Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth. I just wanted to have a little fun.

The Labyrinth's Chosen

Chapter 29

O

Festivals can be the perfect setup for the most wonderful memories. Especially when you are spending time with someone you care about but don't see very often.

Brendan had woken up before Angelina and spent a good half hour just enjoying being next to her before he shook her awake right as the first sun was setting.

"Come on! All the real fun at the festival will start soon." He said his eyes twinkling merrily as he grabbed her hand and helped her up.

They dusted themselves off quickly and began making their way back to the festival grounds.

Campfires with bright blue flames were being set up all around. The two found Senti's booth again and picked up a small appetizer, Brendan had told Angel that there were lots of other things to eat that she should try and that he had plenty of money.

Just after dark a band started playing somewhere nearby. To angel it was some of the most beautiful music ever heard, but of course, there was nothing in the Aboveground that sounded even close. A lot of the children seemed to sincerely appreciate the music as some of them began to dance to the slow rhythmic music, slight smiles on their faces as they moved, giggles erupting from some of the teenage looking girls when they bumped into boys of their age range.

"Looks like fun." Angel told Brendan softly.

"It is fun." Brendan said smiling.

A small fae child with dark hair and green eyes looked at the couple from nearby.

"Don't you want to dance?" she asked Angel boldly in fae, and without thinking Angel answered her back.

"Well, actually. I don't know how to do that young one."

Brendan just smiled at the little girl and then looked back at the dancing fae.

Then he caught on.

His eyes snapped back onto Angel's.

"Did you just say something in fae?"

Angelina just sighed, more to herself that anything.

"Yes, Brendan, in short some faeries granted me a wish and viola, okay? Please don't tell anyone."

The prince snapped his jaw shut again, it had begun hanging open.

"Okay fine, but how come you did not feel the need to tell me?" he asked in an irritated way.

"Honestly, I just was not sure of your intentions since we came here. That's all."

Silence followed these words.

"I am sorry for leaving you wounded on a mountainside with Tinoth, Charon and Salacia. I was just so angry with you, but I also knew that Triana was more powerful than me and Tinoth at that time so it really was either go with her or all of us get hurt." Brandon didn't look at her as he said this. Although it was sincere it also had a quality of defense in it, he was sorry but he felt that he had the right to be angry.

Angelina knew she had been hurt badly at the time, but she understood all the same.

She just stared at him now though, completely at a loss for words.

"What are we?" she asked after a moment.

"What do you mean?" the prince asked watching more children run by them excitedly.

"I mean what are we? Are we friends? Because we certainly don't act like it in the palace, but yet you bring me out here and apologize to me, it's like you know we can't stay like this so you are preparing for us to say goodbye."

"No, look I made a mistake, I wanted to make it up to you but we are friends." He looked directly at her now, "We will always be friends."

Angel couldn't look at him when he said these words, she had a pain in her chest and a slight bit of trouble breathing… why did his seemingly careless words of his bother her so much?

A woman nearby broke through her thoughts.

"Ah, look the elves are ready to dance." The fae said sweetly to her young daughter.

Angel turned to find a small group of elves in the middle of the circle of fires. So beautiful they were with their green eyes, pale skin and long blond hair. All of them wore different shades of green on their ceremonial robes. Tall, exquisite and majestic she thought they were as they put themselves in formation.

"These are elves from Vulturnus. They are doing the wind dance as a prayer for peace. They come to pray for prosperity and peace for Cian Aglaia by doing their dance. It is very interesting." Brendan whispered to Angel.

It was not interesting, it was an incredible experience. She felt drawn to the power they possessed as they danced, with the wind adding to their natural gracefulness. Leaves and twigs from the trees danced a long with them as they moved about swirling and dipping, their robes floating behind them enchantingly mimicking their every move.

Angel could feel the wind calling her, the longer she watched them dance and her heart sang with joy. Such an incredible feeling of hope washed over her and she no longer felt blinded to everyone's expectations of her. The princess fully expected this feeling to go away the moment they stopped dancing but that was not the case at all. It did not only affect Angel either it seemed, most of the fae looked like they felt pleasant and peaceful as well.

Suddenly, Angel felt like she needed to know more about her father's family. But there really was no way to find out anything about him without asking him and she really did not want to talk to him at all but she knew eventually that she would have to.

"What do you know about the Royal Family of Vulturnus?" she asked Brendan after a few more peaceful moments went by.

"Curious about your father's family" the earth prince asked slyly.

Angel made a face at him, "Yes, naturally, I want to know about the fae and the elves of Vulturnus."

Brendan smirked at her knowingly, and then on a more serious note said, "Actually I don't know much about your father's family other than he is part fae and part elf. Although, you are not the direct heir of Vulturnus, when you become Queen of Cian Aglaia, they will be under your rule as well. As far as I know the king and queen and their firstborn son are coming to the tournament. You will meet them then. It should be interesting after all their disowned son is here."

"Disowned? Please tell me you aren't talking about my father." She said alarmed.

"Yes, actually, I am talking about your father."

"What was he disowned for?" the black rings around her eyes became just a little bit darker.

"I honestly don't know." The prince said softly.

"Great. If it is not one thing it's another." Angel said darkly.

"I know how you feel." Brendan said.

'Yeah right.' Angel thought to herself bitterly.

O
O

As soon as the festival was finished which was sometime around two in the morning Angel and Brendan made their way back to the palace and parted ways once inside.

After having such a long day, she really was looking forward to sleeping. It was a whole lot of fun but she would definitely be back at work tomorrow.

She dropped a few bags of stuff that she had got at the festival on one of the tables in her first room and made her way to her second room where two gentleman sat waiting for her.

Angel tensed immediately, of all people to deal with now.

"Prince Rune and Prince Vinzenz, to what do I owe this honor at this hour?" she bit out slightly angry.

"Angelina, I am still your father." The silver haired prince of Vulturnus started.

"Actually daddy I am not in the mood to hear it right now."

"SO where were you today?" Rune asked in a very irritated sort of fashion.

"Excuse me? Why do you need to know that? I don't think that is any of your business Rune." Angel said sharply.

"Now Angel, we were just worried about you, you didn't leave a note or anything, we are not mad…" Vinzenz said only to be interrupted.

"You are not mad but I sure as hell am!" Rune exclaimed.

"What are you mad for? I don't answer to you." Now she was close to yelling.

"We were going to start your etiquette classes today! I had everyone in the palace looking for you today so that we could get started. Coincidently I did not find Prince Brendan anywhere either." Rune said venomously.

With a tired smirk on her face she said, "Well then, I guess you know where I was today now don't you?"

"Oh you have made good friends with Prince Brendan have you? That is wonderful news my dear. You obviously were in good hands then…"

"Shut it Vinzenz." Rune said in a calm deadly yet alarmingly detached voice, "You are not to have anything to do with Brendan, Angel."

"Oh and why not? Jealous are we? I am not going to give up my friendships here Rune. In fact, he is the reason I joined the tournament or didn't you know that either?" she snarled at him.

"I am well aware of why princesses would join a marriage tournament Angel, but you are not mean to be his!"

"Get out." Angel said chilling the air around her at a frightening pace.

She had just reached her limit with him.

"Angel..."

"Out. Now." Ice started forming on the walls.

Vinzenz made to leave.

"Not you Prince of Vulturnus." Angel voice began to take on the ferocity of the wind.

Rune gave her one last contemptuous glance before hastily going through the door and slamming it behind him.

It took her a few minutes to calm down out of her anger. When she did the room had gone back to normal with the ice melting leaving small puddles along the sides of the room. She gestured regally for her father to sit down across from her when she conjured a crystal with a sour apple martini. This was the first time she had used the gift the Labyrinth Entity had bestowed upon her but she was now not as afraid of magic as she used to be and so, felt comfortable with trying it.

"Would you like something?" she asked mildly after taking a sip.

"No, thank you Angelina." He said actually looking a bit frightened.

Angel shrugged, she might as well do this now instead of later.

"So part of me is from Vulturnus? What is it like there?" she asked in a business like tone. She did not look at him either, right at this moment she hated everything about the man before her all the way down to the roots of his beautiful silver hair.

"It is beautiful." He croaked his voice choked with emotion.

'So he does care about something.' Angel noted to herself cynically.

"The tree elves and the wind fae live there in harmony together. Their homes are among the tree tops and the wind sings songs to help everyone sleep."

"It sounds lovely." She said softly hearing the note of mourning in her father's voice.

"It is." He said despairingly.

"I heard you were disowned by the family." Angel said blandly, why should she spare his feelings when he had not spared hers?

"I was."

"Why?" the question was a double edged sword and Vinzenz knew it.

"I was in league with the Nameless One. I helped her create the ultimate Kingdom of Death. Its magic still resides in me." He pointed to the black rings in his green eyes, they were identical to the black rings in Angel's eyes

Angelina grew very pale.

"Why weren't you banished?" she asked quietly.

"Going Aboveground to us down here is like committing suicide or being sentenced to death. The elves do not believe in taking lives and so I was disowned never to return to Vulturnus." It was obviously agonizing for him to talk about it but Angel did not care.

"So you are elf and fae?" she asked.

"Yes." He looked up to see if she was looking at him, of course she was intently looking at the wall and away from her father, but he knew she was listening. He continued.

"To ensure the protection of the elves the two races made an alliance with the fae that every third generation of the fae royal family was to marry an elf. My father is fae and my mother is an elf. The fae in Vulturnus are darker skinned with white blond hair and the elves there have hair the color of gold but for some reason the children and grandchildren of the Royal Family always have silver hair."

"I see." Angel said, she was intrigued although she didn't look like it.

"They will be surprised by you I think." He said softly. "Your skin color is unheard of among them, you see I am the seventh child and while and while all of us have silver hair three of us are dark skinned while four of us are very pale skinned. Bizarre hmm?" he asked tiredly.

"Yes it is." She agreed.

"Does your disownment affect me?" she asked quietly staring at nothing.

"No Angel, at least it shouldn't."

"Good."

They sat there in silence for a minute when Angel said, "Well, let me go to sleep, I had a long day today and I am sure to have another tomorrow."

"Okay, goodnight then." He said softly.

"Goodnight."

And she went into her third room and changed clothes and utterly exhausted dropped into her bed.

O
O

She was absolutely right. Angel's next day was long.

Tortuously long.

She woke up after sleeping like a log in a nice heavy dreamless sleep that was fully appreciated to say the least. She had a small breakfast with Elise and Clytia who were both quickly filled in with the previous day's events. Angel thoroughly enjoyed telling the girls about her day long date all because they squealed and gasped in all of the appropriate places making her feel like a more adequate story teller than she really was.

Next she spent all morning in sword lessons with Damon who curiously enough, asked after Clytia's health. Surprised and more than just a little curious she told the somber looking weapons handler that her handmaiden was well. Angel thought the subject was worth pursuing but not with grumpy old Damon. Clytia would have to be the one to get info from.

Much to her dismay she began her etiquette classes after lunch. Too add fuel to her ire Rune looked angry with her when she strolled into his study ten minutes late after trying to find the stupid room for the last twenty minutes!

"You are late." Rune said calmly fire dancing ominously in his grey eyes.

"I realize that, but it is not exactly like you gave me directions or anything." She said peevishly, did he not realize that she did not like him just as much as he seemed to not like her.

"Proper ladies do not make excuses." He said a little cross.

"Well, it is a good thing I'm a princess and not a proper lady then." She said smoothly.

Point one for Angelina! And the crowd goes wild!

Rune just glowered at her. He obviously didn't have a comeback for that.

"The first thing we are going to correct today is the way you…"

And so the rest of the day droned on and on in the same fashion and although Angelina was a smart ass at moments she learned quickly and mastered everything he taught her that afternoon, posture, poise and the proper way to walk.

The next week went on like this and it seemed to Angel like a gate had opened up in her mind. She absorbed everything that Damon and Rune wanted to teach her.

Then one night King Tinirau entered her dreams.

She noticed the change in scenery and yelled aloud, "I knew you would show up again."

When he appeared before her she glared at him angrily.

"Why did you lie to me about who you were?" she asked in a hurt tone.

"I wasn't ready for you to know." He said sadly.

"Wasn't ready! What is it with all of the secrets and lies in this family?" she asked with venom.

"Well actually, I though it would freak you out if you knew that your dead grandfather could talk to you in your dreams but now that you are more in tune with the idea of not taking anything for granted it doesn't bother you as much does it?" he asked quickly as she opened her mouth to say something.

She shut her mouth instantly and thought about what he just said.

Silence.

"I guess you are right." Her face brightened instantly, "So grandpa how do you enter my dreams?"

Needless to say Tinirau was caught off guard by this.

"Ah, actually, I have a blood bond with you so I can communicate with you in your dreams, but I suspect that you can probably enter anyone's dreams if not manipulate them with the power that you possess." He said seriously.

"Oh course as far as I know Jareth has been the only one to ever manipulate a dream and he only managed it for a short time before Sarah realized it and shattered it. I believe you have his memory of it." He continued softly.

"Yes, I do, it was the Masquerade. That is what I named it anyway. I didn't know that it was a dream created for her." Angel said intrigued, she loved dreams.

"Well, Angel the power of wind theoretically should amplify the power that the Labyrinth gifted you with."

"I wonder why he gave this power to me though." Angel said more to herself than to Tinirau.

"Your aura must remind him of Lysithea. Sarah's must have too come to think of it, she did seem to have an easier time of getting through the Labyrinth than others."

"Who? The Entity of the Labyrinth. How do you know this?" Angel asked suspiciously.

"Because he is like me, a soul confined and condemned to being The Soul to a living structure. For him it is controlling the chaos of the Labyrinth and for me it is controlling the living sea marble of Cian Aglaia."

O
O

Angel felt a bit proud of herself for identifying Lysithea's power signature and locating the High Queens chambers as she burst through the inner chambers doors violently.

Maids came scurrying out of absolutely nowhere making frantic gestures of silence at Angel who gave them one contemptuous glance and erected wind barriers between herself and the harassed looking women.

The moment Tinirau had given her that information she woke herself up, dresses in a proper nightgown (she was in an old tank top) and bolted out the door.

She rushed wind against the second set of doors and walked in briskly by passing everything to get to the third and final set of elaborate doors. There was no hesitation here either.

"Lysithea!" Angel bellowed angrily.

The doors opened of their own accord and Angelina stalked in angrily.

"What is the meaning of this young lady?" the older yet always elegant woman asked sharply obviously angry at being awakened in such a rude way.

"King Tinirau has just been to see me and he gave me some extremely interesting news." Angel said trying to control her outrage.

Lysithea turned pale.

At this moment two ruffled looking individuals were dragged in by the terrified looking maids.

Jareth and Hestia.

"What is going on? It has to be three o'clock in the morning." Hestia asked more worried than angry.

"Out! All of you!" Lysithea said to the maids.

As fast as their feet would carry them, they were out the door.

Now Jareth and Hestia were extremely confused.

Angel glared at Lysithea waiting for her to say something.

"Maybe we should have some tea?" Lysithea finally said.

Angel angrily called a crystal to her and conjured four tea cups and a large pot of peach tea with sugar and cream.

"Now what?" she said waiting.

"Now really Angelina she is the ruler of all the fae." Jareth started.

"She lied to me about King Tinirau." Angel said accusingly, glaring at him maliciously.

Now it was Jareth and Hestia's turn to look ashamed.

"Don't tell me you knew about this?" Angel growled.

"First of all, how did you contact Tinirau?" Lysithea said fixing herself a cup of tea with shaking hands.

"He has been entering my dreams regularly since I got here. Said something about blood relations. I don't know I was too shocked about what he said afterward to really care!" she yelled exasperated.

"Well that does make sense after all but what did he say to distress you like this?" Jareth asked concerned.

"He said his soul was trapped in Cian Aglaia. Why would his soul be trapped here?" she asked quietly.

Silence.

Jareth and Hestia looked at each other and then sat on either side of Angel and put their arms around her.

"He asked me to do it." Lysithea said sorrowfully, "As he lay dying in my arms charred beyond recognition by the hands of my only child he asked me to seal his living soul into the heart of the living Structure he had given to me. When I die sit will release him, then spell will be broken." Tears flowed down her face unchecked when she finished.

Angel's face was wet with tears. "But Miotha, he is not meant to be locked in a cage."

"I know but it is the only way I can keep living and ruling the fae until you can take my place. I can not tell him myself for he protects me here but we cannot speak to each other. Tell him I love him ant to wait a little longer."

Angel was at a loss for words but she nodded fervently and motioned for Lysithea to come sit by them and all four of them hugged silently with Lysithea and Angel crying their hearts out until emotionally exhausted the two women fell asleep. Jareth and Hestia put them in their beds quietly before turning in themselves.

O

O

AN: Wow I bet you guys are mad at me. I honestly don't blame you at all. The only excuse I can give is that I started a new job and moved out of my house, then with Thanksgiving and the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and many other things I have been swamped.

Lady of the Goblins: Thank you for your review. I really do try to keep everything interesting. A boring story is no fun.

Wicked Game: I like the fact that they have made up too. It will be hard for them for a little while yet but at least their not enemies anymore.

Pruning shears: A Rune action figure. It's positively evil, it would make his ego way too big. Thanks for the review:)

Lady of the Labyrinth: Sorry I got carried away with it. I was having just a little too much fun. ;) Plotline it is and more to come!

Crystal13 moon: Sorry for the long wait. I like Angel and Brendan a lot too. I just hope I am portraying them correctly. Sometimes I feel like I'm not doing them justice in description. Hmm… anyway, thank you for the review!

Lady Ione Athene: I though you had abandoned me! WAAAHHHAHAHAHAH! Ok I feel better now. No seriously I really appreciate you sticking with the story even though you had to give Brendan a band aid for whacking him so many times. The building is overlooking the sea, no windows but I will double check all the same:) I know you may be disappointed with the change in Jareth toward his wife but it wasn't the first time it had occurred to him that he had treated the woman wrong. I think it just made him feel worse for having to hear it from that brat Rune. How do you like Rune by the way, he is devastatingly handsome and his eyes are just to die for, but you know what? I STILL don't like him.

HAHAHAHAH

Thanks for your support you are awesome you know!

OK Ya'll I really hope you had a great Thanksgiving and I really hope you have a great Christmas and hopefully I will update again before then. Drop me a line!

Thanks guys!

C