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Crystalline Dreams
By: Dreamspinner and Delilah
Chapter 13 (Oooooh!)


    Dreamspinner stifled a yawn as she watched the young elf scamper about in the dawning light. Finn seemed all together too cheerful for the early morning and she smiled slightly as she tried to figure out how he did it.She wasn't exactly a late riser but even this was early for her. Gwydion moved in a somewhat more subdued manner but he was no less awake than his younger counterpart and she shook her head. How elves managed to function at such hours she would probably never know. Finn sensed her stare and he cast her a radiant smile which she wanly
returned. Undaunted, he practically skipped up to her and plopped down on the seat nearest her own.
    "Tired?" He asked innocently as he took one of her hands within his own.
    "Give me a few minutes and a nice cup of tea." She said as she conjured up a proper mug to sip the contents delicately. Finn watched her in unabashed adoration, and she almost felt the urge to laugh. She caught Gwydion's secret smile even though he tried to hide it by turning and she sighed. "How was Delilah?" She asked. Finn blinked and sighed, the playfulness leaving him for a moment.
    "She isn't ecstatic about the sudden move, but she'll manage." He seemed to be leaving something out and Dreamspinner gazed at him until he finally gave in. "I'm not so sure pairing Gawain and Gareth together was such a good idea, though."
    Gwydion turned his full attention back to the conversation. "Oh? Why?"
    Finn bit his lower lip and looked away guiltily. "They aren't getting along too well together and I don't think the estranged silences they've been sharing in public will put the lady at ease."
    Dreamspinner frowned as she dismissed her empty mug. "But I thought Gawain and Gareth were close."
    "As did I." Gwydion added.
    Finn seemed torn between his duty to his Lord and Lady and keeping the troubles between his brothers secret and he wringed his hands in indecision."Gareth does not believe Gawain should be...ah seeing so much of the lady."
    Gwydion's eyes narrowed as he picked through the words and put them together to discover what the younger huntsman was leaving out. "And why would Gareth be disturbed by this?"
    Finn winced but couldn't avoid the question. "He doesn't think Gawain should be...um," he hesitated then sighed in defeat, "He does not think that Gawain should be trying to court lady Delilah because she is not an elf and will not understand his duties as a hunter." Came the gushed reply.
    "He doesn't think Gawain should court anyone who is not an elf? Then whatever must he think of our relationship, Gwydion?" Dreamspinner said sitting forward, *The little shit...* she added mischievously to her husband, so Gwydion placed a restraining hand upon her.
    Finn's eyes widened and he tried to calm the tension building in the room. "Oh, he doesn't think anything is wrong with your relationship because you aren't human and can understand the ties Gwydion has with us."
    "So he thinks that because I'm not human it's okay." Dreamspinner pulled herself from Gwydion's grasp and stood and paced. "Someone needs to knock some sense into that man's head!" She snapped.
    Gwydion nodded slowly. "I think I agree with you."
    Dreamspinner smiled beatifically and turned her attention back to the younger elf. "Would you mind telling dear Gareth I would like to speak to him?" She asked sweetly. Finn seemed hesitant but finally shrugged and nodded. He hurried from the room and Dreamspinner watched him go in silence. She noticed her husband's look and laughed slightly showing that she in a playful mood. "Oh, don't worry. I'm not going to hurt him. I'm just going to knock his dignity around a bit to see if I can't get him to change his views."

***********

    "Watch out Gareth..." Dreamspinner singsonged, causing Gareth the almighty elf-lord to cringe, much to Finn's amusement. She blinked and momentarily wondered at the elf's sudden change in mood.
    "You should not have said that particular sentence, Gareth," Finn mockingly sang to the now-very-worried Gareth. Gwydion smiled sagely as he watched the proceedings from the shadows. Gareth really did need to learn when to keep his opinions to himself, AND which of his lofty opinions were wrong...the Lord of the Wild Hunt smiled even wider, causing Aidan's eyebrows to almost disappear into his hairline...Gareth scrambled backwards as Dreamspinner conjured a large pudding pie with mounds of whipped cream into her ready hands- she flung the pie at him- and magically altered its course when he ducked- so that it smacked him squarely in the face. She then pounced upon the downed elf, whacking him furiously with a pillow, punctuating each of her words with blows,
    "I *WHAP* am *BOFF* not *BLAT* anything *BIFF* you *WHUMP* could
*WHAP* ever *SPLAT* understand *BOFF* you *BOP* arrogant *BLEEP*. Got
it?" she asked, as she knelt down to stare him in the eyes. "You do understand now, don't you? If you have any questions regarding my nature, come to the source, you arrogant prig." she smilingly growled, and Gareth lowered his head in shame. Finn lost all composure at this point- and fell down laughing. He was in total hysterics.
    "Think it's funny, do you?" Dreamspinner smiled as she stalked up to the helpless Finn...his eyes grew wide as he choked on the laughter to stutter out an affirmative reply. Dreamspinner calmly circled him, and he tried grabbing her ankles, but she deftly danced aside. A lipstick appeared in her hands and she pounced, slapping a line of garish red paint upon Finn's smooth cheek. They tumbled about, each making indignant little shrieks, until Finn captured both her wrists. With a
flip, he was in the dominant position on top of her, and smiled impishly as he rubbed his painted cheek upon hers, smearing the lipstick all over her face. Her eyes promised revenge...then he leaned down to gently kiss the tip of her nose. Startled, she just looked up at him, unresisting, no longer fighting his hold upon her.
    "Let go." she said simply.
    "No."
    "Why?"
    "Because."
    "Because why?"
    "Because I don't want to. So there." Finn smiled seductively, "And you're mine now."
    "Am I?" she smiled just as seductively, then in one surge of motion, Finn found himself flung backwards and now she was on top of him, "Why don't you take that up with my husband?" she said as she traced his sensitive ears with gentle fingers, causing him to shiver.
    "I just might." he added, just to get the last word. It had the desired effect- she was staring at him in open shock.
    He smiled impishly as he knocked her backwards and captured her once again, "Ha. Got you."
    "No fair!" she pouted. She smiled suddenly, "And you really shouldn't make promises you cannot keep." there was a wicked gleam in her eyes, and he had to laugh.
    *Who says I won't keep them?*
    Gwydion decided it was time to break this up before it went beyond critical. He lifted Finn off of his wife by the collar- and Finn yelped appropriately. Gwydion then aided Dreamspinner to stand, although shakily, by his side. He had to reach out and hold her to keep her from sinking to the floor in total shock.
    "Bad form, Finn." Gwydion admonished, "Very bad form." He could not believe what had just transpired. He tightened his grip on his wife's waist as she leaned against him. With a trembling hand, she waved away the paint from her face as if it were never there.
    "Oops." said the unrepentant Finn. This caused everyone to exchange worried glances. Dreamspinner's eyes narrowed as she truly *looked* at the elf for the first time since he returned with the two other huntsmen in tow. She gasped at what she saw.
    "Jareth," She hissed.
    "Yes." Was the unruffled reply. Gwydion straightened and moved between his wife and the lounging king.
    "Where is Finn?" she asked angrily.
    "Oh, I don't know..." he drawled.
    She pushed past Gwydion to grab him by the shoulders and shook him forcefully, "TELL ME NOW!" she yelled, her eyes blazing.
    "Alright... you don't have to get emotional." he casually waved his hand and a startled Finn appeared.
    Finn glared at his "twin" in total hatred, "How dare you..." his deadly whisper echoed off the cold stone walls. Dreamspinner punched Jareth squarely in the jaw, knocking him flat on his arrogant ass. She then ran to Finn, who held her protectively.
    "Damn..." Jareth swore as he rubbed his jaw. He groggily got to his feet. The amount of anger and hatred directed against his aura was staggering to say the least. He smiled darkly, bowed sarcastically, then disappeared in a poof of glitter. Dreamspinner shuddered slightly at the remembrance of the goblin king's touch and turned her face away from the falling glitter.
    "Gwydion?" She said reaching out for him to try to steady herself. To her surprise he was no longer in sight. "Where?" She pushed away from the protective embrace of the elf and looked around frantically. Finn held her arm and tried to convince her to sit. "He's gone to take care of something he should have done a long time ago." The still angered elf replied to her question. How *dare* he?!?
    Dreamspinner tentatively reached out with her mind determined to stop this madness before it escalated beyond repair and yelped in surprise as Jareth roughly smacked her probings away. She felt a similar, though far gentler, touch from her husband before his anger flared and she was shaken out of her reverie by Finn. His eyes were full of concern along with many other emotions.
    "Let them be, lady." Gareth gently advised as he placed a hand upon her shoulder. His concerned midnight blue eyes told her more than he had intended. None of them could ever meet her eyes and tell a falsehood. Dreamspinner shook him off and stood pushing past the elves. "I have to stop this before they hurt each other." She was almost to the door when Finn stepped before her, blocking her escape. She could still feel his barely controlled anger and shook her head.
    "You have no place in this." Finn stated as he tried to waylay her.*Please, Bright One! Stay with us...you will only distract our Lord from his duty.* he frantically sent her his thoughts.
    The luminescent pale woman sighed in disgust and shoved past him. "I have every place in this. This is because of me, dammit! And I'm going to stop it...right...now!" She absently flared with her own anger and stalked down the hall determined to end this constant fight, even if she had to knock both of them around to do it. Her hair whipped about her shoulders, glistening like fine highly polished deep red mahogany which soon changed as it brightened into living flames. Goblins dove out of her way as she passed, grateful that they were not the ones catching the brunt of her wrath.

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    Jareth smiled slightly as he watched his darker counterpart out of the corner of his eye. Physically Gwydion could best him under the least of circumstances, but magically the goblin king foolishly assumed he could run circles around the larger man. This foolishness would cost him dearly.
    "Well, huntsman, you wished to see me?" He asked, tiring of this wait.
    Gwydion paced around him and he forced himself to hold still. "You *will* stop this childish game you keep playing with my wife." The Lord of the Wild Hunt had already begun to amass great amounts of power, and it lay ready for his call.
    "Oh, let me assure you there is nothing childish about it. I am quite serious." Jareth's smile widened as he sensed that he had succeeded in surprising the Lord of the Wild Hunt. While Gwydion was seemingly caught off balance, Jareth was able to probe slightly deeper into Gwydion's considerable wall of defense and he nodded in satisfaction, secure in the false knowledge that the hunter would be getting no extra help from his undoubtedly very angry wife.
    "I tire of this, Jareth. You will stop it, here and now." Was the demand. The foolish king had swallowed the faint lure he had thrown out. Jareth's probings were about as subtle as animal droppings in a punch bowl. Gwydion almost smiled.
    The goblin king laughed. "I will do no such thing."
    Gwydion held himself back. "You cannot destroy the bond we share, though you try. You cannot come between us. You cannot posses her. Why will you not give this fool's quest up and leave us in peace?" If only Jareth knew...but how could he guess? Gwydion was smiling now.
    "Because, it can be done! And I will find a way. You don't deserve her. You can't possibly understand what she is and what she needs. You will lose her, Gwydion, you're just too blind to see it. You can't even see that one of your own is more dear to her than you." Jareth snarled in rage.
    "What?" Gwydion asked in surprise as he stepped back in response to Jareth's movement. What was the fool attempting to do? He felt the surge in the bond he shared with his huntsmen, and smiled darkly. Especially now, they were attempting to aid their Lord.
    "Open your eyes, hunter. Who did she run to after she realized that it was I? Certainly not you. Who did she take that poison for to save his life? Not you. Who does she even now stay with? Who has the dreamer's soul, huntsman? Who is most dear to her?" Jareth waited for the right moment and found it as Gwydion thought back to the last couple of days. He knew that Gwydion would not be fooled into thinking that Finn sought to replace him but the realization that his words rang true
would produce a moment of doubt, and that was all he needed. That moment came and Jareth was prepared.

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    Dreamspinner almost stumbled when she felt the bond she shared with Gwydion pull taut then spring back. She mustered her defenses and blasted out with a tremendous surge of power- almost draining the node beneath the arrogant goblin king's castle to do it. She found his source of power and neatly severed his ties to it, all the while feeding Gwydion magic to aid him.
    Jareth's eyes widened in apparent confusion when his blast was reflected by a block he had not anticipated. It was as if it was mirrored back at him and he cried out as the horrendous blow smashed into him. He fell ungracefully to the floor in a tattered smoldering heap. As he reached out for power to aid himself, he gasped as he realized that it would not answer his summons. At the same moment, the door to the room was thrown open by a shining Goddess- that was the only term he could think of to describe the creature that stood blazing in the doorway. She smiled gently as she looked upon the dark man who had fallen to his knees before her.
    "Come Gwydion." She sang softly as she held out a shining hand to him. The Dark Lord grasped her proffered hand and rose to meet her, his own form changing until he blazed as she, the antlers appeared upon his brow, and he glimmered and sparkled with the blazing might of green earth magic.
    "Poor little Jareth," she cooed, "As if I would take a mate undeserving of me. What foolishness. But then you are male." the god standing beside her cringed slightly, but she absently patted his hand in comfort. She turned to stare into the godling's eyes, "Finally, can you stand on your own? Such a pity if you cannot. There are consequences for everything, dear one, and you should know that today's actions will have tremendous ones, oh yes..." she said as she traced his beautifully sculptured jaw line with her fingertips. Gwydion gave his wife a pleading look, which she pointedly ignored. She dropped his hand and turned on Jareth. The goblin king saw his doom in her eyes, but for some reason, she hesitated. She smiled as she caught the violet-bright aura of one she knew close by, and sent a tendril of her thoughts winging out towards her. Genna gracefully flew into the open window, resplendent in her glittering raiment and glared at Jareth in acute distaste. The tiny tinkling of the silver bells tied into her hair added a surrealistic quality to the occasion. Dreamspinner wordlessly handed Genna the keys to Jareth's power in but a flash of thought. Genna smiled cruelly as the two fates converged upon the frightened goblin king. A crystal sphere had begun to form about him and was rapidly shrinking until it was only the size of a small black crystal. His screams were silenced abruptly by a slight movement of Genna's exquisite hands, she then pocketed the crystal with a disgusted snort and turned to hug her sister fiercely.
    "Well, now, that's all finished, I dare say. Let him out when and if you wish to." Dreamspinner purred and Genna bared her lovely fangs in a deliciously wicked smile. Gwydion dared not to move as he watched the two of them. Radiant, they were, deadly radiant... Dreamspinner heard his thoughts and favored him with an icy smile.
    "Warrior, you will meet me on even footing, or you will not meet me at all. I have no more time for your games. There are many who are more worthy of my attentions in other realms." what was his wife smiled kittenishly, "Find yourself if you dare, for as you stand now, you are but a mere pathetic replica of *my* Gwydion."
    She then turned to Genna, "Sister, I trust you have everything under control here? Good. I will be leaving soon." Genna arched an eloquent brow as she received some privy information along with Dreamspinner's last statement. Gwydion tried desperately to reach his wife's mind, but was rebuffed. His shoulders sagged as he watched the center of his world walk out of the door without him.
    Genna watched in silence until she could not stand it any longer and snorted in true disdain, "Well, you fool! Go after her! You cannot be *that* much of a moron...I know my sister's tastes are far superior than that!" Gwydion gave her an incredulous look as his mind grasped the blatantly obvious and he fairly flew down the hallway to catch the rapidly disappearing form of his wife.
    As he sprinted down the hallway, his emotions were in turmoil as he felt about for her presence. Ah, there. He almost sighed with relief when he realized that she was still allowing him to detect her. He ran and ran until he caught up with her, grabbing her arm to forcefully make her meet his anguished eyes.
    "So, you are not a moron. I was beginning to get a little concerned." she stated without emotion.
    *I love you!* his mind screamed as his grip bruised her arm.
    *You cannot truly love me if you do not even realize your own worth.* she said softly. It was then that he reached deep within and tapped into the truth of his own power. Her eyes widened in approval as she watched his fledgling attempts to meet her on her own ground. With a determined sigh, he grasped the reigns of his long dormant reserves and finally met her as an equal. It was about damned time. She tilted her head to the side and coyly smiled up at him, *You always had a dreamer's soul. You just lacked the faith in yourself to find it.* He did not know what to say, so he remained silent as he mulled this whole episode over. He saw himself for the first time- she mirrored his soul back at him with surprising gentleness, *This is what I see when I look at you, beloved.*
    Dreamspinner watched her husband's eyes darken in deep thought. She smiled to herself as she mentally gave herself a high score for this round. When she looked up, Gwydion was watching her with a bemused expression. Her gifts to him were too many to count and now...
    "And?" she asked patiently. He smiled even wider, then *he* reaffirmed their soulbond with blazing reality that left her gasping for breath. He caught her as she all but fell against him, unprepared for the mental surge he had just sent her. She answered him with a surge of her own, baring all, and he too was visibly shaken by the sheer force of it. He saw her as she truly was, her soul was so bright! The swirling myriad colors of her aura was enough to blind, but he looked anyway, his
eyes watering from the intensity of it. He realized with a start that all these years she had been holding a bit of herself back.... Not so anymore. And frankly, she burned him- but it was a marvelous feeling. His newly awakened powers surged forth to meet hers and he felt a completeness that he had not felt since his childhood so very long ago.
    With a fiercely protective thought, he claimed her, *You are mine.* She was beginning to think he would fairly burst with pride.
    *As you are mine.* and she playfully reminded him, *I suppose now you know the true meaning behind the word 'soulmate'?* He nodded solemnly. *Good. It would be best for you if you constantly reminded yourself. I shall not have you forgetting what you mean to me. Bad form.* He stared at her open-mouthed and she giggled. He wisely stifled her laughter with an abundance of kisses.
    Later, as they lay entwined upon their bed, he asked her why she had not shown him this before. With a knowing smile she said, "Because you were not ready to hear it. Your fear of losing me was great enough to finally force you to look within for the power that I have always known you possessed. After all, *I* would not marry an *inferior*." she tossed her head in mock-sulkiness. He gazed at her with his new eyes and found the sight very much to his liking.
    *My Bright-One...*
    *Yes...always. We are,and have always been, one.*

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    Bane sighed in complete boredom and waved for his lackeys to drag the sniveling woman out of his sight. Her desperate pleas and constant noise annoyed him. He glanced out the newest hole in his wall, a slight loss of temper resulting from a clumsy Unseelie that had spilled a canton of ale on the newly washed floor. Even as he watched he could see the stone repairing itself. Before the night was through the wall would be whole and unmarred. Just the same as it had been for hundreds of years. It was all so infuriating! He longed for a new challenge. He longed for new settings and new people to rule over. The Unseelies and this bleak land bored him. There was no challenge in ruling them, they would give their lives if he ordered it. The land bent readily to his will, the life had been twisted and drained from it. What he wanted was a new conquest. A land where the people bowed to him but could interest him with the little will they had left. These Unseelies were completely hopeless and no shred of self-will existed in their darkened frames. He wanted land that did not bear the poison fruit he was accustomed to. He wanted his brother's kingdom, the nearby forest, Dreamspinner, and by all the gods he'd have them all! Even if he had to destroy everyone and everything to get it. But Dreamspinner...she could weave him entirely new worlds to play with. He smiled darkly at the thought. That one was a challenge, and one he greatly anticipated. He would win her and have her power- she was the only mate worthy of him. The nightmares she had implanted within him had only strengthened his determination. It was so deliciously cruel...and he respected her for it. Yes, she was the answer.

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    Delilah yawned and rolled over trying to shield her face from the morning sun. The light no longer bothered her but she was having that mid-morning crisis that involved getting up and greeting the aging day or lay around like a slug. She was strongly leaning towards the slug decision when she became aware that she wasn't alone in the room. Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, which wasn't very, she rolled over and yelped as she came faced to face with an elf she had never seen
before. The startled elf jumped back and winced at the sound she made. Pulling the covers up around her neck she slid off the other side of the bed.
    "I don't know who you are, frankly I don't care, but I want you out of here...right...now!" She shrieked pointing towards the door.
    "Lady, I. . ." He started as he took a tentative step forward.
    "Look. You're a man and you're in my room. I'm a woman in a flimsy little nightgown. Draw your own conclusions. Now get out!" The sudden shouting had the desired effect as the elf started to back out, unfortunately it also served to draw a
crowd. A head poked around the door followed by a darker one. The woman blushed and practically flew for the bathroom and a little privacy. The three elves
blinked as the door slammed shut and the looked at each other in confusion.
    "What was that all about?" Gawain asked as he cocked his head.
    "It's not worth explaining." The other elf replied as he pushed past Gareth. They could both feel his unease and glanced at one another. Gawain hesitantly stepped into the room and made his way towards the closed door. He started to knock but the door suddenly opened under his upraised hand. Delilah swept passed him, dressed a little bit more modestly in a poet's shirt and an ankle length skirt. He looked back at his companion to find Gareth engrossed in a conversation with Finn. Finn seemed unusually distressed but he shrugged and turned his attention back to the woman who was busily struggling with her hair. Delilah fumbled with the a leather hair catch trying to keep her hair up while tying it in. Unfortunately, every time she managed to get the hair up and start to tie it she would lose the side strands. She finally tossed the comb down in disgust.
    "What I wouldn't give for a bottle of maximum hold hair spray right now! You'd think Jareth would know how to properly stock a bathroom with the right hair accessories." She muttered to no one in particular.
    "Here." Gawain easily swept the hair up off her shoulders and tied it into place in one swift movement. He prodded it carefully to make sure it was tight enough to hold the cascading mane before nodding and backing away.
    "Thanks." Delilah replied feeling a little foolish. She watched Finn and Gareth wander off in separate directions in the mirror and sighed.
    Gawain hesitated a moment before coming to some kind of decision. He took the woman under the arm and lifted her up out of the chair. She gave him a questioning glance and he placed a finger over her lips.
    "Just come. I have something to show you." He gave this cryptic message as his reply to her silenced question. Delilah shrugged and allowed him to lead her down the hall. They paused before a window and he nodded directing her attention out over the rolling landscape. She allowed her eyes to wander out over the twisting turns of the maze, then out to the large grove of trees. Beyond them still was a bluish
mountain, hazy in the distance. She turned to him to ask what it was he wanted her to see and gasped. The elf stared off into nothing, a look of intense concentration on his face. She reached up to shake him out of his revere but paused as a thought occurred to her. For some reason she sensed it would not be the wisest thing to disturb him at the moment and she leaned back, content to wait this newest
interruption out. It was some time before he blinked and shook his head slightly.
    "Welcome back." She said dryly. "Want to tell me what that was all about?"
    Gawain sneered at something for a moment before replying to her question. "Jareth is. . . was up to his old tricks again. He has been dealt with." He assured.
    Delilah shrugged. "Good. He needs to be reminded that he is not all powerful every once in awhile, if you ask me."
    Gawain smiled secretly. "Oh, I think he is reviewing his situation anew now."

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    Finn fairly flew into Dreamspinner's embrace when she and Gwydion entered the hall. She caught him, and he clung to her as he searched his Lord's eyes for any hint of disapproval. Gwydion smiled gently and ruffled Finn's silvery hair, assuring him without words that all was indeed in order now. Finn's sigh of relief was clearly audible and caused a few chuckles to arise here and there. Dreamspinner and Gwydion held the youngling close to them. It was clear to all that Finn was still unsettled by the earlier events, and Dreamspinner and Gwydion did their best to soothe his troubled psyche. Their threefold embrace was magnificent to behold, for power radiated and flowed about them in a thick opalescent myst. Their arms were linked about each other, foreheads pressed together, and hands clasped within each others to form an unbroken circle. A single bright star-like apparition seemed to float above their bowed heads, flaring and bursting in multicolored sparkles which rained down upon them in an impressive display. All seemed to gain strength from the experience, and soon other huntsmen began to make their way into the circle to join. Friendly hands grasped, minds touched, feelings shared- respected for what they were, as all joined in the rapidly growing circle. The star grew brighter with each additional participant, and the light it gave off flowed like warm honey into the
veins of all present. The sense of well-being and togetherness permeated the gathering, and all noticed their Lord's newly accepted powers with great joy. Dreamspinner's golden presence eased the warriors' disquiet like a soothing balm, and they reached out to gently cup her awareness, each man receiving more than he
gave, and thus was inspired to give more. All traces of Jareth's tainted magic was softly wiped clean from everyone. She then spoke.
    *Let our joy unite us, our love bind us, our spirits dance, and our hearts sing.* her thoughts flowed through the circle, and each felt the overwhelming sense of belonging. She was a part of them all, just as they were a part of her. The realization of what had been forgotten hit home with the subtlety of a thunderclap. It seemed this realm of the goblin king stole more precious memories than any of them ever realized, like a leach- a parasite which fed off of the dreams, wishes, and memories of others. Her dreams were very important- and Jareth had tried to take them! How
they despised him for that.
    She calmly sent a light, soothing tendril of her thoughts to them, *He is what he is, childlings. You need not worry about him anymore. He can only take what you allow him to, so guard your treasures well.* Their calm acceptance flowed throughout the circle, returning to her, sweeping around her like a pleasant breeze. Gwydion smiled as their bond was strengthened, renewed, and gently made right. He looked at Finn, who had tears streaming unheeded down his cheeks. The Lord of the Wild Hunt could see that Inspiration had caught the bard, and could feel that
Finn's fingers fairly itched to take up his harp and play. With a reluctant sigh, and a surge of gentle but powerful emotion, Gwydion broke the circle, only to grab his wife and hold her tightly against himself. She looked up into his eyes and smiled so sweetly as her own mind-touch betrayed her deep love for him. He returned her smile as he sent her a loving mental caress before leaning down and kissing tenderly. Finn scampered over to collect his harp, sat down, and began to play wondrous melodies from ancient times long forgotten. The huntsmen all settled down to listen appreciatively to Finn's enchanted music, each lost in dreamtime.

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    "Amazing, isn't it?"

    The blonde turned slightly to catch a glimpse of her companion before nodding. "Yes. It's odd, I had always read that elves were such solitary creatures."

    The fae laughed musically. "Ah, reading always forces you to depend upon the writers' interpretation."

    "I think I'm beginning to discover that." Delilah turned her attention back to the spectacle going on in the center of the room. "By the by, where did you disappear to?"

    Genna sighed. "I decided to indulge a little in my new found freedom."

    "You deserved it, certainly."

    "Yes."

    Blue eyes shifted slightly to take in the fae. She hadn't exactly sounded enthusiastic about her trip and upon closer inspection she didn't look very enthusiastic either. "Did you enjoy it?"

    "Oh, yes."

    *Really?* The human asked herself. *Do tell.* "Then why return so soon?"

    Genna cast a quick glance in her direction. "I felt that I was needed here."

    *Uh-huh* "From what I've been able to piece together, you were right. Just out of curiosity, what did you do with yon Goblin King?"

    That elicited a smile out of the fae. "He makes a wonderful paperweight."

    "Ah, how the mighty have fallen." An image of a pile of half crumpled papers decorating a desk invaded her mind and Delilah smiled for on the top she could see a round globe sitting in an indentation. She snickered. Movement caught her attention and she looked back. "Looks like the male-fae bonding is winding down."

    "Mmm-hmm."

    "Would you consider it rude of me to inquire as to what is on your mind?"

    Genna started slightly. "Is it that obvious?"

    "You're fidgeting." She replied gesturing at the fae's delicate foot that was tapping out a rhythm on the stone floor.

    "Oh." Her cheeks colored slightly as she watched the elves break off into smaller groups. "It's probably nothing but..."

    "I've come to realize that *nothing* usually turns into *something* around here. And that something is usually quite...oh what's the word I'm looking for..." She paused as she glanced off into space trying to find the right words.

    Genna smiled. "I know what you mean. I fear that I'm discovering that too."

    "So what's the problem?"

    "I happened across a village to the west of here that seemed to be in some kind of trouble. I went closer and managed to overhear tales of missing people and a wolf that doesn't act like a wolf. I wasn't sure what to make of it and decided to head back." She stopped when she noticed her companion stiffen. "You know of this?"

    Delilah snapped back to reality but didn't relax. "No, but it's disturbing tidings." She turned slightly. "What could they be up to now?"

    Though she wasn't meant to hear the human's murmur, Genna picked it up easily. "Now you are the one who seems to be pondering things in secret." She reminded.

    This time it was Delilah's turn to blush. "Ah, turnabout is fair play I suppose. I am far more aquatinted with the 'wolf that doesn't act like a wolf' than I care to be. But what could he possibly want with villagers? It's not like they make better sport than animals."

    Genna shrugged causing her wings to flutter slightly. "Whatever involves that thing is best finished even if the cause is left in question."

    "I agree."

    This time Delilah didn't have to look to see who had joined in on their conversation. "Don't you have some guy things to do?" She snapped irritably at the approaching elf.

    A sly smile crossed Gawain's face as he pinned her in a corner and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "How's this for a 'guy thing'?"

    She started to melt into the embrace but managed to shake the feeling off. "Not bad, but it wasn't exactly what I what I had in mind and I really must insist that you let me go."

    "Is that what you really want?"

    Genna watched in amusement as the woman sighed and glared up at her captor. Without warning she kicked him, causing the elf to hop back in surprise. "That a good enough answer for you?" She asked dryly as she crossed her arms.

    "The phrasing is slightly questionable but the deliver was quite clear." Gawain replied as he absently rubbed at his shin.

    "You really want me to rephrase that? Because I'd be glad to." Delilah said smiling evilly at him.

    He held up his hands in a gesture of defeat. "No need, I think I got the message."

    "Good. Now where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?" She paused for a moment. "Ah, yes, Genna...Oh! Now where'd she go?"

    "I think she wandered off right after you kicked me but before you threatened to rephrase your answer."

    "Too bad. I was rather hoping to try to figure out what that wolf was up to." A troubled look came to her eyes as she considered the new information. "I just don't understand what he could want with those people."

    Gawain shrugged. "He's working with the Unseelie Court and they're notorious for wandering off with people."

    "But why send the wolf and not the normal Unseelies? I don't like it."

    "Neither do I but now is not the time to worry about it. Besides, the tale will undoubtedly reach the Lord and Lady's ears soon and they will consider it and perhaps see something that you do not. Now is time to relax and enjoy the moment. Come on."

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    Jareth snarled and couldn't resist punching the side of the crystal one last time. Hitting it hadn't work the previous time but it made him feel better at least. The crystal didn't even vibrate with the force of his fist and he slumped down. It was so humiliating! Beaten in his own castle and trapped in a simple crystal.

    The world around him was bright and colorful as the light that entered the glass was refracted into a rainbow of colors that only furthered to darken his mood. He was the Goblin King and bright cheerful colors were not his style. Even if they were rather pretty...

    He groaned and threw up his hands in disgust. It hadn't even been a day yet and already he was going soft. He had to get out of this thing and soon. But how? There were no sharp objects here that could shatter the thick glass and he had been separated from his power node under the castle. That thought sent another flash of anger. How dare she interfere with his power! Damn it all, he had brought her to enhance his power not take it away from him! He couldn't even feel any sign that there was any power at all nearby thanks to both his weakened state and the ball
around him. If only he could get someone to break the crystal. Unfortunately he had yet to see any goblins and he suspected that Genna had made sure to keep them all away. Well, he could wait, even if it did grate on his nerves. Sooner or later an opportunity would present itself and he'd escape. It was just a matter of recognizing it...and then there'd be hell to pay.


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More to come......