BET YOU THOUGHT YOU'D SEEN THE LAST OF ME!

In all seriousness, this story is giving me a hard time LOL. The end is near, I know that for sure, I just can't see the finish line. Another year of brainstorming for me, it seems. (JK YA'LL I'M GONNA REALLY TRY TO UPDATE MORE) PLEASE STICK WITH ME, I'M GONNA SEE THIS BITCH TO THE END!

Sarah paced the throne room as the twins fetched her guests. She anxiously bit her lip and thought herself a terrible friend. But in her defense, she had convinced herself that none of them were real for years. They'll likely hate me for waiting this long to see them, she thought. Or maybe they'll get swept up in the emotions of seeing me? Hopefully the latter.

When the doors swung open, Sarah stopped dead in her tracks and held her breath.

"Sawah?" The gruff voice that spilled into the room came from none other than the gentle beast that Sarah had saved from a trap set by the dastardly goblin guards all those years ago. Ludo alone stood in the doorway, but then he grinned, his ear wriggling with excitement, and moved closer. When he moved, there stood Sir Didymus standing courageously with his hands on his hips and the twins flanking him.

Sarah felt tears prickle at her eyes but quickly wiped them away before they could spill. She never thought that she would see her friends again, yet here they were right before her eyes. She let out a relieved sigh. "Hi guys."

Ludo and Sarah ran to each other, Sarah throwing herself into his fur and Ludo wrapping his large arms around her. Sarah felt like she was hugging a giant teddy bear and it comforted her more than anything ever could.

"M'lady," Didymus chimed in, stepping forward and bowing. "Wouldst thou grant me the honor of an embrace?"

"You don't even have to ask. Come here." Sarah knelt down and threw her arms around him. "I'm so sorry," she said, her voice straining from holding back tears.

"For what, m'lady?"

"For not calling for you guys sooner." She pulled back with a sad smile, but when she realized someone was missing that smile faded into a frown. "Where's Hoggle?"

Didymus and Ludo both frowned at each other. "Hoggle gone." Ludo said sadly.

"What do you mean?"

"Sir Hoggle…" Didymus searched for the right words that wouldn't offend Sarah. "Ehm, he has…"

"He left back to the bog," Dimitra said, receiving an elbow in her rib from her sister. "Ouch! What?! He said he didn't want to be here!" Yet another elbow in her rib and a scowl.

Sarah furrowed her brow. "Oh, he left." Sarah stood and walked to the only place to sit in the room, which was the throne. "Of course he did, I mean why would he want to see me? A friend who forgot about her friends…" She let her face fall into her hands.

"Good job," Delia seethed at Dimitra who just shrugged innocently.

"Sawah sad." Ludo stood next to her and rested his large hand on her back.

"Don't take Sir Hoggle's insolence to heart, Lady Sarah. He is only a bit sensitive," said Didymus, holding his hat in his hands. "I'm sure if he only saw you he would be quite amenable."

"How will he see me if I'm here and he's there?" Sarah lifted her head, tears streaking down her cheeks. "This day couldn't get any worse. First Jareth, now Hoggle hates me."

Didymus gave Sarah a look of confusion. "What of his majesty?"

Sarah thought for a moment of lying, but she had already done enough damage with her friends. She looked to Delia and Dimitra and said, "You guys can't say anything to anyone."

Dimitra looked taken aback. "Well, isn't he sick?"

"Well, yes. But there's more to it…." Sarah explained how the Labyrinth needed a queen, and that if it didn't have one soon then it along with its king would die. She left out the part about its inhabitants dying too. She didn't want them to completely panic. "I think that's why he collapsed today. He didn't tell me that, but I can only assume so."

"Then you two should marry soon!" Delia exclaimed, then covered her mouth. "Excuse my outburst."

"I don't even know where he is right now," Sarah confessed, looked down at the floor. "Some place called 'Avalon'."

"The capital of the Underground," Didymus said. "That is where the high king and queen reside."

"The king's parents," Delia and Dimitra clarified.

Sarah's heart lurched. "His parents?" A wave of anxiety hit her like a brick wall. "His parents are there?"

Everyone in the room nodded.

"They don't like me." Sarah paled. "Actually, they hate me."

"I'm sure they don't hate you," said Dimitra.

"No, they hate me."

Delia and Dimitra exchanged painful glances.

The doors suddenly blew open and in walked Griselda and remnants of glitter.

Sarah was on her feet before she could say anything. "How is he?"

"He's stable, thank the gods." Griselda crossed the room, ignoring everyone else.

"I want to see him," Sarah demanded. "Take me to him."

"Sorry, love, he gave me strict instruction not to let you see him."

Sarah stepped towards her. "I don't care, just take me!"

"I can't—"

"As your future queen, I demand you take me to see Jareth!" Sarah felt a little guilty for raising her voice, but she stood her ground.

Griselda swallowed hard, but a rebellious smile tried sneaking onto her lips. She paused, weighing her options. "How could I refuse an order from my future queen?" She gave a quick wink to her.

Sarah took the fae's weathered hands in hers. "I'm sorry, guys," she said, looking back at Sir Didymus and Ludo. "That I have to leave so soon."

"Sawah go," Ludo said with a soft, childlike grin.

"Yes, m'lady, we shall be here when you return." Didymus bowed with his hat in his hand.

Sarah turned back to Griselda and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before the atmosphere swiftly changed.

When she opened her eyes she was in a bright lit hallway. The walls were a bright white like diamonds and the floors were marble swirled with what she was sure was in fact crushed diamond.

"Wait here," Griselda whispered before shuffling to a room next to them.

Sarah stood there anxiously, listening to muffled talking behind the door. She looked around, trying to distract herself with the environment around her. She noticed a glass window not too far from her. She walked over to it and looked out.

Large towers of sparkling silver and gold rose up to the sky with large and lavish bridges connecting them. A large blue body of water surrounded the island with snowcapped mountains painted in the distance. Sarah couldn't help but gawk at the magnificence of the landscape outside. She realized just how far she was from the goblin kingdom. When one thought of a fairytale castle, this would be the kingdom they would think of.

"Deary."

Sarah spun around, seeing Griselda standing outside the door.

"Ye can come in now."

Sarah hurried to where she was and stepped inside the room. The first thing she saw was a woman in a white doctor's coat writing something down on a clipboard. She looked up and smiled, her green eyes huge behind her spectacles.

"Ye must be Sarah," the woman said in a heavy Irish accent. "Me name's Brighid, I'm the royal healer here in Avalon. Or as ye might call me, the doctor. His majesty, Jareth, is stable now. I've made up a restoring potion for him, he's just resting now." When she smiled her eyes creased at the sides. Her ears pointed slightly out from her thick mane of brown curls that were pulled back into a low ponytail.

Sarah nodded, feeling calmed by Brighid's presence. "Thank you."

Brighid and Griselda left out into the hallway, leaving Sarah in the entrance of the room. She steadied herself, taking a deep breath in, before stepping into the actual room where Jareth laid.

Jareth looked up at her with sunken eyes. "Sarah."

Despite his state, his voice was still strong and it sounded like music to Sarah. "I'm here," she said, kneeling at his bedside.

His head lolled to the side and he chuckled in spite. "I didn't want you to see me like this."

"I don't care." Sarah placed her hand on his smoothing the back of it with her thumb. "I don't care what you look like. I'm just glad you're okay." A single tear rolled down her cheek and landed on the pillow next to him.

Jareth reached a weak hand to her cheek and dried the tear with his thumb. "I hate seeing you cry, precious."

Hearing him say that made her want to cry more. She leaned her cheek into his hand and said, "Too bad I cry a lot."

He let out another chuckle. Slowly, he slid over to make room and patted the space next to him. She started to protest so he pleaded, "Please."

Sarah didn't think she had ever heard him say "please", so she did as he wanted and slid in next to him. The bed was much bigger than a normal hospital bed; of course, it was fit for a king. She felt his arm snake around her waist and pull her closer.

"I'm sorry our date was ruined," he said. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her face.

"Don't apologize." Sarah smoothed his hair and entwined her legs with his. "The date was a silly idea to begin with."

Jareth shook his head. "It wasn't silly. I had such a brilliant night planned out for us."

Sarah allowed a smile to spread across her face. "Oh yeah? Like what?"

"Well," he began, slipping his hand onto her thigh and grazing over the nylon stockings. "After the show we were to dine at The Ritz, then we'd go for a stroll through Hyde Park, then, as Big Ben chimed nine o'clock, I would lower myself on one knee and profess my undying love for you." He moved his hand from her thigh to his pocket. He grabbed a hold of the small velvet box and revealed it. "And I would've given you this."

Sarah's hands flew to her mouth. Though she knew he would propose to her that night it still seemed unreal to her, and it came as a shock still.

"And I would've said, 'Sarah, love of my life, champion of my labyrinth, would you do me the great honor of ruling by my side as queen and to stand by my side as my wife?'" As he said this, he slowly opened the box to reveal a dazzling emerald ring sitting inside.

She knew he hated to see her cry, but here came the waterworks again. She gathered herself enough to reply with a giddy response. "And I would've said, 'yes, yes, a thousand times yes'!" Without thinking about how weak he might've be feeling, her lips crashed into his, cradling his face with her hands.

Though he was feeling tired, Jareth placed the ring on the other side of him and slid Sarah on top of him, kissing her feverishly. When she pulled away from him, he let out a disgruntled sigh.

"So, to be clear, you are proposing to me right now, right? Because I know at first we were doing this hypothetical thing, but the ring is here and everything and—"

Jareth brought her down to kiss her again just to shut her up. "Yes, love." He took up the ring again and held it up to her. "To be quite clear," he said and cleared his throat. "Sarah Williams, would you please do me the honor of marrying me?"

Sarah sat back on his pelvis and held out her hand for him to take, nodding furiously. "Hell yeah." She watched as he slid the ring on her finger, marveling at the giant emerald in the center.

Suddenly the door opened and in walked Dr. Brighid. "Oh!" She took a step back when she saw Sarah straddling Jareth and adjusted her glasses. "Do pardon me, your highness!" She chuckled nervously and held her clipboard to her chest.

Sarah quickly slid off of him, grinning and holding her hand in the other to hide the ring.

"It's fine, doctor," said Jareth, laughing quietly to himself.

"Ye need to get some rest, sire," Brighid said, giving the both of them a warm smile. "If ye need, I can put a sleeping spell on ye."

"No, that won't be necessary." Jareth sat up a bit and turned to Sarah. "Don't worry about me, precious. I am sure I'll be in tip-top shape soon." He kissed her forehead before she slipped out of the bed.

Sarah gave him a reassured smile, but she knew he was only saying that to make her feel better. "You will."

Slipping past Brighid so she wouldn't see her ring, Sarah walked out into the hallway. She stood there, staring down at the ring on her finger. It was huge and flashy, making her finger look like a skinny tree branch. It fit perfectly, however, and she wondered how since he never asked for a size. She figured magic. It was usually the answer for everything in the Underground.

"So you must be Sarah."

A voice as smooth as silk commanded Sarah's attention. She whirled around and faced the stranger. Nearly falling backward, she gazed up at the taller woman, regal in her gown and golden headpiece. Her sharp cheekbones and pale skin reminded her of Jareth, and when her eyes landed on the large golden sigil similar to his around her neck she was sure that she was, in fact, his mother. Sarah let out an audible gasp at the sight of her.

Rhiannon couldn't help but let a giggle slip out. "You are not as intimidating as my son has led me to believe the champion to be," she said as she circled Sarah, eyeing her from head to toe. "He is prone to exaggeration, however. I'm not sure where he gets it from."

Who could be more intimidating than you? Sarah screamed internally, her gaze stuck on the floor. "Y-Your majesty—" She hit the ground, taking a knee and bowing before her. "It's an honor to meet y—"

"Hush, child." Rhiannon snapped her fingers and motioned for Sarah to stand up. "No need for formalities, really. We are to be," she paused, trying to swallow the lump forming in her throat. "Family, after all."

Sarah's stomach was in knots as she stood upright. She was suddenly very self conscious of herself. Her makeup was probably smeared down her cheeks from her crying earlier. She quickly tried to wipe away the streaks with her sleeve.

When Sarah raised her hand to wipe her face, Rhiannon noticed right away the jewel fixed onto her finger. Reaching out, she snatched her hand and said, "I see he did it." The emerald sparkled brilliantly against her skin. It was as if the ring was made for her. "Betrothal suits you."

A blush creeped onto Sarah's face at the compliment. "Th-thank you."

"It was my husband's mother's," Rhiannon said, lowering Sarah's hand. "Anghus gave it to me upon our betrothal. His mother was very proud to see the new future queen wearing it. She saw power and grace in the future of her kingdom when she saw that ring on my finger." She took a deep breath and fixed her gaze on Sarah's. "And that is what I see when I see you."

Sarah was awestruck, and when the queen placed her hand on her shoulder she could feel the warmth and comfort of a mother, yet the strength and excellence of a ruler. And, although she didn't feel confident in herself, knowing that the queen believed in her made her feel like she could conquer anything.

"I believe it is about time you be on your way," the queen said in a soft voice.

Sarah just nodded, entranced by her.

"Goodnight, Sarah."

In a cloud of glitter, Sarah was gone, leaving Rhiannon alone in the hallway.

When Sarah awoke the next morning in her bed in the castle, she felt more rested than she ever had in her entire life. She didn't even remember coming back from Avalon and going to bed. She definitely didn't remember changing into the world's softest nightgown. Her face was even washed and freshened up.

The door opened and in strolled Griselda with her usual trolley of tea and fresh pastries. "Ah, good morning, deary. How did you sleep?"

Sarah ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it away from her face. "Amazing," was all she could say.

"Good. The queen's magic does leave a beautiful glow afterwards, doesn't it?" The old fae woman stopped the trolley at the foot of the bed and poured tea into a cup.

Sarah tossed the blankets away from her and sat at the edge. "Zelda, I need to go somewhere today."

Griselda shuffled her feet to her and held out the piping hot cup. "Wherever to?"

"The Bog of Eternal Stench."

As if smelling the rancid stench already, Griselda wrinkled her nose and grimaced. "Why, whatever for? That place is hardly suitable for any living creature, let alone the future queen."

"I need to talk to someone very important. Will you please take me there?"

Griselda frowned, not wanting to go herself, but she couldn't say no to her. "Get cleaned up then and I'll take ya'. And don't forget to eat a little something." She took a croissant from the trolley and handed it to her. "There's freshly cleaned laundry in your wardrobe. I say it's a waste of perfectly clean clothes to go there. They'll need to be burned upon return."

Sarah smiled and bit into the pastry. "Thank you," she said with a mouthful of croissant.

Griselda transported herself and Sarah to the bog, albeit against all of her best judgement. As soon as their feet touched solid ground, they both started gagging.

"Good goddesses, that smell is horrendous!" Griselda doubled over, trying to brace her nose behind her clothes.

"I don't remember it being this bad!" Sarah coughed and dry heaved, also trying to shield her nose with her hands.

"If his highness knew I brought you here, he'd have my head!"

Sarah rolled her eyes and said, "As if he's never tossed me in here before!" She shook her head, trying to shake the memory of almost plummeting into the bog from a sliding rock chute just because a certain king was jealous of a kiss. She had already forgiven him for what he did all those years ago, no need to stay bitter about it, but the stench was bringing up bad memories.

"What could you possibly need from here?" Griselda cried, straightening up and wrapping her shawl around her neck and up to her nose.

Sarah looked around, trying to find some form of life. When she saw the hut just off the side of the bog, she smiled. "There." She started for it, the old fae following close behind. Stepping up to the thatch door, she held up her fist to rap upon it, but the voice that called out made her freeze.

"Don't even bother!" The raspy voice said from inside the hut.

Sarah furrowed her brow and threw a glance at Griselda. "How'd he know we were here?"

"The Bog is small and I'm the only one who comes here! I could hear you two the second you arrived."

"Hoggle, let us in," Sarah pleaded, trying not to breathe in through her nose, though she was certain that the air would be the same putrid scent even inside. "I want to talk."

"I ain't talkin' to you!"

Sarah rolled her eyes an let out a sigh. There was nothing more stubborn in the entire world than a goblin. She looked down at her hand and caressed the ring on her finger tenderly. She suddenly remembered how Hoggle could be swayed. Hoggle liked jewelry. No, she wouldn't give up the precious stone on her finger, but the cheap metallic one with a fake plastic stone in the middle on her pointer finger might do the trick. "What if I said I brought you a gift?"

There was a long pause, then suddenly the sound of locks being shifted. The door opened just slightly. Sarah couldn't see inside the dark filled hut, but she knew Hoggle was there. "What kinda present?"

Sarah slid the cheap ring off her finger and held it up for him to see. "Plastic," she said with confidence.

The door closed again but Sarah could hear a chain being slid on the other side, she guessed another lock. The door opened with a creak, this time fully, revealing the stout and short goblin just as she remembered him. He held out his grubby hand for his prize. "Give it."

Sarah withdrew the ring out of his reach. "Wait, you have to let me in first. Then I promise it's yours."

Hoggle let out a groan. "Fine! Just as stubborn as when I first met you." He stepped to the side for her to pass him, but when Griselda stepped up he moved to block her. "Just Sarah."

Sarah gave Griselda a pleading look. "I'll be fine. You can go."

Griselda glowered at Hoggle and said, "As you wish. But I'm going back to the castle. If you need me, just call." In a cloud of glitter, she disappeared.

Inside the little house, Sarah could breathe a little easier. The smell still lingered, but it wasn't as bad as being in the open air. It was dim inside, the only light coming from the windows and candles, probably scented ones.

"Well, what do you want." Hoggle turned to her, his arms folded tightly in front of him and a scowl on his face.

"I know you're mad at me, but—"

"That's an understatement! When I heard you were back, I thought you were gonna come save us. Turns out you were just honeymoonin' with the villain who threw us in this place!" He threw his hands up in anger and scoffed.

Sarah closed her eyes tight, knowing how badly she had messed up. "Hoggle," she said, her voice soft and full of regret. "I know I haven't been a great friend. I've barely been a friend at all. I have no right to be asking for your forgiveness, but you're my best friend." She crouched down to his eye level, pushing her hair behind her ear. "If I'm going to spend the rest of my life here in the Underground, I need my best friend."

Hoggle lowered his eyes to the dusty floor. He could feel his anger for her softening and he didn't want to. He wanted to keep his anger, bitter, cold, and hard. "You can't marry him, Sarah. You can't! Don't you remember what he did? He's the bad guy!"

"He's not a 'bad guy', Hoggle, he's just…misunderstood," Sarah said with a sigh. "Besides, I didn't come here to talk about him. I came to apologize and ask you, as your friend, to forgive me. Come back to the castle with me—with Ludo and Sir Didymus."

Hoggle crossed his arms and turned his back to her without a word.

"I'm not asking for your approval to marry who I want, because I'm going to marry Jareth." Sarah straightened herself, rolling her shoulders back with confidence. "I just want my friends to be there for me." She walked to the door, and before walking out she turned and said, "You're welcome at the castle regardless, and there will be a spot for you in my wedding whether you decide to come or not." With her words still hanging in the air and the silence Hoggle still exuded, she walked out into the stifling pungent air.

"Zelda, take me home."

As soon as the words left her lips, Griselda was by her side. She noticed the tears prickling at the corners of Sarah's eyes and clicked her tongue. Producing a handkerchief, she dabbed the tears away from her eyes. "He'll come around, love. If he is truly your friend, he'll come around," she said before they both disappeared in a cloud of glitter.

As always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a comment!