Chapter 7

Sarah jumped then calmed, trying to slow her beating heart. The shadows were moving again but it wasn't the friendly goblin movement she recalled from her experience with the Underground. No, this was something darker and more deadly then anything she has so far experienced. The lights flickered violently and extinguished, leaving only the dull yellow glow from the street lamp outside. Long spindly branches displayed their shadows against the walls and seemed to Sarah to stretch out their hooked and poisonous claws to catch her. She screamed and covered her head with her arms, quivering in a broken, heaping mass on the floor.

The shadow stroked her head lovingly and whispered to her the words "Hello Your Majesty."


Mari was woken by a gentle touch on her shoulder. She looked up, her neck kinking a bit from the awkward position of the arm rest. There was a light chuckle above her somewhere.

She looked.

"Simon…" She whispered before sitting up and stretching. "Why aren't you resting?"

He shook his head and had to swipe his hair away from his face. "I was." He said and pointed to a dinner tray. "You're the one who slept passed dinner. What are you doing in here anyway? It's so drafty and uncomfortable. Did you actually sleep on the throne like that?"

Mari looked at her seat. "It wasn't that bad," she said then stood up and winced.

Simon grinned. "Not that bad, eh?" he sobered and looked around again. "I suppose the reason your still in here is because my father hasn't returned yet."

"No, our father hasn't." Mari said. "I'm not allowed to wander around."

"Wick told me. It might be better if you didn't speak to any of the Goblins for a while- or at least until everything calms down."

Mari curled up on herself and reached for the tray with a muttered 'thank you'. She ate for a moment before asking, "Simon?"

"What?"

"What really happened to mom and dad?"

"Some things shouldn't be said." He looked at her and sighed. "But I suppose you should know since you will live here now and you're most likely to meet him… Alright, I'll tell you what I understand." He glanced at the door then back again.

"Nearly twenty-three years ago, the Labyrinth was at war with a neighbouring kingdom. There were only a few rather bloody skirmishes but the second attack was worse. They laid siege on the kingdom for months. They were stationed everywhere along the wall of the labyrinth and the people didn't have access to the fields and they nearly starved. It was only a few of the nobility including father who could magic enough food into the castle to maintain everyone." He smiled at Mari a bit guiltily. "That's what I was taught by the histories, anyway. My father added some key information a little later on.

"I don't remember my mother as I'm sure you are aware but many citizens knew her for much longer than the time she lived here as Queen. When she was just fifteen years old, she wished her baby brother away to the goblins and father went to take him away and offer her the chance of running the labyrinth-."

"My mom had to run the entire Labyrinth? How awful!"

Simon laughed. "It hasn't always been half destroyed that way. That happened after the second attack."

"Second attack?" Mari asked confused.

"The siege, but I'll get there." Simon said then cleared his throat. "So mom beat the maze and won back the baby but she attracted the attention of the Goblin King along the way," Mari made a slight noise, "but that very same day, the kingdom received the warning of war and for the next five years, the kingdom was under attack by the Herics, the kingdom to the east. The Goblin Army was able to keep the invaders on the edges of the Goblin Kingdom and no where near the walls of the Labyrinth. Those five years were harsh and our army was nearly depleted when the other kingdom just gave up. Word has it that they had to deal with an invasion on their own side. They have been conquered for the last nineteen years."

"Conquered, war, invasion, kingdoms." Mari muttered with a shake of her head. "It's like something out of the middle ages."

Simon grinned. "Fraud, bankruptcy, fascist governments, and threats of a nuclear war. Its all the same with different words and effects. I've studied a lot you know. Father makes me. May I continue?"

Mari shrugged and Simon carried on. "For months everything was quite and that is when father decided to regain contact with our lovely mother." Simon's face darkened momentarily. "He really should have asked why our dear neighbours had pulled back so soon."

"He brought mother here and they were wed shortly after with me on the way. It was a short but loving marriage and everyone tells me that the entire kingdom was alive with life like it has never been before. Nothing good came of it, however. The third year of their happiness and while Mother was pregnant with you, the kingdom was invaded again. This time, it was a massacre. The army was slaughtered within days and the wall was captured. They laid siege for six months. Father was fearful for mother and for you because you came early-too early- and there was nothing anyone could do. He sent both of you through the veil, knowing that he could never contact mother again. He spent days, exhaustive days weaving protection spells around mother so that they couldn't find her. His magic was depleted and the wall fell."

Simon spoke the last part as if he were reciting it straight from the text book. There was hollowness to his voice as if he knew that this was a horrible event but couldn't remember anything about it. Mari swallowed in sudden nervousness. "Who are they?" She whispered.

"Lord Faghings and his soldiers. He is now master of the Labyrinth and nearly all of the Underground." Simon shrugged. "I've met him a few times and he is cruel but father has been causing him the most problems out of all the conquered kingdoms. That could be because he is the only king in which the lord cannot limit his powers any more than he has. This is one of the most magical kingdoms because of the children who are wished away. No other kingdom has a greater income of imagination."

She shook her head. "Simon, mom told me that she was banned from ever returning."

Simon smiled sadly. "She was banned by our father. Lord Faghings would love nothing more than to find her and force our father to behave."

Mari sat up. "How would he find her?"

Simon shrugged. "If they had contact or if she called on him or-." His face became slack and his mouth dropped open. "My fault." He mouthed.

"Simon! She called on him! She wished me to him and then he went to her to get you! Did that…?" Mari felt her heart skip and stall

Simon got up and started walking, "Hurry," he called over his shoulder. "We have to find father. Now!"

"How?" Mari asked as she stumbled to catch up. "The goblins said that he couldn't be found unless he wants to be."

"I can find him."

Mari looked down and gasped. "Wait!" She said.

Simon turned. "What?" he said with sting.

Mari gestured helplessly at her clothes. They were the same from yesterday, torn and very dirty and she didn't wear her shoes. Simon sighed and moved his hand. A crystal! He can do the magic too! It appeared on his fingertips and he threw it at Mari. Her clothes were mended and she was dressed a heavy jacket as well as her runners. "Now can we go?" Simon asked. Mari squeaked and nodded and she hurried after her brother and into the very maze where she didn't want to return.

A/N: Happy NewYear. Short Chapter, I know, but its here. Only a few more to go I think. The invader has a face now :). It makes me happy. Thank you for all the reviews and I appreciate your support.