"You have the effrontery to still lie after this! Take him away and lock him up in the dungeons. You would get your rightful punishment, take all these with you as evidence."

"Yes your highness" and they moved him with the stolen items out of the house and yard, into the streets.

Frantically, Mrs Greg rushed and held Prince Owen's leg, begging him. "Prince Owennnnn... I beg of you, do not take my husband away from me, please" tears trickled down her face with each words uttered.

Prince Owen looked down at her with disgust and then back up at his men. They understood quite well what that gaze meant. Ian and Ivan bent down on cue and lifted her off the Prince.

"Move out" he didn't bother to spare the woman a glance as they all left the house.

--------------------------------

~Elven Forest~

At dawn the next day, Astrid woke up to the sound of sharpening knives from outside the cave.

She looked around but didn't see any sign of Jareth. The little white tiger-pheonix beast laid close to her side, while its mother lay on the ground in the opposite direction.

Carefully she crept out of her cloak, trying desperately not to awaken the sleeping duo and made her way to the entrance of the cave.

As she got to the entrance, the morning light slipped into her eyes, she had to block the rays with her hands, as she tried adjusting her eyes to the bright light.

Slowly, she stepped into the morning light, fresh wind blew past her, rustling her hair in the process.

Inside the cave Big White-fire opened its eyes and looked at where Astrid stood a couple of seconds ago before lowering its head and closing its eyes.

There he was, below the cave near the trees. He didn't seem to notice her as he continued with what he was doing.

Jareth dropped one of the daggers in his hand and picked up a stick. It was almost completely carve, so he continued with what he was doing.

He sat on a small rock while he flexed his hands with each thrust forward. Astrid watched him for some minutes before deciding to walk down to him.

When she got closer she could see clearly what he was carving. It looked like a wooden sword, no... It was actually a wooden sword.

On the ground close to his feet lay another set of those wooden swords. They were two in number, she smiled as she realized what he was doing.

"They look pretty" she complimented.

He lifted his head to look at her but didn't say anything.

"What's with the att.i.tude!" She thought.

"I had wondered what it was you were carving but when I came down, I noticed. I have one question though, why are you making a third when we are just two?"

"In case one breaks" he gently blew on the part he carved last and held it up to inspect it. He looked at it for a moment than tossed it over to her without looking her way.

"Catch."

"Huh?" The wooden sword came flying her way. Astrid tried to catch it, but seeing as she was not prepared, it hit her elbow and fell to the ground.

"Be serious, no time for play" Jareth bent and picked up another sword.

Astrid did the same while muttering, "Seems like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. Anyways, what are we starting with first? What would you teach me?"

"All eager I see. We wouldn't have much time dilly dallying, so let's try your defense."

"What about striking, attacking" she held her wooden sword and swung it in action, striking upward, side ways and below.

"Everything about what you just did is wrong. Your stance is terrible as well. While fighting you need to have the perfect stance, that shows balance and gives you a fair advantage of attack. With the way you are standing now, any opponent, no matter how weak can knock you over."

"What? That's not true, I have a fine stance."

"Swordsmans.h.i.+p ain't about beauty, you look like... " he paused and just shook his head.

"Say it."

"No need. Show me your fighting stance."

She steadied herself, took in s deep breath, closed her eyes and tried to mimick his stance when he fought with the a.s.sa.s.sins.

Arched her back, put a leg forward, held her sword forward with her right hand raise the other hand back in the sir and squatted down a bit, like she half sited on the air with one leg stretched out.

Jareth arched his brows as he looked at her with disbelief. "What in heaven's name are you doing?"

"My stance."

"Huh!!... "

"Well technically not mine, but yours."

"Where did I ever do that?"

"I am copying the stance you did five days ago" she explained.

"I never did anything like that? In fact stop. Let me demonstrate."

"Hmm, okay" she shrugged her shoulders and stood straight up watching him demonstrate.