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: An Idea
A week passed as Jareth, Sarah, and Ione puzzled over the problem. Then an idea came to Ione, and she took it before Jareth and Sarah the next day.
"If I may make a suggestion, Your Majesties, I may have the answer to our problem."
"Go ahead, Ione U," Jareth said with a smile. She hardly needed to ask their permission to speak but knew she preferred it this way.
"Your Majesties, I would suggest a tactic older than Olympus and used for centuries. Marry away the problem."
"Ione, if we marry either or both of them, which pair would rule?" Sarah asked.
"You misunderstand me, Your Highness," Ione replied with a bow to the Queen. "I meant marry Apollo to Aida."
"What!" Sarah cried jumping up from her throne beside Jareth's. "But they're brother and sister!
Jareth was lounging thoughtfully across his throne and sat up to calm Sarah down.
"I take this moment to remind you of the unpopular fact that they are only half brother and sister," Ione continued painfully. "In truth, what I suggest is not uncommon. The Pharaoh's of Egypt often married fully related siblings together. Queen Cleopatra was married to her little brother for example. The tradition of marrying siblings or close relatives amongst royalty has only fallen out of favor in recent times in your world." Jareth leaned forward as she spoke.
"It certainly seems our only option for pleasing both sides of this conflict, but will the children go for it?"
"That is something we can only ask them."
Jareth called for Apollo and Aida. Ione stood to the side.
"My children a pressing problem has been raised concerning the two of you." Apollo and Aida looked between each other apprehensively. "As you know we are sometimes asked difficult things to serve our kingdoms, and I must ask a difficult service of the two of you."
"You have my loyalty, Father!" Apollo stated with his hand over his heart.
"Mine too," Aida added.
"Wait until you hear what I would ask of you." Both nodded and Jareth continued. "The kingdom has been thrown into turmoil because it cannot decide which of you should decide the fate of the throne. Aida as daughter of the Queen or Apollo as son and firstborn. The Lady Ione has brought us a solution that would work, but we must ask the two of you first." Jareth held up his hand to hold off another wave of acceptance. "What I would ask of the two of you is this. Would the two of you agree to marry each other for the good of the kingdom?"
Apollo and Aida regarded each other in a whole new light. Aida had grown up with Apollo as an older brother who awed her and best friend who teased her. Apollo had watched her grow seeing her as a little sister to be spoiled rather than a princess he might one day marry.
"Father, are you serious?" Apollo asked for both of them.
"Quite," came the reply.
"But he's my brother!" Aida cried out.
"As the Lady Ione has pointed out to your mother and I, marriage of siblings is not uncommon in royalty, and it is actually practiced in several fairy courts around us that have remained in the times of the medieval."
Apollo looked again at his younger sister. She had always been a beauty of heart as well as form. Marriage to her would not be a chore.
"You have my loyalty," he replied with a bow.
Aida watched as her brother bowed and rose. His features were set but not cold. She realized he was as unsure about this as she was. Still he had the courage to do as their father wished despite his doubts.
"I will agree as well, Father."
Ione smiled. She had hoped the children would come through for them and they had. She couldn't keep her pride from showing on her face. The news was spread throughout the kingdom that the prince and princess would wed to untie both sides of the King's house. Tension was somewhat eased, but many wondered if those involved would go through with it. Apollo spent much of the intervening time with his mother or Aida.
Chapter 6: An Idea
A week passed as Jareth, Sarah, and Ione puzzled over the problem. Then an idea came to Ione, and she took it before Jareth and Sarah the next day.
"If I may make a suggestion, Your Majesties, I may have the answer to our problem."
"Go ahead, Ione U," Jareth said with a smile. She hardly needed to ask their permission to speak but knew she preferred it this way.
"Your Majesties, I would suggest a tactic older than Olympus and used for centuries. Marry away the problem."
"Ione, if we marry either or both of them, which pair would rule?" Sarah asked.
"You misunderstand me, Your Highness," Ione replied with a bow to the Queen. "I meant marry Apollo to Aida."
"What!" Sarah cried jumping up from her throne beside Jareth's. "But they're brother and sister!
Jareth was lounging thoughtfully across his throne and sat up to calm Sarah down.
"I take this moment to remind you of the unpopular fact that they are only half brother and sister," Ione continued painfully. "In truth, what I suggest is not uncommon. The Pharaoh's of Egypt often married fully related siblings together. Queen Cleopatra was married to her little brother for example. The tradition of marrying siblings or close relatives amongst royalty has only fallen out of favor in recent times in your world." Jareth leaned forward as she spoke.
"It certainly seems our only option for pleasing both sides of this conflict, but will the children go for it?"
"That is something we can only ask them."
Jareth called for Apollo and Aida. Ione stood to the side.
"My children a pressing problem has been raised concerning the two of you." Apollo and Aida looked between each other apprehensively. "As you know we are sometimes asked difficult things to serve our kingdoms, and I must ask a difficult service of the two of you."
"You have my loyalty, Father!" Apollo stated with his hand over his heart.
"Mine too," Aida added.
"Wait until you hear what I would ask of you." Both nodded and Jareth continued. "The kingdom has been thrown into turmoil because it cannot decide which of you should decide the fate of the throne. Aida as daughter of the Queen or Apollo as son and firstborn. The Lady Ione has brought us a solution that would work, but we must ask the two of you first." Jareth held up his hand to hold off another wave of acceptance. "What I would ask of the two of you is this. Would the two of you agree to marry each other for the good of the kingdom?"
Apollo and Aida regarded each other in a whole new light. Aida had grown up with Apollo as an older brother who awed her and best friend who teased her. Apollo had watched her grow seeing her as a little sister to be spoiled rather than a princess he might one day marry.
"Father, are you serious?" Apollo asked for both of them.
"Quite," came the reply.
"But he's my brother!" Aida cried out.
"As the Lady Ione has pointed out to your mother and I, marriage of siblings is not uncommon in royalty, and it is actually practiced in several fairy courts around us that have remained in the times of the medieval."
Apollo looked again at his younger sister. She had always been a beauty of heart as well as form. Marriage to her would not be a chore.
"You have my loyalty," he replied with a bow.
Aida watched as her brother bowed and rose. His features were set but not cold. She realized he was as unsure about this as she was. Still he had the courage to do as their father wished despite his doubts.
"I will agree as well, Father."
Ione smiled. She had hoped the children would come through for them and they had. She couldn't keep her pride from showing on her face. The news was spread throughout the kingdom that the prince and princess would wed to untie both sides of the King's house. Tension was somewhat eased, but many wondered if those involved would go through with it. Apollo spent much of the intervening time with his mother or Aida.