Of Diviners and Goblins
Or What Happens When Goblin King and Mage Meet Again
By Sailor Northstar
Time Period: About 3 years after Trial of Fire
Disclaimer: I'm baaaack! Anyway, you know the drill. I don't own labyrinth or its characters. I DO own Galadrea and Indros and their aquaintances. Have fun!
It had been three days since he had left his study. Opening the newly aquired tome, Jareth, King of the Goblins and Ruler of the Underground Labyrinth rubbed his eyes wearily. After all this time, and no progress. No answer as to why my powers are affected by the magical powers of mages. Looking around the room, the blonde-haired king had to admire the collection he had aquired. Three years since that brat and her brother had come into his life, and now he had just begun to master the rudiments of the powers they had commanded.
Since then, he had carefully chosen the times he infiltrated the Tower of Illumination. Always late at night, so as to not run into any of the archmages or their students. Considering the power they had, Jareth was surprised, yet gratified, that they had not yet discovered his presence. It had taken about a year to even pilfer the most basic of magical tomes from the Tower's library, but he had accomplished it. Now, the same power they commanded was his. And with this new tome, I should leap ahead of that girl in magical power. Then, we'll see who triumphs in the game.
Carefully turing the brittle, age-yellowed pieces of parchment, Jareth tried to decipher the magical script. He had learned early on that attempting to read higher-powered tomes was extraordinarily dangerous. His sight had returned, but even now he was plagued with mild headaches when he attempted to cast even simple cantrips. Sighing, he prepared himself for another long night, and sipped from the crystal goblet that one of his goblins had left for him.
"Gala, maybe you should take a break?" Indros asked his sister. Looking over at her, he took in her bloodshot eyes and haggard appearance. What ever it was that was happening had his dear sister worried, along with the majority of the archmages in the Tower. Something big was happening, and all in the tower were buring the midnight oil trying to decipher what.
The beautiful young half-elf sighed, and ran a fine-boned hand wearily through her mussed, platinum hair. "I know, little brother. But I can't. Ever since the disturbance three days ago...and now strange things are beginning to happen to higher level magic spells. We have to find out what's going on, Indros. If the effects continue, it will begin to affect magic on even the slightest of scales. Only something of cosmic significance could affect magic this much."
Nodding, Indros accepted his sister's reply. Ever since THAT incident, she had been unusually dedicated, even by Archmage Kalesanthina's standards. "You should at least eat something, sis," he replied, setting the silver tray down gently on her worktable. Looking at him in gratitude, Galadrea eagerly ripped into the roast meat set before her.
"Thank's Indros," she said, between bites. "But until we find something to explain all of this, I'll be awake and studying. I can catch up on sleep once this problem is solved." Slowly, Galadrea savored the deep-red wine Indros had brought in with the meal.
Smiling, the fifteen-year old apprentice left, closing the door softly behind him. Good luck, Gala, just don't kill yourself...
Ao was angry, dangerously so. His children had blundered once too often. In his rage, he stripped them of their powers, memories, and forms, and trapped them in the bodies of mortals. When that happened, magic throughout the world of Toril was disrupted. Spells of the most trusted nature backfired, or refused to work. Even magical items lost their powers. Not even the Underground was left untouched, for Aboveground magic had been introduced to it...
Looking up from his tome, Jareth felt the Call. Someone had just wished someone else away. Sighing, he closed the tome and stretched his muscles. Catlike, he stood and extinguished the lights in the study. Locking the study's door behind him, Jareth called forth a crystal sphere. Looking into it, he fixed on the location of the call. Please, not another mage...
A clearing appeared in his view as he winged his way down to a tall tree in owl-form. There was nothing like flying through the night in owl-form. Settling onto a branch, Jareth reflected that he needed to get out more, other than when he was called. Observing the clearing from which the call originated, he was amazed to see a tall, dark woman looking confusedly about. Intrigued, he moved closer and took on human form. There was a strange power radiating from the woman, much like the aura of magic, only amplified on a cosmic scale.
Sweat beaded his brow as he carefully stalked into the clearing. The woman turned to him, startled. "Who are you?" she asked, in a light tone. Sighing, Jareth went through the routine.
"I am the King of the Goblins, Jareth, Ruler of the Labyrinth. And you would be...?" he trailed off, plastering a cold smile on his face. So far so good, just please don't let her be a mage. I don't think my sanity could stand it!
"I am Mystra, Goblin King." As she raised her hand, Jareth took a sudden step back. Calling upon his powers, he erected a hasty shield. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, though it was perhaps all that saved him. He passed out from the pain quickly...
Light pierced his eyes, and the man tried to squint. Who dared to disturb my rest? I'm going to have the hide of whatever goblin is responsible for this. Then, he felt a hardness that was not his bed. His senses awakening, he first registered the fact that every muscle in his body ached. He then felt the coldness of stone pressed against his cheek. Groaning, Jareth raised himself up, and looked around, his eyes finally adjusting. Oh no, I know this room! he thought with a feeling of dread. Adrenalin surging through his veins, he stood up and took stock of his surroundings.
Around him were hundreds of thousands of tomes, all placed on high shelves with ladders to get up to the higher shelves. It was a room he had been to several times, mostly to steal a few books on magic.
"The Tower of Illumination!" he gasped, and then he felt a prescence behind him. Before he could turn, he felt a great drowsiness creep over him. His strange eyes closed, and the Goblin King sank back to the floor.
Opening her door, Indros stepped into his sleeping sister's room. "Sis, sis! Wake up!" he whispered, shaking her by the shoulders. With a sleepy curse, Galadrea opened her eyes. Upon seeing who had disturbed her, she came fully awake.
"This had better be good, little brother, or I'm gonna kill you!" she hissed back. The nicest dream she had been having, and Indros had woken her up. She caught the robe her little brother tossed her, and put it on as she got out of bed.
"Oh, it is, Gala. The archmages caught an intruder in the library archive room,"Indros explained, his face laced with worry. Gala still did not look happy.
"So?" she grumbled. "If the archmages caught the intruder, then it's nothing to worry about. Go back to bed Indros!" Indros frowned.
"The intruder was the Goblin King." At his words, Galadrea's eyes widened, and her face paled.
"That's not possible! We defeated him three years ago, he can't be back, can he?" Galadrea asked in a tiny voice. Briefly, her thoughts flashed back to the final battle. Once again, she felt his strong hands on her. Closing her eyes, she tried to banish the memory. God's! Even now I remember his touch, she thought, and she shivered slightly.
Indros nodded his head, his young face grim. "That's not all, Galadrea," he said, using her full name. Gala stood up and began to gather her spell components. "He's to be killed tommorrow. He's been pilfering the library for the past three years."
"So that's where all those apprentice tomes have been disappearing to," she murmured, continueing to gather traveling supplies. Indros turned his back as his sister began changing into her adventure clothes.
"Uh, sis? What are you doing?" Indros asked, confused. Suddenly, his sister swept by him.
"I-I'm not sure yet, bro. You'd better go back to your room," she said as she paused by the door. "Whatever happens, I don't want you caught up in it, promise me?"
"You know I can't do it, Gala. What are you thinking about doing? You can't be considering releasing him--" "I said I don't know, Indros! I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. But, I need to see if its really him, do you understand?" Galadrea pleaded, her eyes begging her brother to understand.
Sighing, Indros embraced his sister. "Just don't get yourself killed, okay Gala?" he whispered sadly.
Galadrea returned his embrace and left the room quickly. Staring after her, Indros shook his head.
"I hope you find what you're looking for, sis. I sincerely do."
Slipping silently into the warded room, Galadrea looked on the sleeping form of the Goblin King. On all the walls she saw the softly glowing glyphs of powerful enchantments meant to confine highly dangerous magical creatures. It was a shock to see him again, after these three years. The idea that he had been coming and going from the tower whenever he pleased frightened her to no end. He could have easily come after Indros and me, yet he didn't. Why? "Why, hmm?" she muttered softly, taking in his form.
His face, usually so expressionless except when filled with anger, was strangely peaceful. His hair was the same blond as before, though it was a bit longer now. If he seemed a bit paler, Galadrea attributed it to being knocked out with magic. Edging slightly closer, she could make out the rhythmatic rise and fall of his breast as he breathed. His fashion sense hadn't changed either, she was strangely pleased to note. The same type of shirt, with billowing sleeves and ruffles, and black tights. As always, he wore black gloves and black boots. And there, glinting on his chest, was the crescent pendant that Galadrea had first noticed back when he had come to her room for the first time. Turning around, Galadrea shut the door and made sure no one was in the hall.
"So we meet again," a soft voice came from behind her. As she slowly turned, Galadrea met his eyes. "Come to finish me off?" he asked, a slight curve in his sensual lips. Looking away, Galadrea figited with the heavy, dark cloak that she had brought with her.
"I had to see if it was you," she said, a tremor in her silvery voice. As he laughed, Galadrea looked up in anger. "It's hardly a laughing matter, Jareth! I could easily kill you--" "But you won't," he broke in, rising gracefully from the bed he had been reposing on. Slowly, he stepped up to the very edge of the field that kept him imprisoned. His voice was heavily laced with irony, and something else. "Why are you really here, Galadrea? Be honest," he asked, all sarcasm dropping from his voice, leaving it sounding tired.
"I came to free you," she replied.
And now, the great escape!
She's nuts! Let's get out of here.