She wrapped a scarf around her hand for the evening reading. She didn't want anybody to notice - especially HIM. Her brain was working fast and hard... was it possible that the stream can change her back? And if her, then also the other goblins? Or was it a different spell, most likely a dangerous one? She shouldn't play with it... she had already been given enough warnings.
At night she was in her bed, eyes opened wide, thinking. She was happy as a goblin. She had friends, lots of fun, no boredom, and nothing could harm her. But... she was afraid to meet Jareth, she was afraid to look at him and see his handsome face again. If only she could be the woman she used to be... all right, he didn't even remember her, he wouldn't be interested at all, but still... She wanted to be a woman. At the end she made her decision. Whatever it costs, she'd try. She had to.
She spoke to other goblins about being a human again. Of course she didn't tell them the truth, she simply asked. They didn't understand. "Why? Why would you like to be a human again?" Nobody understood. Even the most clever ones. They tried to explain to her that it was her mistake. "I don't want to be a human," even the girls said. "It's more fun this way! I love it here!" Sarah was confused. How's that? Nobody else? Only her? OK, maybe it's the age - she was adult when she came to the castle. She had to try another thing. She asked one of the goblins - his name was John - to come to the underground with her. He was one of the brave ones. But as soon as he entered, he got sick with fright. She couldn't make him go further, and spent another day asking him to forgive her. She didn't mean any harm... At fist she wanted to take somebody with her. To see the result, to tell the other goblins, whatever happens. But then she realized she would have to be alone. Well, she could always ask Jareth, couldn't she? She could perfectly imagine his face. "Your majesty, I found a stream down there... yes, the place you told me not to go to..." Sarah sighed. She had to go alone.
His Majesty once again sent her to do some urgent and very important job... to clean something that hadn’t been cleaned in centuries. But this time she didn't listen to him. Instead of going where she was supposed to, she escaped to the secret tunnels. She took a crowbar with her, to help her with the heavy stones. And with the crowbar she succeeded. She moved the stones in such a way, that the stream found its way and welled out freely again. In her lamp's light it looked very magical - like the water possessed a life of its own, changing colors all the time, singing. Sarah undressed, took a deep breath, and entered the stream.
Jareth couldn’t find her. He sighed. Where had she gone this time? He took a crystal ball, but didn't see her. Not anywhere. He hurried to the underground.
The feeling was wonderful. Magic filled her. She felt her body changing as a strange power filled her. It felt like being born again, clean, alive, free, and happy. She was a human again. It was a long time before she escaped the stream's embrace. Barefoot she touched the floor and trembled. Cold. Luckily she thought about everything - this time - and she had a new dress with a coat and shoes with her, large enough to cover her human form. She hurried to get dressed; it was too cold by the stream. She turned back to the corridor and froze. It wasn't there. |
