Underneath the Crystal Moon
a/n: I do not own Labyrinth.
Part Two: Damien
Chapter 12
The small camp was quiet as Aidan rode up. Two small figures were asleep in their blankets. He dismounted and walked up to them. There was a fast commotion, and Aidan found a sword and a bow and arrow pointed directly at him. The blade was poised to strike at his throat, and the arrow would find his heart if fired.
"Whoa! Whoa! Your Majesty! It's Aidan! Queen Sarah's stablehand!" Aidan panicked a little. The sword eased away from his throat, and the bow was lowered.
"Aidan! Warn us next time!" Xen yelled.
"Hopefully there will not be a next time Your Majesty," Aidan bowed, "I am here to escort you to the castle"
"Well, we won't get any more sleep tonight. How far away are we?" Xen asked.
"You actually made pretty good time. We are only about eight hours away," Aidan told her.
"Good. Let's go," Xen told him. She started to walk as soon as her blankets were rolled up and the fire was extinguished.
"Um, Your Majesty, I can carry you and your friend on Hanyou," Aidan told her.
"Oh. Okay," Xen said.
After ten minutes of situating they took off. With any luck they would be in the castle by mid morning.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Damien sat in the audience room with his mother and father, listening to a representative from the Ice Lands drone on about some kind of treaty. He was not really listening, merely drumming his fingers on the arm of the chair he was sitting in. He was wearing black from head to toe. His boots, his pants, his shirt, his waistcoat, and his cape were all black. His hair was back, and he looked sullen. Or lovesick. Phoenix could not tell which.
He misses her, Phoenix thought to herself, And he is going to be miserable for the rest of his life. I was lucky enough to find Aidan. Damien was lucky enough to find Xen. But damned if he is not just like Dad. Not exactly good with the words. He doesn't know what to do with a flighty little dryad that has captured his heart.
Phoenix was about to ask her brother to go with her for a walk when there was a commotion in the entryway.
Ah, she has come for him, Phoenix laughed to herself.
And there she was. Queen Xen strode into the audience chamber and stood there, looking furious.
"Um, Her Majesty, the Queen of the Trees?" said the goblin, uncertain of what he was supposed to do. Xen ran down the small stairs and stopped directly in front of Jareth and Sarah.
"I demand the life of your son, Damien!" Xen said angrily.
"What?" Eamon yelped. Phoenix made a motion with her hand, and her older brother sat down abruptly and kept his mouth shut. Sarah and Jareth looked at her speculatively, while Damien kept his head down, staring at his feet in sadness and shame.
"Why do you demand the life of the second in line for the throne?" Jareth asked sounding bored.
"Because he took something of mine, and that's wrong," Xen said softly as she approached the prince dressed all in black.
"Was it something you valued?" Sarah asked in the same tone.
"Beyond measure," Xen said, stopping right in front of Damien.
"Then, by all means, take him," Jareth told the queen. Eamon looked ready to pop, but Phoenix held him in place.
Xen got down on her knees in front of the prince, and lifted his chin so his eyes met hers.
"How dare you leave me like that? After what I gave you freely, you leave me like that, ripping my heart out in the process? Didn't you care?" Xen asked the prince.
"All I did was care. After what they did to you…" Damien could hardly speak his voice was so thick.
"I chose you. Not anyone else. I gave myself to you. I gave my heart to you. I told you I loved you, and you left me there. I would still choose you. Over and over again," Xen told him.
"But…"
"Your king and queen have given your life to me. You belong to me now. What I want to know is, will you share my life with me?" Xen asked, her voice strong and sure.
"You can't marry," Damien protested.
"Dear boy, I repealed that law the day you left. I want to be married to my baby's father," Xen told him.
"Baby…"
"Or babies, I don't know yet," Xen told him. Sarah got up and came over to Xen. She laid her hand on Xen's belly.
"Baby," Sarah said with surety, and walked back to her throne.
Phoenix could see the tears come down Damien's cheeks, and felt herself tearing up.
"You want to marry me?" Damien asked.
Xen nodded. Phoenix waved her hand and a green velvet box popped into existence in between Damien and Xen. Damien grabbed it and opened it. Inside was a small golden ring that looked like a circle of leaves. The leaves sparkled with emeralds, diamond, and ebony stones. He turned the box around so Xen could see it. Xen cried, and Damien picked her up so she could sit in his lap. Phoenix knew they had forgotten all about them, so she waved her hand and sent the two to Damien's room.
"Well, that's that. Another wedding to plan," Sarah smiled. There was a muffled whine and a rocking sound on the other end of them room. Eamon looked like he was going to burst, and Phoenix let go the bind she had placed on him.
"What was that about?" Eamon yelled.
"Boy meets girls, boy and girl fall in love, boy gets girl pregnant and runs. Girl comes after boy, makes him agree to marry her," Phoenix said slowly, as if she was speaking to a child. By the time she was finished Eamon stood directly in front of her. He reached out and started to tickle her. A bubble floated into the room, and popped in Jareth's hand. A note appeared.
"To Their Royal Majesties King Jareth and Queen Sarah – we hope this finds you well. We have written to inform you that Her Highness, Princess Cara of the Dragonlands, is expecting her first child in about four months time. Congratulate me! – Toby"
Sarah screeched and jumped up and down. Phoenix did the same. And Eamon just sat there, looking dazed. Jareth smiled.
"What now?" Eamon asked wearily.
"Well, now Phoenix will have to be married in six months. Damien's wedding will take place in two months. Sheesh, Eamon, will when you join the crowd? It's all the rage to get married these days!" Sarah teased her son.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Two months later everyone gathered in the clearing below the Tree Palace. The midwife had said that Xen would give birth in four months time instead of six, due to the father being Fae. She was already pretty large with child, a mound evident on her small body. She walked up the aisle with Damien, who was dressed all in black. Xen herself wore a gown of light green crepe, with a chiffon overlay. It had thin straps and was empire-waisted. Tiny seed pearls and crystals adorned the dress, and the train was sheer and long. Her curly hair had been arranged so that it flowed neatly down her back, with the sides caught up with unseen hair combs. Her formal crown rested on her head. Damien wore the crown of his station as a goblin prince. They stopped in front of the High Lord and knelt on the grass (which was quite a feat for the pregnant queen).
"We have gathered here in a ritual of love. Long has the Queen of the Trees refused to marry, choosing to instead wed herself to her forest. This queen has chosen to change the course of history, and has decided to wed the one she loves. Damien and Xen have decided to write their own vows. So we may now listen as they pledge themselves to the Lord, the Lady, and each other," the high Lord took a step back. Damien and Xen stood and faced one another, holding hands and looking deeply into each other's eyes.
"O Lord, Answers to all mysteries and yet mysteries unanswered; In this place of power I ask of you this: As I breathe your energies into my body, mixing them with mine that I may see the divine in all, O Lord grant me the hand of he whom I seek... Allow me Lord to take my place as his soul mate, and to care for him as my own. Allow me the heart that beats strongly within his chest. Allow me to accept his love," Xen finished.
"O Lady to us all, answers to all mysteries and yet mysteries unanswered; In this place of power I ask of you this: As I breathe your energies into my body, mixing them with mine that I may see the divine in all, O Lady grant me the hand of she whom I seek... Allow me Lady to take my place as her soul mate, and to care for her as my own. Allow me the heart that beats strongly within her chest. Allow me to accept her love," Damien stated.
"I do love you, let it be known to all those present that I was once half and together we are one. Let it be known that without you I am nothing yet with you I hold infinite potential," they said together. Sniffles could be heard from the crowd as they spoke, and tears shone in their own eyes as well.
"Do you accept me into your heart?" Damien asked Xen.
"With the Lady as my guide and witness, I do," Xen said, "Do you accept me into your heart?"
"With the Lord as my guide and witness, I do"
"Oh Lord and Lady, smile upon us as we begin this journey into your arms. Help us to love, honor and respect one another," they said together as they slipped rings onto each other's fingers, "As the circle has no end, let our love be as infinite"
The High Lord stepped forward and placed his hands over their joined ones, "I now have the pleasure of presenting to you, Queen Xen and Prince Consort Damien of the Tree Kingdom. You may kiss your bride, Your Highness," Damien grabbed his little wife and kissed her before setting her back down. Then he knelt before her.
"I crown you Prince Consort Damien of the Tree Kingdom. Swear you will help us defend our lands, and our thrones," Xen intoned.
"I swear, by all that I am, that I will help defend our lands and our thrones," Damien responded.
"Rise, Prince Consort, and take your place at my side," Xen told him. He did as he was told, and stood next to her. Music started up from an unknown source, and Damien took Xen's hand.
"Do you think you can learn to be quiet sometimes?" Damien asked his bride.
"Only if you can learn to talk sometimes," Xen teased.
Queen Sarah and King Jareth could only look on as their middle child danced with his new bride.
"We could mop the floor with those amateurs, Jareth," Sarah muttered.
"Piece of cake, my dear heart," Jareth said as he swept her up in his arms.
a/n: That's the end of the story of Damien and Xen. Part Three: Eamon is next. Eamon was once told, "Be careful what you wish for". He really should have heeded that advice, because he finds himself Aboveground without magic, and at the mercy of a beautiful witch named Rhiannon. Stay tuned!
a/n: Lady Orchid, I have tried to email you many times, but the email address on your profile seems to be invalid. If you could email me directly, I would love to be able to email you and thank you for your faithful reviews.