Title: One Long Bedouin Night
Author: Nehal
Rating: PG
Summary: Behind every legend is a warrior, behind every warrior is a man, and behind every man a woman. It is this woman who makes the legend.
I
"We shall meet with the others tomorrow," Ardeth told his men. "Until then rest, you have all earned it."
"I shall keep lookout," someone said as though in great pain.
"No," Ardeth replied, his eyes shining in the twilight. "Let me do it."
--
"Keeping lookout again, Ardeth?" A voice said roughly from the velvety darkness some hours after Ardeth had taken up his post on the highest dune overlooking the Medjai encampment. "Be careful oh great leader if you do not amend your ways soon, your wives shall all think you have turned into a mere cat."
Ardeth smiled but did not speak as he slid off the black blanket around his shoulders and placed it next to him. Within moments a shrouded figure sat down upon it, splaying arms and legs carelessly upon the scratchy sand dusted wool.
--
"What are you doing this far into the desert?" Ardeth spoke at long last when the last of the fires had burnt themselves out in the encampment below.
"The Medjai are not the only desert tribe with a divine purpose." The figure laughed, scooping up sand in one covered hand before depositing it into Ardeth's lap. A sudden cold gust of wind scattered the grains into the lazy moonlight, sending all but a scant few back to the place whence they were taken. "The dunes here are as possessive as they are in the south. That bodes well."
"I did not realise that times had changed so much as to make your people superstitious," Ardeth replied, no trace of humour in his voice, as his hand rose to unclasp a silver amulet from his throat. "This amulet contains the heart of the first Medjai to ever willingly bestow his services to a Pharaoh, and is said to bring great fortune to its wearer. Take it."
--
"You know of my tribe's customs as well as your own, Ardeth." The figure said as the amulet disappeared into a billowing robe that seemed almost red under the soft moonlight. "An eye for an eye, a life for a life, a gift for a gift-"
"And a sister for a wife…yes, I understand the customs of your tribe all too well." Ardeth sighed as he lay back against the sand, his arms splayed above his head, as he stared into the starless night. After a moment the figure lay back too, nestling a veiled head neatly into the crook of Ardeth's shoulder.
"What do you want?"
"Peace."
For a long moment neither said anything.
--