Time moved on in the Labyrinth setting it's Denizens into a steady pace. With part of the Labyrinth successfully closed off and most of the gossip about recent events already spread around the goblins returned to their usual revelries. While perfectly capable of working, Goblins by nature had short attention spans. Add the fact that there was almost always ample drink to be had and more then enough mud to throw, by this time of the day the Goblin City was usually ablaze with music, good natured skirmishes, and other foolishness.
Jareth was not at all in a good mood as the afternoon began to press on. Even with both the Gomes and the blasted Dwarf working on the damaged parts of the Labyrinth it would still take quite some time to re-cultivate what had been lost. Up until recently the interference of the Junk People had been minimal. Jareth had particularly given them the Arid Flats to roam and scavenge in as they pleased and, until the arrival of Ariadne, it was not in the nature of the Junk People to wander very far from their liars.
That seemed to be changing however. Now numerous Junk People had been spotted in various places they shouldn't have been throughout the Kingdom. What was odd about this despite the fact that the creatures did not like to travel far from their homes, was that many of the spottings had only implied one or two of the creatures at most.
Junk People migrated in loose packs of eight to twelve. It was almost unheard of to see any less of that number in one place. Yet that appeared to be exactly what was occurring. Why? Jareth contemplated this question darkly as he lounged the long way upon his throne. It was a rare thing that the Goblin King didn't absolutely know what was going on in his own Kingdom.
Just then Jareth heard the obvious clumsy sound of one of his goblins enter the throne room. Marching before the throne the goblin bowed ungraciously.
Jareth snapped up into a proper sitting position which made him likely seem intimidating enough to put the other goblins on notice that their Majesty was in the middle of conducting business.
"Report, General!" Jareth ordered sharply his eyes now fully alert and imposing.
"Sir!" The goblin General stood at attention and saluted. "The Gnomes have begun reconstruction of the hedge mazes they estimate that the re-growth will take more then a week and that the hedge enchantments will have to be reestablished after the repairs are made. We have taken into custody several Junk People in sectors 2, 5, and 9. However we can't say which, if any, were responsible for the damage and none of them seem cooperative to our questions."
The Goblin Paused as if waiting for some kind of reaction from Jareth but was disappointed when the Goblin King distractedly waved him on.
"Huh...There's also a portal that's been activated somewhere's near the Enchanted Forest, Sir. At least we thinks it be a portal of some kind. Whoever accessed it don't have the smell of magic on her. Oh and..and a..." The Goblin faltered now as if an inkling of fear had suddenly made it difficult to string a proper sentence together but quickly corrected him self when he saw Jareth begin to grow annoyed.
"The-Lady-Araidne-has-sent-a-formal-request-to-speak-with-you, m' Lord!" The goblin horridly muttered speaking so fast his words strung together. "She leaves word to meet her upon the neutral ground of the Great Bluff overlooking the kingdom. What are your orders Sir?"
"Let Hoghead deal with the snooper. No doubt its a human, probably a woman, who touched something she shouldn't have. It's probably something in the Enchanted Forrest which means its Muriel's problem and not mine." Jareth said with particular disdain. The Enchanted forrest butted up against the side of the Labyrinth and was the White Huntress's domain. Although Jareth didn't have a particular issue with the woman he did have an issue will Elves in general and prefered not to have anything to do with them if he could help it.
In more recent history Warring had broken out among the various factions and the Goblin King had extended his hand to them only to have it thrown back in his face on more than one ocassion. Elves were above Goblin Aid it seemed, preferring to stick with their own kind then accept relief from what the Elven Leaders perceived to be nothing more then a charlatan wizard clutching at the grubby strands of royal power even as their own existance was being quickly rubbed away. Goblins, while considered magical creatures, were about the lowest a person could be and when the Goblin King had stepped forward to offer his services the Elves had rebuked him and thrown the offer aside and Jareth had withdrawn from engagement with the fading race entirely.
Jareth's eyes narrowed when the goblin announced Ariadne's request.
"So the witch wishes an audience with me, does she? Cut one of her putrid little minions loose and send them packing with a message to their mistress informing the gracious Lady I will agree to take and audience with her as she wishes an hour before dusk. She is to come alone and unarmed as per the Treaty of the Three Sons Dictates. Then put a horde of patrols along the gate wall and prepare the Goblin City to go on high alert. I will not take any chances with compromising the security of the castle."
The goblin saluted his master bowed and quickly exited to carry out his orders leaving Jareth mildly disturbed within his throne chamber.