Fic: Beyond the Thirteenth Hour
Title: Beyond the Thirteenth Hour
Chapter: 15/16 (Confrontation)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,827
Summary: Two years have passed since Sarah's adventure in the Underground, and she's now coming to terms with her family's recent move. Not long afterwards, she receives a sudden plea for help from the Underground. Returning to the Labyrinth once again, she sets out with old friends, and a few new ones, to defeat Jareth again.
Note: This story has no beta, so please overlook the occasional mistake. Thanks in advance.
Previous Chapters
In an empty room just off from the dungeons, Jareth was crouching down on the floor, clutching his head as if he had a terrible headache and breathing heavily.
“No,” he muttered to himself. “I can’t let it happen. Not now. Not after everything I did to prevent it.” The Goblin King was so lost in thought; he didn’t even notice Stacey had entered the room, glowering down at him in anger.
“I want answers, Jareth,” she demanded. At her words, Jareth jumped slightly, gazing back at her in shock.
“You. Stacey,” he gaped, his eyes wide with an emotion Stacey could not identify. “Why…why did you…? You shouldn’t have come back.”
“What’s wrong, Goblin King,” Stacey snarled. “Were you hoping you saw the last of me after Daedalus took me away?”
“Stacey,” Jareth sighed. “My daughter, I…”
“NO!” Stacey yelled, anger and fury radiating off her. “I’m not your daughter! I haven’t been your daughter since you abandoned me in the Real World! And I’m especially not your daughter now, not after all the things you’ve been doing! Just because you’re king, that’s no excuse to bring pain to the creatures you rule over. I know better then anyone how it feels to be treated like that. I had to endure it for nine years at school.” The anger never leaving her face, Stacey started to step forward, but Jareth cried out, holding out a hand to stop her.
“Keep away!” he exclaimed in a panic. “I do not want to harm you.”
“You don’t want to harm me?” Stacey laughed derisively. “You have a very strange way of showing it. After all that you’ve done….”
“You don’t understand!” Jareth spoke urgently. “It’s here. In my head. It wants to hurt you, to kill you. It wants to destroy everything.” Stacey took a while to reply, staring at Jareth in dawning understanding. Was he trying to say that something was controlling him?
“What, Jareth?” Stacey pushed. “What wants to destroy everything? What are you talking about?” Jareth did not answer the question, and simply staggered to his feet, an action that appeared to be rather difficult for him. Still breathing heavily, he looked desperately at Stacey.
“Jareth, answer me!” Stacey cried, starting to get worried.
“I…I don’t have much time,” Jareth gasped. It sounded as if clear speech was a huge effort. “Stacey, I can’t fight it for much longer. For that reason, I can no longer stay in the Labyrinth. But you must stay. You are my blood, and I leave you to rule in my place.” Turning away, Jareth staggered over to an open window Stacey had not noticed before. “You must remain here, Stacey,” Jareth repeated. “Remain here, where you are safe.” Stacey was about to ask what he was talking about once again, but never got the chance. Before she could say anything, Jareth had transformed into his owl form and took flight, soaring out of the window and out of sight.
For the longest time, Stacey stood in the room alone, staring out the window Jareth had flown out of, feeling frustrated and confused after so many of her questions were left unanswered.
“Stacey?” Sarah’s voice pulled Stacey out of her befuddled thoughts. Turning, she saw Sarah standing in the doorway, accompanied by Ludo and a few of the goblins.
“Sarah,” Stacey breathed, smiling in relief. “Is everyone else all right?”
“Yes, the goblins were defeated,” Sarah returned the smile. “Sir Didymus and Prometheus are down with them now, helping everyone that was injured in the fight.” At that moment, one of the Goblins stepped forward. Stacey instantly recognized him as the Goblin who had struck her wounded shoulder in the Dungeon Battle.
“You… you are the young Princess Stacey,” the goblin whispered in disbelief. “You have returned, after all these years. I see it now. Your eyes. They are exactly the same.” Without another word, the goblin suddenly bowed down.
“Oh, don’t do that,” Stacey sighed, visibly uncomfortable at being bowed to.
“Forgive me, your highness,” the goblin begged. “I did not recognize you.”
“Just get up,” Stacey replied, leaning over and gently pulling the goblin up out of his bow. “Really, there’s no need to bow to me. Actually, I’d prefer it if you didn’t. If you really want to make it up to me, you can return to the dungeons and help us care for the wounded.”
“As you wish, your majesty,” the goblin agreed, following Stacey out of the room.
“Yeah, and I’d appreciate it if you skipped the formality, too.” Stacey sighed, looking rather embarrassed now.
“Well, are the Goblin Princess, Stacey,” Sarah pointed out as they all made their way back to the dungeons.
“Yeah, I know that, Sarah,” Stacey gave a half smile. “But I’ve only known it for a few hours. Let me tell you, it’s very weird to be just a carpenter’s unofficial daughter one day and have people calling you ‘princess’ the next. I’m not going to get used to this very fast, if at all.”
-----
Sometime later, Stacey and Sarah were leading the way out of the dungeons, following one of the goblins’ directions to the castle’s infirmary, where everyone who was injured during the Dungeon Battle could be properly treated. Following close behind was the entire goblin army, along with everyone who had been freed from the dungeons. Theseus’ tail had been placed in a temporary splint, and his paw was bandaged, but he was still as happy as ever. Sir Didymus’ good eye was nearly swollen shut, and he was accepting the help of the female fox he’d defended in the Dungeon Battle in navigating through the corridors. Everyone else was in good condition, with the occasional limp and arm in a sling.
As they walked, Sarah started to notice that Stacey was looking behind them at the large assortment of creatures that was following them, an expression of anxiety on her face. “Stacey, what’s wrong?” Sarah asked.
“I just…couldn’t help noticing someone’s missing,” Stacey replied. “Um, hey, Sir Didymus? Hoggle told you that we were ready for you to lead the goblins to us, didn’t he?”
“That he did, my liege,” Sir Didymus announced.
“Well,” Stacey turned to face the others, “has anyone seen him since then? I didn’t see him once during the Dungeon Battle. And I certainly don’t see him now.”
“Now that you mention it,” Prometheus frowned, “I didn’t see him at all since he helped you build that pit trap.”
“I hope nothing happened to him,” Sarah spoke in concern.
“Yeah,” Stacey nodded as she started turning a corner. “That makes two of….” Before she could finish her sentence, she froze at the beginning of the new corridor, her face filled with horror. Moments later, an anguished cry slipped from her throat, much like that of a wounded animal, and she broke out into a run. For a moment, Sarah looked after her, confused about what had upset Stacey, but then she saw exactly what made her scream. Letting out a horrified gasp, Sarah hurried after Stacy, joining her at Hoggle’s side. The spear was still buried in his side.
As Ludo, Prometheus, Theseus and Sir Didymus, with the help of the female fox, raced over as well, Stacey dropped to her knees, her eyes over-bright as she gazed down at the dwarf. Daedalus, who had been standing nearby, took that moment to step forward, guilt shining in his yellow eyes.
“I’m so very sorry, Stacey,” he apologized. “It happened so fast, I didn’t realize it happened until….”
“I don’t blame you, Daedalus,” Stacey spoke slowly, not taking her eyes off Hoggle’s still form as she took his hand in hers, gripping it tightly. “It’s my fault. I should never have let him go off. Hoggle, you stupid, brave dwarf! You’re such an idiot! Why’d you have to run off like that? I told you I didn’t want you to….” Stacey finally broke down, and began to quietly sob.
“Cu-chu,” Theseus uttered, his ears drooping in sadness.
“Theseus, you can heal him, right?” Sarah asked, grasping at straws. “You healed Stacey when she was injured earlier.”
“It’s not the same,” Daedalus sighed mournfully. “Theseus can only purify, not heal. Stacey was poisoned by the Tarasque, so the gremlin’s touch could help her then. But this is a physical injury, so there’s nothing to purify.”
As this conversation was happening, a mustached goblin stepped forward.
“Your highness?” he spoke hesitantly. “I think… I could be of some help. But first, we’ll need to remove that spear.”
“Are you sure you’d be able to…” Stacey began, her worry overshadowing her discomfort at being addressed as ‘highness’.
“It’s all right, Stacey,” Daedalus assured. “I know this goblin well. He’s seen quite a few battles in his day, so he’d be the best one to ask about matters such as this.”
“First,” the goblin turned to Ludo, “I’ll need you to hold him still for me.” Ludo slowly trudged forward and carefully placed his hairy arms down on Hoggle’s shoulders, holding the dwarf still. The goblin took firm hold of the spear handle and pulled it out in one clean tug. Stacey immediately pulled out a clean handkerchief out of her pocket and pressed it firmly to Hoggle’s wound to stop the flow of blood. Instantly, Hoggle let out a gurgling sound of pain and weakly opened his eyes.
“Hoggle, does it hurt?” Sarah asked gently.
“I’m cold,” Hoggle gurgled, shivering from the loss of blood.
“It’s okay, Hoggle,” Stacey insisted, holding his hand a little tighter as she spoke. “You’ll be just fine. Don’t even think of giving in to this injury. You’re needed here.”
“Me?” Hoggle gazed up at her feebly. “I’m just the reject from Snow White.
“Of course you’re not!” Stacey choked back another sob, her face contorting with guilt. “I’m so sorry I ever said that. You’re my friend, Hoggle. And I’m even sorrier that it took me so long to realize it.” A slow smile appeared on Hoggle’s face, but he then closed his eyes.
“I’m afraid he needs to rest, now,” the mustached goblin explained gently.
“Yeah, I realize that,” Stacey nodded, reaching out to brush some of Hoggle’s hair off his forehead. “But we need to be careful in moving him. Daedalus, can you take the others up to the infirmary? We’ll join you shortly.”
“Of course,” Daedalus nodded before reluctantly leading everyone else who was hurt to the infirmary.
“Ludo, wait,” Stacey called after the yeti. “You stay here. I need you and Sarah to put together a stretcher. It would be too risky to carry Hoggle without one.”
“Yeah,” Ludo nodded, detaching himself from the crowd heading to the infirmary.
“What about you?” Sarah asked.
“I’m going to bandage him up,” Stacey replied. “After I try and stop this bleeding.” No one said another word as they started up their assigned tasks, working quickly but carefully.
Chapter: 15/16 (Confrontation)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,827
Summary: Two years have passed since Sarah's adventure in the Underground, and she's now coming to terms with her family's recent move. Not long afterwards, she receives a sudden plea for help from the Underground. Returning to the Labyrinth once again, she sets out with old friends, and a few new ones, to defeat Jareth again.
Note: This story has no beta, so please overlook the occasional mistake. Thanks in advance.
Previous Chapters
In an empty room just off from the dungeons, Jareth was crouching down on the floor, clutching his head as if he had a terrible headache and breathing heavily.
“No,” he muttered to himself. “I can’t let it happen. Not now. Not after everything I did to prevent it.” The Goblin King was so lost in thought; he didn’t even notice Stacey had entered the room, glowering down at him in anger.
“I want answers, Jareth,” she demanded. At her words, Jareth jumped slightly, gazing back at her in shock.
“You. Stacey,” he gaped, his eyes wide with an emotion Stacey could not identify. “Why…why did you…? You shouldn’t have come back.”
“What’s wrong, Goblin King,” Stacey snarled. “Were you hoping you saw the last of me after Daedalus took me away?”
“Stacey,” Jareth sighed. “My daughter, I…”
“NO!” Stacey yelled, anger and fury radiating off her. “I’m not your daughter! I haven’t been your daughter since you abandoned me in the Real World! And I’m especially not your daughter now, not after all the things you’ve been doing! Just because you’re king, that’s no excuse to bring pain to the creatures you rule over. I know better then anyone how it feels to be treated like that. I had to endure it for nine years at school.” The anger never leaving her face, Stacey started to step forward, but Jareth cried out, holding out a hand to stop her.
“Keep away!” he exclaimed in a panic. “I do not want to harm you.”
“You don’t want to harm me?” Stacey laughed derisively. “You have a very strange way of showing it. After all that you’ve done….”
“You don’t understand!” Jareth spoke urgently. “It’s here. In my head. It wants to hurt you, to kill you. It wants to destroy everything.” Stacey took a while to reply, staring at Jareth in dawning understanding. Was he trying to say that something was controlling him?
“What, Jareth?” Stacey pushed. “What wants to destroy everything? What are you talking about?” Jareth did not answer the question, and simply staggered to his feet, an action that appeared to be rather difficult for him. Still breathing heavily, he looked desperately at Stacey.
“Jareth, answer me!” Stacey cried, starting to get worried.
“I…I don’t have much time,” Jareth gasped. It sounded as if clear speech was a huge effort. “Stacey, I can’t fight it for much longer. For that reason, I can no longer stay in the Labyrinth. But you must stay. You are my blood, and I leave you to rule in my place.” Turning away, Jareth staggered over to an open window Stacey had not noticed before. “You must remain here, Stacey,” Jareth repeated. “Remain here, where you are safe.” Stacey was about to ask what he was talking about once again, but never got the chance. Before she could say anything, Jareth had transformed into his owl form and took flight, soaring out of the window and out of sight.
For the longest time, Stacey stood in the room alone, staring out the window Jareth had flown out of, feeling frustrated and confused after so many of her questions were left unanswered.
“Stacey?” Sarah’s voice pulled Stacey out of her befuddled thoughts. Turning, she saw Sarah standing in the doorway, accompanied by Ludo and a few of the goblins.
“Sarah,” Stacey breathed, smiling in relief. “Is everyone else all right?”
“Yes, the goblins were defeated,” Sarah returned the smile. “Sir Didymus and Prometheus are down with them now, helping everyone that was injured in the fight.” At that moment, one of the Goblins stepped forward. Stacey instantly recognized him as the Goblin who had struck her wounded shoulder in the Dungeon Battle.
“You… you are the young Princess Stacey,” the goblin whispered in disbelief. “You have returned, after all these years. I see it now. Your eyes. They are exactly the same.” Without another word, the goblin suddenly bowed down.
“Oh, don’t do that,” Stacey sighed, visibly uncomfortable at being bowed to.
“Forgive me, your highness,” the goblin begged. “I did not recognize you.”
“Just get up,” Stacey replied, leaning over and gently pulling the goblin up out of his bow. “Really, there’s no need to bow to me. Actually, I’d prefer it if you didn’t. If you really want to make it up to me, you can return to the dungeons and help us care for the wounded.”
“As you wish, your majesty,” the goblin agreed, following Stacey out of the room.
“Yeah, and I’d appreciate it if you skipped the formality, too.” Stacey sighed, looking rather embarrassed now.
“Well, are the Goblin Princess, Stacey,” Sarah pointed out as they all made their way back to the dungeons.
“Yeah, I know that, Sarah,” Stacey gave a half smile. “But I’ve only known it for a few hours. Let me tell you, it’s very weird to be just a carpenter’s unofficial daughter one day and have people calling you ‘princess’ the next. I’m not going to get used to this very fast, if at all.”
-----
Sometime later, Stacey and Sarah were leading the way out of the dungeons, following one of the goblins’ directions to the castle’s infirmary, where everyone who was injured during the Dungeon Battle could be properly treated. Following close behind was the entire goblin army, along with everyone who had been freed from the dungeons. Theseus’ tail had been placed in a temporary splint, and his paw was bandaged, but he was still as happy as ever. Sir Didymus’ good eye was nearly swollen shut, and he was accepting the help of the female fox he’d defended in the Dungeon Battle in navigating through the corridors. Everyone else was in good condition, with the occasional limp and arm in a sling.
As they walked, Sarah started to notice that Stacey was looking behind them at the large assortment of creatures that was following them, an expression of anxiety on her face. “Stacey, what’s wrong?” Sarah asked.
“I just…couldn’t help noticing someone’s missing,” Stacey replied. “Um, hey, Sir Didymus? Hoggle told you that we were ready for you to lead the goblins to us, didn’t he?”
“That he did, my liege,” Sir Didymus announced.
“Well,” Stacey turned to face the others, “has anyone seen him since then? I didn’t see him once during the Dungeon Battle. And I certainly don’t see him now.”
“Now that you mention it,” Prometheus frowned, “I didn’t see him at all since he helped you build that pit trap.”
“I hope nothing happened to him,” Sarah spoke in concern.
“Yeah,” Stacey nodded as she started turning a corner. “That makes two of….” Before she could finish her sentence, she froze at the beginning of the new corridor, her face filled with horror. Moments later, an anguished cry slipped from her throat, much like that of a wounded animal, and she broke out into a run. For a moment, Sarah looked after her, confused about what had upset Stacey, but then she saw exactly what made her scream. Letting out a horrified gasp, Sarah hurried after Stacy, joining her at Hoggle’s side. The spear was still buried in his side.
As Ludo, Prometheus, Theseus and Sir Didymus, with the help of the female fox, raced over as well, Stacey dropped to her knees, her eyes over-bright as she gazed down at the dwarf. Daedalus, who had been standing nearby, took that moment to step forward, guilt shining in his yellow eyes.
“I’m so very sorry, Stacey,” he apologized. “It happened so fast, I didn’t realize it happened until….”
“I don’t blame you, Daedalus,” Stacey spoke slowly, not taking her eyes off Hoggle’s still form as she took his hand in hers, gripping it tightly. “It’s my fault. I should never have let him go off. Hoggle, you stupid, brave dwarf! You’re such an idiot! Why’d you have to run off like that? I told you I didn’t want you to….” Stacey finally broke down, and began to quietly sob.
“Cu-chu,” Theseus uttered, his ears drooping in sadness.
“Theseus, you can heal him, right?” Sarah asked, grasping at straws. “You healed Stacey when she was injured earlier.”
“It’s not the same,” Daedalus sighed mournfully. “Theseus can only purify, not heal. Stacey was poisoned by the Tarasque, so the gremlin’s touch could help her then. But this is a physical injury, so there’s nothing to purify.”
As this conversation was happening, a mustached goblin stepped forward.
“Your highness?” he spoke hesitantly. “I think… I could be of some help. But first, we’ll need to remove that spear.”
“Are you sure you’d be able to…” Stacey began, her worry overshadowing her discomfort at being addressed as ‘highness’.
“It’s all right, Stacey,” Daedalus assured. “I know this goblin well. He’s seen quite a few battles in his day, so he’d be the best one to ask about matters such as this.”
“First,” the goblin turned to Ludo, “I’ll need you to hold him still for me.” Ludo slowly trudged forward and carefully placed his hairy arms down on Hoggle’s shoulders, holding the dwarf still. The goblin took firm hold of the spear handle and pulled it out in one clean tug. Stacey immediately pulled out a clean handkerchief out of her pocket and pressed it firmly to Hoggle’s wound to stop the flow of blood. Instantly, Hoggle let out a gurgling sound of pain and weakly opened his eyes.
“Hoggle, does it hurt?” Sarah asked gently.
“I’m cold,” Hoggle gurgled, shivering from the loss of blood.
“It’s okay, Hoggle,” Stacey insisted, holding his hand a little tighter as she spoke. “You’ll be just fine. Don’t even think of giving in to this injury. You’re needed here.”
“Me?” Hoggle gazed up at her feebly. “I’m just the reject from Snow White.
“Of course you’re not!” Stacey choked back another sob, her face contorting with guilt. “I’m so sorry I ever said that. You’re my friend, Hoggle. And I’m even sorrier that it took me so long to realize it.” A slow smile appeared on Hoggle’s face, but he then closed his eyes.
“I’m afraid he needs to rest, now,” the mustached goblin explained gently.
“Yeah, I realize that,” Stacey nodded, reaching out to brush some of Hoggle’s hair off his forehead. “But we need to be careful in moving him. Daedalus, can you take the others up to the infirmary? We’ll join you shortly.”
“Of course,” Daedalus nodded before reluctantly leading everyone else who was hurt to the infirmary.
“Ludo, wait,” Stacey called after the yeti. “You stay here. I need you and Sarah to put together a stretcher. It would be too risky to carry Hoggle without one.”
“Yeah,” Ludo nodded, detaching himself from the crowd heading to the infirmary.
“What about you?” Sarah asked.
“I’m going to bandage him up,” Stacey replied. “After I try and stop this bleeding.” No one said another word as they started up their assigned tasks, working quickly but carefully.