Path
Toby surveyed the lifeless bodies sorrowfully.
He placed gentle fingers over Hoggle's eyes, closing them forever, and laid Sir Didymus's sword across his chest reverently.
Toby had incited Rebellion in the name of Sarah, who many years previously had offered herself - in his place - to the Goblin King.
The fallen had died in her name, to restore her freedom, yet as Toby looked upon his sister for the first time in adulthood, the slavish way her eyes lingered on the vanquished King made him question whether he had led them in an unnecessary crusade, down the wrong path entirely.
She dashed onwards, but yet again the arrow-straight path threw up another brick wall, then veered out at a right angle, and Sarah changed direction.
The process repeated several times, until Sarah was literally running in squares, tired and exhausted.
"Do you give up yet?" A gloating voice echoed between the walls.
Sarah paused, recalling an old lesson, then proceeded forward cautiously towards the wall, her hands outstretched, wary should she meet resistance.
It didn't happen, and she stepped right through onto another path, free from illusions.
"I will never give up" she affirmed, and continued towards the centre of the Labyrinth.
The woodland path sprawled endlessly on this glorious summer afternoon. The canopy of foliage overhead made a dappled pattern of sunlight at her feet.
Heavenly - she relished the serene tranquillity, a pause in her hectic life.
She walked further, and the path began to change. Trees became walls, the grassy path became solid, glittering stone.
The Labyrinth, she thought.
"But I didn't wish!"
"No matter, Sarah."
The Goblin King stood before her, resplendent in black.
"Your path always leads to the Labyrinth, and the Labyrinth to me. I believe you humans call it fate. Why deny fate?"
He smiled knowingly.