241 Stand Down

By the time Jareth got outside, he was met with a troublesome scene. 

Almost all or if not all the villagers were presently surrounding the part close to the left side of their house. 

He could hear several punching sounds and his pace quickened as he rushed to the scene. 

There were two men fighting with each other, battling whatever grievance they had out. One of them looked familiar to him and the other did not look like he was from amongst them, at least his hair proved that.

Soon his eyes found Astrid not too far from where the main fight was happening. It was as though she was moving through the crowds to go to the fight itself. 

'What is she doing?' Jareth asked himself and ran up to capture her, but before he could get to where she was at the front, he heard her sweet voice come out in an authoritative manner. 

"Stop!"

Almost instantly, as soon as she said that, all heads wiped to the side to look at the owner of the sonorous charming voice. Up until now, no one had heard her speak save for a few of them.

By now she had moved up to where the two men were fighting and stayed in their middle, blocking and preventing the fight from continuing.

One of the men fighting, the one who looked so much like the other villagers, had his hands raised and clenched into a fist, ready to instil a punch on the other man's face and body, hadn't Astrid intervened.

The stranger amongst them was half kneeling in the ground with a cut on his pale lips and blood oozing out, staining his lips and chin.

Astrid looked sternly at the first man, he was one of the guards in the village, she had caught sight of him back then at the arena. Her gaze unwavering as her hands lifted up at her side in a shielded manner, blocking the stranger.

"Move out of the way, girl." The first man's deep and terrifying voice rang out, breaking the silence that was in the area.

"No, this fight has to stop."

"You know nothing about this fight," he retorted.

"Obviously, I know nothing about anything here. No stupid rules about duel and all. Do you always use your brawls here and not your brain?" Her voice was clear and loud, reaching the ears of everyone present.

"I do not know much, but forgive me if I am wrong, ever since we came here, it has all been fight, fight, fight. Nothing other than fight!"

Astrid could not help rolling her eyes as she spoke… Like seriously, this man.

"You would soon get used to things here. In this village, only those who had power could live and enjoy. Everything is indeed about brawls," the first man replied.

'Brainless idiot,' Astrid cursed within, unable to stop the urge that wanted to do more than that.

She rolled her eyes at him and then swiftly turned her head to the side, trying to look at the other man.

It was now she took out time to assess this young man half kneeling on the ground in front of her.

He had long straight blue hair reaching him just a little bit below his chest and his eyes…oh those eye, when Astrid eyes met with his, she could not help the strange feeling that crept up her body as she saw his blue green eyes.

It reminded her of everything and anything relating to water. For a moment there, she gasped, mouth slight ajar as she took in his appearance once more before finding her lost voice and masking her shock with a look of indifference.

"You have a name?"

"Cari, Cari Kyle."

"Okay Cari. I am Astrid. Nice to meet you. Can you stand?" Astrid asked, her eyes held all the concern and worry she could muster as she stared into his blue green box.

Just as she was about to say more words further, she felt movement coming from the top ground of the ground to the man's direction.

Astrid didn't move but stayed in the same position, watching Carl with a questioning gaze. Just as the man raised his hands to hit her, Astrid ducked and bent down, backing away from his punch as they came flying in her way.

As soon as he missed, Astrid found the needed and opportunity and gave him a punch at his arm, just where his hand and body joined at.

Quickly she turned her feet and moved to his back. Before he could even realize what was going on, she elbowed him at his nape and pushed him to the ground.

"I said Stop!" Astrid hollered.

Everyone present was shocked and at a loss for words at what they witnessed just now. It was more of the same question that plagued their minds, did this frail looking girl just got the betterof a big man?

Jareth, who was watching this whole scenario play out, could not help it when his chest began to swell with pride just from watching her defend someone and herself, coupled with the authority she showed.

He was wowed beyond apprehension. But as usual, before the men continue or any other thing could happen, another interruption came.

"What is going on there?" A certain voice asked and everyone shifted their gaze to see the owner of the familiar voice.

"Brad."

Before Astrid and the man who was half kneeling knew what was happening, they were surrounded by armed men.

"Stand down!"

"And why should I?"

"Because I said so," Brad retorted. He wasn't just going to let a little girl do as she pleased when she knew nothing about the happenings and rules in their village.

"Why should she?"

~~~~~

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