Thirteen O' Clock

J

Jareth Wardwin

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OOC First Name
Beth
Reference ID #: 7260633
A deep rumble echoed across the dark grey clouds swarming the sky. It was going to rain soon.
Jareth stood there in his school uniform, the tips of his long grey trousers pressed against the earth by his small leather shoes.
He was waiting for Artemis, Landon and Lucy to join him at the forest for an adventure: He was beginning to consider Landon his friend and, as Jareth had no male friends, he thought Landon ought to feel this an honor.

There was a loud crunching nearby as something approached Jareth who was waiting at the edge of the forest.
He checked his pocket for his wand; yes, his trusty side kick was there, ready to protect him against any danger they may come across..
That said, Jareth had been in the forest before and perhaps the most dangerous thing he met was another student.
He turned to smile at the person joining him. His face was warm, his eyes bright and he practically glowed with excitement.
 
After the last failed attempt at an adventure in the forest, Artemis was aching for a good frolic. She thought that this time Jareth should come with them since she had invited Lucy and Landon to join them. Even in their brief meeting, Art had felt like the fifth wheel when coming across Landon with his girlfriend. Besides; why should she do anything without Jareth? He'd probably never been in the forest and was eager to find out what all the secret hype was about. There were perfectly safe, anyway. The centaurs left Art alone if she left them alone and she knew the little pathways through the undergrowth like the back of her hand. Even now she knew exactly where she was headed. Artemis could hear the soft breathing of what was surely a person, hopefully one that she knew, and she snuck around to see who it was. Thankfully, it was Jareth.

Art bounded up to her fiance and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Ullo love," she mumbled, snuggling briefly into his chest before looking up at him with an impish grin. She was struck with how perfectly handsome and dark he looked in the shadows of the trees above him and in the looming grey clouds. At any other time she would have kissed him too, but who knew when Landon and Lucy would pop out of the undergrowth? Her embarrassment would be total. Art released him fairly reluctantly and glanced about merrily. "We almost ready to be off, then? I thought I'd take 'ye all to th' mouse's nook. It's my favourite place."
 
Jareth was pleased to see Artemis but he still felt a certain air hanging around them.. And it wasn't pleasant.
"The what?" Jareth replied having listened to her words. He smiled though, trying to push all his feelings aside but..
"Listen, Art, we need to talk," Those words were ones he had never wanted to say and if he had to, he would rather have done it when they were happily married with all their lovely children surrounding them and the issue at hand being not such a bother to him.
But Jareth could still remember the kiss, could still remember that boy and him fighting, still remember the difficulties him and Artemis began to suffer; they had talked properly since. It had been so awkward and Jareth didn't want to bring it up again.
But he had to.

A rough breeze was curling about the branches of trees, lifting leaves into the air. The breeze whisked through Jareth's hair, fluffing it about but allowing it to fall back almost neatly into its usual, cute self. "I'm still.. I still.." He shut his eyes tight, the words failing him. "Everytime I close my eyes," Jareth said, a moment before opening them, "Every time I am alone in a dark room late at night and I'm tired- I see him. And I see him kissing you." Jareth held one of his hands over his heart. "And it still hurts."
 
Typical fate to kick her in the arse when she was so ready to spend some time with her new friend and her fiance. Artemis drew back from Jareth fast enough to be considered a recoil. Why must we talk about this? she lamented inwardly. Unlike Jareth, she had been perfectly happy with not saying a word on the subject at all and pretending as though it had never happened. But of course her love was upset. She had been kissing another boy. 'Kissing' implied some sort of active participation on her part which there had not been, so in reality she had only been allowing herself to be kissed. When Tohoru had placed his lips on hers, she had been shocked, appalled, nervous and worst of all, a little bit flattered. She had never felt anyone's lips other than Jareth's. Artemis was quite sure which she preferred, but that wasn't enough to convince Jareth she knew.

Art wrapped her hands around each elbow and hugged her arms to herself. It was partially a move of guilt and partially her trying to shade herself from the cool breeze. It was the last thing she needed when she already had a chill creeping down her spine. Art couldn't look at him. "I ... tha' day was a ... it was a mistake." Artemis blinked slowly at the brown leaves scattered around her bare feet. "He had me believe that we were going tay be great friends. But ... when he kissed me," Ach, don't cry. "I wasnay expectin' it. And I..." She simply couldn't lie to Jareth. But how could he explain this in a way that he would understand? Artemis looked up at him sorrowfully, her hazel eyes glittering in the dark light. "I was a little flattered by the attention. No one other than 'ye has ever looked at me twice, and though..." she paused, sighing. "And though he could never be you, it was just nice to think that maybe someone else might like me, too." Art let out an angered breath. "But it was a silly thing tay think, for he doesn't like me a jot and I belong with you only. I am so sorry." she said finally, bowing her head once more.
 
Landon had a habit of arriving at the most inappropriate moments in time and today was no excuse.
Lucy wasn't too far behind him and Landon smiled back at her as he walked. He too was in his school uniform, Gryffindor tie on display.. wrapped around his head and clashing with his red hair. "Hello Artemis, Jareth." He beamed upon arrival, looking between the two faces.
But after a moment, Landon's smile faded a little; it was obvious that he had disturbed something and, by the look of it, something very important. But he didn't want to ask or get involved- That could only cause more problems.
"Oh..er.. Lucy's just.. just there." He pointed randomly behind him. Oh dear, would they still be going on this wonderful adventure?
Landon sure hoped so.

He may not have been the most observant boy in the world but Landon could tell when something wasn't quite right between a couple- His parents had argued before over something and afterwards they would not face each other, communicate more than necessary.
From what Landon had overheard, it sounded as though his mother had been pregnant before him and had lost the baby. It was sad to think that true. Landon would have liked and older brother or sister.
 
Awkwardly treading through the forest, Lucy pushed messy strands of blonde hair out of her eyes (right after she walked in to a few branches, that is), and stumbled over to where Landon was, her Ravenclaw uniform already adorned with fallen leaves. Lucy wasn't exactly the outdoorsy type, preferring to stay inside with a good book. However, the last adventure had been somewhat interesting. Besides, she loved going on adventures around the school with Landon, and Artemis was already becoming a good friend. It was nice to know somebody else in Ravenclaw. Lucy had always found it difficult to make friends.

Beads of sweat already forming on her brow, Lucy stood next to Landon, staring at her shoes. She wasn't exactly an expert on relationships - after all, at home it was just her and her mum - but things didn't seem that well here. Regardless, from what she knew, Artemis and Jareth did love each other a lot, and if novels had taught her anything at all, it was that love could conquor all. Disagreements and fights couldn't get in the way of love, could they? Maybe they had for her parents, but that was different. They'd barely been committed to each other, just been dating for a bit until Lucy had come along. Sure, she was naive. But she knew Artemis and Jareth would be fine. Wouldn't they?
 
Fate bit again. Artemis blanched when Landon and Lucy emerged from the forest only moments after she had made her pitiful explanation. Who knew how long they had been standing and waiting for an opportunity to cut in so that they could get going? What if they had heard everything? Artemis blushed ruby and tried to smile at them. "I promise we'll have a better day today," she told them to alleviate the awkwardness. As usual, it only made things worse. Nevertheless, she stomped over and took Jareth's hand determinedly, refusing to be divided by the tiff as they went further into the forest. Although she was quite certain of where everything was, Art wasn't certain of the what and everyone needed to stick together. Jareth could hold her hand or go back. "A few months back I found a lovely underground hollow beneath a tree. The tree itself is dead so it makes all sorts of clever passages under the ground with its roots as all the way up, too," she explained happily, answering Jareth's questioning remark before.

"I call it the mouse's nook," she added. Now, which way were they to go? Art scanned the tree line and leaned over to look around the giant pines that stood in her view. As far as she could recall, they were to go south west until they reached a large rock by a stream. Then it was on to the south. "Well, come on. Let's go in before it rains. We'll be quite dry mostly, anyway." said Art to the group.
 
Jareth had not been expecting to see Landon and Lucy pop up so soon. But from what Jareth had heard of Landon and his timing, this was to expected. He nodded his head in reply greeting at Landon give Lucy a very slight smile. They barely knew one another but if the four of them hung about together much longer, they'd probably all get to know each other.
Artemis took his hand and Jareth, knowing that even if her didn't forgive Artemis yet, should at least appear to be fine with her in front of Lucy and Landon. He gripped her hand back and gave it a small squeeze, signaling that he would say no more on the topic right now.

"Right, we'll go there then." Jareth said, agreeing with Artemis even though it wasn't a question.
Jareth began walking, hand in hand with Artemis, his eyes on the forest floor, watching the tiny spiders pass them by.
"Listen, Artemis," Jareth whispered, almost breaking his non-verbal promise, "I know you didn't choose to.. you know, and I suppose my anger is mostly at him. I was so weak. I couldn't defend you." Jareth almost immediately leapt into adding "-Not that you can't defend yourself, of course, but I mean.. As a man.." He blushed a little as he said it, his goblin ears poking from his hair almost seemed pale. "I'm supposed to defend your honor." He paused for a moment in the forest, turning to her. Lucy and Landon were not directly behind them for the moment.
 
Artemis could tell that Jareth was only accepting her hand at first because Landon and Lucy were there. But as they walked she felt his hand squeeze hers gently as a sign of truce and she smiled despite herself. He was only holding her hand and they were meant to be on awkward terms, but he still made her leap in her chest at every touch. She was yet to be forgiven but they were alright - for now. The further they walked, the more comfortable Art was getting with the environment anyway. The air was cool and deliciously fresh, and the smell of pine, oak and maple was delightful. It was the way Artemis always smelled anyway. She smelt as though she was part of the forest, added with some kind of honey flower that she liked to pick. Coincidentally, it was the same flower that was featured on her engagement ring. It was a fairly new smell that she would retain for the rest of her life as long as she kept picking those favourite flowers.

Artemis turned when Jareth spoke and paused with him, not glancing back to see how far the other couple were behind them. She moved around to face him and took his other hand gently and hesitantly, as though afraid she'd be pushed away. Once again she could not look at him. "It was my honour tay be lost, Jareth, and boy did I ever lose it. All that happened that day I blame myself fer, and 'ye should have none of the burden of bearing my shame." Art blinked heavily and fought back the pearly tears trying to creep out of her eyes. "But ... I swear I'd do it again only to see 'ye fight like that again. For me. I never will, but I know now how much 'ye really care for me. I am so fortunate to have found 'ye, but I have failed 'ye." She smiled but the tears fell lose and rolled down her cheeks. She let out a miserable breath and leaned forward to bury her head into his chest. "Please, please forgive me," she whimpered, trying to be coherent when her bottom lip was wobbling like jelly.
 
Lucy gripped on to Landon's hand, keeping a reasonable distance from Artemis and Jareth. Of course she would have happily walked with them - they were good company, after all - but she figured they needed space for the moment. They would be happy again soon, because that's how it's always meant to happen, Lucy reminded herself, but she guessed they just needed to sort things out between them so they could go back to being lovebirds. She looked at Landon at this thought, a genuine smile lighting up her face. This was how life was meant to be, wasn't it? Even if the forest wasn't exactly within her comfort zone, she was with someone who cared about her and loved her. It made her feel safe, like nothing could hurt her. Like she was home.

"Think either of us will be able to fit in to the hollow?" Lucy questioned, with a chuckle as she gazed at Landon. Artemis and Jareth were both very small people. Lucy, while not the tallest girl about, was probably a good foot taller than Artemis...and still growing. She wasn't used to traipsing around in undergrowth, either. But it was always good to try new things. Adventure, that was what her life was about now. "I hope those two are alright," she added, her brow creasing slightly in concern. She was sure they would be, but arguments and disagreements were never pleasant. Still, she was convinced everything would be A-OK.
 
Landon let out a small laugh. "Maybe if we lay on our stomachs and slide in." Landon exaggerated with a smile.
He could see Jareth and Artemis a little way ahead of them. It looked as if they were making up and whatever the arguement had been was now irrelevant. Landon made a point to focus his eyes on Lucy- which wasn't hard as she was amazingly beautiful. He didn't want to seem nosy and so he bought into conversation with Lucy.

"I haven't seen much of you lately," Landon said honestly, instinctively, his hand reached up and stroked her soft cheek. He pulled it away, blushing. "Sorry.." he apologized, feeling this was a rude move to make, "You're just so very beautiful.." His eyes were fixed upon hers until he snapped out of his trance, offered his hand to her and began walking on to where Artemis and Jareth were.
 
Jareth's hand reached up to Artemis' face, wiping the tears away gently. "Of course I forgive you," Jareth said, his eyes bright as emotion coated them. "I love you and nothing can change that." He smiled sweetly, "We'll have forgotten all about this when we're living in a great big house with a slide for stairs, land stretching out and covered in soft green grass.. Maybe a few hundred kids," He joked, eyes twinkling. Jareth only had to lean down slightly to peck Artemis' forehead. He smiled down at her as he pulled away, now only holding one of her hands as Landon and Lucy turned up.

Jareth shot Landon a look which in male body language meant that everything was okay. There was another deep rumble from above as the clouds slowly began to part. A few drops of rain bounced down off of the leaves above. A single rain drop fell from the trees and landed on Jareth's nose. He wiggled it off. "How much further?" He asked Artemis, looking up and knowing the rain was not far off. "If we don't hurry, we'll get soaked."
 
Artemis giggled but she was beaming inside. She should have trusted him to forgive her in the first place. If it had been he who had made such a colossal mistake she would have forgiven him on the spot as long as she could continue to hold him. She felt his lips at her forehead and she smiled and lifted her hands to her cheeks, patting the tears away. "Thank 'ye." she mumbled, and lifted her lips too, to press into the corner of his mouth. "I love you, too." Things would be alright as long as they stayed together and never strayed again. Now there was the fun part to look forward to. The maze beneath the ground was quite big enough for a fully grown man to stand up in, so the little ones would have no trouble and the other pair had only to watch their heads for some of the lower hanging roots. Artemis glanced behind them to see Landon and Lucy catching up. They were looking a little worried about the two of them and she gave a reassuring grin to Lucy just had Jareth had given to Landon.

Artemis reluctantly detached herself from Jareth's comforting hold and ran ahead slightly to check where they were. Removing her wand, she focused and said "Point Me." Swivelling around eagerly, the barely used wand pointed directly south, which meant ... "Oh look, there's the rock! We're nearly there," said Artemis, running back, past Jareth and up to Lucy whom she hadn't greeted properly. "I think ye'll like this. It's all rather cosy. Come on!" she said.
 
Diagoras stepped lightly on the shriveled leaves of the forest. Centaurs were almost invisible when hunting and quieter than the smallest door mouse. He had moved further beyond the outskirts of centaur territory in search of bigger game that felt safer where the trees were more sparse. It was late in the winter time and the number of animals were fewer unless one moved further, and so he did. He felt confident that nothing would disturb his hunt. Foolish students from the castle did not dare to venture as far as the rock stream which marked the entrance into centaur territory. Those who did weren't worth bothering about, anyway. They were soon killed by some beast or another. Wolves were hunting a few miles to west, he could smell, and Digoras shifted south west. One wolf was less than a math for a centaur, but an entire pack was not to be trifled with. He moved on.

His bow was hanging easily by his side but his grip was firm; ready to sight, aim and shoot without a moment's hesitation. He was only after a fawn or a small doe which was all he could carry back at the time. Scanning the ground, Diagoras noticed tiny footprints peppering the earth. Smelled like human. A child? Not out here. It could have been any sort of creature, for the shape of it was entirely wrong for a human child. They were adult feet but shrunk down and he gave them a cryptic look. "The forest will reveal what creature walks near me. Ahead." said Diagoras softly. Small animals were close, he could tell.
 
Lucy found herself reddening like crazy when Landon complimented her. She didn't think she'd ever get used to compliments, not in a million years. Apart from her mother, nobody had ever called her beautiful. Honestly, she saw herself as extraordinarily plain. Still, Landon liked her, and she supposed that was what counted - although she suspected he needed glasses.

Lucy smiled at Artemis, nodding hesitantly at her reassurance that she'd like it. "C'mon, then," she whispered, nudging Landon gently, before crouching down on to the ground. Lucy didn't like to get herself dirty - it was why she didn't like Herbology much - but she supposed a bit of dirt on her knees would be alright, nothing too sinister. Still, her face contorted in to something like a wince as her knees touched the ground. Perhaps she was too prim, too proper, sometimes. After all, if the worst thing that happened was a little dirt on her legs, it wasn't too bad a day at all.
 
Jareth watched as Lucy and Landon managed to climb inside the small entrance. He was about to follow them when he heard a sound nearby and suddenly his attention was drawn to something red, shining just beneath the trees a small way away. He looked about; the others had already left him.
Jareth could have lied to himself and said that he wanted the red jewel-like thing purely to help him and Artemis make-up properly and boost their relationship.. But that, as he already knew, was a lie. His goblin blood urged him forward, to leave his friends and head towards the jewel.

Jareth began walking through the trees, pushes branches aside, realizing that the thing was a little further away than he thought it had been. But never mind, he was almost there now. Jareth smiled to himself; if this thing was valuable enough, he could sell it and buy Artemis a proper, beautiful ring. He bent down to pick it up. He crouched there, lifting up the red thing to examine it: It was an arrowhead with a thin covering of blood. He stared at it, standing up and looking closely at it.
Something had been hunting around here.
 
Something shifted in the nearby woods. Diagoras lifted his nose into the air and drew in a quiet breath. About fifty yards away, he was sure. Slowly he curled his fingers around the bow where it had been gripped loosely in his large palm. The animal was not moving fast and had paused on its slow going, and so with one smooth motion he paused, sighted and shot. In that split second he recognised a flash of brown which he was well satisfied with. But as it fell, caught directly in the heart with his expert aim, the fur appeared to be hair. Time slowed and there was a hoofbeat as he stepped around. A small pink arm fell into his line of sight, the rest hidden only by the trunk of a large fir. Hooves crunched on leaves as Diagoras stepped forward in confusion, then back in shock, his heavy eyebrows knitting together. That was no fawn. Indeed, it was a human; the smallest human he had ever laid eyes on and it had fallen under his bow.

It was dead, of course. The pale human had not suffered as it was struck, the arrow sliding neatly between its ribs and into pumping muscle. There was barely any blood with his neat kill. But this was a dark crime; where now what the truce between the humans dwelling in the castle and the centaurs? Diagoras reeled slightly and pressed his palm against the rough bark of the tree beside him. Then, with bow gripped to the point of splintering, he abandoned his arrow and his kill and took flight, hooves thundering on the forest floor unchecked. He must return to the herd; they would know already, for the centaurs saw all in their home as written in the heavens. What danger would come of that one moment of unseeing?
 
((Listen))

Jareth felt eyes on him and he looked up from the arrowhead to see what was looking at him. His ears picked up on a noise and almost immediately, he saw the something.. But he didn't get a moment's chance of thought as the world seemed to slow down, images of his past flashing before his eyes; the feel of his mother's arms the first time she'd held him, his first time in the muggle world, a small boy wandering around a fun fair with a stick of candy floss in one hand, his aunt's in the other. He could see those warm orange summer days, he skipped across fields with his aunt and uncle. He could see those nights he had lain in bed, tearful as he looked at the only photograph of him and his parents. And then Jareth could see a letter- a letter to Hogwarts. He remembered the confusion and the excitement. He remembered his aunt and uncle explaining to him what he was and then he remembered sitting at the Slytherin table, tears down his face as he read a letter telling him he was part-goblin. And then Jareth could see Artemis, see her eyes, her smile, her comforting beauty. She spoke to him and he felt like he belonged.

And yet, in reality, the icy rain had began to fall as the clouds finally parted, a cold and accurate arrow piercing his skin, finding it's way directly to his heart, his last thoughts of Artemis, how she had made him feel. And as the arrow forced it's way inwards, Jareth knew he was about to be re-united with his parents. And everything was going to be fine.

Now, in the pouring rain, a tiny body lay. Jareth's eyes were closed as though he were only sleeping. His expression was blank, as were his eyes beneath his delicately purpled eyelids. He was no longer seeing, no longer hearing. He could no longer feel or know anything. His mind was just a distant echo, now.
Jareth Wardwin, a boy of only twelve, now lay dead on the forest floor.
 
Artemis smiled as she watched Landon and Lucy enter the little hollow beneath the tree. She wanted to enter too, for there was something in the air that made her feel as though she was being watched. Art swung her legs over the side of the roots and slid in the pine needles almost to the bottom, feeling the dirt skid up between her bare toes. She laughed ... then paused. Long pointed ears pricked up as time slowed for her, too. It seemed that the one moment had been shared equally slowly with three people, none of which had sighted each other at that time. Art coiled around and dug her fingers into the mushy earth to clawed her way to the top mid slide. With her feet scrabbling in the leaves, she took off. "Jareth! Jareth?" called Art, her voice sounding so high and strained in the echoing branches. She jumped as a drop of rain water fell on her nose mid sprint and almost stumbled over her fiance crumpled on the ground.

"Jareth ...?"

Oh God. Art fell to her knees and scraped them on the rocks as she dived for her love. Yet with the ferocity of her entry she did not move quickly, but reached out with a trembling hand to touch the arrow jutting out of his chest. What had she heard before? The hiss of breath, the jolted thump of a final heartbeat and then the thunder of hooves that faded away even as she watched on. Artemis was shaking like a leaf. "Come on, love, come on," she mumbled, pressing her hand into his wrist. Pulse, pulse. Where was it? Where in the godamn world was her fiance's pulse? Whimpering, she pressed her head into his chest and pawed at his arms. Where was his heartbeat? "Jareth, Jareth..." someone was moaning. "Come on." Art drew her head back and almost fell over with the movement, she was shaking so hard. A smudge of blood had appeared on her cheek. Whimpering, over and over. Nails digging into his skin. "Jareth ..." she said, her throat grating with pain. "Please, please please..." Landon? Lucy? Artemis pitched forward and wrapped her arms around Jareth's neck, shivering as the rain hit her back. She began to sob, her eyes wide open and flinching as the raindrops ran into them. God. He's dead. Hyperventilating. He's dead.
 
It was a tight and uncomfortable squeeze, but Lucy made it in to the hollow. How on earth she'd get out was another matter, but she made it in and that was what was important. She smiled at Landon and Artemis, as she entered, and wondered when Jareth would join them. But there was a momentary pause, and suddenly Artemis was scrabbling out of the hollow, and Lucy could hear her calling out for Jareth. Something is wrong. Terribly wrong. Lucy looked over at Landon, biting a nail. "Do...do you think they're okay?" Then she stopped. She couldn't hear Artemis, or Jareth. And Artemis had not sensed something good, by the looks of things. Shaking her head, Lucy made for the entrance, furiously scrambling out of there. "I've got to see what's happened, I've got to know what's going on..." she mumbled between gritted teeth, desperately trying to get out of there.

Getting out took a lot longer than expected, but she finally made it out. Sighing in relief, she made to find Artemis. It was raining now, they had to get to shelter. "Artemis?" Lucy called, suddenly hearing a strangled sob. Oh no, oh no oh no oh no... Running through the mud, Lucy found the tiny fourth year...over the body of her fiance, an arrow sticking out from his chest. Oh my God. Gasping in horror, Lucy walked on trembling legs over to the girl. "Oh God...Artemis..." she spluttered out, horrified about what had happened and ashamed that she hadn't been there sooner. Dropping to the ground without a second thought - what was a little mud now compared to this? Lucy put a pale arm around Artemis, completely stupefied. She hadn't thought a centaur would actually kill someone, but now...
 
Landon had climbed in after Lucy and now that they were inside, it was a lot more roomy but.. Landon turned his head fast as he heard a sudden sound; Artemis was climbing back out of the hollow. Was this a trap or something? No, he could hear her calling out for Jareth.
What on earth was wrong?
Landon exchanged looks with Lucy. Something was wrong. They both knew it. Landon attempted to help Lucy out of the hollow and soon followed after her. Mud lined his pale face and his brow was smothered in sweat.

The rain soon set about washing the mud from his face and he ran in the direction Lucy had gone. "Lucy?" Landon called out, having completely lost her now and perplexed as to what exactly the situation was. He had his wand out and ready- they could be attacked at any moment. "Artemis? Lucy?" He called out again before he heard a squish.
His foot had become caked in mud and had forced him to stop momentarily. This gave Landon time to look around and then he saw a scene he had hoped never to see- Jareth was laying on the ground, rain splattering down around him, an arrow sticking out of his chest and Artemis over his body, Lucy at her side.
Jareth was dead. Landon stared in horror. As selfish as he felt, he couldn't help but think what if it had been Lucy? Or even.. him?
He walked towards the scene, wand at his side. What could he do? He couldn't heal, he could help. He looked up and around the scene; it looked as if the killer had fled.
But there was still danger lurking about the forest and what if one of them was next?

"We need to move him," Landon said, looking down at Jareth, the scene still heart-wrenching. "We need to get him and ourselves somewhere safe.. I'll carry him back." Landon said, kneeling down beside the lifeless body. He knew it must have been hell for Artemis but.. "I know I'm hardly one to speak for him but- Jareth wouldn't want you getting hurt too." His eyes fixed on Artemis. He couldn't bare the scene much longer.
 
Artemis did not shiver from the rain but from the painful ripples spreading out from her heart. It rolled over her in waves and she could not move for her trembling. There was a dull thump on her back where someone's arm came to rest on it, though it was only put there lightly. It was as if the figure beneath her had reached up and hugged her again, and she gave a great moan that ended in several harsh sobs. Why? Why couldn't her love simply move, breathe, look at her and at least give sign that he was still holding on to life? Where was her time to say goodbye, her grown children and theirs surrounding his bedside to join him on the journey on? Jareth was twelve years old, and even she had seen more Winters than he. In the pouring rain and the dark light of the forest, he looked like a pale doll, expressionless and limp. She opened her eyes where tears escaped freely down her cheeks to merge with the rain splashing onto his chest. She looked at his face, and something withered and died in her then. It could have been her, it could have been any of them or someone else entirely ... but why him? Her beloved ...

She registered several words through the mute blindness of grief. Landon and Lucy were near her. Landon was to carry him back. "No!" she said desperately, even the one word tearing at her throat like steel wool. "Go ... go take Lucy away from here. I will carry him." How was she even speaking? Why was she allowed to speak? It should have been her lying with an arrow through the heart. How many times had she risked death so carelessly every time she entered the forest by herself? It only takes one time, Artemis. her mother told her. One time, and yer world goes to hell. So mind what 'ye do. Artemis took a shuddering breath and looked down at her fiance's corpse. She reached out and took the arrow at its base and pulled, yanking it out and splattering blood onto her green dress. The sound it made leaving his body was one that would haunt them all. The arrow made no sound as she dropped it into the leaves. Art leaned down slowly and slipped her arms beneath Jareth's, staggering to her feet and lifting him into her arms. He was the heaviest thing she had ever carried in her entire life.
 
Lucy nodded, dumbly, unable to bring herself to speak, knowing that she would not say anything of use anyway. She merely stayed here, horror-stricken. They should not have gone to the forest that day, she should have told them so...but it was too late for 'should haves' now. He was only twelve, only a 2nd year. Far too young to die. Lucy felt a tear run down her cheek, but she remained silent, too stricken to actually cry. Landon was right, of course, they had to get back to the castle. Who knew when the perpetrator could come back and kill any one of them? They had to tell a professor, too. Perhaps they could find Professor Spenser, or maybe Professor Mercer, the Ravenclaw and Slytherin Heads of Houses. They had to move, though.

"W...we're not going anywhere without you," Lucy stated, finally finding some voice. Slowly, she got to her feet and waited for Artemis. She fully understood that Artemis wanted to carry Jareth's body, but she wasn't going to leave her to do so alone. She would not force her to talk, or to do anything, but she wasn't going to leave her alone in the forest. Lucy was going to make sure Artemis got back to Ravenclaw tower safely. Solemnly, Lucy began to trudge back to the castle, keeping a close eye on Artemis.
 
Landon stood firmly beside Lucy; he understood that Artemis would want to carry the body back but he was not going to leave her alone. No-one deserved to be alone in such a situation- especially someone so young. With any luck, they'd meet someone along the way who could help them. Though he thought it would be ever more torturing for Artemis to carry Jareth's body, it was her choice and he would not stop her.
The rain had drenched Landon to the bone now, his red hair limp around his face, his school uniform hanging off of him. The forest was a dangerous place and Landon knew that now. He finally understood and in that moment he seemed to grow up; he promised himself never to bring Lucy to the forest again. He would not risk her life for a cheap thrill.

Landon followed the others from the forest. His face was numb from the chill wind now blowing about the place. Yes, he probably would grieve when he got back to the castle but his sorrow would not just be for Jareth but also for the part of that had died alongside Jareth that day- the child Landon had once been. He had fought to stay a child and sworn never to grow up.. And yet, here he was, a member of a sad procession leading to the castle.
 
How cold Jareth was becoming in the rain, colder than she or any of the others were. She suspected none of them felt the chill anyway, least of all her beloved Jareth. With the arrow removed and the small wound pressed against her chest, she could feel the blood trickling down her dress and soaking into the material. She would have to burn it on her return. It was slow and miserable going, to say the least. Her bare feet sunk up to the ankles in mud occasionally and she stumbled often, whimpering every time she did so. Art would not suffer the pain and cold for much longer. They had to reach the edge of the forest or else be laid to the earth with Jareth. Did she even know which way they were going anymore? She was walking in a straight line and moving aside only for trees. They passed a large grey rock and she stumbled once more, almost flinging she and Jareth into the stream. Artemis screamed in frustration, then. The least - the very least of all she could do for her departed and she hadn't even the strength to carry him anymore.

Artemis staggered as they reached the edge of the trees. Her back hit the bark of an oak roughly and she cried out, the sound muffle into Jareth's blood speckled shirt. She wanted to scream, then. To simply let herself fall to the ground and lie next to him forever. She pushed herself from the tree and dragged herself on. Time moved so slowly, but the trees were gone. The Great Lawn? It was there that Artemis' knees gave out and she tumbled onto the soggy earth with a melancholy splat. She clenched her fists into the grass and mud and simply curled up into a ball, unmovable. She was going no further.
 
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