Chapter 8
Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
Harold Zidler slumped to the floor, the shot from the Duke's gun in his shoulder. Marie went to him quickly, along with Satine, both ready to administer first aid. Throughout the rest of the room, chaos ensued. The girls were running around screaming. The Argentinean was still asleep. Toulouse and Christian were both looking for some way of shielding themselves as well as the girls from anymore of the Duke's shots.
On the balcony, Nini panicked, though James stayed calm. "Come on," he said, grabbing onto a nearby lattice and starting to climb. "Christian and I used to do this all the time to get out of the house without getting seen. Now, you and I are going to do exactly the opposite." Nini started the climb awkwardly, her long dress not allowing her legs much movement. So, to make it easier, she ripped the skirt and sleeves off.
As they entered the solar, just above the ballroom, James found it difficult to control the way his heart was pounding. Nini was definitely showing off more than he was used to seeing. But he had to keep his thoughts on the current events down in the ballroom. Reaching into a hidden panel, he grabbed two revolvers, handing one to Nini. "Come on," he said, motioning her towards the door.
Meanwhile, back in the ballroom, the Duke was running towards Christian, gun aimed and ready to fire. What he didn't notice in his jealous rage, however, was that the Argentinean had awakened, and was close behind him. Just as the Duke was getting ready to fire again, the Argentinean knocked him down, the gun flying across the floor. For Christian, everything was suddenly moving in slow motion as he dived to grab the gun before the Duke could get it again.
Just then, Christian and Nini barged in, their guns both aimed at the Duke, who was being held down by the Argentinean. Once again, the Duke had attempted to have Satine, and once again, he had failed.
Less than an hour later, the Duke was on his way to the local jail, and Zidler was in bed, his wound being tended by Marie, Nini, and Satine. It would seem Satine and Christian's honeymoon would have to be put off for a bit. They didn't mind, though. They had still gotten their faerie tale ending.
Sweeping her into their bedroom that night, Christian smiled at Satine. "Come what may," he sang softly. "Come what may," she sang in return. Then, their voices melted together. "I will love you until my dying day," they sang together before kissing deeply, passionately, falling into the marriage bed together.
A/N: There you all go. A happy ending at last. Thanks to all who have reviewed!! However, for those of you who have nitpicked, and you will remain nameless, yes, I KNOW Satine is a courtesan. That doesn't mean she can't blush. She is an actress, after all. And as for Marie already being Zidler's wife, I've only seen the movie twice, and I don't recall her being referred to as Madam Zidler, and even if she is, that doesn't mean they're married. This is, after all, the Moulin Rouge. She could just be Madam Zidler because they not only pretty much run the Moulin together but probably sleep together all the time.
And as for Satine's recovery from consumption, nothing is impossible, just improbable. Please remember that this world was created by Baz Luhrman, who doesn't exactly keep everything as it should be. His movies require a suspension of disbelief, and so does this story. Besides, even then, a full recovery from consumption was within the realm of possibility.
