Phew, here it is at last my lastest chapter - I'm hoping things will start to make sense to people. I have tried my best to smooth it out a little. The story is shaping up I promise you. R&R and enjoy!
Jareth Thaddeus had ate far too much humble pie since his abdication, a King once so proud and forthright was now reduced to the equivalent of a rag-tag revolutionary. The confidence in his power to influence was all but gone, for he had consequences to think of when before there was none. A slip of the tongue would send all who came in contact with him and even after ten years he had no fear of death even if the occasion called for it. All that mattered to him as he crawled out of the bush was the safety of his realm and his beloved Sarah, Jareth barely paid attention to his friend as he squinted up at the sky upon hearing Sarah's nervous cries for help.
"Valren, come here to me" The exiled monarch called out to his pet, watching closely as the luck dragon dithered a while, shielding his eyes from the sun Jareth could see Sarah's entire body clinging to Valren for dear life.
The sun-drenched beast swooped down gracefully; Jareth stroked the ghost of his friend in a melancholic manner before patting Sarah on the back.
"You're safe now Sarah, he has landed" Jareth was bewildered as the brunette violently shook her head, the child in her had obviously taken control: Fear was indeed a funny thing.
"Sarah, come there is work to be done; Oppressors to be fought, lost kin to be found, empty stomachs to be fed" Jareth iterated impatiently, still she did not budge. Forced to pull her up he carried her off the creature's huge back, stumbling backward as she wrapped her arms tight around his neck and huddled close to him.
"Promise me you won't pull a stunt like that again" She murmured, her eyes were still shut and she was trembling, he gave one last blessing to his pet even in death Valren always gave Jareth the best of everything.
"Rest Easy old friend, be gone with you" Jareth said softly, now that the dream had served it's purpose it turned to sand and dispersed into the winds. Jareth held Sarah tight, for it was he who now needed comforting.
"What was that; how did you?" Sarah stammered
"Not my doing, only my dream my instruction…you brought him back to me Sarah and I thank you" Jareth slowly set her down, his eyes kept firmly on hers then composing himself he turned to the Lord of the Pagans.
"Aziz, we have a crisis to discuss" Jareth sighed, he took some steps ahead before looking back and gesturing Sarah to walk ahead, Aziz smiled and beckoned for her to follow Jareth's instruction. Warily she did on passing Jareth took in the smell of her perfume, the yearning came back and the sadness intensified.
Luckily for Toby Journey's End was looming as he could hear grunting and low gruff noises that reminded him of cattle, up the hill Ludo stomped and the relief of being home came out in a loud sigh. The hamlet was a mass of terracotta and large hives carved from stone, fires were being lit everywhere as dusk finally settled across the mountain. Still clinging on to the beast's shoulders Toby was warily greeted by the summit dwellers; all had fur of multiple shades of auburn, some as bright as a sunset others as dark as hazel. All lined up to greet Ludo, nodding eagerly then looking upon the human child with less enthusiasm. Ludma sat on his misshapen throne, a remnant of molten rock from the last volcanic eruption and strode towards his son; Toby could feel the creature tense up.
"Little Ludo, big trouble you embrace; out so long no good without warning I- who you? He frowned at the human boy who very reluctantly slipped down from the Goblin's back, facing Ludma nervously with eyes glued to his tall wooden crown.
"Father, him friend, him Toby – very special is he, very special" Ludo babbled, trying so hard to be strong-willed but only ended up looking down at his feet.
"Should be home, Goblin city very far, him should not be here" Ludma replied chastising and stern
"Him not from city, Him very special, Toby very special" Ludo spread his arm around the boy's shoulder; it ached by the Goblin's weight but Toby found it comforting to see his presence being defended.
"How special?"
"He from…..Aboveground father, he kin of Lady Sarah" Ludo answered with great almost agonising hesitation.
"How he here? Him great risk to us, should bad warlord find out…."
Warlord Toby thought, then recalled the busker who attempted to kidnap him, a name which would prove to be a great mistake on his part"
"Krissen, do you mean a guy called Krissen?" A hushed silence fell over the village, tense; a moment so laden with fear Toby could almost taste it.
"General? Him know General, how if he an Aboveground dweller?" Ludma demanded as he stared face to face at his son who tried to break away.
"How, Ludo?" His father persisted
"Jareth Thaddeus, good king Ludma" Ludo whined, whispers spread across the crowd like wildfire, the ruler of the Ludese merely raised his arms up and there was silence again. Putting a wide hand against his mouth the king nodded to himself, wandered back to his throne and slumped heavily into it.
"Dearie, dearie me, bad trouble you bring, bad trouble we are in" The sovereign sighed.
Toby was treated to a meal of giant red mushrooms and strange leaves that reminded him of courgettes, fortunately his pudding was far more satisfying: Strange cakes called amborune, texture as light as fairy cakes and colour and yellow as sandstone. He drank from a large bowl on what he assumed was some sort of root beer, gazing at his new friend as it gulped his down greedily.
"Melted Copper, so very nice; you like?"
"This, this stuff is melted copper?
"You no like?" Quipped a young Ludese goblin, Ludve an inquisitive cousin of Ludo; beady black eyes, lop-sided fringe. His skulking curiosity was no better than a chimpanzee, which Toby immediately warmed to.
"Let be Ludve, go eat supper – nice food Toby?" Ludo asked softly, the boy could only nod as he supped at the delicious beverage, however slow-accepting he was to the fact of it being the dullest metal on Earth.
Despite some early reservations Toby allowed himself to be entertained by the strange mountain folk that became his reluctant hosts. Sitting cross-legged on an exquisite rug, he watched the beasts, cart wheeling and jumping around to amuse both King and guest, strange multiple drums the shape of diamonds were beat heavy and loud, rattlers missed the rhythm that soon enough it just came out as discordant noise. The ludese were nervous, Toby could tell and the incompetence he felt made him miss his sister all the more
The night ended with curiosity of the village folk finally be sated by exhaustion of their daily chores, Toby was quietly ushered into the largest hive of the summit, long rectangular carvings were curved around the edge of the floor. Despite sparse furnishings the hub was warm and tidy. Huge blankets zigzagged the colours of Earth and fire aligned the cribs, they look far too thin to be comfortable nonetheless Toby spread his frame across it. Allowing the crackle of the campfires outside to be his lullaby he soon drifted off to sleep.
A camp fire far in the deepest wood of the underground had less calming affect, for as the flames danced wildly it tempted troubled thought to linger a lot longer than what was good for anyone. Conversation was a delight that was not indulged in by either Jareth or Sarah, even after the important matter of a possible revolt was decided they felt less exuberance than what was needed.
"What of Toby, why must he be put at risks for your mistakes? For the mistakes of those you are bound to" Sarah finally inquired, venom still rife in her voice, a loud crack of thunder appeared from nowhere. Both Aziz and Jareth cowered under the cloudless sky, both men silently begged for appeasement.
"Hush, never ever denounce the fates I have plentiful enough to vex me I don't need the ultimate power chastising my efforts because of you" The blonde whispered harshly.
"You have yet to answer my question Jareth Thaddeus former King of the Goblins" Even after all this time Sarah's cruelty stabbed swift into his heart; his pride was doing much better either.
"He must learn what I learned, to be at one with what this realm represents what the jewel he wears represents: Goblin, human, Fae" He raised his fingers harshly, they had hardly ate, weary bones dragging down two fiercely determined minds.
"Once he is proclaimed King, could he transfer power back to you?" Her eyes swatted to the fire before the seriousness of the situation turned her eyes into cold ice.
"Sarah, nothing like this has ever occurred before: You have to face the possibility that Toby will rule over the Underground" Jareth pleaded
"Not gonna happen, not if I'm here to stop it, not if I saved him" The young woman sniped
"So your final wish to Jareth will be the destruction of his world, my world, and the homes of those friends who helped you so long ago? They mean nothing to you?" The disgraced monarch mockingly enquired
"This is the life of a child, my brother who wants to grow up and be a guitarist not to be your son King or Tutankhamen!" Sarah sobbed
"Legends are like laments, I married my wife many years ago and yet the way Jareth described you was something of a prophecy, a beautiful dream, you're no dream. The milk of your youth has turned sour, so sour and you don't even realise it" Aziz said scathingly.
Sarah turned to strike him but Jareth caught her fist in his palm, no words were exchanged just one stare that tried to thaw another. Jareth succeeded as Sarah posture crumbled. Taking her hand to his lips he kissed it softly and with it came that strange pleading face that did not suit such a man.
"When judgement makes it last toll, you or your brother may be our last hope. To it for those who reside here, do it for Toby. Whatever happens to us is inconsequential, the labyrinth must survive" Jareth said gravely
Sarah's confusion was evident but she never uttered another word, dragging her feet to the nearest shack where a hammock was waiting.
"You are a liar Thaddeus, an abominable one at that?" The King of Pagans jeered
"Oh more tactless things to say my lord" the disgraced monarch jeered sarcastically.
"You and your lady being 'inconsequential', you both hold the labyrinth in your hands. This Toby may be blessed with power but yours is far greater" Aziz exasperated after drinking his goblet of grohl.
"Oh and what pray tell might that be oh wise and whimsical Aziz Omar" Jareth persisted irritably
"Why, the power of love my Goblin King, what else? Aziz replied with a grin
Sarah kicked the rug under her feet and was very ungraceful in her entrance of her lodgings little realising a woman of great honour and wisdom was awaiting her return.
"Ah Sarah, I trust your find yourself in comfort here?" Sioarse evoked softly, a thick Celtic band of jet stone hung large and bold around her neck.
"My Lady Sioarse, what do I owe the pleasure?" The girl quizzed wearily
"I sense you are much troubled by the plight of your kin, you will reunite soon my men will see to that" The Queen whispered
"For the precious commodity he has become that I do not doubt, forgive me my lady but I am tired-"
"You must have faith in yourself, if you are to fight for what is your due Sarah" The Mistress of the pagans glided over to Sarah with eyes of bright emeralds and hair of deep burgundy red.
"Why is it even as a grown woman other people seem to know what's best for me, what faith, what due?" Sarah whined
"Your destiny Sarah, be it at your brother's side safe and sound at home while my world lies ruined, or by Jareth's side as Queen or simply the one who blesses the heir to his fallen throne" The strange ethereal woman went about lighting the torches, before blowing the wick out and staring at the girl expectantly.
"Who are you to watch whatever my future holds? I was told you are a warrior not a witch or soothsayer" Sarah snapped defensively, ever eager to throw away manners at a moment's notice
"We are not so different you and I; I learned the ways of Wicca many, many years ago. Before the change I was a girl like you, who walked the Earth trying to find my place in it. Tending to the great Boadicea was not my life's goal but I accepted it, felt honoured to protect such a woman"
"But that would make you-"
"Ancient; older than your beloved King, Yes Sarah, I like my husband and my people are remnants, ghosts of history. Some from the Moor Empire, others fought under the scarlet cross. Enemies aboveground, friends and brothers here in my home, our home"
Sarah was speechless, she never believed that Jareth had frozen time just for her, nor did she believe he had the power to turn the world upside down. Here she was seeing a living, breathing relic of history and she couldn't stomach it, she couldn't stomach any of it.
"I do miss my old Britannia, Boadicea was wrong; the Saxons never did go away" She sighed before waltzing out.
Sarah legs turned to jelly; the reality of what was to come consumed her to the point of being physically ill. If Toby was to fill Jareth's shoes then he too would become a relic, no longer a stepbrother or a son but a prisoner of fate, a fate that would never wither away or ease or as the term went 'grow old gracefully'
Soft footsteps suddenly quickened into the tent and Sarah felt Jareth's arms shroud over her back.
"Don't cry Sarah, please don't cry; fate is not set yet, all is not lost" Jareth cooed softly as he manoeuvred his body to face hers.
"You have to answer me this, if your effort is wasted and Toby becomes King and there's no way back for him, what about the life he led aboveground?"
"We have to cross that bridge once we come to it; it's all speculation at this time"
"Tell me anyway" Sarah sobbed
"There's a chance…there's a….chance that the fates might eradicate all that he was on Earth, you may be the only one that remembers him" Jareth's head bowed down along with Sarah's as she curled up in anguish, so immersed was she that she barely registered Jareth's hands smoothing her long hair.
"Sarah, look at me please: No harm will come to Toby, not while there is life in me. My life is connected with his now as it was once connected to yours, how in a way it will always…" Jareth trailed off the sentence with an embarrassed hush, he leaned away but Sarah unexpectedly followed him, pawing his chest, his hair, aiming for his cheek but she shirked her hand away just in time.
"Do, d-d-do you swear it, do you swear that Toby will be safe?" Sarah coughed repeatedly; it took a while for the Goblin King to grasp what was happening. But he didn't dare imagine the outcome for it would hurt too much to be ripped away from him
"Yes, I swear it" He replied with the most cautious whisper, Sarah nodded then captured one of many dreams of the Goblin King in her hands. Ever so slowly she nestled her head against his, the fallen monarch eyes were darting everywhere, and he knew if she looked in those eyes of hers he would be completely lost. Sarah lowered her lips towards his and it took excruciating resolve for him to pull away.
"Wrong time, wrong place: Love's tears are joyful Sarah; they don't blind one emotion with another. You should sleep" Jareth stammered, disappointment wrecking havoc in his voice, the woman was astounded – Could it be the Goblin King had conquered humility.
"We uh, we leave for Snaer mountain tomorrow?" Sarah shrugged off the self-pity in an instant and wiped her tears away.
"Yes, if there's no unpleasant surprises you will be united with your brother by the evening" Jareth got to his feet and watched longingly as Sarah gathered a long satin tunic that was her nightgown for the evening.
"I wish you good night Goblin King, I will hold you to your word, woe be tide if you should break it" Sarah said firmly, Jareth tapped his fingers against his leg with immeasurable agitation. Walking out of the tent, he exhaled sharp long and deep lasting until he made his way to his own shelter; it was something of both fear and fervour. He suspected he would be the last person awake but he didn't mind that for many good thoughts would preoccupy him for some time to come.
He was stirred abruptly from sleep by the loud snoring of his reluctant sidekick, Jareth found it bewildering that although Sarah was back Hoggle still had yet to welcome her back. He was about to avenge this disturbance when a rustling noise came from outside. The main priority of the guards was to protect it's chieftain and his kin, his guests had no real importance. It was hard-pressed for Jareth to feel jealous of such protection so long after being without it, dressing in only his trousers he ventured outside. His physique was extraordinarily slim but he still had enough vigour and muscle to take care of himself. Dry patches of limp grass tickled at his bare feet as he crept towards the strange whining noises. Startled by a sneeze Jareth rolled his eyes as he saw the flash of red fur, scooping the pest up by his collar Jareth was met by the snarling then subsequent embarrassment of Sir Didymus of Thedaford.
"Not like you to trespass so fearlessly my fur-balled friend" Jareth scorned, most displeased by the night crawler.
"My, my lord I am flabbergasted, I was doing my duty…" The fox stuttered in his eloquent if irritating voice.
"On the borders of another kingdom no less, what are you really Sir Didymus?"
"….Lost, sire" The knight murmured, his pride slipping through his paws and as per usual Ambrosias was nowhere to be found.
"What brings you so far out here, I thought you had retired many years ago" Jareth crossed his arms to stay the cold but was amused with was unfolding.
"Patrolling sire on the command of general Krissen" The fox wished he bit his tongue and just shrugged a simple word out.
"So the great man dabbles in spying now, how unfortunate" The fallen king grated, the fox quivered and whimpered before flying his arms out and wailing loud.
"OH, PLEASE MY LORD, I beg thee, do not send thy ignorant traitor to the bog! Send me hence to the castle tower – Oh thy mercy I evoke most desperately!" The fox howled, voices came from many tents as the feckless soldier woke up half the encampment.
"Tis not my mercy you should be evoking" Jareth stood firm as Lady Siaorse stormed out of her Majestic hut, eyes bleary but blazing with outrage.
"Thaddeus what is the meaning of this?" The Queen demanded while a tiny figure loitered in the shadows.
"Your majesty I ask for forgiveness and prudence for the weary traveller, greatly unexpectedly but harmless all the same" Jareth groaned at the indignity of the fox who was practically on his knees now.
"Queen Sioarse I beg clemency for my misjudgement of direction, if the price is my life I will pay it honourably" The knight's theatrics had everyone balking but with it defused the warrior Queen's temper, shaking her head with disdain she felt a tugging at her chiffon gown. Her daughter Sidra had been awoken also.
"Not necessary Sir Didymus but I will not tolerate any more commotion, rest anywhere you wish" She conceded before picking up her weary princess and walking back to her private lodgings.
Jareth spied Sarah peeking out of the tent, the moon was out and her cloaked so beautifully in it's light that it almost took his breath away.
"Didymus what are you doing?" She whispered sternly
"MY LA- My lady Sarah, what vision is this? A dream, an illusion, you have come back too us?" The fox saved himself from further scrutiny but only just as he teetered over towards Sarah, his faithful pet running up from behind him.
"Only for a little while" She said softly before stroking his fur and greeting him with a smile, her answer was a dubious one but only Jareth saw it.
Sarah, the fox shares your quarters tonight, I trust no more uproar will be caused tonight?" He tried to be formidable but her beauty was making his resolve brittle and weak.
"Come on Didymus, I'll tell you about everything tomorrow" She cooed as she ushered the knight into her tent, looking at Jareth with a wary eye before heading back to her tent.
The Ludese Goblins were not early risers and that suited Toby just fine, pleasantly surprised by the peaceful slumber he had, he look around the room to see Ludo and three of his kin sleeping soundly around him. He changed his sleeping position and began to drift off again. In the stillness of the morning he heard a very faint sound of rumbling, it was barely audible but it was loud enough to make him wonder if it was his stomach growling. The ground beneath him began to softly shudder but as the moments passed on this shudder became a steady rumble; it was not enough to panic the mountain village but it was enough to wake everyone up in the campus. Ludo looked bewildered before he felt the ground; his hand trembled right along with it. Climbing out of their cribs the hairy giants crept outside, the echoes of hooves and neighing horses were drifting across the steep pathway. Voices were now distinct giving orders, metal armour clunked against beast and body.
A purple tapestry of the so called 'meteor' that crashed into the underground and formed the heathen's home was the first thing to be seen. The power of the general was represented in a dagger that took up half the length of the flag. In all his superficial splendour Krissen came bounding up the hill on his mighty steed Taj. King Ludma blocked the entrance to his son's hive and quietly ordered for Toby not to be seen by the soldiers.
"Krissen; very annoyed I am, you did not warn" Ludma strode fearlessly up to the general and scowled at him.
"My good King Ludma, friends and neighbours don't need to solicited invitation all the time" The Steward sneered, Ludo slowly walked up to his father trying not to look suspicious as he thoughts were fixed on Toby.
Such thinly-disguised contempt got the sovereign's guard up and his kinsmen slowly started to form a semi circle around their ruler.
"What you want general?" Ludrac, a heavyweight guard of the Ludese folk, growled viciously, his rage was eased by the firm grip of his leader.
"The Great Mallet of Snaer Mountain, the one that they say no metal or rock in existence can withstand" Krissen shrugged before dismounting his horse and gripping the reins with a possessive tug.
"Such power no good to humans, no good in wielding weapon, a century to five more is it with us, no trade, no sale" Ludma waved off the idea, much to the general's dismay and yet a wry smile was etched on his face.
"Come, come the hammer is a signet of law and order it is only right that it comes to the possession of those who command that law" Krissen roared, anticipation of conflict shattered the peace as Krissen's men dismounted their horses.
"Laws written for all that live in Underground you don't own us, we don't own you. You are Steward but only of city" Ludma snapped defiantly, angrily shaking his staff towards the goading soldier
"Are you so confident in this claim? Even in regards all the kings of old; of Dara, Lumiere and of course Jareth Thaddeus?"
"Jareth was fool king, but no fool deserves such bad, bad luck as he" The king reflected despondently.
"Brute force will be called upon your people if you do not submit" Krissen warned through clenched teeth and shaking fist.
"Hammer belong here, you not wanted at all" The general was about to issue an order when Ludma made his play first: Gazing up at the sky he roared, his kin roared along with him and the mountain began to tremble again, only this time rocks fell from precipices, gaps cracked open and split the ground in front of the regiment.
Krissen was about to retreat was he spied a short figure tumbling out of the hive, a human boy of strawberry blonde hair, by accident Toby glanced at the general and the enemy saw the ghost of Jareth in him: One eye brighter than the other.
"Toby Williams, a gift of higher value King Ludma I can assure you, you're a tricky one to find my lad" Krissen tried to make his steed to jump the gap but he wouldn't, so instead to save face he prowled the length of the ravine.
"Ah Tobias; the great Tobias, the prophesied heir of the Underground, only that's not the case and never will be. Foolish child, Jareth is using you boy, using you to get to Sarah his Sarah. Why be King when you can play with friends? Too young to burden yourself leave it all to us" The general's pretension was palpable yet the boy still peered around after Ludo blocked his path.
"A good story nonetheless, the boy who was never wanted becomes King, the successor of his own captor. Stranger things have happened but I cannot think of what they are, go home little boy, go home" Krissen glowered at Ludma who was finally in tune with the importance of the boy's presence; he looked back as Toby was shocked and near to tears.
The tribes' men and women along with their guests were enjoying their breakfast when they all felt the tremor beneath them.
"The scarlet geyser awakens?" Cormac asked a crusader was he from aboveground, one who had never seen the power of a volcano. Even after all this time he saw it as a symbol of God's almighty power and he was still afraid.
Jareth Thaddeus closed his eyes and shook his head and felt Morpharia's unease at such a quake.
"Ludo"
"What?" Sarah whispered as she put down her plate and crept over to Jareth, he smiled faintly then turned to her, crystal in hand with blurred images of auburn fur and a human face.
"Toby is with your old friend Ludo, Snaer Mountain is our destination today. We retrieve Ludma's hammer then teach Toby what he must learn" He answered cheerfully, patting the side of Sarah's knee only once before getting to his feet.
"What about this great revolt you had planned?" Aziz asked baffled and annoyed by his friend's restlessness.
"Patience my King of Pagans, patience Toby is not ready and neither is Sarah" the fallen monarch shrugged and he put on his waistcoat.
"Ready for what, what is it now?" Sarah huffed as she hastily gathered her things and followed him.
"To save the Underground" Jareth eagerly replied, opting against his better judgement to just teleport to the summit, he wrangled a horse with a rope and saddle then mounted it.
Reluctance to follow him was rife in the camp as most were still eating breakfast, but luckily for some Cormac Niall had already chosen his men. Sarah was a city girl and had only seen horses in stables and petting zoos. The group circled around her as she hesitated to make the choice of who would be her escort, a wide hand with delicately long fingers stretched down from the vantage point. Unsurprising to find Jareth once again offering too intimate an assistance, she backed away at first but his arm stretched further out. The horse nervously stomped his hoof but still Jareth waited patiently, Sarah knew she should have stayed estranged from him but with the Goblin King's aide there would be no going home. She slipped her foot into the stirrup and leaned across Jareth until she was safely sat on the saddle, precariously she barely held on to him. Her knuckles clinched at his shirt but she knew it wasn't enough, with boldness that Jareth Thaddeus was once infamous for he took her left arm and pressed it against his chest. Taking the reins with his free hand he headed the party without a single word, all who witnessed it saw the power that could be: neither Jareth nor Sarah had any intention of showcasing the strength they had as a couple but nonetheless it was a subtle act of dignity, authority and trust. Aziz's fears for the future were slowly evaporating.
The fox and the Goblin were also witnessing this revealing intimacy between the two, Hoggle and Didymus argued many a daft and pointless debate but the wariness of Jareth would always unite them.
"Such flowers do not deserve to bloom in his keeping" Frowned the knight, his duties to the steward were now forgotten; protecting Sarah was all that mattered now.
"This is gonna be bad for all of us" Hoggle interjected, they sighed together as they watched the couple ride off in the distance. Didymus did a double-take as his steed was nowhere near him, looking back and fourth he finally spied the greedy hound chomping on some cooked gnardac meat.
"Ambrosias I will not tolerate such vile efforts of humiliation, come hither this instant!" Balked the fox, needles to say the dog was reluctant to obey. Trotting over with his tail between his legs, he waited until the fox was safely astride him. Hoggle looked up at the horses that towered above him and a stalwart king that seemed to be waiting for something.
"Master – Hoggle is it?" Aziz conspired with stern eyes
"Yes your majesty?" The gnome trembled
"It appears you are without a chariot"
"I wish you no trouble sire, I'm good at walking I'll be fine" Hoggle stammered but just as he was about to walk away, he was lifted up by his collar and placed at the edge of the king's saddle.
"I-I-I thank you, your majesty" Hoggle bumbled gripping on to the horsehair as tight as he could.
The plight of comforting the young lad was a futile one yet the Ludese folk persisted for most of the day to bring him around. He bit into the amberune cakes without as much as a grunt.
By noon he was communicating with gestures only, eventually he was coaxed back into the hive where Ludo tried his best to tell the story of Toby's kidnap. But there were pieces he did not know, witness accounts that were not his to tell, so he told some funny tales instead and the boy relaxed. Then the clopping of hooves was heard and cautiously he stepped out to see the man he barely knew but hated so much. Jareth stared down at the gaping wound of the mountain at looked curiously at the goblin folk on the other side; he caught the ice in the boy's stare and began to wonder. Sarah called out her brother's name and waved; stopping suddenly when she saw he was not waving back.
"Ludma, I come here with the King of Pagans, there are urgent matters to discuss, for a bridge for us to cross" Jareth bellowed, Toby was transfixed on his every move the Goblin King felt disarmed by it. With his request came much confusion as well as hesitation.
"Form a bridge I say!" Jareth called out impatiently, The Ludese King nodded to his guards who stood beside him: fist clenched, head raised to the sky. They howled low and strong before a beam from the precipice above fell and rolled across the ravine. Jareth cautiously took his horse across, Sarah followed, then Aziz, before his troupe passed. Didymus was the last to finish, quibbling with fear under his breath before feigning excitement over the long and perilous journey from the camp.
Sarah jumped off her mare and ran to Toby; throwing her arms around him she offered apologies and praise in equal measure but was worried as his body felt limp. Turning to face him she was confronted with a cold, emotionless scowl.
"So the truth will out huh? My sister, my beautiful overprotective step-sister wishes me away? I've seen your sketches of him Sarah; it never made any sense until now. He's been haunting us both!" He voice warbled with the strain of a lost soul and a broken heart, Toby was shaking but he wasn't sure if it was through anger or grief.
"I wanted to tell you but how could I? This place is part of my life Toby not yours" She said softly, trying to stroke his hair but he flinched away.
"Liar, I'm important too! An heir is a prince isn't it, a future king? When I'm King, he'll be gone and I'll be glad! No more strange music in my head, no memories of miles and miles of never ending steps. You hear that Jareth, you'll be finished!"
"It's true your destiny was never your own – hear me out – But you boy, are the difference between the survival and destruction of an entire world. You're too young to convey such hate Tobias" Jareth coolly glided over to him.
"Says you, that military man said my life was prophesised – I will do as I please" Toby snapped back.
"Toby, look around you, these goblins are my friends who live here too, you've no right to be angry at them"
"So, I'll focus it all on you and Jareth then it's only fair, you're on his side now"
"His side is your side Toby, the sooner you get that the sooner this is over with….and we can go home"
"Ha if he'll let you. Go away I don't even want to see your face!" Toby stormed off into the hive.
"So Krissen has made a nuisance of himself once more, how very charming" Jareth guffawed sarcastically.
"What did he mean Jareth, have you been watching him too?" Sarah seethed as she lunged into his personal space.
"He has the most precious artefact of my entire kingdom, how could I turn away?" Jareth shrugged defensively
"Our lives are entwined, this I have long accepted but you set the boy free when this is all done or I swear-" Sarah growled, her hair matted, her bones weary, her temper very, very frayed.
"It's out of my hands Sarah, Toby must learn selflessness if he is to be King, grievances must be quashed no for we are all running out of time" Jareth warned, relieved that logic finally broke her fury. But he knew the challenge with his heir had barely begun.
