A Quest Completed, and a Prize

[vicioussweetie]

There are many things to be sought in life. Some universal, such as love and the fulfillment of necessities; some more individual, such as one person's desire to consume the perfect hamburger or another's compelling need to memorize every word in the dictionary. One of Ali's quests, for the better part of the last year, has been to find Jareth's

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[allaroundarthur]

There are tales of Camelot, which describe it as a place of peace, a place of beauty, a place of tolerance, scholarship, and brotherly love. It is said to be a place where the shadow of tyranny has never fallen, a beacon to dispel that shadow.

The truth of Camelot cleaves fairly close to the tales. The road down which Ali and Jareth ride sees fairly brisk traffic of peasants, merchants, clergy, even the occasional retinue of a minor noble, all traveling without apparent concern for robbers or bandits along the way.

Camelot's walls stand tall, plastered and whitewashed to shine in even the faintest evening light; in the light of midday, the great stone edifice is almost too bright to look upon. Even within the walls, the streets are paved and clean, the city seeming to enjoy a level of hygiene not normally seen outside a Renaissance faire.

[vicioussweetie]

Aside from a brief regret that she could never get away with sunglasses at the moment, Ali is appropriately awed by the sight of Camelot. With a hand lifted to shield herself from the glare, she studies the towers and parapets until spots dance in her vision; forced to look away, she blinks her vision clear before turning a smile on Jareth. "Glorious, isn't it?"

[labyrinthking]

"Oh, yes," he agrees, "quite. Everything the tales have said. Bright days, indeed." After a thoughtful glance around, he adds, "shall we go straight to the palace, or play at tourist?"

[vicioussweetie]

"I think we'd probably better go straight to the castle. We can always play tourist once we've unpacked." And once she's seen to certain special arrangements. "Besides, if we try lugging the cart all over, we'll just get in people's way."

[labyrinthking]

"True," he agrees, "although no one seems to mind." He's tempted to hasten them to the palace via glitter express, but it would rather spoil the appearance Ali has clearly worked to present. He'll restrain himself for now, as they wend their way through the streets of Camelot.

[vicioussweetie]

"And what would they dare say to me, if they did mind?" The question is mostly rhetorical, though Ali suspects she's more aware of people's hidden feelings then Jareth cares to be. "Or to you? For all that Camelot is a shining example of goodness, it's not perfect, and peasants know their place."

[labyrinthking]

"Is that a shadow you've found in this bright dream, dear?" His voice carries a thread of real concern.

[vicioussweetie]

"I think saying so would be treason," she jokes, leaning down to pet her ride's neck.

After a quiet moment, she speaks up again. "We must learn not to love despite the flaws, but to love the entirety."

[labyrinthking]

"Words to live by," he muses.

When they reach the courtyard and dismount, he murmurs, "I hope you know the proper forms, my dear. It's been some time since I attended a court not my own, and I'm a little unused to being the supplicant."

[vicioussweetie]

"Just follow my lead," she reassures him when she's taken his arm. "You'll do fine."

And really, court is court is court. There's a certain amount of ceremony inherent in everything, and there's always someone to remind one of one's place therein.

[allaroundarthur]

Court is indeed court, and soon enough it's Ali's turn to present herself. Merlin stoops, murmuring something to Arthur as the seneschal announces her.

[vicioussweetie]

That doesn't go without notice, and though there's no outward sign of concern, her inner self retreats a step, leaving her inexplicably diminished. But surely it is only that even beauty such as hers cannot compare with the glory of Camelot, and regardless, all the proper forms are observed. Any defiant looks she shoots at Merlin when she turns away must be a trick of the light.

[allaroundarthur]

"Be welcome in Our Camelot, and may you find the peace here that so many enjoy," Arthur invites. Whatever Merlin said, he's no less the magnanimous king for it.

[vicioussweetie]

"Our thanks, your highness." It might be presumptive of her to speak for Jareth instead of the other way around, but Ali's never been much good at keeping quiet. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Ali hopes she and Jareth will be able to observe court without being drawn too deeply into it.

[allaroundarthur]

If Jareth is but her guardian (protector, rather than parent substitute), then she's the one with the most right to speak. But Ali and Jareth will find their welcome to the court no less warm than anyone else there that day. Even Merlin's discreet attention seems more cautious than actually hostile.

[vicioussweetie]

Jareth posing as her parent substitute would be all manner of weird. No, better he be given a role where he can stalk around behind her and glare at everybody who gets too close--he would do that anyway.

For now, Ali will maneuver through the crowd toward the back, where it's easier to watch than be watched. Jareth's free to go flirt with the ladies, if he'd like, since the knights aren't likely to find him impressive.