Chapter 3: Getting Re-acquainted

Author's Note: Considered bringing a new character in at this point, decided not to, on balance. Thus, I spent another 2 days rewriting this. Enjoy!

Thank you, as usual, to my reviewers- ladylillith, I have now been singing "See the Little Goblin (King)" for 2 days solid! You have much to answer for!

Mab slowly opened her eyes and got to her feet. She'd landed on a rocky patch of ground several metres from the outer wall of the Labyrinth. By rights, she should ache all over, and yet, she felt absolutely elated. She was revelling in being able to use magic again. It was wonderfully invigorating, being able to feel the power that coursed through every cell in her body. She couldn't feel it as strongly as in the Land of Magic- the Underground wasn't her realm, nor even one of the three realms of men, and even if it had been, despite Jareth's protestations to the contrary, magic wasn't as potent here as in her former kingdom, but still, she felt so much better than she had in a long time.

Just to prove to herself that she still could, Mab stared at a small tree in front of her, concentrated, and smiled with satisfaction when it burst into flames.

A quiet ticking noise interrupted her sudden elation. Turning, Mab saw a large clock suspended in midair just behind her. Unusually, instead of the numbers around the edge going up to twelve, they went up to thirteen. Seeing the clock brought Mab down to Earth with a thud, as she remembered Jareth's words.

"You'll have thirteen hours to solve the Labyrinth, or Mordred will be forever trapped in the Underground… If you fail to solve the Labyrinth, you're mine."

Mab clenched her fists again, and felt magic begin to crackle into being around them. She sent the ball of energy flying at the clock, letting out an angry cry as she did so, as though by destroying the clock, she could destroy Jareth himself. Destroy him for taking Mordred, for forcing her into this, for what would happen to both Mordred and herself if she couldn't do it…

Mab shook her head, attempting to rid herself of that thought. She would solve Jareth's pathetic challenge, no matter what tricks and traps he dreamed up for her, and when she had, she would make Jareth pay for what he had done. Preferably with his own blood. Realising that she was just wasting time by standing there and getting angry, she turned to face the Labyrinth.

As she drew nearer, she couldn't help feeling a strange, nagging sensation in the pit of her stomach that was nothing to do with Jareth's challenge. She wasn't sure what it was to do with, so she ignored it, and continued towards the ivy covered walls.

Frik and Merlin strode down towards the Labyrinth, Frik complaining bitterly all the way.

"Master Merlin, it's all very nice, this human instinct of "Running headfirst into things for the greater good, and damn the consequences", but I don't appreciate being dragged into it, greater good or no greater good."

Merlin sighed, "Frik, I did not "drag you into this". You were the one who dived through the entrance after me."

"I wasn't intending to stay here! I was trying to do the decent thing, give you some advice! Now look at me- thirteen hours away from ending up spending all eternity serving His Royal Twistedness!"

"I did try to tell you that the entrance was closing, Frik. You just ignored me," Merlin replied, irritably. It wasn't just Jareth's challenge and Frik's moaning that were setting his nerves on edge. There was something else, a different kind of unease, the source of which Merlin couldn't for the life of him identify. He moved with caution, knowing that from what he had heard of Jareth, anything and everything was likely to happen, no matter how impossible.

Mab ran her hand along the wall of the Labyrinth. She'd tried walking through the wall, but as she'd expected, Jareth had put barriers up to prevent that. Now she was trying to find a crack, unevenness, or change of surface beneath the thick layer of climbing plants that would indicate some kind of door or other entrance into the Labyrinth. So far, she'd had no luck, and she was fast running out of patience with the seemingly impenetrable wall.

Somewhere in the distance, she could hear voices growing closer, and the gnawing feeling of unease was growing. She was tuning out the voices despite her uneasiness. She wanted to concentrate on finding an entrance, and whoever the voices belonged to, she highly doubted that Jareth would have sent them to attack her- it wasn't his style.

"Besides," she thought idly, "If he wants me as his bride, he's hardly going to attempt to kill me off now." Frowning, she pushed the thought away- the words "Jareth", "Her" and "Bride" should never be allowed in the same sentence.

Even if he had sent someone to attack her, Mab reasoned, whilst she may not be able to kill Jareth whilst in his kingdom, she doubted that other inhabitants would pose any such problems.

The voices were getting louder now, enough to be actively annoying. She could hear footsteps now, as well, but she still didn't turn round.

One of the voices seemed to trail off as they approached, the other called out to her.

"Excuse me!" Mab froze. If she'd been holding anything, she would have dropped it to shatter on the ground. Now she thought she recognised what the feeling of uneasiness had been, just as she recognised the voice that had just spoken. She turned slowly to face the voice, hoping against hope that she was wrong, until she stood face to face with the two people behind her.

On the left stood Frik, her former servant, looking absolutely terrified. And next to him, a look of dawning horror on his face, was Merlin.

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As the two of them approached, the Labyrinth, Merlin saw a woman standing in shadow, facing away from them. He could see that she had long black hair, and wore dark clothing, but most details were thrown into shadow. Perhaps she knew a way into this Labyrinth?

"Excuse me!" he called out to her, trying to attract her attention. He saw her stiffen suddenly, and next to him, Frik's incessant grumbling ceased, to be replaced with a stifled whimper of fear. As she turned, the unease deep inside Merlin grew, until, belatedly, he connected what his eyes could see with Frik's fear, and his own unease, and realised, even though it should be impossible, that there was no way she could possibly be there, who it was that stood in front of him. When she was fully turned to face them, Merlin's worst fears were confirmed.

Standing directly in front of him, obviously alive and well, was the woman who'd created him, given him his powers, shaped his life, destroyed those he loved, brought down Arthur's kingdom. Mab.

The traces of aging and fading power that had been evident in her when Merlin had last seen her were gone, vanished completely. Evidently, she was not only alive, but far stronger than she had been when Merlin had last faced her. As she stared at him, her beautiful face seemed expressionless, but in her eyes, Merlin could see the rage and grief and hatred and shock that she felt at seeing him again. And he prayed that she couldn't see the fear in his.

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For a moment, all three were silent, unable to move or speak, as though mesmerised by the shock. Then, Frik let out a high- pitched scream, and dived behind the nearest bush for cover, and the sudden noise and movement broke the spell.

Hot on the heels of the shock Mab had felt at first seeing him, was all of the hatred that she had felt for Merlin over the years.

"It was you," she thought, staring at him, "You betrayed me. You put Arthur on the throne. You gave him Excalibur, helped him kill my Mordred. You walked away from me when I begged you not to. You let me die. You're the reason I've spent the last few years in a living hell." Then, even though she knew it was irrational, "This is your fault."

"Mab," Merlin said. It was a statement rather than a question. Mab shot him a cold, cruel smile.

"Merlin," she replied mockingly, summoning a fireball, and sending it flying towards him.

"Duck, Master Merlin!" she heard Frik scream from behind the bush. Mere moments before it could hit him, Merlin dived to the floor. Mab snarled angrily. She concentrated, and a lightening bolt seemed to fly out of nowhere, heading straight for Merlin, who threw up his hands and made the sign for "Shield", just as the lightening struck, before sending it flying back at her. Mab was surprised momentarily that Merlin had dared to counter her, but the surprise quickly turned to scorn, as she blocked the attack with no apparent effort. She lifted her hand again, ready to summon another blast- and this one would hit its mark- when someone caught her wrist from behind, gripping it painfully.

"Now, now, Mab. That's not nice," Jareth chided her. Mab whirled to face him.

"Don't touch me!" Mab hissed, her voice filled with venom. Jareth's only response was to tighten his grip on her wrist.

"Or what?" he taunted, bringing his other hand up to stroke her hair. Mab's eyes darkened in fury, and she lashed out, slapping him across the face as hard as she possibly could. He staggered back a couple of paces in surprise.

"Tsk, tsk," he reprimanded Mab, shaking his head sternly, "Temper, temper. We must find a way to cure that. I mean, I can hardly allow that sort of behaviour from you when you become my queen, can I my darling?" Mab glared back in disgust. He laughed, turning back to Merlin and the bush which Frik was trying- and failing- to completely hide himself behind. The two had watched the exchange between Jareth and Mab with curiosity and surprise.

"What's going on?" Merlin challenged Jareth, his eyes flickering between the Goblin King, and Mab, who was still trying to pull her wrist free, though whether it was Jareth or Merlin she wanted to attack was a matter for debate.

"Oh dear, you've found me out," Jareth said, in a voice tinged with mock regret. "I thought the two of you," glancing between Merlin and Mab, "would have been glad at the opportunity to reminisce and play Happy Families." Both shot him a glare which, if looks could kill, would have buried him six feet under in a nanosecond.

"You brought us here so that we could let bygones be bygones?" Merlin asked disbelievingly. Mab rolled her eyes.

"You really are a fool, Merlin. Of course he didn't. The only actions Jareth takes are actions that will benefit Jareth." Jareth put his hand to his chest in mock sadness.

"I'm hurt, Mab. Am I not giving you the chance to rescue your precious Mordred? Am I not giving Merlin the chance to rescue Arthur? How does that benefit me?"

"It does if we fail," Merlin pointed out to Jareth. Meanwhile, Frik had dared to poke his head out from behind the bush.

"You have Mordred here as well? What are you trying to do? Collect the full set?" Jareth glared at him, then laughed.

"Thick…"

"Frik," Merlin, Mab and Frik corrected him simultaneously.

"Frik, I have no desire to collect Arthur and his bastard son…," Mab bristled at that remark, "… nor you, for that matter. Of course, Merlin and Mab would make charming additions to the Underground- and, seeing as you're obviously so keen, I'm sure I can find somewhere for you, as well." Frik set about trying to make himself as invisible as possible once more.

"I won't be making any kind of addition to the Underground at all," Mab snapped at Jareth. He laughed.

"You, dearest, will be the pride of my collection. Personally, I've always thought you'd look stunning in a wedding dress." Mab snarled wordlessly, and tried to pull her wrist free again.

"Anyway," Jareth continued, "I'm doing the mortal realm a favour, really. According to the prophecy, Britain won't be at peace until…"

"I'm sorry," Merlin interrupted, "I'm confused. What prophecy are you talking about?" Jareth looked surprised.

"Oh, didn't you know?" he asked, in a smug tone that implied he knew bloody well they had no idea what he was talking about, and he wanted to lord it over them. "The prophecy that states that because Arthur and Mordred finished each other off at the same time… well, I couldn't quote it word for word, but it's somewhere along the lines of "Britain will be forever trapped in a reign of civil war, blood and chaos." Cheery, isn't it? Oh, but here's the bright side… "If one of the warriors emerges victorious, the state of political limbo ends." Not quite the right wording, but close enough. That's where I come in. If you manage to reach Mordred and Arthur in time, and rescue them –and that is a very large "If"- then they'll fight, one of them will die, and the other will reign supreme over Britain."

"And that's what you call doing the mortal realm a favour?" Merlin exclaimed angrily.

"I told you, all of Jareth's actions are performed to benefit Jareth. Mostly to only benefit Jareth." Mab reminded Merlin.

"Hardly," replied Jareth indignantly, "Getting Britain out of a state of civil war won't benefit me alone. And if you don't succeed, then Britain won't have lost anything that it hadn't already lost. And as for all of you, just think- If you don't find them, you'll all be in the Underground- together, forever- and if you do, then you'll all be free." He paused here, as though thinking to himself. "Well, except for whoever loses the fight," he admitted, "They'll be dead." Releasing Mab's wrist, he pushed her away from him with enough force to send her reeling backwards. He gestured lazily, and two gates in the side of the wall swung open.

"I must say, I'm curious about how the three of you will attempt this. Please try and make it entertaining- life can get so boring here." He sniggered, and vanished, leaving behind him the faint sound of mocking laughter, and Merlin, Frik and Mab staring at each other, unmoving.

Another Author's Note: Sorry, this part is shorter than the last two parts- but it would like me to convey that it deeply wishes for reviews, please! Excuse me, I have to go and hum "See the Little Goblin" some more…