I bought a dark thick cloak off one of the shops in the Goblin city,
trading a single peach for the floor long hooded cloak. It would no doubt
be of good use. I also bought a set of lock picks. I didn't know anything
about picking locks but the present was always a good time to start.
The castle was easy enough to get into the king didn't do anything for himself. The castle was mainly for aesthetic purposes. Otherwise he could just have a villa in the center of the labyrinth. No it was for massive amounts of guests, and show. Supposedly if the kingdom came under siege the whole of the Labyrinth could retreat into the castle. Supposedly.
I entered through the kitchens, dropping off a few peaches and intercepting enough food to keep me content for the night. Then I quietly made my way out of the bustle donning the cloak and slinking along the castle walls like a thief or an assassin. I couldn't keep the grin off my face, it was that exciting.
Dismissing of course the knowledge that if I was caught they'd probably exile me. That was the punishment for meddling in royal affairs, also known as treason. Anything worse was death, anything less was labor towards restoration of the Labyrinth. It had begun to decay as of late. No one was sure why exactly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bryn(His Majesty's Private Study)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I arrived his majesty was already mesmerized by his glass of brandy and Kenst was looking particularly strained. He was never really good at dealing with Jareth when he became emotional. Neither was I, but that's where the brandy came in. I drank but Kenst didn't.
I settled myself in the armchair across from Jareth, Kenst stood behind Jareth like always fading in and out of my vision as I glanced around the room. King Jareth had very simple tastes as far as his own preference went. This did not include his choice of outfits.
"You've been here a while." I stated blandly. Jareth glanced at me with obvious disinterest and took another sip of the amber liquid. He had been here quite a while it turns out.
"So what is today's debate topic?" I didn't really have to ask but it would be good to keep Jareth breathing, and he had to breath if he was going to shout and storm around like we both ended up doing by the end of such debates.
"Sarah." He murmured. "What to do about Sarah."
One of the great problems with Jareth was that you could never tell exactly how many drinks he had taken. He had a very unusual reaction to liquor as far as becoming drunk goes. For most people including me, perception slowly falls until you're a sputtering drooling puppet, who either cries or laughs until they fall asleep. For obvious reasons I normally do not allow myself to deteriorate to that stage. You can never really tell with Jareth.
I shrugged. "She's a weakness to you, and that means she a vulnerability to the kingdom." I stated. Then I took a long draught. "I think we should kill her."
Jareth, understandably did not take to that idea which spoke volumes about which direction we were going to take in the Sarah affair. Luckily, after several centuries you develop somewhat of an immunity against his piercing glares.
"Very well. We could set her up temporarily as a citizen." I suggested. "How long is she planning to stay?"
Jareth drank some more. "She doesn't intend to visit." He replied softly.
I topped off my glass and poured a new one, filling Jareth's again when he held it forth. The cup already had a faint yellow tint. Obviously, this wasn't just his second drink.
I knew this all already, having interrogated both Hoggle and Sir Didymus. I knew exactly what she had planned on doing, how badly it would have gone, and how irrationally luckily she was to have eaten that enchanted apple, which really was a incredibly complexly designed peach. According to the dwarf Sarah had developed a particular dislike of peaches due to his majesty's former enchantment. It was the only magical peach in the lot. The smell of conspiracy was overwhelming.
Someone wanted them together, enough to get her back here of her own free will and get her right under his majesty's nose within the day. If she was some sort of hidden threat it was my duty to make sure it never got in sight of Jareth, let alone touched him.
"She apologized."
I exchanged looks with Kenst. He nodded, yes, she had. That was most definitely a bad piece of news. I tapped my glass, a long habit. The last time she had been through here the king had become reduced to an emotional wreck for about a week, after which he was relentlessly cruel, and then consistently unpredictable for another three months. The citizens had gone through hell while he recuperated. I had been forced to use the guard for rescuing lost citizens because the labyrinth had become so irregular people were starting to get seriously lost.
I was beginning to think it might have been better to have her accidentally die and then deal with the repercussions Jareth would inflict for my 'incompetence'. I had a duty to keep him protected from anything that would do him harm, even if it was harm he wanted. That was no longer an option though he knew she was here.
"I accepted it." that meant a lot as well. Jareth held grudges longer than most, forgetting wasn't in his capabilities, forgiving was only a yearly visitor.
"So are you going to send her back now? She was trespassing." In order to get a resolution, especially about this subject, I would probably have to get him riled enough to get to the base of what he really wanted. Otherwise he would still try to get even, even after forgiving the poor girl.
"No."
"A job in the castle then perhaps? It turns out she was hoping to ask for citizenship."
"I suppose that would work for a short term solution."
I rubbed my temple and tried to block out the low rumbling hum that indicated the Labyrinth was changing massively. There were some things that changed and some things that never would.
"We also detected another intruder shortly after her appearance, standard procedures are being taken. We also have reason to believe that apple was specifically intended for her." I listed the reasons and watched his eyes glitter with the threat of pain for some unlucky person. I felt pity for them if they were ever found. Even if they deserved what he would do to them.
"Very well, she is to be accompanied by an armed guard at all times if I myself am not with her. Any illegally crossings to and from the Aboveground are to also be brought in for questioning." He finished up the brandy and set it down on the side table before standing and dusting off his cape swinging it back around his shoulders.
"Where are you going?" I inquired as Kenst flowed across the floor to flank Jareth on the left.
He flicked the door open. "To bed of course." He stated turning right.
"Jareth." He paused.
"You're bedroom's the other way." I pointed out.
He glanced down the left hall, and then in the direction he was headed. "Yes of course." Then with the grace benefiting a Goblin King, Jareth promptly passed out.
Kenst flowed forward to catch him, arms emerging from the swirling gray material, and settled him down against the wall before slipping back out of sight and then back into sight again. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. Women, they always meant this kind of trouble for his majesty. Bending over, I flung the unconscious Goblin King over my shoulder and started down the left hall, Kenst trailing just behind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Alyia(In the Goblin Castle)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was in luck. A little earlier it had seemed that fate was against me as I hid in a narrow cleft in the wall, squeezed behind a brazier. The perfectly empty corridor was suddenly occupied by none other than his majesty and he began walking my way. There would be no way he could miss me. He halted though, and to my utter amazement and complete amusement passed out. Right there on the floor in the middle of the hall. Somehow he slowed as he fell, which I don't get at all must be one of those kinks that come with being king.
Either way, Bryn came out after him and tossed his most royal passed-out- ness over his shoulder and started walking down the other way. My sigh of relief could have blown out a forest fire. But even more amazing, they had left the door open! The chance was too good to pass up.
As soon as they were around the corner I scampered down the hall and through the doorway leaving it the tiniest crack open so I could hear people coming. It was Jareth's personal study, the gods of luck weren't only watching, they were practically adopting me.
I wasn't about to stick around there though. I quickly found the record book from the year Issais died and then quickly checked another set of thick heavy volumes, which had Jareth's personal view in them, his diaries. I wasn't about to steal from him though, by the bog! I'm not that crazy. No one said anything was wrong with copying them though. I had three peaches, two of them went towards making replicas of the two books. The third. . . I really didn't need it for anything else so I found his diary from three years ago and copied that. Maybe it'd have some useful info on Sarah.
Stuffing the three volumes into a bag, I looped it over my head and shoulder and tucked it under the cloak. Then like a good little citizen I looked both ways before dashing down the halls and out of the royal wing of the castle. As soon as I was in the servants' passageways I relaxed a bit but only stopped well out of the castle and city where Apple and Kestrel waited for me. We scuttled away guiltily but not without a certain mischievous pleasure.
The castle was easy enough to get into the king didn't do anything for himself. The castle was mainly for aesthetic purposes. Otherwise he could just have a villa in the center of the labyrinth. No it was for massive amounts of guests, and show. Supposedly if the kingdom came under siege the whole of the Labyrinth could retreat into the castle. Supposedly.
I entered through the kitchens, dropping off a few peaches and intercepting enough food to keep me content for the night. Then I quietly made my way out of the bustle donning the cloak and slinking along the castle walls like a thief or an assassin. I couldn't keep the grin off my face, it was that exciting.
Dismissing of course the knowledge that if I was caught they'd probably exile me. That was the punishment for meddling in royal affairs, also known as treason. Anything worse was death, anything less was labor towards restoration of the Labyrinth. It had begun to decay as of late. No one was sure why exactly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bryn(His Majesty's Private Study)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I arrived his majesty was already mesmerized by his glass of brandy and Kenst was looking particularly strained. He was never really good at dealing with Jareth when he became emotional. Neither was I, but that's where the brandy came in. I drank but Kenst didn't.
I settled myself in the armchair across from Jareth, Kenst stood behind Jareth like always fading in and out of my vision as I glanced around the room. King Jareth had very simple tastes as far as his own preference went. This did not include his choice of outfits.
"You've been here a while." I stated blandly. Jareth glanced at me with obvious disinterest and took another sip of the amber liquid. He had been here quite a while it turns out.
"So what is today's debate topic?" I didn't really have to ask but it would be good to keep Jareth breathing, and he had to breath if he was going to shout and storm around like we both ended up doing by the end of such debates.
"Sarah." He murmured. "What to do about Sarah."
One of the great problems with Jareth was that you could never tell exactly how many drinks he had taken. He had a very unusual reaction to liquor as far as becoming drunk goes. For most people including me, perception slowly falls until you're a sputtering drooling puppet, who either cries or laughs until they fall asleep. For obvious reasons I normally do not allow myself to deteriorate to that stage. You can never really tell with Jareth.
I shrugged. "She's a weakness to you, and that means she a vulnerability to the kingdom." I stated. Then I took a long draught. "I think we should kill her."
Jareth, understandably did not take to that idea which spoke volumes about which direction we were going to take in the Sarah affair. Luckily, after several centuries you develop somewhat of an immunity against his piercing glares.
"Very well. We could set her up temporarily as a citizen." I suggested. "How long is she planning to stay?"
Jareth drank some more. "She doesn't intend to visit." He replied softly.
I topped off my glass and poured a new one, filling Jareth's again when he held it forth. The cup already had a faint yellow tint. Obviously, this wasn't just his second drink.
I knew this all already, having interrogated both Hoggle and Sir Didymus. I knew exactly what she had planned on doing, how badly it would have gone, and how irrationally luckily she was to have eaten that enchanted apple, which really was a incredibly complexly designed peach. According to the dwarf Sarah had developed a particular dislike of peaches due to his majesty's former enchantment. It was the only magical peach in the lot. The smell of conspiracy was overwhelming.
Someone wanted them together, enough to get her back here of her own free will and get her right under his majesty's nose within the day. If she was some sort of hidden threat it was my duty to make sure it never got in sight of Jareth, let alone touched him.
"She apologized."
I exchanged looks with Kenst. He nodded, yes, she had. That was most definitely a bad piece of news. I tapped my glass, a long habit. The last time she had been through here the king had become reduced to an emotional wreck for about a week, after which he was relentlessly cruel, and then consistently unpredictable for another three months. The citizens had gone through hell while he recuperated. I had been forced to use the guard for rescuing lost citizens because the labyrinth had become so irregular people were starting to get seriously lost.
I was beginning to think it might have been better to have her accidentally die and then deal with the repercussions Jareth would inflict for my 'incompetence'. I had a duty to keep him protected from anything that would do him harm, even if it was harm he wanted. That was no longer an option though he knew she was here.
"I accepted it." that meant a lot as well. Jareth held grudges longer than most, forgetting wasn't in his capabilities, forgiving was only a yearly visitor.
"So are you going to send her back now? She was trespassing." In order to get a resolution, especially about this subject, I would probably have to get him riled enough to get to the base of what he really wanted. Otherwise he would still try to get even, even after forgiving the poor girl.
"No."
"A job in the castle then perhaps? It turns out she was hoping to ask for citizenship."
"I suppose that would work for a short term solution."
I rubbed my temple and tried to block out the low rumbling hum that indicated the Labyrinth was changing massively. There were some things that changed and some things that never would.
"We also detected another intruder shortly after her appearance, standard procedures are being taken. We also have reason to believe that apple was specifically intended for her." I listed the reasons and watched his eyes glitter with the threat of pain for some unlucky person. I felt pity for them if they were ever found. Even if they deserved what he would do to them.
"Very well, she is to be accompanied by an armed guard at all times if I myself am not with her. Any illegally crossings to and from the Aboveground are to also be brought in for questioning." He finished up the brandy and set it down on the side table before standing and dusting off his cape swinging it back around his shoulders.
"Where are you going?" I inquired as Kenst flowed across the floor to flank Jareth on the left.
He flicked the door open. "To bed of course." He stated turning right.
"Jareth." He paused.
"You're bedroom's the other way." I pointed out.
He glanced down the left hall, and then in the direction he was headed. "Yes of course." Then with the grace benefiting a Goblin King, Jareth promptly passed out.
Kenst flowed forward to catch him, arms emerging from the swirling gray material, and settled him down against the wall before slipping back out of sight and then back into sight again. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. Women, they always meant this kind of trouble for his majesty. Bending over, I flung the unconscious Goblin King over my shoulder and started down the left hall, Kenst trailing just behind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Alyia(In the Goblin Castle)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was in luck. A little earlier it had seemed that fate was against me as I hid in a narrow cleft in the wall, squeezed behind a brazier. The perfectly empty corridor was suddenly occupied by none other than his majesty and he began walking my way. There would be no way he could miss me. He halted though, and to my utter amazement and complete amusement passed out. Right there on the floor in the middle of the hall. Somehow he slowed as he fell, which I don't get at all must be one of those kinks that come with being king.
Either way, Bryn came out after him and tossed his most royal passed-out- ness over his shoulder and started walking down the other way. My sigh of relief could have blown out a forest fire. But even more amazing, they had left the door open! The chance was too good to pass up.
As soon as they were around the corner I scampered down the hall and through the doorway leaving it the tiniest crack open so I could hear people coming. It was Jareth's personal study, the gods of luck weren't only watching, they were practically adopting me.
I wasn't about to stick around there though. I quickly found the record book from the year Issais died and then quickly checked another set of thick heavy volumes, which had Jareth's personal view in them, his diaries. I wasn't about to steal from him though, by the bog! I'm not that crazy. No one said anything was wrong with copying them though. I had three peaches, two of them went towards making replicas of the two books. The third. . . I really didn't need it for anything else so I found his diary from three years ago and copied that. Maybe it'd have some useful info on Sarah.
Stuffing the three volumes into a bag, I looped it over my head and shoulder and tucked it under the cloak. Then like a good little citizen I looked both ways before dashing down the halls and out of the royal wing of the castle. As soon as I was in the servants' passageways I relaxed a bit but only stopped well out of the castle and city where Apple and Kestrel waited for me. We scuttled away guiltily but not without a certain mischievous pleasure.