I'll tell you all about my adventure when I do."

He looked up at her with his big blue watery eyes, and with his soft blond curls he looked like a little angel. His small hands clutched at her jacket. "You mean it?"

"I always mean my words, you know that." She kissed his forehead. "Be brave for me, okay?"

He nodded and she passed him over to his mother. She gave them all a soft smile as she put her bag on her back and then took a deep breath.

"I'll come back as soon as I can."

Her father nodded, "Make sure that you do, princess, we'll be thinking of you. We love you."

Her resolve trembled for a moment, but she kept smiling, and said, "I love you too," before she turned and left the small house, determined to see her mission through to the end. She was doing this because she loved them, if that meant she had to part from them for a short while, then so be it.

She walked the short distance to the beach, then sat on the sand to take off her boots and socks. She put the socks inside the boots, then stood again, carrying the boots, and took a final shaky breath before stepping into the cool water. She felt the wet sand beneath her feet, the water lapping at her ankles, and then almost fell over as the landscape changed around her.

In front of her was a new beach, and beyond that a bustling market square, dozens of colourful stalls being visited by humans and faeries and elves and more, some species that Sarah did not even recognise. The buildings around the marketplace were painted sweet pastel colours, the architecture beautifully detailed.

Sarah could not help but smile at the wonder of a whole new world in front of her, just a step away from her home. She walked out of the water and sat down on the sand again, drying her feet with a towel from her bag before putting her socks and boots back on. She carefully folded up the towel and put it back in her bag, then stood and walked into the market square. She found a stall where she could exchange her money to the local currency, and went to a few other stalls getting food, water and a map for the two-day journey to the Goblin Kingdom.

She had worked at Mr Pratchett's bookshop for the past few summers and had saved up enough money to pay her own way for this journey, and thankfully found she had enough to pay for a space on a passenger cart that went as far as Verren, the most populous city of the Crystal valley. There she would spend the night in an inn, and the next day she would walk the rest of the way to the Goblin Kingdom. She did not know how long it would take to walk through the Labyrinth itself, but she had a sleeping mat and blanket for if she needed to camp out for the night before she made it to the castle.

Sitting on the cart as it was pulled along by four strong horses, Sarah looked around curiously at the scenery that passed them by. This was not just her journey to find a better life for her family, this was her first venture outside of her hometown, and into the magical world, and she wanted to take in as much as she could. The ride took most of the day and she ended up talking with a friendly elven family sitting next to her, who were very excited to hear that this was her first trip into faerie land. They were a young married couple with two sweet young children, and they told her of how they lived in Merroir but were going to Verren to visit some friends. They were kind enough to share some of their food with her and, when they eventually reached Verren, directed her towards an inn they recommended.

She booked herself a room and then ate a meal in the dining room, curiously watching the other customers around her, before retiring for the night. Dressed in her nightgown, she stood by the window for a few moments, looking up at the stars of the night sky, and then out in the direction her map told her the Goblin Kingdom was. She rested her fingertips on the cool glass, gazing at the horizon, imagining the kingdom itself could feel her determined eyes looking upon it.

"Tomorrow," she whispered to herself, determined to make it true by saying it aloud, "tomorrow I will find my way to you, and to my family's future."

With that promise made, she closed the curtains, then moved to the bed and turned off the flickering oil lamp by the bedside.

The next morning she set out straight after breakfast, at first following the cobbled streets of Verren, looking at the stunning waterfalls flowing down the hills circling the city as she walked. But eventually her path took her along wide dirt roads, over the hills and down to dryer plains. Thankfully the roads did occasionally pass through forests and small towns and villages, so the view was at least interesting, and she had shade from the light of the sun, which seemed more orange than it did back home. She stopped a few times to rest and have a drink of water and some of her food, but for the most part she made herself keep up a steady pace, focused on her destination.

Finally, as the day reached the late afternoon, she crested a small hill and gasped at what she found laid out before her. The Labyrinth, a greater maze than she could have ever imagined, its walls and features seeming to shift and change whenever she blinked or turned her gaze, stood as a strong defence between her and the castle that was her goal. The castle too was impressive, looking tall and impenetrable in the glow of the afternoon sun.

Sarah stared for several long moments, the sight stirring something deep in her heart. She had read the story of this place so many times that she knew the words by heart, and now it was in front of her, real, and more magnificent than she had ever dreamed.

It awed her, but it did not stop her, of course. A deep breath in through her lips, then out again, and then she was carefully walking down the hill towards the outer wall of the Labyrinth. When she reached it, she saw that bushes and vines and other unidentifiable forms of vegetation grew along it, and there were several small pools of murky water spaced out in front of it. She was looking around curiously when she noticed someone about half her height ambling towards her, although he did not seem to notice her at first.

He had a spray bottle in his hand which he seemed to be aiming at some kind of insect, muttering numbers under his breath with each creature that he hit. It was only when he came closer that she realised they were small fairies and a gasp escaped her.

He looked up at her, startled, but before he could say anything she had dashed forward and knelt on the ground, gently picking up one of the fairies that had fallen after he had sprayed it.

"Oh, how could you do such a thing!" She glared at him as she cradled the little creature in her hands. It was so beautiful, with a dainty little body, and iridescent wings.

"It's a pest!" He replied in a gruff voice, frowning. "Believe me, they overrun the place if I don't keep the numbers down."

"A pest! How could you call such a beautiful creature a pest?" She was about to chastise him more when she felt a sudden sharp pain on one of her fingers and looked down to see the small creature grinning wickedly up at her before it flew off. She gasped and put her bleeding finger in her mouth, sucking on the small wound.

Her grumpy companion looked smug. "Told ya. Pretty things can be nasty too, nothing here is what you think."

Sarah sighed and took her finger out of her mouth, it had only been a small prick at her skin and had already stopped bleeding. "I'm sorry for assuming you were being cruel when you were only doing your job. I'm Sarah." She did not want to start off on bad terms with the first person she had met in the Goblin Kingdom, and as well as possibly making a friend she might be able to ask him for some advice about traversing the Labyrinth.

He looked surprised at her apology and regarded her for a moment before he spoke. "S'alright, I suppose. I'm Hoggle."

She stood up and offered him a smile. "It's very nice to meet you, Hoggle. I'm actually trying to get through the Labyrinth to see the king, would you be able to direct me to the entrance?"

Hoggle stared at her for a moment and then shook his head. "And I thought you seemed smart for a moment there." He turned and started to walk away.

She stood, stunned for a moment, then started after him, "Wait! What do you mean by that? Is it not true that if I complete the maze the king will grant me a wish? What is so unintelligent about wanting that?"

That stopped him, and he turned to look at her. "It's not the wishing that's stupid." He sighed. "I suppose you weren't to know, you ain't been here before, have you? It ain't as simple as taking a walk through a normal maze, you won't be the same after. And the king… he ain't what he seems either."

If this was meant as a warning, she would not let it stop her. Sarah lifted her chin and looked at him, trying not to show any nervousness. "I knew it would be a challenge when I set out to do it. I will not stop now. So, where is the gate, if you please?"

He gave her a thoughtful look. "Well, at least I told ya." He sighed again and gestured with his hand. "There it is."

Sarah turned and there it was, although she was quite sure it had not been in that spot before. It was a large metal gate, with so many vines growing up it that whatever lay beyond it was obscured. She stepped towards it and lifted her hand to touch it, but stopped when Hoggle spoke up again.

"Sarah." She looked over her shoulder at him and saw him hesitating. "Just… Be careful."

She was surprised but gave him a sweet smile. "I'll be as careful as I can be, thank you for your help, Hoggle."

With that said, she turned back to the gate and wrapped her hand around one of the bars. The metal felt warm beneath her fingers, and as she pulled the gate open, she felt something like a small electric shock travel across the skin of her palm, raising goose bumps along her arm.

Another deep breath, and she stepped into the Labyrinth, the gate slowly closing itself behind her.