Bubbles: cough cough
Del: Sweetheart?
Bubbles: cough cough
Del: Awww! Oh no, my bubbles is sick!
Bubbles: COUGH
Del: kiss Feel better soon sweetie.
Bubbles: Zzzzzzzz
In Times of Sorrow
Chapter 5
Starting off on the wrong foot.
The sun rose over the Labyrinth bathing the Goblin Castle in a warm enchantment of colors, the sky a deep red blurring into orange and fading to light blue as the sun climbed slowly in the sky.
Leon the Healer yawned and stretched as he stood up from the chair that he had spent the night in. Sarah was sleeping peacefully, her fever now almost gone, and as Leon checked her pulse and temperature he noticed a touch of color returning to her pale features.
Smiling, Leon nudged the little goblin, Gobit, who still snored softly on a plush rug laying near Leon's chair, " Wake up little one." Gobit sat up rubbing his eyes and yawning loudly, "It seems that our lady is doing somewhat better, her fever is breaking and she isn't as pale as she has been the last few days," Leon explained while searching around his supplies for his medicinal bowl.
Gobit stood up excitedly, "Duos dis mean she'll be bettur soun Masta Leon?" Leon smiled at the little goblin, "Hopefully Gobit, it is definitely a good sign. But we must continue to watch her and help her sleep and heal with the potions I have. She could relapse if we don't help her body heal." Gobit hurried over to the bed and scrambled up onto the covers, glancing over Sarah Gobit says, "She's got mour colour en 'er face," looking over at Leon he sighs, "Anud she sure es purtty."
Leon helps the little goblin down from the bed, "Now Gobit I'll need more water and bandages, we'll change her bandages and make another potion for her soon; and yes, she is very pretty Gobit," Leon agreed while patting the goblin on the head. "Now hurry," Leon said, and Gobit scurries out of the room while Leon turns and looks at Sarah.
Meanwhile, on the western border of the Labyrinth two goblins lay snoring under the shade of a large tree while the Fire Mountains burn brightly in the distance. A white owl is perched on a limb of the tree, gazing toward the west lost in thought.
I still don't understand, Sarah tried to take her own life? It doesn't make any sense; it all has to be one big misunderstanding. All I know is that I have to find that crystal and help Sarah, I have to know what really happened. There is so much to say, so many things that I should have said long ago, but was she ready to hear my words, is she ready now?
Still lost in his thoughts Jareth didn't notice that one goblin had opened his eyes and was watching this yummy looking owl carefully. Very quietly the goblin rolled over and vanished around the other side of the tree. Then climbing very carefully up the tree the goblin began to shake the limb that Jareth was on.
This immediately shocked Jareth back to reality as he dropped out of the tree and away from the greedy goblin's outstretched hand. Circling overhead, Jareth dives back down and scares the goblin, which loses his balance and falls onto top of his sleeping comrade.
The two goblins struggle to get up while Jareth flies off chuckling to himself, but one thought dwells in the back of his mind as he glides toward the Fire Mountains:
Is she ready now?
In the Goblin Castle Darien is administrating orders to the goblins for the daily chores of the castle. "Now I want these hallways looking cleaner than a crystal, and when you are around the kings chamber I don't want to hear so much as a loud squeak; that part of the castle must remain completely quiet for the Lady's comfort," Darien explains.
The goblins salute and then rush off to complete their chores, normally the goblins would be lounging in the throne room drinking and being merry; but while Jareth would allow the goblins to be lazy at times Darien never allowed it.
"Well I suppose that it is time to go check up on our patient, Jareth wouldn't want me to slack on the well-being of his lady," Darien chuckles and walks quietly down the hallway toward the king's chamber.
The air was hot and unruly, as Jareth got closer to the Fire Mountains, the constant eruptions of flame and lava created updrafts that made it very difficult to fly. Landing on a torched tree limb he surveyed the land.
The mountains rose in jagged peaks along the horizon, no animals or vegetation could be seen for miles around the mountain except for a few torched trees that hadn't relinquished to the burning flames and lava emitting from the mountain tops. The air was thick and sweltering making it very difficult to breath, and while Jareth launched from the limb he didn't notice the glint of the sunlight against steel.
Leon heard the doorknob turn and looked to see Darien entering the room quietly. Smiling at the healer Darien says, "You look exhausted, I've had a few goblins prepare you a meal in the main room, I thought that I could watch over your ward for a moment while you stepped out and refreshed yourself."
Leon smiled at the young man, "Thank you very much, but I'm not sure that I should leave her side. Jareth was very adamant about the fact he wished that I remain here to watch over the Lady."
Darien placed his hand on Leon's shoulder, "It will not do to make yourself ill with exhaustion, for then what will we do if the Lady is in dire need of your services but you are too exhausted to focus properly. I feel that Jareth would be more ill-tempered at the idea of a mistake made from lack of responsibility for your own well-being."
Leon sighed, "Perhaps you are right, I am rather tired and my stomach could definitely use some company. Once Gobit returns with the water and I am able to mix the healing potion for Lady Sarah I will at once eat and then return."
Darien smiles as he walks up to the bed and sits carefully on the covers by Sarah, "Very well, and I'll remain here and keep a close eye on the Lady so that you make eat in peace," running his fingers over the comforter Darien glances up at Leon, "she will be in good hands with me."
Jareth dipped and rose as he rode the hot air currents over the Fire Mountains; he kept a close eye on the eruptions so as to avoid the spewing lava and airborne flaming rocks that the mountains so readily shot forth. So intent was he on watching for any sign of an eruption that he didn't catch the glint of the sunlight off of an arrowhead. Seconds later the arrow pierced his wing, and Jareth went tumbling from the sky.
Leon handed Darien a cup filled with a very clear liquid that smelled very much like rose petals, "Now make sure that she drinks all in this cup, and I'll make sure she gets the rest of the dosage when I return. We can't give her too much at one time, because it is very difficult for her to drink." Nodding in understanding Darien takes the cup and turns his attention back to Sarah as Leon and Gobit leave.
Scooting closer to Sarah Darien reaches up and pushes a strand of hair from Sarah's face, leaning in close he whispers, "Now tell me your secrets," and reaching up hesitantly he touches Sarah's hand.
Suddenly images begin to flash over Darien's mind, a baby boy, and stuffed bear, darkness and goblins, his brother Jareth, a short goblin, a large red creature, and small fox riding a dog, and then his brother again except this time his brother is falling as Darien hears the words "You have no power over me," and all is dark until he sees the girl sleeping in her bed tossing and turning calling out Jareth's name in heart-breaking desperation, then he sees the blade cutting deep into the wrists, blood flowing across the floor, and then one tear blurred image of Jareth.
Pulling his hand away quickly Darien is sweating slightly, "So you love him? Or do you want him? You're mind doesn't show me much. You turned him down but you wanted him when he offered you everything," wiping his hand across his forehead Darien smiles at the sleeping girl.
Leaning even closer he whispers in her ear, "So you love him, but what you don't know is that you can never be with him. A full-blooded Fae and a mortal, it is forbidden, even Jareth can't resist the High Courts against this law. But a half-breed, a demon, both Fae and mortal could marry you…." Brushing his lips softly against Sarah's cheek he whispers, "I could keep you." And with those words Sarah opens her eyes.
Del: Okay read and review! I really like this chapter; it leaves so much to wonderment. I had actually planned on having Jareth meet the eldest dragon today, but I figured that his journey should have a few difficult trials. And then there's always his brother Darien, is he good is he evil, does he want Sarah for his own, and if so then why?
Del: More to come soon. Hope all that have started reading like it so far, and thanks for the reviews. It really helps keep the inspiration alive to know that people like it so far. Thanks a bunch.
Del: Now I have to go take care of a very sick Bubbles.