Here you are, friends, another chapter! In this one we have our first official introduction to Ryenth, King of the Fairies. Admittedly, I had Leonardo DiCaprio somewhat in mind for this character, and if you've ever seen "Man in the Iron Mask," just picture Louis XIV standing casually before Jareth, and you have the picture. This chapter was quite a bit of fun to write, and I hope you enjoy reading it! Thank you so much to all of those reviewing! I look so forward to your encouraging remarks! I know this isn't entirely Jareth/Sarah, but don't worry, those two will come together sometime soon, and there are plenty more chapters of magic ahead!
Three days passed, days full of rain, mud, lightning, and thunder. Hunter and his group pressed on at a slow pace, braving the storm and fighting the harsh winds. The walking almost became more than what Vesper could bear, but she held up to the best of her ability, pushing on even when what she wanted most was to lay down and fall asleep.
Hunter gave her special attention and helped her along, supporting her when she walked and carrying her supplies for her. They had many a good conversation over those long days, and she learned all about the battles he had been in, bits and pieces about his family, and what Jareth was really like. Every time he brought up Jareth, Vesper had a guilty pang inside, for she hadn't found her necklace, and she was terribly upset about her mother's ring. There must have been something special about that ring, if Jareth really was Sarah's husband, and Vesper despised herself for losing it. But onward she pressed, ever hopeful, thinking more and more, with each passing day, that it was really her mother she was going to save, and not some mysterious goblin queen.
Hunter also spent a good deal of time helping her perfect her swordsmanship, and it became obvious to all viewers that Vesper was letting herself nearly get carried away by the man. There was something about his charm that appealed to her, something about his strength and passion. Hunter advanced the woman's feelings by giving her extra attention and by getting into close contact with her whenever possible. Sword fighting became more of his opportunity to be near her, not so much her opportunity to learn better skills and defense tactics. If anything, she had to defend herself from his barrage on her heart, his constant desire to win her over and gain her affection.
Jareth could not rest. Ever since he had first seen Vesper and had sent her out on her mission, sleep did not come easily to him. He was irritable and angry, kicking goblins about whenever he pleased and lashing out at Toby grumpily whenever the human happened to ask some naïve, but sincere, question.
Toby couldn't stand staying at the castle when Vesper was in danger. He didn't much like Hunter, and he didn't think Peekalo could protect Vesper from anything. There was also the problem of Vesper's necklace that Jareth had informed him of. Up until three days ago, Jareth had known, every moment, where the young woman was. But somehow, when Vesper lost Sarah's ring, Jareth lost all contact with her. That was why, the man rightfully assumed, Jareth was in such a surly mood.
And then, on the night of the third day, the inevitable happened. It was raining terribly outside, lightning flashing and thunder roaring with every passing minute.
One particular flash of lightning illuminated the entire throne room and lasted for several seconds before both Jareth and Toby heard the turning of the throne room doorknob.
The door opened, and in stepped Ryenth, King of the Fairies.
He was haughty; Toby could tell from the moment he stepped into the room. He stood tall, his eyebrows sharper than Jareth's, his dirty-blonde long hair in curls about his face and neck, his ears exceptionally pointed, and his body clothed in nothing, it seemed, but ruffles, lace, and silk, and the finest clothes available. He smirked as he approached Jareth, his teeth glistening and pure white in the lighting.
"You didn't knock," Jareth scowled, getting up from his throne and standing as Ryenth dared to approach him.
"I didn't realize I needed your permission," Ryenth hissed.
Toby watched the two kings approach each other, observing the stranger, the graceful way in which he walked, the fairness of his skin and the seeming beauty that seemed to radiate from him. It was a cold, wicked beauty, however, and the man had harshness to him that Toby found uncomfortable.
"You have no right to intrude in my land, in my castle," Jareth growled. "What do you want?"
"To inform you of a bargain I and my men have discussed," Ryenth said, his voice smooth and compromising. "Hand over the girl, and I'll see to it that you and your beloved queen escape to the Aboveground untouched."
"The girl?" Jareth asked, an eyebrow arched.
"Vesper."
"Let me make some things perfectly clear," Jareth spoke, his voice cruel and cold. "I am the king of the Underground. Not you, not your minions, but I, Jareth of the Labyrinth. Therefore, if I so wish it, I could banish you now to your little world of haughty fairies. However, I do have a curse that I need to dispose my kingdom of, no thanks to you, and that alone is the only reason I am letting you live."
"You'd have to kill me to end that curse," Ryenth grinned wickedly.
"Now that sounds like quite the bargain," Jareth said coolly, drawing a dagger and stepping closer to the fairy, arm ready to strike.
Quite suddenly, Ryenth reached a hand into a concealed side pocket and pulled something out. Toby could see it glistening in the lightning, and he squinted to see what it was Ryenth held in his hand, dangling before Jareth.
It was Vesper's necklace, with the ring hanging from the end of it.
"This isn't a game, Jareth," Ryenth said nonchalantly. "This is a real threat to you. You see, I happen to know about the exquisite creature you brought into our world. My, how her facial features reflect her mother's, and those eyes, those exotic eyes, bring out so much of her father."
"You have no clue what you're talking about," Toby interposed, seeing that Jareth wasn't saying anything.
"Oh, don't I?" Ryenth asked, spinning towards the human. "You are Toby, the child first abducted into the Underground. And you are a mere human, incapable of stopping me were I to decide to kill you…"
"Enough," Jareth said steadily, his jaw set firmly, his eyes burning into Ryenth. "Of what concern is Lady Vesper to you?"
"You, the one who is so concerned about formalities, calling her a mere lady?" Ryenth tsked. "I know who she is, Jareth. She's your daughter, the heir to the Underground, whether she knows it or not. And right now, she doesn't truly know it."
"How did you get that necklace?" Jareth asked, the faintest bit of worry in his voice.
"I had one of my own get it. There's a traitor amongst Vesper and her little group," Ryenth smiled, toying with the necklace. "One that is doing their job quite well. Pity, there's nothing you can do about it. You may disagree with my bargain now, oh mighty one, but come tonight, I think you'll find your hands quite bound up. Here."
He tossed a black crystal to Jareth and then spun away.
"When the time arrives at thirteen o'clock tomorrow, you'll have a brilliant show to watch. Enjoy it, Goblin King. I know I shall."
The fairy laughed evilly and then disappeared, leaving Jareth fuming.
"Let's go," Toby said, springing to his feet and running towards the throne room doors. "Come on! Vesper is in danger! We can't just stay here! We have to find her!"
"You never rush into something like this," Jareth scolded, glaring at the crystal and watching it twirl slowly on his fingertips. "It could very easily be a trap, and then he'd have all of us. Chances are, Vesper accidentally dropped the necklace, and Ryenth found it. That just means she's closer to the Fairylands than we expected."
"Or there really could be a traitor with her, and that person's just waiting to give her away."
"Maybe it isn't a person. It could be a 'thing' of some sort," Jareth mused, sitting back down on his throne. "We aren't going to do anything until I know what is happening. Ryenth is too powerful, and his people are too great in numbers for us simply to find him and attack."
"Why? You're the Goblin King," Toby said, folding his arms across his chest.
"Yes, and as such, it would be rather pitiful to take on the entire Fairylands in battle by myself, wouldn't it? That would be rather foolish, Toby. No. We shall wait."
"All right," Toby sighed, "but I don't like it."
When Jareth retired to his bedchambers that night, he was exhausted. He used a touch of magic to turn his royal garb into bedclothes, and then he climbed into his immense bed and collapsed on top of the blankets. It was so difficult sometimes, being king. No one realized all the facades he had to perform every day or understood how he had to contain the power he had. If he were to destroy the whole of the Fairylands, as he wanted to, then he would have to destroy Sarah along with it. He couldn't just manifest his power and destroy a whole world, especially not when he knew there had to be some innocent beings in that disastrous city.
Jareth sighed and settled back against his pillows. His hand brushed across the side of the bed as he did so, and he glanced over and shook his head slightly, sad and disappointed.
She belonged there, alongside him, in his arms, cuddled up against him. Oh, how wonderful that last meeting had been, after he had waited so many years to see her again! When she had called for him, his name on her lips had sent countless chills through his body, and then, when he had kissed her, had claimed her, the passion had nearly overwhelmed him. And then to see the product of what had come of their love, that stunning young woman in his Labyrinth, just blew his mind away. It reminded him that there was a being, much much greater and higher than he was that had the power to give and take life, had the power to make beauty out of ashes and joy out of sorrow.
Jareth missed Sarah. He had missed her every day since he had left. He longed for the time when he could hold her close again, embrace her, love her, but that day would only come when Ryenth was dealt away with. He wanted to show her what his world really was, not just this crumbling down city, but really a magnificent land.
And despite his acting abilities with Toby, Jareth was greatly concerned for Vesper. His heart had nearly stopped beating when he saw her necklace held so precariously in Ryenth's hand. Ryenth was not one to lie about matters such as this, and Jareth knew that his daughter was indeed in great danger. But who would have the audacity to deceive her? Who would try and destroy her, or hand her over to Ryenth?
"About how much longer do you think we have?" Vesper asked tiredly the next morning, following Hunter through the mud and rain.
"We're almost to the Haze," Hunter replied. "That'll get us somewhat out of the rain and much closer to the Fairylands."
"Good," Vesper smiled weakly. "I'm just so tired."
"Of course you are," Hunter said sympathetically. "How is everyone else coming along?"
He glanced over his shoulder to see Onyx trudging uncomfortably through the mud, the dark brown mess getting caught up under his talons, making it painful for him to walk.
"Peekalo get off," Peekalo squeaked, and then slid off the dragon's back.
"Master, I would have been quite all right," Onyx grunted, shaking one of his feet to try and dislodge the mud.
"Stop," Vesper said wearily and then took hold of the dragon's claw.
She lifted his claw up, letting her see under his talons, and then used her fingers to scrape out the mud.
"This mud is terrible," Teegan said wearily, plopping down on Onyx's face. "Can we stop soon and just rest?"
"Once we're in the Haze," Hunter said. "We are almost there. Don't worry."
"We need a story, something to cheer us up," Teegan said. "But I'm tired of telling stories."
"I'll tell one," Vesper said groggily, walking forward again with Hunter, Peekalo's hand in hers so she could help him along. "There once was a girl with a spoiled baby brother. This girl seemed like any usual girl, but the king of the goblins had fallen in love with her and given her special powers. One day, when the girl's stepmother had been especially cruel, and the girl could bear the difficulties of her life no longer, and she was tired of caring for the baby, she called out to the Goblin King to take the child. Alas, he could not, for she didn't say her right words."
"I wish the goblins would come and take you away," Teegan smiled, flittering over to Vesper and sitting on her shoulder, hidden from the rain by the girl's hood. "Go on."
"The goblins did come and take away the baby, and the girl had to go into the Labyrinth and solve countless mazes to find her baby brother and rescue him from the king. It was hard, but Sarah was determined, and she succeeded. After many episodes of confusion and weariness, including a gorgeous dance, which seemed more like a dream to her, and numerous encounters with the Goblin King, Sarah rescued her baby brother and returned home. I don't think the Goblin King ever forgot Sarah."
"Such an ancient story," Hunter commented. "What do you think of it, Vesper?"
"I always wanted to be Sarah," Vesper said quietly.
"Why?" Teegan asked, her little voice trilling in Vesper's ear.
"Because she was so feminine and so brave. She was the damsel in distress with the knight in shining armor," Vesper said easily. "I always play Sir Didymus in the theater, a somewhat clumsy, but loveable little fox who never has anyone simply gorgeous sweep him into a dance."
"You consider Jareth to be completely gorgeous?" Onyx chuckled. "Young girls and their thoughts…"
"Well, not necessarily physically," Vesper struggled, trying to save herself. "But the way he could dance, how close he held Sarah…"
"You were there watching?" Hunter asked, an eyebrow arched.
"I guess I can just visualize it all from the play and from my imagination," Vesper smiled.
"I like that story," Onyx said, walking slowly alongside the human woman. "They say Sarah was Jareth's greatest strength and his greatest weakness."
"What power she had," Vesper breathed, and then gasped as she tripped in the mud.
Hunter caught her and held her up.
"Your legs must be completely sore," he said worriedly, slipping an arm around her waist and helping her along.
"I haven't had much of a rest in awhile," Vesper said slowly. "My body's just tired."
"Look. The Haze is less than a mile away," Hunter said, pointing across the field to a mass of enormous weeping willows. "Once we pass those trees, we'll be in the Haze. Then you can rest."
"Good," Vesper yawned and didn't resist when he pulled her along
The Haze was unlike anywhere Vesper had ever been. As soon as she and the others stepped past the first willow trees, they were in a different world. Mist covered a huge field of nothing but lush green grass and tall, draping willow trees. There wasn't any water anywhere, seeming almost as though the rains topped just outside of the Haze. The mist was magical and soft, soothing and warm, making Vesper and the others sleepy.
"Now we can rest," Hunter said, dropping his sacks and collapsing onto the grass. "It's safe here. Sleep."
Vesper sat down a short distance from him and pulled off her boots, wincing as the material rubbed against her trembling legs.
"Oh," she moaned, pulling her socks down to see blue and purple bruises lining her fair skin. "It's been so long since I had a good bath."
Her legs were almost damp from all the rain and mud, and she rubbed her hands against her legs, turning her back to Hunter so she could be more modest. Her hands were still cut up and calluses were forming, making her hands tender and painful to touch. Her dark hair was wet and muddy, and she felt completely disgusting.
"We're not too worried about your physical appearance, Vesper," Hunter said, crawling over to her and putting his hands to her shoulders. "We're all dirty and tired."
"Some warrior I'm turning out to be," she sighed, not even bothering to fight when he rubbed her shoulders.
"You make me think of a flower," Hunter said softly. "Delicate and beautiful, but you have to go through some hardships to make you stronger, more capable to face anything."
"Everything you say is always so nice," Vesper said, closing her eyes as he kneaded out some of the knots in her shoulders. "And you don't have to touch me, really, you don't."
"You're so stiff."
"And so are you from all the traveling. I'm just fine," Vesper said, pulling away from him.
"Everything he says to you is nice," Teegan harrumphed. "That's because you aren't a fairy."
"I'll give you some credit," Hunter grinned, settling back on the grass and putting his arms behind his head. "For a fairy, you're somewhat amusing to be around."
"Amusing?" Teegan snorted, finding a limb on one of the willow trees and laying down on her belly on top of it. "I highly disagree with that."
"That's just your nature," Onyx chuckled, gathering his legs up under his body and laying down with a contented sigh, making the ground shake as he did so.
"This place seems so magical," Vesper breathed, pulling her hair down out of its bun and shaking her head to loosen up her hair. "Why is it so magical, Hunter?"
The man shrugged, gazing into the mist, his eyes looking almost hazy as he did so.
"I think it's because we're getting closer to the Fairylands," he said. "Are you hungry?"
He leaned up on one elbow and pulled one of the crystals out of one of the sacks.
"Mmm…I could use a little something right now," Onyx murmured.
Teegan's belly grumbled, making Vesper laugh.
"Peekalo, are you hungry too?" she asked, pulling out her crystal and watching it produce a whole picnic-sized meal.
Vesper continued to get food from her crystal until everyone had a good-sized meal. Even Onyx, with his immense size, was satisfied by the time the food was finished.
Vesper didn't want to sleep immediately after eating, but instead layback and delved into thought. She wondered how much time had passed in the Aboveground since she had been gone. Her mind wandered to the Goblin King, wondering about him, considering what he was and how much he was like his character in the play. He seemed so arrogant and proud, but there seemed to be some gentler side to him, almost an affectionate side. The way he had touched her had been so kind and thoughtful, so fatherly…
Vesper shuddered and curled up into a tight ball. There was no proof whatsoever that she was his daughter. None. Sarah's ring could have been a fluke thing. She had always loved the Labyrinth story, and so she probably had the ring tailor made for her. Vesper reasoned that she couldn't possibly be related Jareth. After all, this was just some long, really lifelike dream. She'd wake up to find herself in bed, Hamlet at her feet, she was sure.
A long sigh escaped the woman's red lips, and she closed her eyes, willing herself into sleep. Everything was so soothing here, and safe, as Hunter had said. She couldn't hear anything, and the mist drifted around her, soothing her into rest.
She didn't know how long she had been asleep for, but Vesper woke up and opened her eyes to see a beautiful fog resting over her sleeping place and her companions. She stood up, feeling drowsy, and began to walk, wanting to get some fresh air and have some time to think about everything that was happening.
She walked away from her group and made her way through the droopy trees, admiring their simple beauty. The ground was damp from the fog, and the whole place just breathed magic.
Vesper smiled as she moved through the trees, an exquisite figure in such a breathtaking place. She could feel a gentle breeze brushing against her skin, and she twirled, feeling light and giddy. She spun elegantly through the trees and then came to a stop when something caught her eye. There had been a flash of glitter, just the faintest sparkle, and she turned and walked slowly through the trees, following the dancing light.
There, in the only sunlit spot of the whole Haze, was a flower, its petals delicate and beautiful, turned upwards towards the sun. It was the color of fire, with orange, red, and yellow intricately woven together, glistening like a dancing flame in the light.
She was drawn to it like a moth to the flame, and when she stood directly in front of it, she gazed at it for a moment and then knelt down and gently cupped the flower in her hands. Glittery dust came off on her fingertips, but she took no notice. Instead, she craned her neck slightly and drew in a deep breath.
The flower smelled of spices and magic, love and music, and Vesper closed her eyes and sat down next to the flower, blissfully happy. She opened her eyes, and the violet orbs were glittering unnaturally. She gazed up at the trees and gazed, fascinated, as tiny, glittery bubbles drifted down towards her from the trees. She could hear music, just barely, and the whole earth, it seemed, began to spin as the bubbles drew near her.
An instant later, she was gone.
