The Labyrinth Sequel

Chapter 8

"Okay, Sarah." He says with a big smile.

The King, who had been standing still all along, finally moves a little, only to come a little closer to the bed. He remains silent, and doesn't attempt to come any closer than a couple of feet.

He has changed a lot since the last time I saw him. His hair has grown down his back, probably from now cutting it for three years while being stuck in owl form, and it is completely straight. I'm surprised he kept it like this. His outfit is surprisingly played down as well. He wears a simple white blouse and brown vest and... pants that actually fit him!

He smiles when he notices me staring at him, and I look away, trying not to meet his mismatched eyes.

"Why can't I feel my hands?" I mumble, trying to distract myself.

"Well," The King says strutting forward, "Let's see. First you let them get cut by something in the Labyrinth, and let me remind you that nothing in the Labyrinth is even remotely clean. Second, you failed to clean the wound as you should have before it got infected. And finally, you left it long enough to allow you to develope a fever capable of killing a grown bull."

"That doesn't explain why they are numb..." I point out, unamused.

"That would be because I treated them with large amounts of medicine that you humans require." He says, irritated by my lack of interest.

"Why would you do that?" I ask.

"Because it was easier than having them removed." He says with a toothy grin.

"So now I can't use them to eat, or do anything else until this wears off. And I don't suppose you know how long that is going to be." I give him a pointed look.

"I do not." He informs me.

I turn my attention back to Toby, choosing to ignore him for now. There is no chance that I am in the mood to fight with him right now, and I would love to have good things on my mind now that everything is settled.

"How are you feeling Toby?" I ask.

"Okay, they have good food here. There is lot's of fruit, and the Goblins like to play hide and seek with me." He smiles.

"Hey, we weren't playing! We were trying to hide from you and you kept finding us!" One of the Goblins yells.

"Toby," I say sternly, "Have you been chasing the Goblins around?"

"No, Sarah!" He says innocently.

"Liar!" They all yell.

I just roll my eyes at him. This is why dad won't let him have a cat, and the fact that Merlin would chase it around the house more than Toby ever could. At least here they are keeping him entertained, even if they don't want to.

"My Lady, are you feeling at all famished?" Sir Didymus asks.

"I don't know, I'm not really all that awake just yet." I say.

"Sawah... sad?" Ludo asks, tilting his massive head to one side.

"No, no, it's nothing like that, I'm just-"

"Would you guys give her a break? She just woke up and she still doesn't know what's going on!" Hoggle yells at them.

They all fall to silence and Hoggle glares at them while sitting beside me on the bed. On my other side Toby and one of the Goblins are playing with my hair, which is surely tangled from sleeping on it for two days, not to mention not showering...

"All right, why don't we all leave Ms. William's be while she recovers from her long rest? I'm sure food needs to be prepared and the bathing chambers readied..." The King waves a hand and all the Goblin's take off out the door.