220 Sneak Attack

"Do not forget to erect a barrier," Jareth called out, watching carefully as she adjusted herself on the ground, getting ready to sleep. "Astrid?"

"Hmm? Jareth, sleep time, talk later."

"Erect a barrier young lady. We are out in the open. Who knows what beast lay wait around?" he replied her, trying to convince her to take her lazy self up and do it.

Unfortunately for him, Astrid was beyond moving her body to do anything. This was the most intense thing she had done in her entire life and today's training really was the height of it.

Jareth wouldn't have bothered with asking her to erect a barrier if he himself wasn't tired as well.

He never intended to train her to this extent, but she kept on improving, giving him an enjoyable fight, coupled with how frustrated she became when she lost to him. He loved every bit of it and he pushed her more.

Now he was left with a drained out self, so he couldn't be on the watch for them like he normally did, resulting for him asking her to erect the barrier.

"Since when did you become scared of some beast? Just go…aahh~" she yawned, her eyes dropping close as she spoke the last words, "sleep al–l…ready, niighhttt."

He could only shake his head and stop being paranoid about them being attacked by a beast and quickly make use of the time they have to get maximum rest before then.

He scooted close to where she was and laid out his cloak, then slept on it beside her.

~A Couple of Hours Later~

Several pairs of eyes and voices in a whisper could be heard and seen far from where they slept in the dark.

"Their guard is down, now is the perfect time to attack." One of the voices said in a low voice.

"We would trap them in the nets, but remember, keep a safe distance from them. We do not know how dangerous they may be."

"Hmm."

"Okay."

"We attack now. Are all the weapons set?" the second voice asked, this time sounding more clear than a whisper.

"Yes."

"Good, on my count. One, two…"

Quietly made their way to where Astrid and Jareth laid and in no time they got within range to launch their attack. The moment the attacks were to be launched, Jareth's eyes snapped immediately.

Before he could react a heavy net with a black material sewn in it to prevent the captives from seeing, fell upon him. "Astrid!"

As soon as he yelled her name, Astrid sat up and used her small hands to rub off what little sleep remained in her eyes. The next thing she knew, something fell on her and she was dragged on the ground with it.

Jareth struggled against the net and whatever it was that was pulling him with it. Astrid panicked and did same but nothing she did could help, as she could barely have time to find an opening in the thick nets to escape.

"Snow, Snow! Are you okay?" Astrid asked, her fear sipping through the link accompanied by her voice with her heart beating fast at the situation she was in.

"Damn it, I can't see. Hold on Snow, I would save you."

"Master there are many of them, they look scary and one of them just gave a signal to the other. He is advancing at Jareth with a pick rod in his hand," Snow relayed what was happening to her since her vision was blocked by whatever cloth was used with the net.

Her heart skipped a bit at the thought of someone hurting Jareth. "Jareth!"

Jareth stopped struggling against the net and whipped his head in the direction of her voice. He could feel her panic from her voice, he knew something was wrong.

He couldn't tell exactly what was wrong, but his adrenaline rushed so quickly at the thought of something bad happening to her.

'I need to break free quick and save her. They better not do anything stupid and touch her.' He thought to himself.

Quickly he unsheathed his dagger, ready to cut the ropes and tear at the thick cloth impeding his vision since the dragging came to an abrupt stop.

"Master, nothing has changed, you only riled Jareth up, he is unaware of the danger coming towards him," Snow informed Astrid once more. "Do something, I do not know that attacker's intention."

"Okay. I can do this, it doesn't matter whether I can see or not, all I need to do is sense them."

With that thought in place, Astrid closed her eyes and connected her powers with the environment.

As an elemental fairy, connecting with the earth and air wasn't a hard thing to do. In no time she felt the vibrations of the man stalking quietly towards Jareth, so as not to alert him of the danger.

She sensed Jareth as well, feeling him struggle in cutting the hard rope he was so engrossed in. She moved her fingers and felt the earth tremble under them.

A small smile crept up her lips at the disaster she was about to bring upon them. At the same time, the man raised his rod, ready to land it on Jareth and make him fall unconscious.

But before the rod could make their mark with his back, the ground underneath his feet crumbled a bit, making him fall down, using his head to hit the ground.

At the same time, Jareth tore at the black thick cloth and some part of the net, only to be met with the sight in front of him.

Astrid took this moment when everyone was distracted and created a crack leading from where the other man was that fell to the two persons holding the net down.

"Ahh!"

Another scream was heard followed by the ground crumbling under their feet.

Jareth took hold of the opportunity and freed himself from the net. Quickly, the others surrounded him, ready for a fight.