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 6: Heartache
That evening Ione found it impossible to sleep. Her mind replayed the defeated look and gesture of Jareth's last moment, and it disturbed her. She rose in the evening twilight and walked out of the Labyrinth to the wide-open outlying lands. She walked silently through the many twisted trees of the outer lands. It seemed barren and without hope, but Ione found it a good place to be alone. She allowed the wind to blow away her troubles. Tonight, however, the wind had trouble soothing her. She sighed and restlessly stamped a delicate hind leg. She curled her feet beside her and rested on the knoll where Jareth brought people to overlook the Labyrinth. It didn't take long for her to realize she was not alone.
"Hallo? Who's there?"
"'Tis only me," Jareth replied as he stepped out of the shadows. He was dressed in the same pale white clothing he'd worn when pleading with Sarah, and Ione was immediately reminded of the event. Ione bowed as best she could in her reclined position.
"If I am intruding, Your Majesty, I can leave."
"No. No, don't go. I suppose I could benefit from company tonight." He paused for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. "Ione U." He paused again as if he were in a different world and not quite ready to leave. Ione simply listened to his gently accented pronunciation of her name and wondered at how she'd never felt possessed by him despite the nickname and his use of her. But he soon pulled her from her musings.
"Tell me. What do you remember of our night together?"
"Nothing, Milord."
"Truthfully, or are you telling me what you think I want to hear?"
"Truthfully, Milord. I remember you humming quietly before I fell asleep, and I remember waking to find you beside me. I remember nothing. of the rest of the night."
"I was melancholic then too remembering all those I had tested." He looked quickly in her direction. "Would you. come back with me and. keep me company." Ione scrambled to her feet and stumbled back a few paces before lowering her head.
"I will not lie to you, Milord. I have loved you since before I came to live in your world. But I cannot be a simple release of your passions, Jareth."
Jareth blinked in surprise. Ione had never used his name before on purpose.
"I never heard you use my name."
Another sigh escaped her.
"Milord, whether you recognize him or not, I have born your son. He will bear the scars of your denial of his innocent life. I apologize for my forwardness, Milord, but it should not be considered as such."
"You needn't apologize. I rather like to hear my name from you." His demeanor changed a bit, but she couldn't name that change. "Will you at least walk back with me?"
"That I will do, Milord."
They walked a few paces in silence before Jareth spoke again.
"I wonder if someone will decide to stay someday. Except for Sarah, most of them just run out of time and go back to their world."
"Milord, you could always find a new way to bring them here." She paused a moment before pushing ahead. "You could also find a girl of age to be married. The girls you lure here, Milord, are on the threshold of womanhood, but they are not yet ready for a commitment."
"You have thought about this?"
"Yes, Milord. I have long observed your ways from afar."
"Perhaps I'm not attracted to older girls."
"Perhaps, Milord, but then how do you explain the slight attraction that brought Apollo into being? My human half looks about nineteen, and girls of that age are old enough."
"Well, you've got me there."
Jareth walked in silence for a moment. He was not used to having someone with sharp enough wit to talk to. There were always the council members, but too often their duties took their full and complete attention. Ione herself was at times hard to keep up with in her wanderings.
"Have you ever considered my question about joining the Knights?"
"I had considered it, but I had a child to care for. I had to wait until he was independent."
"Is he not independent enough now?"
"Yes, Milord."
"Well?"
"It would give me something to do, Milord."
"Then you'll join?"
"Why are you so eager for me to join?"
"I. I'm not anxious about it, but I like to see everyone with a job to do. The knights take care of the Labyrinth, which leaves me free to deal with ruling."
Ione nodded. She believed there was more, but she could not press him for more.
"I will probably join the knights, Milord."
They had just reached the castle. Jareth entered and held the door for her.
"Milord, I can deny you nothing. Don't ask me for this."
There was a deathly silent pause. Jareth remained motionless by the door with a hardened look in his eyes that burned through hers. Ione sighed and obeyed. She was not asleep this time though she wished she were. She bit her lip quietly and closed her eyes and her heart and prayed for morning.
Chapter 6: Heartache
That evening Ione found it impossible to sleep. Her mind replayed the defeated look and gesture of Jareth's last moment, and it disturbed her. She rose in the evening twilight and walked out of the Labyrinth to the wide-open outlying lands. She walked silently through the many twisted trees of the outer lands. It seemed barren and without hope, but Ione found it a good place to be alone. She allowed the wind to blow away her troubles. Tonight, however, the wind had trouble soothing her. She sighed and restlessly stamped a delicate hind leg. She curled her feet beside her and rested on the knoll where Jareth brought people to overlook the Labyrinth. It didn't take long for her to realize she was not alone.
"Hallo? Who's there?"
"'Tis only me," Jareth replied as he stepped out of the shadows. He was dressed in the same pale white clothing he'd worn when pleading with Sarah, and Ione was immediately reminded of the event. Ione bowed as best she could in her reclined position.
"If I am intruding, Your Majesty, I can leave."
"No. No, don't go. I suppose I could benefit from company tonight." He paused for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. "Ione U." He paused again as if he were in a different world and not quite ready to leave. Ione simply listened to his gently accented pronunciation of her name and wondered at how she'd never felt possessed by him despite the nickname and his use of her. But he soon pulled her from her musings.
"Tell me. What do you remember of our night together?"
"Nothing, Milord."
"Truthfully, or are you telling me what you think I want to hear?"
"Truthfully, Milord. I remember you humming quietly before I fell asleep, and I remember waking to find you beside me. I remember nothing. of the rest of the night."
"I was melancholic then too remembering all those I had tested." He looked quickly in her direction. "Would you. come back with me and. keep me company." Ione scrambled to her feet and stumbled back a few paces before lowering her head.
"I will not lie to you, Milord. I have loved you since before I came to live in your world. But I cannot be a simple release of your passions, Jareth."
Jareth blinked in surprise. Ione had never used his name before on purpose.
"I never heard you use my name."
Another sigh escaped her.
"Milord, whether you recognize him or not, I have born your son. He will bear the scars of your denial of his innocent life. I apologize for my forwardness, Milord, but it should not be considered as such."
"You needn't apologize. I rather like to hear my name from you." His demeanor changed a bit, but she couldn't name that change. "Will you at least walk back with me?"
"That I will do, Milord."
They walked a few paces in silence before Jareth spoke again.
"I wonder if someone will decide to stay someday. Except for Sarah, most of them just run out of time and go back to their world."
"Milord, you could always find a new way to bring them here." She paused a moment before pushing ahead. "You could also find a girl of age to be married. The girls you lure here, Milord, are on the threshold of womanhood, but they are not yet ready for a commitment."
"You have thought about this?"
"Yes, Milord. I have long observed your ways from afar."
"Perhaps I'm not attracted to older girls."
"Perhaps, Milord, but then how do you explain the slight attraction that brought Apollo into being? My human half looks about nineteen, and girls of that age are old enough."
"Well, you've got me there."
Jareth walked in silence for a moment. He was not used to having someone with sharp enough wit to talk to. There were always the council members, but too often their duties took their full and complete attention. Ione herself was at times hard to keep up with in her wanderings.
"Have you ever considered my question about joining the Knights?"
"I had considered it, but I had a child to care for. I had to wait until he was independent."
"Is he not independent enough now?"
"Yes, Milord."
"Well?"
"It would give me something to do, Milord."
"Then you'll join?"
"Why are you so eager for me to join?"
"I. I'm not anxious about it, but I like to see everyone with a job to do. The knights take care of the Labyrinth, which leaves me free to deal with ruling."
Ione nodded. She believed there was more, but she could not press him for more.
"I will probably join the knights, Milord."
They had just reached the castle. Jareth entered and held the door for her.
"Milord, I can deny you nothing. Don't ask me for this."
There was a deathly silent pause. Jareth remained motionless by the door with a hardened look in his eyes that burned through hers. Ione sighed and obeyed. She was not asleep this time though she wished she were. She bit her lip quietly and closed her eyes and her heart and prayed for morning.