A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to update, but I've had a bit of writers block lately. Many thanks to all who have reviewed so far and I hope you will continue to read. I decided to go and post this chapter, even though I'm not 100 satisfied with it.

Disclaimer- Alas, Labyrinth isn't mine, but Jadir and Isandira are!

Chapter 3

I woke early the next morning thinking the day before had been only a dream. When I opened my eyes however, reality as it slammed back into me full force. I bolted upright in my bed and looked around in terror. When a sharp knock sounded on the door to my room, I could not help but dive back under the covers. Whoever it was knocked again and I huddled under the covers in hopes they would leave.

A few minutes later, the door opened and I could hear someone entering. I shrieked in terror when the covers were suddenly ripped from my hands. Towering over me was the king himself, his eyes filled with fury. Panic filled me and I scrambled off the far side of the bed as he followed, stalking my every move. I had no idea why he would be angry with me. I cried out when he caught my arms in a brutal grip that would leave bruises.

"Tell me exactly why you are here Isandira."

"I don't know!" His voice was like acid to my ears. I was never overly religious, but at this moment, I began praying for my life. He shook me hard, snapping my head back painfully. I understood now what the little gnarled man I had talked to meant when he said the Goblin King was not the nicest of people.

"How did you get to the Underground?"

"Your majesty, I swear that I don't know!" He flung me away from him and I fell against the side of the bed. My tears fell freely as I stared up at him from the floor. "I ran away from home and went through the forest the edged our land. When I left the forest, I found myself here."

"You used no magic to get here?"

"No sir. I don't know any magic, I have never believed in magic." My words seemed to calm him somewhat. His rigid posture relaxed slightly and some of the anger left his eyes, yet they remained wild and untrusting. My limbs were frozen with terror as he turned and walked to the wardrobe. Reaching in, he pulled out a dress and threw it at me with orders to get dressed.

OoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

I hated this dress. It was made of ruby red brocade and cut too low for my tastes. I worried constantly that my breasts would fall out if I moved wrong. I would never wear something like this back home. Women were not allowed to show any skin where I was raised and this showed a lot. Forgetting my earlier fears, I collapsed onto my bed and broke out in a fit of laughter. Poppa would have been appalled to see me in this dress. In my head, I could hear Poppa chastising me in his stern voice for daring to don such a creation.

After a few minutes, I calmed myself and sat there contemplating the king and his kingdom again. I knew now that my being a guest meant nothing. It would not save me from his anger should he turn it towards me again. Looking down at my arms, I could see the bruises his fingers had left on my pale flesh and shivered. No, it would not do to remain in this strange land, despite my curiosity. Still, I wondered exactly what had angered him this morning. Something had to have happened; perhaps he had received news from my parents. I needed to find out.

When I opened my door and stepped into the hallway, I found two guards standing on either side of the doorway. Their repulsive looks startled me even though by now I should have been used to them. Why they were there was beyond me however. I looked down at them and swallowed the lump that sat in my throat as I gathered my courage.

"Excuse me, where might I find the king?" They looked up at me and laughed, making me want to turn and flee back into my room.

"You's stay here. King come when he want yous." The one to my left snickered. I started to go back to my room but stopped. Turning to look down at the one who had spoke, I considered my options.

"No, I don't think I will. I assume the two of you are here to guard me, correct?" They both nodded as they stared up at me in confusion. "Very well then, you can guard me as I search for the king." I turned on my heel towards the right and started walking down the hallway. Thankfully, I knew the general direction to go in as I remembered it from the night before. Forcing myself not to look back, I listened for the sounds of my guards scurrying alone behind me.

"And just where do you think you are going?" A cold voice stopped me dead in my tracks. Slowly I turned and found the king glaring at me. We had been wandering for what seemed to be hours without seeing a soul and I had been wondering where everyone was. I curtsied in greeting.

"Good morning to you as well, your majesty." His eyes narrowed as he watched me and I raised my chin. Jadir's eyes fell on my two goblin guards and he sneered at them angrily.

"You two were supposed to keep our guest in her room until I came for her." I watched in stunned shock as my two companions fell to their knees and begged for the king's mercy. One was pleading for his life and the lives of his children.

"Excuse me, your majesty, but I believe the fault is mine; Not theirs." I fell back a step when he turned his cold eyes towards me again; there was pure hatred in them that scared me to death. He stalked towards me as I continued to back up, until a wall halted my retreat and trapped me.

"Foolish child, you dare defy me?" His hands slapped against the wall on either side of my head; causing me to jump. I trembled as he leaned closer to me, the hatred in his eyes changing to something I could not define as he lowered his face closer to mine.

"I- I merely state the truth, your majesty." I felt as if I was a hare caught in the hunter's trap the way he looked at me.

"Explain." I shivered as his breath caressed my face, the scent of spice and wildness filling my senses. My gaze had somehow been drawn to his thin lips and I swore I could see a hint of fangs. Legends of vampires flashed through my mind and I briefly wondered if perhaps he was one.

I swallowed; weary of being afraid as I brought my eyes up to meet his again. "They told me that you would return, your majesty. It was my fault they left their post."

"Ah, so not only do you defy me, but you are inciting my subjects to do so as well?" His eyes narrowed and I wanted nothing more than to turn tail and run for my life at that moment.

"Your majesty, that was not my intention at all." Why was he terrorizing me so much? It was as if he derived some perverse pleasure from my fears. He knew I was scared to death, I could see it in his eyes as he studied me. Not once this whole time had he moved from his position in front of me. If anything, he had eased forward until he was barely touching me with his own body, forcing me to press myself harder against the stone behind me. There was no way that the king could miss the way I was shaking.

"Explain your intentions then, if not to incite dissidence within my kingdom."

How dare he accuse me of trying to cause a revolt! My temper flared, despite my fear of him. "I have done no such thing, your majesty! It was never my intention to cause trouble."

"But you are trouble, little one."

"I beg your pardon, your majesty, but it was not my desire to come to your kingdom." My hands came up and pushed against his chest of their own will. One of his hands dropped from the wall and captured my wrists in a bone-breaking grip, causing me to wince in pain.

"Then why are you here?" His voice was low and angry as he glared at me.

"I have already told you that I do not know. Why do you keep asking me that?"

He leaned even closer, his lips barely touching mine as he glared into my eyes. "I think, my dear, that you know more than you admit." I stood there in shock at the king's audacity. He had just called me a liar!

"How dare you!" My eyes narrowed angrily as I attempted to pull my wrists away from him, only to feel the fragile bones shift as he tightened his grip. "Let go of me you uncouth bastard! If I knew how I had arrived here than I would gladly leave this wretched place!"

"You ungrateful wretch," he growled furiously at me. I knew I was severely pushing the limits and that as king he could put me to the death, however, I felt that death was comparable to being around him.

"What? You call me ungrateful? Pray tell your majesty, exactly what it is that I should be grateful for?" Our eyes clashed violently, his savage brown to my flashing blue.

"You should be grateful for your life girl! I welcomed you into my castle, my kingdom; when I should have sent you straight to an oubliette."

I could not help the unladylike snort that escaped me, "Is that what you call this? Being treated as a prisoner? Having guards stationed outside my door? Being accosted by your royal personage at first light?" I shook my head with a surprised laugh, "I would be more apt to call it a nightmare. I did not ask to come to this wretched place, nor did I ask for your hospitality. I merely came here in search for a way to get home, which you have been unable to provide. Why, I ask you, should I be grateful for that?"

He had released me and stepped back during my tirade, starring at me in surprise. I suppose that it is exceedingly rare for anyone to stand up to his bullying ways in such a manner. Not being from this land, I was not as terrified of him as his subjects were and therefore did not have the experience to curb my wicked tongue. As we continued to stare at each other, something akin to admiration flashed though his eyes.

He offered me a courtly bow and held out his arm to me, which I stared at mistrustfully. I had no idea what he was up to now, only knowing that he had just had another mood-swing. "My apologies dear lady, please forgive my rudeness." I continued to stare at him, unwilling to trust this man who went from civilized to barbarian in the blink of an eye. "Come; join me for breakfast and I will endeavor to explain more about the kingdom to you. Perhaps we may also stumble across a way to get you home." Against my better judgement, I stepped forward and hesitantly accepted his proffered arm.