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 5: The New Princess
When Aida reached five, Ione and Apollo received news that Isis had born a beautiful baby boy for Vulcan, and they brought the joyous news to Jareth and Sarah who agreed they'd have to go to the presentation. Apollo stayed close to Aida. To him it was like watching his sister grow up all over again except at a much slower rate. There was much more time to enjoy her childhood. Apollo and Aida grew very close. Aida was ten when the centaurs received word that Isis had born Vulcan a little girl. Once again the family went to Achaia, and Aida marveled at how Prince Mars, who was five years younger than her, seemed fifteen years older than her. Apollo carefully explained to her that centaurs matured quickly.
"Your mother is human, Princess Aida. That is why your rate of maturity is much slower than ours."
"But Father is not human."
"Indeed, but Father's blood has never seemed to affect the aspects of our race. Isis and I are centaurs, and you seem basically human. I look exactly like Father except for an obvious difference in race, and you have a lot of his qualities. Perhaps that is what we inherit from him."
Aida knew he was right. She had her father's sun-gold hair and high- born features. Her emerald green eyes might have been a mixture of her father and mother, but her form was definitely contributed to by her mother. Even at this stage of her life, Aida moved like a swan, and she was as fleet as a gazelle. By sixteen, all who saw her would swear they had never seen a lovelier princess. Her sixteenth birthday was when Aida got to meet her Uncle Toby. Aida had grown considerably since the last time Toby had visited the Labyrinth, but then so had Toby. Toby was a man now at twenty-one, and only the crystal letters informing him of how his sister fared kept him from writing off the vague memories of the Labyrinth as childhood fantasy. Sarah was no longer talked about at home. Her parents remembered their long lost daughter, but she was dead to them. Repeatedly Toby had wished he could tell them that Sarah was still alive and well, but even at five, Toby had realized they would simply think he was crazy. The reunion of brother and sister was wonderful and the family had a wonderful celebration of Aida's birthday. Yet little did they all know that the Great Question had reared its ugly head once again. The princess had now reached the age when royalty should marry, and Apollo had been ready for marriage by the standards of the centaurs for over twenty years! The cry for a decision came so strongly from the Labyrinth's inhabitants this time that Jareth and Sarah would find out. Ione and Jareth came rushing into the living quarters following a scream from the Queen. Sarah stood frozen in the middle of the room with a note on the floor in front of her. Jareth went for his wife seeking to soothe her, but Ione scooped up the note. She read it aloud so Jareth could hear as well. It was from Isis, and Achaia's princess was asking the question Ione had heard too many times.
I have been wondering why nothing has been done to cease this simmering question as to the succession of the Labyrinthian throne. This question has apparently been cooking for sixteen years, but it has now reached the boiling point. Already the land of Achaia has heard of it as well as others. Rumor has it that some of the inhabitants of the Labyrinth claim it would be better if one should die than this uncertainty remain. I strongly urge upon you, Queen Sarah and Father, to act upon these dreadful rumors at once before harm should come to my brother or sister.
Princess Isis Athene
"I had thought these rumors had ceased!" Ione exclaimed quietly. "The question almost died out for years!"
"What does Isis mean about the question of succession?" Jareth asked looking up at Ione.
"Just after Aida was born and presented to the Kingdoms, there was raised the question of whether Apollo or Aida would be your chosen heir. The argument for the princess is based upon the fact that she is the daughter of the Queen. The argument for Apollo is based upon the fact that he is your only male heir and firstborn.
"I never even thought of such a thing, but I can see now the difficulty of the question. There can be no easy decision. I love Apollo, and I do not want to see him cut off after he has endured so much pain. He has already been through too much because of his unpopular beginnings. Still, Aida is the daughter of my wife."
"There can be no easy decision, as you said, Jareth," Sarah said with a hand on his arm. "But we must try."
Chapter 5: The New Princess
When Aida reached five, Ione and Apollo received news that Isis had born a beautiful baby boy for Vulcan, and they brought the joyous news to Jareth and Sarah who agreed they'd have to go to the presentation. Apollo stayed close to Aida. To him it was like watching his sister grow up all over again except at a much slower rate. There was much more time to enjoy her childhood. Apollo and Aida grew very close. Aida was ten when the centaurs received word that Isis had born Vulcan a little girl. Once again the family went to Achaia, and Aida marveled at how Prince Mars, who was five years younger than her, seemed fifteen years older than her. Apollo carefully explained to her that centaurs matured quickly.
"Your mother is human, Princess Aida. That is why your rate of maturity is much slower than ours."
"But Father is not human."
"Indeed, but Father's blood has never seemed to affect the aspects of our race. Isis and I are centaurs, and you seem basically human. I look exactly like Father except for an obvious difference in race, and you have a lot of his qualities. Perhaps that is what we inherit from him."
Aida knew he was right. She had her father's sun-gold hair and high- born features. Her emerald green eyes might have been a mixture of her father and mother, but her form was definitely contributed to by her mother. Even at this stage of her life, Aida moved like a swan, and she was as fleet as a gazelle. By sixteen, all who saw her would swear they had never seen a lovelier princess. Her sixteenth birthday was when Aida got to meet her Uncle Toby. Aida had grown considerably since the last time Toby had visited the Labyrinth, but then so had Toby. Toby was a man now at twenty-one, and only the crystal letters informing him of how his sister fared kept him from writing off the vague memories of the Labyrinth as childhood fantasy. Sarah was no longer talked about at home. Her parents remembered their long lost daughter, but she was dead to them. Repeatedly Toby had wished he could tell them that Sarah was still alive and well, but even at five, Toby had realized they would simply think he was crazy. The reunion of brother and sister was wonderful and the family had a wonderful celebration of Aida's birthday. Yet little did they all know that the Great Question had reared its ugly head once again. The princess had now reached the age when royalty should marry, and Apollo had been ready for marriage by the standards of the centaurs for over twenty years! The cry for a decision came so strongly from the Labyrinth's inhabitants this time that Jareth and Sarah would find out. Ione and Jareth came rushing into the living quarters following a scream from the Queen. Sarah stood frozen in the middle of the room with a note on the floor in front of her. Jareth went for his wife seeking to soothe her, but Ione scooped up the note. She read it aloud so Jareth could hear as well. It was from Isis, and Achaia's princess was asking the question Ione had heard too many times.
I have been wondering why nothing has been done to cease this simmering question as to the succession of the Labyrinthian throne. This question has apparently been cooking for sixteen years, but it has now reached the boiling point. Already the land of Achaia has heard of it as well as others. Rumor has it that some of the inhabitants of the Labyrinth claim it would be better if one should die than this uncertainty remain. I strongly urge upon you, Queen Sarah and Father, to act upon these dreadful rumors at once before harm should come to my brother or sister.
Princess Isis Athene
"I had thought these rumors had ceased!" Ione exclaimed quietly. "The question almost died out for years!"
"What does Isis mean about the question of succession?" Jareth asked looking up at Ione.
"Just after Aida was born and presented to the Kingdoms, there was raised the question of whether Apollo or Aida would be your chosen heir. The argument for the princess is based upon the fact that she is the daughter of the Queen. The argument for Apollo is based upon the fact that he is your only male heir and firstborn.
"I never even thought of such a thing, but I can see now the difficulty of the question. There can be no easy decision. I love Apollo, and I do not want to see him cut off after he has endured so much pain. He has already been through too much because of his unpopular beginnings. Still, Aida is the daughter of my wife."
"There can be no easy decision, as you said, Jareth," Sarah said with a hand on his arm. "But we must try."