Chapter Two:
The Healer knocked politely on the doors before her. She was sure they lead to the Goblin King's rooms, mainly because she could feel his pain coming from beyond them. It was amazing how well he had been able to hide it, but it was apparently getting too much to hide now…
The doors opened by an unnoticed hand, and she stepped into the dim room, able to see Jareth silhouetted against the window, once again looking out on his lands.
"Good evening, Sire," She said, picking up her bag and setting it on the bed.
He affected not to hear her. She pulled out a few bottles and peered at the labels in the dim light. She looked up, it was early evening, and there was still a dim light from the window, but there were only two candles lit. "Perhaps a few more candles would be helpful?"
Jareth sighed, "I cannot cope with bright light tonight."
She paused, and then swept her hair over her shoulder. "So you are admitting there is something wrong?"
"No, I am admitting my eyesight is getting pained," She could hear the difficult smile in his voice.
She sighed; he was as stubborn as she'd heard. "I can't help you if you don't want to be helped."
"My dear, you couldn't help me even if I did," He gave a weak yet devilish smile.
She shook her head, and continued to remove bottles and vials. Stubborn man… She thought to herself, peering at her bottles in the murky light.
Jareth turned his attention from his kingdom to the healer. She was familiar, not in his actual memories, but in his shared memories. "You are aware that healers have been banned from this castle many years?"
She paused in her work, and looked about herself quickly, as if sure a sudden curse would fall on her. "Really?"
"You didn't know?" Jareth raised an eyebrow, "And you're a first class healer?"
"Not many people care to talk about you, as I've said you have a reputation," She said, moving again.
Jareth remained as he was, sitting back against the wall on the window ledge, but his façade changed slightly, became slightly softer, less guarded. "You see, one of my early ancestors fell in love with a healer. She was silver haired too," He glanced at her as she paused. "Her name was Alendra, any relation?"
The Healer didn't answer and continued to peer at the bottles in the dim light.
"Well, as I say my ancestor was very much in love, and they were to be married, but an unfortunate event meant the wedding was cancelled."
She began pouring some liquids into a small dish, still silent, but seeming stiffer in her movements then before.
"The bride was found in the bed of another man: breaking the heart of my ancestor. She was stripped of her powers and titles and ordered out of the Labyrinth, and since then healers are no longer be welcome into this home." He cocked his head at her, "I suppose that that fact wasn't passed down your family."
She snapped her head up, fire in her eyes, "How can you be so cruel as to tell me that story just to play with my emotions?"
"And you do not think it is a painful part of my history too?"
His calm question shocked her. The Goblin King she had heard about never admitted to emotions. "I-I-"
"Since you're here, perhaps you can clean up my memories and the Labyrinth's, what exactly were your ancestor's motives that day?"
For a moment she was still stunned, almost dropping her bowl. Could this really be the cruel, irrational, woman-hating, baby-stealing fae stories were always told about? She blinked in thought, maybe people didn't know as much about him as they thought.
He raised an eyebrow at her silence, "You don't wish to tell me?"
"No I…" She reached for another vial and began to pour its contents into the bowl in measured drops. "Alendra loved her soon to be husband, however she could never deny what she did. But the reasons she did it seem to have been forgotten by your family."
She put the bottle down, and began mixing the concoction. "The man whose bed she was found was a very high member of the Worldly Council. He lusted after Alendra and told her if she didn't do as he said, he would have her love killed. To save his life she had to do what she would never have dreamed of."
The Healer swilled the contents of the bowl slowly as she added a platinum disc from her belt. "She was glad she was caught, because although she lost her love, she wouldn't have been able to live with what she'd done, without him knowing. She accepted her punishment and left the castle, stripped of her powers… However it was never mentioned that healers were banned from the castle at the centre of the Labyrinth because of it."
She looked across at the Goblin King, who was staring into space, looking thoughtful. He looked calm and serene, despite the incredible pain she knew he was in; she found herself inspired by his calm bravery. He turned to her and nodded. "At least we have that cleared up before it is too late. The Labyrinth would hate to die with a needless grudge."
She stood and sign, "Stop saying that. A healer doesn't like having people not believe in her abilities." She pushed her hair behind her shoulders with one hand. "Stand please."
Jareth looked momentarily pained, then he stood and walked carefully across the floor towards her. She placed the bowl at his feet and muttered some ancient words, in a near forgotten tongue. The liquids fizzed and then a screen of pink smoke rose from the bowl, slowly surrounding the Labyrinth's Ruler.
She straightened and then held her hand before her, speaking more words softly. It appeared not to do anything, but Jareth was not skilled in the arts and sights of healing; she stared at the veil surrounding him, taking a step back in surprise. "Oh by the Nine Hells…"
Jareth shifted his position feeling weak, despite only having been on his feet a few minutes. "Yes, healer?"
She composed herself quickly, "A shadow-"
"Merely a shadow?" Jareth asked, slightly relieved although he didn't show it. If it was a shadow, then he would survive. "Then I suppose you will be removing it?"
She appeared a little flustered. "My Lord… A shadow can be removed… but this shadow…" She trailed off and looked thoughtful. "A shadow on the chest can be removed easily and although the person is in pain a few days they will survive-"
"I understand that my dear, so tell me what is abnormal about this one."
She looked at the floor and then back at him, although her vision was focused at his chest and the smoky veil before it. "The shadow is not on your chest, or it is in it… More specifically it is within your heart… Even if I were to remove it you would… not survive."
The healer had not often had to tell someone they had to die, but the times she had previously she had experienced bargaining and begging. They would offer her anything to try and save them, and she was fully prepared for this now. However Jareth merely nodded in understanding, "So the time has finally come." He smiled softly, "I suspected as much."
She had never seen a man more in control of himself while in the jaws of death. She waved her hand and the veil dispelled. "Sire, I…"
"As soon as you are ready to continue on to the next land, you are free to go," He said beginning to move.
She pressed her hand against his chest stopping him. "Sire, I may not be able to save you, but as a healer I cannot let anyone suffer with the pain you feel, and will feel, with this shadow. I am going to remain here and ease your suffering all I can."
Jareth smiled, "How stubborn. You remind me of myself."
She bent and picked up her bowl, moving to the bed where she had her bag. She began to put everything back into it. "I am merely doing what is expected of a healer…"
"Then you had better come over here." Jareth smiled at her slightly puzzled expression. "If you do not help me to my bed I will probably not make it, healer."
"Oh, of course." She moved over and he moved one of his arms around her shoulder. She offered herself as a human crutch taking him to his bed, thinking to herself that although she had her duties, she was also being purly selfish staying.
All she wanted to do was find out more about this man everyone seemed to know everything about, but who in reality no one did.
