Labyrinth Dancer

Chapter 15: Allies & Enemies

Sarah sat there in her home, her cup of coffee forgotten in her hands as she continued to ponder the situation. Jareth the Goblin King had to throw his all at the girl she had taught and had grown overly fond of... Inara. 

Sarah's thoughts went to her now, wondering just what circumstances had prompted the girl to say the words.  "Why Inara, why would you say the words... oh god... He's already fallen for you, he didn't want this... You both don't deserve this..." 

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Inara took a seat breathlessly on a nearby fallen tree trunk. She had been walking for nearly an hour with no turns or corners so far in the whole time she was trying to make way. Her ribs ached from the fractured ribs that lay beneath her bruised skin. Her very lungs seemed on fire from the effort to keep going. 

She had to take a moment to rest before she collapsed. Looking around she froze when something moved out of the corner of her eye. Turning she looked again, focusing her gaze; and there, on the brick walls was a strange looking lizard creature staring at her, his skin keeping him camouflaged before she had saw him move. 

"I don't suppose you know if there are any turns or corners now do you?" She couldn't help but smile, shaking her head slightly to herself, freezing when it suddenly answered her. 

"Well, there's one right there behind you." It looked at her, tilting his head at her with interest as she stared wide eyed at him now. 

She stood up slowly, wincing slightly when she bumped her ribs but approached him and asked again. "There's a corner behind me?" 

He nodded fervently and spoke up again, getting another wide eyed look from her as she listened.  "Yes, just go straight through and you'll have a whole new path to take! Go on and try it!" 

Inara nodded to him and turned her back; her hands before her she stepped closer to the wall till she was successfully through. Smiling back at the little lizard she nodded. 

"Thank you! Do you by chance know how to reach the castle at the center?" 

He shook his little strange head, "Afraid not, you better get going you have about twelve hours left to go!"  

She waved to him and quickly darted further down the path, calling back a thank you as she went. He was right, she didn't have time to spare; in twelve hours if she didn't reach the castle then she'd be a goblin forever. 

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Jareth stared at the crystal in his hand, watching her progress; she was honestly doing rather well; already slightly farther than Sarah had been years ago. As he watched her go he found that she was very resilient, she had arrived with wounds he could not imagine; as much as he wished to heal her, he could not; it went against the rules to do anything to intentionally help the contestant of the labyrinth. 

Watching her, he couldn't help help but wish he could help her.