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]

Within the week, Guinevere's charity work has already begun to make a significant impact on the lives of those in Camelot proper, and she has begun to make plans to tour the countryside to see how best to spread her efforts beyond the city. For now, though, spirits within Camelot are high, and as the morning court convenes, king and queen both seem to have an air of energy and good cheer.

[vicioussweetie]

Mordenkainen might feel a moment's victory: Ali screams. It hurts!

But he's going to hurt more. Tightening her hold on him, Ali burns more of her precious Glamour to wrest control of the elements and bend them to her own will. The electric arc he sends through her is soon sent back through him to give him the same agony--and that shield of flames he summoned is hers now, too. Even as she squeezes her hands to hold onto him, she squeezes the shield until it burns just beneath his skin.

[mords_horde]

He hadn't been expecting much of a magical battle. He underestimated Merlin, thinking the demons could overwhelm him, and didn't think there were any other mages in Camelot. Even so, he set a contingency spell in place to protect him from the first kind of energy damage he suffered--in this case, a taste of his own stolen lightning.

When she steals his fire shield--robbing him of its protection from flame even as it turns on him, he is doubly harmed. He screams, thrashing, and utters a Word of Power meant to stun his enemies so he can make good his unexpectedly necessary escape.

[vicioussweetie]

Now that she's crispy inside and out, there's not much more she can do but hold on--and once she's stunned, she can't even manage that. Suddenly limp, Ali tumbles with an awful slowness to follow her sword to the floor. At least she won't feel the landing.

But let's hope someone can keep the demons away from her until she wakes up.

[mords_horde]

Mordenkainen takes the opportunity to shove her off of him before teleporting away. Without him there, the demons are out of reach of the spell that holds them to this world, and they vanish back from whence they came. There is a long moment of wary silence--perhaps even long enough for Ali to regain her senses.

[labyrinthking]

In a trice, Jareth is by her side, crouched over her in concern. He is hesitant to touch her, given the burns that cover so much of her skin, his expression a study in worry and doubt.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali's been in this position enough to know, when she regains her senses, not to move too much. She turns her head enough to look at Jareth, her eyes full of worry--not for herself, of course; mostly for him and the others. When he appears to not be hurt, she decides to try sitting up. It's not necessarily an improvement, but it seems more dignified. Flicking her tongue out between her lips and finding them burnt, she decides to try and keep the talking to a minimum for the moment. "Is he gone?"

[labyrinthking]

"He fled," Jareth answers, "and the demons vanished when he did. Well done, love--you drove him off."

[vicioussweetie]

She manages a faint smile, though it's not without its drawbacks. "Piece of cake."

[allaroundarthur]

In a moment, Jareth has company in kneeling over Ali--Merlin is checking over her wounds, and Arthur is tending to the matter of thanking her. "Merlin tells me you are more than you seem, and I have seen with my own eyes your courage and your sacrifice. All of Camelot owes you a great debt this day--thank you." If she liked having the gratitude of a king before...

As for Merlin, he frowns and mutters to himself in concern over her wounds, carefully dabbing unguent here or there. "I'm afraid your wounds are great; though I doubt we will lose you, my lady, I fear the scars will be terrible."

[vicioussweetie]

Arthur's thanks is one of the nicest things she's heard in a long time, and her smile grows under his praise. "I was, and remain, happy to help, your majesty; and your thanks is more than reward enough."

Only then does she look down to really study what kind of a mess she's made of herself. "Oh, I wouldn't worry. I heal exceptionally well. You should go and tend to the knights who are in greater need of your attention." She's in such remarkably good spirits--maybe she's in shock?

[allaroundarthur]

That's Merlin's concern. "You may not be feeling the full weight of your injuries at the moment, milady, but I assure you, you are hurt. If you'll allow, I'll have a litter bring you back to your room, and I will come to give what aid I can, as soon as I can."

[vicioussweetie]

With a little shake of her head, Ali rests a hand on Merlin's shoulder and urges him down so she might whisper in his ear. "I am... a traveler. I can seek treatment elsewhere, when it's necessary. Please, go tend to the others."

It's more than she likes to admit, but she's too tired to try and trick so clever a man.

[allaroundarthur]

He nods. "As you will, milady. And once again, thank you." He goes, then, taking Arthur with him and leaving her to Jareth's care.

[labyrinthking]

"Shall I bring you back to your room, love?" Jareth asks, his voice soft, "or is there somewhere else I can bring you?"

[vicioussweetie]

"My room, please," she murmurs even as she drapes an arm around his shoulders.

"You know, I kinda wish I'd been able to keep something of his. His cape or something. As a trophy..."