Chapter Seven
It had been some time since I was made to wear the belt of bells. I rarely went out to the garden and anytime I would walk from my room to the garden, it was under a guard escort. None of the court would dare to look at me but I would catch their looks of pity for me. Soon Hoggle was appointed to a duty outside the Labyrinth itself. My parting words were for him to help anyone that claim to be on a quest to free Jareth's heart. Then Ludo was banished to wander within the Labyrinth and I offered the same parting words to my friend. The last was Sir Didymus who swore to always uphold my honor and to ensure that any who were seeking to return Jareth to me would have his aide. Alone now, I wept and grew miserable each passing day. I would hear the gossip in the hallway that Jareth was trying to make Sarah his and that he blamed me for her refusing him. Sleep was little comfort as my dreams made me feel even worse and only once did Jareth enter my chambers to threaten me with death if I didn't release Sarah from some enchantment.
Months blended, my garden seemed to tend to itself without my guiding hand and slowly my reflection in my vanity mirror was fading. Jareth made sure my presence was barely acknowledged. Winter now laid its claim to the Labyrinth and the merry making would drift up to me as it was the winter solstice festival. A sigh escaped my lips as I decide to lay down in my bed to escape into a dreamless sleep when the door of my chamber prison opened. Standing there were the guards as one said, "The king commands the slave to dance in the main hall now. Either you move now or we will drag you." Getting up slowly I would go down with them to the main hall. Standing there, the memory of the night I was engaged to Jareth clashed with bright festive décor for the solstice festival. Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw Jareth sitting on the throne wearing my gift but looking coldly pass me. The music was a sad melody as I would dance to pour out my emotions in the vain hope that they would reach my beloved. Each movement held the unspoken words of my love, my forgiveness at his treatment of me, my pain of being forsaken and my sorrow for not being able to set him free would reach everyone but him. At the end of the dance, I was on my knees before him but he didn't look down at me.
"The moment you take interest in another woman, you will forsake her and cause her great pain that she will come to me of her own will. Once she is here she will belong to me and you will know pain that will make you so miserable. And since you are also prideful, to free her you will have to come here and beg her, do anything to earn back from her what you will have lost" Devin's voice echoed, startling everyone including myself as he seemed to appear in the middle of the hall out of nowhere. Jareth looked at him quietly as Devin held out a gloved hand towards me saying, "Zinerva, come with me. Let me take you away from your misery." As I started to get to my feet, Jareth's hand caught my wrist as I heard Jareth growled, "You are forbidden to go to him." Pulling free, my tears still flowing I shook my head. "No Jareth, you don't command me as I was meant to be your bride, not your slave. I endure what you inflicted on me because I love you but I can no longer wait for you to warm to me again" I said but the words were not my own. As I removed the belt of bells and started to walk towards Devin, I was trying to will my body to stop. I was powerless and realized that Devin had planned it all. When my hand touched his, I was pulled towards him and could see Jareth's eyes full of warmth, love for me and pain at my sudden betrayal. How I wanted to cry out but a swirling mist took me away from it all. When the mist cleared, I was in the same room I was first in at Devin's home. He stood there with a weird smile on his face as he said, "You are confine to the house itself. You are mine now and free to go where you wish but do not attempt escape." After he left, I realized that I had to help Jareth somehow. Leaving the room, I went down the stairs to see Sarah sitting on the bottom stair crying. Moving down, I realize that she was just a pawn to Devin. "Sarah" I said quietly as the girl stood up and quickly hugged me. I smiled as one of my hands went to go pet her head. "Seems we have both been moved into roles against our wills. Come with me" I whispered and took her to my room.
Once in my room, Sarah told me that Devin had promised her to help her get a part in some play that was important to the girl, how Jareth wanted her to be his and all the time I was holding her. "Sarah, Jareth is the subject of Devin's wrath and cruelty. I can no longer aid my beloved but you must do something to set Jareth free in order to grant us all peace in our lives." I explained to her that she needed Jareth to believe that she wanted him to take her baby brother, beg him to let her have her brother back then go through the Labyrinth. I told her of my friends and what words to speak to ensure their help. A parting gift to Sarah from me was a simple crystal shard contained within a crystal globe. The shard was silver and red, pulsing as if alive and placed it on a chain then around the girl's neck. "When you confront Jareth, you must tell him that he has no power over you to shatter the curse upon him then place this necklace is his hand, instructing him that this is Zinerva's life and time is fleeting. Let him know that my love has never wavered nor my devotion to him lessen. Now go Sarah and you will do alright" I watch her leave, aware that Devin was somehow listening as I said, "You will never hurt Jareth again as long as I live" A deep chuckle seemed to surround me as I prayed that my friends and Sarah could do what the curse prevented me from doing.
