The woman smile in contentment as she lay propped up against a twisted peach tree. Every inch of wood wound its way about forming delicate designs that caught the eye. Golden peaches hung heavily from the branches like some forbidden fruit. The woman had made sure to keep away from these knowing full well of their reputation. She peered through slitted eyes and watched as the tabby stalked something in the high grass. Yawning she closed her eyes and basked in the warm sunlight. The labyrinth wasn't half as bad as many painted it to be.
A slight tinkling sound jarred her awake. She could see something coming at her through the grass. Frowning she tightened her muscles and prepared to leap out of its way. She was about to give it a swift kick and run when the tabby pounced upon it stopping the thing. She reached down and lifted it up to get a better look at it. She wasn't surprised with what she saw.
A crystal ball.
The sunlight entered the ball and bounced about inside of it creating a mesmerizing series of flashes and colors. The woman smiled evilly and began to shake the ball vigorously. The colors jumbled together and the light stopped swirling about until the ball became a simple clear crystal.
"Just as I thought," the woman said aloud, "you're going to have to do better then that Jareth!" With a laugh she tossed the ball high into the air and waited for it to drop into her palm. When it did she flung it with all her might at one of the labyrinth's walls. The ball shattered into a million glinting pieces. TO her surprise something fell out of the ball and landed on the ground with a tink. Cautiously she bent down and picked up the golden charm. It was in the shape of a bird in mid-flight. A fine golden chain had been threaded through a loop at the top of the bird's head. Without think she placed around her neck and let it fall against her chest. She noticed writing glinting in the sunlight and turned the charm around. She read the inscription out loud.
"All that glitters. . ."
She frowned slightly. "I wonder what that means."
A mew made her turn and she gasped as she caught sight of the large gateway that now stood where the ball had shattered. The tabby sniffed at the gate then leapt through with typical cat like daring. Not wanting to leave that cat on his own the woman hurried through the gate after him and into the searing light.
* * *
Jareth cried out in surprise as the crystal in his hand exploded. She had shattered his crystal! Jareth snarled as he picked glass shard out of his hair and hands. Goblins ran about collecting the shining pieces and placing them in jars and pockets. He didn't care. The shards were useless to him. He was bothered by her ability to break his crystal. No human should have been able to do that, but if she wasn't human what was she?
A sorceress perhaps?
No. Anything that dealt in magic had left the above ground long ago. Science had threatened to destroy them and finding that living in a world of little belief was painful. She couldn't be a sorceress, could she? She had gotten into his labyrinth without his help. Could she have hidden power she wasn't aware of?
That idea frightened him. Unrecognized power was power with no control. And power with no control meant the power to inadvertently destroy. Cursing under his breath he stood and transported himself to the peach grove hoping to get some answers out of his unexpected guest. As he disappeared he realized something that troubled him.
He still didn't know her name.
Mistakes and Mishaps part 4
Queen Aurora grinned maliciously as she watched the struggling figure makes it's way across the ice. Nothing could live long in her kingdom without magical protection to keep it warm. She was surprised that the woman had made it this long without showing her true powers. She had chosen this person knowing full well of her hidden potential. Dropping her in the middle of the Labyrinth had been easy enough, Jareth never was the most perceptive creature. She had hoped that the sudden change in location would be enough to force the woman's powers to the fore but still they lay hidden. She had become impatient. She wanted that Labyrinth gone, now. With the Labyrinth out of her way she could expand her empire and use the natural border between the Labyrinth and the kingdom of the Fey to slowly change it's environment and force those annoying fairies farther south. She wasn't a big fan of goblins either, they were such imperfect creatures.
Raising her hands she blew some ice crystals towards the woman and smiled as the woman fell with a cry. The ice shards ripped into her skin and clothes. A white aura began to form and Aurora knew the woman was close to releasing her power. It was all so simple. So perfect. Turning her back she entered the main room of her icy palace. The sunlight entered the palace and was broken apart into a rainbow of colors that were refocused back at the sky. Checking to make sure all was in order she continued down the hall and into the library. To her surprise an impish creature was there reading something in a book that was easily twice his size.
"Are you ready to begin, Frost?" Aurora asked.
Frost jumped and raised wide eyes up towards the queen. "Of course, your perfectness. All will be well in order," he hesitated for a moment before continuing, "and the woman?"
"She will be returned as soon as I am sure she has been pushed to her limit."
"Of course." Frost replied quietly. Aurora nodded and continued on her way never noticing the worried look that crossed her minion's face when she turned.
Frost sighed sadly and returned to his book. There had to be a way to stop her. According to what he had read the lands of the underground had been separated into what they were today for a very good reason. Unlike the Aboveground the Underground was very unstable. A balance had to be maintained between all the powers. If the balance was tipped one way or another who knew what could happen. This was what he called the Uncertain Destruction. The Certain Destruction involved certain relatives of the Goblin King being very put out with Jareth's death and the destruction of the Labyrinth. Aurora was putting everything on the line just to further her own twisted goals. She already ruled more land in the Underground then any other but still she wanted more.
Frost lowered his head in defeat. The only thing he could do was either hope Aurora's plan failed and Jareth recognized the danger or King Borealis returned to stop his mad wife.
* * *
Jareth was more then a little annoyed now. The woman seemed to have disappeared from his Labyrinth all together. He had found the shattered crystal but nothing else. Everything appeared normal but he couldn't help thinking that something was seriously wrong. Goblins were searching every inch of the place with orders to bring the woman to the castle. Feeling the urge for violent gestures he kicked at one of the walls not surprised that it yelled back at him. Ignoring the swearing wall he continued on trying to figure out where she had gone. She had to be here somewhere.
A flash of gold was all he saw before he felt something land solidly on his head and begin ripping at his hair. Frantically he tried to remove the creature before it did more then flatten his hair style. Goblins appeared at his angered cries of "Get it off, get it off, GET IT OFF!" and tried vainly to get his hair free. After a few moments of scurrying about Jareth managed to dislodge the creature and he flung the cat to the ground. Panting he glared the animal down and began to advance upon it. "You mangy animal! Nothing messes with my hair! Kill it!" He ordered.
Three goblins stepped forward to comply but were thrown back when something akin to thunder shook the ground under them. Jareth whirled wonder what could possibly have gone wrong now. To his surprise the woman stood before him but it wasn't the same woman he had seen before.
Her blonde hair was wild and matted in places and her blue eyes were glazed. Her clothes had been shredded in places and numerous wounds stood out on her skin. A white blaze seemed to surround her body and Jareth was forced back a step by the sheer power it radiated. Knowing that the smallest thing could spell their destruction Jareth hissed to the goblins to step back. The woman slowly came forward and lifted the cat into her arms. After a few seconds the blaze suddenly died out and the woman fell to the ground. Cautiously Jareth came forward and touched her skin pulling back when he felt how cold it was. He produced a crystal and after twirling it in an intricate pattern he tossed it upwards where it floated for a moment before expanding and taking them back to the castle.
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