The Hearts of Goblins

Chapter IX

Emrys took great care not to be noticed as they walked through the Goblin Village. They turned their nose up at the shabby little cottages and markets. Goblins had always been lesser than Cubi such as themself, but Emrys personally found the things to be disgusting. It bewildered Emrys as to why Jareth was so fond of the wretched underlings. Of course, goblins were all lazy. All of them sound asleep as Emrys slipped through unnoticed. Their robe billowed behind them, open and revealing. They walked through the open gate of the Labyrinth. Outside the gate, was the empty rusted husk of what looked like it used to be armor. Emrys made a quick inspection before moving on into the labyrinth themself. They padded along on bare feet, inspecting each turn and corner. They knew it was useless of course. The Labyrinth would bend according to Jareth's will. Its walls would change as often as the Goblin King saw fit. Emrys knew that they'd never be able to navigate such a place.
They sighed and let their robe slip from their shoulders. Bright red tattoos of intricately designed wings shone boldly across the golden tan skin of their back. Emrys picked up their robe from the dusty ground and tied it around their waist.
"Time for a better view," Emrys said.
A great set of leathery black wings protruded from the scarlet markings upon their back.

"Lee, this isn't working!" Gwen yelped. Lee let go of her hands and crossed his arms over his chest. Gwen looked quite silly, with her lower half stuck the twisted nest of vines. Had the situation been a bit less serious, Lee probably would have laughed at the way she looked.
"Thou mustn't grow weary!" Didymus yapped.
"Oh shut up Sir Fluffy-Ass, it's because of you she's even stuck here!" Lee snapped.
"Leave him alone!" Gwen defended. Hurt and insulted, Didymus huffed and leaned against the labyrinth wall.
"Well, these vines are too strong to just rip off, y'know," Lee said.
Gwen rolled her eyes and fought the urge to do her best Snape impression and drawl out the word 'obviously'.
"We're just gonna have to find something to pry them off," Lee said with a quick gesture the restraints around Gwen's waist. "Where's the clock hand?"
Gwen pursed her lips and looked away. Her furrowed brow and guilty expression let Lee know what had happened to their only weapon.
"Great," Lee said, "Well there goes that idea."
"Well, I couldn't exactly hold onto it trying to jump through a hole the size of the attic window!" Gwen insisted, in embarrassed agitation.
Lee pressed his palms against his eyes and groaned.
"Well, Didymus still has his scepter. Maybe we can-" Gwen stopped short as she looked over at the place Didymus had been.
Lee looked around frantically but he could find no trace of Sir Didymus. The furry knight had slipped off without a trace.
"No!" Lee growled, "Damn that thing!"
"Well, what do you expect?" Gwen said blandly, "You've been nothing but rude to him."
Lee glared at Gwen with discontent.
"Maybe I should leave you here and go look for him." Lee threatened, his voice more aggressive in his sudden vexation than he had meant it. The harshness of his voice caused Gwen to inwardly flinch. She was stung by the guilt of making her friend angry.
With a meek voice, she apologized. Lee sighed deeply and sat down, leaning against the stone wall.
"I'm sorry. I'm not mad at you," he said in an attempt to reassure her, "It's just frustrating."
He paused and looked up into the sky which had become a deep violet color, dusted with clouds. He could see the appearance of stars as it grew darker. The sun had only risen but an hour ago, it seemed.
The Sky will as it pleases, he recalled Jareth's words.
"This whole damn place is so frustrating." He looked back at Gwen and said with utmost sincerity, "I'm scared, Gwen." His gaze was cut off as he looked away in shame and he brushed away a sudden onslaught of tears.
"Something about this place... I don't know, I think something's wrong with me."
"Is it the stress, or something else?" Gwen asked gently. Lee shook his head.
"Well it is stress, but that's not just it, I feel sick. Like I'm bleeding out and all my sanity, energy, and all my hope is draining too. It's like... It's like I'm dissolving." He sniffled and rested his head in his hands. His fingers tangled themselves in his own hair. Gwen felt a bitter ache in her chest as she realized she couldn't relate to her friend, and that there was no way she could help him. She had never quite felt what he was describing.
"And now you're stuck here, and I can't do anything to help you. Shit! I just feel so useless!" Lee sobbed, "and the only thing that was even a sliver of hope to get out of the screwed up place just ran off to god knows where."
Gwen bit her lip as she thought of Didymus. She couldn't believe that the noble and chivalrous little knight that she had gotten to know would have just left them there.

Didymus scrambled through a small hole in the wall. Small goblin holes were scattered everywhere throughout the Labyrinth and throughout many years he had learned to mark his scent to avoid getting lost as he navigated through the goblin passages.
Didymus exited on the other side of the wall and then stood perfectly still. He listened with his sharp canine ears for the music that had drawn him out this far to the eastern part of the Labyrinth. The long white fur of his ears wafted in a soft breeze. His nose twitched expectantly. There was silence for several long moments.
"Ha!" He barked as he caught the sounds of drums not too far away. With barely any caution, Sir Didymus raced off further into the Labyrinth and further into the darkness.

A/n
Sorry, this chapter is a bit shorter than some others. It'll pick up very soon, I promise.