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 14: Pain and Ecstasy
The next day was a quiet one for all of them. Jareth could not further explain his tumultuous feelings. Ione was solemn as she led the way back home, and Apollo couldn't find words for the situation. He had positioned himself beside his sister since she looked about ready to cry at any moment. The walk through the streets of the Goblin City took on a whole new light for Isis. Isis had never known any home besides Jareth's castle, and now she had to call a whole new place home. They reached the door of Ione's house, and Ione led them all inside. Ione had returned on days that Isis was in her father's care, and she had fashioned a room for her that looked like her room in the castle. The house didn't even feel closed up because Ione had often returned to let fresh air into the house. Apollo took his sister around the house to acquaint her with the layout then he took her to her room. It was too much for her. She cried the tears that had threatened all day, and her brother let her have her cry. He'd had three years to become used to not being near his father before his sister had come along, but Isis had three years of having her father. He had to keep reminding himself that she had no idea how good they had it now. Apollo left her then to find his mother. He found her in her chair in the living room, but she was deathly still.
"Mother?"
"Listen."
Apollo listened becoming as still as Ione.
I wish the goblins would come and take you away.right now!
Apollo shivered as lightning split the sky, and a rumble echoed the fateful words. The moment passed, and Apollo realized that his mother had left. He sighed knowing it was her way to follow the girls in their quest. She would return when the girl returned to her world. Time moved much differently in the Labyrinth. Jareth ruled the clock. Night and day followed weird patterns during a quest. Ione waited patiently on the knoll, and when it was nearly time, she made herself invisible. As always, Jareth gave the girl her quest. Those invisible can see each other, so as Jareth disappeared, Ione gradually became visible to him. He nodded to her as she began to follow the girl on her journey, and she bowed then caught up with the girl. This one's performance was pathetic. She failed to conquer her fear and didn't save Ludo. This slowed her progress, and she didn't reach the castle in time. The girl was returned to her world, and the Labyrinth gained a new goblin. Ione knew the child would be counted as missing, and the case would never be solved. She felt an incredible sadness for the poor mothers who lost their babies since she couldn't imagine losing her own.
When she returned home however, Jareth was already there. He had evidently come to visit his children as promised. She smiled noticing he was fusing quite a bit over Isis.
"Are you joining us for dinner, Jareth?"
He turned and stood when he saw who was speaking.
"If it's not too much trouble, I will."
Ione did not miss the pleading look on her daughter's face.
"It's perfectly fine," Ione replied while not missing her daughter breath a sigh of relief. She walked into the kitchen and began to prepare dinner. It was normally a family affair, but Ione knew the children wanted as much time with their father as he would give them. In no time, the food was prepared, and Ione called her family to the kitchen. The kitchen was large since it needed room to prepare the vast amount of food consumed by three centaurs as well as space to store it all. The third space eater was room for three centaurs to sit and eat their meal. Jareth always felt a little dwarfed when he ate with his family. Any one of the centaurs could eat three times the amount of food he could, but he always ate healthy when eating with them. It was always an interesting experience as well. The table was huge so the dinner could fit, and the centaurs passed dishes using their telekinetic powers. Jareth would watch in amazement as huge dishes of salad floated from one end of the table to the other. While he had trained himself in magic of this type, the centaurs were born with it. He'd never quite gotten used to this even over their three-year stay in his castle. When dinner was over, they worked together to clean the dishes. Ione encouraged her children to use their talents, but she also admonished them against laziness. She definitely didn't want them to forget the use of good old elbow grease. For this purpose, both children had a rigorous physical exercise program to maintain their strength. Ione was no hypocrite and had set a high standard for herself as well. Jareth watched the cleanup since the centaurs already had a workable system and probably wouldn't have accepted his help anyway. He had a strange role of father plus King.
Ione led her family to the living room to settle for conversation. Again the children monopolized the talk, but Ione didn't mind. She noticed Jareth glanced her way every now and then, but she paid it no mind. As evening took firm hold of the Labyrinth, Ione sent her children to bed. Apollo and Isis each kissed their mother's cheek and bade their father a good night before heading up the stairs to their rooms. Ione watched them as they disappeared up the stairs and sighed.
"They are so wonderful."
"Yes, they are, Jareth."
"It has been much more pleasant now that Apollo doesn't hate me anymore."
"I don't think he ever hated you, Jareth. He was hurt, but his anger never boiled over to hate."
"Well, it has been nicer now that I've been spending time with him."
"That I will agree with."
"I miss having him and Isis in the castle, but I'm just not ready."
"It takes time, Jareth. I've been a mother for over six years now. You've only a little more than three to get used to both of them. Most fathers are ready before they have the children. You just have to start a little backward so give it time."
"I feel as though I'm letting them down somehow."
"They understand, Jareth. Isis had to get used to it, but it's a great improvement for Apollo."
Ione watched as Jareth stood and paced a little before walking over to her.
"I did not come just to spend time with the children."
"Jareth." Ione began uncertainly.
"No, it's not what you think, Ione U. I realized that I know very little about you and your past. Would you tell me?" Ione blushed slightly. "I know our relationship has been mostly take on my end. I'd like to change that." Ione smiled a little although the firelight still lit up her face enough to see the color on her face. "You're lovely when you blush."
"Oh, you're mean spirited! That only makes me blush more!"
Jareth smiled a wicked smile.
"Precisely!"
Ione looked up with shock then noticed the sparkle in his eyes. She laughed a little.
"I'm not sure I can get used to whatever change you're going through. You're actually being rather sweet!"
"Thank you!" Jareth answered with a hearty laugh of his own. Ione listened in quietly. His laugh held a ring of gold in it, and she knew it must resound from a good heart. She smiled. There was hope for the Goblin King yet! Jareth and Ione spent the rest of that night speaking of their past, and Ione was surprised at how much Jareth opened up to her. She had always considered Lady London his closest confidant.
The next morning Ione had an eternal smile on her face. Apollo and Isis couldn't get a word out of her about it, but they knew it had to be good. Ione kept the secret. She had no idea if Jareth's softening was a fluke or if he was really attempting to change. Jareth stayed away for a couple days, and Ione soon had her family settled into routine freeing her to take evening walks again.
Chapter 14: Pain and Ecstasy
The next day was a quiet one for all of them. Jareth could not further explain his tumultuous feelings. Ione was solemn as she led the way back home, and Apollo couldn't find words for the situation. He had positioned himself beside his sister since she looked about ready to cry at any moment. The walk through the streets of the Goblin City took on a whole new light for Isis. Isis had never known any home besides Jareth's castle, and now she had to call a whole new place home. They reached the door of Ione's house, and Ione led them all inside. Ione had returned on days that Isis was in her father's care, and she had fashioned a room for her that looked like her room in the castle. The house didn't even feel closed up because Ione had often returned to let fresh air into the house. Apollo took his sister around the house to acquaint her with the layout then he took her to her room. It was too much for her. She cried the tears that had threatened all day, and her brother let her have her cry. He'd had three years to become used to not being near his father before his sister had come along, but Isis had three years of having her father. He had to keep reminding himself that she had no idea how good they had it now. Apollo left her then to find his mother. He found her in her chair in the living room, but she was deathly still.
"Mother?"
"Listen."
Apollo listened becoming as still as Ione.
I wish the goblins would come and take you away.right now!
Apollo shivered as lightning split the sky, and a rumble echoed the fateful words. The moment passed, and Apollo realized that his mother had left. He sighed knowing it was her way to follow the girls in their quest. She would return when the girl returned to her world. Time moved much differently in the Labyrinth. Jareth ruled the clock. Night and day followed weird patterns during a quest. Ione waited patiently on the knoll, and when it was nearly time, she made herself invisible. As always, Jareth gave the girl her quest. Those invisible can see each other, so as Jareth disappeared, Ione gradually became visible to him. He nodded to her as she began to follow the girl on her journey, and she bowed then caught up with the girl. This one's performance was pathetic. She failed to conquer her fear and didn't save Ludo. This slowed her progress, and she didn't reach the castle in time. The girl was returned to her world, and the Labyrinth gained a new goblin. Ione knew the child would be counted as missing, and the case would never be solved. She felt an incredible sadness for the poor mothers who lost their babies since she couldn't imagine losing her own.
When she returned home however, Jareth was already there. He had evidently come to visit his children as promised. She smiled noticing he was fusing quite a bit over Isis.
"Are you joining us for dinner, Jareth?"
He turned and stood when he saw who was speaking.
"If it's not too much trouble, I will."
Ione did not miss the pleading look on her daughter's face.
"It's perfectly fine," Ione replied while not missing her daughter breath a sigh of relief. She walked into the kitchen and began to prepare dinner. It was normally a family affair, but Ione knew the children wanted as much time with their father as he would give them. In no time, the food was prepared, and Ione called her family to the kitchen. The kitchen was large since it needed room to prepare the vast amount of food consumed by three centaurs as well as space to store it all. The third space eater was room for three centaurs to sit and eat their meal. Jareth always felt a little dwarfed when he ate with his family. Any one of the centaurs could eat three times the amount of food he could, but he always ate healthy when eating with them. It was always an interesting experience as well. The table was huge so the dinner could fit, and the centaurs passed dishes using their telekinetic powers. Jareth would watch in amazement as huge dishes of salad floated from one end of the table to the other. While he had trained himself in magic of this type, the centaurs were born with it. He'd never quite gotten used to this even over their three-year stay in his castle. When dinner was over, they worked together to clean the dishes. Ione encouraged her children to use their talents, but she also admonished them against laziness. She definitely didn't want them to forget the use of good old elbow grease. For this purpose, both children had a rigorous physical exercise program to maintain their strength. Ione was no hypocrite and had set a high standard for herself as well. Jareth watched the cleanup since the centaurs already had a workable system and probably wouldn't have accepted his help anyway. He had a strange role of father plus King.
Ione led her family to the living room to settle for conversation. Again the children monopolized the talk, but Ione didn't mind. She noticed Jareth glanced her way every now and then, but she paid it no mind. As evening took firm hold of the Labyrinth, Ione sent her children to bed. Apollo and Isis each kissed their mother's cheek and bade their father a good night before heading up the stairs to their rooms. Ione watched them as they disappeared up the stairs and sighed.
"They are so wonderful."
"Yes, they are, Jareth."
"It has been much more pleasant now that Apollo doesn't hate me anymore."
"I don't think he ever hated you, Jareth. He was hurt, but his anger never boiled over to hate."
"Well, it has been nicer now that I've been spending time with him."
"That I will agree with."
"I miss having him and Isis in the castle, but I'm just not ready."
"It takes time, Jareth. I've been a mother for over six years now. You've only a little more than three to get used to both of them. Most fathers are ready before they have the children. You just have to start a little backward so give it time."
"I feel as though I'm letting them down somehow."
"They understand, Jareth. Isis had to get used to it, but it's a great improvement for Apollo."
Ione watched as Jareth stood and paced a little before walking over to her.
"I did not come just to spend time with the children."
"Jareth." Ione began uncertainly.
"No, it's not what you think, Ione U. I realized that I know very little about you and your past. Would you tell me?" Ione blushed slightly. "I know our relationship has been mostly take on my end. I'd like to change that." Ione smiled a little although the firelight still lit up her face enough to see the color on her face. "You're lovely when you blush."
"Oh, you're mean spirited! That only makes me blush more!"
Jareth smiled a wicked smile.
"Precisely!"
Ione looked up with shock then noticed the sparkle in his eyes. She laughed a little.
"I'm not sure I can get used to whatever change you're going through. You're actually being rather sweet!"
"Thank you!" Jareth answered with a hearty laugh of his own. Ione listened in quietly. His laugh held a ring of gold in it, and she knew it must resound from a good heart. She smiled. There was hope for the Goblin King yet! Jareth and Ione spent the rest of that night speaking of their past, and Ione was surprised at how much Jareth opened up to her. She had always considered Lady London his closest confidant.
The next morning Ione had an eternal smile on her face. Apollo and Isis couldn't get a word out of her about it, but they knew it had to be good. Ione kept the secret. She had no idea if Jareth's softening was a fluke or if he was really attempting to change. Jareth stayed away for a couple days, and Ione soon had her family settled into routine freeing her to take evening walks again.