The walls of the labyrinth were made from solid bricks and there were twists and turns everywhere. She wondered how anyone could find their way through a place like this.

"If you don't mind me asking what's the goblin king like?" She asked Gajeel.

"He's not a real friendly guy. In fact he's terrifying, arrogant, mean, self centered, short tempered. He's...He's a monster."

"He can't be that bad."

"Have you ever met him?"

"No."

"Alright then. Everybody here in the labyrinth is scared to death of him, me included and I can tell you right now he won't help you."

"I'm sure if I just ask politely-"

"That won't do you any good. He hates humans."

"How come?"

"I don't know."

Gajeel took Juvia through a short cut that led straight to the castle which was located at the center of the labyrinth. Juvia couldn't help but be amazed by the castle, it was a tall and grand display just like all the castles she had seen in story books as a child.

"Oh my." She said.

"What?" Gajeel said.

"Nothing it's just that the castle... It's beautiful."

"Eh...I guess it's okay."

When they approached the castle doors, Gajeel gave them a hard knock.

"Who is it?" A scratchy voice from the other side asked.

"It's Gajeel, the gatekeeper. I have someone here who wishes to speak with his majesty."

"What's the password?"

"There is no password you idiot! Now let me in before I break down the door and break every bone in your body!"

"Okay."

The doors were then opened up and the two of them walked inside.

"Don't you think that was a little mean?" Juvia asked.

"Mean is the only thing that gets through to goblins. Speaking of which, I should warn you that this place is loaded with goblins."

"I kind of expected that."

"Yeah? Well you should also know that goblins are very crass and they don't get to see a young lady that often so be prepared."

Juvia didn't understand what he meant by that but she would learn eventually.

The entrance hall is the first room they entered upon going through the main entrance to the castle was the entrance hall. It was a high walled, stone corridor, hung with candelabras and torches fitted into the walls. Juvia couldn't help but marvel at the incredible detail and design of the hallway.

"The royal pain is usually in the throne room." Gajeel said. "Right this way."

The throne room was a large room with a high roof, and its walls were decorated with large stone goblin heads. It featured several free-standing torches, as well as many other candles and torches kept in brackets on the walls.

Dozens of goblins occupied the room. Some were ugly, some were scary, and some were just silly looking. Many of them looked like they were drunk and they were lying around but as soon as they became aware of Juvia's presence all eyes were on her.

"Hey hubba-hubba!"

Whistle!*

"Whoo-whoo!"

"What a piece of work."

"A real looker."

At once Juvia realized what Gajeel's warning meant.

"Knock it off you perverts!" Gajeel said. "Go back to drinking yourselves into a coma!"

Finally they reached the throne that was found towards the back of the room, and it was backed by a large, curving bone hung with dully coloured drapes. Sitting in the throne in a slouched position was the goblin king himself although he wasn't at all what Juvia expected. In fact he didn't look anything like the other goblins, he looked human. He looked like he could be around her age and he was very handsome with rugged black hair and the most serious eyes she had ever seen on anyone.

"What do you want Girrgle." He said in an annoyed tone.

"It's Gajeel." The troll said. "And I should tell you that, you have a visitor."

"Whoever it is, tell them to go away."

"It's a human woman."

The goblin king flinched in a way that made Juvia want to stay in the shadows where he couldn't see her because the seriousness in his eyes suddenly became a great anger.

"Let me see her."

"Ye-yes sire...Come out miss and meet his majesty, Gray king of the goblins."

Juvia nervously stepped forward allowing the goblin king named Gray to see her better. He stood up from his throne and started to circle her, his eyes slowly scanning her entire appearance up and down.

"What is your name?" He asked her.

"Ju-Juvia." She answered while trying not shake. "Juvia Lockser."

"And just what are you doing here in my domain? I didn't give you permission to come here.'

"Forgive me, I didn't intend to come here. It's... It's all a misunderstanding. I...I was wondering if maybe you could help me get back home that is if you can?"

"I can but I won't."

"Why?"

"Because I don't help anyone least of all a weak, cowardly, and pathetic human being."

"I beg your pardon." She said feeling insulted.

"I have more important things to do than help you. So why don't you do me a favor and get out of my sight before I hurl."

"Wait! Please you have to help me get home! I'll do anything you ask."

"Anything?"

"Yes anything."

He thought for a moment then after seeing a devious smile cross his face he finally spoke.

"Alright, I'll send you home but on one condition. Recently a maid of mine disappointed me with her work so I had to let her go. I've been looking for a replacement, would you be interested?"

"Well I help my mother cook and clean all the time."

"Oh no that's not what you would be doing? You would be sewing and weaving."

"Oh... Sewing I can do but I've never woven before."

"What a shame. Throw her out!"

"Wait! I've never done it but I can learn. How long would I be working for you?"

"Well this castle of mine is very grand but it's a little dreary and it could use something, say a tapestry. Make one tapestry for me and I'll send you home."

"Alright."

"It won't be easy, you'll have weave the fabric yourself and sew it yourself. The whole process will be torture on your fingers."

"But if I do it will you send me home?"

"You have my word."

"How do I know you'll keep your word?"

"My kind is forbidden to break their word. Once we give our word we're bound to it for all eternity. Now do we have a deal?"

He held out his hand to her, she hesitated for a moment but eventually her hand shook his sealing their deal.

"Now wait outside the throne room and I shall send someone to escort you to your quarters."

Juvia did as he was told and went outside the throne room. The goblins in the room were all in a state of shock. They couldn't believe that the goblin king, the self centered goblin king, the human hating goblin king actually agreed to help a human woman. Of course she had to do something for him first.

"Your majesty since when are you desperate to have a tapestry in here?" One goblin asked him.

"I could careless about the tapestry but I know that making it is one of the most difficult and painful tasks in all of the labyrinth. My former fairy maid couldn't even do it so what chance does a human have?"

"Then why give her the job?"

"I've been so bored lately and I think watching this woman try and fail will be quite amusing."

"You're real sick you know that?" Gajeel said.

"Funny you sound like my sister. A sweet thing but so dreadfully annoying. Now Goggle-"

"Gajeel!"

"Whatever! Get out."

The troll then walked out of the throne room, happy to get away from his rather twisted ruler.

"Gajeel wait!" Juvia quickly stopped him.

"What do you want now?" He asked.

"You helped me get to the castle so here." She pulled the iron pin from her pocket and handed it to him.

"Thanks." He said.

"You're welcome. Though I don't know what you want with it."

"Duh! I wanna eat it."

"Eat it?"

He popped the pin into his mouth, chewed it up, and swallowed.

"Yep. Iron is a troll's preferred diet, we love the taste of iron."

"Oh...How... Interesting."

"Anyway I gotta go, can't help you anymore."

"That's alright. You've done enough. Thank you for everything Gajeel."

Gajeel wasn't sure how to react to her. He wasn't used to anyone speaking so kindly to him. He was used to being insulted twenty-four seven. He didn't say anything to her, he just left.

Sometime later a man in armor approached her.

"Are you the new maid?" He asked her without removing his helmet.

"Yes I am." She answered.

"My advice to you is to get out while you still can."

"I can't. It's my only chance of ever getting home."

"Alright but you should know dear lady, you'll regret this."

Juvia followed the knight up a very long stairway that led to a tall tower.

"Servants typically stay in small bedrooms in the cellar but there's no more room so you'll be staying in the chambers that once belonged to Gray's sister."

"He has a sister?" Juvia didn't recall reading about the goblin king having a sister in the book.

"Yes but she ran away."

"Why?"

"No one knows. Not even his majesty and he was greatly upset by her leaving. When she was here she actually made him happy."

Upon reaching the top of the tower he opened the door for her. The bedroom was quite nice and it included a canopy bed garlanded with flowers, a comfortable room with a rug and pretty, curtained windows.

"It's awfully nice of him to let me sleep here."

"Actually my lady he doesn't know you're staying here and it's best that you don't tell him."

"I don't understand."

"As I said there's no room for you in the servants quarters but he would just make you sleep outside in the cold and dirt, I as a knight and a gentleman could not allow a lady to do that."

"You're very kind. Thank you and I won't tell anyone. I promise."

"I'll leave you to get comfortable now, in the morning I shall fetch you for your work. Goodnight to you."

"Wait, may I know your name?"

"Jellal."

"It's very nice to meet you Jellal."

"Likewise."

Juvia was happy that at least someone here had some manners. Alone by herself, she still had a hard to believing that this was actually happening. Here she was trapped in a fantasy world while back home her family was probably worried out of their minds about her. Lord only knows how much panic they must be feeling over her sudden disappearance.