Returning to Labyrinth.

The Good Brother

Sarah stood from her bed, slowly reaching to pull out the crystal from her drawer. She took a deep breath, grabbed on the handle and slid the drawer out from its compartment, taking out the crystal. Nothing moved in the crystal, no figure stood in front of it, she sighed and put the crystal next to her on her bed. It's been five years Sarah, stop getting your hopes up.

She got up and went along the hallway to her kitchen. Her house wasn't big, just a one bedroomed bungalow, that was all she needed. Her father said to her he'd pay half of the rent if she took care of Toby whenever they went out, it was an offer she wasn't likely to refuse. Toby came over every second weekend, which wasn't so bad, it meant she had time to herself. Toby was 6 and Sarah was 20, five years had done more to Toby. Toby had forgotten entirely of the Labyrinth and Jareth, while Sarah never could. Everyone told her it was some dream or fantasy, something she should write a book about. And she did. Well, it wasn't really about the Labyrinth, it was about a King falling for a young girl, even though the girl had a family to protect and who was too young for love.

Sarah took a peach from the kitchen and a glass of water, carrying them with her back up to her room. It was 4am so there wasn't much point going back to sleep, not that she got much of it anyway. There was always either a dream or a nightmare that woke her from her slumber, most commonly each involved Jareth. Jareth hadn't gotten into any form of contact with Sarah since she left, not one single word, so she took the message and tried to forget him, but never could.

Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus and Ambrosius stopped visiting after the third year, too much was going on in the Goblin City for them to stay in contact. Something about the King seeming too weak. Hoggle used to stay longer than the rest, telling her what was happening within his realm. She remembered the time he told her that Jareth's brother came to stay, she couldn't remember his name, only that he was the nicest of the three brothers. He told her how Jareth was a fae, his whole family where. That's where his magic came from, and how he became the famous Goblin King. It interested her when she heard stuff about Jareth, and she knew Hoggle suspected that.

Sarah turned to look into the crystal once more, "Is anyone there?" she asked, looking through every part of the transparent object.

Nothing.

Sarah sighed again then laugh, "That's not fair." she laughed, remembering Jareth's response, 'You say that so often, I wonder what your basis for comparison is? ' She smiled and put the crystal down.

When the sun rose Sarah dressed herself for her day, she was to go pick up Toby and take him to the park, seeing as it was a Saturday. When she grabbed her bag she headed for the door, just a stranger appeared.

"Oh gosh!" She screamed as she knocked into the man, "Sorry I didn't know you were there."

The man smiled down at her, his blue eyes looking over her, "So you're Sarah!" He exclaimed.

Sarah stood with a puzzled face, looking at the stranger stood before her, who had familiar hair and body form. "I'm sorry, who are you?" she questioned.

Realization struck his face and he held out his hand, "Apologies, my name is Leith. A brother of Jareth's."

Sarah stood, looking dumbstruck in front of Jareth's sibling, her surrounding finally came back to her and she shook his hand. She couldn't believe that this man was Jareth's brother, although there were many comparisons between the two. He had the same blonde hair -although without the silver flares through it- and the same nose shape.

Perhaps Leith was the brother who stayed at the palace. He seemed a lot nicer than Jareth, and was his brother (if what he said was true), so at least Sarah knew she could trust him, or could she? Perhaps he was the other brother, the one Hoggle never spoke of. 

"I realize this will be rather the shock to you." he said, as Sarah still struggled to pay attention, "But I was sent here by Jareth."

"I'm sorry," Sarah began, "But how can I believe any word you say?"

Leith laughed, "Would anyone else come to you saying they even knew Jareth?" he asked.

Sarah knew he had a point, everyone got over Sarah's 'fantasy world' years ago, and decided it was best never to mention it again. "Perhaps not, but why come five years later?" She inquired.

"That is a long story, and one best saved for a time when we are not surrounded by so many who could hear." He stated.

Sarah agreed and they decided Leith would come for dinner, where they would further discuss exactly what was happening. Perhaps he was the brother Hoggle spoke of, he didn't seem dangerous or a bad person. But first impressions aren't always right, as she learned from Jareth, and from Hoggle.

Sarah knew something was wrong, it was clear by the way Leith wanted to keep what they said private. What if Jareth is in trouble? Sarah shook the thought from her head, she knew her friends would think ill of her if her feelings for Jareth surfaced, although she feared that they already had.