"Your Majesty?"
"Yes?" Jareth and Stephan asked in unison as a goblin scampered into
the throne room.
Jareth turned to glare at the Eastern Fey King. "Sorry, Jareth-
force of habit," Stephan offered, smiling lamely.
"What is it?" Jareth asked impatiently, turning back to the goblin.
"Well, Your Majesty, I'm not quite sure how to say this..."
"Just say it!" the King yelled at his fuzzy minion.
The creature straightened. "Well, alright, Your Majesty. A girl has
wished *herself* away to the Labyrinth."
"What?! Why did you take her?"
"Well, we um- had to, Your Majesty. Isn't that the rule?"
Jareth flopped into his throne and threw his hand over his eyes.
"This *can't* be happening! For the Gods' sakes, people aren't
suppose to wish *themselves* away! And what timing- Sarah will be
here any day!" He sighed, as if trying to compose himself. "Does
she even have a child?"
"Well, Your Majesty, her sister is ten."
"She's too old to turn into a goblin," the King groaned. "I
don't know what to do... I must see this girl."
"Wait, Jareth." Stephan folded his arms, glaring lightly at his
brother. "What about me?"
Jareth raised an arched eyebrow. "This does not concern you. I won't
allow you to become involved She's in *my* kingdom, and I'll deal
with her."
"Jareth-"
"No, Stephan. I'm commanding you leave my kingdom until
I call for you."
Stephan's countenance turned to a look of combined surprise and hurt,
but then he smirked. "Yes, *Your Majesty*, my *Lord* Jareth."
Stephan bowed mockingly. "But I'll be back- I can teleport from my
kingdom any time I please, and you know it." And with that, he was
gone in a burst of hazel glitter.
Jareth rolled his eyes, turning down the hall in order to change into
something more intimidating.
* * * * *
Aislinn awoke with a start. The last thing she remembered was a
strange laughter echoing through her bedroom as it began to swirl and
spin with strange colors of azure and emerald. "Ohh, my head," she
muttered, sitting up. Now, she finally realized she was longer in
her bedroom. 'So where *am* I?' she thought desperately, looking
around. Then, suddenly, she realized with horror the answer to her
own question. She knew this place from one of Sarah's sketches- the
sparkling tan bushes, the small brown lillypad pond, the sloping hill
in front of her, and the wall- the wall covered with sparkling fairy
dust. And in the wall there was a huge rusted metal gate, slightly
covered with ivy. This was the door to- she gulped... the Labyrinth.
* * * * *
Aislinn stared at the wall in shock for a full ten seconds before she
was able to utter, "Oh, my God- it worked."
"So it did."
Aislinn froze and then gasped as a shadow passed over her. She knew
from the curled collar beneath the spiked hair of the shadow, who
stood behind her. "Jareth?" she gasped, slowly turning her head
around.
"Yes, and may I ask who *you* are?" he questioned, offering her a
black-gloved hand. Aislinn needed a moment to take in the sight the
Goblin King. He had changed clothes once again since meeting
Stephan. He now wore the same outfit he had donned upon first
meeting Sarah.
"Thank you," she replied as she took Jareth's hand and he pulled her
to her feet. "I'm Aislinn."
"And just what you were thinking, wishing *yourself* away to my
Labyrinth?"
"I didn't- I mean-" she stammered.
Jareth interrupted her. "Yes, I know, I've heard it all before; you
didn't think it would work. No one ever does. Of course, you do know
what you have to do now, don't you?"
Aislinn gulped. "Solve the Labyrinth?"
"Yes, and if you don't- I may turn you into a goblin, or I may not-
I'll just have to decide when the time comes." Jareth was more or
less simply trying to scare Aislinn. He knew she was too old to be
turned into a goblin, but what he *would* do with her, he honestly
had no idea.
"Oh, Jareth! No, please! There must be another way!"
"I'm afraid not. There are rules to the Labyrinth. I'm sorry, but
you, like everyone else who says the words, must make it through the
Labyrinth in order to be sent home."
Just the thought of having to venture through, let alone solve, that
incredibly huge maze made Aislinn shudder in fear. "Your Majesty-
please! Be merciful! I'm sorry I wished myself here! I'll leave and
never return, I swear! I was just overcome with the magic and
brilliance of the way Sarah described the Labyrinth in her book and
I-"
"Book?" Jareth interrupted. "Sarah wrote a book about my Labyrinth?"
"Yes, it's right here," she replied, handing the small book to Jareth.
Opening to the sketches, the King gently laughed at the picture of
himself. "Well, this picture does me no justice," he said, smirking.
"But she did capture my eyes."
"She sure did," Aislinn said, without thinking.
Jareth turned his head to look down at her. He smiled devilishly,
revealing his longish, slightly-pointed teeth. "Well, I hope you
like my Labyrinth as much as you do my eyes." And with that, he
disappeared in a puff of blue, glittery smoke.
"No- Jareth! Please, come back! I'll do anything! Jareth!"
* * * * *
The Goblin King watched Aislinn calling for him from a crystal ball in
the throne room of his castle. "Jareth! I have to tell you
something! Please come back!"
"Yes, what is it, Aislinn?" Jareth asked impatiently as he once
again materialized in front of her.
"Jareth, you don't understand. I don't want to become a goblin, I-"
"Well, I'm sorry, but-"
"Jareth, listen to me. I don't want to go home, either."
"You- you don't?" the King asked, taken aback by the completely
unexpected words.
"No, I don't- I want to stay here- as a human."
"Aislinn, there are no other humans in the entire kingdom- well, no
others who live here. You would be lonely here, and-"
"Oh, no, Your Majesty," Aislinn interrupted. "There'd be you, and
you must get lonely with no other humans here."
"Aislinn, you didn't let me finish. I'm not the only human here.
My brother Stephan, who rules the people of the Eastern Fey, comes
here sometimes." He paused. "And Aislinn- Sarah is coming back any
day now."
"You- you still love Sarah?"
"Yes, Aislinn, we love each other. We're engaged."
Aislinn was taken aback herself for a second, then said
quietly, "Then- Jareth?"
"Yes?"
"I want to be one of your subjects. I know the longing in your
heart for a human subject."
At this statement, the Goblin King turned and stared at her. Aislinn
was beautiful, with her long auburn hair and sparkling green eyes.
She was small for a girl her age, maybe 5'3 or 5'4, although she looked even shorter next to Jareth, who
was 5'11; 6'1 with his stiletto-healed boots. She was not especially
thin, only because she was full-figured, but at the same time, she
was not the least bit plump and had a beautiful curve to her hips.
She was sort of the opposite of Sarah, who, though not especially
tall, as she was no taller than when she had first traveled the
Labyrinth- about 5'6, was stick thin, with the figure envied by most
females on her old world. Sarah had, however, developed quite a bit
in the upper portion of her body. Like Jareth's fiancée, Aislinn
had beautiful full lips. Still, Jareth knew that no matter how
pretty any girl was, to him, Sarah was the most beautiful girl in the
world, and he loved her with all his heart.
"Jareth, please? I really didn't think the words would work, that's
true- but I did mean them. I feel like my life now isn't fulfilled.
I need more- I need magic and mystery and wonder... I've always felt
this way. There's always been something missing, and I feel like...
like I belong here."
The King was, to say the least, shocked by all this, as it was highly
unorthodox, but when he was finally able to find his words, he
replied, "Aislinn- you're the first person to ever truly mean those
words, but- are you sure you want to be my *subject*?"
"Wha- what do you mean?"
"I mean you could stay here- not as my subject, and not as my equal
either, but just live here." Jareth said these words extremely
reluctantly, but he knew he couldn't turn someone away who wanted
to learn the ways of goblin magic. He did have a sympathy for people
from earth who were trapped in a meaningless, mundane existences.
Compared to the magic kingdoms, this is how any earthling saw it.
"Jareth, I- I don't know what to say. I would love to live in your
kingdom- thank you."
"There is a condition, though."
Aislinn gulped. "Condition?"
"Yes," the King replied. "If you choose to stay in the Labyrinth,
you may go home for one week to say goodbye to your family and gather
your belongings, but once you vow to live in my kingdom as one of us
and dedicate yourself to learning the magic I'll teach you, you may
never return home."
"You mean- I have to stay here forever?"
Jareth was forced to overcome the urge as a past line of his teased
at his lips, but instead, asked, "Yes- isn't that what you want?" He
was mostly hoping she would reply the opposite.
"I do, Your Highness, it's just that- well- I'd like to be able to see
my family..." She trailed off.
"I'm very sorry, but if it's any consolation, you may see what they're
doing at any time through this," Jareth said as a crystal orb
coalesced at his gloved fingertips.
"Really?"
"Yes, Aislinn- I wouldn't lie to you."
"Jareth?"
"Yes?"
"Do you want me to call you Jareth or Your Majesty? I'm not sure."
The Goblin King was pleased. Obviously this girl understood that he
was the supreme power of this land and anyone
who entered into it should realize this. Of course, he wouldn't
treat her the same as one of his goblin minions, but at least *she*
realized who was in charge. "Thank you for asking, Aislinn. I have
very little doubt that you'll be loyal to me. And you may call me
Jareth." He paused. "Of course, I wouldn't mind if you called me
Your Majesty- whichever you prefer. And soon, there will be a new
queen here for you to discuss your, um, female matters with."
"Thank you," Aislinn replied. "I know I'll be happy here."
"I hope you will be, Aislinn." The King paused. "Are you
*absolutely* positive you want to stay here permanently?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I... I feel it's my destiny." Then she paused
again, asking quietly, "Your Majesty?"
"Yes?"
"Can you tell the future or anything? Are you psychic?"
"No, Aislinn, although I do know someone who has the power to tell
the future with a special crystal... although he doesn't use it very
often. Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you could ask him what my life here would be like-
is that, like, cheating or something?"
Jareth smiled. "I don't think it's cheating at all, my dear," he
answered. "In fact, I think you're very smart to think of it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Aislinn, I know you'll be welcome here." Jareth was actually
beginning to mean these words. He was thinking, maybe it wouldn't
be so bad- he just prayed Sarah would understand. "Now," he went on,
"I'll return you to say your last good-byes to your family and I'll
return for you in a week."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Good, I'll see you in one week, then." And with that said, and a
wave of the Goblin King's leather-gloved hand, the world began to spin
again. The next thing Aislinn knew, she was back in her bedroom.
"Yes?" Jareth and Stephan asked in unison as a goblin scampered into
the throne room.
Jareth turned to glare at the Eastern Fey King. "Sorry, Jareth-
force of habit," Stephan offered, smiling lamely.
"What is it?" Jareth asked impatiently, turning back to the goblin.
"Well, Your Majesty, I'm not quite sure how to say this..."
"Just say it!" the King yelled at his fuzzy minion.
The creature straightened. "Well, alright, Your Majesty. A girl has
wished *herself* away to the Labyrinth."
"What?! Why did you take her?"
"Well, we um- had to, Your Majesty. Isn't that the rule?"
Jareth flopped into his throne and threw his hand over his eyes.
"This *can't* be happening! For the Gods' sakes, people aren't
suppose to wish *themselves* away! And what timing- Sarah will be
here any day!" He sighed, as if trying to compose himself. "Does
she even have a child?"
"Well, Your Majesty, her sister is ten."
"She's too old to turn into a goblin," the King groaned. "I
don't know what to do... I must see this girl."
"Wait, Jareth." Stephan folded his arms, glaring lightly at his
brother. "What about me?"
Jareth raised an arched eyebrow. "This does not concern you. I won't
allow you to become involved She's in *my* kingdom, and I'll deal
with her."
"Jareth-"
"No, Stephan. I'm commanding you leave my kingdom until
I call for you."
Stephan's countenance turned to a look of combined surprise and hurt,
but then he smirked. "Yes, *Your Majesty*, my *Lord* Jareth."
Stephan bowed mockingly. "But I'll be back- I can teleport from my
kingdom any time I please, and you know it." And with that, he was
gone in a burst of hazel glitter.
Jareth rolled his eyes, turning down the hall in order to change into
something more intimidating.
* * * * *
Aislinn awoke with a start. The last thing she remembered was a
strange laughter echoing through her bedroom as it began to swirl and
spin with strange colors of azure and emerald. "Ohh, my head," she
muttered, sitting up. Now, she finally realized she was longer in
her bedroom. 'So where *am* I?' she thought desperately, looking
around. Then, suddenly, she realized with horror the answer to her
own question. She knew this place from one of Sarah's sketches- the
sparkling tan bushes, the small brown lillypad pond, the sloping hill
in front of her, and the wall- the wall covered with sparkling fairy
dust. And in the wall there was a huge rusted metal gate, slightly
covered with ivy. This was the door to- she gulped... the Labyrinth.
* * * * *
Aislinn stared at the wall in shock for a full ten seconds before she
was able to utter, "Oh, my God- it worked."
"So it did."
Aislinn froze and then gasped as a shadow passed over her. She knew
from the curled collar beneath the spiked hair of the shadow, who
stood behind her. "Jareth?" she gasped, slowly turning her head
around.
"Yes, and may I ask who *you* are?" he questioned, offering her a
black-gloved hand. Aislinn needed a moment to take in the sight the
Goblin King. He had changed clothes once again since meeting
Stephan. He now wore the same outfit he had donned upon first
meeting Sarah.
"Thank you," she replied as she took Jareth's hand and he pulled her
to her feet. "I'm Aislinn."
"And just what you were thinking, wishing *yourself* away to my
Labyrinth?"
"I didn't- I mean-" she stammered.
Jareth interrupted her. "Yes, I know, I've heard it all before; you
didn't think it would work. No one ever does. Of course, you do know
what you have to do now, don't you?"
Aislinn gulped. "Solve the Labyrinth?"
"Yes, and if you don't- I may turn you into a goblin, or I may not-
I'll just have to decide when the time comes." Jareth was more or
less simply trying to scare Aislinn. He knew she was too old to be
turned into a goblin, but what he *would* do with her, he honestly
had no idea.
"Oh, Jareth! No, please! There must be another way!"
"I'm afraid not. There are rules to the Labyrinth. I'm sorry, but
you, like everyone else who says the words, must make it through the
Labyrinth in order to be sent home."
Just the thought of having to venture through, let alone solve, that
incredibly huge maze made Aislinn shudder in fear. "Your Majesty-
please! Be merciful! I'm sorry I wished myself here! I'll leave and
never return, I swear! I was just overcome with the magic and
brilliance of the way Sarah described the Labyrinth in her book and
I-"
"Book?" Jareth interrupted. "Sarah wrote a book about my Labyrinth?"
"Yes, it's right here," she replied, handing the small book to Jareth.
Opening to the sketches, the King gently laughed at the picture of
himself. "Well, this picture does me no justice," he said, smirking.
"But she did capture my eyes."
"She sure did," Aislinn said, without thinking.
Jareth turned his head to look down at her. He smiled devilishly,
revealing his longish, slightly-pointed teeth. "Well, I hope you
like my Labyrinth as much as you do my eyes." And with that, he
disappeared in a puff of blue, glittery smoke.
"No- Jareth! Please, come back! I'll do anything! Jareth!"
* * * * *
The Goblin King watched Aislinn calling for him from a crystal ball in
the throne room of his castle. "Jareth! I have to tell you
something! Please come back!"
"Yes, what is it, Aislinn?" Jareth asked impatiently as he once
again materialized in front of her.
"Jareth, you don't understand. I don't want to become a goblin, I-"
"Well, I'm sorry, but-"
"Jareth, listen to me. I don't want to go home, either."
"You- you don't?" the King asked, taken aback by the completely
unexpected words.
"No, I don't- I want to stay here- as a human."
"Aislinn, there are no other humans in the entire kingdom- well, no
others who live here. You would be lonely here, and-"
"Oh, no, Your Majesty," Aislinn interrupted. "There'd be you, and
you must get lonely with no other humans here."
"Aislinn, you didn't let me finish. I'm not the only human here.
My brother Stephan, who rules the people of the Eastern Fey, comes
here sometimes." He paused. "And Aislinn- Sarah is coming back any
day now."
"You- you still love Sarah?"
"Yes, Aislinn, we love each other. We're engaged."
Aislinn was taken aback herself for a second, then said
quietly, "Then- Jareth?"
"Yes?"
"I want to be one of your subjects. I know the longing in your
heart for a human subject."
At this statement, the Goblin King turned and stared at her. Aislinn
was beautiful, with her long auburn hair and sparkling green eyes.
She was small for a girl her age, maybe 5'3 or 5'4, although she looked even shorter next to Jareth, who
was 5'11; 6'1 with his stiletto-healed boots. She was not especially
thin, only because she was full-figured, but at the same time, she
was not the least bit plump and had a beautiful curve to her hips.
She was sort of the opposite of Sarah, who, though not especially
tall, as she was no taller than when she had first traveled the
Labyrinth- about 5'6, was stick thin, with the figure envied by most
females on her old world. Sarah had, however, developed quite a bit
in the upper portion of her body. Like Jareth's fiancée, Aislinn
had beautiful full lips. Still, Jareth knew that no matter how
pretty any girl was, to him, Sarah was the most beautiful girl in the
world, and he loved her with all his heart.
"Jareth, please? I really didn't think the words would work, that's
true- but I did mean them. I feel like my life now isn't fulfilled.
I need more- I need magic and mystery and wonder... I've always felt
this way. There's always been something missing, and I feel like...
like I belong here."
The King was, to say the least, shocked by all this, as it was highly
unorthodox, but when he was finally able to find his words, he
replied, "Aislinn- you're the first person to ever truly mean those
words, but- are you sure you want to be my *subject*?"
"Wha- what do you mean?"
"I mean you could stay here- not as my subject, and not as my equal
either, but just live here." Jareth said these words extremely
reluctantly, but he knew he couldn't turn someone away who wanted
to learn the ways of goblin magic. He did have a sympathy for people
from earth who were trapped in a meaningless, mundane existences.
Compared to the magic kingdoms, this is how any earthling saw it.
"Jareth, I- I don't know what to say. I would love to live in your
kingdom- thank you."
"There is a condition, though."
Aislinn gulped. "Condition?"
"Yes," the King replied. "If you choose to stay in the Labyrinth,
you may go home for one week to say goodbye to your family and gather
your belongings, but once you vow to live in my kingdom as one of us
and dedicate yourself to learning the magic I'll teach you, you may
never return home."
"You mean- I have to stay here forever?"
Jareth was forced to overcome the urge as a past line of his teased
at his lips, but instead, asked, "Yes- isn't that what you want?" He
was mostly hoping she would reply the opposite.
"I do, Your Highness, it's just that- well- I'd like to be able to see
my family..." She trailed off.
"I'm very sorry, but if it's any consolation, you may see what they're
doing at any time through this," Jareth said as a crystal orb
coalesced at his gloved fingertips.
"Really?"
"Yes, Aislinn- I wouldn't lie to you."
"Jareth?"
"Yes?"
"Do you want me to call you Jareth or Your Majesty? I'm not sure."
The Goblin King was pleased. Obviously this girl understood that he
was the supreme power of this land and anyone
who entered into it should realize this. Of course, he wouldn't
treat her the same as one of his goblin minions, but at least *she*
realized who was in charge. "Thank you for asking, Aislinn. I have
very little doubt that you'll be loyal to me. And you may call me
Jareth." He paused. "Of course, I wouldn't mind if you called me
Your Majesty- whichever you prefer. And soon, there will be a new
queen here for you to discuss your, um, female matters with."
"Thank you," Aislinn replied. "I know I'll be happy here."
"I hope you will be, Aislinn." The King paused. "Are you
*absolutely* positive you want to stay here permanently?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I... I feel it's my destiny." Then she paused
again, asking quietly, "Your Majesty?"
"Yes?"
"Can you tell the future or anything? Are you psychic?"
"No, Aislinn, although I do know someone who has the power to tell
the future with a special crystal... although he doesn't use it very
often. Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you could ask him what my life here would be like-
is that, like, cheating or something?"
Jareth smiled. "I don't think it's cheating at all, my dear," he
answered. "In fact, I think you're very smart to think of it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Aislinn, I know you'll be welcome here." Jareth was actually
beginning to mean these words. He was thinking, maybe it wouldn't
be so bad- he just prayed Sarah would understand. "Now," he went on,
"I'll return you to say your last good-byes to your family and I'll
return for you in a week."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Good, I'll see you in one week, then." And with that said, and a
wave of the Goblin King's leather-gloved hand, the world began to spin
again. The next thing Aislinn knew, she was back in her bedroom.
