Jareth watched the scrying crystal in horror as Sarah and Hoggle slid helplessly to the ledge that overhung the Bog. Instantly, he tried to transport, to get to Sarah… to save her.

And went nowhere.

"What the hell?" he growled, looking at his surroundings with a mix of fear and puzzlement.

*You must let the events play out, Jareth. You yourself have wrought this trick when you made that promise to Hoggle within my walls.*

"I intended no such thing, and you know it!" he shouted.

*What's said is said, aroon… even for you. Maybe especially for you.*

"If you think I will just stand by and watch as she… as they…"

*Calm yourself. You of all people know that the magical stench of the Bog can be removed.*

That was true… although it took a week of intense magic to do it. He'd found that out about eighty years ago, when Garthan had fallen in.

While there were various cells and oubliettes throughout the Labyrinth, the true prison of the Goblin Kingdom was located beneath the Bog of Eternal Stench. A large marshy area with an incredibly potent and nauseating odor, Jareth had incorporated the Bog within the defenses of the Labyrinth and excavated the prison complex beneath it. Here were kept the raiders, war criminals and would-be assassins that periodically tested his Kingdom. Even if a prisoner escaped, the location was such that the Bog was its own form of prison walls. Even the slightest touch of the water of the Bog would impart its stench to the person it touched, making them rather easy to track down.

Garthan had been supervising the transfer of a Fae raiding party to their cells below the Bog when one of the Ughlánas guards had accidentally turned too fast, the shaft of his spear whacking Garthan right across his back and pitching him into the Bog. Garthan had no time to even try to transport himself to safety, instead falling into a rather spectacular bellyflop into the marshy, odiferous water.

By some instinct, Garthan had transported himself after his plunge, thankfully to the cellar of the castle. Unfortunately, the miasma from the Bog had permeated the castle rather quickly, which Lily tried to counteract with a frantic deployment of scented crystals. The Ughlánas, with perhaps more enthusiasm than was wise, had spread the crystals throughout the castle, in such quantities that the odor of the Bog had been overpowered by an eye-burning cloud of flower scent. The residents of the castle fled in what could be characterized as controlled panic.

Jareth had quickly gotten things under control, banishing Garthan to a far corner of the Labyrinth for the time being, after laughing himself almost sick at the sight of his Councilor, crusted with black mud and an almost greenish vapor coming off him. Lily was eventually able to get the warring scents out of the castle proper, although it took her the better part of the night to do so.

Jareth had tried to remove the stench from Garthan's skin, which persisted despite the almost hourly baths he took. He scrubbed himself raw, using every type of soap, detergent, cleanser and oil, to no avail. Jareth tried using magic, but after about five minutes of relief, the stench would return. It wasn't until he'd appealed to Healer Melina for help and advice that the two of them came up with a plan.

Using magic similar to what they used in transforming the wished-aways to Fae or Goblin, Melina and Jareth were able to accelerate the replacement of Garthan's skin cells from the inside out. For good measure, he had to remove every existing hair on his head and body, the new growth of which was also accelerated. It took about a week, but in the end, it was successful.

He could only imagine Sarah's reaction if she had to shave her head…

He watched in almost helpless panic as Hoggle and Sarah slipped from the ledge, landing on the rockcaller who was sitting on the shore of the Bog below.

Sir Didymus stood proudly at his post, the bridge spanning the foul expanse of the Bog of Eternal Stench stretching out before him like a challenge to all who dared approach. The pungent odor that wafted from the mire didn't bother him, thanks to the magical alterations King Jareth had granted him before the Run. Where others would gag and retch, Sir Didymus inhaled deeply, convinced the air smelled of fine leather and freshly polished armor. It was a privilege to guard such a strategic point in the Labyrinth, and one he never took lightly.

With his trusty steed, Ambrosius, lying nearby on a patch of particularly luscious moss, Sir Didymus allowed himself a moment of reflection. Though he was often tasked with training the Ughlánas in combat (a responsibility he approached with boundless enthusiasm) he couldn't deny the thrill of participating in a Run now and again. The King, in his infinite wisdom, always allowed him these moments of diversion, and for that, Sir Didymus held Jareth in the highest regard.

His admiration for the Goblin King ran deep, forged over centuries of loyalty and shared purpose. Sir Didymus had not always been the proud guardian of the bridge; once, long ago, he had been a wandering knight, leading a ragtag group of magical creatures fleeing the oppressive grip of the Fae. He remembered the long journey eastward vividly, the way he had rallied them with his courage and sense of purpose. Many had doubted his ability to guide them to safety, but he had proven them wrong. The Goblin Kingdom had been little more than a dream then, a glimmer of hope whispered about in the darkest corners of the Underground.

When they finally stumbled to the gates of the Labyrinth, it was Jareth who had greeted them. Sir Didymus recalled the way the young King had stepped forward, resplendent with power and yet approachable, his eyes filled with curiosity and kindness. While others had dismissed Sir Didymus as a small and peculiar creature, Jareth had treated him with respect, listening to his tale and offering sanctuary to his weary band of travelers.

"Any who seek refuge here shall find it," Jareth had said, his voice carrying both power and reassurance. "And those with courage and loyalty shall have a place at our side."

That moment had cemented Sir Didymus's devotion. Jareth had not only accepted him but honored him, assigning him a role of importance in the burgeoning kingdom. The Goblin King's respect had made Sir Didymus believe in himself, and he carried that belief in his heart to this day.

A faint movement at the edge of his vision pulled Sir Didymus from his reverie. He straightened immediately, his keen eyes narrowing as he peered down the winding path leading to the bridge. Someone was approaching… the Runner.

The figure was young, a human girl with a determined expression and a slight hesitation in her step. Sir Didymus tilted his head, his whiskers twitching as he observed her. She moved with purpose, though it was clear she was not alone. Flanking her on either side were two familiar figures: Hoggle, the perpetually grumpy dwarf, and Ludo, the gentle giant.

Sir Didymus's heart swelled with a mix of surprise and delight. Hoggle and Ludo were helping the Runner. How intriguing! It was rare for a Runner to gain allies so quickly, let alone make an ally of Hoggle.

"Well, well," Sir Didymus muttered to himself, gripping the shaft of his staff. "This promises to be an interesting encounter."

He adjusted his armor, the gleaming metal tip of his staff reflecting the muted light of the overcast sky. Ambrosius, sensing his master's excitement, lifted his head and gave a soft woof, his tail wagging.

"Fear not, noble steed!" Sir Didymus declared, his voice ringing with conviction. "We shall meet this challenge with valor and grace. If the Runner seeks to cross my bridge, she shall earn that right, as is tradition!"

His tail wagged faintly beneath his armor as he stepped to the center of the bridge, his stance firm and his chin held high. He would uphold the honor of the Labyrinth and the Goblin Kingdom, just as Jareth had trusted him to do.

As the Runner and her companions drew closer, Sir Didymus allowed himself a small smile. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it as he always had: with courage, wit, and the unshakable belief that a true knight could overcome any challenge.

"Stop!" he cried out. "Stop, I say."

The Runner's eyes widened at the sight of him. Hoggle rolled his with a smirk. Ludo recognized him, of course… Sir Didymus was one of guardians of the Labyrinth who had cared for him as he grew up. He pretended not to, though.

"Oh, please," said the girl. "We have to get across."

"Without my permission," Sir Didymus pronounced proudly. "No one may cross."

All three of them tried to appeal to him, citing the horrifying stench in the air. Hoggle knew well that Sir Didymus couldn't smell it, and why, but he was so desperate to get out of there that he forgot their orders and tried to cross anyway. He was easily waved back, as was the girl, but Ludo stepped forward. The sparkle in the giant's eyes told Sir Didymus that this was going to be rather fun.

What ensued was a ridiculous battle between them, one that (had the Runner actually given any thought to it) was obviously all for show. Ludo was having just as much fun as he was with this, roaring and stomping with abandon as Sir Didymus scampered up his back. Eventually, the battle ended, with Sir Didymus congratulating Ludo on his stalwartness and claiming him as a brother knight.

This did not mean that he would allow the Runner to pass, however. "I have taken an oath," he said, with a jaunty tone. "And I must defend it to the death."

Most Runners didn't make it this far, and those that did certainly didn't have the assistance of the Labyrinth residents. Thus, when faced with such a ferocious little warrior, they usually turned around and tried to find another way. This one though… she was made of sterner stuff.

"Okay," she replied, frowning in thought. "Let's handle this thing logically. What exactly have you sworn?"

Drawing himself up proudly, he clutched his staff. "I have sworn with my lifeblood, no one shall pass this way without my permission."

He could almost see the gears turning in the girl's head. He also saw the moment when enlightenment dawned.

"Well," she said slowly. "May we have your permission?"

For a moment, he was shocked. The Labyrinth's puzzles often had such simple solutions, but most Runners never stopped to think long enough to figure them out. This one did. And unlike all the other Runners who had come before her, she had a determination to her, a fortitude that was usually missing from the Wishers.

"Uh… yes," he replied, a note of wonder in his voice.

The girl smiled, nodding to him smartly. "Thank you, noble sir."

"My lady," he returned as he swept off his hat to her.

She stepped onto the wooden plank that traversed the Bog, the creaks and groans of it causing her face to get a bit pale.

"Have no fear, sweet lady," he said as she made her way to the center of the bridge. "This bridge has lasted for a thousand years."

At that very moment, the bridge crumbled beneath her feet.

Author's Notes:

I gave out a wicked chuckle when Jareth got smacked between the eyes with the 'what's said is said' line. After all, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, am I right?

And I had to explain what had happened to Garthan in the Bog. You might recall that this was a story that the Othánas had told Sarah during her 21st birthday celebration. I thought I'd expand upon it here. I was inspired by a video on Epic Fails where someone had gotten knocked into a muddy pool in much the same way I described Garthan going in. I laughed so hard that I cried, picturing the same thing happening to him.

I also giggled a bit at the residents of the castle fleeing in panic at the 'air freshener' that Lily deployed in response to Garthan's… odor.

The 'fix' for the Bog water would be for the new skin and hair cells to grow out, while Jareth blocked the magic of the Bog water from attaching itself to those new cells… which means they'd need Melina's help to accelerate the process.

And… have you noticed that when Hoggle and Sir Didymus recalled how they came to the Goblin Kingdom, both of them mention being drawn to the East? And back in 'War and Remembrance', so many refugees were appearing at the gates of the Labyrinth that Garthan and Randel were concerned about supplies? Perhaps Danu was giving them all a hint as to where they could find a haven…