CHAPTER: Of Loyalty and Fiery Heights (b)

Darkness filled his tent and his heart as Shiver lay back on his field bed. Well, bed was really a strong word for a thin straw mattress and five wolf pelts, but then it was not his own comfort that was on his mind just then.

Running his strong calloused and long fingered hand through his thick shock of tiny neat dreadlocks Shiver cursed again, these last few days, leading half of the white blades through the still clear path's of the labyrinth had been nothing but dread for the lanky goblin. It was not the first Campaign he lead for Jareth, but it would most likely be his last one way or the other.

Pushing the blankets aside, Shiver sat cross-legged on the mattress, sleep had escaped him these last three hours and it was clear that it would not make an appearance anytime soon.

Holding up his right hand, Shiver looked at the tattoo of the goblin sigil that graced the palm of his hand. Time and war had faded the detailed ink into a smoky and barely visible shadow. But it's meaning had not diminished, it signified that he had fought his way to the ranks of the goblin knights, that he was one of those select few who were worthy to protect their king, with their lives. And then there was his ring, turning his hand Shiver stared at the thick dark gold band with its interlacing thorn design. The Captains ring, the only outward sign of his status. Even now, four hundred seventy one years later he could still remember the pride he had felt as Jareth had pressed the ring into his hand, with the words: For the glory of the Labyrinth.

But now, the pride was gone and the Labyrinth dying. And he Shiver could not let that happen.

Rolling to his feet, Shiver felt utterly calm and filled with fierce determination, as he moved to the rack that held his smoke steel swords. Jareth might have lost his mind in that dungeon or he might be controlled by Titania, but that did not change his duty, the words said for the glory of the Labyrinth, not Jareth not Hoggle. And his path was clear, as he conjured a crystal and let it crumble in his hand, dark green smoke swirled around him in a thick silent vortex, and once it cleared Shiver stood fully armoured.

The darkness was alive with the hushed sounds of an army camping in hostile territory, as Shiver slipped from shadow to shadow through the camp, silently waking his men and those few whose loyalty he was certain of, each man or woman given the order to meet him behind the Draegor pens after ten minutes.

It was dangerous but they had no choice.

A wicked grin spread on Shivers face as he crept up behind the sentry with catlike grace, his smokesteel dagger a dark blur as it sliced through the seelie sentry's neck with little resistance, nearly severing the spine. Grabbing the twitching corpse, Shiver propped the thin soldier up against the fence, quickly drawing the corpses cloak in to cover the sheen of blood on the dark plate. Glancing up he couldn't help but smirk as he watched Sir Thurber and Lady Himiltrude glided past him through the darkness like crimson shadows, heading straight towards the sentries guarding the paddock gates.

Keeping low, Shiver crept quietly past the quickly constructed paddock fence, towards the next sentry. He was no stranger to killing, and he felt no guilt as he slipped in behind the sleeping orc, drawing the bloodstained blade across the black skinned throat, cutting deeply enough that he severed nerves as well as the jugular killing the orc instantly. Pulling the limp corpse up, Shiver used the dead orcs own spear to brace him against the fence post, before gliding through the boards and in between the curiously watching draegor's. Moving through the large scaled creatures, Shiver let his hands trail along their rough hides as he passed. Despite their large eyes, they had horrible eyesight, and touch served to keep them calm as he made his way to his patiently waiting mount.

The night erupted in with the screams of terrified draegor's as the pens erupted in fire. Grabbing the spiked ridge of his mounts neck, Shiver vaulted to it's back in one smooth movement that told of the many years spent on draegor back. Holding on with his powerful legs, Shiver urged his mount Stain into movement, feeling its great muscles moved beneath its rough hide as he let it have its head and lead his men from the chaos.

Leaning over the neck Shiver urged Stain on, keeping their breakneck speed as they wove through the tight corridors of the Labyrinth, putting more distance between them, and the by now demolished camp by the second. They had to get as far into the Labyrinth proper as possible, because only there would they be safe...

. . .

Light and sound erupted in an epic pandemonium below him, as Didymus crouched on the Labyrinth wall. His yellow eye sparkled gleefully as he watched Shiver and the some twenty men and women utilized the cover of chaos to thunder past the seelie warriors, and vanish into the Labyrinth. Grinning grimly, Didymus slipped off the wall on which he had perched, and keeping the shadow wrapped tightly around him, rendering him invisible, he glided up next to a fey officer furiously screaming orders at the chaotically milling fey and orcs alike, obviously hoping to create some sort of order.

Standing perfectly still, Didymus drew in a deep breath, savouring the fey's intoxicating magic. What concern was the inferior stenches of the realms when magic smelled so heavenly, its sweet sent only surpassed by its sublime flavour as it was drained from living flesh. Licking his chops silently, Didymus backed slowly away.

This was not how he lived any longer, not how any of the twenty three Llwynog knights and those dependent on them, that he had brought back only two days ago, lived. It was that behaviour that had caused the fey to hate and fear the Llwynog in the first place., and had driven them to hunt every Llwynog down on sight either killing or enslaving them...

Passing through the camp unseen, taking stock of the devastation caused by the stampeding draegor's and the detonating crystals hurled by Shiver's bloodthorn knights and men, Didymus nodded with grim satisfaction. The damaged caused was extensive, and the number of wounded would keep the White blade's forces bogged down here for days on end, it was a most fortuitous bonus to the bloodthorns smooth escape.

Doing a full lap of the camp, Didymus had to keep himself in tight rein as he passed fey after fey which fairly glowed with the bright light of their magic... It had been so long since he had last fed the ever present hunger in his core. Not since. .. Shaking his head the tall warrior chased the debilitating thoughts away, any thoughts of those lost would do him no good here...

Reaching the tumbled down section of wall where he had left Ardian and Einhart, he grasped the crumbling edge, and smoothly heaved himself up and unto the wide wall, sliding quietly down the steep rubble on the other side, to stand beside the two cloaked Llwynog foxes

" My brothers we art most surely blessed on this day, for the damages wrought by the fleeing beasts are mighty indeed. Theses honourless curs will fall prey to us with ease. Abide first we must find our wayward brothers in arm for surely thy must be in need of aid."

The shadows shimmered as the two very different looking foxes unfolded their shadow cloaks and stepped into the gentle wavering starlight.

Ardian was as tall and powerfully muscled as Didymus, but his fur was sun kissed golden not red and the white around his muzzle, ears and tail, was more pronounced. The difference served to make him look older, even though he was the youngest of the three by several decades.

Einhart on the other hand was half a head shorter, and of a far slighter build, though still strong. His ebony grey fur seemed to steal the light and made him look as if he was woven from glistening shadows. The only relief being the white lines that outlined both his ears and muzzle, but his tail held no such highlights.

Both Llwynog were dressed in ornate black suede clothes, the soft blackness being easiest to fade into the night time shadows. Only Didymus still wore his bright red leathers.

" Lord Didymus, that fortuitous news brings us great joy. Prey do we now endeavour to intercept our armed brothers and persuade them onto our glorious cause? "

Nodding as he brushed his hand over his immaculate clothes, Didymus smiled:" most verily we do indeed pursue that exact cause, though I say to thee that we must use the most extreme caution. Now follow me mine brothers... "

There was little sound as the trio ran through the shadowy corridors, heading straight to the wolves who waited patiently in one of the hidden glens. And soon the three Llwynog had their wolf mounts running full out following the alluring glow of Shivers bright green magic, over the dimming golden hue of the Labyrinth.

It did not take long for the trio to catch up with the warriors led by Shiver, fast as draegor's were, they were no match for the planes bred wolves of the Llwynog with their long powerful limbs and almost catlike agility. An agility that enabled Ambrosius to leap clear over a fifteen foot wall to land squarely in the centre of the wide corridor, forcing Shiver and those following to pull into a sudden frantic stop.

Pulling his sinewy mount into a sliding halt, Shiver ripped his beak shaped visor up, and stared at Didymus as he gasped for air.

There were so many questions shining out at Didymus, but being a seasoned warrior, he knew which one was foremost on Shivers mind.

" Rest easy brave Sir Shiver, verily I swear unto you, that we are thy oath sworn brethren, bound to the glory of the Labyrinth... We come to beg thee, join us in this epic battle for our very survival. Please the Lord Hoggle guides our steps against the enemies yonder."

" Sir Didymus hail and well meet... please if you know where to find Lord Hoggle take us to him, for we have much to tell him."

Sweeping his massive hat of in an elegant gesture more at home in the halls of a court, Didymus said:" It would be mine honour to escort thee yonder, The Lord Hoggle has left the narrow confines of the Glade, and now reside in the bosom of his loyal army, nay more than a nights ride as the owl flies."

Nodding Shiver clapped his visor back down, and adjusted his shoulder guard slightly:" Then please good Sir let us not tarry.."

There was little sound as the group rode through the ever widening corridors, and what sound there might have been was quickly stifled by the heavy fall of snow that obscured the slowly lightning sky as dawn crept nearer.

They had ridden through the night, and though it would have only taken a few hours had they flown, they were not flying, and the route through the twisting and winding paths took nearly twice as long.

Raising his fist, Didymus signalled for the increasingly tired group to stop. Snow had covered the small glade they were in, with a thick and pristinely white blanket that drowned out every sound that the group made. Shielding his golden eye, with his hand, Didymus watched the weary knights and squires, as they dismounted their steaming mounts. The wolves had their thick shaggy furs, but the draegor's were dragonkin and they needed to either move or be kept warm. Well the beasts would have to stay warm on their own for this short break, because...

There was a soft keening sound as the wind picked up but it was different less rich less alive, less. ..

Shivers head whipped up from his work as he rubbed the sweat off the slick green scales of his mount: "Oh Goddess the gates, they have closed the gates..."

His eyes locked with Didymus as they shared a look of utter horror, Oh they both knew what this meant for them, with the gates closed there would be no magic coursing through the bedrock of the realm in rivers of power and light. And without those rivers they would all starve as their world began to crumble and die.

" Mount up men" : Time was running out and they both knew it, vaulting onto his draegor's back, Shiver kicked it into a desperate run after Didymus and his wolf.

. . .

Laying low over Stains wide and powerful neck, Shiver cursed low and vehemently. This was taking too long, the draegor's were strong and fast, but not fast enough, and he needed more speed. He could feel it in his very bones as he desperately urged his mount on heedless of its laboured breath and the sweat soaking through his own armour. It would be days yet before he would begin to feel any effect of the closed gates, but that was not the cause of his urgency. No Hoggle was calling him, and the call was filled with desperation. Something was happening, something the Labyrinth couldn't stop on his own. And now Hoggle was reaching out trying to call Shiver to him... Well Shiver would answer.

Turning to the Fox beside him, Shiver called: " how much further? "

His voice barely audible over the dry rasp of his mounts scales rubbing together and the howl of the wind.

" There beyond those trees" : came the prompt reply.

Straining against the harsh white glare, Shiver squinted trying to see anything that differed from the trees surrounding them. At first glance there was nothing, no difference, but then as the light shifted through the ancient oaks he saw it. Goblins tall and proud guarded the narrow fissure that angled down before him, before vanishing into the pitch blackness of the lower tunnels. Reining the in his mount, Shiver had leapt from its back even before it had stopped. Long sure strides carrying him past the bowing goblins and straight into the bowels of the Labyrinth.

Darkness swallowed him after just a few steps, but that mattered little to a goblin, as he paused for but a second to let his eyes adjust. The blackness wavered and turned into a crimson shadowscape, as the darkflame in Shivers eyes flared allowing him to see.

" This way my lord": Didymus voice was soft and breathless as he pressed past Shiver: "Lord Hoggle and Lord Ludo have utilized the caves beyond the tunnels of false alarms for their headquarter. "

It seemed like hours to Shiver as they wound through the black tunnels, in silence. Or rather they were silent, the false alarms on the other hand were not, and every few meters the pairs movements would trigger one or two rumbling voices. But it was not the usual warnings of that surrounded them.

"Hurry" : The stone faces urged, with gravelly voices: "Push on! Not long now... Faster you must make haste... Hold fast for if you fail it will lead to our utter destruction... Save him..His pain is ripping us apart... hurry... hurry... hurry..."

Urgency filled the stale air until Shiver felt ready to burst with it, and he could no longer remain silent.

" Sir Didymus has Lord Hoggle told you what transpired during your sojourn?"

Didymus didn't stop or turn as he answered:" Verily my lord, he has most certainly regaled me with that most tragic tale.. I doth hath no choice, I hath sworn a most sacred oath to protect the young queen with mine very life. I promptly swore before Lord Hoggle that I and my knights would die should it be required, to restore the glory of our Labyrinth..."

Nodding to himself Shiver had to hold back an amused smirk at Didymus jumbled rant:" So in far less words, yes he told you, and you most readily agreed to help. Would that be the gist of it?"

" Aye."

" I thought as much, so Sir Didymus prey tell what are we to do, now? Does Lord Hoggle have a plan of action? Or are we beyond hope?"

Didymus shoulders sank, and his stride faltered:" I know not, Nor doth Lord Hoggle, I feareth that we art adrift in the vast sea of uncertainty."

Suddenly the tunnel seemed darker and more desolate to Shiver, it was as if the foxes words had stolen the light of his darkflame:" And so we are doomed.

" Fear not Sir Shiver, I am most certain that Lady Sarah..."

Turning to lock eyes with the tall proud goblin as his voice trailed off, into a look of fear. They were both commanders, leaders of men and they did not have the luxury of being afraid. But here alone in the utter darkness they didn't have to instill each other with hope they didn't have, here they could give voice to their darkest fears..

" I fear that our world is indeed doomed, I just hope that Lady Sarah can save the aboveground..."

Sighing Shiver nodded:" Aye let us hope that our queen can save at least that much. !"

The rest of their journey was spent in companionable silence as each man wrestled with his private thoughts and fears.

The roughly cut walls of the tunnels of false alarms soon gave way to natural water smoothed tunnels that lead into the cave beneath the south eastern gateway. Stepping into the large cavern, Shiver paused for a second to let his eyes adjust to the flickering torch light that filled the large dome shape space.

Large crystals of every colour glistened in the dim light, reflecting the light to cast fantastical rainbows and shadows on the wall and ceiling. It was a magnificent sight and it was utterly wasted on the two captains as they strode into the cave. Their entire attention focused on the limp figure in Ludo's massive arms, as they rushed towards the kneeling giant.

" Oh Goddess be merciful, prey my brother say that we are not too late.."

Looking up, the great flame furred rock caller shook his head at Didymus words, as he rumbled out words that sounded like boulders shattering in his chest:" No he still draws breath, but the drain of keeping our world intact is fast draining him. I fear that he will soon succumb if the gates are not reopened.

Stones shattered and crashed to the floor as if to emphasize Ludo's words.

Frustration began to shift into fearful anger as Shiver snapped.:" well shit! And how are we to do that! Hell we cannot even reach the Lady Sarah as long as they remain closed."

Hoggle's voice was soft and slightly breathless as he pushed himself into a somewhat sitting position: Honestly Shiver, there ain't no reason for that mouth of yers, I ain't dead yet, just got a bit winded when our queen did what I had asked her ta.

Rushing to take Hoggle's offered hand, Shiver helped the visible shaken dwarf to his feet.

" Winded? ! Please My lord.."

" I told yer not ta call me that.."

Bowing slightly Shiver continued:" Hoggle you look close to death, please I beg of you ask Lady Sarah to reopen the gate. Please before it is too late.."

Shaking his head sadly, but with utter determination, Hoggle said:" I can nay do that, the gates are closed ta me too."

"What? Surely you jest my liege, verily thou canst not be truthful, we will be naught but helpless babes awaiting the ravenous wolves": Didymus eye had grown to twice its size as he spoke.

" Nay I'm not jesting, I have sealed us off hoping that Sarah might save the aboveground. Hoping that she's strong enough ta keep the aboveground veiled off from our realms."

Nodding grimly, both knights seemed to understand the sacrifice.

" Verily I declare that there is no other whom I wouldst intrust the survival of life itself. Is there perchance any hope that those innocents in this realm might live? "

Shaking his head sadly, Hoggle sighed:" Nay...Not once Jareth dies.. but it will be quick, the veil will swallow us all once the magic have bleed dry.."

A sad smile curled Shivers narrow lips:" I'm suddenly grateful that I no longer have anyone to call mine. To have to feel the pain of their loss as well as one's own death... No I am glad."

Giving Shiver a soft smile of agreement Didymus said:" Aye never had I envisioned a day when I wouldst be grateful for the deaths of mine family. But here and now I thank the goddess with a true heart that those whom I loved with all mine heart is already safe in the dead realm."

" Enough of these sombre thoughts" : Holding up a gnarled hand Hoggle gave each man a meaningful look: "Come I need yer ta come with me, yer men are already at the outer stone ring, and Titania and Oberon are acting up again.."

Two great strides brought Shiver up beside Hoggle, and laying a calloused hand on the dwarfs shoulder, he stopped him: "Does the Lady Sarah know what the closing of all the portals will do? Does she understand that she has killed us all, killed Jareth?"

Shrugging the Hoggle sighed:" Aye, I suspect so, I haven't said it straight, but I haven't lied either."

Horror made Didymus voice crackle:" But what shall happen if she should venture here, beyond the veil?"

Seconds trickled by as Hoggle stared at the colours that embellished the rubble strewn floor, and when he finally replied his words sent ice into the pairs hearts:" I suspect that she'd perish with the rest of us, and that'll be the end of it."

Death utter and final not just for the realms of magic but for all life.

"Goddess no": The words slipped unbidden from Shivers lips.

"Aye, But let's not dwell on that, now boys, I can hear Jareth calling and I suspect I know what he aims ta talk about."

. . .

The winding tunnels lead them ever upwards, until they resurfaced just behind the first of the enormous Iron ore fortifications hastily raised by the rockcallers. Craning his neck back, Shiver looked up. The sheer smooth wall that rose in front of him was close to sixty feet tall and it would also have to be immensely wide, if it was to have any kind of strength. It was far from Ludo's normally sophisticated and delicate work, but it had a kind of stark and severe quality to it instead. Being a goblin he had no real problem with raw iron, other than if he was hit over the head with it, but he had no doubt that it was a daunting sight to any with fey blood. Standing at the bottom, Shiver couldn't see the end of it, and he hoped that it was encircling the entire army below him, without them knowing.

Steps narrow and steep lead up the side to parapet of the wide wall, quickly reminding Shiver just how much he despised heights, oh yeah and narrow steps. Narrow steps without railings. Oh he was not a coward, not by any means, he just didn't want to fall to his doom on the jagged stones beneath. Okay maybe they were not that jagged, and more just... uneven, but that really wouldn't matter if he fell face first.

Pressing his back against the icy wall, Shiver closed his eyes and drew in two deep shuttering breaths, trying to steady his furiously pounding heart, and quell the rising terror. Slamming his fist into the sharp stone, he cursed. Dammit it all! he was only fifteen feet above the ground and here he was on the verge of panicking!. He a knight, of the bloodthorn, afraid of heights...

" Sir Shiver art thou able to continue? Thou lookst most pale.."

" No I... ": Running his shivering hand through his mane of dreads, Shiver groaned in frustration, they were all gonna die in a few days anyway, so what was the point of hiding his weakness any longer: "I... I hate heights, they fill me with fear, and. .. I just don't get it, but I want to jump, I want to fall through the air, and that terrifies me, it.."

" I fear fire": Came the softly spoken reply:" I break out in cold sweat, when ever I need to light a fire, yet still I feel this most urgent need to run mine fingers through that most alluring flame..."

Blinking Shiver starred up into Didymus honest face, searching in vain for any sign of ridicule, but finding none:" Truly? You fear fire?"

Nodding Didymus gave Shiver a crooked half smile, as he confirmed:" Truly, if we by some miracle should survive this most troubling time, I shall tell you why, and you shall tell me why you fear heights, and we shall both grow and be all the stronger from it."

Nodding Shiver smiled, and it was a good smile, the kind that chases fears away, as he extended his now steady hand to Didymus:" I shall hold you to it my lord."

. . .

The wall was tall, close to thirty five feet, and from what Jareth could see, it was at least a good ten feet wide at the top. Its surface was rough enough to cut the hands of anyone stupid enough to try to climb it, and smooth enough not to offer any real handhold. And yes it had been crafted from cold iron ore, pure enough to scald the flesh of any unwary fey should they venture to touch it. Licking his lips slowly, Jareth revelled in that tiny movement. It was his, no one had made him do it, and no one knew that he had done it, it might seem insignificant, but the fact the he was able to do that, had made him able to do this one last thing for his realm, this last act as its king.

Stepping forward Jareth felt his hands fist at his sides as his head rose to be held at a haughty angle, and words spilled from his lips, but Jareth paid them little heed, they were not his anyway. They may sound like his words but they were the words of Titania, as she pulled her puppets strings with masterly skill.

No Jareth's full attention rested on the dishevelled figure standing at the parapet with a look of pain on his weathered face. Hoggle's eyes had not left him since he had exited the tent with Beinhill clinging to his arm. And now they seemed to burn into Jareth's very soul.

Snow fell steady and thick as they stood looking down at the proud goblin king as he spouted powerless words, demanding that they remove the wall and surrender to be punished for their wilful disobedience. And Hoggle's heart throbbed with pain as he watched the son of his heart rant and rave. Yes the words sounded like Jareth, but they were wrong nonetheless they were too harsh, too cruel, to truly stem from Jareth's mind. Yet try as he might he could not spot any weaves of magic on Jareth, though that did not mean that they were not there. Turning to Didymus, Hoggle met the huge chivalrous creatures eye: "Do yer see any magic on him? anything at all?"

Sighing Didymus rubbed a tired hand over his eyes:" Aye,and nay, Verily he is as is his custom clothed in weaves of magic, in deed too many too count. It vexes mine eye, with their brilliance. "

"So those hate filled words are truly his?"

Nodding sadly Didymus gave a small bow:" Aye, I feareth thus."

Tears gathered in Hoggle's blue eye, trembling there for just a second before spilling down his furrowed cheeks:" I luved him like me own child, I raised him yer know. He was no bigger than a maegor kitten when they laid him in my arms, still bloody and all. He was... "

Hoggle's voice trailed off as he stared at the raging man below with a forlorn look in his eyes: Once I cut him off he will bleed out in naught but a few days, he will..."

Twin hands came to rest lightly on Hoggle's shoulders, offering silent support and understanding as Shiver and Didymus shared a look of sorrow over the dwarfs head. They too felt the keen edge of grief as they watched Jareth prepare to use his magic to rip into the wall

" Time has run out my lord."

" Aye": Hoggle agreed sadly: "It has. "

Holding up a gnarled hand Hoggle sighed and slashed down in a sharp cutting motion. Below him the goblin king clutched his chest in pain and smiled triumphantly as he fell to his knees...