Witness to Destruction
Chapter Three

"She's not certain if she likes him,
but she knows she really loves him..."
                            Drive-in Saturday, Bowie

The castle was *boring*. There wasn't anything for her to do, and she was 
starting to feel captive. She had been moved into her current room as soon 
as she had been well enough. It was a nice room, she guessed, with dark 
wood furnishings and colorful tapestries hung on the walls. There was a 
dressing table with a large mirror, and a wardrobe with dresses inside. She 
had picked out a amethyst colored one for today, long enough to sweep the 
floor, with a tight bodice and long sleeves. The same thoughts kept 
plaguing her as she paced bare-foot around the chamber. Why had Jareth 
brought her here? True, she had always dreamed he would, but it wasn't 
supposed to be like this! "That's what I get for falling in love with a 
fairy tale." She muttered. It was true. She was in love with the *idea* of 
Jareth, for how could one truly love someone they did not know?  Amalthya 
wasn't sure what to do about her present predicament. She hadn't had a kind 
word from Jareth since the day after her arrival, and she was at her wits 
end. Perhaps he truly did not want her there. Why then, had he bothered to 
save her at all? Was it because he had loved her mother? He had, of that 
she was certain, she had seen it in his eyes. But he was in love with a 
illusion as well, a tale of his own spinning, of what might have been. 
Had he taken her as a reminder of those dreams, which had all been 
shattered with Sarah's death? Was she a simple replacement? She sat down 
in front of the dressing table, and began brushing at her hair with vicious
strokes. That was it! A replacement for a man her mother had loathed. 
Another of his games! Behind her, the door opened. She spun around in her 
seat. There was Jareth, leaning in the doorway, that cocky grin of his 
plastered on. Venom rose in Amalthya's throat, and before she knew what 
she was doing, she rose from the chair and crossed the room in a few angry 
strides to stand before him. 

"What do you want?" Her tone was cold.

"Pardon me? Have I done something to upset you?"

"Have you done anything to upset me? You prevented me from doing the only 
thing I was ever sure of in my entire life, feint concern over my well 
being, then completely ignore me. I want the truth Jareth, why have you 
brought me here?"

He studied her for a moment, as if contemplating an answer. "I couldn't let 
you kill yourself. I owed it to Sarah."

"My mother is dead!" She all but screamed. "You don't *owe* her anything. 
All my life I've lived in her shadow. She wasn't even there, and I still 
couldn't escape her, or you! Tell me the truth. This is all some sort of 
sick game isn't it? You could never have Sarah, so now you have me to look 
upon as you wish, to do with as you like. After all, it's not as if anyone 
will miss me!" She stopped her tirade, sides heaving as she tried to catch 
her breath. Jareth gazed at her coolly, not even fazed. 

"If that is what you wish to believe."

"Of course that's what I believe! You everything my mother warned me 
against!" He chuckled at that.

"What's so damn funny? Care to fill me in?"

"No. If this is how you want things, so be it. You will join me for dinner 
in two hours." It was not a request. He turned on his heel and exited the 
room.

"Oh, God. What have I done? I can't stay here!" She paced the room again. 
"I guess I'll have to leave." She was fooling herself, and she knew it.  
There was no way she could get out of the castle. Unless she could manage 
to fool the guards. Now that she thought of it, it might not be so hard. 
The goblins weren't exactly bright, so Jareth was the only one she really 
had to worry about.

He wasn't pleased with the way things were going. It was partly his fault. 
Okay, it was almost all his fault, as much as it hurt to admit it. He had 
brought her here, true, but not because of any debt. Because he had watched 
her for years, watched her grow from that small child who had stumbled into 
his kingdom, to beautiful maturity. He would have spared her many of the 
'slings and arrows' of life, had be been able. He turned down the next hall 
towards his rooms. 

"You," He said, pointing to one of the goblin guards half asleep in front 
of his door.

"Y-y-yes, my lord?" He stuttered, trying to keep his helmet from falling 
over his eyes. He failed, and it and his spear went crashing to the floor. 

"Pick up this mess, and stand guard in front of our guest's door."

"Yes, my lord."

"And *try* to stay awake." The goblin scurried off in the direction of 
Amalthya's room. The girl was so damned complicated! By all rights, she 
should hate him, should have spent her every waking hour cursing his 
existence. He had driven Sarah to her final madness, taken her way from her
daughter forever. And yet, she did not. She might think she did, but her 
eyes betrayed her. That was another puzzling aspect to the girl, he mused 
as he shifted through the contents of his wardrobe. There was strong magic 
about her. He doubted she knew of it, it was unrefined. There was a link 
between that and her eyes....what was it?  The answer was vague......he 
couldn't remember. He sighted and continued dressing.

----

She had packed as many things as she could, and hid them in the closet. 
Then she had chosen a deep burgundy dress from the wardrobe, and put her 
hair up so that strands of it tumbled down and framed her face. She looked 
in the mirror and frowned at how thin she was. She had been ill for a week,
and it had taken it's toll on her already slight frame.  She hoped she 
could pull of her plan. She'd dine with Jareth, and try to lull him into 
false security. Then, later that evening, she'd try to slip out of the 
castle. After dinner, the goblins usually fell into drunken revelry. They'd
be fast asleep by the time she left. There was a faint knock on the door.

"Yes?"

"Are you ready, my dear?" Jareth stood in the doorway, resplendent in white 
shirt, back vest, charcoal pants and black knee-high boots. He gave her a 
crooked smile. 

"I-I suppose." She felt like hitting herself. Her knees had gone weak and 
her heart was pounding. She did have to admit he looked stunning, but when 
did he not?" 

Jareth stood in the doorway, admiring his guest. The dress she had chosen 
was perfect in every way. The low sweep of the neckline accentuated her 
long, graceful neck. The deep wine color of the dress itself shown 
wonderfully against her pale skin and made her eyes shine even greener. 
He noted with admiration, that there was not a touch of make-up on her 
entire flawless face. His mind drifted back to that long ago dance with 
Sarah inside the enchanted bubble. Thought mother and daughter certainly 
looked alike, they were almost mirror images, the figure which was now 
presented before him was no sixteen year old girl. Amalthya was a woman in 
mind and body, and would not be easily manipulated.

She came forward a bit hesitantly, and took the arm he offered her. 
Standing so close to him was intoxicating. She struggled to control her 
emotions. _He's just enchanting you._ She told herself over and over, but 
was having a hard time believing it.

"You look lovely." He whispered. His face was so close to hers she jumped. 
"I didn't mean to startle you."

"I-I'm okay. Thank you." She blushed slightly. He chuckled.

This was going better than he had hoped. It was so difficult to be kind, 
affectionate. That was where he had gone wrong with Sarah, he knew it. He 
had tried to trick her and force her to stay with him, intimidating her 
with his might. And in the end, he had begged her. But that wouldn't happen 
again. Not this time.  

---

She had enjoyed dinner, true, and Jareth seemed to be going out of his way 
to be nice to her, but she was still determined to leave. She was so 
confused. Why was she feeling this way about him? She wasn't some silly 
school girl, after all, she was a grown woman! "There must have been 
something in the wine." She mumbled to herself. She cautiously opened the 
door to her room and peeked out. The guard outside her door was fast asleep,
snoring loudly. She crept out and closed the door behind her, and padded 
softly down the hall. At this time of night the castle was almost deserted.
 She stopped off in the kitchen to gather what food she could, then made 
her way out of the castle. She paused for a moment to gaze at the 
breathtaking sight of the Labyrinth spreading out before her, then 
continued. She sprinted through the deserted night-time streets of the 
Goblin city, until she reached the entrance to the Labyrinth itself. She 
stared down the dark stone tunnel, trying to decide which way to go.  "I 
guess one direction is as good as another. Come on, feet."

End Chapter Three