Into the Labyrinth

Thirteen hours... I've got thirteen hours. The words kept repeating themselves in my mind as I trotted over brown earth and uneven stone, heading toward the Labyrinth walls and wishing for the umpteenth time that my brother could be there to support me. "Thirteen hours before the children become mine forever."

What a pompous, flamboyant prat. With his scare tactics and his dramatic flair... Well, he'd met his match in me, that was for sure. At least...that was what I told myself. Despite the admittedly overinflated confidence in my attempts at self reassurance, doubt and question as to whether or not I would actually be successful circulated in my mind. What if I couldn't solve it in time? Had I made things worse by deciding to run? In place of losing one, I now ran the risk of losing both of them. What would happen if I failed? Would I be sent home alone? Would I be sent home at all? "Stop it," I muttered aloud. It was better not to think of what might happen if I failed... The only solution was to solve this thing as quickly as possible. That was all.

Brown earth shifted to dull paving stones as I moved beneath a carved arch and entered an ornate, yet unkempt courtyard. I wished I had more time...worlds of time. I'd have loved nothing more than to explore every last inch of this place. To learn its stories, its secrets, to study its very heart. But, as fate would have it, my thirteen hours didn't spare me the luxury.

Through the courtyard and past an ugly fountain I ran, finally stopping to catch my breath at my first obstacle. The Labyrinth loomed before me, still and impregnable as China's Great Wall. First things first...hunt for a gate. But the walls seemed to stretch on without break for ages and ages in either direction. Good Lord, which way to go? I groaned. If I was going to have this kind of trouble right off the bat then I could tell what kind of day it was going to be.

Glaring at the walls, I swatted irritably at the glittery moths that had begun to flutter around my head. One of them swatted back and another yanked hard on a lock of my hair.

"Ai!" I yelped, trying to beat my assailant away. It only flew out of my reach and hovered there, leering at me. It was not a moth. To my astonishment, the thing had humanoid arms and legs and pointed ears that poked out between strands of the long silver-gold hair that framed its tiny elfin face. Two silvery wings sprouted from its shoulders, beating rapidly to keep the little thing aloft. My God, it was a faery. A real, living, glittering faery! The little beast narrowed its eyes and stuck its tongue out at me. I scowled back. I'd never liked faeries. Nasty, stuck up, vicious little things.

"Don't suppose you'll tell me how to get in."

The faery only chittered at me rudely and took a dive for my hair again. I swatted it away angrily. "Well, bugger off, then!" The creature spun through the air with a squeal, righted itself, and flew away, staggering dizzily on its wings. I watched it go and sighed, placing a hand on the wall.

"Well, here I am..." I muttered under my breath. "What's next? How do I get into the Labyrinth?"

As if by magic—well...obviously it was magic—the ground shuddered, the air filled with a loud grinding noise, and the stones beneath my hand shifted, opening inward. I gaped stupidly at the sudden gateway. It stood as though it had always been there, all faded stone and splintered wood. Huh...that was easy...

I stood a moment longer, my feet suddenly unwilling to move. This was it. As soon as I stepped through that door my real trials would begin. Whether the outcome would be good or bad, I could not say...but somehow I knew that my life would never be the same.

I shuddered. Couldn't this all be a dream? A very weird and elaborate dream? Perhaps my own imagination had conjured the goblins, the faeries, and their tall glittery ruler with his ballet tights... Actually, no. No way in hell had I invented the ballet tights. That was all I needed to accept the reality of my situation.

And so, with my sanity confirmed, my clock counting down, and my niece and nephew waiting, I set my jaw and walked through the gate. On the other side, there was but a single passage running perfectly straight, north to south. Left to right. I glanced first one way, then the other. Both directions were perfectly identical. Narrow, endless, and littered with roots and vines. I felt my heart sink slightly at the vastness of it all. How freaking long would it take for me to find the first corner?! I don't have time for this! Eyes narrowed, fists clenched, I exhaled and turned left, breaking into a dead run.

—x—

Meanwhile, many miles and doorways and passages away, Jareth the Goblin King rested lazily in the throne room of his castle, rolling one of his prized crystal orbs back and forth across his hands. All around him, goblins of various shapes and sizes engaged in some form of chaos or other. Chasing chickens, getting into fights, having swearing contests in Goblin Tongue. The cacophony was deafening, but the king didn't seem to notice. He was busy watching his latest challenge in the silvery depths of the crystal orb.

She was no different from any other runner, really...and certainly not half so fair as the last. Not half so fair as her... No, this Lara's face, a pale contrast of scornful cheekbones and delicate features, was nothing special, framed by locks of dark brown that tumbled about in feathery waves, not quite brushing her shoulders in length. Her eyes, quick and piercing beneath sharp, suspicious brows, had been somewhat striking in a strange, almost haunted sort of way...though he'd seen prettier eyes before. And she had zero sense of style.

True, this Lara had been brave enough to volunteer herself in place of her foolish niece. And she had been the first woman ever to threaten him with a wooden sword, a fact that he found more amusing than repelling. Jareth had to laugh aloud as he watched her swat the faery, and shout at it as well? Well now...perhaps this was a girl after his own heart after all...

The king's smile faltered slightly as he watched her discovery of the Labyrinth door without the help of the Gatekeeper, who for some annoying reason was not at his usual post. Damn that blasted Hogwart...I shall have to have words with him. Regardless of the Gatekeeper's whereabouts, Lara Tyler had entered the Labyrinth and was now on her way. No matter... She wouldn't make it much farther. Still...we can't be too careful, can we?

"Clutch!" he snapped. Almost instantly, a little goblin with wild black hair, a pointed beak-like face, and large yellow eyes appeared at his elbow.

"Your Majesty?" the little fellow asked, his voice high pitched, gravelly, and thickly accented with rolling 'r's and oddly enunciated syllables.

"Look here..." The king said, holding the orb in front of the goblin's pointed nose. "What do you see?"

Clutch squinted into the orb. "A girrrl?"

"That's right. I have a job for you, Clutch... I want you to keep an eye on this girl. I want you to follow her. If she gets too close to finding her way here, I want you to gain her trust and lead her astray. Do you understand?"

Clutch's eyes narrowed. "Clutch understands, boss. But... What means a-shtray?"

Jareth glowered menacingly, causing the little goblin to tremble in fear. "Astray, you needle-nosed imbecile. You must lead her in the wrong direction. Do what ever you can to keep her away from this castle or it's the Bog for you!"

The goblin saluted him. "Yes, boss! No Bogses for Clutch, boss! I lead the girl a-shtray!"

"Get on with it," Jareth waved his hand dismissively and the goblin scampered off, carrying himself with a new air of importance.

The king sighed and took one last glance at the girl in the crystal, before tossing the orb carelessly over his shoulder and leaning forward in his seat, looking over his two young captives. The little girl was trying desperately to keep a brave face, glaring at him viciously and keeping a tight hold on her terrified younger brother. The boy stared at the goblins with wide, frightened eyes, clinging to his sister with one hand and to a flimsy toy dragon with the other. Time to make a move... The next hours would be wisely spent winning the children over. The king put on his most endearing smile and gestured for the children to come closer. When the little girl narrowed her eyes and shook her head defiantly (in a way that reminded him greatly of her aunt) the king's smile only widened and he swooped forward to kneel before the children, goblins clustering around him excitedly. They had been waiting thirty Aboveground years for this.

"You remind me of the babe," he sang.

"What babe?" one of the goblins immediately replied.

"The babe with the power."

"What power?" piped another goblin. Yes, they knew their parts well. The king would often resort to this song to endear his captured children to him and the goblins liked it almost as much as he did.

"The power of voodoo."

"Who-do?"

"You do!" It was already starting to work. Little Alec was watching the king with large eyes and even stubborn little Callie's expression shifted to one of curiosity.

"Do what?"

"Remind me of the babe." Jareth stood and winked at the children before striding impressively around his throne room and breaking into song completely.

"I saw my baby,

Crying hard as babe could cry!

What could I do?

My baby's love had gone,

And left my baby blue!

Nobody knew-"

The king whipped round dramatically to face the children and spread his arms, the goblins joining him in the next verse.

"What kind of magic spell to use!"

"Slime and snails," grunted a goblin.

"Or puppy dogs' tails," squeaked another.

"Thunder or lightening..."

Jareth pointed at the children and grinned. "Then baby said:"

"Dance, magic dance!" sang the goblins.

"Dance, magic dance!" the king echoed, spinning on the spot and winning a grin from little Alec.

"Dance, magic dance!"

"Dance, magic dance!"

"Put that baby's spell on me!"

Jareth could see a smile tugging at the corners of Calpurnia's lips.

"Jump, magic jump!"

"Jump, magic jump!"

Little Alec was laughing now at the jumping goblins and Calpurnia allowed one of them to take her hands and dance around the throne room with her. The king smiled and continued singing, slowly working his way into the hearts of his new heirs.

—x—

It took me longer than I'd like to admit to figure out that first passage. Turns out that it was all an optical illusion, that there had in fact been several openings, perfectly aligned with the adjacent walls of the next passage over, rendering them invisible to my untrained eyes. Finally, by some lucky accident—well...if you call losing your temper and violently kicking the wall only to get the fright of your life as your foot connected with nothing at all and you tumbled forward with an undignified yelp a lucky accident—I did manage to figure this out and find an opening. From there the Labyrinth only grew. I came across passage after passage. One turning led to another and so on until I began to encounter clusters of more than one opening. As many as three or four different passages would open at once, leaving me with more and more decisions to make. I tried to keep logical. Choose the one that at least points in the right direction. Try to keep the castle in sight. Keep moving. Run where possible. Don't stop. Twice I hit a dead end. Thrice I came back out on the same junction. It was increasingly difficult to keep from getting frustrated, but I forced myself to try and memorize each step I took. Also, to keep from screaming, I took to inventing and singing lyrics to the melody of the bizarre eighties pop music that drifted down from the Goblin King's castle.

"Have I gone crazy?

Just what am I doing here?

I've got no clue.

This creepy blond guy came

And stole my poor nephew!

Right then, I knew

I'm gonna have to kick his ass!

And get the kids back...

From that maniac...

So watch out, Your Highness..."

I was really beginning to enjoy myself. The voices emanating from the castle were rather infectious, and the music made me want to dance in a way only eighties music can. My song was interrupted, however, by the discovery of orange and black fuzzy things scooting around on the stone floor. I thought they were mice at first, but closer inspection revealed them to be nothing more than wee balls of fur, almost like the little pom-poms that Callie was fond of using in her art projects. For all the resemblance to inanimate objects, however, they moved and behaved like living creatures. There's something you don't see every day.... Intrigued, I caught one gently in my left hand. Its fur was soft as a chinchilla's and it glittered, but as soon as I lifted it off the ground it began to squeak and squeal in terror. It's fellow fuzz balls reacted to its cries by rolling forward and attacking my shoes, bouncing against them viciously and uttering various squeaks and high pitched war cries of defiance. I couldn't help but laugh at the brave little buggers.

"Alright, then," I said softly, placing my captured fuzzy back on the ground amongst its brothers. The little thing fluffed its fur irritably and rolled away with its family.

Still grinning, I straightened up and noticed the door for the first time. That wasn't there before... It was tall and elegant, with gracefully twisting band work inlayed in the wood. Flanking it on either side were two old suits of armor. I looked slowly to my left and right. I now stood in a dead end passage with no inkling as to how I had gotten there. A glance behind me sent chills up my spine. Stone. I was boxed in. Boxed in with two choices: climb the walls or go through the door. The latter seemed far less strenuous so I put my hand upon the great iron handle. But when I pressed down, it did not budge. I tried again, using both hands and putting all my weight behind it. Nothing.

Dammit... I stepped back and scowled. Now what? I'm boxed in with no way back and only one way forward... No way back, one way forward... In my impatience, I found myself wishing for an ax, a flamethrower, or even a handful of grenades. Anything to get me back on track. Lara, you're not doing this right. Think...use that head of yours.

And so, doing the polite and obvious thing, I reached up and knocked three times. At first, nothing happened, but then the iron band work began shifting on the wood, twisting and shaping to form...words. Eight lines of words.

For those who wish to enter here

You'll find the cost is great

Though bravest ones claim to have none

They too must meet this fate

To pass beyond this doorway

You must tell me something dear

Reveal to me your weakest self

Confide your greatest fear

I felt my blood run cold as flashes of memory swarmed unbidden to the fore of my mind. Was this some kind of joke? I have to reveal my weakness to a door? Is that what it's asking? I read the lines again, wracking my brain for any hidden meanings. It really seemed pretty straightforward. And if it was, that could only mean... I only have to speak the words...it's not like I'll be instantly plunged into... I felt my palms start sweating at the very thought, my heart rate elevating slightly. Just say it... I'm wasting time. Just say it, coward.

I took a breath, swallowed dryly...took another breath. Oh, for God's sake! It's been fourteen years! "My greatest fear is...is confinement in absolute darkness." My words sounded silly and thin, like a little girl's. When spoken aloud, it really did sound stupid. An empty fear. Wasn't so bad, was it?

For a moment, nothing happened. I felt my heart rate slowly returning to normal before the silence was broken by a creaking of hinges and the door swung inward. Beyond was a sight that turned my stomach. It was a tunnel. A long dark tunnel. Absolutely black, with only the smallest point of light way off in the distance. I felt my head start to spin, fear and anger fighting for control of my features.

"Goddammit!" I paced back and forth, breathing methodically as Will had so often reminded me to, trying to keep my composure. You like to think you're so brave, don't you, Lara? Well, look at you now. You sad, scared little girl. I ran my hand through my hair again and again as I felt the threat of a full blown anxiety attack looming behind me...like the grim reaper.

Breathe, Lara... Remember to breathe. It's not so bad, look... I stopped pacing and forced myself to look into the darkness once more. It was still and black and impenetrable. I could feel the dampness from within its depths. I could hear the steady ...drip...drip... Just like the well...

"Lara, that is enough!" I snarled aloud, filling my voice with all the rage and defiance that usually came so naturally to me. "You have children to rescue. It's not that far to the end, look at the light. Suck it up and get it done." I inhaled deeply and faced the doorway, preparing to run as fast as I could.

Before I did so, my eyes drifted to the left suit of armor...and the longsword that it grasped in its mailed fists. An idea—more of a desire, really—began to bloom in my mind. All my life I had loved swords. Many of my earliest memories involved my brother and me locked in playful duels using sticks...brooms...fishing rods...anything we could get our hands on. At their earliest opportunity the year we moved to America, my parents had enrolled my brother and me in fencing lessons in the hopes that the discipline would help to disband some of our boundless energy. We were eight years old at the time and over the years we both grew quite formidable in the sport, though I take boastful and unrestricted pride in the fact that my brother's abilities are hopelessly outmatched by my own.

It was tempting. Too tempting. Besides, if a weapon didn't make me braver, nothing would. My fencer's hands moved almost of their own accord, reaching out and prying the ancient steel from rusted fingers.

Aw, yessss... I felt an evil grin pulling at my lips, momentarily forgetting my fear as I curled the fingers of my left hand around the cracked ebony handle. I turned the blade slowly this way and that, tracing careful circles in the air. Admittedly, it was a bit heavy, and too long for me, but I already felt better with steel in my hand, ancient or no. Quick as a snake, I slashed the blade through the air, spun, and slashed again. Sweet... Not perfect, but it would certainly do. I ran my fingers along the flat of the blade. "Oh, Goblin King..." If I made it through that darkness, he was going to be in for one heck of a surprise.

I did feel a bit sheepish in just taking it though. This was an ancient place of magic, after all, and I was nothing but a thieving little trespasser. Perhaps I could pay for it somehow... I patted my pockets. Hmm. No wallet. I'd probably left it safe in my backpack with my stupid mobile phone. I searched instead for something, anything worth trading before pulling out the little slip of paper from my fortune cookie several hours before. Good luck follows you wherever you go. Ha! Yeah, right... Would I be preparing to do something that turns my stomach if that were true? No. But perhaps this suit of armor would enjoy a bit of luck... Carefully, I reached out and slipped the piece of paper into the armor's mailed hand. Okay, maybe it wasn't exactly a fair trade...but the suit wasn't complaining. In fact, I could have sworn that its rusted shoulders relaxed slightly when I closed its fist around the fortune.

"Psst. Can she do that?"

"No idea."

"Pretty sure that's against the rules, that is."

I must have leapt thirty feet into the air, searching in panic for the source of the voices. I could have sworn that they emanated from the hollow helms of those two suits of armor, echoing and metallic. I stared at first one, then the other, my skin crawling and cold.

"Righty, she's taken your sword."

"Yes, Lefty, but you saw the fortune she gave me... And what do I need that rusted butter knife for? Let her keep it, I say."

"Whatever you like, Righty..."

I gaped. They didn't seem to realize that I could hear them. I was about to open my mouth to speak, but they continued in their conversation.

"Cor, Lefty, I wish she didn't have to use this door... She seems a nice little thing, and you know what's through there..."

"Aye, Righty, but she hasn't a choice, has she? She'll die for certain. But, alas, she'll be out of her torment."

My face paled. She'll die for certain? That didn't sound good at all. Of course, they could have been lying... Could have been trying to convince me to give up.

"What's through there?" I asked suddenly.

"Ah, love..." Righty said, so named for his placement to the other suit's right, despite his position on the left side of the door. "Certain death for you. I can't tell you how I wish I could pull me rusting limbs from this wall and guide you... But you must face your fate alone."

"Be brave whilst you die, my lady..." Lefty said. "Thy reward shall be in Heaven."

I glanced between the two, a scowl of defiance settling upon my features. Nope... No way. Sod this... Sod this. Sod the Labyrinth. Sod the bloody king.

"Not today." I bowed low to the two of them, thanked Righty for the sword, and turned to face the farthest corner of my sudden prison. I suppose this could work...it can't be more than eight or nine feet and those bricks should make for good footing. Ignoring the probing questions of the Empty Knights and removing my belt, I tied it in a knot around the blade of my new sword, just below the cross guard. Then I wrapped the belt around my upper body, over my left shoulder, under my right, and fastened it there, so that my sword was slung across my back and safely out of the way.

"This had better work..." I muttered to myself. I'd seen Will do it dozens of times. Of course, he was taller and stronger than I was. And parkour was more his thing than mine. Shut up and do it, Lara, you wuss. It's this or the tunnel, and now we know you won't survive that.

I ground my teeth, squared my shoulders, and took a running jump. Once airborne, I planted my left foot on the ipsilateral wall of the far corner and propelled myself upward, doing the same with my right foot on the wall adjacent and so on until I ran out of momentum. At the last minute, my feet slipped, sending my heart leaping into my throat and causing my to flail wildly for a grip on something, anything. By some ridiculously lucky miracle, I had gained enough height by then to just barely hook my finger tips on the wall top. I can't believe that actually worked! God knows, I'd probably never be able to duplicate it. I hanged there, panting like a dork before kicking and scrambling and finally managing to pull myself up. The suits of armor were exclaiming from down below.

"Sweet Glory! The girl can fly!"

"Oi! She can't do that! Can she do that?"

"Beats me! But, cor, did you see that jump?!"

Turning from them, I stood up and took in my surroundings. The Labyrinth sprawled out before me like a great map, miles of stone walls...then hedges...forest...what looked like mounds of...something...and finally that lovely, dingy goblin city rising on its stony hillock there in the middle of it all. God, this was fantastic! The stone wall looked to be a good ten to fifteen feet tall in places and oscillated between three to five feet in width. I might have to jump a gap here or there, but that I could deal with. Better than the darkness... It was almost certainly cheating, but I didn't care. Laughing aloud, I began to trot along the wall top.

Much later, I would learn that I needn't have bothered with such risk. That I would, in fact, have saved myself hours of precious time and torment if I'd just been brave enough to go through the stupid door. Misinterpretation of the guards warnings had led me to believe that some great danger resided inside that tunnel...when in reality it would have led me almost directly to the castle. You see, the guards had merely been trying to protect me from the Goblin King.