Disclaimer: My characters are
1) Farren
2) Hagob
3) Takoda
4) Mrs. Avery
5) Mr. Avery
My characters are not
1) Aida
2) Radamas
3) Zoser
4) Merb
5) Amneris
6) Amonastro
It was a 10 minute walk to the lodge and Aida was tired. Radamas hired a carriage to get them to the lodge. He got off first then helped Aida off once they got there.
"Hello," said the woman at the front desk, "my name is Mrs. Avery. I assume you're here to check in"
"Yes Ma'am," Aida said shyly
"We will be staying just the night," Radamas continued.
"Very good sir," Mrs. Avery said, "that will be $20"
Radamas paid the woman.
"I'm sorry sir," she said, "that's not our currency… you'll have to exchange it over at the bank… it's just 20 minutes away"
"Please," Aida begged, "It's been a long night… if we promise to do it in the morning"
"I would say yes," Mrs. Avery said, "but my husband would beat me. He insists nobody can be trusted"
At the look on Aida's face Radamas squeezed her shoulder.
"I'll tell you what," Mrs. Avery said, "I'll get Mr. Avery to watch the place for a bit and I'll go downtown to the exchange bank"
"Can you show us to our room first?"
Mrs. Avery nodded and showed them to their room.
Radamas had packed nightclothes for both himself and Aida but they only put on the tops that night.
"More comfortable," Radamas explained
Aida nodded.
That night neither of them could sleep.
"You okay," Radamas asked
"It's just it would be nice if we could have stopped at Nubia so I could see my father and sisters."
"I wish it too," Radamas admitted, "but it's not worth the risk. If they find us I WILL be killed and you may be considered a traitor"
Aida nodded knowing traitors are banished from Nubia and she might be cut out of her father's heart. She did not want that.
"Aida I promise," Radamas said, "when the war is over we will be free to reunite with your family and friends… our family and friends since you are part of me now"
That night Radamas and Aida consummated their love for each other. As he found his way into her body it was as if their spirits were merging together to become one.
"How can something so wrong be so right," she asked him later
"No," he said, "the question is how can something so right be so wrong. There is nothing wrong with us Aida or our love for each other. What's wrong is that damn war"
They held onto each other that night until they finally fell asleep. The next morning they woke up went downstairs and ate breakfast. They checked out and said goodbye to Mrs. Avery who had a welt on her face.
"What happened," Aida asked softly
"Mr. Avery," Mrs. Avery answered with a sigh
In Chapter 11 Radamas senses Aida is worried about what he will do if she does something wrong and he assures her he would never become a "Mr. Avery"