Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth.
Sarah was relieved when the mirrors ended and stone began. The new path was much like the walled walkway at the beginning of the Labyrinth, as it was littered with sticks and branches, and even rocks. The biggest difference was that where the first one was straight as a pin, this one was full of curves and turns. She began to run, wanting to cover as much ground as possible. Her foot suddenly struck a large branch, causing her to spring forward and fall. Her head made contact with a rock, and she was knocked unconscious.
Jareth laughed as he saw the girl trip and fall. This was his opportunity. He appeared next to her, a crystal in his gloved hand.
"Well my dear, it seems you will soon be forgetting everything, once again."
He held the crystal out, and with a tiny breath of air, it floated to Sarah like a bubble.
Sarah opened her eyes to a beautiful shimmering garden. Hundreds of bright-colored sweet-smelling blooms surrounded her. A jade fountain spurted water that appeared to be laced with glitter. She now wore a sheer turquoise dress that flowed past her bare feet and exposed her shoulders and neck. Her hair hung in loose waves. Jareth stepped out of nowhere.
"Does the garden look all right for the ball, my love?"
Sarah looked at him in confusion.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten our engagement ball tonight, my dear!"
"We're…en-engaged?" She stuttered.
"Don't be absurd," he said, laughing, "We've been engaged ever since you lost my game and exchanged yourself for Toby. You really don't remember?"
The shock showed in her eyes, and he grew serious.
"Are you feeling all right?" He said with concern.
"I…I suppose I just need some rest," she said.
"I'll take you to your room," he said, taking her by the hand.
She nodded, and off they went.
Jareth watched with a devilish grin as the sweet, charming version of himself that Sarah had conjured up as a child took her to rest in the illusional orb he had created.
This diversion would quite possibly take the rest of Sarah's thirteen hours. At the moment, she only had 9 remaining. The disgusting dwarf would be slaughtered and Sarah would be his at last.
Hoggle was able to see the trickery taking place in his own crystal. When Jareth's orb was delivered to Sarah, his crystal showed what was happening inside. His hopes that Sarah would figure out what was going on quickly faded when he saw her decide to rest. He knew that he had to take action so she could run the Labyrinth, though he still didn't know what she was running for. Hoggle turned his crystal, hoping that it would help him somehow. Light from a candle in the oubliette bounced off the crystal and appeared on the wall. He moved the crystal up more, until he saw the hole in the ceiling, the only way to get in…or out. If only he could reach that hole. He remembered that he had grown several feet in his transformation, so he decided to attempt to reach it. He positioned himself underneath it and jumped straight up, not quite reaching it, but coming close. He tried again, several times, each time coming closer but not quite going through the hole. He prepared to try just one more time, and with Sarah in his mind, he jumped as high as he could, and to his surprise, another hand grabbed his. He lifted himself up, and many more hands grabbed him all over.
"Up?" someone asked him.
"Yes, please!" he said immediately.
After he was passed all the way up to a passage, he looked down the chute.
"Thanks for all your help!" he yelled.
"That's what we do; we're helping hands!" he heard back.
He ran down the passage ahead of him, determined to help Sarah.
Just wondering, are any of my readers into drama and theatre?
The Faery Dreamer