Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I own no Labyrinth characters.
All Sarah could think was that Linda could have been an actress in the human world if she had really left to become one.
"Disappeared?" She exclaimed, a shocked look claiming her sharpened features. "How horrible! Are you sure they aren't just lost?"
Queen Nadia nodded grimly, full mouth thinning into a grim line. "I'm afraid so. We have searched the entire Underground and have not found a trace of them."
If Sarah could guess anything, she would guess that Nadia was buying their story of innocence. She hoped the kids stayed upstairs.
" That's just horrible." Linda replied softly, sincerity shining in her eyes. "But I must ask–why have you come to me?"
Nadia's cold expression betrayed nothing more than the grim look in her mouth and eyes. "I need you to help. More specifically," dark eyes flickered in Sarah's direction, "both of you to help."
"What do you mean?" Sarah stepped forward, finding her courage. "How could you need our help?"
A chuckle escaped Nadia's mouth. "Found your tongue? I was wondering when you would–I've heard about you defeating my son with mere words." Her mouth twisted into a dark sneer and the sight of slightly pointed fangs almost made Sarah lose her courage.
"I'm not sure of where my grandchildren are, but I have a feeling they are not in the Underground. " Nadia began to walk the length of the room, her steps careful and unhurried. "I believe you all know what I'm getting at."
"You want us," Linda cocked an eyebrow, "to help you look for your grand children? What makes you think we will? We are enemies of your son." Linda added.
"You are–and the reason is much better than what was rumored." The amusement in Nadia's eyes baffled Sarah. Here she was asking for help, and she looked like she would care more about a lost penny.
"You don't look like you care very much." Sarah blurted. "You're asking us for help and you, you just," she searched for the right words, "you don't care! How can you expect us to help you?"
Nadia bared her teeth. "I expect nothing. I am asking you–as your queen to help yourselves and me."
"Ourselves? How are we helping ourselves?" Sarah questioned boldly. "Sure we could help you. Sure we could find your grandchildren. But the only person it'll help is you."
"Quite the contrary, Sarah." Nadia made her name sound like a dark curse. "While it will help me, you'd be surprised to find how many others would be helped." She spat.
The anger in her eyes only kindled the fire burning in Sarah. She felt different; like she was the brash, brazen girl who had run the labyrinth. She liked it.
Nadia continued. "My son and his wife are running themselves ragged searching for them. The children can't survive very long in the Aboveground and have to be returned immediately. You can expect the entire Underground to be turned," her voice rose with every word, "upside by my son in his efforts to find his children. And of course," she said quietly, "there's you and your family."
"My son may not be able to touch you, but he can get to your family. He can put them in oubliettes. Put them in dungeons."
So the words worked.
Behind them, Karen made a strangled sound in the back of her throat. Robert and Linda didn't make a sound.
"And you'll be safe–knowing fully well what pain your loved ones are going through. All because you wouldn't help find two children." She cocked her head to the side, smirking. "Do you really think that he won't come looking for his children here? Linora's his enemy and you're the human girl who beat his labyrinth. Its going to happen at some point."
Not so soon, the little voice in the back of Sarah's mind insisted. "How long do the kids have?" Was what came out of her mouth instead.
"Without protection from family they barely have four days. They need to return to the Underground as soon as possible because of their age." At Sarah's quizzical expression, she added. "Children in the Underground are bound to the magic of the land–especially the labyrinth."
This all sounds like some fantasy novel. Sarah bit her lip, looking away from Nadia. Less than four days to return them.
"We will help you." Linda finally said.
Nadia nodded in satisfaction. "I must return to the Underground. I need to overlook the search. Hopefully, I will see both of you soon."
Hopefully not. Sarah only nodded, using all the will she had to keep her face straight. If Nadia stayed for one more second, she wasn't sure if she would be able to hold her tongue.
Nadia vanished in smoke. Literally. She dissolved into a smoky, grainy image of herself before vanishing out the open door with a bizarre rush of wind.
Sarah blinked once, then twice before she actually realized that Nadia was gone. What had she been expecting? The dramatic exit, the crack of lightning and thunder, the shower of glitter: the Goblin King's exit.
"We're going." Linda said firmly. "Get Jarred and Ellie, Sarah. I'll grab the chest."
"Wait a second." Robert protested. "I'm not dragging my family down there. It's too dangerous."
"It's too dangerous to stay here." Linda snapped. "HE can come here and take you away to use you. I can protect you in the Underground. He can't come into my kingdom. It's our only choice."
"But," Robert began, the lawyer in him taking over.
"She's right, Robert." Karen interrupted, leaving Sarah and going to stand beside him. "You heard what that Queen said. It's too dangerous here."
"No." Robert said, eyes flitting around the room for a solution. "There has to be another way to solve this. We could put up another shield. We could just give them back. Save the trouble."
We won't. Sarah opened her mouth to speak.
"No we won't. It could just make it worse." Karen placed a placating hand on Robert's arm. "We've got to go with Linda. We'll be safe with her."
For a long moment Sarah thought her father decline.
He swallowed and tore his eyes away from Karen. "When do we leave?"
Sarah and Linda wore identical relieved smiles. Thank the gods and goddesses.
"Tonight."
Underground:
"And you have not seen them? You haven't heard of them?"
"Not fer a while, no." Hoggle grunted, his back to the Goblin King. "Haven't seen 'em since last week."
He hobbled away, and let out a exclamation of satisfaction as he struck another fairy.
"You're absolutely positive." The Goblin King pressed, his boots crunching against the dry sand.
"Yeah." Hoggle stopped, turning to face the tall figure of the Goblin King. "What's this about? They get inta trouble?"
The Goblin King sneered at the dwarf's show of bravery. "It happens to be none of your concern."
"Why're ya asking me then?" Hoggle asked, turning back to his job.
"I have to check everywhere." The Goblin King hissed angrily, losing his temper. He took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose to calm himself.
"Just keep your eyes open." He said. "And if I find out that you know where my children are, then you'll be put in the darkest, deepest oubliette for the rest of your pathetic life." He practically growled. He turned to the gate of the labyrinth.
Hoggle paled and nodded in understanding. He was glad his majesty couldn't read minds...
The Goblin King turned back to him. On the other hand, his majesty was mysterious even for a Fae. He could have unknown abilities.
"If you see the champion." The word was uttered like a vile poison. "Make sure to let her know that her presence is requested in my castle. Be sure to tell her that her life will be very difficult if she doesn't show, Hogbrain."
"Hoggle." He points out without hesitation.
The Goblin King waves a gloved hand. "I'll call you what I wish. I'm your king and make sure to not forget that."
When he was gone, Hoggle shook his head. What had Ellie and Jarred gotten themselves into?
She slipped away while he was out searching for the little brats he called children. He was such a fool and she was a grand actress, pretending that she cared for their safety. He was away often and the brats were too afraid of her to speak for themselves when he came home.
She went down into the lower parts of the castle, past the dungeons and past the treasures until she reached the small well she had constructed right under his nose. This part of the castle was uninhabited and not even the stupidest of the goblins dared to come this far into the palace. Drawing out a short knife from the folds of her elaborate gown, she pricked her finger and let a drop of silver blood fall into the dark water. She waited, tucking the knife back in her dress and watching the water expectantly. The liquid began to swirl, mixing with the black water until the water was a dirty silver.
She bowed her head in acknowledgement as the room filled with the presence of an ancient being. "Master." She said, voice resounding off the damp walls.
The liquid churned. "Aleera." The deep voice of her master called, using the water to project his voice. "Do you have the children?"
"No master." Aleera replied quickly, eager to relay the events to her leader.
"Then why have you come? You can grab the children at any moment when he is gone. Why are they not with you?" The master said aloud, sounding neither happy nor angry.
"I can not just take them, master. The ritual takes many hours and the King knows when they are in great pain. We have to strip him of his powers before we can get the children." Aleera explained hurriedly, hovering over the well.
"They-the children-are gone." Aleera added.
"Gone?" His voice boomed angrily. "How can they be gone? Your one job was to make sure they stayed in the kingdom."
In her eagerness to please him, she did not notice the rage in his tone. "But now that they are out of the way," she shook her head and laughed softly. "Think of what we can accomplish. All we have to do is find the labyrinth's heart and I'm so close to finding it-I can feel it."
The ancient magic of her master wrapped around her abruptly, pressing against her throat so she couldn't breathe. She gasped like a fish out of water.
"We needed the children. They are the key to finishing the ritual." The master boomed. "Perhaps," he continued, his voice brimming with venom, "I should send another. It would be rather easy to end you."
Aleera gasped wildly. "I c-can do it." She managed.
"Can you?" He asked.
A large, body-less sigh echoed through the room and Aleera crumbled to the floor like a rag doll. She clutched her burning throat and sucked in as much air as she could.
"You have one more chance. Bring the children and the heart to me." He ordered. "And if you fail-well, it's not going to be a pretty picture." His voice was tinged with dark amusement. He began to laugh and Aleera knew she had been dismissed.
Aleera clambered to her feet and nearly ran from the room, his dark laughter following her until she reached the steps. She would not fail him.
A/N: What do you think?
I'm pretty satisfied with this chapter, even if I think it's a bit rushed. I'm so excited to get into the Underground. And just in case anyone was confused, the italics were Sarah's thoughts.
Is anyone ready for Christmas? Anyone? Anyway, 'till next time. Merry Christmas.
