C14: About Amina

Evy had been right. A full night's rest and a late lay-in in the daytime and she did feel better. She still ached, but her pain was bearable. She'd also gotten a good look at herself and her bruises were ugly, but it definitely looked worse than she felt. And she swore, once she caught up with them, she was going to make sure she gave back as good as they gave her.

She spent most of the day gorging again, though it was Evy and Jonathan who were technically feeding her up, squabbling like mother hens over what was appropriate in her current condition. She said yes to the mix of almonds and seeds but turned down the offer of good brandy. Alcohol didn't sound very appealing.

She got to know Izzy a little better, Rick turning her away when he started getting in-depth about his past and some extraordinary stories she couldn't quite believe. She'd have to pry him later about their adventures with a dancing girl, a missing snake and a gambling man.

Whilst she wasn't actively avoiding Ardeth, he seemed to be deep in thought most of the day, staring out into the horizon. Ok, so maybe she WAS avoiding him a bit, unsure of what to say. There was still a lingering awkwardness, but she knew she had to get past it. He had come all this way to help and save her life, after all.

She was debating the best way to approach him when the opportunity arose in the form of a falcon. She watched it swoop onto the ship and landed delicately on Ardeth's wrist. He hadn't even moved, just smiled and spoke softly to it.

She felt a little startled by the whole thing but drew closer. Ardeth didn't take his eyes off of the bird but spoke to her.

"It is alright. Come and sit."

She moved slowly, scared to startle the creature, and sat down next to him. The tiny falcon, with grey feathers the colour of thunderclouds, cocked it's head and seemed to watch her.

"I didn't know we had a friend in the skies."

"Horus. He is my best friend. The cleverest one," he used the back of one finger to stroke the breast of Horus and looked at her, "he is the one that found you."

She'd remembered seeing a bird circling her when she'd been tied down and smiled at him.

"Oh…I do remember," she cocked her head playfully, mimicking Horus, "thank you, Horus."

Her hand came out slowly, wanting to stroke his back, but stopped just before she could. She gave one last 'can I?' look to Ardeth and he nodded.

Sure enough, Horus was as soft as she thought and he must have enjoyed the attention because his wings fluttered open and revealed the beautiful pattern of dark spots underneath.

"You are gorgeous. Well done, Horus."

The bird let out a little chirp, as though responding. Ardeth watched them both, pleased that he could witness such a moment.

"You are…changed. Quite a lot. But still the same. I know this because Horus…he likes you. Very much."

"You've not changed a bit," her eyes flickered to the top of his head and she said cheekily, "though you look better without that."

Ardeth laughed, knowing how she loved his hair down and long. Remembering how she played with it during their intimate moment, so long ago.

"This is part of the Medjai cloth…but," he lowered his voice, inviting her in on a secret, "I do sometimes want to take it off."

For a single moment, smiling and laughing, bonding over Horus, it was as though they were back to that day. Laughing together and making love in a room, knowing they didn't have long, but not caring.

And then, with a tiny screech, Horus ruined the moment and they both jumped back to the present day.

And Aida felt that awkwardness again.

"I know there's a lot to say. I'm just…trying to work it out in my head. We ended things back then but we…I left a lot of things unsaid," she looked at the bird, trying to distract herself from the flurry of feelings in her stomach.

"I know. I know there are things you must tell me," his gaze moved quickly, but she saw he was looking to the other side of the ship, where Jonathan and Rick were having an argument over the gold spear.

"Ardeth?" She inquired, wondering what he was thinking.

But before he could answer her, Izzy yelled out, "LAND AHOY!" And suddenly, like excited children, everyone walked quickly to the side of the ship and gazed down at the land below. A small, floating island lay there, with a temple atop. The same from the vision. The temple island of Philae.

"Take us down, Izzy!" Rick yelled and Aida hoped that Alex had left them another little clue. Something that would help keep them on the trail.

A short while later…

Aida had stayed aboard whilst the others went down to investigate. She had been planning to talk to Izzy about Rick's past adventures, but the three hurried back onboard not an hour later.

"Izzy, we're off to the temple of Abu Simbel!" Evy declared excitedly and ran up to the two of them, immediately opening the map on the little table that Izzy had set up for her.

"I'm glad I got Alex that modelling kit for his birthday," Jonathan declared proudly, just as Rick and Ardeth joined them. Aida moved aside, giving everyone space, but watched sneakily as Ardeth immediately penned a small note that he could slip into Horus' little leather holster.

He lifted his hand and allowed Horus to fly up, soaring away from the small ship.

"Good luck, Horus!" Aida decided to blow the bird a kiss, but it didn't go unnoticed by Rick.

"That's for luck, we're going to need it and so will he," she explained, but Jonathan decided to stick his oar in. Again.

"You never give me a kiss for luck when I go to the casino!"

"That's because not all the kisses in the world will help you."

Aida and Jonathan spent a good few minutes bickering, sharing barbs and insults back and forth, as was their little routine. They always ended it laughing and she stepped away to look out at the day, seeing Horus fly off into the distance.

Quietly, Ardeth slid up beside her.

"Your fighting amuses you?" He said, his voice hoarse and thick, though she didn't notice its gruffness at first.

"Oh, yes. All the time. He's a pain, but I love him."

Now, Aida had grown to love Jonathan like a brother. But those simple words said so casually…they were like a dagger in Ardeth's heart.

He was quiet for a long moment before he said something that thoroughly confused her.

"How long have you been married?"

She turned to look at him, blinking a couple of times as she processed what he had asked.

"I'm sorry…to whom do you think I'm married?"

"Jonathan," Ardeth gave her a look when her hand flew to her mouth and he realised, she was trying to suppress her laughter.

Her hand fell away and she shook her head.

"Sorry! Sorry, um…you've got the wrong end of the stick. I and Jonathan aren't married."

His face went from calm to shocked and he turned away from her and now, she was even more confused by his behaviour.

"..I knew you English were a lot more…relaxed in your ways, but I never thought…I'm sorry, it is not my place," he moved as though he was going to leave, but her hand came to his shoulder and stopped him. He was acting far too weird and she was going to get to the bottom of it.

"Ardeth, I have no idea what you're saying nor…what it is you're insinuating exactly. What's wrong?"

Ardeth lowered his voice, as though he were ashamed of everyone else overhearing them.

"Here, for a man and a woman to have a child together out of wedlock…it is not talked about. I do not mean to judge, I just…Aida?"

Her face dropped the moment he talked about the child out of wedlock.

'Oh…oh God."

"You-you think," she gulped, trying to quell her nerves, "Jonathan is my daughter's father?"

Ardeth nodded, but his brow furrowed. He knew something was wrong and she knew…now was the time. There was no more waiting. She had to tell him.

"No-no, Amina…Amina isn't Jonathan's…Ardeth," she took a deep breath, ignoring her heart beating rapidly and the blood pumping loudly in her ears, "Ardeth, Amina is your daughter."

The silence was the worst thing she had ever experienced. All around them, the sound of the others conversing, unaware of their conversation echoed out and the loud ship's mechanisms rang in her ears. Ardeth looked truly taken aback and she hated it. She hated doing this to him. After so long, to spring a child on him!

"This…that is what you wanted to tell me," he stumbled and clung onto the side of the ship, his eyes searching out the landscape below, as though the answers were there.

"I did want to tell you. Before. At the museum, but it didn't really seem like an appropriate conversation."

He would not talk again and she was unsure if he was angry or just too shocked. She hoped it was just the latter.

"Ardeth," she said as gently as she could and placed her hand on the side of his arm, "I am sorry for not telling you-"

"When?"

He turned to her suddenly and the fury in his eyes was unmistakable. He took a step closer and she actually took one back, almost afraid of what she saw.

"At the museum? Or before you left…for London?"

"No, I swear to you," she shook her head viciously, her hair swaying back and forth as she did so, "I only found out when I was already on the ship. I thought I was seasick the first day but then…I didn't know until I was already away from here."

'Away from you.'

His anger switched to hurt and she felt like holding him but held herself back.

"Why did you not write? Why did you not find me and tell me?"

"Because," she licked her lips nervously, "because I didn't know where you were and-and I was scared. Ardeth, I was alone. I gave birth with only Evy by my side. I wanted you there, so many times, but I didn't know how to find you and-and I didn't even know…I didn't know if you would want to be there."

He grabbed her arms and pulled her close.

"Of course, I would have been there. Why would you think I would have done that to you?"

Despite her best efforts to control the situation, she could feel herself begin to well up. Her lips to quiver with emotion.

"Ardeth…we're from two different worlds. I couldn't ask you to come all the way to London!"

"Then why did you not come back to me? Why did you not stay that day? Why did you not insist on coming with me? Staying by my side?"

Aida's entire world, that she made out of a fragile idea that he didn't want her, shattered. He had wanted her there. He had never spoken the words out loud, but all this time…she thought he left because he felt the difference also.

"Because…you didn't ask me," a single tear slid out before she could stop it and they stared at one another for the longest time. All those wasted years between them…all the moments lost because of words unsaid. All the memories that could have been.

It was too much. Ardeth let her go and turned, keeping his back to her.

"Ardeth, please," she grabbed his robe, desperate to get him to face her again, "please, do not be turn away. I didn't-I was scared-"

"I would like to think."

He looked over his shoulder, shaking his head.

"Please…let me go."

Aida did as he asked and as he walked away, she'd never felt so devastated. She felt as though everything she had gone through a few days ago…she felt she rightly deserved it for what she had just done to him.

Unable to think of anything else to do, she turned towards the railing and grasped it with one hand as the other one flew up to her face and tried to wipe away the tears that fell. But it was no use. Her tears were unstoppable and it didn't help when Evy silently slid up beside her and wrapped her arm around her shoulder.

She didn't say anything, just held her close and let her sob.

"Evy…I've been such a bloody fool. It's all a mess," Aida whimpered and let her tears fall as her friend held her, not seeing the moment when Jonathan strode past and walked towards Ardeth.

X Ardeth X

Ardeth had never been in such a position before. He'd never received so much news in one go. Not only was he a father, but the woman he loved had not sought him out because she thought he didn't love her?! That he wouldn't come when she needed him…and now, after everything…she'd admitted to not following or finding him because he had never asked her to stay. He gripped the railings, angrily. Angry and frustrated at himself! He was such a fool. How did he not ask her?! He had wanted to, but she had been so strong and independent and the thought of her becoming his wife…whilst he longed for it, he knew the counsel in his tribe would not approve. Not of her.

"Bay," Jonathan came up beside him and with surprising firmness, poked him roughly in the shoulder, "I want a word with you."

Ardeth turned to him, ready to tell him to leave and give him a moment's peace, but Jonathan was already underway, and he was clearly gearing for a fight.

"How dare you. How," he had to reign in his anger, his voice rising as he spoke, "how dare you do that to her?! After everything she has been through?!"

"Carnahan, it is not your concern-"Ardeth raised his hand, feeling his own anger grow, but Jonathan shook his head.

"It is my bloody concern! You broke her bloody heart. That first year she was…an absolute mess."

"I-"

"No, no," he pointed sternly at Ardeth and took a step closer to him so they were nose to nose, "you shut up and listen. When she found out she was having Amina, she was TERRIFIED. She kept trying to plan a journey back here but was so scared that you wouldn't want her. That she'd be left alone, pregnant in Cairo. She would have no help, no job and no one would take her. She had security with friends in England. And after…when she had Amina, she was still heartbroken. She'd cry for hours sometimes, weeping that YOU would never get a chance to see your daughter. Hoping that somehow, you'd find her and come to her."

For the first time in his life, Jonathan Carnahan was not only taking a step up to be a better man, but he was thinking of someone else for once. And he was ready to defend Aida's honour, even if it meant a fight.

"For the sake of her image, I asked her if she wanted to marry me. We'd never share a bed and I promised her I'd even be a good husband and look after her, but she told me…she told me she could never deprive me of finding my one true love. Me? One true love? She STILL believes there's a woman out there for me! Someone who I deserve," Jonathan glared at the man he considered a friend, but felt only anger towards at that moment, "she made a mistake in not telling you, but she was allowed to. She was pregnant, unmarried, and deprived of her one true love. And I promise you, right here, right now…if you hurt her again, I WILL fight you. Even if she does bloody love you."

Letting his words sink in, Jonathan took a step away and turned quickly, not from fear, but because he worried if he stayed, he would hit Ardeth.

He stood there, stunned by Jonathans powerful and passionate speech. And by the revelation it brought.

Aida…still loved him. Even now, after everything?!

He looked over to where he had left her to see her and Evy, holding one another tight as they looked out at the land below. He knew he had upset her and by the way, her shoulders shook, he could tell she was crying.

He wanted to go over and embrace her and tell her everything would be alright but knew he had to get his words right. Knew that if he tried to tonight, with emotions all over the place, he'd probably get it wrong. He'd give her a chance to rest and then, apologise profusely for what he had said.

Today was over. But tomorrow…tomorrow, he would make it right. He would let her know how much he loved her.