Once again, it has taken me forever to get this chapter posted. Many apologies, as usual, and I promise that the next chapter (also the last) will be much more prompt.
asyr – I'm glad you approve. Here's the next update, not soon, but hopefully worth the wait.
Pasha ToH – Thanks, glad I made you laugh.
Nightwoman – Well, I wouldn't complain!
Navaer Lalaith – I do understand your concerns about the accuracy, and so I have decided to go through the entire story and remove all the elvish. Please don't think that I don't appreciate your efforts to help me improve it, but I think that in the end this is a better idea. Thanks for sticking with the story anyway.
Quick note: From the onward written by the Jedi Wizard Hobbit.
And so it continues…
Chapter 5
Thranduil was a very stubborn person, even for an elf, and ordinarily would have rotted in that hole before he could bring himself to call for help. This, however, was not an ordinary situation, and it was not only Thranduil's own life that was at stake, but Legolas's as well. After calling for Ludo several times and receiving no answer he closed his eyes and reached out with his mind for the one other person in this Labyrinth he knew he could trust.
Hoggle, wandering rather aimlessly around the Labyrinth, was startled by a sudden voice inside his head.
Hoggle it whispered. Hoggle, can you hear me?
"Thranduil?" he said aloud, as he glanced around, expecting the elf to be standing somewhere nearby. But there was no one, only the voice in his mind.
Hoggle, if you can hear me, I need your help. I am trapped, and if I cannot free myself my son will be Jareth's prisoner forever. Please, Hoggle, help me.
The voice faded away, and Hoggle blinked.
"Thranduil's in trouble! I have to help him!"
As he turned around, he noticed a figure leaning against a nearby boulder. "What are you doing, Hogbrain?"
Hoggle put his hands behind his back and tried to look as unassuming as possible. "Me? Why nothin', Your Majesty, nothin' at all."
The Goblin King raised one of his upturned eyebrows at the small dwarf before him. "Really? For a moment it looked like you were going to help the elf. But you couldn't have been, you would never disobey me."
Hoggle nodded furiously. "Of course not, Your Majesty. Never, never in a million years! I was just going to find him to lead him back to the beginning of the labyrinth."
Jareth ignored the feeling of deja-vu that had been creeping over him during the conversation. A crystal appeared in his right hand. "Give him this."
He tossed the crystal to Hoggle, but when the dwarf opened his hand to examine it, he found a peach resting there.
"What is it?" he asked.
"It's a peach."
Hoggle just looked at the goblin king.
"Hmm, that is probably sending the wrong message, isn't it?" Jareth mused, approaching him and kneeling down to Hoggle's eye level. He swiped his hand over the peach and Hoggle looked down to find a banana instead. The Goblin King shook his head. "No, all sorts of bad symbolism would be associated with that. What about…" He swiped his hand over the banana, this time leaving an apple in its place.
Jareth grinned. "You don't suppose Thranduil will know the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, do you? No, I'm sure such frivolous tales are missing from his great kingdom. Such a pity…" He stood up and began walking away from Hoggle.
"It won't hurt him, will it?" Hoggle asked.
The Goblin King spun back round to face him. "Why do you care? He's certainly not concerned about you, or he wouldn't have called for your help in an attempt to bring down my wrath upon you."
Hoggle didn't believe that for one second, but he didn't protest. The dwarf turned around to leave.
"Oh, and Hoggle?"
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"If he insults me behind my back again, I shall throw you into the Pit of Despair."
"The what?"
Jareth neatly sidestepped the plot hole.
"Now now, no time for that," he said, patting Hoggle's back to hurry him along. "You have an elf to enchant, remember?"
Hoggle turned around again with a groan, and went to find some rope to get Thranduil out of the plot hole.
-
Thranduil did not know if he had even been able to reach the dwarf, or if it could even be done, for he had never before attempted a connection between any but his own people, and rarely had he done even that. He had almost given up hope of ever seeing the top of the plot hole again, when rope was suddenly tossed down, hitting him on the head.
"Ai! What on Arda…"
"Quick, grab the rope! I'm getting you out of here!"
The elven king smiled for the first time in hours. "Hoggle! Am I relieved to see you!"
The dwarf's craggy face peered over the edge of the plot hole and quickly pulled back. "No time for talk, grab the rope!"
Thranduil did as he was told, and soon he was standing on firm ground outside the plot hole. He looked down at the small dwarf who had saved him and smiled at him fondly. "I am indebted to you, Hoggle. If there is ever anything I can do for you, you need only to ask."
Hoggle waved an arm at him, as if to brush off the promise. "Don't worry about it. I couldn't leave that son of yours in the hands of a man like that."
Anger flared up in Thranduil once more as he thought of the man who had left him for dead in the plot hole. "That slimy, evil…"
Hoggle waved his hands frantically to stop Thranduil from making a great mistake, but the elf didn't notice.
"…foolish, arrogant…"
He had lapsed off into angry Sindarian when, for the third time that day, the stone beneath their feet proved less solid then they had supposed as trap door that opened up suddenly to reveal a dark, nearly vertical tunnel. Thranduil, however, had had enough of falling and holes, and as this one was not very wide he managed to throw his arms out and catch himself on the sides of the mouth of the tunnel. He heard Hoggle's shout of surprise as the dwarf was unable to stop his own fall.
The dwarf's grunts and noises of pain as he tumbled downward drifted up to Thranduil, as did a terribly unpleasant smell. The elf king sniffed delicately and wished he hadn't, nearly retching at the pungent stench. It smelt rather as if the last person to fall down the hole had possessed very poor hygiene indeed, and had then died in the pit and was still there.
And I thought Isildur was an unfortunate individual, he mused.
His thoughts were interrupted by a panicked shouting from Hoggle.
"Ah, help! I'm going to fall! Ack, help me!"
The last thing Thranduil wanted was to slide down into a repugnant hole in order to rescue a dwarf, but Hoggle had helped him out of the plot hole, and Thranduil was nothing if not honorable to a fault. He owed the dwarf a debt, and nothing, not even dead Isildurs, would deter him from repaying it. Taking a deep breath of the clean air above the hole he lifted his arms and let himself slide down the smooth tunnel.
It was a long way down, and Thranduil had built up a great deal of speed by the time he saw a light below his feet. He put out his arms to slow his decent, grazing his palms on the stone but slowing enough that he didn't shoot out of the opening when he reached it. He caught hold of the side of the rock and stopped his fall as the smell assaulted his sensitive nose.
"Ai Eru!" he exclaimed, clapping his hand over his face. "What in the name of the Valar is that? Never in all my years have I smelt anything so…" he grasped the edge of the hole more tightly as his elven senses reeled from the onslaught of the terrible odor. "It is like, like…" he groped for an appropriate comparison.
"Never mind what it's like!" Hoggle squawked. "It's the Bog of Eternal Stench. Oh, help!"
But the elven poet in Thranduil would not be put off.
"I imagine you could achieve a similar odor if you were to feed a dozen yrch rotten fish for a month," he said at last, "and then slay them and cast them into one of the sulfur pits of Mordor atop a three week old Oliphant carcass and cover the remains with the contents of a troll's stomach."
"And I am going to fall into the bog and smell like all that stuff for the rest of my life!" Hoggle reminded him.
"Oh yes," Thranduil said. Keeping one hand over his nose he reached down with the other and grasped Hoggle's wrist, lifting him effortlessly up. He started to put the dwarf down, then thought better of it and walked the rest of the way across the ledge to a place where there was ground beneath them instead of bog. There was also a very large, very hairy figure below them.
"Ludo!" Thranduil exclaimed as he leapt down beside the beast and set Hoggle back on his feet once more. "How did you happen into this vile place?"
"Ah, uh…" Ludo shrugged. "Dunno."
"Is this, er, fine fellow a friend of yours, Thranduil?" Hoggle asked, peaking out at Ludo from where he had hidden behind the elf king's legs.
"Oh, yes Hoggle," Thranduil assured the dwarf. "Don't be frightened."
"Thhhrraaanndoool, frieeennndd" Ludo affirmed. He turned beady eyes upon the elf. "Smeelllll."
"It most certainly does, and horridly too" Thranduil agreed, pinching his nose delicately. 'Come, let us find passage out of this swamp. I believe I see a bridge."
Dwarf and beast followed the elf toward the bridge, navigating the sometimes rough and narrow path with varying degrees of difficulty.
"Watch it," Hoggle advised as Ludo's large feet nearly slipped into the putrid bog. "You step in this stuff and you'll stink forever."
They had edged their way around the bog and made it to a bridge that would lead them out of it. As they were about to cross a voice halted them.
"Stop where you are! Stop I say!"
Thranduil looked around, but could see no one. It wasn't until the voice cleared its throat that his eyes traveled down to a small fox standing by the bridge. He nearly laughed aloud. The animal was dressed in elaborate clothing, more colorful and intricate than he had seen any king of men wear. A blue hat sat on his brow and a yellow feather stuck up from it.
"And why must we stop?" the elf enquired.
"I, Sir Didymus, have sworn an oath that none shall pass this bridge without my permission! Therefore, stop where you are!"
But Thranduil no longer had the patience to match wits and words with every odd creature that happened across his path. He drew himself up regally, every inch majesty and nobility, despite the fact that he was nearly reeling from the stench.
"And I, Thranduil Oropherion, King of Taur-nu-Fuin and Lord of the Elves of the Wood, Prince of the Sindar of the Great Forest, command you to give us passage at once!"
Sir Didymus's eyes widened and his tiny jaw dropped. He pulled his hat from his head and bowed low before the elven king.
"My Lord, if I had but known! You are the very model of a great king, the one whom I was always meant to serve. I offer my services at once, and I hope you will forgive my unspeakable behavior and impudence."
Thranduil nodded. "I accept your apology, but you need not offer your service. Allowing us to pass is service enough."
The small animal threw himself in front of the king. "Oh please, sir! I must be allowed to fight valiantly at your side, or there is no sense in my living! I have sworn to uphold what is good and right in the world, and I can see that you are the embodiment of justice! Allow me to stay at your side!"
Thranduil sighed and looked to Ludo and Hoggle. The dwarf offered no assistance and Ludo merely shrugged. The elven king had a sneaking suspicion that the tiny creature would not allow them to leave without him.
"Very well, you may accompany us on our quest."
Sir Didymus's eyes shone at the king's words. "A quest? How wonderful! The stars must have placed themselves rightly for our meeting, Lord. I would be greatly honored to help you in your quest. May I ask what you are journeying for?"
Thranduil looked into the distance at the castle beyond the Goblin City. "I must retrieve my son from the goblin king who has stolen him."
Sir Didymus barked in rage. "The madman has stolen thine young offspring? That miserable cad will pay for his grievous mistake! I shall fight him to the death!"
Thranduil looked down at the small knight sternly. "You will do nothing of the sort. I accept your help until I reach the castle. The quest is mine to complete and mine alone."
Sir Didymus looked downtrodden for a moment, but he perked up again at the thought of the quest ahead. "As you wish, my noble lord. Anything for thee."
"Very well then. We must continue, I fear we have already lingered here too long."
Sir Didymus turned around to a tree that stood next to the bridge. He whistled loudly. "Ambrosius! Ambrosius, come here at once, we have a quest to undertake!"
A shaggy head peered from behind the tree, and slowly a white and gray dog with a saddle on its back emerged. The fox quickly mounted his steed and started off at a quick pace, Thranduil's eyebrows arched nearly to his hairline as his eyes followed the odd pair.
Sir Didymus and Hoggle crossed the bridge with ease. Thranduil had no doubt that he would be able to cross as well, since he stepped lightly on elven feet, but the bridge did not look nearly stable enough, nor wide enough, for Ludo. The elven king turned to the beast.
"I do not know how you might cross in safety, my friend," he said.
In response, Ludo raised his head and roared. Thranduil was just about to try to stop the emotional outburst when he saw boulders beginning to rise from the bog. Once they had risen completely, the elven king turned to stare at the beast.
"However did you do that?"
Ludo blinked gently. "Rocks friends."
This wasn't a tremendously difficult for an elf, who communed with much of nature, to comprehend, so Thranduil only nodded and started across the bridge, Ludo lumbering after him across the boulders. When they were all safely on the other side they continued their journey into another dense forest. Thranduil felt right at home in the lush setting; it reminded him of his own kingdom, and he wondered what a forest such as this was doing at the center of a goblin king's labyrinth. Mayhap Jareth enjoys moonlit strolls, he mused to himself sarcastically.
After walking for a long time, Thranduil was beginning to feel hungry. He realized that it had been more than a day since he had last eaten, as he hadn't had time on the day that Legolas had been taken.
"I wonder if we can find berries or something of that nature," he said quietly.
Hoggle apparently heard him. "Your Majesty? Uh, here." From a pouch at his side, he withdrew a shiny, delicious-looking red apple. He handed it to Thranduil tentatively.
The elven king took the fruit and smiled. "My thanks to you, Master Hoggle."
Thranduil took a large bite from the apple and began to chew, noticing something strange as he swallowed. The juices seemed to turn from sweet to bitter at the back of his throat, and his mouth felt suddenly dry. He turned back to the dwarf.
"Hoggle?"
The dwarf hung his head in shame and quickly hurried away.
Thranduil did not have much more time to think before he was swallowed up in darkness.
-
Thranduil awoke in the middle of a large trash heap. He lifted his head wearily and tried to determine where he was. Ai, my head, he moaned silently. Mithrandir warned me about the Halflings' pipe weed, but did I listen?
He hoisted himself to his feet, lost his footing from getting up too fast, and fell over ungracefully. This time he landed against something that moved. A strange figure with a huge heap of trash on its back turned to face him.
"Why don't you look where you're going?"
Thranduil shook his head at the creature, which he assumed was a woman due to its voice. "I beg you're pardon, madam, I…" His voice trailed off as he attempted to remember what had happened to him. "I had the strangest dream. I dreamt that I was in a large ballroom with all sorts of vile people who were dancing and drinking and wearing these odd, grotesque masks. They laughed at me, but I started stepping on their toes as they danced, which made them stop. The goblin king was there as well, with his face all painted, and I think he was singing about the world coming to an end." He frowned. "And I was wearing this fluffy white dress…."
A cry could be heard from the castle beyond the Goblin City.
"Wrong damn crystal!"
Thranduil looked down at his right hand and noticed that he held an apple with a large bite in it. A worm crawled from the center. He quickly tossed it away and turned back to the strange creature that he had fallen into.
"I'm terribly sorry. I'm looking for something…" he paused suddenly as he realized that he couldn't remember what. "What was I looking for?"
"Just follow me, I'll show you," the trash lady said, motioning for him to join her. Thranduil went after her as she led him into a large pile of trash that seemed to have a door sticking out from it.
"Go inside, you'll find what you were looking for," the creature told him in a slippery voice. Thranduil didn't like what he was hearing, but he went inside anyway.
He realized that he had somehow entered the treasure room to his kingdom. Gold, silver, and mithril shone from every crevice, every wall. Armor fit for kings, jewel encrusted chalices, swords with precious runes carved on the blades, all of these things glimmered in their proper places. The elven king looked upon the treasure proudly.
"Yes, this is what I was looking for."
He stood there for a few minutes admiring the riches, until seemingly out of nowhere, he heard voices approaching him.
"Stand aside, good woman! We must rescue yonder lord so that he may complete his quest!"
"You can't go in there! Keep away, both of you!"
"Thrraaaandool… quest!"
"All right then, if you insist. Ambrosius, charge!"
The door to the trove came crashing open as Sir Didymus sallied in on his noble steed. He arrived at Thranduil's side, a bit out of breath.
"We have come to save you, my lord. Now you may go forth and retrieve what is most valuable to you."
Thranduil looked at the tiny animal in amusement. He seemed somehow familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on why.
"I do not need to leave this room then, good sir. Everything that I value most is right here. This place is filled with the treasures of my kingdom."
Sir Didymus's mouth hung open. "But sir! You must complete your valiant quest! Dost thou not remember why you are in this evil place?"
Thranduil shook his head.
"Evil? There is nothing evil here. Nothing but priceless riches worth more than you could possibly fathom. Do you know the qualities of mithril?"
The tiny knight's brow furrowed. "I'faith I do not, but I need not look on it long to know that it is trash!"
The elven king was astonished by the creature's words.
"How can you say that? Mithril is one of the most valuable substances on Middle Earth.."
One of the walls came crashing down as Ludo entered the room. "Thrrraaaandool… quest!"
"Yes, the quest!" Sir Didymus barked. "You must complete your quest! And I say that you are a coward and a most pathetic man indeed if thou does not save thine young offspring!"
Thranduil blinked. "What did you say?"
"I said thou art a coward if thou dost not save thine offspring!"
"Offspring," Thranduil said aloud, trying to remember what was lost and buried in his mind. "Offspring…. Legolas! Ai, I must find my son!"
Soon the walls were collapsing down around them, and the trio quickly reemerged from the garbage cavern. Thranduil stared around him. "Where are we?"
"We are nearly at the gates of the Goblin City, Lord!" Sir Didymus pointed his spear to indicate a large gate perhaps a hundred yards away.
The elven king sighed. "Then that is our road."
He began to trek across the large dump, but stopped when he heard Ambrosius whimper. Smiling softly, he knelt down to the dog and stroked his head. Whispering softly until the dog stopped trembling and gave the elven king's face a canine kiss. Sir Didymus was astounded. "My Lord, canst thou speak with the animals?"
Thranduil straightened up. "I can indeed, Sir Didymus."
"Thrrraaaandool… talk… to… steeed!"
"You amaze me, my lord! You are truly an honorable and noble king."
Thranduil looked to the city gates and sighed. "That remains to be seen; I have yet to retrieve my son. Are you ready to complete our quest?"
"Without hesitation, my lord! Lead the way!"
As the trio set out again, they did not notice Hoggle listening in on their conversation. The dwarf, determined to make up for what he had done to Thranduil, followed behind them in secret to the gates of the Goblin City.
