Disclaimer: I don't own it! Happy?
Blood Runs Blue
By Winter
Summary: Continues 'Blushing Red'. Blood, seduction, and revenge… repeat as needed. ~Dark~
Distribution: ff.net, ::Chicken Scratches::, jsfanfiction mailing list, Labyrinth- fanfic mailing list. Everyone please ask first, I'll say yes ^_^.
Feedback: feedback is the dessert I can eat like a pig w/out feeling guilty. i.e. I live on the stuff. All flames will be used to roast the subsequent marshmallow junkyness…
Part 2
The focus of two glittering, ethereal eyes, one blue one brown, danced around the circular stone chamber. Almost gleefully they took in each minute detail, cataloging away every change for future reference. A smug smile flittered across the finely boned features of the once again powerful Jareth, Goblin King in all but yet reinstated title. A thick layer of grimy dust covered everything in the room, but the blonde Leanen Sidhe continued to proceed in his perusal of the throne room, seemingly unaware of the disrepair long years of disuse had allowed the building to fall into.
"Happy?" the clipped tone of the voice matched the strained face of its owner.
Jareth glanced up, eyes twinkling merrily as he took in the almost seven foot tall figure of his friend, the pale rose color of her velvet gown accentuating the shocking streaks of silver moonlight in her long black tresses, "Yes," he looked around himself again, smug look now firmly in place, "I am."
Lori puckered her lips slightly in worry, her eyes darting towards the floor, "I do not approve of your methods." She dared to glance up at the powerful fae lord.
The smile upon his face did not slip; instead it widened as he swept off the circular throne, gauzy black cape billowing around his slender figure, "Oh, you don't?" his tone mocked the Midlor fae. "And why ever not?"
Lori drew in a deep breath, a solid line forming between her brow. She glanced around the room, rich purple eyes taking note of the cobwebs and grime; glossy maroon lips tightened at the corners.
Jareth smirked and sauntered towards her, "Lori." The tone commanded.
Her perusal stilled, for once everything about her still… frozen, "I thought you a great fool when you faced her the first time. Now six mortal years past."
Jareth frowned.
"Now I see that that was barely a glimmer of the stupidity you can wield with those flashy crystals of yours."
His mismatched eyes glowed with open hostility, "You dar…"
Lori's hair ignited with white lightening, a sharp gust of wind whipping it around her willowy, tall form, "Yes, I dare!" Her voice sounded of thunder, physically shaking the rocks and chipped mortar scattered around the room. Eyes flickered black and skin drained of all color. She blinked and everything was restored, her hair lightening to a glossy brown, eyes turning a soft sea foam green. "I dare because I do not wish to see this destroy you," she implored him, head lowered slightly in supplication. "Please Jareth…"
"No!" he swept his hand in a dismissive gesture. "No, I will not listen to this." He turned from the Midlor and stepped back towards the dusty throne.
"But…"
he sat down upon the cold stone, back rigid, "No. you will defer to my judgment on this. For once in this lifetime Lorialazaline you will not contradict me."
Pale pink eyes looked up at this; wide, the betrayal evident. She bowed low, her voice small and nothing more then the slightest whisper, "Yes, m'lord." She turned, head remaining down, and began to leave.
Jareth slumped slightly, "Lori…"
She straightened, jaw clench, cheek bones even more prominent; turned, tonelessly, "Yes, m'lord?"
"Please…"
"No." pause, "Good day m'lord." And she was gone.
Jareth closed his eyes, no longer interested in the crumbling walls around him.
* * *
The sun sparkled brightly in the clear blue sky. Birds twittered cheerfully amongst the leafy green treetops. A golden deer and her two young walked easily along the dappled forest floor, ears twitching lazily back and forth. The soft doe eyes of the smaller female fawn blinked innocently at the passing of a loping wolf, solid black streaked with silver around the eyes against the colorful backdrop of nature.
Silent paws carried the wolf to the center of the forest. The forest remained still and blissfully relaxed as the wolf's form rippled, morphing until Lori stood in its place. Her previous choice of heavy burgundy colored, velvet dress now replaced by a gauzy yellow sundress.
A circular stone, wide enough to allow a person to stand upon it, hovered a foot above the ground, an eight point star engraved into the top. Lori stepped up onto it, softly murmured, "Lỉerỉl." and the stone began a gentle assent into the high treetops.
Minutes passed in contemplative silence. The stone stopped roughly three fourths of the way to the top, a stone platform extended from the tree. She stepped off the floating stone and strode purposefully into the branching limbs of the giant tree. She passed into an open, covered building and made her way over to the single item of furniture: an elegantly carved, solid Cyprus writing desk. A slender figure sat hunched over the desk, furiously scribbling away with a wispy gray feather pen.
Lori walked up to the figure, stopping a few feet away, "A word, father?"
The figure jerked upright, turned a tender smile lighting up his ageless face, "Lori." The tone deep, flowing like heavy silk with the barest hint of an accent. The smile straightened at the grim expression upon his daughter's face, "What troubles you, my darling?"
Lori drew in a deep breath before meeting the golden eyes. She studied him for a moment, his Grace Lord Martiss le Maiyen, high chieftain of the last remaining Midlor Sidhe; slightly spiked blazingly red hair, the hint of grey at the temples, glittering eyes, and ageless lightly tanned skin. He was dressed in a simple green tunic over a cream linen shirt and green suede pants tucked into tall brown boots.
At last she spoke, her voice soft, "Oh father, I fear so for him." Her eyes glowed midnight blue, "She has sworn revenge, though as yet he does not know of this, but I fear for when he does come to knowledge of it." Lori turned and walked past the desk, looking out into the trees branches, "They will fight each other until the bitter end."
Lord Martiss removed the unnecessary wire frame reading glasses from his face, intrigued, "You have seen this then?"
Lori shook her head desperately, "No… not exactly. It's more…" she turned back to him, "Frankly, I'm not sure what it is… a feeling maybe. I, I just fear for him." Her tone turned bleak, "Each would destroy the other given half a chance. The King handled things very badly indeed." Lori heaved a great sigh, "he will not listen to reason father." Turned pleading eyes upon the chieftain, "For once, I do not know how to handle this… handle him. Please, I seek your wisdom for it is greatly in this."
The older Midlor turned his focus inward for a few moments before focusing his unnerving gold eyes upon his black haired daughter, "You must be there for him. That is all you can do."
Lori slumped, "It is so hard at times."
He walked over to her, cupping her cheek, "Of course it is. This is life Loria, and life is hard." He smiled, "Keep hope, there is a drễdra on everyone's horizon if the person will but look for it." He moved back towards his desk, "Will you be staying for dinner?"
Lori followed slowly, "Yes, I find that I have had enough of the Goblin King for one day."
Martiss smiled and the two stepped deeper into the tree.
TBC
A/N: there ya go, a nice juicy bit of story. Hope you enjoy! As always please leave a review and let me know what you think, all impute it greatly appreciated!