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 4: The Father
It was his first birthday that made Apollo curious about his father. This was an important day for him. This birthday marked one third of his way to adulthood. His fae friends all had two parents, but he only had one. Ione had planned a wonderful day for him, and many of his friends stopped by with well wishes. Still, Apollo needed to know what had happened to his father.
"Mother?" Apollo said after he and his mother had had their own private celebration. "Why do I not have a father? Did he die?"
"No, Apollo, your father is not dead. I suppose he decided he wasn't ready to be a father, and I have not heard from him since the day you were conceived."
"I don't understand."
"Your father is a very important person, Apollo, but we were not married. He has no obligation to you by law."
"Is it because I'm different, Mother? Did he not want me because I'm a centaur?"
"No, Son!"
Ione sighed softly and put a protective arm around his shoulders.
"Your father decided his path long before I knew how you would turn out."
"You did not know how I would look?"
"No, Son, I am a centauress, but no one truly knows what blood flows in your father's veins. Some have said he is a fae or mage. Still others have claimed he is only a powerful human. No one knows since he takes shape as a human, but sometimes changes to an owl."
Apollo nodded and thought over this new information carefully. Ione watched him with pride as he handled this revelation. Apollo had already often proved he was brighter than other centaur children were.
"Mother, who is my father?"
Ione sighed again. She'd been expecting this question.
"I will tell you, Son, but you must never tell anyone. Is this understood?"
She watched him carefully wanting to be sure he understood the severity of this necessity. Apollo nodded slowly, and Ione knew he'd thought about it.
"Your father is none other than Jareth, King of the Labyrinth."
Apollo stared speechlessly at her for a moment.
"The King of the Labyrinth Jareth. Thee Jareth?"
"Yes, that Jareth."
Ione stopped abruptly as a delicate crystal floated through the open window. She watched with reservation as the crystal placed itself gently in front of Apollo.
"Mother?"
"It's alright, Apollo."
The crystal quivered then rolled towards a dark corner where it bounced into a gloved hand. Ione stood abruptly, but Apollo remained seated amongst the presents from his mother. Stepping from the shadows, Jareth himself stood before them.
"Ione U! Peace! I have come to wish Apollo a pleasant birthday."
Turning to Apollo, Jareth beckoned him to stand.
"Rise, Apollo, let me look at you."
Apollo looked toward his mother who nodded. Standing he faced the man he had just learned was his father.
"Well, well! You're much better to look at in person. Yet you look so grown up for one year of age!"
"I'm a centaur, Sire. I will be an adult at three."
"Really?"
Jareth looked to Ione for confirmation and again she nodded.
"Well, all's well. I've brought you a present, Apollo."
Turning his hand in the air, Jareth brought forth a crystal, his well- known tool of choice.
"What is it?" Apollo asked curiously.
"It is a simple crystal, but it can hold power if you invest it with such."
He tossed the crystal to Apollo.
"Get used to the feel of them and practice using them as you will. Someday your powers might rival my own."
As he spoke these last words, Jareth vanished.
"He still said nothing about being my father, Mother."
"I know," Ione replied with a sigh. "We shall just have to keep the secret."
Apollo silently vowed that he would indeed become a master of his father's magic. Somehow, someday, he would prove that he was a worthy son of the King!
Chapter 4: The Father
It was his first birthday that made Apollo curious about his father. This was an important day for him. This birthday marked one third of his way to adulthood. His fae friends all had two parents, but he only had one. Ione had planned a wonderful day for him, and many of his friends stopped by with well wishes. Still, Apollo needed to know what had happened to his father.
"Mother?" Apollo said after he and his mother had had their own private celebration. "Why do I not have a father? Did he die?"
"No, Apollo, your father is not dead. I suppose he decided he wasn't ready to be a father, and I have not heard from him since the day you were conceived."
"I don't understand."
"Your father is a very important person, Apollo, but we were not married. He has no obligation to you by law."
"Is it because I'm different, Mother? Did he not want me because I'm a centaur?"
"No, Son!"
Ione sighed softly and put a protective arm around his shoulders.
"Your father decided his path long before I knew how you would turn out."
"You did not know how I would look?"
"No, Son, I am a centauress, but no one truly knows what blood flows in your father's veins. Some have said he is a fae or mage. Still others have claimed he is only a powerful human. No one knows since he takes shape as a human, but sometimes changes to an owl."
Apollo nodded and thought over this new information carefully. Ione watched him with pride as he handled this revelation. Apollo had already often proved he was brighter than other centaur children were.
"Mother, who is my father?"
Ione sighed again. She'd been expecting this question.
"I will tell you, Son, but you must never tell anyone. Is this understood?"
She watched him carefully wanting to be sure he understood the severity of this necessity. Apollo nodded slowly, and Ione knew he'd thought about it.
"Your father is none other than Jareth, King of the Labyrinth."
Apollo stared speechlessly at her for a moment.
"The King of the Labyrinth Jareth. Thee Jareth?"
"Yes, that Jareth."
Ione stopped abruptly as a delicate crystal floated through the open window. She watched with reservation as the crystal placed itself gently in front of Apollo.
"Mother?"
"It's alright, Apollo."
The crystal quivered then rolled towards a dark corner where it bounced into a gloved hand. Ione stood abruptly, but Apollo remained seated amongst the presents from his mother. Stepping from the shadows, Jareth himself stood before them.
"Ione U! Peace! I have come to wish Apollo a pleasant birthday."
Turning to Apollo, Jareth beckoned him to stand.
"Rise, Apollo, let me look at you."
Apollo looked toward his mother who nodded. Standing he faced the man he had just learned was his father.
"Well, well! You're much better to look at in person. Yet you look so grown up for one year of age!"
"I'm a centaur, Sire. I will be an adult at three."
"Really?"
Jareth looked to Ione for confirmation and again she nodded.
"Well, all's well. I've brought you a present, Apollo."
Turning his hand in the air, Jareth brought forth a crystal, his well- known tool of choice.
"What is it?" Apollo asked curiously.
"It is a simple crystal, but it can hold power if you invest it with such."
He tossed the crystal to Apollo.
"Get used to the feel of them and practice using them as you will. Someday your powers might rival my own."
As he spoke these last words, Jareth vanished.
"He still said nothing about being my father, Mother."
"I know," Ione replied with a sigh. "We shall just have to keep the secret."
Apollo silently vowed that he would indeed become a master of his father's magic. Somehow, someday, he would prove that he was a worthy son of the King!