A/N: I love all of the reviews! Thank you all so much! I feel I must warn everyone that this Fic is rated "M" for a reason. If you are squeamish, or have triggers for sexual situations or violence, you may not want to continue reading this story. I want all of my readers to have a good experience reading my story. It is not my intention to cause undue stress because of a work of fiction. This story takes place 10 years after the movie, so Sarah is a consenting adult. Who knows how old Jareth is, he really wouldn't say Let's all assume, for the sake of argument, that he is well over the age of consent. That being said, there are only a few more chapters to go, so I hope you all enjoy this latest.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of The Labyrinth, I make no money from it. Mac? He's mine, all mine.
Sir Didymus and Hoggle traveled the dark twisting corridors of the dungeons beneath the castle. The damp darkness only relieved by the small torch that Hoggle carried to lead the way. Spiders and other creatures they preferred not to think of scurried away beneath their feet, the rough stone walls feeling closer the farther in they went.
"I's don't know about this Didymus." Hoggle said roughly. "We don't knows what's down here. This could end up bein' more trouble than it's worth."
"Steady on there Hoggle," Didymus said cheerfully. "I know exactly who we are looking for, he should prove to be an invaluable ally." Hoggle turned to look at Didymus in surprise. "Provided he agrees, of course." Didymus finished quietly.
"Wouldn't the fact that he's down here, make him less than willing?" Hoggle asked sarcastically.
"Not so, not so, brother Hoggle!" The little fox chirped. "Just because one finds themselves on the wrong side of the law in one respect, doesn't mean he isn't still loyal to King and Kingdom."
"I wouldn't be so loyal if I got thrown into the dungeons." Hoggle grumbled.
"Ah! Here we are then." Didymus said brightly. "Go on then, Hoggle, open the door." He said, gesturing to the keys dangling at Hoggle's side.
"I really don't think this is a good idea, Didymus." Hoggle continued to grumble. "I don't think Jareth would like us releasing one of his prisoners."
"Oh, get on with it, man!" Didymus snarled, beginning to get impatient. "His sentence is almost up anyway, I'm sure he will be more than happy to serve the King in return for an early release."
"How long was his sentence?" Hoggle asked.
"Two hundred years." Didymus replied impatiently. "Now open the cell, Hoggle. We haven't a moment to lose. This creature will be invaluable to The Crown."
Hoggle hesitated a moment longer and looked over at Sir Didymus impatiently tapping his foot, the plume on his hat bobbing in mirrored agitation. "Creature?" Hoggle whispered as he unlocked the door, moving aside as Didymus rushed past him.
"Ah!" Didymus exclaimed. "There you are good fellow." Walking further into the cell, he called back to Hoggle, "Dim the lantern, brother. Charon dislikes bright light."
Hoggle dimmed the lantern and shuffled hesitantly into the cell, looking around, he couldn't make out anything at first, but as his eyes adjusted to the darkness he gasped at what he saw there.
"Didymus! No!" Hoggle exclaimed softly, "You can't, no way, Jareth will have both our hides hangin' above his fireplace!"
In the darkness of the cell a small creature with skin black as onyx stood smiling at Didymus and Hoggle with small razor teeth. His eyes shimmered liquid gold and over his skin, bright as daylight, tattoos in the same liquid gold shimmered in swirls, the patterns ancient ruins telling the story of its tribe and ancestry.
"Tis the only thing that can beat these shadow creatures. A demon that walks the night and shadows alongside them." Didymus said.
Charon regarded Didymus and Hoggle quietly, never blinking and standing unnaturally still, finally he spoke, his deep boom of a voice belying his small stature, "Sir Knight, to what do I owe this unexpected to visit? And where, might I ask, is your valiant, tasty, steed?"
Sir Didymus cleared his throat and paused for a moment, thinking possibly Hoggle had been right. However, he had always known Charon to be an admirable adversary.
"Yes, well," Didymus stammered, "I decided under the circumstances, perhaps it best to leave Ambrosias with Ludo." Didymus shivered at the wicked smile Charon gave him. Unless his eyes were deceiving him it seemed the little creatures teeth had become even sharper.
Hoggle grabbed Didymus roughly and drug him back toward the door, whispering sharply in his ear, "A Midnight Elf? Are you crazy? Has the stench from that damn bog finally addled your pea brain?"
"I'm sure, Brother Hoggle, I have no idea what you are talking about." Didymus said stiffly. "There is naught but sweet smelling grass and fragrant breezes outside my dwelling. Charon is over all a good being." Didymus insisted. "He just has an eccentric palette that sometimes is misunderstood."
Hoggle huffed and threw up his hands, "Bugger off with the both of you then, I'll wait outside," he grumbled. "Where it's relatively safe!"
Didymus turned back to Charon, "My good sir," he began, "King Jareth and Queen Sarah require your assistance. It is a dangerous mission and will require you to travel from this realm to the one above, are you willing to serve the Crown?" Didymus swallowed nervously as Charon continued to watch him silently, a small smirk on his face. It was impossible to tell what his thoughts might be.
"Sir Knight," Charon began, "It would be my honor to serve the Crown, on one condition."
"What is your condition Midnight Elf?" Didymus asked, hoping it was nothing he couldn't deliver.
"I wish to be returned to my Kingdom with a full pardon."
Didymus thought on what he said for a moment. Surely King Jareth would understand making this deal with the Midnight Elf. "Done." Didymus stated. At Charon's gleeful smile he added, "Provided you serve King Jareth and Queen Sarah until they are satisfied with your service." Charon's smile dimmed a little so Didymus added, "And they must return alive and in excellent health and condition."
"Done." Charon said, holding out his shackled hands for Didymus to release them.
"You will find them…" Didymus began, unlocking the shackles.
"I know where to find them." Charon interrupted. "You think I cannot smell Aldrics stink even here? His and those creatures that do his bidding?"
At Didymus' look of surprise, Charon chuckled darkly, saying, "There are some things, Sir Knight, that even the most depraved of creatures would not enter into a bargain with. Your King and Queen are in grave danger. I hold no love for the Goblin King that has kept me prisoner for two hundred years for such a minor offense, however, should he and his Queen fail, not only does The Goblin Kingdom fall, but the entire of the Underground."
Once Charon was free, he started quickly for the door, his golden eyes glowing and his tattoos seeming to move like liquid gold over his body.
"I sure hope you know what you're doin', Didymus." Hoggle grumbled as they started their return to the castle proper.
"So do I, Brother." Didymus murmured.
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Mac, Siobhan and their group of detectives rode down the elevator to the ground floor. Mac put his ear bud in a tapped it to activate it like Jareth had shown him, he signaled the others to do the same.
"Ground Control to Major Tom," Mac said, checking the link.
"How very amusing, Detective." Jareth's voice said in his ear. "I trust you are all well?"
"So far so good." Mac said, smiling. "Of course, we haven't gotten out of the elevator yet."
"Just remember, Detective, we set out a very large welcome mat when we activated the Fairy Ring. Be careful" Jareth said.
"You guys too." Mac stated. "I expect a month of R&R at your resort when this is all over. No getting blown to bits to renege on that."
"I wouldn't dream of it Detective." Jareth said dryly.
Mac turned to Siobhan and said, "We're a go." Turning to the other detectives he said, "All right guys, you heard the man. We need a four block perimeter. These things like the shadows, hate the light. You all have your gear?" At their nod, Mac turned to Siobhan and handed her one of the bags that Jareth had arranged to be in the elevator when they got in. "Know how to use these, Siobhan?"
"I believe so." She said, her voice calmer than she felt inside.
"Then let's dance." Mac said, opening the elevator doors and leading everyone out.
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Jareth turned to Sarah, saying grimly, "They are as prepared as they can be."
Sarah nodded, wondering if she was as prepared as she could be. She twisted her gloves in her hand, trying to feel along the link to the Labyrinth and getting concerned when she could feel it. She raised her brow at Jareth, sending her nervousness down her link with him, unwilling to put her uneasiness into words.
"Don't worry, my love," he said, sensing her mood loud and clear. "The Labyrinth will reconnect with us when the time is right." He put an arm around her and drew her close, resting his chin on top of her head.
Both of them turned, startled when they heard a loud crack behind them, arms still wrapped around each other. Sarah looked down to see a round, impossibly ugly goblin dressed in, what she could only assume, it considered armor. A silver colander on his head and his rotund little body squished between what looked like silver serving platters. Tufts of greenish, gray hair poked through the holes on the colander, making him look like some tiny, round, mad scientist.
"Kingy!" The little goblin exclaimed, then seeing Sarah, impossibly blushed as crimson as his little green body could, he exclaimed, "Queenie!"
"Grunt," Jareth said with mild exasperation, "What on earth are you doing here?"
"Ah," Grunt said, looking confused for a moment, then is little eyes lit up, "Sir Didymus send me!" He said happily.
When no more of an answer was forthcoming, Jareth sighed in annoyance and rolled his eyes, "Well?" He asked.
"Oh! Yes!" Grunt said, "Sir Didymus say, Kingy and Queenie has shadow help. He let Charon go." He said happily.
Jareth let out a low growl, teeth snapping he snarled, "I will have that foxes hide!"
"Whoa, wait," Sarah said, "Who is Charon?"
Jareth paced back and forth, a look of murderous rage on his face, "Charon," he spat, "Is a murdering, deceitful, Midnight Elf that I had locked in my dungeon for the rest of eternity."
"Oh!" Grunt popped up, "Sir Didymus say to remind you Charon sentence was 200 years and is up in 90. Charon pledge loyalty to Kingy and Queenie. He b-b-bound to help." With that, Grunt sat down with a proud smile on his face and promptly stuck his misshapen big toe in his mouth and started to rock and suck on it.
Sarah looked at Jareth, wondering what he would make of this, she offered, "Didymus probably thought he was doing the right thing. Grunt did say that this Charon creature had pledged his loyalty to us."
Jareth pinched the bridge of his nose, "Well," he sighed, "There's nothing for it now, I suppose. We'll just have to wait and see what comes of it."
"Jareth," Sarah said, with sudden alarm, "If Grunt can get above, what's to keep Aldric and his ilk from getting to the Underground?"
"What indeed?" Said a thick voice from behind them.
Sarah turned and screamed as Aldric stepped out of the shadows, a black crystal held in his hands. Jareth turned at Sarah's cry of alarm and started to put himself between Sarah and Aldric just as he threw the crystal at them.
"Jareth!" Sarah cried as the crystal came at him. Without thought, she reached out and caught the crystal in her bare hand.
"Sarah! No!" Jareth cried, but it was too late. Her bare hands had already touched the poisoned crystal.
Aldric laughed like a mad man as he watched Sarah become still as a statue, an expression of horror frozen on her face.
"What have you done to her?" Jareth snarled, wrapping his fingers around Aldrics throat.
"Tsk, Tsk, Goblin King. This is not the way to save your precious Queen." The last was choked out as Jareth's fingers tightened on his windpipe.
"What. Have. You. Done?" Jareth bit out.
Aldric grinned evilly, showing his sharp, feral teeth. "I've turned all her dreams in to nightmares."