Labyrinth: Time Long Past

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3
"OMG are you ok" I said my voice shaking as I crawled across the floor towards him. I knelt next to him and put my hand on his chest, thank god he was breathing. He opened his eyes slowly. The miss-matched colours gleaming like gems from his pale skin. He put his gloved hand on my face."Sarah your ok" he smiled.
Before I could even open my mouth to correct him i heard squeaks and cackles from behind me. As i turned to see what it was i saw a swarm of little ugly creatures scurrying towards me. "Go, get away" I shrieked shuffling back against the wall. I closed my eyes and hid my face after a minute I looked back to see them taking Jareth's body away.
I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder. I screamed and backed away. "Sarah it's fine, Its me" said a deep croaky voice. "Who are you? Get away." I shrieked. "Sarah it's me hoggle, remember? Jareth u'll be fine the goblins just took 'im to the medical bay". I pulled my face out of my hands and looked at the creature speaking to me.
I did know him, from the stories my aunt used to tell me. It was hoggle the kings dwarf servant as my aunt put it. His uneven skin, bulbous nose an raggedy clothes, it was him. I was so confused. Why where all my aunts stories coming to life? I wiped my face with my sleeve then felt my self getting dizzy. It was all to much. I suddenly blacked out and remember little else.
I woke up in the room I had begun this strange 'dream'. I opened my eyes slowly and heavily the light from the arched windows gleaming through the silk bed curtains and onto me. I turned my head to see Jareth sat on a wooden chair with his head lent on the bed. I exhaled heavily to let him know I was awake.
He suddenly lifted his head up from the sheets and rubbed his face with his hands. "Ahh Sarah your awake, good I'll get hoggle to bring you breakfast" said jareth standing up and walking to the door. "Wait" I said urgently. He stopped at the door and turned his head to me. "Where am I and why is everyone keep calling me Sarah" I asked.
"i don't understand" said the king turning to face me fully. "My names not Sarah my name is frances" I told the king as he walked over and sat on the edge if the bed. "Sarah I think you are confused, I'll get you some water" he said knitting his eyebrows together. "No I'm not, my name is frances, my farther is Toby and mother is Clare, my sister is Georgina and I live in London and the only Sarah I know is my aunt.
"Ok I'll go and get you that breakfast, then" the king said putting his hand on my shoulder and smiling unevenly. I smiled back unsure. He stood up from the bed and walked to the door, the heels of his boots clicking on the stone floor. He put his hand on the door knob pulled back, "Oh and frances, if you need anything.....just whistle" grinned the king.

After breakfast and talking to the dwarf Hoogle about this world and me and my aunt I was told that I was to have dinner with Jareth, if I pleased. I accepted of course, I wanted to find out as much as I could about this mysterious fairy tale man I had heard so much about but never really believed.
I dressed in one of the poncy dresses from the wardrobe. This one, I must admit was rather nice. It's long flared sleeves and silk material were very majestic. The off the shoulder neck line and long flowing quality of the dress suited my body shape well. I put on some of the slip on shoes coated in crystal and looked at my outfit in the mirror rather pleases with my efforts.
Hoggle then escorted me to a room with a large wooden door but this door was extraordinary, like nothing I'd seen before. The door itself was built up of branches from a large tree that scaled the Walls and ceiling of this part of the castle. They filled the shape of the arch where a door should have been. It was beautiful
Hoggle said something at the lock I didn't quite hear but at that moment the branches of this great tree started to twist and turn and distort themselves creaking and cracking as they did. They moved away and separated to other sides of the arch way leaving an opening. "This way" said Hoggle coaching me through the arch into another room.
Once inside the room the branches closed behind us and entwined themselves one more. I looked around this new room and saw the table in front of me at one end sat a large chair, leather bound with harsh metal edges and metallic branches coming from its back. At the other end sat a chair with pearl painted, wooden arms and legs, its graceful patterns and soft cushioning material made it look almost angelic. The contrast of the chairs I found quite beautiful.
On the left of the room was a platform raised by two steps. On the platform sat a giant queen sized bed with four golden bed posts and a black lacy canopy. The heavy, black, silk sheets with golden threaded patterns looked so comfy and inviting I just wanted to dive on the bed. The rest of the room: floor, wall pillar and ceiling were made from smooth, cream marble, It felt warm around me.
On the other side of the room to wear I walked in was a balcony, the doors open as their white lace curtains moved slightly in the wind. I could see the extraordinary view of the sea, which was strange as the labyrinth was no wear near the sea. Jareth was lent against the wall of the balcony looking out onto the horizon as the sky slowly turned orange and the suns yellow glare turned red.
I soon realised I was in Jareth's quarters and became quite conscious of myself. Hoggle struggled to pull the large chair out for me so I helped him and sat down on the peal seat. "Thank you m' lady" said Hoggle bowing his head. "Your very welcome" I smiled and and patted his head. "Thank you Hoggle, you are excused" I looked up as I heard Jareth's smooth voice. He waved a hand and Hoggle bowed out through the magic door leaving us alone.