Under cover of darkness Jareth flew over the Labyrinth, the wind passing silently through his feathers. Though he knew she must be within the walls by now, he could not help but scan the many twists and turns as he soared towards his destination beyond the Labyrinth walls. He dipped low over the walls to avoid detection. Morcant's spies were everywhere, and he could not risk inciting a confrontation with the blood mage while his Queen and several of the Order wandered the maze, vulnerable to ambush or attack.
He shuddered as he crossed the outer wall, feeling the magic of the touchstone dim as he flew into the forest beyond. Without breaking his pace, he reached out with his mind, tapping into the magic of the Fathomless Pond, another touchstone and his destination. The waters of the pond housed the Nixie Kingdom, a land, he hoped, remained free from Morcant's grasp.
At last he reached a clearing in the trees, the still water of the pond reflecting the light of the waning moon. He swooped down to the edge of the tree line, shifting to his Fae form as his feet touched the ground. He caught his bearings for a moment as he pulled the hood of his cloak over his blonde and blue hair. It had been a long while since he'd used the magic of another touchstone, and he could not help but notice the unfamiliarity of the energy that coursed through him.
He strode to the edge of the pond and knelt by its shore. In the dark waters, he could see several small fish darting about near the surface.
He leaned close to the water's edge and whispered, "Please inform her Majesty that the Goblin King seeks an audience."
The fish darted away into the pitch black depths. He stood. Now all there was to do was wait. The Queen of the Nixie was a flighty creature at the best of times, who rarely ventured out of her waters. He could only guess as to whether she would meet with him now.
He did not have to wait long, as it happened. The still surface of the Fathomless Pond began to ripple, and a curvy female form emerged, covered in a gown of lotus petals and lilly pads. Drops of water clung to the organic lines of her gown, sparkling in the moonlight like tiny gemstones. She glided across the surface of the water, her freckled, pale green skin standing in contrast to her dark black hair.
"King Jareth, this is…unexpected."
"Queen Naia," Jareth said with a low, graceful bow, "Thank you for meeting with me."
"When my messengers told me that the Goblin King requested an audience I'll admit I was a bit intrigued. Rumor is that you're dead, you know."
"I was unaware of such a rumor. Unfortunately for those perpetuating such untruths, I am very much alive."
"Indeed," she said, snapping her fingers.
Jareth heard a noise behind him. He whirled about, just in time to see a masked figure approaching, clutching a dagger. He drew his blade, disarming the assassin in a swift move. Before the masked individual could react, Jareth swept the assassin's feet out from under her, pinning her to the ground as he pressed his blade to the assassin's throat. Before he could deal the final blow, a bone blade at the King's throat stayed his hand.
"I would consider your next move wisely," the Queen said coldly, indicating the tree line. In the shadows, he could see the moonlight glinting off the tips of at least ten arrows, nocked in their archer's bows. He released his weapon, letting it fall to the ground, and raised his hands as he stood. The Queen wrapped a frigid, damp arm around his chest, keeping her blade poised at his jugular.
"I have no quarrel with you." He said calmly.
"That remains to be seen." The Queen said in his ear.
"When the King of the Goblins failed to answer the call of his allies in their hour of need, we either assumed he was dead or a traitor." The slight assassin said getting to her feet, recovering her dagger and pointing it at Jareth's chest. "You're apparently not dead."
"Nor am I a traitor," he said, recognizing the voice. "And black is not your color, Princess Elliyon."
"It's Queen Elliyon," the woman said removing her mask, revealing her youthful fae face. She was hardly more than a child, no more than 100 years old. "I am all that survives the line of the Vale now. My entire family was slaughtered at the hands of that unnatural usurper while you were…I'm sorry, we haven't established where you were when I begged for your help."
"I swear to you I had no knowledge—"
"You'll forgive me if we require assurances." The Nixie Queen wrapped something cold, organic, and slimy around Jareth's wrists, securing them behind his back.
"Liar's vice? Is that absolutely necessary?" The plant was used only in Fae interrogations, for although Fae Folk were incapable of lying, they were masters of concealing the truth.
"I'm afraid so," Naia said, pushing Jareth to his knees. Releasing him, she joined young Elliyon, leaving the safety of her waters. Jareth could hardly remember the last time he'd seen the Nixie Queen set foot on solid ground. "Tell the truth, the complete truth, with nothing left out, and you'll be spared. Engage in any amount of deception, and you'll lose your hands…to begin with, in any case."
"Very well." He filled them in on recent events, from Morcant's desertion and the instability of the Labyrinth's magic, to the return of the Order of Saarah. He was reluctant to reveal that the Queen and a small contingent of Order members were, at present, searching for the heart of the labyrinth, but at the feeling of the liar's vice tightening painfully around his wrists, he divulged the information. As he spoke, the figures standing in the tree line lowered their weapons, drawing closer to listen. He recognized several as various nobles of Fae Kingdoms conquered by Morcant.
"So you see, I did not willingly abandon you. I was prevented from taking action by the Labyrinth itself. But now that the Queen and the Order have returned, I have come to pledge the assistance of the Goblin Kingdom."
"You've come too late," Elliyon said, "Morcant has already destroyed what is left of my home, and many other kingdoms share the same fate. What good could your goblins do against a blood mage?"
"It's true, alone the goblins are not the most effective of fighters," Jareth said, a mischievous smile on his face, "But goblins are quite skilled at sowing chaos. If we join forces, we can draw his attention in so many directions that he won't know where to direct a counterattack. That's when we strike."
The Queens looked at one another, considering his proposal. With a nod from Queen Elliyon, Naia crossed back to Jareth and removed the liar's vice from his wrists. He thanked her, rubbing the soreness away.
"It won't be easy," Elliyon said as Jareth retrieved his dagger from the ground, sheathing it at his hip. "Morcant infected the minds of many of my kingdom's soldiers. It's how he was able to take over our kingdom so quickly. My parents were slaughtered by those closest to them before we even knew we were under attack. The soldiers—they…weren't themselves anymore…their eyes were empty."
This was news to Jareth. It certainly explains how Morcant always seemed to be one step ahead of him. If there were goblins within his kingdom who had been turned, he needed to find them, and fast.
He crossed to Elliyon, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"We will find a way to free your people and get justice for your family. I promise."
Something rustled along the edge of the tree line. Jareth looked up just in time to see a figure disappear into the forest.
"We've been compromised," Queen Naia said.
Without hesitation, Jareth shifted into owl form, flying swiftly to catch up to the spy. He dodged branches, weaving between the trunks of ancient trees as he searched, his amplified owl vision looking for any sign of movement. At last he spotted the traitor, ducking between the shadows as he skirted a clearing of trees. Jareth dove, talons outstretched, striking the fae man in the face.
"Ah!" He screamed, clutching his cheek as Jareth, taking advantage of the man's momentary distraction, changed back into his fae form. He drew his blade, advancing on the spy. The traitor stepped backwards at the sight of the Goblin King, tripping over a tree root. Jareth threw his dagger with expert precision, pinning the man to the trunk of a tree by his shirt. Jareth closed the gap between them, holding the man firm against the tree trunk as he freed his dagger from the wood. Looking into the man's eyes at this close range, he could see what Elliyon meant. His eyes were hazy, as though a milky cloud had coated their surface. He is not acting of his own volition.
He kept his blade trained on the spy as Queen Elliyon approached.
"One of yours?" He asked.
"No," she said.
"We cannot allow him to report back to his master." Queen Naia said, stepping out from the dense trees.
"No, we can't," Jareth replied. "But if we are to succeed, we need to find a way to break Morcant's hold on the ones he's turned."
Jareth hit the man in the head hard with the pommel of his dagger, catching him as he knocked him unconscious. With ease, he slung the spy's limp form over his shoulder.
"Naia, I'm afraid I must return to my kingdom with some haste. Would you be willing to keep the prisoner in your charge until my return?"
The nixie smiled a cold smile, her sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight.
"It would be my pleasure."
He carried the unconscious spy back to the water's edge, the three traveling in silence. Queen Naia shuddered as her feet touched the water. Jareth knew the feeling, as he already longed to return to the Labyrinth and feel its magic course through him. The nixie waved her hand over the water's surface and long vines of liar's snare shot forth from the depths of the Fathomless Pond, wrapping themselves around the spy.
"Remember, we need him alive," Jareth cautioned.
"You have my word. I will leave him…intact." With that the nixie slipped beneath the surface of the waves, her bound prisoner in tow.
"Elliyon," Jareth said, turning to the young fae, "you, your people, and any other refugees of Morcant's tyranny are welcome in the Goblin Kingdom. I will have members of the Order posted at the labyrinth gates to check their eyes for Morcant's influence. As for your parents, I am truly sorry I wasn't there."
The faeling gripped Jareth's right forearm with her right hand, an ancient gesture of deep trust amongst Fae.
"Glad to see you join the fight," she said, her eyes bright with purpose. Jareth nodded, his right hand grasping her forearm in response. She released her grip, and strode into the forest, the other Fae nobles trailing behind her. So young, and yet already a force to be reckoned with. Jareth knew himself the burden of becoming a ruler at a young age, but Elliyon carried the responsibility well. She will make a good Queen of the Vale.
He pulled on the magic of the Fathomless Pond once more, transforming into a barn owl. As he again passed over the Labyrinth, he looked in vain for any sign of his Queen, but to his chagrin, Sarah was beyond his reach.