JARRETH:
Before the Labyrinth
okay, guys, here ya go.
Once, a very long time ago in a tiny little hamlet near a river, there lived a beautiful young girl by the name of Theresa. A girl so beautiful that her astounding loveliness entranced every man who looked upon her face. But, as attractive as she was -- solely based on appearance -- inside she was pure evil and full of hate, greed and bitterness.
But because she was so lovely, nobody saw the inner demon in her. No one, except Elaina.
Elaina was the only woman in the village who was allowed to work. She toiled as an apprentice in a blacksmith's shop. The only reason she was permitted to do this was for the reason that the blacksmith she learned from, by the name of David, had been her father's best friend, and when her parents were killed he had taken her in and raised her as he would his own daughter. When she had asked to be able to be a pupil to him he agreed. No one questioned the situation because, in truth, no one wanted to cross David. He was a rather large man, and incredibly strong.
He was very wonderful, but no one really got to know him, for he frightened most with his gruff voice and intimidating manner. It was a shame, because he was such a beautiful person and the kind of friend that would always be there for anyone who asked.
Elaina worked very hard to become the best blacksmith she could. She watched David very closely, and he was very patient with her. He knew that she had great potential, but she was so intelligent that she could do anything she wanted. Blacksmithing seemed to be her passion, however, and she was getting better at it as the years passed. But Elaina's problem lied not in her performance on the job, but somewhere deeper.
She was very masculine looking. She had large ankles and wrists, short stubby fingers and thick, leathery skin. Not to mention that she was very strong, much stronger than other women and most men. Some people even thought her to be ugly when, in truth, she was not. But she was always covered from head to toe in soot, and had burns all over her body from the sparks that continued to jump out at her like fiery little demons seizing upon a helpless victim. But Elaina was so amazing and loving and sweet and caring upon many other wonderful things that there were some who could love her in spite of said "ugliness".
Elaina knew how awful Theresa actually was. She saw past the long black hair, big blue eyes and seductive smile. Theresa was a mean-spirited, hateful, awful, shallow person. She spent most of her free time at the tavern getting drunk and chatting up the young men. Elaina had known from the start, but had stopped trying to convince others of it years ago. No one (with the exception of David and the other few people who cared about her) would believe it. They were all blinded by her perfect face, features and figure.
One day, Elaina was sweeping the stone floor of the forge when she heard a friendlily familiar voice behind her: "Elaina?"
She spun around and embraced her best friend Timothy Gibbons, whom everyone (with the exception of his grandmother) called Gibbs. "Well, if it isn't you!" she cried as she stood back to look at him, "When did you get back?"
"Only just now, I thought I would come by and see you."
"Oh, I can't express my joy in seeing you alive again! Well, come on, then sit down here and tell me all about the journey." She gestured to two wooden chairs against the wall, which they pulled out and sat down in, facing each other.
Gibbs then proceeded to tell her in vivid detail about his long voyage to another small village across the river where a terrible disease was breaking out. Gibbs had gone with his father, the village doctor, to help cure the sick men, women and children who had been infected. No one had believed that they would come back alive. The town had held a funeral for them when they had been gone a month. But Elaina had known that Gibbs and his father would return, and she listened with keen interest to every word he said.
When he finished, she embraced him tightly once again and said: "I am so glad you are back, Gibbs. I knew you would come back. Now, be a good little boy and run along. I have work to finish and you have a worried-to- death grandmother to go see."
She smiled, for she loved antagonizing him. He shot her a dirty look and stood up. She stood, also, and punched him gently on the arm.
"Goodbye then, M'lady," he said as he bowed deeply in mock formality, "I love you." He gave her a soft kiss on the forehead.
"And I you," she said, "Now, off with you." She spun him around and nudged him out the door. He gave her a wave as he walked in the direction of his grandmother's house.
She turned to go back into the shop, spun around and yelled after him, "Gibbs! Is your father alright?" Gibbs pointed in the direction of their tiny little house to the west to say that he had gone home (Gibbs' father didn't much care for his mother-in-law). She gave a sigh of relief, nodded and went inside.
She picked up the broom again and persisted sweeping. She stopped, sighed, shook her head and said, "That boy." She continued to brush the broom across the cold stone floor, although it did very little good to do so.
When she had finished, and was somewhat satisfied with the job she had done, she sat down on one of the wooden chairs to rest. It was just reaching six o'clock and the sun was beginning to set. Just then, she looked out the window and saw a disheartening sight.
There was Theresa walking down the road from the tavern with a different man on her arm than yesterday. They were obviously both quite drunk and Elaina tried to look busy, hoping that Theresa wouldn't talk to her. But sure enough, Theresa staggered into the shop, leaving her man friend at the door.
"Well, if it isn't Eliza," she said, her words slurred.
Elaina ignored the mistake and looked up from unnecessarily cleaning the anvil vigorously with a rag and let out an annoyed sigh. "Is there something I can do for you, Miss?"
"Well, actually, there is. I was just thinking, maybe your blacksmith friend could make me a mask."
"A mask?"
"Yes, a nice iron mask. Well, come to think of it, I don't need one. But you may want to consider making one for yourself, dear." And with that, she left cackling like a hen and dragging the young man behind her.
Elaina threw the rag down and turned over the smaller anvil of the two in her rage. She picked up tools and hurled them across the shop. She kicked things around and screamed vulgarities at the walls.
Then, she sat down backwards in one of the chairs-straddling the seat- rested her hands on the back of it and put her forehead on her hands. She tried to take deep breaths and calm down. Once she was composed once more, she sighed, got up and put the shop back together. She put the tools back in place, picked up the rag and-with a bit of difficulty-put the anvil back in place. It was small, yes, but quite heavy and she had trouble lifting it despite her freak masculine strength. She put the two chairs back against the wall where they usually stood and turned to retire to the little shed where she slept.
But as soon as she turned around, she heard a rapping at the window behind her. She let out a irritated groan and turned around slowly. "Gibbs, it's late. Go-" she started. But the sight that met her eyes was not Gibbs, but a snowy white owl tapping on the closed window with it's beak and flapping it's wings wildly as if it was trying to get into the room. She had seen many an owl before, but never a white one and she was fascinated as she watched it's attempts. But as she observed, the owl somehow got the window open and flew into the shop, straight at her.
She raised her arms to shield her face from the owl's sharp talons and flapping wings, but the bird disappeared before it reached her. And in an overwhelming whirl of cloth, colour and blinding light she found herself facing the most seductively beautiful creature she had ever come to know. It's eyes were stunningly blue and it had the most deliciously sensual smile. It was tall, with milky-white skin and smelled wonderfully of some exotic perfume that overpowered her senses. She struggled to breathe as it stared at her, as if searching her eyes for an answer to an eternal question. She was drawn to it in a way she had never been aware of before, but she knew somewhere deep inside her that it wasn't human. It couldn't be.
She tried to speak, but words failed her. Her voice caught in her throat when she tried to utter something to the effect of, "Who are you?" It continued to melt her with its disconcertingly magnificent gaze. But suddenly, as abruptly at it had appeared, the creature vanished. There was no sign of it ever being there.
Elaina simply stood there and blinked for a moment, trying to clearly comprehend what had just happened. There was no way she could have imagined it, it was far too real. She could still remember every detail of its face, it's smile, they way it smelled.her imagination was not that expansive. It was utterly perplexing.
But she was far too tired to ponder it now. She retreated to her shed that stood just a few yards away from the shop and slept a restless sleep full of dreams of the mysterious being.
Oooh, funfunfun......hmm......who *could* that mysterious being be? Something to ponder until I get my next chapter up.
Jareth: you're mocking me aren't you? That's that sarcastic attitude again isn't it? At my expense, no less!
*shrugs and looks away*
Jareth: That isn't funny, stop it
I have no idea what you're talking about.........
Jareth: Fine, then who is it?
Who is who?
Jareth: The creature
What creature?
Jareth: Ugh, it's hopeless asking you anything
Not if you ask the right questions....
Before the Labyrinth
okay, guys, here ya go.
Once, a very long time ago in a tiny little hamlet near a river, there lived a beautiful young girl by the name of Theresa. A girl so beautiful that her astounding loveliness entranced every man who looked upon her face. But, as attractive as she was -- solely based on appearance -- inside she was pure evil and full of hate, greed and bitterness.
But because she was so lovely, nobody saw the inner demon in her. No one, except Elaina.
Elaina was the only woman in the village who was allowed to work. She toiled as an apprentice in a blacksmith's shop. The only reason she was permitted to do this was for the reason that the blacksmith she learned from, by the name of David, had been her father's best friend, and when her parents were killed he had taken her in and raised her as he would his own daughter. When she had asked to be able to be a pupil to him he agreed. No one questioned the situation because, in truth, no one wanted to cross David. He was a rather large man, and incredibly strong.
He was very wonderful, but no one really got to know him, for he frightened most with his gruff voice and intimidating manner. It was a shame, because he was such a beautiful person and the kind of friend that would always be there for anyone who asked.
Elaina worked very hard to become the best blacksmith she could. She watched David very closely, and he was very patient with her. He knew that she had great potential, but she was so intelligent that she could do anything she wanted. Blacksmithing seemed to be her passion, however, and she was getting better at it as the years passed. But Elaina's problem lied not in her performance on the job, but somewhere deeper.
She was very masculine looking. She had large ankles and wrists, short stubby fingers and thick, leathery skin. Not to mention that she was very strong, much stronger than other women and most men. Some people even thought her to be ugly when, in truth, she was not. But she was always covered from head to toe in soot, and had burns all over her body from the sparks that continued to jump out at her like fiery little demons seizing upon a helpless victim. But Elaina was so amazing and loving and sweet and caring upon many other wonderful things that there were some who could love her in spite of said "ugliness".
Elaina knew how awful Theresa actually was. She saw past the long black hair, big blue eyes and seductive smile. Theresa was a mean-spirited, hateful, awful, shallow person. She spent most of her free time at the tavern getting drunk and chatting up the young men. Elaina had known from the start, but had stopped trying to convince others of it years ago. No one (with the exception of David and the other few people who cared about her) would believe it. They were all blinded by her perfect face, features and figure.
One day, Elaina was sweeping the stone floor of the forge when she heard a friendlily familiar voice behind her: "Elaina?"
She spun around and embraced her best friend Timothy Gibbons, whom everyone (with the exception of his grandmother) called Gibbs. "Well, if it isn't you!" she cried as she stood back to look at him, "When did you get back?"
"Only just now, I thought I would come by and see you."
"Oh, I can't express my joy in seeing you alive again! Well, come on, then sit down here and tell me all about the journey." She gestured to two wooden chairs against the wall, which they pulled out and sat down in, facing each other.
Gibbs then proceeded to tell her in vivid detail about his long voyage to another small village across the river where a terrible disease was breaking out. Gibbs had gone with his father, the village doctor, to help cure the sick men, women and children who had been infected. No one had believed that they would come back alive. The town had held a funeral for them when they had been gone a month. But Elaina had known that Gibbs and his father would return, and she listened with keen interest to every word he said.
When he finished, she embraced him tightly once again and said: "I am so glad you are back, Gibbs. I knew you would come back. Now, be a good little boy and run along. I have work to finish and you have a worried-to- death grandmother to go see."
She smiled, for she loved antagonizing him. He shot her a dirty look and stood up. She stood, also, and punched him gently on the arm.
"Goodbye then, M'lady," he said as he bowed deeply in mock formality, "I love you." He gave her a soft kiss on the forehead.
"And I you," she said, "Now, off with you." She spun him around and nudged him out the door. He gave her a wave as he walked in the direction of his grandmother's house.
She turned to go back into the shop, spun around and yelled after him, "Gibbs! Is your father alright?" Gibbs pointed in the direction of their tiny little house to the west to say that he had gone home (Gibbs' father didn't much care for his mother-in-law). She gave a sigh of relief, nodded and went inside.
She picked up the broom again and persisted sweeping. She stopped, sighed, shook her head and said, "That boy." She continued to brush the broom across the cold stone floor, although it did very little good to do so.
When she had finished, and was somewhat satisfied with the job she had done, she sat down on one of the wooden chairs to rest. It was just reaching six o'clock and the sun was beginning to set. Just then, she looked out the window and saw a disheartening sight.
There was Theresa walking down the road from the tavern with a different man on her arm than yesterday. They were obviously both quite drunk and Elaina tried to look busy, hoping that Theresa wouldn't talk to her. But sure enough, Theresa staggered into the shop, leaving her man friend at the door.
"Well, if it isn't Eliza," she said, her words slurred.
Elaina ignored the mistake and looked up from unnecessarily cleaning the anvil vigorously with a rag and let out an annoyed sigh. "Is there something I can do for you, Miss?"
"Well, actually, there is. I was just thinking, maybe your blacksmith friend could make me a mask."
"A mask?"
"Yes, a nice iron mask. Well, come to think of it, I don't need one. But you may want to consider making one for yourself, dear." And with that, she left cackling like a hen and dragging the young man behind her.
Elaina threw the rag down and turned over the smaller anvil of the two in her rage. She picked up tools and hurled them across the shop. She kicked things around and screamed vulgarities at the walls.
Then, she sat down backwards in one of the chairs-straddling the seat- rested her hands on the back of it and put her forehead on her hands. She tried to take deep breaths and calm down. Once she was composed once more, she sighed, got up and put the shop back together. She put the tools back in place, picked up the rag and-with a bit of difficulty-put the anvil back in place. It was small, yes, but quite heavy and she had trouble lifting it despite her freak masculine strength. She put the two chairs back against the wall where they usually stood and turned to retire to the little shed where she slept.
But as soon as she turned around, she heard a rapping at the window behind her. She let out a irritated groan and turned around slowly. "Gibbs, it's late. Go-" she started. But the sight that met her eyes was not Gibbs, but a snowy white owl tapping on the closed window with it's beak and flapping it's wings wildly as if it was trying to get into the room. She had seen many an owl before, but never a white one and she was fascinated as she watched it's attempts. But as she observed, the owl somehow got the window open and flew into the shop, straight at her.
She raised her arms to shield her face from the owl's sharp talons and flapping wings, but the bird disappeared before it reached her. And in an overwhelming whirl of cloth, colour and blinding light she found herself facing the most seductively beautiful creature she had ever come to know. It's eyes were stunningly blue and it had the most deliciously sensual smile. It was tall, with milky-white skin and smelled wonderfully of some exotic perfume that overpowered her senses. She struggled to breathe as it stared at her, as if searching her eyes for an answer to an eternal question. She was drawn to it in a way she had never been aware of before, but she knew somewhere deep inside her that it wasn't human. It couldn't be.
She tried to speak, but words failed her. Her voice caught in her throat when she tried to utter something to the effect of, "Who are you?" It continued to melt her with its disconcertingly magnificent gaze. But suddenly, as abruptly at it had appeared, the creature vanished. There was no sign of it ever being there.
Elaina simply stood there and blinked for a moment, trying to clearly comprehend what had just happened. There was no way she could have imagined it, it was far too real. She could still remember every detail of its face, it's smile, they way it smelled.her imagination was not that expansive. It was utterly perplexing.
But she was far too tired to ponder it now. She retreated to her shed that stood just a few yards away from the shop and slept a restless sleep full of dreams of the mysterious being.
Oooh, funfunfun......hmm......who *could* that mysterious being be? Something to ponder until I get my next chapter up.
Jareth: you're mocking me aren't you? That's that sarcastic attitude again isn't it? At my expense, no less!
*shrugs and looks away*
Jareth: That isn't funny, stop it
I have no idea what you're talking about.........
Jareth: Fine, then who is it?
Who is who?
Jareth: The creature
What creature?
Jareth: Ugh, it's hopeless asking you anything
Not if you ask the right questions....