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: New Home
Ione woke the next morning bright and early ready to get her work done so she could be on her way to walk with Sarah. She had decided to familiarize Sarah with the city first since it was the only part of the Labyrinth that didn't constantly change. Apollo joined her for lack of anything better to do with his day, and Isis had decided to visit with Sir Didymus. Sarah met them at the door dressed in some of her own clothing.
"Are you ready to tour some of the city?" Ione asked.
"Sure!" came the exuberant reply. She couldn't believe yet that she was back in the Labyrinth traveling it as a pastime.
"We'll travel much faster, Mother, if she rides along."
"Quite true. I thought of that. That's why we're heading back to the castle first."
Sarah walked hesitantly between the two centaurs. They led her to a back gate of the castle where she found herself in a small courtyard surrounded by stables. She looked around in awe at all the gorgeous horses.
"How well do you ride, Sarah?"
"Some, but not too much," Sarah replied modestly. She was no horsewoman, but she knew the basics. Apollo led out a docile mare and saddled her. When the mare was ready, he handed the reigns to Ione. Sarah came over expecting a leg-up onto the mare, but Apollo picked her up as though she were a feather and placed her on the mare's back. Sarah was beginning to get the idea that Apollo was deceivingly strong for his human half. Now seated on a horse, she was more or less eye level with the centaurs and felt much easier in talking to them.
"I still can't get over how much you look like Jareth, Apollo."
"It's a mixed blessing actually. My father is considered handsome by many, but for the longest time I despised him."
"Why would you hate him?" Sarah asked curiously. She knew even the terrible goblins of the Labyrinth loved the King in their own way. That his own son should dislike him seemed strange.
"I hated the way he treated my mother. All three of his children were the result of his lack of self-restraint. She was only a toy to him, a vent for his pent up passions. I was furious with him!"
"Three!" Sarah squeaked. She'd met Apollo and heard of Isis.
"Her middle child did not survive."
"Oh! I'm sorry." Sarah said quietly. They were silent for a few moments. Sarah had touched on a sore topic. "At least she is not forgotten."
"She was by my father. We never heard a word from him after her death."
"It was a hard time, but Jareth has come a long way with his children," Ione added. She had begun to feel Jareth needed someone on his side, and she gave her son a warning glance. Apollo took the hint and conversation turned to the Labyrinth itself. Jareth watched from his castle. He wanted Ione and Sarah to be good friends. Centaurs were uncanny judges of character especially since these three had the gift of telepathy. However, their friendship was not easily given. He spun the crystal restlessly in his hand before he looked again. He wanted to be with Sarah. He'd waited years, but Ione had cautioned him to move slowly. Sarah was not yet familiar enough with the Labyrinth to move freely. Any advances, no matter how welcome, would make her a prisoner and damage their new start. He reminded himself of this repeatedly knowing his impatience was going to be a problem. A month passed. Sarah could travel through the city without an escort. She was less certain around the Labyrinth, but she was soon learning the rhythm to which Jareth ordered his kingdom. As she explored with Ione, the centauress always showed her a new place, but she always re-established with Sarah the way out and the way home. Soon she made Sarah show her the way out and the way home. When Sarah was completely sure of how to move around, Ione let the girl explore her new home on her own. It was just such a trip that Sarah met the reason she'd returned.
Chapter 4: New Home
Ione woke the next morning bright and early ready to get her work done so she could be on her way to walk with Sarah. She had decided to familiarize Sarah with the city first since it was the only part of the Labyrinth that didn't constantly change. Apollo joined her for lack of anything better to do with his day, and Isis had decided to visit with Sir Didymus. Sarah met them at the door dressed in some of her own clothing.
"Are you ready to tour some of the city?" Ione asked.
"Sure!" came the exuberant reply. She couldn't believe yet that she was back in the Labyrinth traveling it as a pastime.
"We'll travel much faster, Mother, if she rides along."
"Quite true. I thought of that. That's why we're heading back to the castle first."
Sarah walked hesitantly between the two centaurs. They led her to a back gate of the castle where she found herself in a small courtyard surrounded by stables. She looked around in awe at all the gorgeous horses.
"How well do you ride, Sarah?"
"Some, but not too much," Sarah replied modestly. She was no horsewoman, but she knew the basics. Apollo led out a docile mare and saddled her. When the mare was ready, he handed the reigns to Ione. Sarah came over expecting a leg-up onto the mare, but Apollo picked her up as though she were a feather and placed her on the mare's back. Sarah was beginning to get the idea that Apollo was deceivingly strong for his human half. Now seated on a horse, she was more or less eye level with the centaurs and felt much easier in talking to them.
"I still can't get over how much you look like Jareth, Apollo."
"It's a mixed blessing actually. My father is considered handsome by many, but for the longest time I despised him."
"Why would you hate him?" Sarah asked curiously. She knew even the terrible goblins of the Labyrinth loved the King in their own way. That his own son should dislike him seemed strange.
"I hated the way he treated my mother. All three of his children were the result of his lack of self-restraint. She was only a toy to him, a vent for his pent up passions. I was furious with him!"
"Three!" Sarah squeaked. She'd met Apollo and heard of Isis.
"Her middle child did not survive."
"Oh! I'm sorry." Sarah said quietly. They were silent for a few moments. Sarah had touched on a sore topic. "At least she is not forgotten."
"She was by my father. We never heard a word from him after her death."
"It was a hard time, but Jareth has come a long way with his children," Ione added. She had begun to feel Jareth needed someone on his side, and she gave her son a warning glance. Apollo took the hint and conversation turned to the Labyrinth itself. Jareth watched from his castle. He wanted Ione and Sarah to be good friends. Centaurs were uncanny judges of character especially since these three had the gift of telepathy. However, their friendship was not easily given. He spun the crystal restlessly in his hand before he looked again. He wanted to be with Sarah. He'd waited years, but Ione had cautioned him to move slowly. Sarah was not yet familiar enough with the Labyrinth to move freely. Any advances, no matter how welcome, would make her a prisoner and damage their new start. He reminded himself of this repeatedly knowing his impatience was going to be a problem. A month passed. Sarah could travel through the city without an escort. She was less certain around the Labyrinth, but she was soon learning the rhythm to which Jareth ordered his kingdom. As she explored with Ione, the centauress always showed her a new place, but she always re-established with Sarah the way out and the way home. Soon she made Sarah show her the way out and the way home. When Sarah was completely sure of how to move around, Ione let the girl explore her new home on her own. It was just such a trip that Sarah met the reason she'd returned.