Danica strayed deeper into the convines of the labyrinth. Vines and moss covered the walls and most of the walk way, making it difficult to navigate. Her foot caught several times before she stopped and huffed in irritation. The small eye-plants were growing more abundantly along the walls and as they cooed together Danica couldn't help but be reminded of the lullabies she sang every night to her siblings.
She trailed her fingers over one of the plants' stems, "I wish this could be easier..."
"Ah but it could be," the man from afore said in a sing-songy voice, "and for such a small price too."
"How could the life of my firstborn child be a small price?" Danica scoffed and cupped the plant's eyeball in her hand. The plant crooned and purred. "Who are you anyway?"
The man giggled in delight before bowing in a mocking fashion, "Rumplestiltskin at your service."
Danica shook her head at him and smiled. "Danica. You have a strange name," she said as she abandoned the plant, much to its dismay, and continued down the path.
"As do you," he said and giggled.
They rounded a corner before the came across a large plain of turns and twists. Danica huffed and trudged forth. After a myriad of turns Danica cried in frustration when they came across yet another turn. It felt like they'd been turning for an eternity.
Rumplestiltskin had long since given up on following behind her and settled for sitting on the maze wall to watch her struggle. He giggled in delight when Danica stopped and hit one of the walls in frustration.
"Giving up so soon, dearie?"
"Shut up."
"The deal still stands..." he said and hopped down from the wall. He held out a contract and a frilly feather pen. "Just sign on the dotted line," he said and twirled his fingers in the air.
Danica moved towards the pen, never grabbing it- her hands hovering over it. She could have sworn Rumplestiltskin was ready to burt from excitement. But she snatched her hand back and stomped around yet another turn.
"Shove it," Danica growled.
The path cleared in front of her, opening into a forest. She thanked her lucky stars and made quick work of leaving the endless turns behind her. She kept walking until she reached a mirky pool. The water shimmered and shadows kept shifting underneath the surface.
"I wouldn't drink that if I were you," Rumplestiltskin said from behind her.
"Yeah, I agree with you on that one. What is in the water anyway?"
"Leeches," said someone from behind her. It wasn't Rumplestiltskin, the man's voice lacked the undertone of mocking that Rumplestiltskin's had.
Danica turned slowly to face the Goblin King, who was standing a few feet away with a dark frown coloring his face. He lifted the riding crop that he held in his hand and pointed it at Rumplestiltskin and back to Danica.
"What is going on here?" the Goblin King demanded. He pointed the riding crop back at Rumplestiltskin. "I forbade you from helping, hadn't I?"
In response Rumplestiltskin giggled and disappeared to reapear behind the Goblin King. "She has yet to agree to the deal," he giggled, "Haven't helped yet..."
The Goblin King spun and faced Rumplestiltskin, his fist turning white around the riding crop. A moment passed where they stared each other down- Rumplestiltskin with a comical twinkle in his eye the whole time.
"Don't interfere, this is none of your bussiness," the Goblin King growled, "Or I'll throw you in the Bog..."
"Of eternal stech-e," Rumplestiltskin mocked. "The threat's growing old, dearie. You'll have to try harder to scare me off, Jareth." His tone had turned dangerous.
Jareth spun and directed his gaze of fury on Danica. She shrank back, tumbling into the leech-filled pool. She sputtered and burst to the surface for air. The pool was deeper than she was tall and Danica struggled to keep her head above the water.
Rumple stood close to the edge staring down at her. He looked worried.
"Try not to move, dearie," Rumple suggested.
Danica frowned up at him in question until she felt something graze past her legs. She prepared to launched herself to the edge of the pool but he cried at her to stop. She froze.
"They'll latch on if you move, so hold still, dearie" Rumplestiltskin commanded.
"Why do you care anyway?" Danica whispered, tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
"I can't make a deal with someone who's been eaten by leeches, now can I?"
"Eaten?" Danica cried, "Help me!"
"How about we make a deal?" he smiled, exposing his yellow teeth.
"What kind of a deal?" Her voice was shaking. She kept slipping under the water.
"I'll get you out... if in return you give me," he paused and tapped his chin before matching her gaze with a malicious smile, "... one of your siblings."
"Anything else," Danica begged. Another leech grazed past her stomache. "Please!"
"Just kidding," he said, "How about a favour?"
Danica nodded her head, "Okay, just help me."
Rumplestiltskin snapped his fingers. Danica appeared next to him, curled up on the ground. He giggled and offered his hand, pulling Danica to her feet.
"Thanks," Danica sighed out. She scanned the area before she turned to Rumplestiltskin with a frown, "Where did the Goblin King go?"
"Jareth?" he said and giggled, "He ran back to his wife, dearie."
"Why?"
"Leeches in the underground tend to be... attracted to magic," he said and perched himself on a nearby rock. "You stirred them from slumber when you fell in."
"So? How could they have reached him if he wasn't even in the water?"
"They jump out," he said and scrunched up his nose.
Danica nodded slowly. "Why didn't you run?"
Rumplestiltskin shrugged, "I'm powerful enough to prevent it."
Danica wringed out her wet shirt before she continued down the path. Rumplestiltskin followed after her, his hands folded behind his back.