It was a two day steam ship trip from the Port of Rome to Cairo and Elizabeth would be anxious the entire way there. Elizabeth and Abdal had split rooms but she resolved to spend most of her time in his. Abdal did not seem to mind.
On the last evening, with a dinner catered by the ship and a bottle of Italian wine between the two of them—Elizabeth and Abdal giggled themselves into a frenzy. It was a much needed break from her constant worrying. Worrying what the next day would bring, worrying if she had made a mistake by leaving Mack in Rome, worrying that whatever side of Ardeth she would meet in the future would be like the one she left two years ago. Cold, dismissive, heartbreaking.
"What was it like, Elizabeth?" Abdal took a sip of wine and gazed out across the Mediterranean.
"What was what like?"
"Dying. When you died, what was it like?"
Elizabeth looked into the deep red of the wine in her glass and looked out to the sea. The sun set on the horizon and offered a rich burst of pinks and oranges. There was nothing quite like a sunset at sea.
"It was quiet." She offered and then paused, considering the question for herself. "It felt like nothing I had ever felt before, but so completely like everything all at once. It was as overwhelming as it was not at all. Does that make sense?"
"No, not at all."
Elizabeth laughed and steadied her feet up on the bar of the balcony. "I'd heard so many preachings of death and dying and in reality it really didn't feel like anything at all. Coming back to life though…"
"What did that feel like? Coming back from the earth?"
"A bit like being born again, forgive me if I sound too poetic—it felt quite like I was a plant bursting from the soil. Though now I feel a bit like a tree without any roots." Elizabeth pondered aloud, looking from the sunset to Abdal who wore a similar expression of thoughtfulness.
"Do you still feel like that? Like a rootless tree?"
Elizabeth took another sip of wine and nodded, "Most days, yes."
"You know I've seen some of the smallest trees find root in the desert. Perhaps you should try that?"
"Oh really? Have a specific desert in mind?" Elizabeth smirked.
"It is a place, not too far from Cairo—perhaps you have heard of it, called the Sahara—quite the destination spot." Abdal joked emphasizing with a goofy and embellished accent.
"Perhaps I'll try to plant myself in the Sahara. That sounds quite lovely actually."
Elizabeth and Abdal finished their wine and tucked in early for the night—for the morning would sprout the beginnings of many an adventure. Elizabeth would be back in Egypt and all would fall back into place.
"Elizabeth, oh Gods of the Pharaohs—Elizabeth you're here?" Dr. Terence Bey hurriedly cleared some of the papers from his desk, as though clearing the desk in a room that gave definition to clutter and chaos was an effort put towards propriety. Nonetheless Elizabeth smirked, the overwhelming and poetic calm within her taking helm of her thoughts.
"Yes, yes, I am back." Elizabeth tried not to laugh at the rambunctious Terence Bey but he truly gave her no choice with his huffing and puffing.
"And Abdal, did you have anything to do with this? I try with my letters for two years and it takes you one vacation to Rome to do the trick?" Terence said with an air of jest in him. Elizabeth felt a gentle cause for shame, she had indeed ignored most of Terence's letters—finding it too difficult to make up any more excuses.
"What can I say? I am a very convincing man." Abdal winked at Elizabeth and she laughed.
"Dr. Bey I've returned to help. I want to help."
"You've helped considerably this past week. Sabotaging a raid of forty or more English soldiers before they had a moment to leave the European continent—it deserves a medal."
"Well thank you sir, but I meant serve with the Medjai—in the field again. I think I can be of use. Abdal has told me of the threats with the French Foreign Legion and the Tuaregs. I wish to assist."
Terence spared a glance for Abdal before approaching Elizabeth. Though Terence was not a large man he still had an inch of prowess on Elizabeth, and she looked up at him with all the might she could muster.
"Why now? After everything you've been through? Why suddenly the change of heart?"
Elizabeth swallowed, she had no reason to lie.
"It's become clear to me what I am. I am not a writer, I am not a wife, nor a slave for notoriety or fame. There is no act that compares to helping this cause. I feel it in my bones, Dr. Bey—Abdal arriving only lit a fire underneath a smoldering ember. As it were."
Terence hummed in affirmation and nodded, "You sound like her again."
"Like who?"
"Like Elizabeth."
The breath was caught in Elizabeth's throat and a tear threatened to burst from the corner of her eye. Without thinking she rushed to hug Terence tightly, who in turn grumbled in shock but reluctantly patted her on the head nonetheless.
"We will need you, both of you in Hamunaptra as soon as possible. Yesterday the French Foreign Legion and the Tuaregs battled on the sacred land and the Tuaregs all but demolished the opposition to dust. Currently they have returned, sequestering in Hamunaptra and the Medjai will strike tomorrow night, to rid of them once and for all before they find what they're looking for."
Abdal nodded, "We will head out tonight."
Elizabeth nodded as well, "I will need to stop at several places before we set sail down the Nile—to gather supplies."
"Yes, good thinking, I imagine it will be quite the battle," Terence said.
"A battle might be just what I need." She said.
Elizabeth was anxious and afraid, but her heart thumped heavily in her chest with the reverberation of adventure. She had no idea what tomorrow would bring, and now realizes she prefers it that way.
To be continued…
That's it for this one, folks! I have SO many things planned for Elizabeth and a certain moody Medjai in the future that this seemed like the most fitting ending. Full of hope, excitement, and adventure. I can't wait to share the next installment of this story-I promise I won't make you wait too long. Elizabeth as a character means so much to me and it continually fills my heart to the brim to hear how she lives in your hearts as well. She's been with me through so many downfalls in my own life, she was and is my anchor-probably always will be in various iterations and forms. For now, I can't wait to see where she takes me.
Thank you all for reading, following, and reviewing. Cheers for now, loves, and I'll see you soon.