The Winds of Change
Now that my life is so pre-arranged
I know that it's time for a cool change. Little River Band
More relative than this: the play 's the thing
Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. Hamlet
Tray in hand Gola hurried down the passageway towards Sonya's chambers as fast as her little goblin legs could carry her. She was just bursting with the news she heard in the kitchen and had to tell her friend right away. She even volunteered to deliver the mistress's refreshment just to have an excuse to see Trama.
Reaching the outer chamber door she took a deep breath and knocked. Upon hearing no response she timidly cracked the door open and peered around the elaborately decorated sitting room. Seeing no one was there she continued on to bedchamber door and knocked again. Upon hearing the word "Enter" Gola carefully balanced the tray opened the door and crossed the threshold.
She made her way through a maze of hanging gossamer veils to reach the dressing area. Emerging on the other side she saw Sonya standing on a round dais surrounded by several goblin seamstresses busy doing a final fitting of her ball gown to her form. "It's about time. Set the tray over there." Her highness said impatiently and pointed to a side table.
Gola curtseyed and carefully placed the laden tray on the indicated table and spotted Trama pining the back of the gown's hem. She noticed that Sonya was distracted with the fit of her sleeves and took the opportunity to make her way over to Trama and quietly whispered in her ear. Hearing the faint murmuring behind her Sonya demanded, "What are you whispering about you imbecile?"
Shaken at being caught Gola stammered, "N-n-nuthin yer m-m-majesty, I was just t-t-telling Trama that Sarah Williams is coming back to the Underground for the celebration." Sonya turned and blazed her black eyes at the goblin, "Is that all you are good for? Idle talk? Get out of my sight you little wigwurm." Gola hurriedly curtseyed and flew out of the room hoping to escape her mistresses' wrath.
It always paid to keep one's ear to the ground and from gossip around the castle Sonya knew that this Sarah was the only human who defeated the Labyrinth. She shrugged and thought, "What does that matter to me? I have Jareth completely under control." She smiled in satisfaction as she gazed at her beautiful image reflected in the mirror.
The ballroom had been transformed from a large drafty space into a vision of festive fantasy. Massive chandeliers were strung with hanging jewels that caught the light and reflected it like colored stars. The high walls were softened with draped shimmering cloth in royal colors of purple and gold. Where there was always one throne on the ballroom dais, there were now two. Behind each throne hung a large tapestry depicting Jareth's and Sonya's coats of arms respectively.
Alone in the glorious ballroom, the Goblin King tapped his gloved fingers impatiently as he waited for Toad. He summoned the jester a couple of days ago and asked him to come up with entertainment for the ball. This morning Toad had sent a request for his majesty to meet him here and witness a dress rehearsal.
As if on cue, the lights dimmed and a deep rumble came from nowhere and everywhere in the room. As the sound increased streaks of lightening came from the four corners of the ceiling converged into a single bolt that struck the ground and turned into Toad. "Now that's an entrance." Jareth mused to himself.
The jester cut a striking figure with his long silver hair hanging loose over a black formal robe. In his arms he held a dozen red roses. "Distinguished Guests and Majesties, I am here tonight to tell you about love." Toad said and started to juggle the delicate roses so that all twelve were in the air at once. Jareth was amazed as the jester defied the laws of gravity by making the flowers seem to dance in the air without dropping a petal.
"At first love is like roses, sweet and unforgettable. Then passion blazes." As Toad spoke the flowers turned into torches that spun and twirled in intricate patterns controlled by the jester's deft motions. The blazing lights were soon moving all over the huge room leaving and returning at impossible distances from the graceful black robed figure.
Jareth was so taken with the performance he did not notice that one torch had left the others and swiftly headed in his direction until it stopped motionless mere inches from his face. For a split second all the Goblin King could see was intense light that burned in a myriad of colors as a voice filled his mind. "The light comes."
Jareth blinked and the jester again controlled all the torches as if the incident had never happened. Toad said dramatically, "The passion of love may burn away but sweet memories forever remain." At this the torches turned back into dancing roses that were seamlessly regathered by the jester followed by a sweeping bow.
Jareth smiled and clapped, "Well done. Tell me, how did you do the illusion of a voice from the torch?" Toad looked puzzled, "What illusion your majesty?"
The hawk flew over the Labyrinth swiftly heading north. Sonya was eager to see her master, her beloved. Being with Jareth was tiresome. He was a pretty toy but so boring in doing everything to please her. His light (what there was left of it) drained her and she needed to be refreshed by releasing her true self. She needed to be in her lands again, among her own kind.
As she reached the Astire Mountains with their caps of ice and snow, she began to feel alive. Excited she flew faster above the peaks until she saw the deep pit in the center, a black hole that shed no light surrounded and shielded by the icy mountain range.
When she was dead center over the gaping cavity she pulled her wings tight to her sides and nose-dived straight down, it was exhilarating. While her feathered body bulleted to its destination the scenery around her changed from sky and clouds to rough cavern walls, as she seemed to drop forever.