"Sky's Eclipse"
Chapter 44
By Aiijuin
*Disclaimer: I don't own anything Jim Henson or Labyrinth. Gröeg was originally designed by Brian Froud and catalogued by Terry Jones in Brian Froud's "The Goblins of the Labyrinth". This fanfiction is rated M for some harsh language and adult situations. Gavin King is Jareth, the Goblin King, for those who have jumped into the middle of the story. Jeremy Eden is from the original Henson script of "Labyrinth" as the man who wrote the "Labyrinth" playbook that Sarah was reading from, in the beginning of the 1986 movie.
Be warned! Although this is a Sarah/Jareth romance story, it is also a profoundly dark fairytale!
**NOTE: Story numbering is behind by 1 chapter, because there is a prelude, which is not considered a chapter. Fanfiction . net automatically assigns numbers to the chapters by default, which I have not control over. Thank you!
Chapter 44: The Way Forward
"Le château au centre du labyrinthe," the cab driver pointed and said softly.
Torok was about to translate to Toby, when the teenager held out his hand and said, "I know what he said; I just wish that I hadn't…"
Gavin turned to Torok and tightened his jaw as they walked towards the massive stone walls. Up upon a high hill just beyond the gate, stood a massive Labyrinth that twisted and turned in all directions. It was barred shut by two gigantic, black, rod-iron gates that were locked by a thick chain and a huge padlock. A yellow triangular sign was wired to the gates that apparently was a warning for all to keep out. A red and white sign was hung on the stone wall next to the fence that Toby couldn't read. He knew in the United States, anything that had an urgent message was placarded in red and white. He figured that the local authorities wanted to inform people of the danger that lay within.
The cab driver was trying to urge Torok and the others to leave, but Gavin paid the man and sent him away. Toby had never seen a car squeal away so quickly.
Torok read the red and white sign outloud, "Condemned Property, Do not enter. Danger! Warning! The local government disavows all responsibilities of unauthorized persons attempting to enter these grounds. Closed to the Public. Failure to Comply May Result in Death!"
Toby ignored the signs words and frowned, "I wish there was some way that we could get into this place…"
At that the rod-iron fence pushed itself outwards with alarming strength until the thick chain broke in two. Toby furrowed his brow and said, "Mmm, I really hope that was an electric fence…"
Torok turned to Gavin and whispered, "I couldn't have done a better job myself, mon Ami."
Gavin turned back to him and answered, "I didn't do that…."
Torok shrugged and the trio entered within the d'Bourgeise Estate Labyrinth. The first thing everybody noticed inside was the stillness. Unlike Jareth's Labyrinth, which had goblins, talking worms, living lichen, and other petulant oddities, this Labyrinth was shrouded in silence. If it had seen action and adventure, then those days had long passed. Only a brisk wind blew through the long corridors and winding turns. Dead leaves swirled along the ground as Torok remarked, "There is a shadow of death that surrounds this place. It is too quiet."
As the Troll King finished his final words, a phantom carriage, which was pulled by nothing arrived directly in front of them. Torok flinched and grabbed Gavin by the shoulder, but he only received a disgruntled look in return.
"Are you making this happen, Monsieur G. King?" Torok asked inquisitively.
Gavin shook his head, and walked toward the carriage as its door swung open and then Toby followed. Torok stammered, "Wait! Aren't you both just a little bit worried about entering a ghost carriage in the middle of a dead Labyrinthe?"
Toby answered, "If you want to stay here, then go ahead… but I came here to help my sister."
Gavin smiled. As Jareth he realized that Toby was a lot like his sister in bravery. Torok followed reluctantly into the apparition and the door closed behind him. As the carriage pulled away with the three inside, the rod iron gates closed of their own volition.
The horseless carriage traveled to the left and right so many times that everyone inside the cart lost their sense of direction. Throughout the entire ride, there were hardly any signs of life anywhere. There were no birds, guardians, or fieries. There were huge gardens that they passed through from time to time, however it was the only remaining life that they had come across...
It seemed that the ride would go on forever, but in actuality, only thirty minutes had elasped until the carriage finally came to a halt at a narrow bridge that led up to the huge château. As soon as the doors swung open, Toby, Gavin who was Jareth, and Torok leaped out. The carriage immediately disappeared as soon as the last passenger left.
Gavin led the way over the narrow stone bridge with two very tall obelisks at the entryway. It climbed high over a moat that was filled with green pond moss and pink flowered lily pads. The building was not like a castle, but more like a vast mansion. It was designed with the French architecture of the era in which it had been built. Most of the outer walls were covered in a peach-colored marble, and etched with intricate floral designs. Toby looked at the double white birch doors of the château and turned to face Gavin. He asked, "Should we knock?"
Gavin was going to answer, but Torok interrupted with a petrified look on his face as he pointed forward. Gavin and Toby turned around to see what could be making the Troll King so unnerved. After they saw what Torok had seen, Gavin squared his jaw in disbelief as Toby asked quietly, "Jareth?"
Sure enough, standing before them was Jareth. Gavin arched his eyebrows upward as he wondered what he had gotten himself into when he entered this quest.