Before I even start, I want to say I'm SO sorry about not updating last week. I got hit with five exams, and I had to devote my writing time to studying. But that's all over now, so I'll keep on writing. But first:
bQuinda/b Stupid FF.net. But oh well. Thanks for Meridion spelling. Now if I could only remember Tristan's wife's name…Melanie? I don't know, something that began with an M. (Can we guess how well I remember names? I could tell you the plot line, but NAMES? ;) )
Someone has to conspire against Achmed, and I agree it's quite scary that they agree. In fact, you'll find that they did that on purpose. And I think I enjoy Achmed's uncomfortable-ness (is that a word? Ah well. Shakespeare made up his own words, so can I) as much as you do.
bkitengae/b I'm glad you like it. I look forward to seeing more votes of confidence.
bWolfdrifter/b You're reading the Harry Potter fic I'm doing too? I've changed my prospective on it, and I think I'm going to write another story with Harry's 6th year after I'm done with it. I'm going to work on that chapter tomarrow, as I typed this one up and lost it. ;)
bChapter 10: Preperations/b
"Rhapsody, WHY would we want to go to YLORC for this ball?" Ashe snapped.
"Ashe, you're being unreasonable," Rhapsody sighed. Over the years the hatred between her husband and her friend had never faded like she'd hoped. Instead it had merely intensified.
"Even Achmed agrees, and it's his kingdom!" Ashe replied.
"Well, it's nice to see you and Achmed agreeing on something," Rhapsody said, masking the slyness of her voice. It worked. Ashe shut his mouth and thought about what he had just said. Rhapsody could clearly see the wheels turning in his head. If he agreed and Achmed still disagreed, then it wouldn't be his fault that the ball would be held somewhere else.
"I wouldn't want to intrude on Achmed's land," Ashe said slowly. Rhapsody smiled. She loved the man, but he could be very easy to manipulate at times. "But I would like to have the ball close to the moot. If it is alright with Achmed, it is alright with me."
"Thank you, Sam," Rhapsody whispered, pulling him close.
"It's no problem, Aria," Ashe replied with a grin. It had been so long since Rhapsody felt up to making love to him, and he had to admit that his hand wasn't nearly as good as she was. Any thoughts that remained in his head were swept away as Rhapsody kissed him and guided him to their bed.
center*~*~*~*~*~*/center
The next morning, Ashe, Achmed, Rhapsody, and Isis all met for breakfast. Before they began to eat, Ashe stood up and turned to Achmed.
"I would like to apologize for the way I acted yesterday. We of the Cymerian Empire wish to extend our request to hold the ball in Ylorc. If you accept, we would be honored."
Isis and Rhapsody grinned at each other from across the table. Ashe smiled to himself, reveling in his victory. He clearly won this round. Achmed stood up, and Ashe's smile froze.
"Lord Cymerian, my kingdom would be honored to host the annual ball." Rhapsody and Isis exchanged a secret smile that didn't go unnoticed on Achmed's part, but he ignored it. At the moment he was reveling in the look on Ashe's face. Achmed had clearly won this round. Plus, as an additional benefit, Ashe apologized and Achmed did not.
"M'lord, m'lady, I beg of you to excuse my king and myself," Isis said after a moment of silence. Ashe and Rhapsody looked over to her. Rhapsody was expecting this, but Ashe was not. "We do, after all, have a ball to plan."
"Of course, it's a pity, but necessary. I understand. When will we get the invitation?" Rhapsody asked.
"I don't know if you're going to get one, Rhapsody. This ball is for the elite. It's going to be very difficult to get in you know," Isis replied slyly. "But perhaps I can slide you into the list." Ashe's mouth dropped with the rage, and Rhapsody couldn't keep a straight face anymore: she burst out laughing.
When the group arrived back at Ylorc, Grunthor was waiting for them. Upon seeing Isis he smiled and gave her a hug, but she pulled away quickly.
"You! Gather all the servants together in the Ball Room. I'll be there in ten minutes." The Bolg she pointed to immediately took off to search for the rest of the staff. Isis turned around to face Achmed. "Do you have anything decorative here?"
"I guess. It's all locked up in a room somewhere. After you're done with the servants' meeting, I'll show it to you," Achmed replied easily.
"Thanks," Isis said with a smile before leaving. Grunthor watched Achmed closely when Isis left. She didn't notice, but he had a small smile on his face, and a far away expression.
"Ser? Wha's going on here?" asked Grunthor. Achmed shook his head with a chuckle.
"Grunthor my friend? We're going to have a bit of a party in a month."
The night before the ball, Ashe and Rhapsody arrived, presenting their invitation. It was truly exquisite, even Ashe had to admit that it was nice. It was a paper thin sheet of gold, so thin that it could be rolled up…like paper. Carved into it was the invitation.
centeriYou are have been invited to the annual Cymerian ball to be held in one months time in the great country of Ylorc. Dinner will be served at 7:00, and dancing will commence afterwards. The dress is formal, and we await your response. /i/center
The simple message was responded to with an unexpected positive manner. Even Tristan Stewart and his wife were coming, along with the leaders of both major faiths. Rhapsody and Ashe, however, were the only two who arrived early.
"Welcome to The Cauldron," Isis said when they arrived. She signaled to one of the human servants, and he ran over to Rhapsody's bags. A bolg servant picked up Ashe's bags and they ran off to Rhapsody's usual room: one she now shared with Ashe. She had elected not to go to Elysion for this visit. Isis directed Ashe into the room where Achmed and Grunthor were chatting, and was about to follow him in when Rhapsody grabbed her arm. Isis turned to look at the shorter woman.
"Is the ballroom decorated?" Rhapsody asked with a glint in her eye.
"It is…except for the flowers. There's no way to put them out and keep them fresh…unless you wouldn't mind a small song?" Isis grinned.
"Consider it a reason for me to see the ballroom before it's crowded with people," Rhapsody replied. Isis shut the door behind Ashe and the two women set off to the ball room before a surprised Ashe managed to poke his head out the door to see what was taking his wife so long. It wasn't a long walk to the ballroom at all. When Rhapsody opened up the door to the place though, she couldn't help but gasp.
Draped all around the room tastefully were purple (the color of nobility) silks. There were accented by silver trimming around the outside. Lighter purple tablecloths adorned the small tables that were strategically placed around the room, and silver dishes sat at each spot, along with a lavender place tag, with each person's name written in dark purple writing. The head table in contrast had the darkest colored purple tablecloth, with two triangles of lighter purple silk hanging down. One held Ylorc's crest, and the other held the new Cymerian crest. It was set for five places, and was raised up on a platform so it overlooked the entire hall. Near the walls were small silver tables for the servers, and Rhapsody could see the way that Isis cleverly concealed the door. Across from the head table, at the same level, was a stage with chairs and instruments set along it. At each corner of the stage was a rich purple vase filled with tiny silver flowers. There was a matching vase at each table; three at the head table, but they were all empty.
"Wow," Rhapsody breathed. Isis grinned and walked over to the windows. With a pull she let loose all the draperies, causing the room to be dark. The darkness lasted only a second though, as the room was immediately lit up with a silver light. Rhapsody looked up and saw that hanging from the ceiling, twinkling, was a huge silver full moon and a bunch of silver stars. "How did you do that?" she asked.
"They, along with the silver flowers over by the stage, are actually made from bits of starlight," Isis said proudly. "I worked on them all month."
"So what was it you needed my help with?" Rhapsody asked as Isis fixed the curtains.
"I need to finish with the flowers," Isis explained. She showed Rhapsody the bags upon bags of freshly cut violets that she received but an hour before Rhapsody arrived. "I was wondering if you could use one of those instruments to make it so they remained fresh?"
"I'd be honored," Rhapsody said with a grin. The two women had a lot of fun arranging all the flowers into the vases. Isis placed a small group of the star-flowers in each vase as well. While she was doing that, Rhapsody went to the stage and picked up a lute. She sang a bit, and played the lute. After awhile she made it play by itself and placed it gently in the chair she picked it up from. Isis and Rhapsody then made their appearances in the room with Achmed and Ashe, broke up an argument, and went to bed. They needed all the sleep they could get: tomarrow was a big night.