Disclaimer: I do not own the Mummy Returns series. I am just writing fan-ficion for fun.
A/n: I know I've been away from my fan-fiction stories. I'm sorry about that you guys. I've been dealing with a lot that suddenly came up in my life, but I hope to write again, and finish this story for ya'll to enjoy. Thank you for following, favoriting, reviewing, and reading it. They are always welcomed and loved. It means a lot to me! Well, with that said, enjoy!
Chapter 34: Any Good With That?
Rory crossed her arms over her chest and peered down into the quiet jungle down below their higher ground on top of a cliff. She was mulling over the past, letting her mind get lost, almost like a jungle. After her deal with Lock-Nah, her life hadn't been the same. Staying with Rick was probably the best idea she's had yet. She made no fuss and he never minded her company even if it was pretty dull and depressing because she'd lost so much.
"You hear that?" Rick asked.
"What?" Ardeth asked.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing," Rick replied.
Now that Ardeth was back in her life again, she wasn't sure how to act in front of him or how to act in front of her family any more. Dealing with the past was an understatement.
She glanced behind her as Rick and Evy were handling their weapons and then at Jonathan and Ardeth who was putting bullets into the Thompson gun, his favorite. Jonathan was looking at something he found impressive, which appeared to be a mummy head on a stick, but Rory did not want to know how that happened at all.
"My word I say chaps! Come have a look at this. The heads, I'd love to know how they did that just curious," Jonathan exclaimed.
Rory wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Sorry, Jonathan, I'd rather not know."
Jonathan shrugged as Evy, Ardeth, and Rick just gave him a strange look.
"Any good with that?" Ardeth mentioned a head nod over towards Jonathan as he noticed he was holding his weapon pretty tightly against his shoulder. He set his own to the side.
"Three times Fox and Hound champion, I'll have you know," Jonathan replied proudly. "You any good with that?" he motioned a nod to Ardeth's sword.
Ardeth drew out his sword very quickly and turned it around against his neck before Jonathan could blink. Rory arched an eyebrow at this, but smiled just the same.
"We'll know soon enough. The only way to kill an Anubis's warrior is by killing its head."
Jonathan gulped. "I'll remember that."
He chuckled and returned his sword to his belt, and then walked over towards Rory, who laughed a bit. "You could've gone a little easier on him."
"Yeah, I know. Are you okay?" Ardeth asked.
"Yeah, I think so," she nodded. "I'm just…getting the Book of the Dead won't be easy to get out of Anuk-Su-Namun's hands you know?" Rory said. "I'm not a fighter like you, Jonathan, or hell even Evy."
"You'll get it. You have to have faith," he ran a hand down her arm to comfort her as she shook with nerves. "You're going to be fine, Rory. I have faith in you to complete this task. I believe you were the guardian of the Book of the Dead and the keeper of the dead. You do make an impact on other people's lives you know."
Rory shook her head. "No. I didn't know."
Ardeth leaned in and kissed the side of her temple then her forehead.
"You do."
Rory sighed with relief as she heard his words in her ear, so soothing and comforting, like she needed another ear or a shoulder to lean on. Ardeth had been her saving grace this whole time, not that she ever really needed a man to rely on, but it sure has been helpful with the situations she's found in in the past.
She needed to be clever and careful this time. No more mistakes. She could do this. She could be brave and get it. She had to be. She just felt awful for her own actions and feelings that she's been feeling lately, and having Ardeth reassure her was very helpful and she was grateful. She wouldn't fail. Not today. For there was just too much at stake.