Disclaimer: Yes, this was conspicuously absent in the first chapter I know. It got ahead of me and went wandering in the desert. Hopefully no one has started a lynching squad of lawyers because I'm not in the mood to out run a screaming mob. So, the characters and story of the Mummy and the Mummy Returns do not belong to me and I am using them without permission and I am not making a single penny out of this lot. Okay? Mob of lawyers satisfied? Well tough if y'aint. Let's get on with it.

A/N: Thanks for the response guys – it gives off the warm fuzzies. I hope that the rest of this will pass muster, hopefully you guys will steer me right. Romance is beyond me but my husband always said I could write anything. He died last month so this is a real leap of faith.

Chapter two

The O'Connell house was on the outskirts of Cairo and close to the thick walls that surrounded the city. It was built in the solid Egyptian fashion and trimmed with all the refinements of the European settlers. All in all, a comfortable mishmash of cultures and textures.

Evelyn stood alone in the master bedroom, folding her new linen into the chest at the end of the bed. She and Rick had argued about the wisdom of coming back to Egypt and surprisingly it had been she that was reluctant to return. She had told him that every time she was there, trouble followed them, putting all of them in danger. He had countered her argument by telling her that Egypt was still in her blood and was never going to leave, she had to face her misgivings. She shook her head at the strange but true wisdom her husband often pulled from no where. Through the open windows, she could hear Alex and Jonathan shouting as they played some obscure game involving a ball and a pair of socks. Smiling to herself, she smoothed out a wrinkle and closed the lid with a satisfied sigh. She was about to turn around when she felt a breath of warm air against the back of her neck, moving up towards and large hands settled on her shoulders. Making a small hum of pleasure in the back of her throat she leaned back into the broad chest behind her and closed her eyes as tender fingers moved strands of dark hair away from her ear, she shivered as the breath moved closer. Dimly she heard a deep whisper:

"Anuk su na mun."

Shrieking she turned around to find her husband trying to shield himself from her already outstretched hands. Making loud sounds of indignation, she smacked every available part of him until she was laughing. By that time, she had slowed down and Rick was able to catch hold of her hands and pull her up against his chest and tilt her head to him.

"What did you think, that the freak had come back again?" he murmured against her lips.

"That" she replied. "Or that I had married a completely insensitive oaf that likes to tease his wife."

"Hmm, you're right about one thing." he nodded, letting the motions peck against her mouth.

"What, insensitive oaf?"

"Nope. You right about his wife, he likes to tease his wife."

"Ah," she said breathlessly. "What else does he like to do to his wife?"

"This."

He bent his head to hers and captured her lips with all the feelings that he had for her. Lost in themselves, neither of them heard Jonathan pounding up the stairs to the room until his indignant voice came from the doorway.

"Ugh, get a room."

Without breaking contact, Rick lifted up a foot and kicked the door closed behind him. Just as it closed in his face, Jonathan heard his sister's voice say:

"We're in it."

He turned away and managed to grab hold of Alex just before he opened the door. Turning him around, the uncle herded his charge back the way he had come, saying:

"Not at the moment young Alex. I'm afraid your parents are um, occupied."

"Again?" came the incredulous reply.

"Fraid so. We'll just have to amuse ourselves in the meantime."

"We seem to be doing that a lot lately." He complained.

The pair tramped downstairs again where they amused themselves by climbing up onto the city's walls and throwing unripe dates at the patrols passing by.

Ardeth had set off home that very afternoon and as the setting sun was painting red streaks through the shifting sands, he was dismounting at the oasis that marked the halfway point between the city and his camp. His camp was the second closest to the city, the nearer being the main camp of the fourth tribe, who were largely responsible for trading with the city for animal feed and the few other items that the desert did not provide. Despite being close, it still meant nearly two days of steady riding to reach it.

After taking off the saddle and letting his horse drink from the sparkling pool, he settled under one of the trees with a meal of cold meat and bread. His mind drifted back to what Rick had said to Evelyn in the market and he shook his head. There were some that could not grasp the bonds that men made with animals, especially those that they had raised. He had introduced Horus as his best and most clever friend. He had not being lying to them, on the long trips he made between the camps, his only company had been Horus. As they had traveled, he had developed the habit to speak his thoughts to the hawk, getting a new perspective on things. In return, Horus had listened with the single-minded attention that his kind possessed. It was a strange relationship to be sure, but it had worked.

He wondered if he would be able to find the same kind of bond with the new hawk, especially since he had not trained her himself. But out of all the people that tried to take her, she had chosen to go with him. She even obeyed him, after a fashion. He shook his head and wondered what his people would think if they found out that a bird had defied his will. As chieftain of all twelve tribes, his orders were never questioned. Although his habit of listening to all voices and suggestions before he gave orders had something to do with that.

Thinking about the bird caused him to look up and try to spot her. During the trip to the oasis, she had been flying frequently ahead and returning to him. He let her fly, hoping that she would get the lay of the land. He finally spotted her wheeling in the sky directly above him. He whistled loudly and she dropped down a few feet. Suddenly she folded her wings against her body and dropped like a rock, straight towards him.

He jumped to his feet, not sure if she was about to attack him or if she had been injured.

With a fierce cry, the bird streaked towards the ground but at the last moment, she opened her wings and struck at the ground between his feet. Lifting up and striking again, she rose to land on his wrist with a wriggling scorpion in her cruel beak. She regained a steady footing and proceeded to eat the offensive little creature, ignoring the clicking sounds that Ardeth made.

He watched her devour the scorpion and when she had finished, she groomed her wings and wiped her beak on the glove. He stroked her and looked down to where she had grabbed the lethal insect. Lifting her to eye level, he spoke to her.

"So you have already proven yourself my protector hmm? Or was that just your dinner. Either way, my thanks little one."

She met his gaze with an unblinking stare. He was once again fascinated with the deep gold of her eyes. Smiling, he stroked her once more and then said:

"Come, night falls and we have an early start. Time to rest."

He went to his bedroll and lifted the hawk so she could take a perch in the tree branches above him. Getting comfortable, he looked up and saw that the bird was already asleep. Closing his eyes, he soon followed suit.

Back in Cairo.

Evelyn and Rick were in their bed, her back to his chest. He was stroking her arm softly up and down.

"Are you sure that you're okay with being back here. I mean, if you want we can pack it all up and go back home tomorrow."

"No, I'm fine." She smiled up at him. "I was just afraid that history would repeat itself but I know that can't happen – not this time."

"You still up to going out into the desert with Ardeth next week."

"Oh yes. He said that there's something of great interest that he would like to show us and besides, Alex would never let us get away with not going."

"Hmm, guess you're right. As long as you're fine with it. But no touching any books okay?" he said slyly.

"Ooh, you…" she trailed off as her husband used his favorite tactic to silence her - his lips.

On the other side of the city, at the Royal Sanitarium for the Disturbed the moonlight flooded into the open windows of a second story room. It spilled across the tiled floor, crept up the walls and washed across the single bed and its occupant. Her chest rose and fell with the steady rhythm of those that sleep but her eyes were open, staring up at the ceiling. She didn't see the white plaster in front of her but rather the silvered sands of the open desert and a pool of water, glittering in the cold light of the moon.

The following morning, Ardeth had risen with the sun and found himself eager to be with his people, especially his family. He had started at a respectable trot but soon found himself urging his horse to greater speeds. The large platter-like hooves threw up showers of sand as he pounded through the desert. Soon he was within sight of his home and he knew that the watch would have seen him coming. Glancing up, he called his hawk back to him, not wanting them to mistake it for a wild bird. She landed and clicked at him, as if chiding him for the bumpy ride that had forced her to take to the sky. Grinning, he urged the horse into motion and was soon home.

Shima was drawing water when she heard the clatter of hooves on the stone path the led up to their camp. Looking up she saw Ardeth charging in as if all the devils of Anubis were on his heels. But no hearing any cries for alarm, she assumed correctly that her big brother was just glad to be back home with those that loved him. He drew up to the pasture where they kept the horses and was soon brushing his mount. She took the water to the tent that she shared with her husband and four children and met him at the fence. He was just finishing with the brush and was thanking his stallion for a good ride. She watched and felt the love that she had for him grow inside her chest. She loved him as her brother, as her chief and as a human being. He was one of the most fearsome warriors that she had ever known and yet he was as gentle as a lamb when it came to all children and his animals. Growing impatient, she sneaked up behind him, hoping to catch him unawares all the time knowing that it was an impossible task.

Ardeth rested his head on Abdi's neck and then turned around just in time to catch hold of Shima as she launched herself into his arms.

"I take it you missed me then sister?" he asked dryly.

"I did." She said, clutching him to her as she remembered the things she had seen in her dreams that previous night.

"Hey, what's this?" he asked as she tightened her grip on him. Loosening himself, he tilted her head so that he could look into her eyes. "What is wrong?"

"I had a terrible dream about you last night. I dreamed that you would not come home. I dreamed that something had swallowed you, something that you could not fight."

Drawing her closer, Ardeth hugged his sister reassuringly. Of the three children that made up his siblings, Shima had always been the one that knew when one of the others was in trouble. He looked down at her again and said:

"I am fine and I am home. There is nothing for you to fear, alright?"

"All right." She nodded, her dark mood passing like a cloud in front of the sun.

They started walking back to the tents when a group of children burst from a nearby bush and assailed him with loud cries of:

"Uncle!"

"Uncle Ardeth's back!"

"Look what I have!"

"Wait for me!"

Laughing, he bent down and paid attention to each of Shima's children. They hugged him, showed him their latest treasure of dry beetle shells and plagued him with questions about the city. Eventually Shima took them in hand and shooed them towards the tents with instructions for dinner. She hooked her arm in her brother's and continued walking. As they passed, families shouted greetings and he took the time to speak to all of them.

This is what makes him loved. Thought Shima as she watched him offer tactical advice to a boy that had 'attacked' him with a stick. Not just being a great warrior, but a greater man.

They eventually reached his tent where she was about to take her leave of him when she noticed a movement on Horus' perch. Looking around Ardeth's shoulders, she saw the new bird, preening in the sun.

"Ah, my new friend." He said, holding his wrist up to the perch.

The hawk settled on his wrist and watched warily as he brought her close to Shima, who knew better then to reach out to a bird of prey. He lowered his head and whispered to the bird.

"My sister, little one. Will you greet her?"

The bird opened her wings and then bowed her head, allowing Shima to touch her head. After a moment, she opened her wings again and lifted off into the sky. Shima watched her soar and then turned to her brother, worry etched into her eyes.

"Let her loose Ardeth. She is not for you."

"What are you talking about, she chose me."

He recounted the story how he had gotten the hawk and at the end, Shima looked up again and then spoke, frowning.

"Be careful brother, there is something very strange at work here. Golden Eyes up there carries a heartache that runs soul deep. Be careful that she does not pass it on to you."

Ardeth didn't find it strange that his sister could attach a human emotion to an animal, she had been doing it all her life. He took his Shima's shoulders and looked into her eyes. He spoke earnestly to her.

"I already have the same heartache since I lost Horus, perhaps we came together to share the pain so that it may be lessened. A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved."

"Besides," he continued, smiling slyly. "Who was is that urged me to find a new friend?"

She nodded, recognizing her own words and advice to him. She grinned up at him and teased:

"I meant a woman, you dolt. Look at you, skin and bone! Is there no food in the city or can your foreign friends not feed you properly? Every time you return you are thinner than before!"

"Ah Shima, you know that I starve myself so that I may enjoy your wonderful goat soup when I return. Is there a chance that you will be making some soon?"

He put his hand over his heart and looked hopefully at her. Laughing she swatted at him and said:

"Of course, you know that you always eat with us when you return. Speaking of which, I should get back and tend the fire."

She greeted him and hurried off to her tent to prepare the evening meal, her misgivings and dark thoughts gone from her mind.

Later that night, after Shima had plied him with as much soup as he could handle, he sat cross-legged on the cushions with his brother in law, enjoying a small cup of dark sweet coffee. Shima and the children had long ago retired for the night, leaving the men to discuss the things that men discussed. They spoke of the water levels in the well, the horses that were breeding and the rest of the news in camp. Eventually he stood and took his leave, making his way to his own tent. Surefooted in the dark, he needed no lamp. He had already put his weapons away when he arrived and needed only to remove his outer robes and tunic. He could hear the hawk making agitated noises in the dark, on the indoor perch. Crossing over to her, he stroked her chest, feeling the rapidly beating heart.

"What has flustered you so Golden Eyes?"

When he had heard the name his sister used on the bird, he knew that was what he would be calling her. Like he had explained to Rick, he would know her name when he heard it.

The bird continued to flap and make noises and would not be calmed, so Ardeth picked up the hood that the old woman had given him along with the glove. Deftly he caught her head in between his fingers and quickly slipped the hood on. The utter silence and darkness caused the bird to go quiet and still. He stroked her once more and then crossed back to the raised pallet that served as his bed. He knelt down and started to crawl in, only to back up rapidly, swearing.

A lamp flared into being and he could see the hand that held it. He looked higher and met the eyes of Kirma, a young widow who had her eyes on him since before her husband had died. She set the lamp down and stood up on his bed, peering at him from under hooded eyes.

"Good evening my lord. Did you have a good trip?"

"Kirma, what are you doing here?"

"I would have thought that was obvious." She sniffed, seeing that this was not to be an easy conquest. "I was welcoming you home."

Stepping lightly out of the bed and off the pallet. Making her way to him, she attempted to wrap her arms around him but stopped when he took hold of her wrists, firmly. He raised an eyebrow and spoke quietly.

"You dishonor the memory of Rashid. Go back to your tent quietly and I will not tell your family of your inappropriate behavior here tonight."

She pouted and stamped her foot, knowing that if she pressed the issue, he would call her family to come and take her home. Such a thing could not happen, she would be disgraced and banished from the community. Wrenching her wrists loose she snatched up her cloak and slipped silently out the back of the tent and melted into the darkness.

With a weary sigh Ardeth blew out the lamp and climbed into his bed, sleep claiming him almost instantly.

He jerked awake, bathed in sweat. Opening his eyes, he was puzzled when he couldn't see anything. Groping around for the lamp, he tried to light it but the matches would not even strike. He lay still and tried to understand what was happening to him. As he lay he became aware of a small sound which he identified as sobbing. He called out:

"Who is there?"

The sobbing continued and he strained to hear from which direction it was coming from. Rising to his feet and moving cautiously towards the sound, he called again:

"Who is there? Are you hurt?"

The crying was punctuated by wordless sounds of terror. As much as he disliked the sounds he used them as a beacon and moved steadily towards them, reaching out into the darkness as he went. After a while he realized that he should have found the wall of his tent by now and he spoke once more.

"Where are you? What is happening here?"

The sobbing was getting closer and he whispered:

"Where are you?"

He knelt down and reached into the blackness, using his ears as a guide and was rewarded when he felt a human foot. The owner jerked back and then kicked out, knocking away his hands, followed by a terrified shriek, in English.

"Don't touch me!"

He sat back on his heels, stunned. Although he could not see and was not sure where he was, his ears were telling him that there was a British woman within arms length of him. Before he could act, her terrified whispers floated out of the darkness.

"Please let me go. Untie me and let me go. I haven't done anything to you."

Silently blessing his mother who had taught him English, he spoke gently.

"I do not understand. I have not harmed you, I don't even know you."

"Then why have you done this to me?" she sobbed.

"I have done nothing. I awoke to find the world black and without form. Then I found you."

"You lie!" she said vehemently. "I cannot see because of the blindfold. You are toying with me!"

"I am not toying with you." He assured her. "Nor do I wish to harm you. Reach out your hands and I will find them."

Silence met his request and then a faint rustle alerted him to her movements. Slowly he reached into the darkness and encountered a trailing rope. Following the rope, it soon led him to a pair of quivering hands, tightly bound. Before he could do anything further, he felt a powerful force pull him backwards and as he sat up, he found himself in his bed with sunlight streaming in the door of his tent.

"It was a dream." He said aloud.