A/N I don't own the labyrinth -all the characters belong to their rightful owners - tis a mere fanfiction - a bit of fun.

A/N Again I apologies for it not being edited :3 Please leave a review/comment or any constructive criticism! All is welcome, and I love reading all of them :) Also I'd be interested to know your thoughts on our Goblin King after reading this chapter...

Demented Insane Spirit

Thank you for your review! I was happy to see your comment...yes after such a long break it would have been a tad confusing! I apologies for that! I hope to be a bit more regular with updates! Thank you for your continued support it means a lot! Xx

Now... let us continue...

Chapter 14.

Linda stared at the other occupants of the room, she felt like she had joined an alcoholic anonymous. Her lips thinned as she took in the leader of their group. A fae, dressed as a nurse the only give away to her being non-human was the vibrant yellow of her eyes. Linda glanced around the room, the eldest being nearly eighty to the youngest being about sixteen. It was cruel. Bringing them all here to live with their own guilt to face their guilt head on, however, Linda didn't belong here. She was facing her guilt, she was trying to change the repercussions of her actions, he however, didn't quite see it that way.

'John, why did you give up your son?' the fae nurse asked.

Linda wanted to roll her eyes, it was the same for everyone, a moment of weakness, they were human after all, what did they expect? They had all failed the Labyrinth every single one of them. Herself included…but Sarah hadn't…her daughter had bested the Labyrinth and its tyrant ruler. Would Sarah have ended up here had she lost? Linda shook her head, no, she already knew that Sarah's storyline was different, knew that she had been tempted into wishing her half-brother way by false promises of a book. If Linda had never given her that book, had never left her those toys, never whispered stories of goblins then perhaps things would have been different. Linda shook her head…she knew that could have never been the case, his little spies were always around Sarah's cot watching over her greedily.

There was a loud knock on the door and John ceased his rambling. Linda raised her head watching it open to reveal, much to her surprise, Sarah who was being shadowed by the Goblin King himself. Her throat ran dry. Sarah wasn't meant to be visiting today…no, she was too sane for him to allow her a visit today. Linda glanced to the nurse half expecting her to hand her over a pill, but the nurse appeared just as surprised.

'Miss Williams wishes to speak with her mother,' he spoke.

Linda stared at him, she detested how close he stood behind her daughter. How his gaze always seemed to land back on her. She looked to her daughter, her complexion somewhat pale, her eyes looked tired and unfocused. Linda felt anger rush through her as she blamed the Goblin King for her daughter's current state.

'Of course.' The fae nurse spoke uneasily.

Linda watched as the Goblin King ushered Sarah into the room while the nurse took the rest of the occupants out. Linda observed her daughter, how she watched the patients with a quizzical expression and once the last of them had left and the door was firmly shut, she stepped away from the Goblin King and turned to face him head on.

'All these people,' she watched as her daughter gestured to the empty chairs behind her, 'are in here because of you.' She accused.

Linda felt her eyes widen at just how brave her daughter was being as she wondered how Sarah knew.

'Because of me?' he questioned cocking his head to the side and taking a dangerous step towards her.

Linda watched with pride as Sarah stuck her ground.

'Yes,' Sarah responded, 'if it wasn't for you, they wouldn't be here!' Sarah snarled.

Linda felt the air grow cold. She wanted so desperately to take her daughter back, to tell her to stop before she said something that might anger him, for he was easily angered. He laughed. Linda stiffened in the chair.

'They are here because they could not cope with their own guilt,' he snarled, 'I simply gave them a place to do so where they would not harm themselves,' he explained.

She watched as Sarah gave him a snide smile and a mocking laugh, 'how generous of you.'

Linda had long since thought that she, Mr Williams, Karen and Blaze had smothered Sarah's inner fire, but it still appeared that embers still burnt. A sly smile grew on her face, perhaps she was right to have hope.

'I've always been generous, Sarah.'

'Oh?'

Linda didn't like this. She felt like they were in their own special world. She had to bring their attention elsewhere.

'I don't regret what I did,' Linda interrupted.

She watched as they both faced her. How Sarah's face became emotionless while the Goblin King eyed her suspiciously.

'That is not something I would be boasting,' he spoke, side stepping Sarah, 'after all you did pay for your freedom by sacrificing your own daughter.'

Linda swallowed, it wasn't like that, he was twisting the events. She glanced over to Sarah to see her staring with slightly wide eyes but there was no sign of hurt. Linda didn't know if that hurt more.

'I was a child,' Linda snarled, 'I didn't know what I was giving up,' she stared at Sarah pleadingly.

She watched as Sarah made her way over to the chairs and took a seat opposite her and played with her fingers before she suddenly looked up, her gaze however was on the Goblin King.

'I wish to speak to my mother,' she spoke sternly,

Linda glanced up to the Goblin King, to see his mouth twitch in amusement as he turned to Sarah.

'Well, speak,' he gestured.

'Alone,' Sarah said sternly.

At this Linda watched as his side smile dropped and a stern look cross his face. He eyed her daughter suspiciously. Linda could sense he didn't want to leave as he clenched and unclenched his fist.

'Ten minutes,' he spoke.

Linda could hardly believe her ears; her eyes widened as she watched the Goblin King concede to her daughters demands before he stalked out of the room. She looked to her daughter silently surprised to see her moving closer and once the door was firmly shut did she hear her daughter sigh in relief.

'I believe you,' Sarah stated.

Linda stared at her daughter somewhat stunned.

'In the goblins, in the Goblin King. I know it's all real, I don't know how but I know you're not mad, and I know who he,' her eyes darted to the door, 'is.'

Linda went to speak, she opened and closed her mouth but she had no idea where to begin.

'I'm so sorry,' she finally spoke.

Sarah shook her head, 'tell me, when I was,' she paused to find her right words, 'when I was sick, did you have someone take my memories away?'

Linda could see the plea for answers in her daughters mind she needed to know, she needed to remember the truth and if they were to have any chance of beating the Goblin King they needed Sarah.

'Yes,' she breathed, 'you were frightening Karen with all your talks of goblins,' Linda began, 'you would not talk to the other students, instead people would catch you talking in mirrors. The hold the Labyrinth had on you was far greater than it had had on any of us. The goblins came to visit you, and you were so paranoid they were going to kidnap Toby again you would hide him in your room. Then suddenly your friends from the Labyrinth stopped visiting and it was just the goblins who came, and you grew terribly lonely. You stopped eating, talking, you longed for a place that fascinated and frightened you all at the same time. Your father and Karen were worried they were going to lose you, so they asked me for help.'

Linda glanced at her daughter to see she was listening with rapt attention.

'So, I introduced them to a friend of mine, who was able to seal away your memories to help you live a normal life here, a life far from magic and far from him.'

Silence fell between them. Linda licked her lips unsure of how to continue as she glanced to the door and then to the clock.

'If you want to find your memories ask Karen to take you to the psychiatrist I recommended.'

Linda watched as Sarah seemed to go into a world of her own as if trying to remember that time in her teenage years. She looked so lost and alone and Linda could only blame herself. She had been a terribly mother and she would be the first to admit it. Linda jerked back as Sarah sat bolt upright and stared at her intently.

'I will get you out of here, I promise.'

Linda blinked owlishly just as the door opened and the Goblin King appeared.

'Thank you,' she addressed him, 'I'm going home.'

Linda stared wide eyed as she watched her daughter walk firmly pass the Goblin King and didn't look back. She was proud to be her mother as a smile pulled at her lips until the Goblin King turned towards her.

'It's time for me and you to have a proper chat,' he snarled.

Linda gulped.