Chapter 2
"So, how are you related to Jareth again?" Sarah asked Shenya.
"He's my mother's brother's son. My parents were killed in the Aboveground five years ago. I was eleven years old, so I ran from my adoptive home to live with Jareth. He kicked me out and threatened to kill me if I every came back," Shenya explained. They were walking in the labyrinth, with a basket full of string. One end was attached to the door at Goblin City, the other was in their basket.
"Oh. Why did he do that?" Sarah asked. Shenya had bee barely tolerating her persence, and that questioin frayed her last nerve. She blew up.
"Because of you! Ever since you defeated the labyrinth, he has changed! He is bitter, and he threatened to kill me, he wanted to die! When he didn't want to die, he was always plotting to get you back. He loved you, and you practically spit in his face!" Shenya screamed and ran off without the basket.
Sarah followed her and found her and a dead end, sobbing. Sarah was stunned to find this normally, or of what Sarah had seen of her, cool and conserved girl break down like that. Even more so that Jareth loved her.
"You must really hate me," Sarah began. Shenya nodded.
"Before you came, he was like an uncle to me. He gave me gifts, he played with me, helped me with my homework. I stayed here during the summers. It was the best place in the world."
"How was I supposed to know he was in love with me?" Sarah asked.
"Think back to the night he took your brother. What led up to those words?"
"I told him a story. . . " Sarah remembered.
"Tell me the story," Shenya suggested as they rose and continued on their way to explore every corner of the labyrinth.
"Um. . . Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young girl, something about a step mother and a baby. . . it's no good, I can't remember," Sarah gave up.
"Then allow me to skip to the good part. But what no one knew, was that the Goblin King fell in love with her and gave her certain powers' Remind you of anything?"
"Oh, my gosh! I really did say that! and I practically spit in face! No wonder he changed! I can't believe I did that! So stupid!"
"What's said is said, and what's done is done. I just want you to fix it, so I can have my old cousin back," Shenya explained.
"You really are related to him aren't you? Jareth said something along the same lines to me when I asked for Toby back," Sarah said.
"Do you have any idea where we're going?" Shenya asked. "We've almost run out of string."
"No, I don't. Wouldn't it be faster if we had more people searching?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, but we took all of the string in Goblin City and the castle and we're running out. There isn't anything to keep them from getting lost. And where would we find people like that anyway?" Shenya asked.
"Easy, my friends. Ludo, Hoggle and Sir Didymus. They'll be glad to help out, I'm sure. As for string, we can use trail signs, like I used to make in girl scouts." Sarah explained.
"Fine, call them. But don't expect me to be partnered with any of them." Shenya said with a disdainful look.
"Hoggle! Ludo! Sir Didymus! I need you!" Sarah called out. The dwarf, fox, and yeti appeared before her. "I need help to find Jareth. I know you guys don't like him, but he needs our help and we have to find him." Sarah explained, and they agreed to help, so Sarah taught them trail signs. Shenya stood and watched them, hoping they found her cousin soon. He was the only family she had left. . . .
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Jareth woke slowly. His head hurt badly where someon had hit him over the head. He looked around groggily. He knew where he was, if only he remebered what it was called.
"Well, well. /King/ Jareth. You and your family have ruled us long enough. We have declared war on you and your family, of which you have none." A goblin said.
No, not Shenya. They couldn't have gotten Shenya. She was supposed to be safe in the Aboveground!' Jareth thought.
"Dirpeck! have you done what I told you to?" The goblin asked.
"Yes, sir. The string has been cut, and the girl will never find her way out of there. Traps have been set at every unguarded entrance, she will not survive if she fell into any any of them. Not even her magic can save her now!" Dirpeck replied.
"Good work, Dirpeck! You see, Jareth, Dirpeck here collected your cousin and stuck her in the labyrinth, then cut the string that showed her the way back," the goblin explained. "I hope you two parted on good terms!" And he left.
Jareth had threatened to kill Shenya if she ever set foot in his kingdom again, due to the fact that it was not safe for her. He sent her to the Aboveground so she would be safe from the goblins, should they ever uprise.
He would never have carried out his threat, but she would never know that. . . .
"So, how are you related to Jareth again?" Sarah asked Shenya.
"He's my mother's brother's son. My parents were killed in the Aboveground five years ago. I was eleven years old, so I ran from my adoptive home to live with Jareth. He kicked me out and threatened to kill me if I every came back," Shenya explained. They were walking in the labyrinth, with a basket full of string. One end was attached to the door at Goblin City, the other was in their basket.
"Oh. Why did he do that?" Sarah asked. Shenya had bee barely tolerating her persence, and that questioin frayed her last nerve. She blew up.
"Because of you! Ever since you defeated the labyrinth, he has changed! He is bitter, and he threatened to kill me, he wanted to die! When he didn't want to die, he was always plotting to get you back. He loved you, and you practically spit in his face!" Shenya screamed and ran off without the basket.
Sarah followed her and found her and a dead end, sobbing. Sarah was stunned to find this normally, or of what Sarah had seen of her, cool and conserved girl break down like that. Even more so that Jareth loved her.
"You must really hate me," Sarah began. Shenya nodded.
"Before you came, he was like an uncle to me. He gave me gifts, he played with me, helped me with my homework. I stayed here during the summers. It was the best place in the world."
"How was I supposed to know he was in love with me?" Sarah asked.
"Think back to the night he took your brother. What led up to those words?"
"I told him a story. . . " Sarah remembered.
"Tell me the story," Shenya suggested as they rose and continued on their way to explore every corner of the labyrinth.
"Um. . . Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young girl, something about a step mother and a baby. . . it's no good, I can't remember," Sarah gave up.
"Then allow me to skip to the good part. But what no one knew, was that the Goblin King fell in love with her and gave her certain powers' Remind you of anything?"
"Oh, my gosh! I really did say that! and I practically spit in face! No wonder he changed! I can't believe I did that! So stupid!"
"What's said is said, and what's done is done. I just want you to fix it, so I can have my old cousin back," Shenya explained.
"You really are related to him aren't you? Jareth said something along the same lines to me when I asked for Toby back," Sarah said.
"Do you have any idea where we're going?" Shenya asked. "We've almost run out of string."
"No, I don't. Wouldn't it be faster if we had more people searching?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, but we took all of the string in Goblin City and the castle and we're running out. There isn't anything to keep them from getting lost. And where would we find people like that anyway?" Shenya asked.
"Easy, my friends. Ludo, Hoggle and Sir Didymus. They'll be glad to help out, I'm sure. As for string, we can use trail signs, like I used to make in girl scouts." Sarah explained.
"Fine, call them. But don't expect me to be partnered with any of them." Shenya said with a disdainful look.
"Hoggle! Ludo! Sir Didymus! I need you!" Sarah called out. The dwarf, fox, and yeti appeared before her. "I need help to find Jareth. I know you guys don't like him, but he needs our help and we have to find him." Sarah explained, and they agreed to help, so Sarah taught them trail signs. Shenya stood and watched them, hoping they found her cousin soon. He was the only family she had left. . . .
#####
Jareth woke slowly. His head hurt badly where someon had hit him over the head. He looked around groggily. He knew where he was, if only he remebered what it was called.
"Well, well. /King/ Jareth. You and your family have ruled us long enough. We have declared war on you and your family, of which you have none." A goblin said.
No, not Shenya. They couldn't have gotten Shenya. She was supposed to be safe in the Aboveground!' Jareth thought.
"Dirpeck! have you done what I told you to?" The goblin asked.
"Yes, sir. The string has been cut, and the girl will never find her way out of there. Traps have been set at every unguarded entrance, she will not survive if she fell into any any of them. Not even her magic can save her now!" Dirpeck replied.
"Good work, Dirpeck! You see, Jareth, Dirpeck here collected your cousin and stuck her in the labyrinth, then cut the string that showed her the way back," the goblin explained. "I hope you two parted on good terms!" And he left.
Jareth had threatened to kill Shenya if she ever set foot in his kingdom again, due to the fact that it was not safe for her. He sent her to the Aboveground so she would be safe from the goblins, should they ever uprise.
He would never have carried out his threat, but she would never know that. . . .