10 years earlier…
"Oh Hoggle, my parents just don't understand. I know I've always been different, but they don't have to treat me like a freak!"
"You're not a freak, Sarah! Yous just not like them, so theys scared is all. Don't you worry none. If things ever get to far, you can always come back here."
"And risk his majesty's royal temper? Not a chance, Hoggle."
At that moment, Sarah heard her father's voice coming from down the hall. "Sarah, could you come down here for a second? Karen and I have to speak with you about something."
The teenager groaned. "OK, I'll be right down," she bellowed. "Sorry Hoggle. Guess we'll have to finish out conversation another time. How does Tuesday sound?"
"Sound perfect Sarah. See you Tuesday! Remember, you have to call me first, okay?"
"I know the drill, Hogbrain."
"It's HOGGLE!"
"Just teasing you!" In a moment, Hoggle vanished from the vanity mirror that he and Sarah had been communicating through, and Sarah traipsed downstairs to the pair of adults in her life.
"Sit down, Sarah," commanded Karen. Sarah slowly eased into the chair across from her father and Karen, who sat on a loveseat.
"Sarah, your step-mother and I are getting worried about you. We've noticed you've been talking to yourself lately. Is there something going on that we should know about?"
She couldn't tell them that she had run a dangerous labyrinth and had met magical Fae creatures. They'd call her a lunatic and send her to an asylum.
"I've just had a lot of school work lately. I talk to myself to relieve stress. That's all. May I go now?" Karen and Robert glanced worriedly at one another, before Karen spoke up.
"Sarah, I've arranged for you to see a therapist."
"WHAT?!"
"I completely understand that it's traumatic to have your parents go through a divorce and have you father end up marrying me. I even understand that sometimes you can get jealous of the amount of affection that we give Toby. But that doesn't mean we love you any less. We just want you to be happy and healthy, in every sense of the word."
"I can't believe you signed me up for a SHRINK! You think I'm crazy, don't you?"
"No, Sarah, we don't think you're crazy. Your step mother and I, we just love you, and if you're stressed about something, you should talk to someone about it in confidence."
"I don't need to talk to anyone about anything! I'm just stressed because of school! I don't have to see a shrink. Besides-"
"SARAH! You're going to the doctor, and that is FINAL! I've had enough of your childish ways, and you need to grow up! Now go to your room!" shouted Sarah's father.
The young brunette was stunned into silence. Never in her life had her father ever spoken to her in such a way, and she did not know what had gotten into him. Hurt and angry, Sarah stormed up to her room, and waited for something to happen.
The next morning, Karen and Robert woke Sarah up early so they could make it to the psychiatrist early. Cherie was a lovely woman with red hair cut short into a bob. Her belly was round from pregnancy, and seemed way too cheerful to be any sort of help to Sarah.
"So, Sarah. Karen tells me that you've been stressed out because of school. Is that so?"
"Yeah. Mid-terms are coming up soon, and I've got a big test next week, that I really should be studying for, but instead I am here. So I would appreciate it if we could move this along a little bit. Besides, I'm meeting a friend later."
"Oh? And what is your friend's name?"
"His name is Hoggle."
"Oh my! That's a peculiar name. Is it German?"
"I don't know. But he's not from around here. We met a few months ago. He's a great friend."
"Why don't you tell me a bit about Hoggle? Does he have a last name?"
"Not that I know of. He's an exterminator who kills these nasty biting bugs, and his boss is not very nice. I've met him a few times, and he treats Hoggle like dirt."
"I see. How old is your friend?"
"He's a lot older than me. I don't know the exact age, but it's up there."
"And you aren't creeped out by the age difference?"
"Not at all. He's a good person, and would never hurt me. Now that we've got that out of the way, can I go now?"
"I'm afraid not. You're parents have paid for two hours worth of help, and I intend to give you as much help as you need."
"But that's just the thing. I don't need help. My dad and Karen think that I talk to myself, but I'm talking to my friends."
"Like Hoggle?"
"Yeah! And Ludo, and Sir Didymus."
"Do all your friends have such funny names?"
"None of them are from around here."
"I see. Well, we're going to try a technique I learned a few years ago. Why don't you draw your friends for me on some paper, and let me know when you're done. Okay?"
"Sure, I can do that."
Sarah was handed a thick ream of paper, and she began drawing. She didn't draw Ludo and Didymus the way she remembered them, but tried to make them look more human. Ludo was still huge, but less furry and more huggable. Didymus was turned into a thin, tall man, holding a leash that was attached to Ambrosias' neck. Hoggle was still short because, well, he was a dwarf, and looked more human with a smaller nose, and smaller ears. When Sarah had finished her drawing, she handed it to Cherie.
"Well, Sarah, your friends certainly look interesting. Who's who in this picture?"
"Tall skinny one is Sir Didymus. He's a knight, and the dog that's with him is Ambrosias. The really tall one is Ludo. He collects rocks and is a little slow, but he's really sweet and a great hugger. The short one is Hoggle. He's a dwarf."
"A knight, a giant, and a dwarf. Quite the motley crew. Kinda reminds me of the 'Princess Bride'. And Hoggle is your best friend out of the three of them?"
"Yeah. He's great."
"Okay Sarah. We're going to try a little hypnosis now, okay? Close your eyes and I'll count backwards from ten. After each number, you'll find that you're more and more relaxed, and you'll soon fall into a deep trance. Wanna give it a try?"
"Sure, why not. Hypnosis doesn't really wo- you know what, I take that back. Do your worst Cherie."
Within minutes, Sarah was under the persuasion of Cherie, talking as she had never intended to do.
"Okay Sarah, I want you to describe your friends for me. Start with Hoggle."
Dreamily, the young woman began to speak.
"Hoggle is a dwarf. He is an exterminator for the Goblin King. I met him when I started my journey through the Labyrinth in the Underground after I wished my little brother away. Hoggle is short. The top of his head only reaches my waist. He has gray hair and wears a skull cap on his head. He has a white poets shirt under a vest with a face on the back. There's a belt that goes from the face's mouth, over his right shoulder, and down to his hip. He has brown breeches and tiny brown shoes. He carries a bag of jewels on his hip and he sprays fairies on the outer wall of the Labyrinth."
Cherie was dumbfounded. 'This girl really needs my help. She's completely delusional!' "Okay Sarah, tell me about Ludo. What does he do in the Labyrinth?"
"Ludo is a rock beast. He's big and furry and says very little. He can call rocks to him and can tell them what to do. He's got two big horns that come out of his head, and two tusks that protrude out from his bottom lip. He gives really good hugs and is a good friend."
"Okay, tell me about Didymus."
"Didymus is a knight for the Goblin King. He's kinda like a fox, but I can't really figure out what he is. He barks a lot. He guards the bridge out of the Bog of Eternal Stench, and has a sheepdog named Ambrosias that he rides like a horse. Didymus is fearless but can be foolishly brave."
"What's the Bog of Eternal Stench?"
"Its horrible. You take one step in the bog and you'll smell bad forever. It never washes out. I had to get rid of my favorite pair of shoes because they smelled so bad."
"You keep mentioning a Goblin King. Does he have a name?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me what it is?"
"No. Names have power, and I don't want to say his name because he might come here."
"Okay, that's fine. What does he look like?"
"He has blonde hair that sticks up and is poofy like a pom-pom. He wears black and white poet shirts and criminally tight pants, along with knee high black boots with a lot of heel for a guy. His eyes are different colors, and his eyebrows slant up very sharply. He kinda looks like David Bowie."
"I see. How do you feel about him?"
"I don't know. He took my brother away, but I wished him away. He was very sly and elusive like a fox, but tricky like one too. I've never met anyone like him before."
"Do you like him? Did you have any moments where you thought he was nice?"
"I don't know how I feel about him. We had a moment in a ballroom that he created. We danced together and it was nice. I felt safe with him. Like nothing bad would ever happen as long as I stayed with him."
"Why didn't you?"
"I had to save Toby."
"Why did you have to save Toby?"
"Because I wished him away. I couldn't live with myself if I lost Toby because I was mad at him."
"That's very noble Sarah. Okay, we're getting close to the end of our session. I'm going to count backwards from ten, and when I get to one, you will not remember any of what we have talked about. Okay?"
Sarah nodded. Ten seconds later, the young brunette was in a daze.
"What just happened? How is it almost noon already?"
"Well, you went under hypnosis and we talked for a bit. You told me about Hoggle, Ludo and Didymus. How fun they are, and how much they have helped you as friends. Unfortunately, out session is over. Same time next week?"
"Sure. If Karen and my dad pay you, I guess I'll be here."
"See you next week then Sarah."
For months, the sessions went on like that. Sarah was put under hypnosis, and soon Cherie knew all about the Labyrinth and what had happened to Sarah. Cherie's baby was born, and still the sessions continued. Six months after the therapy started, Cherie decided it was time for Sarah to forget about the Labyrinth, and all she had met there. After being placed under hypnosis, Sarah was restrained to a chair, and Cherie began the session.
"Sarah, you have told me all about this world you have created, and I know that you believe in it, but you know deep down that the Underground is just a place in your head. It was a dream, Sarah. The Labyrinth, Hoggle, Ludo, Didymus, the nameless Goblin King, none of it is real. None of it happened."
"No, it did happen. I had to save Toby."
"Toby was never taken by the goblins, and the king never came to see you because that world doesn't exist."
Sarah began struggling against the restraints, but Cherie kept going.
"The time has come for you to forget about the Labyrinth. It was a childhood fantasy, and now it must end."
Sarah began trying to rip the restraints off of her arms and legs, but before she was able to escape, Cherie spoke her command.
"I will count backwards from ten, and when I get to one, you will forget about the Labyrinth, Hoggle, Ludo, Didymus and the Goblin King, and wake up from your dream state. Ten." Sarah pulled harder, tears forming in her eyes. "Nine." Cuts were now forming on Sarah's wrists and ankles from straining against her bindings. "Eight," blood was slowly seeping from the cuts, dripping onto the chair. "Seven, Six, Five, Four," Sarah threw all reservations out the window, and screamed one name as loud as she could, praying that she wouldn't forget it. "JAREEETTTTHHHH!" "THREE, TWO, ONE!" Sarah opened her eyes and shut her mouth, confused as to why she had been screaming. "What am I doing? Cherie, why was I screaming? Why am I restrained?"
Cherie let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, and leaned down to remove the bondage from Sarah's limbs. "Your treatment is complete. You are free to go Sarah.
Sarah walked out of the office that day, never knowing why she had been there in the first place, and went home, only to pack up all of her childhood toys, the posters on her walls, and place them all in the attic, where they sat for a decade.
Present day…
Sarah Williams was walking down the street, deep in the center of the Village. Sarah had grown to love New York City, with the glittering lights and noisy nights. She had given up on her acting dreams, though she never remembered why, and pursued a life as a businesswoman in the fashion industry. Sarah had become an editor for a fashion magazine, and worked the journalism angle on the side, selling stories to the New York Times. Her father and Karen still lived in upstate New York, Toby a now rambunctious ten-year-old who was a voracious reader like her sister. She went up to visit her family every weekend, and read stories to Toby while he fell asleep.
As she was heading home from work, Sarah passed by a coffee shop that she had grown to love, but decided not to stop for coffee that afternoon. But fate had other plans. As she glanced down at her watch, her favorite beach bag on her shoulder instead of a purse, Sarah noticed a quick movement out of the corner of her green eye. Suddenly bursting through the door of the coffee shop, there stood a man with shoulder-length blonde hair, different colored eyes and pale skin. His dark umber button down was covered with a black vest and his black slacks fit perfectly, showing off a very prominent bulge in the crotch area. His black shoes were polished so well that you could actually see the reflection of the sky shining off of them. The, admittedly handsome, man rushed toward the twenty-five-year-old, excitement painted on his face.
"Sarah! It IS you! I've finally found you after all this time! Ten years of searching and waiting, and now here you are, right in front of me!"
'The heck is he talking about?" Sarah gave the man a blank stare, trying to remember the man's face, but she just couldn't. Smiling at the man and brushing her long brown hair behind her left ear, she asked her question.
"I'm so sorry…do I know you?"
The blonde man stepped back from her, confusion and shock on his face.
'Oh no, I think I've offended him.'
However, the man regained his composure rather quickly, and smiled at the woman.
"I'm sorry, Sarah. I do fear that you've forgotten me. It's quite all right though. You were very young when we met. But please, allow me to buy you a cup of coffee, and we can catch up."
Once again glancing at her watch, Sarah grimaced at how late it was getting. "I'm sorry, but can I take a rain check? I have an important presentation tomorrow, and I'm not really ready. But I can meet you here at five tomorrow after I get off work. Is that okay?"
The man smiled. "That sounds just peachy. I shall gladly meet you tomorrow at five. Don't be late."
"I won't be." Just as she was about to walk away, Sarah stopped herself. "Oh, I almost forgot. You know my name, but I can't remember yours."
"Oh how rude of me. My name is Jareth. Jareth King. I look forward to our meeting tomorrow, Sarah."
"As do I, Jareth. It was nice to meet you. I'll see you tomorrow!"
As Sarah bolted down the street to her apartment, the man's name rolled through her mind.
'Jareth King. Why does that sound familiar?'