Okay I felt bad leaving Sarah (and you guys) all sad and feeling like all hope was gone. So I went ahead and updated with this one too! I hope you'll like this chapter and leave a review!
Sarah's eyes widened at the bed. "Where did, what-"
On it was the most beautiful silver ballgown that she had ever seen, laying next to the personal invitation by the king.
Sarah smoothed the dress down in compete reverence. It was majestic and beautiful. The bodice was accented gold and silver in flowers all over. The dress was large and floated like the clouds themselves but fluid as the ocean. Though it looked silver, Sarah realized that the dress's many layers had different colors on it to give it the impression that it was glowing.
The selves would be hugging at the side of her arms instead of her shoulders, leaving her shoulders bare. The corset on the back looked easy to put on as well.
Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that something about the dress was familiar. Familiar, but different. For some reason, she saw the sleeves as being large and puffy and that it would extend to her arms. But that was a dress more something she'd wear a few years ago. This one looked much more appropriate for her age.
She probably shouldn't be putting on a dress that she had no idea where it came from. Magic, she presumed. It could be someone trying to hurt her.
"Oh, whatever." She laughed at herself. This night was already as bad as it could be. Maybe it was time to take a few risks.
The moment she put it on, she felt like the princess that her father had called her. Spinning around in her dress, she was delighted with how the corset tightened by itself but also left plenty of room to breathe.
She turned to the mirror to fix her hair and make up. To her surprise, she found that whatever magic in the dress had transferred to her hair and make up. Her eyes had a light pink shadow and her lips also light pink. On her ears were these tear dropped shaped earrings the same color as her dress. Her hair was done up with silver ribbons and leaves woven in. Her eyes pricked with tears when she realized that the owl necklace was still intact and not ruined during the humiliation of downstairs.
Lifting her foot up, she saw that her shoes had transformed into what looked to be glass slippers. Also with small owls on top of them.
"I never thought glass slippers would be so comfortable." She giggled to herself. She gave herself a twirl, feeling like she was a part of a real fairy tale. The dress didn't swallow or distract from her. In fact, it enhanced her natural beauty.
She looked up into the heavens. "Maybe I do have a fairy god mother. Thank you, whoever gave me this blessed gift."
Looking down, she gaped at the sight in her front yard.
There were white horses. And a carriage.
A CARRIAGE.
Sarah lifted her dress and trotted to it. A few little goblins were there to greet her.
"Hello lady." He bowed. "I am here to take you to the kingy's ball."
Sarah giggled. "Why thank you! Did the king send this for me?"
"Yuppie yup yup!" The driver said. "He made this special for you! For pretty lady."
Sarah was still in awe. She would have to thank the king. Thinking back to her labyrinth book, she wondered if he was as cruel as the book made him out to be. Then again, Jareth told her that he wasn't so bad.
Jareth. Did it ever get confusing with two Jareths in the same castle?
"Excuse me, do you know of someone named Jareth who works at the castle?" She asked the footman.
"Jareth is king. King want lady to come. Lady need to have fun at ball. Goblins no go, we don't like it." The driver shook her head.
Sarah felt it again. That sense of familiarity among the goblins. But how could she? She had never seen goblins before.
She shrugged at their answer. They seemed a little too simple of creatures and she figured maybe she would just see Jareth later.
"Well go in! Or pretty lady will be late!"
Sarah laughed and climbed right in. It really was beautiful. The carriage was gilded and so comfortable as she rode in it.
She loved the feeling of the wind blow through her hair and the scenic countryside in the night. The stars were shining brighter than she had ever seen and the moon seemed to blink at her. She laughed freely. "I'm going to a ball!"
Not long after, the carriage arrived in the Goblin Kingdom quite quickly from the magic. The footman guided Sarah down the steps and she stared at the castle in amazement. "Wow, it is so large."
"Lady have to go through labyrinth first." The driver told her. "Lady no runner, so lady will be safe."
Sarah nodded. "Alright, do I just walk in?"
There was a sound of someone running quickly. Sarah was surprised to see what looked like a little man bowing before her. He looked like a dwarf.
Hoggle wasn't prepared to see how beautiful Sarah looked. She was a goddess, a true queen. No wonder Jareth fell for her. The dwarf reminded himself that Sarah couldn't remember who he was just as Jareth had warned him.
The king gave him a real warning indeed, telling him that if Sarah wasn't safe, he would know about it and he wouldn't even bog him. He would just leave Hoggle to suffer in his thoughts forever.
Hoggle was so overcome with how majestic she looked, he bowed to her. "Lady Sarah."
"Oh no need for that." Sarah blushed. "I'm no lady. Just call me Sarah. What's your name?"
"Hoggle." He smiled at her. Still sweet as always even with her finery.
Sarah's eyebrows knitted in thought. That sounded so, so familiar to her. It wasn't in the book, but there was a dwarf there.
"We should get you to the ball, loads of people are being introduced already." He said to her.
Sarah nodded. "Lead the way my good sir."
Hoggle was a pleasant person to chat to. He told her of all the creatures and people that were there and how the king was hearing from everyone who wanted to be formally introduced. Hoggle said he wouldn't be attending the ball as that wasn't his thing but dwarves from Estella were visiting so he would be hosting them elsewhere. "Mostly human, fae, and elves like them. Not much others do."
Sarah nodded. "I see. And do you know people from the castle very well?"
Hoggle shrugged. "Not that well." Which was true. He worked as Jareth's gardener but it wasn't like they were best friends. Far, far from it. Especially when he helped Sarah win. Jareth hadn't punished them and Hoggle assumed that maybe he hoped that if Sarah came back one day, he didn't want her to get mad at him for bogging her friends.
"This is as far as I'll go tonight." Hoggle said. "Ludo?"
A large, furry beast came into the clearing. Sarah was instantly drawn to him as he lowered his head and hands to her. "Well hello, you're Ludo?" Sarah beamed.
"Friend." The beast said with a smile.
"That's Sarah." Hoggle told him. "You'll be safe with him, but just a warning, there will be other annoying creatures who may be looking at you."
Sarah smiled. "I can't wait to see more. I haven't seen much of anyone besides you, Hoggle. Thank you for taking me this far."
Hoggle blushed. "Of course, anytime. If you're ever back, come and visit me! I live right outside the Labyrinth entrance."
"Will do!" Sarah waved.
Ludo wasn't a conversationalist but he was a good listener. She told him about Toby mostly. She didn't want to talk about her parents since they were dead and it ached in her heart and she didn't want to complain about anything. She almost mentioned Jareth but she was afraid that gossipers were around. Sarah noticed a few creatures bowing for her as she walked passed. She supposed that they were just being polite, but it seemed everyone was doing so.
"Such a pleasant kingdom." She beamed at everyone.
Something scratched at the back of her mind, something that told her that she had once called it a horrible place.
She shook her head again. Why these thoughts keep intruding into her mind?
Ludo lead her past a green maze and to the entrance of goblin city. "Didymus?" The giant asked.
Sarah loved the irony of the little fox riding his "noble steed" that was a sheepdog trotting her way. "My brother Ludo! It seems that you have brought our lady to the city's gate."
He bowed to Sarah, taking his hat off. "Sir Didymus at your service."
"I'm Sarah, and thank you." She shook his hand.
"You are so noble and kind. You will outshine all the ladies tonight." He praised her. "Come come, you mustn't be too late. Just fashionably late."
Sarah waved to Ludo. "Bye Ludo! Thank you!"
"Bye Sarah!" He called after her.
"You seem quite comfortable." Didymus commented. "How do you feel?"
Sarah paused for a moment, surprised but sure of her answer. "I feel at home. Truly. This is a marvelous place and I wish I had more time to visit every single creature."
"Be careful about wishes, m'lady. The king here grants certain wishes with a twist at times. It's a part of his job, but fae can be sneaky. Not evil, just sneaky."
Sarah laughed. "Oh believe me, I know. That's what Jareth is like. And that's what he told me about his kind."
Sir Didymus stopped. "Jareth?" Did she remember?
"Oh, I guess I don't mind saying so. He was my friend and we've known each other for a while though I haven't seen him in a few years. We met at the markets in Estella. He says he works in the castle. He even shares a name with your king! Do you know if he's here tonight?"
Sir Didymus relaxed a bit but frowned. He had hoped that she remembered the king in a good light. But he wanted to make sure that this was still the king they were talking about. Most inhabitants had no idea that the king had known Sarah before her trek here including him. "Jareth… Describe him for me so that I may be sure of the person you speak of."
Sarah blushed. "Well, he has these piercing blue eyes, one more dilated than the other. He told me it was because when he first made a crystal as a child, it smashed his eye so hard that one was permanently dilated. He has the messiest blond hair you'll ever see! He usually wears loose shirts and tights when I see him with some boots but I don't know if he dresses differently elsewhere."
Sir Didymus was now totally sure that she was speaking of the king and not knowing who he was. "Yes, Lady Sarah. He is here tonight."
Sarah breathed in deeply, a blush on her face. She focused on that tidbit so much that she didn't even realize that Sir Didymus called her "lady."
"I'm sorry for asking so many questions, but do you know if he's waiting for anyone in particular?" She fumbled with the fabric of her dress.
His whiskers twitched. Oh, she had no idea the obvious love the king had for her, did she? "Jareth is waiting for you, my lady. He had mentioned to me personally as he is an acquaintance that he hopes you will be here."
Sarah put a hand to her mouth. Jareth was here! And he was waiting for her!
They reached the gates to the castle. Sir Didymus pointed to the grand staircase. "You may enter in that way. I hope he finds you soon. I know that he looks forward to seeing you as we all do. I am friends with Ludo and Hoggle. You can visit us at any time."
Sarah turned and curtsied to the small knight. "Thank you so, so much. If I ever get the chance I promise I will. You have been more than good and kind to me."
Sir Didymus gave her an elegant, sweeping bow. "My lady, should you need us-"
"I'll call." She answered him.
Again, with the feeling of familiarity. She shook it off once more but was still so unsure of it.
She gave a nod to all the knights that were there and walked up the staircase. When she got to the top, she found that she stood on a balcony. Even though she may feel that she was the most beautifully dressed person at the ball, she was so nervous and so scared that her stepfamily would recognize her that she just hid in the shadows, going down the stairs to the other side. Maybe she could find Jareth that way.
Her breath hitched when she saw her family be introduced. Anger filled her veins as she saw that Toby was swiftly shoved away from the monarchs but her stepsisters lingered on. She knew this was because they were countesses (as if her stepmother didn't say it enough already), and were marriageable ladies, but that didn't give them the right to brutally shove Toby away.
She gawked in surprise behind a pillar to see that the king had messy hair just like her Jareth's. Oh, she would have to tease him for that! Copying the style of the king. She giggled. Though the goblin king was too far away to really catch a glimpse, she figured she could find him later and maybe whisper about him with Jareth.
I enjoyed adding her friends back even if she didn't remember them. Now Sarah is off to the ball. Jareth will make an appearance soon! Can't wait to show you the next chapter! More reviews and more detailed reviews means I'll post sooner (lol) Even if you don't have an account on fanfiction you can still leave a review! Thank you everyone!
