Disclaimer: All Labyrinth characters are copyrights of Jim Henson Productions and affiliates. I claim no ownership of copyright.
Chapter 2:
Sarah stared down at her bowl of cereal, poking at it idly as she thought about all that had happened the night before. 'What do I do now...that the dream is over? The Underground was such a culture shock. Knowing that such a place existed, is it possible for me to simply return to my ordinary life?'
"Sarah?" Karen's words interrupted her thoughts.
Sarah looked up at her stepmother, blinking out of her daze, "Hmm?"
"Are you alright? You've been moping at the table for a while now."
"Yeah, I'm okay. Just thinking about things..."
"Sarah, you really should start opening yourself up rather than become an introvert. You should be outside, shopping with friends and watching movies. It's not healthy to be out all by yourself."
"I know..."
"Here," Karen reached into her purse, pulling out some cash. "Take this, and go have some fun with people for a change. Alright?"
Nodding solemnly, Sarah took the money and pocketed it. Regaining her appetite, she quickly finished her cereal and went back to her room. She stared at her dresser mirror as she walked up to it. 'Will I ever see them again?' she wondered, caressing the reflective glass. Sighing, she walked out of the room, and the house.
* * *
Hoggle plugged his nose as tightly between his fingers as he could, taking careful steps as he traversed through the Bog of Stench towards Sir Didymus' tree. "Why can't he live in a place that smells normal?!" Taking several desperate gasps of air through his covered mouth, he rushed on. The large tree that overlooked the stepping stone bridge came into sight. "Ah!" Hoggle grunted loudly, pounding hastily on the door embedded in the tree when he reached it.
"Who goes there?" A familiar high-pitched voice called out.
"It's me, Hoggle! Hurry up and open the door!!"
 |
Flinging the door open, Sir
Didymus beamed at his friend, "Sir Hoggle! How grand it is to see you
again!"
"Fine, fine! Let me through!" Hoggle growled, pushing through into the house, finally able to breathe normally again. "Aha," Sir Didymus smiled, closing the door behind him, "Still think there's a foul stench, do you?" "Of course, there is! Why else would it be called the Bog of Stench?!" "You have a point there," Sir Didymus mused, removing his hat to scratch his head. "So, my friend, what brings you to my humble home?" |
"I'm confused, Sir Didymus. I...I ran into Jareth earlier today..."
"What?!" Sir Didymus squeaked. "That villain still abounds??"
"Yes."
"Well, what did he say?"
Hoggle fidgeted with the bracelet on his wrist, reluctant to confess his feelings again.
Sir Didymus stared at Hoggle, furrowing his brow. "Out with it!" he demanded.
"He...he asked me if I...if I...loved...Sarah..." Hoggle squeezed his eyes shut. This was so unbearable, but he had to tell Sir Didymus if he was going to get any help. "He claimed that Sarah belonged to him..."
"Hoggle..." Sir Didymus gasped, his mouth agape. "Why, I never knew..."
"I didn't want anyone to know...well, except maybe for her...but I could never tell her..."
The two stood silent for a moment, then Sir Didymus squeaked again, "Wait!"
"What is it?"
"That Jareth thinks that the lady Sarah is his," Sir Didymus thought aloud. "That means that he may try something to get her back here! We must warn the lady before she ends up in danger!"
Hoggle's eyes widened. "Oh, no..."
* * *
Slowly, Hoggle and Sir Didymus appeared in the reflection of Sarah's room. "My lady!" Sir Didymus called out.
"Quiet!" Hoggle hushed him. "It's daytime here. We don't want anyone else to spot us do we?"
"You're right," Sir Didymus began to whisper. "My lady..." he hissed. "My lady, are you here?"
"Sarah?" Hoggle whispered. "Hmm, I guess she's not home."
"Then we must split up and find her!"
"But where will we look? And what if someone sees us??"
"Hoggle, my friend," Sir Didymus rested a firm hand on his shoulder, "Do it for honor! Do it for the one you love!"
Hoggle blinked at Sir Didymus' words, but it gave him the courage to try. "You're right! I'll do it!" he exclaimed.
"Sarah, I thought I told you to go out," Karen spoke as she entered the room, Toby bouncing in her arms. "That's funny," she thought aloud, examining the empty room. "I could have sworn I heard voices..."
Toby stared at the mirror, somehow able to notice that Sir Didymus and Hoggle where hiding there. He laughed, leaning towards them. "What is it Toby?" his mother cooed, glancing at the mirror. "Are you looking at you reflection?" She smiled into it a moment, then turned towards the door. "Come on. Let's go give you a nice bath." Toby continued to watch the mirror as he was carried out, Sir Didymus and Hoggle slowly rising up from their hiding place.
"That was close," Sir Didymus sighed.
"Yeah," Hoggle agreed.
"Well, I'll go and fetch Sir Ludo. In the meantime, you go and find the lady and bring her here."
"Right."
With a nod, they both vanished from the mirror.
To be continued...