Threats and Promises

By: Amber Dawn Lee

Edited By: Stacie

Inspired by: A party I had once

Chapter Eight

"Tu tippeted esh," I heard a panicked voice. I moaned and turned over, what happened? I was shot with something, that I knew, but with what, I didn't know.

"Esh eepy," Jareth's voice filled my senses "esh notta me maroonia." I kept picking up that they were talking about me. I think I was esh, or… maybe it meant she I wasn't sure. Tu, I was sure was you and everything else was blurred.

"Damn," I muttered "I feel like I got hit by a truck."

"Esh wakita!" someone shouted "ESH WAKITA!" I opened my eyes slowly and saw that there was a very happy looking goblin in my face.

"Hariba!" he beamed "tu tosh tippeted." I blinked a few times.

"I got what?" I muttered and Jareth entered whatever tent I happened to be in.

"You got shot," he informed and held up a dart "with one of these." It looked very painful, but I didn't remember a thing so, I supposed I wouldn't have to worry about that.

"That explains why I feel like I got hit by a train," I groaned and Jareth waved the giddy creature away.

"You're very lucky," he said going over to a small table and mixing a few things together "you could've died." I rubbed my forehead and few times and looked around.

"Where are we?" I asked and he gave an 'I'm so glad you asked (because I've got a dreadfully long story to tell)' smile.

"WestCove," he informed me and brought over a glass of… something. "Drink," he ordered. I looked into the cup (I'm sure there was something moving in there) and gave Jareth an 'are you fucking crazy?' look.

"I'm not even sure if that's drinkable," I muttered and he held it forward.

"I'll make you feel better," he growled "drink it."

"I'd rather not…" I muttered and he sent a warning glance. "Well I'm sure you wouldn't want to drink it either," I snapped.

"I have," he growled "about a thousand times. Now drink it before I make you drink it."

"You ARE Jareth, aren't you?" I asked and he seemed a little hurt by the suggestion. He knelt down next to the makeshift bed I was laying in and rubbed his temples, still holding the drink out to me. I took the drink from his hand and he looked up. I looked down at it, something seemed to slither to the bottom of the cup.

"It's not as bad as it looks," he said giving an encouraging smile "its all about trust. It only wants you to think it's bad for so you won't drink it."

"Are you kidding?" I asked and he shook his head. I sighed "alright," I muttered and drank it down. It actually tasted like… nothing. Nothing at all. The texture wasn't thick black slime as I saw in the cup, but something like water.

"See," he beamed "all about trust." He took the cup from me and set it on the table and sat on the edge of my bed. "It really was a good shot though."

"Oh thanks," I muttered "they can stuff me and hang me on the wall." He laughed.

"No," he chuckled "these are wild goblins. They thought we were intruders, but normally they don't use violence."

"And you know this place," I breathed and he nodded. "But how come you haven't changed back into Obal?"

"Too much affection," he shrugged. I must have looked confused because he explained. "I used to come here all the time when I was young. Practically lived here. So… most creatures here are like family."

"Sounds nice," I breathed and he brushed my hair back. "Why are you helping me?" He looked at me oddly and frowned.

"Why are you helping me?" he asked. I paused a moment and gave a soft smile.

"Because," I said quietly "you asked me to." A smile crept across his face so fast I could hardly believe it. "Take a break."

"Stop babying me," he growled "just because I'm king doesn't mean that-"

"That's not why," I said cutting him off and he stopped talking. "I'm sorry, you look kinda tired. I'm just concerned, especially since you keep taking care of me. I mean…" I paused and he looked intently at me as if I needed to continue. "My family wouldn't even… well, you know. They just… left me at the hospital, alone." He looked at me for a long time and then gave a teasing smile.

"Is that your odd way of saying thank you?" he said tilting his head and squinting his eyes a little. "Because, if it is, I would gladly accept a normal 'thank you Jareth for saving me repetitively'."

"Twice," I corrected "twice. I wouldn't say that's repetitive. And you really shouldn't keep score you know, I might feel compelled to catch up." He smirked.

"You should rest for a while," he suggested "besides, tonight, well, there's this thing… ummm."

"What thing?" I asked propping myself up on one arm.

"Well," he paused a moment "I suppose you've gotten a bad impression of goblins the last time you were here. But the WestCove tribe… it's having a celebration and if you're feeling up to it I suppose I could explain some things to you."

"When you say explain things," I mused "do you actually mean explain things or just sit around and talk?" He smirked. I think this was his beat around the bush way of asking me to go with him.

"Well," he paused "I suppose I could fit some conversation in there, if you really want." I gave an amused grin, he wasn't going to be blunt, was he?

"I'd like that a lot," I said and he looked a little shocked. "I need to talk to you about a few things anyways," I admitted "like how exactly I'm supposed to assist you on this, apparently dangerous, adventure of yours."

"Don't worry," he breathed "I'll protect you."

"Oh yes because I can't handle anything myself," I muttered and he smiled as he left me to rest.

"Exactly," he teased and left without another word.

Author's note:

Acantha Mardivey: sorry, had to leave it there though. Glad you liked it. Yeah, she kissed him. Too bad it only lasts an hour.

Amanda: yep, there's one that'll come up later in the story.

Moonjava: thank ya.

Rosakara13: oh, thanks. And don't worry, I will.

Word Junky: SORRY! :evil grin: I don't mean too. And thanks a lot.

LadyAniviel: ::laughs:: naw, I'd actually like to know. - Thank you, you're an awesome writer yourself.