The Goblin Princess

Chapter 11

The forest was still as young Veena walked along the path she had found. It was at least somewhat different than the others she had found. The trees met over head blocking most of the sunlight.

She had idea how long she had lived with the woman in the cottage in the clearing. It was really all she could remember. She couldn't remember much before. If she tried she got really bad headaches.

Suddenly, she heard an owl hoot not too far off. It was always owls. After as these years, that was the only animal she ever heard. When the woman heard the sound, she seemed frightened, but when young Veena heard it, the sound comforted her for some reason. Someday she hope to learn why, but for now she would enjoy her walk.

Chapter 11

The first thing Veena knew as she, Adam, and Cringer arrived on the other side of the doorway was something was wrong. She didn't know how she knew this, but there was something deeply wrong with the land before her. It was brown, dry, and barren.

Suddenly she had a vision of the land green and full of life. It left as suddenly as it appeared. Then came a pounding headache. Veena raised her hand and placed it on her forehead as she closed her eyes. The pain slowly faded away. Once it had finally disappeared, Veena slowly opened to her eyes to find a very worried Adam standing in front of her.

He placed a hand on her shoulder, "Veena, what's wrong?"

She smiled weakly at him, "I'm fine. I just got a headache for some reason."

Adam frowned at her, "Ve, what happened? Tell me."

"Adam, this place is wrong. It should be green, not this."

Adam looked behind him, "so this isn't normal?"

"I had a vision or memory of it green and looking beautiful. This looks dead." Veena was close to tears.

Adam nodded, "I think we better get to your father. There as to be something to this." He smiled slightly, "we can do this, Ve."

Cringer came up and began to rub his head against Veena's leg. Veena reached own and began to pet him, "we don't really have a choice do we?"

"Nope," he turned slightly to look better and the outer wall of the Labyrinth. "All right how do we get inside?"

Veena looked at the distance wall, "first, I think we better get closer to the wall, because from here I can't see a door."

Adam nodded as he lowered his arm, "I think we better go slow. There's no telling how getting to the Castle is going to affect you." He walked down the hill a bit.

Cringer butted his head once more against Veena's leg before walking down to Adam, leaving Veena alone on the top of the slight hill.

Veena remained in place looking at the land before. What had happened to cause this? Had it happened before she went to the Forest? Why couldn't she remember?

XOXOXOXOX

Adam stood at the bottom of the hill waiting for Veena to come down, with Cringer standing beside him. If what Veena said was true, then her memories where returning. But he was more concerned about what had happened to this place. If it had once been green and lush as Veena said, what had caused it to look so dry?

He turned slightly as Veena came to stand beside him, "I think we should take it slow. We have no idea what we'll face."

Veena nodded, "also, as I get my memories back apparently I get a killer migraine."

Adam turned to face her fully, "is it a bad thing to get them back?"

"I don't know yet, but I'll let you know later."

Adam frowned slightly just before Veena walks on in front of him. He hadn't meant to upset her. He began to follow after her, staying just behind her.

"Ve, I'm sorry."

She turned her slightly and smiled at him, "I'm not angry , Adam. I just haven't given it much thought."

Adam nodded as they walked along. Soon they came upon a pond and the outer wall of the Labyrinth.

He looked up and down the wall, "I don't see a door. Do you?"

Veena began to walk along the wall, "no, but I think I hear someone."

Adam watched as Veena neared the part of the wall covered in vines.

"Hello, is someone there."

Suddenly a gruff voice called out, "who goes there? There hasn't been a wish a way in years."

A small man carrying what looked like a sprayer can walked from around a small corner of the wall. Upon he saw Veena he froze, "Sarah?"

Veena moved a bit back from him, "uh, sorry, my name's Veena."

He shook his head, "no, she had green eyes." He then looked up at her, " wait did you say your name was Veena?"

Veena nodded, "yes. Who are you?"

The little man puffed up his chest, "I'm Hoggle. Your Highness. It's good to know that you've return. I'm guessing your trying to get inside?"

Adam wished he could see Veena's face, but he could see her shoulders relax a bit.

"Yes, we weren't told how to get inside. I was only told I had to get through the Labyrinth and to the Castle."

Hoggle glanced over at Adam, "I'll show you. I'll even stay with you. Can't have you getting into trouble." He walked over to the wall, while Veena walked back to Adam.

"Who's Sarah?" Adam glanced over at her, while Hoggle sat his sprayer down.

"I don't know, but apparently I look like her," Veena glanced over shoulder towards the hill.

Hoggle walked over to them, "you ready? I don't know what's going to happen once we get inside."

Veena looked down at him and nodded, "we're ready."

Hoggle nodded and turned back towards the wall, "you gets in there."

Suddenly a door appeared and slowly opened. Adam and Veena looked at each other.

"Truth is, Your Highness, if you had known how to do it, you wouldn't have need of me."

Veena smiled at him, "thank you none the less, Hoggle." She looked at Adam, "well, we better get a move on, I have no doubt he already knows we're on our way."

Hoggle nodded, "oh, he knows." He walked into the Labyrinth, "follow after me. I'll be your guide."

XOXOXOX

He watched as his daughter and Prince Adam followed the dwarf into the Labyrinth. Had the dwarf realized who he lead? He more than recognized her name, but would he realize who's daughter she was?

Most had forgotten what their queen looked like, but they would remember the teen who had won back her babe. None, but he and one other knew that they were the one and the same.

The Goblin King lowered the crystal in his hand. He could not protect her from all the dangers within the Labyrinth, but she would have allies to help her. He would to what he could, but he did not wish for their reunion to be within the Labyrinth. No he would wait. He had waited this long; he could wait a bit longer.