Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters and the plot
Authors note: The song I used in this chapter is by a band called 'Nightwish' and is called 'The Heart asks Pleasure First'. Glad to hear you guys are enjoying this, keep up the reviews :)
As awareness floated in her mind, Sarah became conscious of the aches in her body and the roughness of the ground underneath her. Opening her eyes, she was left speechless at the view before her, the dawning sun casted its morning colours onto a body of water that was just too vast to be a lake. Who knew that such a place existed?
Sitting slowly, Sarah remembered the events of the day before that had led her to run into the woods and even though she may have been unsure of where she was, the Champion of the Labyrinth was curtain that this peaceful place was not where she had stopped when she had fallen. As she continued to take in her surroundings, Sarah felt as if she knew this place but couldn't quite put her finger on where she had seen it before.
'This place is like a memory from a dream that I cant quite place,' the young fae girl thought. 'How do I know this place?'
As if to answer her inner question, a soft rumbling came from behind her and when she turned to the sound, Sarah found that a wall she knew to be part of the Labyrinth, opened it's corridor to her. It's Champion rose to her feet and began to make her way towards it only to stop as she heard music coming from the air around her. Feeling her soul soar at the beautiful notes, Sarah couldn't help but sing words she didn't even know she knew.
"Silent night surrounding me On the shore of wistful sea A kindest heart made me believe The world as I wish it to be"
Feeling light, Sarah made her way into the Labyrinth, still singing the words that eased the pain in her heart, if only just a little.
"Wind in the wheat Kiss by a hearth Little hideaways for a lonely heart
"Castaway in beauty's gloom The good in me, the child within A crueless heart made me forget The world as I wish it to be
"Home inside but lost for life Human heart longing for love Slave to the toil, this mortal coil The strife, the suffering, the void"
Continuing through the path the narrow walls had made, Sarah allowed her feet to lead her to her destination, not knowing or caring where she ended up, all she did know was that this place made her feel safe.
"Wind in the wheat Kiss by a hearth A dead calm winter morn Morning birds and a smile of a stranger
"Frozen moments in time Little hideaways, the marrow of life Little hideaways for a lonely heart"
Coming in to a large clearing after many twists and turns, Sarah suddenly felt a power course through her veins and didn't fight the need to let it lose. The result was spectacular, the ground became lush with vegetation and a beautiful cottage was built from rubble that had been buried deep in the ground.
"Wind in the wheat Kiss by a hearth Little hideaways for a lonely heart"
As these wonderful changes happened, Sarah felt a connection to the Labyrinth that she hadn't been aware of till now. It was as if a second heartbeat within her own and she suddenly knew that this was what others wanted from her, the power to control the Labyrinth whose own power was only limited by the one who could unleash it.
"Silent night surrounding me On the shore of wistful sea A kindest heart made me believe The world as I wish it to be"
As the music surrounding her came to an ended, the cottage completed itself, a beautiful garden full of her favourite flowers bloomed with an array of colours and a willow tree leaned over the entrance to her secret home. What Sarah didn't expect was a voice to come from behind her.
"Welcome home, my Daughter."
To say the Sarah was shocked was an understatement. Here stood the most beautiful and elegant woman she had ever seen and she had just called her 'daughter'! Obviously Sarah's shock and confusion was clear on her face as the woman with white blond hair and violet eyes smiled kindly at her.
"Do not worry my dear, all will be explained," she said, walking towards Sarah. "Shall we head inside this charming cottage you've made and have I cup of tea then I will explain everything."
Nodding in agreement, Sarah led the way into her new home and began making refreshments for them both. The woman made a fire while Sarah put cups and frosted cookies on a table that was placed between two comfortable armchairs, that sat just in front of the fire.
"I don't mean to be rube," Sarah quietly said, leaving her cup untouched, "but I don't even know your name."
"Oh, how silly of me," the woman chuckled, even though it sounded like the most perfect bells. "I am Lavena, the Spirit and Essence of the Labyrinth and, to explain my daughter comment, I am you great-great-grandmother."
"I beg your pardon?" This day was just full of surprises. "I don't understand, how can you be my great-great-grandmother?"
"Quite simple really," smiled Lavena, clearly amused at Sarah's reaction. "I fell in love with your great-great-grandfather who had the most wonderful green eyes and soft onyx black hair. Features that he past on to our daughter, grand-daughter, great-grand-daughter and great-great-grand-daughter who just happens to be you."
"But if we're related, how come I've never heard of you?"
"Because I left after I birthed my daughter, leaving her in her father's care," Lavena explained sadly, looking into the fire.
"Why did you leave?" Sarah asked gently, placing her hand on Lavena's offering comfort in some small way.
"I left because I couldn't stay," Lavena answered, turning back to face her flesh and blood. "Without me the Labyrinth was suffering and I couldn't take my daughter with me because she had not inherited any of my magic. In fact, until you were born, none of my children had any magical ability."
"I don't understand, how could none till-wait how did I possess magic I didn't even know about?"
"It lay dormant till you came to the Underground or till you wished yourself here, to this place within the Labyrinth," Lavena explained. "There has always been a spark within you that manifested itself in your imagination, had you never wondered why you believed so strongly in fairy-tales?" Sarah nodded. "Deep in your heart, you knew that this place, the Underground, existed and that was how your magic existed in you till you came here. Or should I say, till you wished away your brother and took up the Goblin King's challage."
"That's how I earned the title Champion of the Labyrinth," Sarah pointed out.
"I'll let you in on a secret," Lavena said quietly, leaning forward slightly. "I created that title for the first child of my blood-line who would return to the Underground."
"You knew that one of your 'children' would return?"
"Yes and only she can claim that title as only she and I can find our way through it."
"Then, how does the Goblin King or his subjects find their way through it?"
"They don't, I just let them think they do. I am the Spirit and Essence of the Labyrinth and can allow or dis-allow anyone through my creation." Lavena explained, happy to see Sarah understood. "Only my child can manipulate or find her way through my maze, not to mention make friends with the unlikely creatures that call it home," Lavena finished, giving Sarah a knowing look.
"Well, that makes sense," Sarah smiled. "It also explains why I never felt like I fit-in in the Aboveground."
"Yes, it does, but now on to far more important matters," the woman stated, sitting back in her chair.
"What could be more important than what I've just learned?" The young woman asked.
"The matter of your husband and true love, of course," Lavena answered with a twinkle in her eye. "And if you're up for it, I have a plan to make him reveal how he truly feels about you and to see if he is worth of you after what happened in that ballroom."
Extra Author's note: Well, not even I saw this coming, my fingers just ran away with themselves! Hope you like it, let me know if it doesn't make sense and I'll re-write it (somehow). Please review xoxo