261 Ecstatic, Magnificent, Elegan

Astrid shook her head at her little beast. It never ceased to amaze her with his behavior. 

'What a baby.'

"Looks to me like you had loads of fun, what's there to avenge?"

"Now I know master hates me. How do you call torture fun? They literraly tortured me!" Snow complained to her. 

"But you did enjoy yourself at a point in time, right?"

"Yes, but that was at the start... After that... It was torture. I want Jareth. Only he knows how to pet me and caress my fur, not those wild villagers."

Snow whined at her with his wife big eyes hiving her the pleading look. 

"No huh unhh... Not happening."

She knew what he wanted but she was not ready to give what he wanted. Not now at least. 

He wanted her to go and talk to Jareth just so he can have him caress his fur. 

"Yah, since you want him so bad, you go and talk to him." 

Before Snow could retort or disagree, Astrid held him and placed him back on the ground then told him to go in a shooing manner. 

"Master! I am not the one he is in love with,  Astrid. It is you."

"You got that wrong, baby. He doesn't love me, at least his actions are clearly saying so."

Snow turned so he was facing her and sat down to watch this baby of a master he had. 

"That is not true. Even mother clearly disagrees. Jareth loves you! You just have to see it. Don't worry master, he would come around."

Snow hated to see her weighed down with so much worry like this. 

Whenever he had the opportunity, he would always not fail to make her realize it. 

"Look at you acting all grown up," Astrid teased and smiled at him. 

"Master, I am grown up already."

"Keep dreaming. Anyways, thanks. I feel better. It won't be long now before Sabina and the others come to steal me away. I better rest before then."

Barely an hour later, Sabrina and the others came to take Astrid away and prepare for the get-together. 

By the time they were all done, they had succeeded in transforming Astrid into a peerless beauty. 

A simple makeup was applied to her face, with her hair properly styled to further amplify her stunning beauty. 

She wore a small light blue, short hand V neck top that exposed a little bit of her cleavage and came to a stop below her navel. 

She wore a fled light blue skirt that got up to her knees with triple slit at the sides and center and a white three quarter leggings underneath.

With her hair packed and pinned in one side and left to cascade down her back with little at the front, there was no doubt Astrid was in a killer simple look. 

"How do I look Snow?" She did a little twirl to show her outfit off to her little beast and the expression on his face told her she looked good. 

"Hehheee... " 

Astrid couldn't help giggling at the sight in front of her. She did not need to hear his cpliment to know she nailed it. 

All her life she never really had the need to dress up much cos she was always indoors and away from the villagers. 

Now was a different time and different circumstance. She wanted impress a certain someone. The very person she learned to give her his compliment. 

"Master, you look good!" Snow finally spoke after waking from his trance by her laughter. 

"Just good? I thought from the smile on your face I looked great!"

Astrid puffed her cheeks and pouted her mouth at her little beast for not giving her the compliment due her. 

"Sorry master, you look ecstatic, magnificent and elegant," Snow quickly changed his compliment and as soon as the words fell out of his mouth, Astrid's lips curved up into a charming smile. 

"Why, thank you, my baby."

Her smile only lasted for some seconds before dropping and her face became dull, gloomy. 

"What is wrong, master?"

"Hmm? Hmm... " she shook her head in a silent reply and her gaze went to the door. 

There was a certain longing in her eyes as she dazed away, looking expectantly like a child awaiting her cherished candy. 

"He would come and he would appreciate you."

"Are you sure?"

"Not even Cari can withstand your beauty let alone the grumpy Jareth."

"Hehhee, do not let him hear you or you would not get the rubs and caress you crave," Astrid warned and walked over to the bed where Snow lay down. 

"Pff, he can only find out if master tells."

"Of course, I won't tell. I hate to see you miss out on all the caresses you enjoy."

"That's more like it."

"Okay, let us get going, Snow. Jareth would meet us when he is ready. Come here baby." Astrid opened her arms, ready to catch him. 

Not thinking twice about the offer, Snow jumped into her arms and she caught him. 

****

Meanwhile, in Clive's house, himself and some other men as well as his second in command, Brad were all seated discussing about an issue. 

"I have noticed it as you have said, the elf is not very close with his lover anymore," Clive voiced out his thought as he waited for the others to share more light on the topic. 

"True, leader. I think most times he doesn't even sleep in their home," another man said. 

"He doesn't?" Clive asked. He was clearly taken aback by the sudden news. 

"Yes, leader. I can testify to this," Brad chipped in. "On one occasion, I saw him seated right outside one of the new houses and the moment he saw me, he got up and headed for his house."

"Why didn't you tell me this all this while?" Clive questioned, his eyes moving from person to person till he came to a stop when he locked eyes with Brad. 

"Forgive us, leader. We had no idea. I for one thought that perhaps he decided to have an early morning stroll or work out. I never you it was a regular something." Brad quickly defended himself.

He was too scared to incur the wrath of his leader, so this was the best way possible. 

"And ypu?" Clive pointed to the first man that spoke. 

"Sir, I have only seen him on three different occasions," the man replied honestly and this got Clive thinking. 

His brows furrowed slightly deeper than they already were as he pondered on the issue. 

"Maybe, just maybe he is having a conflict with her especially when she is with the merman. I can recall the angry look in his eyes on one certain location. I think something is up. This might just be the chance you need,  leader," the third man spoke out earning him the approval of the others. 

"It is still alright. Things would commence as before. We would attend the get together and watch them some more. Tomorrow it would all fall into place."

"Yes, leader!" They chorused, before filing out of the house one after the other. 

****

Minutes later, Astrid and Snow found their way to the arena and joined the others. 

By the time Astrid searched around, Jareth was no where t be found. 

Her brows creased and her smile dropped. She wanted to be hopeful, but each passing second brought back all disappointment back to her. 

Sabrina noticed her eye movement and knew she was searching for him. 

She gave Astrid a signal telling her to calm down and be patient.

That simple gesture actually livened her spirit and in good faith, Astrid waited for him.

It did not take long for Cari to arrive at the get together. As soon as he caught sight of Astrid, he walked over to where she was. 

As soon as Astrid saw him coming, she quickly searched for Sabrina with her eyes and as soon as she found her near the food, Astrid let Snow down and made her way towards Sabrina. 

"Astrid!" Cari called out, but she pretended not to hear and quickened her step. 

"Ast... " before he could call on her again, two ladies blocked his view. 

He tried to peep so he could call Astrod, but they kept waving in front of his face to catch his attention. 

"Hello, honey, come on and help us out a bit okay?" Katrina asked him, putting on her best smile. 

"I am sorry, but I really need to see some... " he tried to locate Astrid with his eyes again but she was nowhere to be found. 

Frustrated, Caro let out an exasperated sigh as he returned his gaze back to them. 

"Do not worry. We would be done in a jiffy. It won't take much of your time." Elena who did not have much hope in height tried to make up for it with her smiles and looks. 

"Okay, what do you need help with?"