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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[vicioussweetie]

A few busy weeks pass in Camelot after the fateful announcement of Mordenkainen's intentions. The knights, burdened by the twin shames of being unable to slay the attacking demons and (worse still) having been saved by a woman, have busied themselves in improving themselves in all virtues and martial practices. Blacksmiths were kept working around the clock, making new arms and armor, unknowing if they'll be able to meet the demands for all things stronger and sharper. Food and goods were being stockpiled as for a siege, while young men (and some not so young) were drafted into military service to patrol beyond Camelot's fields and eventually serve as shock troops.

It was all so busy, it might almost go without notice that two of the king's guests are being shunned. While Jareth has done nothing particular to earn the behavior, his association with Ali--that woman--was enough to taint. Fortunately, they were busy too: after a tense discussion of strategy with Arthur and Merlin, Ali and Jareth knew enough to work on their parts

[mords_horde]

Although there is a span of about a week where Mordenkainen's presence is not felt in Camelot, it isn't long before his new gambit begins. Patrols find fields savaged in all manner of unnatural ways, blighted by frost, rot, or flood out of season; livestock missing, mysteriously ill, or massacred where they stand; even one small and far-flung village left empty, as though all its residents simply stopped what they were doing and left as one.

The weather over Camelot grows grim and sour as well, full of gray, damp days almost constantly swathed in slow drizzles or fog. As often as not, though, those storms intensify in the night to torrential downpours, punishing winds, and lightning fit for the end of days.

Birds from the north grow less communicative with Merlin and those others who might converse with them, although sightings of bandits and other such lawless men in the northern regions have dropped considerably.

[vicioussweetie]

"At least we know where to look for him," Ali remarks to nobody in particular one day, when these reports are being delivered to court. Unwelcome as some might find her, until the king requests she leave, she's going to stay and try to be useful. "Not that he'd be there anymore by the time an army could arrive."

[allaroundarthur]

However embarrassed some of the knights might be, Arthur knows enough to be grateful to Ali, for a number of reasons. She shall be privy to all the courts and councils-of-war she chooses to attend. Merlin, too, confers with her in his own efforts to ward the castle against further incursions.

Given a direction, though, the knights are eager to reclaim their pride--Lancelot at the forefront. "Let me raise an army, sire, and lead your knights against this northern threat, before he can again darken our doors."

For his part, Arthur seems most troubled by the lost village.

[vicioussweetie]

Wow, the knights are really good at listening, aren't they? Not that she's surprised.

"You won't find anyone by the time you get there," Ali explains. "Once he knows you're coming, he'll move--and armies may be many things, but stealthy is none of them." A few steps forward brings Ali into the circle studying the maps and reports. "Besides, you'd be offering him a chance to divide and conquer his majesty's armies."

Lance is probably bristling, but Ali's attention is on the king. "Is there anything of note about that village? Any reason he might choose it as a target?"

[allaroundarthur]

"He can't move his army any swifter than we move ours, lady," Lancelot replies testily. "He must either meet us on the field or let us harry him as he flees."

Bedevere has the answer to Ali's question: "There was little to distinguish it; no defenses or fighting force, no strategic value. Had we not been sending out patrols to every hamlet, we might not have known they were gone for a year."

[vicioussweetie]

Bedevere earns a grateful look for his answer, before Ali turns a decidedly less friendly look on Lance. "It seems I need to remind you that he is a wizard with power that rivals the gods. Let me assure you that he has many means at his disposal to have all trace of him and whatever army he gathers long gone before you can be close enough to know he was there.

"No, he's playing a new sort of game with you, and you need to learn how to respond in kind. Psychological warfare is rarely won with brute force."

[allaroundarthur]

"Then how is it won, Lady Alison? Or know you some way we may make this again a war of arms?" Arthur's question is pitched to remind everyone present that Ali is the apparent expert, and on their side, and he intends the latter to remain true.

[vicioussweetie]

"I don't think you can force a magician into a war of arms," she admits with a sigh. "And he knows that. What we can do, however, is twofold: prepare ways to negate his magical advantage, and find ways to repair the damages done."

[allaroundarthur]

"The damage done is harming my people," Arthur is swift to put in, before his knights can demand military solutions, "and will harm more, as the seasons turn. That must be our first concern."

[vicioussweetie]

"I agree. And we must not allow that."

It doesn't take Ali long to come to her decision, but she does take a moment to turn and give Jareth an apologetic look. This isn't what she wanted their time together to turn into. But the moment is a brief one, and he'll have to wait for her to explain until later. Turning back to Arthur, she makes her offer. "I might, might be able to fix things, although I cannot promise. I'll need a guide, someone who can travel fast and light."

[allaroundarthur]

"Allow me," supplies Gawain. "I know the terrain, and my horse is among the swiftest."

[vicioussweetie]

That's agreeable to her, but it's not really up to her. "With your majesty's permission?"

[allaroundarthur]

Arthur nods. "What will you do?"

[vicioussweetie]

The answer starts with a shrug, because she doesn't really know. "My best."

[allaroundarthur]

Arthur forestalls any grumbles by replying swiftly. "Then go with our blessing, and our hopes."