Chapter 9

Unbeknownst to the two adventurers, they were under almost constant surveillance by the Goblin King. Despite his intention to ignore Edana and abandon her to the dangers of the Labyrinth, she continued to intrigue him and command his attention. First and foremost, because her progress in the maze was shocking. She was actually moving through it quite unhurried, but her willingness to attack and solve every problem presented to her was what he found so refreshing. And of course, there was the lady herself. She was a complete enigma, his own Labyrinth to solve in a manner of speaking. She was attractive, headstrong, spontaneous. She lived for excitement. She was persuasive – bordering on manipulative at times, such as with the gardener. Jareth knew all about manipulation; she lacked the flair that he had, but exhibited all the right tactics.

She had the most unbelievable green eyes. They promised quite a lot to the man who could gain her trust and break her of that damned cynical defense… Jareth checked this thought with annoyance. Don’t get ridiculous, she’s just a girl. His thoughts resumed their former track defiantly. She could be patient enough to solve puzzles if she had a good enough reason; that had come as a bit of a shock. She had spent hours on that lock. He doubted he would even have spent that long on the task. She was resourceful as well, she made the best of a bad situation rather than giving up, because it was necessary to do so.

And now, he mused, she has determined the solution to the most difficult section of the Labyrinth. In the dark. Perhaps he should reconsider his renunciation of her. Perhaps what I should be doing is – he cut off the idea before it had fully manifested itself and began to cloud his judgement. No sense in getting overzealous. You have met pretty girls before, Jareth, many more becoming than this one and far less provoking. The scrying crystal in his hand abruptly disappeared as he got up to find some kingly chore to distract himself with. What he wanted to do was sleep, but that had proved near impossible since all his dreams involved Edana to varying degrees.

* * * * * * *

Relieved and exhausted, Edana and Storm Spirit sank to the ground for a well-earned nap when they had finally reached the end of the difficult maze. A coarse voice woke them up mid-morning.

"Well, well, well, and what might this be?"

Edana opened her eyes to see a middle-aged man, rather heavyset, and garbed in gaudy, expensive clothing. He had climbed down from the seat of a brightly painted wagon. A pair of perfectly matched chestnut geldings stamped impatiently at the yoke.

"I see you must be wayfarers, judging from your manner of dress." The man laughed, a jolly sound. "I am Gilroy N. Trueman, esquire, and fully at your service. Perhaps I could assist you on your journey. I am headed for the faery city, how about yourselves?"

"Wherever the road leads," Edana said as she stood and brushed herself off.

"Oh! Not at all tied down, then?"

"Not at the moment, we are simply seeking adventures."

"Quite noble, quite noble indeed. But don’t you fear attacks by highwaymen, my lady? And if you’ll pardon my saying so, that’s hardly travelling clothing you’re wearing."

"We have nothing to steal," Edana answered, though she was a bit worried now. The thought of highwaymen had never crossed her mind. "I left rather hurriedly, and had no chance to put on more appropriate garb."

The man thought this over carefully. "Ah, but you travel in the company of a Spirit Unicorn, unless I am mistaken. They are the rarest of creatures, you know. Would you do me the honor of accompanying me, if only for a few days? It should be interesting, many people come out to see my wares."

"What is it you do?" Edana asked curiously.

"I deal in unusual commodities," he said with a flourish towards his huge wagon.

"There certainly is no shortage of those in the Underground," Edana agreed.

"You are correct, my dear," Gilroy said jovially as he climbed back into the wagon seat and took up the reins. "If you would like, you may ride here on the wagon," he offered. Edana accepted, glad for the break from walking. They chatted throughout the ride until they reached a small camp populated by elves. They had left the Labyrinth path far behind early on, Gilroy explained that it was possible for one who was familiar with the area to pass through one of the illusionary sections and emerge outside of it altogether. The wagon travelled for most of the day through wildly overgrown prairie-like meadows. There was no road to follow, but Gilroy seemed to know the route. Edana could see Jareth's castle, away in the distance, if she turned around. Before them, just as far away, sparkled the faery castle.

Frequent stops at various communities along the way did not seem to hamper their progress greatly. By the third day of their travels together, they had reached a cliff edge. The Faery Castle was in plain view, only a day’s travel away. Suddenly Gilroy halted the wagon, as two masked men stepped out from behind a boulder and pointed loaded crossbows at them.

"Highwaymen!" Gilroy exclaimed. "This could get ugly."

"Do as we say and you may go free. We want the Spirit Unicorn."

"No!" Edana shouted.

"Be reasonable," Gilroy said cajolingly. "The beast is all they want. Surely you can sacrifice her to save yourself."

Edana looked at him coldly. "Where she goes, I go." Something struck her as very odd about the whole situation, though what it was she could not identify.

"I can protect you," he promised softly, "but you must give the unicorn to them."

Edana stood and climbed down from the wagon seat. "All right. I’ll get her," she agreed. She walked slowly to the back of the wagon where Storm Spirit had been tied with a long tether days ago at Gilroy’s insistence. He was afraid, he said, that someone would steal her away at one of the stops they made. Edana untied the loop that was fastened around the unicorn’s head. The filly understood her intentions without a word passing between them. She wheeled around and broke into a gallop, heading for the trees across the clearing. One of the highwaymen fired a crossbow bolt at the grey form flashing out of their clutches. It lodged in Storm Spirit's shoulder, sending her tumbling to the ground with an agonized scream. Edana began to run towards her friend, but stopped short when she saw the other highwayman had his crossbow aimed at her.

"Don’t kill them!" Gilroy cried. But it was an order, not a plea, and at last Edana understood.

"You set this up!" she accused. "You treacherous bastard, she is not a commodity!"

"On the contrary," Gilroy informed her with no feeling at all, "both of you are." Turning to his counterparts, he ordered, "Put them in the wagon and be quick about it."

It was at that moment that a frightfully angry Goblin King, in the form of the snowy white owl, appeared on the scene and transformed into his recognizable self. "The three of you have been given more than ample warning," he said tightly. "My subjects are not to be bothered with your petty thievery." He produced a glass sphere and threw it forcefully to the ground centrally among the three shocked men. It shattered, and released a shower of silvery dust. Gilroy and the two highwaymen were covered in a sheet of it before they could recover from Jareth’s appearance. It rendered them immobile, though they could still speak. He watched them boredly as they discovered what had happened to them.

"No, let us go!" They cried. "We didn’t know they was yours!"

"You found them in my kingdom!" Jareth thundered. Had they been able to do so, the highwaymen and the merchant would have been quaking. Jareth turned to the hurt unicorn filly. With a wave, he transported her back to the garden at his castle where she would be safe. Then he stared down the highwayman who had shot her. "For daring to harm a creature as rare and sacred as a Spirit Unicorn, you will stay in my dungeon until I decide you have paid penance enough." The man vanished with a cry. Jareth turned to the remaining two criminals. "Your crimes are more grievous – you would have killed this guest of my castle. And you would have sold her into slavery. I’d kill you, but you deserve so much worse," he said with disgust. He decided to ask Edana, who was still standing at the rear of the wagon, shocked (and overjoyed) that he had come to her rescue. "What would you like to do with them?"

Edana answered right away. "Send them for a swim in the Bog."

Jareth grinned wickedly, approving of her choice. "Done." He snapped his fingers, and the two perpetrators disappeared. They stood looking at each other for a minute, each gathering their thoughts.

"I must say, I’m certainly glad you were spying on me this time," Edana said finally.

"Edana," Jareth said softly and with a great deal of discomfort. "I was wrong to treat you so badly. Please, come back to the castle with me." He offered his hand as he closed the distance between them, but she backed away. He came a step closer, and she moved back again. She was on the end of the cliff now, and he paused, confused.

"Come back so I can help you get Sarah?" she asked bitterly. "That’s all you want out of me." She shook her head sadly. "You just don’t understand. Maybe if you actually wanted me there… but I won’t take second place. I’d rather take none at all." She glanced down behind her, where the mist from the waterfall made a rainbow in the sunlight.

"It’s not about Sarah," Jareth said evenly, and his eyes were pleading. "I realize that now."

Edana laughed, but there was no humour in it. "And do you change your mind so easily? I don’t believe you," she said in a simple, almost mournful tone of voice. "You love her, that I understand, but don’t lie to me. I’m naïve, not stupid – there is a difference." She paused, looking thoughtful. "Shall I send myself back? I know the words," she taunted him. "For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great… shall I go on? Then you’d have no chance at tricking your beloved into trading herself for me. What a pity that would be. And you wouldn’t have to go to the trouble of convincing me that I was the one you wanted." She was almost gloating now, internally a frenzy of emotions: disappointment, fear, love, all threatening to take over and she not sure anymore of anything. "Shall I do it?"

Jareth looked pained. "Edana, no, please don’t." He was but a few feet from her, another step and he would be able to reach her. But as he took that last step forward, she closed discouraged eyes.

"That’s what I thought you’d say," she whispered, sure it was all part of his act of persuasive charm. She stepped backwards over the edge.