Labyrinth: Herbs and Birds

Ch 16

Did this jerk really expect me work for him in a conspiracy to murder two powerful monarchs, one of them who is my best friend's fiance and the other I just started to actually get along with? I could tell that Rudolf was really interested in Gareth as a threat, but did he honestly think that I was Gareth's weakness? He has already made it clear that he wants something of value from Gareth, and the creepy looks he was giving me made me realize that he wanted me to help him suceed in his evil goal and perhaps keep me for himself. But why Jareth also, I mean yeah the king brothers were powerful, but from what I have gathered during my visits here they were not the only monarchs with power in the Underground, even if he did "destroy" them he would still have to answer to their, possibly more powerful, parents, plus the other kingdoms will be miffed as well. Maybe this guy was just out for revenge against the brothers? But there seemed to be more to the story than that so I decided not to push him too much because he was already dangerous enough this close to me as it was, I really wish I could Gareth and he'd help me again, but it would take too long to find this place. This was definantly not the typical fairytale land that I always read about. All that I knew at the time was one thing: I needed to get out of there before crazy cousin Rudolf tried anything that could hurt me or the others, I had to warn them somehow!

"I-I'm sorry Rudolf, but I can't ruin the love life of my best friend just to satisfy my own selfish desires."

Rudolf didn't even seem fazed by my comment, he just kept twirling the ends of my hair as if he were inspecting a flower, "You don't have to decide right now, think about whatI am offering you, see for yourself how contrived and demanding they are, before it is too late, if not for yourself, also for you dear friend Lady Sarah..."

I was shocked by his sudden change in charecter, where did this come from? Was he trying to be gentle and understanding just because I was actting understanding to him? Before I could feel guilty for my actions, however, Rudolf suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist connecting his hands onto the same red crystal I was holding, with his face dangerously close to mine, I found myself trapped by a now angry deprived fae who was eyeing me as if I was a tasty lunch ready to be eaten.

"I don't trust anyone, human, I can tell where your real loyalty lies, and I must say I am impressed with your devotion...however, the last person standing when all of this is over will be me, you can cooperate quietly, or you and your cousin will suffer at my new powerful hands, and I don't think I won't enjoy it..."

Ok, this guy was nuts and way too close for my comfort, it was very scary having this crazy dude nearly touching me and making threats, as much as I wanted to yell in his face and beat him up, I knew it would agrivate him more to doing something worse.

I turnned my face away from his and tried to give him the pitiful damsal act by (sigh) begging, "please...please don't do this!"

I even squeezed my eyes shut to bring out my tears faster, I was already close to tears due to Rudolf freaking me out with his threats.

He then started doing something I never expected any guy to do, he began to smell my hair and groan, now I was officially freaked out!

He whispered into my curls, "don't underestimate me, human, I always take what I want..."

I shut my eyes tightly again and tried to think without panicking, "what do I do? This guy is NUTS, and dangerous, I'm already cornored, and there is no way on this earth I'm allowing him to hurt Sarah! But what to do?"

"I really wish I was with Sarah at the Labyrinth right now!"

Suddenly, everything became bright and I blacked out to hear Rudolf curse before his dissapeared.

I awoke to the sound of water running, and birds (sounded like crows) screeching, when I looked around I noticed that I was lying down on cobblestone surounded by tall green shrubs that were twisted and grew in random spots connected to each other. In the center of this odd courtyard I saw marble statues, large painted pottery, stone chairs, and a fountain splashing crystal water into the air. I got up off my feet and tried to dust myself off as I tried to figureout were I was. I heard some grutting noises nearby and turned around to see an elderly man wearing many facy, yet faded robes, and doning the strangest headgear. He seemed to be having trouble sitting into one of the highest and best carved stone chairs, muttering something about his legs.

Before I could stop myself, I had run up to his side and found myself assisting the elderly man onto the stone chair, "Here, let me help you."

He seemed a little suprised at first, but he didn't complain, "aahhhh, thank you my dear, I guess after nine hundred years, the aching joints catch up with you."

I smiled as he chuckled at his jest, and then he sighed as he was finally situated on his seat. As I stepped back, I began to notice that he make it look like a throne of high authority, I could tell that he had years of wisdom and experiance by the way he carried himself and sat in his seat. I couldn't help but smile, but I was lost and needed directions.

"Pardon me for asking, but where are we?"

The elderly man raised a gray bushy eyebrow at me peered at me confused, "Why, this is the hedge maze, surly you saw it at the top of the hill in the beginning of your quest?"

"Quest? I'm not on any quest, I'm just lost. You see, this afternoon I was having lunch with King Gareth and his sweet sister Lousia-"

Chortling laughter cut me off, but when I looked a the old man he didn't seem to be laughing at all, but he did roll his eyes and muttered, "Oh dear, he's awake..."

"Huh?" I looked up and saw in shock that the old man's hat, was a bird head laughing it's head off! He didn't even have wings or a body, it just had a head and a long neck. His neck and face were purple and his long beak was orange and brown with stripes. When he started to talk, he had a spanish accent, funny I thought everyone here was British...

The bird they looked at me and chuckled, "What a delusional damsel you are! The kingdom of the fairies is miles away fromhere! And the King of Dreams never associates himself with women, human or otherwise, in his home unless they are family, too picky if you ask me! Hilarious, the idea of you knowing the quietest, and estranged King in the Underground! Silly seniorita! That's lococa crazy talk that is! What does he like with his tea, cucumber sandwhiches?! Har Har Har!"

"Be quiet!" The old man demanded to his bird hat, but the bird just kept on laughing his head off. The old man looked back towards me, "I apologize my dear, he is very rude..."

I rubbed my temples to clear my head from another headache coming on, "Look its fine, just tell me where I am and I figure it out from here, which kingdom am I in exactly?"

The bird stopped laughing and looked at me up and down, "What are you crazy? You loca seniorita, this is the famous hedge maze of the Labyrinth! Only twenty minutes away from the Goblin city, if you choose the correct way that is, hee hee..."

I held up a hand, "Wait, wait a minute, you mean- I'm stuck in the middle of the Labyrinth?!"

The old man nodded, "It would appear so, yes."

I looked towards the top of the hedge trimmings and sure enough I caught a glimpse of the Goblin City stone Castle on a hill it looked miles away dispite how big it appeared.

Oh crap...

I paced back and forth trying to figure out what I had said (or thought) that got me here in the first place!

Then I remembered, I think I said that I wished to be at the Labyrinth with Sarah, but wait- where is Sarah?

Then I heard a loud splash coming from the fountain, then I saw someone stand up in the water dripping and looking furious with dark hair.

"Sarah?" I asked as I approached her to let help her out, she was wearing another medival gown, only this time it was coal gray with gold and green trimings and ribbons, unfortuantly it was now stuck to her body and heavy.

"A-Alex? What is going on? One minute I'm dressing to have tea with Jareth's mother, the next I'm here in the fountain having a bath? Wait, what are you doing here?"

I knew she was rrrreeeeaaaallllyyyy going to be ticked off once I explained to her, but first things first...

"I'll explain Sarah, but first, how do we get out of here?"

(Please leave a contribution in the little box)

("Hey! That's my line" -angry bird-hat)