Disclaimer: I only own Morag & the Merchant Square that surrounds her... but NOTHING else!!

Labyrinth: Beyond It All

Chapter Seven – The Beginning

The smell of bread filled the air adding warmth and homeliness to the very strange otherworldly kitchen. Sarah took a huge lungful then yawned, dark circles peering under her eyes.

The hope of receiving a better night of sleep fell through whence she had closed her eyes. Nightmares plagued her ever active mind, buzzing around like bothersome flies. She had woken several times during the cool night with familiar faces etched into her lids. Such pain filled expressions calling out for help.

After that she barely got a few hours.

She plated up the small hot cakes and filled the pewter jug with water. Water she drawn her very self. Sarah hated to inconvenience Morag and she didn't like imposing without at least helping out.

"Thank you," her hostess smiled. "It has been a long time since I had anyone stay."

Sarah returned the smile, "It's the least I could do." She gently washed the juicy red strawberries tumbling them into a deep bowl. "I suppose we best wake his Highness."

"No need," Morag commented dishing out a large spoonful of what looked like a fruit preserve into a little bowl. "He's been up for a while now."

Sarah turned to the goblin, "I haven't seen him."

"Oh no, he's been taking a bath."

"A bath?"

Morag nodded, "Yeah out in the shed."

"All this time?"

"His Highness needs to look his best!" she said in what seemed to be offence.

"Yes, of course he does," Sarah puffed out annoyed.

"Oh that smells lovely." Jareth strode into the kitchen without a care peering over Morag to see what was for breakfast; his eye caught Sarah's irritated expression and smiled.

"Had a nice bath?" she bit through.

"Delightful!" he beamed edging closer, his fingers combing out the tangles in his damp hair. His eyes twinkled with mischief, "Maybe you should consider one," he whispered wrinkling his nose.

Sarah glared self-consciously shifting away. "I don't think we have the time seeing that we have to find my-"

"Yes yes," he cut her short. "Find your friends, I know. After breakfast at least."

She understood that he wasn't asking but demanding. For one, she was hungry she couldn't dispute that. And for another it made sense to start their journey on a full stomach. "Fine."

They would have sat down to breakfast yet Jareth had insisted Sarah to get cleaned up. She hated to be ordered around, especially by him, but she had to agree.

--

Morag was ever kind and had filled a small tub with warm water. What was also a God send was that there was a ragged curtain blocking any view of her bathing.

"Do you mind!?"

He looked up, her face turning a shade of red. He assumed it was both due to anger and embarrassment. "Oh yes," he smiled then turned his back.

"What are you doing?!" she gave out a cry.

"Being gentlemanly of course!"

"Then get out!" her foot slammed on the floor.

"Sarah, I cannot see anything other than the wall, and you are perfectly safe from me," he paused. "Trust me."

"Do I have a choice?" she grumbled then drew the curtain in place. She stripped as fast as she could though feeling rather vulnerable despite the barrier of the cloth. She peered round to glance at him, but he was true to his word with his line of sight fixated on the opposite wall.

"Give me your clothes."

"WHAT?! HEY JUST WAIT A MINUTE!"

"Sarah please! I am just trying to help you. I assume your clothes are incredibly filthy, as were mine…"

In spite she balled her top and threw it at his back. She did mind to take off a shoe and chuck that, but knew that action would have made him turn around and she was barely decent. She gently placed a clean cloth into the basin and a bar of soap that Morag had kindly offered.

"These clothes are so strange," he held out her top and jeans.

Sarah smirked, "I'm sure you have seen something of the sort above."

"Well it's been years since I was up there." He held her top in front of him considering that that shade of blue never did suit him. "Here," he said tossing a rather simple brown dress over his shoulder. "Wear this, you will blend in."

It was a simple brown dress and what looked like itchy material. Not exactly something she would like to wear whilst roaming about, unfortunately wearing her jeans and top didn't make her fit in. At least with the dress she could blend in.

She watched his silhouette as she got into the tub. He turned slightly then almost bent in a small bow upon hearing the quiet sounds of sloshing water.

"I shall leave you," and in respect he vanished as if he evaporated into thin air.

--

Wearing the brown dress Jareth had given her Sarah emerged back into the living space.

"Ah," called Jareth noticing her entrance. "It's about time."

"I was a lot quicker than you," she said retorting but smiled.

His lips flared into a grin. "Anyway," he mused, "Morag and I have been deliberating."

Sarah sat down taking a hot cake into her plate. She sliced it open spreading it with the preserve.

"The orange beast… Luda?" he watched her as he continued.

Her eyes peered up, "Ludo."

"Yes, well Morag has a clear idea of where he could be."

"A beast that scary and big ain't hard really," chimed in the goblin.

Sarah let that go; it didn't matter, not when they knew of his whereabouts.

"A mill farm not too far from here in the Fúrin province."

Sarah abruptly stood, sending the little wooden chair back. "Then we must go."

Jareth sat still shaking his head. "No Sarah," his tone for a disobedient child. "We need to prepare, make plans. It makes no good sense to start traipsing off," his eyes narrowed.

Reluctantly she pulled her seat back into place and sat down. It took a great amount of strength to even do that small act. It took even more willpower to swallow down his reprimand. She wasn't a child anymore; she was an adult and capable of a lot of things, so why did she listen to him? Why bother compiling? Because the smug bastard was right.

Morag had mentioned that most of the people forced into slavery would have had to come through the Merchant Square. She remembered Ludo because he was a giant and orange, she even noticed a fox goblin that had accompanied Ludo.

"Sir Didymus," she whispered, now having some hope of finding him too. "Do you know what happened to him?"

Morag strained for a moment. "I think some aristocrat bought him. Not too far from the mill that Ludo was taken too."

Sarah smiled and sighed deeply. "What about a small dwarf-goblin? He would have known Ludo and Sir Didymus."

Morag frowned gently, "I don't know about him. I am sorry my dear there were so many. The orange beast and the fox stand out in my memories."

Sarah nodded; it was a disappointment but not a complete loss. If Morag couldn't remember then Ludo or Didymus would. She had to believe that and she wouldn't allow herself to fathom any other possibility.

After breakfast they gathered as much food as they could, placing parcels of bread, cheese, nuts and fruit into two separate small bags. They donned two cloaks and with the sun still high in the sky they ventured outside. Jareth thanked Morag and Sarah bid her goodbyes.

Just outside Morag's small house they stood staring into the entrance of the Merchant Square. Jareth glanced sideways at Sarah and she could barely make out the grin that formed on his face.

He snickered quietly then headed in front of her commenting, "It's just us now."

Author: ....and so their journey begins.