"Don't be frightened, Adrien," She whispered. 

   Unknowingly she had said his name.

"What did you call me?" He asked.

      Marinette had one hand on his cheek and laid her head on his shoulder.  The goblin appeared to be shocked. Could it be?  How?  Was it even possible?

      "Princess Marinette, I asked, w-what did you call me?" The goblin asked once more.

  Marinette let go of his cheek. His voice sounded almost angry. She removed her head from his shoulder and looked at him. She saw that he was mostly green, yet his nose had gone from wrinkled to normal, his hair from green to blonde, and she saw that one hand looked normal. 

             Whoa, that was rather odd.  She did not think that she had a way to make all this happen. Yet the changes were here right before her. Was it because of how she felt about him?  If so, would he remain with her once he discovered the truth, or would he leave?

              She could not understand why he was so adamant to discover what she had called him. She felt her heart could break should it be true that he was who she thought he was, especially because she was not who he thought.

                 "I s-shouldn't have k-kissed you," Marinette muttered. She looked forlorn. She looked away.

                "Princess Marinette, it is alright," He said softly. He reached out and grabbed her arm.

                 "Nothing is alright, can't you see that?" She blurted out bitterly. She was confused because she had never felt anything before when she kissed someone. The other times it was only for sport. If only, she had not been kidnapped by the cruel, Prince Luka, then she would not have fallen in love with the goblin.

    *Author's note: When she had kissed someone in the past it was to raise money for charity so she did not care anything about those she kissed. The only other time was when she had kissed two boys on a dare.  

                  She jerked her arm away. The goblin could not understand. Had he done something wrong? 

            "Princess Marinette, why are you angry?" Mr. Goblin asked.

             "You have a lot of nerve," She spat out.

               "w-what?" He muttered.

               "Don't play dumb with me, I know that you seek to find a way to become whoever or whatever it was you were before you became a goblin. I also know you intend to return to your normal life," Marinette said.

                 "Princess Marinette, what has gotten into you?  You are the one who kissed me, then you try to take it back, and now you are mad. You think I want to leave. I don't intend to go anywhere."  The goblin said. 

                      "Why do you care to know what I called you?" Marinette asked. She looked ticked off.

       The goblin sighed. For a moment, he thought she loved him. How could he have been so wrong?  He placed a hand on her right cheek. He looked into her eyes. 

         "Tell me, someone else holds your heart," The goblin remarked.

          Marinette was silent. She could not say it. She saw tears in his eyes.

               Tears she had put there.  Mr. Goblin kissed the corner of her lips. He pulled away and saw that she looked stunned.  He let his hand drop to his side.

             He handed her a small dagger that he had found near the creek. He did not say another word to her. What was there to say?  He must have been wrong about her. Wrong about everything. Maybe, he had hoped she was the one because he loved her. He was not sure how or when it happened. Only that he felt she had the key to his heart.  He had the machete, a shield, and a small sword by his side. The sword and machete were in their sheaths. He made sure they were carried under the cloak he wore. This way no one saw them.

              He did not want anyone to see the crest on them. The sign that he was more than he appeared to be. The sign that he was meant to be the rightful ruler. He could not understand why this sudden change in her mood after he asked the innocent question, what did you call me? He longed to hear his name on her lips. 

           "I don't regret the kiss. If anything, I-I would be happy to have you k-kiss me again," He blushed as he spoke.

    "In due time, you will realize I am a mistake. I am nothing to you. I am nobody. " Marinette stated.

      "You could never be a mistake, Marinette," He whispered.

     The goblin walked away to leave her alone with her thoughts. It was clear to him that is what she wanted. He dared not look at her. He only felt conflicted when he did. He sighed. 

          He sat by the creek. It was here he had confirmed that he was in love with her. Some good that did him to admit to himself.  Why did she play with his feelings?  First, she kissed him, she took it back. Then, she yelled at him for asking what she had called him. 

       Agh, why was his life always so complicated?   

      Jane came out of her hut. She saw Marinette standing in one corner. She could tell her sister and the goblin must have argued. She had not the foggiest idea why. She saw the goblin was near the creek. The goblin looked sad, confused, and in love with her sister. Her sister loved the goblin.  Why then, did Marinette refuse to believe he could love her too?  Why did Marinette have to be so stubborn?

       "Marinette, what did you say to him?  He looks as if he lost something important to him, and he almost looks depressed," Jane said.

     "N-Nothing, I would rather not talk about it. He and I are too different," Marinette said.

       "Nonsense, Marinette. I know you love him.  Don't let him get away," Jane argued.

      "It is none of your business," Marinette argued.

  The goblin shook his head. Who knew she would be offended so much? Why was she so annoyed anyway?  One minute she is romantic. The next minute she is angry.  Goodness, talk about mood swings.

     Jane wished that her sister could see what she was doing to him. The goblin looked as if he wished he were dead. What could she do to get Marinette to realize that the goblin needs her and she needs him?

 The story  continues in Chapter 13  Swarms

bye-bye, 

little owlets!

Summer out!