Disclaimer: Everyone in the fic except Kesand aren't mine.
During "The Mummy Returns"
In the late evening Imohtep wandered the streets of the city. They had stopped here to buy more food, and new camels for some of the men. Anck-su-namun and the boy were sleeping. Sleep, he thought. I haven't slept in so long. I no longer need to. So why do I feel so weary?
He viewed the city with fascination. So many things had changed since he had been alive. He hadn't had chance to see much of the world the last time he had resurrected, and hadn't grasped just how different everything was. No more Pharaohs, many different languages, strange styles of buildings. The Med-jai were still the same, though. Unfortunately. Some of the more superstitious natives apparently viewed them with awe. He shook his head in disgust.
"Imohtep" He spun at the sound of his name, spoken with an accent he remembered from centuries ago. A slender figure detached itself from the shadows, moving before him so that he could see their features in the moonlight.
"Kesand! How are you here?" He was astonished. Had she been reincarnated, like Anck-su-namun and Nefertiri?
The clothes she was wearing were different from the style she wore when he was alive - now she wore some kind of loose grey top, and black trousers, but other than that she looked exactly the same - No small differences in manner or appearance that he'd noticed in Anck-su-namun.
Kesand sighed. "You could have prevented this. Instead you just watched as events unfolded around you." She quoted further . "I curse you, my lady. May you forever watch, never taking steps to change what might be." She looked at him for a second, then shook her head. "Powerful words, Imohtep. Words spoken in anger by a powerful man fated to undergo a unique punishment, and an accusation repeated three times, in conviction and with anger. That kind of thing is noticed by the gods, Imohtep."
"And now you are here to stop me." Imohtep prepared himself to fight her. He had the power…
"And what part of 'watch' do you not understand?" She sounded amused but Imohtep detected the edge of anger beneath her words. "I cannot interfere". Imohtep began to relax slightly, although he still watched her warily. "I have found that offering advice doesn't seem to be counted as taking steps to change things, and over the years I think I've become fairly good at it, so let me offer you some free advice, as the saying goes. Be careful of how much faith you put in Anck-su-namun" He stiffened again, as she continued, "Your devotion to her is based on love, and has lasted thousands of years. You have sacrificed much for her. Her attraction to you is based on power. Think very carefully about what it is you intend to do."
Anger swept over Imohtep and he lashed out with his hand. Before it connected Kesand caught his arm by the wrist, jerking him forwards and off balance, while her other hand snapped out and caught hold of his robe, yanking him towards her. She was a tall woman, and off balance Imohtep found that they were the same height. Her dark green eyes seemed again both amused and angry as she said "I've spent the last three thousand years or so practising my fighting techniques. I think I'm getting fairly good." She released him before he could react, stepping back and away. He was shocked by the controlled violence he had felt in her for the moment she held him. She studied him for a moment longer, then shook her head. "Try to act wisely." She spun on her heel and walked back off into the dark street. For the second time in three thousand years Imohtep considered killing her, and again he failed to do so.
During & After "The Mummy Returns"
Kesand sat on her horse in the middle of the desert, every swearword she'd ever heard running through her head. The Med-jai had done so well in the battle, but they were going to die. They might have defeated the first wave of Anubis's warriors, but there were just too many coming in the second wave. She could see Ardeth at the head of his warriors, and she whispered a prayer for them. The second wave charged forwards, almost reaching the Med-jai now, and… they were gone. She stared blankly at the scene for a moment, then as the Med-jai begin to cheer she began to laugh with relief. The Scorpion King must be dead. She smiled and began to kick her horse forwards, to go down and congratulate Ardeth.
She pulled up short as she saw a vision in her mind, of Imohtep clinging to some kind of ledge. "You were right" The words were spoken only inside her head, and even as she watched in horror he let go of the ledge, throwing himself backwards. "I'm sorry" the words echoed through her mind. She sat on her horse, crying bitterly. It shouldn't have happened. I should have saved him. Three thousand years on, the accusation this time to herself was her own. Slowly her sobs began to lessen, until finally they stopped. She wiped her eyes and began to head down again to the battle scene. As a distant part of her noted that Ardeth was riding off she changed the direction she was heading, to follow him.
The curse was broken. She didn't know that, she hadn't been told, nothing seemed different, yet, somehow, she was sure that with Imohtep's apology it had been broken. She wondered what she would do after this.
Ardeth sat on his horse, watching the dirigible float away. He felt a strange mixture of pride and awe at the bravery of Jonathon, Evelyn, Rick and Alex, and he hoped that they were all unhurt.
"Ardeth Bay" He heard the voice from behind him, recognising it instantly.
"Lady" he greeted her gravely, turning his horse to face her. He was shocked at her appearance. Her eyes were red and she'd obviously been crying. Her face was strained and deathly pale.
"Kesand" As Ardeth looked at her in incomprehension, Kesand smiled wryly. "My name is Kesand".
"Is everything all…?" Ardeth broke off at the look on her face. Named she might be, but she was still The Lady. "Is it over?" he asked instead.
Kesand sighed tiredly. "I don't know." She looked down at the ground, then said quietly "Although he forgave me, I am not sure if he forgave the world. Too much happened to him".
Realising that there was much he didn't understand, Ardeth simply nodded. "Then we Med-jai will continue to guard."
Kesand smiled at him. "In the time when Imohtep was cursed, the leader of the Med-jai was called Seneth. He was a good man." She regarded him a moment longer, then nodded. "You honour his memory."
Ardeth smiled his thanks at her, and they sat for a moment in silence. Kesand saw someone at the end of the dirigible, waving at them, and she waved back. As she did she recognised the figure of Alex O'Connell, and a brief flash of the future crossed her mind. Laughing, she asked Ardeth "Don't you have a daughter?"
As he looked at her in incomprehension she turned her horse back towards the earlier battle ground. "Come on" she urged. "There is a lot we have to do." She urged her horse into moving, increasing the speed until she was racing over the sand. Ardeth stared after her in surprise, then urged his horse into moving as well, until they were racing against each other, shouting joking challenges. Despite the horror of the last days Ardeth laughed out loud. It was a good day to be alive.
And this time it really is "The End"
(If you want to read about Ardeth's daughter then I've written a fan-fic about her called "I watched her sleep". Anyway, if you liked this story then please review it.)