Chapter Twelve - Reunions and Revelations
******
"Grandmother!" cried Arian joyfully and rushed into the arms of the older woman.
"Arian! How you've grown! You're quite the young lady now!" said Erestine the
Queen Mother smiling. Her granddaughter smiled back, then wandered off to
investigate the small orchestra that had been hired for the occasion. Live music was a
rare luxury in Arian's experience. Erestine nodded to the sinister figure who had also
arrived. "Jareth. Long time no see..."
"Good evening, mother." replied the Goblin King blankly.
"Nice to see you too!" said the older woman sarcastically. "You know, it wouldn't hurt
to call me now and again."
"I'm sorry mother. I've been busy."
"Yes. I know. I was impressed by that Peace Process, by the way. Your father would
have been proud."
"Thanks." said Jareth. He was forever in awe at how his mother could encourage him
and make him feel guilty at the same time. "And I will try and make time to see you."
"But it's not me you should be making time for is it?" said Erestine and turned her
head to look at the young girl who was chatting enthusiastically with a rather stunned
violinist.
"I have been making time for her." said Jareth angrily "But she always has her head in
the clouds. She takes no interest in her lessons. She can't even make a simple fire
spell."
"Funny that. Especially as her power has grown since I last saw her." said Erestine
with wistful look in her eye. It was that exasperating 'I know something you don't
know' look. And why wouldn't she? After all the great Erestine sees and knows all,
Jareth thought. "I noticed that you've given her our symbol." his mother continued
"That was a sweet gesture."
"I just want her to be acknowledged here, that's all."
"Really?" said Erestine. Resistance was futile. It was impossible to lie to her.
Although she couldn't read minds she could see all the things that people did when
they thought they were alone and make a pretty good assumption. "I would have
thought it meant much more then that. The value of the trinket is meaningless but I
find your choice of symbol quite fascinating." Jareth said nothing. "I mean why not
get her the Coin of Princes like all the other heirs. I know you hold a great pride for
the Labyrinth, but why give such an inexperienced girl such a great symbol of
importance?"
"You know very well why!" Jareth hissed suddenly. "Was it not you who saw the
prophecy? Who helped plan this from the very beginning? She will conquer worlds,
mother. Even her name is synonymous with the power she can wield. Once it is
unleashed, there will be no limits and with our guidance, she could save this place!"
"You are, of course, correct." said Erestine. "But I know there's more to it than that.
You're frightened. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Not of her but for her. You're scared
the responsibility will be too great. That she might destroy herself like so many
before. You're scared of how she's changing and deep down, you wish that she could
still be that little girl who hero-worshipped you and wrote stories for you about all the
adventures the two of you had."
Jareth looked up with shock. How could she know that? He hadn't confessed that
particular thought to anyone.
"You still read them now and again when you're depressed. Especially the one about
the friendly dragon..." said Erestine.
"Well, it had so many interesting plot twists." said Jareth unhappily "She really does
have talent. But she never shows me her work anymore."
"Perhaps you should ask." said Erestine. "You might be pleasantly surprised." she
gave him a knowing grin and turned to go and find Arian "And Jareth," she said over
her shoulder.
"Yes, mother?"
"Please do something about your hair!"
******
"Grandmother!" cried Arian joyfully and rushed into the arms of the older woman.
"Arian! How you've grown! You're quite the young lady now!" said Erestine the
Queen Mother smiling. Her granddaughter smiled back, then wandered off to
investigate the small orchestra that had been hired for the occasion. Live music was a
rare luxury in Arian's experience. Erestine nodded to the sinister figure who had also
arrived. "Jareth. Long time no see..."
"Good evening, mother." replied the Goblin King blankly.
"Nice to see you too!" said the older woman sarcastically. "You know, it wouldn't hurt
to call me now and again."
"I'm sorry mother. I've been busy."
"Yes. I know. I was impressed by that Peace Process, by the way. Your father would
have been proud."
"Thanks." said Jareth. He was forever in awe at how his mother could encourage him
and make him feel guilty at the same time. "And I will try and make time to see you."
"But it's not me you should be making time for is it?" said Erestine and turned her
head to look at the young girl who was chatting enthusiastically with a rather stunned
violinist.
"I have been making time for her." said Jareth angrily "But she always has her head in
the clouds. She takes no interest in her lessons. She can't even make a simple fire
spell."
"Funny that. Especially as her power has grown since I last saw her." said Erestine
with wistful look in her eye. It was that exasperating 'I know something you don't
know' look. And why wouldn't she? After all the great Erestine sees and knows all,
Jareth thought. "I noticed that you've given her our symbol." his mother continued
"That was a sweet gesture."
"I just want her to be acknowledged here, that's all."
"Really?" said Erestine. Resistance was futile. It was impossible to lie to her.
Although she couldn't read minds she could see all the things that people did when
they thought they were alone and make a pretty good assumption. "I would have
thought it meant much more then that. The value of the trinket is meaningless but I
find your choice of symbol quite fascinating." Jareth said nothing. "I mean why not
get her the Coin of Princes like all the other heirs. I know you hold a great pride for
the Labyrinth, but why give such an inexperienced girl such a great symbol of
importance?"
"You know very well why!" Jareth hissed suddenly. "Was it not you who saw the
prophecy? Who helped plan this from the very beginning? She will conquer worlds,
mother. Even her name is synonymous with the power she can wield. Once it is
unleashed, there will be no limits and with our guidance, she could save this place!"
"You are, of course, correct." said Erestine. "But I know there's more to it than that.
You're frightened. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Not of her but for her. You're scared
the responsibility will be too great. That she might destroy herself like so many
before. You're scared of how she's changing and deep down, you wish that she could
still be that little girl who hero-worshipped you and wrote stories for you about all the
adventures the two of you had."
Jareth looked up with shock. How could she know that? He hadn't confessed that
particular thought to anyone.
"You still read them now and again when you're depressed. Especially the one about
the friendly dragon..." said Erestine.
"Well, it had so many interesting plot twists." said Jareth unhappily "She really does
have talent. But she never shows me her work anymore."
"Perhaps you should ask." said Erestine. "You might be pleasantly surprised." she
gave him a knowing grin and turned to go and find Arian "And Jareth," she said over
her shoulder.
"Yes, mother?"
"Please do something about your hair!"