Consequences of the Heart

Chapter 1

By: Delilah (fritchka@fast.net)


   "Why won't you leave me alone!" She screamed into the tearing wind.

The land about her was torn and she could no longer recognize anything
that hinted that this wasteland had once been a greening meadow.

    The only answer she received was the same one she had always been
given. A chorus of voices sounding somewhere in the chaos. "Why won't
you help us?"

    She gasped as she felt her feet slid as the once stable ground
disintegrated and she fell. "I don't know how to help you!" She cried
back. The wind cresendoed and she tried to cover her ears against the
noise only to find it was all in her head. Tears ran down her dust
stained cheeks and she dropped her head down into her hands. "I don't
know how to help you. . ."


*********************


    "But you do."

    The brunette awoke with a start. She could feel the layer of sweat
upon her skin and the sheets were tangled tightly about her legs.
Blessed silence hung heavily in the air and the partially shaded
window allowed a sliver of moonlight to sweep across the floor. She
rose and wandered over to the nearby mirror. Dark circles highlighted
her eyes against the whiteness of her skin. Her brown hair lay in
tangled ringlets about her face. Exhaustion was etched across her
features as she fell into a nearby chair. She was a far cry from the
young woman she had been only a few short years ago.

    That dream allowed her no peace. She could not close her eyes
without hearing the heart rendering plea. And then, always before she
awoke there was that same voice that cut through her fear to assure
her. The woman stood in disgust and wandered to the window. She flung
it open and was assaulted by the smells left by the recently fallen
rain.

    "How?" She cried into the night. "How can I know how to help you?"

Only the dogs answered her question.

    In desperatioshe turned back to the mirror. "I need you!" She
screamed at her reflection. Nothing happened.

    Sinking to the floor she pulled her legs close to her body and
cried herself back to sleep. She knew that something was happening,
and that her childhood friend's needed her. But she didn't know how to
reach them. She couldn't reach them, and she couldn't help them. So
how could that voice tell her differently?


*******************

    "She won't come."

    "She will."

    "If she hasn't come by now, it's hopeless."

    "Hope is something that never dies. She will come. She has to."

    "But how can she come here? The words no longer work, and her
friends can no longer bring her."

    "All she has to do is look inside. She has the power. She's always
had it."


******************

    The book.

    She had to find that book. Her step-mother watched as she dug
frantically through the boxes that held her past. The childhood she
had cast aside when she had finally grown up. Now she was returning to
it, to look for the answers she needed. Her hand brushed a faintly
leathery cover and she drew out the red bound book. Golden letters,
faded by time, glinted in the dim light as she held it up to her face.
She carefully opened it and gasped as the pages fell out to fan around
her body. She grasped at them in horror and tried to hold them, but
the pages she touched fell into ash and scattered about the floor. As
she watched the lettering brown and the pages crumble to dust she felt
a great weight press down upon her. Her finger brushed the last page
left in the book and she glanced at it. All the words had been erased
except for one single line in the middle. The only left to tell the
tale of her journey towards adulthood were her own damming words.


    "You have no power over me."


Somewhere a bell tolled as Sarah Williams crushed the page in her hand
and cried.



Consequences of the Heart

Chapter 2


By: Delilah (fritchka@fast.net)



    Sarah stood in the center of the field where she had first enacted
out the book. This was where she had pretended that she was the
willful heroine on a quest to retrieve the harmless babe that had been
stolen by the evil goblin king. It was here that she had first spoken
the words, the words that she could never quite remeber. The words she
now regretted.
    She had finally come to the realization that she had been the only
true villain of the story. She had staged the whole thing, from
wishing her brother away to finally turning her back on the promises
of the fantasy world. She had turned her back on one thing that had
made her truly see herself. And now she could not figure out how to
return to save it.
    She turned her face to the darkening sky. "Jareth! If you hurt
them, I swear I'll kill you myself!" She had given him the role of the
villain in her original journey to the Labyrinth, it only made sense
to her that he was still continuing his role. Therefore he had to be
behind whatever was causing her to receive these images of
destruction. She sat down on the grass, feeling suddenly very weary.
As her eyelids dropped she wished with all her might that she would
awaken in the fairy lands of the Underground. As sleep claimed her she
thought she heard a sound, like that of tinkling crystal, but she
shrugged it off as the dream began anew.

*********************

    "I don't know how to help you. . ."
    "You will."
    Sarah's eyes fluttered open. Her groggy mind didn't quite know how
to take the sudden change in the response. The voice had always said,
but you do, now the answer had been different. She struggled into a
sitting position and gasped.
    The destruction that surrounded her was not as bad as that in her
dream, but it was still very evident. The once sturdy walls that had
denied her entrance to the maze now stood crumbling and they looked
ready to fall at a breeze's touch. Fairies lay dead in the dirt and
the fountain where she had once met the first of her companions was
filled not with blue but brownish-red water.
    "What has happened here?" She asked as she looked about herself in
confusion.
    "You."
    She yelped and turned. A tall man stood huddled in a dark robe.
Grey eyes peered at her from the depths of the cloth. "What do you
mean, me?" She asked.
    The figure shrugged and moved about her, heading towards a gapping
hole in the outer walls of the Labyrinth. "You happened here." He
repeated.
    Sarah frowned and shook her head. She had forgotten how enigmatic
the inhabitants of this place tended to be. "Who are you?" She asked,
deciding it was a safer question.
    The figure paused and turned towards her. "I am many."
    "What can I call you?"
    "Ah." The figure said pulling the hood from his head. Black hair
glistened in the bleeding sunlight. "You can call me Trevain."
    "Well, Trevain. Why is the Labyrinth decaying like this?"
    "Because you came to it." Was the answer.
    Sarah sighed in disgust. "This is the most circular conversation I
have ever had."
    "Not my fault."
    They continued on in silence for a moment. "How can I fix this?"
    Trevain smiled at her slightly. "Find Jareth."
    "And where can I find him?" She pressed.
    "At the castle beyond the goblin city."
    "Surprise, surprise." Sarah muttered. "Why would he do this?" She
asked.
    "He didn't."
    "Then who did?" She asked, feeling slightly stunned.
    "You."
    Sarah felt a headache coming on.

*********************

    "I told you she'd come."
    "I don't care."
    "You should care. She's coming here you know."
    "Let her come. It matters not to me."
    "You have a very nasty attitude, you know that."
    "Go away, and leave me in peace!"
    "You'll never have peace, lad. Not as long as this remains
unresolved."

*********************

See part one for disclaimer

Consequences of the Heart
Chapter 3

By: Delilah (fritchka@fast.net)


    As they continued their trek through the crumbling ruins of the
Labyrinth Sarah felt her heart sink. Nothing stood untouched by the
decay and destruction. Trees lay in piles on the ground and the ivy
that had once crawled the walls hung in tattered patches of brown. She
had given up on trying to get answers from her now silent companion
and was now content on following his winding lead. She didn't know
where he was going and she didn't ask. Finally a thought occurred to
her as she glanced about.
    "Why isn't the Labyrinth changing? When I was last here the walls
moved about." She asked.
    Trevain glanced back at her sadly. "It no longer has the power for
such simple tricks. It has barely enough to stay alive."
    "Alive? What do you mean alive?"
    The dark man shrugged. "The Labyrinth is a living thing, my dear.
It grows, or it used to grow, and it changes it shape as it chooses.
It hasn't really been doing much of that now, though."
    Sarah digested this new bit of information. "The decay doesn't
seem to be as bad here. It was worse when we first entered."
    "That is because the Labyrinth is pulling back," Trevain noticed
her confused expression and elaborated, "A dying body cuts off the
areas of least importance to try to save the organs. It's much the
same here."
    "So since the decay lessens as we near the castle, the castle must
be the source of it's power." Sarah reasoned.
    "Close. You see the castle is it's heart but the Goblin King is
it's power. And since that is where he resides, that is the thing that
Labyrinth is trying to protect and keep alive."
    They passed a set of doors and Sarah gasped as she saw the rusting
remains of the knockers. She fought back tears as she gently touched
one and received no response. Trevain waited for her a short distance
away and she shook her head to clear it. She would not let him know of
her sorrow. "So why doesn't Jareth give the Labyrinth the power it
needs to survive?" She asked.
    "You shall see, my dear. You shall see."

*********************

    "They are practically at your doorstep."
    "Still here?"
    "I'll never leave you, you know that. Come now, you are to have
visitors. Will you not prepare to properly receive them?"
    "I did not invite them. It is not worth the effort."
    "So you will lie here, shrouded in your own self pity, hmmm? She
blames you for the destruction. Will you not try to cure her of that
misconception?"
    "Why? She will blame me regardless. I am the villain. It is just
one more thing for her to add to her list."
    "Oh, how far my mighty king has fallen! How far I have fallen too.
Come, Jareth, you will receive her and then I will be returned to my
former glory!"
    "No. You will stay a fallen realm, and I will stay a villain king.
You're cherished hope blinds you."
    "You self-pity blinds you! You will meet her, and you will be
healed. Thusly I shall be healed too. Now, no more talk of such evil
things. The lady comes with her escort. Be ready to meet her."

Consequences of the Heart
Chapter 4

By: Delilah (fritchka@fast.net)


    The castle was in ruins, yet it was still imposing. Memories of
the past flooded Sarah's mind and she shivered in the warm air.
Trevain waited for her to come to terms with her fear silently amid
the rubble. "Are you sure it's safe?" She asked as she eyed the fallen
stone dubiously.
    "No. But I don't believe it would have called you here just to
crush you under a mountain of rock."
    Sarah shivered again. "Who is it?"
    Trevain gave her his secret smile. "It is not a who," he held up a
hand to stop her angry reply, "you will see. Now come, they are
undoubtedly waiting for us."
    Somehow the stone staid standing as they passed underneath it and
Sarah gave a sigh of relief. The castle was deathly silent and she
peered into the shadows feeling a new air of unease creeping upon her.
"Trevain?" She called quietly.
    "Yes?" The man asked as he appeared at her shoulder.
    "Where are all the goblins? There were many when I was last here."
    The taller man shook his head sadly. "They are gone. Scattered on
the winds with most of the other inhabitants of this land. Jareth sent
some away, the others left on their own when they saw their homes
falling to dust."
    "But I don't understand. Why would Jareth send his own subjects
away?" She pressed.
    Trevain's grey eyes met hers. "Because he didn't care anymore."
    She didn't have time to ask why he didn't care.

***************************

    "She's here!"
    "I told you, I do not care."
    "No, not her. The other one!"
    "I don't care about her either."
    "You are a fool! That one will see you to an early grave!"
    "So be it."
    "She will destroy you, she'll corrupt me."
    "You are too far gone to be corrupted."
    "Listen to me, you arrogant idiot! You care not about yourself,
fine! You don't care about me, so be it. But what will she do with the
young lady we are expecting, hmmm? I somehow doubt it will involve a
welcome-to-the-neighborhood tea!"
    "You've told me yourself that she has the power. Let her defend
herself."
    "You still can not bring yourself to say her name, yet you claim
you do not care for her. You are seriously beginning to irk me, you
know that?"
    "They why don't you go crawl into some corner to die, and leave me
be?"
    "Because I, unlike some people around here, do not plan to go
without a fight."

*********************

    Trevain hissed at the shadow before them. The lady in black
laughed and flicked her wrist causing the nearby shadows to surround
the man and they bound him tightly in their depths. Sure that she
would experience no undue attention from him she turned her gaze to
the startled girl before her.
    "And who are you to seek the counsel of the dying king?" She
asked.
    Sarah blinked in surprise. "Dying king?"
    "I asked you a question, little one, it is impolite to answer it
with a question of your own." The lady in black admonished, twisting
her hand in a threatening fashion.
    "My name is Sarah. Now you answer mine."
    The woman gasped and backed away. "It is not possible! You should
not lie, it is unbecoming of a lady."
    "It is not a lie." Sarah insisted.
    The woman seemed to think about this for a moment before laughing.
"We shall see, little one. Come!"
    Sarah gasped as she felt herself being wrenched upwards then
dropped to the floor. She looked about frantically and found herself
in different room then the one she had been in a moment before. The
room was almost completely dark but she could still see a familiar
form draped across a large chair. The lady in black swept up and
leaned over the chair's back to whisper into still form's ear.
    "Well, fallen king, I have a question for you. It seems this
little child thinks she is the one who has destroyed you. I told her
lies were unbecoming, what say you?" The words slithered across the
room and kept Sarah from approaching the two.
    Mismatched eyes glanced at her before closing once more. "I do
believe lies are unbecoming. Fortunatly, I am graced only with the
presence of true ladies."
    The lady in black snarled and backed away from the chair. "How?
How is it that she comes here!"
    "I do not know. Why not ask her, Vernelle?" Jareth's voice fell
off into a whisper.
    "Or better yet, why not leave?"
    Sarah gasped and looked about for the unseen speaker. There was no
one in sight and she frowned when she noticed that neither Jareth nor
Vernelle seemed bothered by the disembodied voice. "Jareth, I will
speak with you." She said.
    Neither paid heed to her as Vernelle spoke to the voice. "You will
not speak to me, creation! Lands were created to be seen, not heard."
    "I was created to do both!" The voice replied. "Now get to your
own lands. This is a private party, and I don't think your invitation
was lost by the messenger."
    Vernelle glared down at Sarah before breaking a smile. "Then I
shall endeavor to be on my way. We will meet again, child. Jareth, I
look forward to our next invigorating discussion." With these final
words the woman shrank back and was swallowed by the shadows leaving
Sarah alone with Jareth and the mysterious voice.

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Consequences of the Heart
Chapter 5

By: Delilah (fritchka@fast.net)


    All the things she had been planning to say melted from her mind
when she finally truly looked at the man lounging before her. There
was almost nothing left of the proud and powerful king she had once
known, and for some reason that bothered her. She knew that she should
be happy that her villain was defeated, but strangely she was not
comforted by this revelation. If Jareth was aware she was still in the
room he gave no indication and she was left standing tongue-tied and
confused. Oddly, help came from the strange presence that had spoken
before.
    "Well, I'm afraid you're going to have to forgive him of his
rudeness. Jareth doesn't entertain that much anymore and I fear he has
forgotten his manners." The voice said dryly.
    "Who are you? Where are you?" Sarah asked of the matronly voice.
    There was soft laughter that proceeded the reply. "I am
everywhere, little one. As to who I am, well that question doesn't
exactly pertain to me since I'm really not a who but let's just say
I'm more of a where or a what."
    It took her a moment to digest this and the answer she got worried
her. "You're the Labyrinth?" She asked in awe.
    "For now, yes. In ages past I have been many things, a meadow, a
mountain, a city, and now a giant maze."
    Sarah examined the walls of the castle intently. "But why so many
things?"
    "I change to reflect the one who gives me life. When a new ruler
takes residence in my heart I modify myself to reflect them."
    Nodding, Sarah inched a little closer to Jareth's still form. She
wasn't sure if he was still awake or not. "So Jareth's reflection is a
maze?"
    "He is playful and enjoys games. Or at least he used to." There
was an audible sigh.
    "Jareth, what has happened here? Why are you letting your land
fall to waste?" She asked pleadingly.
    There was no response and she finally turned to walk away.
"Because, it doesn't mean anything." The soft words made her pause and
she slowly looked back at him.
    "It means everything!" She shouted at him, feeling the hot tears
return. "It is everything to those who live here! You are their king!
It's your duty to protect them and keep their homes and lives safe.
Why do you fail at that duty?"
    "Why indeed?" The voice asked.

***********************

    Vernelle watched the young woman shouting at the oblivious king, a
look of worry creasing her face. She hadn't thought it possible that
she could ever return, and yet here she was. And more importantly,
here she was trying to get Jareth to reclaim his responsibilities. It
was so unfair! She was so close to winning the throne and the power
that went with it.
    Flinging the mirror from her she stood and paced about the floor.
She had to figure out a way of removing this unwanted obstacle, but
how to do it? Anything drastic might shock the comatose king out of
his depression. She couldn't have that. It had taken years for
something to finally bring that high and mighty man to his knees, who
knew how much longer it would take for another disaster of such
importance to take place. No, this was her one and only chance, and
she was not about to let this silly human with no magical power ruin
her chance. Not by a long shot.
    Calling her shadows to her she watched as they appeared, dragging
the man with them. Trevain glared at her with hate filled eyes and she
laughed. "Come now, boy, is that any way to treat your lady?" She
asked.
    "You are not my lady!" Trevain shouted.
    She reached up a hand to caress his cheek and he spit at her.
Shrieking in rage she slapped him with all her strength. His head
whipped about with a satisfying crack and she grinned. Violence always
was the best stress reliever. "Now tell me all you know about this
Sarah." She ordered.
    Trevain clamped his mouth shut and refused to answer. Vernelle
sighed deeply and gestured at a lone shadow lurking in the corner of
her room. The boy arched and cried out as the shadow started to writhe
and pull apart. He fell to his knees in pain and she crossed her arms.
"I'm waiting." She snapped.
    Gasping for breath the boy glared at her before responding with
the information she had requested. The interrogation did not stop
there but rather went on far into the night.

**********************

    Sarah gasped as she tripped over a rock that had been half hidden
by the dirt. "Carefully, deary, don't want to hurt yourself this early
in the game."
    "Thanks, Labyrinth. Am I almost there?" She asked as she picked
her way through the rubble.
    "Yes. Just a few feet more. Now there should be a door on your
left, see it?"
    Sarah peered into the darkness just beyond the hole in the wall.
What used to be a door lay in a pile on the threshold. "Yes. Is that
where the book is?" She asked.
    "It should be sitting on a table in the back corner."
    Sarah dug for a few moments before her fingers discovered the torn
edge of an ancient tome. Pulling from the pile of books she dusted off
the cover and looked at it. "Labyrinth, I can't read this."
    "Surely you can read. How else did you get here in the first
place?"
    Sighing in annoyance Sarah looked at the walls. "Of course I can
read. But I can't read this language!"
    "Oh, now that would be a problem wouldn't it?"
     "Why do I need this book?" She asked.
    "Because this book will tell you how to run the Kingdom, my dear."
The Labyrinth replied matter-of-factly.
    "But why must I be the new ruler? Can't somebody else do it? And
what do we do with Jareth?"
    "So many questions! First, you were the one who crushed Jareth so
it only stands to reason that you be the one to replace him. Second,
if you don't do it somebody like that nasty Vernelle is going to take
over, and she's going to make this look like a Sunday picnic. Third, I
have no idea what we're going to do about Jareth, we'll figure that
out later. Now you need to get going."
    "What? Where am I going now?"
    "To find someone who can read that, and teach you what you need to
know. You'd better get going soon, deary, you don't have much time."
    Sarah blinked, everything was going too fast for her to
comprehend. "But. . ."
    "But me no buts, now you'd better get moving if you want to save
your friends."
    Sarah dropped her head into her hands and sighed.

(If you've just read this please send a message to me
fritchka@fast.net so I know whose reading and who isn't)




Consequences of the Heart
Chapter 6

by: Delilah (fritchka@fast.net)


    It took all of her power to keep from screaming about the
unfairness of it all. She was alone, hungry, and afraid. Night had
descended upon her like an iron curtain and silence had fallen with
it. Every few steps she would trip and a new scratch or bruise was
added to her collection. Her hand brushed along the wall and she
watched as the lichen crumbled and fell to the dust, the eyes dull and
faded.
    Sarah shivered in disgust and pulled her arms in and hugged
herself. This wasn't like the dream it had been the first time she had
entered the Labyrinth. This was a nightmare made horribly too real.
She had tried to speak with Jareth before departing but if he had been
aware of her presence he never let on. The only reaction she had
gotten out of him was when she had reached out to touch him. He had
winced and pulled away as far as the stone chair would allow.
    "Hey, lady! Don't you know it isn't safe to be out after dark?"
    Sarah's head whipped about as she tried to identify the speaker.
    "Yeah, especially all be yourself?" Came another voice.
    A flash of red brought her attention to a pile of crumbled rocks.
A pair of eyes glittered at her from the darkness and she felt her
voice catch in her throat. She slowly started to back away trying to
find some avenue of escape.
    "Hey, ain't we've seen you before?" The first creature asked as it
cocked it's head.
    "No, no." Sarah said shaking her head.
    The second creature eyed her carefully. "Yeah, you look familiar,
lady. Haven't you been in our forest?"
    Her back bumped up against a wall as the two creatures came out of
their hiding places. She had no where left to run and the two
creatures were coming dangerously close to recognizing her. "I'd don't
suppose you could read this, could you?" She asked hoping to distract
them.
    The creatures glanced at each other and laughed hysterically.
"Lady, we're fieries, we've got better things to do then read some old
dusty books!"
    "Yeah, why don't you come and chill down with us? It'll be just
like old times!"
    Having things just like old times with a pair of fieries did not
put her mind at ease so Sarah politely declined and ran for it. To her
surprise the fieries didn't come after but rather shrugged and slipped
back into their little makeshift cave. She paused to catch her breath
and to reflect on her situation. If only she knew where that Trevain
had gone. She was sure he could read the book and help her learn.

********************

    Trevain winced and closed his eyes as he lost his footing and
slipped down the outer wall of the castle. His foot caught small ledge
and he managed to stop his descent. It was hard to see where he was
going in the milky darkness. Whisps of fog fluttered past his face and
tangled about his wrists and hands. He once again began his shaky
decent trying desperately to keep from looking down.
    "Stupid, Vernelle. Very stupid." He muttered as he finally reached
the ground. falling to his knees he kissed the soil and mentally spoke
a prayer of thanks to whoever was listening. Vernelle fancied herself
a wise ruler, a fatal mistake indeed. Turning his back on the dark
castle he headed towards the ruined lands that lay just below the
horizon. That silly girl couldn't have gotten very far and he
suspected he knew just where he could find her.
    Pulling his hood up over his dark hair he began his trek anew. He
knew the path by heart and simply followed the tuggings in his heart.
The darkness held nothing from his grey eyes as he picked his way down
the winding path towards the lands below.

***************

    "She's left the Labyrinth, deary."
    "She won't be back."
    "Such pessimism. Don't you want her to learn to use the book? If
she learns she'll stay."
    "I don't want her to stay. I want her gone."
    "You never could lie, especially to me, love."
    "It's not worth the effort to even speak to you."
    "You always say that and yet you always speak back. How full of
contradictions you are. That is why this Labyrinth is perfect for
you."
    "Why must you try to analyze me?"
    "Because it's my nature. Come now, sing for me. Sing like you used
to."
    "I cannot."
    "Cannot or will not?"
    "Can not. There is no song left in me."
    "I know, love, I know. But soon there will be, very soon."

****************

Consequences of the Heart
Chapter 7
By: Delilah


    "Hey, lady!"
    Sarah froze feeling fear creeping up her spine. She turned slowly
and glanced back. Only the stretched lengths of the road she had been
travelling reached her gaze. Looking about frantically for the voice
that had hailed her she took a few more steps towards the horizon she
had been chasing for the last few hours.
    "Who's there?" She whispered, blushing slightly as her voices
wavered unsuredily.
    There was a slight chuckle before the voice replied to her
question. "Me, who else would you be talking to?"
    "But where are you?"
    "Up here, you blind or something?"
    Sarah bit back a steamed comment conserning the rudeness of the
speaker as she looked up at branches of a tall tree. A disgustingly
dirty creature leered down at her and she quickly moved out from under
the tree, fearing that whatever was covering it would fall down into
her hair. The creature cocked it's head and scratched at it's own oily
nest of hair.
    "You're a goblin!" She exclaimed feeling both a sort of relief and
a feeling of anxiety.
    "Ya think?"
    Sarah wasn't sure if the goblin was serious or if it was being
sarcastic. Not really wanting to anger the little thing she waved
shyly at it, trying to coax the goblin down out of the tree. If only
she could get it to translate the book for her, she'd be able to
return to the Labyrinth much sooner then she had anticipated.
    It took the goblin a few moments to figure out what she wanted but
finally after a short shouting match Sarah was able to get her point
across. Unfortunatly fate seemed to have different plans. "Sorry,
can't get out of this here tree." The goblin sniffed.
    "But whyever not?"
    "I've been stuck up her for ages."
    "Can't you jump down?"
    "Jump down?" The goblin asked, slightly confused.
    "Yes. Just push yourself off the branch and you'll fall to the
ground."
    The goblin shook it's head sadly. "That won't work."
    Sarah hesitated, she hadn't really expected this reply. "What
makes you think it won't work? What else would happen if you jumped
off the branch?"
    "I'd float up into the sky."
    "No you wouldn't."
    "Yes, I  would! I've seen it happen to the birds and them there
squirrels! They push off the branch and poof! up into the air with
them."
    Sarah found herself laughing so hard tears were streaming down her
face. "That only happens because birds have wings. And those squirrels
have extra skin under their arms to help them glide on the wind. Trust
me, you'll fall."
    "You sure?"
    "Like a ton of rocks." She replied deadpan.
    "All right. But if I float away, it's all your fault!" The goblin
huffed as it slid a little to a lower part of the branch. Finally it
leap down, eyes firmly closed against the rushing air. With a thunk
the creature landed solidly, on the ground.
    "Well, I'll be." It muttered as it picked itself up and brushed
off the dirt from it's pants.
    "Now that you're down could you help me with something?" Sarah
asked innocently.
    The goblin eyed her warily before finally nodding. Sarah handed it
the book and the creature studied the pages before looking up at her
and laughing.
    "What's so funny?" Sarah asked angerly.
    "I'm a goblin. How do you expect me to read?" It asked and went
back to laughing.
    Sarah sighed in defeat and turned to return to her trek. The
creature had a point and she felt a little embarressed about not
realizing that it probably had never seen a book in it's life. After a
few moments she noticed a deformed shadow walking along side hers. She
considered sending the goblin away but shook her head. What difference
did it make? Besides, having a goblin along might not be that bad.

************************

    Trevain watched the pair of fieries scurring along the dusty
ground chasing after a worm. The worm glanced back and shouted
something at his attackers with a strange accent before dissappearing
into a crack in the wall. True to their nature the firies kept running
after the worm and crashed into the stone. Body parts flew everywhere.
    A head rolled up to bounce off his feet and the man reached down
and lifted it up by the ears. The yellow eyes met his and the fiery
yelped in surprise. "Hey, let go!" It yelled.
    "Soon. First you're going to answer some questions for me. . ."

**********************

    "Translucent globes
    in dust red skies
    the blueness gone
    into his eyes

    Golden hair
    with darkness mixed
    a running clock
    not twice six. . . Damn!"

    Sarah shook her head to clear it of the muddling song. The goblin
glanced up at her curiously before shrugging and going back to picking
at it's tattered clothes. The goblin had been singing that song for
three straight hours and now Sarah had the first two lines stuck in
her head. She kept getting the silly thing running through her mind
and halting all attempts at trying to think. She had asked the
creature where it had heard the song from but the only answer she had
gotten consited of variously phrased 'I don't know's.
    "How far is it to the nearest town?" She asked of her companion.
    The goblin thought long and hard before shrugging. "Never got any
farther then that tree."
    "Oh."
    They continued on in silence for a while before Sarah came to a
realization. "I still don't know what your name is."
    The goblin stared at her. "That's cause you never asked."
    "Then what is your name?"
    "Don't have one."
    That stopped her in her tracks. "You don't have a name? Then
whatever do people call you?"
    "Hey, you mostly."
    "But I can't call you hey you."
    "Why not?"  The creature asked.
    "Well, I guess I could call you that. Although it will take some
getting used to."
    "Doesn't everything?" You asked.
    Sarah glanced about at the foreign landscape. "You're right, you
know, You. You're very right."

Sorry about the delay and short chapter but reality interferes again.
Previous chapters can be found at
www.oocities.org/Area51/Labyrinth/6490/Laby.html

Consequences of the Heart
Chapter 8
By: Delilah


An extra hour
of pleading made
a magical world
beginning to fade!

    Sarah sighed as the goblin stopped singing and glanced expectantly
up at her. She considered just ignoring the creature but couldn't find
it in her heart to disappoint it. She opened her mouth and sang the
next verse to the goblin's total amusement.

A dreamer's dance
though fiends abound
safe in his arms
as the world falls down

    "And one more time now!" You shouted out before Sarah could stop
him. Taking in a large breath of air the goblin once again broke into
song. The human shook her head in defeat and decided to try a little
sight seeing to distract herself from the caterwauling creature.
    She hadn't seen any animal life in the last three days and
normally that would have bothered her, but she chalked it up to the
screaming goblin. Why couldn't she have run into a mute one? Or one
that was too stupid to talk? Oh, how she hated her luck!
    Silence descended about her like a blanket and she froze in
midstep. "You?" She asked as she slowly turned around. A scream
escaped her lips when she discovered a dark shape looming over her.
Scrambling back, she lost her footing and tumbled to the ground. The
precious book she carried flew from her fingertips.
    The figure easily caught the book and brought it up to his face.
It was then that Sarah recognized Trevain's features. He had You
caught by a firm hand over his mouth to silence the squirming
creature. "Interesting reading. Have you decided to take up ruling in
your past time?" The man asked as he paged through the book.
    "You, you can read that?" Sarah asked hopefully as she stood and
brushed the road dust off her cloths.
    "Hmm? Oh, of course I can read it, how else could I have known
what it was about?" He asked tossing the book back to her.
    By now You was turning an unhealthy shade of blue under his layer
of dirt and Sarah frowned. She didn't want the poor thing to
suffocate, but she was getting to like this song free world she had
entered. Sighing she reached out and tugged the frantic goblin from
the man's grasp.
    You gasped and sputtered for a few moments before promptly passing
out on the side of the road. "Cute friend you got there, I could hear
him from the Labyrinth's gates." Trevain said nodding to the
unconscious goblin. He turned with a flare of his robes and began to
walk in the direction of the setting sun.
    "Really?" Sarah asked as she hurried to follow him.
    The man stopped and looked at her incredulously. "No, not really."
    "Oh." She looked away feeling slightly foolish. "Should we leave
him there like that?" She asked glancing back.
    "Would you eat him?" Trevain replied in question.
    Sarah shook her head, twisting her features into a mask of
disgust. "Eww, no."
    "Then I think he'll be safe. Now we must hurry, it'll be dark
soon."
    "What happens when night falls?" She asked.
    "Vernelle happens."

********************

Previous chapters can be found at
www.oocities.org/Area51/Labyrinth/6490/Laby.html

Consequences of the Heart
Chapter: 8b

By: Delilah



   Sarah shivered as a burst of wind blew over her bare skin and she
huddled into a ball, staring longingly at Trevain's robe. If he was
aware of her look he was ignoring her and she sighed, wishing beyond
hope that this whole foul adventure was over.  She somehow suspected
that this was going to take far longer then her previous visit to the
Underground and now she cursed herself for not being a little bit more
prepared.

    Tired of just sitting and doing not she pulled out the book the
Labyrinth had led her to and began flipping through the pages. Every
once in awhile she would come across a word that seemed familiar but
then it would fade back into a sea of words that would twist through
her mind and make her dizzy. How anyone could read such a thing was
beyond her.

    A hand crashing down caused her to shriek and leap to her feet.
Trevain glared up at her with an angry predatory look as he slammed
the book shut and slipped it back into the bag she had been using to
carry it. "Are you a fool?" He hissed, his eyes flashing dangerously
at her.

    She could feel her heart beating in her throat and she couldn't
form a answer. The most she could was squeak out a hurried, "Are you
trying to give me a heart attack?".

  The man's look of anger turned to one of contempt as he slowly made
his way back to the tree that had originally been supporting his
weight. "Are you sure the Labyrinth insisted that the book was for you
to read?"

   She felt her wounded pride flare and she took a threatening step
towards the lounging man. "Yes, it did!"

  He snorted and looked out into the night. "Foolish realm!" He
cursed, sending the words into the night sky.

    "Well if you don't like it, too bad! It's my book, and. . .and if
you don't want to teach me what it says, than I'll just find someone
else who can read it!" She snapped but fell silent as a rough laugh
cut through the murky silence.

   "And just where, my dear, do you expect to find them? Some village
on the side of the road, perhaps?" Trevain asked mockingly.

    Sarah frowned deeply. "Well why not? Surely there's someone who
knows how to read."

     "Foolish girl. You truly do not understand." He replied shaking
his head.

    "Understand what?"

    His eyes locked onto her, capture her with their intensity.
"Because, this is a realm of dreams and stories. What need do such
people have that they must be able to read? They are subject to the
whims and mercy of those who write about them. Despite appearances,
they are truly two dimensional creatures, they can not create. Not
like you and yours can. Look about you, Sarah, there are no stories
here. And what need do people have to read their own destinies?"

  She stared at the man before her in a daze. His words were
disturbing to her yet fascinating in their own right. Yet. . . there
was something wrong in what he said. And then there had been the way
he had said her name. Almost a longing cry against fading wind, a cry
she had heard come from another pair of lips. A cry that still sent
shivers down to her very bones. They were so alike, yet they were
different. But how could it be? No, she was wrong, she had to be. But
still. . .

***********************

    Vernelle watched their verbal exchange with interest and growing
anger. So, the girl had the book, hmmm. Well she was going to have to
rectify that situation, and soon. But that was not what fascinated
her. The girl, Sarah, had mentioned that her pet was to teach her how
to read the book. Yet that was impossible, wasn't it? Trevain could no
more read then she or any other denizen of this realm, but why this
elaborate ruse?

    So many questions, and such an easy way to answer them.

    All she needed was time.

    Unfortunately, in this land, time was a far from certain thing.

*****************

Comments adored and praised! Just click on the little glowing blue
address! Commenting is food for your brain so do it as often as you
can! fritchka@fast.net


 



Back
to the fan-fic page