Hello! I'm sorry that I took ages to update! Please take this slightly longer chapter as a peace offering! I hope that you didn't lose enthusiasm for this story, and I would love to receive your reviews. I assure you that I'm going to finish this story, no matter what! I'm sorry that I can't post review replies, I'm rather in a hurry today.
Little Sarah has lost her way
And can't tell where to find it
Leave it to a dwarf to tell her where's home
Pointing to a trail behind her
"Sophia? Sophia!"
An owl hooted overhead, making her look up. But instead of the brown and white feathers she was expecting, this one was completely black, and it dove towards her at breakneck speed, deadly claws glinting insanely. She threw her arms to protect her head and broke into a run.
Blood was rushing in her ears, and her heart was pounding madly in her chest, with an intensity that threatened to burst out of her ribcage. She was running so fast that all she could see was a blur, as if everything was submerged under turbulent waters, spinning around in a whirlpool to lure her in.
In her haste to escape whatever was chasing her, she didn't notice a gnarled tree root protruding from the ground, sending her sprawling to the damp, earthy soil. She tensed up, expecting to feel the lethal talons slashing across her back. She gazed up.
Nothing.
The little girl took great gulps of air, having exhausted her supply of oxygen in her sprint earlier. Yet she could not cease the rapid fluttering of her heart, or alleviate the feeling of being watched, which settled between her shoulder blades and made her wary of her surroundings.
She sensed movement behind her. Though her instincts screamed at her to flee and never look back, she ignored it and did the opposite.
Which she promptly regretted.
The tree, whose refuge she had sought, moved. She could not discard it merely as a motion caused by the wind, for all was still. The willow groaned under the strain, as if unused to locomotion. She froze.
It groaned again, the moans sounding like a dolorous elegy for the dead. It was grieving for the damned souls languishing in the fires of hell, but the pleas were futile because of the deafening, joyous cheers in heaven.
A wolf bayed somewhere near, echoing throughout the vast expanse of the forest and luckily, shook her out of her dazed stupor. Quickly scrambling to her feet, she coaxed her tired legs to run.
Fear had clouded her sight, and dread had seeped in her skin and soaked her bone, heightening her already sensitive senses. She very much felt like a prey scuttling uselessly away from a predator she could neither see nor evade.
Without warning, the ground she was standing collapsed. Gravity kicked in and she began to fall.
Her thoughts flew out of a proverbial window. They flitted in her mind, close but too far to grasp. All she could register was the feeling of falling, and there was no doubt that Death was waiting with open arms as soon as she hit the bottom. Her heart had plunged to her stomach, and she was grateful not to have eaten much during breakfast. She was unaware of her surroundings as she feebly grappled in the dark for something to hold on. She did not know if she was screaming, for the forces that pushed her closer to her death drowned any sound that she might be able to hear.
She had never ridden on a roller coaster before, but she was sure that this was worse than that. There was no seatbelt to strap you in your seat, nor any handrails to help in your stability. And people rode on them to have fun, not to acquire an appointment with the Grim Reaper.
Make it stop. Make it stop. Please!
As soon as she had thought it, her body slammed mercilessly on the hard ground, her breath leaving her in a whoosh, but her pain was blinded by her relief to be on a solid surface again.
She lay there; still and unmoving, letting the sensations wash over her. It will all be dark if it were not for a solitary beacon of light passing from somewhere overhead.
She was mind-numbingly cold – was this how the onset of death felt like? Strange; she thought that death was a release from pain and suffering, an eternal respite from the turmoil which ravages the human mind. She can remember the first time she had encountered the concept – a dog of her neighbor had crossed the street and accidentally got run over by a car. She saw how the brilliant sparkle faded ever so slowly in the dog's eyes, and how the rise and fall of its chest stopped as it lay in the crimson pool of its own blood, never to move or bark or play fetch again.
She researched about it in her father's gargantuan tomes – not all of them were about law. The books had always made death so peaceful and calm. Why then could she feel the cold and hear the thudding of her heart, which was finally slowing from its frenzied rhythm earlier? Why was the fear still present, blurring the corners of her vision, and conjuring up images from the shadows?
There was no other explanation to it – she was still alive.
Sarah sat up slowly, grimacing at the effort it took. Aside from a few scrapes and a sore bottom which would probably bruise earlier, she felt fine. She could not say the same for her dress though, she thought, looking down at it regrettably. It was dirty and torn in places where the trees had snagged it.
What it this place? She thought, looking around uselessly. Was it possible that 'nothing' can exist? There was no other word to describe the limbo she was suspended on. She would die here then, and nobody would ever know of the sad fate which befell on a little girl called Sarah.
She could not let that happen! Her friends were waiting for her – no matter where they were. They would be so worried…
She did not know how long she stayed there huddled in a corner until she heard scuttling footsteps coming around an unseen bend.
"Whatcha doin' here?"
Sarah raised her head and saw a very odd little man with surprise etched across every ridge on his face. A dark purple cap was on his head, covering his balding spot and emphasized his large ears which were sticking out. Small, beady eyes gazed at her assessingly, and were framed by graying tufts of hair. He was dressed in clothes every bit as unusual as him, and in his hands was a grimy oil lamp.
"I – I don't know Mr. Goblin, sir," she replied.
His scowl got deeper and dropping the lamp at his feet, he crossed his arms.
"I ain't no stinking goblin, Missy. Me's a dwarf."
She smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, Mr. Dwarf-man, sir."
"Me name's Hoggle!"
"Oh. Sorry Mr. Hoggle-man, sir," she repeated.
"It's Hoggle! No Mr., Sir, or Ma'am."
"It's nice to meet you, Hoggle," she greeted politely.
Hoggle blinked in surprise. He uncrossed his arms, dropping them at his side as if not knowing what to do with them, before grumbling under his breath and picking up the lamp on the floor.
"Whatcha' doin' here?" he repeated.
Sarah smiled. In spite of his gruffness, she could not help but like him. She had a feeling that he needed a friend and instincts were right. Well, most of the time.
"I got lost, Hoggle," she admitted.
"You won't happen to be one of those lookin' for them siblings, are you?" he asked suspiciously. "Because I ain't helping, no matter what!"
"I'm not looking for anyone, Hoggle. I came from the Castle Beyond the Goblin City, and I got lost. My name's Sarah."
"Castle Beyond -" his eyes narrowed. "Yer the new kid Jareth got, aren't you?"
Sarah opened her mouth to reply when he beat her to it, glancing furtively in the dark as if expecting something to pounce.
"Don't ye believe a word he is saying!" he warned in a whisper, bending closer to where she was sitting. "He ain't telling no truths!"
Sarah was surprised at his animosity, but couldn't fathom why he had such a reaction to any thought regarding the Goblin King.
"Mr. Jareth has been nothing but nice to me, Hoggle," she protested. "He is so good!"
Hoggle snorted derisively. "Shows what you know."
She dropped the subject. Hoggle did not like Mr. Jareth enough. But her friends need to be friends with each other too!
"Please, Hoggle. Will you help me find my way back? They will be looking for me."
His scowl softened.
"All right! All right, Missy! No need fer yer infernal begging," he grumbled. "Though I ain't doing this fer Jareth, no siree!"
Placing his lamp on the ground, he picked up a thin, rectangular-shaped block of wood and fastened it on a wall she hadn't noticed before. He pulled it open to reveal a store of cleaning supplies, from which a mop fell out.
A broom cupboard?
"Faulty, darn doors," he muttered. The dwarf stashed the mop back, closed the door and proceeded to bang at it so hard that Sarah was beginning to worry about the state of his knuckles. She did not have to fret too long however, when he abruptly pulled it to show a dark passageway.
He glanced back at her still-seated form.
"Well, whadda waitin' for? The door's not gonna come closer to you, you know,"
She snapped out of her gaze and quickly got up to follow him. They couldn't see anything more than a few feet away from them, and the only illumination they had was the meager light from Hoggle's lamp. Sarah often lamented her lack of height, but now she found it at her advantage for her companion was no taller than her.
"What was that place, Hoggle?"
He shifted the lamp to his other hand.
"That was an oubliette, Missy," he answered. "It's a place fer forgetting, if yeh didn't know. How'd you end up here anyway?"
"I made a new friend, Hoggle. She was supposed to tour me in the Goblin City, and I followed her to the Labyrinth, but we got lost."
"You shouldn't have done that. What if she was a bad person? Not all is what it seems in this place."
She remained silent. It was sound advice, after all.
"Did you get lost too, Hoggle?"
He shook his head. "Hardly. I was doin' me rounds, that's all. To see if there's someone in the oubliettes."
Her brow wrinkled in thought.
"But I thought that it was a place for forgetting."
He glanced at her slyly from the corner of his eye, as if contemplating letting her in on a big secret.
"Ye gotta know if there's someone ya need to forget," he shrugged. "Maybe ya didn't need to forget the person after all."
They had walked a few more paces when Sarah spoke up again.
"What about you, Hoggle?"
"Wha-what about me?" he asked, attention focused on maneuvering their way along the confusing path.
"Do you have friends?"
"I don't need no friends."
His answer came a second too late, and he hoped that he didn't hear the bitterness in his voice. She giggled.
"What's so funny?"
"You're so silly, Hoggle! Everybody needs friends!"
The dwarf looked affronted and pretended not to hear.
"Do you want one, Hoggle?"
"Want what?"
"A friend."
"A friend?"
"Yes," she declared happily. "I'll be glad to be your friend!"
Hoggle stopped and peered at her dubiously.
"I'm not exact'y a happy dwarf like in them storybooks, ya know."
"I noticed."
"I don't know much about those friendship stuff."
"That's okay. You can learn. I can teach you!"
The tunnel twisted to a dead end, where a rickety ladder was waiting, centuries of accumulated cobwebs from long gone spiders clinging on the rigs. Moss stuck to the rock walls, and light rushed in the little place which made Sarah look up.
"You're not going to give up this 'friendship stuff' are you?" he asked suddenly.
It took her a moment to answer, for she was focused on how near she was to freedom and hypaethral, blue skies.
She shook her head. "Nope!"
He sighed. "Well, someone has to keep you outta trouble."
The smile on her face widened. She took that as a yes.
While she was waiting for Hoggle to speak again, her fingers came upon the trinket which the lady with the baby on the street had given her ages ago. Or was it only yesterday? Time seemed so insignificant here – or maybe, it was just her. After all, our initial wonder at something new and out-of-the ordinary was indelibly painted on our characters, a trait which makes us more human.
Returning to the accessory, Sarah remembered what the lady had told her.
"Here," she said, sliding the bracelet off her wrist. She took his large hand in her own. It was calloused and rough – the hand of a seasoned worker. Sarah felt a swell of pride for her friend who worked hard for a living. Before Hoggle could react, she tied the bracelet on his lower arm. The awestruck expression on Hoggle's face was comical, but she resisted the urge to laugh for she knew that it was wrong to make fun of others, especially if he or she is a new friend.
"A friend had given it to me once. Who knows? Maybe you'll give it to one of yours someday," she said, quoting the lady's words.
She looked up again and pretended not to see how his fingers lingered on the bauble, and how his eyes were suddenly so suspiciously moist. He need not express his gratitude in words, for his actions had already amplified what he meant to say.
The dwarf, having composed himself, said, "Get up there now, Missy."
Precariously taking one rig in hand, she ascended slowly, wincing every time the ladder creaked under her weight. She could sense the dwarf following closely at her heels, and all the dust entering her respiratory tract made her want to sneeze.
Having reached the top, she sent a silent thanks to whoever was listening to her prayers. Although the sky was overcast, result of being in the Labyrinth, she no longer felt as if the walls were closing in around her. She exhaled slowly, relieved that the air has lost its mustiness. She swung a leg from the rim of the well where the ladder was in, and stumbled to the ground. Hoggle came out a few moments later, carrying a snuffed out lamp in one hand.
Remembering where she was, Sarah blanched.
"Hoggle, we've come out of the Labyrinth," she whispered agitatedly.
"So? I thought ye wanted to get out of the oubliette."
"I did, Hoggle. But it's too dark in here. I'm scared."
He snorted. "That's what the Labyrinth wants you to think. It turns to whatever ye expect it to be, turns yer wants and fears ag'inst you. That's why them people who enter don't last, you know. Can't stand being near to what they want and not being able to get it."
Wat it true? Sarah peered over her hands to look at the maze. The forest wasn't as dense and foreboding as before. Were those the very same trees she had imagined were chasing her earlier? They stood still and silent, their leaves unruffled. And she could clearly see the skies from where she stood – hadn't the forest blocked her view of it before?
"See? Told ya so," the dwarf said smugly. A furry rabbit hopped near him, its nose twitching in curiosity. Hoggle grimaced at its 'cuteness.' "Now you overdid it."
"It's so beautiful!" Sarah said, clasping her hands in delight, earlier experience forgotten. "Can you see what I see, Hoggle?"
He nodded once. "I can see whatever me companion sees."
"But what can you see when you're alone?"
"Barren land which goes on for miles and miles," he replied flatly. "I see whatever the labyrinth wishes me to see."
"Oh."
The trace of bitterness crept in his voice again.
"You do want to return to that blasted castle, don't you?"
She nodded solemnly.
"Okay, okay," he sighed. " Haven't been there in years."
The dwarf trudged on forward, the little girl following close by.
"What do you do, Hoggle?"
"Eh?"
"Your work. Things you do to earn wages."
"Not that I get paid for it, but I take care of flowers."
"Flowers?" she asked delightedly. Sarah never thought that Hoggle liked plants!
"Ye sound like ye don't believe me," he said, his tone accusatory.
"Oh, no! I believe you, Hoggle. I like flowers too!"
"Me garden patch's just over here."
The odd pair stopped at a humble straw hut whose front yard was filled with numerous flowers of every color imaginable.
"Wow..."
Hoggle stared at his plants with a proud glint in his eye, resembling a father praising his children. "Took me years to finish this," he said, gesturing to the considerable area of land. "Kinda hard, since it's inside the Labyrinth, 'specially with all those pesky fairies roaming about. But did I show them!"
She noticed that he eyed a metal thing that looked like a spray gun, leaning inconspicuously on a faded picket fence.
"You are a very good gardener, Hoggle. Why aren't you working in the castle? I'm sure that you would do the flowers a favor."
The amiable look on his features darkened once more.
"I did. Once," he said, in a tone that told her to drop the subject. Which she did, gladly, for whatever it was, she can see that it was upsetting him.
"What's that?"
Hoggle swiveled his head to where she was pointing.
Standing amidst the colorful combinations of bougainvillea, lily and posy was a small, unassuming flower. It wasn't as bright as those which surround it, and the imposing height of the others made it seem like a weed rather than a flower.
"Oh, that." His face fell. "A rather odd one, really. Doesn't fit in with the others, and very stubborn – only blooms at night, when no one can see! But I don't have the heart to pull 'er out."
Dropping to her knees, she reached out a hand to touch the closed, gray bud. The corolla suddenly spread out its petals, answering to the summon of her caress. Its color was the shade of the deepest, bluest evening sky and the diamond dewdrops clinging to it looked like stars. Sarah jerked back her hand and the plant returned to its unresponsive state.
"It's never done that before," Hoggle said, mystified. He scratched his head, and moving near her, he did he same thing.
Nothing happened.
They stayed there in silence, both assessing the strange flower. Hoggle spoke first.
"Ye can have it."
Sarah blinked and stared at him, surprised.
"What?"
The dwarf dropped his eyes and scuffled his feet, a hint of pink on his cheeks.
"Ya know," he mumbled. "For this."
He discreetly played with the bracelet on his arm.
"I can't possibly take this, Hoggle. It's yours," she replied. She didn't want to hurt his feelings, but the pretty flower might die in her hands.
"But ye gave me yer bracelet."
"That's because I want you to have it. You're my friend. You don't have to give me anything just because I gave you something. You don't have to feel ob-obligated."
"I want you to have it too," he mumbled awkwardly. A little louder, he said, "Besides, if ye were worryin' that it might wither, I don't think it would. Magical flowers tend to last longer."
"Well if you insist," she replied. "Thank you Hoggle!"
Hoggle went to a little, rundown shack which probably served as his tool shed and retrieved his garden shears. With a tenderness that belied his rough, pudgy hands, he carefully clipped the marcescent bud and dropped it onto her outstretched palm.
The flower was in full bloom, as if it was nestled in the lushest valley instead of the dry concave of her hand. It really was small; the stem curling in upon itself and spiraled around the sepals. Its scent wafted in her senses when she brought it close to her face to sniff it, and its redolence was so unique and common, familiar and strange at the same time.
"Better get ye back at the castle," Hoggle interrupted.
She sighed dejectedly and stood up to follow.
Sarah felt a rush of relief when the path ended at the opening which she recognized led to the Gardens. She ran the last few steps, and saw Rosalie standing with her new friend Sophia, both looking frazzled and upset. The Goblin King was there too, posture more rigid than ever. They looked relieved when they caught sight of her.
Sophia sprinted up to meet her, and she was close to crying.
"Sarah? Oh, Sarah. I'm so sorry!"
Before she could reply, the Goblin King spoke first.
"What happened?" he asked in an icy tone.
Sarah saw the blood drain from Sophia's face, and felt bad for her new friend.
"It's okay now, Mr. Jareth, sir," she replied for her. "I'm fine now. See?"
His mismatched eyes scrutinized dubiously at her ruined dress and the scratches on her arms which Sarah ignored.
"I wasn't aware that we have different definitions of fine, Sarah," he said flatly, returning his gaze at Sophia. "Mine does not include resembling something a goblin dragged in."
"Well, my definition is better," she declared stubbornly. "Besides, someone helped me."
To prove her point, an annoyed huffing was heard from where she came from.
"There ya are, Missy! Don't go runnin' away like that! If I'd -"
He stopped short, and narrowed his gaze at the person beside Sarah.
"You!" he spat vindictively.
Jareth inclined his head in mock salutation, a smirk on his lips.
"Dwarf," he greeted neutrally.
"Jareth," Hoggle said acidly. "Yer brother was better than you,"
The mocking smile on the Goblin King's face vanished and his eyes became icier when he dropped his lighthearted facade and turned serious.
"Rosalie? Take Sarah to her room and get her clean," he ordered. Sensing Rosalie's reluctance, he gritted his teeth in impatience and added, "Please."
A wide-eyed Rosalie towed away a curious Sarah and an equally apologetic Sophia.
Jareth rounded upon a very smug dwarf.
"I would appreciate it if you keep your petty comments to yourself when we're around Sarah, Hogsnout," he hissed.
"What's-a-matter, Jareth?" the dwarf taunted. "Can't take it when yer li'l tool finds out who ye really are?"
"Stay away from her."
"Yer not goin' to hurt the little lady, are you?"
Jareth stepped back, and crossed his arms. He raised an eyebrow.
"Why, Hog-wash. I didn't know you cared."
"I just don't want to see another one hurt."
"She has you wrapped around her little finger already," the Goblin King surmised amusedly.
"'Course not."
Hoggle crossed his arms in defiance, but dropped them uncertainly and the look on his face softened.
"I – she's something special, Jareth. A true gem," Realizing that he forgot to lace the Goblin King's name with venom and that the atmosphere was dangerously close to being amiable, he tried to bring back the menacing look on his face, but ended up looking pained. Which wasn't very intimidating at all. "This doesn't mean that we're friends again."
The Goblin King's features remained blank.
"I never even considered it, Hodge-podge."
Hoggle muttered a useless "It's Hog-gle" under his breath, knowing that it would be unheeded. "Ye can't keep me away from her. She likes me too."
"Only heaven knows why," Jareth drawled.
"Could say the same fer ye."
"I resent that."
Hoggle snorted and was about to leave when he received the shock of his life.
"Hoggle?"
He turned to the stoic man with disbelieving eyes.
"Did-did ye actu'lly get me name right?" he asked, incredulity in every syllable of his words.
"No. You must have misheard me," Jareth sneered. The dwarf rolled his eyes and turned away.
"Thank you for saving her, Hoggle."
He grimaced, and the dwarf's steps faltered.
"I didn't do it fer ye, Jareth," he said without facing him.
Sarah sat on the chair by the windowsill, a newly-repaired Lancelot in hand and a lollipop in the other, watching the sun sink on the farthest western edge of the Labyrinth.
It had taken her hours to convince Rosalie that she was fine, and afterwards the woman barely left her side. Sophia stammered out a lot of 'sorry's' and whenever Sarah tried to talk to her, the conversation won't end without an apology from the older girl. Rosalie had chastised Sophia for taking her to the Labyrinth, and Sarah felt bad for that. It was partly her fault, for she knew that she shouldn't have wandered without supervision.
Where was Hoggle? She had returned to the Garden only to find the acerbic dwarf gone. She didn't want to go to his house in the Labyrinth alone, for she will surely be lost in a matter of minutes. Her caretaker had no idea where he went, so she spent her time with her playmate once Sophia got over her tendency to apologize over and over again.
Maybe Hoggle was in his garden patch with his pretty flowers. Was he mad that she hadn't said goodbye? He did leave rather abruptly, so she hadn't had the chance for farewell. She was curious about the 'offhand' remark he made to Jareth, but Rosalie had evaded the question when he asked her about it.
She heard the flutter of wings and smiled at the sight of her friend.
"Mr. Owl!" she greeted. "You're early today!"
He gave her a look that said, "How do you feel?"
"I'm fine, Mr. Owl," she assured. How did he know what happened to her? She showed him her arms, which had no traces of the scratches she had received earlier. "Rosalie healed me. It was like magic!"
Sarah laughed when she realized that it was indeed magic.
"Thank you for the teddy bear, by the way," She held Lancelot in front of him so that their faces were parallel with each other. "His eyes are just like yours. See?"
The owl gave her an incredulous stare which seemed to say, "Do you really believe I gave him to you? I'm an owl!"
"I know you gave him to me, Mr. Owl. Although I don't know how," she replied to his unvoiced question. "I named him Lancelot. Is that okay with you?"
He tried to shrug his shoulders to tell her, "Go ahead. It's your toy now."
She licked her lollipop and laughed again at the glare he gave her.
"Don't worry, Mr. Owl," she said. "I'll brush my teeth afterwards. And I won't let it ruin my appetite for dinner, I promise."
"Oh! Which reminds me." Sarah hopped out of the chair and went to her dresser. She smiled upon seeing the flower she placed atop of it. Hoggle's gift was in full bloom, probably because it was dusk and nighttime approaches. She placed her candy back in its wrapper and went back to her seat with the bud in her grasp.
"Isn't it so pretty? It reminded me of you, Mr. Owl. I know that it isn't much, but I would like you to have it. As a token of grat-gratitude. You've done me a lot of good, and I want to repay you for it."
She stilled as she heard the clock strike another hour.
"Oh no! I'm gonna be late for dinner!" She straightened out the wrinkles in her dress and combed her fingers through her hair. Making a beeline for the door, Sarah stopped short and waved at him. "Don't wait up for me, Mr. Owl. I'm sure that you have to eat dinner, too. I might take too long, and you'll be grumpy. Hungry people are always grumpy. I think it applies to owls, also. Bye-bye!"
The owl watched as she pulled the door open and closed it with a hurried thud.
Jareth stood at the window of his study, turning the present in his hands.
Oddly enough, he was touched. Nobody had thought of giving him a gift before, just because they wanted to say thank you. They gave mostly to ask favors, and he never felt...touched by them. Not that he could remember, and he remembered a lot.
His brother was the one who received the gifts. His brother was the one who had all the thanks, the praises, and the admiration. Maybe the dratted dwarf was right. Maybe his brother was better than him.
That can't be true. His brother was supposed to be king, but he had to be foolish, stupid, and reckless, and one day, Jareth found the blame for what happened heaped upon him. Not to mention the responsibility. He smiled humorlessly.
I'd bet you'd die to be in my place, won't you, brother dear?
Turning back to the flower, his grim smile lightened. The dwarf had said that she was special, and he rather agreed with him. And if the surliest creature in all of his kingdom had noticed and been affected by it, it must be true.
Such a pity that the only gift he cared about would wilt and die so quickly, he thought, brushing his fingers on the silken petals. Unless...
Placing the flower flat on his palm, he used his unoccupied hand to conjure a crystal. He watched patiently as the insubstantial air materialized as bands of different colored lights, entwining with themselves and encased Sarah's present in them. When the lights had completely ensconced it, he observed his handiwork closely.
A dark yellow gemstone hung on a simple chain, and when the fading rays of the sun struck the pendant, he could clearly see what lay beneath its surface. Satisfied with the results, he placed it around his neck.
He never took it off ever since.
What do you think? Please review!
I hope that Hoggle isn't OOC. He might be slightly braver than the Hoggle in the movie. I also hope that the chapter was understandable - I was a little rushed when I wrote this. Forgive me too for the typo or grammar errors.
Tests and quizzes are rather frustrating. I need a hug. Better yet, reviews, please.
A really depressed writer signing out.
Chapter 6:
"I think that Marigold is, um... bright."
