Chapter Two: Sarah's Return
Gildan's Note: Here's Chapter Two where the story really begins! Hope you guys like it :')
Sarah opened her eyes, disappointed that she didn't recall any dreams. But she felt well rested, how long did she nap? She got up to look at her clock, but noticed it was gone. In fact, she was in a whole different room altogether. It was slightly medieval looking, like something out of her books. She was in a large bed with white sheets and blankets, and a canopy with an intricate pattern on it.
"What?" she whispered. She didn't recognize this place at all, and she could feel herself panicking.
She stepped out of the bed and looked about, there was only a dresser in the room opposite the bed, and she gingerly stepped (with bare feet) across the stone flooring. "My shoes…" she said, finding them by the door. She was wearing a white dress shirt and jeans, much like from years ago. "This wasn't what I was wearing." She murmured. "Oh God – where am I?"
She opened the large door of the room and stepped out to find an even larger one, there were doors on several of the walls and in the middle was a lobby like area with furniture. Sitting on one of the chairs was a goblin looking creature.
"Hoggle?" she whispered, unsure of what she was saying.
The creature looked up and gasped. "You're back! I heard someone had come!" he hopped out of the chair and walked over to see her. "You're older!"
"What?" she stepped back. "Who are you? What are you? What's going on?"
"You mean you don't remember me?"
"Remember you? I've never seen you in my entire…life…wait…" she looked at him then looked around. "Maybe I do…you seem really familiar to me."
"Why, we're friends!"
"Friends! Oh…" she was trying desperately to remember now. "Hoggle, your name is Hoggle! That's why I whispered it when I first saw you sitting there, I do remember! It's fuzzy though."
"You mean you don't remember anything about our adventure? Or Jareth?" Hoggle looked up at her.
"Jareth…sounds…familiar. I…I'm dreaming right?" she asked.
"Dreaming? Not at all! I guess it's only natural you'd forget…" he started to walk past her.
"Where are you going?"
"To get the others! I'll be right back." He exited the room and Sarah was left to herself for awhile.
"Okay Sarah calm down, you're friends with a goblin thing…okay. You remember something about that… Jareth? Who is that? Why does it sound so familiar? The dream! This must be it, the dream I had so long ago. My friends, the friends I can't remember! Is Hoggle one of them? No wonder I couldn't remember what they looked like, they must all not be human. This place though…this isn't ringing any bells…think Sarah…something about…about a…lab…?"
"SARAH!" her thoughts were interrupted by a deep booming voice.
"Ludo!" The name came easily to her and she ran up to give the great beast a hug, but a part of her just couldn't tell why. "And…" she had trouble remembering the fox like creature's name.
"M'lady! I'm Didymus remember?" he was riding on a big sheepdog, whose name was Ambrosius.
"Of course!" she thought so anyway.
"Sarah doesn't quite remember much." Hoggle informed.
"I don't…only names I think…when was I here?"
"About three years ago! You had to solve the labyrinth to get your brother back!" Didymus said.
Several memories came rushing back to her. "You know…I think I'm…remembering that now…" she sat down in one of the seats. "But…what I can't understand is…you guys, you seem so familiar, I can get that, but this castle – this has no memory to me. No feeling. Was I not here last time?"
"This is a new castle, built outside Goblin City." Said Hoggle.
"Goblin City!" more memories resurfaced in Sarah's mind.
"That's right, there's another king out here in these lands, King Warrick. Jareth is still the King of the Goblins though, and he still reigns over the city and the labyrinth."
"Jareth…" she whispered, but she could not place his face.
"You wouldn't know King Warrick yet, but you'll like him, he's the nicest king ever and he doesn't threaten us, especially not with the Bog of Eternal Stench." Hoggle continued.
"King Warrick." She said, feeling the name on her tongue.
"That's me." Came a voice from behind her. She jumped and turned away, there stood a handsome man, with a nice physique and gentle brown eyes. Sarah felt herself blush.
"Uhm, hello." She said nervously.
"Hi there, I see you've woken up in my castle." He laughed. "Must have been that wish that did it."
He had deep brown hair, and stood tall and noble.
"Wish? Oh…the cupcake." She thought back to the morning.
"I came on the scene about a year ago – building this castle so that all of Jareth's outcasts could live in peace and not have to worry or fear. Hoggle helps manage the place, and Didymus is my most trusted guard. Ludo kind of just hangs around, but I'm happy for all of their company."
"It's the best here! Much better than Jareth's place – and I can actually say that here!" Hoggle added.
"Come on Sarah," said Warrick, "we'll give you the grand tour. We love guests."
"Yeah!" shouted Ludo.
"A-alright." Smiled Sarah, somewhat glad to be back.
Warrick led her around the castle, showing her the spare rooms, kitchens, dining halls, the throne room, and lounge rooms. The lounge rooms hosted a variety of activities (none of any modern era) such as a painting studio, a piano, a sewing area, small libraries and more that Sarah knew would satisfy her. Eventually they all stood outside a large regal door.
"And this- is my room. Don't hesitate to call me if you need me – but please remember to knock." Warrick said.
She smiled, "Ok."
"Now, how about we have lunch?" he asked, and the others agreed.
They walked out to the dining hall and Sarah took a seat at the long wooden table, not worrying about when she'd return home. Her wish had come true, and it was only the beginning.