11 Spellbinding
Zarah followed Jareth into the Labyrinth on foot Jareth was almost running to get to the centrer of the Labyrinth and Zarah was doing her best to follow she was however finding it difficult due to the heals on the boots Jareth had suggested she wear. After what sempt to be a few hours Zarah stood on yet another uneven slab and almost went head first into one of the walls of the Labyrinth stopping and catching her breath she shouted out.
"Jareth I really would have preferred you to tell me how far we were going before you suggested I wore these boots."
"The Labyrinth takes quite some time to navigate even when you know where you are going and as we are doing this the mortal way we can not afford to loose any time" Jareth explained to her.
"But why didn't you tell me I could have worn my training shoes and saved us these harsh words, my feet are killing me and I have nearly broken my ankle over a dozen times on the uneven floor" she retorted trying to sound calm and even.
"But my ambrosial you would have looked entirely inappropriate for an audience with the king we must still keep up appearances in public." Jareth replied quite offhandedly.
"Very well" Zarah sighed. These boots will be the death of me she thought as the pair carried on.
After what felt like hours Jareth slowed and made his way to a high wall in-front of him. There appeared to be no door and no way through it Zarah could see that the walls could be walked round but she could see no way in. The place felt strange it felt powerful and peaceful. Jareth walked to the corner of the large stone box and started to run his hands over the stones finding what he needed he lifted his amulet to the stones and some of the stones started to move he motioned to Zarah to follow him through the space left by the moving stones. On the other side the smooth stone walls contained a fountain with a giant glowing crystal spinning on the top of it. The crystal pulsed and gave off what Zarah could only describe as a hum. As the moments passed Zarah began to feel better, not so tired and more energy than she had had in months although she still couldn't wait to be rid of the ridiculous boots she was wearing.
Jareth walked to the centre of the enclosure and placed his hand on the crystal ball Zarah watched in awe as it emitted a blinding light which enveloped Jareth and began to spread out towards Zarah, Zarah backed herself towards the wall in fright but she realised as the light grew closed that she could feel warmth from it. It was almost like a greeting and she could feel the calming wave coming from it. It felt sentient it felt all knowing, it must truly be the heart of the labyrinth timeless and powerful. Zarah felt the light fill her and warm her and give her strength healing all her physical pains and letting her know that everything would be alright and that her life's journeys were all meant for her to be able to learn and give her strength to face any hardship knowing that she had a place in the universe and this was it.
As the light receded back into the centre Zarah rubbed her eyes and saw Jareth's silhouette next to the pulsating orb. Finally as Zarah's eyes re adjusted to the ambient light she walked over to Jareth to begin her training.
The pair had been through all the Fae text for blocking powers with different kinds of barriers Jareth started with the simplest types asking Zarah to imagine herself in a bubble however due to the proximity of the labyrinths power Zarah actually wrapped herself in a real bubble and floated herself above the ground having to be brought back to earth by Jareth when he punctured the bubble. They went through imagining actual walls which started to bring the walls of the enclosure closer to the pair Zarah was brought out of the magic induced trance with a loud shout from Jareth telling her to stop as he stated to fear for his life as he couldn't stop the walls progress. The only thing Jareth had left was his own unique way of blocking his powers.
"I'm almost out of ideas" Jareth said deflated "The last thing we can try is my own way, but I warn you this is not from any documented text" he went on.
"Ok" Zarah said acceptingly. If the truth be known Zarah was now beginning to feel quite unwell again and she had used all her strength to manifest the magic she had been using with Jareth.
"If this fails I don't think I can do anything else" Jareth carried on sadly "I will have to use the incantation to bind your powers"
Zarah nodded in agreement feeling unsteady on her feet now.
Jareth began "My powers are blocked using a Labyrinth I want you to imagine yourself at the start of a Labyrinth and I want you to imagine an impossible puzzle of never ending walls and twists and changes, imagine that the walls will change if someone gets too close"
Zarah had closed her eyes and was carefully imagining the scene being described to her she began to wobble as the last of her strength seemed to be leaving her Jareth touched her for the first time that day with two strong hands on her shoulders guiding her to her knees to allow them to continue. His hands felt warm and tingly like they always had and gave her strength to continue. This time it was different she could actually see the labyrinth in-front of her stretching out for miles exactly as she had been shown only days before. She walked to the wall and held her hands out gently searching the wall for the doors as she moved down the wall she could feel the different energies and moved to find a spot which she felt was an opening she walked forward and passed through the wall uninhibited. She could see two corridors to her left and right and no way forward she turned to her right and walked along feeling the walls for the familiar change in energy, she whispered to Jareth as she was making her journey in her mind "I can really see it, I think its working"
"That's wonderful" he replied back.
Zarah continued her exploration of the Labyrinth in her mind she felt the familiar feeling of an opening and went through again there was no forward only left or right she chose to go left and the dark walls she had been exploring changed to lighter sandstone she could now see turns in the walls and meandered through the maze taking random lefts and rights she must have been going around 20 or 30 minutes when she reached the familiar square enclosure which indicated the centre of the labyrinth. She began walking round the high stone walls looking for the same corner Jareth had used to gain entrance earlier that day. When she found what she believed was the right corner she held out her hand and felt the stones she could feel a hot stone and she pressed. The stones began to move reviling the centre of the labyrinth to her she could see the same fountain and a large crystal on top spinning in the water. Zarah was drawn to the crystal it was begging her to touch it she drew closer like a moth to a flame she tentatively reached out her hand to touch the orb "NO!" Jareth screamed but it was too late Zarah touched the orb.
The power shot through her throwing her against the wall of the enclosure and Zarah's vision went black she fell to her side and was only just caught by Jareth before she hit her head on the hard stone floor.
"No" he said again "What have you done? Zarah can you hear me, Zarah!" he shook her unconscious body. She could feel her pulse week and weakening and her breath was shallow and raspy. Jareth sighed, he was totally defeated he believed his only option was to bind Zarah's powers he believed this was the only way for him to save her life.
He laid her out on the hard floor placing his cape under her head as a pillow he kissed her forehead and began the incantation he had memorised from the Fae text he could feel his powers going through her he could feel the strong silk of his powers taking her powers and wrapping them safely, as he finished the final words he felt something take hold of him and his world went black.
