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: Many thanks to those who have left reviews so far. I'm delighted that you have enjoyed this tale so far and I hope that you continue to do so. More twists and turns await lol!
As always, Feedback is greatly appreciated :)
Alira Dreamwalker

Chapter 7

The cloying scent of roses greeted me as I awoke several hours later. The last thing I remembered was Jadir telling me that I could never go home again. My breath hitched in my chest as I fought the tears that threatened me again. I would not cry over it again. Instead, I turned my thoughts to the king.

He had been so gentle after he brought me back to my rooms. Ordering all the goblins to stay out of the way except one. He had sent for one goblin to remain with me at all times, to see to my every need. Murg, one of the calmer goblins and eager to please her king, was still asleep at the foot of my bed. I rolled over and sighed as my mind began racing once again. Suddenly I bolted upright with a gasp. What had happened to the faeries?

Frantic, I looked around the room for some sign of them. I did not remember them leaving their hiding place in my hair and I knew the brown haired one was no longer in my dress as Murg had helped me change.

"Psst. Here we are, my lady." A tiny voice whispered, coming from the vase of roses beside my bed. I wrinkled my nose in disgust at the flowers, yet signed in relief when I saw four tiny heads pop up from amidst the blooms. They glanced at the sleeping goblin before darting over to me. Tiny hands pushed me back until I was lying down again.

"You must rest, my lady. Even though we do not get along with the king, he is right."

"Yes yes, you must rest to keep your strength," they all nodded and smiled comfortingly. I glanced towards the balcony and found that night had fallen.

"How long have I been out?"

"Several hours I would wager, my lady. You have had quite a shock. Did you truly not know that you were changing?" The blond faerie fluttered down to land on my chest, kneeling forward to look into my eyes.

I squeezed my eyes closed, trying not to sob again and dislodge the little faerie. "No," my voice cracked from the strain, "I knew nothing about it. I thought the changes in my hair were from being outside so much." I felt little hands patting my shoulder and hair.

"There there, mistress. His majesty was correct; you are the first adult to enter the Underground. I do not think he believed that you would be changed though. We've never had an adult here before, always little ones."

"Why is that?" I needed something to keep my mind off my own fate, anything was better than letting my mind run free right now.

"Humans often wish their little ones away."

"The king sends his goblins to go above and fetch them."

"Surely he has told you that many here were once children who were wished away?" I shook my head, confused as to which was saying what. The king had only said that those who came here where either wished away by themselves or someone else. Never had he mentioned they were children.

"He has not told you much about this kingdom has he, mistress?" This was from the brown haired faerie perched near my head. I gave a slight shake of my head and saw her frown disapprovingly. "Shame on him. You must know these things." The other three piped up with a chorus of 'yeses' and the goblin muttered in her sleep. I automatically shushed them, hoping not to wake the goblin. I knew that once Murg woke, the faeries would hide again and I would have to wait even longer for answers.

Lowering my voice, I looked at the faeries curiously. "Why does the king dislike you so much?"

"We don't know for certain, mistress." Four heads shook dejectedly. It made no sense, why would Jadir hate these sweet little creatures. Then again, it made perfect sense, as the man seemed to hate everyone.

"Well I intend to find out. Along with making sure he leaves you alone."

"No mistress, please do not!" Fearful whimpers came from all around me as I looked at them. I honestly did not see why they would not allow me to help them in the matter. They suddenly froze, their eyes going wide with terror and darted off into hiding. Before I could call them back, a knock sounded on my door. I gasped and the goblin woke up. Murg scampered over to the door and peeked out. Squeaking with surprise, she flung the door open and bowed low enough for her scraggly hair to fall to the floor. I tore my eyes away from the goblin and looked up to find Jadir standing in the doorway.

Scrambling about, I pulled the blankets up to my chin as I glared at him. His smug grin was making my anger rise. Was this a part of the change, I wondered. Never before had I been so quick to anger. He stepped through the door and walked towards me, Murg scampered from the room, closing the door behind her.

"How are you feeling?"

"I am doing as well as I can be given what has happened." I could not help but snap at him. "I find I have more questions than answers though, why is that?" He shrugged noncommittally and I found myself with the sudden urge to throw something at him. He must have guessed my intentions because he chuckled in amusement.

"It would not be advisable to attack the king, my dear."

"Would you stop that! Why are you so infuriating all the time?"

"It is my nature." He sat down on the bed beside me, ignoring the deadly glares I sent him for taking such liberties. "I know you have questions-"

"And so you thought you would be so generous as to come answer them for me before flying off somewhere to more important things and leaving me with even more questions to drive me insane." His face darkened angrily.

"You will stop snapping at me this instance." Before, his tone would have sent me running, but I had had enough of the cat and mouse games he seemed to enjoy playing.

"I will do what I must to get answers. This is your fault Jadir! You knew there was a chance that I might change, and yet you did not feel it prudent enough to warn me. Now I find myself stuck in this god-forsaken place, completely alone with no hope of ever returning home!" From the corner of my eye, I saw the little brown haired faerie's eyes widen in horror at my words. I hoped the king did not see her as well.

He stood up and folded his arms across his chest, glaring down at me. Not understanding what was happening, I felt a vexation of such magnitude rise up within me as I stared at him. It was with surprise that I watched his expression change to one of shock as he watched me climb to my knees on the bed before him. He said something, but the rage filling me blocked out all sound save that of the blood pounding in my ears.

Before I knew what was happening, I was pinned down on the bed, Jadir straddling my body as he held my arms down. I still could not understand what he was saying, yet I realized he was shouting something. Tiny bodies flitted around the edges of my reddened vision, along with fearful faces. I focused on them, despite the rough hands of the king trapping me. A sharp sting across my cheek caused my head to snap around to look up at the king again. One of the faeries was fluttering just beyond his shoulder and I could barely make out tiny hands pressed against her mouth. The king turned his head and spoke to the faerie, who only shook her head before landing on his shoulder. That was the last thing I saw before everything faded to black.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sunlight glinted through the double doors to the balcony when I woke, and I whimpered in pain as I opened my eyes. Almost instantly, the king and the faeries were beside me.

"How do you feel?" His voice was low, like melted honey as he brushed the hair from my face. I blinked slowly before looking around.

"My head hurts." One of the faeries flew down and landed beside my head, but it hurt too much to look towards her. I felt her tiny hands press against my temple and a soothing sensation flowed through my head. When she took to the air again, I turned my head and smiled at her in wonder. "Thank you." I looked back up to Jadir, realizing that he was holding my hand in his. "What happened?"
"You had a violent reaction to the changes your body is going through. I must admit that I have never seen this happen before though."

"What do you mean?"

"Mistress, your eyes, they were glowing red." The brown haired faerie whispered sadly. I looked at Jadir to find him watching the faerie.

"Please, don't punish them. They have been a great comfort to me." At first, I was not sure he had heard me, but he finally looked back down at me and nodded with a slight smile.

"As you wish. They will be safe so long as they are in your rooms. I will not have them flying about the castle freely." He looked at each of them in turn to make sure they understood. Together, they curtsied to him and nodded their understanding before flying down to pile themselves around my head. Jadir arched a brow at their antics before shaking his head and sighing. After a minute or so, he looked back at me and offered me a half smile. "You must learn to control your emotions."

"Easier said than done. Every time I turn around, it seems as if something is making me angry."

"It should pass in the next day or so. Until then, you should avoid what ever it is setting you off."

I gave a dry laugh, "I'm afraid that's impossible." He arched a sculpted brow in question. "You're the one who keeps setting me off." His eyes widened briefly, as he gazed down at me and I felt his hand tighten around mine.

"I see. Per-"

"No, I don't think you do. You see; the way you treat the others and me is what angers me. I have questions and yet you barely see fit to answer them. The little mind games you play with me, all of it, there is so much I do not know. Now that I am forced to remain here, I need to know everything." He started to speak again, but I interrupted. "There is no due time or any other excuse, your majesty; I need to know now. I need to know what to expect, what will happen to me."

He sighed heavily and looked away. "I will try to tell you what you want to know."

"You've promised me that several times before," I bit back waspishly.

"Yes, I am aware of that."

"I'll start simple then. Maybe that would help you." He glared at my condescending attitude, but did not speak. "Why didn't you tell me this might happen sooner?"

"That is not a simple question to answer."

"I don't care. I want to know." He sighed and leaned back some.

"Never before has a human of your age stayed in the Labyrinth. Older humans have always been in and out before any changes occurred."

"Meaning the children who stayed were changed." His face registered angry surprise as he turned his burning gaze towards the faeries. "They at least have no qualms about telling me what I need to know so leave them be."

He growled low in his throat, an animalistic sound that made the faeries and myself shiver. "They should learn to mind their own business."

"They have told me more than you have lately. You've already promised that they were safe while in my rooms, so leave them alone and answer my question."

"Feisty now are we? Very well. I did not think that the magic would affect you the way it does the children. First; however, I think there are a few other things you should know. The children who come here are unwanted, though occasionally they are wanted back for various reasons. Those who want the chance to reclaim their children are given the option to run the Labyrinth. If they win, they return home with the child. If not, they return home alone, their memory of the child and Labyrinth erased forever. The child is then adopted into a family and its memory replaced. Within a few days, the child transforms into the race that adopted it."

"I was not wished away nor was I adopted; so what will become of me?" At this, his face twisted into a guilty expression and I had to fight my anger from taking over. Tiny hands pressed against my face, their magic calming me and I wondered at how skilled they were.

"It is for those reasons I have tried to keep you out of contact with the other races. It is true you were not wished away or adopted; however, you were liable to take on the traits of those you spent the most time around." My eyes widened in horror at the thought.

"I have spent countless hours with the goblins; does that mean I will turn into one?" He chuckled and again I wanted to hit him.

"Not at all, my dear. Very few ever turn into goblins. Besides, I took precautions against that happening. While you slept, I would sit by your side. In essence, if you were to change race, you will become as I am." I hissed in anger, the faeries scrambling to keep me laid back and calm. Ignoring them, I sat upright and glared at the king, our faces inches apart.

"You egotistical, self-serving bastard! You manipulated me! What gives you the right to play god with my life?"

Anger flashed across his features as he leaned closer, decreasing the distance between us. "Look around you. You have spent all this time roaming my kingdom. Can you say that you have seen another like yourself? Like me? This kingdom is isolated for a reason. No one cares to associate with the Goblin Kingdom outside the acquisition of a child! I am the last of my line, a line that has ruled here for millenniums."

I could feel the blood draining from my face as he snarled furiously at me. A sick sense of foreboding came over me as I stared at him. Surely, he did not mean what I thought he meant. His hands came up to frame my face as he rested his forehead against mine, a twisted and feral smile on his lips.

"You, my sweet, will become my queen." I pulled back from him, terrified out of my wits. Ignoring the startled cries of the faeries, I scrambled away to the other side of the bed. Falling over the edge, I landed on the floor before jumping to my feet and fled from the room. Not even my bedroom was a sanctuary anymore.

I ran. Down the stairs and out of the castle, ignoring the startled looks from the goblins and other creatures that lived in the city. In the distance, I heard a rumbling noise and felt myself pulled towards it. Tears blinded me until I could no longer see my surroundings. Behind me, I could hear the angry screech of Jadir in his owl form as he followed. My only thought was to find somewhere to hide.

By the time I stopped running, my chest burned with excruciating pain. I collapsed to the ground and lay there, black spots swimming across my vision as I gasped desperately for air. The only thing I was aware of was the stone beneath me and a sky that seemed to bleed orange and red, as if it too was full of fury.