Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth...I think everyone knows that right? okay good.
Chapter 14
Opportunity Knocks
Sarah had spent some time the night before scrubbing her hands and nails, trying to get rid of all the dirt that she had become acustom to. Lily had woken her early that morning. "Sarah!" she squealed and she pounced on her adopted older sister. "You're going to sing for the Marquee! How wonderful." the girl was estatic.
"Yeah just wonderful." Sarah muttered pushing Lily off her gently and ruffled the girls hair.
As Sarah became more awake she began to feel the knots and butterflies in her stomach. "Gods I don't think I've ever been so nervous in my life." she thought, smacking herself on the head. "Get a grip."
Sarah let Lily braid her hair that morning, which the little girl was quite good at. "Sarah!" Lily sudden exclaimed. "What are you going to wear? You can't go in your work clothes?" Lily looked very worried for her older sister.
"I think I may have something..." Sarah went over to a chest that Midge had given her to store her belongings in. She pulled out too similar dresses, one white and one dark emerald green.
"Oh those are beautiful!" Lily exclaimed, not believe Sarah owed such nice things.
Sarah laughed, looking down at her costume dresses she had made. The white one was old and did not fit her anymore, she remembered she had been play acting in it the night she had wished Toby away. She had made the identical green one when she outgrew the white one. "Here Lily, you can have this one." she said handing Lily the white dress. "It doesn't fit me anymore, it's probably too big for you now but you will grow into it."
Lily looked as if she would cry. "Oh you're the most wonderful sister!" she girl said snatching up the white dress and holding it to her. The dress was clearly way too large for Lily but she didn't care. "I hope I grow up to be as lovely as you Sarah." Lily smiled still admiring the white dress.
Sarah laughed again and gave Lily a hug. "I'm glad you like it brat. I'm sure you'll grow to be ten times as lovely as me." she ruffled the girls hair again. Lily just beamed up at her. After changing, Sarah and Lily joined the rest of the family at the table.
"What a lovely dress." Midge said as she hugged Sarah good morning.
"You look beautiful Sarah." Gavin complimented with a slight blush.
"Oh really you guys!" she said with a laugh. "This is such an old little dress, im sure it will pale in comparision to what they will be wearing at the Marquee's estate." Sarah frowned at herself.
Robert came in and gave his daughter a hug. "No matter what you wear Sarah, you'll always be a jewel."
Sarah batted her father away playfully. "Alright enough with the compliments already, you're all acting like you'll never seen me again." she chided.
Toby looked worried. "You'll come back Sarah?"
"Of course Tobe! Nothing to worry about, I'm just going to sing." she kissed him on the forehead and was about to sit back down when someone knocked on their door. Robert went to answer it.
"Welcome Chamberlain!" Robert greeted the man warmly and invited him in. Chamberlain only stepped into the door way.
"Is the Lady Christine ready? We must make haste." Chamberlain Hywell said shortly.
"Yes, I'm ready." Sarah said stepping forward.
"Wait a minute!" Midge bellowed. "You've not eaten anything yet!"
Chamberlain let out a loud sigh. "There will be plenty of food to be had once she reaches the estate. We really must be going." his impatience was showing.
Sarah looked at Midge, who had that 'look' before she gave someone a good piece of her mind. Sarah interjected quickly before Midge could react. "It's alright Midge. I'm not very hungry right now anyways." she lied. Sarah gave everyone a hug goodbye before she joined Chamerlaid Hywell in the carriage. The carriage was carved from a deep cherry wood, with intricate designs unlike any she had seen before and drawn by four beautiful black stallions. She rested her hand on the wood for a moment when she heard Chamberlain let out another sigh of impatience and quickly got in, sitting opposite of him. She leaned out the window and waved goodbye to her family, who had gathered outside of the cottage until she could no longer see them.
Sarah sat in silence, unsure of what to say to this man? "Is he mortal or fae?" she wondered.
"Well the first thing we shall do once we reach Lord Derryth's estate will be to get you properly dressed. What you're wearing will not do at all." The Chamberlain broke the silence rudely.
"Well it's the nicest thing I own!" Sarah shot back irritated by his snobbish attitude.
"Hmph" was all she got for a response. Sarah crossed her arms and settled back in the carriage staring out the window. Praying that her nerves were not showing infront of this snob of a man. "I hope the Marquee is more tolerable...I wonder what sort of fae the Marquee is? So many questions I didn't have time to get answers for" she thought.
The night before...in a mortal realm.
The girl stiffled her weeping when she felt a presence in her room. The moonlight that had pooled around her from the open window was blocked and a shadow now loomed over her. She could her things scattering about the room, snickering and whisperings came from the dark corners. Terrified, she lifted her face from the floor and sat up, her eyes went wide staring at the man that loomed over her.
"You're the Goblin King?" her voice waivered.
Jareth rolled his eyes and smirked. Looking around the room, it was easy to piece this one together. The law said that only those who were related or had some legal claim on a child could wish them away. The nursery they stood in was fine, obviously belonging to a wealthy if not noble household. This girl was dressed in rags so she was obviously the abused half or step sister of the child. Jareth almost pitied the girl.
Conjuring a crystal he held it out to her, playing the game. "I've brought you a gift."
The girl stood and faced the Goblin King, tears streaming down her face. "Please your majesty." the girl curtseyed low. "Please bring Baelin back." she pleaded.
Jareth was amused, people had cursed him and cowered from him but no one had bowed to him. "Whats done is done." he mocked her.
The girl began to look frantic. "But I didn't know you were real!" she exclaimed.
Jareth became bored again. "You wanted me to be real." he said stepping towards her the girl looked down at her feet, eye fresh with new tears. Jareth grabed her chin and forced her to look up at him before positioning the crystal before her eyes. "I'm offering your dreams all for the price of one babe." he taunted her.
The girl looked into the crystal and saw herself, dressed in finery. Her parents doted on her and gave her fine things. The girl was smart enough to know an illusion when she saw one, she did not trust the Goblin King and feared her parents.
"Please! I beg you, bring him back...my parents they will beat me if he is gone...they will surely kill me!" she began to weep again.
Jareth released the girl, her sobbing was giving him a headache. Moving aside he pointed to the window which revealed to the girl a very different sight. "If you solve my Labyrinth you can have him." he declared.
The girl moved to the window and looked out over the huge expanse that was the Goblin King's Labyrinth. The sky was a mix of crimson and orange, the sun was just peaking over the horizon, setting the sky ablast. "It looks so far..." she whimpered.
"Further than you can imagine." Jareth mocked in her ear. The girl jumped at his closeness and turned, realizing she was not in the nursery any longer. "You have thirteen hours to solve the Labyrinth...before your baby brother becomes one of us forever." he told the girl as he began to fade from her sight. "Such a pity." he mocked.
The girl wiped the tears from her eyes and started to jog down towards the Labyrinth wall, looking for a way inside. Soon she came upon a little dwaft that was dozing off against the stone wall. "Excuse me Sir." she addressed the dwarf, trying to wake him.
The dwarf made a grunting sound and opened one eye. "Oh it's you." he grunted again.
The girl timidly walked closer to the dwarf. "Please can you show me the doors to the Labyrinth Sir?"
"My name is Hoggle, not Sir!" the dwarf said gruffly as he stood. The girl looked scared.
Hoggle sighed. "I ain't going to bite." he assured the girl. "Who are you?"
"My name is Mirain." she said with a curtsy.
"Hmph. I see. Well you gets in there." Hoggle pointed to two large doors that seemed to have appeared out of no where.
"Thank you Hoggle." Mirain said as she walked cautiously through the doors.
Hoggle followed her through the entrance. "Just a tip." Hoggle said making the poor girl jump. "There's another entrance right here." he said as he walked through what seemed to be a solid wall.
Mirain smiled. "Thank you again Hoggle." she said before walking through and taking a right.
"Don't mention it." Hoggle said shaking his head as he watched her walk away.
5 hours later...
Mirain heard the laughter above her as she landed with a thud on her knees and the trap door closed. Looking around she could see nothing, it was pitch black all around her, she stayed in the small pool of light that trickled in from above. Mirain let out a loud shriek when she heard something moving around near her.
Jareth had been watching as usual, as the girl traversed through his Labyrinth. "She's in the oubliette." he announced. The goblins that surrounded him let out a chorus of laughter. "SHUT UP!" he snapped, silence followed. "Now let's see if old Hoghead will do as I said this time." A goblin snickered and Jareth shot it a menacing look before kicking it out the window.
Hoggle jumped when the girl Mirain had screamed. He quickly lit the candle, "It's jus' me." he grunted.
"Hoggle?" Mirain asked, still afraid, her eyes were starting to adjust to the light and she noticed that she was in a dungeon of sorts.
"Yeah." he replied and moved closer to the girl. "You've ended up in an oubliette jus' like the rest of 'em." he patted her shoulder.
"What's an oubliette?" she asked, looking around quite terrified.
"It's a place to put people. To forget about 'em." Hoggle replied, remembering when he found Sarah in here. Hoggle shook his head "This girl ain't nothing like Sarah."
"Oh...well how did you end up here? Do you know a way out?" Mirain questioned Hoggle.
"Just happens that I know a short cut out of the whole Labyrinth from here." he told the girl, wincing a bit. "Sarah would kill me." he thought.
"But I don't want to leave the entire Labyrinth I just want out of here!" the girl exclaimed, finally becoming frustrated. "My parents are going to kill me..." she thought painfully.
Hoggle bit his lip, he felt sorry for the poor girl. "Well suit yourself." he said as he turned from her.
"Wait!" Mirain called after him. "Please show me the way out." Hoggle waived for her to follow him.
It didnt take long for Hoggle to take Mirain back from to the beginning of the Labyrinth. His thoughts drifted to his earlier encounter with Jareth.
"Hogwart!" Jareth barked from behind Hoggle causing the poor dwarf to jump out of his skin.
"Yer Majesty!" Hoggle exclaimed.
"Hmpf, I don't need to hear pleasantries from a traitor!" he snapped poking Hoggle in the chest with his ridding crop.
Hoggle gulped. "Why was Jareth confronting him now? Had he found out about Sarah being in the Underground?" his mind raced. Hoggle only stared at the Goblin King waiting for whatever would come next.
"There's a new girl travelling my Labryinth. I do believe she may find herself in an oubliette soon..I am giving you a chance to redeem yourself Hoghead! This time you WILL lead her back to the beginning." Jareth ordered him.
Hoggle was about to speak when Jareth cut him off. "I know you visit...that girl." he spat.
Hoggle's eyes went wide. "Oh no! he knows!" he thought.
"You didn't think I wouldnt know? I may not have power over her anymore but I still have power over you my friend." he poked Hoggle with the ridding crop again. "If you don't follow my orders this time, I will no longer let you and your bosom companions to travel aboveground ever again." he said with cruel intent.
Hoggle mentally sighed relief. "He still thinks she's aboveground...thank the gods..." Hoggle bowed before Jareth, even though it almost killed him. "I'll do it, I'll lead the girl back to the beginning." he sighed reluctantly.
Hoggle snaped out of his thoughts when he realized they had reached the end of the tunnel. After fiddling with the wall for several minutes a hidden door was revealed and the walked out, back at the beginning of the Labyrinth. "Well here you are missy."
Mirain sighed, depressed. "Thank you for getting me out of the horrible oubliette." she managed to say putting her hand on his shoulder before turning to walk back in the way she had before.
Hoggle couldn't stand the extreme guilt he was feeling. "Hold up!" he called to the girl.
Mirain turned to face Hoggle just before she was going to take a right into the Labyrinth. "Try going left this time." Hoggle offered the girl.
"Thanks!" Mirain managed to smile, before she turned to the left to attempt the Labyrinth again.
"You little fool!" Hoggle heard the voice as he felt something strike his head and he fell over from the blow. Hoggle scrambled to his feet, moving as far away as he could from the Goblin King. "So much for friends." he spat, looking at the dwarf with malice in his eyes. Jareth conjured a crystal and threw it at the dwarf, Hoggle covered his face expecting the worst. Hoggle felt nothing and lowered his arms, peeking out at the Goblin King. "As I promised." he quiped. "You won't be seeing your precious Sarah again." Jareth said her name with venom. Jareth started to stalk away when he thought of something.
"Oh and I do believe there's another promise that's long over due." he smirked evily at Hoggle. Jareth conjured another crystal and Hoggle began to run away. Hoggle could not out run the crystal as it flew at him and in an instant Hoggle vanished. Jareth smiled as though he was satisfied before he vanished himself, the smile quickly vanished as he remembered that the pathetic girl was on a straight path towards his castle.
Meanwhile...
Sarah had been relieved when she was able to get out of the silent carriage and stretch her cramped legs. The ride to the Marquee's estate had been pure torture. She didn't have much time to clear her thoughts before she heard someone calling out to her.
"Ah! This must be the Lady Christine." a large woman dressed in an elaborate gown and covered in gaudy jewelry was walking towards her. The lady seemed to be analyzing Sarah before she spoke any further. Sarah managed a small curtsy to the woman. The large woman laughed. "Ah yes, quite lovely...well with the exception of your clothing." the woman let out a cackle as if she had said the most humorous thing. "We've heard very nice things about you my dear, from Professor Lugh. I assume you know him? He said he was quite displeased that you did not win your village's singing competition. I've heard that Lady Angelina, she's a pretty face but there's not much more there. If you know what I mean. Oh gracious! Look at me gossiping about when I haven't even introduced myself!" the lady exclaimed. "I am the Baroness Beveha, a good friend of the Marquee's wife."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Baroness." Sarah tried to sound as polite as possible and curtseyed once more.
"Ahem!" Chamberlain cleared his throat beside them. "I do believe Lady Christine needs to be attended to before she is presented to the Marquee."
"Oh yes Chamberlain Hywell. All in good time, all in good time." Baroness Beveha waived him off. The Chamberlain left in a huff, clearly insulted.
"Don't mind him my dear!" the Baroness laughed. "He's always uptight. The Ferrish are always like that."
"Oh." Sarah said. "I haven't met many fae, I don't know how to tell the difference between specie." she admitted.
The Baroness laughed again. "Of course you wouldn't silly girl, you're a mortal."
Sarah smiled at the Baroness. "This lady is way too happy." she thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
The Baroness then grabed Sarah's arm and pulled her along. "Well now my dear, I cannot wait to hear your pretty voice! Let me show you to your room, then we shall pretty you up!" Sarah managed a weak smile in response and tried to listen to the Baroness as she rambled on about this and that.
Back in the Labyrinth...
Mirain walked through the Labyrinth with renewed energy. "Perhaps I will live to see another day." she thought. Mirain was amazed at how different the Labyrinth was on this side. She really couldn't call it a labyrinth now because she hadn't come upon any forks in the path. Eventually the stone parted way to hedges and the hedges gave way to what seemed be a bare and dead patch of land. "It looks like it could have been a garden long ago." she thought. It gave her the creeps though so she quickly passed through this area. The path led her up a hill, at the top she looked out to see the Castle clearly. "Let's see...just down this path, straight shot through that forest and then Im there!" she exclaimed aloud. "I'm actually going to make it!" she said feeling some hope for her future for the first time.
When Mirain entered the forest she was amazed at the beauty of it. "I've never seen a forest this green before." she thought as she admired the different wild foilage that was all around her, golden swashes of light trickled through the tree tops lighting her path.
Mirain stoped short when she thought she heard something. "Hello?" she called out timidly, suddenly becoming frightened. No response came but then she heard what sounded to be music. Continuing down the path the music became louder. "That's the most beautiful music I've ever heard." she said aloud feeling a bit light headed. The music seemed to be coming to her right, off of the path. Mirain looked down her path and then to the sound of the music. She stood there and contimplated. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to see...after all, I have many hours left to solve this labyrinth...and I am almost there already...Baelin can wait..." she thought as she stepped off the path following the sound of the music.
Jareth laughed and the goblins followed suit. "She's forgetting all about you my friend." he said to the baby boy who sat on a goblin's lap. Jareth continued to watch her walk deeper into the forest. This girl was very pretty, despite her rags. She seemed tender and friendly but obviously had no love for the baby she was trying to find. "She would be easy to control, she is timid. She would submit to me and do my will..." he contemplated. "Maybe she'll do..." he sighed.
"Hmmm. Trying again are we?" Priya cooed to her King, catching him spying on the 'new one'.
"Perhaps luv, perhaps." he replied. "But I've work to do." he said as he vanished.
"Hmph. He never has time for me anymore." Priya pouted, climbing onto Jareth's throne.
Author's Note: Goodness, this chapter was a lot of work for some reason. Took me three days to write, wrote the majority of it tonight though. Definitly the longest chapter yet. I hope you like it. Please review, it motivates me!
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Oh and it seems that the bots are beginning to work again. I've been getting story alerts and review alerts again. (of course they are all old ones) but hopefully everything will be back to normal again.