Lost And Lonely - A Labyrinth Fanfic [UPDATED VERSION]

22) Speechless

When she stood up, Raven held the box tightly as the walls of the Labyrinth opened and created a pathway toward the castle. The raven croaked, ushering her to bring the shard to Jareth.

Not a moment after Raven began to walk the path, footsteps sounded behind; following her. She turned to look back and saw Penelope by the small thicket. Her face was red with anger.

"Get back here!!" The woman shouted. The raven launched itself at her and kept the woman from moving anywhere, and soon three to four crows came out of nowhere and swarmed around Penelope.

Raven dashed away and toward the castle, holding the box close to herself to ensure its safety. She could hear the woman's loud sounds of frustration, the cawing of the crows and the raven's deep and loud croakings. Whatever was going on, she was damn happy that Penelope was being held back.

Racing up through the Goblin City, up the staircases of the castle and through the many corridors, Raven arrived to Jareth's study and swung open the door; which startled the Goblin King in his chair.

"I found it." She panted. "I found your heart. Why? Because I love you, god dammit. But one thing- Penelope was behind me in the Labyrinth, and I'm very sure she's on her way here now." Raven sputtered out quickly before falling to her knees.

"You what?"

"You heard me." She said quietly while blushing.

Jareth sat still in his chair, mouth hung agape. He was bug-eyed and blinked owlishly; he couldn't believe what he had just heard coming from her mouth.

"Is this love...?" He murmured. They sat in silence with each other for a short moment until they both stood before one another. Raven held up the box to Jareth, and he opened it slowly with wide eyes. His heart. He never thought this box would see the light of day ever again. It was not fleshy, but it instead looked almost exactly like a small red jewel- a ruby.

Raven's eyes seemed to gleam up at Jareth as she watched his face become filled with happiness and relief. It made her ecstatic. Before they could do anything else, they interrupted by Penelope storming in with a small army of goblins following and surrounding her, waiting for their king's orders on what to do with the crazed woman.

"What do you want?" Jareth snapped his head up in anger, his nose scrunching in disgust and his teeth bared. He closed the box in Raven's hands and stepped forward, ready to slam the woman into the stone wall and banish her from his life again.

"I want the box."

"Screw off."

"Why? You gonna let the little girl have it?!"

"She is no "little girl" Penelope, she is more than that."

"Says the man who had to save her from the banshee." The woman curled her lips. Jareth stood in absolute anger as he gritted his teeth.

"I knew it."

"Now hand over the box-"

"Never in a million years would I let you lay a finger on that box, because I know once you get ahold of it you would control everything here." His voice hardened.

It dawned on Raven on why Jareth kept the shard so well hidden. With his heart, he would be controlled, given the amount of power Penelope has, and it seemed like all she wanted was to control Jareth and the Goblin Kingdom with the way she acted. Raven clutched the box and took a step backwards in nervousness.

"You can't keep it away from me forever." Penelope sneered. "Now hand it over."

"Leave my kingdom at once!" The Goblin King roared, causing Raven to jump slightly.

"M-mm." Penelope took one step forward and crossed her arms, which set Jareth off.

"Did I fucking stutter?" He seethed. "Leave!!"

The whole room was filled with a deathly silence. Not a sound was made. A pin could fall and it would be heard. The woman stood for a moment and turned her heel and left, escorted by the dozen of goblins around as they held weapons to her.

When the room was finally cleared, and Jareth made sure the woman was gone for good, he turned back to Raven; standing still in shock and anxiousness. He slowly walked to her and took the box from her, setting it lightly on his desk before he gently pulled the girl into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head.

She rested her head against his chest, calming her nerves down from the warmth of the Goblin King. Just a moment ago he was about to explode, and now he was as gentle as ever.

"He attack, but he also protect." She muttered with humor.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing."

///

I dedicate the line "Did I fucking stutter?" to cuhdelia
Never forget.
Ever.