My goodness it has been quite a few many moons. I could go into all of the reasons why progress has been hung up but let's just hop into where we left off and we'll worry about that later on. ^_^
Fairer Tales 15: Chosen Curiosity
Jareth stood in the heart of the Labyrinth, waiting.
Nagging thoughts were swirling about in his mind, their epicenter Alice. And as he stood amidst the deepest, most hidden part of the Labyrinth, he could not help but think that the being he now waited for had some part in the night's events. As the wind through the Labyrinth shifted, he knew the one he was waiting for had arrived long before ever laying eyes on her. A mischievous giggle and a feather light touch of a hand slipping into his announced her full presence.
"Hello Friend." The being standing next to him had assumed the guise of a small girl, but her shifty eyes and the electric aura emanating from her gave true being away. A resident of the Labyrinth, possibly as old as the very maze itself.
"We have some things we need to discuss."
"Oh is that so?" she moved from his side and stood in front of him. "What sort of things? … Oh you mean her! The runner who wasn't one... the one named Alice? What about her?"
"I think you know." The being stood before him, waiting, watching him, searching his face for something.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." she stated, rather dismissively a moment later, waving off the idea as she turned to walk away.
"Little one, you helped her through my Labyrinth. And be smart in how you answer next, you forget who you're talking to."
"Excuse me? 'Little one'? 'Your Labyrinth'?" the creature before him turned, her eyes starting to shine, the playful note in her voice still present. "I think it is you who has forgotten who they are talking to." Before his eyes the being began to change in shape and size, morphing from a small child into a full grown woman, her short goblin clothes shifting into a longer, more flattering frock of deep greens and burnt orange, with trimmings of copper, all beautifully complimenting her dark skin.
"Well now that I have your attention-"
"Oh you had my attention my dearest Goblin King, but you needn't have chosen your words so." She stepped closer, her whole face still emanating with that childlike mischief. "I thought I taught you to how to 'choose your right words'."
"And so I did." Jareth chuckled. "My words got your attention did it not?"
"You needn't have mocked me, 'little one', hmph, honestly. There is nothing about me sir, that could be considered 'little'." she stated, taking a step back, sweeping her hand dramatically around herself. "And secondly, how daring are you that you come into my Labyrinth, and claim it yours. How cocky you've gotten my Goblin King, since I chose you."
"Some would call it confidence my lady." Jareth grinned, leisurely closing the distance between the two of them, enjoying the banter between them, an old sort of tradition that both found amusing, for it was how they always were when speaking with one another; serious but not, all in the same turn, much different from those whom he had to deal with on a daily basis. "Some actually find it very appealing."
The woman threw her head back, laughter bubbling up over her lips and ringing throughout the walls of the Labyrinth.
"Some would I suppose," she smiled, regaining her composure. "I am not one of those 'some'. However, your 'appeal' is not what we were discussing, I believe the topic digressed from the girl, from Alice."
"Yes, and your aiding her through my-"
"Uh-uh-uh, mine..."
"Your Labyrinth." he finished rolling his eyes.
"There we are. You're right, I did help her, well in a way, but not nearly as much as you think. I will admit to that. You know I find her terribly interesting, there was always something about her but I wasn't sure exactly what..."
"What are you saying?"
"Oh what? You think you're the only one who likes to view the Above from time to time? I've been watching Alice long before you were. How else do you suppose she managed to get her hands on the book?" The being watched as Jareth's eyes narrowed.
"You gave her the book." The Goblin King stated flatty.
"Not personally, no." She giggled.
"You used my goblins."
"Excuse me. My Labyrinth, my goblins, my dear Goblin King."
"You sent goblins into the Above, to give a mortal a book, simply because... what? Because you liked her, because you could?"
"Oh are we jealous?" she smiled, locking eyes with him. "Don't worry there's only room in my heart for one ruler of my Labyrinth. Don't fret, I have no intention of replacing you, I simply watched her out of a strange combination of curiosity and intrigue, same as you, the only difference is I had no plans of actually making her come here, let alone keep her here, or even marking her as my own." She smiled, batting her mismatched eyes up at his, as she slowly turned her back to him. "That was an honor I reserved only for you.
"Hence why when she had made her way into the Labyrinth, I was bound to aid her, after all the Lady of the Labyrinth is bound by her own rules. Every runner is to be given a fair chance to complete the puzzle, fair enough anyway; on top everything else she wasn't even on the normal path either, honestly you should be thanking me, I kept her out of some serious trouble."
"You also almost let her escape."
"Oh no no no, not me my king. Remember I told you that wasn't my doing. That she managed all on her own."
"Are you trying to suggest that a mortal girl has the knowledge, let alone the power to open a portal between the Above and the Underground?"
"Oh come on now Jareth, firstly, if she were just some 'mortal' girl you wouldn't have had any interest in her." the Lady of the Labyrinth sighed, seemingly exasperated with the slower tempo of the conversation. "Secondly, when you left the Underground that night, the first time you went Above and eventually came across her; there was a pull that called you Above wasn't there?"
"And I suppose that was your doing as well?"
"Jareth," the being before him became very still, the Labyrinth itself seemed to quiet with her; the movement of walls slowed to a bare crawl while some ceased altogether, animals and other creatures through out seemed to settle, communicating with one another in hushed tones and whispers. Her mischievous tone had dissipated, her face shifting to a mask of seriousness to convey her next words in the best light.
"As I said, I gave her the book. I took one goblin, sent him on a task, a simple task, to place the book where a certain girl would find it. I sent one. As I watched her, more were called, more appeared Above. I watched as she swung lazily in the park musing to herself, sat anxious in her class thinking of more, wanting more, blaming the thought that there may be more on her imagination, and I found myself feeling anxious, unsettled. And it not only affected me, it affected the goblins, the other creatures, and even managed to grab your attention.
"You felt the call, you felt it, just like you feel a summons coming. Something drew you in long before you ever set eyes on her. With all of this, you truly think that this was some sort of grand orchestration by me? I can tell you with all honesty that I had nothing to do with her almost escaping. She opened the gates on her own, made it to the tree on her own, and opened the portal on her own; just as she called those goblins, just as she called you. There's a quiet power lying within that girl, I noticed it while watching her Above, and as she traveled through the Labyrinth and now that she's here, others are bound to notice as well, keeping her here could mean far more trouble than you ever had anticipated, my dear Goblin King."
"And tell me, my fair Lady of the Labyrinth, what would you have me do? Your rules, the very rules you are bound to, now bind her here, they being, in their own way, far more damning than anything I could 'claim' to have over her. You could have given her a way out sooner, you didn't have to let her reach the tree, but you did for the same reason you gave her the book, you were curious, and curiosity is a dangerous thing my dear friend."
"Keeping her here will not be easy, I'm sure the fact that she's gone missing will be quickly noticed."
"She was wished away." The Goblin King's eyes darkened as they left the face of the woman before him. "The magic will have done it's job, no one Above will remember her. She'll just be another forgotten wished away, like all the others."
"You're so certain aren't you." The Lady of the Labyrinth muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. "And what if you're wrong?"
"And why are you so anxious?" Jareth's suspicion peaked.
"Why am I anxious- You know how much energy and power it takes to transport a person to the Above, even though a portal is the easiest method of getting between here and there, it still takes a considerable amount of energy especially for one who's not even supposed to have that ability in the first place."
"What aren't you telling me?"
"Wha- I've told you everything!" the woman before him stood baffled at his accusation. "Why would you think-"
"Think that you had kept something else from me? Is that what you were going to say? You've been so forthcoming up until now I can't imagine where my suspicions could be coming from." The being before Jareth crossed her arms over her chest, locking eyes with the Goblin King, there was no longer the air of mischief that had once been present.
"Everything you have asked I have told you." her tone was cool and flat, all jesting gone. "You're current tone is unnecessary. I'll simply 'assume' it is due to fatigue from how long this day has been for everyone involved, that you're acting this way. Before we take leave of each other, heed this; what is unknown can tend to be far more dangerous than originally anticipated. Alice is most likely completely unaware of the power that resides within her, she will eventually need guidance in how to utilize it as well as control it; as her flame grows, I can almost guarantee that others will notice and will come to take it, and whether you want to admit it or not, it seems she still has some very strong attachments to the Above, it's something others will exploit.
"So I suggest you try to mend your current standing with her, before it becomes a true problem, and something else that could be used against you."
"Oh yes I'm certain that Derrick will love playing that angle whenever possible," Jareth scoffed.
"So you honestly think you will have no trouble?" the Lady of the Labyrinth stood, arms crossed and head tilted slightly to the side.
"Derrick and Nanny are the only ones who know of her. I plan to keep it that way."
"For how long? How long do you honestly think that will last? The novelty of something new always has a way of getting out, and being known. Especially by those we'd rather not have take notice." she stated as she took a small step back as she began to fade from view.
"Calm yourself, there's nothing you need worry about." Jareth smirked, before turning on his heel to leave.
"Oh really? What about your brother?" Jareth halted, turning quickly back around, but she was gone, and all that remained was the uncomfortable stillness of everything around him.
"Shit."
Silence. That's all there was, and Kern didn't like it.
He had expected more from Queen Megara once she'd heard the latest news about the girl she hunted. The additional attack during the day had rendered nothing, and when the creatures had returned that night, their forces the largest they had been, they had kept to the woods having sensed a stronger power present. They had waited and watched, cowering, growling to one another what should be done as a large bolt of lightning cracked the sky and a torrent of magic spewed forth, opening the way to the Underground. The magical storm flooded into the passway taking with it the tremendous source of power, and upon further inspection, the girl. When the shadows had reunited with Kern and gave him the news, the reaction he had imagined, was not nearly as unsettling as this silence.
"My queen?" a simple sigh was the only response to Kern's testing of the waters.
"How would you like us to proceed-?"
"No. Kern, your shadows have done enough."
"I beg your pardon?" Queen Megara sat with her back to him, her fingers drumming on the armrest, her gaze switching between the balcony and mirror to her right.
"Calm yourself Kern," she sighed again. "I don't plan to return you and your kind to your vessel just yet, I still have use for you. The girl may have been wished away, but her simply being Underground will not make things easier, especially now that as a wished away she is under the protection of my son. This will take me some time, I need to think."
"I understand my queen." Kern gave a deep bow as he prepared to take his leave. "And what of the other girl in the Above? The Abigail girl? What would you wish done with her?"
"Keep her. Let your shadows continue their visits to her, she may still be an asset to us later, and if not, no one will lose sleep over a young mortal girl going mad. I hear they're highly vulnerable at that stage anyway." And with a simple wave of her hand she dismissed him, returning to her musings.
Stepping out of the queen's quarters and into the hallway Kern let out a breath of frustration. He wasn't worried, her usual threats were never anything that carried much weight to them, however the thought of being returned to the vial and being trapped within for who knows how long, was something that left a bad taste in his mouth. So distracted was he by thoughts of the vial that Kern did not notice the shift of movement to his left.
"Tell me Kern, what is it now that has my mother so vexed?" The shadowman felt a chill run down his spine, turning slowly he watched as Prince Diomed stepped into the light. The prince's gaze slowly turned to Kern, locking him in his sights; it had been a long time since Kern felt genuinely uncomfortable, genuinely worried, genuinely afraid. He was definitely his mother's son, similar fair skin, striking features, his hair was a fainter blonde, unlike his mother's golden tresses; his eyes, pale piercing blue glass marbles, were the most unsettling feature, next to his smile, which rarely ever graced his face.
"Truly nothing of concern your-"
"Come now Kern," Diomed advance, his face void of any true emotion. "We both know anything that has mother bothered enough to take her away from her reflection is something 'of concern'. Now what is it?"
"I'm not sure my queen would approve-" Kern began again, taking a slow step back, before being interrupted once again.
"What? Of you sharing?" In two feline like strides Diomed closed the gap between himself and the shadow man, taking a position that effectively cut off the others escape. "Everyone in this place knows something is up, what with her, shall we call them tantrums? You know I'll find out what it is anyway Kern, so why not just tell me now."
Kern did his best to hide his sense of unease as a wicked grin began to take root on Diomed's face. There it was, the start of it at least, that shark of a smile, one who had never met Diomed would never assume that such a simple gesture of a smile could be so filled with a sense of warning and dred.
"There… there is a mortal girl…"
"There's always a mortal girl."
"From the Above."
"Nothing new."
"Apparently the child of a past 'acquaintance'."
"A loose end, typical. Though I must say, not nearly worth all of this trouble."
"Your mother wants her."
"My mother wants lots of things."
"Yes well so does your brother." muttered Kern, having become tired of their banter already. He was relieved when it appeared Diomed had begun to feel the same and seemed ready to leave him be.
"Come again?" Shit.
"About which part?"
"Kern." warning was etched in Diomed's eyes and tone.
"That's how I found her. Your mother sent me to watch your brother, I followed him Above one day, saw him watching her, showed her image to your mother and that's how this all started."
"Why was she having you follow him? Never mind, this girl, tell me of her Kern."
"There's nothing to tell."
"You're trying my patience shadowman."
"I'm not being difficult, it's true." Kern stated flatly, finally seeing an opening and moving away from the wall Diomed had had him trapped to. Placing some distance between them made him immediately more comfortable, and more willing to be blunt.
"The girl was wished away to your brother, getting to her is practically impossible now."
"Let me guess, the dealings of my mother in the Above is what lead to the wishing away."
"More or less."
"Of course." Kern watched as something started to form behind the blue eyes opposite of him; Diomed's features shifted once again as that familiar grin began to make it's way across his face, his eyes becoming dark with the thoughts that weaved their way into being in his mind.
"Tell me something Kern, how have you enjoyed being under my mother's employ all these years?"
"Sire?"
"It's struck me that until recently I haven't seen you around that much. What do you think will happen, when she finally has done away with Little Miss Loose End? I'll save you the energy of musing, she's going to trap all of you back in that tiny little bottle, hide you back in that drawer of hers and keep you hidden away until she makes another mistake. And seeing how much this one has blown up in her face, she might actually learn from it and take better precautions in the future, meaning what for you?" Diomed watched Kern with a simple knowing grin on his face as his fingers absentmindedly played with the seams on his gloves.
"I-"
"You and you're kind will be stuffed back in that jar and forgotten. Unless of course something were to change that."
"What are you suggesting?" Kern began apprehensively.
"A partnership of sorts. You see I want to know more about this whole 'situation' that mother has going on, and what better way to find out all of the tiny details than to have you share them with me?"
"Right." Kern scoffed, the idea that he would simply be a gossip hound for Diomed was almost as unflattering as the idea of being returned to the vial. "I'm sure your mother would be thrilled to have me sharing her business with you."
"You're missing the real point here, Kern. A venue to castle gossip is not what I require. Here, I shall spell it out for you simply. You continue going about whatever business mother has you doing, haunting someone's dreams, chasing down loose ends, following my darling baby brother, what have you. But you will come to me, report to me, and answer to me. Mother will give you her orders, but you will in truth be following mine, do you understand now?"
"Clearly. There never was confusion, but here's a hiccup in your plans; your mother will surely notice that something is afoot. I'm sure it won't take her long to notice meddling in her plans. I know she has her moments, but she's not nearly that short sighted."
"You just concern yourself with doing what you're told, let me worry about my mother Kern."
"And what if I were to refuse this 'grand' offer?" Kern sighed, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked down the hall; he wanted nothing more than this conversation with Prince Diomed to end. When he turned back he found Diomed had silently closed the gap between them as was now looming over him.
"You are not the only option Kern, just the most convenient at this point in time. Let's say some unfortunate calamity were to befall you, do you honestly think mother would trouble herself to find out what led to your demise? No she'd simply move on to the next of your kin in line, as will I. Eventually I'm certain that I will find one willing to accept my offer, until then those who refused would be taken care of. How many of them do you think it will take Kern before I find the one who says yes? How many will die after you because you were more worried about my mother and her petty threats over me and my more present ones? Could you really call your refusal "honorable" or at the best reasonable if it means the possible genocide of your our kin?"
"You wouldn't, your mother would be furious that you destroyed-"
"My mother can be placated Kern. You're stalling, what is your answer."
"I'll consider it." Kern gave after a short pause.
"Kern," Diomed's voice warned as his eyes once again grew dark and threatening. "You're either all in or no longer my problem, and I don't like to wait. So I ask one final time, what is your answer?"
"Yes."
"Good." Diomed's face brightened, a pleased smile found it's way onto his face, replacing the threatening expression that had been there meer seconds before. "You're free to go about my mother's business for now Kern, when I have need of you, you'll know."
Kern stood in the hall, having been dismissed, mostly in shock as he replayed the conversation over in his mind, wondering what he had just agreed to. Diomed grinned, chuckling to himself as he continued down the hallway, he'd been rather bored lately, and this news had definitely sparked a renewed interest in personal plans that had, up until recently, had been sluggish in their proceedings. He had to admit he was a little surprised that mother was once again up to her meddling ways, especially going so far as even consider going after a wished away just to tidy up her past endeavours. Speaking of the wished away, so his baby brother had a new toy, did he?
"Well then, I suppose it's about time I should pay my dearest baby brother a visit, now isn't it."
And that is it for this chapter, I was hoping to make it a little longer, but decided to post what I had to help motivate the process. I apologize for the distance between posts, real world stuff is taking presedent but I love seeing your comments and favorites. They motivate me to keep working, keep writing and keep trying until completion. Another reason it's been taking so long is because I have honestly, been reworking how the story is going to play out. So far it has changed quite a bit from my original plan and keeps seeming to do so with newer "events" that each writing episode brings. I'm glad to see that all of your are still enjoying it all even with the waits.
Thanks again for the reviews, and favorites, I read and truly appreciate each one of them!