231 How Dare Him!

Those were the murmurings going on around Astrid. Although they spoke in a whisper, their words didn't go unnoticed from Snow and Astrid's ears.

Snow turned his head to look at his master, only to see her face redden at their remarks. 'How can she feel shy at such comments? Oh well, knowing master, she definitely would. That's why it is so much easier for Jareth to tease her.' Snow thought, blocking their mind link so she couldn't hear its thoughts.

As the fight progressed, Clive lost his ground and balance. The next thing anyone knew, he whistled and a sword was thrown at him. He raised his hands up in the air and effortlessly caught the steel blade in his raised hand.

He was done playing it safe. If he didn't use a weapon now, he was definitely going to lose. And he didn't want that. He did not want to lose Astrid nor lose face among his men.

Jareth's brows creased and her narrowed his eyes as he saw the incoming danger. If he did not speak up now and fought with him like that, it would be as though he was okay with it, which he was definitely not.

"You are breaking the rule, weapons aren't allowed." Jareth watched Clive, thinking he would put it down by the didn't.

"Who said anything about such rule?"

"Isn't it a no weapon fight? No one mentioned the usage of weapons before right?"

"The only rule I stated was about knocking your opponent out and making them surrender or defeating them after thirty minutes. I never said anything about using whatever means to win."

A small smile played around his lips as he spoke to Jareth. True to what he said, there was no rule stating what should be used and what not to be used during the fight.

So technically even though Astrid and Jareth knew he wasn't playing fair, there was nothing they could do about it.

"Do not tell me you have suddenly become scared? I thought you were so brave a while back? If you have a sword of your own you can use it, but I doubt that. If you surrender now and give her to me… then we end this."

"You wish. I told you, she is mine."

"Do not blame me for not being merciful. AHHHHH!"

After his last sentence, he charged at Jareth holding the sword with both hands and raising it up to his eyes level.

Slash!

Swoosh!

He slashed at Jareth several times, but could not land a hit. Jareth who was just too skilled with the sword found it easy to deflect his attack while still attacking with his hands and legs.

"Master, I think he intends on killing Jareth. His attacks are fierce and with killing intent. This match just went from friendly to a death match," Snow informed Astrid.

"I know, that's why I did not want Jareth to fight in the first place."

Another ten minutes passed and still no winner. It wasn't easy defeating Clive as he was the strongest man in the village and he was equally skilled.

Coupled with the fact that Jareth has a broken rib and every action and pressure placed there only weakened him, only made his fighting speed almost at the same level as Clive.

While he still had speed as an advantage, Clive had the sword as an added advantage and his grip on it never faltered.

'Time to end this now,' Clive thought.

Jareth was close to him now, so he Clive took hold of the opportunity and swung his sword at his right side. Sensing the danger, Jareth dodge to his side, but what he didn't know was that, that was where Clive wanted him to move to.

As quickly as the sword moved to the unbroken rib, he changed direction swiftly, turning the blade back and slashed at Jareth's left side.

He tried to move but he was too late, Clive held his left hand, causing his movements to slow down and the sword slash at his skin.

The cut wasn't deep as Jareth had moved in time, but nonetheless, he still got injured.

In no time, a red liquid stained the steel and Jareth looked at his side and saw his shirt ton at his side with blood coming out.

He felt a stinging pain and winced.

"Noo!" Astrid half screamed when she saw him get hurt. "How dare him!" she screamed in her mind, startling the beast.

Jareth whipped his head to the side and caught her glaring at Clive, then returned her gaze to him when she noticed him staring at her.

He shook his head slightly, reminding her not to act rashly and expose her powers.

In this moment of distraction, Clive attacked again, swinging his sword at Jareth he ducked but ended up exposing his back to Clive the moment he bent down. 

Clive hit his elbow down hard at his side where his ribs were broken just the same time Jareth pushed one leg out, kicking Clive's knee and making him fall forward, further intensifying the weight of his elbow on Jareth's back. 

"Arrhh!"

Cough! 

Jareth could feel his eyes spin in their sockets as his pain intensified. 

His head felt heavy almost immediately, causing an annoying buzzing sound to sound in his ears. 

Everything happened so fast, that he couldn't believe it. He had thought had the upper hand, but now... 

Jareth spat out blood at the contact and Clive took the opportunity to drag him back up by the hair with one hand, while the other was about ploughing down the sword at Jareth's neck. 

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What would Astrid do? Would she ignore all warnings and save her love or would she just watch and hope for a miracle? Keep the votes coming guys.