Chapter 7: The Other Door
Author's Note: Ah, it is so nice to have access to a computer again. Also, to be able to watch my lovely Merlin DVD. Two weeks is too long for me to go without Merlin. It is bad for my health.
Thank you for all the lovely reviews! Midnight Lady and Jadanni, thanks for your kind comments and helpful suggestions.
Midnight Lady: No, Sarah won't be in the story, I'm afraid, but I think Jareth does still love her in a love/hate kind of way- otherwise why would he still be so bitter? Just out of interest, what was the ending you had worked out for me? I am going to put some stuff in the fic that wasn't in the film – this chapter, in fact. And I am going to put something in about Merlin dreaming about Nimue in a later chapter- I couldn't think of any way that Jareth could come up with for persuading Frik to give Merlin drugged liquid, or potion, or whatever it is, which is why I didn't put it in the last chapter . In reply to your review for Part 2, I can absolutely agree that Mab was nastier in the film, mainly because I have watched Merlin many times since I got back. And I would like to apologise for the makeup/ tights thing. They are not tights, they are leggings, and it is not makeup, it is… well, I'm not really sure what it could be classified as, but it's not makeup. But "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" remains part of the order, because it is a bloody good film. Also, about the sentries, if you asked them "Can I ask more than one question?" and they said "No," you'd be a bit buggered, because you'd have wasted your one question. I think.
Jadanni: Ooh, yay, another Mab fan. Thanks for your comments; I'm glad you like the story. I agree, the old search engine was annoying, especially if you're looking for something that doesn't have a specific category, like Merlin. The new one is much better. I'm not "discouraged" as such by lack of reviews, but I do like to get them, and I'm lucky in that I now have a lot more reviews than some stories, so I can't complain. BTW, are you suggesting that people will use their school computers for looking on instead of for schoolwork? Disgraceful! I say, looking guilty as hell, having spent vast amounts of ICT lessons on the Internet . Also, I have to say that I'm not all that happy about my Merlin characterisation. I do try, but I'm not very good at it, possibly because I'm not a big fan of Merlin as a character- though I think Sam Neill's a good actor. I watched the film when I was at the impressionable age of 9 or 10- I forget, it was a long time ago- and by the end of it was firmly on Mab's side (but then, I didn't twig she was the bad guy until Nimue got burned by the dragon, so there you go). I actually like Frik, but I prefer Mab, Mordred, Vortigern… hmm, perhaps I just like villains? Anyway, I will try and work on writing Merlin, and make him more assertive and less of a wimp. In response to other parts of the reviews, I'm glad you thought that the Void was a good explanation for where Mab went after she vanished. I do think the relationship between Mab and Merlin was very much a love/hate relationship. Your ideas about another side to their relationship are interesting. I admit, I've always thought of it as more of a mother/son thing, and thus the idea of Mab creating Merlin to be the King opposite her as Queen does seem slightly Oedipus-like, if that's the right phrase, but you certainly make some valid and interesting points. Perhaps you should write a fic exploring the idea? We need more Merlin stories here! And you should definitely watch Labyrinth. It's a cool film, even if you're not a big David Bowie fan (which I'm not).At least, I think so- it has dancing Goblins and cool Fireys that can pull their heads off. It appeals to my madness.
Disclaimer: Merlin, Mab and Frik belong to Hallmark Entertainment. "Labyrinth" belongs to Jim Henson. The three witches are all mine, but their names (and to a small extent, their appearance) are borrowed from "Dark Crystal", which also belongs to Jim Henson. "See the Little Goblin" is from Blackadder and thus belongs to the BBC.
Mab and Merlin had been walking for about an hour when they came to another dead end. They weren't following a particular route, just trying to go in a vaguely straight line, and, up until that point, it had been working well. They turned backwards to go the way they had come, then saw that all of the hedges had changed places, so that where they had taken their last turning, there was now a large hawthorn.
Merlin sighed, "Well, this is certainly interesting." Mab stared at him just long enough to convey a general feeling of contempt for the comment he had just passed, and didn't deign to reply. When the two of them turned back to the walls, they found that another pair of doors had materialised against the wall.
"Oh, joy. More doors," stated Mab sarcastically. Merlin stared closely at them. There were no sentries guarding these doors, just two large, brass knockers in the shape of faces.
"Do you think we have to answer another riddle?" asked Merlin uncertainly, "Frik seems to have much more of a knack for them than I do." Mab snorted.
"Yes, and last time we let him answer a riddle, we ended up falling fifty feet into a dungeon and being pursued by lethal machinery. Forgive me if I'm less than sorry at his absence."
"At least he got us past the doors," Merlin replied, "Which was more than you did."
"Need I remind you that it was also more than you did?" Mab sneered back at him, "Double standards, Merlin. You seem to live your life by them." Merlin gritted his teeth. Mab's constant jibes, snide remarks and bad temper were grating on his nerves.
"At least I'm not a cold blooded murderer," he replied in a quietly angered voice. Mab turned to face him.
"You have innocent blood on your hands, too," she snarled, "Or have you forgotten what happened to the Duke of Cornwall?" The reminder stung more than any threat or insult could have done, dredging up the lasting legacy of Merlin's bad judgement. He had helped Uther take Igraine, Duchess of Cornwall, and Uther had slaughtered her husband. He had betrayed Igraine, he caused the death of her husband and hundreds of his men, and let Uther's power crazed madness continue. At that moment, he hated Mab for reminding him, and hated himself for having been so foolish in the first place, and for giving her a weapon to use against him. He wondered if it was even remotely possible for their tentative truce to last, or if their old scars ran too deep to heal. If the hatred, anger and animosity that lay between them could ever, even temporarily be forgotten. Even though he knew that fighting would do no good, his anger overcame his common sense and he turned on Mab.
"Everything I did, I did for a good reason!" he retaliated furiously, "I was trying to bring peace to Britain, all you did was try and destroy it!"
"No, you were trying to take revenge on me, and placing Arthur on the throne just happened to fit in nicely with that. You dragged your little protégée into our war because it suited your purpose." Merlin was furious at the accusation. It was Mab who used humans, manipulating them for her own ends; it was Mab who had thought of nothing but revenge, not him.
"That's not true!" he protested angrily.
"Really?" asked Mab mockingly, "Then if Arthur had been Pagan and not Christian, you would still have made him king "for the good of Britain"?" Merlin hesitated. No, he wouldn't have, but that didn't mean that he only thought of revenge.
"If he'd followed you and the Old Ways, it would have harmed Britain. Look at Mordred! Evil, twisted, senselessly violent, the list goes on and on, Mab."
"Shut up!" Mab screamed, almost incandescent with rage, "You know nothing about Mordred! At least he was loyal."
"Loyal to what?" Merlin challenged, "You and your Old Ways? You really believe he was better than me because he killed people in your name? It's better not to be loyal to some things, Mab. The Old Ways are gone, as they were always destined to. The world is better off without them, or you."
"Then why are you here?" Mab shrieked, cutting him off before he could say more, "If Britain is so much better off without the Old Ways, if all those good Christian men that you so much admire are running the country with fairness and justice, if Britain prospers so much in my absence, then why have you gambled your freedom on a ghost of a chance to bring back a dead king?" Mab glared at him daring to answer the question. Merlin glared back, his anger only intensified by the fact that she was right.
"It's very rude to just stand there arguing!" A voice cut into their furious exchange, distracting them from their conflict. They turned to see one of the knockers staring at them crossly.
"My apologies," said Merlin, surprised, but also slightly grateful for the sudden interruption. The fighting would get them nowhere, and that was precisely where they didn't need to go.
"Pardon?" demanded the knocker. Merlin saw that the handle was jammed into its ears. A muffled noise came from the other knocker, whose handle was stuck in its mouth. Merlin helpfully removed it.
"Thank you," it said gratefully.
"Where do these doors lead?" asked Merlin curiously.
"Does one of them, by any chance, lead to certain death?" Mab asked.
"Search me," replied the knocker. "We never see what's on the other side of these doors." Mab rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth. The knocker on the left chimed in.
"Why does everyone always have to mumble? Speak up!" They ignored it.
"How do we get through?" asked Merlin.
"Knock, and the door will open," replied the knocker. Merlin stared at the handle in his hand, then back to the knocker, who shook his head stubbornly.
"No way. You're not putting that back in my mouth." Merlin sighed, and crossed to the other door.
"What do you think?" he asked Mab. "Should we go through this one?"
"We don't have enough time to waste arguing with the other one," Mab pointed out. Merlin turned back to the door, and knocked once, twice, three times. The door swung open, and the two of them stepped through it.
Beyond the door was a large forest. It was so unlike the rest of the dry, dusty, warm Labyrinth that Merlin almost wondered if they'd stepped into another world. The forest was large and lush and green, tall trees stretching up into the sky, which was still a strange shade of orange. A thick, cold mist coiled through the trees, lending the whole place an eerie feel. And the air was thick with magic.
Mab could feel it as soon as she stepped through the door. Magic was potent in the whole Underground, of course, and the air was charged with remnants of Jareth's illusionary magic, but this was different. She could still feel the Labyrinth here, but there was also another kind of magic, a kind that was different from any magic she'd felt before- different from Jareth's, from hers, from Merlin's, from her sister's.
"The air's different here," Merlin whispered from beside her. Evidently, he could feel it, too. They walked forward several paces, carrying on in a straight line. The mist soon swallowed up the place where they'd been standing. Mab wasn't sure they could find it again if they tried. She sincerely hoped there was a way through this forest.
They saw the smoke before they saw the house. A thin pillar of it weaved its way upwards through the trees and mist. The scent of magic on it was even stronger than that of the forest in general. Without speaking, as though drawn to it, they moved towards the smoke, their earlier conflict almost forgotten, and then they saw the house looming out of the mist.
It was a rickety cottage, built mainly of wood, over two stories. To Merlin, who had lived most of his life in a small forest hut, it actually looked quite large, but a lot less stable than his old home. The strange magic seemed to be emanating from this place, and it was probably magic that held it together. Once again, the two of them stepped forward wordlessly, but before they could reach it, they heard a cackling noise, coming from behind them. They swirled, Merlin's eyes swivelling from left to right, searching for the source of the noise, Mab extending her magical senses to try and detect the source of the noise. Before either of them could detect anything, they heard a small tinkling laugh from in front of them, and turned again.
"I'm beginning to feel like we've walked into a trap," Merlin whispered to Mab out of the corner of his mouth. As though his words were a queue, two figures jumped out of the bushes towards them, causing them to jump backwards.
"Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble," sneered one of them in a high, somewhat screeching voice, "What charming morsels do we have here?" Merlin peered forward, trying to get a good look at her, but she wore a long black cloak, the hood of which covered her face. The other figure spoke up.
"Don't be so mean! You'll scare them!" Her voice had a soft, lilting quality that reminded Merlin of the Lady of the Lake. She too wore a cloak, though hers was white.
"That was the intended effect!" the other one snapped back.
"But…" the other one protested. Before she could continue, another woman stepped forward, this one wearing a red cloak.
"Quiet, both of you!" she commanded irritably, in a sharp voice that reminded Merlin slightly of his foster mother, Ambrosia, "Honestly, bickering all day, all night, no rest, none!" It was at this point Mab decided to speak up.
"Who are you?" she demanded. The three figures turned back towards Merlin and Mab in surprise, as though they had forgotten they were there.
"Who are you, strange wanderer?" retorted the black cloaked one.
"I asked first!" snapped Mab. The girl snickered.
"Ah, but you are the trespassers here. It is only polite that you should introduce yourselves first, it is. It is not wise to cross the Witches of Leftwood, should we consider you a danger and," she made a grabbing motion with her hand, "Snatch away your life." She let out another cackle, seeming to find the last pronouncement amusing.
"They are challengers, seem to be," replied the red-cloaked woman, "Not bringers of danger, no, not this time."
"Ah, but listen," replied her cackling companion, cupping her hand to her ear, "They are magic users, strong magic users. They could prove a danger."
"Yes, could sense that, sense magic…" the woman in red continued, but was interrupted by the first.
"No, I have sensed it!" she cried, "I sensed their powers!" Regaining control of her temper, she went on to her companions. "The woman is the stronger of the two, stronger than we have ever seen before, but her lover is strong also." Merlin and Mab, who had been attempting to follow the conversation, despite the strange speech patterns jumped about five feet away from each other at this comment.
"What!" Mab demanded furiously.
"We're not…" Merlin began simultaneously but he was ignored.
"That does not mean danger to us!" the woman in red replied, "Still your suspicions!" The black robed girl made a high pitched whining noise to indicate her disagreement, but she obediently ceased her accusations.
"If they are challengers," broke in the girl in the white robe, "Then they must come in." She gestured towards the house. The other two nodded, and the three of them ushered Merlin and Mab forward and into the rickety house. Inside, a fire burned brightly, and a strange, vile smelling mixture simmered over it in a cauldron. Two large crystal balls sat on tables at opposite ends of the room, next to two other doors. The witch wearing red shut the door.
"Now," she said, "What are your names, challengers?" Deciding that cooperation was probably the wisest choice for now, Merlin answered.
"My name is Merlin," he replied.
"And what is yours, pretty traveller with sharp tongue?" asked the one in black. Mab waited a moment before deigning to reply.
"Queen Mab." The three witches let out an "Ah!" of comprehension.
"Yes, the Queen of Magic, of course," muttered the one in red.
"And the Queen of Air and Darkness in the realm of men," continued the one in black.
"That explains the strength of her powers," replied the girl in white.
"And why you are challenging the Labyrinth," the girl in black said, speaking directly to Mab, "Jareth becomes greedy, clutching at things he wants, does he not? Most unfortunate for those whom he desires, yes?"
"I'm aware of Jareth's faults, believe me," replied Mab, "Who are you?" The witches removed their cloaks so that Merlin and Mab could see them. They wore long dresses in the same colour as their cloaks. The girl in white was tall and pretty, with delicate, pointed features, large eyes, and flowing white hair. Her expression was serene. The girl in black was not as pretty, though not ugly either. She had black hair that fell in tangles to her shoulders. Her eyes were amber coloured, and were narrowed, not because she felt particularly suspicious, but because she used the expression so often her features settled into it naturally. She was rather bony, her features were angular, and Merlin could see that her fingers were unnaturally long and bony, slightly bent and ending in long, talon-like nails. Her skin had an unhealthy greyish tint to it. The third witch, wearing red, looked elderly, as opposed to the other two. She was short and stocky, with long, grey hair, and a piercing gaze emanating from her brown eyes. She seemed to be the leader of the three.
"We are the Witches of Leftwood," she replied, "Aughra is my name."
The girl in white smiled, "I am Gelfling."
The girl in black stared through narrowed eyes, "I call myself Skeksi. Be polite, and I may let you call me it also."
"Interesting names," Merlin replied.
"Indeed," Mab agreed. Their comments were ignored; evidently the witches were used to such remarks.
"Now, challengers…," Aughra said, in a loud, dramatic voice that was evidently meant to be the prelude to an important statement, but for Skeksi's sudden yelp.
"The cauldron!" She dashed over to the said object, which was beginning to expel violet smoke, and began stirring it vigorously until the liquid inside returned to an obnoxious green colour.
"Ahem!" Aughra cleared her throat loudly, with an irritated glance in Skeksi's direction. "As Aughra was saying, challengers must now undergo a trial."
"What kind of trial?" asked Mab suspiciously.
"It's hard to explain," answered Gelfling kindly, "It very much depends on who undertakes it."
"No, it's simple to explain," Skeksi put in, "The details depend on the person."
"It's only simple to explain if you make a sweeping statement, Skeksi, and it never helps anyone to comprehend the trial."
"It helps them more than nothing!" replied Skeksi crossly, taking a spoonful of the potion from the cauldron and testing it. She frowned a little, then spat into the potion, turning it a violent shade of red, and causing it to let out a burst of flame. She looked at the new colour. "Hmmm, needs more newts' blood. And possibly an extra chicken foot." Merlin and Mab looked at the cauldron in distaste.
"The trial doesn't involve drinking that, does it?" Mab asked Aughra. Behind her Skeksi laughed.
"As if we would waste precious ingredients on every challenger going through the Labyrinth! This has nothing to do with the trial, Queen of Air and Darkness. You needn't fear yourself."
"I'm glad to hear it," replied Mab, looking visibly relieved.
"Enough!" snapped Aughra, "Will you face the trial?"
"What if we choose not to?" asked Merlin.
"Then you are free to go into the forest, but be warned! The path will never end, and you will not reach the Goblin Castle in time. You will lose," warned Aughra.
"That's if you survive the rest of your time in the forest," interrupted Skeksi, with another cackle, "And don't get torn apart by the nasty creatures!"
"If you face the trials," Aughra continued, "When you leave, the path will be shortened, and you can continue on your journey."
"So, you're saying that either we lose for certain, or we face this trial and then we can carry on and maybe lose anyway." Merlin simplified.
"…Yes," Aughra admitted.
"Oh, but you will go away from the trial a much better and humbler person," said Gelfling, in an attempt at making the best out of the situation.
"Either that or committing suicide," said Skeksi, in an attempt at doing the exact opposite.
"How do we know that you're telling the truth?" asked Merlin, "How do we know that the path will never end if we walk down it now?"
Gelfling looked shocked and upset at the implication that Merlin disbelieved them, Skeksi cackled again and murmured into her cauldron, "Perhaps challengers have wits enough to get through the Labyrinth after all…", before emptying a pot of what looked like dust into the potion, "Hmmm, nearly out of dead man's ashes…" she grumbled to herself. Aughra looked puzzled.
"What would we gain from lying to you? Nothing, Aughra thinks."
"I'm sure Jareth would gain something from us being delayed," Mab retorted.
"What has the King of the Goblins got to do with it? We do not associate with him, nothing to do with us. Goblins do not like this forest," Aughra informed them. Skeksi laughed.
"See the little goblin, See his little feet, And his little nosy-wose, Isn't the Goblin sweet?" Skeksi sang, laughing madly as she did, and finishing off by crying "No!", and going off into peals of cackling laughter.
Ignoring Skeksi, Merlin went on.
"Well, you do answer to him, don't you?" The witches looked offended.
"We answer to no-one!" snapped Skeksi.
"But you live in his kingdom," pointed out Merlin.
"Do you follow all commands given to you by your king? Even if they do harm to you, or others?" Aughra asked crossly, "I think not. Jareth wishes to control us, but he does not. We wish to be left alone, but we are invaded by challengers. Trial helps challengers get through forest and leave us alone. Challengers happy, we are less than unhappy…"
"And because we do not let challengers through straight away, Jareth is pleased, and leaves us alone," Skeksi finished. "You are just wasting time with your arguing. You question too much, others question too little. Must find middle ground, yes?" Merlin turned to Aughra.
"Then, I suppose we'll face your trial," he said, with some misgivings.
"I'm capable of speaking for myself!" snapped Mab, before turning back to the other witches.
"I'll face this trial, too. But mark this, if I find that you're lying to us, or betraying us, then you'll pay dearly." None of the witches seemed bothered by the threat, but Skeksi smiled to herself.
"Keep your pride, Queen of Magic. It can be a powerful ally." Looking at Skeksi, Mab replied.
"I know."
Aughra turned towards Mab, and pointed towards one of the doors leading off from the main room.
"Enter through there," she instructed. Following Mab towards the door, she lifted the crystal ball from the table beside it. She called out.
"Skeksi, take Merlin to the other room!" before going through the door and shutting it behind her. Skeksi pushed Merlin towards the other door roughly.
"That way!" she said impatiently, snatching up the other crystal ball. "Gelfling, stay here and stir cauldron. Do not let it burn!" And with that, she walked into the room and slammed the door behind her.
The room was dark. Merlin squinted around, and made out the shapes of a table and two chairs.
"Sit down!" snapped Skeksi, "You do not have all day, I think." Merlin sat in one of the chairs, and Skeksi sat opposite, placing the crystal on the table between them. Merlin wondered exactly what kind of trial involved large furniture and a crystal ball, and failed to think of anything.
"What exactly does this trial entail?" he asked. Skeksi sighed.
"More questions? You always have questions; I am surprised you have time to give answers," she muttered, but went on to answer the question anyway. "We use our magic, through the crystal, to find who you have wronged the most within your life, and you experience the pain you inflicted on them- you feel their emotions, and when they feel metaphorical pain, you feel its physical equivalent. You may need many strong painkillers afterwards. We keep them stocked." Merlin looked at the crystal dubiously. Whilst it all sounded very noble, Merlin wasn't sure he could cope with feeling the suffering he had inflicted, however unintentionally, on others. It was bad enough imagining the suffering they had felt; however, he couldn't see that he had any choice. "Are you ready now?" Skeksi asked impatiently. He nodded wordlessly. Skeksi concentrated for a moment, then flung out her hands towards the crystal. Bolts of energy flew from them, passing through the crystal and hitting Merlin. Merlin winced in anticipation, but to his surprise, the bolts didn't hurt, merely tingled slightly. He wondered whose thoughts and feelings he would have to witness. His first thought was Igraine, or perhaps her husband, whose death he had caused, but then he thought of Nimue, whose love for him had seen her scarred by a dragon's flame, and trapped in a magical cave forever. He didn't think he could bear it if it was.
As suddenly as she had made them appear, Skeksi banished the bolts with a gesture. She leaned forward, peering into the crystal. Merlin leant forward, too. A faint picture was taking shape in the crystal.
"The one whom you have wronged the most will appear in the crystal," Skeksi murmured dramatically. Merlin stared at the image began to focus. As it became less blurry, Merlin thought that he recognised who it was. But no, that was impossible. He must be mistaken.
Whatever his doubts however, Skeksi certainly didn't seem to share them.
"Hmm. How interesting," she observed, giving Merlin a sly glance, "Do you often travel with your enemies." The image in the crystal was fully in focus now, and there was no mistaking who it was. It was Mab.
"That's impossible," Merlin said, shaking his head in denial. Skeksi seemed to find it rather amusing.
"The crystal never lies," she laughed. Merlin continued to shake his head in angry denial.
"I've never wronged her…" he said, staring at Skeksi as though telling her would change who appeared in the crystal. She raised an eyebrow.
"Obviously you have, human. I do not elect who appears in the crystal." Merlin stood up angrily.
"Everything I've ever done to her, she's deserved!" he ground out in fury. Skeksi jumped up to face him, and Merlin noticed that she was actually taller than he was. She was starting to look less than amused.
"It is not for you to judge who deserves what! What have right have you to judge others?" she snapped, "Now sit down!" Regaining control of himself, Merlin sat. "After the trial, you can judge for yourself whether or not she deserved it." Unwillingly, Merlin agreed. Now he really wasn't sure what to expect.
"Look into the crystal," Skeksi muttered, "Stare deeply. Do not look away." Merlin stared, stared until he couldn't see the rest of the room, only a speck of light within the crystal that grew larger and larger as he watched, until it engulfed his whole vision.
Merlin had been surprised by who had appeared in the crystal, but it had been no surprise whatsoever to Mab. She'd lived a long, long life, and in it she had done plenty of things that could be constituted as "wrong", but she knew that there was no one particular person that she'd waged a private war with for decades except Merlin, and sure enough, when the image cleared, she was staring down at Merlin's image.
"What a surprise," she muttered sarcastically, not really wanting an inside guide to Merlin's thoughts and feelings. She had never understood mortals, and as far as she was concerned, that was not a problem. Still, the idea of wasting time here, then running out of time and becoming Jareth's bride was something she wanted even less, and so it was with considerable trepidation that she leaned forward and stared in the crystal.
When the light faded, Merlin could see in front of him a large room. He recognised it as his schoolroom in the Land of Magic. Mab and Frik stood in it, looking around as though searching for something. It didn't take him long to realise that they were looking for him.
"Master Merlin!" Frik called. There was no reply. The gnome sighed, "Where is he?" It was then that Mab spoke up.
"He's on his way home," she hissed angrily, "To that viper-tongued witch Ambrosia." Merlin felt a strange feeling of angry hurt that was not his own rise in him, and a voice echoed in his head.
"Why has he gone back to her? He was supposed to stay here!" He felt a jolt of pain flicker through his chest and he cried out in surprise.
The conversation had progressed slightly.
"What are you going to do?" Frik asked Mab.
"I'm not going to lose him," she replied, stalking around the room.
"I can't lose him. I need him. He's the only hope I have left." Merlin felt desperation flood through him now, and another jolt of pain hit him.
Now the scene changed to the inside of Ambrosia's forest house. Merlin recognised himself as a youth standing in front of Mab.
"I don't care if you die and disappear."
Merlin felt a flash of anger and jealousy flow through him, along with the thought "You cared when Ambrosia died. You care more about the life of one old and dying woman than you do about your own people, about me…" A much larger jolt of pain flowed through his chest this time and he let out another yell.
Mab easily recognised the scene in front of her. It was in Ambrosia's house. Ambrosia was standing there, and so was Frik. She herself was also standing there, holding the newborn baby she now knew to be Merlin in her arms.
"This is ridiculous," Mab thought scornfully, "How could a child that young possibly understand anything, never mind have a sense of right and wrong?"
Ambrosia was speaking, "While you're making gestures, save the mother. She's dying." Mab saw herself turn to Ambrosia and say carelessly.
"No she's not. She's dead." Suddenly, Mab was aware of a strange feeling of fear and sadness within her, that se couldn't understand. It was the feeling a child has when they know that something horrible has happened, but they're not sure what it is. She felt a pain tighten across her chest, and she clutched at it in pain.
When she looked again, the scene had changed. A much younger Merlin than the one she knew today was talking to her sister, to the Lady of the Lake.
"How are you getting on with my sister Mab?" the Lady of the Lake was asking, "We two don't get on."
"Why?" Merlin asked, confused.
"I don't approve of what she's been doing. Creating you, and letting your mother die like that…"
The pain returned, but worse this time, and with it came the confusion and anger that Merlin had felt when he'd learned that the woman who'd created him had stood by while his mother died.
The three witches could not see precisely what Mab and Merlin could see, nor hear precisely what they could hear, but every so often, an image would flicker across their vision, or they would hear distant voices.
A beautiful woman lying injured and forever scarred by the flame from a dragon… A young man wearing the cross of Christianity, pulling a sword from a large stone… That man, but older, lying dead at the edge of a battlefield… Another, younger man also dying amidst a field of bodies… A vicious battle of magic between Merlin and Mab... the Void… a life spent searching for a cave that could never be found…
"I'll destroy you for what you've done to me!"
"The end justifies the means…"
"Because of him, the chaos and blood will go on and on…"
"I'll see you fade into nothing…"
"Arthur will heal the land…"
"The big bad wizard can't do a thing. Run, run wizard, run…"
"You've lost Arthur… the battle… your one true love…"
"Don't forget me, Merlin. I… love you. As a son…"
"They'll suffer for this," Skeksi murmured to herself, half pityingly, "How they will be able to look at each other after this, I know not. Then how can they complete the Labyrinth?"
Merlin wasn't aware of how long the trial lasted. Scene after scene flashed before his eyes. He could feel the pain and suffering that he had inflicted on Mab, and for once in his life, he pitied her. He pitied her because she had started out with good intentions and failed, he pitied her because she had faded away, he pitied her for having to spend so long in the Void. And he pitied her because, in her own way, she had loved him, and he'd been the one to destroy her.
By the time it was over, every part of his body ached, and his mind was in turmoil. Mab's thoughts and feelings were no longer mixed up with his own, thank goodness, but the memories of them were still strong. Skeksi didn't say anything to him, just gave him a look that Merlin didn't recognise for a moment, until he realised it was pity. Merlin wasn't entirely sure that he wanted the pity of this eccentric, cruel, half-mad witch, but then he thought that perhaps Mab didn't want his pity, had never wanted his pity. His loyalty, his obedience, yes. Maybe even his affection. But never his pity.
Skeksi crossed to the door and opened it. Merlin pulled himself to his feet, his legs nearly collapsing. Once he'd steadied himself, he crossed back into the main room. The first thing he noticed was Mab sitting in a chair across the room, looking every bit as awful as he felt. Aughra was sitting in another chair, and glanced up as Merlin entered the room, looking from him to Mab and back again, apparently contemplating something privately. Gelfling was handing Mab a drink of some kind. Seeing this, Skeksi yelled out.
"Gelfling! Did I not tell you to stir the cauldron!" as she ran over to her precious potion again. Merlin and Mab winced at the loud noise of her screeching voice. Aughra opened her eyes and snapped.
"Put aside your potion! We have more things to think about than that!"
Merlin sat in a chair across from Mab, but he couldn't bring himself to look at her. Not after what he'd just seen. He caught a quick glimpse of her and saw that she seemed to be purposefully avoiding looking at him as well. Interrupting his reverie, Gelfling handed him a goblet filled with a strange coloured liquid.
"Here," she said kindly, "Drink this. It will make you feel better." Merlin took a sip, then wished he hadn't. It was disgusting. He grimaced as he swallowed; however, he noticed the pain that he felt fade a little.
"Tastes bad, does good," Aughra informed him. "Drink it."
"It's not from that cauldron is it?" Merlin asked tentatively. Skeksi laughed and shook her head.
"No, no, but drink it quickly then go!" she urged. "Time runs short." Merlin swallowed the rest of the potion. It left a bitter aftertaste, but at least the pain was gone. As soon as he had finished, the witches swooped down on him and Mab, pulling them to their feet and shepherding them urgently out of the door.
"Goodbye!" Gelfling called kindly.
"Luck be with you," said Aughra quickly, "Now go!"
"Aren't you curious about what the potion was?" teased Skeksi.
"No, not really, but since you bring it up…," Merlin replied.
"Dinner!" Skeksi informed Merlin, then went off into gales of laughter as both he and Mab turned a faint shade of green. With that, she, Aughra and Gelfling turned and went back inside, leaving Merlin and Mab standing outside purposefully not looking at each other.
Inside, the witches went back to their tasks- Gelfling tidied, Skeksi stirred her potion, and Aughra mused.
"Will they make it, Aughra wonders?" she muttered. Gelfling looked distraught.
"Oh, I hope so! To think of them losing to Jareth in his present mood…"
"Ah, Gelfling, Aughra did not ask for your hopes and sentiments!" Aughra snapped, "Aughra asks you for a realistic view!" Gelfling looked suitably corrected. Aughra went on, "It is true, people cannot bear to come face to face with those they have wronged, Aughra knows from experience! But when they are relying on each other to face the Labyrinth…" They went into deep thought. Aughra turned to Skeksi who, unusually, was keeping her opinions to herself. "What think you Skeksi? Will they make it?"
Skeksi looked thoughtful for a moment, and stirred her potion several times before she made a reply. Carefully tipping another ingredient into the cauldron, she stared into the sudden outburst of blood red flames, lost in her own thoughts.
"I think…" she began, "… I think that we should order some more dead man's ashes."
Author's Note: Excuse the odd ending to the chapter, I couldn't think of another way to end it without dragging it on longer. So, there is the latest chapter. Please tell me what you think. New part hopefully up soon.