Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth.

Once Upon A Time

Chapter 2
Memory and Desire

The boy must have been born under a lucky star, Sarah concluded. Nothing else explained why his king hadn't execute him as originally planned. Well, sending the boy to Mag was almost the same. But despite his hopeless situation, Lir's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and joy. He was endearing with his fair hair and ready, open smile.

"Tell me, Lir. Should you succeed in your quest, what happens when you return to Tiago?" she asked.

"I shall ask her hand in marriage," he answered without a hesitation.

Hoggle rolled his eyes. She smiled at the familiar gesture before returning her attention to Lir. "I'd hate to be the one breaking you this, kiddo, but don't you think that might be a bit risky?"

"Risky?" He blinked.

"Well, it sounds like your king wouldn't be the most compassionate person alive. If he wanted to execute you only because you sung to his daughter, consider what he'll do when you propose to her!"

Lir's expression turned thoughtful, but then he shrugged, indifferent. "I love her and shall do everything in my power to gain her heart. There's nothing grander than love. A dream can offer only so much." He gave a shy smile, and his cheeks flushed.

How simple he made it sound! Sarah felt a twinge of jealousy. On its own accord, her hand rose to her medallion, her fingers tracing the shape of the cold halfmoon. Her eyes narrowed, and she snatched her hand off as if the metal suddenly burned her.

She had no desire to get tangled up in the boy's quest, nor his puppy love-y life. Yet, on the other hand, there must be a reason for their paths to cross in such a way. Ever since she and Hoggle left the Underground, the trail of their friend, Sir Didymus, had become fainter.

Ever after returning to the Labyrinth, she had learned that a lot had transpired since her victory over the Goblin King. One of the things that had upset her most was that Jareth had banished Sir Didymus. Jareth had removed Sir Didymus from his post and stripped him of his honourable title as a Knight of the Labyrinth.

Her heart twisted at the thought. It must have broken the little fox knight's heart.

Sarah sighed and knit her brows, her thoughts trailing to her last meeting with the Goblin King before she set on her journey with Hoggle. Her hand rose to touch the silver pendant another time. Not for the first time, she wondered why Jareth had given her the medallion.

oxox

Barely listening the conversation, Hoggle stole worried glances at Sarah. She was gazing into the fire with absentminded eyes, fingering her necklace once again. He scowled. He didn't know what that rat, Jareth, had said to her when he gave her that shining crest. Hoggle didn't trust the Goblin King, nor his gifts. He doubted the Goblin King would allow Sarah leave his kingdom just like that; not now, when he finally had her back.

"You have now learned about my fortune that also is my misfortune. But pray, Sarah, sir Hoggle, what ill brings you to the borders of the Sunrise Land? People of the earth are seldom seen here," Lir asked.

"Hmm." Sarah turned to Lir. She blinked, the awareness returned in her gaze. "Us? We are looking for our friend."

"May I ask? Sarah, are you one of the Shining Ones? I've heard they have a great fondness for music," Lir's voice came out eagerly, and his fingers twitched towards his instrument.

"A Shining One?" she repeated, casting an uneasy glance in Hoggle's direction.

"He means fae," Hoggle spat.

"Oh. I see," Sarah acknowledged, thoughtfully. She shook her head at Lir. "No, I'm not a Shining One."

"Yet you carry a symbol of theirs," Lir commented, pointing at her necklace. "My master taught me that the Shining Ones hail the moon as their beloved mother."

Sarah touched the item. "This? It's merely a present from an… acquaintance. But I'm a human," she concluded firmly. However, Hoggle didn't miss her hesitation and the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

"I'm not ashamed to admit I would do with a company of one now. In stories they are sometimes known to offer guidance and aid to mortals," Lir smiled. "I was hoping to strike a bargain."

"An advice or two for a song?" Sarah asked in an amused voice.

He shrugged. "I can play for the sake of pure delight, if you're willing to spare a moment or two?" He looked at them questioningly while unravelling the wooden instrument from its cover.

Sarah smiled. "I'd love to hear you play, Lir."

He set the lute in his lap. His wavy and flaxen hair concealed his face as he bent to try a chord with his long and delicate fingers. "What would you have me play?" Lir asked after he had finetuned his instrument, looking up.

"Do you know any songs, Hoggle?" Sarah asked from the dwarf. "Would you like to hear anything special?"

He frowned and sputtered, "I does not like music! Fairies and faes, aye; but a decent dwarf, such as I, has better things ado than waste time with idle amusements!"

Questioning, Sarah looked at Lir, for he was grinning wide. "Do not concern yourself, lady!" he laughed. "Dwarfs are notorious of their dislike for music. But a heap of coins, a shining jewel, or a vein of gold will set a fire in their eyes. Am I not right, sir dwarf?" He winked at Hoggle.

He blushed and grunted, "Hoggle likes many a thing, but music's not one o' them."

"I have no particular song in mind either," Sarah confessed, leaning backwards. "You may play whatever pleases you, Lir."

Lir nodded, a faint echo of a smile still playing over his lips. He closed his eyes, allowing his fingers to find the right chords. Slowly, he appeared to find the music for his liking. The melody he played was slow and melancholic but – Hoggle admitted with a silent grunt – beautiful; and familiar in an odd and haunting way. His eyes still closed, Lir started to sing, and Hoggle noticed Sarah jolt up. She paled, then; blushed, but her gaze never strayed away from Lir.

"Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long..."

Something in the song made Hoggle uncomfortable. Or maybe it was the boy's skills? He played as charmed, weaving a spell with his voice and his lute.

"…I have been ready at your hand,
To grant whatever you would crave..."

A shiver travelled through the forest, and the cold wind faded. Even the dark trees appeared to listen to Lir, rustling their leaves and bending branches towards their small camp fire. With a growing unease, Hoggle cast fleeting looks around them.

"If you intend thus to disdain,
It does the more enrapture me,
And even so, I still remain
A lover in captivity."

Neither Sarah nor Lir noticed anything, the one in deep meditation of his song, and the other listening to him with an unwavering attention. High above, the clouds parted revealed shining crest of the moon. Its light skipped on the foliage, coating them in dark silver. The leaves shivered as the trees heaved a sigh. Cold, unseen fingers ran down Hoggle's spine. He rubbed his neck and looked up with narrowed eyes.

A white barn owl sat on a branch at the edge of the clearing. Hoggle perceived its gleaming eyes in the darkness as it stared down to them. The owl had yet to notice Hoggle's attention, itself enthralled by the haunting music. Hoggle glanced at Lir and Sarah and the unmoving bird another time.

"Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves."

Lir's fingers struck the last chord, and Hoggle felt the forest exhale; the moon retreated once again behind the clouds. The bird that had sat like a stone ruffled its wings as if waking from a daze. Hoggle swallowed when the owl turned and looked straight into him.

The bird's eyes flickered. It let out a soft hoot, like a warning, before spreading its wings, and was gone.