Chapter Ten

She sat up on the cot and rubbed at her eyes. There were voices outside the 
door, discussing something.  "'ello in there. You awake?"

She ran to the door and looked out. "Yes. Yes, I'm awake."

"Is that her?"

"Yes, that's her." There was a clanking of iron, and the door opened.

"Come on out, miss. Yer 'usband's come for ya."

"I'm not married." She looked at the tall man who stood in the doorway. 
"I've never seen this man before in my life."

"Come now, dear. I've been told you got a nasty bump on the head. Come on 
home, and we'll take care of everything."

"I don't know who you are , but I'm not going with you!" The man took her 
roughly by the arm and drew her in close.

"Look, I'm trying to do you a favor. Shut up and play along." He whispered 
in her ear. "She's still a little confused, aren't you dear?"

"Um, Yeah. Take me home please?"

"Go on. I'll see to the paper work." The guard ushered them out of the 
building. "Keep a closer eye on her, young man."

"I will." 

----
	They walked down the road in silence for a long time. "So, who are 
you?"

"You don't recognize me?

"I'm afraid not."

"That's a shame. I should have left you to Reg."

"Your the captain. I didn't recognize you. That helmet covered most of your 
face."

"Don't worry about it."

"I'm not. What made you believe me anyway?"

"Who said anything about believing you? Maybe I freed you for my own 
purposes."

"If that was true, you *would* have left me to Reg."

"You found me out. He's the real reason I came." The man stopped and 
pointed into the forest. A familiar form emerged from the trees. 

"Conner!"

"Hey there. Didn't think I'd forgotten 'bout you, did ya?  
They retreated far into the woods, then found a clearing in which to settle 
for the night. The captain lit a fire, and took out some rations, which he 
passed around.
     “So Conner got you to rescue me.” She said, trying to start a 
conversation.

“Yes. It was the darndest thing. I came back to the village after we 
unloaded the cart. I decided to take a walk in the woods, clear my head. I 
hate being an escort to those caravans, but the always insist. Such a shame. 
Most of those people would never hurt a fly, but they get treated worse 
than dirt.”

“Tell me about it. I spent a more than a few days in there, remember?”

“Of course. And I’m sorry for that.” She gave him a look that said, ’don’t 
worry about it.’. As I was saying, I decided to go for a little walk in the 
woods. The stillness calms my nerves, I find. So I’m walking, not paying 
much attention to anything, when I hear this little voice. I look down, 
and there he is.” He made a motion towards Conner. “At first I thought I 
was seeing and hearing things, too much time around the mental patients, 
you know? But he keeps at it, telling me how I took away his friend in that 
cart, and how I have to help him rescue you. I remembered you from the 
cart, you see, so it all began to make sense. We had to wait for the next 
caravan, to come and rescue you, that’s why it took so long. It would have 
attracted too much attention if I had gone on my own.” Amalthya seemed to 
think this over for awhile, gazing into the heart of the fire, as if trying 
to divine it’s innermost secrets. The captain watched her, admiring the way 
the firelight danced across her face and shown in her dark hair. ‘Better 
watch yourself, mate. The Goblin King’s got his eye on this one.’ he 
reminded himself mentally. She stirred finally, and looked at him. 

“Thank you.”

"No need. Just doing a good deed."

"No. You saved me when no one else would. I would have gone insane in 
there." Tears sprang to her eyes.

"Now then, none of that. I'm sure that king of yours would have come for 
you."

"No, I don't think so. He was kind to me for awhile but, if he really 
wanted me, he could have come at any time."

"And you would have hated him for it. Maybe he's biding his time. Or maybe, 
he *can't* help you." The man's dark eyes glinted with some undisclosed 
secret.

"Don't be silly, Jareth's power is infinite!"

"Well, You know the man, not me, but seems everyone's got *some* 
limitations."

"I suppose. Actually, it's a little comforting to think he might not be 
invincible. Thank you...oh dear." She said with a little laugh. "I just 
realized I don't know your name!"

"Gabriel, at your service." He said with a mock bow. She laughed more, 
then yawned. 

"Goodness, I'm tired."

"Been confined in that little room to long. You rest up, and tomorrow, 
we'll get moving again. We have to see about getting you home."

"We?"

"You don't think I'd let you go off alone, do you?"

"No alone!" Conner piped up.

"Of course not. But no one knows these woods better than I do."

"We'd be glad to have you along, Gabriel." 


End Chapter 10