Labyrinth : Hidden Legacy

Chapter 17 The Plan

Hoggle started packing up his fruit. "We've got to get Sarah away from Jareth!" he said.

"Plan?" Ludo asked.

"We shall need a way in, disguises, a distraction and a way out" Sir Didymus announced.

Hoggle spoke up "I have a way in."

"There's no time to pack all of this up! Forget it!" Hoggle said throwing his hands in the air. "Just leave it! Sarah needs us!"

Ludo was at the table next to Hoggle's, trying on crazy helmets and hats. One of which was large enough to actually fit Ludo!

"Good thinking, old boy" Sir Didymus said to Ludo. "Disguises."
"I'll trade you my whole stash of fruit for some of your stuff" Hoggle offered to the female goblin at that table. She scratched her scalp and thought with a nasty snarl sound. "You got it!" she said.

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Back into the not-so-fresh goblin city air Toby and Buddle were alone in an alleyway. They ran out of it into a bustling marketplace so they could disappear among the crowd in case the old goblin was still after them.

Feeling safe at last Toby's worry was diminished and he laughed out loud. "That was fun!" Toby declared.

Buddle had truly enjoyed it as well however, his attention never stayed in one place for long. He decided he was bored and wanted to go home for a meal. So, he ditched Toby without a word. Disappeared into the blanket of goblins that were the crowd.

Toby realized he had lost Buddle. However, he turned toward the castle. That was his focus now!

His first thought was "It's kind of an ugly castle." He had expected something a little cleaner.

"What's the plan?" Toby asked himself. "Find Sarah and discover what is happening. Why was Sarah taken? Can she be free to go back home if I demand it?" If Jareth knows Sarah will be missed and that her family needs her to come home, will the king let her go?

Perhaps the jewel necklace in his pocket would be a good bribe to convince the king?

Toby felt the jewel to make sure it was still there. That Buddle had not swiped it. Relief filled Toby as he confirmed it remained in his pocket.

At that moment a realization hit Toby: he was alone. "Maybe the best plan is to get to the goblin king as quickly as I can? No hidding"he thought.

At the fountain in the center of market Toby scrubbed off the disguise and revealed his face. If a human boy stood upon a wall in the marketplace he would be taken directly to the king (or so Toby hoped).
Standing upon the wall goblins and creatures nearby reacted with in one of three ways; gasps, sounds of disgust and ignoring the boy altogether.

It took bravery to continue standing there. Multitudes of eyes staring at him. Toby took a deep breath in and out. His fists were clenched from his nerves but he stood tall. He had a plan and he was sticking to it...alone.

Across the market Ludo saw Toby. "Boy" Ludo said.

"What?!" Hoggle asked. "What are you talking about? Lift me up!"

Ludo placed Hoggle on his shoulder. Hoggle searched the area with his eyes. Finally he spotted him. "The brother" Hoggle said. "He's there!" Hoggle pointed for Sir Didymus to see which direction he meant.

Toby was standing upon the wall when he heard Sir Didymus and Ambrosius coming closer. He could not see them yet he continued to search for them.

Finally through the crowd of goblins the knight appeared carrying a metal helmet under his arm. Behind him was a rough faced old goblin wearing a large hat with drapes and horns. As well as a giant hairy monster wearing a ginormous helmet and a large cloak!

"Sir Didymus! Am I glad you found me!" Toby cried. He ran over and hugged the fluffy dog (Sir Didymus, not Ambrosius).

"Well done, Toby. Thou hast made it to the castle!" Sir Didymus praised. "May I introduce Sarah's friends; Hoggle and Ludo?"

"It's good to meet you" Toby said. "Will you help me find Sarah?"

"Of course!" Hoggle said eagerly.

"Need Sarah" Ludo said.

"How do we get into the castle?" Toby asked.

"We have a way" Hoggle said and he turned to walk away from the castle.

"Wait, why are we going away from the castle?" Toby asked.

"We need to get something!" Hoggle said secretively.

The group went to Hoggle's hut which was too small for Ludo to enter. Hoggle went inside and noisily rustled around, moving stuff out of the way. Then he carried outside with him a door. He placed it over the front door of his hut. Then he pulled the knob.

As it opened it revealed not the messy hut he had opened previously but what must have been the inside of the castle!"

Hoggle walked through. Sir Didymus hugged Ambrosius and reassured him that he would return. Then walked himself through the door. Toby looked at Ludo, who would never fit. "What about Ludo?" Toby asked.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." Hoggle said to Ludo. "You would be seen too easily in the castle. You have to stay behind."

Ludo moaned a sad moan. "Want to see Sarah."

Toby hugged him. "It was nice to meet you, Ludo."

Toby walked through the door.
It was at that moment that the female which Ludo had noticed earlier in the market, walked by him.

His mood perked up and he smiled at her.

She pretended to be doing something at the water spout nearby, getting up her courage to go directly to Ludo next. She looked up at him and they locked eyes.