The Fairies wave at Delphinium with glee as he begins to explain things to the Dawn Guard and then to greet them specifically.  They start to speak up, but then Shavaris rides Running Bird through the gate.

The sound begins as something that is felt more than heard.  Low.  Inaudible.  A sensation more than a sound at all, but it quickly grows into a low rumble.  Their ears pick it up, some faster than others, but it isn't long before the sound, deep and low, is literally vibrating their very bones.  Slowly it becomes a roar, and then the source becomes obvious.  Grinding stone.

The Dawn Guard watches as the stone walls of the Labyrinth begin to rotate and spin, shift and reshape themselves until the winding corridors, dead ends, and looping ways and transformed into a highway that stretches from the gate straight to the castle in the Goblin City.  They can see the length of this fresh road, as well as the door that has shifted into place on the right wall perhaps fifty feet from the gate.  

The door groans, then opens...and Sir Didymus comes riding out on Ambrosius.  He has clearly enjoyed his new promotion, as his armor and regalia are more ornate than ever, and Ambrosius's barding is all silver and gold.  

"Halt right there!"  He says, his eyes closed and smug as he waves his ornate maul around in the air from dog-back.  "My smell is keen, and I say that none shall pass without my permission!"    

Then he opens his eyes and sees who is riding in through the gate, and smiles in the huge way only a fox can smile.  

"It's you!"  He shouts, clearly happy to see the Dawn Guard.  "Sir Shavaris!  And Sir Johnathan!  And Sir Kerwyn!  Sir Ward and Sir Delphinium!  Oh Sir Delphinium, how I've missed thee!  Don't think I've forgot our past bet!  And Sir Travin and Sir...Sir...why, who is this rugged looking fellow with the little green friend?"  

The Fairies outside the gate smile...and slowly slink back into the rose bushes when Sir Didymus arrive.  They wave bye to Delphinium as they try to make their exit.  

Ward smiles at the fox's grand entrance. "That is Dageron, but I will let him introduce himself more formally. We would like to talk with Jareth if he's available, and since you are the closest to the entrance, do you happen to know much of what is outside these walls at the moment?" Ward asks

Dageron would wait until Ward receives a response from the newcomer, then introduces himself, "I am General Dageron of Aureki..." He would cast a thoughtful glance at Adam, considering the words the man used in their prior conversation... And Shivaris' as well. "I am an ally of the Dawn Guard, and here to support their mission in these lands."

"what has happeneds..? Hmm, this is wrongs..." Travin looks concerned as he watches the road transform and sir didymus come out to greet, "where's is Gorky, ands ludo, yeh yeh, has Sarah returneds? Wait!" Travin calls the attention of the group as they stand around the mounted foxknight, "Jareth promised to stop taking children's, hmmm? and now doesn't needs a labyrinth to traps the older ones, yeh yeh, this is a good things, but then what becomed of all the people's, the walls with faces, confusing knockers, all types of goblinfolk and Fae, hmmm, no longer has purpose... Where did the junk fields go?" 

"Ah, well met General Dageron or the Aureki!  Any ally of the Dawn Guard's is an ally of mine, and my army! You are in good company, Sir!  These are the fiercest warriors to ever storm into bahttle, and I dare say their smell is keen!"  The little Lupine says as he scurries up to look up at Dageron, his fists propped on his hips.  "I am Lord Commander Didymus, High Commander of King Jareth's Labyrinthine Army!  He sent me here this morning in reception of visitors, though I was commanded to enforce all existing protocols!  What an interesting conundrum.  What is that Sir Travin?"  

The Lord Commander tilts his head toward the Junkperson and squints before turning back toward the Labyrinth and looking around.  

"Gorky is uh...well I don't know, actually.  He's busy being the Mayor of the Goblin City.  Ludo leads the Horned Beasts over there!"  

He points the mace off in one direction, where trees stand in the distance.  

"And Sarah uh...Sarah...well.  Fair Maiden uh..."  

The fox fidgets a bit before continuing.  

"Well there's less traps!  But the Labyrinth remains an impregnable fortress!  The faces are over there..."

A point.  

"...and the knockers are over there!"  

Another point.  

"But he did away with the Junkfields!  All the Junkpeople now have homes in the Goblin City!  And they have jobs!  And no more children have been taken!  King Jareth has tried to make good on his word!  Though the Labyrinth is a bit more of a boring place, if I may be so honest as to say so.  As for Sir Ward's question, yes.  The King has made sure that I remain up to date on the bizarre happenings of the world around the Labyrinth, though I dare so I do not understand them completely as your realm is...well.  Strange to me.  How can it not exist within walls and hedge mazes and, oh, without the Bog of Eternal Stench?  Quite bizarre.  The King has requested immediate audience with you when you arrive but..."

He squints, looks down, his eyes shifting from side to side.  He's clearly in deep thought.  

"...but first you must obtain permission to proceed."  

"well umm, good?" Travin shrugs before continuing, "dawnguard requests permissions to proceed to the castle, yeh yeh! though Travin woulds like to see some of the goblin city too! Hmm?" 

Ward leans back and raises his eyebrow at needing permission but lets Travin and the others take point.

Shavaris stops at Delph's request and listens to them lecture the others.  This probably was a good review before heading in, she hopes this time will be a lot more enjoyable than the last time.

As soon as Sir Didymus, or rather, Lord Commander Didymus shows his face, Shavaris's breaks into a broad grin.  She gives him a little bow when he greets her and is perplexed by a few things he says.  Once there is a break in the greetings, she asks..

"You mention Miss Sarah, did she come back after taking Gavin home?  Is she here?  Also.. you say Jareth wants to see us immediately, but that we need permission.  What a confusing set of instructions.  Is there something you aren't telling us?  It's alright, we're all friends here."

Didymus swallows and looks around nervously.  He looks sad.  

"My Lady is not here."  The Lord Commander answers Shavaris.  He looks at Travin, then nods.  "Of course, Sir Travin.  You have my permission.  We'll pass through the Goblin City on our way to the Castle."  

He offers and empty hand to Shavaris.  

"My apologies, Sir Shavaris.  I uh, erm, yes?  No?  Not sure how to answer that.  I know King Jareth has things to tell you."  

Can’t believe we are back at this madhouse. Johnathan mutters as they approach the labyrinth. He feels a cold chill down the back of his spine. Something was wrong. His suspicions are confirmed when the fox knight approaches the party in its usual manner. Even though he had no hunger for it anymore, the fox still agitated him. Whether out of instinct or just personal experience. Johnathan cringes when he hears that infamous line. “My smell is keen.”

Huh, hello Didymus. See you haven’t changed one bit. So, we are welcomed guests and are expected to speak with Jareth but don’t have authority to enter? Yep, this is the labyrinth alright with its backwards logic. Who needs to permit us in and how long is this gonna take?

"SIR DIDYMUS!!!"  Delphinium zooms over to give the canine a tiny fairy hug in joy at seeing a familiar face.  "It is so nice to see a friendly face.  The lands around here have turned so horrible!  I've been absolutely miserable traveling through it.  Oh!  Where are my manners!  Congratulation on your promotion Lord Commander Didymus, High Commander of King Jareth's Labyrinthine Army.  It sounds like you've been working very hard since we were last here.  Speaking of.  How long has it been since we last met?  I'm afraid we may have gotten lost in time based on how much the lands around the Labyrinth have changed so it would be nice to confirm how long it's been."

Delphinium listens to the others talk and ask questions and once the fairy get a chance the first thing he says is "Well, first thing first. Let's follow protocol you have setup.  I ask for permission to enter."  Delphinium waits for confirmation to make Sir Didymus' job easy and then continues on, "It sounds like you all have been having a lot of trouble as well, something that Jerath will need help with.  Doesn't sound boring at all.  If it is boring around here, I have a lot of experience in the feywild courts on how to liven things up in a good way!  I would love to just chat and we can certainly do so on the way I hope.  I have, like, a million more questions but I wouldn't want to keep our host waiting if they are expecting us.  There will be time to catch up after, right?"

"Yes yes yes!"  Lord Commander Didymus says to the various requests for permission.  "Yes yes, you may all have my permission!  Wow, I forgot what a well behaved and honorable lot you all are!  And you, Sir Johnathan!  Why, you look different!  And you smell different!  Tell me, have you changed the herbal fragrances you bathe with?  They are splendid!"  

Having given his kind remarks, Didymus suddenly struck by Delph coming in for a hug, and hugs the little Fairy back.

"Miserable you say?  Huh.  Interesting.  I've never been outside the walls of this here Labyrinth.  Well, not further than the fountains, anyway.  How much time?  I have no idea!  I never pay attention to the time in the Labyrinth.  But yes yes, working quite hard.  Keeping the army running like a well oiled machine, as they say.  Ah, I would love to take you up on the offer of livliness.  But alas, I am afraid his Majesty's needs take precedence.  On that note, though, come, come all of you.  We have a distance to walk and talk.  The King requests an audience as soon as possible."  

Shavaris slides off of Running Bird and gently takes the offered hand of the fox.  She grins as she hears Delph's excitement and if Johnathan is close enough, she'd elbow him in the ribs to get it together.

She lets the others ask questions and she takes in the new scenery as they walk towards the goblin king.

Travin takes Birt aside just before they start walking, "Birt, this is Birt's home hmmm? And Travin's home too for a long long long time yeh yeh, but the labyrinth has changes now, hmm not the sames... so Travin wants Birt to looks around whilst we is here, looks and see if Birt likes the place yeh yeh, when dawnsguard is dones, if Birt wants to stay, then we find Birt a home hmmm? If Birt wants to keep travel with Travin and Dawnguards, then that's good too yeh yeh...

Travin very very much likes Birt, wants Birt to stay with us, but also wants Birt to be happy, hmmmm?" as the firey leans down to listen to travin speak, the junkman wraps his arms around the giants head and hugs it, letting out a big sigh when he's done. Birt reacts how Birt always reacts, tongue out and saying "BIRT WRENILS" a little too loud

"Biiirt Wrennillls."  The diminished Fiery says balefully with his tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth.  He doesn't seem to be very happy to be home, but with the Labyrinth having changed so much, was it really the home he left behind, and how well could the mind that Travin had so thoroughly broken equate this new Labyrinth to the Labyrinth of old?  When he hugs Travin, it's with a strength and tenderness.  

Their trip down the corridor is long and mostly uneventful, save for Shavaris talking to random graffiti on the way to the castle.  Didymus canters along on Ambrosius as he leads them along as quickly as he can go without leaving anyone behind.  Mogwai tugs at Dageron's armor and has a look on his face while Ol' Ironsides clearly misses the great growths of eyestalk moss that had grown on the stones in the past...

Adam remains quiet, clearly shaken by this place, reliving thoughts in his mind.  He doesn’t even correct Sir Didymus, when he calls him Kerwyn, he just nods and starts walking, alongside Ole Ironsides.  “Ask to enter?  What am I, a fricken vampire?”  Adam grumbles under his breath, then he looks up and sees Johnathan walking along side him.  “No offense, Johnathan… or uh Shavaris.”  When in the Labyrinth… he thinks to himself.  So he straightens up and keeps walking, whistling a little tune that comes into his head.  

**The Tune**  “I’m, too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt, so sexy it hurts….” Da-dum, da da dum, da da dum, da da dum.  Whistle, whistle, whistle, whistle.  While they walk.  He keeps his eyes peeled for any strange worms….

Dageron links to Mogwai telepathically, "Tell me, what is on your mind? This place is known to be a realm of strangeness... or does something else concern you?"

Shavaris raises an eyebrow and considers Adam a moment when he tells her no offense.  But decides not to say anything.  The hunger seems to be satiated now and maybe it will stay that way?  She has no idea, it seemed to affect her differently than it had Johnathan and how he reacted to all of it, she tries not to question him about it unless she has to.  She runs her tongue over her teeth as she thinks about it.

Laughing at Adam's whistling, she actually starts enjoying herself back in the more uplifting labyrinth, "See?  that's the spirit!  And Ward, lets keep the napalm in your pockets, k?"

Delphinium is happy to catch up with their friend.  They are also no stranger to fey avoiding giving answers.  Sir Didymus has only provided a fun  game of puzzling for the fairy to unravel.  There are many ways to find out how long it has been and that definitely starts with bragging.  What fey doesn't like to talk about themselves?  "So, a lord commander!  Did that happen right after we left?  Is it the fairies we met just outside you command or do you have even more under your command?  Has training been tough?  Fey can be fickle about who leads them.  I'm happy to see them better though.  It made me sad to think something had happened to them.  Did you find out what?  I see much has changed here.  Did you help with the reconstruction?  It sounds like the goblin city has many new buildings.  Was that an arduous task?"  Delphinium will ask many questions on these lines to not only learn of his friends accomplishments but get an idea of how much has been changed or done and how hard it was to make these changes.  he will also try to get Sir Didymus to regale them with tales of their accomplishments after the Dawn guard left for surely there has been many heroic deeds the knight has done since then.

As the group walk, Travin seems a lot happier to be out of the forest, his mistake with the well far behind him and having spoken with Johnathan he seems to check what the human is doing more often and follow him around a little more.

On the long corridor to the castle Travin's eyes unfocus for a bit as he listens, then replies to no one at all, "hmmm, you makes a good point! Yeh yeh, but Travin has not slept in an actuals bed for a long time hmm? Do you think Travin will be more human if Travin turned off and on again, and tried agains tomorrow, more often? Yeh yeh?" His eyes remain unfocussed as he speaks, though his head is directed slightly upward, fixed on a position as if talking to someone, or something.