Labyrinth : Hidden Legacy

Chapter 11 Nearing the Goblin City

Walking through the maze, walls on either side of them the two pressed forward. "We are making good progress in this labyrinth" Sir Didymus announced. "We shall be to the goblin city tomorrow late morning."

"Thank goodness" Toby exclaimed. "I wish it was now."

Suddenly Sir Didymus stopped Toby and hushed him. The two of them could hear echoes of multiple hooves upon the stone ground. Sir Didymus knew who it was; Jareth's guards riding their dracno creatures. Looking for trouble to stir up.

Ambrosius was nervous and let out a bark to express those nerves. Sir Didymus shut his eyes and sighed a frustrated sigh. Toby and Sir Didymus turned around to see behind them four guards, Goblins and monsters alike, atop saddled dracnos (two long neck dracnos and two short necked).

Upon the bodies of the guards were armor and in their hands they held weapons. Two of the guards carried jousting sticks. The other two had swords. All of which were aimed at Toby and Sir Didymus.

Toby was scared. "Will they hurt us? Will they take us prisoner?" Toby's thoughts went in circles.

                                                                           (Dracnos drawn by Eliza Lozoya)

The guards stared intently at Toby, noticing that he was different. "You look like the King's kind!" one guard said.

"You shouldn't be here" another said.

"Do you surrender?" the first guard asked.

"Not quite!" Sir Didymus replied. "A dual! We challenge thee to a fight!"

The guards laughed with amusement. "Sure thing, pipsqueek!"

Before Toby knew it he had volunteered to fight one of the guards himself due to a moment of surprising bravery.

The guards leant a short necked dracno to the boy for the dual. They laughed as they handed the reigns over.

As Toby sat upon a his dracno, holding a jousting stick, the creature began to hiccup. His hiccups increased and as it did Toby's bravery evaporated.

"She gets hiccups when she tenses up!" a guard revealed, followed by a burst of laughter from the troop.

"I can't do it!" Toby said to Sir Didymus who had hoped Toby was up for it but at the same time hoped Toby wouldn't go through with it.

"Get down quickly. I shall take thy place!" Sir Didymus said.

They changed places and Sir Didymus faced a guard, both ready to joust.

Another guard blew a horn and the two opponents raced toward each other. Sticks drawing nearer and nearer each other with every passing moment.

Sir Didymus knocked the guard! Hit him so hard he fell from his dracno.

Toby cheered with glee.

"I have bested thee fair and square" Sir Didymus said to the guard "Now, we shall take our leave". Honestly, Sir Didymus knew that wasn't going to be so easy.

With angry expressions the guards slowly moved towards Toby, Sir Didymus and Ambrosius.

"Run!" Sir Didymus yelled. All three ran together as fast as they could.

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The problem with not having pain or negativity in one's life is that the highs of life are not as high.

After a painful experience one appreciates the absence of pain more than they had before. After a sick day one feels even happier about feeling healthy than they had before. Pain increases the joy one feels in life.

Remove all memories of pain and hardship and you remove their ability to fully appreciate anything. Their ability to truly be happy.

Sarah lived at the castle and tried to be happy. However, all she could do was go through the motions. Something felt a little off but she attempted to ignore that feeling.

Now and then when it was Jareth and Sarah alone, for example; dancing in the ballroom, she thought the feelings were real and maybe actually "love."

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Sarah woke that morning in her own little room. A bed was made out of the finest cushions in the land, which isn't saying much. But compared to most of the furniture in the castle it was fine indeed.

The bedroom contained a bed, wardrobe and vanity desk. The beauty desk had a mirror for her to sit at and make her feel more at home. Only, she did not feel at home. She had none of her beloved personal belongings. When she looked at her mirror all she saw was herself. No photos or memorabilia fliers attached. No toys or books from her childhood nearby or in the reflection of the mirror. Nothing to spark memories filled with joy of comfort.

Sarah wandered from her bedroom after dressing up for the day in a simple outfit. Namely: pants. That's what she felt like wearing. Sometimes she wanted to feel feminine and special and she would wear a dress. Sometimes she was in the mood to be constructive and ready for anything. So she would wear pants.

Both styles made her feel beautiful and confident when she was feeling that vibe.

Sarah wandered to the dining hall where Jareth was not used to dining. He would typically eat in the throne room, his bed chambers or anywhere he pleased. Ordering goblins to serve his food wherever he was when he wanted his meal.

With Sarah in the castle he was spending more of his meals at the table. Sarah had not known these facts about her "love." She would have thought it less civilized and Jareth knew this about her as well.

So he dined with Sarah in the dining hall. Proving himself to be royalty through and through while his court ate and acted like goblins...which they, in fact, were.

Breakfast was brought in on a cart by a goblin wearing a chef hat.

The goblin king and his princess ate their meal. Sarah tried to come up with topics to converse about. "What do you like to do on a day like today?"

Jareth smiled and responded "I enjoy practicing my magic and visiting my most despised citizens."

"Oh, do you go cheer them up?" Sarah inquired.

"No" Jareth laughed. "I like to personally go collect taxes from them!"

Sarah's smile faded fast.

"I have many duties at king, you must understand..." Jareth continued the conversation.