Idony found a good sized pond not so far from where they were sleeping. She put some water in a bowl and set it aside and sat by the waters edge. She grabbed a rock and tossed it in, watching it ripple.
"Are you alright?" Jareth asked coming and sitting next to her.
"Oh yeah," she smiled "I'm fine." There was a long pause "thank you."
"Don't mention it," he mumbled.
"What do you want me for?" she asked finally. The question had been bouncing around in her skull since she knew Jareth was coming, but she hadn't found a good time to ask.
"Who said I needed you for anything?" he asked.
"Your highness," she breathed "you and I both know that your smarter than going off looking for trouble. And I pose no threat to you or anything you care about. You have no reason to keep me contained on that account."
"There are rules," he said "I must abide by."
"Why did you come now?" she asked "instead when I first ran away?"
"I wasn't aware you were alive," he said "I thought you died sometime after you escaped."
"Oh," she said quietly.
"Also," she pointed out "there is a beat in the center of the Labyrinth and its terrifying my goblins."
"Why can't you do something about it?" she asked.
"It eats magick," he said "and that is my only weapon against the beast."
"You want me to kill it?" she asked eyes growing wide.
"Your very strong," he admitted "if you were more skilled in magick I would be worried. But since you only know simple spells, I have nothing to fear." She gave a dry look.
"I'm not a bounty hunter," she replied.
"Don't tell me you follow the code," he muttered.
"The honor code," she nodded.
"For the god's sake!" he sighed loudly.
"Thoughts and intentions will all come back, either in goodness or in negativity," she started listing "A witch's word must have the validity of a signed and witness oath. Thus, give thy word sparingly, but adhere to it like iron. Refrain from speaking ill of others. Be thou honest with others, and have them known that honesty is likewise expected of them. Strive not to harm. Dignity, a gracious manner, and a good humor are much to be admired. As a witch, thou hast power, and thy powers wax strongly as wisdom increases. Therefore exercise maturity in the use thereof. Courage and honor endure forever. Pledge friendship and fealty to those who so warrant. Strengthen others of the Brethren and they shall strengthen thee. Thou shall not reveal secrets of another Witch or another coven. The laws of the land should be obeyed whenever possible and within reason, for in the main they have been chosen with wisdom. Have pride in thyself, and seek perfection in body and in mind."
"Where did you learn everything?" he asked.
"Books," she smiled walking on.
"Books?" he asked "there aren't many books in the Labyrinth. In fact the only place I know of is at the castle." He gave a hard stair.
"You can't believe that I'd steal something," she laughed "from you of all people." She stopped once she saw what a hard stair she was receiving. "I borrowed. Borrowed, as in, eventually going to return."
"Um hum," he smiled in amusement.
"I was ten," she grumbled "what do you expect? Pure maturity?"
"Well you sure as well show it now," he said "how old are you?"
"Sixteen," she said "turning seventeen in two weeks."
"Your very mature," he said.
"I have to be," she sighed.
"That's Underground life," he shrugged.
"What do you know about it?" she asked, feeling more upset by the moment "you grew up in the castle." How could he understand? How could he even act as if he did? He lived in that huge castle in the middle of the Labyrinth. He always had the upper hand. He had everything he needed, he wanted, and he thought he understood hardship? Being utterly alone? At the very least he had other humans to talk to, others that could understand his feelings, if he had any.
"I've had my trials as well," he said calmly "just because I live in the castle doesn't mean I never have any problems." The nerve of that girl, she didn't understand how difficult it is to take care of a dying land. A place where friendship is alien and love is practically unheard of. Goblins weren't the most loving creatures. At the very least this girl had some form of affection. Both of them had something the other didn't, but neither of them was willing to say anything.
"Oh please," Idony muttered under her breath.
"How dare you," he snapped "no other creature in the entire Labyrinth dares to insult me or even look at me in such a way. But you, your repetitive insults and mocking glares are continuous."
"Oh," Idony pretended to tremble "and your SO high and mighty aren't you? Your not so powerful when that creature eats up half of your magick are you? And then you come and grab me out of my life. You run this place like some sort of supreme dictator that everyone needs to fear. You are no king Jareth, your some pompous brat trying to run the Underground. You've got prisons and asylums and normal people roaming around like its nothing. You're a heartless evil being and I'm ashamed to be of your species." Before he could make a remark Idony was gone. "Call me when that block of ice that incases your heart melts," she taunted "or you grow some balls."