Chapter 2: Dream A Little Dream
Jessie found herself in a black place. She sat in a circle of light. At first, she thought that Jareth had sent her to an oubliette, but the area was dry and the ground felt more like cold marble then stone.
"Where am I?" Jessie asked. From out of the darkness, a small crystal rolled up to Jessie, stopping a few inches from her. She reached out and it turned into a note. "Ask a question. Right. Who am I in love with?" Jessie looked around the black area. "That's the question you want to know, right Jareth? Who am I in love with?"
There was no response. In the distance, the sound of water dripping onto a metal pan was heard. The sound of someone in boots was heard, their shoes clomping on the marble.
"Hello?" Jessie called out. The water died away, but the sound of boots remained. "Who's out there?"
The sound of boots died away, so there was no sound.
"Jareth!" Jessie called. "Jareth, what's going on? Where are you?"
The sound of boots came back, only they sounded lighter this time. Jessie looked around until she saw Jareth emerge from the darkness.
"What's going on here?" Jessie asked.
"Apparently, I was wrong" Jareth said with an amused smile. "Apparently, someone came close, but you indeed do not love anyone."
Jessie crossed her arms and stood up. Jareth walked around her.
"Perhaps you are incapable of love" Jareth suggested. "Or perhaps, I haven't wooed you properly."
"When will this peach wear off?" Jessie asked.
"Perhaps an hour" Jareth said.
"Perhaps?" Jessie repeated. Jareth smiled and stood close to Jessie, until she started backing up. She went into the black area and stopped when she hit the wall with her back. She could barely see Jareth, only pieces of hair and his form that blocked the spot of light on the floor. "Jareth, get me out of here."
"What's the matter?" Jareth asked. He leaned in, one hand on either side of her, and placed his cheek next to hers. "Are you afraid of me?"
"No" Jessie replied. She felt him move to hold her head and place small kisses on her neck.
"Are you afraid of the dark?" Jareth asked. Jessie put her hands on Jareth's chest and tried pushing him away, but he didn't budge.
"No" Jessie said. "I want you to stop, Jareth."
"Why?" Jareth asked. Jessie tried pushing him away again. Jareth still didn't budge.
"I don't appreciate your advances, Jareth" Jessie growled.
"Then whose advances would you appreciate?" Jareth hissed into her ear.
"No one's" Jessie replied. Jareth smacked his fist into the wall behind Jessie. "Dammit Jareth!"
"Why are you so difficult?" Jareth asked ferociously.
"I'm not" Jessie replied in the same manner. "You're acting inappropriate."
"I am only acting in the same manner as any other lover would!" Jareth screamed.
"A jealous, obsessive lover!" Jessie screamed back. She gave him a shove as best as she could, but still Jareth didn't budge. "Get away from me!" Jessie opened her mouth to speak when she started to shake. Her body looked like invisible hands had her by the shoulders. "What? Jareth!"
"Robin" Jareth growled. Jessie watched as he disappeared.
"Robin!" Jareth yelled when he reappeared in his study. Robin was next to Jessie, shaking her to try to get her to wake up. When Jareth appeared, Robin stood up. "What are you doing in here?"
"I heard screams, Jareth" Robin said. "I came in and she had shattered a vase while passed out."
"It's of no concern to you" Jareth growled. Robin stepped towards the king.
"It's every concern of mine" Robin said. The two stared at each other, willing the other to look away. "How long do you think this little game of yours will go on?"
"It is not a game" Jareth said.
"You are a king!" Robin yelled. "Jessie is one of the best warriors in this area! Do you think she'd really give that up just to be with you!"
"You're" Jareth said raising his voice. "OUT OF LINE!"
"Stop deluding yourself, Jareth!" Robin yelled. He took two steps back and breathed. He allowed himself a moment to calm down. "As your friend, I want you to be happy, but as your friend I also see what you do not. She is a knight, a warrior, an adventurer! She would wither away if you took that from her."
"You just want her for yourself" Jareth said.
"Jareth, listen to what I'm saying" Robin said.
"No!" Jareth yelled. He moved in towards Robin and grabbed him by the collar. "Stay out of my personal affairs."
"Send her home" Robin said. Robin floated up so he wasn't hanging in Jareth's grip. "Let her awake in her own bed."
Robin pulled out of Jareth's grip and floated back towards the study doors. Jareth scowled as he watched Robin leave.
It wasn't much longer before Jessie awoke in Jareth's study. She sat up and felt disoriented. Jareth had his back to her and was staring into the fireplace.
"Jareth?" Jessie asked. Jareth turned and walked over to her.
"Are you okay?" Jareth asked. "I got back here to find Robin violently shaking you."
"I'm fine" Jessie said, her head clearing up surprisingly fast. "Is Robin okay? Did he need something?"
Jareth knelt down beside Jessie and gently held her hand.
"Do you love him?" Jareth asked, eerily calm.
"What?" Jessie asked.
"Do you love Robin?" Jareth asked slowly. Jareth slowly traced his fingers along her palm and across her own fingers.
"Why are you so adamant about this?" Jessie asked. Jareth pulled her hand up so he could kiss her fingertips. "Didn't I answer your questions with that peach?"
"I want you to love me" Jareth whispered. "Is that so much?"
"Yes" Jessie said quickly. She pulled her hand away and moved away from him, standing. "I don't want a relationship with you or anyone."
"What will it take?" Jareth asked. Jessie shrugged and backed towards the door.
"I don't know" Jessie replied. "Can I be dismissed now?"
"Yes" Jareth replied.
By the time Jessie reached her cottage, she was surprised to find her lamps lit. She pulled out her knife and quietly entered her abode. The living room was empty, but sounds came from the kitchen.
"Who's in there?" Jessie called out. Robin poked his head out of the kitchen and Jessie relaxed.
"I hope you don't mind" Robin said moving to lean on the doorframe between the kitchen and the living room. "Jareth is not happy with me and I was hoping that I could stay here tonight."
"Of course" Jessie replied. She sheathed her knife and disappeared in the hall to retrieve some blankets.
"Would you like some tea?" Robin asked. Jessie came out with two blankets and a pillow. She set them on the couch and sank down beside them. "Jessie?"
Jessie rubbed her face with her hands and brought her knees up to her chest. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up. Robin was standing close to her, looking worried.
"I'm fine" Jessie said.
"Tea?" Robin asked.
"No" Jessie said getting up, moving to her bedroom. "Good night."
"Good night" Robin called after her.
Jessie's dreams were filled with strange images of evil shadows, bizarre trees, and creepy creatures. Without quite remembering what had really awoken her, Jessie found herself sitting up in bed breathing heavily, as if she had just run a long ways. Jessie moved to lean her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands.
Jessie could feel the sweat running down her back. Rubbing her face, she got out of bed and quietly went to her bathroom. She ran hot water over face and harshly gripped the sink.
Making the decision, she retreated to her room and quickly changed into her usual clothing and armor. She left quickly and quietly, leaving a slumbering Robin to rest on her couch.
Jessie made her way through the winding paths until she came to the stables. The goblin on duty was looking through a porno magazine oogling over some naked creature. He tried hiding the magazine when he saw Jessie coming close to him.
"Aftiel" Jessie growled. "Now."
"Yes, Sir Jessie" The goblin said before running into the stables. It didn't take long for Aftiel to be brought out. Jessie took the reigns and led Aftiel out to the road before mounting.
"Let's go" Jessie said urging Aftiel to start towards the city. Aftiel made a grumpy sound, but complied.
The city was fairly rowdy. The citizens were still celebrating the victory over the dwarves of Modsognir, which simply meant that there were a lot of drunks and violent folks on the streets.
Jessie spent a good portion of her night towing goblins and elves to the drunk tank at the prison. She even managed to stop a few muggings and a group of goblins from breaking into the local bank. But, it didn't seem to be enough.
The night crept by and Jessie's thoughts trailed to the next day, where she'd start training knights. She let Aftiel walk through the Goblin City while she slipped into her thoughts, not interested in the drunks.
"Sir Jessie?" A voice called from behind her. Jessie never turned around. The clomping of a horse and the jangling of armor came closer as Sir Hugo made his way to ride beside her. "Good morning."
"Morning" Jessie said.
"You're not scheduled to patrol tonight" Sir Hugo said. Jessie looked over at him. He looked tired.
"Did you just get off your shift?" Jessie asked. Sir Hugo was sitting on his horse in his human-size form.
"Yes" Sir Hugo replied. "How are you doing?"
"I'm tired, but I'll live" Jessie said. Hugo nodded.
"I sense that something else is troubling you" Hugo said. "Perhaps with His Majesty?"
"There is always something wrong between me and His Majesty" Jessie replied.
"Which is why he keeps you close to him" Hugo said. "Or, as close as he can."
"What are you talking about?" Jessie asked. "I have my own agenda. I don't heed his every beckon and call."
"Lately you have" Hugo said. Jessie inwardly slapped herself for not seeing what Hugo had. "I am here if you need a friendly ear."
Both became fairly silent. The clomping of horses and the good cheer of drunken citizens surrounding them. They rode this way for nearly ten minutes before Jessie spoke up.
"Hugo, it seems as though I've run in with love" Jessie said. "And, I wish I hadn't."
"It is not you who is loving then" Hugo said. "Otherwise you'd feel differently."
"I just don't know what to do" Jessie replied. Hugo furrowed his brow in thought.
"You do not feel for any of them?" Hugo asked.
"I don't know" Jessie said. "I care for them, but I can't….I don't believe in love, Hugo."
"You what?" Hugo asked disbelievingly. "How can you not believe in love?"
"It's simple Hugo" Jessie said looking out at the buildings that surrounded them. "I spent part of my life Aboveground where I was seen by most people as being a freak…of sorts. Then, I came here and Jareth, His Majesty, took me in."
"And Jareth never showed you any affection?" Hugo asked.
"He was always away or doing something secret" Jessie said. "He spent time with me, but not much. I spent my time with Sir Renaud in those days." The two knights watched as a group of chickens ran across the street. "Jareth usually gave me gifts while I was growing up. He also tested my patience and my temper, resulting in how it is today."
"And you never felt love for him?" Hugo asked.
"At first I was very attracted to his mystique and his magic, but once I got to know him the mystique started to disappear. His affection for me was always strange" Jessie said. "At first he was fairly distant, but as I grew up he became more possessive and more…affectionate in his touch."
"I have been a knight for almost seventy years now, Jess" Hugo said. "One thing that I've known about Jareth is that he has some trouble showing his affection. His version of a hug might be a sneer. I've seen it many times." Hugo took a deep breath and gestured towards the Owls Nest, Goblin City's best bakery. "Want a Danish or something?"
"Croissant" Jessie said reaching for her purse.
"I've got it" Hugo said dismounting and running inside. The best thing about the Owls Nest was that it was open 26 hours a day. It didn't take Hugo long to come outside with a large croissant and a cream horn for himself. He mounted his horse and the two started their patrolling again.
"So you feel that His Majesties affections are aggressive and do not carry the full potential of love?" Hugo asked.
"Something like that" Jessie said. Hugo watched as she tore off a chunk of croissant and ate it.
"There is someone else" Hugo said. Jessie nodded.
"Two people actually" Jessie replied. Hugo raised an eyebrow. "King Al-Shairan and Liaison Robin Goodfellow."
"How do you feel about them?" Hugo asked.
"Well, Al-Shairan is attracted to me" Jessie said. "I've…had to do a few things in order to get the treaty with him, but other then that I have no real feelings for him. As for Robin…well, Robin has always liked me."
"And, do you like him?" Hugo asked.
"I don't know" Jessie replied. "He's always been nice to me. Whenever he was in the kingdom he went out of his way to find me and say hello. He is handsome and funny and witty, but I don't know how I feel about him."
"And what is it about Al-Shairan that you like?" Hugo asked.
"What?" Jessie asked. Hugo looked at her and took a bite of his cream horn. "I…well, he provides a safe house for me."
"But" Hugo said.
"But he is very controlling" Jessie said. "You can tell just by being in his presence."
"And, what's wrong with Robin?" Hugo asked.
"Robin" Jessie said. "He…he's always traveling. Not that that's a real problem, but he travels to courts where Ama'Sovai are not allowed."
"But you don't have a strong problem with him" Hugo stated.
"Robin is a good man" Jessie replied. "I just…If I go too far with him, Jareth would have both of our heads."
"So Robin ultimately makes you fear for his and your life" Hugo said. He finished his cream horn and brushed the crumbs off of his armor. "It sounds like you need to do some deep thinking about this. Perhaps you should get away from all of them so you may reflect."
"I have knights to train" Jessie said.
"Don't you have vacation time coming up?" Hugo asked.
"Jareth wants to take me somewhere" Jessie said. "Or send me somewhere or something like that."
"Well, you'll work things out" Hugo said. He slowed his horse. "I must be heading back, Sir Jessie. I need to sleep before I start training my own group of knights."
"Sleep well, Hugo" Jessie said.
"Fare well" Hugo said with a smile.
A few hours later, Jessie found herself sitting in the Courts' food hall with Verde bringing her food out to her. He bustled around, not saying much of anything, since there were a lot more knights in the food hall then the last time Jessie had been in. Jessie looked down at her plate. She had eggs, toast, bacon, hash browns, and an apple. She looked around at everyone else…they had the exact same thing. Verde quickly ran out with a small wooden cage and set it at Jessie's feet before running back into the kitchen.
"I think Verde and Giallo are getting stressed out" A voice said from behind Jessie. The owner of the voice sat down next to Jessie with his plate in hand.
"Hey Aulus" Jessie said. Aulus was sporting blue eyes today instead of his usual yellow, and his hair was completely red instead of his usual fire orange. "Nice eyes."
"Thanks" Aulus replied. "So what are you up to today? Training?"
"Yeah" Jessie said munching on her bacon. "The Council wants me to run the troops on the Black Pit course today."
"Ooo" Aulus said cringing. "I hated that course."
"Yeah" Jessie replied. "Well, I guess that's why I get it."
"I think you're the only one who made it their first time through" Aulus said. "But, these new guys, they're pretty tough, a little lacking in leadership, but tough."
"Well, maybe they'll pick something up" Jessie said. Aulus nodded and the two quickly ate their food.
