Returning to Labyrinth.

The Stranger

Sarah sat at the writing desk, staring down at the paper in front of her. She didn't know what to write. She didn't really want to write. No one here would care about the words she put on the paper, human words and emotions did not reside in many in the Underworld.

She stood and walked around the room until she decided to sit by a window. What she saw was remarkable. The gardens of the castle were beautiful, flowers bloomed and brought colour to the dim surroundings. She couldn't remember it being like this the last time she was here, but then she was so focused on finding Toby. She could see someone walking through the garden but she knew it wasn't Jareth, it was a girl. She looked to be around Sarah's age, she wondered if this was one of Jareth's new girls from the Labyrinth.

The door behind her opened and Leith came towards her, "Pardon the intrusion!"

"I don't think pardons are much favoured here, Leith." She replied.

"You're learning." He laughed. Leith walked towards the window where she sat, "What are you looking at?"

Sarah turned back to look at the girl, "The girl there dressed in red, who is she?" She asked.

"You'll find out soon enough, I think the two of you will get along nicely." Leith stated.

Sarah looked at him, puzzled. She didn't appear as someone Sarah would share interests with.

"Come, dinner is almost set."

***

Jareth and his father sat at opposite ends of the dinner table, although related they seemed estranged. 

"Why are we waiting?" Lordell questioned, "I said alone!"

"Yes Father, plans change." Jareth returned.

"Change? Who else is joining us Jareth?" He demanded "I wanted to talk privately."

"We will talk later. They're coming, please try to be polite."

Leith and Sarah walked through  the door to the uncomfortable atmosphere in the dining room. Glares were being thrown between Lordell, Leith and Jareth all of which were caused by Sarah's presence.

"Sit." Jareth demanded, whilst still staring at his father.

Sarah decided to sit at the chair furthest from Lordell, which also happened to be the closest one to Jareth. She sat and Jareth pushed the chair in for her. Once Jareth was sat Sarah turned to him with a questioning look and Jareth said, "Sarah, I don't believe you've met my father. King Lordell of the Fae Kingdom." Sarah turned to Lordell and nodded in recognition but Lordell shoved the look off.

"Jareth do you realise what you have done? Bringing this girl here is a disastrous mistake! Not to mention foolish!" Lordell yelled.

Sarah lowered her head to look at the table as Jareth retaliated, "I wouldn't have had to had it not been for you! Now stop this, we will talk after dinner."

Lordell's look of confusion was disturbed by goblins scattering in and putting food on the table. Some of which Sarah didn't recognise. 

"Don't worry," Jareth eased her, "The food is mainly from your world, we have some stored away for... special occasions. Except the meat, that is centaur." Sarah looked to the meat and back at Jareth. "It tastes like the meat of a cow."

***  

The dinner was composed of silence and glares apart from the occasional statement from Leith about progress in the Elf Kingdom. Sarah sat in complete silence, mainly moving food about her plate and thinking about Toby. 

After dinner Jareth, Lordell and Leith all made way to the library, but Sarah suggested she go to her room as she had had an exhausting day. She began walking her way to the bedroom but stopped once she saw a door leading out into the gardens. She looked around to see if any goblins were following her, then made her way out. 

She was taken back by all the colours and strange plants that surrounded her. She hadn't seen anything like it before. She followed a pathway that lead her deeper between the hedges and walked through, it felt similar to being back in the Labyrinth but this time she knew how to get out. The path went on for as long as Sarah could walk, then she found a silver bench perched beside a blue rose bush and rested. 

She looked across from her and found a large bush, but it was shaped as Jareth was, she examined it for quite a while, then walked down another bit and found another bush, this one shaped like a woman. It reminded her of the dream Jareth gave her of the ball. The dress resembled hers greatly and she began to daydream of it.

She was interrupted by someone clearing their throat behind her. Sarah turned and saw the red lady she had seen before, but she looked strange, her face was deformed and some of her hair was missing.

"Hello, Sarah." She said "I've been waiting some time to meet you."

"How do you know my name?" Sarah asked, puzzled.

The girl laughed, "Jareth has told me all about you."

The girl began to walk back in the direction of the castle and Sarah followed, "He has?"

"Of course, you're the girl who defeated him. The only girl in fact."

Sarah bowed her head, she seemed disappointed that Jareth hadn't said more of her.

"Don't worry though," the girl continued, "You're the only one who's been worth his while."

"How so?" Sarah asked.

"I know Jareth, plus he hasn't had another girl in the Labyrinth since, despite the many wishes." The girl stated.

Sarah paused for a while but continued to walk, then asked the girl, "Who are you?"

The girl sighed, "My brother never is the one for formality is he? I'm Lyanna, Jareth's sister."

"You're Jareth's sister?" Sarah asked, shocked.

"Yes, I live here on the grounds. I have my own cottage within the gardens. I do the gardening."

Sarah was surprised that she lived here and yet was not invited to dinner, Was Jareth ashamed of Lyanna? She thought.

When they approached the castle Lyanna turned back to Sarah, "I'll leave you here. Goodnight." She said then began to walk back in the direction they came.

"Goodnight..." Sarah replied.