Some of you said this chapter ought to be awesome. Thanks! Though I know you're really talking about the next chapter about Jareth hehe. I really appreciate the reviews. I love getting a reader's perspective on the story and some of the things said really surprise me and give me ideas. The story is already written out in my head – what will be will be. Major plot events and people will remain, but sometimes I'll make a slight but important in how they take place. Some of you have mentioned the Stone King in your reviews – just as a reminder, he was mentioned/described back in Chapter 6 and Jareth will meet him in the next chapter.
Muchas gracias and merci beaucoup! Enjoy!
Chapter 11
Aboveground: Mid-Late 1986
Underground: 11 and half years since Labyrinth
There was little disagreement amongst the cave-dwellers that the discovery of their home by the Riders merited a swift removal. The attack on the northern parts of the kingdom was bold, and undoubtedly a preliminary strike. Many grumbled about dishonour and days when honest wars were fought. In the midst of this, Sarah was swift to argue her point and pushed unrelentingly for the group to move south.
"You're right, this war won't be fair. It'll be ugly and brutal. That's why we should strike out on our own," she insisted.
"We should seek shelter from the neighbouring kingdoms! They will take us," an older kobold declared.
"War would still find us," Gavyn shrugged.
"Exactly!" Sarah cried.
"But we'd be protected!"
"Are you kidding me?!" Sarah almost shouted, "Noone's going to give us free room and board. They'd more like make us part of the army so we earned our keep!"
"I'm too old for the army."
"Then you'd be put to work feeding, cleaning or serving the army," came Gavyn's swift reply.
Sarah nodded, "All other lands in the Underground are kingdoms of one lord or another. If we join them, we'd become their serfs. But if we stake out our own land, we'd be free. Isn't that what we want? Isn't that what we've been doing, living on border of two kingdoms in dusty caves?"
"But where could we go?" a female voice asked, "You said it, all the land is taken."
"Not all," Sarah said, her voice gaining strength, "There's land south that noone has claimed. Urien's Isthmus."
The group murmured amongst themselves, and hushed whispers of 'No man's land' could be heard uttered about the room.
"Its dangerous there. Wild," someone said nervously.
"And war isn't?" Sarah was incredulous.
"But its No Man's Land," came another superstitious voice.
"Then we'll make it ours!" Sarah declared stubbornly, "Our land."
It was a compelling statement and even the most fearful felt a new longing birthed in them. A land for their own! No fae lord to rule over them! No war to threaten, and freedom – sweet freedom! The eldest began to recall the old days of yore when the Underground was free and untamed. A time before the first fae fell from the sky and claimed the Underground. Many heads began to nod and soon the group was in the midst of detailed plans for their removal.
Within days the group had left the caves. With little in the way of belongings, and what there was being mostly communal, a large wagon easily held all their things with space for additional supplies. Sarah headed much of the preparations. She was a natural leader, had a strong personality, and could hold a thought in her head without being easily distracted. Her eagerness to take charge sat well with Gavyn, who foresaw a future need for, at the very least, a representative. The group could flee the coming war, but it would inevitably follow them.
The journey south took the group over a fortnight to manoeuvre around the mountain range to the top of Urien's Isthmus. Along the way they traded with many villages, bargaining with Sarah's jewellery for food, fabric and supplies. As a precaution, each of the group were equipped with a weapon of choice – be it a sword, knife, bow, axe, hammer or otherwise. It was a wise decision, as there were some made desperate by the Riders, whom sought to attack them and take their provisions. It was a sad sight when people were made desperate, but Sarah gave them no quarter. She would defend her own, and did not hesitate in turning her elemental powers upon the would-be bandits. But there was kindness in her, and their group had expanded by more than a dozen by her own invitation.
Gavyn was prodigiously proud of Sarah. She was able to maintain her mask throughout the day now, and had dulled her hair from a deep brown to a rustier colour. That particular piece of magic would take time, but he knew her ability to manipulate the elements had grown and he knew it would exponentially increase upon her reaching adulthood. It was the way of all Underground creatures, after all. There was but one thing that niggled at him, for it seemed to him that their group had run into more, much more, than their fair share of trouble. Ever since the day on the mountain when their hideaway was discovered, they'd been beset by troubles of one sort or another. It didn't sit well with him, and he set himself to careful observation but could not discover the source of their trouble. Whatever was acting against them, it covered its tracks well.
Sarah was unaware if Gavyn's concerns. Not that she had a basis for comparison on what was too much or too little trouble Underground. Much of her energy was spent seeing out one day through to the next. She was often preoccupied with plans and observations such that she seemed a mystery to those around her. She was liked, and loved by those closest to her. Ludo, who knew her best, was always nearby. But even he wondered at the dark-haired girl whom he knew had defeated the Labyrinth, fled the Above with her brother and now led them south. She was so very strong; rarely allowing emotion to overcome her, and he worried in his beastly way for her. His Sawah held many secrets tightly to her and while she led with strength, he would be happy if she would smile freely, without the cares of the world weighing upon her young shoulders.
Often he would ask her, "Sawah happy?"
And she would reply, "Yes Ludo. I'm happy," with a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Seeing her now, though, mouth set and eyes alive with the spirit of adventure, Ludo was content to see her fiery spirit hadn't diminished. His great red eyes looked to Toby, seated within Marg's arms. Ludo smiled at the picture. Marg had become special to him over the past few months, and he hoped to court her soon and then, after a time, maybe her arms would be filled with their own little ones. Safe within Marg's arms Toby yawned as Marg cooed softly at him. The black cat, never far from Toby, stirred itself to pad over to his human. There was something about Toby. Ludo had seen that the little boy had a way about him, something unnameable that wrapped itself around you like a warm blanket. He drew all creatures to him like that black cat, which had recently been joined by a small blue bird. Ludo was fairly certain the tree-sprites watched over the boy as well. Once he thought he might have seen a flash of white hide and great antlers in the woods, but when he turned to look it was gone. Ludo would have put it out of his mind, if Gavyn too had not first looked to him, and then to Toby with a meaningful glance, and it created between them a bond to observe, protect and watch over the group. Yet despite their vigilance, strange things began to occur. Slime and snails would coat the wagon overnight, taking time away from journeying in cleaning. Then things began to turn up.
"Where did this come from?" Gavyn said, holding up a swatch of beautiful silk.
Noone could tell him. A golden goblet appeared. Then a necklace Sarah had admired back at a market, and a tunic for Marg. The silk disappeared one night but was found again a day later, but this time sewn into clothes for Toby and a robe for Sarah.
"Fit for royalty," Gavin noted absently.
They were dumbfounded, but noone knew and they could not catch the person doing it and so the perpetrators remained a mystery. Noone really complained, especially when freshly baked cakes popped up in odd places.
It was a fortnight when they had finally traversed around the range and could hear the waves of the Siren Sea lapping at the beach. The morning was fresh, the air crisp and moist and the day bright and beautiful as spring spread her wings, till a woman's shrieking cry split the forest. Sarah took immediate charge and nodded to two of the men, a kobold and a dwarf, to investigate. They went, hammer and axe in hand, only to return minutes later.
"Rider," one panted, "E's got a Siren."
"Siren?!" Sarah was surprised, "What's a Siren doing this far from the sea?"
"Twuble," Ludo growled.
"Too right! Tis' too much trouble we be running into!" Gavyn groused, looking meaningfully at Ludo, "We should keep moving," he said and urged the wagon forward.
Sarah was startled by his callousness, "What? Why?!"
"Ain't no use," he replied.
"She needs help!"
"Does she? Yer fer certain tis' nowt a trap? Tat' soon as we go to help, chit won't kill us?"
Another scream rang out.
Gavyn scowled, "Me girl, 'tis what Siren's do. Lure men in an' drown 'em."
"Men?"
Gavyn nodded.
"Great to know," Sarah said, and took off into the trees.
Gavyn cursed again, "Merlin's balls!" and hobbled off after her.
Sarah burst upon the scene, mask in place and stones readied for her command. The Rider had pushed the screeching Siren to the ground, and Sarah could see her scratch desperately at him. Sarah heard the Sirens heavy rasping and grey face, giving the impression of a fish out of water, while the Rider was growling in a language Sarah couldn't understand. Nevertheless, Sarah saw well his ugly intent. Enraged, she released the rocks and called instead upon the air. Her fingers splayed wide, arm stretched toward the Rider, which she then pulled back toward her sharply, forming a fist. The Rider crumpled to the ground, the breath stolen from his lungs. He lay choking and Sarah watched on mercilessly. The Siren scrambled out from underneath him, hissing defensively. He struggled weakly, but without breath stilled after minutes till he lay limp, cold and dead on the ground.
Sarah's fist remained clenched and sweat beaded on her brow. She knew he was dead, could see he was dead, but was unable to move for the shock. She was shaken and shaking. Hands grasped her shoulders and her eyes looked to but did not truly see the old man shouting at her.
"Sarah! Lass! Snap out of it!" he yelled into her face.
When she didn't respond he slapped her. She blinked. Her eyes misted as they took in the body of the Rider. Her body folded in half as she wretched dryly. Her legs felt like jelly, and the blood rushed from her head. White spots swam in her vision as she burst into noisy sobs. From behind Gavyn an angry scream sounded and she found herself thrown backward, her head hitting the soft ground. Her tears blurred her vision and though she swiped at them, all she could see was the shape of Gavyn and a large black animal bearing down upon him. Cold, pale arms wrapped around her and a beautiful voice whispered in her ear. She looked to her shoulder where the Siren smiled at her through rows of sharp teeth. Her hair was dirty and lank, her eyes dull and teeth yellowed; a beautiful corpse-like woman.
"Pretty boy, pretty boy, be mine?"
Gavyn shouted with pain, and Sarah's eyes snapped back to him. His arm was bloodied and hung limply at his side. He cursed several times, and to Sarah it seemed the hell-horse laughed evilly at his pain. Quicker than a snake, Gavyn lashed out his hand and planted it squarely on the horses' brow. It screamed, then just as quickly collapsed to the ground. It was dead.
The Siren nuzzled her neck.
"Sarah, get away from her," Gavyn whispered hoarsely, holding his arm.
Sarah stumbled to her feet, and the Siren did not stop her, only whined temptingly, baring herself to them.
"Come away, pretty boy, and I'll be yours."
Gavyn snorted, "To th' death, no doubt."
The Siren hissed, "Speak not, navun! I offer reward for my dear, sweet, one," she smiled prettily at Sarah, "Come, come away, lovely boy…"
"I'm not a boy," Sarah said flatly, letting go the illusion masking her features.
The Siren gaped at her, then laughed beautifully through her fangs, "Pretty girl!"
Gavyn stumbled suddenly, still bleeding and eyes glazed. His hand clutched at his shoulder where the horse had bitten him.
"Gavyn? What's wrong?" Sarah demanded worriedly, throwing his good arm around her shoulders in an effort to keep him up.
"Poison," the Siren said knowingly, indicating the dead hell-horse.
"Is there a cure?" Sarah asked her as she struggled to hold him upright.
The Siren shrugged.
"Gavyn? I need to get you back to camp!" Sarah said as he drooped even further, "Can you help me?" she asked the Siren.
The Siren nodded slowly, "For the debt owed."
Slowly they made their way back to the others. The males balked at the Siren, save Ludo who stepped forward and took a swooning Gavyn in his arms. Sarah asked, but none knew what could help Gavyn's wound. His eyes rolled back as fever and restlessness overcame him, and Sarah feared for his life.
"Come. We shall assist."
Sarah turned to the Siren, "I thought you said there was no cure!"
"We shall do our best," she promised, her sea-blue eyes sincere.
There was some protest, but as none could help Gavyn they had little choice but to entrust Gavyn to the Siren. A small group carried him while the rest stayed with the wagon. They followed the seductress south toward the sounds of the sea and smell of salt. She flit between the trees before them, seeming to grow stronger the closer to the water they were till she glowed with vitality. The dullness faded, her hair was bright, eyes sparkling and cheeks full with colour. Sarah would have marvelled more at the change if Gavyn weren't uppermost in her thoughts.
A rocky outcrop appeared, and on it dozens more beautiful women sat. They sang joyfully, and the Siren called to them in her own tongue. Seeing her, they leapt into the sea to appear moments later before them on the beach. The Siren clacked at them, pointing to Gavyn and Sarah in turn. The women all turned as one and surrounded the pallet upon which Gavyn lay. One pressed her lips to his.
"We assist," the first Siren said to Sarah.
They group lifted the pallet, moving with Gavyn toward the sea. Ludo protested, a worried whine escaping his large lips as the sirens disappeared under the waves with Gavyn.
"He will return," the Siren assured, "Till moon-time; feast, rest. You shall be safe."
At her words it seemed a hundred fish leapt from the waters to the beach. Sarah and the cave-dwellers stood shocked at the sight while the Siren watched on impassively.
"Feast," she repeated when they did not move, and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Sarah shouted, "What about Gavyn? What are you doing with him? Who are you?"
The Siren frowned, "We assist," she waved a hand as if that explained all.
Sarah, though tired, dirty and worn, looked the siren dead on, "Who are you? How do I contact you?"
The Siren frowned again, seeming frustrated, "We," she made a circle with her hand, "We are the sea. We are the one and the ones."
Right, Sarah thought, "And how do I contact you?"
The Siren moved forward, took Sarah's hand and scratched a talon across the pad of a finger. A droplet of blood welled from the tiny wound. The Siren sniffed at it, scenting it, her tongue darting out to taste the blood. She indicated to the wound and then to the water.
"I'm to spill some blood into the sea, is that it?" Sarah asked impatiently, attempting to remain in control while anger and grief welled up in her as the day's events slowly ate away at the corners of her mind.
The Siren nodded happily, "Offering is calling."
Sarah wanted to roll her eyes, "Fine. Till moon-time."
The Siren trailed a claw down Sarah's cheek, "A debt. Pretty girl. A debt is owed. Offer, pretty girl, and we shall answer the call."
Sarah jerked her head in a semblance of a nod. She was beyond tired, beyond unnerved and needed to find a private place where she could crawl into herself and hide from the ugliness of the day. The Siren tipped her head in return and padded away, wiggling her talons in a mocking goodbye to the cave-dwellers snatching up all the fish. Sarah's stomach rumbled but she staggered through the throng of people toward the trees. Someone shoved a bag at her, her hands automatically clutching at the canvas. Finally in the trees, she spotted a great hollowed oak and moved toward it, intending to shelter within the gnarled wood. Once there she sat heavily, her head dropping heavily into her hands.