Disclaimer: The Labyrinth, its characters, songs, and phrases are
unfortunately not mine. They belong to Jim Henson Productions. However,
Ione, Apollo, and Isis are my original characters as well as the story.
Please do not use my characters without my permission.
Chapter 2: The Storm
Nearly a month passed by as normal for Ione after her accidental meeting with the King. She never thought to act superior of others in the least. After all she would remind herself that it had been an accident, and the King would surely have helped any other female inhabitant with such a situation. She thought about this often on her walks through the city, and it was just such a walk that would start a chain of events that would change her life forever. She had lost all track of time and surroundings so deep was she immersed in her thoughts, and she failed to notice an oncoming storm until it was upon her. It seemed almost that a crystal clear blue sky blackened instantly and sheets of blinding rain poured down. A door opened on her left and she ducked into it immediately before she thought about where it would lead. Her relief turned to suspense when the door closed behind her with a bang. She looked hesitantly around, but her eyes were still adjusting, and she couldn't see at first. Suddenly a light lit and Ione found herself standing face to face with the King once more. She quickly bowed, but because she was thoroughly soaked, it was not quite as graceful.
"Ione U. Come with me. You'll need to get dry or you'll catch cold next."
"Thank you, Sire."
She shivered almost as if on cue and followed the Goblin King hoping he would not be angry with her for trespassing on his castle. Jareth produced a soft towel, which she promptly used to give herself a rubdown. He led her to a parlor with a fire burning in the center. Directing her to sit down near the fire, he next saw to it that she was covered with warm blankets. Ione nearly had the distinct feeling that Jareth's horses would be treated in such a manner if they'd been out in the rain, but being half horse, she merely appreciated the gesture. It surprised her since Jareth was well known for having an iron fist with his goblin subjects. But the King got along fine with the Knights, and she assumed that his suggestion she be one of them was the reason for his kindness. Still, she failed to notice how the King stared at her since she was busy with the task of warming her shivering coat. Had she looked towards the King at that moment, Ione would probably have braved the rain again. As she became warmer, Ione began to feel very sleepy. She faintly heard the King humming a tune behind her that was sad and full of pain at the same time that it was haunting and beautiful. Soon she dropped of into a peaceful sleep dreaming of her family in Greece. She was all that was left of that family of centaurs, but her dreams reminded her of the peaceful days.
The next morning dawned bright and fair when Ione arose to greet it. She frowned slightly. Her mind instantly rebelled as she looked around the unfamiliar room. She then remembered the storm and coming to Jareth's castle, but as she gazed about at her surroundings she realized she was not in the parlor room where she had dozed off. She became anxious as she realized that she had been moved in her sleep. She looked about quickly once more realizing that she was in a large bedroom. Her anxiousness was quickly turning to worry. A slight noise behind her caused her to sit up in order to look behind her. She inhaled sharply. The King was sleeping beside her! Ione's heart raced and she began to panic. She slowly rose and retreated quietly from the room. As she quietly closed the door behind herself it was all she could do to keep from bolting. Her entire body shook as she walked through the halls and gradually found the door she'd entered through. Once she was in the street, Ione let loose and ran. She knew in the back of her mind that her hooves would not make much clatter on the stone streets, but the only thought on her mind at the moment was to flee! She ran and ran until she was rather spent from exhaustion. Coming at last to her home she walked shakily inside and sat down on her couch to collect herself.
"It is not what you think, Ione," she said quietly to herself.
"The King's castle was probably not designed for centaurs. That might have been the one bed suited to your form. Maybe he just wanted to remain in his own room. He's the King after all. He has the right to do as he will."
She continued to give herself a rational talk for some time before she settled enough to hold any breakfast down, but her appetite was weak at best. She sighed softly.
Just because you love him doesn't mean the feeling is reciprocated.
The thought spun through her mind before she could stop it. Love him? Love the Goblin King? The thought sounded crazy to her mind's ear, but as she thought back to her meeting of the King a month earlier she realized. She had loved him. For years as a child she'd been told of the evil Goblin King, but Jareth had always intrigued her rather than frighten her. She had become an inhabitant of the Labyrinth and realized that the Goblin King was not some horrid monster as her mother had warned. His kindness toward her had sealed it. She realized slowly that again his kindness during the storm had firmly planted him in her heart. She shook her head. No it was not to be. It was well known that His Majesty had an eye for human girls. His attraction to human girls was very often the cause of his kidnapping of young children. She shook her head once more sadly. Her love could never be more hopelessly given, but now it would be forever for she'd unconsciously allowed herself to become to firmly attached.
Chapter 2: The Storm
Nearly a month passed by as normal for Ione after her accidental meeting with the King. She never thought to act superior of others in the least. After all she would remind herself that it had been an accident, and the King would surely have helped any other female inhabitant with such a situation. She thought about this often on her walks through the city, and it was just such a walk that would start a chain of events that would change her life forever. She had lost all track of time and surroundings so deep was she immersed in her thoughts, and she failed to notice an oncoming storm until it was upon her. It seemed almost that a crystal clear blue sky blackened instantly and sheets of blinding rain poured down. A door opened on her left and she ducked into it immediately before she thought about where it would lead. Her relief turned to suspense when the door closed behind her with a bang. She looked hesitantly around, but her eyes were still adjusting, and she couldn't see at first. Suddenly a light lit and Ione found herself standing face to face with the King once more. She quickly bowed, but because she was thoroughly soaked, it was not quite as graceful.
"Ione U. Come with me. You'll need to get dry or you'll catch cold next."
"Thank you, Sire."
She shivered almost as if on cue and followed the Goblin King hoping he would not be angry with her for trespassing on his castle. Jareth produced a soft towel, which she promptly used to give herself a rubdown. He led her to a parlor with a fire burning in the center. Directing her to sit down near the fire, he next saw to it that she was covered with warm blankets. Ione nearly had the distinct feeling that Jareth's horses would be treated in such a manner if they'd been out in the rain, but being half horse, she merely appreciated the gesture. It surprised her since Jareth was well known for having an iron fist with his goblin subjects. But the King got along fine with the Knights, and she assumed that his suggestion she be one of them was the reason for his kindness. Still, she failed to notice how the King stared at her since she was busy with the task of warming her shivering coat. Had she looked towards the King at that moment, Ione would probably have braved the rain again. As she became warmer, Ione began to feel very sleepy. She faintly heard the King humming a tune behind her that was sad and full of pain at the same time that it was haunting and beautiful. Soon she dropped of into a peaceful sleep dreaming of her family in Greece. She was all that was left of that family of centaurs, but her dreams reminded her of the peaceful days.
The next morning dawned bright and fair when Ione arose to greet it. She frowned slightly. Her mind instantly rebelled as she looked around the unfamiliar room. She then remembered the storm and coming to Jareth's castle, but as she gazed about at her surroundings she realized she was not in the parlor room where she had dozed off. She became anxious as she realized that she had been moved in her sleep. She looked about quickly once more realizing that she was in a large bedroom. Her anxiousness was quickly turning to worry. A slight noise behind her caused her to sit up in order to look behind her. She inhaled sharply. The King was sleeping beside her! Ione's heart raced and she began to panic. She slowly rose and retreated quietly from the room. As she quietly closed the door behind herself it was all she could do to keep from bolting. Her entire body shook as she walked through the halls and gradually found the door she'd entered through. Once she was in the street, Ione let loose and ran. She knew in the back of her mind that her hooves would not make much clatter on the stone streets, but the only thought on her mind at the moment was to flee! She ran and ran until she was rather spent from exhaustion. Coming at last to her home she walked shakily inside and sat down on her couch to collect herself.
"It is not what you think, Ione," she said quietly to herself.
"The King's castle was probably not designed for centaurs. That might have been the one bed suited to your form. Maybe he just wanted to remain in his own room. He's the King after all. He has the right to do as he will."
She continued to give herself a rational talk for some time before she settled enough to hold any breakfast down, but her appetite was weak at best. She sighed softly.
Just because you love him doesn't mean the feeling is reciprocated.
The thought spun through her mind before she could stop it. Love him? Love the Goblin King? The thought sounded crazy to her mind's ear, but as she thought back to her meeting of the King a month earlier she realized. She had loved him. For years as a child she'd been told of the evil Goblin King, but Jareth had always intrigued her rather than frighten her. She had become an inhabitant of the Labyrinth and realized that the Goblin King was not some horrid monster as her mother had warned. His kindness toward her had sealed it. She realized slowly that again his kindness during the storm had firmly planted him in her heart. She shook her head. No it was not to be. It was well known that His Majesty had an eye for human girls. His attraction to human girls was very often the cause of his kidnapping of young children. She shook her head once more sadly. Her love could never be more hopelessly given, but now it would be forever for she'd unconsciously allowed herself to become to firmly attached.