Chapter: For the Labyrinth
Pain cold and cutting lanced through him, as he felt the flow of power from the Labyrinth be ripped from the fabric of his soul.
And he smiled.
This was what he had hoped, Hoggle would do, what he needed him to do. Grasping hold of the last fleeting vestiges of the Labyrinths power, Jareth thrust it into the weave holding him. It was nowhere near enough to shatter even those fragile strands, but it was enough for him to push through them for just a few seconds, just long enough for him to smile up at Hoggle as his legs buckled and sent him to his knees in the thick snow.
Pushing through the pain, Jareth inclined his head, showing his respect as he pressed a violently trembling hand over his racing heart. It was a last salute, and prayer, a message to Hoggle that he had done the right thing.
Beinhill's anguished scream was loud and shrill as she tried to break through the iron grip of the two orcs holding her back, but they were quickly silenced by Llagain's mail clad backhand
" Oh hush, you have had your fun with him, but now he has outlived his purpose": Gliding gracefully through the assembled orc's Titania stopped behind the kneeling Jareth.
Running her fingers lovingly through Jareth's thick flowing hair, she sighed in mock sorrow:" Oh poor child, how you have fallen, but pray where is you precious human strumpet now hmmm?"
He didn't look at her, his eyes continued to bore into Hoggle's, as if he was trying stare at the dwarf's very soul, and truth be told that might very well be his intent, Jareth wasn't truly certain, all he knew was that he needed that sad love he saw in Hoggle's eyes to be strong enough to embrace his fate.
" Safe": He whispered as Titania's slender fingers wove through his hair, gripping it painfully and yanking his head back barring the long smooth column of his neck to the icy caress of the wind:" Safe from you. ... and your evil..."
" Oh my sweet child, you truly are naive if you think thus, no close the gates she might, but I doubt that she would let you die... The little queen will return, she simply won't be able to resist being the hero again...But": The grip tightened painfully, drawing his head even further back, forcing him to arch into her: "But it will be too late, and you will perish in her arms...Oh what tragedy"
Light flashed coldly in the brightly polished dagger, as it slashed down through the soft leather of Jareth's Jacket, through the pale cream shirt, and deep into his flesh. Blood flowed instantly from the cut, washing his skin with warmth, but that only lasted a few seconds then the blood cooled into a burning sheet of ice.
Two more cuts followed in quick succession, yet Jareth barely noticed the pain, his eyes locked with those of Hoggle.
" My Queen this is most unseemly, stand aside and allow me to finally expunge this blemish upon thy honour..": The elemental voice of Oberon, rolled easily over the howl of the wind.
" No tarry awhile my lord the bastard may have some value yet.."
Turning Titania beamed up at her towering husband, before she took a theatrical step back, and turned to the wall:" Did you hear that Hoggle? And so I ask you does he still hold value? If he is truly the son of your heart as you have so vehemently claimed him to be, then order that atrocious yeti to remove this petty obstacle, and open the gates to us."
Holding his head high, Hoggle stared down at his son, at Jareth and goddess he wanted to scream: yes, and rip down the walls. But he could not, he could not sacrifice all for one soul, not even Jareth, not while hope still lingered.
" Aye he still has value, and were it my life alone I would nay hesitate. But it's not, and I can nay sacrifice all for him. Forgive me young pup, but..."
A proud smile spread on Jareth's face as he met Hoggle's eyes once more, and nodded, mouthing:" I know... do it."
" Oh yes most touching, My lord Oberon please put an end to this tragic farce, But a slow end..."
Cool gloved fingers grabbed a hold of his jaw wrenching his mouth open, to allow Oberon to pour a foul black metallic fluid down his throat nearly drowning him. Coughing he fought for air, as Oberon's grip only tightened putting additional pressure on his chest.
And then came the burning.
It felt like red-hot coal had been crammed into his stomach, and then doused in oil, the pain so intense that it completely and utterly paralysed him. He wanted to scream, but the air would not fill his lungs fast enough and his mind could not recall how to make his body breathe.
" Does it hurt you insignificant little runt? Hmm do you want to crawl to your precious father."
Falling forward Jareth barely realized that the cruel grip on his hair had been released, all Jareth felt in that moment was pain and heat greater than any he had ever felt before spreading through him, from the ball of liquid metal in his centre.
Liquid metal... Iron.
It took more willpower than he had ever imagined he possessed to look up at Titania, but he did it: "Iron..."
Nodding she knelt gracefully beside him, giving him a bright cheerful smile: "Well it is the most proper way to ensure your death. They say there is no cure, but..."
Holding up a small silver bottle, Titania smile sweetly:" I know that they are wrong, now call out to Hoggle plead with him, beg him to surrender, and I will let you live."
" No..."
" No? hmmm Maybe this does not hurt as much as it could, My lord If you would..."
Glancing up at Oberon, Titania smiled widely as the king drew his wickedly curved blade and stabbed it deep into Jareth's left shoulder, embedding it to the hilt.
" And now?": Came Titania's sugary words.
It hurt, it burned and it throbbed, and Jareth could not withhold an agonised howl as the blade was twisted sharply, ripping his flesh open. Gasping Jareth fell forward, barely managing to catch himself before the dagger slammed into the ground. Too weak to stay up, Jareth let himself slide slowly to the ground as the world blurred and wavered around him.
" Let go" whispered the little voice in his mind, "let go" and the pain will go away... But he couldn't, it was not a conscious thought that told him why, no it was a fierce need that screamed through him and told him, that he had to hold on, cling to each precious moment, and fight to see her again... Sarah...
Pain flared as a heavy boot impacted with Jareth's heaving side, but far from recoiling from it, Jareth grabbed onto the shattering agony of a freshly broken rib, this he knew. The world melted away, as caustic metal was forced from his mouth staining the already fouled snow an even deeper black. The metal burned his throat and lips but that didn't matter, all that mattered was that he could not stop fighting even as all faded into grey mist and his mind fled into dream again.
. . .
" Nooo... LEAVE HIM BE YER BASTARDS!... Just leave him be...He's already. ...Gone." : Sinking to his knees, Hoggle stared down at the broken body, in utter abject desolation. Images of Jareth as a babe filled his mind, the first smile, and how Jareth's tiny pale fingers had clung to a single one of Hoggle's thick digits whenever Titania would scream at him for simply being a child. And how Jareth had grinned with pride as he had brought home his first kill, when his night goblin father Niall had taken him hunting in the night realm...All those happy times now flowed through Hoggle's mind, as he watched Jareth convulse in death throws below.
Tears fell now harsh and heavy, as he knelt in the snow, turning the world around him into an obscure blur. Oh how Hoggle wished that he could have at least have held Jareth's hand, and given him that much as he suffered. It was almost beyond what Hoggle could bear, and he knew that Titania would be counting on it.
" Oh poor little babe does it hurt? Look Hoggle how he suffers and all because you will not stand aside and obey your king as is your place! Now he has to suffer alone in the snow, and you call yourself his father ... such love..."
" Nay my lady it is precisely for the love that we bear him, that we cannot in any conscience allow thy vile villainous plan to come to fruition... Pain us as it does, I say to thee, verily we are the last that stands between thee and the nightmare realm of thy rule. Nay I say better dead than at thy mercy! King Jareth lord of the Labyrinth and master of this our underground, we salute thee and will forever honour thy sacrifice. FOR THE LABYRINTH. Doth thou hear us Jareth, we do this for the glory of the Labyrinth, and for thou..."
Didymus voice crackled as he spoke, but the words still carried the strength of his conviction to the warriors manning the wall, filling their hearts with determination and fire. Their king might be dying before their very eyes, but he was dying for them, and in turn they would fight and die for his honour. They were the warriors of the Labyrinth and they would not flee in terror before the onslaught of night.
. . .
Darkness had never held any terror for Shiver, though darkness combined with being just over thirty feet over the ground, at the full mercy of the mounting wind, was proving to be more than just a little trying. But he was Shiver the captain of the bloodthorns and commander of what had in the last four hours become Hoggle's army, and he would be dammed to an eternity face first in the stinking bowels of the bog if he would let the men see the terror that threatened to unman him. And so he walked tall and proud along the parapet, instilling courage in the goblins, gnomes and monsters there. They were all dying, each and everyone of them could feel the slow but constant pull of their world bleeding out around them. Kneeling beside an old looking gnome, Shiver smiled reassuringly, as he spoke words of confidence that he didn't feel himself. Even as his own thoughts fell on the fate that would soon befall them all.
The weak ones would die first, the infants and the children yet to learn how to harness their magic, and then the sickly and the old, whose minds had lost the strength to fight the stealthy drain. It would be a week, maybe a week and a half before the first ones died, but it would happen, and they all knew so...
Rising with a final word of courage, Shiver finally found himself facing Sir Didymus once more:" Is he still refusing to move? "
Stepping aside Didymus nodded as he gestured towards the slumped over figure a few yards further on:" Aye most vehemently so, he had doth sworn that he willst not move until our king is past all suffering."
Nodding sadly, Shiver swallowed past the frigid lump of sorrow in his chest and looked out through the darkness at the nearly snow-covered but still faintly convulsing figure, illuminated by bright fairy light:" Well Hoggle did see Jareth's first breaths, it only makes sense that he would want to see the last... But he looks so broken and alone.."
" That he does: Didymus agreed: both of them... "
" I wish that... Gaia... "
She was nothing but a faintly glowing shadow standing beside the slumped dwarf, but she was still so beautiful, tall and strong yet round and fertile. Her smooth ebony skin glistening like obsidian in the ever moving starlight.
She just stood there silent gazing down at the glowing scar that Jareth had carved in the flesh of the Labyrinth, with a look of infinite sorrow on her motherly features.
" Such wanton destruction, such deep felt hatred... enough to break a mother's heart": Her voice rolled around them like waves and wind, yet no one but Shiver or Didymus seemed to hear her:" How I long to break free of the chains that binds my hands and gently cradle that which has been shattered. But it is an ancient power that stays me... Oh my sons."
Holding out her arms she beckoned them come and let her embrace them. Casting hesitant glances at each other they moved slowly, closing the short distance, and letting, the nubile arms enclose them in a sweet embrace.
" Your struggles fill me with such pain, and yet I am near powerless to aide you."
" Aide us? Most honoured mother of what do you speak? "
Releasing the two warriors, the goddess stepped back and held out a shimmering crystal with hundreds of colours swirling inside in smooth hypnotic patterns: "All is not lost, these underground realms may yet be saved if those who are born to do so have the courage, to not just die. ... but to live on."
Shaking his head in confusion Shiver asked:" But how? and who, surely you cannot mean..."
"Surely I can... Time flows my brave warriors, like water through fingers, unite them this final time, let not Jareth's soul flee from this world..."
" Mine Lady art thou asking us to bring our king to the lady Sarah? But the gates are closed and..."
Smiling softly the goddess pressed the swirling crystal into Shivers hand, closing his long calloused fingers around it.
" You will know what to do..."
And then she was gone, no flash of light or swirl of magic, just gone.
Turning to face Shiver, Didymus ears twitched as he whispered:" What are we going to do? "
" I do not know, but we must do it now, our king is fading and with him Hoggle's will to live..."
Slipping the swirling crystal into one of his belt pouches, Shiver nodded to Didymus with a look of far more determination than he truly felt:" Come my brother time is fast hastening from our grasp."
. . . . .
It was not until he was standing at the last step of the stair, that Shiver realized that he had just walked down it without any fear. Well maybe it was the thought of his realms imminent death that had purged him of fear, but he couldn't help but feel his stride grow lighter with the pride of it.
The walk to the stables was a short one, as Ludo had thought to keep the mounts close to the side of the fortification that barred the way to the oncoming horde.
Entering the large compound, the pair was surrounded by both bloodthorns and Llwynog all desperate to hear the answer to why Hoggle would condemn their world to death. An answer that neither knight could give.
Holding up a hand Shiver quickly stopped the milling warriors, knights and squires:" What I am about to ask of you is far beyond what I have the right to ask you, I do so regardless."
Gesturing towards the orcs hidden behind the wall Shiver pushed on certain that he had their entire attention: "Out there lies a man that we have trusted to rule us for neigh on four thousand years, he has been hard true, but fair, and no war has marred his rule, no war but this! And yet because of his weakness we are dying, our families are dying, and we seem helpless to stop this."
Pulling the crystal from his belt pouch Shiver held it up letting it roll over his hand in a gesture that forcefully reminded everyone of Jareth:" The Great earth mother has given us this, I know not what good it may do us or how to use it, yet I know one thing it needs to be brought to our king while he still draws breath. And so this is what I ask of you, ride with me one last time, to recover Jareth in a vain hope that, that might save us all..."
Silence...
And for a short disheartening second all Shiver could hear was the thump of his own heart.
And his heart fell.
They would not come, he could feel it in the way they hesitated, and he could not blame them, how could he. Jareth had betrayed them and condemned them to die in the most horrid way...
"FOR THE LABYRINTH!"
The cry rung out shattering the fear laden silence as the warriors fell to one knee pressing their clenched fists to their hearts...
Blinking away the tears that instantly burned behind his eyes, Shiver shared a meaningful glance with Didymus. This was more than they could have ever hoped for, and they had to utilize this gift to its fullest.
Pulling himself up proudly, Shiver cleared his throat and bellowed: "Well then we have work to be done! Snap to it I want every mount saddled and ready within the next fifteen minutes, and prepare the draft animals as well, we are bringing them too.."
Turning to the towering figure beside him, Shiver sighed: " We need Ludo to make us an opening "
"I shall see it done lord Captain.."
"Thank you my friend..."
. . .
The icy wind had picked up turning into a ferocious gale, that howled through the wide scar through the Labyrinth. Pulling the shadow tightly around him, Didymus smiled at the amazed look in Shiver and the other Goblins faces.
" I had heard of your skill with the shadow weave, but I had never imagined the strength of it ": Running a mailed hand across the fabric of Didymus armour, Shiver grinned:" I can't even feel you, How is this possible? Can you see me?"
"Most assuredly, I see you as bright as day and...": Resting a heavy hand on Shivers shoulder Didymus smiled:" I may also touch you."
The look of amazement turned into one of confusion:" But ...how "
"Truly I could not say, I only know that this is the way of it. Now step closer.."
The air in front of Shiver seemed to part like a cloak, as Didymus hands appeared and pulled the stunned goblin through the opening. Turning Shiver pressed back against the massive Llwynog and stared at his stunned men.
" Can you truly not see me? "
The reply was a smattering of words and head shakes that all confirmed the assumption.
" Okay so can you all do this? Can you all hide someone? Or is it just you sir?"
It felt strange to feel, Didymus voice as it rolled out of the wide chest:" Nay not all of us can master this most tiring feat but enough have.. We shall most assuredly execute this most excellent plan."
Nodding though none could see it Shiver said:" Pair up... Time grows short and we must move with haste."
. . . . .
The plan was simple, Ludo would open a hole in the wall just thirty yards south of Jareth, which they would chase the by now terrified draft draegor and horses out off, hoping to cause enough of a distraction for Shiver, Didymus and a few of the Bloodthorns to slip from this second hole directly in front of Jareth, and whisk him away with a minimum of danger. Those who followed the two commanders would be wrapped in the shadows of the Llwynog magic, rendering them invisible, until they reached the orc warriors who were guarding Jareth. Then Shiver and the bloodthorns would slip from the shadows and hopefully dispatch them quickly, as Didymus and the Llwynog whisked Jareth away into safety while the squires of both races rained flaming arrows down from the wall offering just enough protection for the bloodthorns to retreat swiftly once Jareth was safe...
Well that was the plan but as all great plans, it of course went awry. It had been perfect right up until the crazed animals had appeared out of nothing. The some twenty orcs had not charged as hoped but had instead regrouped in a tight formation around Jareth forcing the attackers to mount and charge at them as the camp behind them were roused by the screams of those who were trampled...
The beast before Shiver reared up, ripping his lance from him as it crashed down crushing its shrieking rider. Pandemonium reigned everywhere around him as he wheeled his draegor around, narrowly avoiding a fist sized projectile launched from one of those a cursed gnome guns straight at his head. Gripping the reins in a white knuckled hand Shiver let out a venomous string of profanity, that actually managed to make his stoic mount flinch. The resistance had been far fiercer than expected, considering that the person that they were trying to rescue was dying. But then what in this thrice dammed night made sense...
Releasing his reins, Shiver made a smooth grasping motion plucking a bright green crystal from the air. And hurling it back towards the bloody orcs with the launcher, he didn't bother to watch as the blast of magic incinerated them and ignited the remaining crates of missiles.
The hot breath of fire momentarily melted the falling snow, turning it into a fine mist of needle like ice as it refroze. But none of the struggling warriors paid it any heed, the weather was after all of little concern when an orc was trying to run his blade through your back.
Throwing his arm up, Shiver groaned as the orcs heavy axe impacted with his bracer, as he thrust his slender curved blade through the narrow eye slit of the orcs helmet. Wrenching his blade free in a shower of gore and blood, Shiver turned just in time to avoid having his leg severed at mid thigh. Fast though he was, he did not avoid having his leg opened by the furiously attacking orc. Ignoring the burning pain, Shiver kicked his draegor hard causing it to rear up and slash out with its razor like front claws, tearing through the orcs breastplate like butter, spilling it's steaming insides on the ground.
Howls of pain and screams of anger grew to a ghoulish symphony as the battle raged to a fever pitch. It was a play, a well rehearsed epic depicting the pinnacle of a warriors life. And it was glorious.
Driving his draegor forward through the tight fray, Shiver growled low and dark, close he was so close. Jareth was just behind the line of orcs in front of him, barring his way with their spears and interlocking shields. But he was Shiver captain of the bloodthorns and commander of the armies of the Labyrinth. And he would not be stopped...
Thrusting his sword to the sky, he cried:" For the Labyrinth ": As he led his warriors in a headlong charge towards the wavering line.
Heavy scaled bodies crashed into smaller but heavily muscled ones, crushing them against the frozen soil and grinding them into the snow like rotten fruit undercarriage wheels.
His sword rose and fell of their own accord as Shiver pushed relentlessly forward stalwart in his objective.
" There my lord To thy right."
Didymus voice whipped Shiver's attention to his right just in time to witness two orcs attempt to haul a weakly struggling Jareth to his feet. Cold determination filled him, he would succeed or fall trying. The sword in Shivers left hand burst like a bubble as a bright green crystal flickered to life in its place. Letting his magic fill it he charged it with enough strength to clear the path between himself and the orcs struggling with Jareth, Shiver let out a deep breath and hurled it into the knot of orcs blocking him as he called: "To me men to me!"
The flash was blinding and powerful enough to send the fully armoured orcs flying. Gripping his reins in fingers that felt numb, from the vast expenditure of power, Shiver drove his mount forward, only vaguely aware that Didymus had drawn even with him, and was now protecting his left side. This was it the only chance they had. If they failed in getting to Jareth now, he would be dead come morning and with him any hope they might have ever had of saving their world.
Kicking his heels into his draegor's sides, they leapt over the desperately scrambling orcs. Wheeling around Shiver barred their way as he levelled his blade at the frontrunners unprotected throat.
" Release my king and I may prove lenient!"
Orcs were and had always been notorious cowards in Shivers eyes, and these proved no different. The words had barely left Shivers lips before the quivering pair, had released their grip on Jareth and hurled themselves to the ground begging and grovelling for mercy.
It was not fair, but then what really was? The sight of Jareth slumped on the blood stained cobblestone, struggling to pull himself up as Didymus reached down and grabbed a hold of his arm. The knowledge that Jareth was suffering the most unimaginable agony, was what compelled Shiver to release his hold on his draegor's reins, allowing it to close its massive jaws around one of the snivelling creatures heads, crushing it like a overly ripe berry, as Shiver slashed down severing the other grovelling orcs neck in a corresponding spray of pewter blood.
Turning from the still twitching corpses, Shiver froze as his eyes fell on Didymus, struggling to hold the violently convulsing Jareth, firmly atop Ambrosius' wide back.
Blood red and pitch black froth covered the lower half of Jareth's face as he shook and trashed in the throws of a full body seizure.
Time was almost up.
Shivers hand moved at its own accord as it vanished down into the pouch. Gripping the warm crystal, his lips forming words he would never have thought to speak.
" dduwies fam mawr arwain ni yn ddiogel drwy eich gorchudd"(#).
The din of battle stopped abruptly, as the darkness burst with swirling ashy colours, and pale golden light. Nausea and dizziness forced low groans from their lips as the spinning colours stilled and solidified into tall unfamiliar trees, bathed in the dying golden light of a late autumn sunset.
(# ) great mother goddess lead us safely through your veil