They returned to the Leaky Cauldron, tired but excited. They had purchased a large number of books on numerous subject - including one on Zarri the Greek school of Magic. Peter was reading it aloud to Lucy when there was a knock at the door. Lucy leapt to her feet and opened it.
"Hello Tom - oh is that from Madam Malkin?" He nodded and handed the package to her- it looked far too small. "Did she say how to open it?" He nodded.
"Jest tap it with yer wand an' say enlarge."
"Thank you."
"Welcome Lady."
"Goodnight."
"Night." He stood in the doorway, she smiled but when he didn't leave she shut the door gently and leaned against it looking disconcerted and annoyed. Peter laughed and she glared.
"I'm sorry Lu, but he's got a crush on you that is incredibly obvious. And your face." Edmund joined Peter in laughing then she giggled.
"He is rather obvious." She frowned at the package in her hands and tapped it with her finger. "Enlarge." The tiny bundle expanded and she dropped it as it suddenly gained a lot of weight. Untying the string the paper fell away and she opened the box. A few minutes of sorting and she sent her brothers of to their rooms to change – they were due to dinner soon.
In matching outfits of black green and cream they returned to Gringotts and were escorted to a room with a doorframe standing in the center of the room.
[State your identity and destination.] the goblin stationed beside the doorway instructed, quill at the ready. Peter stepped forward.
"Peter the Magnificent, High King of Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands, Knight of the order of the Lion. Ragnok Gripshok." He disappeared and Edmund motioned to Lucy to precede him.
"Lucy the Valiant Queen of Narnia, Lioness. Ragnok Gripshok." She disappeared. On the other end she accepted Peter's arm and they stepped forward as Edmund came through. They nodded to Gripshok and received a bow in return.
[Ligria has dinner prepared – Shall we?]
[Of course.] Peter motioned for the goblin to lead the way.
[Where exactly are we?] Lucy asked. [We're not on earth – we've been through to many transitions like that to know that.] their goblin friend chuckled.
[Well spotted. We are Underground or Underhill – whichever you prefer. It is a separate dimension – I don't know the exact history.]
[Hm, I would be interested to know more about this travel between dimensions.] The goblin looked back at Edmund.
[You may have the chance. His Excellency, King Jareth has requested your presence in the morn.] Peter nodded thoughtfully and Lucy knew that he had heard the hint of desperation in Gripshok's voice – they should not refuse.
[What is the time difference between here an dour earth?] he asked instead of answering.
[It is more unstable than that of Narnia and you earth. However, his majesty and the others of his race are skilled at syncing time and space between dimensions. You will be gone for dinner.] Peter nodded slowly, an eyebrow raised.
[We shall certainly accept your Liege Lord's invitation.] Gripshok bowed, slightly lower than usual.
[Of course, I will inform him.] Shortly they arrived at a familiar door and entered Gripshok's home. Ligria greeted them warmly.
[I am so glad you have come, welcome to our home.]
After supping, Lucy stepped out into the garden and looked about – it was more interesting, now that she knew she was on another world. She smiled when a fox, dressed in red and a sword, rode up on an English sheepdog.
[Greetings Good knight. Whither art thou going?] He tuned and fell from his steed.
"Ambrosias!" he reprimanded the dog who an to Lucy who pet his head. The knight gave a courtly bow. "My Lady," she raised an eyebrow at that. "I am come thither to speak with Gripshok at the behest of mine Lord." She laughed brightly.
"Then though hast come rightly sir knight. What is thine name?"
"Alas, I have forgotten mine manners." Bowed low. "I beg you forgiveness Lady, mine name is Didymus, Sir Didymus at your service." She smiled.
"Rise, noble knight. May I venture to guess at the purpose of thine errand?" He righted himself.
"Of course My Lady, your wish is my command."
"Thou hast cometh at the behest of thine Lord and King, Jareth to learn the answer of the Royalty of Narnia regarding his most Gracious offer of hospitality." The fox gasped.
"Thou hast guessed rightly, Lady. How didst thou come to know this?" She laughed and stood.
"Return to your Lord with Our answer. We, the royalty of Narnia do accept the most gracious offer of hospitality from our Royal kinsman, Jareth and shall await escort at his leisure once our fast is broken." The Fox Gasped and fell on his face.
"Your Majesty!" She shook her head.
"Rise Knight and report to your Lord."
Jareth waited, his gaze caressing the maze sprawled beyond the small city – his labyrinth. The mismatched gaze ran over the city and returned to his masterpiece. Guests, it had been many centuries since he had had guests here - Wishaways did not count. They were royalty from another world and clients of the goblin bank. He sighed kicking one of the smaller goblins off his leg. The majority of his subjects lacked the most basic of intelligence, however the minority ran a highly successful inter-dimensional bank. He didn't do much with the bank, instead he dealt with wishaways and fae politics. He did not like politics, luckily he rarely had to deal with them here – the fae court considered the goblin kingdom to be practically worthless, despite the fact that every one of them used his bank. He shook his head. Politics demanded that he meet the visiting monarchs, but these monarchs were visiting one of his goblins, an unheard of occurrence. Didymus had returned with their answer to his invitation, well worded if Didymus recited it properly. He had sent an escort just after the sun rose. He rolled the crystal in his hand the center of the clear bubble swirled as he concentrated on it. The swirl blossomed into an image. The knarled face of the goblin escort, then the bright burnished auburn of the girl's hair as she smiled at the goblin laughing. She glanced over her shoulder and he caught a glimpse of the two behind. This was the first glimpse he had gotten of his guests – he had been unable to fix a crystal to any of them, this crystal was focused on their escort. A slight frown creased the blond monarch's brow, then with a flick of his wrist the crystal disappeared and he rose from his seat in the window. He would great his guests in person, after all it had been a long time since he had had anything so interesting in his land.
The castle door opened with a wave of his hand right before the Narninian Monarchs. The girl gave a graceful curtsy – easily the match of any of the faerie court and the men bowed. Jareth returned with a slight bow with a smirk on his face.
"Welcome to the Labyrinth. I am Jareth the Goblin King." The elder king nodded.
"We are pleased to meet you, goblin king. I am Peter, Kigh king of Narnia and with me are my royal siblings King Edmund and Queen Lucy." Jareth allowed his mismatched eyes to drift over the three before ushering them within.
"Please, be at home." He led them down the main hall toward his throne room. "And what of your sister – Susan, I believe?" As experienced as he was at reading human emotions he could see their sadness, but also hope at the mention of their sister.
"She is abroad in our home world with our parents and is not yet enlightened by the true knowledge of the worlds." Jareth met the young girl's eyes and saw that she spoke from the heart. "I am certain she will wish to visit your lovely kingdom in the future." Jareth gave a crooked grin – the girl wasn't lying, that wasn't something she did, that he could tell.
"I look forward to meeting her." He motioned for them to go through the archway into his throne room. Coming up behind he tossed a crystal to the floor beside his throne. "This is my throne room, have a seat." The crystal had shattered conjuring three identical seats.
"How wonderful!" Lucy exclaimed sitting in one he grinned at her enthusiasm. The kings marveled at the thrones as well.
"By Jove, I'd like to learn to do that!" exclaimed Edmund.
"That could possibly be arranged. Would you care to see your kingdom?" All three stared at him.
"You can do that?" Peter asked. Jareth nodded lazily tossing a crystal into the pit before the thrones.
"Of course." The crystal exploded midair becoming a large crystal on a pedestal. "I cannot take you there – He wouldn't like that, but I can certainly show it to you." Jareth watched them closely. Peter nodded slowly.
"You are most gracious King Jareth. We would be glad to see the home of our hearts." Jareth waved his hand at the crystal and it swirled and blossomed into the image of Narnia.
"Thank you King Jareth," Lucy said wiping away a tear when the image faded.
"It is my pleasure." He replied evenly. "And you may call me Jareth, we are equals after all." Lucy nodded meeting his mismatched eyes, she seemed to read something there because she smiled softly.
"Of course Jareth, my friend." He fixed his gaze on her, but Lucy the Valiant did not lie. "And you must call me Lucy. We are all friends here." She raised an eyebrow, daring him to contradict that statement. He did not, though he was silent for a moment – it had been many centuries since he had had a friend. He met her brothers' eyes.
"Yes," Peter spoke, "I would that we had met sooner, but it is Aslan's will that we meet you know." Jareth nodded seriously.
"Indeed, it is His will that our meeting was postponed until this day, that I could assist in relieving your sorrows" he paused, "My friends." They smiled and Jareth felt much lighter than he had in a long time.