Entering the Labyrinth

Half Past the Second Hour

The Goblin Castle mirrors the Labyrinth and its monarch in its cold aesthetic and complexity, highlighting what a perfect monarch King Eric is for this domain. Since he took the throne after the passing of King Jareth, Eric has ruled with grace, justness, and a certain tranquility the last eccentric monarch lacked at times. But King Eric still has his own charms and eccentricities about him. Hoggle, the Prince of the Land of Stentch and advisor to the King, says differently and calls him halfhearted; with all the times the king seems to escape his duties and has the stable have his horse always ready to ride at the drop of a hat. But, when the king is present in the court, he is a great king. And the king puts in his best effort when a new human is wished away.

All the wishlings reject him, the other Goblins, the Underground, at first. That is just a fact of human nature: inability to adapt to change and losing control quickly. But it never seems to phase Eric. He has no issues being patient with each human he comes across. Eventually, they all come to trust him and follow him. It is just a matter of when, not if.

As a teenager, this human is a bit more closed off than younger children. Eric is unsure if the presence of the goblins are helping or harming in this situation, but he thinks that being alone with the human would be worse. Eric knows the trick to working with teenagers—give them a sense of control, autonomy, and choice. He wants to highlight that Kit will have that here.

"Your majesty, the human is rejecting the water and food being offered," a goblin servant informs with a meek voice. The king is sitting on his throne on the other side of the room from the human with his advisor at his side, pretending like he does not have his eyes glued to them.

He reaches down to pat the goblin's shoulder. "It is alright, Kenzy. Go ahead and leave the tray for them to take the food when they're ready," he instructs. The goblin gains a bit more pep in her step from the king's assurance as she heads back to the human with the tray. But the light spirit is short-lived, as the teens' yelling cuts through the throne room the second Kenzy sets down the tray.

"I don't want any food or drink!" the teen cries out, pushing the tray away with an unintended clattering and curling back into herself. Kenzy anxiously looks between the child and the King as she hurries to clean up the mess.

"Bah, human teenagers. So dramatic and ungrateful," Hoggle comments with an eye roll but a slight smile on his lips, speaking from personal experience. Eric stands and walks over to the teen, dismissing Kenzy with appreciation and praise. He looks down at the teen, trying to make themself as small as possible, and feels pity for what the human is going through.

"That is fine. We will not force it down you. But please try not to be rude to the Goblins while you are here; they are only trying to be helpful," Eric explains. The humans curls in more, the obvious guilt hitting them but unable to be expressed at this time. Eric attempts to switch the subject, "the Goblins make delicious pastries, you should try them while you're here."

"I don't want the pastry. I don't want to be here. I just want to go home." The words were muffled by the teen's body position but were said with enough emphasis to be understood clearly. Eric comes as close as the teen allows and kneels to be at their eye level. The teen seems to sense this and turns wide-eyed to the king, watching him for any signs of dangerous intent.

"I do sincerely apologize. I do not have the ability to send you home," he states truthfully. "Right now, you are under the guardianship of the Labyrinth and will remain so unless the human adult that was with you at the counseling center can defeat the challenges."

The teen perks up at that explanation and wipes their wet eyes. "Alexis? Alexis is here?" they ask with eyes lighting up with hope. They turn to the window to look out, hoping to catch any glimpse across the wide expanse of the Labyrinth. It was enough knowing she was here, knowing she would not stop until she got to Kit and they would be safe.