Wee! 8 reviews! (I know most people get like fifty or so per chapter, but let me be happy with my eight.)
Wolfdrifter – I honestly don't mind your enthusiasm. I actually find it quite flattering. Don't be so hard on yourself. And I'm glad you think I'm a good writer.
Quinda – I'm glad you're not sick anymore, and I knew you'd never desert me. You're the most loyal reviewer out of the lot. I didn't like Chapter Ten much either, in case you couldn't tell, I was in a bit of a rush to get it done before class started. But Thursday's class got cancelled, so I put much more time into 11. What I really need is an editor or something. As for eleven, I like that one much better. I felt it made up for the one before it. Thanks for being the ever present critic, you have no idea how much a writer appreciates it. (Or maybe you do. But maybe you just want me to think that. Gah. I'm confusing myself.)
Chris steel – I'm getting jealous of Isis too, and it's my story. But more is on the way, so don't worry.
Just2spooky – Yay! A new reviewer! I'm glad that you enjoy the story; I'm looking forward to seeing more reviews from you.
Eternity's Voice – I'm very glad you like the story. I have to agree, an intelligently written fan fiction is generally very difficult to find these days. I look forward to seeing more reviews from you as well.
Apricot Jones – Always nice to know that there's people out there who don't think I'm an idiot. I don't understand why people would think you're stupid, but people can be dumb. And I completely sympathize with your hatred of reading fan fiction that makes the reader want to hit her head on a wall, I've done that myself on several occasions. And one of these days when my workload from school decides to drop, I'll read over your stuff at fictionpress.com.
Wow. That was almost a full page just answering my reviews. Again, I love getting any reviews, and I thank every single person that takes time out of their day to let me know that they're reading the story. I appreciate it, I really do.
Chapter 12: An Ending to a Peaceful Night
"You two are adorable together!" Rhapsody's voice floated across the room, over the murmurings of the guests. Isis and Achmed were walking around and making sure that everyone was having fun at the party. They were also avoiding Tristan, who seemed to attempt to get Isis away from Achmed at every opportunity possible. Now that Achmed had finally admitted that he has feelings for Isis, he wasn't going to let her leave his side; especially not with a boar like him.
"Rhapsody, I was never adorable before, nor will I ever be," Achmed snapped.
"I think you're adorable," Isis whispered with a small hint of red flushing on her cheeks. Achmed smiled down at her. When Rhapsody saw that, she had to stop herself from squealing. It was a tender, soft smile; one she thought would be out of place on Achmed's face. It seemed to fit him just fine in Isis's eyes, as she returned it.
"You were adorable, and you're adorable now," Rhapsody declared.
"Oi think 'er Ladyship's right, sir," Grunthor's voice responded. Isis looked over and saw him standing next to Rhapsody with a big grin on his face. He walked over and scooped Isis into a big hug.
"Hey!" Achmed protested.
"Welcome to the family. Shoul' Oi star' callin' Isis 'er Majesty now?" Grunthor grinned. Isis hugged him back, and Achmed all but snatched her back to his side. Isis rolled her eyes, and Grunthor winked.
"I'd say so," Achmed finally said. Isis smiled up at him and gave him another hug, which he returned. Isis gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and left his side for a while to go wandering around the room. She was immediately dwarfed by women wanting to know where she got the moon and stars on the ceiling.
Achmed and Grunthor meanwhile went back up to the platform with the head table, sat down, and munched on the food that was left there.
"Bit possessive of 'er ladyship are ye?" asked Grunthor after a moment.
"I'm not going to let her get stolen from me," Achmed replied. Grunthor chuckled to himself, causing Achmed to look at him with a piercing stare. "What's so funny?"
"I don' think Isis'll let anyone steal her from ye," he replied with a grin. Achmed seemed to ponder this for a minute, and relaxed.
"I was being paranoid," he admitted.
"Sir, yer always paranoid," replied Grunthor with a laugh.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The night passed by without much event after that. When Isis returned, Achmed kidnapped her from Rhapsody and the two of them danced the night away. The two of them went to bid their guests farewell, and instead of returning to one of their bedrooms, they instead sat out on one of the many balconies of the place. Neither of them had gotten much wine, but that didn't bother them. Achmed had set aside a bottle of the best red wine for himself for later, but didn't object to sharing it with Isis. While Isis was in the bathroom, he quickly fixed up the balcony so it was romantic. While this was something new to him, he thought that he had at least done a decent job once he was finished. The found a small table and two matching chairs on the balcony, and merely grabbed some candles and put them around. He made a quick trip to his bedroom, which luckily for him was closer then the bathroom, and came out with a single red rose, a thin vase to put it in (another present from some country), and a set of wine glasses that he never thought he'd use. He set this all up, poured two glasses of wine, and had just finished lighting the candles when he felt Isis's heartbeat outside of the room. He turned, and though the shadows hid the smile on his face, it didn't hide the look of awe on hers.
"Why Achmed," she said with a grin, "I never took you to be the romantic type."
"I didn't either," he admitted. He gestured to the seat he was standing next to. "Would you like to have a seat?" Isis smiled in reply and sat down in the chair he was standing next to. He pushed it into the table a bit, and went to take his own seat. Isis, meanwhile, chuckled to herself.
"This is something new. I've never been treated like a blue blood before," she joked.
"I'd never pull a chair out for a blue blood. You're more then a noble," Achmed replied. Isis smiled at him and raised her wine glass.
"I think we should have a toast," she said. Achmed followed suit.
"To what?" he replied.
"To us." They both smiled and drank to that.
"You know, that tiara I had made for you looks good on your head," Achmed said after a moment.
"You got this made for me? Where did you get the diamonds?" Isis asked.
"You gave them to me. They suit you, they're another thing that the F'dor can want but never have." Isis's eyes grew wide as she took the tiara off and looked at it. It was true; these were the diamond shards she had taken care of for years.
"So you made this for me as a way to root out the F'dor?" Isis asked with a sigh. Achmed sensed the disappointment in her voice, and in her heartbeat, so he decided to be honest with her.
"In part, yes, but also in part because I couldn't stop thinking about you." Isis looked up at him with widened eyes after he said that, and couldn't stop herself from smiling along with him.
"It's late," Isis said.
"That's true," Achmed agreed. He stood up and offered his arm. She took it, and the two of them chatted all the way back to Isis's room, just taking in the comfort from being around each other, comfort that was always taken away from them in their lives. When they got to Isis's rooms, she turned to face Achmed. The man who took her heart away, even if she wouldn't admit it yet.
"We're here," she said softly.
"We are," Achmed agreed. He swiftly gave her another kiss, this time on her lips which she answered wholeheartedly. When they finally parted, the couple just looked at each other for a while before Achmed finally spoke again. "Have a good night."
"You too. I'll see you at breakfast?" she asked.
"Of course. I'll always be at your side," Achmed replied with a smile, quoting what she had said to him weeks ago.
"And I'll always be at yours." Isis pecked his lips with her own, and walked into her room. Achmed turned and went back to his own room down the hall.
"So, are ye goin' to need a cold shower, sir?" came a voice.
"I'd imagine she's floating on air right about now," agreed another.
"Quiet you two. Do either of you have anything better to do with your lives then spy on mine?" he asked.
"Nope."
"Oi can' think of anythin'."
"I thought so."