Nothing Is What It Seems

Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Hoggle stood with the rest of the citizens of the Labyrinth cheering. The enemy army had been defeated. They could now to return to some sort of normalcy, but something was off. It actually felt like the Labyrinth was waiting for something else. Something he wasn't sure about.

Didymus and Ludo were still celebrating with the others, but he had stopped.

"Didymus, where's Sarah?"

The old fox turned to face him, "M'lady was in the throne room when I saw her."

Hoggle frowned, "you didn't stay with her?"

"She had asked me to tell the others of the Castle to ready themselves."

Groaning, Hoggle pulled a hand across his face. "So we don't know where she is?"

Didymus frowned as Hoggle turned towards the Castle.

"We better go find her. We're supposed to be guarding her."

The trio began walking towards the Castle as a great horned owl flew overhead.

Hoggle frowned at the sight. Something about the bird was familiar, but he could swear he had never seen it before.

"Who was that? I do not recognize that owl." Didymus pointed towards the bird.

Hoggle shook his head. "Don't know, but I have a feeling that's who was leading the army."

Didymus nodded, "let us be away. M'lady must be protected."

"Protect Sarah."

The three friends entered the Castle and quickly made their way up to the throne room.

Upon entering the room, Hoggle stopped. "Queen Evera. King Diedrick, what are you doing here?" He along with Didymus quickly bowed.

Queen Evera walked over to them. "Have any of you see Lady Sarah or my son?"

Shaking his head, Hoggle couldn't look at his friend. "No. The last time Didymus saw her was in here."

"But, Your Majesty, we did see a large unknown owl flying towards the Castle."

The queen's eyes widened slightly as she glanced at her husband.

Didymus walked up to the queen. "Your Majesty, who is this fiend that has threatened the kingdom and Lady Sarah?"

"Someone Forgotten, Sir Didymus."

Hoggle frowned. A Someone Forgotten meant the person had done something so horrible, not even the Labyrinth would have welcomed them.

"Then what shall we do, You Majesty?"

Queen Evera sighed, "we can only wait, Sir Didymus. This is not our fight."

The old fox nodded. "Very well. I shall guard the entrance to the throne room." He walked back to the entrance and stood at attention with his lance by his side.

Hoggle walked over to the window as Ludo sat down. He hated waiting. Sarah and Jareth had to face someone he had no clue about, and he could only wait to see if they had succeeded.

Evera walked over to him, "you aren't alone. I'm worried, too. The Labyrinth actually called to me."

"Then this is bad."

She nodded, "but we can't do anything. It's up to the Labyrinth and her rulers to deal with the problem."

XOXOXOXOXOX

Pain consumed his body. What spell had Tynan used? He could barely breathe. His body felt so heavy as well. Jareth felt like he was on fire.

With Sarah's help, he was barely walking. The stairs were adjusting to make it easier for them to travel the maze of stairs. Soon they arrived at one of the hidden alcoves.

Sarah helped him to lean against the wall as the stairs disappeared behind them.

"Sarah, I can't protect you from him."

She smiled slightly at him. "Don't worry. I have a plan. Even if he knows how this room works, I don't think the Labyrinth will allow him out of it."

He began to shake his head but stopped in pain. "Sarah, we can't do anything. I don't know what's happening to me."

"Then I better think of something fast."

Leaving him barely standing, she walked to the edge of the alcove.

"You don't even know how the room works, Sarah."

She turned towards him. "I don't need to. The Labyrinth's on my side."

Trying to move towards her, he watched her walk off the edge and out of sight.