Double Trouble

7

Authors before note: I do not own any of the Labyrinth characters but my own. Sorry it took so long MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"You don't need its help," grumbled Hoggle waddling up to her, "That's a Bell fairy your talken to." He snarled in disgust, "just about as irritating and annoying as Garden fairies." Another pebble came soaring his way.

"You big nosed poor excuse for an Underground creature, how dare you insult me!" small wings emerged just a few feet away from them fallowed by a small green body. Petite lavender eyes glared down upon them. "I am not irritating and certainly not annoying." She folded her arms over her naked chest and stuck up her nose in defiance.

Elizabeth shook her head and sighed, Labyrinth creatures and their haughty habits.

"Look you insulted me first," Elizabeth said placing a hand on her hype. "I neither wish to 'get' King or wish to insult you in some way by crossing these borders. But if it's keeping me from my brothers then I'll have to continue onwards without your consent or help." The small fairy mirrored Elizabeth; placing a hand on her small hype she eyed the young teen with slight curiosity.

Hoggle stood listening though distractedly something important sat lingering at the back of his mind he could not quite grasp; he looked towards the hedge maze nervously.

"You got spunk I'll give you that," the fairy said slowly, buzzing close to Elizabeth until she was practically sitting on her nose. The bell fairy stood about six inches tall, long dark green matted hair adorned with a lay of small white flower buds, curved down her back. Antennas of a red color pocked amongst them bouncing to some extent as she hovered in front of her face. She smiled showing her pearly whites. "So you lost your babes huh?" The sudden calmness and conversational attire the small being put on threw Elizabeth slightly off.

"Y-yes," Elizabeth stuttered keeping strait and her eyes on the winged girl. The girl seemed to look her up and down.

"Doesn't your kind wear shoes?" she asked curiously.

"Does everyone seem to notice this? It's not my fault," she groaned placing her index and middle finger upon her temple she blushed in her frustration, "look it was an inconvenient time when this all happened." She momentary looked towards her feet as did the Bell fairy.

She clucked her tongue in dissatisfaction. "Well it seems you will have to walk through here after all."

"What?" Elizabeth said surprised which she was complied with a nodding from the small green being.

"Come on come on," The girl ushered Elizabeth forwards. Elizabeth sighed but obliged none the less.

"Hoggle?" Elizabeth questioned she looked behind her and found him no where in site.

"He snuck off just now," the fairy indignantly said, "Shows how much of a cohort he is."

"Hoggle is a good friend," Elizabeth said distractedly, her hand placed upon the side of her mouth in wonder. Where had he gone?

She felt alone suddenly Hoggle was the closest thing she had to normal, how ever abnormal he might have been, he soothed her. She felt like she had been within the Labyrinth forever, she seemed to nod every so often as the fairy chattered on.

The small fairy watched closely as the female's mortal eyes dashed back and forth. The look on Elizabeth's face as she mentioned the dwarf being gone sent a twinge of guilt through her.

"Hey," she said, poking Elizabeth in the nose; Elizabeth sneezed slightly sucking in breath in surprise. She rubbed her nose and glared at the fairy which was replied with a curt dip from her body and disappeared from view.

"Wha?" Elizabeth sputtered reeling around she found the fairy hovering over the hedge maze entrance. "What was that for!" she said giving her a hard look.

"For being a ditzy human now come on," Elizabeth couldn't quite reason with her answer but fallowed quietly none the less, her arms folded to her chest stubbornly.

They entered the hedge maze and her senses were blown away at the sudden impact of aroma around her. She stopped suddenly her head doing a double take, staggering she balanced herself before she would fall. The Fairy looked at her with a raised eyebrow confusion written upon her face.

"The scent," Elizabeth said in a choked voice, she batted her hand before her face as if to brush the smell away, though it only made it worse. She held her breath then a moment later let it go.

"Human senses," the fairy shook her head, "you'll get use to it," she breathed in deeply and smiled, "I grew up with this beautiful scenery," she motioned all around her.

Elizabeth blinked a few times before momentary looking before her. Indeed it was breathtaking; she rolled her eyes at the pun. The hedges had grown in a circular spectrum where a large flat green grassy area was created. Flowers bloomed everywhere, in all shapes, colors and sizes. There was a pond to her left where lily pads in an odd pink color sat drifting lazily across the surface, green buds could be seen poking out here and there. And then farther down towards the end of the garden stood the only tree, towering high, only to wilt towards the side, its whip like branches stretched towards the ground, a weeping willow. Her eyes glued to everything yet opened enough to take in all as if feared every part of it would slip from her if she did not peer at it quick enough. She felt something probing at her shoulder. She looked down distracted to find the bell fairy.

"Have you forgotten your reason of passing through here?" The small girl shook her head, "Mother Lillian shall fix your shoeless worries then you shall be on your way, time passes us like water between our fingers we must be swift."

Elizabeth nodded numbly pursuing the girl. All her senses seemed to be numb within these green walls. She felt strange what was happening to her?

"Over here Human," Elizabeth's head snapped to her right at the pixies calling she stood hovering over the pond a smile played upon her face, her eyes she realized seemed to now glow a light green. Liz smiled back walking towards her.

../\..

"Lillian of the Whickering pond," Jareth raised an eyebrow, "hmmm I suppose she's closer then I expected." Though he smiled, twirling yet another crystal in his grasp it steadily became orange and with a light pop it turned to a peach. Delicately he bit into the fleshy fruit musing over everything that had transpired. Though she still had not quite so much time left he knew with her mother's courage and will she would some how make it through even if she was a hairs way from not succeeding. His eyes moved along the tree lines of the castle garden while his eyes were unfocused as if he did not see what beauty was before him, his face bringing on a fragile feature.

His facade turned towards the pond issuing forth from the ground, "Elizabeth do I have power over you?" The peach was dropped unnoticed it fell to the ground with a tink it shattered.

../\..

The fumes were fogging up her brain; everything was passing as if in a dream state. Elizabeth nodded once and a while her eyes taking on a glassy state, she suddenly felt eyes upon her, blinking she was staring back into misty green pools. Transparent skin and long water grass hair was next Elizabeth took in. She jumped back in surprise earning an echoing laugh from the water being.

"Do not fear Elizabeth," her eyes were mystifying but held no deceit or anger, The Above girl relaxed, the woman stepped higher out of the water from Elizabeth's view she could make out the creature's long slender legs curving down and smoothing out into the waters surface, she was the water. Willowy arms were extended in greeting, "Elizabeth I am told you haven't had a proper greeting within the Underground so I shall say it," her thin pale lips curved gracefully into a warm smile, "Elizabeth Lynn welcome to the Labyrinth I am Lillian of the Whickering pond," she chuckled walking close to the bank of the pond.

Elizabeth watched her every move her breath cut short as the woman nodded her head, for the first time she noticed the necklace which circled artfully around water beings neck, live fish swimming could be found swimming lazily in a non ending chain. The girl couldn't believe her eyes.

Taking her silence as a sign to continue Lillian pressed onward, "I am told you are trying to solve the labyrinth," her eyes seemed to drown Elizabeth, she nodded dumbly. Lillian looked her up and down her eyes wavering at her feet. "You will need shoes…or a softer path in which to tread." Elizabeth felt her mind creak into motion. Her cheeks felt hotter as she looked to the ground at her dirtied feet. "Do you wish to go to the castle?" Her head snapped up at this another laugh issued from the woman. "I have my ways at travel come here child."

../\..

Jareth stood and walked towards the pond, narrowing his eyebrows he mocked, "Lillian awaits by the whickering pond, her head is down her expression drawn the fireflies dance to try and cheer the crickets sing to dry her tears, where has her mortal lover gone," he smirked seeing the water unsettle slightly, he decided to skip most of his reciting and get to the good part, "She sits until the break of dawn tears of sorrow are long gone and Lillian's heart slows to none for her love was found drowned in the whickering pond, pale as death with no life's breath-"

"Are you that cruel King of the Goblins?" Lillian rose in all her wet glory her heavenly eyes darkening as she stared eye level to him.

"Well well if it isn't The Lillian of the Whickering Pond shall I recite your poem again, perhaps the whole thing?" He opened his mouth as if to repeat his last words.

"Not all creatures of the labyrinth cower before you King of the heartless." Jareth seemed to stiffen slightly at this, "I am a water being," she smiled darkly, "you have no power over me."

"Where is the girl?" he said harshly, how he hated that phrase.

Lillian's eyes danced with amusement, "Why sir king Jareth, did you think you could woo her as you tried with her mother? Perhaps try her with those infamous lines," she laughed bitterly.

"You have insulted me enough where is the Williams's child, creature?"

"She is with me," she smiled again darkly. Jareth blinked slowly as if to not be too sure of what she meant. Then slowly his eyebrows rose in warning his face guarded. She nodded her head and pointed towards the water, "look and you shall receive Goblin King."

Slowly he walked forwards, his high heeled boots padding softly stopping short just before the edge he glanced down within the surface.

../\..

Elizabeth stood by the bank; something was itching at the back of her mind to look down slowly her eyes tore from the witches and gazed to the pool, with a catch of breath she stood staring at the reflection of the Goblin King his dark dispirited eyes glancing back into hers, she took a step forwards again, King what is he doing in the pool?

../\..

Jareth's eyes wavered as he stared back into glazed dead eyes. Auburn locks danced around her head, her clothes clinging to her wet body. Elizabeth floated upon the surface of the pond, her eyes wide lips blue from the lack of oxygen, dark bruises rung around her neck showing she had been drowned.

Jareth turned his head from the gruesome site, "Have you no mercy for your dead lover Lillian?" Instantly upon knowing the illusion Auburn hair turned to short dark curls, green pools turned to brown, once handsome features now pale and soap-like had remained. Maroon robes fluttered around his stiff body, Jareth glanced to him features set he found Lillian's eyes within the water mirror her formerly kind eyes held a haunting. This was the real Lillian.

"Elizabeth get the damn away from the pool," Jareth thought he knew she was there.

../\..

Elizabeth blinked looking misbelieving into the pool her eyes connecting with his,

"I don't understand?" her mind screamed back, her eyes hardened, "you just want me to loose… cheater." She added stubbornly

../\..

Jareth almost smiled not a happy smile but one of irritation and somewhat humor, "Some within the Labyrinth help while other take on the appearance of helping, nothing is what it seems. She is a Water Witch Elizabeth her goal is to drive people into the waters with her bewitching kindness and beauty where she can drown them, have you not heard of Lillian of the Whickering pond?" He watched the girls face change slightly; the haze in her eyes began to clear.

../\..

Elizabeth kicked at the water with her bare foot; his face dispersed rippling throughout the pool his face disappeared. Looking up she found the women staring intently into her eyes, Elizabeth began to get light headed once again but wiped them from her mind and turned away. The heavy perfume began to get dull; everything about the place seemed less intense. He was right the woman was bewitching her.

"I must leave," none of them had heard her conversation with the King, so they did not know of it yet.

The shortly forgotten bell fairy buzzed before her, "But Mother Lillian wishes to help," her eyes harden, "how rood you humans are, your all the same."

"Come now my fairy child she has obviously been bewitched by the king let her be." Elizabeth looked at the angry fairy and found the same light green as the water witch held within her pupils. It made sense the sudden offer to help her, this bell fairy was being controlled and she did not even realize it. "I do not hold it against you human child but please drowned your thirst before you go." Elizabeth snapped up staring at the women in horror and surprise.

"A-alright if you insist."

"Oh but I do," her voice became sickenly sweet. Elizabeth turned and knelt down to the water, bringing her hand shaking to the water. How was she to get out of this one? Her fingers touched something rigid and clammy familiarity drove her hand to grasp it and pull. Upwards she lifted and to her terror fingers surfaced fallowed by a hand then arm. Elizabeth screamed jumping up a dead man drifted into view, his haunting eyes scaring her memory henceforth.

Elizabeth began to back away from the pond her stomach lurching displeasingly, "you- you're inhuman," she whispered

Lillian snickered, "how nice of you to notice Elizabeth," she watched her slowly back away and shake her head, "Oh now I cant have you wandering off you must meet my love," she flicked her hand and the corpse's body twitched, water seeped within any possible entrance of his body, slowly his chest rose unwillingly. Limbs creaked as he rose from the water. "Elizabeth meet Alexander."

Elizabeth squeaked turning she made a beeline towards the exit. Flashes of green flickered before her eyes. She stopped to find a horde of Bell fairies, teeth bared she noticed their small nails, like thorns. Out of the corner of her eye the Alex cadaver was wobbly making its way onto the ground. Elizabeth's felt panic seeping throughout her body though her soul was into running her body would not respond, her heart pumped rabidly racking her body. Nerves twisted, helplessness began to settle within her core. She fell to the ground feeling utterly alone, her eyes closed.

"Leave me alone please just leave me alone," she chanted under her breath, as if the heavens heard her call the world around her suddenly went silent. Buzzing of wings left her tortured ears; cracking of brittle bone mass stopped eerily even the sound of rippling splashing water, left. Elizabeth pale as she was began to believe without even knowing she had died. Lightly just barely she cracked open her eyelids to have light filter within; she squinted when had it gotten brighter? She raised a hand and opened her lashes to their extent. With astonishment she found herself alone within the garden, the sky was bluer then she had ever seen. Clouds far from site everything took on a peaceful hew. Elizabeth just sat in the shock of everything, letting the settlement seep in.

Seven hours seemed to pop up in her mind; she blinked a couple of times before slowly standing. Mechanically she began to walk in the opposite direction of the passage which led her through and into the garden she directed herself towards the other passage which hopefully was a shortcut.

../\..

The Goblin King gaped towards the water in question. Not only had the Water witch Lillian disappeared so had Elizabeth from the waters side. Everything was quiet…too quiet and it unnerved him. Sighing he rested a gloved a hand upon his knee and giving a quick snap of his fingers he disappeared.

Jareth lounged in the Willow tree watching Elizabeth with interest as she sat alone her eyes closed as if she thought that if she could keep those doe green pools caged within dark fanned lashes blocking them from the world all would be well. He shook his head watching emeralds appear, sparkling with shock, she glanced around slowly her expression mirroring her eyes as she sat there gaping into the scorching gaze of the sun. Jareth became unsettled; she would blind herself if she sat like that for too long. Moving to jump from the tree he instantly stilled as she slowly came to her feet and gradually made her way towards the exit. She was now so close to the castle. He cocked his head to the side, where had those pesky bell fairies gone, as well as Lillian; it didn't matter though, less creatures to worry about. He peered to Elizabeth's form once again; he contemplated about speaking with her once again but thought better of it. Smiling his emotions filtered from his face resting his black booted foot upon a knot on the tree he stood and jumped, turning to an owl he soared up over her head.

Elizabeth looked up halfheartedly watching him fly above. She raised an eyebrow her gaze connecting with the birds; she could have sworn it winked.

"King you are a stalker!" she croaked. Jareth screeched and circled over her head once again. "Stupid bird," she murmured continuing on her way.

To be continued…

Authors after note: ok so I said I was going to sum it up into two chapters -/-" well I guess I was wrong, these things never seem to come out as planned for me sigh Merry Christmas once again, please I love reviews and comments and advice!