I was losing hold of myself all because of a girl I met a couple of days ago. One that would go her separate way in a matter of days. One I barely knew anything of and one not a human but a sorceress.

I regained myself and walked to where she sat, masking whatever it was I had felt and went back to my cold aloof self.

It must have hurt her, because I saw her brows furrow at the slightest and a tear that graced her eye b.a.l.l.s disappear right after she blinked.

It was as though whatever had happened, the unknown communication with our eyes never happened.

"How do you feel?" I bent down to her level and scanned her body with my eyes.

"Better."

That was all she uttered, I did feel a bit bad, hurt to be precise. I guess i expected more, her jumpy self, well who was I to expect such when I didn't show any form of care.

Anyway it was better this way. I can't start having feelings now can I?

I sighed and squatted close to her, she didn't flinch or batter her eye lids, she just stared at me with a blank face. No emotion whatsoever, this was the first time I saw her this way.

Nevertheless, I shrugged it off and dropped the cloth containing the fruits next to her.

"Here, you must be starving and thirsty, I picked some fruits for you" I dropped the water gourd close to her as well, careful so it doesn't break.

"Thanks."

I gave a nod and slowly stood back up, then went over to a corner by her right hand side and sat down.

"Where went you? Heard you were gone for a while?"

My heart beat increased swiftly, I looked to my side and saw she was watching me. This was no good, I can't be... In, out, in, out, I took in deep breaths and steadied my raging heart.

"To get you something to eat and drink."

**********

*Author's POV*

Jareth stood up and left her side to sit down.

"Where did he go to? He's been gone long Astrid."

"What!" she mind communicated with the big white tiger-pheonix beast.

"It took him like three of hours at least."

"Why? Do you suspect... "

"Not really but I am curious as to what took his time."

"Okay, would ask."

As soon as Jareth sat down, Astrid gave him two minutes of rest before she lounged her question at him.

"Where went you? Heard you were gone for a while?"

Due to how sensitive her hearing was, she could hear his heart beat as it thud in his chest.

He didn't move or say anything, just watched her for a minute. "Why is his heart beating fast and loud? Its almost as before but I know this is different" she thought.

"To get you something to eat and drink."

"And it took you that long" there was disbelief laced in her voice and he knew it.

"I had to cover our trail, soldiers are everywhere searching for you. I don't know why, they should be attacking the humans for trespa.s.sing but are scouting the source of that magic I think."

"Ohhh. So what did you do?"

"Made sure, no footprints led here, I was lucky to have noticed them when I went to get water at the river by the west."

"You are talking too much" he thought to himself.

"Thanks again" she thanked him with a warm smile and he nodded in return.

Her smile soon faded away. "What is wrong young one?"

"It's nothing White-Fire" she lied to her.

"You are lying, I can tell you know. It's about him right?"

"Well, I could hear his heart beat fast, it was almost the same when he came and it got me thinking back. When he came, I sensed and could see it in his eyes, he showed care, longing, yearning and... "

"You felt same too" it stopped her midway into her sentence.

"Yes, but it faded away quickly, like he didn't even care."

"You should know Jareth cares, you needed to have seen him when you collapsed, his hands shook, his eyes felt lost, he didn't know what to do. As much as he tried to hide it, I could sense his worry."

"Really?"

"Yes, perhaps he is not used to it, showing his feelings and you have feelings for him too."

"What! No way, I see him as a good friend, we've only known for a couple of days and he's been helpful. It would be useless having feelings for him, we would go our separate ways once he takes me back to the border."

"Hmm, if you say so."

Astrid turned her head to look at him, he was lost in thoughts, he held an apple in his hands and fiddled with it as he stared at nothing in particular.

"You want to try recalling?" Her voice came out soft and low. Astrid didn't answer her, she just stared at Jareth.

"Astrid!"