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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[labyrinthking]

Jareth has been behaving himself in Ali's absence. Really, he's been behaving himself entirely too much, while she's gone off to have adventures and dote on men who aren't him. He must, he has decided, remind her who the exciting man in her life is. The clever man, the magic man, the man who's had a look at her iPod. And so, at dinner that night, he lets slip his magic, wrapping everyone up in a musical number.

Merlin (thankfully, for Jareth's chances of getting said music off the ground) happened to be absent. But the rest of the court find themselves with an overwhelming urge to dance--and with partners they might find it impolitic to choose, were their wills their own.

[vicioussweetie]

And here, Ali had been thinking that her love and attentions would be enough to reassure Jareth that she had not forgotten him, however long she was forced to be away. How clearly she was wrong. Though the business of watching other people eat could be a tedious affair, Ali had been trying to enliven spirits with good conversation and stories--and such is how Jareth's influences snuck up on her unaware, as she was too caught up in the tale to notice what he was doing until it was too late.

So all of a sudden, she finds herself swept up in his arms and into a dance, and at the moment, she doesn't see anything wrong with that at all.

[labyrinthking]

"Well, my dear," Jareth murmurs, as the minstrels run through an instrumental interlude, "how are you enjoying dinner, hmm?"

[vicioussweetie]

"Very much," she answers languidly, her eyes half-closed in delight (or something he wants her to mistake for it). "You know I love dancing with you."

[labyrinthking]

"A love we share," he purrs, "and indulge less than we should. I'm delighted we could have this evening together."

[vicioussweetie]

"So am I," she whispers. Intending to kiss him, her head is halfway lowered to the deed when something catches her eye--something that is a surprise only in its public display. Straightening again, she watches the queen dancing with someone not her king, and frowns. "Jareth..."

[labyrinthking]

"Yes, my darling?" he replies, neck craning up to try to reach that kiss.

[vicioussweetie]

The pull of the magic, and the dance, and the natural attraction between them conspire to get him that kiss, but she struggles to avoid becoming lost in it.

"What did you do?" Her tone isn't certain enough to be an accusation; it's more of a whimper. Something is decidedly wrong, but she's having a hard time remembering what.

[labyrinthking]

"I only helped the minstrels find the beat," he answers in an innocent murmur, "and everyone's feet to keep it."

[vicioussweetie]

"Really?" Ali sighs, shaking her head a bit before leaning in to kiss him again. Some things are too much even for her to resist.

[labyrinthking]

"I'm not inhibiting their choice of partners at all," he assures her. Under his breath he adds, "well, one exception." There's a reason Gawain hasn't tried to cut in--he's at the far end of the room, dancing with a mop.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali doesn't quite believe him, but she can't argue anymore. Not until the music ends, at least. Curse his power over her.

[labyrinthking]

Eventually, his spell ends (after another round of the chorus and a big, showstopping flourish to the dance), and everyone returns to their seats; the minstrels seem a little confused, and take a moment to retune their instruments.

[vicioussweetie]

When the song and spell are done, Ali drifts back to her seat with the rest of the crowd--although she's humming the tune under her breath, and hasn't let go of Jareth's hand. Even in her semi-lucid state, though, she can see what's going on. It won't be long before Lance and Gwen take that fatal plunge, she can tell, and poor Gawain trying to hide that mop before anyone sees...

She'll have to make that up to him somehow. Later, in private.

[labyrinthking]

Jareth's focus is on Ali. What a knight and a queen may be fated to do is a trifle beside the happiness of the woman for whom he cares.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali's guarded gaze drifts back to him once they're seated, and she leans in to whisper in his ear. "You should have let them dream a little longer."