"Sky's Eclipse"
Chapter 46
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 46: Take Me Down!

"Wot's this? It's nearly suppertime and we ain't got no food 'ta eat," A heavily clad soldier in iron-armor exclaimed.

Another soldier removed his helmet and laughed, "I know! How about you stop your ninny-whining and go fetch us a bit from this 'ere field, 'ey?"

Two other men began to laugh at the first soldier as he flung an obscene gesture towards them. After a few minutes the first soldier frowned and said, "Fine, fine! I'll hunt down the meat, but who's going to find us some fixins'?"

"Well, I can't think of a better man for the job of gettin' the delicate food, then an equally delicate man," jested a third iron-clad soldier. "What about it, Jeremy?"

Jeremy Eden furrowed his brow as the ranks of soldiers laughed around him. He ignored their rude remark and removed his helmet. His long, golden, choppy hair fell around his shoulders and down his back. It was slightly messy. Jeremy wiped the sweat from his brow and proceeded to clean his sword with a rag. He tied up his horse to a tree and removed the saddle from its back. He patted the creature, as it let out a whiny and nodded.

The second solider shouted across the camp, "Sir Eden? Have you ever been mistaken for a lass, then?

The men began to roar in side-splitting laughter as Jeremy smirked and answered, "Not sure, really…but have you ever been mistaken for a lad, then?"

The men laughed even harder at Jeremy's retaliation. The first soldier was readying his crossbow for the hunt, when he remarked slyly, "I hear that Queen Elizabeth knighted you recently… I think ye've earned that honor on the account of your pretty face."

The second soldier was feeling scorned, so he added rudely, "I think our virgin Queen ain't such a virgin after she invited pretty little Jeremy to her courts."

Jeremy immediately turned his blade at the throat of the second soldier and warned, "Her Majesty, the Queen of England would have your head on a platter for your vulgar words of treason and treachery! If you desire to see why I was knighted, then please do continue, but at least let your final word be 'Sir Eden', which is my proper title… Good?"

"Yes, Sir Jeremy Eden," squeaked the first soldier as Jeremy lowered his blade from the man's throat. "I only meant it as a bit o'fun, right?"

"Your 'fun' mocks her Majesty, and then our great country to which we fight so hard for. Next time, turn your humor back unto yourself and leave the Queen out of your unintellectual topics," warned Sir Jeremy.

The soldier skulked away to hunt down supper for his colleagues, while Jeremy prepared a satchel to go forage for fruit and vegetables from a nearby farm. The second soldier asked, "Why can't you just eat meat like the rest of us 'ere?"

Eden sighed and walked away. He had recalled seeing a distant farm, less than a kilometer to the east. He wanted to let his horse rest for the evening, so he traveled on foot. He had stripped down from his armor and retained only his thinner clothing from underneath to make his walk easier. Jeremy buckled the scabbard of his sword around his chest with its belt, as the sun began to sink into the west.

The winds howled across the plain and made the air feel chilly. Jeremy paused to look behind him for a moment.

He felt like he was being followed and quickened his pace.

Sir Eden was nearly at the farm, but there was a high hill that he had to scale just before he reached it. Suddenly, the buckle of his scabbard became undone and fell to the ground. He knelt down to pick it up, when a long shadow fell over him. He turned around and saw a silhouette of an armored person on a tall steed.

The enemy, Jeremy thought, as he didn't recognize the outline of the armor.

He pulled his sword from its hold and drew it to the ready. The figure pulled out their sword as well and dug their heels hard into the ribs of their steed. The horse charged towards Sir Jeremy, and he rolled in order to avoid being trampled. The figure turned about on the horse and now, Jeremy could see the soldier with the light shining upon them.

A woman, Jeremy stared wide-eyed.

Indeed! It was a young woman, and she sat upon the most beautiful, gleaming white horse that Sir Jeremy had ever laid eyes upon. Of course, the lady was a sight to behold as well. Her long, straight, hair was the darkest brown that he had ever seen, and her skin was white and fair. Even though she was a distance away, there was no mistaking that her eyes were a piercing, radiant green color.

Jeremy said to her, "Yo no le significo daño, señora justa! Um,… Buscaba alimento....uh... hungry."

She dismounted from her white steed, with her sword still drawn. She purred, "Une telle pitié pour vous avoir été prise au dépourvu sans votre armure. Je devrai suis clément sur vous."

"Oh! That's French… you're from France? I was expecting Spanish, since we're in Spain. I'm sorry, Madame, but I hardly speak French… um, me pardonner, mais je ne comprends pas du… I mean …de français…Drat! Or was it tu français…" Sir Jeremy stammered and then shrugged.

"I said, 'Such a pity for you to have been caught off guard without your armor. I shall have to be lenient on you,'" The dark-haired woman replied smugly.

"Ah, so you do speak my language! Good! Very well, then. Cheerio and take care Mademoiselle, Señorita, or whatnot," Jeremy finished as he turned, hoping that would be the end of their conversation.

However, as he anticipated it was not. She continued, "I speak at least thirteen languages fluently, Sir knight, so how many different ways would you like me to tell you to 'surrender'?"

Eden drew his sword back and turned with a glare in his eyes. He was hoping to appear frightening, but found that she only mocked him and laughed. He said, "I warn you, my Dear! I am a champion swordsman and haven't been bested by anyone within the Queen of England's mighty army yet!"

"I care not for the queen you serve, or for the country you hail. I have my own kingdom of which I rule, and am making you a part of my collection within it, whether you relent quietly or we duel to a victory," The young woman chuckled.

Jeremy hardly apologized as he swung his sword at her in response to her statement. Immediately, her blade flew up to meet his and they parried viciously in the sunset. He spun from her twice, and was cut on his arm. She seemed impossible to defeat and eventually, Eden tired and lost his footing on the slope of the hill. He tripped and fell to his knees, as the young woman grabbed him by the crown of his hair and brought her sword upon his neck.

He dropped his sword as she whistled to her white steed for it to return. She untied a chain and shackle from the side of her saddle and said, "You've lost, monsieur, and now you are mine."

At those words, she fastened the chain around Jeremy Eden's neck and led him away as her prisoner. When the sun had finally set, the young woman bound Jeremy's wrists with rope and helped him unto the back of her horse. When the two were snuggly aboard, the young woman tapped her spurs against the horse's ribs and it spread a couple of brilliant white, gossamer wings out at its sides. Jeremy's jaw dropped as he and the dark-haired woman took flight high into the air on the winged horse. The creature lifted beyond the clouds and turned to the northeast away from the borders of Spain and towards the neighboring country of France.

The next morning Jeremy awoke early to an even more remarkable sight. He raised his head from his captor's shoulders and saw a massive stone Labyrinth with black, rod-iron gates at the entryway. Carved into the stone wall next to the gate was the word, 'Vestibuli' which was Latin for 'Entrance'.

The dark-haired woman led Jeremy from the horse and sent the beast away. As the steed spread its vast wings once again, it flew off beyond the trees and disappeared. Jeremy asked, "What was that thing?"

The woman answered, "It's a Pegasus, my Dear. And this is the entrance to my humble home. Once inside these gates, I will release you to wander wherever you choose, but you won't be able to pass beyond the boundaries of them again."

Jeremy shouted furiously, "If you release me from this chain, I will not remain and there's nothing you can do to stop me!"

The iron gates closed behind them with a bang, and the woman undid the bonds of Sir Eden. Immediately, he fled to the gates, but they vanished and became a wall. He turned to the woman and exclaimed frantically, "How? That's impossible!"

The woman tilted her head and answered slyly, "Anything is possible within these walls, Sir knight, and nothing is as it seems. Welcome to forever… it's not long at all."