"A/N: "Here we are! Back with another fun chapter. How have you all been liking it so far? Will Darious and Jareth return? Who knows?"
I glare at Elizabeth before she can put her hand up. She pouts. "We don't own the labyrinth nor any of its characters."
Chapter Fourteen: Rewarded Request!
Maya grinned as she and her new brother ran faster and faster. Soon they found themselves within the darkest part of the woods. She got off Fean and started to walk as he transformed behind her. His eyes nervously searching through the darkness that surrounded them. Maya felt a flood of fear to her left. She bolted toward it. There was a scream and she flung her ice toward the giant creature sliding to stop in front of the child cowering against a tree.
"You are one ugly ass creature!" She let out a series of grunts, growls, and a roar of fury, the spell working it's magic.
"Die!" It roared as it swung it's huge fist toward her. "GET THE CHILD OUT OF HERE!" She roared to the wolf before he too could attack the ugly thing. She watched out of the corner as he picked the child up and leapt to a high branch. She did a back hand spring before crouching low to the ground.
Maya waited before the creature to swing again before she rolled out of uglys reach, creating a bow of ice and firing two ice arrows she created. The arrows slid through its throat imbedding themselves deep into the tree behind the creature. Still kneeing she fired two more one embedding itself in the creatures eye and the other through the mouth. It fell with a heave blood pooling around it. Her brother jumped down with the child in his arms. He whistled in awe. She took the child into her arms.
Humming to calm her. "It's all right little one." The child's blue eyes widened in surprise. "Tis my language you speak!" Maya chuckled at the little girls surprise. "Where are you parents, little one? They must be worried." Maya watched as the child shifted her eyes down.
"My mama is sick and my father hurt his leg while in a tree. The branch broke. I was picking berries when the ogre attacked." She said. A breaking twig made Maya whirl around her hand flying out to catch the arrow that would have went straight threw her heart.
She tossed the child to Fean before stepping in front of them. "Come out and show your face!" Her hands glowing as ice spheres swirled around her. "Wait! Tis one of our people's arrows!" The child wiggled out of the werewolf's arms and put her hands outstretched in front of Maya.
"Stop! She saved me from the ogre! Please donna hurt her!" The child cried out. Two elves stepped into the clearing. Their black skin matching the child's. "Miah, you know better to go into the forest alone." The child bowed her head at the re-prime as she ran into one of the male's out stretched arms.
The dark elf swung her up into his arms as the other walked toward the where the ogre lay. His eyebrow's high as he looked at the ice arrows imbedded into the tree behind its body. The elf turned to Maya. "You did this?" At Maya's nod he bowed from the waist. "You have our thanks for saving one of our children. Our children are very precious to our clans. We are in your debt strangers."
Maya smiled as she replied bowing to the two. "It was fate that brings us together it seems. We are in need of your peoples help. I have come seeking your aid."
"Here is not the place to speak on such matters. You will come with us. We will take you to our elders."
Maya nodded as she translated what they said to Fean. He nodded changing back into his wolf for her and Maya climbed onto his back, they followed the elves deeper into the forest.
Raidon was deep in conversation with Sir Didymus when a messenger came running into the throne room. "Your Highness! It is amazing your highness! There are werewolves at our gates. They wish to speak to ether her ladyship or Sir Didymus!" At that message, Sir Didymus's eyes widened. Wolves had never strayed from their woods before. He nodded to the messenger and followed the goblin out to the gates. Raidon follow close behind. He gasped in shock at the sight of so many wolves at the gates.
"I am Sir Didymus. Who is the leader of this group?" Sir Didymus and Raidon watched as one wolf transformed into his human form. "That would be I. Our people have come on behalf of our female alpha Lady Maya. She said that you are in need of warriors. We have come to aide in our little sister's war."
"Sir Didymus stared at the male confused for a minute before it clicked. Come to think of it he hadn't seen lady Maya since the war council. He groaned. "She went to the dragons." Raidon's eyes widened as he looked at the knight. "Dragons... That makes no sense. The Syahinium Woods is not on the way to the dragon's mountain."
Keadum spoke up. "Our alpha is indeed going to meet the dragons. I know not the reason she is taking the route she is but I can assure that it is our alpha's destination. Will you accept our help."
"Sir Didymus held his hand out to clasp the wolf's. As the shook hands he said with a grin. "Gladly will we accept thy help. We will take you to our blacksmith so they can fit your people with armor."
"I will take them!" Raidon spoke up grinning at their new allies. Sir Didymus shook his head in awe. They would be a great asset, one that Canum would never see coming. Grinning he shook his head as he put two and two together. Lady Maya had unfrozen the generals to cause chaos so she could leave undetected.
Clever... Very clever indeed.
Maya was in awe at what she saw around her. The trees were huge and high above her were paths and houses built around the trees. "This is incredible!" She whispered. The elves in front of her chuckled. "We are proud of it. The trees are our friends. We have a deep connection with them just as we have a deep connection with shadows and night." Maya nodded in understanding as she translated the elves words to her friend.
"You will have to wait here while we report to our council leader. We shall return shortly." With that said they lept from branch to branch, higher and higher until they reached the landing. Maya nodded still taking in the sights around her. She saw quite a number of elves peaking over the sides of their pathways and swinging bridges. She watched as a tall silver-haired elf leapt from the path and swung down to where she stood.
"I understand I have you to thank for saving my granddaughter. What be your name?" He asked as he bowed his head. Maya smiled. "My name is Maya great elder." He nodded. "If I may, I would speak with you privately. My warriors tell me that there is something you have wish to discuss with myself." She turned to Fean translating what the elder had said before she turned back to the elder nodding. In the next breath Maya was swept off her feet and into the elder's arms as he leapt high into the air. She gritted her teeth and tightened her hold slightly.
It wasn't long before she was set gently back onto solid ground. "You can breathe now" The elder chuckled as she grinned sheepishly. "It t'was not that high elder. I am not used to being held. I am from the Aboveground and I fear that not everyone considers children as preciously as here in the Underground. Tis the first time since my mating that I have been held." She admitted her eyes down as she refused to meet his gaze knowing that there would be sympathy in there.
"Well you are here now, and you are right. Children are very precious to us. For your deed we will aide you in the war to come." He nodded to her as he chuckled again at her expression. "Despite our seclusion we have known for awhile that war was coming. The trees, earth, and wind speak to us. They have told us that you will need our help. We are prepared to aid the Underground in it's war. I have spoken to the woodland elves as well. They are ready and their warriors are already on making their way to the portals. Our warriors will join them soon."
Maya bowed her head in gratitude. "You have our thanks. If you could please have the troop leaders go to the Goblin City. Lady Sarah, my soon to be sister, is the one planning the defense. I will make my way to the dragons."
The elder nodded in understanding. He went to the wall and whispered something she didn't quite catch. There was a slight tremor and the tree shook slightly. "Tis done. The trees will relay the message. They will tell Lady Sarah that you sent them. Now Lady Maya, about the dragons... A word of warning... You are going to have to dig deeper than ever you have before. The challenge for dragon's might is going to take everything you have within you to complete. You are going to have to face your past and face yourself. Should you succeed you will be rewarded with their strength and something of legend. That is all I will tell you. It will be up to you to figure the rest out for yourself."
Maya nodded slowly. Confused and slightly scared by his warning. Her past was one that she had tried hard to forget. She shuddered at the thought before sighing in resignation. She would do what she had to.
They walked out of the elder's home and she leapt off the path and swung down herself like she had seen the elder do. Reaching the bottom she landed gracefully on her feet. Fean nuzzled her and she patted his head as she turned to face the elder. His eyes were sad. She looked down and bowed low. "Thank you for your aide. I have to go now but it was a pleasure to meet you."
The elder sighed as he walked up to Maya and gently lifted her head. "Maya the past is not something to be feared but to be learned from. There is a reason behind everything that has happened and everything that will happen. Your quest is an example. You have not set out to be a hero however your actions have been very heroic. There is much for you to still do and we will meet again. You will always be welcome here. In time you will see that I am right."
Maya nodded still not meeting the elder's eyes. If she did she feared she would cry. That was unacceptable and something that she had not done in a very long time. She bowed again when he released his hold before turning away. The winds picked up as she started to run. Her heart in her throat and she tried to out run it.
By her side Fean kept a close pace. He could sense that she needed to have some space. He didn't know what was said. However what ever it was, was enough to upset her. He figured that if she needed to run her emotions out he would let her. She would probably tell him in time what was the elder's decision.
Sarah awoke to the door opening and she turned to see her father and friends. Her eyebrows rose at the awed expressions upon their faces. She got off the bed and walked to where they were standing. "What is it?
Didymus looked at her with wide eyes. "There are Wood and Dark elves at our gate. The general's of them refuse to speak to anyone but you." She nodded changing her outfit with a wave of her hand. Now she wore a corset laced peasant shirt with a flowing black skirt that sparkled silver and knee-high black leather boots.
Raidon coughed looking at her for a minute. "Sweetheart I don't think that is the best attire for meeting these elves.
Sarah shook her head. "Formal is saved for balls and politeness. This is war. They need to see that I am at combat ready yet the skirt will appease their sense of femininity and their women's sense of style. They need to see that I will be fighting beside my people."
Raidon nodded after he thought about it and followed her out of the room. She winked out of sight simmering lights were all that was left to see.
Maya sighed as she started to slow. Looking at Fean stopped. "How far to the pixie's glen?" The wolf turned human. "About another click or so. Little sister, you really think we can get their help." She shook her head as she started to walk the way he directed. "All we can do is ask."
Sarah shimmered into view before the doors of her throne room. Taking in a deep breathe she exhaled before waving the doors open. She walked slowly and regally toward her throne. Stopping in front of it she turned to greet the elves in front of her with a waving bow, grateful to Diagus for teaching her the languages of the Underground. "I am Lady Sarah. Champion of the Labyrinth, betrothed to High-Prince Jareth, King of The Goblin City, Keeper of dreams and unwanted in the Aboveground. Soon to be bride and Mother to his children."
The elves gave the waving bow before four of them stepped forward. The first in line stood straight "Jaireh, First General to Woodland Elves under Lord Mailen and Lady Yukida. Here to assist you in the war, Lady Maya's Reward for saving one of our elven children by way of killing an ogre."
The female in the line bowed low as her blue eyes roamed over Sarah's attire with approve shining with in their depths.
"Aspias, Second General to Woodland Elves under Lord Mailen and Lady Yukida at their command. Here to assist you in the war, Lady Maya's reward For saving one of our elven children by way of killing an ogre."
"Doaquam, First General to the Dark Elves under our Elder Council's Rule, have come to add the Underground in it's war. Lady Maya's only request for saving one of our precious children and the head of our elder's own granddaughter by way of killing an ogre that plagued our forest. She was my own niece at that. She has our graduated and is honored by us."
"Baitise, Second General to the Dark Elves under Elder Council Command. Here at Queen Maya's request. Her reward for rescuing one of our children."
"You have my welcome and my thanks generals. We are honored to have your assistance. If you would care to follow me to the war chambers we can discuss matters further." Sarah turned toward the door and saw the generals following behind. She past her father smiling at the pride in his eyes. Her friend stepped in line behind the elves and They headed toward the war chambers.
Raidon shook his head before following quietly. He couldn't wait to meet this Maya.
"How's that for a chapter? I hope you liked it. Any questions?"
I look to my friend Michelle, sighing before shaking my head. "Duck tape again. She has been a good girl, there is no reason for her to be mummified again.
Elizabeth's eyes were pleading. Michelle grinned. "Sorry, after helping with your chapter I got bored. There now you have your very own musing mummy." I sweatdrop, as I inch away seeing the gleam in her eyes as it rakes over me.
"Please leave a review at the door! And with that I am out of here!
"Wait, I just wanted to have some more fun!" She calls as I run away. See I am smart!