A/N: Thanks for your patience in waiting for this chapter, and I apologize for the short length. The next chapter will follow sooner than this one did, and be much longer. *Huge credit to LovelyAmberLight for her suggestions of improvement!*
Disclaimer: I clearly don't own Labyrinth or its characters!
A Writer Required
Chapter Twenty-One
"He is ready for questioning, My Lord." Horiss informed me upon my arrival. Jack was hunched over upon the ground, pale from his punishment.
A cold smile spread across my lips. "Excellent." Upon entering the cell, I shoved Jack back with my foot, and held him down with it. Leaning forward with easy grace, I folded my arms over my knee. I smiled with a satisfaction that did not meet the fire of hatred and disgust in my eyes, but my tone conveyed that we were holding an entirely civilized conversation over tea.
"I'd be very careful, if I were you, in what I say next. You may not live much longer, otherwise. And bear in mind: I still have not decided which method I will use to end it." My smile fell drastically. "So," I leaned down a little more and bore my teeth at the pig. "Make yourself useful to me." I narrowed my eyes. "Why did you attack that woman?"
When Jack did not reply, I raised an eyebrow and frowned lightly. "Very well." I raised my voice, addressing the goblin Horiss behind me. "Horiss, prepare an oubliette. It seems our guest would prefer to be sealed within an oubliette for eternity, where he will never again be able to harm another woman."
"No! Please! Have Mercy!" Jack burst out, tears gathering in his eyes. "I'm sorry! I know what I did was wrong-I wish-" The tears at his eyes began to spill free as he sobbed. "-I wish I wasn't the evil man I've become!"
The sincerity of the wish struck me with force, and I straightened up, removing my foot from his chest. He was completely serious; his words not just words. Especially not here.
He meant what he said, and I could not ignore it, and he had already paid for his actions towards Amelia. That punishment was well delivered.
I was reminded of something Tasha had once told me, and I felt my anger begin to crumble. 'One can judge a society by how they treat their lowest members.' The anger faded. Jack's true desire-his true wish-could very well save him.
I shifted on my feet, studying him thoughtfully, and waved away Horiss. The goblin obediently backed away, awaiting further orders. At last I addressed Jack. "There is a way, your wish will be made possible." Jack's eyes lit up with hope, and in seeing it, I went on. "I will turn you into a goblin babe, and remove all memory of your human life. You will have one more chance at a proper upbringing, to live a life of peace, in the home of good goblin parents. However, due to your current circumstances, you will be unable to father children. That is my answer to your wish. Will you accept it?"
Tears streamed down Jack's face in earnest, and he cried. "Yes! Oh, thank you!" Jack buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking.
"Then it will be done." I told him, and the words resounded around us, full of wishspell. In a matter of seconds, the magic enveloped Jack, and the human man shrunk and transformed, until a goblin babe lay swaddled before me.
With care I picked up the babe, who blinked up at me with the innocence of a newborn, and I turned to Horiss. "Find suitable goblin parents for this child, but look first among those who are unable to bear children of their own. I will take him for now to the wished away nursery. Inform me once you have found them, and I will speak with them."
Horiss bowed, and followed after me as I left the room, before hurrying off to his task.
I gave the child to a nurse in the nursery, then continued on to my own chambers, lost in thought.
I worried, despite the happy ending-or rather happy beginning-that Jack had been bestowed with. I worried about what Amelia would think. Would she agree to this decision? The question turned in my mind, leaving me without an answer. What would she say when I told her? For I knew I would have to tell her. I decided in the end that I would think over the situation for now, and wait until next I visited her to inform her.
Once within my chambers, I changed out of my armor and donned a pale blue poet's shirt, loose black leggings, and black boots. I was just finishing when I heard the quiet cry of a babe from the attached nursery. Walking to the door connected to my own chambers, I pulled back the curtain that kept it hidden and protected from the sight of others.
I gave the door a light knock, and Aerol's faint voice invited me in. Stepping inside was like traveling back in time. In the past, after Tasha and Teren's murders, I was unable to return to their rooms due to the pain the memories caused.
Now upon entering, however, I experienced an acute memory. For a moment, I could see my beautiful wife Tasha, holding our perfect little Teren in her arms. Her sweet voice singing softly to the little prince as she rocked him to sleep in the rocking chair set beside his cradle.
"Sleep now, little flower,
save your shining face.
Sleep in night's healing power,
let it adorn you like lace."
In the memory I smiled at Tasha's lullaby. My wife stilled her song to look up at me. She smiled as I closed the door behind me, and I stopped, momentarily breathless by the incandescence of her countenance. It was so full of love, of kindness, that I felt my own heart fill near to bursting with the same emotion. I relaxed as the peace her presence brought fell over me.
"Jareth?"
I blinked, pulled from the past. Aerol had spoken from the rocking chair, where she sat rocking her baby. Her concerned gaze studied me in question.
"Are you well?"
I looked around the room, noticing the slight color differences Aerol had made shortly after her son's birth. The pastel colors of Teren's nursery, chosen by Tasha, that had been so calming, were altered to more earthy tones. It gave a feeling of reassurance, and I noted how the design was similar to how the dark fae homes were decorated. A subtle clue as to the child's paternal roots.
I shifted on my feet upon recognizing the similarities. I had had no problem with Aerol changing the rooms to suit her before, but seeing the room thus changed was a blow I had not expected. I should have changed the room with her, to make the transition easier. I swallowed down the resurfacing grief, and cleared my throat before returning my gaze to Aerol.
Easing my expression into a faint smile, I gestured at the armchair sitting on the opposite side of the cradle. "May I?"
Aerol's eyebrows raised in surprise.
This indeed was my home, but the nursery and queen's chambers were hers, and I would treat them as such.
She blinked rapidly, then nodded. "Of course."
I inclined my head in gratitude and approached, sitting myself down in the arm chair. Despite the change to the nursery, the presence of Tasha seemed to linger, and it eased the ache in my heart. I shut my eyes to take it in, and Aerol let me be. I must have dozed off, for I awoke mere minutes later as Aerol was laying her child in the cradle.
Once the child was tucked in, Aerol noticed I was awake, and a smile danced lightly upon her face. I returned the expression, then gestured toward the nursery sitting room when she straightened up, and whispered. "Shall we to the sitting room?" She gave a small nod, and the two of us retreated from the nursery.
We settled down on the two couches within the room, where they were placed near to the fireplace. It was still cold here in the Underground, despite our springtime being on the horizon.
"Is something the matter?" Aerol questioned. The small table between us began filling with food and drink upon our entry to the room, apparently sensing that Aerol must have been hungry.
Aerol began to pick what she wanted from the table and set it all on a small plate, and filled two glasses with water. One for herself, and one for me, all the while I mulled over my words as she began to eat.
"Is it your wife?" Aerol inquired. The question startled me from my thoughts, and that seemed confirmation enough for her. "Is she unwell?"
Turning over my answers, I at last replied. "She was in danger." I hesitated. I still knew little about Aerol, and sharing too much information about Amelia with her seemed unwise. The less others knew as a whole, the better.
Aerol's brow wrinkled in concern, and in seeing it, I assured her. "She is well, now. She requested training in self defense."
My faux wife raised her eyebrows with interest. "Do you plan to train with weapons?" At my expression, she continued. "It would be good knowledge to have. The more she knows, the safer she will be." Aerol advised, taking a drink from the goblet before her.
In truth, I hadn't considered it. In Amelia's world, weapons were not something one carried around with great regularity, or at all, in the majority of cases. But such knowledge would be beneficial to her, should she ever-stars above forbid-require it.
"I hadn't considered training in weaponry, but I agree with your assessment. I will speak to her regarding the matter."
Upon my conceding the idea, Aerol gave an encouraging smile. "I know she will appreciate the additional training. And you will, too, should she ever need to use it."
A/N: What did you guys think? I know it's a bit short, but it's information needed. Review and let me know what you think! :) (And be kind, yeah? I'm only human!)