Thanks for all the nice encouragement, I really appreciate it! Once again, I do not own any of the characters of the Labyrinth, nor do I own anybody from The Wizard of Oz - so please don't sue me, I have no money anyways!
Please continue to R&R - and every time I read a new response, I start writing faster....so you guys do the math : )
******************************
Michael jogged down the hill towards the towering walls of the labyrinth, his eyes searching. Finally seeing his intended target, Michael lowered his head and sped up into an all out run. An old wizened looking hobgoblin walked from flowery bush to bush busily exterminating faeries. "Fifty-six.....Fifty-seven....Fifty....hey! You there! Don't you be coming round here starting trouble." He shouted at Michael as he quickly approached. The hobgoblin looked Michael up and down. "Aren't you a little big to be wishing your sibling to the Goblin King?"
Ignoring the hobgoblin, Michael walked towards the enormous tree surrounded by bushes and leaning against the labyrinth wall.
"Don't want to talk? Well, you don't have to talk. But what I will tell you is this - the entrance is over that way," he gestured towards a concealed door in the wall.
Michael began to slowly climb the tree, hauling himself up into the limbs, working his way towards the top of the wall.
"What do you think you're doin?" the hobgoblin hollered. "I said the entrance was over that way!"
Gripping the edge, Michael pulled himself on top and stared into the labyrinth. Taking a deep breath, he leaped from the outer wall to the inner walls of the labyrinth , out of the hobgoblin's sight.
"Well...," the hobgoblin sighed. "Jareth isn't going to like this one little bit." He shrugged his shoulders and set back to work. "Now where was I? Damn....I lost track again. One...two...three..."
****************************
She was standing on a dark deserted sidewalk, the cruel winter wind robbing her small frame of heat. Before her stood a lone figure, clutching the folds of his overcoat, hunching over to try and minimize the area the wind could get to. Because his head was bowed, he couldn't see the menacing figure swiftly approaching.
She tried to run, knowing she could never reach the man's side in time, but no matter how quickly she ran, she couldn't get any closer. Daddy, she screamed, Daddy look behind you! But the man didn't hear his daughter's hysterical screams. Elyssa watched in horror as the mugger took out a knife and slashed her father's throat from behind. You fucking bastard….No…
"No…" she whispered, automatically stifling her cries. Since her father's murder, Elyssa suffered this nightmare almost every night. She rubbed her eyes absently, trying to wipe away the lingering effects of her dream. You'd think I'd be used to this shit by now, she thought ruefully…and why am I on the floor? Her eyes snapped open, wincing as she sat up. Pain shot up and down her shoulders and back from sleeping on what appeared to be a damp cell floor deep in the heart of a faintly lit dungeon. Moldy straw covered the dirty floor. The only other object inside the cell was a small wooden bucket in the far corner that reeked of waste. Thick iron bars coated in rust ran from the floor to the ceiling. Elyssa shook her head, trying to clear the confused jumble of thoughts flooding her mind. "Where am I," she whispered softly. She groaned as realization set in. I'm his prisoner now...
From the darkness in the cell across from her, a voice softly warbled, "Somewhere over the rainbow…way up high…" The voice began to sob softly while singing. "…where they dreams that we dare to dream…" The singer was forced to pause again, whuffling softly. Elyssa stood, leaning against the bars of her cell. "Marcus? Is that you over there?"
"…really do come true…" Sobbing openly now, Marcus sat huddled in a corner, hugging his legs to his chest. He lifted his blood shot eyes at the sound of Elyssa's voice. "You're not Judy Garland."
"Of course I'm not Judy Garland, you idiot. What the hell is the matter with you?
He rolled his eyes dramatically, gesturing with his hand. "Damn. I was hoping for Dorothy and Toto, but I guess I'll have to settle for you." He stared at Elyssa, completely serious. "Darling, I've something simply awful to tell you. You see, I've lost my mind - gone completely insane...it's nice to know I've taken you with me."
Elyssa sighed, trying to keep her patience. "Marcus, although normally I'd hate to disagree with you on that point, this time you're not crazy. You wished us here, don't you remember?"
"How could I have wished us somewhere, when I don't even know where here is?"
"Well, I'd say we're in a dungeon for starters."
"Oh really? Hmm...couldn't figure that much out myself," Marcus' voice dripped with sarcasm. "Besides if I would have wished us somewhere, it would have been someplace nice - someplace where they serve you drinks with those cool little umbrellas."
"Marcus, I'm not precisely sure what's going on, but we're in the dungeon of the goblin king. Remember that weirdo from the ball? Well, somehow he's got us trapped here, and if Michael doesn't solve Jareth's labyrinth in thirteen hours, we're going to be stuck here for the rest of our lives."
Marcus stared at Elyssa as if she had begun to sprout a second head. "Oh honey, you're crazier than I am." He covered his mouth with his hand, a small sob escaping from his lips. "I think we've officially jumped off the deep end." He sighed, "Where's Russell Crowe when you need him?"
From down the hall a creaking door opened and a short squat figure waddled towards them. His large belly hung from underneath a dirty tattered shirt, overlapping his shredded pants. A ring of keys hung from a belt slung around his middle, slapping the side of his thigh as he walked. His small beady eyes glared at first Marcus then Elyssa. "Master wants to see you, missy. You'll be coming with me now." Giving her a glance of warning, he proceeded to unlock Elyssa's cell. "I wouldn't try any funny business if I were you."
"I wouldn't dream of if," she answered innocently. Her eyes widened questioningly at Marcus. He paled, then shook his head.
"Now turn around like a good lass, and let me put this on ye." The gaoler produced a rusty pair of manacles.
"I really don't think those are necessary, now do you," she flashed her most convincing smile. The gaoler reached around to scratch his considerably large butt.
"Just put 'em on, I ain't got all day, now. No need to make this any harder than it has to be, eh?"
With a sigh, Elyssa turned around and offered her hands. With an efficient click, her hands were securely manacled behind her. The gaoler gave Elyssa a shove, "Alright then, let's get on with it...you've wasted enough o' my time as it is."
Elyssa wisely remained silent, holding her acid tongue in check - for now at least. Her captor led her past the rows of cells into a narrow hallway which led to a spiraling staircase. Resolutely, they began to climb. The stair seemed endless, constantly circling higher and higher. Building up her courage, Elyssa queried, "Are you a...a goblin?"
He snorted derisively, "You must be joking...where do you think you've found yourself? Fairyland?"
"Hey, you don't have to be a jerk. I didn't mean to offend, I've just never seen a goblin before and..." She turned to smile, receiving sharp prod in the back in return.
"I'm sure that'll change, lass. Now shut up and climb."
Continuing up the stairwell, they passed by a narrow window. Elyssa was only able to peek outside, but it looked dark - almost as if late afternoon was creeping into dusk. How long was I unconscious? It was only three in the afternoon when...
The goblin heaved a sigh of relief as the steps opened up into a wide landing. Pushing her from behind, the goblin led Elyssa through a series of twists and turns leading into a long hallway. Loud voices emanated from an arched room at the end of the hallway. Anxiety worked it's way through her stomach. The closer they got to the room, the louder the voices became. Giving her one final shove from behind, the gaeoler pushed Elyssa into the room causing her to fall off balance, landing on her knees. She glanced up to see that the room was full of goblins drinking, gambling, fighting - complete and utter chaos.
With a squeal of delight, several goblins rushed over and began pawing at her hair, tugging at her shirt. Elyssa struggled to free herself, fighting to regain her feet. The more she struggled, the more the goblins piled on, pulling her down to the ground. Dirty nails scratched down her legs and arms, hands yanked her long hair free from it's chignon. She screamed, "Get the fuck off of me, you creepy little deformed monkeys!"
"Enough!!", a loud voice boomed echoing through the room. The goblins scattered at the sound of the voice, and retreated to the far corners of the room. Still on her knees, Elyssa looked up only to stare directly into the eyes of the Goblin King. "Well this just went from bad to worse," she murmured. "Nice of you to send me the welcoming party. Do I get to look forward to being mobbed by goblins every time you send for me, or was this just a one time special event?"
He stood looking down on her imperiously, eyes flashing wickedly. As always, Jareth was impeccably dressed - tight gray hose clung to his legs, dark leather boots sculpted his calves. His arms billowed in a soft poet's shirt, opened at the neck - hands covered with his ever-present gloves. A tight leather vest cinched at his waist. Elyssa tore her eyes away, suddenly aware that she was actually admiring him. Furious, she stood up ignoring the thin trickle of blood which ran down her cheek. "I an unarmed woman so threatening that you have to chain her up?"
She jumped, startled, when suddenly Jareth appeared behind her, whispering into her ears. "I wouldn't dream of such a thing, my dear. You know, I've always said that chains where for the bedroom only, but you can't make goblins understand little things like that." With a click , the manacles were unlocked, falling to the ground in a loud clatter. Elyssa moved quickly away, rubbing her wrists.
"Oh dear me," Jareth tsked softly, "it would seem that you poor cheek was scratched. Come here and let me clean that up for you."
"Don't touch me," she hissed.
Jareth sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "Some people - and I do so try to be hospitable to my guests."
"Guests?" She said incredulously. "I hardly think I qualify as a guest."
"Oh? And why is that, hmm?" he moved closer to her. Jareth's eyes gleamed menacingly. "Given the circumstances I would say I'm being extremely generous."
"Generous?" She stood her ground, face tilted defiantly up at his. "You wouldn't know generosity if it bit you on the ass. But that's alright - I don't need your fictitious generosity. Michael will be coming for me any time now, and I'll be on my way."
Jareth's lip curled, "I'll enjoy teaching you the penalties of defiance later." Blood rushed to her face as Jareth's eyes roved up and down her body suggestively. "My, my...you have a way of making me forget myself. We'll have to finish this conversation at a later date." He stalked away from Elyssa, who stood shivering uncontrollably. "But for now - I have business to attend to. I summoned you here for a reason - a gift really." From out of thin air, his deft hands produced a crystal, nimbly moving it from finger to finger.
Elyssa swallowed hard, fighting back the effects of standing underneath the intensity of Jareth's gaze. She cursed herself for her weakness. "I want nothing you have to offer." She struggled unsuccessfully to keep the quiver out of her voice.
"Ah, but I think you'll want this, my dear." He placed the tiny dancing crystal onto a large stand. For a second, Elyssa blinked away an overwhelming sense of disorientation. Either the crystal grew into the stand, or else everything shrank - she really wasn't sure which one. Fascinated, Elyssa moved towards the crystal, staring into it's depths. "Michael...?" She thought that she could make out his hazy figure walking amidst the walls of the labyrinth.
Elyssa turned to ask Jareth how many hours were left - but he was gone. Even the goblins had left her alone. Swallowing back her fear, Elyssa peered into the crystal watching Michael make his way through the labyrinth.