Chapter Thirty Six

Jenny's secret friend

The children were sitting in the garden listening to Willa tell the story of one of the Fae Kings. Jenny grew restless, waked over to the pond, and sat on its edge.

Willa looked over, warned her to be careful and went on reading. Jenny dipped her fingers in and wriggled them. She looked over to where Willa sat. Something in the water touched Jenny's fingers. She looked down and a whitish face smiled back at her. Then fingers went to the lips of the face in the water, cautioning her to keep still.

Aquis had heard the King and Consort had children living in the castle with them. Now he had seen one. She looked like the Chatelaine, same eyes and face, only younger.

Jenny giggled as the long fingers of Ashray moved over hers. She looked over at her Nanny Willa was still reading. When Willa called her to go in to lunch, Jenny shook off the water and waved good bye to her new friend. Aquis raised his head from the water and watched as the Nanny and children moved to the castle entrance.

Jenny knew most of the creatures that inhabited the castle. She loved the Domovoi, and the Garden Gnomes, she even loved all the funny little Goblins. Jareth had warned both the children not to pester the little swarm fairies that came and went in the garden; the little creatures could and would bite if they felt threatened.

The old way of life was starting to fade for the child; even the bad memories of her father were drifting away. She was coming to think of this place as home. Mr. King took care of all of them. Jenny found herself wishing on more than one occasion that he had been her father. Even when Mr. King had to be firm, he was never mean, and he made sure they understood why he did what he did. He even took Jenny to the orphanage to see what it was like. Moreover, he played with them in the Labyrinth to Jenny he was a hero.

Jenny awoke early one morning, to a song being sung in the garden below the nursery window. She looked out in the early dawn light, seeing little balls of light dancing in the garden. Pulling on her robe, the child made her way down the stairs she used everyday with her Nanny and brother to enter the garden. She could hear the sweet voices of the little balls of light singing. She followed them deep into the garden. They faded as the sun rose, as did their song. It was replaced by a heavy sighing and the sounds of someone in woe. Jenny followed this new sound, wondering who was feeling so bad.

The light was still dim, and Jenny could barely make out the figure sitting alone at the back of the garden, his back against the wall, and his head resting in his hands. He was a weathered little man, and looked like one of the Gnomes, but she knew he was not on Master Theo's crew. She knew all the Castle Gnomes by name. Still he didn't look like he would harm anyone, let alone her.

"Why are you crying?" she asked gingerly.

The little man looked up, big watery blue eyes took her in. "Who said I'm crying?" He snapped defensively.

"Sounded like it to me." She came closer. Now she recognized the man from one of her mother's drawings. "You're Hoggle!"

The little man looked at her and made a face. "How would you know?"

"Mommy drew you." She took a seat beside him. "She put you on my wall, told me you'd keep an eye on me and keep me safe, just as you'd done for her."

The man shook his head, "I didn't keep her safe."

"Of course you did!" Jenny patted his hand. "Mommy said you were her friend, so that makes you my friend. I'm Jenny."

"Jenny?" Hoggle looked at the child.

"Yep, and I've got a little brother, his name is Gwynn." She began to prattle on about her brother and coming to live in the castle. She told Hoggle how Mr. King had made all their problems go away.

Hoggle stared at the child, wondering how she could be so fond of the monster who held her mother captive. The more he listened, the more confused he became. To hear the child speak, life with the King was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to them. She told Hoggle how the King had saved her and her brother from their father. She said the King made sure her mother came to live with them. Hoggle did not see any reason to destroy the little girl's version of the truth.

The sun was rising and Jenny could hear Willa calling her franticly. "I have to go, Willa will have kittens if I'm not where I should be. Will I see you again, Hoggle?"

The little man nodded. "You and I are secret friends," the Gnome said. "Now go, Jenny. You must never keep your Nanny waiting." He watched the child skip off. Hoggle pushed the hedge and entered the Labyrinth. Moving quietly he thought he could return to his home without notice. He was wrong.

"Well," Jareth said pleasantly, "if it isn't you." His eyes flashed with mischief.

Hoggle, trembling was staring at Jareth's boots. His voice had frozen in his throat, and he was waiting for the punishment that was bound to come.

"Hogsbreath…" Jareth began.

"Hoggle," the Gnome corrected by habit.

Jareth snickered. He had his head back and was looking down his nose at Hoggle.

"Do you make a habit of sneaking around my garden?"

"No, Your Majesty." Hoggle hung his head.

Jareth's eyes narrowed. "I won't have you sneaking around, Hogsbag."

"No, Your Majesty," the Gnome whispered.

Jareth knelt down and looked at his one-time henchmen, he pulled on his ear and forced him to look at him. "You've been talking to Jenny, haven't you?" the Gnome nodded. "Hogsbain I've a job for you."

Hoggle pulled free. "I won't hurt the little girl! I won't give her none of your peaches!"

The Goblin King laughed teasingly, "I'm surprised at you. Losing your

ugly head over a girl yet again." Jareth stopped laughing. "You'll do as you're told, or it's the bog this time!"

Hoggle gulped. "What do you want me to do?"

Jareth tapped the Gnome's head with his riding crop; he knew Hoggle hated that. "I want you to get to know the girl."

Hoggle narrowed his eyes and looked up at Jareth. "I won't do nothing to harm her."

Jareth leaned toward him. "I don't want you to harm her you dolt, I want you to protect her."

Hoggle looked at him with some measure of distrust. "Why?"

Jareth said one word. "Grizbine."

Hoggle began to fume. "That one?" He looked at the King. "I'll protect the girl."

Jareth stood up. "Pass the word. I want the subjects to understand the children are to have free passage though the Labyrinth. I'm teaching them the safe places to hide. If you or anyone else come upon them, I want you to help them. Hide them, keep them safe! That's my order."

Hoggle bowed. "That's one order I'll take pleasure in, Sire."