Reunion By: DryadsSong@aol.com Disclaimer: ALL Labyrinth Characters used in this story belong to Jim Henson Productions. In a sense, I'm just borrowing them for a while. Chapter One: The Bedtime Story Sarah sat up in her bed, feeling slightly disoriented, with a nagging buzz somewhere inside her skull. After fighting through the fog of exhaustion, she realized that the buzzing was emanating from the alarm clock, on the nightstand. With a moan of protest, she reached over and swatted the alarm until she hit the sleep button. *There* she thought, as she turned over, strained and sore muscles protesting, *I'll be set for at least ten more minutes... never should stay up that late again... not to mention running through the Labyrinth* With that thought, the last vestiges of sleep left her, and vivid images of last night's adventure returned crisp in her mind. "Hoggle?... Ludo?... Sir Didymus?" She whispered, pausing, between each of her friends' names. As she looked around, Sarah realized that it couldn't have been a dream, or some figment of her already overactive imagination. Nothing could explain *this* mess. *Nothing but a pitched party involving goblins, Fireys or the other residents of the Underground,* she thought with a wry chuckle. *I better start cleaning before I have to explain all of this to Dad.... and the wicked step-witch...* Then, something under a blanket wriggled... and whined. "No, not another goblin... I didn't say the words!" She gasped, then slowly, Sarah crossed the bedroom floor to the contorting article of clothing and holding her breath, flung the offending blanket away. "Merlin!" She gasped, then giggled at her own foolishness, and fondly scratched the dog behind his ears. "How'd you get up here? I thought you were put in the garage last night..." Apparently the details of Merlin's inexplicable appearance her bedroom didn't matter to the dog. As she could tell from the pitch of his whine, Merlin needed to use the little puppies' room. "All right, Merlin. Let's get you outside." And with that, Sarah led Merlin down the stairs and out the front door. For no reason, or no apparent one, Merlin sped off, around the side of the house, as if following a scent, his snout low to the ground and tail wagging. "Merlin, what are you looking for?" She asked, as she followed him. *He's never been this interested in tracking something before, he always follows me when I take him outside* Then he stopped right under her bedroom window, next to the old oak tree, prancing as he looked at her, then at his quarry. Slowly, Sarah approached Merlin and looked at the white object he had found. She held her breath as she stooped to lift what seemed to gleam and sparkle, emanating a power and shine all of its own. "A white owl feather" * * * "So that's how it all happened, Sarah?" Inquisitive blue eyes peered up at her. "Yes, Toby. That's how it all happened, as you should know." She said, playfully tickling the eight year old's ribs. "It's you favorite bed-time story!" She exclaimed, laughing. "Now you should really go to sleep. All right sweeting?" Toby made a sour face as his older sister tucked him in. "Yeah, I know... Sarah, I have something for you." He made this pronouncement as he scrambled out of bed, mussing the neatly tucked in sheets. Before his sister had a chance to speak, Toby thrust a large wrapped package into her hands. "Here. It's a welcome home present" Sarah sniffed, "Thanks Toby" She had to work even harder to hold back her tears, when she saw what Toby had presented her. "Lancelot" Seeing her old teddy bear, Sarah let the tears flow, and bestowed a hug on her embarrassed younger brother. "I didn't mean to make you sad, Sarah." He said, fidgeting. "Mom told me that you gave that to me when I was little, and I remember how much I loved it, but now I don't need it. I'm grown up now." He pronounced the last statement proudly, squaring his shoulders and attempting to look older. "Oh, you are you?" Sarah asked, a wry grin spread across her face. "Then how come you're still ticklish?" And renewed her attack upon Toby, while he laughed the entire time. "No Toby, I didn't cry because I'm sad" she answered Toby's apology, once his giggling subsided. "I cried because I remember how much I loved this raggedy old bear. Now you really do have to go to sleep, munchkin, O.K.? "All right. And I'm happy that you like having Lancelot back. Good night, Sarah." Toby said as he hugged her. "Good night, Toby." Then she tucked him into bed, again, bestowing a light kiss on his forehead, turned the light off and closed the door behind her. As tears once again began to flow down her cheeks, Sarah hugged Lancelot close to her and ran to her room. Chapter Two: Book of Revelations As Sarah closed the door behind her, she wiped her tears on Lancelot's scruffy, plush, fur. "Poor old bear." She said smiling, remembering all the times past when he had been her comfort and only friend. "Lancelot, one of the greatest knights of the Round Table." She said to the old toy, "How ironic that your name is the name of the man who ruined my character's life." Sarah sighed as she sat down on her bed. That's what she had come home to tell her parents, (she had accepted her step mother as a part of her family soon after the Labyrinth Adventure, as she had dubbed it, and even became marginally fond of her father's wife) that she had gotten a part in the stage production of "The Lady of Shalott". She hadn't told them yet because she wanted to tell her whole family at once, and her stepmother was on a business trip. She was watching Toby tonight because her father had to pick up Karen from the airport. *Elaine, the unfortunate lady who fell in love with the gallant Lancelot whilst he loved another, namely Queen Guenevere. As the story goes, Elaine grieved when she realized this and committed suicide, sending her funeral barge past Camelot. Although I love the Arthurian Tales, my heart just isn't in this role which is surprising, considering it is the lead. What else could an actress recently out of college hope for? This was the break of a lifetime, and at the age of twenty-four, I have my whole career ahead of me, if the play goes well. Yet I'm was dissatisfied, it seems too easy, as everything had, since I was fifteen. I expected challenges, "Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered..." * "Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered... I have fought my way here, to the castle beyond the Golblin City, to take back the child you have stolen. My will is as strong as yours and my Kingdom as great... You have no power over me." She recited, the laboriously memorized lines sprang from her lips. "That's it!" she whispered. "My will is not there, that's why I'm not excited about this part. It just doesn't feel right... In fact no play has felt right, except 'Labyrinth'" Sarah opened the top drawer of the nightstand and rummaged around until she felt the familiar, tattered binding. As she withdrew the book from the drawer, she stared at it in fascination, stroking the cover. Then the realization dawned on her. "I want to go back." Chapter Three: Toby's Offer "I want to go back but I don't know how to. I want to see my friends... I could call them back but it won't be the same as seeing the Labyrinth and surprising them all..." Sarah mused aloud, as she began flipping through the tattered and dog marked copy of 'Labyrinth'. Then her hand encountered a long, soft, thin object. "The feather." She gasped in surprise, "I thought this had been lost when I left for college." It still glimmered with its own internal light. One look at it and Sarah knew that she desperately wanted to see her friends and soon, preferably now. "I need you, Hoggle. Once and again in my life I'll need you, all of you." Sarah whispered, hoping that saying this again would bring her friends to her. She waited a few moments and repeated the sentence, this time screaming it. "I need you, Hoggle. Once and again in my life I'll need you, all of you!" Sarah collapsed crying on her bed when the words did not bring her friends to her. "Hoggle.... Ludo... Sir Didymus..." she sobbed, crying and sniffling heavily. "Why didn't it work?" Yet, if she had looked out her window she would have seen an owl, perched on the old oak tree, hooting softly. "Sarah?" She looked up, as she heard her door creak and soft footsteps. "Oh, Toby, I'm sorry I woke you." Sarah apologized, as she wiped her eyes on her nightgown. "It's O.K. What's wrong?" Her half-brother asked, scrambling onto Sarah's bed. "You can tell me." Still clutching Lancelot, the feather and her book, Sarah explained everything to Toby. When she ended, Sarah smiled, looking at her half brother. He certainly seemed to have grown up, his small face was so serious. "You have to go back and see your friends." Toby told his sister. "But, I can't." She replied. " I don't know how to get back." Toby thought for a moment, and then a wide grin appeared on his face. "I'll say the words and wish you there." "No Toby, It's too dangerous." Sarah replied sternly, "I forbid it, besides there are strings attached. Don't you remember the stories I've told you? Hmm?" "Yes" Toby said, a small scowl marring his features. "But I think I could strike a deal with the Goblin King." "No. It's thoughtful of you to want to help, but I can't allow it. Solving the Labyrinth wasn't fun. I was terrified for you the entire time." Sarah replied, standing up, placing the book, feather and bear on her pillow, and began leading her brother to his room. "Now, please go to bed. I may be twenty-four, but I can still get in trouble for disobeying my Dad, and he told me you had to be in bed, asleep, by the time he got back with Karen. O.K.? You don't want your Mom coming back from her business trip and find you disobeyed Dad's instructions." "No, I don't Sarah." He replied, as he slipped under the covers. "Good night." "Good night, Toby." Sarah, turned off the light and closed the door, for a second time that night. Chapter Four: Toby's Wish Toby lay on his bed, thinking out what he was going to do, and decided that it was for the best. He lay and waited until he was sure Sarah had gone to her room and closed the door again. Then he sat up. "Sarah," he whispered, "I don't care if you think it's dangerous, you deserve to see your friends and this is the only way I know how to get you there." Toby sat a little straighter, and raised his voice, just above a whisper. "I wish the goblins would come and take Sarah away. Right Now." * * * All of a sudden, something felt very wrong in her room and Sarah couldn't place her finger on it. She pulled the nightgown tight around her, placing the book she had been flipping through in her pocket. Sarah listened intently, and still could not guess what seemed wrong. The lights flickered and died, then she heard a familiar sound. "Goblins." She gasped, as she frantically began to look around the room. She could see movement out of the corner of her eyes, but when she looked straight at anything, the motion ceased. Then her eye fell on something useful. Just as a small, knarled hand grasped her ankle, Sarah flung herself out of bed and reached for an old, wizard's staff, complements of a local Renaissance woodcarver. Hefting the staff in both hands, she aimed the end of it with all her might at the goblin that had a death grip on her ankle and heard a satisfying squeal of pain. "Toby!" Sarah screamed. *He must have said the words, even after I told him not to. I should've made him promise.* As she had turned, she looked around her room once more. Each goblin, twelve once counted, was openly staring at her and their wounded comrade. Apparently no one had ever fought back before. "Well , well." Sarah mused aloud, "I guess you can't take your own medicine." She tried to look menacing, brandishing the staff, and once again surveyed the room. As she turned, Sarah looked straight out the window, at the old oak tree and stared. There was the white owl. "Jareth." She hissed with contempt, and watched the bird glide from his perch past the window, undoubtedly towards Toby's room. Her pause was just enough to give the goblins a chance to ambush Sarah and conjure her away. * * * "Sarah?" Toby slowly opened the door to his sister's room. And peered in. It was a mess, poor Lancelot was on the floor, the bed sheets were all mussed, and all of Sarah's belongings were awry. Tears began to streak down Toby's cheeks. "I thought you wanted to go, why did you fight them?" Toby cried, wiping his tears on his sleeve. Confused and upset, Toby ran back to his room, tears blurring his vision. "Toby" Toby spun around, looking wildly about his room, trying to locate the owner of the low, musical voice. Then his eyes caught the shine of light upon golden hair. "The Goblin King..." Toby gasped, as he finally realized what he had done. Chapter Five: The Labyrinth Jareth was surprised when he was summoned a second time to the Williams home. He had never been called to a home twice, no one had ever wanted to. Yet he had been summoned twice in seven years, and twice tonight. When Sarah had called to her friends, after "defeating" him and solving his Labyrinth, he had been called also, yet had not been let in. So he had watched the celebration from the oak tree, outside Sarah's window, before he flew back to the Underground. Yet tonight, when Sarah had called again, he had been the only one to come, he was the only one with the power to do so, though his control was slipping. He had watched her cry, with a strange feeling, as if someone had plunged a knife into his heart. Then he had been summoned again... this time by Toby, the child Sarah had wished away, and who was now wishing her away. This was unusual, never had the older sibling been wished to the Labyrinth... And Jareth wanted to know why... * * * "Toby." The Goblin King said again, this time more gently. *No use scaring the child, or I will not be able to discover what I need to* Toby stopped sniffling, drying his eyes on his sleeves. "How do you know my name?" "You summoned me." Jareth replied, with a grand sweeping gesture of his arms. "I also recognize you, Sarah surely has told you her story." He paused waiting for acknowledgment, which Toby gave, with a nod of his small head. "Yeah, Sarah told me the story of 'Labyrinth'." "Then," Jareth said, stooping to meet the eight year old's height, "Why did you wish her away? If you know the story, you know the rules." "I know, I have thirteen hours to solve the Labyrinth and find Sarah.... or... or..." Toby began to falter. "Or she'll become one of us. Forever." The Goblin King finished, as Toby nodded. *I've never tried to turn someone Sarah's age into a goblin... I do not think that it can be done. Yet, Toby should not be aware of this, or the fact that I could never harm her.* "I only wanted her to see her friends because they didn't come tonight!" Toby wailed. "Bring her back! I want my sister back! She didn't want me to say the words!" "What is said, is said. I can not change the wish." Jareth replied, slightly annoyed with the boy, yet a bit sad for him too. *He must not of wholly believed what Sarah told him, thinking it only a bedtime story...* "Send me to the Labyrinth." Toby said, interrupting the Goblin King's reverie. "Thirteen hours isn't an awful lot of time, and Sarah said it was a really big place." Jareth was surprised at this, Toby was exhibiting a strong personality, fairly early in life. *He is more like Sarah than I have realized.* Toby watched in amazement as the Goblin King stepped towards the window, and as he opened it, Toby saw a brilliant red sky, and a sprawling maze. In the distance, he could see a castle, past what looked liked a city. "The castle beyond the Goblin City..." It was just as Sarah had described it. "You have thirteen hours in which to solve the Labyrinth" Jareth voiced the traditional lines, though this time as a reminder. By the time Toby tore his gaze away from the site in front of him and glanced around, the Goblin King had disappeared. Neither did he realize that he had forgotten to strike his bargain with the Goblin King. Chapter Six: Sarah Sarah looked around her, slightly disoriented. One minute she had in her room, and the next here. She turned to get a full view of the room, and to get her bearings. "The Throne Room." Sarah breathed. She had only been here once, and albeit for a very short time, yet it was a place one could not forget. "Great. Just. Great." Sarah fumed, biting off each word. "Toby, when I get my hands on you.... I wanted to see my friends, but the last place I wanted to be was here!" Pacing the room, Sarah made a wordless sound of rage, still toting the wizards' staff. There was no way out. "I could have swore there was a door here, how else could I have gotten in, my first time here..." She mused aloud. *The only visible exits are the balcony and the entrance to the Staircase Chamber. The balcony is at least four stories above the Labyrinth, and the ground does not look particularly soft. The only other possibility is the Staircase Chamber and I do not... do not want to go there. The thought of it makes me nauseous.* "But the last thing I want is to be here when Jareth arrives." She began, once again talking aloud. "It's a trifle late for that, my dear Sarah." * * * "Well, I guess I better get started." Toby remarked to himself, as he made his way down the hill. And then he fell, rolling all the way down. And kept rolling, right up to the foot of a very tall wall, but it seemed to be upside down. "I wonder how the wall could be upside down?" the confused boy asked himself aloud. "I believes that you are the one who is upside down." Embarrassed, Toby scrambled to his feet, only to find himself nose-to-nose with a strange creature, a goblin holding an odd silver spray gun thing. Toby backed up, his eyes widened in fear, "Don't ... d...don't come near me!" The goblin was surprised. Clearly, no one had ever been scared of him. Toby saw this and became a bit more brave. "Who are you?" He asked. "I'm Hoggle" The goblin answered, still taken aback. The boy seemed familiar. Toby's face lighted with recognition. "Sarah's told me about you! Can you help me find her?" "Sarah's here? What does y'mean, by helping you finding her... and who be you anyways?" "My name's Toby. And the Goblin King... what did Sarah call him? Jareth has her... Well really, I wished her away... but only because she wanted to see her friends... a-and you didn't come when she c-c-called... It's not fair!" With a despairing wail, Toby began to cry. The last sentence out of Toby's mouth was familiar to the goblin, he sounded just like Sarah. Finally, when Toby stopped crying, Hoggle walked along the outer wall, until he reached an enormous pair of gates. "You gets in here." "Get in where? The Labyrinth?" Toby asked, daunted by the size of the doors. "Yes, an' don't you be worrying, I'll be helping you... I'm Sarah's friend. Follow me." Toby stood, glad for the help, and followed Hoggle through the gate, into the Labyrinth. Chapter Seven: The Crystal Upon seeing Jareth, Sarah did the first thing she could think of, she lashed out. Before Jareth could dodge, or teleport, Sarah's staff had landed a solid blow to his stomach, effectively knocking the wind out of him. And knocking the King of the Goblins to the ground. With a grin of triumph, Sarah placed her foot on the downed man' chest, pinning him as well as she could. "Let me go, let both Toby and I go home. Now." Sarah demanded, leaning on the staff, yet not taking one ounce of pressure off the fallen King. "I can not do that, as you know." Jareth replied laughing, "And you should know that you can not hold me down." Still laughing, Jareth twisted, knocking the staff from under Sarah, causing her to stumble, and in one fluent cat-like movement, he was on his feet and teleported across the room, before she fell. "Damn. I forgot about his magic." Sarah grunted as she rolled out of the fall. Then she stood, brushing the dust off her nightgown. "Don't you ever clean?" "Goblins are useful creatures, yet... cleaning is not their specialty. They prefer dust, and I tolerate the conditions. "Hmmph. So, I'm here for thirteen hours, if I remember correctly." She remarked, glancing around the room, this time at a more leisurely pace. "Yes, thirteen hours. Really, Sarah, your memory was never deficient." Jareth replied, a small smile curving his lips. "Well, what do I do, for thirteen hours? Isn't there an oubliette you reserve for prospective goblins?" Sarah asked, shivering through her sarcasm, hoping that that was not the case. *How I hate oubliettes...* "No, I am not the terrible person you believe me to be." Jareth answered. "For the next thirteen hours you are my guest, and may do whatever you wish... except leave the castle. Frankly, I do not suggest exploring alone. This castle is as much of a maze as the Labyrinth below." "Well, I want to see my brother, or at least how he is doing." Sarah made her first request. "Here. Look into this." Then Jareth tossed a crystal to Sarah, as she held out her hands, afraid that she wouldn't catch it. The crystal soared towards Sarah, and landed within her cupped palms. Fighting back a moment a fear, remembering what other crystals had wrought, Sarah looked in. * * * Toby looked around him in amazement. *This Labyrinth is bigger than it looks outside. Or maybe just taller.* They had been walking for what seemed like forever, and the walls seemed to go on endlessly to the horizon. Hoggle kept turning into what looked like blank walls, but you could walk right through them. "We're lost." Hoggle said, his voice hoarse. "Jareth's changed the Labyrinth again. I thoughts it was too easy." "He can change it, anytime he wants?" Toby asked, and sat down, with a huff. When he had found Hoggle, he thought it would be easier to find Sarah, and now Hoggle didn't know how to get to the castle. "Yes. He's the King and he gots magic." Hoggle replied sharply, his wrinkled face appearing frustrated. "I'm not gonna let him beat me. I'm not gonna let him." Toby stood quickly, determination on his face. "Let's go. We're gonna find Sarah." Once again, Toby and Hoggle began to traverse the Labyrinth. They wound their wall through the walls, finding hidden passages and came across some pretty strange things. In one section, there were red arrows on the walls, a good bit above Toby's eye level. When he jumped to touch it, it smudged. He could almost remember it... Something his mother wore on Friday nights... lipstick. Another time, they walked past a large fountain. To the right of it there was a rather odd creature. It was an old man, with a bird on his head, or a bird hat, or something. Anyway it, or they, was, were, asleep, so Toby and Hoggle crept silently by... * * * Sarah blinked, as she lost focus and the picture of her brother and her friend. As her surroundings swam around her, Sarah's vision darkened a bit around the edges. She felt strong arms fold around her, and she was weightlessly lifted off her feet, just before she blacked out. Chapter Eight: Discovery Jareth watched, and waited for Sarah to awake, awarded by his vigil only a few minutes after she had fainted. *Good,* Jareth thought surprised. *The magic didn't tire her much for a beginner, she is stronger in the power than I had first believed.* "Wh-What happened?" Sarah queried, color slowly returning to her face. With a quick flick of his wrist, Jareth conjured a goblet of wine and offered it to Sarah, which she accepted. After a few sips, when her color had returned in full, Jareth spoke. "Sarah, you have just accomplished a very difficult task, even more so than your adventure in my Labyrinth so many years ago. For an hour you watched Toby through this crystal, with your own power." Jareth smiled, the smile of a parent beaming over an accomplishment his child had performed. "My own power?" Sarah mused, then gasped. "Magic? No, I've dreamed and spun fantasy worlds with magic in them... but magic?" Sarah shivered, Jareth thought with a combination of the chill morning air and the thought of her possessing magic. This realization worried him but he chose to treat the conventional cause for her chill. "The Labyrinth in the morn is rarely a warm place, you need something warmer than your current garments." Sarah quirked an eyebrow at this rather forward observation, and conceded with a nod, "Yes, the air is crisp. Of course, ignorant of the fact that my little brother was going to wish me away, I didn't have the chance to change," Her voice was full of sarcasm. With a sardonic smile she added, "Besides, your goblins aren't exactly courteous, I'm afraid I may have harmed one of them. It seems they're not used to someone fighting back." Sarah's tone was not at all one of contrition. Jareth laughed aloud, not his usual sinister chuckle, but a laugh filled with mirth. "Sarah, you always did have a touch of cruelty in you, yet you should not let that take over your entire being. No, my goblins are not used to someone defending themselves. As I have said before, you are an unusual case." Sarah smiled, her first real smile that day. From him, that statement felt like a complement and she was oddly warmed by it. "So, where do I get my warmer 'garments'?" She asked, a bit too quickly to cover up her confusion at her emotions. "I know of some that should fit you. If you like, I could show you the rest of the castle, along the way. And, perhaps, explain a bit more about magic?" Jareth replied, his tone almost pleading, yet still with his characteristic imperiousness. "Yes, I would like that." She replied, surprised at herself for a second time within the past hour. Really, Jareth wasn't such a bad guy after all. When Sarah stood, she finally realized where she had been sitting, on Jareth's throne and wondered why he had placed her there, after she fell. As Sarah stood, she wobbled a bit, apparently still slightly weak. Jareth caught her hand and lifted her effortlessly to her feet. Slightly embarrassed, Sarah dropped his gloved hand and asked, "So, now, which way?" Jareth, more amused than affronted, although slightly hurt, answered her, "Follow me." Chapter Nine: The Circular File "Hoggle?" "Hmmph?" "I think we're lost." Toby looked around him, studying the circular enclosure, in which they were now stranded. "Why did it close behind us like it did?" "Im's not sure." Hoggle answered. "I don't thinks it should of, something's wrong with the magic." Hoggle stopped then and looked as if in deep thought. "How can something be wrong with the magic?" Toby asked, as he paced the circumference of the enclosure, studying the ivy covered walls. "Since Sarah left, little bits of the magic has been running amok." "Oh, I wonder why... Did you tell the Goblin King?" Then he stopped, running his hand behind the ivy. Something felt grooved. "No, I's told Sarah before, I'm a coward and Jareth scares me." Hoggle answered, staring at the boy. "Hoggle, help me. I think I've found something." Toby, nearly shouted, excited. Within a half an hour, the boy and the goblin had cleared the walls, as high as they could reach, of the creeping vines. As they stood back admiring their work, Toby gasped. "It's the story." Curving around the wall, several drawings were carved into the smooth stone. Most of them he recognized from his own memories and Sarah's descriptions. At the eastern face of the wall, was a picture of his bedroom, with a large bed, his parents, and a crib, his crib. Next to that was a picture of Sarah, and the Goblin King, with the Labyrinth spread across the horizon. He recognized all of these, there was Sarah, dancing with Jareth, looking like the doll in her music box. Then there was her confronting the Goblin King, and the party in her room , the night of their safe return home. There were even drawings of last night's occurrences. Sarah stood, looking out her window, to see an owl, and Toby talking with Jareth and meeting Hoggle. This is where his recognition stopped. There were other pictures. One of Sarah, leaning with all of her weight on a staff, poised next to the Goblin Kings chest, her foot on his stomach. There was also a picture of Sarah looking through a crystal, and inside, he could see himself and Hoggle. There was a drawing of Toby and his companion, where they were now, puzzling over the drawings. Further along the wall there was a depiction of Sarah in a large hall. Along the walls were strange objects, like faces.... masks. There were more pictures, rough and unclear. The figures were easily recognized, there was Sarah, distinguished by her long, dark hair, and Jareth, with his medieval styled clothes, Hoggle, short and friendly, and himself. Oddly, in all of the pictures that he could recognize, Toby couldn't see the feather that Sarah had found. If this was the story then it should be there too. The others were hard to distinguish, a tall, furry, almost big foot type of creature. Next to this was a strange fox, and looked as if he was coaxing some animal out of hiding? Toby wasn't sure, so he asked. "Hoggle, who are they?" "I can'ts seem to remember..." Hoggle peered thoughtfully at the drawings. "No, I do! It be Ludo, Sir Dydimus and ... Ambrosias!" Toby watched in amazement. As Hoggle spoke, each figure lit up, glowing. "Hoggle...." He paused his sentence as he felt a pull towards the first picture, the one of the bigfoot. Slowly, he stretched his hand out and touched the figure. And watched as it leapt from the wall, morphed and grew. "Hoggle friend!" Ludo bellowed as he hugged his friend, nearly strangling the goblin. * * * Although Jareth had promised to give her a tour of the castle and discuss magic, he did neither. Jareth seemed to have taken the most direct route to his destination, through the Staircase chamber. During the entire ordeal, Sarah had been gritting her teeth, yet she never complained. She was too tired to complain, cold and hungry. *I'll be glad to get into something warmer...* "Here we are. This will be the chamber that holds what you desire. When you have changed, opened the door in the back behind the tapestry, and follow the stairs down. I'll be waiting for you there." He opened the door for her and gestured for her to step inside, as Sarah did so, Jareth shut the door behind her. Sarah gasped, taken aback by the beauty of the large sleeping chamber. On the left wall of the room was a large, enormous four poster bed and despite of its size, its curves were graceful. All of the furniture, a dresser, bureau, dressing table and wardrobe, all followed the same graceful lines as the bed. Yet they looked as if they could house the wardrobe of an entire family. All in all, the room was tastefully draped, with the aforesaid tapestry hanging between two large windows, one of which opened onto a balcony. "Enough gawking Sarah." She chided herself aloud. *I wonder who's rooms they could be, despite the size, the decoration is feminine...* Shrugging off the thought, Sarah began to explore the wardrobe. There was tons of beautiful clothing, but it all looked extremely formal. After rummaging through the dresser, she found a lovely light blue dress, similar to her nightgown. It had long, flowing bell shaped sleeves, and a V shaped waistline. It was simple, with little adornment and, although the weave was exquisite, it looked as if it could take wear and tear, say for exploring a dirty dusty castle. When Sarah had changed she knew she had made the right choice, it was much warmer than her nightgown. Sarah admired herself in the mirror, and liked the effect, "Usually I don't wear blue..." Her train of thought was then interrupted by her complaining stomach. Picking up her clothing, she crossed the room quickly and stopped, as she heard a thud. Slowly turning, Sarah spotted her copy of 'Labyrinth' on the floor. "Hmm. I forgot I had that in my pocket." She stooped quickly picking up the book and started in surprise. At her touch, it began to glow, she flipped through the pages until she found what she had half consciously believed was there, the feather. As her stomach growled again, Sarah began looking for something to put the book and feather in, since the dress had no pockets. Scrutinizing her surroundings, Sarah's eyes alighted on a purse on the dressing table. Lifting the purse, Sarah discovered what she had taken for a strap was a belt, in effect, the purse was made to circle one's waist. She placed the book and feather in the purse and donned it. Then, after running a brush through her hair, Sarah resolutely headed towards the tapestry, and the stairs beyond. Chapter Ten: Magic Gone Awry Given the width of the stairway, which was rather narrow, Sarah thought the room at the bottom would have been small. What she saw was contrary to her expectations. It was a large hall with a vaulted ceiling. The sheer height made it feel as is she was standing outside. It was well lighted with large windows, open to the red Labyrinth sky. Lining the walls were masks, hundreds of them. All familiar... "Those are the masks from my dream, the dream from the crystal..." Sarah spoke aloud, her voice seeming to shatter the silence, which up until that point was a tangible thing. Amazed, she turned a full circle taking in the entire scene. At one end of the hall was a grand staircase, leading to a landing, on which was table, and it looked as if set for a meal. Sarah crossed the room, the delicious scent of the food drawing her on. Only when she alighted the stairs did she notice Jareth. "Using magic, for a beginner, drains much energy. I took the liberty of ordering a meal." He spoke, and stood, sliding her chair back for her. Taking her the proffered seat, Sarah eyed the food. It looked delicious, but she remembered the last time she had eaten of the food here. In that case it had been a... "No, Sarah, this is not like the peach I forced Hoggle to offer you these seven years past." Jareth remarked, startling Sarah. It was almost as if he had read her mind. "Thank you, for your thoughtfulness. Since I'm your guest, I guess another 'peach episode' would be against your best interests." "Yes, it would. Now eat. I know you are famished. We can discuss matters after you have finished." Jareth replied, smiling. Sarah complied, not out of obedience but hunger. When she had finished as much of the assembled food as she could manage, she asked the first question on her mind. "Who's room was that? The one that I used before coming down here." Then she blushed, as Jareth raised a brow, realizing it was an impertinent question and none of her business. "I'm sorry, it's none of my..." "No, Sarah, it is all right, I will answer your question. It was my mother's room, who ruled the Underground before me. I never had the heart to dismantle the chamber, after she had gone." For a moment, Jareth's expression looked pained and Sarah felt sorry immediately for asking what she did. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked." Sarah apologized. "No, it was good of you to ask, I haven't spoken of mother for many years. The Goblin Queen Arrianis was a rather hard woman, much like her son." An odd smile flashed across his face. "Rather, her adopted son. She handed the throne to me many years ago, giving up her immortality and passing in on. Despite her coldness, she was as good as any mother could be." "Adopted son?" Sarah asked, only partially comprehending the implications of his words. "Yes, Sarah, Arrianis adopted me. A long time ago, my mother wished me away. A child was inconvenient for her. Unlike the other unwanted children, the Goblin Queen decided to spare me. Arrianis was the only mother I ever knew. I miss her" The single short statement wasn't much in itself, yet the inflection with which it was said, and the tell-tale glint in the Goblin King's eyes changed Sarah's view of the man completely. She never had thought of him as a person with feelings, and she berated herself for that fact. Yet she was speechless and did not know what to say to comfort him. Rather uncomfortable, Sarah clasped her hands in her lap, and accidentally hit the purse, which was strapped around her waist. Reaching inside, she pulled the feather out. On that morning so long ago, and last night, it had glowed. Now, in Jareth's presence, it was as brilliant as the sun. Upon hearing the Goblin King's gasp, Sarah looked up, to see him looking transfixed at the feather. "Where did you get that?" He asked, his voice ragged. "I-I found it outside my bedroom window, after I returned from the Labyrinth. I don't know why I kept it, but I found it in my copy of Labyrinth last night. I put it in my pocket when the goblins came and forgot it was there until I changed." The words spilled from her, mostly at the change that had occurred in Jareth. He looked as if something had hit him on the skull. "That's why the magic has gone awry." He whispered, then looked at Sarah, as if he had said too much. "What?" She queried, clearly surprised. Jareth sighed a long suffering sigh. "I should tell you. Ever since you had left the Labyrinth, seven years ago, the magic, or small parts of it, have escaped me." A look of pain, and humiliation crossed his face. Apparently it was not often that the King of the Goblins had to admit any weakness. "That explains why none of your friends were able to reach you, when you summoned them. No magic works on Earth, and I am the only one in the Labyrinth to possess trained magic. When a part of myself was left there, I began to lose control over the magic." The thought surprised Sarah. Jareth was the source of the magic of the Labyrinth. The nature of the Underground depended on the Goblin King as much as a plant depends on sunlight. Chapter Eleven: The Sheepdog, the Fox and the Castle It had taken Toby a while to calm down the enthusiastic Ludo. According to his simple description, Ludo had been stuck in the wall, or what Toby had now dubbed the Circular File, (he had heard Sarah talk about throwing term papers in this file while she was in college, and this was as close to a definition of that as he could get) for about seven years. Now Toby stood studying the picture Ludo had morphed out of. The lines had gotten clearer, and he could now see what the picture was of. It was Ludo, strangling, or hugging a protesting Hoggle, who's feet were entirely off the ground. "I wonder since it worked to bring Ludo..." Toby mused, and then quickly reached for one picture and then a second, darting back away from the wall. Toby, Hoggle and Ludo watched as two more figures began to emerge and morph into three dimensional figures. "Ambrosias, Ambrosias come back here!" The fox-like creature screeched as his mount ran for the only cover he could find, the discarded ivy that Toby and Hoggle had cleared form the wall. When he realized he was not alone, he addressed the onlookers. "Good day, Hoggle, Ludo. Good day young man, Sir Didymus at your service." He said with a polite bow. "Ambrosias! Come here!" Whimpering, the dog crept back to his master. "Good, Ambrosias." Didymus praised the wilted dog, "Who might you be my young sir?" "My name's Toby, and you're a friend of my sister's, Sarah. I've got to find her." Toby blurted, glad to find the last of Sarah's friends. "How has the Lady Sarah come to be back here?" Sir Didymus queried, plainly worried. "He wished her away. Toby wished her away when we didn't come, when she called and we didn't come." Hoggle replied, filling in the details Toby had not mentioned. "Then we must rescue her! Ambrosias, here!" Sir Didymus commanded his straying mount, and hopped into the saddle. "But we don't know the way out." Toby complained. "Ludo help friends." The giant replied. The wall was high for Toby, Hoggle and Didymus, but it was only shoulder high to Ludo. One by one, Ludo lifted Ambrosias, Sir Didymus, Hoggle and Toby over the wall. Lastly, he hauled himself over, disturbing the ivy that Toby and Hoggle could not reach. As he dragged himself, and the ivy, over the wall another picture became visible. One of two hands, both distinctly different, holding a bright, glowing... feather. * * * Toby, Hoggle, Sir Didymus and Ambrosias waited for Ludo to climb over the wall, and as he fell, they had to disentangle the ivy from around his feet. It took quite a long time, but when it was finally accomplished, the party of five set off. Sir Didymus, and the reluctant Ambrosias, were in the lead, when they encountered their next challenge. In shining black armor, atop a large black steed, was a knight. Without warning, he charged, and they scattered. All except Didymus, the feisty little creature that he was, speared the knights knee with his lance, bringing the giant down. "I have vanquished him!" A triumphant Didymus crowed. Unaware that the knight behind him was still moving. As it rose to its feet, Ludo yelled and jumped on the armor. And he crushed it. At the impact of Ludo's landing, the helmet popped off of fallen knight to reveal, that the armor was empty. "How very odd." Sir Didymus observed. "Yes, it is. But we have to find Sarah. So lets go." Toby commanded, walking around the armor. Soon the small band was off again. And, after only a few turns, they were amazed. Directly in front of them was the castle. Chapter Twelve: Healing "Jareth..." Sarah asked, unsettled. Her mind had undergone a lot of reconstruction within the past few hours. It was easier to see the Goblin King as a human being, and not the villain she remembered from her childhood. When she thought about it, she even realized that Jareth had only done what he had done because she asked him to. *"Everything I've done I've done for you. I move the stars for no one."* His words from seven years past echoed in her memory. *I've got to do something to make up for it, for him losing control of the magic... and for my harsh attitude towards him.* Jareth turned his wonderful blue eyes on her, "Yes?" Wordlessly, Sarah placed the feather in his hand, and thought with all of her might, of Jareth having complete control of the magic again. The two watched in amazement as the sheen of the feather brightened. Soon it had become too hot for Sarah to hold and she let go with a gasp of pain. In the next instant there was a flash of light, and the feather was gone. Gone. But the luminescence of the feather transferred itself to the man sitting across from her. Nursing her burnt hand, Sarah stared at Jareth until the glow faded. "I feel... whole, or more so than before. Thank you, Sarah." Jareth smiled. "You've used your magic a second time today. Yet I do not advise using it again while untrained. Let me tend your hand." Wincing slightly, Sarah raised her hand and placed it in his grasp. Jareth took it gently, more so than she thought was possible. In a matter of moments the burnt flesh had stopped hurting and looked as if it had never been harmed at all. "Thank you," Sarah gulped, a little surprised, although not unpleasantly, when Jareth failed to relinquish his possession of her hand. "No thanks are needed, Sarah," Jareth replied, squeezing her hand slightly. "You have given me something wonderful. Now I have complete control over the power again." "It's only something a decent person would do." Sarah said, blushing rather profusely. "Oh, indeed?" Jareth asked, a mischievous glint in his azure eyes. "Or do you have another motive?" In one fluid movement, with all of his cat-like grace, Jareth was out of his chair and had lifted Sarah to her feet. The embrace was quick, like a crash of thunder. His kiss was characteristic of Jareth, filled with his arrogance and pride, yet it held something softer. Love? In that moment, Sarah recognized the feeling that had been haunting her all these years. She hadn't felt whole, complete. Not until now. "So, all right, I had another motive." Sarah answered. She stepped back a pace, unwinding her arms from around his neck. "You did everything you did for me... because I asked you to." "Yes." Jareth smiled. "But now, I have a surprise." Jareth swept his hand through the air, conjuring a crystal. "Look." "Shall we dance?" Jareth queried, quirking one golden eyebrow, and extending a gloved hand. Inside the crystal was a familiar scene, one from her trip through the Labyrinth seven years ago. The Ballroom. Inside were the masked figures, dancing and twirling, yet the scene was missing a couple, them. With a half mocking curtsy, Sarah accepted his offer. In a flash of light, the pair disappeared. Chapter 13: Where's Jareth? Toby's eclectic group of companions: Ludo, Hoggle, Sir Didymus and Ambrosias, stared in wonder at the castle. They had only been traveling for five, maybe six, hours and already they were there. "I wonder why we got here so fast? Hoggle, why did we get here so fast?" Toby queried, seeming almost reluctant to be at his goal so soon. *I want to see the Labyrinth more... But I've just got to find Sarah, so she can see her friends. My Friends.* "I'ms thinking that we're here so soon because Jareth hasn't interfered this time. We've not seen him once." The goblin replied. "Shall we stand here, or shall we rescue your fair lady sister? Hmm?" Didymus impatiently inquired. "Yeah, let's go." Toby took a step, then stopped. "Wait! Where's the Goblin City? It's not here!" "It'd be on the other side, this is the back of the castle." Hoggle answered. "There's a back entrance we goblins usually prefer." "Oh." Toby felt rather deflated. He *had wanted* to see the Goblin City. "Charge Ambrosias!" Apparently Sir Didymus had gotten tired of waiting, for off they were. Characteristically, Ambrosias' charge only lasted a few seconds. It seemed they were off to the castle. * * * Hoggle had led them through a small side entrance, much different from the front door Sarah had always described. Of course, this entrance was designed for goblins. Now they were standing in a throne room. The throne was against one stone wall, and there was a circular depression in front of it. "This is where Sarah left us." Sir Didymus spoke as he and Ambrosias examined the room. "When she went to find me, and the Goblin King?" Then Toby spun as he heard a clank of wood against stone. Ambrosias held a large wooden stick in his mouth, wagging his tail profusely while struggling to balance his prize. "That's Sarah's wizard staff!" He exclaimed, then his small forehead creased as puzzled, "But how did it get here?" "This Sarah's?" Ludo asked, taking the staff away from the struggling Ambrosias. "Yes." His face brightened momentarily, and then saddened. "She must have grabbed it before the goblins took her." Taking the staff from Ludo, Toby set a look of determination on his face. "I have to find Sarah, but I have to do this alone." "Why?" Hoggle asked, speaking for the first time since he entered the castle. "Just because I have to, like Sarah had to. I don't know why." "You call us?" Ludo asked. "Yes, you will call us." Didymus stated "If you need us?" Hoggle added, making Didymus' statement a question. "I will, I promise." Still holding his sister's staff, Toby headed towards the only other exit in the room. The Staircase Chamber. Chapter 14: Proposal Sarah and Jareth stepped out of the dream he had created, into the warm sunlight of the Underground, apparently a rooftop garden. The Goblin King placed his arms his loves waist, and gazed deep into her eyes. "You are a wonderful dancer, I believe you've improved since our last ball." Jareth smiled pulling Sarah close. "Yes, well, it helps who I'm dancing with." She replied, resting her forehead on his shoulder. *So much has changed in the past few hours...* "Sarah?" "Mmmph?" Sarah felt Jareth's arms unwind from around her waist, and his hands clasps hers in his own. She looked up, startled. "Would you be my Queen?" He laughed at her startled expression. "I've been waiting many years to ask you this. Should I be insulted by the look on your face?" "No, I mean, yes... oh! Ignore what I'm saying." She balanced on the tips of her toes and kissed him, with all of her heart and soul. "I take that as a yes." With a fluid gesture, he conjured something from the air, not the usual crystal. Kneeling before Sarah, he placed her mother's ring on her finger. "I know that this meant more than the world to you, when you gave this in search of your brother, and that makes it more precious than any diamond thereof. Along with it, I give you my heart." With tears streaming down her cheeks, Sarah lifted the Goblin King to his feet. "I love you. I love you with every fiber of my soul and everything that is good." "Not everything can be completely good, Sarah." He replied, in a mirth filled voice. The Goblin King and Queen-to-be, stood in the garden, gazing over the expanse of the Labyrinth below them. It was after quite a while that she felt Jareth's arms tense. "What is it?" She whispered. *What could be wrong... oh, I wonder if something's happened to Toby. Oh how selfish I've been. I almost forgot about him... * "It is your brother. Toby has entered the castle." Turning to his betrothed, he smiled. "It's time that we meet him. I have something to tell you both." Chapter 15: Confrontation When Sarah and Jareth found Toby, he was sitting, inverted, on one of the staircases in the Staircase chamber. He wore a completely frustrated look on his small face, as he slapped the bottom stair with the wizards staff, and stared at the ground. "It isn't fair! The Goblin King is &supposed* to be here..." "Toby!" Sarah cried, as she ran towards her half brother. He met her halfway, and Sarah picked the eight year old up and twirled him happily. "I'm so glad you're all right!" "I had some help. Remember your friends you told me about?" Toby waited, then continued after she acknowledged. "Well, Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus and Ambrosias helped me get through the Labyrinth. There in the other room. You can see them now! Then all I have to do is say the words and we can go home..." Toby stopped his sentence, as he saw the Goblin King step from the shadowed doorway. In his excitement, he had not seen Jareth until he moved. "Sarah, run! Go to your friends. I'll deal with him." Toby cried pushing his sister away. Sarah couldn't help but laugh, and try to hold her brother closer. He looked so serious, and much older than his eight years. *"I'm grown up now.."* His words from last night echoed in her memory... "Sarah, why did you laugh?" Toby asked. "Because sweeting, well." She paused, not knowing how to say this. "Remember how I told you how evil Jareth was?" "Yeah..." Toby looked totally non-plussed. "Well, I was wrong. I... I was very wrong. I love him, Toby." Toby looked at the man who had watched the conversation. He didn't look evil, just he was dressed weird. Like from pictures in Grimm's Fairy Tales. The Goblin King hadn't been mean to him, but he didn't bring Sarah back when he asked at the beginning of the trip. And Sarah... she had changed. But Sarah said before that he had magic. What if he had put a spell on her, like witches do in fairy tales? "I don't believe you!" Toby cried. "He put a spell on you Sarah, that's why you don't hate him anymore!" Stepping out of his sister's embrace, Toby directed a gaze of black fury at Jareth. "No Toby, he wouldn't do that!" Sarah exclaimed. Although she was mad with him, Sarah couldn't blame her younger brother. For seven years she had told him this 'fairy tale' painting Jareth as a typical villain. What else was he to believe? "Toby, your sister is right." Jareth finally spoke. "I could never harm her, or bespell her." "You would have turned her into a goblin!" Toby shot back. Laughing, Jareth responded. "I do not believe I could have turned her into a goblin, even if I wanted to." *Imagine taking a gobliness as a wife...* "Besides, I had plans for you, Toby. I wanted you to be my heir." "What?" Toby asked, only half noticing his sister's gasp of surprise. "I am tired of ruling over the Underground, and I have no children, as of yet." Jareth stated, with a pointed glance at the blushing Sarah. With a gesture, a crystal appeared in front of Toby, showing him what life would be like ruling the Labyrinth. "Of course, this would be when you are of age. All you have to do, Toby, is reach out and take the crystal." Jareth, prodded, in a smooth persuasive tone. "No!" Toby cried, scared that he actually wanted to take the crystal. He needed to get Sarah away from Jareth as soon as possible. "I want to go home, and Sarah's coming with me!" "Toby, no you can't! I want to stay! Leave without me." Sarah pleaded with her brother, crying. "Sarah," Jareth whispered, "He can. It was Toby who wished you here. He can take you away, and I must let him." Throughout their exchange, Toby had been reciting the words. "... For my will is as strong as yours, and my Kingdom as great..." "Sarah," Jareth ran his fingers, down her wet cheek. "I love you." "You have no power over me!" Toby finished triumphantly. Then the world went dark. Chapter 16: Reunion Sarah sat back stage in her dressing room. It was Friday, the closing night of "Lady of Shalott". The play had been a huge success, making Sarah the star she had always wanted to be. Yet, now the fame was bittersweet, and ironic. She was famous, and it was not her true desire anymore. She wanted to be back in the Labyrinth, with Jareth. The fact that she wasn't there now, wasn't for lack of effort. She had tried diligently, alternately cursing and praying, reciting the words, calling her friends... none of it worked. And Toby... "Toby..." Sighing, Sarah picked up the school photo of her kid brother. He was eleven now, showing an early interest in writing, mostly fairy tales and science fiction. He didn't remember his trip through the Labyrinth, or if he did, he treated it as a dream. "Sarah, you're not doing yourself any good thinking about this tonight." She spoke to herself aloud, standing. *Although it's hard not to, it's been a full three years since I last saw him.* "Now get out there and do a great performance." With a sad smile, she walked to the door, and stopped, holding her left ring finger. It felt numb. On it, where she wore her mother's ring, a gift from two of the people she loved most in this world, and another. It was the first time in three years she had worn it. Before, the ring had painfully reminded her of who she had lost. *That's odd, I must have imagined it, now it feels normal.* She thought to herself. Resolutely, Sarah opened the door and headed towards the stage. * * * Sarah wriggled, trying to get into a comfortable position. *No matter how many times I've tried to get into this stupid boat and act dead...* This was the last scene of the play, where Elaine lay in the boat as it drifted down to Camelot. Really, It required the least amount of brain cells, but it was the most uncomfortable. "You'd think after all the money "Lady" had made, the props could have been made a little more comfortable..." Sarah grumbled to herself, earning a disapproving look from her understudy, Marie Dawson. "You're supposed to be dead... Remember?" Marie hissed through her teeth, trying not to be too loud. One would be amazed at what would carry to the audience from backstage. "Now be quiet and act that way! You're on!" As if it had been planned, Marie's words ended just as the boat began to move, out of the wings, and over the section of the stage made to look like a river. The trip would take Sarah, or Elaine, to the far left of the stage to Camelot, and Lancelot. Where she'd have to listen to his lines, while 'dead', for the zillionth time. *Oh, I wish Jareth were here.* The thought ran through her mind, an accompanying flash lit up her ring, and it began to glow. Unwittingly, the boat continued its course, and Sarah lay there unable to move, although she desperately wanted to lift her hand and look at the ring. Frustrated, she waited, for the boat to go off stage, as it had always done, when it stopped. Surprised by this change in events, Sarah opened her eyes. "Jareth." She whispered, her voice catching. Where Michael, the actor who played Lancelot, should have been, stood Jareth. He was smiling, and staring down at her. "You wished for me to come, and now I've been able to, Sarah." He reached down into the boat, lifting Sarah to her feet. "Our love enabled me to go where magic would not allow." "I..." She almost resisted, knowing they were still on stage. *Oh, to Hades with the audience, and acting...* Sarah stood, wrapping her arms around Jareth, holding him tight, crying, never wanting to let him go. As their lips met, a blinding flash of light, ripped through the theater. When the eyes of the spectators had cleared, only an empty space confronted them, where Sarah and the Goblin King had once stood. Needless to say, there was a standing ovation. The End