Jareth, the Goblin King

Old Friends

~ Sarah's P.O.V. ~

   I stared at the book on my dresser for ten minutes before finally getting up and throwing it into the drawer with all my other memories.

   "Sarah, dinner in five!" Dad called from the hallway as I heard his footsteps cast their way down the stairs.

   I leaned back into the chair, folding my arms across my chest as I stared out the window into the growing darkness. Who would have believed it's been a whole year since I've last seen the Labyrinth. Since I last saw Hoggle, Didymus, or Ludo. All my friends.

   The last time I had saw any of them was the night I escaped the Labyrinth. They told me all I had to do was call upon them, but what if it never worked again?

   What if they didn't remember who I was?

    And him.

   I've tried to get the mere image of him out of my mind, wanting nothing more to forget him for the rest of my life.

   But it seems a part of me will always remember him. His words, his actions. His proposal.

   What would of happened if I would have taken the offer to be his queen?

   "Dinner is served." My stepmom opens the door, Toby on her left hip and a plate in her hand.

   "There's a thing called knocking." I huff as I take the plate, giving her a quiet 'thank you.'

   "I need you to watch Toby tonight. Your father and I were invited to the Greg's to celebrate his raise."

   I just nod, facing away from her. I had never gotten along with Judy. I had always hated the way my father moved on so quickly after mom had died.

   "You'll have to like me eventually, Sarah."

   I ignore her, taking a forkful of broccoli and place it in my mouth.

   "Toby will be in his crib." She says before walking out, closing the door behind her.

*An Hour Later*

   "Oh please stop crying." I groan, rocking Toby back and forth as he continued to wail.

   "Toby, please."

   He quiets down for a second, then the cries continue.

   I don't know what to do. I already fed him, changed him, let him play with toys. There wasn't anything else to do.

   I groan, running my hands through my hair, looking around the room for something to occupy the baby.

   That's when my eyes landed on the drawer.

   No, Sarah. We know what happened last time.

   I think about it for a second before going and sitting in front of the mirror.

   "Hoggle? Ludo? I need you guys." I say slowly.

   Nothing.

   "Hoggle, Ludo. I need help." I say louder, Toby staring at me through his crib.

   Still nothing. I sigh and get up, feeling like a complete idiot.

   "Why did it take you so long ma' lady?" My head snaps behind me, Ludo and Hoggle sitting on my bed.

   "It worked!" I almost scream as I run into their open arms.

   "Ludo miss Sarah."

   "I missed you guys too." I smile as Hoggle jumps off my bed and over to Toby.

   "Wow. He looks...the same." I laugh, walking over to my baby brother.

   "You're a natural, Hoggle. He wouldn't stop crying." I watch as Toby smiles up at Hoggle, giggling.

   "I guess I got used to the little fella." Hoggle pokes Toby's nose, then looks back at me, "how have you been ma' lady?"

   "Oh, I've been good. Just missed you all so much. How's the Labyrinth?"

   Hoggle looks at Ludo and then back at me.

   "What?" Now it was my turn to look between them.

   "Labyrinth is bad." Ludo frowns as he looks at the ground.

   "What does he mean?" I ask Hoggle, Toby squealing in laughter next to us.

   "You see, my fair lady, the Labyrinth hasn't been the same since you left. I'm afraid the king has been a bit...cruel to all of us." Hoggle sighs, walking over to Ludo who was still looking at the floor.

   "Ludo scared." He whispers as I approach them.

   I was confused but also at a lost for words. Jareth had been hurting them because they are my friends?

   "He can't do that! That isn't fair." I was fuming.

   "Ma' lady, he is the king. He can do whatever he pleases." Hoggle says looking me in the eye.

   He could see the anger in my eyes. I could see the pain in his.

   "Take me there." I say, Ludo and Hoggle staring at me in horror.

   "Sarah-" Hoggle starts but I stop him, picking up Toby.

   "I am going with or without your help, but I would really like some company." I say as Ludo takes Toby.

   "Ludo hold Toby." I smile at the soft creature, then advert my attention back to Hoggle.

   "This is a bad idea ma' lady." Hoggle says as I open my bedroom doors to see the all too familiar view of the entire labyrinth.

   "I need to fix this. He has to stop treating you poorly just because I would be his queen."

   Hoggle, Ludo, and I step out of my room, making our way to the maze like horror.
 
   I'm just hoping the powerful goblin king doesn't haven any tricks up his sleeve.