Hey guys! Back again and I just wanted to say that I'm going to try to update once a week. So bare with me okay? This chapter's kinda long but I hope ya'll enjoy! Don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: I own Amethyst and nothing else-case closed.
Mistress Queen
Ch.7- The Frog Queen
A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born.
-Dorothy Thompson
When Agrea appears from her glittery light, the first thing she sees is the Goblin King's drunken, sleeping form.
"My! Well you certainly have worn him out princess," she giggles flying over to the bed where Jareth lays, "I see you have been taking my advice."
"Yes and no," I explain grabbing a hooded cloak, "it was the Calisto. Got him drunk."
"I can see that." Agrea says lifting up Jareth's arms and then watching it drop limply to the side of the bed, "Did he reveal the location of the Frog Queen?"
"No he did not," I say walking to the crystal, "but somewhere between our foreplay, he revealed how he disguises himself in transformation. The masquerade incantation I believe?"
"The one and only." Agrea says, "We must leave quickly in our search for time is limited. Tonight, it is probably best you use the incantation; what of Jareth?"
"Well, what of Jareth?" I ask, "He won't be up for hours I've made sure of that. It buys us time."
"Yes but his eyes are always on us even if they are not his own. The goblins and the other creatures of the Labyrinth adore him; no doubt they will aid him if he finds you are missing."
"Jareth always takes the form of an owl," I furrow my eyebrows dismissing her warning, "once cast, what will I form into?"
"The animal you transform into is the reflection of your inner soul. You have the permanent ability to transform at your will, once you cast the incantation correctly for the first time."
A permanent power I would acquire forever? Not bad.
"Well we best move on then," I say taking the crystal in both of my hands, "so…what's the spell?"
"Alright," Agrea flies over to me, "hold the crystal and concentrate, you must concentrate and repeat after me in whisper; Things are never what they seem."
I shut my eyes and repeat her, "Things are never what they seem."
"Transform me into my soul's true dream."
"Transform me into my soul's dream." I repeat. This is a rather corny incantation for something so big but alas it works! At first I feel nothing; but then comes the pulling and ripping, and my breathing increases roughly until I am numb.
Once it's over, I open my eyes and feel smaller, "Did it work?" I ask, "what am I?"
"It worked beautifully!" Agrea smiles, "Go look in the mirror." I look at the grand mirror by the candles and the reflection that greets me is that of a small white tigress.
"It worked!" I squeal. A tigress; a strong powerful female cat of a jungle with too much beauty and mystery, who kills her prey fiercely. How perfect!
"Amethyst we must go!" Agrea calls leading the way out the door.
"Right." I follow her. And we're off into the night to find the Frog Queen.
I'm am running, running through the Labyrinth trying to find the location of a scared place I've never been to in my life. The moon is silver now, and the night grow later and later with each of my footsteps. Time is different in the Labyrinth, much different. Stars seem to mock my trail as they dance on the black painted canvas of the sky; I can hardly see where I'm going save for Agrea's light that glows strongly against the ancient brick walls. It is the only thing that keeps me comfort, for although the Underground is a strange place during the day, it is even more so at night with an eerie feel to it in the air.
"Agrea!" I breath trying to catch my breath, "where is this Frog Queen or whatever she is located?"
"By the riverbanks I thought you knew."
"Of course I did! But where exactly are the riverbanks around here? Are there even any at all in the Underground?"
"The Underground is full of twist and surprises, even I don't entirely know all that is or inhabits the Underground."
"Okay," I sigh trying to clear my thoughts, "let's think about this logically. A riverbank usually flourishes in the forest does it not?"
"The Forever Forest!" Agrea squeaks at the gift of her sudden realization, "Perfect! Why did I not think of that sooner?"
"I have no idea," I roll my eyes, "but now that we figured this now, show me the way."
"One moment princess, I know where the riverbank is located but I never said anything indicating my knowledge of where the Forever Forest may be."
"Surely you're not serious!"
"But I am. You see my powers are only to reveal fates or help other claim their fates, which I'm helping you to do right now, I never once said anything about revealing locations of other rulers."
"Well will we do?" I sank to the floor looking up into the silver moon, "There just so time we're allowed before dawn and-"
"Shh! Listen!" Agrea flatly interrupts my pouting.
I could hear quiet footsteps dragging lazily along, coming closer and closer to us. I was more curious then nervous for these tired steps did not sound like they belonged to a goblin. I looked over until my eye beheld an old cribbed man dressed in rags with a hat-no- a bird on his head.
"What on earth is that thing?" I whisper.
"I have no idea." Agrea squints her eyes, just as curious of the creature as I am, "Why don't you go ask it? It's safe to return to your natural fea form anyway."
It takes only a few seconds and I easily transform back to my old, original self again. Carefully, I crept over to the rag-bird-man-thing, who was now sitting on one of the stone chairs placed randomly about the garden. He was grumbling something to the bird that sat on top of his head.
"Um, excuse me." I said.
"Well, what do we have here?" the bird whistled.
"You can talk?" I asked the bird.
"But of course! I am part of a head after all!" the bird's big yellow eyes narrowed with mine.
"Part!" the old man said irritably to the bird, "only a part! Remember that when I begin to reveal questions asked by the next wonderer whose lost in this place!"
"Reveal?" I asked, "So you can tell how to can into the Forever Forest?"
"If you-"the old man began but was no sooner then cut of by the bird.
"If you leave a contribution in the little box." The bird chirped.
"You see! This is what I mean!" the man shouted.
"What?" the bird asked.
I looked at Agrea who simply hug her head in disbelief and pity to the creature that seemed so smart yet acted so stupid. As entertaining and might I add-rare a sight this was of a man arguing with his head, his mind I was on borrowed time and needed to know the answer to my question. I quickly ripped off one of the many golden bangles Jareth made me wear on my wrists.
"Hey!" I shouted shaking the gold peace in front of them to get their attentions, "I really don't have time for this. I have a contribution; now please tell me the location of the forest!" Immediately both stopped and stood silent as if to consider my situation. My power acquired from watching my old family practicing royalty, was getting fiercer and fiercer by the day; at least that was a good sign. They began to speak.
"Why didn't you ask?" The bird said as the old man held out the box.
"Look behind you young women," the old man pointed with a boney crooked finger, "there are two doors in which you must enter."
"Thank you," I smiled dropping the gold bangle into the box with a clink, "that was all I needed to know."
"What are you looking for in there anyways?" the bird asked as Agrea and I turned to leave.
"It's a secret!" Agrea giggled like all small fairies of her kind do, "thank you for your help."
By this time I am standing in front of the two doors, staring and the odd looking door knockers. I swear, every day I am discovering new, strangely unique creatures in the Labyrinth. All I can do is stare at the door knockers until they begin to speak.
"What is it you want?" the door knocker to my right asks me.
"What?" I asked.
"Well we assume you want something in order to be examining us for such a long period of time." The door knocker shouts.
I turn to Agrea and whisper, "I should've known objects speak in this place."
"I wouldn't be surprised if the walls of the Labyrinth spoke themselves." Agrea tells me, she flies up to the nose of the door knocker to be sure she has his full attention, "does your door lead to the Forever Forest?"
"What? I can't hear you!" the door knocker grumbles. This is explainable for the knocker is connected through both of the creature's ears, which almost makes me feel pity for it; no wonder it's so irritable it just hangs there with this crazy large contraption in its ears and shouts. "Speak up!"
Agrea, I can now see is getting frustrated by all of tonight's delays. She knows our time is limited and that we must find the Frog Queen tonight or never and so it is now my turn to ask, "Does your door lead to the Forever Forest?"
"The fortress?" the door knocker asks.
"Ugh!" Agrea buzzes about hands thrown up into the air in defeat, "Just knock on the door Amethyst! Who cares where it leads! We're obviously getting no where by asking a deaf piece of cheap, animated copper."
"Don't worry about it." I say to the door-knocker while taking the ring and banging it hard against the wood three times. The door opens and finally we are greeted by the scene we have been searching for all night; the Forever Forest. The battle is half won, now all Agrea and I have to do to find the Frog Queen…
"She duels in the Well of Inspiration," Agrea explains as we climb through wild, untamed brush, "at least that's what they say. She sings in the late nights close to dawn that's how we know we're getting closer. The song is a scared calling." The forest is dark and thick with green trees and bushes. I wonder where its inhabitants are. If anything I would have thought they'd be out hunting and running mischievously about in this late hour.
"Well of Inspiration?" I ask, "Is there such a place in the Labyrinth? Frog Queen; such a strange title." I laugh.
"Do not be disrespectful; it's a title to a powerful ruler nonetheless. Nothing is ever what it seems in this place," Agrea says, " That is why you can't take anything for granted."
Long moments of walking, dreadful, tiring, walking passes and still there is nothing. But then I hear something…
There is a soft cruel melody in the wind, the song carries and carries until Agrea hears the tune as well, making it clear that I'm not imagining things. I look at Agrea. A strange clam sensation has now come over me and I cannot tare way from the singing.
"Listen," Agrea closes her eyes and breaths a shallow breath, "it's her."
"I must follow it." I whisper eyes transfixed on the young stream. I walk along it, Agrea flying behind me until it leads me to a deep lagoon.
When we reach the lagoon, odd water creatures of every size and color are singing; they follow a high, softly dominate voice-the voice of a queen. They surround her and stop their happy chant when they see me enter their territory. The Frog Queen, unlike her subjects, is untouched by my presence and continues her song as she studies me. She is unearthly beautiful, sitting there on a large river rock, bare breasted, naked, with wild flowers woven into her long hair, pointed ears, and webbed feet. Her eyes narrow mine as if to say even though she knows why I have come she will ask of my journey anyways. When her song is done, she smiles a secret smile and all is quiet.
"Are my feet not lovely?" she asks obviously seeing how oddly I looked at them, "I have barrowed them from a frog. Such noble creatures they are." She gently pets one of her earthly watery companions.
If I was not in the dazed, awed, state I was in at the moment my eyes beheld the Frog Queen and her river kingdom, I would have been creped out. This was a strange civilization and I began to wonder if Agrea was true when she told of how its ruler could help me.
"Do not let looks fool you princess," Agrea whispered in my ear sensing my thoughts, "you need her as much as you need me. Trust her."
"Agrea!" the Frog Queen says enthusiastically, "my loyal Queen of Fate. It has been decades since I've seen you last." Agrea smiles and bows. "And who is your friend and why has she come?" the Frog Queen asks looking softly at me.
"Amethyst." I bow, paying proper respects "Princess Amethyst of the Land of the Light."
"Not of the Underground?" she asks.
"No your majesty," Agrea bows again, "we are working on that. You see it is Amethyst's fate is to become queen of both kingdoms."
"The Land of the Light has long since fallen," the Frog Queen said, "its ruler is Jareth now, it is not?"
"Your majesty, the Goblin King does nothing with the Land of the Light." I say, "it was my home, it's still my kingdom and it is just sitting there destroyed. Who knows what is happening to my people with Jareth's goblins running about my kingdom?"
"And why is it he keeps you?"
"I-" it's difficult to spit the words out, "I'm his prize. I should be in a ruling position but instead I'm a sacrifice to him each night." I look away, "It's a law."
"That arrogant filth." She spits, which makes it clear that I'm now on her good side, "I never had anything against Jareth in fact I have always like the king but I have, however, always resented how he was practically given a kingdom-a rather enormous one I might add-yet does nothing with it. This Labyrinth is a perfect example. How can I be of service?"
"Well the thing is," I say, "I am not quiet sure. You see, I was told I needed to be given something by you in order to take over Jareth and his thrown. I'm not sure it that's courage, or confidence, or strength-"
"Seducing are we?" the Frog Queen cuts me off with a smile. So my tactics have been used before I can see. "Good girl." The queen tells me, "Follow me." and she leaps wonderfully into the lagoon.
"Wait!" I call wadding out into the cool water, "I cannot breathe underwater as you can!"
"Time is short princess," she calls before she goes under water, "in order to gain from me what you seek, you must follow! Trust and follow!" And she is gone. I look at Agrea who motions for me to go.
"You must travel this journey alone princess." She says as the Frog Queen's strange companions stare wide-eyed at me, waiting to see what I'll do.
I bite my lip and nodded. With that, I take a deep breath and drive in after the Queen. I can see her, her beautiful form is blurry for me eyes are not use to the water, but I can still see her nevertheless. I follow her into the dark unknown waters as she swims with grace and power.
I look up at the distance surface of the lagoon, I can see faces, terribly, mysterious faces. They peer down at me; fairy thoughts and dreams I know I must leave behind. For some reason, I am more frightened then I have ever been, but I must follow the Frog Queen deeper and deeper until all I no longer need is washed away. I want to keep going but I feel that I can no longer keep the need for air away. I began to raise to the surface when just then, the Frog Queen pulls me further down. I can hear her thoughts, "we're almost there fallen princess. Hold on"
Suddenly darkness gives way to a golden-like glow. It surrounds me with warmth, penetrates through every part of my body and soul. I understand why I must swim with the Frog Queen alone, for after this experience, as frightened and tried (because of a lack of lack) as I am, I will come to the surface reborn into a new person.
The Frog Queen smiles as her thoughts follow through mine again, "Rest here for as long as you desire."
I do so as she closes her see in meditation. A radiant golden ball appears and magically takes form in her delicate hands; this is her gift to me. She instructs me to hold the glowing ball to my heart and when I do so, its buoyancy lifts me to the surface.
I arise with a big splash, coughing up water and gasping for air but with a light, clear, mind and refreshed soul. The ball is no longer in my hands for it has become a part of me, radiating a warmth, light, and power deep inside of me.
Agrea helps me out of the lagoon and I climb onto the muddy shore. The Frog Queen emerges and I turn and bow.
"Thank you your majesty." I whisper with a smile.
"You're welcome to return any time you need to." She replies.
Dawn is soon and the night sky is slowly fading. Agrea and I turn to leave for Jareth's castle as the Frog Queen and her strange watery creatures giggle at us mischievously. I'm not worried at their actions, for the Queen's gift has made me understand and realize this amongst other things.
I am terribly exhausted when I return to Jareth's bed chamber. It was not difficult to sneak back into the castle for it is so late, even the King's goblins are snoring. Thankfully Jareth is still sleep and judging at the scene, it looks as though he hasn't moved all night.
Challenges will always come but good things are ahead of me right now for I am changed; I now have power-a strong inner power. I look a Jareth who stirs a bit in his sleep. Removing my wet clothing, I climb in bed next to him and burry my self in the silk sheets. I want so badly to test my powers out on the king that it's eating inside of me, but so is exhaustion and in no time I find my eyes growing heavier and heavier. I drift off into a silent sleep.
Its strange because much to my dismay, at that moment, I realized I was beginning to find comfort in sleeping next to the king; maybe perhaps even enjoyed it? Whatever will become of this?
COPYRIGHT: 2006
BY: MaybeBaby17