Chapter Eight

I had knocked myself out when I fell. I was unaware, but my friends were yelling down at me, very worried.

"We need to get down to her," Sir Didymus stated.

"It's too dark down in the oubliette to even see her." Hoggle reported.

"Rope?" Ludo suggested.

"Where do we get rope?" Hoggle asked.

They all sat around and thought. They had no idea how to get down to me or get me out.

A cold hand on my forehead brought me to. I felt the hard ground underneath me, but my head was lying on something soft. I opened my eyes, but there was no need. I couldn't see anything.

"Who's there?" I asked. "I can't see."

"That's because it's dark." A voice said sarcastically.

"Jareth." I stated.

I could tell my head was on his lap. I tried to get up to get away, but I just got dizzy and laid back down.

"Stay still for awhile. You had a nasty fall," Jareth told me.

"How much time do I have to get out?" I asked coldly.

"An hour."

"No!" I tried to get up, but again failed. I lay back down, "That can't be right."

"I have only lied to you once Melody. I have not lied to you since."

I took a deep breath, let it out, and started crying. I felt like a wimp. Mom made it when she was younger than me. Why couldn't I? Jareth wiped the tears from my cheeks. I tried to pull away, but my head swam.

"Let's try to sit up," he said as he sat me up slowly.

I was dizzy at first, but got my balance. He snapped his fingers and the area was filled with a dim light. I was in a cave-like room. I looked up and could barely see the hole I had fallen through. My friends wouldn't be able to see or hear me. I was still crying when I looked at Jareth. He looked so sad, like he was going to cry. He held out a glass ball.

"Take it," he said gently.

I took it and it turned into a handkerchief in my hand. I smiled softly and wiped my eyes and blew my nose. I quit crying and I was going to give the handkerchief back to him, but he shook his head and told me to keep it.

"Why are you acting so nice to me?" I asked him.

"You are as blind as your mother." He said standing up.

He turned to walk away.

"Wait!" I called to him, not trusting my legs to stand.

"What?" he said turning back around. "Once I leave you'll be back up on the surface with your friends."

"That's not why I asked you to wait."

"Why then?" he asked curiously, looking at me in the eyes.

"Do you really love me?"

I couldn't see his face good enough to tell what expression was on it. He didn't say anything at first.

"Of course." He said softly.

"Then why are you putting me through this?" I almost cried again, but stopped myself.

"I don't want to lose you. I...I don't think my heart could take another break." He said, his voice full of emotion.

I decided to try to stand. I slowly rose to my feet. When I started to teeter Jareth grabbed me by the shoulders. We were close and it felt weird. I had never felt it before. It was like attraction mixed with fear.

"Would you really want me to stay if I didn't love you?" I asked softly.

He continued to hold my shoulders, and I let him. We continued looking into each other's eyes. He didn't answer at first. Then, he let go of me and stepped back.

"You said earlier that I should be nice, caring, and show my feelings using my heart, not harsh words and actions." He said looking away.

"Yes I did."

"I do love you. You do believe me, don't you?"

"I think so." I said sweetly.

I wasn't sure about my answer. I wasn't even sure about my feelings at the moment. The fall must have really messed with my head. Jareth said something, but I didn't catch it. I didn't have a chance to ask him to repeat it before I was dizzy again. Everything turned black and I tried to find the floor. It was like it wasn't there. The next thing I heard was a squeal that wasn't my own, as I landed on my back.