The Underground...  a magical place where we all dream to be, though where our mortal dreams rarely oblige to take us. To think what we wouldn't give for a night in that realm, for our imaginations to take on surreal reality. What we wouldn't give to open our eyes in a dream only to cast our gaze on the Underground...



  I was aware of a fire. I could feel its warmth prickle my cheek, see its flickering orange glow against the darkness of the night through my eyelids, and taste its delicate smoke in every breath. I opened my eyes to behold a beautiful starry evening in a secluded corner of the Goblin City. The fire crackled and fizzed, sending glowing embers out to dance into the night sky.  It's tinted light embodied the courtyard with cosy warmth, casting sprightly shadows, and illuminating two figures sitting beside it. An old Goblin uttered hushed, yet animated words to the young boy sitting on his knee.The youngster was spellbound - joy and wonder filling his expressive features. As I drew nearer to the fire, I could hear their words...

  "And that, little one, is how Sarah came to be our Queen," ended the Goblin.

  "Please tell it again!" cried the child, "Better still," he reasoned, "tell me what happened afterwards. Did they live happily ever after?"

  "Things started out happily, and the two were perfectly content, but what happened after that is an entirely different story," replied the Goblin, amused by the child's determination. "A story that I'm not going to tell you tonight. The moon is high, and it is time you were in bed. Go on, off with you." Reluctantly, the child hopped down from the old goblin's knee and dragged his feet solemnly as he headed for home.

  "Would you tell the story to me?" I asked as I crouched beside the fire. "What happened to Sarah after she married the Goblin King?"

  "A visitor!" observed the old Goblin, ignoring my question, "and who might you be, young madam?"

  "Oh," said I, "simply a dreamer, forever in search of a good story... "

  "A dreamer in possession of a rather nice gold necklace, too," he smiled, gesturing to the chain around my neck.

  The Goblin promised me that the story was a true relation of events, and would satisfy even my inquisitive mind. Upon this promise, I handed over my necklace, and the Goblin Storyteller began to tell me what happened after Sarah became the Goblin Queen...  I now bring his tale to you...
Disclaimer and Summary
Chapter 1 - Dawn