Sometimes sneezing doesn't work right for me after the fountain either, but I've found that clicking the sneeze button and not clicking any other buttons or moving the mouse tends to help. If not, try and find some deer casting spells in The Forest, there's usually a gathering around the pond.

Well they might have had other things in mind than spending their time getting you your set. At least magic sticks around, so you can just get pieces of your set whenever you see some deer casting.

Yeah I saw you right when you finished getting it all back lol.
Another thing might have been that when you shook your head 'no' they thought you meant you didn't want them to cast spells on you. It's tricky communicating in TEF, but that's half the fun lol.