Thank you to everyone who has faithfully reviewed and stuck with me :D I have an idea for a one shot Labyrinth piece and when I have it written and posted I will let you know :D
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L...A...B...Y...R...I...N...T...H... L...A...B...Y...R...I...N...T...H... L...A...B...Y...R...I...N...T...H...
Sarah looked around the Quidditch stadium in amazement, almost everyone in the school was out here waving flags and cheering. The Twins were running a small betting business and trying to avoid running into Snape in case he confiscated their profits and gave them a detention. She and her friends along with the rest of the Gryffindors were supporting Hufflepuff.
Sarah leant back in her seat and prepared to watch the game (Slytherin vs. Hufflepuff). Harry and Ron had spent hours explaining the rules, and Sarah finally felt like she understood the basic idea of the game, although she decided never to fly on a broomstick, wings were far simpler! She had been assured that the game would be a simple one, so all she had to do was cheer and celebrate afterwards.
The game progressed well with Hufflepuff managing to claw back a couple of goals, however Malfoy, soon began to dive steeply, showing that he had found the snitch. And after a few more seconds the game was over. Sarah jumped up and cheered with the rest of them, not because she was happy that Slytherin had won but from the excitement of the moment. The cool autumn chill bit into her cheeks and for the first time in weeks she forgot that ever since that first day her dreams had been filled with nightmares of what she had seen in the crystal. Hoggle had urged her to ask Jareth what they meant but she baulked at the suggestion. Her own pride prevented her from asking him for help.
The players of both teams landed gracefully on the pitch, the Slytherins automatically swept up in a mass of green and silver. However their celebrations were cut short when, suddenly, a deep earth shattering roar split the ground. Literally. The stones on the pitch began to roll towards the forest; everyone stopped cheering and stood silent for a full minute, you could hear the clink as rocks moved over each other. However soon the panic set in. Teachers ran about waving wands and trying to organise the chaos; students were running around slipping on the rocks that were rolling out of the Lake and towards to forest. Sarah felt her arm being grabbed by Hermione and was being dragged towards Harry and Ron who were stood near the Twins and Ginny.
"Come on" Hermione hissed, when she realised that Sarah was trying to head towards the forest. "That's the wrong way that's where the noises are coming from!" Sarah shook Hermione off and ran
towards the forest, halting behind a stand to morph into an owl. Now she could fly over and find Ludo and whatever was upsetting him.
As she flew she noticed a group of teachers watching the forest and arguing, Hagrid seemed to be suggesting that he go into the forest to find the problem. She circled once and watched as Hagrid and Snape were sent off into the forest.
Realising that she would have to be careful to stay out of their way she flew faster searching for Ludo before anyone could find him.
She eventually followed the rocks to a clearing near the centre of the forest; Ludo was surrounded by Centaurs who were attempting to save themselves from the rocks. Changing as she fell she landed in front of Ludo amongst the ring of Centaurs.
Ludo immediately stopped howling and began to yell "Sawah fwend Sawah help"
She wasted no time in assessing the situation. She had about 20 Centaurs all pointing various weapons at her from arrows to spears and even a crude sword. The mirror she had placed in the forest for Ludo to arrive through had been smashed and was useless as a portal back to the Labyrinth.
"Stop" she cried as the Centaurs knocked their arrows. One stepped slightly forward obviously the leader.
"Who are you? And what is this?" Why do you enter our domain uninvited?"
Sarah thought quickly "My name is Sarah I am a student at the school, this creature is my friend, he is called Ludo; as for encroaching on your land. I am sorry; Hagrid said that the Centaurs did not reach this far in the forest".
"Hagrid is a fool, though he means well. Our domain shifts with the seasons to cover whichever part of the forest we choose. We do not look upon outsiders well, especially ones which use forbidden magic. Human artefacts are forbidden, this creature uses one as a means of transportation; it must be destroyed."
"Why?" Sarah asked, sounding braver than she felt. "He is a peaceful creature; he would never harm any of you"
"He attacked us with his strange power, what is that if not an act of aggression." The leader swished his tail angrily
"He was defending himself; he only wants to go home" Sarah pleaded, hoping to appeal to their compassion, she did not want to attack these creatures, nor did she know if she would survive an attack from them. Their arrows appeared to be made of iron. She knew that iron although harmless enough to Witches and Wizards was poisonous to creatures of the underground, it drained their magic. "Please let us leave peacefully and we shall never trouble you again."
"We have been mistreated by the wizarding world for too long, it is time that you learnt that Centaurs are not lesser beings"
As soon as they charged Sarah threw up a shield although against the iron it was proving to be very ineffective, in less than a minute her reserves of magic would be exhausted and she and Ludo would be at their mercy. Ludo appeared transfixed by the weapons surrounding him and was currently supporting Sarah's weight so she could maintain the shield. She knew she was going to have to say it, and she hated herself for it.
"I wish that the Goblin King would save us right now!"
Instantly the shattered mirror became molten the glass moving fluidly over the surface until it was once again whole. Then stepping out of the mirror came the Goblin King. Immediately the Centaurs halted in their assault turning to face the newcomer.
"Indeed it is time that the wizards learn a few lessons but what of my subjects? Do they deserve the same punishment?"
Instantly Sarah felt her feet collapse and her shield disappear from sight. She felt like she had run a marathon and her head was spinning. She managed to lean on Ludo and listen to what Jareth was saying.
"Touch either of them again and you shall regret it"
"Who are you to make such threats? We do not fear any wizard" this was not the Centaur who had spoken before but a much younger one obviously too caught up in the moment to recognise that this was not a wizard.
Jareth laughed then, the same laugh that Sarah had got used to while travelling the Labyrinth. It meant that he was sure he had won. She hoped he was right.
"Make no mistake; I am not wasting my breath on you in an attempt to prevent a battle from forming. I am merely trying to save you the pain of losing." There was the arrogant King she knew
from the Labyrinth. Though whether he was bluffing or not she could not tell; and neither could the Centaurs.
The Leader whinnied slightly and his back legs shifted in obvious apprehension. Finally he lowered his bow and signalled for the others to do the same. "Today is not a day for battle, I would know your name stranger who protects this creature and uses such ancient magic."
"My name is of no importance, to know my name is to hold great power in your hand. Know this I am a friend to Dumbledore and to this girl you see before you. Cross either and you shall feel my wrath." With that Jareth dismissed them with a wave of his hand. Once he was sure they were gone he turned on Sarah and Ludo
"What were you doing?" He hissed, "You forced me to reveal myself to these creatures, was your situation so dire that you required my assistance?"
"Sawah help Ludo Sawah Fwend" Ludo began but was silenced with a wave of Jareths hand.
"I shall deal with you later, return to the Labyrinth and await my summons" Ludo bowed his head and shuffled towards the repaired mirror sparing one final glance towards Sarah lying on the forest floor.
Sarah waited for almost a minute before raising her head to look at Jareth, as it was from her position on the floor she could only manage to look him in the knees. He really was quite tall even without the high heeled boots. Finally he sighed and offered a hand for her, hesitantly she grasped it feeling the smooth leather against her skin. As soon as she was standing a wave of dizziness overtook her and forgetting that she barely trusted this man she grasped his forearm to support herself. Surprisingly she felt his hand curl around her arm in response and his left hand move to hold tightly to her other arm. When the wave of nausea and dizziness passed he almost immediately let go as if nothing had happened.
"Well?" He stated "I am waiting for an explanation"
Sarah would have glared if she had had the strength. "I was watching a Quidditch match.."
"A what? Do you think you are here to watch silly games?"
"I don't know what I am here for but everyone else was going so I went as well"
"Very well continue" Sarah was almost sure he was enjoying himself, acting the arrogant king to the hilt.
"Anyway, I heard Ludo howl and saw the rocks heading for the forest so I naturally followed."
"Were you seen?" He suddenly interrupted again
"No but a couple of teachers were sent to check up on the noise, they could get here at any time." Sarah suddenly began to panic, if she was caught it could lead to a great deal of questions. She made to move back towards the castle but had barely made it two feet before nausea brought her to her knees. She felt strong arms lift her and pull her towards the mirror. She felt too weak to struggle as she saw a room begin to form inside; before she knew what was happening she was being dragged back into the Labyrinth.
L...A...B...Y...R...I...N...T...H... L...A...B...Y...R...I...N...T...H... L...A...B...Y...R...I...N...T...H...
Not sure I am completely happy with this, but have already rewritten it twice so...
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