Hey, guys. I just remembered The Mummy and my love for Brendan Fraser's Rick O'Connell. It kills me to this day that we never got to see him as a Medjai, I would have given anything for him to have appeared as one of the guards Nefertiri calls out to when her father needs help. Anyway, I decided to try writing a story about the past life of Rick and Evy in Egypt.
Before I begin, I had the best of intention of trying to find people who lived on the same timeline and work within actual historical data. However, the timelines and names are already blended in the movies, so I will keep them that way. I describe Nefertiri and Rekhu (Rick) the way they are in The Mummy, Caucasian. I don't mean to whitewash history and if you wish to picture them differently, by all means, disregard what I write.
One final thing, the Nefertiri I write will not be a perfect bland character. She and Rick's counterpart will occasionally act badly and you may dislike them. I hope the readers are mature enough to allow them to be human. This is just an introduction, so that you understand the backstory. In the next chapter, there will be a time jump and we will be heading towards the juicy stuff. Your thoughts and impressions are welcome.
A tall dark man rode a camel ahead of a suite through the desert. His eyes surveyed left to right under thick dark eyebrows. His black wispy robes quivered in the soft wind. Ardeth was the leader of Pharaoh Seti's elite guard, the Medjai. They were currently traveling North along the Nile, to Abydos. It was suggested to Seti by Imhotep as a good place to begin building his temple, like so many other Pharaohs had done before him. Imhotep was Seti's advisor, his Vizier.
Seti was reluctant to leave as his beloved wife had recently fallen ill. Imhotep wisely suggested to take a short leave of her and travel to Abydos and if he so pleased upon seeing the city, choose it as the location for his temple. The economic situation allowed him to begin this undertaking and it would be seen as proof of Seti's strength and majesty. He hardly needed reminding that his wife was dubbed the 'mother of brides' among his people, a derogatory name used for women who only had daughters. Their daughter Nefertiri, however, was his greatest treasure.
She was currently 13 and was becoming a stunning young woman. She walked with her back straight and chin high, she had long dark hair and intelligent dark eyes. She could already read and write hieroglyphs and often debated with scribes and priests in matters of religion and politics. Her skin was rather pale, like her mother's. It was said that the family Nefertiri's mother came from originated far across the sea. Others said that they were descended from the gods. Others still thought them queer and suspicions. Nevertheless, Seti adored them both. So much so that he did not insist on more children when Nefertiri's mother did not become pregnant spontaneously. His advisor before Imhotep often suggested taking another wife. Now that she had fallen ill and Seti had to come to terms with the fact she may not survive, he had to begin thinking about the future. One of his plans was to seek out an eligible younger wife who could simply serve the purpose of a royal womb and give him a son that his people wanted to see ascend the throne.
Once they arrived in the city, Imhotep and Seti set about surveying a suitable spot for his temple. Ardeth had checked it for security and the rest of the Medjai were strategically placed so that they protected the Pharaoh and the Vizier, but did not disturb their royal and religious matters. Being a religious person himself, Ardeth decided to go around the existing temples and pay tribute to Isis, the goddess of magic, whom he was partial to. There was another feeling he could not exactly grasp or explain to himself, but he felt restless. In the course of his life, Ardeth had learned to listen to his gut. It had saved his and the lives of many important people in the past and it had never let him down yet.
After a tour of the city, he knew he should be returning soon as the Pharaoh might need him. He was rounding a corner and was about to return the main road when he saw a boy near the statue of Mafdet, goddess of protection. The boy was striking and even if he had not had that nebulous feeling before, he would have taken notice. The youth was no older than 15, but already tall and his sinewy thin muscles showed the promise of filling out with great strength. More than that, he had unusual eyes, blue and bright and penetrating. His simple white robes brought out his fair complexion. His skin was exposed to the sun as he was no doubt an active young man, but it was still rather pale. Most striking of all was a tattoo on his right wrist, above the outside of his palm.
You value protection? – Ardeth asked, after he strolled over and surveyed the boy up close. They were both standing, facing in different directions.
One must save that which is precious. And see justice done. That is what Mafdet teaches. - The boy answered dutifully, though his intelligence was clear in his tone and conviction. He did, however, seem reserved and guarded around a stranger. Further proof of his intelligence, thought Ardeth.
Are your family priests of Mafdet? – Ardeth asked, side eyeing him.
The boy was quiet for a moment, thinking exactly how much to reveal. The tone of Ardeth's voice betrayed that he probably knew some things already. He thought it best to be honest, but vague. – I have no family. I am an orphan. I was brought into this city and the priests raised me in several temples.
Ardeth nodded to himself, his face becoming almost creaseless as his eyebrows unfurrowed and the smallest smile lit up his face. – What if I told you I am a stranger, traveling from the East, seeking that which is lost?
The boy looked up at him like he was shaken from a dream. It looked like he had an answer to this, though he did not know where it came from or what it meant. He looked away from Ardeth, unsure and glanced left and right. The silence grew thicker and more meaningful between them, as they could both feel the other knew something. – I would say I am a stranger traveling from the west. It is I whom you seek. – The boy finally answered, reciting blankly.
Ardeth muttered something to himself as he looked up at the sky thankfully, smiling. He then looked down at the boy and embraced him. He briefly explained he was a Medjai and that he should follow. His destiny was to become a great warrior and protect the most valuable gem in Egypt. Rekhu could not fully believe him at first, but Ardeth went to the temple, introduced himself as the chief guard of the Pharaoh and announced the boy had to go with him. The priests did not argue. On the contrary, they were happy to have one less mouth to feed and that they got to be on the Pharaoh's good side. Priests, Ardeth thought to himself, the worst, most calculating politicians in the land.