III
Jenny's arrival in the Underground was marked with massive celebrations as Goblins, dwarfs, wished aways and every other sort of creature took to the streets of the Goblin City for a glimpse of the girl that would one day rule their realm. "How are you feeling Jenny?" Jareth looked over to his wide-eyed daughter. "A little overwhelmed, honestly I never expected it would be like this," she did not turn to meet his gaze. "Was it like this for my mom too? All these people?" Jenny asked as the streets rolled past. "No." He answered coldly. "You and my mom must have fought prettily bad if you both can't talk about each other without the angry stares," she mused as she turned toward Jareth. "I wouldn't say we fought. Your mother and I just never saw eye to eye on the things that mattered most." He responded cryptically before lapsing back into silence. "She says the exact same thing, you know." Jenny added quietly before returning to her silent observation of the Goblin City.
When they finally arrived at the castle, Jareth ordered Jenny's belongings to be taken to her chambers then led his daughter to the castle's main hall where Dorian and Tess sat awaiting her arrival. "Dorian, my daughter Jenny." Jareth announced as his dark haired nephew bowed before them, "Jenny, my nephew Dorian". "Very nice to meet you," Jenny managed as she shook his hand. "Likewise," he returned the gesture before moving aside. "And this," Jareth motioned for Tess to step forward, "is Tess Warwick. She's to be your new lady's maid when you stay here". The girl curtsied before Jenny, who bowed her head sheepishly. "Nice to meet you Tess," Jenny nodded toward the girl before looking back to Jareth. "Tess will show you to your room and you can use this to let your mother know you've arrived." Jareth handed her a small crystal, much like the one she kept in the drawer of her nightstand. "Thanks," she smiled and tucked the crystal in her pocket. "Tess, have her ready for dinner within the hour," Jareth commanded before leading Dorian off toward the library. "If you'll follow me, miss." Tess whispered, starting off toward the castle's grand staircase.
The pair travelled in silence up the grand staircase and through the winding halls. "Excuse me, Tess, but do you know or have you heard anything about my mother?" Jenny finally broke the silence between them as they rounded a corner that led into another corridor. "She came before I was wished away but I've heard the stories. We all have. It's a favorite passed down from Goblins and Fae alike. My parents told it to me when I was little but I've heard it often." Tess paused before a weathered wooden door. "This is your room, miss." She pushed it open and ushered Jenny inside. "Could you tell me the story?" Jenny pressed as Tess began to unpack her clothes and hang them in the large wardrobe. "It's quite a long story, miss." Tess explained as she grabbed an armful of clothes from the trunk and began to hang them with the rest of Jenny's things in the wardrobe. Jenny moved to the window and sat on the large stone sill. "I don't mind. Actually, I've heard so many conflicting stories from my mom, my uncle and Jareth that I don't even know what's true," Jenny sighed laying her cheek against the cool glass. "I guess I could tell you," Tess paused her unpacking and pulled a chair from near the large fireplace and sat next to Jenny.
"Many years ago our King received a summons to take away a baby from the Aboveground. When he arrived to collect the child he found the baby's sister who pleaded with him to ignore the summons and give the child back. But this child had been wished away during the dark time. A time when the King allowed darkness to consume the land which was much neglected. But the King also felt a connection the girl and allowed her to run his labyrinth. If she could defeat him, her brother would be returned. Many of the subjects of the realm were afraid of what would happen to the girl if she failed so they used their own powers to help her. However, the farther the girl got in the labyrinth the more infatuated the King became and in the end he offered a choice, to marry him and become Queen of the realm or return home with her brother. Of course you know she picked her brother and was returned to her realm. Once the girl was gone, the King vanished also and our land laid in ruins for many years. It was not until the girl's return that the King began to pull our nation from the dark times. When he learned of you, our land was renewed and made glorious once more. The labyrinth has not existed since the Renaissance but we all wonder when the girl will return and claim her throne." Tess turned to Jenny who stared thoughtfully out the window at the land below. "Thanks for telling me," Jenny finally turned to face Tess. "I can't imagine how hard it must be to find yourself heir to a kingdom you didn't even know existed." Tess added patting Jenny on the arm.
"Did you say you were wished away?" Jenny pressed as Tess stood to finish unpacking the suitcases. "Yes, miss. The Goblin King took me away from an abusive mother and brought me here. I was adopted by the Warwicks and they have treated as one of their own." Tess closed the wardrobe and pushed the suitcase under the bed. "Would you say Jareth is a good man?" Jenny asked as Tess made her way to the door. "Aye, a very good man indeed. Your father is a kind ruler and the fairest in the realm." She smiled at Jenny and added, I'll be back to fetch you for dinner," and with that she was gone.
"Well I just heard from Jenny. She's made it safe and sound," Sarah announced as she entered the bedroom she shared with Richard. "Good, I'm glad. Now you can relax." He chuckled as he adjusted his glasses. "Ha! She's my only child and the farthest she's ever been from home alone was my parent's house. I'm still going to worry." Sarah sighed as she crawled into bed next to Richard. "I'd hate to see how nervous you get when she goes to college." He teased as he pulled a worn copy of Madame Bovary off the nightstand and began to read. "Then it's decided. She can go to the community college in town!" Sarah shot back and straightened the photo of Jenny she kept on her nightstand. "Oh Sarah, whatever am I going to do with you," Richard leaned over and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. "You're stuck with me, for better or worse." She smiled as she turned off the lamp and pulled the blanket up to her neck. "Good night, Sarah." He sighed as he turned the page of the book. "Night," she murmured sleepily from underneath the blankets.
Jareth and Dorian sat at the massive table in the dining hall as they waited for Jenny to arrive. "So her mother was the girl who beat your silly maze?" Dorian remarked, taking a long swig of the wine in his glass. "Labyrinth and yes." Jareth snapped as he looked to the large clock sitting on top of the mantle. "Maybe she got lost," Dorian smirked as Jareth shot from his chair and began to pace. "If I wanted snide remarks I would have invited your mother to dinner," Jareth hissed as he shot Dorian a dark look. "Hi, sorry I'm late." Jenny hurried through the door and took the empty place next to Dorian. "So nice of you to finally join us," Dorian's snide smile earned him another harsh look from Jareth, who took the chair next to Jenny. "Since you're Jareth's nephew I guess that makes you my cousin," Jenny smiled to Dorian as the first course was served. "I believe it does, indeed." Dorian nodded as he took another drink of wine. "How is your room, Jenny?" Jareth asked as she looked to him. "It's great! Much bigger than my room at home!" She exclaimed taking a bite of the strange looking neutral colored lumps on her plate. "I'm glad to hear it," Jareth replied watching her curiously. "Tess and I are already getting to know each other. She's told me some local folk stories and how she came to live here." Jenny revealed as Dorian regarded her with a humored gaze. "And what folkloric tales did she dazzle you with Jenny?" Dorian pressed. Jareth dropped his fork and it clattered to the table. Jenny cleared her throat and turned to Dorian. "I asked her to tell me the story of how my mom beat the labyrinth, it's so interesting how every time I hear the story it seems to change but I think I understand the gist of it." Sarah explained. "Please, enlighten me," Dorian drawled. "There's not much to tell and I'm sure you've already heard the story seeing as you live here with Jareth and all." Jenny mused as Dorian leaned back in his chair. "Well it has been a most interesting evening, uncle. But I'm afraid I must retire. Good night Jenny, uncle." Dorian pushed away from the table and bowed slightly before making his exit.
"He's a character," Jenny remarked once Dorian was safely out of earshot. "You should meet his mother," Jareth chuckled. "Sometimes I wish I had a sibling, I mean Uncle Toby has always been like a brother to me but he only comes to stay on weekends and school holidays." She pushed the strange food around on her plate as she waited for Jareth's reply. "Your mother never mentioned wanting more children?" He asked, setting down his silverware. "No. She always says I was a handful enough," Jenny laughed, dabbing her lips with her napkin. "Your mother never talked about here time here, did she?" Jareth pressed. "Not really. After she came to get me all those years ago, she stopped telling stories. When I would ask she would tell me that my memories were just dreams. So eventually, I just stopped asking but I kept the crystal. I never told her about it but it was my proof that what I remembered was real." She shrugged and pushed her plate away. "What about, Richard, is it? When did your mother meet him?" Jareth watched as she rolled her eyes. "Is this an interrogation or something?" Jenny quipped. "Sorry, I don't mean to pry." Jareth cast his gaze downward. "But you do. But that's okay. Mom and Richard met right after my dad died. Richard had worked with him. They've been together about five years now. He makes her happy and treats her well. He's also kind of unofficially adopted me so I can't complain," she watched as Jareth's eyes darkened as he pushed away from the table. "Right. Well, I'll show you back to your room," he pulled back her chair and led her from the room and into the hall.
"Good night, Jenny." He shuffled awkwardly near the door. "Night Jareth," she smiled sweetly before going inside and closing the door. He turned swiftly and marched to his throne room where Hoggle sat polishing his belt of gold chains. "Do you think I was too harsh on her? Was it wrong to try and convince her to come back?" Jareth snapped as he fell back into his throne. "You was cruel, Jareth. Ain't nothin' you can do to take that back now." Hoggle chastised as he continued to polish his chains. "So you think she would have stayed if I had treated her more fairly?" He snapped. "Aye. Sarah's a good girl. Find mother too. She'd 'ave be a fine Queen if you hadn't gone and made her hate this place," Hoggle tsked as he hobbled toward the door. "Once again I am to blame," Jareth sighed. "Now you're understandin' yer majesty. Perhaps you won' make the same mistakes with Miss Jenny. Sure would be a shame if Dorian was left to be King o' the Goblins," Hoggle chortled as he continued away.
She was standing in a dimly lit corridor. Shouts echoed off the cold stone walls. "Nothing! Nothing tra la la!" an eerily familiar voice snapped. She moved forward along the corridor wall, hoping to find the voice. "And you Sarah, how are you enjoying my labyrinth?" came the voice once more. There was a brief silence before another softer voice responded which was met with a menacing growl. Finally she reached the end of the corridor and could see her mother standing proudly across from Jareth. "But that's not fair!" her mother cried out as the Goblin King hastily subtracted three hours from the clock. "You say that so often, I wonder what your basis for comparison is." He snapped as he stepped past her. She could feel it, the hatred and sadness. Her mother's hatred and her father's sadness. "Mom wait!" She cried out but her cries fell on deaf ears. The scene continued, uninterrupted, and her mother's screams were the last sounds she heard before the floor opened beneath her feet and she was swallowed up by the darkness.
"Morning, miss." Tess yanked open the heavy curtains in Jenny's chamber letting the bright morning light filter into the room. "Morning," Jenny grumbled as she pulled up the sheets to cover her eyes. "Your father asked if you would like for him to show you around the grounds." Tess moved from the window to the wardrobe and laid out Jenny's outfit for the day. "Tell him I want to sleep," Jenny yawned and burrowed herself deeper beneath the sheets. Tess let out a soft laugh before tossing back the heavy blanket and sheets to give Jenny a gentle push. "You can't spend all day in bed, miss." Tess gave her another light shove before retreating toward the door. "I'll be back in half an hour to show you to the garden." And with that she was gone. Jenny sat up and rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the fog of her dream. Slowly she swung her legs over the side of the bed and touched her feet to the cold stone floor. She padded softly to the chair where Tess had laid out her clothes. She pulled the faded shirt over her head and shimmied into her favorite pair of jeans. She then moved to the small tray of tea and scones that Tess had left on the desk near the window.
As she sipped her tea and nibbled at her scone she watched as a magnificent sunrise basked the Goblin Kingdom in a bright glowing warmth. The land was rich and emerald and the plots of thousands of tiny farms and villages could be seen from her perch. Tiny tendrils of wispy grey smoke floated up from tiny chimneys as the kingdom awoke. "Are you ready to go, miss?" Tess asked as she stepped into the room once more. "Yes," Jenny stood and wiped the crumbs from her shirt and turned to follow Tess into the hall. "How was your first night?" Tess asked politely as they moved through the endless maze of corridors. "Okay, I guess. It'll take some getting used to." Jenny offered a half smile as the pair made their way downstairs.
They made the rest of the journey in silence. Tess led Jenny through the main hall and past the dining room. Through the formal parlor and small sitting room before pushing open a pair of French doors that led out to a small green. "The garden is just over there, miss." Tess pointed to a high stone wall in the distance. "Thanks," Jenny started off as Tess vanished back into the castle.
As she neared the iron gate, covered in a thick blanket of ivy, she spotted Jareth lounging lazily against the tall stone wall. "Morning Jenny," he smiled as she approached. "Morning," she returned with a brief wave. He moved to the gate and gave it a gentle push and it creaked open. "My garden," he beamed as they stepped inside. In the center was a large statue of an owl, wings outstretched, readying itself for flight. Along the walls grew beautiful white buds in full bloom. The light danced through the greenery and cast fantastic shadows on the pebbled ground. "My mom would love this place," Jenny moved along the walls breathing in the sweet fragrance. "Your mother enjoys gardening?" He raised an eyebrow. "She loves it! When my dad died she and I started a vegetable garden and when she started seeing Richard he helped us plant flowers. Now it's kind of our family thing." Jenny moved to the center of the garden and touched the cool marble wing of the owl. "Do you remember when you came here when you were a child?" Jareth asked quietly, moving to stand behind her. "Mom always told me I dreamed it, but I remember bits and pieces. Feelings, mostly. Fear, loathing, sadness. Mostly sadness. I remember everything was sad." Her brows furrowed as she tried to recall more. "I see," Jareth reached out as if to comfort her but dropped his hand back to his side.
"I thought you controlled a labyrinth?" Jenny moved away to investigate another section of the garden. "I do," he replied, not moving from his spot by the statue. "Then where is it? I thought it would be a massive thing that stuck out like a sore thumb," she mused turning back to face him. "Your mother destroyed it, twice." He ground out. "How?" Jenny pressed. "She defeated it, twice. The labyrinth still exists but has concealed itself while it rebuilds. I assume if your mother was ever to return here it would reemerge more powerful than before." He crossed his arms and watched as Jenny moved toward him.
"In the book it said my mom was given 'certain powers'. What did it mean?" She stopped before him and kicked a stray pebble. "It is very complicated, Jenny. Your mother defeated the labyrinth and with her victory she took over partial control of it. That also means she is the rightful co-regent of my kingdom. Her powers are very similar, if not the same, as mine. However, she never received proper training and it is very unlikely that her skills have ever developed." He moved swiftly away toward the gate. "That is why it is imperative that you receive the proper training to master your skills as you are likely to be more powerful than your mother and I." He gave her a final look before motioning that she should follow him from the garden. "I will train you and Dorian together. We will begin tomorrow, until then feel free to explore the castle and grounds. If you wish to venture into the city make sure to bring Tess or Dorian with you. I will see you for dinner," He gave a graceful bow and hurried away toward the castle, leaving Jenny standing alone on the lawn.