Chapter Nine

The first rays of dawn had just broken out from the eastern horizon when Ravie found herself standing at the dirty threshold of her grey stone house. She couldn't believe that it had been less than a day since she stood here last, but a whole lifetime seemed to have passed between then and now. A whole lifetime within five hours.

Whatever am I going to do?

That's all she could wonder as she stood there, staring at the wooden door. After turning into a goblin, Ravie had let her feet carry her home. It may have been a much wiser choice to keep running into the Labyrinth, or to run away from it all together, but she didn't care. She wanted to see something familiar again. She wanted to go home.

Yet now she wished she hadn't. Because as Ravie stood there, staring at her door, it didn't seem familiar, it didn't feel like home. Nothing felt the same and now, more than ever, did Ravie feel completely and utterly changed.

Shaking her head and holding the tears that wanted to fall, Ravie took a deep breath and took hold of the doorknob, opening the door.

Her messy house was still dark, completely obliviously to the coming morning, but Ravie, living here her whole life, knew the house well enough in the dark as in the light. She knew that Mimion had left her spiked helmet to the right of the door and that her spear was lying on the table, that the broken mug shards were probably still scattered all around the sink from where Ravie had just shattered it just the previous morning, and that the broom that Mimion was suppose to clean the mess up with was most likely propped up on the counter right next to it.

Sighing, Ravie slowly navigate herself around the room. Her feet still slightly stung, echoing the pain she had felt when she had been human, and her poor dress had become dirty because of the fall, but Ravie didn't mind one bit as she flopped down on her bed.

Even though she was absolutely exhausted from running, she had very little hope for sleep that night. She didn't even close her eyes.

What am I going to do? She thought once again. Ravie wasn't a fool; she knew that there was still a chance that she could turn back into a human. In fact, Ravie was betting on it. The main question was when: that and the question of where and who would see.

I could tell Mimion, Fifo, and Copperpot about it. Ravie vaguely thought, but even as she thought it she knew that wouldn't work. All that would achieve was Mimion freaking out, Fifo suspecting that she had done something like read the Goblin King's magic books and Copperpot telling her to go straight to Marcus or the Goblin King. Marcs would then probably take her straight to the Goblin King, hoping to get her bogged, and going straight to the Goblin King would...would...

Blank.

Ravie couldn't come up with anything. Would he be surprised? Would he be suspicious? Would he be mad? Ravie honestly didn't know. Would he just push away the fact that she had turned into a fricking human and make sure it would never happen again by casting a spell on her or something; or would he become furious, assume that she had read one of his books, punish her, and then make sure that she would never become human again.

At least I would never have to go through anything like this ever again... Ravie thought, yet, she was still dissatisfied. Come on, Ravie, you know the Goblin King maybe not the best, but you know him fairly well. He does have a temper, but he can be fair. And you can always find proof that you never touched any of his magic books... The dust! Yes, the dust! There's layers of dust on all those books, it looks as if no one has touched those books in centuries...

Still, there was something about that plan that made her stomach tighten.

As Ravie laid away, her thoughts running directionless in her head, sunlight slipped through the cracks in the ceiling and the first beams of sunlight crept from the window. She did not become aware of the brightness, however, until the light crawled up along her face and into her eyes. Blinkingly drearily, Ravie then swung herself off the bed, frustrated at everything.

Not wanting to sit there with empty plans in her head, Ravie went about cleaning the house. The mindless labor ended up distracting her, entirely forgetting about her mood until Mimion suddenly called out:

"Good Mornin' Ravie!"

Ravie, who simply wanted to be left alone, simply gave a little grunt.

Mimion, oblivious to Ravie's bad mood, went on, "Where was yous last nighty? What time yous home gets? Jareth make yous late? Yous ain't think'in of Stinky Bog again, are yous? Yous know thats-"

"Mimion, shut up." Ravie snapped.

An uncomfortable silence swept through the room as Mimion looked at Ravie with wide eyes. Never had Ravie snapped at her. Ever. Ravie was always in a good light joking mood, that's what made her Ravie.

Clearing her throat, Mimion timidly asked, "So's, where was yous?"

"Working." Ravie grumbling, repressing the urge to not answer.

"Whens yous back gets?"

"You were asleep."

"Reallys?"

" Yeah. You must have gone to bed early."

"Yeps, I must of..." Mimion faltered.

Silence once again flooded the room, so thick that both Goblins were certain that they would drown in it.

Ravie open her mouth to tell Mimion that she was leaving but Mimion cut her off with, "Yous had bad dream, did no yous?"

Due to lack of sleep and stress, Ravie's blood boiled at the statement. Clenching her fist together, Ravie snapped, "Of course not! Now mind your own business!"

Mimion's face could not have looked more in pain even if Ravie had struck her. Ravie instantly felt bad for her outburst and, taking a deep breath to calm herself down, said quietly:

"I'm sorry Mimion, I'm just... tired. It was a long, really long day yesterday. I shouldn't have snapped."

Nodding her head, Mimion looked at her with timid brown eyes that made Ravie almost die with shame. She turned to leave but suddenly, Mimion grabbed the edge of her dress and shouted, "Color Tag!"

Ravie gave her a funny look but Mimion further explained, "Color Tag! Yous no play in long long time! Play with us! Soons! Make yous feels better! Us misses yous!"

At the pleading sad tone of her squeaky voice and the look of earnest caring in Mimion's doe eyes, for the first time that morning Ravie felt back at home.

Giving her a swift hug, Ravie told her, "Yes. I will. I promise."

And then Ravie was out the door, leaving her friend looking after her with a watery smile.

Ravie walked quickly out into main street, eerily quiet and still in the young light. There she halted, looking out at the tall towering wall at one end then at the twisting turrets of the Goblin Castle at the other. Every inch of her willed her to leave, run the other way, but, by a force she did not know where it came from, Ravie began her way to the Castle.

She did not wish to think about that room, to think about him, so she thought about Mimion. She always knew what to say to make her feel better and Color Tag, their game, would be something familiar. But she could tell them what had happen?

If you just tell the Goblin KingΒΈ a voice in her head said, then they'll never have to find out. You'll never have to worry about turning back into human again and poof! It'll be as if nothing ever happen.

But if that's the best thing to do... Ravie wondered in agony, then why does my heart twist in pain at the thought?

"RAVIE!"

Ravie jumped about a foot as her name rung through the still air. Turning around, she saw Jojen run at her, sheer panic on his face.

"Tell me you did them!" He panted when he reached her. By the confused expression on Ravie's face, Jojen took a large breath and rattled, "The documents! Marcus went in to grab them sometime late last night and they weren't done! Apparently he couldn't find you either! He seemed absolutely livid! Worse off, he kept going on about how Kingy would- Hey!"

Ravie at that point had raced off. The documents! Damn it! She cursed as she ran through the large castle doors and down the corridors. She had completely forgot about them! Jareth was going to have her head! Not unless-, She thought hopefully, I can finish them before he even had the chance to get to them!

She threw all the energy she had left into a sprint and arrived at the Study shaking and panting. She quickly threw open the door, quickly processing all she had to do, and then froze with terror. She hadn't expected him to be here, not this early: he usually appeared an hour or two after she showed up. But there he was with his elbows propped up on the desk reading one of the unfinished documents.

A shiver ran down her spine as his voice, as smooth and cold as ice, said, "You know, up until now I have been extremely generous with you. Today, however, I have found that my generosity seems to have run dry. So" he growled, lowering the paper and looking at her with an angry glare, "What is your excuse this time? Better make it clever."

Ravie, however, could only stand there, gapping at him like a fish. Jareth then stood up and, in three easy steps, placed himself in front of the desk, his arms crossed as he leaned against it.

His glare had somehow turned even colder as he snarled, "I'm waiting. And you ought to know by now that I hate waiting."

Tell Him!

Her mind hissed as she continued to blink up at him in terror. Tell him truth! It's the best choice!

But it doesn't feel right!

Why! What's wrong with it!

Because... Because...

"Because I don't want to."

Ravie hadn't known at first that she had said that out loud. Both become so lost with their shock that neither could react. Jareth was so surprised because he couldn't believe that she had been so bold and Ravie was so surprised because she had had a realization.

She realized now why she was so hesitant. She now completely understood why her stomach twisted and why her heart went so heavy at the thought of telling him the truth.

Because, in all honesty, she wanted to be human again.

She dreadfully longed to be human again.

She stood there, grasping for air. It was unbelievable, it didn't make sense, it would mess up everything, complicate everything, yet a warmth spread through her like how a lit candle chases away shadows.

She actually felt happy.

While she wrestled with her emotions, Jareth could only eye her critically. He had never realized it before, but she was so small. In fact, she was extremely tiny; but she had always seemed so large before. Not wide large, or even tall large, simply compatible: never like this tiny little creature standing before him. This tiny little goblin.

Oh, Jareth thought, putting his face into his right hand. My mistake.

"Never mind." Jareth's voice suddenly cut through the silence, pulling Ravie with a jolt from her mind, "I understand .You just couldn't focus. Very well, I'll remember to make certain... accommodation because of your situation."

"Situation, sire?"

"Yes, as in being a goblin. But now you must be all, erm, 'giggled' out, so hurry up and finish the rest. Now."

Those words snubbed out the warm glow.

Ravie tried choking out words, anything to stop the injustice in his words, anything to make that distant look go off his face. She wanted that smirk back, but no words seemed capable.

So she didn't say anything. Just nodded her head and scampered to her spot on his desk.

The Goblin King himself didn't move: he simply stood there for a few moments when, with a sudden jolt, he hurried out of the room, making Ravie feel the horrible weight that secrets carry.

For she was certain that their friendship- because now she could see it had definitely been one- could never be; she was certain that her friendships with Mimion, Fifo and Copperpot would never be the same; and she was certain that she would never truly be a goblin again.

Just wanted to give a heads up, it'll probably be a while before I get the next chapter up. I'm aiming for October, but expect it to be more like November.

Thanks for reading! ~mpenguin