AN: So as usual I fail horribly at updating! I am so so very sorry although I know that wont cut it. Please please please forgive me! Maybe I should allow Alexia to kick my ass for being so cruel to you all! Anyhoos, here's the next chapter.
By this time Jonathon had joined them, as they followed Rick towards the doors. Evy and Alexia were trailing behind with Izzy next to them.
"You're not exactly catching me at my best." Izzy told them with a silly smile on his face. Alexia smirked as Evy smiled politely.
"Oh, I'm sure we are." Evy said causing Alexia's smirk to grow into a smile. The last thing they needed was for their pilot to be flirting with the two of them. Although it would make for an interesting trip.
A horse whinnied, causing Izzy to lose his smile as he looked up to see several men dressed in black on horseback. He glanced nervously at Alexia and noticed her smile grow larger when her eyes landed on the men.
Alexia couldn't help but remember the first time she had laid eyes on Ardeth. He looked just as handsome now as he had then. Without hesitating she pushed past Izzy and walked up to him giving him a kiss, (much to the annoyance of the other tribe leaders) before going to his horse and stroking its forehead.
Ardeth shook his head at Alexia's actions. He had a guess what had brought on that kiss.
He waited till she handed the reins to one of the other riders before they both walked up to join the others. He smiled slightly as Alexia naturally stood at his right side. She belonged at his side, always.
"I knew it. I'm gonna get shot." Izzy groaned, making Evy laugh quietly.
Rick raised his hand in greeting to Ardeth and the others.
"These are the commanders of the 12 tribes of the Medjai." Ardeth explained before turning back towards the others.
"Horus" he called. The hawk one of the riders had been holding flew to him quickly and landed on his arm before hopping over to Alexia who smiled and stroked its feathers.
Ardeth shook his head in amusement before continueing.
"A pet bird." Jonathon said as if that explained everything.
Ardeth smirked at him. "My best and most clever friend. He will let the commanders know of our progress so that they may follow." He explained before glancing at Alexia.
She nodded and smiled before glancing at the leaders. She frowned for a second, but it didn't last too long.
Ardeth turned and saluted his fellow Medjai. They in turn saluted him as well before spurring their horses into action and racing back to their gathering armies.
Alexia watched Ardeth's face as the commanders raced away and felt her heart almost break with the look on his face. He looked as if he was losing something of great importance to him.
"If the Army of Anubis arises," Ardeth started, turning back to his friends as Horus returned to his arm, done with the attention for now. "They will do all that they can to stop it."
Rick nodded.
"Well come on. Lets grab our stuff and get moving!" Alexia said, trying to ease some of the tension she felt, out of the air. She knew all of them felt better when they were doing something.
"Come on Izzy, I'll help you." She said. As she passed Ardeth she gave his arm a squeeze and him a reassuring smile. "Once we are on our way we need to talk." She said quietly just to him. He nodded, his eyes worried.
(page break)
"Are you sure Izzy's reliable?" Evy asked Rick as Jonathon and Ardeth followed them.
"Yeah, yeah. He's reliable-ish?" Rick said as they came around the corner to see a ship with a balloon floating in the air with an excited Izzy coming towards them.
Alexia was smiling up at the craft a far away look in her eyes and the dagger she had used on the man back in her hand, playing with it.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Izzy asked them.
"It's a balloon." Rick snapped.
"Oh! It's a dirigible." Izzy replied.
"Where's your airplane?" Rick asked.
Alexia barely paid any attention to their conversation. She really liked the air ship, as she had deemed it in her mind. It was something different. Glancing down at her hand she noticed which dagger she had used to help cut some lines with, and was now playing with. She thought she had stopped playing with it a while ago. 'This isn't good.' She thought to herself
"Airplanes are a thing of the past." Izzy said, bringing Alexia's attention back to the others.
"Izzy you were right." Rick said.
Izzy stopped confused.
"I was?"
Rick nodded as he reached for his gun.
"Yeah. You're gonna get shot."
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! She's faster than she looks!" Izzy quickly explained as Alexia burst out laughing. "And she's quiet. Real quiet. Perfect for sneaking up on people, which is a very good thing."
Izzy paused and glared at Rick. "Unless of course we go with your approach. Barging in face-first, guns blazing, and getting your friends shot in the ass!"
"He's right you know!" Alexia yelled over to them.
Rick shrugged and put his gun away as Evy smiled at him.
Ardeth shook his head and groaned as he gazed at the air ship.
"Why can't you people ever keep your feet on the ground?"
"You seemed to like your first time flying." Jonathon said, earning a glare from Ardeth. "Well until it crashed anyways." He finished, shrugging.
Alexia laughed as they all made their way onto the ship, with Izzy gallantly helping Alexia to board. She thought it was hilarious and was trying hard not to giggle. Especially when Ardeth shot Izzy a death glare that he was oblivious to.
"Everyone ready?" Izzy asked. When they all nodded he cut the rope that anchored the ship and made his way over to the helm.
Alexia watched as children from the village ran about and waved goodbye as the air ship rose higher and higher. She delighted in the feeling of the wind as they flew, and watched the scenery change as the sun began to set. She felt, more than heard, Ardeth come up behind her and rest his arms around her waist. Leaning back into him she let out a sigh, content for the moment.
Ardeth too enjoyed the moment before placing a kiss on her head and pulling back slightly.
"We need to talk." He murmured quietly.
He felt Alexia slouch and groan as she pulled away so she could turn to look at him.
"Way to ruin a good moment." She gently teased him. "But you're right. We do need to talk."
"You are not the same since dealing with Alex's kidnapper." Ardeth said trying to begin the conversation gently.
Alexia nodded, forcing herself not to look down in shame. "I thought I was done with it. I thought I wouldn't enjoy it like I did." She whispered. "I didn't want to stop Ardeth. I could have kept going. It's so easy to keep going. It's second nature to me. If you hadn't been there I would have become a monster again."
Ardeth frowned as a tear escaped Alexia's eyes. She had gone so long without any dreams of her past life, or the desire to take a job just so she could get the rush that came along with it.
"You were never a monster. You did what you must to survive, and to protect those you love." Ardeth said quietly but firmly. " If you were a monster you would not have the family you have around you."
Alexia nodded and smiled slightly at him.
"Ardeth I am sorry."
Ardeth smiled at her and kissed her, slowly, savoring the taste of her lips. "I know."
He paused, staring into Alexia's eyes, trying to decide how to word what he wanted to say next.
"Ardeth about our fights we've been having…" Alexia interrupted. She didn't know exactly what she was going to say, but she needed to get it out. "Now don't interrupt me. Let me finish first."
She waited until Ardeth nodded before continuing. "I'll be honest. I think your fellow tribesmen are a bunch of assholes for trying to tell us what to do and frankly I don't like it one damn bit and refuse to go along with it."
Ardeth's face was slightly shocked as he listened to her but he wasn't surprised by what she said. She had always had a bit of an authority problem. He wanted to interrupt her but she stopped him with a glare.
"I said don't interrupt me!" She growled, as she ran a hand through her hair. "Like I said I don't like it one damn bit. But…" she sighed, "but I don't want to lose you. And I don't want to make you choose between your people and me. I know how much they mean to you. It's the same as the O'Connell's are for me. It wouldn't be fair. And as much as I love to have my way I don't think I can on this one."
Ardeth gave her a confused look causing her to roll her eyes in annoyance.
"I'm not saying lets go rush off and get married!" Alexia almost shouted, earning a couple of amused expressions from their companions. She noticed and quickly lowered her tone. "I'm just saying that you don't have to, or rather, aren't allowed to choose me over your people. Okay?"
Ardeth smiled and laughed quietly causing Alexia to frown and cross her arms in annoyance.
"Alexia I would give up my people for you without a second thought for you." He said as he pulled her into him.
"But I don't want you too." Alexia growled into his chest causing him to laugh even more.
"I know. And for that I am thankful. It gives my heart joy to hear that. But know that I would. I love you Alexia."
Alexia looked up at him and smiled before hitting him in the shoulder.
"Ow! What was that for?" He asked confused.
"That's for making me wait so long to hear you say that!" Alexia giggled, before kissing him as hard as she could.
"And that," she said as she pulled away. "Is because I love you too."
A wolf whistle split the air, causing Izzy, Jonathon and Evy to burst out laughing as Rick gave them a knowing smile.
"It's about time!" He laughed.
Alexia snarled at him for a moment before smiling herself.
"Come on. I think they have had enough of a show for one day." She muttered to Ardeth who smiled and nodded. Taking Alexia's hand he lead them over to the others.
"Promise me you will tell me next time you are worried about your past." He asked her as they joined their friends."
Alexia nodded. "I will."
AN: So I hope this longer chapter and the talk helps to make up for the epic failure to update on my part. And I am not making any promises that I can't keep on updating again, seeing as I fail to keep them. Please review and let me know what you think!
