Chapter Ten - Dances and Discoveries
******
Arian woke up from a disturbed sleep. She wondered if Hoggle had been able to get
out of the Labyrinth undetected. Quite frankly she didn't care. Yep, that dwarf was
nothing but a little troublemaker and he deserved everything he got!
That thought in mind, she tried once more to get to sleep. When that didn't wok she
busied herself by distinguishing patterns in the boards of her wooden ceiling. Shapes
that had been there all her life jumped out from the knot holes and cracks where they
had been hiding. There in the corner was the dark oak wolf, while right above her was
a distorted crown and all manner of faces and creatures. Her ceiling was very much
like the stars in her mind, but only because it was so familiar. After tiring of this, she
decided to get up. She ran her hands over her beloved printing press and they
automatically moved to the large tray of iron letters nearby. Arian had always
preferred writing by hand but the press was more challenging and satisfied her overly
active mind. Each tiny letter was skilfully placed to form backward words and
backward pages. Everything had to be carefully worked out. Then just the right
amount of ink at just the right consistency at just the right shade of black. Then the
moment of truth...
She lifted up the heavy weight of the press and admired her handiwork. Of course it
was beautiful and the story was a gripping if short tale about how an evil dwarf was
thrown in the Bog of Eternal Stench for trying to stir up hatred among the royal
family. Mire of Malice was the final title and she had to admit that she felt a lot better
for it. She was wondering whether she should add an engraving of the title characters
unflattering end, when she noticed that it was a lot brighter than usual. Good lord! It
was morning. She had been so engrossed in her work that she hadn't noticed.
There was a knock at the door and a small and particularly ugly goblin entered.
"My Lady. His Majesty requests your company for breakfast."
Oh God! What if he'd found Hoggle? Arian struggled to keep her composure and
managed to squeeze out a question "Why is that, pray tell?"
"Didn't say, my Lady."
"Bollocks!" she rubbed her eyes with frustration and fatigue, forgetting about the
copious amount of ink on her fingers.
******
She arrived late as usual. Jareth regarded his daughter with suspicion. He knew that
troublesome dwarf had got to her somehow but in his haste to punish the creature he
had forgotten to ask what she knew. The poor girl looked terrible. Black ink stains
gathered around her eyes and fingers and her hair was messier than ever. He didn't fail
to note that her pendant was missing.
"Good morning, Arian. Or should I say good afternoon, it just passed thirteen." he said
with a hint of sarcasm as she sat down and helped herself to some bread.
"Sorry, father. I was..." she had to think quickly "...searching for my pendant. I
couldn't find it this morning." That would do.
The story made sense but the Goblin King still got the feeling that she was lying. He
pressed further. "I found a dwarf trespassing in the castle last night. No doubt, he
must've stolen it?"
Panic welled up inside Arian's stomach but was quickly repressed. "Maybe. Dwarves
do have a passion for gem stones." she said conversationally.
Jareth still wasn't convinced. "But you didn't see anyone last night?"
"Not a soul. What did you do with him?"
"With who?"
"The dwarf."
"Had him thrown in the Bog like all the other trespassers."
Arian's eyes widened for a moment. This was beginning to sound disturbingly like the
story she had written the night before! Was it coincidence or had her writing really
inflicted such a terrible fate. A part of her felt a pang of guilt but another part filled
her with curiosity and excitement at this discovery. She had to get away and
experiment further.
She hated lying but she didn't trust herself to tell the truth. It would ultimately lead to
confrontation, the last thing she needed right now. Her father eyed her suspiciously
but OT her relief, he let it drop. Something had changed him in her eyes since she had
learned of his defeat. She wasn't sure if it was a loss or gain of respect but something
had made him seem more like the person she had known when she was very young
and it kindled long lost memories of affection.
"On a lighter note, the king of Ethon is throwing a mask this evening and I have
decided to bring you along. You may have the day off to get ready." said Jareth.
"Me! Why?"
"Because you are my heir and you need to learn how to associate with the right
people."
Arian nodded sullenly. She didn't want to go but there wasn't going to be any way
around it. She shuddered at the thought of all those people. Her father noticed her
displeasure.
"You look like I've just ordered your execution! There's no need to worry. Besides, my
mother will be there." he said.
"Grandmother's going!" said Arian excitedly. She hadn't seen her in years. It had been
her grandmother who had introduced her to the books and languages of the
Overworld. Perhaps the evening wasn't going to be so bad...
******
Arian woke up from a disturbed sleep. She wondered if Hoggle had been able to get
out of the Labyrinth undetected. Quite frankly she didn't care. Yep, that dwarf was
nothing but a little troublemaker and he deserved everything he got!
That thought in mind, she tried once more to get to sleep. When that didn't wok she
busied herself by distinguishing patterns in the boards of her wooden ceiling. Shapes
that had been there all her life jumped out from the knot holes and cracks where they
had been hiding. There in the corner was the dark oak wolf, while right above her was
a distorted crown and all manner of faces and creatures. Her ceiling was very much
like the stars in her mind, but only because it was so familiar. After tiring of this, she
decided to get up. She ran her hands over her beloved printing press and they
automatically moved to the large tray of iron letters nearby. Arian had always
preferred writing by hand but the press was more challenging and satisfied her overly
active mind. Each tiny letter was skilfully placed to form backward words and
backward pages. Everything had to be carefully worked out. Then just the right
amount of ink at just the right consistency at just the right shade of black. Then the
moment of truth...
She lifted up the heavy weight of the press and admired her handiwork. Of course it
was beautiful and the story was a gripping if short tale about how an evil dwarf was
thrown in the Bog of Eternal Stench for trying to stir up hatred among the royal
family. Mire of Malice was the final title and she had to admit that she felt a lot better
for it. She was wondering whether she should add an engraving of the title characters
unflattering end, when she noticed that it was a lot brighter than usual. Good lord! It
was morning. She had been so engrossed in her work that she hadn't noticed.
There was a knock at the door and a small and particularly ugly goblin entered.
"My Lady. His Majesty requests your company for breakfast."
Oh God! What if he'd found Hoggle? Arian struggled to keep her composure and
managed to squeeze out a question "Why is that, pray tell?"
"Didn't say, my Lady."
"Bollocks!" she rubbed her eyes with frustration and fatigue, forgetting about the
copious amount of ink on her fingers.
******
She arrived late as usual. Jareth regarded his daughter with suspicion. He knew that
troublesome dwarf had got to her somehow but in his haste to punish the creature he
had forgotten to ask what she knew. The poor girl looked terrible. Black ink stains
gathered around her eyes and fingers and her hair was messier than ever. He didn't fail
to note that her pendant was missing.
"Good morning, Arian. Or should I say good afternoon, it just passed thirteen." he said
with a hint of sarcasm as she sat down and helped herself to some bread.
"Sorry, father. I was..." she had to think quickly "...searching for my pendant. I
couldn't find it this morning." That would do.
The story made sense but the Goblin King still got the feeling that she was lying. He
pressed further. "I found a dwarf trespassing in the castle last night. No doubt, he
must've stolen it?"
Panic welled up inside Arian's stomach but was quickly repressed. "Maybe. Dwarves
do have a passion for gem stones." she said conversationally.
Jareth still wasn't convinced. "But you didn't see anyone last night?"
"Not a soul. What did you do with him?"
"With who?"
"The dwarf."
"Had him thrown in the Bog like all the other trespassers."
Arian's eyes widened for a moment. This was beginning to sound disturbingly like the
story she had written the night before! Was it coincidence or had her writing really
inflicted such a terrible fate. A part of her felt a pang of guilt but another part filled
her with curiosity and excitement at this discovery. She had to get away and
experiment further.
She hated lying but she didn't trust herself to tell the truth. It would ultimately lead to
confrontation, the last thing she needed right now. Her father eyed her suspiciously
but OT her relief, he let it drop. Something had changed him in her eyes since she had
learned of his defeat. She wasn't sure if it was a loss or gain of respect but something
had made him seem more like the person she had known when she was very young
and it kindled long lost memories of affection.
"On a lighter note, the king of Ethon is throwing a mask this evening and I have
decided to bring you along. You may have the day off to get ready." said Jareth.
"Me! Why?"
"Because you are my heir and you need to learn how to associate with the right
people."
Arian nodded sullenly. She didn't want to go but there wasn't going to be any way
around it. She shuddered at the thought of all those people. Her father noticed her
displeasure.
"You look like I've just ordered your execution! There's no need to worry. Besides, my
mother will be there." he said.
"Grandmother's going!" said Arian excitedly. She hadn't seen her in years. It had been
her grandmother who had introduced her to the books and languages of the
Overworld. Perhaps the evening wasn't going to be so bad...