It was with a flash of light that Sarah, Stacey, Wayne and the others reappeared in the Underground, instantly sinking ankle deep into the frigid snow that still covered everything around them.
"Oh, my," Wayne's eyes widened as he took everything in. "When Stacey and Hoggle told me about how bad things were here, I had no idea it was this bad. It's so cold; I don't think anything could survive for too long without a warm shelter."
"Yeah, I know," Sarah agreed. "So it might be a good idea to check up on…" Sarah's words trailed off with a gasp of horror, staring at something behind them. Upon following her gaze, the others all saw the cottage that had once provided protection for Prometheus, Lady Bernadine, Baby Reynard and Primrose had been completely destroyed, with no one in sight.
"NO!" Sir Didymus dashed forward, his voice strained with anguish as he frantically searched through the rubble. "Lady Bernadine! Where are you?"
"I don't understand!" Hoggle cried as Sir Didymus continued to call for his missing family to no avail. "The protective shield Stacey put around the cottage should have held. How could the Agnostic have gotten around it?"
"We were gone too long," Stacey whispered, her face growing even whiter than the snow around her. "That's…the only explanation. I put it up in such a way that the Agnostic could only get through if one of us allowed it to. But...it must not have been permanent enough to sustain itself in my absence. This is all my fault! I should never have left them behind."
"Stacey," Ludo rumbled in a comforting tone, lightly nudging her shoulder with a finger. "Not your fault."
"He's right, Stacey," Sarah agreed. "You did what you could. And…maybe they got out alright before…"
"But you heard what Wayne just said!" Stacey argued. "How long could they survive out here when it's this cold?"
"It might not have been that long," Hoggle pointed out. "After all, we all just saw the Agnostic followed us into the Aboveground in disguise. This…might have just happened moments ago."
Before Stacey could give any kind of response, Sir Didymus was heard calling out for them. Moving quickly, everyone hurried forward to find Sir Didymus crouching down beside an unconscious Primrose, who was partially buried under a thin layer of snow.
"It's Primrose!" Hoggle exclaimed, dropping to the female dwarf's side to help her sit up. "Primrose! Wake up, Primrose! It's us! We're back!" After a few tense moments, Primrose gave a soft moan and weakly opened her eyes. She looked around for a second or two, as if she was still out of it. However, once she focused on Hoggle's face, she snapped out of it, throwing her arms around his neck with a cry of relief.
"Oh, Hoggle!" she cried, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "You came back!"
"What happened?" Sarah asked, crouching down to speak to the dwarf.
"I…I don't know," Primrose chocked out between sobs. "All I remember is the Agnostic attacking the cottage. The whole place was shaking, and then the roof caved in. I can't remember anything else. I have no idea where the others are." Primrose could not continue on and began to sob loudly, burying her face into Hoggle's shoulder. Neither of them noticed the conflicted look on Stacey's face as she watched the two dwarfs.
"We…we should probably keep looking," Stacey suggested after a few seconds. "Maybe…maybe Primrose isn't the only one lying unconscious." Taking Stacey's advice, everyone stepped away to continue searching for Prometheus, Lady Bernadine, and Reynard, leaving Hoggle and Primrose alone for a while.
"It's okay, Primrose," Hoggle assured her after a moment, rubbing her back in hopes of comforting her. "We'll find the others, soon."
"Hoggle," Primrose sniffed. "I…I'm just happy you came back."
Seconds after Primrose said this, the misery in her face seemed to dissolve, with her expression becoming blank and emotionless. But since her face was still buried in Hoggle's shoulder, he did not notice this. Moving slowly to avoid alerting Hoggle to what she was doing, she stuck her hand into the snow beside them, unearthing a small dagger that had been buried there. Stealthily, Primrose maneuvered the dagger until it was poised to strike. However, just as her arm stiffened in preparation…..
"HOGGLE!"
In a flash, Primrose was grabbed from behind and thrown aside. Hoggle remained frozen, staring in shock and confusion as Stacey appeared beside him, glaring down at Primrose, the dagger still in her grasp.
"What's going on?" Hoggle asked, looking between them in wide-eyed confusion.
"Ask her!" Stacey shouted, pointing a shaking finger at Primrose. "I was just starting to look for the others, but then I realized I should make sure you two were safe first. After all, what would happen if the Agnostic came along while you were standing here unprotected? Imagine my surprise when I see you, Primrose, about to stab Hoggle with a knife?" With these words, Stacey angrily kicked out, showering the female dwarf with the snow. "Is that how you repay us? We trusted you, Primrose! We let you into our circle, and left you with Prometheus and Sir Didymus' family! And all this time, you were only going to kill one of us? Is that how the Agnostic got past the protective barrier I put up before leaving the Underground? You let it in, didn't you?"
"Primrose?" Hoggle whispered, his voice shaking with disbelief. "That…that's not true, is it?" After a brief moment of silence, Primrose's looked back at them, her face still void of emotion.
"I'm a bit disappointed it took you so long," she said, speaking in a monotone voice. "Shouldn't it have aroused a bit of suspicion that the Agnostic's hold began to take effect only a few days after I appeared in the Goblin City?"
"So you were the Agnostic's spy," Stacey concluded.
"For someone who is supposed to be responsible for the wellbeing of the beings within the Labyrinth, you are far too trusting," Primrose stated. "Letting your guard down with someone you'd barely even met? You really are a hopeless leader. Maybe Jareth knew what he was doing when you threw you away to live with the carpenter."
An enraged cry slipped from Stacey's throat as she fell for the taunt, lunging forward. However, in her anger, she completely forgot about the fact that Primrose was still holding the dagger until it slashed along her arm. With a cry of pain, Stacey dropped to her knees, clutching the wound as Primrose took off running.
"Stacey," Hoggle spoke with concern, moving to her side to try and look at her injury. "Are you…?"
"Don't worry about it," Stacey insisted, gritting her teeth as she wiped away the small amount of blood. "It's not that serious."
"You still should at least take care of it," Hoggle argued, pulling out a large handkerchief from his belt to bind the wound.
"There are many wounds that need treating," a voice spoke nearby.
"Daedalus!" Hoggle and Stacey spoke in unison, turning to the owl who had appeared nearby.
"You're okay!"
"How'd you escape the Agnostic!" You fell through the doorway with it, and we all thought you were…"
"I almost was," Daedalus admitted. "But…an old friend stepped in at the last minute and helped me get away."
"What friend?" Stacey asked in curiosity.
"I think it's better if you see for yourself," Daedalus replied. "He's waiting for us all to join him in a hidden grotto nearby."
"Grotto? What grotto?"
"It's a very old cave that's located close by," Daedalus explained. "My father discovered it when I was just a fledgling."
"If you knew the grotto was there, why didn't you suggest it when we were tryin' to find a place to stay sheltered from the Agnostic when all this started?" Hoggle asked.
"Because the grotto wouldn't have provided a comfortable place for anyone," Daedalus answered. "There was no telling how long we would have to remain sheltered away, and the grotto would not have been suitable for a long-term hiding place."
"I guess that makes sense," Stacey decided. "So, where exactly is this grotto?"
"At the base of the hill overlook," Daedalus offered. "Just find the obelisk with the labyrinth symbol etched into the side, and press it. The hidden entrance will open up for you instantly. I'd take you there myself, but it would be best if I went to find the others."
"Why can't we go find them, too?" Hoggle asked.
"Because it's obvious Primrose wasn't just running to get away," Daedalus reasoned. "She'll be off to fetch the Agnostic. And if it finds you defenseless, Stacey, you're as good as dead. Besides…. my friend will want to see you as soon as he can."
"Okay, but be quick, Daedalus" Stacey insisted. "If you're not back with Wayne, Sarah and the others in five minutes, I will head back out to find you myself."
"I understand," Daedalus nodded before flying off.
Once he was gone, Stacey and Hoggle made off for the spot Daedalus had indicated in silence. Before long, they reached the base of the indicated hill and began to search the obelisks. It was Hoggle who located the labyrinth symbol.
"Over here," he called to Stacey, pushing the symbol as he spoke. Just as Daedalus had said, an opening appeared in the hillside almost magically. Exchanging a glance, the pair hesitantly stepped into the grotto. The moment they set foot inside, they saw someone was waiting for them, sitting against the stone wall with his knees folded up to his chest. Immediately, he raised his head to look up at them, the crackling flames from a crude fire pit embedded in the grotto floor casting its light across his face. Instantly, Stacey halted, rage filling her eyes as she recognized the figure sitting before them.
"YOU!" she shrieked, glaring in anger into the tired eyes of Jareth.
AN: Short chapter, I know. But the next chapter will be the last one before the story's climax, so there will be a lot to cram in.