C9: The love of a Medjai
One of the most beautiful sights in Egypt was its night sky. Ardeth had stared up at it, countless nights before he slept, losing himself in the colors and the stars and thinking of his ancestors. His fathers before him and before them who had stared and wondered about their existence and their purpose.
In the last six years, however, he spent less time wondering about his purpose and thinking about her. Aida. Where was she? What was she doing at that exact moment? If she could see the stars, would she see the same ones as he?
But now, as the sky moved past their ship, he was thinking only to get to her. To save her and Alex from the clutches of Imhotep. It wasn't his first time flying and he was grateful that Izzy was a good pilot, but his thoughts kept returning to her and how close they were getting. Wondering if he could get this thing to go faster…
Evy and Rick felt the same, but together they were coping well. He was full of rage and anxiety but remained calm and impassive. He had to. If he lost his head and couldn't save her, he would never forgive himself.
He never stopped loving her and he had hoped that she had not forgotten him. When he had begun this journey, his warrior's mind had been focused on getting to the O'Connell's and warning them of Imhotep's imminent resurrection.
But his heart…his heart had betrayed him. He was excited and longing to see her again…to hold her. He'd dreamed of the moment for so long. She'd see him from a distance and call out his name. She'd run to him and they'd embrace and kiss as though they'd never been parted that day at the hotel.
Obviously, since the circumstances were extraordinary and they were fighting for their lives, that didn't happen. But she seemed so different. Nervous around him, but confident with her gun. She was strong. And her body…she'd been wearing a simple dress, but he could see the curves underneath. He'd wanted to grab her and hold her close, feeling the new curves she had.
A gentle squawk caught his attention and Horus swooped by, getting him out of his daydreaming. He scolded himself for such thoughts. He shouldn't think like that! Especially not now when her life was in danger and she was a mother!
He glanced over at Jonathan, bickering with Izzy again and he couldn't help but glare, feeling the tinge of jealousy claw at him. The way Jonathan and Aida had swapped names and laughed together. The way he had run with her back to see her daughter. It was obvious what had happened when she had left Egypt. She obviously hadn't the heart to tell him, but he could see she was happy in her new life…with Jonathan and their daughter.
And yet…why, when he held her briefly, did she look at him as though she wanted to be kissed. He'd almost done it as well…quite a few times.
But regardless of how she felt now, he vowed that he would save her. He would get her back home to her daughter. And whilst he would never see her again, if she was alive and happy…that is all that mattered.