Snippet #804882

Right around the time Eva had popped into the undergroud Ariadne was tensely waiting for news. New from Jareth and news from her minions about the information she believed the dwarf had stored away and his ugly little head regarding the Goblin King. Ariadne would not stand for resistance. As for those who did resist the dark lady...Well now they eventually had a change of mind if not a change of heart sooner or later. Of that, Ariadne made sure of.

"Well about time!" Ariadne remarked sharply although she managed to keep her tone relatively even when she heard the sound of scurrying in the tunnel way that was to light footed to be a junk person. "Mm. Fidgit. You've come at last. I suppose you've come from the castle, which means that our lovely little illusion has been achieved. Has it not?"

Ariad was referring to the fires. It was important that Jareth believe the hedges had been set ablaze by the Junk people and not one of his own goblins. Ah yes. Wonderful, Fidget. Generally ariadne did not have a high regard for goblins but the one known as Fidget was exceptionally intellegent and sharp. Had Ariadne been capable of any other emotions besides calculating indifference, hedonistic pride, and wrathful scorn; she might have developed a true, if limited, affection for the deceitful little creature in the same way that a woman developed a fleeting affection for fresh roses in spite of their thorns.

Still they were not the same sort of creatures. Fidget was still a goblin and one with a link directly to the Labyrinth. This
meant that if the goblin wanted to he could travel between the worlds freely. Ariadne, being apparently human-like in some kind of respect looked the part but couldn't travel between the worlds much to her disaticfaction.

While the feat was not completely uncommon in the undercround especially among humans, the ability was usually exceptionally limited. Jareth, for example, could cross worlds as well but his abilities were tied into the collective power of the goblins and thus he could not linger in the world of the Above beyond the restraints of what had called the Goblin King to leave the reclusive confines of his kingdom. Someday Ariadne would travel to that other place known as the Above, but not before she finished her business with the Underground.

Her first task was to gain complete control over the Goblin Kingdom. And that made Jareth enemy number one.

"What do you think, Fidget? Has his royal mightiness bothered to accept our humble request? Or do you suppose our little bond fire met with an ill reception..." Ariadne's voice had taken on a languid, though melodically rhythmic tone. Not unlike that of a viola, as the lady leaned forward to rest her elbow upon her knee and her chin idly in one long fingered hand.

As usual Ariadne was leaning away from the goblin as if he was mildly contagious. Fidget just ignored her physical response to him.

"He bloody well better take some notice. It is his job after all." The goblin spit off rather sharply. "Yuck! Would you look at me? Sut everywhere. I'll never understand how you can live among all this rubbish!"

After the goblin finished complaining he did confrim Jareth's intentions. Listing off Jareth's many stipulations about their impending meeting on the bluff.

"Excellent." Ariad's ice colored pupils seemed to burn brighter as her eyes widened in knowledge able anticipation.

"Naturally Fidget, we needn't play by his Majesties rules. When the time comes to meet his Gobliness I want you there but out of sight. The point of this exercise is to draw the Goblin King away from the castle and keep him there. Your fellow goblins might out number us but in general they are stupid useless little creatures and easy enough to over come." Ariad mused seeming to ignore the fact that fidget was a goblin himself.

Now that they were alone in the junk encrusted chamber Ariadne did something that was often unheard of at any other time. She rose from her make shift throne of twisted metal and broken trinkets to pace. Now given that Ariadne was particularly tall and that for someone such as herself the chamber was not that wide. It only took Ariad a few good steps in her long stride to walk from one end of the room to the other. Thus she deliberately slowed her movements when standing in the chamber to give the added illusion of exacting feminine grace.

"We must be precise in our actions from this point forth. As goblin King Jareth has the benefit of the binding magical laws of the Labyrinth to protect him. Thus we must seek to use this advantage against him if we are to succeed in gaining control over the greater Goblin Kingdom." By this time Ariad had already walked to the end of the chamber and back to turn and pace away from it again. Even though her pace was gracious the swift and cutting pace of her voice revealed tense calculating energy.

"No doubt Jareth will hold to the stipulating requirements of the treaty of the Three Sons, he is foolishly honorable in that regard...Which means that I cannot willfully harm him while upon the neutral ground of the Great Bluff." Ariadne suddenly stopped where she stood half way across the chamber with her back to Fidgets face and did a half turn, coiling her torso and neck to consider the goblin without completely turning around.

"There is, of course, a loop hole to the binding magic of the treaty..." Ariad's features took on a gleefully sinister edge as her eyes narrowed.

"The treaty of the Three Sons was forged under the assumption that both parties were actively aware of each other's enemies and allies. This is why the treaty stipulates that the representative parties come alone and why I can not willfully harm his Lordship myself." Ariad absentmindedly formed a fist with her hands but quickly loosened them lest her nails draw blood within her palms.

"The treaty fails however to specifically provide protection against outside acts of treachery committed by a third objective party, as long as the third party is NOT considered to be a personal threat in the eyes of the original assembled representatives." A genuine smile actually appeared on Ariadne lips as she stared at the goblin.

"This is why I have taken upon myself to call in a special favor." Although Ariadne herself could not lay a hand directly to harm the Goblin King out side his precious domain...One Alabaster Sweets could.

Provided, of course, that Jareth didn't actually realize that Alabaster was a threat to him untill AFTER to the man struck him down.

Ariadne smiled cooly to herself.Everything was almost in place. Not only did she have Fidget to asct as her personal spy in the castle, but now Alabaster Sweets had come to the Labyrinth and provided her with a perfect excuse to really hurt the Goblin King where it counted the most. Now she just needed to know where that "place" was.