Continuing Tales

Dark Labyrinth

A Labyrinth Story
by Helen Fayle

Part 12 of 12

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Dark Labyrinth

Sarah reined in Ghairlean at the top of the hill, and waited for Jareth to catch up. She patted the little grey's neck fondly. Devin's gift to her, after he'd heard that she intended to stay.

Jareth's bay gelding drew level with them finally just as Sarah swung her leg over and dropped to the ground. She looped the reins over the branch of a nearby tree and walked the rest of the way to the edge of the hill overlooking the Labyrinth, and stared down at the valley below.

'It doesn't look so bad from up here,' she said eventually.

Jareth stood behind her, and placed his arms around her waist. 'Bad enough. It will take a long time to repair.' Sarah leaned into his embrace, smiling to herself. Overhead, the sun was sinking in the sky, and already the ghost of the full moon could be seen on the horizon, pale silver against the coppery sky. Below them, the Labyrinth spread out across the valley, seeming from this distance not too much the worse for the events of the past month. Several of the pillars lining the path down to the gates were fallen, and parts of the Labyrinth, she could see from here, were in ruins. But considering how it might have been…

She sighed. 'You didn't want to ride all the way out here just to get a good look at the valley, did you?' she asked, turning in his arms to face him. Without answering, he released her, and found a convenient fallen pillar to sit on.

He still looked frail, she thought suddenly, watching him closely. Even after two weeks. Contrasted against his black shirt, he seemed even paler.

Like the Labyrinth, he'd be a long time healing. But at least they had the time.

He was staring at her intently, and she had to wonder what he was up to. Would she ever follow his mood changes? They could switch with the wind, when he had a mind to it.

The ghostly promise of the full moon reminded her suddenly of her dreams. The full moon had always been overhead. And always a presentiment…

Ghairlean whinnied, distracting them for a moment, and Sarah heard a barked answer from the foot of the hill. 'Ambrosius must have caught up.' They'd found the sheepdog wandering in the Labyrinth a few days after Iorweth's demise. Sarah swallowed the lump in her throat. Poor Didymus…

Jareth's hand brushed her cheek, catching the tear that had fallen unbidden.

Some things didn't need saying… He'd buried his old retainer by the lakeside at Silverpool.

His free hand drew back, and with a flick of his wrist, he conjured one of his familiar crystals, and offered it to her.

'What is it?' Sarah asked warily.

He shrugged dismissively, but his old, familiar smile hovered again at the corners of his mouth. 'A token. Nothing more.' She held out her hand, closing fingers around the orb, which disintegrated at her touch leaving her holding a simple silver ring, inscribed with the symbol that adorned his amulet. 'Here, let me.' He took it from the palm of her hand and placed it over the ring finger on her left hand.

'Infinity.' Sarah stared at the symbol, and then at him. 'Forever?'

He kissed her deeply. 'Forever.' He said when he finally broke off. 'Not that long at all, really.' He drew her closer for a moment, then released her. 'We'd better head back before dark.'

Sarah paused for a moment, her hand on his arm. 'So what happens now - happily ever after?' she teased. She called Ambrosius, who bounded up the hill towards them, tongue hanging out, barking happily.

He snorted, 'With a city full of goblins?' he asked, then grinned mischievously. 'I wouldn't count on it.' As if on cue, a loud explosion rocked the valley. Turning to look, they saw smoke billowing from the vicinity of the Goblin City. Jareth sighed wearily.

'I rest my case.'

'The powder store, or that illegal still on Twark Lane they think you don't know about?' Sarah asked with a grin. He stared over her shoulder.

'Green smoke – it's the still,' he said eventually, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Laughing, and arm in arm, they walked back to the horses. Overhead, as the sun sank down over the horizon, the full moon rose over the valley of the Labyrinth.

Dark Labyrinth

A Labyrinth Story
by Helen Fayle

Part 12 of 12

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