“Frog bacon and robin’s eggs,” the baby grinned.
Sarah Two winced a little but then reconsidered, remembering how much she had enjoyed dinner the night before, perhaps she shouldn’t be so provincial. Before taking a seat at the table Sarah leaned over Drema’s shoulder and kissed the woman’s cheek. Drema smiled.
“Where in the he...” Hoggle began before noticing his daughter’s intense eyes on him, “world did we get robin’s eggs?”
“Strangest thing, I found a nest of them right outside the back door this morning,” his wife told him.
“Strange indeed,” Hoggle concurred eyeing Sarah Two in a way that made her edgy.
“What’s so strange about finding a bird’s nest in the woods?” Sarah asked as she poured some milk into a sippy cup for Sarah One and then into a glass for herself.
No one responded to her query, instead the two adults looked at each other speaking a silent language that the Sarahs were unable to interpret. A night’s rest had vanquished more than the stresses of the previous day. It had made Hoggle forget there was more yet to tell the mortal. Drema’s eyes narrowed on him forcing a heavy sigh to rush from his lungs. “It’s strange because no one’s heard a bird in this sector in over five years now.”
“Five years,” Sarah Two repeated.
“After breakfast, I’ll take you to see the full sector. I’ll explain things along the way,” he told her nodding toward the baby indicating that it was more than he wanted to discuss in front of his child.
She took the cue immediately and relegated herself to slicing bread to toast for their meal. Her stomach was queasy with anticipation and the idea of frog bacon wasn’t settling it any. Together she and Drema presented the meal. Again, Hoggle bowed his head and gave his thanks before the family began to eat. Though she passed on the bacon, Sarah Two found that robin’s eggs were very tasty, especially when they were on top of a slice of fresh toast smeared with a little of what she hoped was butter.
Aboveground breakfast was never like this. When she sat to eat breakfast at all, it was a bowl of cereal or a cup of tea. Most of the time Sarah would grab one of three varieties of breakfast bars from on top of the fridge on her frenzied way out the door. Underground they sat, they talked, they were thankful for their meal and for the company to share it. At fifteen the Underground had seemed barbaric, but now, Sarah thought just the opposite. Though the thought of staying in the Underground had terrified her once, at this moment she felt like she could stay forever.
Shaken out of her daydream by the repeated sound of her name being called, Sarah dropped her fork to her plate and gasped, “I’m sorry,” she said shaking her head, “I was just thinking.”
“‘Bout what dear?” Drema asked
With a wide grin, Sarah replied, “How happy I am to be here.”
***** ***** *****
Side by side Hoggle and Sarah left the stump he called home and set out to roam the Southeastern sector of the Underground. Once clear of the stump, Sarah returned to her normal size. The transformation gave her quite a start. She had been Hoggle’s size for nearly a full day now and it had begun to feel comfortable on her, although she felt more secure being larger when she was outside the protective walls of the dwarf’s home. They paused by the side of the stump and Hoggle picked up an axe. “Is that necessary?” Sarah asked him.
“You haven’t been in these woods. If the overgrowth doesn’t get you, then something hidin’ in it might!” He was half joking. There wasn’t anything terribly dangerous lurking in the forest, but the overgrowth was wild and often required chopping your way through. Just another side effect of Jareth’s failure to properly look over his lands. Sarah’s eyes grew dark with worry. Hoggle laughed in an effort to try and ease her, then edged her forward onto a narrow path.
Birds could be heard above them, more than one variety by the sounds they made. Sarah looked high into the canopy at a dozen or more winged wonders flapping then gliding, landing then flying again. She tapped the dwarf at her side on his shoulder. When she had his attention she pointed up. He too, took notice of what was happening. His feet ceased any forward movement. Sarah looked at him, her arms crossed before her chest, “What was it you needed to tell me?”
“There’s no easy way to explain this Sarah. I already told you that Jareth’s depression has kept him from carin’ for the Underground in the manner he had before. Drema already told you that fey are connected to their surroundin’s.” Part of him hoped she’d put the whole thing together herself and spare him the agony of choking over his own words. “Jareth is connected to the Underground. He is its king.” Even though she found the explanation elementary, Sarah listened intently. Hoggle paced and fumbled with his hands as he went on. “If his soul is happy the Underground thrives. Jareth’s soul has rarely been truly happy and so the Underground has always been a fairly decent kingdom, except for the damn fairies and chickens that run all over the place. There were lands that seemed to absorb more of Jareth’s anger, but they were normally in and immediately around the Labyrinth, as if the king focused his negative energy there by command. Otherwise the outer sectors were well kept and pretty luxurious by Underground standards.”
“The four sectors each have a Representative. His powers are limited, as is his magic and while part of each Representative is as connected to their respective sector as Jareth is to his kingdom, it’s not enough to override the king’s doldrums. Normally, it’s just enough to add icin’ to the cake and make what is a beautiful land even more so. Each sector is geographically different and therefore the king’s mood has effected each sector as diversely. Here we’ve had terrible overgrowth, birds and flowers have practically disappeared. In other sectors, heat spells or frosts have their way with the land. Where water once flowed in quantities that would embarrass those Aboveground, there was drought and the sun shines only at the king’s command.”
Sarah looked around. The sun was shining brightly today, only a few clouds dared to splotch the otherwise flawless blue sky. Singing birds were undeniable as they harmonized in the tree tops. “Doesn’t seem all that desolate to me,” she said raising one eyebrow to display her confusion.
Hoggle began walking deeper into the wood, the mortal following him closely, not wishing to be alone in a strange land. He was jabbering on about how today was so much different from the way things normally were and Sarah’s attention strayed. Off to the right of their path was a beautiful meadow. It stretched on as far as she could see and seemed to burst with colorful buds the shades of which no word delicate enough had been invented to describe. “I’ll be bogged!” Hoggle cried when he noticed what had stolen her ear by catching her eye.
“I thought you said there weren’t any flo…”
“There weren’t Sarah. None of this was here yesterday mornin’.”
Not meaning to, she contradicted him. “Flowers don’t bloom like that over night!” Remembering where she was and that she was far less familiar with this world than her companion, Sarah uncomfortably cleared her throat and said, “What do you suppose made them decide to bloom now?”
“I don’t think they had much to say about it,” he told her with a smile.
Taking it for a joke, Sarah laughed. Then kneeling, she pulled a few of the buds closest to her, “We’ll take these back for Drema.”
Hoggle nodded. That was a fine idea. It had been a long time since he had brought her flowers home from one of his walks. On they went, deeper into the wood. The dwarf had not yet encountered any overgrowth that would require him to swing his ax which was odd. Just the other day he had avoided this same path because it looked nearly impenetrable. For a moment he lost himself in trying to decide if he had really seen what he had thought he saw. A giant butterfly came toward him and landed on the end of his nose making him grumble. As he went to swat it, Sarah reached down lifting it out of harm’s way. “Oh Hoggle don’t,” she chastised. “You’re so beautiful,” Sarah told the butterfly which had perched on her finger. Black trimmed wings held in spots of orange and red while two tiny black eyes fluttered at their captor. Feelers bent to run along Sarah’s hand forcing her to giggle. The butterfly smiled stretching out a wing to run along Sarah’s chin. Then as quickly as it had come, the winged insect departed making erratic circles in the atmosphere.
“No wonder you live here,” she told the dwarf. Extending her arms and gazing skyward Sarah made huge circles with her whole body. She was coming alive from the inside out. She could feel it. A dynamic warmth filled her making her feel satisfied for the first time in ages. Everything was new and wondrous even though she had seen most of these things before in the Aboveground, it was bigger, brighter, bolder than she recalled.
“It’s happenin’,” Hoggle said, perhaps a bit more loudly than he intended.
“What’s happening?”
“You suddenly feel alive don’t you? Not just energized, but invincible, immortal?” Sarah sat on the ground before him watching him dole out the words as if they were difficult to say, as if by saying them he was condemning someone.
“I suppose I do, but it’s a good feeling,” Sarah reassured. “In fact, I was just thinking how I haven’t been this happy in far too long.” He stayed silent, but focused on her with more concentration than she cared for. “What is it Hoggle? Is it my mortal magic? If I stay too long it’ll disappear, right? You’re worried that I’ll be upset if I lose it?” His head wagged side to side. “Then what is it?” Sarah demanded.
“It’s you.”
“Me? What about me?”
“Everythin’. Jareth gave you fey magic. He gave you a part of his soul. He made you part of the Underground.” Hoggle paused between each statement gauging Sarah’s reactions and taking a breath to help him go on. “Now that you’re here, the land wants to please you, for when you are pleased, the land will thrive. You’re bringin’ life back to the Underground Sarah.”
“I don’t understand,” Sarah whispered suddenly very aware of herself. Noticing that the warmth she felt was less like the sun on her skin and more like a fire from inside. She did feel invincible. She did feel immortal. “Why me? If the Representatives weren’t powerful enough, why me?”
“Their souls are their own. Yours is part of Jareth. Part of the king, the only one with enough power to regenerate the lands. It’s a gift Sarah. The inhabitants of these lands will adore you for sharin’ it with them.” His words were happy, but his tone sad.
“But?”
“But as Jareth’s emotions are focused on the castle and Labyrinth and get weaker in the outstretches of the kingdom, yours are strong here and will work their way toward the Labyrinth and eventually the castle. It will be only a matter of time before Jareth becomes aware that the Underground has begun to heal. The king is not a stupid fey and it will occur to him quickly just why that is. When it does, he will seek you out and most likely will not be pleased that you have tampered with his kingdom.”
“Tampered? I haven’t done anything. I don’t even know spells. How can he fault me for things I haven’t even done?” No sooner had she heard what she said it dawned on her that he had faulted her before for far less.
Hoggle took her hand. “Your magic is stronger than a spell. Your magic comes from the heart. It is the most powerful of all magics.”
From some brush behind them Tiberon came charging forth, a cluster of pixies surrounding him. He waved them off. “Does my keen fey hearing deceive me or have I found the mortal I wish to thank?”
Agitated Hoggle stood up and shook a finger at the Representative. “You ought not listen in on other people when they’re havin’ a private conversation.”
“There, there little one,” he told the dwarf. Hoggle hated being spoken to like he were some young sprite or gnome. “I mean the mortal no harm. As you know, that which displeases the king brings me much pleasure indeed. And besides, look about you! The southeast is in its glory. It has been a century since my sector was this beautiful and alive. Haven’t you heard the birds? Every mythical in this wood is buzzing with news of the miraculous improvement. I expect by afternoon we’ll be overrun with mythicals from other sectors who are tired of their own deplorable conditions.”
Tiberon closed in on Sarah resting his hands on her hips, “And you,” he purred. She didn’t like the way he did that. He dressed like Jareth, but he was no Goblin King. He was thicker and meatier making him seem more threatening. Those eyes of his were beautiful aesthetically, but they were cold. She felt him look through her and diverted her eyes. “I have you to thank for all of it!” His thick arms forced her off the ground and swung her in the air overhead. Sarah’s heart pounded against her chest as if it wanted free of her rib cage as much as she wanted free of Tiberon’s grasp. When once more her feet touched the ground, he had moved them to the edge of the path putting a bit of distance between them and the dwarf, who remained on the far side of the trail where he’d stopped when the fey frightened them with his hasty approach. Without warning, Tiberon brought his mouth frightfully close to Sarah’s own. A smile wove across his lips just before he lowered his head to kiss her, hard. Clenching her jaws and binding her lips together she tried to show him how unwelcome his advances were. However, Tiberon was not quick to admit defeat. After several seconds of attempting to elicit a more appreciative response he backed away and bowed before her. “I had not believed in the legend, Lady Sarah of the Aboveground, but today you have made me eat my words.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it, flicking his tongue between his lips like a snake. “And my, but I do so love the taste of them.”
A twirling ax took root in the ground inches from Tiberon’s bent knee on his right side causing Sarah to stumble back, just off the path, against a tree trunk. “Jareth will have your head if you have one more go at his mortal,” Hoggle growled.
The Representative leaned into him, “And as I said, that which displeases the king brings me much pleasure.” Bored with this confrontation, Tiberon stood, bowed low and took his leave.
“Hoggle,” Sarah called from the other side of the path.
At her call he ran to her, “Are you alright?”
“No! No I am not alright!” She was pacing. “What do you mean throwing an axe at me like that?”
“I can control my own weapon. I never got nowheres near you.”
“Well from where I stood it didn’t feel that way.” Sarah was obviously shaken by the whole ordeal.
“I’m sorry if I frightened you, but Tiberon was way out of line,” the dwarf’s hands were on his hips and his foot stomped into the dirt.
“Yes, he was, but in my world, we don’t just go throwing axes at every jerk who gets out of line. He’ll probably run straight to Jareth and tell him I’m here.” Sarah trembled at the thought. She was not ready to face the Goblin King, not yet.
“He’ll do no such thing. Tiberon is an ass but he is not a fool. It would serve no purpose to reveal you to the king unless he had you for his own.”
Though crass, his meaning was clear. Sarah shook again. “Well that ain’t gonna happen.”
“Just to be sure,” Hoggle paused and then with all his might shouted, “Oh that’s rich! Atofina and the Representative of the Northeast sector. I wouldn’t have believed it if it hadn’t been whispered into my own ear.” He accompanied his noise with a few knee slaps and exaggerated gestures.
As if summoned, the white rabbit appeared before the dwarf. “Knew you couldn’t resist a good rumor.” Hoggle snorted at him.
The Easter Bunny raised a shoulder to him. “Kill joy,” he spat.
“Listen, I’ve got more important business with you than droppin’s from the grapevine.” Long ears perked attentive to what was being said, “Tiberon means to court, if you can call it that, the mortal. I want you to go back to the Southwest and tell Gandor his intentions. Gandor will never allow it to happen. He has always believed that Sarah’s return would be good for Jareth and while I don’t know yet whether or not I agree, I know that he is fey enough to keep Tiberon in line and honest enough to let her,” Hoggle indicated Sarah, “choose her own time to reveal herself.”
“So it is you,” the rabbit addressed Sarah. “You are the Legend.”
“Please just call me Sarah.”
He hopped to her and stared up her long body to a face that seemed miles away. One of his ears twitched, beckoning her closer. She obliged. “My but you are beautiful,” he said. “I can see how it is that you weakened the king’s heart, although mine seems to beat stronger as I stand before you. I am the Easter Bunny, Sarah. Your wishes are my commands. I shall get Gandor and he will make certain that Tiberon troubles you as little as possible from this point forward.”
“Thank you,” Sarah smiled down at the soft white creature.
“The pleasure to serve you has been mine.” With this he was gone. No doubt transporting himself to Gandor’s home in order to get started on his mission.
It was growing late in the morning and Hoggle would be expected to make an appearance at the Labyrinth gates. Once more grabbing her hand, Hoggle lead her back to his home, a great understanding between them made the silence more comfortable.
***** ***** *****
Arulan came into the King’s chamber with his breakfast on a wooden serving tray. He sat up in bed when he heard her enter and smoothed his hair from his face. The elf seemed especially cheerful this morning and Jareth despised it. “Good morning,” she sang. This morning, as everyone before it, Arulan had risen before the sun and gone for a run through the forest of the Southeast sector. The air was sweet there, especially so today, she had thought.
“Is it?” Jareth yawned.
“You mustn’t allow yourself to continue on this way. You’ve barely been out of that bed these last few days. The goblins are wrecking havoc on the city and the castle.” She set the tray across his lap.
“What is this?” the king asked, plucking a daisy from a vase on the tray with just his thumb and forefinger, glad his gloves were on so he didn’t have to come in contact with the thing.
“It’s a daisy your highness. I found it on my run this morning.” Apparently it had not pleased him as much as she thought it would.
“Eew,” he moaned, “well take it outside and kill it.” He shook it at her until she came to take it from his grip. “And Arulan, if there are more of these…things, kill them too. Have Hoople squirt them with that contraption of his.”
“The atomizer?” Arulan asked. Hoggle’s atomizer was filled with a powerful poison that was used for killing a more troubling fairy breed. Covering a plant with such a chemical would have quite a detrimental effect on the ecology.
“Yes,” the king smiled, “the atomizer.” It was the first he had smiled since his return and his servant was less than pleased by the topic that brought it about. Arulan left the king.
Jareth finished his breakfast and drank his tea. Planing to kill the daisies had really inspired him. He rose from his bed, bathed and dressed. While he went about doing up his hair he caught himself hoping some foolish mortal would wish away a child today. He was up for a good challenge. Perhaps it would be just the catalyst he would need to pull himself out of the mood the Triumvirate had put him in. The Triumvirate, “Damn!” Jareth raged as he realized that a mortal would be no fun if he couldn’t control it. “Ah, but the Labyrinth is still mine to do with as I see fit,” a spark returning to his eyes. “If I can convince them to come and play my little game, we’ll play by my rules!” Laughter filled the room halting on a dime when the king caught sight of his reflection in the mirror. He sneered, “Oh Jareth, you do have a lovely smile.”
Dressed in his finest, the king descended the stairs to the throne room. A few dozen goblins were milling about, tapping his mead and aggravating the chickens. High in the air, a riding crop was raised and with all the authority of a god, it came smacking down on the arm of the king’s throne. “Enough!” he shouted. Silence lay heavy in the room. Jareth smiled again, enjoying any little thing that made his body surge with feelings of power or control. All eyes turned to their king. He was strutting around examining each goblin appreciative of the ones who dared to return his look. Kicking or tossing the others out of his way. “Cowards,” he muttered.
By the time he’d finished making his serpentine through the motley crew assembled in the room only 17 remained. He snatched up the smallest one and tossed him out the window. “Today I only like even numbers,” he proclaimed. “Divide yourselves into four groups,” Jareth instructed. The goblins began shuffling around, bumping into one another, arguing, fighting. The King snapped the crop against his gloved hand before roughly shoving them left and right forming three groups of four before him. Then he announced to the remaining four who were scattered about the room, “Everyone not already in a group, stand here.” Eight feet could be heard dashing to the spot the riding crop pointed to. “Very nice,” Jareth told them. “Now then, I have a job for you.”
“We must be going to empty an orphanage,” one goblin said.
“A school yard,” offered a second.
“This does not involve children,” Jareth told them. “This is far more important.” A hush fell over the creatures in his presence as their eyes grew wide in anticipation. “The Triumvirate has had far too much to say about the goings on in the Underground,” the king began, “and I wish to take back more control over my kingdom.” He was pacing back and forth in front of them as he spoke, their heads turning and following him as he did so. “Each group of you will be assigned to spy in one of the four sectors that surround us. I want to know every detail of their miserable existence. The Representatives, I want to know what their doing and see if you can get some idea of what they think of their king. By the time I have my way with this place, they’ll all be on their knees!” The teams of goblins before him knelt. “Get up you idiots!” Jareth shouted. He assigned them their sectors and sent them on their way, then slung himself across his throne, “On their knees,” he muttered, “begging for mercy.”
***** ***** *****
It was nearly dinner when Hoggle and Sarah Two returned home. “Daddy,” Sarah One cried flinging herself into his arms. Drema turned in time to see him swing her through the air. He hadn’t felt this young in years. Drema looked so contented, as if a great worry had some how been lifted from her shoulders. She so loved having the mortal Sarah in her home. It was a welcome change to have someone able to lift a finger and pitch in. Sarah One was so busy creating messes, Drema could never get her to clean one up. Hoggle usually got home so late, he was useless, but now that Sarah had arrived in the Underground, his wife noticed him knocking off earlier and staying in after dinner.
Drying her hands on her apron, Drema went to greet her husband. Sarah took them all in, the three dwarves that stood together in as close to a live Norman Rockwell painting as anything she’d ever seen, wishing she had a camera. A pocket sized model appeared in her hand. It had been one of the things she shoved into the series of small pockets on her bag last minute. Quickly she snapped a shot of her extended family and shoved the thing in her pocket making a mental note to wish more carefully in the future.
The oven timer and front door competed for attention as dinner announced it’s completion and an uninvited guest announced their arrival. Hoggle told Drema to hide Sarah. “Just a minute….I’m comin’…I’m comin’,” he called out until he saw his wife shove the mortal in the cleaning cupboard just outside of the kitchen, then he opened the door. “What do you want?” he snapped before looking to see who it was.
“Hoggle my friend, is that anyway to speak to a fey who has come to do you a favor?” Gandor smiled down at the dwarf. This Representative was nothing like Tiberon. He was older and more gentle looking. He had a long beard and a thick mustache all made of pure white hair that appeared as though his sector’s snow traveled with him always. He was heavier than Tiberon, but in a way that seemed more friendly than slobbish.
“I’m terribly sorry,” Hoggle bowed.
“No harm.” Gandor waived a hand and shrunk himself, then invited himself in.
Sarah One scuttled up the length of him and tugged on his beard, “Guess what?” she chattered happily.
“What?” he asked rubbing his chin.
“I gots another Sarah.”
“You do?” he feigned ignorance.
“I show you,” she whispered her eyes growing large like saucers. Gandor set her on the ground and she drug him by the hem of his robe over to the cupboard. “Open it.”
Slowly the Representative did as she commanded. Inside Sarah Two was nestled between two mops. “You must be the famed Lady Sarah of the Aboveground.”
“One in the same,” she said smiling nervously at the stranger.
“Two,” little Sarah corrected.
Sarah came forward out of the cupboard. “It is a pleasure to meet you Gandor.” She thought he looked very grandfatherly and she appreciated that, but curtsied nonetheless out of respect. “I hope we haven’t inconvenienced you by asking for your help.”
“Not at all. I’m happy to help keep Tiberon at bay. I’ve said for years that Jareth would be far better off with you by his side.” Gandor smiled at her and touched her arm. By his side? Had Sarah heard him correctly. No matter. He was going to take care of Tiberon. Maybe afterward she would explain that there would be no ‘by his side’. “There is one thing I would ask, in exchange for my help.”
“What’s that?” Hoggle asked protectively coming between the two of them.
“I wonder if Sarah would join me for dinner in my kingdom. It’s blasted cold over there you know and it’s supposed to be the sunny season. I was hoping a visit from the legend might spruce things up a bit.” He looked almost embarrassed to ask, but you could tell that he was relying on the generosity she was rumored to have.
“We’d be delighted,” Hoggle replied. “Of course I’d have to go as her chaperone.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Gandor agreed. “Shall we?” He extended his elbow to Sarah and his hand to Hoggle. “Lady Drema, would you care to join us?”
“No thank you,” she declined, “Just be sure and have them home at a reasonable hour.”
“As you wish,” Gandor promised and they were gone.
***** ***** *****
Sarah’s eyes opened, but her chin was still tucked to her chest. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to transporting. She shrieked as she looked at the floor, clear as water, it convinced her she was about to go under. “Don’t worry,” Gandor told her. “I live in an ice castle, the floor always looks this way. Come with me, I’ll show you to the dining room.” His castle was lovely, something straight out of a fairytale. Even the furniture carved from ice. Yet not a puddle on the floor or a piece of melted furniture. “It’s never supposed to really get cold Underground. And yet, we do keep a sector that resembles your mortal winters. It’s about 180 golas here in the sunny season and 120 golas in the cloudy season.”
“Golas are like degrees Sarah. One degree is about three golas,” Hoggle explained. “Our sunny season is yer spring and summer, cloudy season, yer fall and winter.” Hoggle translated.
“I take for granted that you know our ways well Sarah, I apologize for not better explaining myself to you. As I said, it is typically quite comfortable here, but this season it’s freezing. Some of my creatures are dying off of dehydration because all the water sources are freezing up.” He guided Sarah on a tour of the castle before the trio gathered in the dining hall for dinner. Gandor pulled a braided cord which rung a lovely brass bell. Three servants came dashing into the hall and set places. As they dashed out three more dashed in carrying covered silver trays. Once the guests were seated, the domed lids were removed. There were parsleyed potatoes, carrots, some sort of squash and on the largest tray a roast rack of lamb. Sarah’s mouth began to water. “Sit my friends, tonight my rewards are your rewards.”
Sarah looked about in wide eyed wonder. An ice castle as detailed as any mortal doll house she had ever seen. An ice dining table and chairs, yet when she took her seat, there was no moisture, no chill. It was remarkable, as if the entire place had been cut into glass.
“Rewards?” Hoggle asked, breaking Sarah’s concentration.
“Oh my yes, it was all Tiberon could do when I agreed not to ice over his forest for what he tried with the mortal today.” Gandor took great pride in just how intimidating his aged appearance allowed him to be at times.
“You didn’t?” Sarah asked.
“And yet I did,” he chuckled as he admitted to it. “Oh, you should have seen him. I burst in through his front door and went on about how my white rabbit had seen it all. He never even questioned me. Then I told him that if he did anything more to alarm the mortal, I would cast a frost over all she had done for his lands. Not to mention rat him out to the king who would destroy whatever remained, including him.” Gandor began filling his plate and gestured to his friends to do the same. “I even leaned over him and the closer I got the further he bent away. Could have turned him into a pretzel if I would have felt like it.” His laughter was contagious. Soon all three of them were enjoying a good laugh at Tiberon’s expense. “And you Sarah, how are you enjoying the Underground?”
“Very well thank you,” she said swallowing a mouthful of potato.
“Word of what you were able to do for the Southeast spread quickly, but I don’t want you to worry. Only the most trusted of us know it is you at the source of the Underground’s healing, my sword and staff to protect you otherwise.” He cut another slice of lamb for himself. “Perhaps after dinner we could visit the pond.”
“Certainly,” Sarah nodded with great interest. She always liked water, just sitting beside it watching the sky reflecting in the smooth calm surface. She thought of park where she had practiced her play as she continued to feed herself, almost mechanically while lost in her reverie.
“If you don’t mind my saying this is delicious.”
“Thank you, I’ll pass that along to the chefs.” Gandor clapped his hands twice and six stout penguins came running out of the kitchen and clamored around the girl.
“Oh my,” Sarah cried excitedly, “they’re adorable. Thank you all for the delicious meal.”
“You’re welcome milady,” the first said.
“She likes it,” piped up another.
“Never mind that, she thinks we’re adorable,” said a third as he straightened his tie. “You never mind, look at how beautiful she is.” Sarah blushed.
“Off with you scamps,” Gandor waved them back to their posts. “They don’t see many pretty women I’m ashamed to say. You’ll have to forgive them.”
“Nonsense,” Sarah smiled. “What’s to forgive about being told you’re beautiful? I should like to keep one of them by my side for bad hair days.” Hoggle and Gandor looked at each other and burst into laughter.
“Well I hate to be the heavy, but we need to figure out what we’re going to do about Sarah,” Hoggle reminded them.
“What about her?” Gandor asked.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to get her home before Jareth realizes that she’s here.”
The Representative shook his head, “It can’t be done.” He said it so nonchalantly as he was washing down his supper with his wine.
“But there must be some way,” Sarah pleaded.
“I wish there were, but do you have the magic to produce crystals?” Sarah shook her head. “Are you able to transport on your own?” She indicated no once more. “Then I’m afraid milady, you are trapped in the Underground.”
“Does no one have the magic to send her home but Jareth?” Hoggle begged.
“The Triumvirate.”
“Then we shall go to them,” Sarah said with a bit of renewed confidence until she noticed Hoggle’s hanging head. “What’s wrong?”
“Only Jareth can present to the Triumvirate,” Hoggle told her.
“Then it’s decided,” she tried to sound brave, but her voice faltered and betrayed her. “Tomorrow at sunrise I will leave with you for the Labyrinth gates Hoggle, and I shall find Jareth and ask him to send me home himself.”
“He’ll just as soon kill you as look at you,” Hoggle said. “I won’t let you do it.”
“I don’t see where you have any choice. I must face him sooner or later.” Sarah finished her goblet, “Might as well just rip the band aid off right?”
Gandor looked queerly at her, “You mortals have very strange expressions.” Another mortal expression came to her mind, one about a pot and a kettle. “I think the king would have more sense than that. Not to mention, with his powers over mortals usurped, how harmful can he be? Enough seriousness,” the Representative rose, “Let us go to the pond.”
Outside it had gotten a bit brighter even though it was coming up on evening. “I think it’s a few golas warmer, don’t you?” Hoggle asked.
“Indeed I do,” Gandor concurred as he removed his outermost robe. “Come follow me.”
The trio walked a ways from the castle. Sarah could see elves busily scampering about outside of what she could have sworn was a factory. “What is that?”
“Yeah, the old man gets pretty busy this time of year. Don’t know why he gets the top seat. After all he just checks the bloody list and makes the deliveries. It’s the poor elves that work their fingers to the bone.” Sarah was shocked by both his words and the tone in which they had been said.
“You don’t mean to tell me that’s Santa’s workshop,” Sarah said in disbelief. Instantly she was four again. The magic of the mysterious man in the plush, red suit, chauffeured by eight flying reindeer to deliver toys to all good children, this was surreal. It almost seemed she had found herself strolling through her childhood fantasies.
Gandor looked at her surprised, “What, don’t you believe that if a mortal can be a Legend Underground, an immortal can be a legend Aboveground? Really Sarah, I always thought of you as a believer?”
“From this day forward, I shall be,” she muttered through slack jaws.
There were more penguins and a few minor age elves skating on the pond when they arrived. “How can they do that when it’s so warm out here?”
“Magic,” Hoggle told Sarah. “Gandor’s lands are primarily ice, but the climate is suitable so that any of the Underground’s creatures could easily survive here if they were to visit. Likewise, the water supply should never completely freeze so that the animals have a place to drink constantly.
Sarah moved slowly toward the pond and knelt at the water’s edge. The ice was so clear it was like a mirror. Her hand moved to touch her reflection. The ice felt cool to her touch, but it did not chill her as it should have. She slipped her shoes off and placed her feet on the slick surface. Before long she was skating around on the ice dancing to music that played only in her head. The elves and penguins all stopped to watch her. Three years of lessons came rushing back to her as she arched her back, extended her arms and spun in tight circles . Spoiling her fun, the ice began to crack beneath her feet and she took her leave of the pond as quickly as possible.
Gandor transported to her side reaching for her to offer the frightened child comfort, “Would you have a look at that?”
Half the pond remained frozen over and the other half was completely melted. Several species were coming from hills and valleys all around to drink the fresh flowing water. Fish jumped up to break the surface of the pond. “Just from my skating around?” the woman asked him. Such a concept quickly escaped her range of rational thought.
“Indeed, and look there,” he pointed to some near by plants where frost was dripping off and forming puddles in the snow. “I bet by morning those greens are thawed enough for these little guys to fill their bellies as well as bladders, all thanks to you.” He tapped the end of her nose with his finger. “I can never repay you, but to tell you, should you ever need me...”
“I’ll call,” Sarah finished his sentence. She knew the drill. It filled her with a kind of pride. In her heart something changed. Her connection with the Underground deepened, delving beyond being in a wondrous place she was happy in to become an extension of her spirit, as tangible as her own arm. She needed this place as much as it needed her. Sarah felt like she was where she belonged.
***** ***** *****
They were transported back home shortly thereafter. Hoggle told Drema what Gandor had done to Tiberon while Sarah Two told Sarah One about the talking penguins and the way she made the ice melt. Then they made a fire and had a cup of tea while they played checkers until Sarah One started to yawn. “Let me,” Sarah said as she stood to take the child to her room. It was important to her since she didn’t know if she would see her namesake again. The baby was tucked into bed and Sarah had chosen Where the Wild Things Are as this evening’s story. It had been one of her favorites as a child. She sat on the edge of the child’s bed not wishing to see anything else unpleasant.
“You’re gonna go, ain’t ya,” Sarah One said her sleepy eyes barely open.
“Eventually I must,” she told the tiny girl.
Refusing to allow her to leave, she grabbed Sarah Two around her neck and held to her for dear life. “Don’t go Sarah Two. I be good if you stay. I promise. I even gift you my bed.” Tears poured over the child’s face and Sarah felt her heart breaking.
“Sarah, sweetie, haven’t you ever said goodbye to anyone before.” She shook her head, temporarily distracted enough to stop crying. “Who?”
“Nanaw and Pappy,” Sarah assumed they were grandparents, probably Drema’s parents since Hoggle never mentioned his.
“And what happened after they left,” she only hoped there hadn’t been any accidents.
“I cwied for three days,” Sarah One started to bawl for the second time.
Sarah Two had not thought about that possibility. She moved to wipe away her tiny tears, “But they came back didn’t hey.”
“Not for a reary wong time!” She stomped her foot and crossed her arms. Oh she was Hoggle’s child alright! “Fo’ever!”
“Well, we’ve got forever,” Sarah Two lied. Sarah One had forever, Sarah Two wasn’t even sure about tomorrow. “And I promise you that I will always keep you with me in my heart.” She pinched the baby dwarf’s nose between her middle and fore fingers, “And in my pocket.” Quickly Sarah shoved the empty fist into the pocket of the house dress she’d borrowed from Drema.
Sarah One laughed in that innocent, untainted way that only a child can as she fell back on her bed. Sarah Two read her the story and then leaned in to kiss her goodbye and goodnight. “I love you,” she whispered by the child’s ear and then jerked her head away before the tears could wake the little girl by smacking against her skin.
She was almost out the door when she heard the tiny sound fight it’s way out from under the duvet, “I love you too.” Well how do you like that, she could pronounce her l’s after all.
In the living room Drema wiped at her eyes with a hanky, “Oh dear, Hoggle told me what you want to do and I won’t allow it. I just won’t. Wait another day, another week.”
‘Saying goodbye to adults was supposed to be easier,’ Sarah thought. “Drema, I appreciate your concern, but I’ve made up my mind. I can’t just stay here and wait for Jareth to find me. He’ll find you with me and God only knows what he’ll do if he thinks Hoggle has betrayed him. I won’t put Sarah One through that. I won’t put any of you through that. Tomorrow at sunrise I will leave for the Labyrinth.”
“But we could,...”
Hoggle moved to quiet his wife. “She’s right Drema. If Jareth found her here I don’t doubt that he would be furious. It’s best we let her go, at least inside the Labyrinth I can still sorta keep an eye on her. Ludo will be there, Sir Didymus, Ambrosius, why she’s even won old Gandor over and that damned rabbit.” Hoggle smiled at Sarah. “She’s powerful in a way Jareth could never be and I think she’s gonna be alright.” He believed what he said.
“Now let’s not ruin our night. I’ll put on another pot for tea and join you by the fire in a minute.” Sarah went to the kitchen where her tears could flow freely. ‘Get hold of yourself,’ she thought. ‘You can’t let them see you like this.’ Suddenly she felt a laugh rolling up her throat and into her closed mouth. Feigning a cough, Sarah managed to stifle the laughter. She came here feeling like she was finally free, no more roles, no more acting, but she would never be truly free of the stage. Once the water boiled, she’d pour tea and walk, head high, into an audience that would accept nothing less than happiness from her, not without questioning her. But that was only Act One. Tomorrow she would have to act brave, braver than anyone or anything had forced her to act before. Tomorrow she was going back to the Labyrinth.
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