Underneath the Crystal Moon
a/n: I do not own Labyrinth. On another note, does anyone know the best way to separate parts? I am using "&" right now, but is there a better way to do it since ffnet always erases mine? Also, sorry about the late update, I have been way busy. But we only have two chapters left for Phoenix and Aidan. After this one. So I will be spacing them out this week a little so I can get a couple of more chapters of Damien's story done. Thanks for being patient.
Part One: Phoenix
Chapter 10
Aidan looked dubiously at the ensemble lying on his bed. He had no idea how to make this look right. No clue at all. The black boots were tall and made of soft leather. The breeches and jacket were made of some fabric he could not identify but was nice to touch. The midnight blue color was flattering, and the deep green embroidery that sprinkled the coat was nice. The buttons were made of a softly brushed gold, and the shirt that went underneath the jacket was the silk in the same shade of gold. He knew he was supposed to resemble a peacock; he just hoped he could get it all on and make it look right.
Aidan was still standing there, preparing to wage war on the outfit when there was a knock on the door. Making sure the towel about his waist was secure he opened the door. Aaron stood there, and he swept into the room without saying a word. He looked at the outfit on the bed and then glanced at Aidan. He sighed.
"Can't figure it out , can you?" Aaron asked in amusement. Aidan shook his head, "Well, I could just magic it onto you, but you need to learn how to wear this stuff sooner or later. We are going to do this the non-Fae way"
Aaron spent the next ten minutes explaining the proper way to put on the formal wear. Then Aaron lounged in a chair while Aidan brushed his light brown hair. He was about to pull it back when Aaron spoke up.
"Trust me Aidan, leave it down"
Aidan studied himself in the mirror, and then he put on the peacock mask. Aidan then grabbed the box with the bracelet. Aaron placed his seagull mask on his face and dusted off his light gray breeches as he stood up.
"Ready?" Aaron asked.
"Or not," Aidan laughed. Aaron gave him a withering look as they left the room.
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Aidan stood in awe as he looked at the fully decorated ballroom. The place was made to look like a forest, with plants all around. Little trees decorated every table. Fabrics in every forest color you could think of hung from the ceiling and the walls. Little magical firelights danced around the room to give it a shimmery glow. Up at the front of the room was a dais with eleven chairs seated on it. The rest of the tables surrounded the large dance floor.
"The rest of them will be announced in about ten minutes," Aaron told him as they found their designated seats. Aidan looked at his place card with a little humor.
"Lord Aidan Bishop of the Goblin City," Aidan read aloud. Aaron's card had so many titles on it that it was quite funny. For ten minutes they studied the guests and they came and went, their masks covering their identities. Fantastical creatures, beautiful women, handsome men. Aaron pointed out who some of them were. The last was a small girl with long, curly, reddish blonde hair who was drumming her fingers idly on the table.
"That's Xen, the Queen of the Trees. It was brave of her to come. A lot of people still hold a great amount of enmity towards the Tree Kingdom for their betrayal. She will need to marry soon to cement her position. It is too fragile now. What is she dressed as?" Aaron asked.
The dress she wore was a mix of black, brown, and orange and the markings on her mask gave her away.
"A butterfly," Aidan told Aaron.
"How appropriate," Aaron muttered a little.
"Why is she not married already?" Aidan asked.
"The Queen of the Trees and the Ice Queen never marry. They mate to reproduce, but other that, they do not have relationships. Xandra, the former queen, wanted Dad to sire her heirs. But when he fell in love with Mom, all those hopes were dashed. She saw it as a sullying of the bloodline and that is why she aligned herself with the evil dwarf, Nogrod the Usurper. Luckily Nogrod was killed by a catapult and Xandra is encased in fire and crystal and resides in Mom's wardrobe, trapped forever," Aaron told him.
Just then, a trumpeter sounded a loud series of notes. The masks were a necessity, but they all knew who the nobles were, so there was no sense hiding it.
"His Royal Highness, Prince Toby of the Goblin Kingdom, and Her Royal Highness, Princess Cara of the Dragonlands!"
Toby and Cara walked in regally, her hand resting lightly on his arm. They were dressed to resemble fish. They were both dressed is shades of blue from head to toe, and they had glittering, scaly masks. When they got to the front they separated and stood in front of their respective chairs.
"Their Royal Highnesses, Princess Tanwen of the Goblin Kingdom, and Princess Calista of the Dragonlands!"
The two little princesses were dressed in the colors of a pair of cats, Tanwen like a calico, and Calista like a black cat. They did the same as the others, standing in front of their chairs.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Phoenix of the Goblin Kingdom!"
All Aidan could do is stare at her. His mind slightly chuckled to see that she was dressed as a peahen. Sarah had her ways. The silvery velvet made her skin look luminescent, and her eyes seemed brighter, glowing through her mask. He could see that people were slightly afraid of her. She looked powerful and regal, as much a queen as her mother. If they only knew how gentle she was. Her hair was piled on top of her head, in curls, nestled in the perimeter of her tiara. The deep v of the dress skimmed the insides of her breasts, allowing Aidan to glimpse her creamy skin. His mouth watered. She glided to her chair and took her place.
"His Royal Highness, Prince Damien of the Goblin Kingdom!"
Damien was dressed as a silver fox, predatory as he walked across the room to his seat. Queen Xen followed him with her eyes, her gaze speculative.
"His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Eamon of the Goblin Kingdom!"
Many a maiden's head turned and a breast heaved in a sigh as the handsome and available prince made his way to his chair, dressed as a stag. His costume was several shades of brown. He was jovial as he made his way to his seat. Aidan has never seen Eamon angry. He was always light and content.
"Their Royal Majesties, King Danol and Queen Carys of the Dragonlands!"
The pair were dressed in greens and golds, resembling the dragons that populated their lands. Their masks shimmered like dragon scales.
"Their most beloved Royal Majesties, King Jareth and Queen Sarah of the Goblin Kingdom, Master and Mistress of the Labyrinth!"
The crowd cheered as Sarah and Jareth made their way to the front, dressed in the guise of ospreys. Their formal crowns rested on their heads, and Aidan noticed that therein lies the difference between Jareth and his sons. Jareth looked like his crown weighed nothing, while Eamon and Damien looked like they wished they could get rid of the damned things. Even the princesses did not mind that much.
Jareth and Sarah came to rest in front of their seats. As soon as they sat, everyone else did also. The band struck up a tune, and Eamon was soon surrounded by women vying for his attention. Aidan realized Eamon just might be the closest thing the Underground had to a rock star. Damien sat impassively in his chair, and looked like he was firmly planted there for the rest of the night. Toby and Cara were dancing together, and the two sets of happy parents were talking together on the dais. Tanwen and Calista were chatting with a group of girls their age.
Aaron winked at him and went to ask his sister to dance. He bowed to her and she laughed. They made their way to the dance floor.
Aidan just sat there, feeling more out of place than ever. He had been trying to hard to adjust, and it just seemed a little slow-going. He guessed his fascination with a certain beautiful princess had no helped matters. A servant passed him with a tray full of full cordial glasses. Aidan swiped one and down the sweet liquid. It burned in his throat. Phoenix was smiling and talking with her brother.
A Fae woman with white hair, blue eyes, and silvery skin approached Aidan. He stood and bowed to her.
"Lord Aidan? I am Princess Celinda of the Ice Lands. Queen Carla is my mother, and I was wondering if I could talk with you. May I sit?" the woman asked. Aidan pulled a chair out for her. Her snow white costume was of a creature Aidan could not name. The white mask on her face was slightly furry, but very small. She wore a very small tiara on her head.
"What can I do for you, Your Highness?" Aidan asked politely.
"You've only recently come here from Aboveground, correct?"
"A month ago. Their Majesties were kind enough to let me stay," Aidan told her.
"I am absolutely fascinated by the Aboveground. I was wondering if I could pick your brain about it all," Celinda told him.
"I am at your disposal," Aidan told her.
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"Where's Aidan?" Phoenix asked her brother.
"I'm surprised you did not recognize him. He is the one dressed to match you, currently talking with Princess Celinda," Aaron pointed them out.
"What's she doing talking to him?" Phoenix said, trying to sound neutral.
"None of your business, considering you've been avoiding him. I am glad he is talking to someone," Aaron told her, and Phoenix threw up her hands in frustration, "What's wrong Phoenix? Don't you love him?"
"Of course I do. I have no idea why or how, but I do. How could I not? I do not know, however, if he loves me, and I need to give him a chance to be afraid of the same thing all these people are afraid of. Would he want to be with someone who could kill him without even batting an eyelash?" Phoenix said as she snagged a cordial glass and tossed back the contents.
"Is it fair to judge before even giving him the opportunity? Now, we have been dancing a while and Mom looks impatient," Aaron let his sister go and he walked away. Just then Aidan and Celinda got up and moved to the dance floor. Phoenix cared not to see that, so she walked out into the moonlit garden and removed her mask.
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Aidan was dancing a lovely waltz with the Ice Princess when there was a phantom tap on his shoulder. When he turned to see who it was, he saw nothing by Phoenix strolling out to the garden.
"Your Highness, please excuse me," Aidan apologized and ran to the table. She was alone, and they could talk. He grabbed the wooden box and headed out the way Phoenix had gone. The music was even playing outside, and Aidan bet that it was all magic. Phoenix was just ahead, sitting on the edge of a fountain, trailing her long fingers in the water. In the moonlight she shone like silver, and her lips looked blood red. Aidan took off his mask.
"What do you want Aidan?" Phoenix asked without looking up.
You.
"I have something for you, Princess," Aidan held out the box to her. She studied it, puzzled, "Open it already!"
Phoenix opened the box and saw her grandmother's bracelet nestled inside. There was a piece of paper, folded neatly inside the box also.
"Where did you get this Aidan? This belonged to my grandmother. I have been asking my mother for this bracelet for years, and she would never give it to me. How did you get it?" Phoenix demanded.
"I told your mother that I wanted to give you a gift: a bracelet I had seen in a dream. She pulled this out of thin air and told me she knew she had not let you have it for a reason. I'm not good at words Phoenix. Just put the damned thing on and dance with me. Read the note later," Aidan held his hand out to her. Phoenix put the bracelet on her wrist and closed the box. It looked just like he thought it would. She looked up at him with those glowing orbs and took his hand. Aidan wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. He took her hand in his and began to lead her in a slow waltz.
Again, it was like time and space fell away. It was just the two of them, floating in the air. They looked into each other's eyes and did not say any words.
Neither of them knew how long they had been dancing when a bubble popped over their heads and a piece of parchment dropped on them, breaking the spell. Aidan opened it.
"Come back inside you two, Toby is about to pop the question – Mom"
Phoenix and Aidan walked back, not touching, but close. They both replaced their masks and took their seats. The band quieted down, and everyone's attention was on the front, where Toby stood before Sarah and Jareth, facing the crowd.
"It was about eighteen years ago that I was brought her by my sister, Queen Sarah, to live because my mother was dying and I had no other family. Not long after I came here I developed a crush on a young girl three years my senior. The crush became and infatuation, and the infatuation became love. It was not until the last couple of years that I realized all I wanted in the world was to make her happy," Toby took off his mask and Cara did the same. Her eyes were shining, "So, in front of all our family and friends I ask you, Princess Cara of the Dragonlands, to be my wife. Will you marry me?"
The tearful Cara nodded and stood.
"I, Princess Cara of the Dragonlands accept your proposal," she said formally. Toby slipped a ring onto her finger that Aidan could not see, and then kissed her passionately. Everyone cheered.