Idony couldn't stand there any longer, she raced for a hole in a near by willow and she hid herself completely. She closed her eyes tightly, listening to the tree and the following birds, but they all said the same thing. The King has arrived. Footsteps could be heard in the distance, and they grew louder, and louder as time pasted. A minute went by but it seemed like forever to Idony. Finally, he came into view.
Two mismatched eyes bore into the surroundings, searching for a sign of life. Nothing, with the exception of the birds flying overhead, squawking loudly. A few hovered down and landed near by, watching this so called king.
"Damn birds," he muttered under his breath and they all shrieked in protest. He smiled, he was in the right place alright, he could sense her around. She was watching him. Idony looked out of her hiding spot to catch a glimpse of a man she both hated, and was fascinated by. Jareth tapped his foot impatiently, where was she hiding.
Idony was deeply intrigued, she hadn't seen a human, or at the very least someone that looked human in ten years. And she herself didn't even look human, not anymore. Her hair was pure white while her eyes a dark chocolate brown. Her skin was fair, a pale powder color. She was overly strong for a female, especially her age, and had taught herself simple nature magick.
"I know you're here," he grumbled, breaking her concentration. Idony sunk deeper within the hole which she hid, pulling the green velvet cloak over her head in hopes that he wouldn't find her. She was no match for his powers, this she now knew, and she couldn't fend him off with her staff. He was too strong, just by looking at him she knew. His blond spiky hair draped over his forehead and tossed around his neck. He wore black tights, which she never understood. Men back home never wore such things, unless they were either in gymnastics or gay.
He also wore a cape that was clasped onto a breastplate, which was also black. And, much like the ones he wore when she first saw him, he had a pair of black boots. Idony couldn't breathe. She was getting this strange feeling in the pit of her stomach but it wasn't fear. She took a deep breath, and tried to draw whatever courage she had hidden within herself and stepped out before the man she so greatly despised, and feared.
"My, my," she said, trying to keep her voice under control "what is his majesty doing, wandering so far from home?"
"Why looking for you," he grinned and began walking closer.
"Stay back," she ordered and waved her staff before her in a twirling manor. He stopped dead and gave a puzzled look. Did she really believe she could fight him? It was laughable, pitiful even, just the thought of her getting even one good hit in.
"Come peacefully," he said "your no match for me." The words tumbled from his mouth, as if he'd spoken them so many times before.
"What do you want?" she asked angrily.
"To reclaim my property," he said simply.
"You've left me in peace for ten years," she said "why do you pick now to come and take me?"
"I wasn't aware you were alive," he said "I assumed you died. No child can survive the Labyrinth alone."
"I did," she said boldly.
"That's impossible," he said in disbelief "you couldn't have."
"Do you see anyone else?" she asked "no! I survived your little Labyrinth, your lordship. And I can certainly survive anything you throw at me." Jareth's eyes burnt with anger. The tension flowed through his body; he could feel it burning in his veins. How dare she say such things. Idony readied herself, holding her staff diagonally so if he was to charge she'd get a good clean hit on him.
Finally, he walked towards her. It wasn't a charge, but it was a good fast pace as if he was storming down a hallway. He grabbed her wrist and she swung the staff once over his head, missing completely. He looked at it midair and smiled, she'd missed. She curved it upwards and hit him with a clean undercut to the chin. He stumbled backwards and grasped a tree on his way down to keep himself from falling completely.
"Leave me in peace," she said again "I have done nothing against you." Jareth stood to his feet and summoned a crystal into his hand. Idony's eyes grew and she quickly retreated, climbing up the nearest tree and hiding in it's thick branch cover.
"You're a coward!" he shouted.
"If you don't want to get knocked in the face again I'd suggest you leave me alone!" she yelled, jumping from tree to tree. She snuck down the trunk and started back for her hole when Jareth stood before her. "Oh damn," she muttered.