I carefully traveled the castle in disguise as a servant goblin. Many servants spoke of the ball last night. I watched as I saw both Hoggle and Sir Didymus whispering in the shadows of the throne room. I knew they were waiting for Jareth to appear.
I moved closer to the two as they entered into a conversation about tending gardens and protecting it from harm. Then it changed to last night's events.
"I heard she was far more beautiful than could be possibly imagined!"
Hoggle huffed, "Hardly possible! She was already extremely fair."
"The fairest of them all she is!" he yelled triumphantly.
"What of the fugitive? I heard you are on a quest for her."
"A noble quest for any knight to be sure, but alas it goes unwell." Sir Didymus said sadly.
Hoggle nodded though his eyes hid something from Sir Didymus. I may be wrong but it seemed to be happiness that I was not found. He spoke cautiously, "I think we were somehow mistaken about the maiden. She is as that Ludo described."
"Hush now! That traitor Ludo spoke of rebellion and of things impossible. A Labyrinth! What use of have we for a great maze?"
"The girl too spoke of a labyrinth. I just wonder if it is possible, I mean no harm by it. I am loyal to Jareth." He puffed himself as to defend his honor.
"It does not do to dwell on it," spoke Sir Didymus quietly.
"How right thou are!"
Sir Didymus, Hoggle, and I all jumped at the sudden new guest. I held my head down as the Goblin King approached them all dress in black.
"You have a message for me, I hear?" he glared at the two waiting.
It was Sir Didymus who stepped forth. "I found this nymph who speaks of treason."
"A nymph? Honestly, Sir Didymus I would think you would have captured that witch. A nymph means nothing to me. It's the girl I want!" he shouted at them.
"The nymph is quite entertaining you might want her to tell you stories or as a court jester," stumbled Hoggle, "Them are rare now." I knew he was trying not to have king inflict harm on Didymus. Though he seemed to act brave I could tell he was deeply scared. He was always a coward but because of that I loved him more.
"Bring her in then and we shall see." He made his way over to his throne and causally sat in it. He glared at the two, "Well off you go get it!"
I watched as my once true friends hurried to get the nymph. I was alone with the Goblin King. I hurried over to him.
"Sire? Is there anything you wish?" I bowed low. I could feel his eyes on me. Then felt him grabbed my arm and pulled me up towards him. My eyes carefully sought his own. They had not the gentlemanly touch in them as they did last night.
His grip tightened as I heard the door open behind me along with the clinking of chains. I was thrown to the ground roughly and forgotten by him. I slowly began to act like I was cleaning as I turned to see the nymph though beaten was still oddly beautiful. Her light green skin was bruised brown and her forest green hair matted.
Her head was tilted at the sight of the Goblin King and me, still in disguise as a goblin, in curious fashion. Her eyes held mine. I felt then she knew who I truly was.
I looked at the king who now had a slight smile on his face at the sight of the naked trembling nymph. I wanted to slap him there on the spot. This was just too cruel, even for him.
"Give us a riddle!"
The nymph began to speak in a hypnotic voice:
"We three noble are thee
One a coward but bravest amongst friends
Two a knight to fight till all ends
And Thee the three
King lost in love
in search for a fair dove
But none to find in this haven
For thou is in love with a raven."
I watched Jareth as I cleaned a table his grip tightened around his armrest of his throne. I began to wonder if she spoke of the future Goblin Queen. "Tell me of this maiden?"
"Gladly I shall:
Maiden of the raven
will bring all in safe haven.
She ventured from afar as I shall.
Hardship she struggled
Goblin King she muddled.
His world turned upside down
now don't you frown.
She wore odd clothes
She destroyed
She turn those
Who you employed
But not for harm for love so pure
she has the one true cure"
They looked at her confused. The Goblin King was transfixed by her words as I was. She looked right at me as she spoke the next lines.
"She will see you
as well as you two
Friends thee three
One a coward but bravest amongst friends
Two a knight to fight till all ends
Three a traitor named who knew of old trends.
In her eyes you have gazed
Long ago in a deep maze
Maiden of eyes so green
She was only then a teen
Fallen it has from the sun
Maiden of the raven
did thus run."
I dropped the mug I was holding as I realized she knew about my run. It shouldn't have come as a shock but all the same it was. I tried to hide my blunder from them. Luckily Jareth and Sir Didymus were too transfixed by what the nymph had spoken to pay any heed to me. It was Hoggle's eyes that watched me carefully.
"The maiden from the ball had raven hair!" exclaimed Sir Didymus. From his eyes I knew he too thought it spoke of the future Goblin Queen, not the past Labyrinth Champion.
"What of it I never had seen her before?"
"Thou has before the war
Does thou want more?"
The nymph was oddly enjoying herself.
The king stood and walked towards the nymph and nodded, "You speak of a maiden that has beaten a maze that is gone now. How did I know her?"
"Song has been sung
of strange love among
A great king thou are
but fallen as thee for a star
Child wished away
On a summers day
Fly thy high in the night
like a kite
for all she wanted was a brave knight
Fear me
Love me
Do as I say
Words said to maiden
Words replied
You have no power over fair raven
You then cried
Lost was she
forgotten was she
imprison was she
Escape has she
disguised has she
dance has she."
I feared that she would betray me at that moment. I slowly moved to the shadows as Hoggle too slowly moved towards me. Jareth's eyes widen, "You speak of the girl!"
"Witch Williams thou name
but it was all for game
once you tried to tame
in another game
Eyes has she the same
That thee gazed
in a long ago maze"
I hid in the shadows as the knight and king stared at the nymph wondering how it knew such things. The nymph only nodded slowly as they began to pick on what she had said. I watched as the Goblin King's temper was beginning to rise. Hoggle was only feet away from me. Every now and then his eyes were on me. We stared at each other for a second as he began toying with the bracelet.
"Bracelet she gave to one so true
That should be a big clue"
We both turned towards the nymph. All eyes now were on us. I could not read what played on Jareth's face.
"Thou will meet again
and try to win
Sarah Williams was then a teen
with eyes of green
No long teen but maiden be
in a few hours thou will see."
My mind was racing but I could feel the disguise fading slowly. I needed to leave in fear of being discovered. I crouched in the corner and pulled out the crystal from my goblin rags. I held it gently in my hand waiting for the right moment. The king grabbed the nymph. "You spoke of treason give me a reason not to imprison."
The nymph started laughing at them, "Gladly I speak treason! You need no other reason! I am already imprisoned!"
Her laughter grew as wild like the Firey's I once ran into on my first trip. Sir Didymus tried to make her stop. I knew this was my chance to escape.
"Riddle did thee speak! No more for thee be squeaked."
I quickly thought of somewhere safe. I watched as the nymph kissed Jareth on the lips as I disappeared. I felt a slight pain in my arm as glitter started to surround me.
