All right, folks! This is the next chapter. Hope you like!
*~*~*~*
Talisha lay on her bed in the Sa Inglesidee manor three days later, staring at the ceiling. She was trying to think of more ideas for stories, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the Goblin King. That night, he had read her work, then smiled, thanked her, and left. She had been disappointed, thinking something should have come of it. Filamae had been disappointed too, but not in the way Ish was. Now, she sighed. If she so badly wanted something to come of having her work seen, why did she feel that something bad was going to happen?
"Isha, Isha! Guess what? That Goblin King you met at the prince's ball wants you to write a book for him, and you've gotta move to his castle right now!" Her little sister, Serina, burst into Ish's room excitedly. The young woman grinned and sat up. Right on cue, fate! This would turn out into something good after all.
"How do you know, Serina?" She swung herself off her bed, standing up. Her sister's face became grave, and she pressed two fingers to her lips. Ish rolled her eyes.
"You haven't been eavesdropping again, have you? You know our Lady Mother doesn't like that," She chided. Serina grinned.
"I ain't been dropping no eaves, Isha. And you'd better act surprised when Mama comes to tell you, or we'll both be over our heads," The younger Fae warned her, eyes sparkling. Talisha laughed, just as her lady mother stepped gracefully over the threshold of her room. Nainia smiled at them, and put a delicate hand lightly on Isha's arm.
"Darling, there is someone here to see you," she said. The young maiden exchanged winks with Serina behind her lady mother's back, then followed her down the staircase. In the grand sitting room, used only on special occasions that seemed to never come, sat Jareth, lounged on a red velvet armchair. Talisha sat gracefully on a settee opposite him, extremely self-conscious. She wore a simple red dress, with long flared sleeves. Her hair was loose, with the crown of it swept back in a simple topknot. The Goblin King smiled at her appreciatively, and Nainia took a seat next to her daughter.
"Talisha dear, I believe you know Jareth?" The Lady Sa Inglesidee asked lightly. Ish nodded, hands pooled in her lap.
"He has mentioned to me that he saw some of your work on the night of the prince's ball, and thought it was lovely," she prompted, looking from Jareth to Talisha. The Goblin King smiled, taking the hint.
"Yes, I did. Lady Talisha, would you do me the great honor of writing a book on my Labyrinth? You would come and live in my castle for however long it takes, and be in the best of care," he said. Isha returned the smile, not surprised. Serina, bless her, had taken the shock out of his offer. And just as well, or she would be in a daze right now. Ish had very high-strung nerves.
"Of course, good sir. I couldn't refuse," she replied smoothly. Both her mother and Jareth smiled, and Nainia stood.
"Well if your highness will wait there, I shall take my daughter and pack her things as quickly as is possible," the Lady said in obvious delight. Talisha was led from the room, and once they were outside the door, her mother started a speech.
"My daughter, I am extremely proud of you. To think, so early in your life you have started out on the path to success!" Nainia said. Ish stared at her in disbelief as they walked into the younger woman's room. Her mother was supporting her writing? This was too good to be true.
"Now, I just want to tell you, don't go rushing him. Take your time, and enjoy the chase," Nainia started taking the few dresses out of the closet. The Fae maiden shook her head to herself, fetching her inks and papers from the desk. Of course. Her mother was talking about marriage.
"Mother, I don't plan on doing anything like that just now. I only want to write," she tried to explain. Wrong move. Nainia rounded on her daughter, a wounded expression on her face.
"Talisha, do you not want this family to live as we have been? You know how low-ranked we are. If you marry the Goblin King, we shall be considered the relatives of royalty, and shall not have to live on the streets," the woman said, looking hurt. Ish shook her head again, placing the writing materials in her bag.
"You won't have to live on the streets, mother, I assure you, I will think of some way to keep us here," she said earnestly, but having no clue as to how she was to do this.
"My darling, the best thing you can do is marry a highly ranked noble. And this is you perfect chance," Nainia persisted, collecting Isha's cosmetics. The young woman sighed, and didn't answer. It wouldn't do to try to dissuade her mother now that the Lady was set in her course. She helped pack the rest of her things, which wasn't much, and followed Nainia downstairs clutching her bag. Jareth was waiting, and he quickly swept her into a carriage that was waiting at the door. Ish barely had time to hug her mother and Filamae. Once inside, she settled down on the plush upholstery and smiled, hands in lap. Even the carriage boasted his wealth; it had patterns of gold inlays everywhere, and was pulled by two strong chestnut horses. The driver, dressed in leather and velvet, sat on a special seat to direct the horses. She had a feeling life was going to be easier now, at least for awhile, anyway, when she was living at the Goblin Castle. The man opposite her smiled, a sort of half smirk really.
"Thank you for coming, Lady Talisha. I have been searching for a long time to find someone of your ability," he said smoothly. Ish shook her head.
"Oh, I'm not the best. Far from it. But what is this book about, that you would like me to write?" (OOC: I know I'm going sort of against the rules here. As a writer myself, I know that good stories don't usually come when people tell you to write something. My best work comes when it's my own ideas. Understand?) She asked him. He considered her for a moment, a thoughtful look on his features, then up popped that half-smirk again.
"Well, do you know how my Labyrinth works?" He asked. Ish shook her head again, puzzled. What did this have to do with it?
"You see, there is a certain age bracket in the Aboveground, called 'teenagers'. Teenagers are almost adults, and don't like doing childish things anymore. Like looking after younger siblings. They rarely have the imagination to wish away the siblings. And that's what I do. The mortals wish children away, and I oblige. They have to get through my Labyrinth to save their siblings, otherwise the whelps get turned into goblins," he explained. Ish frowned. That was cruel! But she wasn't going to say that.
"But as I said, they rarely have the imagination to call on me. I have ways of informing them that they can wish siblings away, but unfortunately mortals can't remember most dreams, unlike us. So, this book will tell them the story of an imaginary girl who runs the Labyrinth to get her baby brother back. I will release copies of it in the Aboveground, and presto, I'm in business," he leant back with that smirk-smile on again. Ish was boiling with rage inside, but she blessed her lady mother for giving her the lessons that led to her perfectly calm face. That was horrible! Those poor mortals! She would never do something like that.
But what about her lady mother, and siblings? They all be thrown onto the street if she did not rise in the noble ranks somehow. She was sure that if it was known that she had written a wonderful book, the rest of the Court would take notice of her, and she would rise in the ranks. Fae loved books and stories, but they wouldn't accept writing from commoners, so she at least would stay in the noble ranks. Ish was caught like a fish out of water. If she wrote the book, there was a good chance her family would stay nobility, but she would be destroying young mortals' lives, young mortals like herself. If she denied him, and didn't write the book, the mortals would be saved, but her family would fall from the noble ranks.
"Here we are," Jareth announced suddenly, lifting the curtains away from the carriage window with one finger. She peeked out, and gasped inwardly. It was beautiful! Lush green hedges lined each side of the stone road, leading up to the entrance of a majestic castle. Ish was in awe. The Goblin King stepped out first, offering her a hand. She placed on of her own daintily on it, and stepped out of the carriage, quickly removing her hand once on the stone path. She had somewhat changed her opinion of the well-spoken Fae. He had a cruel heart, which was obvious. Ish let herself be led forward through the two large double doors, looking around in amazement at the lavish front hall. A pixie maid, only about a meter tall, with large blue eyes and blonde hair, was standing next to the door.
"Reeta will show you to your room," he lazily waved a hand towards the pixie, and bowed before vanishing through another door. Isha stared after him for a moment, then felt a slight touch at her elbow.
"Milady, if you will follow me?" Reeta had a sweet, melodic voice. The Fae maiden was started out of her daze, and nodded, smiling. The pixie led her through various hallways, until they reached a grand brass door, which her guide opened. Ish was ushered in, to be met with a wonderful sight. A mahogany four-poster canopy bed with a red velvet cover, a matching settee and armchair in front of a fireplace, with mahogany vanity table and standing closet. Through another door was the tiled washroom. All this was on a kind of balcony, which overlooked a small but spacious library.
Reeta showed her all this, then curtseyed and left quietly. Ish set her bag on the bed and explored a little more. To the left of her bed she found a set of carpeted stairs that led to the lower level. The library was magnificent, with a long, large desk. The desk was a particular marvel to her. It already had a built-in inkwell, a supply of parchment, and drawers for her to keep her own writing utensils in. The wall opposite the higher level of her room was a complete window, with smaller, normal sized windows down the bottom that she could open. The view outside was even better. She had a complete sight of the ornamented stone drive they had com in from, and part of the majestic green Labyrinth. The curious thing was that when she tried to see around the windows, like leaning out and looking to the right or left, there seemed to be corners, as if there was a box around her window. Ish shook her head and turned around. She jumped, seeing Jareth right behind her.
"I apologize, I didn't mean to startle you," he said, smile-smirking. Ish, now wary, nodded, plastered a fake smile on her face and turned back to the window.
"You have a marvelous Labyrinth," she breathed, admiring the view again.
"Thank you," he said, and then as silent. She stood for a moment, waiting for something, anything, to happen. Eventually, just as the young woman was about to say something, he spoke.
"This will be your own workroom, where you can write," the tall Fae looked at her, and Ish realized she was supposed to make her decision now. Save her family, or save the mortals? Well...
"Thank you," she said softly, glancing into his eyes once, then looking away. The Goblin King obviously saw her decision, because back came that annoying smile-smirk, and he faded out with a bow. Once he was gone, Isha collapsed onto a plush red settee and closed her eyes. What had she done?
*~*~*~*
Reviews puhleeeese!!!
Sweet Sunshine,
Seul Loup
*******************************************************
* Fancy yourself as a writer? *
* *
* Want to win awards for your stores and poems? *
* *
* Corey's Place - This is for you! *
* *
* http://feanorbirmans.ozefamily.com.au/coreys_place/ *
*******************************************************
*~*~*~*
Talisha lay on her bed in the Sa Inglesidee manor three days later, staring at the ceiling. She was trying to think of more ideas for stories, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the Goblin King. That night, he had read her work, then smiled, thanked her, and left. She had been disappointed, thinking something should have come of it. Filamae had been disappointed too, but not in the way Ish was. Now, she sighed. If she so badly wanted something to come of having her work seen, why did she feel that something bad was going to happen?
"Isha, Isha! Guess what? That Goblin King you met at the prince's ball wants you to write a book for him, and you've gotta move to his castle right now!" Her little sister, Serina, burst into Ish's room excitedly. The young woman grinned and sat up. Right on cue, fate! This would turn out into something good after all.
"How do you know, Serina?" She swung herself off her bed, standing up. Her sister's face became grave, and she pressed two fingers to her lips. Ish rolled her eyes.
"You haven't been eavesdropping again, have you? You know our Lady Mother doesn't like that," She chided. Serina grinned.
"I ain't been dropping no eaves, Isha. And you'd better act surprised when Mama comes to tell you, or we'll both be over our heads," The younger Fae warned her, eyes sparkling. Talisha laughed, just as her lady mother stepped gracefully over the threshold of her room. Nainia smiled at them, and put a delicate hand lightly on Isha's arm.
"Darling, there is someone here to see you," she said. The young maiden exchanged winks with Serina behind her lady mother's back, then followed her down the staircase. In the grand sitting room, used only on special occasions that seemed to never come, sat Jareth, lounged on a red velvet armchair. Talisha sat gracefully on a settee opposite him, extremely self-conscious. She wore a simple red dress, with long flared sleeves. Her hair was loose, with the crown of it swept back in a simple topknot. The Goblin King smiled at her appreciatively, and Nainia took a seat next to her daughter.
"Talisha dear, I believe you know Jareth?" The Lady Sa Inglesidee asked lightly. Ish nodded, hands pooled in her lap.
"He has mentioned to me that he saw some of your work on the night of the prince's ball, and thought it was lovely," she prompted, looking from Jareth to Talisha. The Goblin King smiled, taking the hint.
"Yes, I did. Lady Talisha, would you do me the great honor of writing a book on my Labyrinth? You would come and live in my castle for however long it takes, and be in the best of care," he said. Isha returned the smile, not surprised. Serina, bless her, had taken the shock out of his offer. And just as well, or she would be in a daze right now. Ish had very high-strung nerves.
"Of course, good sir. I couldn't refuse," she replied smoothly. Both her mother and Jareth smiled, and Nainia stood.
"Well if your highness will wait there, I shall take my daughter and pack her things as quickly as is possible," the Lady said in obvious delight. Talisha was led from the room, and once they were outside the door, her mother started a speech.
"My daughter, I am extremely proud of you. To think, so early in your life you have started out on the path to success!" Nainia said. Ish stared at her in disbelief as they walked into the younger woman's room. Her mother was supporting her writing? This was too good to be true.
"Now, I just want to tell you, don't go rushing him. Take your time, and enjoy the chase," Nainia started taking the few dresses out of the closet. The Fae maiden shook her head to herself, fetching her inks and papers from the desk. Of course. Her mother was talking about marriage.
"Mother, I don't plan on doing anything like that just now. I only want to write," she tried to explain. Wrong move. Nainia rounded on her daughter, a wounded expression on her face.
"Talisha, do you not want this family to live as we have been? You know how low-ranked we are. If you marry the Goblin King, we shall be considered the relatives of royalty, and shall not have to live on the streets," the woman said, looking hurt. Ish shook her head again, placing the writing materials in her bag.
"You won't have to live on the streets, mother, I assure you, I will think of some way to keep us here," she said earnestly, but having no clue as to how she was to do this.
"My darling, the best thing you can do is marry a highly ranked noble. And this is you perfect chance," Nainia persisted, collecting Isha's cosmetics. The young woman sighed, and didn't answer. It wouldn't do to try to dissuade her mother now that the Lady was set in her course. She helped pack the rest of her things, which wasn't much, and followed Nainia downstairs clutching her bag. Jareth was waiting, and he quickly swept her into a carriage that was waiting at the door. Ish barely had time to hug her mother and Filamae. Once inside, she settled down on the plush upholstery and smiled, hands in lap. Even the carriage boasted his wealth; it had patterns of gold inlays everywhere, and was pulled by two strong chestnut horses. The driver, dressed in leather and velvet, sat on a special seat to direct the horses. She had a feeling life was going to be easier now, at least for awhile, anyway, when she was living at the Goblin Castle. The man opposite her smiled, a sort of half smirk really.
"Thank you for coming, Lady Talisha. I have been searching for a long time to find someone of your ability," he said smoothly. Ish shook her head.
"Oh, I'm not the best. Far from it. But what is this book about, that you would like me to write?" (OOC: I know I'm going sort of against the rules here. As a writer myself, I know that good stories don't usually come when people tell you to write something. My best work comes when it's my own ideas. Understand?) She asked him. He considered her for a moment, a thoughtful look on his features, then up popped that half-smirk again.
"Well, do you know how my Labyrinth works?" He asked. Ish shook her head again, puzzled. What did this have to do with it?
"You see, there is a certain age bracket in the Aboveground, called 'teenagers'. Teenagers are almost adults, and don't like doing childish things anymore. Like looking after younger siblings. They rarely have the imagination to wish away the siblings. And that's what I do. The mortals wish children away, and I oblige. They have to get through my Labyrinth to save their siblings, otherwise the whelps get turned into goblins," he explained. Ish frowned. That was cruel! But she wasn't going to say that.
"But as I said, they rarely have the imagination to call on me. I have ways of informing them that they can wish siblings away, but unfortunately mortals can't remember most dreams, unlike us. So, this book will tell them the story of an imaginary girl who runs the Labyrinth to get her baby brother back. I will release copies of it in the Aboveground, and presto, I'm in business," he leant back with that smirk-smile on again. Ish was boiling with rage inside, but she blessed her lady mother for giving her the lessons that led to her perfectly calm face. That was horrible! Those poor mortals! She would never do something like that.
But what about her lady mother, and siblings? They all be thrown onto the street if she did not rise in the noble ranks somehow. She was sure that if it was known that she had written a wonderful book, the rest of the Court would take notice of her, and she would rise in the ranks. Fae loved books and stories, but they wouldn't accept writing from commoners, so she at least would stay in the noble ranks. Ish was caught like a fish out of water. If she wrote the book, there was a good chance her family would stay nobility, but she would be destroying young mortals' lives, young mortals like herself. If she denied him, and didn't write the book, the mortals would be saved, but her family would fall from the noble ranks.
"Here we are," Jareth announced suddenly, lifting the curtains away from the carriage window with one finger. She peeked out, and gasped inwardly. It was beautiful! Lush green hedges lined each side of the stone road, leading up to the entrance of a majestic castle. Ish was in awe. The Goblin King stepped out first, offering her a hand. She placed on of her own daintily on it, and stepped out of the carriage, quickly removing her hand once on the stone path. She had somewhat changed her opinion of the well-spoken Fae. He had a cruel heart, which was obvious. Ish let herself be led forward through the two large double doors, looking around in amazement at the lavish front hall. A pixie maid, only about a meter tall, with large blue eyes and blonde hair, was standing next to the door.
"Reeta will show you to your room," he lazily waved a hand towards the pixie, and bowed before vanishing through another door. Isha stared after him for a moment, then felt a slight touch at her elbow.
"Milady, if you will follow me?" Reeta had a sweet, melodic voice. The Fae maiden was started out of her daze, and nodded, smiling. The pixie led her through various hallways, until they reached a grand brass door, which her guide opened. Ish was ushered in, to be met with a wonderful sight. A mahogany four-poster canopy bed with a red velvet cover, a matching settee and armchair in front of a fireplace, with mahogany vanity table and standing closet. Through another door was the tiled washroom. All this was on a kind of balcony, which overlooked a small but spacious library.
Reeta showed her all this, then curtseyed and left quietly. Ish set her bag on the bed and explored a little more. To the left of her bed she found a set of carpeted stairs that led to the lower level. The library was magnificent, with a long, large desk. The desk was a particular marvel to her. It already had a built-in inkwell, a supply of parchment, and drawers for her to keep her own writing utensils in. The wall opposite the higher level of her room was a complete window, with smaller, normal sized windows down the bottom that she could open. The view outside was even better. She had a complete sight of the ornamented stone drive they had com in from, and part of the majestic green Labyrinth. The curious thing was that when she tried to see around the windows, like leaning out and looking to the right or left, there seemed to be corners, as if there was a box around her window. Ish shook her head and turned around. She jumped, seeing Jareth right behind her.
"I apologize, I didn't mean to startle you," he said, smile-smirking. Ish, now wary, nodded, plastered a fake smile on her face and turned back to the window.
"You have a marvelous Labyrinth," she breathed, admiring the view again.
"Thank you," he said, and then as silent. She stood for a moment, waiting for something, anything, to happen. Eventually, just as the young woman was about to say something, he spoke.
"This will be your own workroom, where you can write," the tall Fae looked at her, and Ish realized she was supposed to make her decision now. Save her family, or save the mortals? Well...
"Thank you," she said softly, glancing into his eyes once, then looking away. The Goblin King obviously saw her decision, because back came that annoying smile-smirk, and he faded out with a bow. Once he was gone, Isha collapsed onto a plush red settee and closed her eyes. What had she done?
*~*~*~*
Reviews puhleeeese!!!
Sweet Sunshine,
Seul Loup
*******************************************************
* Fancy yourself as a writer? *
* *
* Want to win awards for your stores and poems? *
* *
* Corey's Place - This is for you! *
* *
* http://feanorbirmans.ozefamily.com.au/coreys_place/ *
*******************************************************