A/N: Ok, this be chapter two. WELCOME! Glad you could join me. ;-) Moving
along... Labyrinth is the property of Henson & all associated companies.
All Lord of the Rings character names, places, plot, lines, etc. are
property of Tolkien ((and, if you wanna get technical, Warner Bros.))
"Draco Malfoy" is a Harry Potter character, and therefore property of
Rowling. Once again, lyric snippet is from "Crystal Ball" by Styx. Yes, the
idea is to eventually get the entire song into the story, chapter by
chapter-simply because it fits the theme of this story so well-and don't
worry, I have lyrics from other Styx songs if I run out of "Crystal Ball"
(.
PLEASE REVIEW!! I WRITE FOR REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!! And now to business...
:~:*^*:~:~~~~~~~~~~:~:*^*:~:~~~~~~~~~~:~:*^*:~:
"I wonder what tomorrow has in mind for me, Or am I even in its mind at all? Perhaps I'll get a chance to look ahead and see- Soon as I find myself a crystal ball. Soon as I find myself a crystal ball."
Chapter Two: Bending the Rules
Amber made her way back home and was in the door by the time her watch read 11:00 AM. Her family was up by this time, and they paid her no mind as she went about making a cheese and mustard sandwich-she was a vegetarian, and Evan had eaten the last of the peanut butter.
Amber munched on her sandwich as she walked in the living "room". She found her mother sitting in the big, green chair-Amber's favorite chair.
"Mumma... can I go to Asher's today?" she asked nonchalantly. This would determine whether she'd have to sneak away or not.
"Sure, whatever, just be home before 9." Her mom waved her away.
Amber frowned and walked outside, puzzled. Usually she had to plead her mom to let her do anything. She let it drop with a sigh and gulped down the last dry mouthful of sandwich. It was about 11:20-Asher wouldn't mind if she was a little bit early, and Amber would have to walk there anyway. So she started up the long road out of her complex, her new book shoved up her sleeve in the secret pocket Amber had sewn there herself.
Amber sang a random tune, kicking a rock along the edge of the highway as she walked toward Asherlynn's neighborhood. She started in on a song she knew well as she turned into the neighborhood and walked on down Asherlynn's street. She danced on down the street until she reached Asher's house and it was up the driveway to her door. Amber knocked liltingly and waited on the doorstep, still dancing in place.
Asherlynn opened the door, looking as if she had dressed in a hurry; she was wearing a t-shirt that was on inside-out and a pair of jeans with mismatched toe socks-though the mismatched toe socks were quite the usual for Asher's outfit. "'Llo?" she said groggily, rubbing her closed eyes.
"Morning, Ash. You're shirt's on inside out, by the way." Amber laughed.
"Ah, Gandalfy-you're early." She opened her eyes and blinked out at her with a smile.
"Indeed, Frodo? I wouldn't've thought you'd forget but-'A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.' So there." Amber stuck out her tongue.
Asherlynn just laughed and pulled her inside, shutting the door behind Amber. "So...what's up?"
"Eh...not much, really." Amber sighed, and then proceeded questioningly (for it was rare Asher had a minute left in her day-to spend with her, anyway), "I thought you'd be busy today...?"
Asher replied, "Didn't I tell you once before-'If I want to see you-"
Amber cut her off with a sigh, "I know, I know-you'll make ruddy time."
Asher shook her head, sighed, and half-hugged her. Amber smiled, "Today we're going to wish someone away."
Asher replied, "Again? Oh, but I never tire of it. Let's wish away my binder! Draco Malfoy deserves punishment!"
Amber laughed, "It's just a picture. Oh, whatever. Well...I was kinda leaning toward an animate object, but it doesn't really matter. On the count of three..."
They spoke together now, "One, two, three-We wish the Goblin King would come and take Asher's binder away right now."
The two fell back onto the floor, laughing, but suddenly-
There was a white owl fumbling with the living room windows.
Asher and Amber screamed and ran upstairs into Asher's room. Asher stammered out, "Oh gobs, oh gobs, he's REAL, it's really HAPPENING!" She was shaking horribly and it was all Amber could manage to pat her back comfortingly.
Like a bad dream, the owl had crept to the bedroom window and tumbled it open. It flapped into the room now and circled their heads, landing in front of the two girls.
There was a brilliant flash of light, and the girls covered their eyes. When they opened them again, before them stood none other than King Jareth- only he was a bit different than books and movies had suggested. He was a little taller, looked a bit younger, and had blue-streaked black hair rather than a white-blonde. His eyes, too, were different; both were a mix of many colors at once rather than one being brown and the other blue.
"Amber, Amber... I'm disappointed in you! I had hoped I would have a bit of live prey!" he taunted her in a voice that was different, as well-far more soothing and velvety than the voice of any mortal.
Amber gaped like a fish out of water. She reached blindly for something... finding Asher's hand, she grabbed her about the wrist and used it to slap herself. Hard. As Asher drew back her hand, wincing, Amber was jolted back into reality. Here stood the Goblin King-and apparently, they had business to settle.
"Live prey? Who could you possibly want as live 'prey'?" she asked challengingly.
"Asher, there. It'd be funny to se how much pain you would undergo to get her back-I highly suspect you'd die for her." He stated coolly, shrugging and seating himself on Asher's desk. Amber glanced over him again-he didn't look like he could be a day older than 16-and yet..... he seemed so out of place in that body.
"Hey! You're sitting on Daniel Radcliffe!" Asher whispered timidly.
Amber spoke a reply to Jareth, pinching Asher softly in warning, "Well, be that as it may, we have wished away something dear to us. I know the rules. Let us have our 13-hour torture."
"Ah, you know Sarah's rules-" he laughed sophisticatedly, "You, my dear, you-have a much different task ahead of you. As for we... Asher shall become my prisoner in place of her binder. Too bad, so sad." He snapped and Asher vanished with a poof of silvery smoke, her binder reappearing on the floor beside Amber. He smiled maliciously at Amber, as if contemplating a plan he had pre-formed and looking at a sheep he was about to send to the slaughter house.
"Alright. Name my challenge-I will be successful." Amber stuck out her chin defiantly, expressing more courage than she felt as her stomach sank.
"You are to follow my orders precisely if you want Asher back. Nothing too taxing, really. You will enter the Labyrinth-but it will be much different than Sarah's challenge had been. That story was mostly Hollywood mangling a true event-as you can probably tell from my 'different' appearance. Come to think of it, Sarah was actually closer to your age-about 14-when she faced my Labyrinth." He smiled curtly.
Amber nodded mechanically, realizing he was most definitely not mortal as she prompted, "So how would I go about entering the Labyrinth-and how long do I have to get to the Castle and save Asher?"
"Ooh, new rules there, too. That's the fun part." Here, he grinned and continued, "You start at the center. You have 13 days to get out of the Castle as well as the Labyrinth-but here's the catch; there are 13 exits to my Labyrinth-at the end of only one will your freedom and Asher be. I can tell you more as far as exits-but I doubt you'll get that far. Let's go- out, out, out." He opened the window and the same bright light flashed through the room.
Jareth was once more an owl, and Amber had changed as well-into a pale- skinned, black-haired faerie with flittering icy blue wings, clothed in a silky, cobweb-woven gown. Amber, still retaining the power of speech, stated the obvious in a voice as silkily comforting and cold as Jareth's, "Oh, and now I have to fly with you to get there?-new rules, indeed."
Jareth just gave an owlish shrug and flapped out the window. Amber fluttered along beside him, and the air seemed to rush by faster with each second. That's when she realized she was rushing over a landscape she couldn't even see, as it was going by so fast. Amber gave an involuntary gasp and flitted to land on Jareth's back, placing her arms around his neck in fear.
The ground slowed below them, and there was the Labyrinth. Amber seemed to come back to grips with reality and blushed as she loosed his neck to fly alongside him once more. His eyes glinted with an unknown emotion, and Amber blushed a little deeper as she realized she would've enjoyed just holding onto him, even after they had landed-forever. She looked back down at the Labyrinth-it was a lot bigger than the movie had suggested, but Amber took this as no surprise-she had often thought it was probably much larger. She barely had time to glimpse at it, however, before they landed on a balcony. Amber perched on the edge and the bright light flashed again. She was once more herself, but teetered precariously. She fell forward and Jareth caught her delicately.
"Careful-how could we lose a player before the game has even begun?" he whispered in her ear, setting her on her feet again. Two close calls in five minutes-nice track record, Amber thought bitterly. She was going to have to watch herself. But somehow... Jareth also seemed to be less of a villain than the movie had made him-he even seemed like someone she might ask for help later in her journey-no, she told herself firmly. This was a mind game-a trick she was playing on herself. He would only try to fool her into losing- but this defense was dashed to pieces as quickly as it was born, and, unbeknownst to her, he had already realized he was quickly falling for her.
"Hm... I told you I could tell you more about your quest later-and I will. Meet me in the Right Room.-it's on the ground level and is located, ironically, in the Left Wing. Get there by the dawn of the Second Day. It is the night before the First Day now-I suggest you get some rest. Do you have any questions?" Jareth said to her informatively.
Amber swallowed dryly as she processed all this, "Uh... just two. One: Where am I to get some rest? Two: Why are you being so particularly helpful?"
Jareth's face became expressionless as he answered her first question, "You can follow me-I'll lead you to a safe place to sleep." He walked on into the Castle, his back to her.
"Wait-you didn't answer my first question." She said with a slight hope that he was being genuine in his help.
He pretended not to hear her as he walked on through a hall covered in colorful tapestries and grandiose carpets. She simply followed obediently and silently, walking a bit faster so as to come up beside him and gaze at his face contemplatively. She looked again at his eyes-where it was hardest to hide an emotion-and was surprised at how skilled he was at suppressing emotion there, as well. She detected something there, but what she could not be sure of. He didn't even glance at her, but she knew he was aware she was watching him. She blushed slightly and fell behind him again. He stopped in front of a door that almost blended into the wall.
"This is my corridor. Rooms where I sleep, eat, and house guests that I don't wish to die-for how can you play a game if your players are dead?" he smirked ironically.
"You see my challenge as a game?" Amber questioned.
He nodded, "A very difficult game, yes. You must balance your time and use all your skill to have success at a seemingly impossible goal." He opened the door to his corridor, and walked on down this new hall, Amber beside him once more.
Amber frowned, "So that's all you see this as?-A game of skill? What if I don't make it to rescue Asher in time, eh?"
He smiled, "Well, then one of many things may happen-I don't turn everyone into goblins, you know. You might switch yourself for her, and undergo whatever fate I may have planned. Alternatively, you may join her in her fate anyway. Or I could send you home and keep her to suffer. However, it could just play out that I don't feel like playing anymore and kill both of you. Any way you try to look at it, the odds aren't good and the outcomes are worse."
Amber nodded and they stopped in front of another door. Jareth spoke again, "This can be your room for the night. Mine is right next door, so don't hesitate to yell if you need anything-anything." He winked and walked into the room next to hers. She walked in and didn't pay any attention to detail of the room as she fell to the floor, and instantly to sleep.
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NEXT CHAPTER: A FEW NIGHT VISITORS CHANGE THE COURSE OF EVENTS! AMBER GETS A NEW NAME, AND MAKES A NEW ALLY! WHO? CAN'T TELL YA! YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO READ IT!
PLEASE REVIEW!! I WRITE FOR REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!! And now to business...
:~:*^*:~:~~~~~~~~~~:~:*^*:~:~~~~~~~~~~:~:*^*:~:
"I wonder what tomorrow has in mind for me, Or am I even in its mind at all? Perhaps I'll get a chance to look ahead and see- Soon as I find myself a crystal ball. Soon as I find myself a crystal ball."
Chapter Two: Bending the Rules
Amber made her way back home and was in the door by the time her watch read 11:00 AM. Her family was up by this time, and they paid her no mind as she went about making a cheese and mustard sandwich-she was a vegetarian, and Evan had eaten the last of the peanut butter.
Amber munched on her sandwich as she walked in the living "room". She found her mother sitting in the big, green chair-Amber's favorite chair.
"Mumma... can I go to Asher's today?" she asked nonchalantly. This would determine whether she'd have to sneak away or not.
"Sure, whatever, just be home before 9." Her mom waved her away.
Amber frowned and walked outside, puzzled. Usually she had to plead her mom to let her do anything. She let it drop with a sigh and gulped down the last dry mouthful of sandwich. It was about 11:20-Asher wouldn't mind if she was a little bit early, and Amber would have to walk there anyway. So she started up the long road out of her complex, her new book shoved up her sleeve in the secret pocket Amber had sewn there herself.
Amber sang a random tune, kicking a rock along the edge of the highway as she walked toward Asherlynn's neighborhood. She started in on a song she knew well as she turned into the neighborhood and walked on down Asherlynn's street. She danced on down the street until she reached Asher's house and it was up the driveway to her door. Amber knocked liltingly and waited on the doorstep, still dancing in place.
Asherlynn opened the door, looking as if she had dressed in a hurry; she was wearing a t-shirt that was on inside-out and a pair of jeans with mismatched toe socks-though the mismatched toe socks were quite the usual for Asher's outfit. "'Llo?" she said groggily, rubbing her closed eyes.
"Morning, Ash. You're shirt's on inside out, by the way." Amber laughed.
"Ah, Gandalfy-you're early." She opened her eyes and blinked out at her with a smile.
"Indeed, Frodo? I wouldn't've thought you'd forget but-'A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.' So there." Amber stuck out her tongue.
Asherlynn just laughed and pulled her inside, shutting the door behind Amber. "So...what's up?"
"Eh...not much, really." Amber sighed, and then proceeded questioningly (for it was rare Asher had a minute left in her day-to spend with her, anyway), "I thought you'd be busy today...?"
Asher replied, "Didn't I tell you once before-'If I want to see you-"
Amber cut her off with a sigh, "I know, I know-you'll make ruddy time."
Asher shook her head, sighed, and half-hugged her. Amber smiled, "Today we're going to wish someone away."
Asher replied, "Again? Oh, but I never tire of it. Let's wish away my binder! Draco Malfoy deserves punishment!"
Amber laughed, "It's just a picture. Oh, whatever. Well...I was kinda leaning toward an animate object, but it doesn't really matter. On the count of three..."
They spoke together now, "One, two, three-We wish the Goblin King would come and take Asher's binder away right now."
The two fell back onto the floor, laughing, but suddenly-
There was a white owl fumbling with the living room windows.
Asher and Amber screamed and ran upstairs into Asher's room. Asher stammered out, "Oh gobs, oh gobs, he's REAL, it's really HAPPENING!" She was shaking horribly and it was all Amber could manage to pat her back comfortingly.
Like a bad dream, the owl had crept to the bedroom window and tumbled it open. It flapped into the room now and circled their heads, landing in front of the two girls.
There was a brilliant flash of light, and the girls covered their eyes. When they opened them again, before them stood none other than King Jareth- only he was a bit different than books and movies had suggested. He was a little taller, looked a bit younger, and had blue-streaked black hair rather than a white-blonde. His eyes, too, were different; both were a mix of many colors at once rather than one being brown and the other blue.
"Amber, Amber... I'm disappointed in you! I had hoped I would have a bit of live prey!" he taunted her in a voice that was different, as well-far more soothing and velvety than the voice of any mortal.
Amber gaped like a fish out of water. She reached blindly for something... finding Asher's hand, she grabbed her about the wrist and used it to slap herself. Hard. As Asher drew back her hand, wincing, Amber was jolted back into reality. Here stood the Goblin King-and apparently, they had business to settle.
"Live prey? Who could you possibly want as live 'prey'?" she asked challengingly.
"Asher, there. It'd be funny to se how much pain you would undergo to get her back-I highly suspect you'd die for her." He stated coolly, shrugging and seating himself on Asher's desk. Amber glanced over him again-he didn't look like he could be a day older than 16-and yet..... he seemed so out of place in that body.
"Hey! You're sitting on Daniel Radcliffe!" Asher whispered timidly.
Amber spoke a reply to Jareth, pinching Asher softly in warning, "Well, be that as it may, we have wished away something dear to us. I know the rules. Let us have our 13-hour torture."
"Ah, you know Sarah's rules-" he laughed sophisticatedly, "You, my dear, you-have a much different task ahead of you. As for we... Asher shall become my prisoner in place of her binder. Too bad, so sad." He snapped and Asher vanished with a poof of silvery smoke, her binder reappearing on the floor beside Amber. He smiled maliciously at Amber, as if contemplating a plan he had pre-formed and looking at a sheep he was about to send to the slaughter house.
"Alright. Name my challenge-I will be successful." Amber stuck out her chin defiantly, expressing more courage than she felt as her stomach sank.
"You are to follow my orders precisely if you want Asher back. Nothing too taxing, really. You will enter the Labyrinth-but it will be much different than Sarah's challenge had been. That story was mostly Hollywood mangling a true event-as you can probably tell from my 'different' appearance. Come to think of it, Sarah was actually closer to your age-about 14-when she faced my Labyrinth." He smiled curtly.
Amber nodded mechanically, realizing he was most definitely not mortal as she prompted, "So how would I go about entering the Labyrinth-and how long do I have to get to the Castle and save Asher?"
"Ooh, new rules there, too. That's the fun part." Here, he grinned and continued, "You start at the center. You have 13 days to get out of the Castle as well as the Labyrinth-but here's the catch; there are 13 exits to my Labyrinth-at the end of only one will your freedom and Asher be. I can tell you more as far as exits-but I doubt you'll get that far. Let's go- out, out, out." He opened the window and the same bright light flashed through the room.
Jareth was once more an owl, and Amber had changed as well-into a pale- skinned, black-haired faerie with flittering icy blue wings, clothed in a silky, cobweb-woven gown. Amber, still retaining the power of speech, stated the obvious in a voice as silkily comforting and cold as Jareth's, "Oh, and now I have to fly with you to get there?-new rules, indeed."
Jareth just gave an owlish shrug and flapped out the window. Amber fluttered along beside him, and the air seemed to rush by faster with each second. That's when she realized she was rushing over a landscape she couldn't even see, as it was going by so fast. Amber gave an involuntary gasp and flitted to land on Jareth's back, placing her arms around his neck in fear.
The ground slowed below them, and there was the Labyrinth. Amber seemed to come back to grips with reality and blushed as she loosed his neck to fly alongside him once more. His eyes glinted with an unknown emotion, and Amber blushed a little deeper as she realized she would've enjoyed just holding onto him, even after they had landed-forever. She looked back down at the Labyrinth-it was a lot bigger than the movie had suggested, but Amber took this as no surprise-she had often thought it was probably much larger. She barely had time to glimpse at it, however, before they landed on a balcony. Amber perched on the edge and the bright light flashed again. She was once more herself, but teetered precariously. She fell forward and Jareth caught her delicately.
"Careful-how could we lose a player before the game has even begun?" he whispered in her ear, setting her on her feet again. Two close calls in five minutes-nice track record, Amber thought bitterly. She was going to have to watch herself. But somehow... Jareth also seemed to be less of a villain than the movie had made him-he even seemed like someone she might ask for help later in her journey-no, she told herself firmly. This was a mind game-a trick she was playing on herself. He would only try to fool her into losing- but this defense was dashed to pieces as quickly as it was born, and, unbeknownst to her, he had already realized he was quickly falling for her.
"Hm... I told you I could tell you more about your quest later-and I will. Meet me in the Right Room.-it's on the ground level and is located, ironically, in the Left Wing. Get there by the dawn of the Second Day. It is the night before the First Day now-I suggest you get some rest. Do you have any questions?" Jareth said to her informatively.
Amber swallowed dryly as she processed all this, "Uh... just two. One: Where am I to get some rest? Two: Why are you being so particularly helpful?"
Jareth's face became expressionless as he answered her first question, "You can follow me-I'll lead you to a safe place to sleep." He walked on into the Castle, his back to her.
"Wait-you didn't answer my first question." She said with a slight hope that he was being genuine in his help.
He pretended not to hear her as he walked on through a hall covered in colorful tapestries and grandiose carpets. She simply followed obediently and silently, walking a bit faster so as to come up beside him and gaze at his face contemplatively. She looked again at his eyes-where it was hardest to hide an emotion-and was surprised at how skilled he was at suppressing emotion there, as well. She detected something there, but what she could not be sure of. He didn't even glance at her, but she knew he was aware she was watching him. She blushed slightly and fell behind him again. He stopped in front of a door that almost blended into the wall.
"This is my corridor. Rooms where I sleep, eat, and house guests that I don't wish to die-for how can you play a game if your players are dead?" he smirked ironically.
"You see my challenge as a game?" Amber questioned.
He nodded, "A very difficult game, yes. You must balance your time and use all your skill to have success at a seemingly impossible goal." He opened the door to his corridor, and walked on down this new hall, Amber beside him once more.
Amber frowned, "So that's all you see this as?-A game of skill? What if I don't make it to rescue Asher in time, eh?"
He smiled, "Well, then one of many things may happen-I don't turn everyone into goblins, you know. You might switch yourself for her, and undergo whatever fate I may have planned. Alternatively, you may join her in her fate anyway. Or I could send you home and keep her to suffer. However, it could just play out that I don't feel like playing anymore and kill both of you. Any way you try to look at it, the odds aren't good and the outcomes are worse."
Amber nodded and they stopped in front of another door. Jareth spoke again, "This can be your room for the night. Mine is right next door, so don't hesitate to yell if you need anything-anything." He winked and walked into the room next to hers. She walked in and didn't pay any attention to detail of the room as she fell to the floor, and instantly to sleep.
:~:*^*:~:
NEXT CHAPTER: A FEW NIGHT VISITORS CHANGE THE COURSE OF EVENTS! AMBER GETS A NEW NAME, AND MAKES A NEW ALLY! WHO? CAN'T TELL YA! YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO READ IT!