"Sky's Eclipse"
Chapter 53
By Aiijuin
*Disclaimer =Labyrinth (c) Henson, Lucas, Jones, Froud; Gröeg (c) Brian Froud, Winkin', Blinkin' & Nod (c) Mothergoose Nursery Rhymes. Torok is from 1986 movie Troll, but has been changed around to meet my story expectations.
Be warned: Although this is a Sarah/Jareth romance story, it is also a profoundly dark fairytale!
Rated M+(Adult Scenarios, Abrasive Language, Innuendos, Sensuality)
**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 53: Seven Dwarves, Minus One
Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod finally reached the Isle Beyond Time before the sun had risen three days later. It had taken them some time, due to the fact that the dreams were often unpredictable by nature and sometimes they turned in directions that the passengers didn't want them to go. The navigating babies, however excelled at their standards of reeling in the dreams before they traveled too far astray.
Now, it was time for Jareth and the others to leave the sailing shoe and go down to the Isle below. The girl infants were waving the passengers goodbye, but Nod didn't want to release Gavin. He cried as Gröeg tried to pry him from Gavin's arms. Gavin rocked the child in his arms and crooned the baby a soft lullaby, after Toby had climbed down the silver and gold net. Little Nod fell asleep and Gavin tucked him by the pillows at the corner of the ship.
He too was having a difficult time departing from Nod. As Jareth, it had never bothered his conscience to nab helpless babies from their homes as they were wished away, then toy with them for a while, and finally turn them into goblins without pity or remorse. However, something about these children, particularly Nod, had an incredible power over him and he felt bound by them. Before Jareth knew it, Gröeg was dragging him towards the net at the sidewall of the shoe and forcing the Goblin King down with an impatient huff.
Once the adults were cleared from the wooden shoe, it lifted back into the air and sailed away before dawn.
Gavin King and Toby Williams had traveled over land and sea from continent to continent just to find themselves at a lonely island bereft of life. It was an ominous place, surrounded by turbulent storms and an unwelcoming environment of dead black shores. Anyone else probably would have turned around and just gone home, but Toby and Jareth were on a mission to save Sarah Williams.
NO! They had come too far to give up now!
In the center of the island, stood an unusual mountain that resembled a gigantic stone tree or an elaborate volcano. It stood nearly thousands of meters high from sea level and its crest could not be seen from the shore due to thick, gray clouds that hung high overhead.
Gröeg followed behind Toby and Gavin in his usual sulking way. He disliked having to play 'human'. He would rather have transformed back into his normal goblin self. However, his displeasure soon turned to curiosity as he caught a whiff of a familiar fragrance in the stagnant sea air. Strangely enough, it was coming from inside the tree-like volcano.
King and he turned to each other for a moment, while Toby walked on ahead. The human youth was oblivious to the energy seeping from within the mountain. Gröeg and Jareth could already sense the power emanating from its center. However, despite their feelings about the magic within the formation, there seemed to be a lack of an entrance.
The trio walked around the perimeter several times while searching for a doorway of some kind. They grumbled and muttered under their breaths as the sand began to slip into their shoes. Jareth and Toby were desperately uncomfortable since they hadn't changed their clothing or bathed in at least four or five days. They hadn't honestly expected their quest to direct them onto a deserted island in the middle of nowhere. Jareth could only hope that Sarah wasn't as uncomfortable back at the Henkies Estate and trust that his goblins were treating her well.
Finally, Gröeg stomped his fumbling feet and said to Gavin, "Oh, Master, Gröeg wishes there were a way inside!"
As if the mountain could hear them, an entrance appeared that they had not passed thrice before. They walked towards it, as several brittle trees, which were covered with flocks of jet-black crows, bordered their path. Then, they made their way over an old, dismal bridge that looked as if it might collapse at any moment. Yet, it helped them cross over a bottomless, dry chasm that sunk far beneath the sea.
When they finally reached the entrance, it was apparent that there were many curious and unusual residents from within the tree-like mountain who had also made their way towards Gavin, Gröeg, and Toby. It was already known that Jareth's human disguise was good enough to fool the goblins of the Underground, but would they be sufficient enough to fool these magical beings that resided in the mortal realm?
First, The trio of men was approached by a curious group of fire-like fairies. Although fairies were not uncommon in Jareth's kingdom, he didn't recognize these particular types.
Fire-faë were thought to have vanished thousands of years ago within the Underground, Jareth thought.
Just then, a brilliant moon fairy, clothed in white light, made her way towards Gavin King. She could tell he was the most powerful of the three 'humans', and peered very closely into his eyes, however she could not discern that he was really someone other than a mortal man.
And, yet, he had that scent.
He was, obviously, a being of higher magic, but she couldn't determine his identity or his hierarchy within the enchanted circles. She hovered by his face for several moments, trying to recall something she couldn't remember about the way his power felt.
He was very familiar…as if she had met him somewhere before… Perhaps, long ago…
Gavin, who was really Jareth, just glanced back sternly. Meanwhile, Toby had passed through the archway, and saw a curious Barn Owl, who seemed to be as amused by Toby's presence as he was by its presence.
Toby pointed to the majestic creature and gave a hollow, nervous laugh, "Don't cast any spells against us now…"
The great white bird twisted its head to the side and hopped towards the three men. It took its wing and motioned for them to enter. No one spoke another word, not even Gröeg.
The fire fairies continued to dance on nearby brambles and overgrown weeds that clogged the entryway. Behind Toby lurked a hidden dwarf who resembled Hoggle. He was concealed in the darkness, and continued to watch the visitors with fierce trepidation. He remained still and breathless behind some tall vines that grew along the border of the wall.
It was apparent, that this strange realm was a universe contained within itself. As Gavin, Toby, and Gröeg passed through the stone archway, the storms outside gave way to a lovely sunlit forest that basked them in warmth and daylight. Nobody knew what to expect at this point, but one thing was certain, all of their answers would be found within.
It was at that moment that the dwarf stepped out from the shrubs and pointed to the owl, "Hey, now! Ya' ain't supposed to let humans in! You know the rules!"
The owl ignored him and continued to motion the visitors in. Gavin almost blew his disguise as Jareth, when he exclaimed, "Hoggle!"
The dwarf was terribly startled and jumped into the air. He turned his head and gruffed, "No, I ain't! I'm Higgle!"
"Higgle?" Gavin muttered to himself and then shook it off.
The dwarf obviously looked identical to Hoggle in every nuance, except the clothing was a different color. Higgle had a brown shirt, with a white vest and orange pants. He was about to ask Gavin a question, when the owl fluttered angrily at the dwarf and was swatted away a moment later. The dwarf grumbled, "Nasty birds of her majesty's… I can't understand what she ever seen in those things. The crows are the worst!"
"'Her majesty'," Toby repeated. He exchanged glances with Gavin and then asked, "Are you talking about the Goblin Queen?"
Higgle raised his bushy, thick eyebrows in curiosity and asked, "How d'ya know 'bout her, then?"
If Jareth had felt the way he used to, he would have grabbed the dwarf by the ear and dragged him near with a threat, however Jareth was exhausted physically and mentally. He just answered, "Look, Hoggle, we've traveled so far and quite long in search of her, couldn't you simply take us to where she is? I'm sure she won't mind."
"Of course, she won't mind! She's dead." Higgle replied and then added, "Ya got my name wrong again, though… Its 'Higgle' remember?"
"Oh, whatever," Toby answered impatiently before Gavin could respond. King raised his eyebrows at the adolescent. Toby walked over to the dwarf and said, "If you don't take us to the Goblin Queen or to someone who might be able to give us some answers, then I'm going to kick your tiny little ass!"
"Well!" Another Dwarf jumped out from another shrub and exclaimed, "He ain't bein' very polite, now is he?"
"What the hell?" Toby muttered, being absolutely grumpy and exhausted from this very long journey. "Now there's two Higgles?"
The second dwarf shouted, "I ain't Higgle! I'm Hogwart!"
"And I'm very confused," Toby replied scratching his head.
Gröeg clapped his hands in excitement. He was thoroughly entertained at this awkward scenario. Higgle turned to Hogwart and said, "They want to see the Goblin Queen."
"Why? She's dead," shrugged Hogwart who looked exactly like Hoggle, except that he was wearing a green vest, with a cream-colored shirt and black pants.
Gavin just stood there wondering what was going to happen next, when Toby tried to walk past the two dwarves in exasperation. They tripped his legs with their arms, to keep him from stomping past them. Toby fell down with an 'Oomph!' onto his back while the two dwarves slapped each other a 'high-five'.
A third dwarf waddled out from behind a tree and held the teenager down as he flailed his arms and began to swear obscenely at them. Gröeg giggled and asked loudly, "Are you another 'Higgle' or 'Hogwart'?"
The third dwarf who wore dark gray pants and had a black shirt with a red vest furrowed his eyebrows and said, "I ain't neither! I'm Hogshead."
Toby screamed out, "And your all 'toast' once I get up again! I swear to… if you don't let me go… and then I'll take your arms and…"
Toby's sentences were broken, because the Dwarves took turns covering his mouth with their large hands. They snickered at each other as Gavin blinked in confusion. The owl was beginning to screech impatiently overhead from a nearby branch, which only added to the chaos.
Toby's legs flapped around as he began to toss the dwarves from his body. A fourth dwarf joined hands with the other three and assisted in holding one of Toby's legs. Toby shouted, "Oh, who the hell are you now!?!"
"I'm Haggle!" shouted the fourth dwarf wearing a dark blue vest, with a violet shirt, and sky blue pants.
Well…
Before too long another two dwarfs popped out from under two stones and helped to hold Toby completely still. One dwarf shouted, "I'm Huggle!", while the other one shouted, "And I'm Horrible"
Horrible was dressed in an orange shirt with a brown vest and off-white pants, while Huggle was dressed in a gray shirt with a blue vest and khaki colored pants.
"Argh!" Toby stifled, which were about the only words he could manage to form about now. Gröeg danced a jig and snapped his fingers as the fairies danced along with him. The owl continued to protest and squawk and flutter its wings noisily.... and that's when Jareth finally had enough.
Disguises be damned! He thought furiously.
Suddenly, the Goblin King released an immense explosion of energy as all six of the dwarves flung back and the fairies fled away back into the trees and the owl took flight high into the air. Toby looked up to see Jareth dressed in his long black cape and holding a magic crystal orb in his hand, where Gavin King had once stood. He had a furious scowl upon his face as he said, "Good! Now that I have your undivided attention, release the boy and take us to the Goblin Queen at once!"