Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to Ms. Haydon. Only thing I own is the idea for this fic.
A/N: Thanks to everybody who reviews. I've got a question though; Achmed has a skin web right? Would his children have skin webs or is it only him? If you can let me know I'd be really appreciative.
Achmed put his feet up on the stool before the fire and listen to the sharp clicking of running boots coming down the hall. Listened to the person outside the door take a few shuttering breaths to regain composure and open the door. Listened to the steady click of the boots, as they made there way toward him in a stately walk. "Hello Rhapsody."
Silence
"Take a seat," Achmed reached over and pulled a chair over for her.
She sat. Silence.
"Would you like something to drink?"
Silence.
"Do you mind if I do?" he asked pouring himself a snifter of brandy.
"He left me, Achmed. You were right, you were always right. He left me. He didn't want to die, he didn't want to grow old, so he had me burn him with star fire. Told me if I truly loved him I'd do it for him."
"Rhapsody, close to one thousand years has past and Ashe wasn't exactly young when you met him. He had to watch himself age and you never grow old. He had to watch his copper hair dull while your hair stayed bright and golden. He had to watch wrinkles form while you're skin stayed smooth and soft. He had to watch his body get old and infirm while you stayed healthy and tone. He simply grew tired of living with the knowledge that one day you would be taking care of him on his death bed, he didn't want to put you through that pain, but in trying to spare you he put you in more pain than you ever thought possible," Rhapsody coughed softly and Achmed knew she was trying not to cry. He reached out his hand and grabbed her hand in his own. He could feel the warmth of her hand through the thin leather gloves. He gently squeezed her hand.
Rhapsody stared down at his hand, "I loved him, Achmed. I still do. It's been a long day. I'm going to go to bed." She stood silently and leaned down and kissed Achmed on the cheek, "Thank you." She squeezed his hand and then let it go.
Achmed stood. "Grunthor and I thought you wouldn't want to sleep in Elysian so we set you up a room close to mine. I'll show you the way."
Rhapsody nodded, "Where is Grunthor?"
"He's on a border check. Should be back tomorrow or the next. He'll be happy to know you made it here safely."
Rhapsody smiled wearily, "I'll be glad to see him too. I've missed you both."
"We've missed you too, Rhapsody." More than you'll ever know.
Rhapsody laid a gentle hand on Achmed's upper arm, "It means a lot to me that I can just come here to Ylorc, come here to you, and know that there will always be somebody to watch my back."
"Somebody's got to. It's more than obvious you can't take of yourself."
"Thank you anyways."
Achmed walked away form her and sat back down at the fire, "Go to bed. You're tired."
"Good night, Achmed."
Achmed laced his fingers together in front of his face and leaned his lips against the thing leather gloves, thinking. He listed to the steady click of heeled boots grow fainter as the walked away from him, but he knew, the father they walked away the closer they came.
A/N: I need to work on longer chapters!! Anyways, thanks to those who read this far and to those who post, please leave a critique. While it does give me war gushy feelings when the review is "It rocked. Update soon", I'm trying to get better, so any advice helps! Thanks. I'm a horrible speller and I tend to jump from past tense to present to future tense so if anybody notices that kind of stuff please let me know.
