Underneath the Crystal Moon

a/n: I do not own Labyrinth. I never get anything I want/me stamps foot (IRC joke). Also, if anyone can guess the three anime references and what anime they come from they will get a cookie! And good news, I finished the first part of this story today and I am going to start on the second part, Damien's part, tonight. Happy day.

Part One: Phoenix

Chapter 6

Aidan walked out the door and into the elegant courtyard. Aaron was waiting patiently. He was tall, and had red hair. His eyes were just as blue as when Sarah had brought him here. Sarah was the only mother he had ever known. Sarah had told him the circumstances surrounding him coming here to the Underground when he was still a child, but also when she felt he was old enough to understand what she was telling him meant. The Underground was the only home he had ever known. Sarah had washed away his memories of his mortal home when she had brought him here.

But this mortal was not as fortunate as Aaron. Aaron did not feel pity for him, rather he just felt for him in general. To be wished away by a little brother must hurt. And to leave his mother without even getting to say goodbye must feel just as bad. Aaron shook hands with Aidan in the mortal tradition, even though it felt uncomfortable to do that instead of bowing.

"Mom wants me to show you around. This will probably take most of the day. The Labyrinth is extensive, and then there are the gardens and the such. So much to see, so little time," and with that Aaron waved his hand, and they were at the gates of the Labyrinth. Aidan shook his head like he has cobwebs in it.

"Whoa," he said.

"You will get used to it," Aaron said cheerfully. Then he sighed as they passed a small fountain along the front wall.

"There used to be a dwarf we would catch pissing in here constantly. He was my mother's best friend. But he died some time ago," Aaron sighed. He then held up his hand at the gates. They swung open and admitted them.

"In the book she had to say the right thing to get the gates open," Aidan mused.

"We can command it because we are part of it. All of the residents of the Goblin Kingdom are linked to the Labyrinth. It still does mostly what it pleases itself to do, but otherwise we can open mostly anything"

They walked around the Labyrinth until they reached the hedge maze. There was polite chit chat about such things as the weather and the creatures in the Labyrinth, but mostly they strolled in silence.

"Are you getting hungry?" Aaron asked his companion. Aidan nodded thoughtfully. Aaron waved his hand and there was lunch before them. The sandwiches Aaron provided were filling. Aidan had finished with his sandwich and was leaning back against a rock when he spoke.

"Will we see the stables before we go back to the castle?" Aidan asked.

"Yeah. We had better get back to our walk," Aaron said, and made lunch disappear. As they started to walk again, Aaron spoke up again, "I figure now would be as good a time as any to tell you the history of our unique little family. You have read the book, right?"

"Yeah, that's kind of what got me wished away," Aidan muttered.

"Well the book speaks the truth. Sarah Williams wished one Toby Williams away one night, and met the Goblin King. She ran the Labyrinth to save her brother, and defeated the king. But when she beat him, it set into motion the words of a prophecy…," Aaron told Aidan all of the rest. About their powers, about the battles of eighteen years ago, and about what they were up to now. Aidan, helpless to do little else, absorbed every detail. Anything involving Princess Phoenix piqued his interest even more.

"So, all the kids are unmarried, even you and Toby," Aidan surmised.

"Well, yeah. But we have the feeling that Toby will not be unmarried for long. He's damned close, even if he is not sharing his news with the rest of us. We both serve as emissaries and diplomats to the other kingdoms. When he was eleven, not long after coming to the Underground, he developed a crush on Princess Cara, from the Dragonlands directly south of us. She is 3 years older than he is. But I do not think he ever got over his crush. My mom has a saying she is very fond of. 'Fate has a way of rewarding its servants'. Anyways, Toby has been finding any excuse to go to the Dragonlands for about two years now. We all know what's going on, but he has decided not to tell us yet. But, King Danol, Queen Carys, and Princess Cara are all coming here for a masquerade ball in a month. I suspect Toby will ask Cara to marry him at the ball, in front of everyone. Cara will be Queen when her parents pass away, and that would make Toby the Prince Consort by their laws. He is already a Prince here, but not in line for the throne," Aaron explained. He had seen the relief in Aidan's eyes when he had said that they were all unattached. Mom had been right, this mortal was in love with his little sister. It was plain as day on his face.

They finally ended up at the stables sometime in the middle of the afternoon. Everyone had their own horse here. Sarah's horse was a white mare named Clover. Jareth's was a large black stallion named Drago. Phoenix's horse was a smaller black stallion named Daemon. Eamon had a white stallion named Youkai. Damien had a black stallion named Dante. Aaron had a brown gelding named Il-Marin. Toby's brown gelding was named Mandos. Tanwen had a brown mare named Apple. There were other horses out in the pasture. In the very last stall there was a tan stallion with a blonde mane.

"This one is yours. His name is Hanyou," Aidan just looked at Aaron in amazement. Aaron produced a couple of sugar cubes for Aidan to feed to Hanyou. Aidan was just learning to saddle him when Phoenix came around the corner, dressed in her riding habit. She stopped short when she saw Aidan and Aaron, but then continued onto the stall that held Daemon.

"Phoenix, are you going out right now?" Aaron asked her. Phoenix groaned inwardly.

"Yeah. I suppose you want me to teach the mortal to ride?" Phoenix asked.

"Phoenix, you can be a rude bitch sometimes," Aaron snapped.

"Ah, fuck off Aaron. I'm only kidding," Phoenix conjured a crystal and threw it straight at Aidan's head. He did not have time to duck, but luckily it just popped on him. And when it did he was wearing brown boots, brown breeches, and an off-white linen tunic. He felt a little embarrassed with the pants being so tight, but if everyone dressed this way most of them probably did not even notice.

"Well, when in Rome," Aidan stated. Aaron helped him with all the straps and buckles before letting Aidan mount the stallion. Luckily, the horse was trained and did not spook when he got up there. Phoenix looked so small on the large stallion, but they seemed to be fine with the arrangement. She used her reigns to urge her stallion to turn around. Aidan simply did not know how to make his horse go. After a minute, Phoenix dismounted with a sigh, and made her way over to Aidan.

"Well, if you two will excuse me, I have a trip to plan," Aaron made his excuses, leaving the two of them alone while he walked back to the castle.

"Aidan, it's very simple really…," and Phoenix explained how to make the horse walk, trot, and cantor. Luckily, he was a fast learner. It was very late in the afternoon when they finally started out. They would not be able to go very far. They headed to the north, just walking the horses. They eventually came to the point where they would need to start thinking about heading back. Most of the ride had been spent in silence. Phoenix dismounted, and Aidan followed her lead. She conjured a crystal that became a trough of water. They were at the edge of a grove of tall, swaying trees.

Being alone with a male that was not related to her was unusual for Phoenix. She wanted to try to ignore Aidan, but she did have a question for him that she needed answered.

"How have you invaded my dreams?" she asked bluntly. She had struggled with this question. She didn't want him to know that she had dreamt of him, but she needed answers.

"How did you invade mine?" he countered.

"I just do not get how, if we have never met each other, how you know what I look like, and I know what you look like!" Phoenix said aggravatingly.

"Yeah," Aidan started walking towards Phoenix. He stopped, mere inches away from her, and grasped a lock of hair with his fingers. It was soft, "You know, I have drawn the shape of your face over and over. I have drawn your hair more times than I can count, and never did I think it would be this soft"

Phoenix wanted to lean into his hand, feel it on her cheek. She closed her bright eyes and let him feel her hair. He had drawn her right in, and she was not even fighting it. She felt him brush his thumb down her jawline. She opened her eyes to look into his gray ones and then noticed it was going to be dark soon. She stepped away from him abruptly.

"Stupid mortal. We have to get back," Phoenix said without malice and walked back to get her horse. She mounted easily.

"Stupid wench," Aidan said as he mounted Hanyou.

"What?" Phoenix almost yelled at him.

"You continue to call me stupid mortal and I will feel obligated to call you stupid wench. Fair is fair," Aidan said as he urged Hanyou into a cantor. He kept his seat very well for a beginner. Phoenix growled and went after him. How dare he call her, a princess, a stupid wench? She could feel the fire rising inside her, the familiar feeling that accompanied being pissed off.

It was dark when they got back, and it was almost dinner time when they finally got the horses unsaddled and brushed down. Phoenix had taken to not talking to Aidan. Stupid wench! Grr. He could not talk to a princess like that! She stormed up to the castle.

Aidan finally found his way back to and inside the castle. He needed to bathe before dinner, but did not know if he would have time. He decided he would ask if he could dine in his room. So he went to the kitchen and found Queen Sarah talking to one of the cooks. She saw him and smiled. He gave a short bow that still needed work.

"Your Majesty, can I eat in my room tonight? I am still all dirty from riding, and my muscles ache a little. Plus, Princess Phoenix is not very happy with me right now," Aidan pointed out. Sarah laughed.

"Why is my daughter upset with you?" she asked.

"I kind of called her a stupid wench," Aidan said sheepishly, which made Sarah laugh harder. The cooks looked alarmed to see their queen laughing so.

"She called you a stupid mortal didn't she?" Sarah gasped as she held her pregnant stomach. He nodded.

"Don't worry Aidan, she will come around. I will have dinner sent up to your room. Remember, you start work in the morning. Get plenty of rest," Sarah walked past him and then she was gone. Aidan made his way to his room.

Phoenix cursed the fact that everyone else was seated when she came to dinner. Not only that, they all looked like they were holding something in. Her father looked more than slightly amused, and her mother's eyes were slightly red.

"What is going on?" Phoenix asked suspiciously.

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Everyone erupted in an incredible amount of laughter. Phoenix's eyes glowed brighter as she felt herself getting mad.

"What?" Phoenix yelled at them.

"Stupid wench!" was all Eamon could gasp out. Jareth had a big smile on his face, and was the only one not laughing. Phoenix felt herself turn red.

"He told you what he said to me? And you guys think it is funny?" Phoenix could not believe what she was hearing.

"I'm sorry princess, but you got what was coming to you," Jareth said as he twirled the stem of his wine glass, "You need to learn that mortals are not stupid. Your mother was once mortal, remember that"

Phoenix spent the rest of dinner in silence, and pushed most of her food around on her plate. She just was not hungry. She knew that her mom had been mortal once. Same thing with Toby and Aaron. She wasn't going to apologize though. She excused herself from the table before dessert, and went to her room.

Aidan took off the clothing Phoenix had provided him and tossed them into a basket in the corner. The tub was filled with very hot water, with soothing sandalwood oil poured in it. He took his hair out of its rough ponytail and eased his aching body into the tub. He ached from head to toe. He had never been riding before. It was probably easy for Phoenix, but not for him. He would be stiff tomorrow for sure. A jog should take all that stiffness out. He leaned back and closed his eyes, letting the water soak up all the hurt. It was a long time before he came out.

He stepped out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist. There was a tray full of food on the small table in the corner. His stomach rumbled angrily. He was just about to sit down to eat when there was a knock at his door. He walked to it, thinking it would be a maid. When he opened it he was shocked to see Phoenix standing there. Her eyes dropped immediately to his towel, and then wandered over his bare chest. She finally looked him in the eyes.

"Truce?" she asked.

"Huh?"

"I won't call you stupid mortal, you do not call me stupid wench. My whole family is in hysterics about it," Phoenix muttered.

"Truce", Aidan said and held out his hand. She looked at it weirdly, "Mortals shake hands when they agree on something". She took his hand and shook it awkwardly.

"Put on some clothes, Aidan," Phoenix said softly as she walked down the hall. Aidan laughed as he closed the door. Not even ten seconds later there was another knock on his door. He opened the door and saw Eamon standing there.

"Your Highness," Aidan bowed shortly.

"Eamon. Just Eamon. Unless we are in public. Just like with everyone here, except Dad. Dad has been Your Majesty so long that it is weird for him. Listen, do you know how to play poker?" Eamon asked, looking around conspiratorially.

"Yeah. Why?" Aidan asked.

"Tomorrow night after dinner we want to play. Mom taught us how to play it when we were kids. We only play for fun, but it has been a while. No girls, just us guys. We drink way too much for their sensibilities. We also seem to end up singing a lot. It will be fun, don't make me command you," Eamon laughed. So did Aidan.

"Sure thing," Aidan agreed. Eamon whistled as he headed down the hallway.

What a peculiar family. Not that he didn't like them. He thought they were all wonderful and a little whacky. And they all loved each other very much. They were being very generous, but he thought they all knew something he didn't. They all looked sideways at him with slight grins on their faces.

Aidan finally sat down to dinner. He tried not to think about her. He tried. But he could not shake the thought of her. And as he slept that night he had a dream of her. They were in that grove and when he brushed his thumb across her jawline he leaned down and kissed her. And she returned the kiss with all her heart.

Across the hall Phoenix woke up with a start. Her lips felt swollen, as if she had just been kissed. But that had been a dream, hadn't it?

Aidan wondered the same thing as he put his head in his hands.