~Chapter 12~
"The Duel"

"I hate to say this," said Irish Creme, "But I think we’re going to run out of time."

"We can’t," said Mortelle. "We’ve come so far."

Her voice echoed hollowly in the big halls of the castle. We were lost again, and though not one of us could admit it, we all knew it. The chambers of the king had been eluding us for half and hour, and we were cutting it close. There were no signs saying "Throne Room, this way" and it wasn’t like we could ask a guard. We were still most assuredly wanted, and we didn’t know if our escape had been discovered.

In the meantime, the Riddler had continued his attempts to win Anakerie’s affections. It was cute from our side of it, though I think it was wearing on Anakerie.

"But why not?" he was demanding of her, his latest rejection obvious in the conjured green rose he still held.

"Mostly because I can’t get a straight answer out of you without answering an incredibly complicated riddle."

Our group turned a corner. There was a light up ahead, like a brightly lit room.

"I can change," he cried.

Anakerie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Unfortunately, green-man, that’s what they all say."

"No, really!" Then he paused, glancing at her in mild irritation. "It’s Riddler. You know, like in the movies."

"Okay. Well, anyway. And even if you did, what if we don’t win? What if we can’t ever email again? What are you going to do then? Did you ever stop and think how far away Gotham City is from where I live? Do you really want a long-distance relationship conducted by snail mail?"

"I’ll move! We can make it work."

Cerridwenn snickered good-naturedly next to me. "Yeah, I’m sure there are some first class asylum’s in her area. He should have no problem relocating."

He looked over at her. "I heard that."

"Guys, knock it off." It was Serena. "Look."

It was that light up ahead. Now we could see it clearly, and we knew it was Jareth’s throne room. Inside the open doorframe, we could make out his throne, surrounded by drunken goblins, but no sign of the King himself. Instead, on his throne was a silver basket filled with what looked like Easter eggs at first glance. Only as we started forward quietly, could we see that they were really dozens of different-colored crystals. Also beside the throne was the Riddler’s confiscated cane, winking gold in the afternoon light that was coming through the window.

"We’ve got to get in there," he said. "I need it."

"What are those, though?" asked Irish Creme, pointing to the basket.

Riddler reached into his jacket and pulled out a pair of flashy green binoculars. "Wait...it’s coming in..." He glanced back at us. "Who’s Maedeline@aol.com?"

"Hey, that’s my addy!" cried Maed.

"And there’s a Corky17@hotmail."

Corky almost squealed in anger. "That’s mine!"

"Yep, kiddies, it looks like the man in tights has been keeping your email addresses hostage here all the while."

"Well, that’s just it." Starz marched ahead of us, about to walk straight into the room and take back her email address.

"Wait!" hissed Cerridwenn. "You can’t just go charging out there, we have to have a plan. I don’t want to go back to the dungeon."

"They’re drunk," reasoned Rebecca. "We just might have a chance."

"Drunk can also equal more dangerous," Serena reminded her.

We sat in silent contemplation for a moment. Starz broke it.

"I’m going with my original plan."

Before we could catch her, she had strolled boldly out into Jareth’s throne room. She looked left, then right, and then headed straight for the throne. So far so good. We followed her cautiously.

First she took Riddler’s cane, tossing it to him. He twirled it happily, singing "Reunited" under his breath.

Then she leaned over the arm of the throne, her hand about to touch the basket.

We had been watching the Riddler, the distraction proving fatal. It was a terrible surprise to us when the point of the long, sharp silver blade touched Starz’s hand. We followed the line of the thin sword to an intricate handle, a black gloved hand, a tall, strong body, spiky, pale blonde hair, Jareth’s smirking face.

"Please. Step back from the crystals, if you would."

She muttered something un-repeatable under her breath, but obliged. Jareth looked at us.

"Is there a hero among you, my Listians, who would dare to accept a challenge? Anyone who would duel with me, winner take all?" He was smirking straight at the Riddler.

The man in green only smiled sweetly back, taking off his bowler (uncovering that amazing shock of red hair), and removing his jacket. Then he pulled his cane apart to reveal a fencing sword with a green, metallic blade. It was perhaps not as arcanely classic as Jareth’s but it was certainly his style. "Of course, you know, Jareth, I must. I confess, these wonderful ladies have stolen my heart, and I am their willing servant. I will fight for them to the death, if need be."

Jareth was no longer smirking. The expression was strange, but I knew I could place it, even as my heart melted at the Riddler’s courtly words. That was it! Jealousy. Jareth was steaming with jealousy. And our green champion knew it. In fact, he was counting on it.

The two men saluted each other, and took up fighting stances. Jareth struck first, a casual, light blow against the other’s steel. The Riddler responded with a hard, violent one, pushing Jareth back just a step. The battle had begun.

They moved back and forth among the drunken goblins that alternately cheered and booed on the side of their King. Their behavior was infectious; we began to do the same for the Riddler, and it wasn’t long before the throne room sounded like a football game.

The two combatants locked together at the hilts of their swords, their faces close, both grinning fiercely.

The Listians and the goblins started to chant wildly.

"Riddler, Riddler, Riddler..."

"Jareth, Jareth, Jareth..."

"So," I heard the Riddler asking Jareth. "Why don’t you tell me what your real problem with me is?"

"What?" cried Jareth.

"You know what it is, don’t you?" The Riddler drew as close to him as he could, so close they might have kissed. "You just can’t stand it that I look so much better in green than you ever could. Plain..." He pushed Jareth all the way back, and suddenly, the Goblin King was losing his balance, falling into the low indentation in the floor of his throne room. "And simple..." The Riddler lifted up his sword, the point at Jareth’s body. "Jealousy." He pushed the point against him, and Jareth fell awkwardly into the pit.

The Riddler put his sword at Jareth’s throat. "Winner takes all."

We cheered wildly, rushing to the Riddler’s side. Anakerie planted a kiss on his mouth, then drew back, eyes wide in surprise at her own gesture, but he grabbed her and kissed her back.

But suddenly, Jareth started to laugh.

"What’s your problem?" I demanded.

He smiled pleasantly. "I was just wondering, how much time do you have?"

We glanced at the clock. "Half an hour," said April. "Plenty."

"Of course it is. If you can catch my goblins."

The goblins...where were they?! And for that matter, where was that basket of email addys?! We whirled around, and the was no sign of either.

"There!" cried Fay, pointing in the direction of a stairway to the left of the throne. A goblin was disappearing into it. We ran after it, Jareth forgotten, but his hollow, villain laughter echoing after us.

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