Disclaimer: I do not own the Mummy or the Mummy Returns. Just writing for fun.

Chapter 22: We Were Friends Once

Rory looked up at the shadow, and wanted to shy away, but only shied into another set of feet. She was cornered.

"Do not be frightened, little one, we're here to help you," the man said, offering her his hand. She reluctantly took it in hers, feeling her heartbeat quicken as he pulled her up.

She drew in a deep breath and let it out, looking around her cornered surroundings of men wearing red robes with weapons hanging from their belts. She swallowed hard, and felt very meek.

"My name is Lock-Nah. And you are?"

"Um," she said timidly without meaning to. "Rory. I, uh, I lost my tribe…" she said unsure of what to say to them.

He chuckled warmly at her. "It seems you took quite a fall. What is your tribe if I may ask?"

"The Medjai."

Lock-Nah's lips curled into a smile. "Ah, Ardeth Bay."

"You know him?" Rory asked.

"We were friends once," he nodded.

"Were?" she asked.

"Gentlemen, why don't you get a camel, for Miss Rory, and I will tell her all about our history, while we head to the Medjai warriors' campsite," he said. They nodded at him and Rory chewed her bottom lip.

"Friendly revivals of course," he assured her, noticing her hesitation. "I promise no harm will come to you. Water?" he offered her his canteen and she nodded, gratefully taking it.

"Thank you. I really appreciate this. I…just…we got into a silly argument and, oh this was my fault…"

"Yes," he watched her greedily take in the water as it went down her slender throat. "He does that."

~*TM*~

By the time Rory opened her eyes, she was back with the Medjai tribe. She had fallen asleep under the hot sun, listening to Lock-Nah's calming tale on how he and Ardeth split up under such unfortunate circumstances. Ardeth had been most grateful. Rory stood by the two men that were face to face. One man in red robes, the other in black robes.

"Thank you Lock-Nah. I appreciate the return," Ardeth said.

"She is very lucky I was there. The sun and the vultures could have ate her all up," he said.

"Or worse," Ardeth added, looking him in the eye.

"I see no need to keep her," Lock-Nah said. Ardeth gave him a nod, before Lock-Nah and the others started to move out of the Medjai tribal area.

Rory twisted her Ankh necklace between her fingers as she chewed her bottom lip just watching their exchange silently. Even though Lock-Nah had been polite, beautiful, and gorgeous looking, she was getting bad vibes from him, and she couldn't figure out why. It was driving her nuts, especially since she was slightly attracted to him.

"Unless of course, she's got a need for me," he smirked, as though he could read her mind. Lock-Nah was looking directly at her Ankh necklace. Her heart jumped slightly and shook her head, feeling a blush coming on. Then again, it could've just been a lust thing. It was really hot outside and her hormones were all over the place right now, so nope, Rory was good. She definitely didn't need any kind of drama in that department of her life right now.

"I'm good. Thank you though," she said, giving him a small smile.

Lock-Nah chuckled, and winked at Ardeth. "Have fun with your handful, Ardeth. I'll see you soon."

"Take care of yourself, Lock-Nah," Ardeth warned.

And with that said, Lock-Nah took his own tribal members with him, and left the scene.

Rory sighed, feelings of tension releasing. She looked over at Ardeth before she stomped back to the tent. Ardeth rolled his eyes and followed after her inside.

"Uh, can you wait like two seconds while I change please?" she demanded.

Ardeth bowed his forehead gently. "Yes, of course," he apologized and then waited outside her tent.

Rory couldn't help but feel slightly guilty for yelling at him, but she really needed a couple seconds to herself and change. That fall had not been pleasant at all, nor the ride back over to Ardeth's tribe.

She walked over to the makeshift dresser, and saw her original outfit already dry. She wondered how long she'd been out. She knew for a long time because it felt like it was an eternity. She thought she'd never wake up again. But something healed her, and something helped her come back. She wondered if it were the gods themselves, or maybe she was just being crazy and it was the Medjai that helped heal her.

She stepped out of her torn nightgown and into her dark skirt, and burgundy blouse. The suede shoes she'd borrowed from Evelyn were sitting next to the side of the makeshift dresser. She appreciated the fact they'd tried to make her feel a little more at home, rather than the plain views of the desert. She checked each shoe to make sure there wasn't anything hidden within the insides and placed them over her feet. Feeling more like herself again, she smoothed out her hair with her fingers and then took a deep breath.

"You may enter," she finally said before she placed her hair into a messy bun. Ardeth came in under the flap, and he stopped at the sight of her. She smiled and looked bashful. "I'm sorry I ran out on you, and that I was a little harsh. I'm just…scared. Throughout my whole life, I've been a nobody, at least until I met Rick. Then, I was Rick's sidekick "sister". We'd pretend we were brother and sister orphans pick-pocketers, living on the streets sometimes, and trying to con people into getting us money for food. We were inseparable to say the least. There's a good chance the Ankh mark was slapped on me at the orphanage in Cairo. It doesn't mean anything, just means life. I've always respected that."

Ardeth gave her a small smile. "Sometimes it can mean more, especially in your case. I think you're a protector of life. And to those that have past on in your dreams, you watch over them (when you're dreaming in the dream world) and watch them, help them cross over, and transition into the next life. I know it's a scary fate, but it is a gift. And the Medjai are more than willing to protect that as well. We will protect you, Rory. You know that. I will protect you."

Rory bit her bottom lip. "I don't really want to intrude. You have other responsibilities Ardeth."

"And I have many more Medjai," he countered.

"I'm not sure I want to be protected," she said.

Ardeth gave her a look. "Rory…."

She smiled once more. "I want you to teach me how to fight."

"I…wait. What? You…no," he shook his head. "Women aren't to fight."

"Well, I don't care," she said. "I want to learn how to fight. If you don't, I'll just steal a horse, and head all the way back to Cairo, and ask Rick to train me to fight because he will. He has in the past why can't you?"

"It's tradition that-"

"Screw tradition. The times are changing, Ardeth. I demand to know how to fight, so I can be prepared. I don't want your men to focus on me, Ardeth. I don't want to be weak," she exclaimed.

"I do not see you as weak," he said to her. "I do not want to put you in any harm or danger. I gave O'Connell my word."

"Well, tough. You're just going to have to break it, or I will go back to Lock-Nah, and ask him to take my powers away. He told me that I didn't have to bear the mark, and bear the responsibility that is too much on my shoulders. If we're going to do this, we're going to do it the right way," Rory said defiantly, giving him a very strong and clear pointed look.

"I'm going to regret this," Ardeth said, making Rory smile happily at winning this argument this time around. "Fine. I will train you on our way to Abydos."

Rory grimaced, "I knew you were going to do that."

"I had to," he smirked at her. "I'd rather not risk Lock-Nah gaining your powers. Your powers in the wrong hands is not a good idea."

She sighed, and crossed her arms over her chest. "What do you think Lock-Nah will do with them?"

"I am not sure, but whatever it is, it is not going to be good," he said. "It's good he knows nothing now."

Right. She didn't say anything to him on the way about what they'd discovered what she could do and who she's supposed to be.

"By the way, what did Lock-Nah exactly tell you?" he asked curiously.

"Said that apparently you stole his girl, and possessed her, and made her go to the Valley of the Kings, where she was mummified for all eternity, awaiting her release," Rory said with a slight grin on her face.

He widened his eyes, and narrowed her eyes at her. "I did absolutely no such thing."

Rory laughed. "I know, I'm just teasing you. It's called a joke, Ardeth, relax my friend. You definitely need to get out more."

"We don't do that either," he said with a shake of his head.

"My point exactly," her lips curled into a smirk, and she started to walk out of the tent.

~*TM*~

A/n: ((grin)) So, hope you liked that chapter. Thank you all for reading! Follows, favorites, reviews are always welcomed and loved!