Radames felt his knees buckle slightly, but he forced himself to stay firm.
Thoughts raced through his head. Aida…attacked while
sleeping…Aida….missing….Aida. His breath came in quick, ragged gasps,
straining against his tightened lips. Amneris, shaken as well, glanced at
her husband. She saw that he was in no shape to talk, so she bent down to
Rassana, and smiled gently.
"Hello, Rassana. I'm Queen Amneris. I'm sorry that King Radames didn't introduce us."
"I know who you are," Rassana said quietly. When Radames and Amneris tilted their heads, Rassana shook her head. "Sorry." Radames smiled, when suddenly a thought popped into his head. If Aida was queen….
"Rassana, do you have a king right now?" Radames asked, and Rassana nodded. "Who?" What Rassana said next would have caused Radames to burst into laughter, had the situation been different.
"King Mereb," Rassana said promptly, eyes lighting up briefly at the mention of her fun loving king's name. Radames smiled at her.
"Where is your King Mereb now, Rassana?" Rassana's bright eyes dulled slightly.
"When Queen Aida was attacked, and dragged off, King Mereb attacked the soldiers and set off to find her." Radames' stomach lurched. Dragged off?
"Captain Saul!" Radames barked angrily. Quickly apologizing to the startled Rassana, he turned to Saul. "Saul," he said through clenched teeth. "Did you bring Queen Aida someplace?" Saul nodded and Radames' eyes narrowed. "Where?" Saul looked at him.
"We tried to capture her, sir, but she ran off." Radames started to speak, when the crowd cried with delight, and parted. A man stood below him, and despite the strong features, and angry glint in the once laughing eye, Radames smiled.
"Mereb," Radames greeted warmly. Mereb nodded in response.
"Good to see you, Radames. And in answer to the question you're about to ask, I came and snuck onto the ship. My people needed their leader, despite the fact that their queen has gone astray."
"You've grown, Mereb," Radames commented seriously. The comment sparked the old Mereb, who used to glow with pride when praised. "Now," he turned to Saul, eyes glittering darkly. "I want you to release the captive Nubians." As he said the words, Radames wondered why he didn't do that months before. He'd given out his possessions, and that had been in the beginning. Yet six months later, he never released them, even after his change of heart. For her, the woman he loved. Eyes traveling to Mereb, whose boyish smile was drawn in a grim line, Radames smiled sadly. He loved a married woman.
"Sir?" Saul was speaking. "Release the Nubians?" Radames nodded.
"And I swear…by the gods….if you harm a hair on their heads," he warned before pausing, locking eyes with Mereb. "Better yet….Mereb? Would you…?" his voice trailed uncertainly. Mereb's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "You know the way," he added gently. Mereb nodded again, and turned back through the crowd, as Radames turned to Amneris,
"A wise decision, Pharaoh Radames," she said softly, unconsciously linking her hand through his.
~*~*~~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~~**~*~**~*
Mereb's pace was an easy gait as he trod on the familiar grounds. Dark eyes sadly surveying the grimy, familiar faces, he jogged up to the gate.
"Hey," he whispered softly. Heads turned, followed by collective gasps as the group scrambled to their feet toward their long-lost friend. As they swarmed around the gate, Mereb laughed. "Let me through, alright?" he was able to squeeze through, amidst a sea of exclamations.
" Look at your clothes!"
"How is my Tanya?"
"What have you been up to?"
"How is the king faring?" Mereb held up his hands in mock surrender, just before the last voice cried:
"How is Aida?" the question tore at Mereb's heart, but he cautiously sidestepped it, a hesitant smile on his face.
"Well, this is complete King garb," he said lightly. Jaws dropped, and his friends fell, dumbstruck, to their knees. Mereb bit his lip. "No, no, guys. Please? Don't do that! It's just old Mereb!" Gently, he raised each person back to their feet, smiling. "Tanya is fine, Riko, your daughter is going to give you a healthy grandchild. I've been busy, to say the least. Unfortunately, I am king only because Armonosro was taken by the plague."
"If you're king," someone called teasingly. Mereb's dark eyes turned nearly black.
"Yes, I married Aida," he said softly. "Which is partly, well, mainly, why I am here." He cleared his throat. "The Egyptian army went against King Radames' orders, and attacked Nubia." Shouts of outrage raised to the sky. "They attacked Aida, but she ran away. Radames is freeing everyone, for good, but we need you to assemble with the captives." Heads nodded shakily in agreement. Mereb opened the gate, and they set out.
~*~*~*~**~~**~**~**~*~*~**~*~*~*
"Radames!" Mereb's voice drifted across the sands. Radames saw him and smiled, nodding slightly. The Nubians ran forward, and tears mingled as they found family members. Mereb saw Radames order something, and guards advanced forward toward the new captives. Mereb bit back a yell of anger, before realizing that the guards were just removing the chains.
"I apologize for this," Radames announced, sweeping his arm over the gathered crowd. "Captain Saul will be punished," he added, glaring at the captain. "Meanwhile, your queen is missing! And as Queen Amneris, especially Queen Amneris, and myself had a" his voice strangled slightly. "A bond with Queen Aida, we take it upon ourselves to issue a search party! Egypt and Nubia will not be at rest until she is found!" Or at least Radames would not be at rest. Cheers rang out, and Mereb turned to Radames.
"I would search alone, Radames, but I'd rather search alongside with you," Mereb said, looking steadily at him. Radames smiled, and nodded.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Radames replied simply, when a thought crossed his mind. Shaking his head sadly, he turned to Amneris. "You cannot come," he said gently. Amneris' blue eyes flared angrily.
"You're joking. Of course I'm coming! You can't expect me to stay back while you chase after my ex-handmaiden…" She paused, glanced briefly at Mereb, she sighed. "Egypt needs control. I will stay." The smile Radames gave her was rewarding, and when Mereb turned and went to speak with some Nubians, she grabbed Radames' arm. "Radames, if you…don't fall in love with Aida, or any more so. For our sake…for Mereb's." she stepped back, and Radames stared at her, the words lashing in his head like wildfire.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~**~*~**~
"I don't remember the trip to Nubia ever taking so long," Radames remarked. Beside him, Mereb chuckled.
"Perhaps then you were a power-hungry boy with a taste for adventure," Mereb retorted. Radames grinned, still getting used to the fact that his ex- servant was the king of Nubia. "It's late, Radames. You should get to bed." Radames, resisting a yawn, shook his head. He didn't want to miss anything, and the competitive side of him didn't want Mereb to get news before he did. "I'm going to turn it," Mereb said, as though reading Radames' mind. Radames nodded and watched Mereb disappear below decks. Staring out at the Nile for a few minutes, he headed in as well.
Tossing fitfully, Radames recalled Amneris' words. But…how could he love someone he hasn't seen in half a year? A woman who was married….Radames remembered the desolate look in Mereb's eyes when he spoke of Aida's attack. Sighing deeply, he closed his eyes, where a dream came over him.
0000
It had been a long day, yet Radames was in high spirits as he walked along the Nubian grounds. Tisha and Devon acknowledged him briefly with a nod of their heads, and resumed work. Puzzled, Radames broke into a fast run, bolting toward his house.
"Aida? Tristan? Mia? I'm home!" Radames called, bracing himself for his usual greeting. It never came. Instead, three dark heads poked around the corner.
"Kaylie? Caleb? Ana?" Aida called, coming around the bend. Her face spread into a smile. "Hello, Radames." Radames leaned to kiss her, but she backed up.
"Aida, we have guests?" he gestured toward the children. Aida frowned at him.
"No, Radames. They are my children." Radames stopped cold.
"But…Tristan and Mia…" he choked.
"Who?" Aida asked innocently. Suddenly, the back door flew open.
"Honey, I'm home!" a voice called lightly.
"Papa!" the three children screeched, running off. Papa? Radames froze as Mereb strode in, planting a kiss on Aida's cheek. Radames began backing up, terrified, until he was almost out the door. Mereb spotted him, and smiled.
"Radames, won't you join us for dinner?" he asked warmly. Aida walked up to Radames, studying him sadly.
"You expected me to go through life with the guilt that I'd betrayed you? I had to move on, Radames," she whispered softly.
"But Aida…what about us?" Radames said hoarsely, touching her face. Automatically, her smooth skin turned bruised and scratched. He withdrew his hand in horror.
"There never could be an 'us', Radames," Aida said quietly, backing into Mereb's arms. "Never."
000000
"NOOOOOO!!!" Radames howled, bolting up in bed, breathing heavily. Aida's scarred face floated before him, and he rolled over, groaning softly.
"Radames!" Mereb appeared in the doorway, eyes wide in the dark. Without asking, he walked in a took a seat, staring intently at Radames. "Radames? Are you alright?" Radames nodded haltingly.
"Bad dream…that's all," Radames said, catching his breath.
"Want to talk about it?" Mereb asked. Radames stared at him. It was almost comical. Tell MEREB about a dream he had about AIDA? Radames shook his head. "I'm worried about Aida, Radames," Mereb said softly.
"I promise we'll find her, Mereb, and Saul will be punished," Radames assured him. Mereb smiled slightly, before the smile faded.
"Radames, I must tell you something. Something nobody else could know, lest it cost me my throne." Radames was alarmed, but he nodded. Mereb took a deep breath. "Look, Radames," Mereb bit his lip and stared thoughtfully. "I look into your eyes each time Aida's name is mentioned, and they mirror what I feel. Fear." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Love." Radames stared, openmouthed , then smiled uneasily.
"Mereb, that's insane!" Radames scoffed. "I don't love your wife!" Mereb just held the gaze steadily.
"What if I gave you…I dropped out of the search?" ignoring Radames' shocked look, he persisted quietly. "I lay awake at night, feeling Aida toss beside me. She often has nightmares, but many times she'd lie still, quivering, until she mumbles a solitary phrase."
"What's that?" Radames dared to ask. Mereb's intense look softened.
" 'I almost lost you, Radames,'" Mereb recited softly.
"King Mereb! King Radames! We are preparing to dock!" a voice called. Mereb nodded briskly.
"Lead my people to their queen, Radames," he said. Radames opened his mouth to speak, but Mereb strode out, a low tune emitting from his lips. "There is a time, there is a place, where love should conquer all. The rest of life is pushed aside, and truth and reason fall. But only when that selfishness could lead to something good…it wasn't till this moment that I even understood…How I know you…."
~*~*~*~**~***~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~**~*~*~*~*~
Radames stood in front of hundreds of determined Nubians, and cleared his throat. "King Mereb has decided that duties back with the extra Nubians call to him. I will be leading this expedition," the word 'expedition' built in his throat with excitement. "We will spread out, in groups. Finally, I have one more thing to say." The crowd shifted slightly. "LET US FIND QUEEN AIDA!!" He was engulfed by a rally of cheers, as the Nubians flowed past him and onto Nubia's soil. The search for Aida had begun.
"Hello, Rassana. I'm Queen Amneris. I'm sorry that King Radames didn't introduce us."
"I know who you are," Rassana said quietly. When Radames and Amneris tilted their heads, Rassana shook her head. "Sorry." Radames smiled, when suddenly a thought popped into his head. If Aida was queen….
"Rassana, do you have a king right now?" Radames asked, and Rassana nodded. "Who?" What Rassana said next would have caused Radames to burst into laughter, had the situation been different.
"King Mereb," Rassana said promptly, eyes lighting up briefly at the mention of her fun loving king's name. Radames smiled at her.
"Where is your King Mereb now, Rassana?" Rassana's bright eyes dulled slightly.
"When Queen Aida was attacked, and dragged off, King Mereb attacked the soldiers and set off to find her." Radames' stomach lurched. Dragged off?
"Captain Saul!" Radames barked angrily. Quickly apologizing to the startled Rassana, he turned to Saul. "Saul," he said through clenched teeth. "Did you bring Queen Aida someplace?" Saul nodded and Radames' eyes narrowed. "Where?" Saul looked at him.
"We tried to capture her, sir, but she ran off." Radames started to speak, when the crowd cried with delight, and parted. A man stood below him, and despite the strong features, and angry glint in the once laughing eye, Radames smiled.
"Mereb," Radames greeted warmly. Mereb nodded in response.
"Good to see you, Radames. And in answer to the question you're about to ask, I came and snuck onto the ship. My people needed their leader, despite the fact that their queen has gone astray."
"You've grown, Mereb," Radames commented seriously. The comment sparked the old Mereb, who used to glow with pride when praised. "Now," he turned to Saul, eyes glittering darkly. "I want you to release the captive Nubians." As he said the words, Radames wondered why he didn't do that months before. He'd given out his possessions, and that had been in the beginning. Yet six months later, he never released them, even after his change of heart. For her, the woman he loved. Eyes traveling to Mereb, whose boyish smile was drawn in a grim line, Radames smiled sadly. He loved a married woman.
"Sir?" Saul was speaking. "Release the Nubians?" Radames nodded.
"And I swear…by the gods….if you harm a hair on their heads," he warned before pausing, locking eyes with Mereb. "Better yet….Mereb? Would you…?" his voice trailed uncertainly. Mereb's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "You know the way," he added gently. Mereb nodded again, and turned back through the crowd, as Radames turned to Amneris,
"A wise decision, Pharaoh Radames," she said softly, unconsciously linking her hand through his.
~*~*~~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~~**~*~**~*
Mereb's pace was an easy gait as he trod on the familiar grounds. Dark eyes sadly surveying the grimy, familiar faces, he jogged up to the gate.
"Hey," he whispered softly. Heads turned, followed by collective gasps as the group scrambled to their feet toward their long-lost friend. As they swarmed around the gate, Mereb laughed. "Let me through, alright?" he was able to squeeze through, amidst a sea of exclamations.
" Look at your clothes!"
"How is my Tanya?"
"What have you been up to?"
"How is the king faring?" Mereb held up his hands in mock surrender, just before the last voice cried:
"How is Aida?" the question tore at Mereb's heart, but he cautiously sidestepped it, a hesitant smile on his face.
"Well, this is complete King garb," he said lightly. Jaws dropped, and his friends fell, dumbstruck, to their knees. Mereb bit his lip. "No, no, guys. Please? Don't do that! It's just old Mereb!" Gently, he raised each person back to their feet, smiling. "Tanya is fine, Riko, your daughter is going to give you a healthy grandchild. I've been busy, to say the least. Unfortunately, I am king only because Armonosro was taken by the plague."
"If you're king," someone called teasingly. Mereb's dark eyes turned nearly black.
"Yes, I married Aida," he said softly. "Which is partly, well, mainly, why I am here." He cleared his throat. "The Egyptian army went against King Radames' orders, and attacked Nubia." Shouts of outrage raised to the sky. "They attacked Aida, but she ran away. Radames is freeing everyone, for good, but we need you to assemble with the captives." Heads nodded shakily in agreement. Mereb opened the gate, and they set out.
~*~*~*~**~~**~**~**~*~*~**~*~*~*
"Radames!" Mereb's voice drifted across the sands. Radames saw him and smiled, nodding slightly. The Nubians ran forward, and tears mingled as they found family members. Mereb saw Radames order something, and guards advanced forward toward the new captives. Mereb bit back a yell of anger, before realizing that the guards were just removing the chains.
"I apologize for this," Radames announced, sweeping his arm over the gathered crowd. "Captain Saul will be punished," he added, glaring at the captain. "Meanwhile, your queen is missing! And as Queen Amneris, especially Queen Amneris, and myself had a" his voice strangled slightly. "A bond with Queen Aida, we take it upon ourselves to issue a search party! Egypt and Nubia will not be at rest until she is found!" Or at least Radames would not be at rest. Cheers rang out, and Mereb turned to Radames.
"I would search alone, Radames, but I'd rather search alongside with you," Mereb said, looking steadily at him. Radames smiled, and nodded.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Radames replied simply, when a thought crossed his mind. Shaking his head sadly, he turned to Amneris. "You cannot come," he said gently. Amneris' blue eyes flared angrily.
"You're joking. Of course I'm coming! You can't expect me to stay back while you chase after my ex-handmaiden…" She paused, glanced briefly at Mereb, she sighed. "Egypt needs control. I will stay." The smile Radames gave her was rewarding, and when Mereb turned and went to speak with some Nubians, she grabbed Radames' arm. "Radames, if you…don't fall in love with Aida, or any more so. For our sake…for Mereb's." she stepped back, and Radames stared at her, the words lashing in his head like wildfire.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~**~*~**~
"I don't remember the trip to Nubia ever taking so long," Radames remarked. Beside him, Mereb chuckled.
"Perhaps then you were a power-hungry boy with a taste for adventure," Mereb retorted. Radames grinned, still getting used to the fact that his ex- servant was the king of Nubia. "It's late, Radames. You should get to bed." Radames, resisting a yawn, shook his head. He didn't want to miss anything, and the competitive side of him didn't want Mereb to get news before he did. "I'm going to turn it," Mereb said, as though reading Radames' mind. Radames nodded and watched Mereb disappear below decks. Staring out at the Nile for a few minutes, he headed in as well.
Tossing fitfully, Radames recalled Amneris' words. But…how could he love someone he hasn't seen in half a year? A woman who was married….Radames remembered the desolate look in Mereb's eyes when he spoke of Aida's attack. Sighing deeply, he closed his eyes, where a dream came over him.
0000
It had been a long day, yet Radames was in high spirits as he walked along the Nubian grounds. Tisha and Devon acknowledged him briefly with a nod of their heads, and resumed work. Puzzled, Radames broke into a fast run, bolting toward his house.
"Aida? Tristan? Mia? I'm home!" Radames called, bracing himself for his usual greeting. It never came. Instead, three dark heads poked around the corner.
"Kaylie? Caleb? Ana?" Aida called, coming around the bend. Her face spread into a smile. "Hello, Radames." Radames leaned to kiss her, but she backed up.
"Aida, we have guests?" he gestured toward the children. Aida frowned at him.
"No, Radames. They are my children." Radames stopped cold.
"But…Tristan and Mia…" he choked.
"Who?" Aida asked innocently. Suddenly, the back door flew open.
"Honey, I'm home!" a voice called lightly.
"Papa!" the three children screeched, running off. Papa? Radames froze as Mereb strode in, planting a kiss on Aida's cheek. Radames began backing up, terrified, until he was almost out the door. Mereb spotted him, and smiled.
"Radames, won't you join us for dinner?" he asked warmly. Aida walked up to Radames, studying him sadly.
"You expected me to go through life with the guilt that I'd betrayed you? I had to move on, Radames," she whispered softly.
"But Aida…what about us?" Radames said hoarsely, touching her face. Automatically, her smooth skin turned bruised and scratched. He withdrew his hand in horror.
"There never could be an 'us', Radames," Aida said quietly, backing into Mereb's arms. "Never."
000000
"NOOOOOO!!!" Radames howled, bolting up in bed, breathing heavily. Aida's scarred face floated before him, and he rolled over, groaning softly.
"Radames!" Mereb appeared in the doorway, eyes wide in the dark. Without asking, he walked in a took a seat, staring intently at Radames. "Radames? Are you alright?" Radames nodded haltingly.
"Bad dream…that's all," Radames said, catching his breath.
"Want to talk about it?" Mereb asked. Radames stared at him. It was almost comical. Tell MEREB about a dream he had about AIDA? Radames shook his head. "I'm worried about Aida, Radames," Mereb said softly.
"I promise we'll find her, Mereb, and Saul will be punished," Radames assured him. Mereb smiled slightly, before the smile faded.
"Radames, I must tell you something. Something nobody else could know, lest it cost me my throne." Radames was alarmed, but he nodded. Mereb took a deep breath. "Look, Radames," Mereb bit his lip and stared thoughtfully. "I look into your eyes each time Aida's name is mentioned, and they mirror what I feel. Fear." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Love." Radames stared, openmouthed , then smiled uneasily.
"Mereb, that's insane!" Radames scoffed. "I don't love your wife!" Mereb just held the gaze steadily.
"What if I gave you…I dropped out of the search?" ignoring Radames' shocked look, he persisted quietly. "I lay awake at night, feeling Aida toss beside me. She often has nightmares, but many times she'd lie still, quivering, until she mumbles a solitary phrase."
"What's that?" Radames dared to ask. Mereb's intense look softened.
" 'I almost lost you, Radames,'" Mereb recited softly.
"King Mereb! King Radames! We are preparing to dock!" a voice called. Mereb nodded briskly.
"Lead my people to their queen, Radames," he said. Radames opened his mouth to speak, but Mereb strode out, a low tune emitting from his lips. "There is a time, there is a place, where love should conquer all. The rest of life is pushed aside, and truth and reason fall. But only when that selfishness could lead to something good…it wasn't till this moment that I even understood…How I know you…."
~*~*~*~**~***~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~**~*~*~*~*~
Radames stood in front of hundreds of determined Nubians, and cleared his throat. "King Mereb has decided that duties back with the extra Nubians call to him. I will be leading this expedition," the word 'expedition' built in his throat with excitement. "We will spread out, in groups. Finally, I have one more thing to say." The crowd shifted slightly. "LET US FIND QUEEN AIDA!!" He was engulfed by a rally of cheers, as the Nubians flowed past him and onto Nubia's soil. The search for Aida had begun.