Wow

Wow. I never thought I'd get such a large response. Thank you, minna (everyone)!!!!!!! I wish I could write more, but must. get. sleep. I thought it was a good place to leave off. Soundtrack? Prologue/Sanctus from Angel Sanctuary Drama CD. Good music. As always, round up the disclaimers and brand 'em. ;P Have fun!

Ladymage ;)

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To the Victor Go the Spoils

Part 10 ~ That Look in Your Eyes

~ fey (adj) - 1) whimsical, strange ; 2) being in an unnaturally excited state of mind, once

thought to portend death ~

As the laughter died down, Jareth looked into Sarah's sparkling eyes and and the little thought that had been niggling at the back of his mind surfaced.

What in the Hell kind of spell did she cast?

And the only reason he remembered was because the faint aura of the spell surrounded her. Gazing at her with an intensity she couldn't help but notice, he saw the spell and, finally, both of the magics she now carried with her. That she kept them so well hidden was a mark of incredible control, especially with the Fae magic he had so recently endowed her with. Once again, he cursed himself for several kinds of fool. Then he took a glance at himself and cursed himself for being several other kinds.

The spell had been cast on him, too.

He rapidly reviewed the events of the morning. Sarah ignoring last night. Her cheerful mood. Her pleasant behavior to her step-mother. Karen's returning pleasantness. The absence of awkward feelings at the table. His own fey behavior and neglect to follow up on his earlier suspicions. The answer was obvious, now he knew it. Sarah had cast a classic "forgive and forget" spell, a spell calculated to ease the pain of mistakes and bring contentment to those it was cast upon. The dance had released her pain.

An intriguing notion.

"Jareth?" Sarah's voice came uncertainly from beside him. He blinked in surprise as he realized he was still staring at her. "Uh, are you okay?"

"Where did you learn magic?" he asked suddenly. She drew back in surprise.

"Magic? Jareth, what are you talking about? You gave me magic yesterday."

"No, Sarah," he contradicted. "You cast last night, in a manner that was not Fae magic and spoke of a good deal of knowledge. So I ask you again, where did you learn magic?"

He was looking straight into her eyes--his own like steel and gold-- as though he could stare into her soul. And from the looks of things, he wasn't pleased with what he saw. "Jareth." Her voice shook. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Well, let me remind you," he purred, leaning towards her, his teeth bared in something that was definitely not a smile. "Think, perhaps, of a wooded clearing. A tape of folk music. A gypsy skirt and silver coin."

Her eyes widened in realization. "My dancing?" she breathed incredulously. "But that was just dancing! I do it to work out my frustration, because I like to. Jareth, until yesterday, I couldn't do so much as a fake love potion, let alone cast!"

She backed up nervously along the floor as she swore she heard him growl. "Really?" he said unpleasantly. "Then would you care to give a 'scientific' explanation for this universal good cheer that seems to be floating around in this house? I'm sure I would adore hearing it."

Sarah's mouth opened and closed as she caught the wavelength he was on. He was right. Given what had happened last night, everyone, even she, had been in strangely good moods. "I--I can't."

"Would you like me too?" Jareth's voice dripped saccherine sweetness. "I was there last night, Sarah. You came and danced. While you danced, you wove a spell which, though low level, used magic that is very difficult to control. When you finished, you cast it, over your family, over yourself, and over me! That is what you did last night."

"I didn't-- I couldn't--!"

"You can. And you did."

"But she never told me--!"

"Who never told you, Sarah?" His voice strick her like a blow, leaving her winded.

"My-- my grandmother," she sobbed.

"Then why don't we pay her a visit, hmm?" he asked almost casually.

"We can't."

"Why not?" The edge returned to the question.

"Because I don't know where she is."