Chapter 14
I wondered around in the void for what seemed like forever. I walked and walked and walked and I never seemed like I got anywhere until right after I grabbed Jareth's wrist. Right after that I got off the ground and looked up and there right in front of me were stairs that were never there before. The stairs seemed to go on forever but I knew some how that there were fifty of them and every ten steps there was a man standing in the step. As I approached the first step I asked the man what the steps were for and he didn't reply. Then came the voice of the mysterious man that I hadn't heard since I began. "These are the steps of truth. Upon reaching every tenth step you will be asked a question, answer truthfully and you become one step closer to reaching the end of the void. As you go up the questions become harder when you reach the fiftieth step you will be asked the hardest question. Answer the question truthfully and you will leave the void answer untruthfully and you will be trapped forever in the void. Rest for the a time here for once you start you will not be able to stop. This is the last part of your journey. Think your answers through and follow your heart." with that the voice disappeared and I was left in the silence. I looked to my right and there was a small table with a small meal on it but I was thankful for it. After I ate Jareth started talking to me. Only now his voice was hopeful again.
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It has been a week since Sarah grabbed my wrist. Every day I keep hopeful, she hasn't tried to communicate since then but that was enough. I get up everyday now and go to tackle the challenges of my kingdom head on instead of sending Marcy to do it. My Sarah will return to me but it will be in her own time, what ever is taking her so long is obviously important. I talk to her everyday still but I talk to her about the good things of my day. "Today I had full court but got a good couple of laughs about some of the goblins issues" I tell her. I pull a chair to the side of the bed so I can hold her hand and talk to her. "My father is throwing us an engagement party in four days so and I'm sure you be up by then. I have a feeling it won't be long now my love." I leaned down and kissed her hand. I got up to go change. When I came back I climbed in bed with her and whispered in her ear "It won't be long now my love I promise." With that I drifted off to sleep with Sarah in my arms.
In the morning Jade came in like she did every morning to sit with Sarah while I went to attend to my duties as king. When I got to he throne room all of the goblins were drunk and running around chasing chickens. This was going to be a very long, boring, noisy day.
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I ate and took a long over due needed nap and began my trek up the stairs. I approached fist step, this step had a man on it but he was the instructional step. He said "Every tenth step you will be faced with a question. Answer truthfully you will proceed to the next step. Answer untruthfully and you will be trapped in the void forever. Once you begin you may not stop. This is your one chance to turn back. Will you turn back or will you proceed?" I pulled strength to my voice and spoke in such a steady forceful tone that I surprised myself "I will proceed." with that the man seemed to vanish into thin air. I climbed the first ten steps and waited. The man on the step seemed to wait once he seemed to think me ready he asked "Why did you choose to return to your life as a mortal instead of a life where you would never know pain, death, loneliness or want?" I though over my answer and judged it by my heart "Because I love Jareth and life without Jareth would not be a life at all. You say I would not know pain, but everyday without Jareth I would feel pain at his absence. You say I would not know loneliness but every night without Jareth by my side would be pure loneliness. You say I would not know want but I would never touch another for the only touch I crave everyday is that if Jareth. You say I would not know death but every hour if everyday without Jareth would be a eternal death full of torture instead of peace." The man vaporized and I moved forward ten more stairs. The man at this stair got straight to the point "Do you love Jareth?" This was sure to be the most outrageous question of them all. "Of course I love Jareth with my whole heart and every fiber of my being." and the man faded away and I moved ten more stairs. The man at the thirtieth stair had a very low bass voice "Why do you want to be the Goblin Queen?" I was wrong this is pretty outrageous. "I honestly dont care about being Queen of anything. I love Jareth, I love the goblins and I love his whole kingdom. I ran the Labyrinth and fell in love with its King, residents and it ten years ago." the man walked away and I went on to the fortieth stair. This man spoke in a voice that was almost a whisper "Are you willing to have children to produce an heir for the Kingdom?" this one was full of outrageousness. "Yes I'm willing to produce many heirs just as long as Jareth helps raise them all!" this man bent over laughing and collapsed into a fit of laughter. On to the fiftieth stair. This step leveled out onto a flat circle which rim was surrounded by white candles of all different sizes. In the middle there was a set of double door that seemed to just be floating there. In front of the door stood a hooded figure as I approached they stuck their hand out signaling for me to stop. When I did a woman began to speak "In the future there will come a time where you must face a great sacrifice. You will either have to sacrifice yourself or Jareth. Would you be willing to sacrifice your self to save him?" this was the most serious question that had been asked. "Yes I would. I would do whatever it takes to save his sorry ass because believe it of not I love him and he loves me. That's all I ever really wanted." The woman stepped forward and removed her hood and said "You have passes you may now leave the void but as she stepped closer I got a better look at her. She started to back away but I reached out and grabbed her and pulled her even closer so I could see. "Mom? What are you doing here?" The woman drew back her hand and said "Sarah? Oh my Gods you have to get out of here! Go find Jareth and don't leave his side tell him Tana will be by to explain things later. Now go hurry!" with that she pushes me though the doors. I woke up sitting straight up in bed gasping for breath with a exasperated Jade looking at me wide eyed. I yelled ate her "Go get Jareth! Now!" and she sprinted out the door and down the hallway.
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I was sitting in the throne room holding another full court session on all the boring things. The goblins were arguing offer who the tree on the divider of their lands belonged to. "Stop. Does the tree do anything? Bear fruit, have any magical properties of anything special?" Both looked at me and shook their heads no. "Well does it really matter? Okay which ever one of you can guess my favorite spot in the Labyrinth can have the tree. Now what is it?" The first one said The Bog of Eternal Stench and the second one said the middle of the hedge maze where the fountain is and the roses grow all around. "Alright you the second one to answer you can have the tree." I was just about to call the next order of business when Jade of all people breaks down the door. "Jade you really must stop making entrances this way it's very unbecoming of you." the goblins around the room giggled and she looked at my pointedly and said "Oh shut up brother I'm here to request your audience with the Queen." Now I was confused because Jade had a rather large smirk on her face "Oh? Moms here? She didn't tell me she was coming to day." He smirk got even bigger if that's possible. "Not that queen stupid your queen." This woman is talking is circles! "But Jade I don't have a Queen." Now she just looked flat out annoyed. "Ughh why are you so stupid! Sarah awake stupid!" Now my eyes were the size of saucers. "Really!?" with that I ran from the throne room looking like the happy little boy that I am.