A/N: Okily-dokily here is chapter 11. Lately I'v been more and more disappointed in my writing. Please tell me if it's just me or if it's not. This chapter may have some errors of words that just don't fit. I was testing out a new program for this..there's still a few bugs to work out with it. I correted what I saw but knowing me... I more than likely missed lots. There's also a section of two conversations going on at once...I had it set up on my wordpro but it looks so much different on here unfortunately, but I think you will all understand it perfectly...
I hope you all have had a good Easter/weekend. I myself am not religious but I do use Easter and other such holidays as an excuse for chocolate, gifts, and a good time with the family. ... I totally made some awesome coloured eggs!..But I broke my best one Tn T
I was also thinking about adding some songs, either random ones I hear during the time I write, or maybe ones I think would go with the story, or just ones I like in general. I'm always out for new music, so I figured I wasn't the only one and would like to share what I like. What do you think?
Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth.
Chapter 11
Go back to go forward
Heeled boots clicked along the smooth black marble floor, echoing within a great hall. Jareth strode through the long corridor, cape billowing behind him as he made his way toward the Council doors. Apparently they decided to hold a secret meeting behind his back, and if it weren't for his friend Prince Fell sending him an urgent message, he wouldn't have known.
Raised voices could be heard behind the giant doors, heated conversations and angry accusations burned like fuel and the fires of hate toward the goblin Kingdom as well as its keeper and commander, himself.
there was one in particular who liked to raise his vocals above the rest, and he was unmistakable. Bray Garin, King of the Gwyllion, lord of the Northern Mountains . But in Jareth's opinion he was a power-hungry, greedy, underhanded, spineless the little fraction of a man.
And he would like nothing more than to castrate that greasy little imp with a rusty nail. That indeed would be satisfying.
Jareth, with a power boost pushed past the Council doors revealing a large round room constructed much the same as the Roman Senate thousands of years ago, with an early Venetian architectural twist. Visual elegance to counteract the verbal ugly dealings within.
Beautifully carved stone made this stair-like seating that curved around the room like a horseshoe, each council member having their own specific place marked amongst the rows by a velvet cushion embroidered with their house sigil. His seat in particular was nearest to the King on the end, marked by the pillow of midnight blue, the symbol of his house he often wore around his neck, the silver horns of the Minotaur, also embroidered upon his cushion with metallic thread.
At the head of the room sat the high King Argoth, father to Fell. a middle-aged man with long black hair tied behind his back, his face thin and refined but beginning to show his years. Dressed in robes befitting of his station he sat poker-faced, showing no signs of emotion but within his tired blue eyes.
Jareth's surprise entry did not cause the rabble cease, but it did not go unnoticed either, as he received many glares while he made his way towards his seat where Fell awaited him. The goblin King walked head high and dignified to his companion with whispers of favoritism beneath the shouting. A trait frowned upon in leaders.
The goblin king watched on in silence, listening to Bray waggle his tongue; the little fink. Bray stood in the center of the room, he was indeed on the sorter side, thin, ashen gray skin, silver hair medium length hair, his eyes as dark as the black crystals mined by the mynydd dwarfs.
"High King Argoth, we can no longer sit idly by while this upstart and his band of miscreants continue to wreak havoc throughout the lands. The council demands something be done!" He spoke.
Fell leaned over, and began speaking to Jareth in hushed tones "He's been at this for nearly three hours, trying to turn the whole of the council against you"
"And what would the council have me do?" Argoth questioned irritatedly.
Jareth scoffed "They're all already against me"
"Justice!" demanded Bray.
"Well yes but, he wants action now" Continued Fell.
"Justice? my dear Lord Garin, this is politics, there's no such thing as justice" Quipped Argoth, earning snickers from the council members.
Jareth nodded "Thank you, for sending the message"
"Surely you must do something, you are high King" groused Bray.
Fell smirked "and have all the fun to myself? I think not"
"We cannot convict with no proof" Argoth stated.
Jareth snorted at his friend's jest, turning his attention back to Bray and Argoth.
"No proof? we all know what his goblins are capable of, and what they do best. And his is the only land untouched by this rash of thievery your majesty" Bray spat sourly.
"Would say you Lord Jareth? Do you deny?" Argoth gestured toward the Goblin King.
"I was under the impression that this was a meeting, not a trial, my lord king. I have no need to defend myself since I nor my goblins have done anything. We are not the perpetrators of these crimes" Jareth said nonchalantly, with an icy undertone.
"Of course he would deny it!" Snapped the Gwyllion King.
"That is quite enough Lord Garin! Further more, seeing as how there is no real proof to these matters you have presented, it is insufficient, and until you come up with substantial evidence, this meeting is adjourned" Argoth then left the council chambers soon followed by the chittering members and a fuming Bray, muttering under his breath about getting proof.
As soon as King Garin and the others were out of ear shot, Jareth turned to his companion. "Is there somewhere private we can talk?" He said with intention to tell Fell of the scene at the market.
Sarah sat in a comfortable alcove sitting area inside the library, that had grown tremendously over the last four years. The shock of learning about the amount of time she has been gone, passed quickly, and straight into surreal, it just didn't feel true and yet she knew it was.
It all added to her new determination to execute her plan. And to do so, she would have to learn much more about the goblin kingdom, and it's inner workings; which was easier said than done.
Book after book and nothing, not even a mention. How was this possible, she got more information about goblins and all that in the human realm than she did her where they actually lived…
Sarah flopped back against the cousins burry eyed and frustrated as hell. How long had she been at this, a day…or week? Seemed like forever, even though it's only been about four hours. Why couldn't she find anything, even Myla; who gave up about forty-five minutes prier, also found just as much.
Nothing, nata, nill, none, zilch, zero!
What was going on? A conspiracy? Seriously, what the hell…
Sighing Sarah laid her head back, calming herself. "this is ridiculous" she groaned.
"What's ridiculous? Did you find something?" asked Myla, stepping inside the alcove, startling Sarah slightly.
"No, that's the problem. I haven't found a damn thing. Not a shred…."
shaking her head, Myla sat down beside her perplexed companion virtually in the same state as herself. "This is really strange indeed. I've never even noticed how difficult it is to get information on the goblin kingdom… then again I've never tried. Not many people are that interested, they just know it's not a good place to go… which begs the question; why you so adamant about finding information in the first place?" she asked curiously, with a hint of suspicion.
"well, I was going to explain after found what I was looking for but it seems I'm not getting anywhere at the moment" it was then a voice from the past echoed through her mind.
'Sometimes the way forward is the way back' said the wise man.
At the time she really didn't understand it then, but now that she was older it became clear, especially now.
Sarah sat up straight with the sudden idea; the light bulb didn't only come on, it burst!
"That's it!" she exclaimed happily.
"What's it?" asked Myla now confused as ever.
"I have to go back to go forward" said Sarah as she scrambled to her feet knocking several books around, in her excitement. "I have to go back and see Hoggle!"
"Sarah slow down and tell me what's going on" said Myla getting irritated.
Sarah stopped that her friend. "Right, right, okay I'll explain while we're getting ready to go" she said.
Sarah strode out of the library Myla right behind. "remember last night I told you about my past?" she reminded.
"Yeah…?" Replied Myla.
"Well it got me thinking" continued Sarah, as they made their way through the house preparing to leave "last night I decided to exact I went to revenge, goblin king and take back what's rightfully mine; my dreams"
Myla stayed silent for a moment, comprehending her friend's words "wait…" she said "you want to steal back to dreams?"
Sarah nodded "yup" she simply said.
"Well…" Said Myla "that does sound like fun" she smiled. It was her way of agreeing to go along.
Sarah halted and turned to face her friend. No more words exchanged, Sarah simply hugged her in gratitude.
finally they finished preparing, each just similar attire; worked leather boots and pants, the cream poet shirt beneath a jerkin. A rawhide trench coat with the large collar done up high, covering the lower half of their faces. Hat, and gloves. They had to make sure they were not recognizable due to the market incident; just in case.
They stepped outside, Ceo and Ta with them. dusk was upon the land, the sun just barely peeking over the hills that surround their cottage. "we won't make it before nightfall" warned Myla.
"that's the point." Said Sarah, giving Ceo a good pat before mounting the great white beast. Myla shrugged, straddling Ta's lower back. "are you sure about this Sarah?"
"yes, I am." answered Sarah, lowering the length of her along Ceo's back. Myla nodded and did the same. "let's go"
The white creatures shot off with the girls atop, weaving in and out of the mists; disappearing and reappearing every few meters. Quickening their journey.
all too soon the night was upon them, bringing angry thundering clouds just as they reached the goblin borders that was marked dark gnarled forest similar to the one she found inside the labyrinth. Lightning flashed through the trees as they rode, Ceo's and Ta's agility, flexibility, and ability was unprecedented. They moved like speeding cheetahs through the underbrush, every so often having to avoid a large puddle or fallen branch by leaping onto the trunk of a tree and then to another before coming to ground again; able to do so because their two long toes, and thumb-like dew claw.
The storm forced the majority creatures into taking shelter, making the way clear of unwanted company for the girls. Breaking through the trees and straight into the heavy rain, they continued on across the barren goblin lands. Hours had passed before they made it to the hill that looked over the great labyrinth. Ceo stopped at Sarah's command at the peak where she first entered this world. Ta slid to halt in the mud, as Myla sat straight "so this is the maze. It doesn't look that far…" She observed.
Sarah shivered a little after companion's eerie words. "it's further than you think" she stated quietly and turned with Ceo, making their way down the hill towards the gates where she first met Hoggle. Myla and Ta following close behind, all now thoroughly soaked.
Along the outer wall they wandered, Sarah was not sure where she would see him, or even if he was still alive, but something told her to keep going. There in the gloom she spotted burning lights through the windows of the small hut 'it must be his' she thought.
Getting off Ceo, she looked towards Myla who was doing the same "I think this is it" she said, now feeling slightly nervous at her impromptu soon to be reunion with the once cowardly dwarf. Sarah neared the door, biting down her uneasy feeling, she lifted up her fist to the wet wood; 'it's now or never' she told herself, still hesitating.
Myla rolled her eyes, reaching past her friend and knocked on the door. Sarah huffed and glared daggers at Myla over her shoulder.
Hoggle set is at his workbench, repairing a clasp for one of his precious jewels when someone began rapping at his hut door, startling him.
It was once in a blue moon he had visitors at his home let alone in the middle of the night during a storm, and he did not like it one bit. He immediately became suspicious, and wary. Shimmying off his stool, he looked around for a weapon of sorts, just in case. From his hearth he grabbed the fire poker, gripping it tight in his leathery hands, preparing for the worst behind his door.
Slowly he moved closer, another couple knocks making him nearly jump from his skin. Reaching over he gripped the latch, and pulled it open. The door creaked as it swung, the rain made almost a white noise while the sky lit with another crack of lightening, illuminating the tall stranger the stood now three or four feet from him. 'A ranger?' was the first thought in his mind "who are ya' and wha'd ya' want?" he demanded in his gruff voice.
The stranger moved closer, squatting down to his level. He watched as a gloved hand began to undo the buttons of the high collar that concealed his lower face, his eyes were shadowed by the brim of his hat that dripped the water it collected from the ever pouring rain. The hidden faced was soon revealed, the pale skin aglow from the light of this hut. The stranger was no man, indeed she was a young woman, though he did not recognize her right away he knew he met her before.
She tilted her hat back to stop the annoying dripping, allowing the view of her eyes unobstructed; green as green could be. But the held the soul of the same girl he'd known some years ago; his first true friend.
"Hoggle" she spoke, her voice more mature and silky than he remembered.
Hoggle closed his mouth that had apparently been hanging open, he gulped "S…Sarah?" he asked.
Sarah beamed and nodded. "You remember me" she said happily.
There was a loud thud and clatter as Hoggle pitched forwarded, fainting right in front of her, poker beside him.
That was not the reaction she was expecting…
Myla peered over Sarah "You killed him…" she said, half jokingly.
ps: I have a tenancy for using words from several languages, in this chapter I used "mynydd" it's Welsh for mountain. I thought is looked and sounded better than "mountain dwarf"...
Review Replies:
Kuroneko388 : Oh he wont have to look anymore...
Person3162012 : Action is coming soon!
"to lazy to log in" (lol) Thank you 3
hungergamesanddancing : Thank you!
Lost O'Fallon Girl :Your excitement is making me excited!
London Bai : Your much too kind, I blush! Thank you. I do intend to finish Without at some point...
JHaines : Huzzah!
