Chapter 1
Hoggle gazed into the crystaline pool with worried eyes. He was getting on in years, he should have found a warm hidey hole long ago. But with the threat of Jareth still hovering over the Labyrinth, no one could really be safe. A soft noise beside him made him turn to look at the fuzzy little creature beside him. "So, Didy, what do you think? Is she ready?"
"I don't really know, Sir Hoggle. But we must get to her before HE does. If he gets her, there's no telling what will happen." The dark little eyes gleamed as the fierce little fox-creature gazed at the figure seemingly reflected in the waters of the pool. "It seems a shame to destroy such a young life, such a carefree life."
"We aren't out to destroy her, Didy. You know that." Hoggle squatted down, his joints protesting, and returned his gaze to the image of the innocent-looking young woman sleeping amid her toys.
"Aye, that I do, but what do you think will happen to her when she faces that beast? Do you really think she is strong enough? Is she as strong as Lady Sara was?"
"Sara was the strongest of all, I think. But this one will do. She has the fire of her kin running in her veins."
"You are both fools to trust in a child like this."
Hoggle and Sir Didymus both looked up to meet the fiery gaze of Raik. Hoggle scowled, staring long at the tall young man with the flowing green robes. "And we are not fools to trust in you? What gaurantees have we that you won't be just like HIM?"
The sorcerer's tawny eyes narrowed. "Because I despise him and everything that he is. I thought I made that clear."
Hoggle's scowl only darkened. "Blood is blood, Raik."
The sorcerer growled deep in his throat, raising a clenched fist. Hoggle stared, daring him to strike. But Raik only slashed his hand into the water instead, disturbing the image that lingered there. "You are fools!"
Sir Didymus, usually so animated and talkative, only sighed and shook his delicate head. Hoggle pushed himself to his feet, tipping his head back to look up into the angry face of the young sorcerer. "Maybe we are. But no one else is trying to stop him. It's up to us. Sara did it once. If a naive little woman can conquer him, then so can we. I draw strength from what she stood for. I can only hope that her daughter's child will be as strong."
"Sara was not strong. She was only foolish and blind. The luck of the ignorant is what saved her." Raik's thin lips twisted. "We are not ignorant. We will have to draw on other sources to save us." He spun about and stalked to the makeshift camp, his long blond hair billowing out behind him.
"He is bitter, I think, of what life has cast for him, no?"
Hoggle squatted down beside Sir Didymus again, returning his attention to the slumbering Melissa. "He is very bitter. But he will fight with us, if only to regain his rightful place."
"Is he to be trusted? Or will we be trading one nightmare for another?" The shiny eyes gleamed with the wisdom of their age. Hoggle only shook his head and sighed.It was the next night that they performed their spell. Each of the trio drew blood from their palms, to intermingle as an oath among themselves. Nature rebelled at their manipulation, sending out jagged slashes of light and heavy, ponderous thunder to make their way more difficult. But they managed in spite of it all. And when they were done with their chanting and magikery, the skies quieted and the clouds withdrew. They fell into their beds, exhausted. When the morning light touched their faces, they awoke with anticipation, and hurried to the large tent that had been erected for the very purpose of their work.
She was there, asleep atop the furs that lay in a lush pile on the ground. And beside her lay a huge animal unknown to the Labyrinth. When Hoggle moved to touch her cheek, the animal bared broad, sharp teeth and laid back its ears. Hoggle moved away, and the three of them prepared to wait out her slumber, each withdrawing to a seperate corner. And each with a weary smile of satisfaction that their work had succeeded.
