Disclaimer: As ever, and quite possibly forever, (which isn't that long at all.) I do not own nor claim to own The Labyrinth or any of it's character's. I do claim to dream about owning them though. No harm, no foul there. Anyway. I do, however, most certainly claim to own and do in fact, own Toren and Sinoa. They are mine and were dreamt up out of my head with a good deal of headache on my part in order to get them exactly right. As for now I'm being stingy and telling anyone who asks that until my story is over no one can use them. Afterwards I might consider lending them out, but I most definitely reserve the right to refuse. My toys, my rules. You can whine about it…just not to me.
Author's note: Yes, yes. I know this chapter took forever and a day to post but hey…I've been busy (Working on my new columns for FFA…I'm reporter, dealing with temperamental parents, a totally screwed love life, two collicing horses, and last but not least final end of the year exams for all of my honors classes. So cut me a break. On top of all of that I have had the biggest case of writer's block this side of the Mississippi.) None of which are excuses but rather explanations. I'd apologize, but I recently got some good advice, from a fellow author and I refuse to apologize for anything pertaining to my story anymore. It's mine, and this friend made it pain-stakingley clear that I shouldn't have to apologize for any of it. I find myself agreeing. In all fairness though I promise to no longer promise anything definite in my story. Whatever happens, happens and while I'll try to get you a general idea of what to expect, I'm no longer promising anything. Anyway…I'm rambling so here I go…
"The Irony Of It All"
Chapter 5: Sibling Speculation
"Do you think he's gonna show up so soon afterwards, Tor?" The question hung like mist in the air of the small chamber.
"I'm not sure 'Noa…At the very least his pride is bruised and at the very worst it was everything it appeared to be. I just don't know." There was a deep sigh as the young Fae pushed himself away from the wall he was currently leaning on. He turned and met his sister's eyes with a look laced with both concern and amusement. "What do you think?"
"Now that all depends brother dear. Why is it so awful, if what happened tonight was really all it appeared to be?"
"You know what I mean Sinoa. We all have much at stake riding on this…this…-"
"This what Toren? What is so amazing about anything that may or may not have happened tonight?"
"Do you really want me to start?" came his sardonic reply. "Let's see…oh that's right! Jareth revealed himself for the first time tonight to the innocent he's been infatuated with for over a year. Or it could be that that very same innocent was then introduced into the Labyrinth and DEFEATED it no less! Or that She then turned her back on all Jareth offered her in the selfless act that proves her worth!"
The lightly built young lady looked at her older brother with a mirrored expression. 'He's so hopeful…' She heaved an inward sigh. "Do you want me to tell you the truth or do you want me to lie to you?"
"Lie to me? I don't need you to lie to me Little Star. I know perfectly well what went on here tonight. What do you need to lie to me about?"
'He looks entirely too sure of himself,' Sinoa mused, 'Unfortunately he generally has a reason to look that way…damn. Isn't this a pit a fairies? The biting kind anyway…'
Outward her face was calmly collected into a mask of indifferent amusement. With a long drawn out pause, as though she was saying that all of the recent intrigue was simply to boring for words, Sinoa hid her mind's deliberation with a very unusual character mask covering her surreal features.
The problem with this was that it was all a ruse…and the thrice-damnable thing was that Toren knew it. Hiding something from him was nearly impossible when she was calm, but at a time like this…impossible was definitely the understatement of the year.
"Oh come off it 'Noa! You're just as excited about this as I am and don't bother trying to lie and pretend you're not. You've always been a horrible liar," He admonished with a chuckle. "Besides…you want this as badly as I do." The last part was breathed as a whisper, and the next utterance was barely audible. "As badly as we all do…"
Toren trailed off, and gazed star-ward, turning his face up, adding a silver lining to his dark features. Without another thought in her head, save for the fact that her brother needed her, Sinoa left her perch on the arm rest of the chaise and crossed to him, wrapping her arms around him from behind. The starlight played off of Sinoa's already silver features in a different way, making her appear ethereal in a white glow.
Together, both awash in the stars' shining countenance, the two didn't resemble brother and sister. One as pale as the stars that shone down on them, the other as dark as the comforting night forever cradling the stars, you'd had to look hard to see the tell-tale similarities in their faces; the sweep of high cheeks bones, the slight bow in the shape of their mouths, although her's slightly more prominent, and the varying shades of green in their eyes. His, were icy, glacial green while her's were the color of summer leaves. They were a stunning pair. And forever as close as be-twix and be-twin.
"We can't know anything yet Tor'. All we can do is wait until Jareth shows and then we'll know. Until then we'll stay here and keep silent. The Labyrinth has been let down in the past due to false hopes and it doesn't need to be let down again." Sinoa felt her brother sigh as he leaned against her.
"So basically you're telling me we have to wait, huh?" There was a rueful chuckle and a slight shake in his shoulders when Toren continued. "Waiting was always my game 'Noa, as well as being the cynic," there was another pause as a rather amused Toren pondered Fate's sense of humor.
'Fate…hmm. I wonder if she plans this, or if it all randomly falls into the pattern she pulls from the stars. Knowing her she plays favorites, screwing with her "cygnets" lives. Interfering old bat. Always thinking she knows best. Of course it probably doesn't help that Grandpa is securely tucked in her backed pocket. Both of them would like for nothing better than to see all of their "cygnets" happily nested and producing even more little "cygnets" as they call us, for them to meddle with. Both of them need to be locked up.'
All of the sudden there was a derisive snort from behind him. "You definitely have the right idea there brother dear. But then again, knowing those two, it would just make them even more determined to shackle all of us while they still had a fighting chance." Sinoa gave a delicate shudder as she turned from her brother's back to his side and inwardly smiled as he automatically placed his arms around her.
Toren grinned deviously as he placed his chin on top of his baby sister's head. "Been listening in again Noa'?" He gave a mock sigh of impatience. "What have I told you about listening in on my internal reveries? One day you're going to hear something you don't want to Little Star." The rather pathetically given warning dissolved what little effect it may have had in the first place (none whatsoever.) when he continued. "Although you do have a point Noa', and the thought of those two even more…predatory…is…-"
"Scary?" supplied Sinoa.
"Actually I was thinking more along the lines of horrifying, but yes. Scary will work fine." There was another thoughtful pause as he mused a moment longer, "I wonder what those two'll be classified as in history; 'meddlers', 'predators' or,-"
"Marriage slavers?" Sinoa once again supplied with a giggle, seeming a little more like her usual self.
Laughter rumbled in Toren's chest as he imagined Fate and their regal Grandfather dressed in the guise of weathered, scar-ridden old pirates, holding sabers over their unruly charges as they made them walk down the marriage aisle much like the plank. Sharing this image with his sister, the two silently looked at one another and played their game, each one trying not to laugh until the other one did. Sinoa broke first, and Toren quickly followed. Not long afterwards both siblings found themselves shaking with laughter.
"Careful Little Star," he managed to gasp between laughter, "You never know… as cagey… as… those two are… they.. could… be listening.. in.. on us.. …right now."
Sinoa righted herself and tried to regain some semblance of composure,
"Oh I'm not all that afraid of punishment brother dear. After all that's one less 'cygnet' for them to meddle with, and when they've accomplished this objective, I can't imagine them sitting around and…what's the human expression? 'Twiddling their thumbs?'"
There was slight pause in audible noise as Toren digested his sister's rather self-assured manifesto. He opened his mouth to speak, before he caught the unholy gleam of amusement in his sister's lily pad green eyes.
Their game ensued and this time it was Toren who broke first. The two were still laughing when Jareth swept through the door.
"Might I ask just what is so amusing to the two of you? Oh and while I'm at it…What in the unknown bounds of torturous Hell are the two of you doing here!?"
Arms crossed and back ramrod straight, Jareth was an imposing figure to say the least, all in all ferocious might have been a better word.
Gingerly the two looked from the bottom of his feet to the top of his very irate head. Gathering what small amount of courage she could in the face of such…um…adversity (that's the understatement of the decade) Sinoa cautiously whispered, "I don't think he's happy."
Jareth's head snapped toward her so quickly it was wonder there wasn't a cyclone following it. All the sudden Sinoa was on the receiving end of glare that could have frozen the Sahara, and made her feel like a very little 'Noa again.
Nope. Jareth was most definitely not happy.
Author's Note (yes another one!): * Kneeling in front of a little altar * I am literally down on my knees in thanks to my beta reader who helped me get over quite possibly the worst case of writer's block in known history. Although this chapter wasn't what she had in mind, she did give me the nerve to at least try again, as well as reforming my muse who is now as helpful as can be. I am in awe of her powers. I don't think any mere mortal can do the things she's done in the limited amount of time that she done them in. So before any of you decide to leave me any note of thanks, remember, half the credit goes to her. Celestia, thank you.
I also have to thank A new found favorite of mine for giving me her time and patience by writing me an in depth review and giving me a broader view of the way I write. Thank you Rogue Amazon Boo .
And as always thanks to every body whose reviewed, y'all make the headaches worthwhile.