3. Hoggle's Rebellion

The scouts returned in Jareth's castle after six days absence, in late evening, tired, dirty and rather anxious, but despite Sir Didymus and Hoggle's efforts, it seemed that they won't say a word of what they learned even under torture. Even Ludo kept his mouth shut, shaking his big, furry head, no matter how his friends persuaded him to talk. Only when the knight finally put one of goblins at the wall and literally promised to put his staff into where sun does not shine into (he had to use more literate description, because the goblin refused to understand where sun could and could not shine into, given that they haven't seen the sun for weeks), the poor creature let it slip that it's direct order from the kingy, then the goblin swiftly evaded Hoggle who already was waiting to probably put in action what Didymus promised, and scurried upstairs to the throne room.

"What in the Bog is with this secrecy?" The dwarf huffed. "Even Ludo's silent as grave."

"You heard thy words - his Majesty's order." Sir Didymus stomped his staff against the ground. "Every information deliver to him in person, and 'tis the sacred vow our brethren has taketh. And Sir Ludo never been talkative. Thee won't get a word of him, with or without the order."

"The bloody Bog with that King." Hoggle curtly gruntled, glaring up at the ceiling.

But grumbling did not helped the dwarf much. Returning from their audience with the king, the goblins plopped in the vacant spots on floor, snuggling into covers, too tired to continue any kind of verbal speech. Even Ludo fell into his own cozy nest with a loud bang that rattled the floor, earning him entire load of curses from goblins, but the beast already was knocked out cold in so deep sleep, even canon blast wouldn't wake him up. For Hoggle and Sir Didymus, nothing was left to do but wait for the morning.

Hoggle settled near the fireplace, but sleep didn't come. Sir Didymus curled beside Ambrosius, clutching his staff lovingly, and soon began to snore softly, but Hoggle was not so lucky. He turned on one side, then on other, on his back, then back to his side, but just when he was about to give up and get some walk to try and tire himself out, he heard the voices nearby.

"Hehee, Yorgy kingy playing dirty games. He wants to kick our kingy off the throne, and then he would be our new kingy." Someone said.

Hoggle carefully peeked at the speaker - of course, fireys. They had occupied one of corners, after their stroll around the castle, made their own bonfire on stone floor (explains why Jareth had placed them in this room - there was nothing much to set on fire accidentally, though they still were lucky the king was nowhere near to rip them new one about this), sat around it and now, mouths open, gaped at one of their own who was delegated to be the big story teller of the night, perched on small table.

The dwarf quickly shut his eyes so fireys would not notice he's awake. Needless to say, he didn't had warm mutual feelings with these clowns, and it was better to pretend to be asleep, in meantime keeping his ears open to not miss a single word. Maybe while on their wandering around the castle, they overheard some bits of scouts report to Jareth.

"I remember something my great-great-greeeeeat grandma told. Many, many years ago, not long after the first Trial, an old Seer made the prophecy." The wild gang leader that went by name Ashes (very original name, Hoggle thought), continued in ominous voice. "Shall the day comes for binds to be broken, the darkness shall overcome the Labyrinth, and bring despair and destruction. And something...something...that neither of kings shall hold the victory no more."

"How so?" One of fireys cackled, unimpressed about Ashes' theatrical skills.

"The prophecy speaks of mortal soul in whose powers will be to tip the scales in favor of one." Ashes replied after scratching his head to refresh his memory of this old tale.

"Another kingy? How many kingys one kingdom can have?" Another firey asked, but Ashes waved his arm impatiently - he underestimated his eagerness, and his arm detached, flying across sleeping Hoggle, bounced against the opposite wall and plopped on the ground.

"Nah...it's just a mortal who shall aid one of kings, I think. By their own free will or something. But not just any mortal - the one, touched by Fae, bound with Labyrinth in heart and soul..." Ashes shrugged, putting remaining hand's fingers in mouth and whistled to call his arm back to him. His peers murmured in disappointment, not finding this story worth of attention. One of them suggested to play the game (headball as goblins called it), and soon enough the story telling was forgotten, the fireys engaging in their favorite pastime game.

In meantime, Ashes' arm had carefully taken detour around Sir Didymus, haughtily crawled over Hoggle who struggled to not whack it with something heavy, and returned to its owner. The dwarf rolled his eyes, but he couldn't stop thinking about what he heard. Turning on the other side, he realized in surprise he was not the only one awake and alert. Sir Didymus no longer snored, instead his fierce eyes stared back at Hoggle, and he looked to be deep in thought.

"Ya understand any of this nonsense?" Hoggle whispered.

"Indeed," the knight nodded. "It's naught use of Jareth and Lucan to fight against each other. Their armies rather wipe each other off, while they keep fighting endlessly."

Hoggle rolled his eyes again. "I mean, the part about the mortal." He hissed.

"I don't know, Sir Hoggle." The knight frowned. "It shall be mortal, touched by Fae and bound with Labyrinth. Shan't be any mortal Lucan met - in his days, he brought many mortals into Labyrinth, yet none...and His Majesty... a runner, maybe? But how many could be bound by Labyrinth? That only shall happen if..."

As he spoke, Hoggle suddenly had a feeling that Aboveground electrician paid visit to his brain to connect the right wires. An old and rather unpleasant memory resurfaced in his head of running into Jareth who swore to make him the Prince of Land of Stench if...

"By the Bog and Jareth's pants!" He exclaimed, completely forgetting where he was. His shout startled the fireys who lost hold of heads they've been tossing around which now fell into one messy pile, biting each other anywhere they could - ears, noses, fur patches. "By the stinky Bog, I'm such an idiot!" Hoggle scrambled to his feet, while fireys tried to separate their brain pots in the mess to screw them back on shoulders. "I should've guess right away! Didymus, get your furry backside up! That mortal...his majesty...I know who it might be! Come now, let's go!"

"What? What are thou speaketh about?" Sir Didymus blinked in confusion, clutching his staff tightly. "Where thou going? Who shall we fight? I will stand by your side and fight till death!" He jumped up, teeth bared, glaring around, already looking for the potential target.

"Death might come faster than you think." Hoggle grumbled, knowing that Jareth might not be particularly happy for their intruding in such manner. "We need to speak with the rat right now! That mortal...it can be Sarah!"

Sir Didymus stared at his friend with the look that clearly told his friend is in need of serious therapy, but Hoggle already scurried out of room as fast as his short legs could carry him, followed by amused looks from fireys. Knowing how 'good' relationship Hoggle had with Jareth, Sir Didymus feared this trip to his friend could earn one way ticket to Bog of Eternal Stench which had been empty for some time now - in best outcome - so he did not hesitated and run after his friend.

Unfortunately neither of them knew that someone else had heard their conversation. The old junklady, disguised as huge pile of junk in the furthest corner of the room, lifted head, when Hoggle mentioned Sarah's name. Wasn't that the wench that ended up in my junkfield, looking for something, she thought at herself. Agnes remembered how Sarah escaped from her with help of some silly book, and later she got solid trash from the king himself for failing to keep the girl from leaving. Not that it made her feelings for Jareth any worse than they already were.

Agnes had been living in Labyrinth for many centuries now, even when Lucan was still the Goblin King, and she found it amusing how often he trapped the unsuspecting mortals in her field, leaving them roaming aimlessly, surrounded by piles and piles of material things they held of value in their pitiful lives, yet never realizing what they truly wished for. And each time she was praised by the king for aiding him in capturing mortals, be they runners or some poor soul Lucan lured into Underground on his own whim. Whenever he got bored of human in his castle, they ended up with Agnes, and she did her worst to make them wander, carrying huge loads of junk on their backs as she did herself, until they were exhausted, their dreams turned into worst nightmares, and the life barely held within their breath.

Things changed when Jareth replaced Lucan in throne, and Agnes quickly realized that this king is way too soft hearted toward humans. She still did her given duties by trapping runners in her field, yet as soon as their time was up, if they did not managed to break free, Jareth appeared to send them home with no memory of their time in Underground. Until Sarah came along. First mortal who broke free from Agnes, refusing everything the junklady offered her, every toy, every book she held dear in Aboveground, and before she knew it, the girl fled to be never seen again.

Now, however, there was a real chance that Lucan could reclaim the throne and life would be again as it used to be. She missed those old times, at same time feeling nothing but contempt and disgust toward the current Goblin King - and by extension, toward Sarah as well. If there was slightest chance the mortal girl could shift the outcome of the inevitable battle, she had to do everything in her powers to tip these scales in Lucan's favor. Agnes cackled quietly at herself, a plan slowly starting to form in her head.


"Your majesty!" Hoggle's voice echoed in hallway as he dashed toward the throne hall.

His thoughts interrupted, Jareth turned head sharply toward the entrance, and narrowed eyes dangerously, seeing the dwarf hobbling over. He almost opened his mouth to silence whatever it was Hoggle wanted to say before he could even squeak a word, but the eager glint in dwarf's eyes stopped him, and he decided to humor Hoggle, swallowing unsaid curses.

"You better have very good reason to disturb me, Higgle." Jareth coldly hissed, but Hoggle paid no heed to the king's tone, which surprised him - usually it was enough to just give stern look to make the dwarf crap his pants, but now he didn't even blinked.

"Your majesty..." He skid to halt near Jareth's feet. "We just heard something...something that might be of your interest."

In short, haste sentences Hoggle relayed what he had heard from the fireys, but Jareth remained stoic and disinterested. "It's just an old Seer blabbering. Which should be none of your concerns anyway." He ignored the goblins around them who became to murmur in hushed voices at listening dwarf's words. "Give me a good reason, why I should not kick you headfirst into the Bog? Perhaps it would teach you to not disturb me with some old nonsense stories, Higgins."

"Argh, it's Hoggle!" The dwarf growled at having his name mispronounced yet again, but then a paw laid on his shoulder, and Sir Didymus stepped forward.

Of course, where is one, there's other too - can they ever un-glue from each other, Jareth thought exasperatedly, but at least the knight was more sensible than Hoggle, and he nodded, permitting the fox to speak.

"Your majesty, I have the deepest respect and loyalty to thee (Hoggle rolled his eyes), but perhaps my brethen speaketh true. The prophecy speaks of Fae touched mortal, bound with Labyrinth, and..."

"There is no such mortal. The only ones that had been here, were runners, and neither has been claimed by Labyrinth or me. Neither the wished away ones, raised by Fae or turned into goblins, they're no longer mortals. I don't know what nonsense you two have been listening, but that's enough." Jareth firmly stated, slowly starting to lose patience. As if he didn't had enough trouble to worry about, now these two were blabbering some castle gossip - and fireys were hardly the most reliable source of information. "Get out, before I change my mind and send you both to the Bog."

Sir Didymus bowed low and tugged Hoggle by sleeve, steering him back toward the exit, while Jareth shouted 'Shut up!' at the goblins who hadn't ceased their murmuring, but suddenly the dwarf snapped. Yanking his shirt free from knight's grasp, he turned and marched back to Jareth.

"Oh, rubbish, ya big rat!" He clenched his fists and shook one toward Jareth. "Lie to us, if ye want, but don't ya lie to yerself, when even dumbest goblin in this hole know the truth, ya know!"

Sir Didymus' snout for the first time went pale in fright, when he saw the expression on Jareth's face, the pure anger radiating from the tip of his blonde hair, when he turned head to look at the dwarf. The knight briefly considered idea to kill Hoggle before Jareth does. Did the dwarf had gotten his head caught in doorway, or did he finally and completely lost his mind?

"I dare you to repeat what you just said!" Jareth's voice was quiet, but in the absolute silence that fell after Hoggle's word, each syllable was very clear to hear. But the dwarf did not budged from place, staring back at the king with unseen courage - or stupidity. To Sir Didymus' opinion, there was little difference between the two.

"Are ye deaf?" He retorted. "Ye know all too well who is that mortal, and if ye claim otherwise, either ye got banged in head one times too many, or yer simply an id..." Hoggle swallowed almost slipped 'idiot', "...I mean...ideal liar!"

For a moment, Jareth was stunned at Hoggle's outburst. Lies were not something any of his kind could be accused - Faes could not lie. Twist the truth, evade the straight answer, find loopholes, yes, but open and pure lie was something they were not capable of, and Jareth was no exception to it. He glared down at the dwarf, standing up, towering over Hoggle, wondering what was going on in his mind - did he truly preferred to call king's fury upon his head as alternative to grim waiting for unknown that lately had taken over the castle and its inhabitants?

"Very well, why don't you share your wisdom, then?" With sardonic smirk, Jareth crossed arms over chest, tapping his foot impatiently. "Well? I'm waiting. Who is this mysterious mortal who had bonded with Labyrinth without my knowledge?"

Hoggle swallowed, searching for remaining courage, hesitated for a few seconds, then looked back into Jareth's mismatched eyes. "And how ye think? It's Sarah!"

The silence in the throne room grew even more deafening, and everyone's eyes fell upon their king. Mentioning the name of the girl who defeated the Goblin King was strictly forbidden, and everyone knew that. Jareth hadn't been himself after she left the Labyrinth, not leaving his chambers for long time, only when someone summoned him by wishing a child away, and he made those visits as short as possible. He was no longer singing or dancing, no longer taking flights to the Aboveground, and his temper has gotten worse with goblin antics. Soon they learned to avoid mentioning the 'girl who ate the peach and forgot everything', and slowly Jareth seemed to recover from whatever dark moods had came upon him.

Now Hoggle had broken the unspoken law by saying the girl's name, and sense of dread washed over goblins, Sir Didymus included. They hadn't been on king's good side after helping Sarah to reach the castle, but eventually things did seemed to calm down, and the only punishment they were given was a month spent in Bog with clear order to restore the bridge while they were there. It was punishment more for Hoggle and Ludo who did not ceased complaining about the smell, while the knight kept insisting the air was as fresh as bunch of roses, but considering how bad it could've been, like actually being thrown into the Bog, even Hoggle stopped moaning eventually, serving the sentence fully, afterwards returning to his regular duties. However, now he risked being buried under the Bog - or perhaps simply to be banished outside into the fog which at the given time was even worse option.

But Jareth did not said a word. Something stirred within him, unnamed emotions he had been trying so hard to suppress all these years. Sarah... stubborn girl who rejected his gift once and demanded her brother back... brave girl who retorted that Labyrinth is a peace of cake... blossoming beauty who danced with him gracefully in her dream... determined and strong-willed young woman who overcame every obstacle in her path, turning his own subjects against him... who stood before him, when he bared his heart and soul to her, offering her everything she wanted, himself included, only to be rejected for the second time with her cruel words... "You have no power over me..."

Oh, he did not had the power over her, but what power did she held over him! After she left the Underground, Jareth tried to distract his mind and broken heart by focusing on rebuilding the city, but he could not resist taking flight to Aboveground here and there, watching her spending time with Hoggle, Sir Didymus and Ludo. Even though she could not return into Underground by herself, and her friends did not possessed ability to take her along across the barrier between two realms, she found adventures and ways to have fun with them even in her house attic. And each time Jareth felt jealousy and sadness tearing his heart apart, realizing that she never asked about him, nor she called him ever again, and her words kept him from even stepping into her house without being invited.

Eventually, a year later - Aboveground year - Jareth did the only thing he could think of to finally move on, before his resolve would break and he would attempt to find the way around the words that barred him from contacting her. One last time, taken an owl form, Jareth visited her house, sitting on tree branch across her window, watching her. He remembered that particular day oh so well. It was warm summer day, her window was open, and she sat on windowsill, close enough to actually see him, if only she had turned head. But it was a book in her lap that had her undivided attention. He watched intently how her brows furrowed, reading particular passage, how her lips curled in smile, following the character's adventures with all her heart. It reminded Jareth what made him to fall for her in first place - her spirit, so lively and innocent, full of dreams and search for adventures.

With heavy heart, he cast a spell to make her forget everything about Labyrinth, her friends and himself, then he finally flew away, returning to his castle, assuring himself that it was better such way. If she would never remember him, it will be easier for him to forget about her. It took a lot of threats and promises of long trips to Bog to get her friends finally swear they won't try to contact her anymore. Jareth did not revealed to them what he had done, however now...

"Hoggle," he spoke firmly, for the first time correctly saying the dwarf's name, "let this be your first and final warning! To all of you!" Jareth gave a cold glare to each and every goblin in the room. "If any of you would ever so much as dare to think about mentioning her name, I won't hesitate to throw the guilty one straight out into the Labyrinth, and I do not need to tell you what would become of you out there. And Hoggle," He decided to kill the last remains of hope that probably still wriggled in dwarf's brain furthest corner. "She no longer remembers any of you, or Labyrinth. Her memories are gone. Now - get. Out. Of. My. Sight. Before I change my mind!"

Hoggle had lost his speech. Sir Didymus stood in resigned silence. When Jareth gave another, more pointed look, the knight snapped out of his shocked reverie, grabbed Hoggle by sleeve and dragged him along, out of throne room, unable to believe how lucky they were to escape fate worse than bogging.

Hoggle did not said a word after leaving the throne room, allowing Sir Didymus to drag him along, until they returned in the goblin quarters. Only then, already reached boiling temperature, the dwarf let his rage loose.

"That arrogant, self-centered rat!" He kicked the chair that was completely innocent, yet had to take the brunt from very angry dwarf. "Now it explains why Sarah hasn't called for us so long! I shoulda know our dear king has put 'is hand to it!" Of course, Jareth had forbidden them to visit the girl, but Hoggle still found it very strange that in one fine day she just stopped calling for them. He didn't wanted to believe she simply took and forgot about them, and yet... now it all made sense. She indeed forgot, but not by her own will.

"Brother, let it go." Sir Didymus shook his head sadly. "Thy king has spoken, we shall not meddle. Thou shall do as told, or his majesty might indeed taketh his threat upon thou."

Hoggle gave a defiant look at the knight, who seemed to not grasp how serious this was. He began to pace around the room, crouching down here and there, putting something in his jewel bag, grumbling something completely incorrigible under his breath, Sir Didymus didn't even tried to translate it in normal speech, allowing his friend to vent out. However, what came out of dwarf's mouth next, put the fox in absolute standstill.

"I'm going to Aboveground." Hoggle determinedly stated.

Sir Didymus needed very long minute to digest what he heard, the meaning of his words slowly kicking in. "And...and how thou plan to do so? Did thou not hear what king said?" He tried to reason with his friend. "Fair maiden remember naught! It won't make difference of thou arrival there. I shall repeat again and more clearly for those especially dense - she remembers NOTHING!"

"Don't care!" Hoggle retorted. "I don't believe Jareth's spell can't be broken. She have to remember! Better risk than sittin' here. I'm coming back with Sarah or not at all!"

"Jareth will bury thee, if thou do so..." Sir Didymus tried to object one last time, but Hoggle's glare silenced him.

"I don't care! Look around, Didymus. We're in big trouble. We needs some help, any help. Prophecy or not, we need any help we can get! Ye know well, Fae seers never mistaken." Hoggle tugged worn out brown jacket on and with one more look around, nodded. "I'm goin'."

Sir Didymus remained frozen on spot, watching Hoggle leave the room in brisk pace. His expression was clearly stating that, in his opinion, the dwarf had went completely cuckoo. He stood and waited, hoping that perhaps Hoggle will come to his senses and come back, but the seconds passed, and instead of hearing his friend's footsteps, the fox heard the distant slam of massive entrance door.

"Oh no... Sir Ludo!" The knight rushed over to the beast and poked him vigorously until Ludo opened his eyes with confused grunt. "Come, thy brother needs our help! We shall aid Sir Hoggle on his quest! Well, come already!" It took some more prodding and convincing for Ludo to finally scramble up on his feet. "Ambrosius, you stay here! 'Tis no place for thee." Sir Didymus commanded his loyal steed who had no objection whatsoever, and both friends left the room to catch up with Hoggle.

Neither knew that someone had eavesdropped them.


Lucan sat in his throne, lazily polishing the sword in his lap, smiling in delight as he twisted the blade and let the torchlight reflect on smooth metal. He had no doubt the fog had already reached the Labyrinth, maybe even the Goblin City. How many of goblins already had fallen victims to its twisted influence that could consume one's mind and turn friend into enemy, while killing its victims along from the inside, he wondered.

"Your...majesty..." Salmon, the head leader of earmins, rushed into the throne room, panting. In his paw, he held rusty mirror, his already round eyes now wider than saucers. "This...this thing...it's talking...calling your name..."

"What nonsense you..." Lucan put the sword aside, preparing to boot the creature out, but stopped in half-motion, taking better look at the mirror in his paw. "Give it to me!" He yanked the mirror out of Salmon's paw, looking into it with a frown. To his surprise, very familiar, wrinkled goblin face stared back at him. "My...Agnes...what a pleasant surprise! I thought all my subjects have forgotten about true loyalty."

"Not me, your highness." The junklady spoke in hushed voice, her face barely visible, and her look of discomfort clearly obvious - she had cramped herself in broom closet which was not an easy feat due to huge pile of junk she always carried on her shoulders. "I serve only one Goblin King, the true ruler of Labyrinth. To you, my lord." She bowed head as it was only part of body she could bow.

"Ah, it's warming my heart to know some haven't lost their faith in me. I trust you did not summoned me for simply exchanging pleasantries." Lucan smirked.

"No, of course not." And Agnes quickly told him everything she had overheard from fireys, Hoggle and Sir Didymus. By Lucan's surprised face, she could tell it was first time he ever heard about existence of such prophecy - but not having any contact with outer Underground, there was no way he could ever know it. He listened with growing interest, forgetting even to threaten several earmins who had gathered near, catching every word from the junklady.

Once she finished, Lucan thought for a moment, then invited two earmins closer, and gave each of them dark crystal he conjured out of blue. "I trust you heard what this beautiful lady just said." He said, smirking at how Agnes almost melted, hearing the compliment toward her. "Find those both Jareth's subjects - dwarf Hoggle and fox Sir Didymus. Follow them to Aboveground, they shall lead you to the mortal girl."

"Yes, master." Earmins bowed. "And what should we do once we found them?"

Lucan slapped his forehead. What did I do to be cursed with such useless subjects, he thought. "Take their appearance and bring the girl to me!" He growled. "But you must wait until that...that...whatever her name was..."

"Sarah," junklady helpfully butted in.

"Yes, whatever. So, until that Sarah gets her memory back, otherwise she won't know who you are. And make sure she believes you are the real Goblin King's subjects, sent to take her to Labyrinth." Earmins stood and blinked at their king, digesting the given order, and Lucan rolled his eyes. "What are you waiting for? GO!"

Earmins did not hesitated any longer and run out of the room. Only when they had left the Dark Castle, they stopped and looked at each other. "Did you understood anything?"

"No, but it was fun."

"Let's find those two, whose look we have to take." The first one suggested.

"And then we'll do everything they do," the second also came to some conclusion.

In meantime, Lucan turned his attention back to Agnes. "You have my gratitude for bringing these news. Can I rely on your loyalty further as well?"

"Anything, my lord, as long as it brings you back to us, my king." The junklady's face contorted in ugly grin, revealing her toothless mouth. "I swore to serve you until death, and so I shall."

"Very well. Then remain my eyes and ears in Goblin city and the castle. Keep me informed about everything Jareth does. You will be generously rewarded." Lucan smirked, watching how the goblin bowed head again, and mirror went dark. He tucked it deep into his robes, reclining in throne with satisfaction. It was miracle Jareth never discovered existence of this magical object which Lucan used back in his days to contact with Agnes back and forth, whenever he needed her assistance, but was not able to actually go to junk field himself. Now, with shield gone, no magic could keep him from keeping in touch with his servant.

Well, well, my dear Sarah, let's see how easily you'll get free of true Goblin King, Agnes thought gleefully, while trying to wriggle her way out of closet. It took her few minutes to realize that Lucan had only sent two earmins, but...Sarah had three friends... After short inner debate, she decided to not worry about such little things. Her king's magic was strong, and that beast Ludo was too dumb anyway to tell difference between Jareth's real subjects and impostors.