209 New Discovery

"She couldn't!"

All heads diverted to the side where Naida was. She hadn't spoken up since she greeted the princess, but now she did. 

She couldn't stand their murmuring and disbelief. 

"What do you mean by she couldn't?" Doris asked. 

"She couldn't because it was dangerous. When we first saw her, I wanted us to attack, but Coralia thought it wise to inform you. On careful though, we proceeded to attack the hybrid since she was alone."

"Then what happened?" One of the mermaids asked, cutting Naida short. 

"Just when we were about unleashing our attack on her, the elf came."

Everyone gasped at the news. Even Princess Marin's eyes popped open before she quickly masked her shock. 

Ria turned her gaze at the two mermaids and eyed them cautiously. 

"It couldn't be."

"How is that possible?"

Once again the mermaids murmured. This new piece of information seemed to have made them all on edge and riled up. 

"How can it be? Are you sure of what you are saying?" The second mermaid asked. 

"Yes. We had no choice but to retreat at that moment and rushed here as fast as our fins could take us."

"Your highness, that would explain why till now no sign of her anywhere," Doris turned her head to face Princess Marin and addressed her. 

"True. The question is, how did she get pass us?" Marin murmured to herself but Doris heard her. 

"It would seem that she either teleported herself or passed through the valley or made a spell that would not only hasten her movement, but also get pass us unnoticed," Coralia explained. " But then again," she turned her gaze to the other mermaids, "How come the elf is with her? According to what we were told, he had already left."

"I gave a right information. The elf and the hybrid parted ways in front of her valley, then I hurried to deliver the information and preparations began. There was no way she could have passed us, I didn't give a fake news."

A blonde haired mermaid spoke up, defending herself. 

"No one is blaming anyone. If it is true that they are together and have already passed the valley, then it could mean one thing, she teleported or went through the valley and for a new mage, she couldn't have teleported, leaving us with one final option. She passed through and survived being lost in the mist." 

Marin got up from her seat and addressed the bunch of mermaids staring at her. 

"Where exactly was she?" She turned her questioning gaze back to Naida and Coralia. 

"In the river, at the side of a small cave," Naida replied. 

"But she should be out of the water by now. Meaning she should be in the cave by now. We must attack soon, your highness, leat she leaves and journey's on."

"It is time. Why not we go and capture my grandniece?"

"Yes!"

***********

Astrid walked up on her own, searching for Jareth in the semi deserted area, but  still couldn't find him. 

'Like seriously, where is he? How can he just easily go kissing in the twinkle of an eye?' She thought inwardly and continued her search. 

"Jareth!"

Jareth... Jareth... 

Her voice only came back to her in an echo. Her curved her mouth up and protruded her lips out into a pout as her brows furrowed. 

It had been more than fifteen minutes since she started searching for him but find him. 

She was already growing impatient with each passing second. 

Quickly, she rushed to the front of a big rock, hoping she would meet him relaxing but by the time she got there it was empty. 

No one and not even a sign of him. 

"Why am I even looking for him anyways?  Since he wants to go then he should. How can he make me stress and worry like this?" Even though she kept on complaining,  Astrid still searched about for him. 

After another fifteen minutes of searching for him, she slumped on the ground near a tree and rested her body on its stem. 

Soon water began gathering at the base of her eyes, blurrying her vision in the process. 

Her eyes became wet and no matter how hard she tried, the tears dropped on their own accord. 

She had not imagined Jareth would take it serious and leave that was why she didn't beg him when he was leaving. 

But now, it seemed as though he really left her and she couldn't even find him anywhere to apologize and bring him back. 

"This was the first time I stayed with someone other than Aunt Nerisaa and even though I hate to admit it, I miss him already. Snow was right. I would be lonely without him." 

Astrid confessed to herself. 

She didn't mind saying those words out, seeing that no one was around. Finally she gave herself to the tears that was about consuming her and cried at the loneliness, shutting her eyes close. 

"I didn't think she would be lonely without me?"

"Astrid's eyes shot open instantly and swirved her head to the side to catch who the voice belonged to. 

She moved her head to both side but still couldn't find him. 

"And now she is eager to hear my voice." Jareth's voice rang out in the dead silence again. "Hahhaa ahha," his voice reverberated in the night sky. 

Astrid tilted her head back, then looked up. There on top of the tree, Jareth rested his back against the huge stem with his legs crossed against each other and his hands folded behind his head. 

"Jareth!" Her lips curved up into a smile, like a child who just received her favourite sweets. 

Jareth looked down at her, replicating her smile, but less brightly as his green orbs twinkled away in the night, making his already handsome face more dashing.

Her face darkened almost immediately. The once charming smile plastered on her cute face vanished and was replaced with a deep frown. 

"Jareth!!"

~~~~~~~