149 The Forest Peak 3: Facing My Fears

"Step up."

Astrid did as she was told and moved forward. 

"Take the water gourd on the white stone and scoop some water into it, then drink."

As instructed, she saw a white stone at the side of the fountain and moved close to it. The stone was fairly big, reaching up to her chest, with a green-coloured water gourd sitting atop it.

She reached for it and took it from its resting place. Gently, like she was holding a priceless jewel, she made her way to the others.

She cast one last look of approval their way, before facing the fountain again. Jareth had a tight-lipped smile as he looked at her bravely face the task.

He admired her or so many things, one of which was her bravery and caring attributes.

She used the water gourd to scoop up some water and without thinking twice about it drank the content thereof.

She turned back to face them with the water gourd in her hand. Jareth arched his brows at her, awaiting any special thing to happen, but nothing did happen.

"How do you feel, any strange feeling or occurrence?" Jareth asked.

"Nah! I feel good. Nothing different," she replied and turned to the beasts, "Are you sure there…"

Before she completed what she was saying, Astrid fell.

"Whoa!" Jareth was faster. 

Moving forward with one knee to the ground and the other halfway down, he caught her in time before her body hit the garden floor.

"What's wrong?" Jareth asked with panic laced in his voice.

"It has begun." 

Following White Wing's instruction, Jareth took her to a flower bed and laid her on the colourful flowers at a corner of the big garden.

He sat on a small stone close to the flower bed and watched over her as she slept. It took him some time before he adhered to White-Fire's advice for him to rest. 

Still not leaving her side, he finally rested his head on his thighs and slept.

******

On the other hand, Princess Avery and the elf soldiers encamped outside the boundary, taking turns watching and waiting for the boundary to open to capture their prey.

All through the wait, she refused to rest. She wanted to be prepared for when the hybrid came. This was it. This was the chance she has been waiting. An opportunity to prove herself to her father and brother, that she wasn't a kid anymore.

Her eyes, they were slightly open and sharp. One hand supporting the other holding her chin…

She seemed so thoughtful with the way she stared off into the distance. Callum noticed it but kept silent. He knew she had a lot on her mind at the moment and how stubborn she could be when she had made her decision.

Still, he owed it to the King and Queen to keep the Princess safe, even from herself. At this rate, if the hybrid were to walk through the boundary, she wouldn't be fit to take her on.

"Your Highness, please take some rest. We would be on the watch."

"Lieutenant, I am fine. I would await her return."

"But Your Highness, you haven't had a proper rest since we began this journey," he protested.

"And I am guessing, neither has she. Lieutenant, we cannot underestimate this hybrid. She has been on the run since the first power surge and somehow has managed to evade every single soldier sent after her. She shouldn't be taken lightly. So how can you tell me to rest?"

"Even His highnesses and the King do take rest. Resting doesn't make you look weak or less of a fighter. It is also strength and wisdom."

He paused, watching her reaction as she took in all he had to say. 

"Whatever is happening on the other side of this boundary, we do not know. But one thing is certain, you have used up too much strength and power, the soldiers need to know their leader is not weakened."

She left out a long sigh. Her feet thudded on the ground as she made her way closer to him.

"Fine, Lieutenant. I would rest, but the moment as you see her or find anything suspicious at all, do not hesitate to alert me," she informed him.

"Yes, Princess."

She looked him deep in the eyes before she made her way past him.

******

A full day had passed and Astrid still had not woken up.

A figure stood at the entrance of the garden and watched Astrid carefully. She turned a little bit in her sleep. Her brows furrowed and her face held a strange expression. She was having another bad dream.

The figure hummed for some seconds and a white ray o light moved like a rope and touched Astrid's forehead. Seconds later, her expression relaxed and she stopped tossing about

*DREAM*

She was back in mist, outside the boundary and alone. She turned her head from side to side in search of anyone, but there was no one I'm sight. 

"Hmmm, I have seen this place before," she muttered to herself. 

"Of course, it was here that we shared a breathtaking kiss." A voice whispered close to her ear. 

She turned around almost instantly. Her eyes met with his, they both stared at each other rather instensely.

No one spoke,  his eyes held warmth and mischief, hers held anger and pain. 

"Why do you keep appearing? Where is the real Jareth? What do you want?" She finally let out, yelling. 

Her chest rores and falling as her anger cascades out of her. 

"What do I want? Isn't it obvious already? I want you!"

"You must be joking. Why would you want me? You don't even care about me."

"I do. I am better than him. I acknowledge your feelings and I want to reciprocate them and love you."

The look in his eyes showed so much sincerity making Astrid confuse. 

She had got to admit, he was seductive and was promising what her heart wanted. 

"Stay with me and we can be together. I do not know what you see in that boring and cold... "

Before he could finish, she landed him a slap and moved a couple of steps back. 

Her anger was rising her, all she wanted was to just end his foolish talk and rid herself of this imposter. 

Within seconds, she started feeling funny and before she knew what was happening, her anger faded away. 

"And here I was, thinking you were... " she paused and shook her head.

She couldn't tell what happened but something gave her peace and allowed her connect with her consciousness a bit. She was letting her anger take over but she was glad she could stop.

"I'm sorry, but I do not have the time to waste here. You are not real, only a fragment of my imagination. As good and promising as your offer may seem, it still doesn't feel right."

"What? So you mean you chose him over me? What can he offer you that I can't?" The fake Jareth hollered at her. 

"Everything."

She moved closer to him, her eyes not leaving his, by the time she was inches away from his face he pulled her in. 

"Are you not scared coming so close to me?"

"No. I am not scared of Jareth and I never will, because I know he wouldn't hurt me and even if we can't be together, I am glad having him as a friend."

Immediately he got engukfed by a white light and started fading away.

Jareth smiled and looked at her with a new found respect. "You did it, you faced your fears. I guess this is goodbye. He sure is lucky to have y... "

Before he could complete his sentence, he totally faded away. 

"Thank you."

*Dream Ends*

Astrid opened her eyes, her surrounding seemed strange a bit. She tried to recall what had earlier happened and how she found herself on this flower bed. 

All she could recall was drinking the water from the fountain and collapsing afterwards. 

On closer view she recalled where she was and managed to sit up. 

Immediately, she caught sight of Jareth sitting by her side on a small stone. 

At the same moment, Jareth raised his head only to be met with her radiant beauty. 

"Jareth!" She was more than happy to see him. 

"Astrid, you're awake."

He had thought she would still be sleeping when he woke up. He was therefore surprised to see her awake. 

Before he could utter another word, she got up from the flower bed and rushed to hug him. 

"I'm sorry, sorry for hurting you and being scared."

That was true, she was no longer scared of him. 

He pulled her away from him and looked at her face. "And the nightmares? Are they gone?" He quickly asked. 

"All gone, I faced my fears," she said with a bright smile as a tear slid down her face.  

"Haa!" He let out a small satisfied laugh and pulled her into his embrace. 

"I'm glad. It is okay. It wasn't your fault."