Standard disclaimer: You recognize it--I don't own it.
Chapter 2
Hoggle waited in the throne room more terrified than he had been in some time. In the many weeks he had been in the castle Jareth had suggested hundreds of various punishments for his crimes and none sounded very appealing.
Hoggle was so absorbed by his thoughts that he didn't hear Jareth appear in the throne room and walk over and sit down. So when he cleared this throat behind him, Hoggle nearly jumped eye level with the King.
Jareth leaning down and looking straight into Hoggle's eyes. "Hoggle." he started softly. "Care to explain to me why you are here getting fat when the biting fairies are over running my gate?" And smiled sweetly into Hoggle's perplexed face.
"Ah, umm, well," Hoggle started to stammer. "I's just go see to them." And started to shuffle out of the room facing Jareth to make sure it was the right action.
"You do that." Jareth waved his hand and suddenly Hoggle, painfully, shuffled backwards into the stone wall of the outer wall of the Labyrinth.
Hoggle looked around and slid down the wall in relief. Tormenting him was his punishment. And as bad as it was at the time, it could have been a lot worse. Hoggle got up and went to his cottage for the fairy spray and started on the little critters who were very thick and out of control. A nest must have formed while he was at the castle. He started to search for it while he sprayed.
It had taken a week of hard work and many, many fairy bites to remove the nest. He could now relax a little. Hoggle got together a blanket and his lunch, picking a sunny spot he sat down for a nice picnic.
Looking out into the distance, he could see a cloud of dust just cresting the hill. Hoggle stood up and ran a short distance to see who was approaching. Surely it couldn't be people who had wished someone away. It looked to be too many.
In a few moments Hoggle could see the beginnings of a train of people and carts. Some carts were pulled by hand, others by animals. Others were riding or walking. He turned around to get news of this approaching caravan to the castle in case it was trouble and ran straight into Jareth's legs. He fell onto his backside and watched as Jareth walked around him and waited for the train of people to collect at the gate.
When everyone had arrived, Jareth held up his hand for silence. "Good, you are all arrived." Jareth threw a crystal up in the air. It shattered in mid air turning the world white to Hoggle's dazzled eyes and when his vision cleared, everyone was gone.
Over several days more artisans and traders came and went to the castle. Hoggle was becoming very curious about all the activity. Jareth hardly ever left his domain and rarely had visitors. He decided to ask his friend the worm if he knew anything that was going on.
Hoggle walked a short way from the gate to where his friend lived. "Worm, are home?"
A small worm with a tuft of blue hair and a tiny scarf crawled out of a crevice nearby. "'Ello, 'Oggle."
"You heard anything about what's going on at the castle?" Hoggle asked.
"Yeah, too right something is going on. I 'eard tell that the King's rebuilding the city, good as new."
Hoggle smiled "Probably better, the goblins build the first one."
"That's right, and that he's making up a fancy room. Got 'imself needle workers making bedclothes and dresses like mad."
"Dresses," Hoggle pondered, "he must be gitting himself a mistress."
"Right, that it looks like." Worm looks back into the crevice he just crawled out of. "It's me missus calling, see you later 'Oggle." Then crawled back into his crevice.
"Bye worm." Hoggle turned and went back to his cottage.
King Finvarra called his sister Cliodna over to him. "Clio, have you heard what is going on in Jareth's kingdom.
"No, Fin. What is the old rouge up to now?" Cliodna answered dismissively.
"He has called nearly every artisan of quality to his kingdom. I think..."
Cliondna interrupted Finvarra coldly, "Yes tell me, what do you think?"
Finvarra glared at his sister and continued. "I *think* that he has finally decided it is time for him to marry and he is preparing his kingdom. I can't think of anyone who would want to live there as it is now."
"All very nice, Fin. May I go now?" Cliondna turned to leave.
"No you may not," responded Finvarra in a sharp tone. "You are to invite yourself over to his kingdom and find out what is going on. And if he *is* interested in *finally* getting married I want you to convince him that you are the most political choice. Is that understood?"
"Yes, brother *dear*." And stalks out of the room and goes to her study.
As annoying as my brother is, Cliondna thinks to herself, he has a point. Jareth is a good political match for me. And since he can be *so* entertaining, I think I shall do just as Fin wants.
Cliondna writes out a short note, produces a crystal around it and sends it floating off in the direction of the Goblin King's realm.
Jareth, in a sea of artisan, is barking orders and generally being a pain to those who know how to do their jobs.
A crystal floats over to him and waits at eye level. Jareth opens his hand and the crystal drops down to meet it. When it touches his hand it turns into a small sheet of parchment.
He unfolds it and reads the message.
So Clio wants to come by, Jareth thinks to himself. No doubt her brother is curious about what I am up to. These arrangements will take some time before I can put my plan in action. And she is such a *distracting* dinner companion. And I am in need of distraction.
Having decided on a course of action, he sent a reply via another crystal. He returned to his throne room to wait.
Within the hour Cliondna arrived. "Hello, Jareth." She wanders over to the window and looks out. "My, my it seems you have been busy."
Coming up behind her Jareth encircled her waist with her arms and whispered in her ear. "Would you like to see what I've been up to. I've hoped that you would come."
Even knowing that he was being purposely flattering Cliondna couldn't help but feel her heart race. "Very much."
Keeping one arm around her waist he steered her out of the throne room and across the corridors until he came to a room near his own.
The chamber was mostly bare. Only a large four poster bed dominated the room. Tacked to the walls were various sketches of pieces of furniture and designs for various cloth works.
Cliondna walked around the chamber carefully examining all the sketches in detail. She commented on several designs, pointing out flaws in design or approving the quality of others.
Listening carefully, Jareth made changes that Cliondna suggest. He had always admired her style and was pleased to make use of it now. He wished the room to be perfect.
Kissing her at the juncture of her neck and shoulder Jareth asked. "Over all how do you like this room?"
Cliondna nearly purred her answer. "This bedchamber is perfect, but..."
"But what?" he whispered in her ear making her shiver.
"I would rather sleep in yours."
Jareth smiled, "That can easily be arranged."
*********Several weeks later**************
The Dwarf King Mahanaga sat on this throne reading when his chamberlain approached.
"Your majesty, Lord Abraxas is here to see you."
"Send him in." The dwarf chamberlain bowed and left the room shortly before Lord Abraxas entered.
"Your majesty," Abraxas bowed before Mahanaga.
"You have news of interest?"
"Yes, about the Goblin King." Abraxas smiled knowing that this would please the Dwarf King.
"What about that son of goblin?" He snapped, having never gotten along with Jareth.
"Well, it seems that a mortal defeated his labyrinth..." Abraxas started but he cut off by Mahanaga.
"Somebody beat him, good! I'm sure that put him in a bad mood." He smiled at the pain that must have cost Jareth's ego.
Abraxas continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. "He fell into the most foul of moods. None dared go near him. Then suddenly it all changed. His mood improved and he has called all the finest artisans to his kingdom, as I'm sure you have heard already."
"Yes, I'd wondered at that. Have you any idea what might have caused the change?" Mahanaga wolfishly grinned at Abraxas knowing that he had.
"Well, shortly before this change he delivered two documents to the Lord of Documents." Abraxas paused grinning. He was enjoying every moment.
"Go on." Mahanaga said impatiently.
"The first was strange, a simple contract exchanging a certain child for the future promise of a anohter. Common language for this type of document."
"Yes, but why bother having it recorded." Mahanaga tapped his finger against his lips thinking. "There must be more to this than it seems." He looks Abraxas straight in the eyes. "What is the other document?"
"That one is even more curious," Abraxas paused again but Mahanaga just waved for him to continue. "No one will say. The Lord of Documents if being very secretive about it. He has forbade any of his clerks to say anything about it." He smiled enjoying Mahanaga's reaction.
Mahanaga looked at his curiously, "None could be induced for a little gold to give comment on it?"
His smile broadened. "None save that the Lord of Documents has hidden it away so that none may see it. Thus none of his clerks *knows* anything of any use."
"I have heard tell that Cliondna, the Brownie King's sister, is spending a great deal of time with him."
"If you mean they are lovers, then you are correct. But they have been in each other's bed for decades. Her brother favors the match."
"And well he might. They share a common border." Mahanaga sat lost in thought for many minutes before asking, "Does the contract state the gender of the child in question?"
"No, but from the date it would hardly be a child anymore." Abraxas answered wondering where Mahanaga's train of thought was leading.
Mahanaga thought silently for several more moments before suddenly standing up and starting to pace the floor before Abraxas. "That goblin spawned son of a poka!!!" he muttered to himself.
"You majesty?" asked Abraxas, confused as Mahanaga's sudden behavior.
"I know what he is up to. That other document had to be a marriage contract with King Finvarra for his sister."
Abraxas shook his head. "He wouldn't, Finvarra would insist that Jareth make his son Tylwyth provisional heir in case he never produced one himself. And knowing how rare births, and common death of the mother, child or both are he would never agree. Finvarra stood to control his kingdom or rather Tylwyth after him."
With a cunning look in his eye Mahanaga nodded. "Yes, that is the reason for the contract to be recorded. She, it has to be a she, is mortal. They do not have our problem when it comes to giving birth. He could easily get a heir off of her. He will make her his mistress."
Abraxas now understanding Jareth's plan. "He knows that Finvarra is weak and his son is worse. He easily controls them now, how much more so when they are tied by marriage."
"And think of the price he could command for her after he has his heir. He gets a rich price for mere babes. Half the lesser nobility have bought them for daughters to tempt the great kings into marriage alliances."
Abraxas added, "And many of the rich artisans also have paid Jareth dearly in hopes of marriage into the noble class."
"Then how much more would he get for a proven woman. I know several who would pay anything for a male heir of their own blood."
"And by registering his claim, he makes sure that none can claim any of her children. No matter who the father is, the child is his -- should he want it." Abraxas just stands before Mahanaga, astounded by Jareth's devious but flawless plan.
"It is so simple. He gives use of her for a fee and gives them first pick of any child produced. So even if they are girls he still comes out ahead."
"How so?" Abraxas asks.
"Since he would have his heir, the females could be used to make alliances to strengthen his power even more."
"I see, a simple yet perfect plan, your majesty."
"And one we must do something about. You are dismissed Lord Abraxas." Mahanaga strode from the room planning best how to stop Jareth from gaining so much power.
---to be continued---
Is the document a marriage contract?
What are Jareth's plans for Sarah?
What will King Mahanaga and Lord Abraxas do to stop Jareth?
Do I adore reading your comments about my writing?
These questions and more may be answered in the next chapter of (drum roll please) Variations on a Theme.
Onaree
Chapter 2
Hoggle waited in the throne room more terrified than he had been in some time. In the many weeks he had been in the castle Jareth had suggested hundreds of various punishments for his crimes and none sounded very appealing.
Hoggle was so absorbed by his thoughts that he didn't hear Jareth appear in the throne room and walk over and sit down. So when he cleared this throat behind him, Hoggle nearly jumped eye level with the King.
Jareth leaning down and looking straight into Hoggle's eyes. "Hoggle." he started softly. "Care to explain to me why you are here getting fat when the biting fairies are over running my gate?" And smiled sweetly into Hoggle's perplexed face.
"Ah, umm, well," Hoggle started to stammer. "I's just go see to them." And started to shuffle out of the room facing Jareth to make sure it was the right action.
"You do that." Jareth waved his hand and suddenly Hoggle, painfully, shuffled backwards into the stone wall of the outer wall of the Labyrinth.
Hoggle looked around and slid down the wall in relief. Tormenting him was his punishment. And as bad as it was at the time, it could have been a lot worse. Hoggle got up and went to his cottage for the fairy spray and started on the little critters who were very thick and out of control. A nest must have formed while he was at the castle. He started to search for it while he sprayed.
It had taken a week of hard work and many, many fairy bites to remove the nest. He could now relax a little. Hoggle got together a blanket and his lunch, picking a sunny spot he sat down for a nice picnic.
Looking out into the distance, he could see a cloud of dust just cresting the hill. Hoggle stood up and ran a short distance to see who was approaching. Surely it couldn't be people who had wished someone away. It looked to be too many.
In a few moments Hoggle could see the beginnings of a train of people and carts. Some carts were pulled by hand, others by animals. Others were riding or walking. He turned around to get news of this approaching caravan to the castle in case it was trouble and ran straight into Jareth's legs. He fell onto his backside and watched as Jareth walked around him and waited for the train of people to collect at the gate.
When everyone had arrived, Jareth held up his hand for silence. "Good, you are all arrived." Jareth threw a crystal up in the air. It shattered in mid air turning the world white to Hoggle's dazzled eyes and when his vision cleared, everyone was gone.
Over several days more artisans and traders came and went to the castle. Hoggle was becoming very curious about all the activity. Jareth hardly ever left his domain and rarely had visitors. He decided to ask his friend the worm if he knew anything that was going on.
Hoggle walked a short way from the gate to where his friend lived. "Worm, are home?"
A small worm with a tuft of blue hair and a tiny scarf crawled out of a crevice nearby. "'Ello, 'Oggle."
"You heard anything about what's going on at the castle?" Hoggle asked.
"Yeah, too right something is going on. I 'eard tell that the King's rebuilding the city, good as new."
Hoggle smiled "Probably better, the goblins build the first one."
"That's right, and that he's making up a fancy room. Got 'imself needle workers making bedclothes and dresses like mad."
"Dresses," Hoggle pondered, "he must be gitting himself a mistress."
"Right, that it looks like." Worm looks back into the crevice he just crawled out of. "It's me missus calling, see you later 'Oggle." Then crawled back into his crevice.
"Bye worm." Hoggle turned and went back to his cottage.
King Finvarra called his sister Cliodna over to him. "Clio, have you heard what is going on in Jareth's kingdom.
"No, Fin. What is the old rouge up to now?" Cliodna answered dismissively.
"He has called nearly every artisan of quality to his kingdom. I think..."
Cliondna interrupted Finvarra coldly, "Yes tell me, what do you think?"
Finvarra glared at his sister and continued. "I *think* that he has finally decided it is time for him to marry and he is preparing his kingdom. I can't think of anyone who would want to live there as it is now."
"All very nice, Fin. May I go now?" Cliondna turned to leave.
"No you may not," responded Finvarra in a sharp tone. "You are to invite yourself over to his kingdom and find out what is going on. And if he *is* interested in *finally* getting married I want you to convince him that you are the most political choice. Is that understood?"
"Yes, brother *dear*." And stalks out of the room and goes to her study.
As annoying as my brother is, Cliondna thinks to herself, he has a point. Jareth is a good political match for me. And since he can be *so* entertaining, I think I shall do just as Fin wants.
Cliondna writes out a short note, produces a crystal around it and sends it floating off in the direction of the Goblin King's realm.
Jareth, in a sea of artisan, is barking orders and generally being a pain to those who know how to do their jobs.
A crystal floats over to him and waits at eye level. Jareth opens his hand and the crystal drops down to meet it. When it touches his hand it turns into a small sheet of parchment.
He unfolds it and reads the message.
So Clio wants to come by, Jareth thinks to himself. No doubt her brother is curious about what I am up to. These arrangements will take some time before I can put my plan in action. And she is such a *distracting* dinner companion. And I am in need of distraction.
Having decided on a course of action, he sent a reply via another crystal. He returned to his throne room to wait.
Within the hour Cliondna arrived. "Hello, Jareth." She wanders over to the window and looks out. "My, my it seems you have been busy."
Coming up behind her Jareth encircled her waist with her arms and whispered in her ear. "Would you like to see what I've been up to. I've hoped that you would come."
Even knowing that he was being purposely flattering Cliondna couldn't help but feel her heart race. "Very much."
Keeping one arm around her waist he steered her out of the throne room and across the corridors until he came to a room near his own.
The chamber was mostly bare. Only a large four poster bed dominated the room. Tacked to the walls were various sketches of pieces of furniture and designs for various cloth works.
Cliondna walked around the chamber carefully examining all the sketches in detail. She commented on several designs, pointing out flaws in design or approving the quality of others.
Listening carefully, Jareth made changes that Cliondna suggest. He had always admired her style and was pleased to make use of it now. He wished the room to be perfect.
Kissing her at the juncture of her neck and shoulder Jareth asked. "Over all how do you like this room?"
Cliondna nearly purred her answer. "This bedchamber is perfect, but..."
"But what?" he whispered in her ear making her shiver.
"I would rather sleep in yours."
Jareth smiled, "That can easily be arranged."
*********Several weeks later**************
The Dwarf King Mahanaga sat on this throne reading when his chamberlain approached.
"Your majesty, Lord Abraxas is here to see you."
"Send him in." The dwarf chamberlain bowed and left the room shortly before Lord Abraxas entered.
"Your majesty," Abraxas bowed before Mahanaga.
"You have news of interest?"
"Yes, about the Goblin King." Abraxas smiled knowing that this would please the Dwarf King.
"What about that son of goblin?" He snapped, having never gotten along with Jareth.
"Well, it seems that a mortal defeated his labyrinth..." Abraxas started but he cut off by Mahanaga.
"Somebody beat him, good! I'm sure that put him in a bad mood." He smiled at the pain that must have cost Jareth's ego.
Abraxas continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. "He fell into the most foul of moods. None dared go near him. Then suddenly it all changed. His mood improved and he has called all the finest artisans to his kingdom, as I'm sure you have heard already."
"Yes, I'd wondered at that. Have you any idea what might have caused the change?" Mahanaga wolfishly grinned at Abraxas knowing that he had.
"Well, shortly before this change he delivered two documents to the Lord of Documents." Abraxas paused grinning. He was enjoying every moment.
"Go on." Mahanaga said impatiently.
"The first was strange, a simple contract exchanging a certain child for the future promise of a anohter. Common language for this type of document."
"Yes, but why bother having it recorded." Mahanaga tapped his finger against his lips thinking. "There must be more to this than it seems." He looks Abraxas straight in the eyes. "What is the other document?"
"That one is even more curious," Abraxas paused again but Mahanaga just waved for him to continue. "No one will say. The Lord of Documents if being very secretive about it. He has forbade any of his clerks to say anything about it." He smiled enjoying Mahanaga's reaction.
Mahanaga looked at his curiously, "None could be induced for a little gold to give comment on it?"
His smile broadened. "None save that the Lord of Documents has hidden it away so that none may see it. Thus none of his clerks *knows* anything of any use."
"I have heard tell that Cliondna, the Brownie King's sister, is spending a great deal of time with him."
"If you mean they are lovers, then you are correct. But they have been in each other's bed for decades. Her brother favors the match."
"And well he might. They share a common border." Mahanaga sat lost in thought for many minutes before asking, "Does the contract state the gender of the child in question?"
"No, but from the date it would hardly be a child anymore." Abraxas answered wondering where Mahanaga's train of thought was leading.
Mahanaga thought silently for several more moments before suddenly standing up and starting to pace the floor before Abraxas. "That goblin spawned son of a poka!!!" he muttered to himself.
"You majesty?" asked Abraxas, confused as Mahanaga's sudden behavior.
"I know what he is up to. That other document had to be a marriage contract with King Finvarra for his sister."
Abraxas shook his head. "He wouldn't, Finvarra would insist that Jareth make his son Tylwyth provisional heir in case he never produced one himself. And knowing how rare births, and common death of the mother, child or both are he would never agree. Finvarra stood to control his kingdom or rather Tylwyth after him."
With a cunning look in his eye Mahanaga nodded. "Yes, that is the reason for the contract to be recorded. She, it has to be a she, is mortal. They do not have our problem when it comes to giving birth. He could easily get a heir off of her. He will make her his mistress."
Abraxas now understanding Jareth's plan. "He knows that Finvarra is weak and his son is worse. He easily controls them now, how much more so when they are tied by marriage."
"And think of the price he could command for her after he has his heir. He gets a rich price for mere babes. Half the lesser nobility have bought them for daughters to tempt the great kings into marriage alliances."
Abraxas added, "And many of the rich artisans also have paid Jareth dearly in hopes of marriage into the noble class."
"Then how much more would he get for a proven woman. I know several who would pay anything for a male heir of their own blood."
"And by registering his claim, he makes sure that none can claim any of her children. No matter who the father is, the child is his -- should he want it." Abraxas just stands before Mahanaga, astounded by Jareth's devious but flawless plan.
"It is so simple. He gives use of her for a fee and gives them first pick of any child produced. So even if they are girls he still comes out ahead."
"How so?" Abraxas asks.
"Since he would have his heir, the females could be used to make alliances to strengthen his power even more."
"I see, a simple yet perfect plan, your majesty."
"And one we must do something about. You are dismissed Lord Abraxas." Mahanaga strode from the room planning best how to stop Jareth from gaining so much power.
---to be continued---
Is the document a marriage contract?
What are Jareth's plans for Sarah?
What will King Mahanaga and Lord Abraxas do to stop Jareth?
Do I adore reading your comments about my writing?
These questions and more may be answered in the next chapter of (drum roll please) Variations on a Theme.
Onaree