A/N: Infinite apologies for the peculiar gap in postings. I only wish I had the power to reorder time.
Disclaimer: All things remotely familiar are not mine. Thank the brilliant Jim Henson and Co. for letting me borrow their characters.
Without further ado, let The Game continue!
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Sarah chased Sir Didymus through the castle, surprised that his scrawny legs were pulling father and farther ahead.
"Sir Didymus, slow down! I can't keep up with you." She huffed out of breath. "Wait up!"
He altered his pace accordingly and craned his good eye at Sarah. "My apologies milady, but we hast been waiting some time for thee."
She caught his bedraggled form as they rounded a chipped column and paused before a recognizable wooden door. Humming with anticipation, the barrier fell open. Sir Didymus ushered Sarah inside and gingerly pulled the door tight. By the time he turned back to his charge, she had sat herself intently on the edge of the bed. The lost stare flitting across her features caught his alarm.
"Milady? Be thou'st well?"
She was staring at the tapestry laden walls, her pose matching the one from earlier that same morning prior to her ill-fated escape attempt. Post-Preliminary Sarah, however, had no plans of escape. None that would work in any case. Her best shot out of this predicament was answers. And not ones from a dodgy Goblin King. She forced some life into her gaze.
"I'm sorry, Sir Didymus. I'm just so…. so confused. I know I haven't been the greatest friend lately but, I just don't know what to do." She idly picked at the embroidery on the comforter.
"Worry not fair maiden. Times have been difficult for us all." He smiled kindly up at her.
She breathed a sigh of relief at his understanding and continued her train of thought. "I thought it would a quick thing; enter the Labyrinth, shrug off a few firies, cross the Bog…" she trailed off, a stranger to her own voice. "Not these 'stages' and bids. What kind of game is this, really?"
Didymus tried to stall, "Ahh…well…"
"I know you understand this all, can you tell me anything?" She pleaded for a response. "Please, I don't stand a chance with these Fae and their magic!"
The pronouncement brought a rush of Preliminary memories to the forefront of Sarah's mind, and her hands frantically twisted on her lap. The eerie calm of the room was doing nothing to assuage her concerns.
Sensing her agony, Sir Didymus took pity on his raven-haired friend. He sighed deeply. "I wish I could help thee, truly I do. Alas, I am but His Majesties advisor. Only your Watcher can assist thee with this task."
"Damn!"
Her unexpected outburst caused the poor knight to jolt, and he stared at her oddly.
"Well that's it then, I'm in deep shit. Jareth's been no help at all." She let herself fall backwards onto the mattress and plastered her face with an unsuspecting pillow.
"His Majesty is thy Watcher?"
She tried to respond intelligently but all her fabric covered mouth could emit was a muffled affirmation. Pushing the cushion off, she forced herself back into a sitting position. "And he's only confused me more with his shifty answers. Some help he is. He clearly doesn't care that I don't stand a chance in this game. He just wants to torture me into running the Labyrinth again. Can you believe he blames me for why everything is falling apart?" She waited a second before muttering something profane.
Sir Didymus pretended to have missed the unflattering remark, but couldn't keep his face as stoically blank as he had hoped.
"Milady, I mean no offense, but is it perhaps possible that thou'st be incorrect in presumption?"
She instantly looked over at him in disbelief. "What? You actually think he's been helpful?"
"I hath said nothing of the sort, fair maiden. I suggest only that you may have made premature assumptions about His Majesty."
She toyed with the idea of a second outburst, but her innate curiously won out. "Alright, I'll bite. Explain why I've made premature assumptions'."
Didymus dropped his gaze to the floor to steady his thoughts, and slowly echoed back. "Premature assumptions about… intentions of His Majesty".
Sarah didn't immediately respond; she could not seem to gauge what Didymus knew about Jareth's intentions from the short utterance.
"And? You know what these mysterious intentions are?" She paused. "Care to enlighten a friend?"
At this, Didymus remained silent and pulled his eyes back to the floor. Hearing her groan in exhaustion, he tried an apology.
"Please do not think badly of me, fair maiden, but t'is not my place. I hath said all I can".
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A short time later, Toffee reappeared, laden with a bowl of steaming soup, a thick piece of brown bread, and another mug of the same spiced cider. She ushered Sarah towards the food with enthusiasm. This time however, Sarah, exhausted from confusion, did not fight her.
A large sip of the cider proved it to be deliciously sweet, spiced with cinnamon and vanilla, and what seemed to be honeyed anise. The warm liquid instantly brought light back into her eyes, and Toffee and Sir Didymus breathed an obvious sigh of relief.
"This is actually quite good. Thank you, Toffee". The goblin girl blushed a deeper gray.
The thought that it was probably laced with magic danced through Sarah's head, but she ignored it. She would have to eat sometime, and at least this food was fresh. And recognizable. She did not remember much more than leaves and bugs in the Labyrinth and did not particularly want to eat the friendly blue worm. Although, he did claim to have tea….
"No problem, miss. Just doing what I's told".
Sarah harrumphed in realization. Yep, definitely spiked then.
The trio spent the next half hour catching up; Toffee mostly nodding along with Didymus' tales of heroics near the bog, and oft amusing outbursts on the cowardice of Ambrosius. Sarah, even aware of their grandeur, loved every minute of it.
"As charming as this is, we do have more important places to be. Didymus, Toffee, leave us".
Until then.
Sarah eyed the king warily, now aware that he had some other motive up his billowing sleeve. Now to just figure out what…
"Come, come, Sarah, stop lounging around and get over here". He twitched a finger at her and she involuntarily shuttled to her feet, inches from the monarch. "Time to go".
Sarah clenched her face tight, and they were gone.
In an instant, Sarah found herself alone on a sandy path and standing before a large gate. Turning to gauge her surroundings, she realized she was on an outskirt of the Labyrinth she had not seen during her last run. Her competitors, or even Jareth, were nowhere to be found.
She tried pushing on the gate.
Not yet.
Sarah jumped back in fear as a voice echoed through her head. What? Who was that? Silence. Tell me now!
Not yet.
"Competitors, please take your places. Before the stage begins and your tokens are delivered, I, and my wife Amarette would like to wish each and every one of you luck. Most of you will need it. I look forward to greeting the sole heir in the near future. For the rest of you, may Orion grant you a place in the heavens."
Oh. Shit. Something tells me that the losers aren't just wandering around here…
As an awkwardly sewn parcel materialized before her, the High King's voice boomed above once more. "And now, into the Labyrinth!"
Sarah barely had the chance to scoop up the parcel by its strap before she was shoved forward through the opening gates and into a pebbled path.
"Ompf." She landed hard. "Thanks a lot, your Majesty…"
After licking the rocks from her tunic, she slung the pack on her arm onto her shoulder and peeked in its pockets. A peculiar watch with eleven colored partitions, a long golden arrow complete with glittering twine, a pair of tawny leather gloves and…a tomato?
Jareth…
Someone chuckled in Sarah's head, and she again spun, startled, to find the owner of the silky voice.
Who. Is. In. My. Head? Is that you, Goblin King? She tested a direct thought.
Perhaps.
Wonderful…Now would you get the hell out?!
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah…all you had to do was ask.
The light tickle in the front of her head vanished, and Sarah found her self alone; this time in body and in mind. Fastening the watch to her wrist, she examined the colored partitions with curiosity. Orange, wine, emerald, plum…Wait. Plum? One partition for each competitor? Whatever for…? And where was her forest green shade? This just keeps getting stranger and stranger.
"Well feet, here we go again".
The gate slammed shut behind her.
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High up in Elder Tower, a group huddled around a glass-top table, glued to the sight of the Labyrinth reflected in its depths. As they watched, a row of crumbled walls tightly glued themselves together as if they had never cracked at all.
"I realize that since all the heirs are running, the Underground was bound to start reverting to its glory, but this is unusually sudden…and localized…" the High King trailed off and issued a questioning glance at his companions.
A few nods and whispers brought reply from the queen. "Never have I seen lands, particularly within the Goblin Realm, rebuild so quickly". She sought the reigning monarch's eyes to gauge his reaction. "Jareth. Any thoughts on the progress?"
"I am as pleasantly surprised as you both, your Majesties". His face was the picture of innocence, but Cáel, having been friends with him for nearly four centuries, saw through the mask.
"Well then. Watchers, I trust you know your roles. I would suggest rejoining the bidders and guests in the Grand Hall. The Game Map should already be there". The Watchers gradually shuffled out of the room, until only three occupants remained.
"You do know more than you claim, don't you? Jareth?"
The Goblin King frowned. "It should no longer be a concern. The Game has begun and all the heirs are running. Nothing more needs to be explained".
"And if I order you to explain your actions?"
"I would of course do so. But out of duty alone". Jareth's tone had become ornery.
Cáel sighed. "Go then. I'll let this pass for now. Be forewarned that just because we are friends does not mean this is the last time we will speak on this".
Jareth bowed low and vanished with a metallic flash, clearly in a hurry to reach the viewing.
"He's hiding something, Amarette. Something about that mortal girl. First, he requests Watcher duties, something he's never done before and then this rapid regeneration…".
Amarette furrowed her brow, also deep in thought. It had to be more than simple lust for the girl. Although it would explain the duties, it left the question of the Labyrinth's regeneration completely unanswered.
"What exactly do we know about his first encounter with the girl, dear?"
Cáel shrugged. "Not much. He wasn't exactly forthcoming about the whole debacle…why? Do you think therein lies the answer?"
"It's possible".
"Right. Well, it's a place to start. Malik!" The monotone guard stepped into the room.
"Yes, sire".
"I have an order for you. Find Eran of Elder Tower, and send him here immediately. I have an errand I need him to do".
Malik nodded and turned to leave.
"…and Malik. I trust you to keep this private".
"Of course, your Majesty". And he was gone.
The High King turned back to greet his wife's questioning glance. "If something unorthodox happened during those thirteen hours, I will find out about it".
Amarette smiled. "I wouldn't expect anything less, dear".
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Jareth had quickly teleported to the Grand Hall, per his orders, but did not jostle for a prime viewing spot like the rest of the spectators. Anything important, he could learn straight from his charge.
"'Ey! Step aside ogre, I can't see the mortal girl!"
Jareth snapped his eyes to the voice, anxious to hear that his Sarah had garnered some attention. Although he had sent the tomato and gloves, another bidder had already put his coins on Sarah for her to have received a golden arrow. It was a welcome relief that her outburst, prodded by both himself and Lady Melina, had indeed helped Sarah.
"Thirty gold coins on that Elvin girl, Rhiannon!"
"Are you mad? She's barely five feet tall, she'll never get past the second wall…"
"Eh? I think she's feisty, that one".
Jareth saw his chance to cut in. "Feisty? That petite blond?" The bidders sputtered in protest, but offered no support. "Were either of you here for Preliminaries? I was under the impression that the Lady Sarah had already been dubbed quite 'feisty' as you put it".
"'Course! We saw her, just never been a mortal victor yet. Just not possible, feisty or not", the larger fellow replied.
Jareth smirked, and lowered his voice. "And there certainly won't be one this Game either". The bidders laughed heartily. "But I'd still watch Lady Sarah, if I were you".
"Eh? Right. Thanks for the advice…Hey, Ternic, what about Lady Melina…?"
Idiots.
As Jareth turned to climb up the stands, he couldn't help but repeat to himself, "no, certainly not this Game either".
Taking a seat in the section reserved for Watchers, he closed his eyes and carefully sought out his connection to the girl. He was going to have to pay close attention for his gamble to pay off.
He suddenly frowned. It seemed the first test was already upon them.
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I hope to update much more frequently now that I'm on break. If you are interested, keep an eye out for postings!