The Labyrinth of London
A Sherlock/Labyrinth Crossover
Bosom Companions? Friends?
Inspired By
"The Thin White Sleuth…"
By
Pika-la-Cynique
The Almighty Disclaimer
Oh Moffat and Gatiss,
Henson and Doyle,
To you belongs all the characters
And none so for me!
Summary: Hoggle learned very early in his career that he should not make Jareth angry. For centuries, Jareth and Hoggle loathed each other. However, sometimes, very rarely, things changes… Part of The Labyrinth of London.
Chapter I: Traitor
A/N: This story was inspired by "The Thin White Sleuth..." by Pika-la-Cynique of Girls Next Door fame.
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Dwarfs did not fear the dark. They were born in it. They were raised in it. They died in it. They loved darkness.
Hoggle was not like most dwarfs.
He loved gardens. He loved the smell of flowers. He loved the way jewels reflected in the sun in ways it never did by candle light. Darkness was not everything.
However, Hoggle was too scared to ask for anything else. He was always scared. Fear never left him.
That was why he sold out his own kind during the War of Succession. Hoggle was terrified of dying. Better a living traitor than a dead friend.
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"Honestly, what are we to do with this thing?" the High King of the Seelie Court asked.
"Well, we cannot let it live," replied the High Queen of the Seelie Court.
"But a promise is binding," the King said.
"Why would you agree to something so stupid?" the Queen asked.
"We are desperate on the Northern Front and you know it," the King said.
"Maybe we should just throw him in some dark hole upside down for the rest of its miserable life," the Queen said.
"Now there is an idea," the King said.
"I will take him," a voice said from behind Hoggle.
The dwarf looked up and shuddered so badly his chains rattled. The Goblin King. King of the Rats. Chaos maker. Child snatcher. Dream stealer. And ugly to boot and that's saying something coming from a dwarf. The Goblin King stood behind the dwarf and several small goblins flitted about the room, making chaos as they were want.
"You will take a traitor under your care?" the High King of the Seelie Court said.
"Well, what is one more traitor amongst us? After all, we are trying to kill the High King," the Goblin King said.
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Hoggle found himself outside the gates of the Labyrinth. He ain't going to make me run it, is he? The Goblin King stood in front of the doors.
"What did you do for your kinsman? What was your job?" the Goblin King asked.
"I… made sure… the tunnels were safe for… for traveling, your majesty," Hoggle said.
"Did you like it? Answer truthfully or you will not like the consequences," the Goblin King said.
"No, sir. I didn't like it all that much, sir."
"What do you like to do?" the Goblin King asked.
"Me sir?"
"Yes, you. I am not talking to those biting fairies now am I?"
Hoggle shook his head. "No, sir."
"Well? Answer dwarf."
"I like bright things. I like gardens and jewels. I don't like the dark, sir."
"Well, you are certainly not going anywhere near the treasury, but we do not have a gardener here. Generally the Labyrinth takes care of itself, but the faeries are a nuisance. Would that suit you, dwarf? Would you spray the faeries away and make sure my gates are properly imposing?"
"Whatever you want, sir."
"Good. I will see to it that someone assigns you proper duties both when there is and is not a Runner in the Labyrinth. And Hoggle?"
"Yes, sir?" Hoggle asked.
Suddenly, they were both transported to the edge of the foulest smelling thing Hoggle had ever smelled. "If you ever betray my family or me, I will throw you into the Bog of Eternal Stench. It is our greatest punishment in the Goblin Kingdom. If you step one foot into it, you will smell like this until the ground which carried your dust is burned. Do you understand me, Hoggle?"
"Yes, sir," Hoggle said as he tried not to gag.
"Good," the Goblin King said.
Hoggle was back at the gates by himself. The Goblin King's voice rang out in the air. You are free to do as you wish as long as you obey me, follow your duties, and do not harm to the residents of the Labyrinth.
The Dwarf fainted.
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A/N: The War of Succession's beginnings will be explained in the story about Jareth's sister and brother-in-law and will be pertinent to the Fall.