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 13: Advice
The whole royal family was surprised by a visit from Isis, Vulcan, Ra, and Diana. Ione was thrilled to see her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren, but concern for Apollo was coming to the fore again. Isis now looked on her idolized older brother through the eyes of a happily married woman. To say her brother was tense would be a gross understatement. Because the three centaurs were so closely connected, they were given time alone with each other.
"Apollo tell us what's troubling you," Isis begged. "Even I can see your unrest. You must be terrifying Mother!"
Apollo shook his head.
"It's nothing."
"Nonsense!" both centauresses stated with agitation. Ione looked her son over. His flanks quivered occasionally with his unrest, and his powerful muscles were straining to keep something in check. Most of all, Apollo's enchanting eyes were tortured. Ione knew he was losing sleep again, but he was struggling with something else.
"What is it Apollo?" Ione asked placing a tender hand on his tense shoulder.
Apollo's resolve broke and tears came into his eyes as his mother slowly gathered her son into her arms as she had when he was a child. It was a much more difficult now that he was grown and taller than her, but her mother instinct was strong. Isis stood near rubbing his shaking shoulders in comfort. It gripped her heart to see him this way for she knew her brother was not one given to easy tears. When Apollo's frustration had vented its fury, Ione asked again what troubled him.
"I am fighting myself, Mother," Apollo admitted with a sigh of frustration. "Constantly I have to fight back my feelings."
"What feelings are you fighting?" Ione could guess, but it was easier if he siad them.
"I love her, Mother. I love her so much that when she's around she squeezes my heart and when she's not around I ache for her."
Ione nodded. She still felt similar feelings for Jareth although the impossibility of her desires had stilled the hurt to a dull ache. But Apollo had more to say.
"Worse than that, I am beginning to desire her. She causes my love for her to grow every day, but now I yearn to know a true marriage with her," Apollo admitted quietly.
"That is hardly a bad thing, Apollo," Isis commented. She was married and had two children. She knew the blessing of a full marriage, but she felt Apollo tremble beneath her hand.
"It is, sister, if your feelings are not shared."
"Apollo, her feelings are going to be harder to change simply because she's a woman," Ione said gently. "You must also remember son that her mind set rebelled against the very thought of this marriage. You were not as shocked. She has also had the unfortunate opportunity to see you angry. She was already slightly fearful of you at that point."
"One reason why that trip was so disappointing. I had felt we were beginning to make some headway."
"Court her, Apollo," Isis counseled softly. "Court Aida in a persistent but non-aggressive manner. It will relieve some of the pressure of your desires as you show her she is cherished, and she will see you as you truly are not what she fears."
Ione nodded her head in agreement.
"Your sister speaks wisdom, Apollo. We centaurs are cursed with intense animal rages and passions that can be but slightly tempered by our wisdom. If you continue to battle yourself in this way, be assured your instincts will blow up." Apollo nodded listening to their advice. "Perhaps the presence of your happily married sister and her family will also be of help," Ione said softly with a sparkle in her amethyst eyes.
Apollo set out immediately doing as his sister suggested. He found to his delight that it worked! While he still desired his lovely bride, he found the pain bearable as he discovered infinite delight in seeing a look of pure genuine surprise light up his young wife's face. Still, Ione had been right about Aida. She did long for the joy apparent in Isis and Vulcan, and whether she would admit it or not, Aida did long for children. Whenever she watched Isis, Vulcan or both playing with their children, she soon found herself watching Apollo. Sometimes when Apollo was playing with his niece and nephew, she found herself wondering what having his children would be like. She was gradually being stripped of her fear of him, and that in itself seemed somewhat frightening. Watching her own parents with their grandchildren made her wish to give them another one.
Time passed, and Isis returned home with her family. But to Aida's delight, Apollo's courtship continued. She had been worried that it was just in show for Isis. Now she saw how foolish she'd been. Apollo loved her, and she was surprised to fins she was beginning to love him back.
Ione told Jareth and Sarah that the Labyrinth's dwellers were clamoring for an Heir of the crown prince and princess, but if things continued in their present course, they wouldn't have long to wait. The next time Aida talked with her mother, the subject of her marriage arose.
"How are things with you, Aida?"
"As good as can be expected, I guess." Aida replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Really?" That one word from her mother held such a wealth of questions.
"He still scares me, Mother! He's assured me over and over again, but I'm still afraid!"
Her mother stroked her hair, which always had a calming effect on her.
"Perhaps it's a mistake to wait until you think you're ready."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean maybe you should try satisfying him. He's been courting you, but you've hardened yourself against him." Aida was a little hurt, but she knew her mother was trying to help. "Do little things to show you're beginning to care. You initiate holding his hand for a change, or stroke his hair. Don't be afraid to touch your husband. When night comes, open yourself to him." She hugged her daughter when she saw the troubled look in her eyes. "Don't be afraid of your own natural feelings or his. Apollo would rather die than hurt you. This one reason shows he is worthy of being your husband."
"I would hate for anything to happen to him."
"Then you are worthy of being his wife. be one!"
"I am!"
"No, Aida. A husband and wife union cannot be all take on one end. Apollo has been giving without ceasing since before your wedding. What have you given him?" Sarah could see her words struck her daughter's heart. That was a good thing. Apollo was ready for a relationship, but Aida was the catalyst. Mother and daughter parted ways soon after, and Sarah told Jareth what she had said to their daughter.
"Perhaps they shall choose the path between the stars," Jareth said softly kissing his own dear wife.
Sarah had to laugh when seconds after that tender moment, the Goblin King sent the goblins flying from the room upon hearing some bad news. Jareth may have his love, but he was still temperamental.
Chapter 13: Advice
The whole royal family was surprised by a visit from Isis, Vulcan, Ra, and Diana. Ione was thrilled to see her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren, but concern for Apollo was coming to the fore again. Isis now looked on her idolized older brother through the eyes of a happily married woman. To say her brother was tense would be a gross understatement. Because the three centaurs were so closely connected, they were given time alone with each other.
"Apollo tell us what's troubling you," Isis begged. "Even I can see your unrest. You must be terrifying Mother!"
Apollo shook his head.
"It's nothing."
"Nonsense!" both centauresses stated with agitation. Ione looked her son over. His flanks quivered occasionally with his unrest, and his powerful muscles were straining to keep something in check. Most of all, Apollo's enchanting eyes were tortured. Ione knew he was losing sleep again, but he was struggling with something else.
"What is it Apollo?" Ione asked placing a tender hand on his tense shoulder.
Apollo's resolve broke and tears came into his eyes as his mother slowly gathered her son into her arms as she had when he was a child. It was a much more difficult now that he was grown and taller than her, but her mother instinct was strong. Isis stood near rubbing his shaking shoulders in comfort. It gripped her heart to see him this way for she knew her brother was not one given to easy tears. When Apollo's frustration had vented its fury, Ione asked again what troubled him.
"I am fighting myself, Mother," Apollo admitted with a sigh of frustration. "Constantly I have to fight back my feelings."
"What feelings are you fighting?" Ione could guess, but it was easier if he siad them.
"I love her, Mother. I love her so much that when she's around she squeezes my heart and when she's not around I ache for her."
Ione nodded. She still felt similar feelings for Jareth although the impossibility of her desires had stilled the hurt to a dull ache. But Apollo had more to say.
"Worse than that, I am beginning to desire her. She causes my love for her to grow every day, but now I yearn to know a true marriage with her," Apollo admitted quietly.
"That is hardly a bad thing, Apollo," Isis commented. She was married and had two children. She knew the blessing of a full marriage, but she felt Apollo tremble beneath her hand.
"It is, sister, if your feelings are not shared."
"Apollo, her feelings are going to be harder to change simply because she's a woman," Ione said gently. "You must also remember son that her mind set rebelled against the very thought of this marriage. You were not as shocked. She has also had the unfortunate opportunity to see you angry. She was already slightly fearful of you at that point."
"One reason why that trip was so disappointing. I had felt we were beginning to make some headway."
"Court her, Apollo," Isis counseled softly. "Court Aida in a persistent but non-aggressive manner. It will relieve some of the pressure of your desires as you show her she is cherished, and she will see you as you truly are not what she fears."
Ione nodded her head in agreement.
"Your sister speaks wisdom, Apollo. We centaurs are cursed with intense animal rages and passions that can be but slightly tempered by our wisdom. If you continue to battle yourself in this way, be assured your instincts will blow up." Apollo nodded listening to their advice. "Perhaps the presence of your happily married sister and her family will also be of help," Ione said softly with a sparkle in her amethyst eyes.
Apollo set out immediately doing as his sister suggested. He found to his delight that it worked! While he still desired his lovely bride, he found the pain bearable as he discovered infinite delight in seeing a look of pure genuine surprise light up his young wife's face. Still, Ione had been right about Aida. She did long for the joy apparent in Isis and Vulcan, and whether she would admit it or not, Aida did long for children. Whenever she watched Isis, Vulcan or both playing with their children, she soon found herself watching Apollo. Sometimes when Apollo was playing with his niece and nephew, she found herself wondering what having his children would be like. She was gradually being stripped of her fear of him, and that in itself seemed somewhat frightening. Watching her own parents with their grandchildren made her wish to give them another one.
Time passed, and Isis returned home with her family. But to Aida's delight, Apollo's courtship continued. She had been worried that it was just in show for Isis. Now she saw how foolish she'd been. Apollo loved her, and she was surprised to fins she was beginning to love him back.
Ione told Jareth and Sarah that the Labyrinth's dwellers were clamoring for an Heir of the crown prince and princess, but if things continued in their present course, they wouldn't have long to wait. The next time Aida talked with her mother, the subject of her marriage arose.
"How are things with you, Aida?"
"As good as can be expected, I guess." Aida replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Really?" That one word from her mother held such a wealth of questions.
"He still scares me, Mother! He's assured me over and over again, but I'm still afraid!"
Her mother stroked her hair, which always had a calming effect on her.
"Perhaps it's a mistake to wait until you think you're ready."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean maybe you should try satisfying him. He's been courting you, but you've hardened yourself against him." Aida was a little hurt, but she knew her mother was trying to help. "Do little things to show you're beginning to care. You initiate holding his hand for a change, or stroke his hair. Don't be afraid to touch your husband. When night comes, open yourself to him." She hugged her daughter when she saw the troubled look in her eyes. "Don't be afraid of your own natural feelings or his. Apollo would rather die than hurt you. This one reason shows he is worthy of being your husband."
"I would hate for anything to happen to him."
"Then you are worthy of being his wife. be one!"
"I am!"
"No, Aida. A husband and wife union cannot be all take on one end. Apollo has been giving without ceasing since before your wedding. What have you given him?" Sarah could see her words struck her daughter's heart. That was a good thing. Apollo was ready for a relationship, but Aida was the catalyst. Mother and daughter parted ways soon after, and Sarah told Jareth what she had said to their daughter.
"Perhaps they shall choose the path between the stars," Jareth said softly kissing his own dear wife.
Sarah had to laugh when seconds after that tender moment, the Goblin King sent the goblins flying from the room upon hearing some bad news. Jareth may have his love, but he was still temperamental.