Disclaimer: Labyrinth is not mine. Jadir and Isandira are completely mine and belong to me. They are not to be copied or used anywhere for any reason without my permission.

A/N: Feedback is greatly appreciated :)
Alira Dreamwalker

Chapter 5

I spent the next week in my rooms, taking all of my meals there and refusing to see anyone. The bruises around my neck were slowly healing, and I experienced more than a few nightmares from that night. It had been the first time King Jadir had ever touched me in anger and I prayed it would be the last.

The first morning I woke, there were a dozen yellow roses in a crystal vase sitting on the table beside my bed and a single red tipped yellow rose on the pillow beside me. Every morning after that, I would wake to find another red tipped yellow rose in the same place. It was obvious that the king was regretting his actions that day, but I was unable to bring myself to forgive him just yet. The man had terrorized me severely and destroyed whatever trust I had in him. He must have realized it as well, since near the end of the week, I woke to find my room overflowing with roses of every color. The single rose that lay on my pillow this time was different. This one was a pale blue and accompanied by a letter and a crystal.

Disgusted, I climbed from the queen-sized bed and stalked to the balcony door. Throwing it open, I stepped out and screamed in frustration. Almost immediately, I regretted the action as my throat was still tender. A long raspy screech answered me and I jumped. That screech was familiar and I looked around fearfully. Why would that owl be coming after me now? I was nowhere near the Labyrinth gates and it was not likely that I would be anytime soon. The screech sounded again and I finally spotted the owl. Its wings spread open as it flew towards me, and I could easily see exactly how large it was. I shrieked in terror and threw my arms over my head as it came closer.

A noise, similar to a bullfrog's croak caused me to uncover my face. I spotted the owl immediately and froze. It stared at me with glittering black eyes and I shivered, feeling as if it was staring straight into my soul. After a few minutes, I straightened completely and glared angrily at the bird.

"What do you want? I'm not trying to enter that stupid maze so you have no reason to be here!" My voice was hoarse, from both the damage Jadir had inflicted and the lack of use during the past week. The owl cocked its head and ruffled its feathers. "Go away you beast! Leave me to my misery." I waved my hands towards the owl, hoping that it would fly away but it only hissed at me, clacking its beak loudly.

"Foul beast, are you here to spy on me for your master?" I leaned forward slightly to look into the bird's face. "Well, you can tell your master that I will not be treated in the same manner her treats his subjects. He could have killed me the other day and it would not have mattered to anyone." My voice faded as my words sunk into me. I had known that Jadir was capable of killing me, but it had never occurred to me that anyone would even know if he had or not. I stumbled back until my back was against the door and slid myself down to the floor. The owl was still sitting there, watching me curiously.

"I could die and no one would care. My family has no idea where I am. For all they know, I am already dead." Never before had my homesickness struck with such force. I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them as I looked up at the owl. Tears fell from my eyes as I sat there. "This place isn't all that bad. Yes, the king can be a right jackass, but so can anyone. I probably haven't made things any easier for him either." I laid my head atop my knees and looked out over the city. After a moment, I turned my head and looked back at the owl. "It's lonely here. I have no friends, no one to talk to now. Sure, there are the goblins, but they are not the best conversationalists. His majesty is too busy to have time for me, not that I would want to talk with him often mind you. He's cruel and he scares me to death." I sighed sadly, burying my face in my knees, "I wish I had someone to someone to talk to; a friend."

"If you could find it in yourself to forgive me, I would be your friend." My breath froze in my lungs as I raised my head. Kneeling before me was King Jadir. His expression was torn and I realized that he truly was sorry for hurting me.

"How… Where…" I stared at him is shock, unable to get the words to come out right. He sighed and twisted around so that he was sitting beside me. Running a gloved hand through his wild hair, he turned and looked at me.

"I am the owl. My kind has always had the ability to shape-shift."

"I don't understand." "You've heard of werewolves and vampires?" I nodded, who hadn't heard of those creatures? However, what did that have to do with the Goblin King? He nodded, "Then you have heard the tales of vampires turning into bats and humans into werewolves?"

"Of course, but that's all it is. Stories told to frighten little children."

"No, little one. The tales are true. Vampires do turn into bats, just as humans turn into werewolves. We are all alike." He smiled slightly at the fear written across my face and shook his head. "Do not fear Isandira, you are safe here. I am neither a werewolf nor a vampire. I am Fae, as they are. I however, am the last of my line. As you have no doubt noticed, this kingdom is very isolated from the others." I could only nod in response, though I doubt it would have mattered much if I had not as he continued. "My line has always ruled this kingdom. As a result, we have the power to control the crystals and shift into the owl form."

"You're the owl? The one that's been chasing me away from the Labyrinth?" I watched as he nodded and I could not help but grow angry with him. "Why? What is in there that you do not want me to see?"

Jadir closed his eyes and tilted his head back to rest against the wall behind us. "My dear, when you arrived, the Labyrinth hid itself from you; otherwise you would have been forced to go through it. You are the first to make the journey to Goblin City without having to traverse its paths."

"I don't understand." I honestly did not see what the big deal about it was. What was so special about that blasted maze? His head turned to face me again, his deep brown eyes concerned.

"Neither do I, which makes your presence here unsettling at times. I have always known what happens in my kingdom, no matter how small the event. Every death, every birth, every time someone steps foot into the kingdom I have known about it. Until your arrival, that is." His gaze flicked down to my throat and he reached out to touch me. I flinched away and he paused, looking back in my eyes to find unease and fear in them. "I am truly sorry Isandira." Dropping his hand, he looked away from me.

"It's alright, your majesty, I suppose I deserved it." He spun around to stare at me, anger flashing across his face briefly before becoming impassive again.

"No, my dear, you did not deserve such treatment from me. If you wish it, I will heal the bruises for you." Confusion must have shown on my face, for the king smiled gently at me and created a crystal. Holding it up before me, he stared into my eyes; "This land holds magic as you know already. "I nodded, that much I knew. "Most who come here from your world are wished here. Usually by others, but sometimes by themselves. It is my duty as king to grant those wishes, provided the wisher uses the right words.

"The right words?"

"Yes, words have power. Once spoken, a word cannot be recalled. That is why one should always take care with what they say."

"What's said is said, right?"

"Exactly. Everyone must be careful in what is said or asked here, because there is magic in each word. You wished for someone to talk to, a friend…"

"And you answered." It was rude of me to interrupt, but I could not stop myself. The smile that spread across his face told me that for once, he was not angry at the interruption.

"Correct, my dear. This is the land of dreams, of wishes. Magic surrounds us and is in everything we see, even the air. You have felt it, have you not?" I thought about it and realized that I had. The day I approached the castle, I remembered feeling a strangeness in the air. I had not thought about it since then, but that pulsing I had felt then was still present around me. I had simply grown used to it and forgotten about it. He held the crystal out to me, his eyes asking me to trust him. Hesitantly, I accepted the sphere and he smiled.

"Think of something you would like to have, a trinket perhaps." He watched me closely as I tried to decide on something. After a moment, I knew what I wanted and nodded to him. "Now, wish for it and then break the crystal. Don't worry; the crystal will not harm you."

I looked down at the crystal in my hand and hoped that he was not playing some cruel trick on me. I made my wish and gasped as the crystal growing warm against my fingers. Tightening my fingers around it, the sphere popped and a warm white light flooded across my hand. When the light faded, there was a simple silver charm bracelet lying in my palm. I looked up at Jadir and saw him smiling. He took the bracelet and fastened it around my wrist before placing a kiss on the back of my hand.

"You must always take care in what you say. Ask the right questions and you will learn what you want to know."

"So, it's a matter of how one phrases their questions then?" He nodded, still watching my face. I realized that he had yet to release my hand and tugged slightly, surprised when he let go. "What is the purpose of the Labyrinth?"

He laughed a warm, rich sound that sent chills down my spine. "You catch on quick, my dear. First, however, I think we should get you inside."

"You are evading my question, your majesty." I allowed him to help me to my feet, but balked at going back into my room. Especially with him there.

"On the contrary, dear lady, I thought you might wish to dress first. Explaining the Labyrinth will take some time." I looked down and blushed furiously when I realized that he was right. I was still in my nightgown and without a robe. Thankfully, the gown was thick and covered me completely; otherwise, I would have died from embarrassment. I nodded as I turned to go back into my room. "I shall wait here for you."

I darted back into my room, closing the door behind me and locking it. I realized that locking the door was probably a moot point, but it made me feel safer. I ran into the bath and dressed quickly in a dark blue dress that was laid out for me. I never saw whom it was that laid out my clothes; but a different dress set out for me to wear every day. Shrugging my thoughts away, I ran a brush through my blond hair before pulling it back in a simple ponytail.

By the time I stepped out onto the balcony again, Jadir was seated at a small table. He rose when he saw me and gestured to the array of fruits that lay on the table. "I thought you might wish to eat while I explained everything." There was no need for me to answer as my stomach growled loudly. I blushed as he held the other chair out for me to sit in.

"Now, you asked the purpose of the Labyrinth." I nodded and he looked down at the plate in front of me. Understanding that he would only explain once I started eating, I picked out a piece of Dragonthorn, a purple melon like fruit that always reminded me of strawberries. He smiled indulgently when I started eating, leaning towards me slightly. "The Labyrinth is an ancient maze, as I am sure you can tell. How it came into existence is as much as mystery as that of our own origins. Its purpose is to test one's mettle, to see if they are worthy of regaining that which they have lost.

"The Labyrinth is an entity in itself, ever changing to suit the runner's thoughts, their hidden fears and desires. I still do not know why you did not have to travel its corridors on your way here, and it is likely that we may never know."

"Why do you not permit me to enter it then?" I reached for another piece of fruit, waiting for him to answer and hoping that it was a 'right question' to ask.

"The Labyrinth is dangerous. No one has ever died within it, but there is always a first time for everything," He grimaced and looked away. "I must take my leave of you now Lady Isandira." I watched silently as he rose from his seat and stepped over to the railing. A gasp of terror escaped me as Jadir vaulted over the railing and threw himself into the air. Before my eyes, the king shifted into his owl form and flew off. I sat there, stunned at what I had seen until he was nothing more than a speck over the Labyrinth.