Chapter 3: The Rianadayr

UPDATED

Original Author Notes: I really hope you guys enjoy this one, and sorry it took a while to post. This chapter was really difficult to write, because there was just so much I wanted to include. Please review and comment.

The doorbell rang in his ear as he got up from his computer chair. He immediately assumed it was Sarah and walked toward the door, " I'll be there in a moment." As he opened he door he was surprised to see a dark cloaked man instead of his wife. Confused he questioned the man, " Who are you?"

The man responded with a sly grin " My name is of little importance." He stepped past Darrin and entered the apartment. "You, my poor human, are just in my way" he stood in the middle of the room taken by the humble surroundings, "You call this a house? You humans truly are dirty creatures."

Darrin's puzzled look was plastered to his face, "Huh? Get out of my apartment you freak," he said as he stepped toward the strange man.

"I have no intention of leaving just yet, I need you to do something for me before I leave," he said now towering over Darrin.

"Like I would help anyone that just insulted me. Now get out before I call the police," Darrin replied as he moved to shove the unwanted guest toward the door.

"I just need you to die," before Darrin can respond the man flicked his wrist and without any contact a large gash appeared across Darrin's throat. The wound traveled from ear to ear. Darrin clasps his throat to, in vain, prevent the blood from pouring. He gasped for air, but all that escaped was a bloody gargle. The dark man then glanced about, as if searching, "Now if only that blasted child didn't run off. You wouldn't know where she would be going now would you?"

The only response he received was another gasp from Darrin as he collapsed to the floor. "Typical," the man scoffed. He noticed by a backpack on the floor the stuffed owl he saw the girl with earlier. His smirk transformed into a frown as he approached the toy. As he ripped off the head of the owl he mocked, "Jareth, you truly have these creatures under your control." With that the man dropped the toy in the father's pool of blood, and walked further into the apartment to wait for the child's return.

Rain began to fall as Sarah made her way to the apartment. Sarah approached the door and rang the bell. A cruel smirk emerged on the man's face. "Well it's not the female I was expecting, but she will do nicely," he thought. He stepped back out of view, and he reached out, with his magic, to unlock the door.

Sarah stood there waiting, but no answer came. She began to worry, but was relieved when she heard the door unlock; still no answer came from inside. Her impatience got the best her and Sarah cracked open the door to peer inside. The room was dark and silent. All that could be heard was the rain hitting the glass of the windows. "Darrin, you home?" Sarah took a step inside, "I'm here to pick up Elsie. You're door was unlocked so I - " Sarah halted in her steps at the horrid sight before her. There was Darrin, dead, lying in his own pool of blood. Sarah rushed toward Darrin's side uncaring that the blood ruined her clothes. She knelt in the crimson liquid and cried over Darrin's limp body. Sarah placed her head on his still chest with her tears flowing. Sarah, through her misty tear filled vision, caught a glimpse of white amongst all the blood. It was a white owl feather. Did Jareth do this? No it couldn't be him, could it? It can't be. It was just some crazy dream that Sarah had told herself everyday for seventeen years wasn't real. Next to the feather was Elsie's stuff toy, her owl. Its head was ripped clean off. The blood soiled the white of the owl. Sarah lifted the toy, disregarding that the blood dripped over her pale blue skirt, and cradled it to her chest. Sarah oblivious of the ominous shadow behind her whispered, "Elsie I'm so sorry."

The somber scene was interrupted by the velvet voice of the man, "Yes, poor little Elsie."

Sarah turned, in shock, to face the man, "Who are you? What did you do? Why are you here?" Sarah stood in defiance to the man, taking the owl with her.

"Me? I did nothing my lady. I am only guilty of arriving too late." The man bowed, "My name is Rivian, and I am sorry I could not arrive sooner to warn you of the coming of your familiar tyrant."

"My familiar tyrant?" Sarah asks took a step back clenching the owl tighter in her arms.

"Oh my poor Sarah please do not tell me you have forgotten the cruel man who stole your darling baby brother so many years ago?" Rivian moved in to comfort the women and placed his arm around her.

"No it couldn't be him, not Jareth he was just some crazy thing I dreamt up," her head bowed in contemplation.

"No he is very real. Everything you experienced did happen. Sarah, it was not just some nightmare. He is the cause of all this destruction; he is the same tormenter that you thought you dreamt up all the years ago," Rivian embraced Sarah fully, as she cried into his blouse. "But have no fear Sarah for I wish to help you. You will not be alone. We can take him down together," he said with a sneer on his face.

"How can you help me? What can you do?" she sobbed, as she held him tighter.

"It is not what I can do Sarah but how I can help you," he said as he looked into her hazel eyes. "I cannot bring you to your little Elsie, but I can help you get her back," he said truthfully.

"What do you mean? You say you can help me, but you can't take me there? Aren't you the same as him? Can't you just bring her back?" she countered desperately.

"Jareth and me are both Fea yes, but he banished me here, and took away most of my power when he stole my throne from me," Rivian replied with fire building behind his words.

Skeptically, Sarah gazed into his piercing eyes, "You are the true Goblin King?"

Rivian annoyed with the questions quickly responded, "Yes, well I should be. He gained control of my Labyrinth many years ago, and has been twisting and perverting it ever since. I will regain my power if I return. If you are able to bring us both Underground I will use all of my power to help you destroy him and save your daughter. Do you want my help or not?" he finished with an annoyed tone.

Sarah timidly shook her head yes.

Rivian was clearly relieved by her meek gesture, "Good, now don't worry Sarah I can walk you though how to send us back," He answered softy. Rivian then began to stroke her hair as if she were his pet.

"What do you mean, you can teach me? I am no Fea," she said looking up at him.

Irritation quickly returned to Rivian's face, "No you're no Fea, but you have conquered the Labyrinth, and it rewarded you with some of its power."

"How do I get to Elsie?" she firmly stated

"Think about the gate into the Labyrinth, and wish yourself there," he said

"That's it?" Sarah could not believe it was that simple.

Rivian chuckled, "Yes it is just that easy."

Sarah closed her eyes and began to envision the nightmare she tried to so desperately forget. She lost all sense of her surroundings as she clung to Rivian. She was completely unaware of the figure coming toward the doorstep.

Elsie had returned, for she forgot her jacket, and did not wish to get anymore drenched than she already was. She slowly opened the door, not wanting to catch her father's attention. To her surprise she witnessed her mother being embraced by a tall man. Shocked, she walked further into the room, but a bright light that encompassed the whole room stopped her. She covered her eyes to shield them from the blinding beam, and when her eyes reopened her mother and the man were gone.

"Mom?" Elsie took a step further into the room. Her knees gave way, and she crumbled to the floor as her sight fell upon her father's limp body. The carpet was stained with his crimson blood. Elsie began to sob. Something began to glow in the corner of her eye; it was her toy owl. She walked, as warm tears fell down her face, and picked up to inspect the headless, bloodstained owl. She heard something fall on the floor. Elsie glanced down to see a crystal ball roll away under the couch. She reached and gently grabbed the orb. It was cold, but shimmered with every imaginable color. She looked at it questionably, only Elsie's reflection shown in the crystal globe. Slowly an image began to emerge. Before the image became recognizable Elsie had vanished, and the ball crashed to the floor shattering into a million pieces.

~*~Underground in the castle gardens~*~

Arnves and Jareth were still in the castle gardens. The sun had begun to set as it cast an enchanting golden radiance to the scene. They were atop a grassy knoll overlooking their surroundings. Arnves laid strenched across Jareth's relaxed form. She was using his waistcoat as a blanket. Jareth's linen shirt hung carelessly off his shoulder. Arnves was content to be in his presence while he appeared to be unaffected by her company. His gaze was fixed upon nothing in particular. Arnves began to trace designs with her slight fingers upon Jareth's exposed chest. She spoke while still entranced by her fingers movement, "This is nice. Don't you think?" No response came. Trying to regain Jareth's attention she rolled atop him and began to nibble along his neck trailing up to his ear, she whispered, "How about we begin to release some of this tension?"

Clearly displeased Jareth gentle shoved her aside, "Please, stop you have promised yourself to Tanír."

Arnves sat up defeated, "Oh Tanír cares little of what I do."

"But he is your husband," Jareth fired back as he began to rise.

"This childish belief of marital commitment is something you picked up from those silly humans." She pulled him back down to her level. "You are a Fae my dear, not human. So stop acting like one," Arnves teasingly pushed him.

Jareth quickly reacted, "I can act however I chose to act."

"You're life must be so dull. I enjoy variety," Arnves pouted as she began to tug at some surrounding grass.

"The notion of faithfulness comforts me." Jareth replied still ignoring Arnves' actions.

Arnves retrieved a longer piece of weed and attempted to tickle his slim nose, "But there are many things in this world that can and wish to give you comfort," she said softly.

Jareth disregarded Arnves' act and returned his gaze toward the sky.

"Oh look my dear we have company," Arnves spoke casually.

Jareth looked over the grassy field, and was surprised as he recognized the figure to be Sarah, but something was off. Her face was still, her eyes held no emotion, but tears continuously flowed. Her color was dull. She appeared to have lost her essence. She slowly marched toward the couple as Jareth muttered, "Sarah?"

"That human is your Sarah? What is she doing here? Jareth what have you done?" Arnves spoke as she stood.

"What my sweet Queen? You don't like my little puppet? She is a bit too plain for my taste, but still she has her uses. Don't you think so brother?" Rivian said as he came into view fierce eyes pierced through Jareth.

Jareth turned his stare from Sarah to Rivian. He then noticed a glove on Rivian's left hand, "I see you have found the Rianadayr." The glove could be better described as a gauntlet made of blue steel. The fingers came to serrated points, like the talons of a deadly predator. A blue energy enveloped the glove as it consumed Rivian's hand.

"Yes it is good to have some magic back after so long," he replied.

"Rivian, you have been banished for your crimes. Your punishment was to live aboveground with the humans," said Arnves as she gripped Jareth.

"Yes, but I am home again thanks to this little round ear," his eyes fell on Sarah. "Let us see what she will do for me," with a flick of his wrist Sarah's eyes began to darken and she ran toward Jareth, in a fury. Jareth was taken back by her ferocity and tried to bock as she started attacking him with no hesitation. She attacked with unimaginable strength. Her power was fueled by the energy of the glove.

Arnves struggled to pull Sarah off Jareth, but is knocked away by an invisible barrier. She looked toward Rivian, who was quickly flicking his wrist and finger tips in time with Sarah's movements.

"Quite amazing what these hairless apes can do with the right motivation, don't you think my Lady?" Rivian declared wickedly.

"What did you do?" She questioned him.

"Simpletons these round ears are. This lovely glove of mine easily controls them. I just told her that Jareth killed her husband and took her child. She was more than eager to help me, quite poetic really," he finished with a grin.

"You monster! Why would you do something like that? But then again what is destroying some human's life to you compared to the crimes you have already committed?" she spat angrily, her fist tightening, she ran toward him in attempt to grab his gauntlet.

Rivian noticed her attempt and kneed her in the stomach and all air escapes from her. Rivian grasped her long luscious locks and hurled her aside, as he chastised her, "Now, now that is no way for a Lady of the Court to act." His attention returned back to his toy.

"Seems she is quite afraid of you Jareth. She thought that my Labyrinth was just some bad dream. Don't worry though, I'll give her true fear of it," he said cruelly. Sarah continued to thrash out toward Jareth. Not wanting to harm Sarah all he can do was block or dodge her attacks.

Rivian chuckled at the amusing sight before him, "I think I'll be taking back what is mine." With that Rivian motioned Sarah to grab for Jareth's crescent shaped amulet. She tore it from his neck and tossed it toward Rivian's feet. As the amulet left Jareth's presence it appeared that his very soul was ripped from him. He slumped to the earth.

Arnves struggled while she slowly crawled toward Jareth. She feared for the worst, but discovered he was still breathing. "Jareth, what happened? How can your power be so dependant on the simple trinket?" Arnves clasped her hands around his barely conscious face.

Sarah joined Rivian side, a shell of her former self. "See how useful these humans can be if used properly?" he said grinning as he picked the amulet off the ground, and placed it around his neck. "Now rot where you lay dear brother" The ground quickly opened up in a gaping hole consuming both Jareth and Arnves into the darkness, closing as quickly as it opened. Rivian faced Sarah, "Now lets see what other tricks you can perform for me," he grinned wickedly, and they both walk off back toward the castle.

Arnves and Jareth plummeted in endless darkness, as they held on to each other for support. Arnves grasped Jareth's face; tears began to glisten in her eyes. She pulled his face close and softly whispered, "Go save the one you love my darling" as their lips embraced he vanished, leaving her tumbling alone.