Sorry for the slight delay, been a busy summer! Thanks for the helpful tips. I've attempted to improve some of my sentencing and am looking for a beta reader. I might bug my husband into doing it! Too the story!
Chapter 5: Lover's Maze
The portal deposited them outside the castle gate just outside the Goblin City on a small lifted pavilion. This mirror was much smaller than the Natural Hall mirror. Boarded by a living tree bark, its smooth reflexive surface outlined by the ruff brown dark, leafs providing shade on the dais they stood upon. Stepping down from the dais hey started toward the direction of the castle. While they walked Delerae talked.
"Hundreds and hundreds of years ago there was much war between the kingdoms. Including the Goblin Kingdom. This was way before the Labyrinth, mind you. The goblin kingdom was led by another Goblin King, his queen, and heirs. He was a strategic genius and held the Goblin Kingdom firmly. A few years had passed seemingly peaceful so the King decided his son to marry." Delerae explained while they walked.
"It was a joyful occasion and all in the kingdom celebrated." Delerae paused looking off into the distance at something Sarah couldn't see before continuing.
"Upon their wedding night the bride murdered her husband. After which she searched out the king and murdered him while he slept. She was moving to kill the youngest son when the queen stumbled upon the act. Fortunately the queen was able to save the young prince, but killed the women during the struggle. She later found out that her eldest son and husband had been murdered.-"
"That's horrible!" Sarah interjected.
"Indeed." Delerae returned, "The queen was obviously heart broken. She had seen no malice in the young women, as she and her son had been courting for years. The prince loved the women and during a time for arrange marriages for power and politics, this was a rare match."
"This isn't the kind of story I thought I would find in the Underground." said Sarah.
Delerae replied, "The Underground isn't all happily ever after's and fancies come true."
"I guess so. But what does this have to do with me?"
"What the queen did next. That's where you are concerned."
They had reached the gate to the inner castle as Delerae continued, "You see the queen made a pledge. She vowed something like this would never happen again. She was determined to protect her son. So she built the Labyrinth. As it goes she spent every moment obsessed with the construction of the Labyrinth, building, infusing it with magic, making it more and more elaborate. It grew and grew, not only in size, but power as well."
"Why?" she asked shifting her luggage to her other shoulder.
"To guard her son and any potential heirs to the goblin throne. You see the Labyrinth became a test. Any young lass whom wished to marry the king had to conquer the Labyrinth. As you well know the Labyrinth challenges you, tests you, helps you grow, and to discover truths about yourself you had not known to exist. If you lost the Labyrinth then you were unfit to marry the king, but if you conquered it you became the next Queen of the Goblins and Keeper of the Labyrinth. Mother knows best."
"Then why did the Labyrinth take Toby? I had no desire to marry the Goblin King."
"Yes, well, for a long time the Labyrinth was known as the Lovers Maze. At one point only would-be queens ran it, but after a bit the Labyrinth allowed young couples to prove their love through it. The couple would enter at different points and if they found each other in the Labyrinth then their love was destined. If not, then…"
"This story is taking way to long. How am I involved?"
"Patience my Lady. The point is the Labyrinth can evolve to fit the runner and the guardian. It can see into the runner's heart and change itself to fit the need. As of late the Labyrinth has become….erratic. The king before Jareth had not a wife and since King Jareth has taken the throne a bride has yet to conquer it. Now the Labyrinth has been known to take the wished away and wishers to run."
"Like Toby and me!"
"Aye, like Toby and you, but not quit. Normally the Labyrinth doesn't just snag up those above and have them run. It has changed and we can't tell if for the better." Delerea trailed off at that moment.
Sarah could see they were close to the castle enternace. She was still confused why she was here. Looking back down at the green haired creature she asked, "Again, I don't see much connection to myself beside me wishing Toby away, then running the Labyrinth, and rescuing him. Why am I here now?"
"The trouble is that the Labyrinth didn't take your brother because he was a wished away. The Goblin King took your brother."
"Um, yes. I made the wish. It took Toby and then I had to run to get him back."
"Not quit, dear. The Labyrinth took YOU not your brother. The Goblin King attempted to cover it up creating the illusion the Labyrinth grabbed a wisher and wished away, but in truth you were the target. With his majesty's magic and flare, he created the illusion you ran for Toby"
"Why? Why me and why do that?"
"I don't know. We can't interpret the will of the Labyrinth without a Guardian and no one can interpret the Goblin King. My guess is he doesn't want to share power so he covered your abduction up. We are all left puzzled. Except for the fact that you, a human, conquered the Labyrinth, which by right makes you the Guardian and Goblin Queen."
Sarah stopped walking, "Whao! What a minute?! Me Goblin Queen!"
"Indeed, my Lady. This is of which the council spoke of, you taking the responsibly of Guardianship of the Labyrinth and shared goblin throne."
"Oh." Sarah stopped and stared at the castle before her. It towered over the goblin city like a giant looking at a mouse. She would help rule this place? She knew nothing about how to be a monarch nor what to do with the Labyrinth. Doubt started to creep up on her. 'What if I fail? Who would be hurt?' she looked behind her at the Goblin City and beyond that the Labyrinth. 'Them, that's who will be hurt'
"Don't worry Lady Sarah you will study hard and learn what you need to be a great ruler." Delerae said after noticing the expression of worry on Sarah's face.
Sarah turned back to Delerae, "Will I?"
"If your heart is in it, then yes." Delerae and Sarah resumed their walk to the castle gates, "Besides you already have allies, you saw to that the last time you were here."
Sarah now stood outside the main castle entrance in awe. She had forgotten how large this place was. So focused was she on her task last time, she never had a chance to just admire any of it. Now here she was about to learn all she could about how to rule it, maybe.
"It is beautiful, is it not?" Delerea said looking at the castle in her own awe.
"I forgot how much."
Delerea turned and looked up at Sarah, "Now Lady Sarah, you must do all you can to learn and to progress. This is important."
Sarah could hear the finality in Delerae's voice, "You aren't coming?"
Delerae gave the castle a wishful look, "No. I must return to the cottage."
"What?! But I feel like this is kinda your fault, Delerae!"
Delerae smiled, "This is not my fault. The Labyrinth brought you here. Do your best and at least try."
Sarah knew it was unfair to blame Delerae and she knew it wasn't her fault, but she felt a connection to this creature and was hurt she was leaving. Sarah didn't want to face Jareth without someone by her side. A sudden thought of her friends from her childhood pop into her head and she wondered if they were around.
"I'm sorry Delerae, I'm just confused and hesitant to face Jareth. He seemed pissed." Sarah confessed.
"Don't worry about Jareth. He runs red when he is hot, but cools when his temper subsides."
Sarah gave a small smile of knowing, "The trouble is I've only seen him red."
"All will be well Sarah. If you ever need me just reach out."
"How?"
"You will know. Now go, you don't want to keep him waiting." Delerea gave Sarah a small hugged and turned to leave toward the direction they had come. "Bye Sarah. Be good."
Sarah looked back up at the castle and signed, "Ok. I'll try. Bye-" Sarah turned to say bye to Delerae once more, but she was already gone.
Thanks again for reading! I'm so very excited about those who are enjoying. I've started another story! I am really taking my time on it between this one. I'll be putting it up upon completion, but this one I will continue to update!
