And so, Lili Williams' time in the Underground began...
In order to forget the pain the abrupt separation from her family and friends caused her, she focused on her new... job. She assumed her personality as Jareth's maid. Just as he had ordered, she cooked for him, washed his clothes and cleaned his room... and the rest of the castle. She even succeeded in organizing the goblins. Thanks to cookies and whistling, she managed to convince them to behave -in their unique goblin way, of course. She had them do useful tasks, like swept the floor, pick up their things and take out the garbage...
However, in spite of everything, her situation was not as terrible as she had thought it would be. Not everything was work. She had that amazing library to herself; as she was not used to a twenty-six hours day; she woke up too early. She spent every dawn there, reading. She also loved to admire the tapestries and other beautiful treasures hidden within the castle. She liked visiting the city's market place; it was always full of weird –and useless- things.
With each passing day, she grew fonder of the hyperactive goblins. Even though they often made her lose her patience, they never failed to make her laugh -especially her "assistant", Pete. He followed her everywhere and, as strange as it could be, he really helped her.
The main problem for Lili, was her... boss and her ever-present fear that he would discover who she truly was. Putting that little detail aside, she had realized Jareth was not as terrible as she had thought either. In fact, she was beginning to like him... a lot. He yelled and kicked his goblins -and sent them to the bog- but he was never rude to her. Once you considered his awful temper, of course. They would often sit in the library and talk for hours. Sometimes, he would tell her stories from his world, the Underground; stories that she would listen to in delight, wide eyed and wondering.
What annoyed Lili, though, was his habit of appearing or disappearing without any warning. It was as if he really enjoyed seeing her jump.
On the other hand, being well served and treated with respect, Jareth's mood improved... a bit. With each passing day, and without him even noticing it, he started to become more used to his maid.... and more fond of her simple food. But that was not all. He had realized that she was far more interesting than an ordinary servant. She was a human being. Not a beauty, not a lover, just someone to talk to, someone that really listened him. Since the beginning she had done everything he ordered and she never complained, except when he sent a goblin to the bog or when he... surprised her by materializing behind her. He really enjoyed her startled reactions. Her obvious shyness and embarrassment also amused him -and touched him. Each time he would talk to her looking at her in the eye, she would blush and lower her gaze. In those occasions, he could not help but think that she was only a child...
However, there was something that always kept Jareth on the edge. Something that had nothing to do with his maid... or that was what he believed. He wanted his revenge badly... but little did he know that his main target was right before his eyes...
******
"NO!" Jareth yelled, throwing his crystal sphere to the wall. He rose from his armchair and, annoyed, he began to pace across his chamber. For the zillionth time, the requested image of Lili Williams had been denied to him. His powerful magic just... could not locate Sarah's sister!
"NO!" he screamed again, causing a loud clap of thunder to be heard all throughout the castle. "She will not escape. I--"
He abruptly stopped -pacing and yelling- as a sudden idea hit him.
With a dark smirk on his face, he left his room and headed to his secret lab, muttering sinister curses under his breath the entire way out.
******
After serving Jareth his breakfast -in his private chamber- Lili went to the throne room. She fixed her apron and entered. As always, the place was filled with hyperactive goblins and chickens flying all around. In fact, she had to duck to avoid one of the birds. However, she didn't panic, she knew exactly what to do. She whistled. Immediately the goblins stopped their frantic activity and turned to face her.
"Hi, Lucy," Pete greeted her with a grin as he approached her. "Will you give us cookies today?" he asked, his eyes shining.
"Yes, cookies!" the others exclaimed, surrounding her.
Lili smiled. "Good morning and yes, I will bake cookies today. But first, I will need your help to clean this room."
"Why?" one of the goblins asked, putting his hands on his hips defiantly. "You don't cook here."
At his comical appearance, Lili had to struggle to keep a straight face. This was their every day conversation. She shrugged. "Yes, but I have to clean the castle first, so the sooner I finish, the sooner I can start with the cookies."
The goblins exchanged puzzled glances and seemed to think about it. They were used to be yelled at, not to be talked at... and, unlike their king, Lucy never yelled. After a moment, they nodded.
"Good," she said. Then, she sent Pete and five more goblins to the kitchen, to get the cleaning stuff. "While we wait for them let's get rid of the chickens," she added.
"Do you want us to take them to the bog?" a goblin by the name of Glup offered politely.
Lili shook her head and rolled her eyes. "No, just take them outside."
Immediately, the goblins began to chase the poor, nervous birds.
Unable to stop herself, Lili finally burst into laughter. Watching the fat goblins run after the chickens was simply too much.
When Pete and the others returned, twenty minutes later, they started cleaning...
Suddenly, a loud thunder echoed in the room. The goblins froze for a second and then resumed their work.
Lili let out a deep sigh and shook her head. She knew the thunder had been caused by the king's anger and she also knew the reason of it.
"If only you could forget about your revenge... about me. Why do you hate me... if I...?" she whispered sadly, unconsciously bracing herself.
"Lucy... Lucy," Pete called her, a bit worried. "Are you all right?"
Lili blinked and the grin returned to her face. She nodded. "Yes. It took me by surprise, that's all."
Pete just smiled in return.
******
"Enough of the gentle Goblin King!" Jareth barked, entering his lab. As his inner magic had failed him, he would have to turn to outer magic. Not elegant, but efficient.
He took a big, old book from the shelf and opened it, searching for what he needed. After a couple of minutes, his eyes shone dangerously as he found the perfect spell... the spell of nightmares.
"Good," he muttered, satisfied.
Without losing a moment, he gathered all the necessary ingredients and he brought everything over to his worktable.
"Time for endless nightmares, Lili Williams!" he exclaimed sinisterly. Then, he became serious; clearing his throat, he began to chant the dreadful and powerful words. Once finished, he stared, pleased, at the sparkling silver ball of energy floating before him, obediently waiting his command. He smiled darkly. "GO!" he ordered at last.
The ball glowed brighter and, at the speed of light, went to fulfill his command.
"Your sister will turn insane right before jour eyes, dear Sarah," he said sinisterly.
True, this was not what he had first planed, but it will have to do. With a final chuckle, he left his lab.
With the smile still on his face, he stepped out of the secret passage. He had walked a couple of steps form the bookshelf that hid the entrance, when suddenly he felt an incredible force approaching. Startled, he spun around... and stiffened as he realized it was the magic energy he had sent for Lili. His eyes widened in shock, as he understood what had happened. The spell had simply... bounced!
"NO!" he yelled, raising his arms in a protective way. "NO--" he screamed as the light mercilessly wrapped around him, surrounding him with nightmares...
******
"NO!"
His last scream echoed all over the castle.
"He's very mad," Pete noted, shuddering.
"I don't think so," Lili replied, unexplainably worried. "No. Something is wrong."
Without another word, she hurried out of the throne room. Pete and the other goblins exchanged puzzled glances and then followed her.
Lili ran to the king's chamber, her bad feeling going deeper. "Something is very wrong," she muttered, as she entered his room. He was not there. Completely convinced that something had happened to him now, Lili exited through the opposite door that led to his study...
She gasped. He was sprawled out on the floor, just beyond the bookshelf.
"Oh God!" she exclaimed, as she knelt by his side. He was deathly pale, covered with sweat and his eyelids were incredibly red. She carefully checked his pulse and let out a relieved sigh.
"Is he..." Pete began to ask, speaking for all the goblins.
"No," Lili said, without raising her head. She gently removed a strand of blond hair from his face. "What happened to you?" she asked softly, not really expecting an answer. To her surprise, he his eyes fluttered open and Lili stared in shock the haunted look within them. In a quick and totally unexpected movement, he grabbed her hand.
"O... Oberon," he whispered and then, he passed out.
"No, please, stay with me!" Lili urged him, desperate. "I don't know what an Oberon is!"
"He's the King of Avalon and Jareth's friend," Pete answered.
"What!" Lili exclaimed.
"He is--" Pete began, but abruptly stopped at the unusually cold glance she gave him.
Lili shook her head. "I am sorry, Pete. I heard you the first time," she apologized with a strained smile. Then she rose and carefully held Jareth up by his shoulders. "Come on, help me. Hold his feet," she ordered seriously to the inert goblins. "Don't make me whistle!"
With the help of three big goblins, Lili managed to take the unconscious king to his bed. He moaned in pain as she took off his boots.
"Please, bring me a bowl with cold water and a piece of cloth," she told Glup and then she turned to a concerned looking Pete. "Do you know how to contact Oberon?"
Pete blinked and rubbed his temples with both hands, as if he were thinking hard. Suddenly, his round face lit up. "I remember now! One day when I was in here, his Majesty was talking with his mirror."
Lili cocked her head a little. "Do you mean he uses his mirror as a telephone?" she asked. At Pete's blank expression, she rolled her eyes. "Never mind. Thank you, Pete."
Jareth moaned in pain again, muttering unintelligible words. Deeply worried, Lili placed a hand on his forehead and gasped, he was burning. "Where is Glup with the water?" She asked loudly. She sighed, frustrated. She could lower his fever somewhat, but she just didn't know how to cure him. She took one of his hands. She had not forgotten that he had kidnapped her -and turned her into his maid... not to mention that he wanted to use her to harm Sarah- but he was not all that bad and he was suffering a lot. She simply had to do something to easy his pain! At that moment Glup arrived with the water and gave it to her.
"Thank you," she said. "Now you can all go, except you, Pete. I want you to stay."
Pete nodded and the rest of the goblins, still scared by their king's sudden illness, obeyed without complaints.
Lili try to sooth Jareth's fever with the water and then, she rose and stood before the mirror. Pete followed her and stood by her side.
"You have no reflection!" he exclaimed in disbelief.
"Something about magic or the lack of it," Lili explained, shrugging. "Anyway, do you know how it works?" she asked, even though she already knew the coming answer. As expected, Pete just shook his head. "Well, I guess these kind of things don't come with instructions," she said sarcastically.
"No," Pete agreed, earning an exasperate look from her.
They silently stood before the mirror for a while, until Lili finally lost her temper.
"How in the world am I supposed to contact Oberon or reach Avalon?" she suddenly yelled, throwing her arms up.
Pete stared at her in disbelief and then opened his mouth to tell her that he didn't know how. However, he had not the chance to speak as the mirror unexpectedly began to glow.
They jumped a step back and exchanged surprised glances.
"Wow!" Lili exclaimed. "I guess all I had to do was ask."
The glow soon faded and a blue mist covered the mirror's surface. A couple of seconds later, the mist disappeared and an elegant chamber, in a sort of Arabian style, was revealed.
Suddenly, a young, handsome man, dressed in colorful clothes, entered said chamber and walked toward the mirror, a mischievous and surprised expression on his face.
They look at each other with intense curiosity.
Lili knew it was rude to stare, but she simply could not take her gaze away from him. He was a bit shorter than Jareth, with blond-white hair reaching down to his shoulders. His eyes were incredibly green and oddly ageless and -to Lili's astonishment- he had... pointed ears!
After a moment, Lili was brought back to reality by Jareth's moans. She shook her head and cleared her throat. "Are... are you King Oberon?" she asked, nervously brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
******
His amusing chase of the lovely elven lady was abruptly interrupted by a sudden burst of magic coming from the High Lord's chambers. As Oberon himself had ordered him to tend to his messages during his absence, he shook his head, bid the now pouting lady good bye and headed to the king's private room.
Once there, he was pleasantly surprised by what the mirror showed him. A worried looking redheaded girl was the one who had summoned his master. She was beautiful in her own style; her eyes were incredibly gentle and her short hair was red, but the reason for his surprise had been that she was human!
His gaze traveled from her startled face to her companion, a fat, funny looking goblin. Puck's grin widened as he realized she was calling from the Goblin City... particularly from the Goblin King's chamber. Amused, he returned his gaze to her eyes and, as he saw the innocence within them, the wicked thought that had been raised in his mind faded. No, she was not one of Jareth's... girls. She was not dressed like one anyway.
He mentally shook himself and was about to ask her what she wanted, when she suddenly spoke.
"Are... are you king Oberon?"
******
The young man widened his eyes and seemed taken aback for a second, but then he blinked and the mischievous expression returned to his face.
"Lord Oberon is not available for the time being. I am Puck, or Robin Goodfellow if you prefer," he introduced himself, courteously bowing his head.
"Puck?" Lili repeated, unable to hide her disappointment and concern. "Please, I must talk with... Lord Oberon!" she insisted, biting her lip. "It's... the Goblin King. He is seriously ill!"
Puck tilted his head and sat cross-legged floating in the air. "Lord Oberon is not here," he said and then, his eyes twinkled merrily. "Did you say the all mighty Goblin King is sick?" he asked in a slightly amused voice.
Lili nodded and, as worried as she was, she did not notice his teasing tone. "Yes. Can you, please, help him?" she almost begged.
Puck blinked at her request. Was she asking a... favor from the Trickster of Avalon? His eyes shone again, this time his amusement clearly visible. "Yes I could. But what would you... give me in return?"
Lili stiffened and opened her eyes wide. "I am only his maid... and obviously you are some kind of sorcerer. What could I possibly give you!" she exclaimed in a heart broken voice, shooting a quick, desperate glance at Jareth.
Puck looked intently at her, her large eyes piercing his very soul, as no one had ever had. He, the Trickster of Avalon, the Merry Wonderer of the night, was mischievous and powerful... but he had three weaknesses: music, blackberries... and puppies. And the girl before him had a really lost puppy look in her eyes. It was then that he realized he had been... defeated.
He smiled a genuine grin, the one he reserved for innocent children.
"Please," Lili insisted with misty eyes.
"Lucy," Pete suddenly called her. He had been quiet the whole time and now he had an idea. Lili lowered her gaze to him. "You can give him a slice of yesterday's pie," he suggested seriously.
"Pie?" Puck asked with a raised eyebrow. He took a hand to his chin. He had not eaten pie in ages!
Noticing his sudden interest, Lili smiled and looked hopefully at him. "Yes. Yesterday I baked blackberry pie and--"
"Blackberry pie!" Puck interrupted her and, at her nod, he glowed and smiled widely. "My lady, we have a deal."
Before Lili could say another word, he appeared by her side.
"Puck," he said, bowing again.
"I'm... Lucy," she introduced herself with a small grin. "Please, I don't want to be rude, but could you..."
Puck chuckled. "Oh, yes, the lethargic Goblin King. Let us see the patient," he said, approaching an unconscious Jareth. He looked at the king and nodded. "Mmm... He is under a spell... I wonder who would have dared attack him..." he muttered, morbidly amused. "Poor fool... the attacker, that is."
"Can you help him?" Lili insisted, a bit exasperate.
"Be patient, Young One," Puck teased her, still surprised that someone actually cared for the bad tempered Goblin King. "Or do you want him to explode?"
However, he became serious and extended his arms over Jareth. The Faery began to glow and started to speak in the ancient language of magic.
After a moment, it ended. "I am done," Puck informed to an astonished Lili and Pete.
"Will... he be all right?" Lili asked, looking hopefully at him and then at the Goblin King.
"Of course... anything for a slice of blackberry pie" he answered with a wink, earning a smile from her.
As if confirming his words, Jareth stirred and slowly opened his eyes...
******
The dreadful veil of darkness and nightmares slowly began to disappear. It took him a few minutes to remember what had happened. Something had gone terribly wrong with his last spell.
After a moment, he was finally able to open his eyes...
To his surprise he was in his own room, laying on his bed. As his sight focussed once again, he realized that his maid was standing by his bed, a relieved expression on her face.
"How do you feel, Your Majesty?" she asked with a smile, in her usually soft, pleasant voice.
He was about to answer her when he suddenly noticed the annoyingly familiar figure that stood behind her.
"You," he said in a whisper, unable to speak louder.
"He healed you," Lili quickly explained, noticing the king's distress.
"As a matter of fact, I did," the impish faery confirmed, walking a step forward.
"You... healed... me?" Jareth asked in disbelief, widening his eyes.
"Yes. Not a difficult thing to do, may I add," Puck answered in a mocking respectful tone. "By the way, do you know who was stupid enough to attack you?" Puck asked, clearly interested.
Embarrassed, and already picturing the laughter Puck would enjoy at his expense, Jareth slightly blushed and shook his head. "It is none of your concern," he stated in his full -albeit weak- kingly mode.
Puck chuckled and cocked his head. "I had forgotten what an ungrateful old man you are... but I guess when you reach certain age..." He finished with a shrug, earning a glare from Jareth.
Lili had to suppress a chuckle. "Sorry," she whispered at the king's annoyed glance.
Puck then turned to her. "Lucy, I believe the old Goblin needs to rest," he said in a falsely worried tone, deliberately dropping Jareth's title.
"Yes," she agreed with a grin and then, to Puck's surprise, she gently covered the king with a blanket. "Do you want me to bring you something? Something to eat... some goblins to kick?"
"Lucy!" Pete exclaimed, horrified, covering his face with both hands.
Puck blinked, amused, and Jareth just rolled his eyes.
Lili lowered her kind, mischievous gaze to the poor goblin. "I was only joking. What would I do without my assistant?" she reassured him and then looked questioningly at her boss. "Shall I bring you something, your Majesty?"
"No, you may retire," he said in an almost gentle tone that was not lost to the impish faery.
Lili nodded and then smiled at Puck. I have to finish with the throne room, but then I will fulfill my promise. It will take only twenty minutes. Is that okay with you?"
"Yes, Lucy," he answered kindly -his tone was not lost on Jareth- his eyes glowing in anticipation. "I shall be in the study."
"Sure," she said, turning and walking away, with Pete on tow.
"What was all that about?" a suspicious Jareth asked... and then it hit him. "What... did she... promise you?"
Puck stared at him and blinked in disbelief. Was the cold-hearted Goblin King... actually... concerned... for his maid? Or was he jealous? Puck smiled, deeply amused, as an idea occurred to him. He folded his arms across his chest and tilted his head, a sudden wicked glint in his green eyes. "Your lovely maid and I have a deal... or did you believe I would heal you for free?" Puck asked mischievously, emphasizing the word lovely.
Jareth stiffened at Puck's gaze and words -especially at the word lovely- and, in spite of his weakness, he managed to sit up. What had that child been thinking when she made that kind of deal with the annoying Trickster? Jareth's eyes widened when the obvious answer hit him. She had been thinking... of him! An overwhelming and unexplainable anger started to rise within him.
He balled his hands into fists; he would not allow such a thing to happen. He glared at the smiling faery. "You can... not do it," he ordered, but then, tired by his outburst, he had to lean back again.
Puck shook his head. "Such a pity," he said, clearly mimicking Jareth. "Sleep now, Goblin King," he commanded, casting a sleep spell over the angry Monarch. The spell was necessary for his recovery, but Puck did not bother to mention that fact. "Just in case... we cannot control our cries..." he whispered in Jareth's ears. "...as we are going to be only next door..."
With that, Puck disappeared.
"I... will... kill... you..." Jareth muttered, just before falling asleep.
******
"I can bring you another slice of pie if you want," Lili suggested, as she watched wide-eyed how Puck almost... inhaled the pie. As he had told Jareth, they were in his Majesty's study, seated on the comfortable armchairs. Puck had a dish with pie on his lap and a fork in his hand.
"On a second thought, I can bring you a whole pie," she added.
"Delicious," he said, patting his stomach in a funny way. "Are you being serious?" he asked with a wide smile.
Lili chuckled. "Yes."
"Then, my Lady," Puck said solemnly, rising from his seat and bowing to her. "I will be forever your most humble servant."
This time, Lili blushed and laugh aloud. "I don't want a servant... but I would be honored to consider you my friend."
Puck looked intently at her and, completely defeated by her kindness, he nodded. "We shall be friends," he said sincerely, his eyes twinkling merrily. Then, he sat cross-legged, floating in the air before her. He tilted his head. "How does he treat you?" he asked, still surprised by the almost gentle tone Jareth had used with her.
Lili stiffened a bit at his question and then smiled. "In spite of his temper, he is not that bad. At first I was very afraid of him, but now... I'm not. Let's say that... he must be... handled with care," she answered with a hint of mischief.
"Indeed," Puck agreed with a chuckle, noticing a brief tender glint in her eyes. "That leads us to my second question. How is that you became the old man's maid?" he asked with curiosity, for an odd reason he could not believe she was one of Jareth's summoners.
A sudden sadness clouded her eyes. Lili sighed and shrugged. "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," she answered, quoting Jareth and, at his puzzled glance, she told him what had happened that day... except for a little detail... that she was actually Sarah's sister.
"And the most annoying thing," she said, once she was finished, "is that I don't even know why he hates Sarah so much."
Puck shook his head. "He had no right to bring you here," he stated.
Lili seemed to wilt. "As I told you before, he is not that bad... but I do miss my family and friends," she whispered, bowing her head. "It was not my choice," she added, looking at him again, a small grin on her face.
Puck blinked and, not wanting her to be sad, he smiled impishly and leaned forward. "Do you want to know what happened between the all mighty Goblin King and Sarah?" he inquired in his best gossip mode.
"Of course!" Lili exclaimed, deeply interested.
With his eyes twinkling merrily, Puck began his narration. "Twenty-two years ago..."
******
"Wow," was all that Lili managed to say -twenty minutes later- when the faery finished his tale. She knew Sarah had been jealous when Toby had been born, but this was simply... unbelievable. "That's why... he hates her so much? That's why he wants to hurt Sarah's sister? Because she... rejected him?" Lili asked in a low voice, feeling something strange in her heart. She shook her head, annoyed. "But that's ridiculous! He kidnapped her brother and he wanted her to... love him?" she added in disbelief.
"My friend," Puck began to say, a bit surprised by her serious -and slightly annoyed- voice. "He is the Goblin King. What else did you expect? But no, he did not love her; maybe he was infatuated with her, but what really angered him -and still bothers him, as you may know- was that Sarah solved his precious Labyrinth. The powerful Goblin King was defeated by a mortal girl!" Puck explained, enjoying Jareth's predicament. "He was--" The mischievous faery abruptly stopped at the redhead's sad expression. He tilted his head, obviously he had not succeeded in cheering her up. "What is it, Young One?" he asked in an unusually concern voice.
Lili mentally shook herself and choose not to be depressed. She bit her lip and smiled at the nickname. "I... am just impressed, that's all. Did you say the Royal Court?" she asked then, with her best tell-me-a-story look.
Noticing that his new friend really did not want to talk anymore about the incidents that indirectly had caused her presence in the Underground, Puck gladly decided to... enlighten her about the Royal Court. He sat on the armchair and, with an impish smile on his handsome face, he started in his best narrator voice. "The High Court of Avalon..."
******
A couple of hours passed and a certain King began to regain consciousness...
The sound of soft laughter reached to him. He stirred on his bed and opened his eyes. As he heard the laughter again, together with a loud "YES!" He sat bolt upright.
Annoyed and worried to no end, and fully recovered, Jareth rose, magically changed his wrinkled clothes and hurried to his study with long strides.
"Stop!" he yelled as he rudely opened the door... only to find Puck eating a pie and his maid seated by his side.
They both turned to him. The young woman looked at him with a puzzled, but relieved expression on her face and the faery with a mocking twinkle in his green eyes.
"You're okay!" she exclaimed with a grin.
"What is the meaning of this?" Jareth asked coldly, folding his arms across his chest. His previous concern turning into anger.
Lili blinked and her grin faded. Indeed he was fully recovered. "I am sorry if we wake you up, your Majesty," she apologized, misunderstanding his reaction. "It's just that I promised Puck blackberry pie and--"
"Blackberry... pie?" Jareth interrupted her. "You promised him... blackberry pie?" he repeated in disbelief, his fury slowly vanishing.
"Of course. What else did you think?" Puck asked innocently, eating a bit of pie.
"Your Majesty?" Lili insisted with curiosity.
"No... Nothing, of course," an uncomfortable Jareth said, sending a quick murderous glance to Puck and mentally kicking himself. He cleared his throat. "Lucy, you may retire... and no, I do not want you to bring me anything."
Lili smiled and nodded at the king. Then she turned to an amused Puck. "Don't forget your pie."
"Of course not, Young One," he answered in his merry mode. "Not even an army of goblin kings would be able to stop me," he added with a wink.
Lili chuckled and after a little bow, she finally left them alone.
Jareth followed her with his gaze and then stared at the faery. "The deal was blackberry pie?" he insisted, still not believing that the powerful Trickster had accepted such a simple thing... and that he had kept his part of the deal.
Puck laughed and began to float across the room, as if he were swimming. "Yes. I admit I was tempted to ask her for something else... but her eyes..."
"Are too innocent," Jareth finished for him with a small grin, but quickly recovered his kingly mode.
"Ah... so you have noticed it too," the faery replied with a knowing look -that Jareth choose to ignore. "I wonder what else have you noticed..." he added, but at the king's icy glare, Puck wisely decided not to press any further. Even he knew when to stop teasing the bad tempered Goblin King. "Anyway," he continued in an unusually serious voice, almost in a warning tone. "For reasons beyond my comprehension, Lucy cares for you. She is very special and she is now my friend... so do not dare harm her."
"Yes, she cares," Jareth admitted in a faraway voice, but then shook himself. "Are you... threatening me, Trickster?" he asked with a bemused raised eyebrow. "Let me remind you that she is my maid... and no, I have no intentions to harm her."
Puck blinked and shrugged, Jareth's possessive tone not lost on him. Then, unable to keep his serious façade, he smiled mischievously again. "By the way, do you know who attacked you? Maybe a jealous husband... or an angry father... You have been busy lately."
Ignoring his last comment, Jareth shook his head and cleared his throat. "No one attacked me," he said, as serious as he could manage. "It was I who cast the spell."
Puck cocked his head. "You? But--" he began to say and then opened his green eyes wide. "Are you telling me that your spell... bounced? That you... failed?" he asked and, at Jareth's embarrassed expression, he burst into laughter, floating all around the room. "Your spell bounced!" he exclaimed, laughing. "Bounced! Bounced! Bounced!" he repeated... bouncing around the chamber.
Jareth flushed and then paled in anger. He balled his hands into fists. "ENOUGH!" he thundered. In the blink of an eye, Puck fell at the king's feet, wrapped in chains. "So," Jareth said with a dark tone and an equally dark smirk, looking down at him. "My spell bounced. Do you have any problem with that?"
"No, oh Mighty One," Puck answered in an unusually humble voice... but still with impish eyes.
Jareth's grin widened sinisterly. "Good. Now that we have that point clear, I want you to do something for me."
"And in what thing this poor -and tight- faery could be of assistance, oh Greatest One?"
Jareth rolled his eyes at Puck's tone and, not without regret, he snapped his fingers. The chains vanished and the Trickster began to float again. "I want you to locate someone for me. Her name is Lili Williams."
"Lili Williams?" Puck repeated, puzzled, and then it hit him. "Lili Williams as in Sarah Williams?" he asked with a hint of mischief. At Jareth's nod, he understood. "The spell! She was the aim!"
"Yes," Jareth admitted, dryly. "Well?"
Puck tilted his head and took a hand to his chin. Slowly, a smile spread on his face. "As I asked your lovely maid-- what would you give me in return?"
Jareth's grin mirrored the Trickster's. "Oh, just a one way trip to the bog of Eternal Stench; cockroaches and mice included," Jareth answered with a shrug.
With the impish smile still on his face, Puck shook his head and landed before him. "That will not be necessary, oh Generous One. I will do it for free," he said solemnly. "Now, if you excuse me, there is a redheaded lady and a blackberry pie waiting for me."
With a final bow, Puck disappeared.
Jareth let out an exasperate sigh and sat. "I should have sent him to the bog anyway," he muttered, smiling at the thought. However, his grin soon faded. He could not do such a thing, because -in spite of himself- he did feel... grateful.
Unfortunately, he had the annoying feeling that he would be seeing the trickster a lot... and so would Lucy.
Jareth blinked in surprise and cocked his head. Why did that particular thought bother him so much?
******
The rest of the day passed quickly and, just like every night before going to bed, Lili went to the library to get a book. To her surprise, she found the Goblin King seated by the fireplace. He had his head leaned back and his eyes closed.
She blinked and quietly turned to leave.
Just then, Jareth opened his eyes. "Lucy," he suddenly called her.
A bit startled, she looked at him and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up."
Jareth shook his head and rose. "I was only resting."
"Are you not feeling well?" Lili asked. "Puck told me you were fully recovered."
"And I am," he admitted with a small grin. "What else did the Trickster tell you?" he asked then, interested, as he knew they had been talking for a while.
Lili's grin widened and her eyes shone with amusement. "He told me about the Royal Court and Avalon. I've never laughed so much," she answered.
Jareth folded his arms across his chest; for some strange reason her comment bothered him. "You did enjoy his company," he stated, becoming serious.
"Oh, yes," Lili said, "he's cute."
Jareth slightly stiffened at that and an unexplainable anger began to rise within him. "Cute?" he repeated dryly.
Still lost in Puck's tales, Lili did not notice his icy tone. She nodded. "Yes. He reminds me of my brother, they both have the same impish gaze."
Jareth blinked and suddenly all his anger vanished. "Your brother?"
"Yes," Lili said and then, finally noticing something odd about him, she tilted her head. "Is it something wrong, Your Majesty?" She asked.
Jareth quickly shook his head, briefly wondering why her previous words had upset him. "No. It is just that I do not like the Trickster. He is powerful and dangerous. You took a great risk in trusting him, child. You should never make a deal with the Trickster of Avalon."
"Or with the Goblin King," she said, unable to stop herself. At his annoyed look, she apologized. "Oh, I am sorry your Majesty... but did you realize that the same description... applies to you?" she added, for a second her eyes just as mischievous as Puck's.
Jareth looked at her with a raised eyebrow and, in spite of himself; he smiled, amused. "Beware, child, I can still send you to the bog."
Lili became serious, but she knew that he would not do such a thing -for the time being, at least. "Anyway, what else could I have done? I couldn't just sit there and watch you suffer. I can't stand other people's pain. That's why I want-- well, wanted-- to be a doctor," she explained. "There simply was no choice... I had to help you."
Truly touched by her words, Jareth's gaze softened. "And you did help me, child," he said softly, meeting her amber eyes, "but you were lucky. He could have asked you for far more than a piece of pie..."
Lili blushed under his stare -as always- but she did not lower her puzzled -and sweet- gaze.
"I had nothing else to give... and I am not... a child," she managed to say.
"Yes, you are," he whispered with a grin, but then he shook himself and recover his kingly air. "What else did he tell you?" He asked again, still curious. It was well known that Puck was Oberon's best information resource.
Lili blinked and bit her lip. "Well, he..." she started to mutter, smoothing her apron.
At her grounded child look, Jareth immediately got his answer. He stiffened and became serious. "He told you about Sarah, did he not?" the king asked coldly.
Lili nodded and lowered her gaze. "I wanted to know," she admitted, stepping back, as if she wanted to remain near the door... just in case.
Seeing her scared demeanor, Jareth's annoyance melted away. "Well, now you know," he said, unable to hide his discomfort.
Lili raised her head and looked at him with surprise. He had not yelled at her! She cleared her throat and, noticing his sadness, she sighed. "I am so sorry, your Majesty," she said softly, "but you have to admit ... that kidnapping babies -not to mention turning them into goblins- is not the best way to win a woman's heart... And from what I've heard... you don't seem to have any... trouble... with that," she added, blushing a bit as she remembered what the goblins had told her about his Majesty's girls.
Jareth tilted his head and seemed amused for a second, but then he turned serious. "I am the Goblin King!" he stated, as if that alone explained everything.
"No one is telling you otherwise," Lili replied respectfully, brushing a strand of hair away from her eyes, "but that happened twenty-two years ago. Don't you think it is... enough time?" she dared to ask, almost sure that he would yell at her. To her surprise, he didn't, he just shook his head.
"Time means nothing to me, Lucy. Sarah must pay and she will su--" he abruptly stopped at the sad-exasperated look his maid gave him. He rolled his eyes and returned an exasperated gaze of his own. "I will have my revenge!" he exclaimed, like a spoiled child.
"But that will not make you happy!" Lili replied, a little bit louder that was customary for her.
"Seeing Sarah in pain will make me incredibly happy," he insisted.
"No, it won't," Lili repeated stubbornly, distractedly smoothing her apron.
Jareth shook his head and could not help but smile. It seemed that his maid was a bit... obstinate. "Anyway, it is none of your concern," he stated, ending the subject.
Lili only rolled her eyes. *If only you knew.*
Jareth just looked at her with a bemused raised eyebrow. Was she annoyed with him? His grin widened at that strange thought. Well, he knew how to fix that and besides, he did owe her something. "You came for a book, did you not?" he asked then.
Lili blinked, waking up, and nodded. "Oh, yes. I'd forgotten," she said, the smile returning to her face. She approached one of the bookshelves and was about to pick up a book, when Jareth interrupted her.
"Wait, try this one instead," he said, materializing a green book in his hand and offering it to her.
Curious, she took it and when she saw the title, her eyes lit up. "Medicine Plants of the Underworld," she read. She looked up at him in wonder, unable to say a word.
"Open it," Jareth said, strangely pleased by her grateful expression.
Lili did so and gasped in awe. Every time she turned a page, a perfect tridimensional image of the plant appeared, floating over said page. "It's beautiful," she finally whispered.
"It is just a book," Jareth said, shrugging. "I have hundreds of them, you can keep this one," he added in a bored voice, but with eyes twinkling in satisfaction.
"Thank you!" she exclaimed.
"Do not fool your self. It is not a gift... all that happened is that I needed some room for more books," he said in the same tone as before.
"Oh, of course not, your Majesty," Lili replied with a hint of mischief, playing his game. "Everybody knows that kings don't make gifts to their maids."
"Of course. Now, go to sleep child. I want to read."
"Yes, your Majesty," she said with a smile. "I want to read too. Good night."
Lili made a little bow and left.
Jareth watched her leave and smiled back. Never had a woman thanked him so sincerely for such a simple gift... and never he had enjoyed giving one so much. "Sweet dreams, child."
******
Far away from the Goblin King's realm, on the mythical island of Avalon...
In the middle of the night Puck materialized in the most magical place of Avalon, a small and beautiful forest glade, where the Pond of Sight was located. As its name suggested, the waters could show the past, the present and the future, but only the greatest faeries could summon its powers... And, in spite of his mischievous nature, Puck was one of the greatest.
Humming one of his favorite melodies, he sat on one of the stones that circled the pond and lowered his gaze. As always, no reflection could be seen. He extended his hand to touch the water and ask for Lili Williams -at Jareth's request- but he hesitated and withdrew his hand. He knew the Goblin King would show no mercy to the poor girl, just for being Sarah's sister.
Puck blinked in surprise at his own feelings. Why the concern? He tilted his head and rested his chin on his hands. Perhaps he unconsciously associated that girl with his new friend, Lucy... after all, they would be of the same age... or maybe, he knew that Lucy would not like that girl to be harmed.
He shook his head.
"I am sorry, my friend," he whispered sincerely as he touched the smooth surface. "Show me Sarah's sister. Show me Lili Williams."
At his command the water glowed and, slowly, an image began to appear... a sleeping girl... a redheaded sleeping girl...
"What!" Puck exclaimed in disbelief, once the girl's face was clearly visible. He shook his head, and refusing to believe it, he repeated his order, but the result was the same: Lucy.
The faery tilted his head and folded his arms across his chest at the unexpected revelation. Now he understood his friend's sad -and slightly scared- expression when he had told her about Sarah and Jareth.
Poor child, living under the constant threat of the Goblin King!
"Well, I shall not let him harm her," Puck said to himself and then resumed his pensive pose. How could it be that Jareth did not know? The trickster's eyes twinkled and he touched the surface once again. "Show me the past," he said.
The magic water complied, allowing Puck to see what had bought about Jareth's mistake. In his arrogance and haste, he had confused Sarah's sister with Sarah's maid!
The Trickster chuckled and rolled his eyes, but his amusement only lasted a couple of minutes before he sobered. What would happen to his redheaded friend now?
True, during his brief visit, he did notice that Jareth did not treat her as a mere servant and that he seemed to like her, but... Would it be that enough to override his hate for Sarah Williams? Would the Goblin King forget about his revenge?
Puck sighed and shook his head. No. Jareth would show no mercy.
Unless--
The Trickster suddenly stopped that dreadful thought as an idea hit him. He smiled mischievously as the perfect solution occurred to him. Yes, Jareth did seem to like her. In fact, he had been... concerned for her. And, on the other hand, Lu-- Lili was incredibly kind to him... even though she knew that he wanted to hurt her.
"Yes!" he exclaimed, recovering his usual good mood and rubbing his hands. "It is the perfect solution."
"What is it that you want to solve?" a soft voice suddenly asked from behind him.
A bit startled at the voice, Puck immediately rose and bowed respectfully to her owner, the queen of Avalon, Titania. She was tall and slender, with silky blue hair that reached her waist and violet eyes that could see through lies. She wore a simply white gown with a golden belt and had an expression of curiosity on her beautiful face.
Puck tilted his head and smiled. "Would you like to hear a story, your Majesty?"
"A story?" she repeated a bit suspicious, as she sat on one of the stones. "Does it have a happy ending?" she asked then, smoothing her dress.
The Trickster sat by her side and touched the water. "It has not an end yet," he answered enigmatically, lowering his eyes to the pond.
Curious, Titania followed his gaze and saw a sleeping redheaded human girl. "Who is the human child?" she asked, interested.
Puck's grin widened. "She is my friend..."
******
The next day dawn found Lili in the library, as always. She was seated on a couch, with her legs fold up beneath her and she held a book open in her hands.
He silently appeared floating crossed legged before her. He cocked his head and smiled, amused. She was so focused on her book, that she had not noticed him. He cleared his throat.
Startled, the book fell from her hands and she looked up. "Puck!" Lili greeted him, picking up the book. "Do you want more pie?" she asked, bemused, raising an eyebrow.
"I am offended!" he exclaimed in a mocking hurt tone. "Do I need a reason to visit my friend?"
Lili smiled. "His majesty told me not to trust the trickster of Avalon," she teased him.
"Oh! The final blow!" Puck said and, taking both hands to his chest, he fell 'dead' at her feet.
Lili chuckled and bent over him. "Would a slice of chocolate cake be enough to comfort this suffering faery?" she asked solemnly.
Puck opened his eyes and fixed his impish gaze upon her. "Ah... so now you know what I am," he said, sitting crossed legged on the floor.
Lili nodded and gave him her book.
He read the title and grinned. "A midsummer night's dream. Good book, but I think William did not do me justice," he said, leaving the book on a side table.
"It was very... enlightening," she replied in a mischievous tone, leaning back on the armchair. "So, what brings you here?" she asked, looking at him with curiosity.
Puck rose and stood in front of her, an unusually serious expression on his face.
"What is it?" she asked, a bit concerned now.
The faery's eyes glowed tenderly and he let out a sigh. "We are friends, are we not?"
Lili blinked. "Yes."
He smiled and knelt before her. "In spite of what Jareth told you, you can trust me," he said. "I will never let him harm you," he added sincerely.
Lili stiffened at those words and, as she met his eyes, she realized that he... knew. As if confirming her thoughts, Puck snapped his fingers and a flower materialized on her lap... a Lily.
She held it and smiled sadly. "I guess that sooner or later someone would have learned the truth," she whispered, bowing her head.
Puck took a hand to her chin and gently forced her to raise her head. "Do not worry, Young One. I shall not tell him. That is a promise. Please, do not be sad."
Lili's eyes widened and, to Puck's deep surprise, she threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you, my friend," she said softly, unable to stop the tears. "He has never been... rude to me, but I am afraid... that if he learns who I am... he will..." She just could not finish the sentence.
"Hey, calm down. If I were you I would not be so sure about that. I too have noticed he has not been rude to you and, believe me, such a thing is truly strange," a moved Puck soothed her, gently stroking her hair. "As I told you before you can trust me... Lili."
Surprised by hearing her name, after so long, and by his words, she finally released him and smiled at him. "Thank you," she repeated, drying her eyes.
Slightly embarrassed, Puck smiled back.
"There is something that I don't understand, though," she said then, a puzzled expression on her face. "How did you... find me? Since my arrival he has been trying to locate Lili Williams without avail."
Puck's eyes twinkled. "In Avalon there is magical pond that can show the past, the present and the future."
"But his Majesty has his crystals. I've seen him use them."
The faery chuckled. "Yes, but I know that he cast a sphere spell on you to erase your existence from your world."
"Yes, he did," Lili confirmed, biting her lower lip.
"Well, ironically, in doing that, he protected you... from himself," he explained, clearly amused.
Lili blinked. "He once told me that magic doesn't recognize me. I have no magic."
"Exactly!" Puck exclaimed. "As long as his magic does not recognize you, you will be safe."
Lili nodded and then she rose and went to the window. She distractedly lay a hand on the pane. "I still can't believe Sarah has solved that maze," she whispered, "but then, she's always been so strong and brave," she finished, the admiration she felt for her older sister present in each word.
Puck smiled and followed her. "You are brave and strong too, Young One," he said. "Or do you think there are a lot of people who can stand before the 'sweet' Goblin King without fainting?" he asked, emphasizing the word sweet.
Lili chuckled and turned to him. "You really know how to cheer people up," she said.
"Of course, my lady," Puck said with a bow and then he took her arm. "Now, sit down with me and tell me about you."
"About me?" she repeated, tilting her head.
"Yes," Puck said, walking to the couch.
Once they were seated, Puck materialized a bowl of popcorn on her lap. Lili gasped in surprise, but then she smiled.
"Every body likes pop-corn," Puck said with a wink, taking a handful of popcorn. "Now, tell me about you, the real you, Lili Williams."
******
That afternoon, a very annoyed -and disappointed- Jareth was in his study, seated behind his desk. He had a few papers in his hands that he was supposed to be reading, but he just could not concentrate. Puck had recently informed him that he had not been able to locate Lili Williams.
The Goblin King angrily slammed his desk and, outside, thunder roared. That stupid faery had not located Sarah's sister!
Jareth sighed tiredly. If things continued like this he would have to forget about his... revenge...
"NO!" he yelled. "I shall not forget!"
In that very moment, someone knocked the door.
He blinked and took a deep breath to calm himself.
"Come in, Lucy," he managed to say in a decent tone, knowing that only his maid would knock before entering.
He left the papers over the table and looked at the wall clock. It was four o'clock. In spite of his previous anger, he smiled. Lucy always brought him a snack -as she called it- at this time.
"I thought you would like a piece of cake," she said, as she entered. She left a tray with an unusually big slice of cake and a cup of milk over the desk.
Jareth eyed the cake and then looked up at her with a raised eyebrow.
She smiled at him and shrugged. "I also thought chocolate cake would... help to..."
"Improve my bad mood?" he finished for her, folding his arms across his chest.
She blushed and bit her lip. "Well... yes, your Majesty. It's been thundering all afternoon," she admitted.
Jareth rolled his eyes, but had to admit she was right. He took a piece and, as always, it was delicious. A grin played on his face.
"I am glad you liked it," she said.
"Yes," he admitted, amazed of how easily she seemed to read him... And of how soothing her presence was. "You may leave," he quickly added.
Lili nodded and turned. She had walked a couple of steps when she stopped and faced Jareth again. There was something that she needed to ask him especially after her conversation with Puck. She bit her lip and placed a strand of hair behind her ear.
Jareth looked questioningly at her. "Yes, Lucy?" he asked, realizing by her gaze that it was something important for her.
She took a deep breath. "I was wondering... May I take a walk through your Labyrinth?" she asked shyly, but with a childish glow in her eyes.
Jareth stared at her in disbelief. "Do you want to take a walk through my labyrinth?" He repeated seriously, sitting straight on his chair.
"Yes. Just a short walk," she insisted with a hopeful expression on her face.
"Just a short walk?" he said in a tone that Lili had always associated with her teachers. "Do you not remember what I told you the day of your arrival? My labyrinth is full of traps. It is a dangerous place for the ones who dare to defy me, child. Definitely not the best choice of places to take a walk."
Lili lowered her gaze, disappointed, but then she looked at him again, determined. "Oh... but it has never been my intention to defy you, your Majesty. Please, I will not... break anything," she almost begged with shining eyes.
Jareth blinked and tilted his blond head. On one level, she was right. She had never defied him and, if he gave her permission, his labyrinth might not try to stop her, but still... It was dangerous and she did not seem to be strong enough to face the traps... not as Sarah had been, anyway--
Surprised by his own thoughts, the Goblin King stiffened slightly. Now, where did that comparison had come from? Lucy was nothing like Sarah!
He shook his head. Yes. It would be dangerous for Lucy to go alone... and he did not wish to lose her--
Jareth's eyes widened at that. Had he just admitted that he did not wish to... lose her?
*No* he quickly corrected himself. What he had meant was that he did not wish to lose such an efficient maid.
He relaxed and continued with his musings.
He could not let her go... unless—
A strange idea suddenly occurred to him. Why not?
He rose from his seat and walked to the window. The awesome sight of the maze greeted his eyes. He smiled. He could not blame her for wanting to take a walk through his labyrinth after all... and, besides, he needed the exercise and the distraction.
He turned to her.
"I have to inspect the northern section. You may come with me, but I warn you, I shall not move a finger to help you if you disobey me and you fall into an oubliette. Understood?" he said, secretly enjoying her startled expression.
Lili looked at him in surprise, but recovered quickly. "Yes, your Majesty," she replied with a grin. "Oubliette?" she asked then. "Something to do with the French oublier?"
Jareth smiled sinisterly. "Yes. That is where I put the people I want to forget about," he explained, walking to the door.
"I... thought you have the... Bog of Eternal Stench for that purpose," she noted timidly.
"Oh, no. There is where I send people I want to get rid of," he answered, morbidly amused. "Well, are you coming or not?" he said, without turning.
Shaking herself, a curious -and excited- Lili followed him.
******
Once they were gone, certain mischievous faery materialized in the room. He smiled and cocked his head. "A walk through the labyrinth?" He said to himself. "Very promising!"
"Indeed," a soft voice agreed, as a beautiful blue headed woman appeared by his side.
"May I assume you liked the story I told you, your Majesty?" he asked with a respectful bow.
She smiled gently and nodded. "Yes and I do like the human child. I wish to meet her. She is exactly what Jareth needs. She can defeat his ruthlessness with her kindness." She paused for a moment and took a hand to her chin in a thoughtful mode. "I only hope he can defeat his own pride."
"And his bad temper," Puck added, earning a chuckle from her.
She became serious. "Your solution is risky, but I too believe it is the only way for her... and for him. I do not want her to be harmed, though."
Puck nodded and rubbed his hands. "Neither do I. I do have a plan."
"Very well, but you must be extremely careful."
"Am I not always, my queen?" he asked innocently.
Titania rolled her violet eyes and with a final - and slightly mischievous- grin, she disappeared.
"Now, to my plan," Puck said, his eyes twinkling merrily. He sat on Jareth's desk and materialized the finest paper he could manage and a blue glowing feather. "Let us see..." he muttered, as he closed his eyes. A couple of minutes later, he opened them and an impish grin dawned on his handsome face. He began to write in an elegant hand...
"Jareth, Goblin King and High Lord of the Underground,
has the honor to invite you to a Masquerade Ball that would be
taking place in the castle beyond the Goblin City..."
Puck chuckled as he wrote. He knew these sorts of invitations should be sent out well in advanced, but he seriously doubted that anyone would reject an invitation from the all mighty Goblin King himself.
"He will love it!"
******
Ten minutes later, Jareth and Lili stood before the great gates of the Goblin City. At their king's order, the goblins in charge of the doors immediately opened them.
"Thank you, guys," Lili shouted, waving a hand. The goblins waved their hands in return.
"Over here, Lucy," Jareth called her.
She nodded and was about to ask him about the door's mechanism, when an enormous junkyard caught her attention. To her surprise, she realized that odd -and old- looking creatures lived amongst it. They all carried huge bags on their back. One of the creatures suddenly fell and, instinctively, Lili started to walk toward him, but a gloved hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"Do not go," the king ordered her, withdrawing his hand.
"I only want to help," she protested.
Jareth just rolled his eyes. Why did she have to be so kind to everyone? "These are the junk people. It is their duty to carry that burden and keep the garbage in its place. However, if they are lucky enough to deceive a foolish mortal, said mortal has to take the junk man's place," he explained, emphasizing the word foolish.
Lili paled. "That... could have been... me..." she whispered, feeling like an idiot.
"You must never take anything for granted here in my world," he said in a solemn tone, but he did not bother to tell her that he would have never allowed her to take the creature's place.
He then walked in the opposite direction. "We shall go this way. The junk-yard would only lead us to the Bog of Eternal Stench," he said. "And I do not think you are interested in visiting that particular place."
"Of course not, your Majesty," Lili quickly answered, going after him.
"That was what I have thought," he noted, amused.
He stopped by a wall and carefully began to slide his right hand over its surface. "Ah, here it is!" he exclaimed. Jareth had to admit he was a little bit excited after all, it had been a long time since he had actually walked through his labyrinth. He pushed the brick and part of the wall slid to a side. "This secret passage will lead us to the outer doors," he explained. "From there I will start with the inspection," he finished, stepping into the darkness. He snapped his fingers and a dim light illuminated the tunnel.
"A direct way!" Lili gasped. "Has it ever been discovered by your victims... I mean, summoners?"
Jareth chuckled. "No. Ironic, is it not? Besides, that would be no fun... because my labyrinth tends to... fascinate people. Do you not think so?" he replied, lowering his mismatched gaze to her.
Lili reddened and smiled innocently, as if saying, who, me? "How long do we take to the other side?" she asked, averting her eyes and looking around with curiosity. To her surprise, there were huge faces sculptured on the stone, like the Easter Island's Moais.
"Approximately thirty minutes," Jareth answered, not missing her awed expression.
"Just thirty minutes!" Lili repeated in disbelief. "But you give your vic-- summoners thirteen hours to solve it," she said, briefly wondering if Sarah had actually found one of those passages.
"Yes," Jareth confirmed, chuckling again. "And believe me, child, that is not near enough time," he added in his dark mode, clearly enjoying the idea of lost people... especially lost girls.
Lili just rolled her eyes. Why did he have to be so... sinister?
Exactly thirty minutes later, they got to the end of the tunnel and stopped before a ladder. To Lili's astonishment, he suddenly disappeared.
"Climb through the ladder. I shall be waiting outside," his voice echoed.
Lili immediately did so, and soon she got to a closed door, but, to her relief, someone opened it from the outside. Blinking in by the light, she stepped out... and gasped. She had emerged from a fake tree and now she stood in the top of a hill, where a full view of the Labyrinth greeted her eyes.
"Impressive, is it not?" Jareth suddenly whispered in her ear, causing her to jump and to stumble and fall at his feet. He blinked and shook his head. "My, my. Of all the people I have brought here, you are the first one to fall before taking the first step," he said, amused.
He offered her a hand.
"Thank you," Lili whispered, embarrassed, taking his hand.
He effortlessly pulled her up. "You must be thankful you do not need to solve my labyrinth," he added with a hint of mischief.
Lili blushed. "I guess... I wouldn't have a chance," she admitted, cleaning her clothes. "But then, I would have never wished a child away," she finished, clearly shocked by the idea.
"I know that," he replied, rolling his eyes as he walked toward the gates. He just could not picture her losing her patience and wishing a child away. She was simply too... sweet--
Jareth stopped dead in his tracks. *Sweet?* he repeated in his mind, truly startled, not remembering when it had been the last time he had thought of a woman in that term. He shook his head and continued walking.
Lili finished to sweep the dust away from her jeans and was about to go after him, when she spotted a tiny winged being lying on the ground, near a stone. It was a girl, with a short green dress and long blue hair. She seemed hurt. Without thinking of it twice -and forgetting Jareth's warning- Lili knelt to help the girl.
Jareth reached the gates before he realized that his maid had not followed him. Curious he turned and saw what she was doing. He opened his mouth to tell her about the biting faeries, but then decided against it. She needed to learn about his labyrinth's dangers... and that she should not be so kind to strangers. He just remained quiet, looking intently at her.
Unaware of being the focus of Jareth's interest, Lili carefully picked up the little creature. "Are you all right?" she asked softly, rising from the ground. "I-- Ouch!" Lili exclaimed as the faery suddenly bit her finger. "Hey, there is not need to do that. I won't hurt you," Lili added, sucking on her finger.
The faery stared at Lili with curiosity, beat her sparkling wings and flew around the young woman. A minute later, she flew away.
Lili turned her puzzled gaze to Jareth. "What was that?"
He blinked and tilted his head. That was not what he had expected. She should have thrown the nasty faery away, annoyed... not spoke to her in such a kind way. "That was a biting faery. They are a plague here," Jareth explained.
"Well, she honors her name," Lili said, examining her finger and then looked up at him. "But... I am confused. Puck is a faery too, right?"
Jareth rolled his eyes at the mention of the Trickster's name. "Yes. He is one of the High Faeries or a Fae, if you want."
Lili nodded and looked at him... with a hint of mischief. "You told me you were Fae too, your Majesty," she noted. "I mean... you are not a goblin."
Jareth stared at her with a raised eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest. "I am a Fae, but I have nothing to do with that flying annoyance," he stated. "Or with the Trickster!"
Lili smiled. "Oh, but they're cute."
"I thought my goblins were cute," Jareth said, giving her a sideways glance.
"Yes, they are... in their unique goblin way," she replied innocently.
Unable to stop himself, Jareth smiled back, but then he quickly recovered his kingly mode. He indicated her the gates. "Shall we proceed?" With a wave of a hand, the doors opened. They entered the labyrinth.
Lili gasped in surprise, all that she could see was an endless corridor, no openings, and no turnings.
Jareth gave her an amused glance. "Follow me."
They had walked a couple of steps, when Lili abruptly stopped and knelt before some weird plants. "Eyed Lichen!" she exclaimed, looking up at him, her own eyes shining. "They're in the book you gave me--" she stopped for a moment and then a smile lit up her face. "Its tears can cure... the common cold," she finished.
Jareth nodded, oddly pleased by her child-like excitement and a little bit surprise that she had already learned about the plants. "Very good. You can always find them near the exterior wall," he said.
"They give it a creepy touch," she noted, rising.
Jareth rolled his eyes at her last comment and then he continued walking. Lili followed him, always stopping every now and then to give a closer look at the lichen and, in one occasion, she could have sworn they winked at her.
Unexpectedly, they heard an "allo."
Lili looked around, but she didn't see anyone.
"Allo," the odd voice spoke again.
Puzzled, she turned to Jareth. As an answer, he looked down. Lili followed his gaze and her grin widened when she saw the owner of that voice: a pink worm with electric-blue hair and a purple scarf!
"Hello," Lili said politely.
"Allo," the worm repeated with a grin. Then, he directed his gaze to the king. "Your Majesty, what an honor. Do you and the Lady wish to come inside and miss the missus?" he respectfully invited them.
Jareth smiled and denied with a shake of his head. "Maybe at another time," he replied.
The worm seemed disappointed for a second, but then he smiled again. "As you wish, Sire," he said, bowing his little head.
With a nod, Jareth left.
"Good bye," a smiling Lili added, hurrying after the king.
"What is it that you find so amusing?" Jareth asked after a while, a bit annoyed.
"Well... it's just that you were so... polite with him," she answered.
Jareth sighed at her surprised tone. "As you should know by now, Lucy, I can be generous too. Besides, the worm is a loyal subject. He is the guardian of the wall passage."
"The wall passage?" Lili asked.
"Another secret way to my castle," he explained. "My labyrinth is full of them."
"But... aren't you afraid that your vi-- summoners... may discover one of them?"
At her question, Jareth chuckled and that wicked grin of his slowly spread on his face. "No, Lucy. It matters not if they find a secret way... because... I have another methods to stop them," he replied sinisterly. "More... pleasant methods, if you know what I mean," he finished, leaning closer.
Lili blushed and lowered her gaze as she could easily imagine his... methods.
"Shall we continue?" he said then, without taking his eyes from her, clearly enjoying her reaction. Not for the first time he felt intrigued and amused by her shyness. It was just that all the beautiful women he had known, were anything but shy... including Sarah--
Jareth slightly stiffened and blinked in surprise as he realized he had compared Lucy with Sarah for the second time that day. Annoyed, he shook his head and balled his hands into fists. This was ridiculous! His maid had nothing to do with his enemy!
Without a word, he began to walk faster.
Puzzled by his sudden change of mood and wondering what could have upset him now, Lili shrugged and followed him.
"Are you all right, Your Majesty?" she asked after a long moment of silence.
He stopped and, still confused by his previous thought, he spun around to tell her it was not her business, but seeing the genuine concern in her eyes, he relaxed. "I am fine," he said and, in spite of himself, he smiled.
Lili smiled back and, to her delight, the tour continued...
******
She quietly walked by his side, feeling strangely close to him... as if they were... on a date--
Lili flushed and bit her lip at that insane thought. Where did that had come from? Nothing like that would ever happen. It the best situation, he was the king and she was just the maid. In the worst situation... she was Sarah's sister and he was her... executioner.
*Just great.*
She smiled sadly and just kept on walking, until something caught her attention...
******
As strange as it was, Jareth soon had to admit he was enjoying the walk... and the company. Lucy was so easy to impress; she appeared to have the curiosity of a child. Well, compared to him, she was a child. He chuckled inwardly; at least he would never have to reorder time or turn the world upside-down for her--
Jareth stiffened and his eyes widened. Now, why in the world would he want to do that anyway? She was not one of his summoners; he did not want to seduce her! She was just... his maid.
As focused on his thoughts as he was, he didn't notice that she had stopped to look a small glowing flower. He just continued his way... until he disappeared around the next turn...
******
Lili admired the little sparkling flower in awe. A grin played on her face as she remembered the drawing in her book. It was a Shining Daisy and its petals made a powerful sleeping potion. Lili raised her gaze to Jareth to ask him more about it and gasped when she realized that she was... alone! Startled, she rose and looked around. The king was nowhere to be seen.
"Your Majesty!" she called him. "Your Majesty," she repeated louder, but nobody answered. Yes, he was gone. Lili blinked and sighed. Probably he had found more interesting things to do... than walk with his... maid. But, what else had she expected? Lili rolled her eyes at that and shook her head, banning that ridiculous thought.
Annoyed with herself, she smoothed her T-shirt and cleared her throat.
"Enough of that... It doesn't matter if he got bored and left," she admonished herself. "Okay, all I have to do is find one of those passages."
She approached the wall and carefully began to push the bricks one by one. Suddenly, one of them slid to a side and a door was revealed. With a satisfied smirk on her face, Lili was about to enter, when a high-pitched voice spoke behind her.
"I would not do that if I were you."
Startled, Lili quickly spun around, only to find the same faery that had bitten her. The tiny being flew in front of her, just like a humming bird.
"Well, hello again," Lili said with a hint of annoyance, her finger still hurt a bit. "And why wouldn't you go that way?" she asked then, taking her hands to her hips.
The faery rolled her eyes. "Because I would not want to end in the Bog of Eternal Stench," the little thing replied matter-of-factly.
"So... this tunnel doesn't lead to the castle?" Lili asked disappointed, but then looked at the faery with a raised eyebrow. And why should I believe you? After all you bit me!"
The sparkling creature seemed amused and shrugged apologetically. "Sorry, it was just a reflex. When you have my size, you bite first and ask questions later," she explained and, before that a curious Lili could reply, the faery grabbed the redhead's T-shirt -a very small part- and pulled her. "Come with me! I'll take you to a safe place to wait."
"I don't know... perhaps I should stay here and-- Besides, I don't even know your name!" Lili said, still a bit suspicious.
The faery tilted her head and flew before Lili's eyes. "Well, all faeries have flower names. Since I am a Blue Bell faery, you can call me Bell. And yes, you can stay here, but I know you will like my garden. Come with me," Bell insisted, pulling Lili's T-shirt again. "It will be fun!"
Lili blinked and, seeing the little faery so determined, she finally smiled. "Okay, let's go. I'm Lucy, by the way," she said, not too happy with the lie, but she just couldn't risk telling Bell her real name.
"I know," Bell said enigmatically, contently flying around the young woman.
"You do?" Lili asked, surprised.
Bell ran a hand through her blue hair and nodded. "Yes. I have been following you since you entered the labyrinth and when Jareth left I decided to talk to you."
Lili shrugged. "Yeah... well... I suppose he got bored of my company," she said, unable to hide her disappointment.
Bell grinned and shook her little head. "Oh, no. He didn't get bored, he just got lost."
"But..."
"What is your relation with him?" Bell asked, looking intently at her. "You don not seem to be one of his... girls."
" I'm not. I'm his maid," Lili answered, feeling strangely embarrassed under Bell's stare.
"Oh," the faery said mischievously, again that enigmatic look in her violet eyes.
Then, she smiled happily and flew in front of the young woman, leading the way. "Come on, my garden is near."
Shaking her head and having nothing else to do -and being curious- Lili followed her newfound friend.
******
"So, Lucy, what do you think--" a proud Jareth began to ask, but abruptly stopped when he realized he was alone! He shook his head, annoyed. Where had that child gone? Had she not heard his warnings? He rolled his eyes and sighed, exasperate. Surely she had been distracted by a simple detail, maybe a plant or a bird... even a stone could have caught her attention!
Jareth folded his arms across his chest, in full Goblin King mode, a serious expression on his face. "Well, now you will have to find the way back alone!" He stated, as if she were standing there.
He smiled, sinisterly. Yes, she deserved that punishment. She dared to disobey him! It did not matter if she fell to a oubliette... or if the night surprised her in the labyrinth... or if his most dangerous subjects took her for one of his summoners... or if she...
His grin faded and concern began to rise within him. With an annoyed growl, he turned into the owl and silently flew away... to look for his lost maid.
******
Bell led Lili through an impressive forest. The trees were so tall that she could not see the upper branches and the trunks had the most incredible colors: purple, light-blue, metallic pinks and even a shade of glowing cyan. A soft and sweet music could be heard and a fresh scent filled the air. Marveled, Lili stopped walking and leaned a hand on a tree. She gasped in surprise. The bark was unexpectedly soft and warm and incredibly alive. She closed her eyes and smiled in delight; the music was so soothing... it touched her very soul...
Suddenly, Lili stiffened and opened her eyes wide, as a vivid memory of her family and friend arose in her mind. Every happy moment she had spent with them, reached to her. As abruptly as it had started, it ended and Lili could not stop the tears. Until that moment, she had done every thing in her power to forget how much she missed them, but now...
Unexpectedly, the image changed and Lili saw the moment when Jareth had given her the book of medicine plants, his mischievous eyes and gentle smile and--
Lili blushed in a deep red and quickly withdrew her hand.
"Are you all right, Lucy?" Bell asked, interrupting the young woman's thoughts. At the girl's nod, she continued. "This is the Singing Forest," Bell explained softly. "Its music makes us remember... but they should be happy memories. Why are you crying, Lucy?" she asked, fixing her worried violet eyes upon the girl. "Did you see something wrong?"
Lili shook her head and smiled sadly. "Oh, no, they were happy," she said, drying her eyes. "It's just that... I miss my family..."
Bell folded her arms across her chest. "He should have not brought you here," she stated and then rolled her eyes. "But he had always been so stubborn... and after his failed adventure with Sarah, he has gotten worse."
Lili sighed and nodded.
Bell blinked and, seeing the human child so depressed -and a little bit flushed- she glowed brightly and flew around her several times, until Lili was covered with a sparkling glitter.
"What is this?" Lili asked, sneezing and staring at her now glittering hands.
Bell chuckled. "Just sparkling mist to cheer you up. Does it work?" she asked, tilting her little head.
Lili looked at her and, seeing Bell's interested expression, she could not help but smile. "Yes. Can we go to your garden, now?"
Bell nodded and glowed happily. "Sure, follow me!"
******