All characters not from the original story are my own. This story is dedicated to the Labrinythians, I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I did writing it.
Truth and Consequence
"Inside my dreams? But how is that possible?"
"How else my dear girl, by magic." Noticing her unease, she lays a hand lightly over the young girl's. "Easy child, I mean you no harm. I have brought you here for two purposes. First to show you the nature of your gift. Which I have done already. And secondly to allow you the choice that all with such gifts much make."
The simple reassurance of her touch was enough to give Sarah the confidence to go on. "I don't understand… I saw you, and my parents, but I really don't understand what it all means."
Patting her hand reassuringly Luna began to explain. "You have met Fae before young one. Jareth is one, so are the little sprites that live outside the Labrinyth. " Sarah's eyes widen at the mention of her journeys. "Yes I know all about that little trip into the underground you had to take, and your rousing success against Jareth., but right now is not the time for that. They are fae, but obviously of different breeds. Jareth is like me, and like me he has his sphere of influence. But I am getting ahead of myself. Fae rarely have children, and our numbers have lessened greatly over the years because of it. That is why we are able to increase our numbers through other methods."
Feeling very much like a toy parrot that can only repeat the last few words said to hit, Sarah couldn't help herself. "Other methods." Luna nods in acknowledgment as she continues her story.
"Yes. Fae are born on earth under a special set of circumstances. They must be conceived on the night of the crystal moon, in an act of true love. Children born under those conditions are considered children of magic and either live on earth until they reach the age of decision, or they are brought to the underground at a very young age and raised there by fae themselves. In either case when a fae born is such a manner reaches 21 they can decide if they want to live as fae, or as mortal. But once the choice is made it cannot be undone. Magic or mortality, they can have one but not both. "
"How do you decide which children live here, and which live their lives on earth?"
"It is up to the fae involved. Some like Jareth take the children born under the second moon and raise them from birth. Others allow the children to be raised in the mortal world until they reach the age of decision. Either way once that age is reached all children are given the choice."
"How are these children chosen? I mean, did Jareth take Toby to raise or to make him a goblin?" Her voice is faint. She isn't sure she wants to know the answer, but she had to know once and for all why he had taken her little brother that night one way or the other.
With the softest of sighs, Luna answers. "Jareth never took the child, his goblins did. Unfortunately the night you made your wish, was also the night your powers began to awaken. That attracted their attention, and when you accidentally used the correct words, they followed your command. Jareth merely played his part as you gave it to him. It was an unfortunate set of circumstances, one that we all wish had never occurred"
"And…. If I had failed his 'test' ?"
"If you had been unable to solve the maze…. Toby would have never returned to the mortal world." Sarah begins to get up but is stopped cold by the words that follow. "However there was no doubt that you could solve the Labrinyth." Sarah's eyes lock with Luna's once more. "You are a fae, born true. No fae can be stopped by magic designed to fool mortals, and that is all the Labrinyth truly is, a mortal trap to make people pay for their sins. "
"What sin is so terrible that the only atonement is to lose a child?" Sarah's voice is strained with barely controlled anger, her body almost trembles with it as she remembers all the horrible thoughts that raced through her mind as she ran through the Labrinyth. One hand bloodlessly clutches the edge of the table as she fights to regain her composure. "What gives Jareth the right to make anyone pay that high a price?"
Luna's eyes narrow in anger as she looks past Sarah . A voice from behind speaks in answer… a very familiar voice. In sound if not in tone. "There is only one sin Sarah, hurting that same child, over and over again. I have never, and will never allow a chance to punish such acts go by. When I am given the opportunity to end it, I take it, and I will not apologize for that. Not now not ever."
The voice is unmistakable., it has haunted her dreams every night for the past five years. Only now it is darker and colder than she ever remembered hearing it. An undercurrent of anger gives it a power she had never dreamed possible. Getting up slowly she turns to face him.
He stands there in the grove in full dress, an armored chest plate gleaming blackly in the light of the noonday sun, highlighted with traces of purest silver and gold. A flowing cape of midnight blue flares out from shoulder clasps adorned with sapphires, reaching down to touch the ground behind him. All his clothing is dark and rich, from the knee high leather riding boots to the velvet leggings and doublet that peeks from beneath his armor. Midnight blue and ebon black, contrasting sharply with his pale skin, blonde hair, and sapphire eyes. The Goblin King in all his glory, a young infant cradled in the crook of his left arm, cooing softly. He smiles down at the child before meeting her hard gaze with one of his own.
"Would you see this child doused in scalding water or thrown out a window because his mother cant stand to look at him anymore? Would you like to be the one to tend the burns on his chest from cigarettes or flames the next time his father is in a drunken stupor and decides to punish him for crying too much? Tell me Sarah is that what you want?"
Eyes wide she stares at them, struggling to find a way to speak. After what feels like an eternity she manages in a faint voice. "There has to be another way… there are people in my world who put a stop to such things. "
"Ahhh yes, the child protection agencies where every day they take children in 'loving' homes far away from the pain and terror their parents have put them through. By warehousing them in homes with people who wait on checks given them by the state to pay for care. " He doesn't bother hiding the contempt in his voice, the lilting, almost musical tones roughened by anger and scorn .
"It isn't all like that." A trace of the old defiance. "There are people out there who are really trying to help."
"Maybe I agree…. Maybe I even admire those who truly help children out of the goodness of their hearts. But even you have to admit too many children in your world… how do you say… 'fall through the cracks'. Or when found end up lost in tangles of … I believe the phrase is 'red tape'. I take the forgotten ones , and give them a life where nothing can hurt them anymore. Where they can live forever and be happy. The ones that are saved by your society I leave be, the ones who are wished away I take. It's that simple."
"By turning them into goblins?" Her eyes flash brightly with her anger, almost glowing with their intensity. "What kind of life is that Jareth?"
"Sarah… Do you think me so cruel to believe I would actually turn innocent children into goblins without cause?" His voice was soft, and there was an undercurrent in it that almost sounded like he was in pain. "Do you think I would be so cruel to children who have already suffered so much?"
"Isn't that what you pride yourself on…. Being cruel?" Irony tinged her voice making it cold.
Before he could reply their discussion was cut short. Luna had risen unnoticed to stand behind Sarah, and now she had decided to speak. "As interesting as this conversation may be, you will continue it later. You will have all the time in the world to speak later on whatever you wish. We have another issue to discuss right now." Stepping around to turn and face Sarah, Luna looks up into the taller woman's eyes. "Sarah Williams, you are a child of magic, born under the second moon, the crystal moon. This night you have reached the age of 21. It is the age of decision for our kind, of which you are. Choose your destiny, will you become full fae and wield your magic? Or will you live from this day forward as mortal, never to touch the fae realms, including the Underground, or its denizens, again in your mortal life. The power is now in your hands. Choose wisely."
Discussion and Decision
Kimera