Chapter 4: Occidental Problems
Jessie returned to her cottage and immediately stripped her armor off. Dried blood was caked onto her clothes and skin. She stripped her clothes off on the way to the bathroom and drew a hot bath in her round tub. Jessie dropped in a handful of vanilla bath salt before stepping in. She leaned back, took a deep breath of the vanilla scented air, and let the warm water sooth her body.
Jessie sank into the deep bath tub to immerse her whole body into the water. When she emerged, she smoothed her hair back.
"Here" A voice said. A dry rag was placed in her hands.
"Thanks" Jessie said drying her eyes before the stranger's presence hit her. She dropped the rag and looked to her side. Jareth was sitting on the edge of the tub. "Jareth!"
"I've come to ask you to dinner, but it looks like you're a little busy" Jareth said. He let his gloved fingers swirl the water. "Would you like a little company?"
"I was just planning on eating here tonight" Jessie said. Jareth stood up and started to shed his coat, then his boots, then his shirt.
"How did your knights do today?" Jareth asked. Jessie leaned back in the tub. The tub itself was built to comfortably hold four people, much like a Jacuzzi.
"They did okay" Jessie said. "They raced through the Black Pit without looking for instructions though."
"They all failed?" Jareth asked stepping out of his pants and placing his gloves on the counter.
"Every single one" Jessie replied. In the Underground, nudity was very acceptable. It had taken years for Jessie to accept entirely and now she smiled at herself for not caring in the least. "There was an accident today."
"Oh yes?" Jareth asked climbing into the bath.
"One of my students got himself two deep puncture wounds in the torso from an Ethiopian dragon's tail" Jessie replied.
"They had a dragon on their first course?" Jareth asked. "What did they do? Run past it?"
"Yes" Jessie said. Jareth shook his head. "How was your day?"
"I'm in the middle of trade negotiations with Prince Volmerte" Jareth said. He rest both of his arms along the top of the tub. "How do you always get the bath water at a perfect temperature?"
"Natural talent" Jessie replied. She took a deep breath, enjoying the vanilla scent.
"Would you like to eat over at the castle tonight?" Jareth asked. Jessie pulled herself somewhat out of the water and stretched to reach her belt.
"I don't know" Jessie said. She sat back in the tub with her pipe in hand. She pulled out some fairyweed from a small coin bag and lit her pipe. "Won't we just end up fighting?"
"I was hoping not to" Jareth said. He moved in the water so he was directly in front of her. He took her pipe and set it on the tile that gave the tub a large ledge. "Why do you smoke that?"
"You smoke it too" Jessie said.
"Used to" Jareth corrected. "I stopped a year and a half ago."
"I guess I'm the oblivious one then" Jessie said. Jareth retrieved the wash cloth that had fallen into the water and cleaned Jessie's face. "Jareth--."
"Oh shut up" Jareth said moving and pulling Jessie so she was practically on his lap with the back of her head on his left shoulder. He held her gently and thoroughly cleaned his favorite knight. As he ran the wash rag down her neck, he gave her a chaste kiss on her temple.
"Jareth, this is….weird" Jessie said. She moved and picked her pipe back up.
"We used to take baths together all the time" Jareth said. Jessie took a drag from her pipe.
"Not since I was nineteen" Jessie replied. The two were silent for a long while.
"Did you ever sleep with Renaud?" Jareth asked.
"What?" Jessie asked.
"It's been bothering me" Jareth replied. "You two were almost too close."
"I never slept with Renaud" Jessie said. "I wanted to at one point, but he never allowed it." Jessie puffed on her pipe. "Instead, he'd send me on missions."
"Who then?" Jareth asked. "Who have you slept with?"
"Why?" Jessie asked. Jareth just raised an eyebrow. "Okay, fine. When I was sixteen, I first slept with Hugo."
"Sir Hugo?" Jareth questioned. Jessie nodded.
"He said I was too impulsive and that I was looking for something he didn't have" Jessie said. "Then a year later, I ran into a gypsy. He was almost the same age as me and I kind of liked him. It turned out that he had murdered two people on the way into the Labyrinth, so I put him in jail."
"And?" Jareth asked.
"A few one night stands here and there" Jessie shrugged. "And, Al-Shairan."
"What about Robin?" Jareth asked.
"Never slept with him" Jessie said. Jareth's face was blank.
"Do you want to?" Jareth asked. Jessie's eye twitched.
"Yes" Jessie replied. Jareth hoisted himself out of the bath and started to dry himself off. "Jareth?"
"I'm fine" Jareth replied. "Just…get ready for dinner."
"Jareth, I don't love Robin" Jessie replied.
"What about me?" Jareth asked. Jessie stepped out of the bath and started to dry herself off as well.
"What about you Jareth?" Jessie snapped. "I fear you, love you, and I do as you say, and you're nothing but a pain in the ass most of the time."
"But you're not willing to share my bed?" Jareth asked.
"You're too possessive" Jessie said. She moved into her bedroom and started to pull out clothes. Jareth followed, completely dressed with perfect hair and make-up.
"Wear a dress tonight" Jareth said. "We're having company."
Jessie moved to pull out a black dress. Jareth moved over to her and looked into her closet. She had three dresses, none of them that would be appropriate. Jareth handed her a crystal. When he stepped away the crystal exploded and Jessie found herself wearing a blue dress with white under-ruffles that matched the clothes that Jareth was wearing.
"Who's coming over?" Jessie asked. She went to retrieve two of her knives and place them somewhere on her new dress.
"It's a surprise" Jareth whispered into her ear. He put his hands along her waist and placed his face alongside of hers.
"But I have to wear your colors" Jessie said. Jareth smiled against Jessie's temple and kissed her.
"Exactly" Jareth said. "Come, then." Jareth held out his hand, which Jessie took with a long-gloved hand. Jareth threw a crystal towards the open door frame and it seemed to stick, as if caught in a web. In mere seconds, the orb expanded to fill the doorframe.
"I hope you like spicy food" Jareth said as they passed through the doorway.
Jareth led Jessie directly into the dining hall, which was now lit up with hundreds of white candles. Sitting at the table were only two other people. Jessie felt her stomach twist when she saw the turquoise man and her favorite faery liaison at the table.
Jareth guided Jessie to sit across from them and took the seat at the head of the table. Goblins ran out with plates of food and decanters of wine.
Jareth smiled and sipped his wine. "So, it seems as though we all have a common problem."
"Very direct" Robin said picking a grape from the center of the table. Robin sat back in his chair as a roast was placed on the table.
"King Jareth, do you wish our treaty to be nullified?" King Al-Shairan asked.
"No" Jareth said setting his wine glass down. "I just don't think that one of my best knights should be part of your treaty."
"Why should it matter?" Al-Shairan asked. "I won't stop her from her duties and I will only keep her occupied for a little while, here and there."
Jessie looked at all the others. Robin looked somewhat bored and was gazing at her. Jareth and Al-Shairan looked as if they were about to tear each other apart. Jessie sighed and picked up her wine glass.
"And what would you do if I was occupying her time?" Jareth asked. Al-Shairan's smile never faded.
"Very possessive" Al-Shairan stated. Jareth nearly snarled.
"Perhaps we should just allow her to choose" Robin said cutting a slice of roast. Al-Shairan and Jareth still had empty plates. Jessie had taken some vegetables and rolls. Jareth and Al-Shairan both looked over at Jessie, who wasn't looking too pleased.
"Perhaps we should allow her to decide who is best for her" Al-Shairan said. "We could each have a night with her—"
"Excuse me!" Jessie said standing up. She snarled at the three men. "I am not a piece of prop---"
The large doors to the dining room crashed open. Jessie and the three men stopped to look. Aulus stood in the doorway with a sack in his hands.
"Sir Aulus?!" Jessie called. He rushed in, bowing as he moved.
"Sir Jessie, I need you to come with me" Aulus said hastily.
"What is this about, Firewolfe?" Jareth bellowed. Aulus turned to the others who were at the table and looked like he suddenly realized what he had done. He immediately bowed low.
"I…Your Majesty, there is a dragon" Aulus said. Jessie stood up and shoved a small piece of roast into her mouth.
"A dragon? Of what sort?" Jareth asked.
"Occidental, sire" Aulus replied. Jareth leaned his head on his hand and waved Aulus away.
"Take her, if you must" Jareth replied. Aulus held the sack out to Jessie, who pulled out a pair of pants. She pulled them on under her dress and quickly cut the dress so she was wearing the bodice. Jareth sat back and silently drank his wine. All three men watched as she hastily pulled on her boots and shrugged into an armored jacket. Aulus held her belt out to her and she strapped it on.
"Where is the dragon?" Jessie asked. Aulus pulled out chest armor and a helmet. He started helping her with her chest armor.
"The Junkyard" Aulus replied. "It's trying to burn everything."
"Shit" Jessie said under her breath. "My horse?"
"Outside" Aulus said latching the last strap into place on her chest plate. Jessie had moved her two knives from the fallen skirt to her belt and had also traded her long gloves for the leather gloves that were in the bag. She shoved her helmet on.
"Can't Sir Don Carlos take care of his own division?" Jareth asked. Aulus pulled a gauntlet onto Jessie's left arm and tied it in place.
"Sir Don Carlos" Jessie said. "Has only dealt with Epidaurians." Aulus moved her so he could place the other gauntlet onto her. "There are only a few of us who are qualified to deal with dragons as fierce as Occidentals."
"Be off then" Jareth said. Jessie ran out the door as if she were on fire. Aulus trailed after her. "Sir Aulus." Aulus stopped and slowly turned to face the table. "Never interrupt us again, otherwise you will suffer undoubtedly."
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty" Aulus said before leaving the dining hall.
Jareth sat down and took a deep breath. "So, where were we gentlemen?"
"Aulus, I can't thank you enough for getting me out of there" Jessie said as they sped through the city towards the Junk Yard.
"It wasn't a problem" Aulus said. "I knew about the king's plans for near two hours."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Jessie asked. The walls of the maze blocked their view of anything that might be going on around them.
"I couldn't just tell you" Aulus replied. "I had to find a good excuse to get you out of there and the dragon is a pretty good one."
"But, what you're telling me is that you've been spying on the king" Jessie said. She could feel the medallion that was secured on her belt start to warm. The medallions allowed the knights to easily traverse the Labyrinth without becoming lost.
"The walls have ears" Aulus said coldly. Jessie looked at a growth of eye lichen and kept her mouth shut. They raced on, trying to hurry before the sun completely set for the night.
The Labyrinth moved to open the path that they needed and soon they found themselves facing the large piles of junk. A large Occidental dragon, with a bony plate that protected its neck, four massive legs, and two large wings, what most people consider the standard dragon, breathed fire at a small group of knights.
"What does it want?" Jessie asked. Aulus leaned in so he could hear over the noise before them.
"We don't know" Aulus replied. "You're the only one that we know of who learned the language of the dragons."
"Oh" Jessie said looking at the dragon. "Great."
"What do you need us to do?" Aulus asked. Jessie cracked her neck.
"Pull back" Jessie said. "I need everyone to stay away until I'm finished talking to him."
Aulus and Jessie approached the other knights, Jessie staying at the appropriate distance. Immediately, the other knights started to retreat from the large dragon. The dragon moved to watch the actions.
"I want everyone to stay here" Jessie ordered. "Don't move, no matter what."
"Be careful" Aulus said. Jessie nodded and slowly rode Aftiel out towards the dragon.
"Tzelt! (Dragon!)" Jessie called. The dragon crept towards her, stopping at a mere twenty feet.
"Tuyic (Speaker)" The dragon replied in a deep guttural voice.
"Azra dusazwitg hizhnh? (What do you want you?)" Jessie asked. The dragon let a small ball of flame escape its lips.
"Uhuk sraap' zrrut raob sraap' ch'eewufn irgeeth. T'kzintar wtmok't kzejk sraap' heht'ss. Sraap' hrowizhtt'ss. (Give me food or I will eat you. Knights disrupt my home. I will kill you all.)" The dragon hissed at her. Aftiel shook his head, but remained calm.
"Shrri' divc tzuv irgeeth guse ztgekzbaksh kchope, k'tohazrl irgeeth chojj raoowh zhlaaan heht'ss the. Sraap' tauurre' zhu t'kzintar. (We can supply you with three cows, but you must tell me where your home is. I will stop the knights.)" Jessie said calmly. The dragon let a growl erupt from its mouth.
"Hrerockt! (Liar!)" The dragon roared. He moved quickly and precisely, moving its muzzle only inches from Jessie. Aftiel reared up on his hind legs, throwing Jessie to the ground, and ran off into the night. The dragon moved its head so it was still face to face with Jessie.
"Feeop sraap' lazsegozl hizhnh jinehacs! (Let me prove you wrong!)" Jessie cried. The dragon bore it's fangs as Jessie stood up. "Zughtl sraap' hroku irgeeth, tzelt. Zughtl sraap' k'tozoow t'kzintar t'hroku hizhnh. (Allow me to help you, dragon. Let me send some troops to help you.)"
The dragon reared up and heavily landed on its front feet, shaking the ground beneath him. The knights attempted to move forward, but stopped when the dragon's head snapped towards them.
"Sraap' wtkaks jiwo aj. (I demand more then.)" The dragon breathed. Jessie quickly glanced back towards Aulus.
"Hrrwweo grrring zhlaaan wtkaks? (What are your demands?)" Jessie asked. Jessie watched as the creature allowed smoke to leave its nostrils. The reptilian eyes looking nothing but fierce and vengeful.
"Sraap' hvehi t'kzintar t'sraap' heht'ss yahughnost'ss kzozughzt'ss, wopo zhlaaan zeez'aasi, yeebugh ch'heprgehv t'kizhr hrrizograng ch'aw. (I will take the soldiers to my home and back, leaving your land, for two thousand pounds of gold.)" The dragon said. Jessie's eye grew wide.
"Ch'heprgehv t'kizhr hrrizograng ch'aw?!" Jessie repeated. The dragon snapped at her with its massive jaws. "Zughtl sraap' k'tyut'kjaztz hrrwweo sraap' divc kzoowboow. (Let me see what I can acquire.)"
The dragon raised its head, signaling that it was done talking. Jessie backed up until she was close to Aulus.
"Aulus, we need a small troop to go with the dragon" Jessie said.
"Are you kidding?!" Aulus asked.
"He's here because he thinks that our troops are ruining his home" Jessie said. "He demands food and two thousand pounds of gold."
"Only the king would have two thousand pounds of gold" Aulus replied. Jessie signaled for a lesser ranking knight to dismount before taking the horse.
"I'm going to go talk to him" Jessie said. "Bring the dragon three cows for now."
"Three cows?" Aulus asked. Jessie's lip twitched.
"Just do it, Aulus. Be quick about it" Jessie said. "Dragon's aren't known for their patience."
Jessie raced off towards the castle. As she raced by goblins and other Labyrinth citizens, she barely heard their curses. She stopped before the castle doors and threw the reigns to the small dwarf gardener.
"Hoggle, stay with the horse" Jessie ordered before running into the castle. She ran through the halls, stopping briefly when she saw a servant in the hall carrying laundry. The goblin saw her, dropped the laundry, and headed for the dining hall.
"Your Majesty!" The goblin cried running into the dining hall. "Sir Jessie--!"
"Your Majesty!" Jessie said bursting through the dining hall doors. Jareth and the others stood. Jessie moved so she was standing close to Jareth. "I need to speak with you. It's of great importance."
"Is that dragon gone?" Al-Shairan asked in an amused tone.
"No. He still remains" Jessie replied. "But, we should be rid of him soon."
"Would you gentlemen excuse me for a moment?" Jareth asked. Jareth walked out of the dining hall with Jessie following closely behind him. He stopped in the hall, making Jessie nearly run into him. He whirled around. "What's going on? You Knights are making a fool of me in there."
"The dragon thinks that we have sent out warriors to invade his home" Jessie said. "He demands two thousand pounds of gold. I have agreed to send out troops to help him. It is the only way he'll leave."
"And?" Jareth asked.
"And, I have to go with him. I'm the only one who can speak—" Jessie said.
"No" Jareth interrupted. "Send out Alexa. She can communicate with animals."
"I don't know if—" Jessie said.
"Do it" Jareth replied.
"The gold--?" Jessie said.
"Will not be paid" Jareth said. "You will stay here, that is an order."
"But—"Jessie said.
"You have new troops to train" Jareth replied. "Send Alexa."
"I don't think the dragon will accept this" Jessie said sternly.
"Be forceful about it" Jareth said dismissively. He started to walk back towards the dining hall.
"You could be jeopardizing the whole kingdom!" Jessie said loudly. Jareth turned with a scowl on his face.
"How dare you" Jareth growled. "I know how to run a kingdom. I also know how to deal with dragons. Now, get out there and send Alexa. This dragon will make do with no gold."
Jessie merely nodded. Jareth turned and went into the dining hall, slamming the door behind him. Once he was out of sight, Jessie turned and punched the wall, bruising her knuckles in the process.
It didn't take long for Jessie to relay the message to Alexa and for a small troop to be formed. Jessie rode with them back to the Junkyard, where the dragon was feasting on his cows.
Alexa and her half dozen troops stayed beside Aulus and the other knights, watching as Jessie rode towards the dragon. The Junkyard now looked like a massacre had taken place. The cows were in pieces as the dragon slowly chewed their bloody bodies.
"Tzelt! Sraap' jizhsee kz'z' t'kzintar, k'tohazrl Sraap' divc chsse hroku. Hrzughkzso Alexa vazjz sraap'. (Dragon! I have brought troops, but I cannot assist. Sir Alexa will take my place.)" Jessie called to the dragon. The dragon stopped chewing his food, swallowing.
"Hrrwweo k'tel ch'aw? (What of the gold?)" The dragon hissed. The horse Jessie was on tried to step back, away from the dragon, but Jessie held the reigns tightly and tried to calm the horse.
"Tsupipb chsse zughtl. (The king would not allow it.)" Jessie said. The dragon savagely ripped off a piece of cow, spraying blood on Jessie and the horse. Jessie tried not to flinch as the dragon looked as if he was thinking.
"Jeb. (Acceptable)" The dragon finally said. Jessie turned and moved back towards the other knights. A few were visibly disgusted at her, since she was covered with cow blood.
"What did he say?" Alexa asked.
"You may go with him" Jessie said. "You and your troops."
"When do we leave?" Alexa asked.
"He didn't say" Jessie replied. Jessie dismounted her horse and handed the horse over to its owner. Jessie looked up at Alexa. "I know you don't speak Kzinti, language of the dragons, but I want you to remember some words."
"Fine" Alexa said. She pulled out a small piece of paper and a stick of graphite. "T-z-e-l-t, pronounced z-el-t, means dragon. H-r-o-k-u, pronounced hrr-O-ku, means help. H-'-u-v-f, pronounced Ha-click sound-oov, means attack. T-a-u-u-r-r-e-', pronounced t-au-oo-rey-click sound, means stop. K-s-h-b-I-h-r, pronounced kish-bur, means water."
"What about please and thank you?" Alexa asked. Jessie stretched her neck.
"Thankful is c-h-'-u-p-t-'-s-s, pronounced ch-click sound-up-te-click sound- zz" Jessie said. Alexa gave her a look as if she had just made up a word. "There is no word for please. Dragons are very demanding and the words 'please' and 'thank you' signify a weakling to them."
"Fine. I'll figure out the rest" Alexa said pocketing the notes. She looked Jessie up and down. "You're disgusting. Go get cleaned up, I'll handle this from here."
Jessie nodded and merely walked towards the Goblin City. Jessie heard Aulus and Alexa arguing over something, but didn't bother turning around to become involved. She crossed over piles of junk until she came to the Goblin City west gate. The guards were, for once, awake, but didn't bother stopping her when they saw her knight medallion.
Jessie waited for the main doors to close and for Humongus to form.
"Who goes?" The large robotic guard bellowed.
"Sir Jessie Cardemus, knight of the labyrinth" Jessie called up to him.
"Pass" Humongus bellowed, moving back into his place. The gates opened and Jessie quickly passed. Jessie managed to get through the Goblin City without many problems, only stares from citizens and passersby.
Twenty minutes later, Jessie found herself standing in front of her front door. She took off her boots and carried them inside. Jessie moved to the back of her kitchen, where she kept dirty gear needing to be cleaned. She stripped down and quickly moved to her bathroom, where she started a cool bath.
Jessie crawled into the cool water and quickly scrubbed the blood and grime from her skin. She didn't usually waste any time in the tub when she was bloody. Simply, soaped up, scrubbed, and rinsed. She got out and was slightly relieved that she had a small spot of free time.
Jessie pulled on a flannel black robe and went into her living room. She pulled a selection of books from her large bookshelf and set them on her table.
"Ludus Musica" Jessie said aloud. Music started playing from a strange looking instrument that sat in the corner of her living room, near a giant lamp. Jessie turned back to her books and opened them at the various points that were book marked. She retrieved a small journal from a small table that held a vase of dried flowers.
Jessie started reading from a book entitled "Obscurus Silva Magē", or "Dark Forest Magic". When she came across certain spells, she wrote them down.
'Pick a lily when the sun is in Leo and mix it with juice of laurel leaves. Place this under a pile of dung. When worms appear, kill them, dry them, and grind them into a fine powder. Place under an enemy's bed. They will not be able to sleep until powder is removed' The book instructed. Jessie scribbled it down.
Potions had never been her best subject while training to be a knight of the Labyrinth. Jessie kept reading, hoping to find certain recipes that would help her with her duties. Jessie took notes from the book before her and then switched to a different book that was so old the title had been worn from the cover of the book. The book was fairly new for Jessie. She had bought it nearly two months prior from a traveling caravan that sold rare books.
This book was supposed to be the one she was looking for, the one that gave the instructions for the Mandragora. The mandragora produced a fierce warrior. The potion only lasts for a few months before a new batch needs to be made. The mandragora is, essentially, a warrior in a bottle. Empty the bottle onto the ground and the mandragora will appear.
Jessie leaned back in her chair with the book in hand. It seemed to talk about everything about the mandragora, but not how to make it. There was a knock on Jessie's door, which wasn't totally unexpected. Jessie marked her place in her book and went to answer the door.
Robin stood on the doorstep when Jessie answered the door. He looked tired. Jessie moved to the side, gesturing him into her cottage.
"What do you want?" Jessie asked returning to sit at her table. Robin pulled up a chair and sat down.
"Just to tell you what happened tonight" Robin said. "And, to check that you stayed in the Labyrinth."
"Jareth probably knows that I'm in the Labyrinth" Jessie said. She took a deep breath. For once, she was not happy to have Robin in her cottage.
"I'm…I'm sure that he probably does" Robin said not making eye contact like usual. He pulled a book towards him and casually started to flip through it.
"What's wrong, Robin?" Jessie asked. Robin stopped flipping through the book and read a small passage. "Robin."
"Jareth…" Robin started. "Requests your company tonight."
Jessie let out a deep breath and pulled her robe tighter to her. She could have guessed. She quietly moved to collect her books and her notebook.
"What about you and Al-Shairan?" Jessie asked placing her things into a leather satchel. Robin stayed where he was, watching her move around.
"You are to go on vacation with Jareth, soon" Robin replied. "If you come back engaged or fully in love with him, then Al-Shairan will amend the treaty. If you do not love Jareth when you return, then he will stop his courtship with you and you will not have the rights that you do now."
"The rights I have now?" Jessie repeated. "You mean arguing every time I see him."
"Those are rights that not many have with Jareth" Robin replied. Jessie clenched her jaw shut and moved into her bedroom. Robin slowly followed and found her shoving a few items into a travel bag. He moved up behind her, running his hands around her waist and leaning his head so he could smell her scent. "I will be left in charge while Jareth takes you on vacation."
"Robin" Jessie warned. She moved his arms and kept packing. Robin moved to sit on the bed. He looked a little down.
"I am not to court you in any terms or I will be exiled" Robin replied. He smirked and scratched his chin. "I don't even think that it really, truly bothers you."
"It doesn't" Jessie replied coolly. She went behind a dressing wall and, after a few minutes, came out dressed casually in riding pants, tall boots, a very baggy poets shirt, and over that a tight bodice. She closed up her bag and started to pull on her usual weapons.
"You're not fighting this completely?" Robin asked.
Jessie tied a sack into place on her belt. "Honestly, I was half expecting something like this. Just not so soon."
"Well its not very fair is it?" Robin said pouting a little.
"Depends on what your basis for comparison is" Jessie said. "Nothing is totally fair to everyone. Jareth told me that a long time ago."
Robin watched her shrug on a long leather coat that was adorned with various bits of goblin-worked plate armor. Jessie grabbed her bag and moved to the main room with Robin at her heels.
"Are you under some spell? You seem a bit….different" Robin said with a gesture from his hand. Jessie raised an eyebrow and moved to put her books into her bag.
"I'm fine" Jessie replied. "Sometimes I do have moments of clarity where I remember one of the most vital things in this kingdom."
"And what's that?" Robin asked. Jessie zipped up her bag and slung it over her shoulder.
"Jareth may be cruel and seemingly unloving, but he is first and foremost king" Jessie said with a blank face. Robin nodded and escorted Jessie out the door and to the grand castle at the center of the Labyrinth.