The Girl and the Stone

by Mojenica

Ardeth Bay gets a little more then he hoped for when he saves a young womans life. As the story goes on, he must protect her from a cult bent on ending the world.

2. part 2

Disclaimer: I still don't own ANY of the characters from The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, I am just using them for my little story. But, all the other characters you see in here ARE mine, So…don't sue me for using those that are not mine. I am just having fun with them.

Authors note: This is my first Mummy fanfic, but I have been told its good. Be nice! I am having the Grammer and Spelling checked by some friends who know about it. Because I am so bad at it all. Enjoy...and..um..have fun.


"Master!" a breathless voice called out. Ardeth looked up and saw one of his warriors run through the library door.
"what is it, Walad?" Ardeth asked, standing.
"we have found out what those men wanted with your mystery woman. The mystics are waiting, they wish to speak to you right away!"
Ardeth stood and ran out of the room with the young warrior.

They reached a small shop in less then 2 minutes. They entered and walked right past the cashier, into a back room. The cashier bowed his head, with respect, slightly and turned his attention back to the men he was helping.
Every one stood when Ardeth entered the room, he saw only 4 of his warriors, for he had placed the other 5 around the O'Connell home. In the room also, was 2 mystics and Ahmad. He gave the 8 men a quick nod and sat down at the head of the table they were all sitting around. the 8, including the 5th messenger warrior, sat down as well.
"what news do you have for me?"
one of the mystics opened a book at sat in front of him. His old hands and gray eyes scanned a page, and turned it towards Ardeth.
"is this the symbol you saw?"
The Med-jai chieftain looked at the picture and nodded his head.
"then it is as we feared"
"what?"
"these men, who attacked your woman, are part of a cult. The Fajarah, [evil doers] they believe in a djinn, a very powerful and strong djinn, whose name is Dajaaj."
Ardeth couldn't help but laugh. "his name is Dajaaj? That means chicken!"
"Yes, Master, but he was not one at all. He was very evil, and brought much pain to the world, when he walked the earth over 4000 years ago. a mystic, Zok, trapped Dajaaj in a blue amber stone. And he made it that only his own blood, could release Dajaaj."
"not a very good plan."
"No, it was not."
"so what does this have to do with this woman?"
"We believe that she is Zok, reincarnated."
Ardeth nodded his head at this. Reincarnation was not uncommon. He had seen it in his friends, the O'Connell's, and in that evil Meela.
"Does she know this? And does she had her old powers?"
the mystic shook his head.
"no, she does not know any of it. But there is one certain thing, that you must keep that woman out of the hands of the Fajarah, other wise we will have a very angry and powerful Djinn walking around. bent of destroying all of Egypt."
The Med-jai chieftain took all this in slowly. A pissed off djinn, a reincarnated mystic, a cult, end of Egypt, possibly the world. The only reaction that he could think of was, Why does this always happen to me?
He sighed softly. "I want round the clock protection of the woman. No one enters or leaves the O'Connell property with out my knowing. And I want the Fajarah found. I am not about to let this Djinn be let out, and cause destruction. Not on my watch."
He turned to the mystics. "I thank you for your help. Please return with me to the woman. I want you to look over her and make sure she is who you think she is. Ahmad, you take these 5 men and start looking for the cult. Send out a message that we will need 10 more warriors. If we have to, we will kill everyone of the Fajarah. we have no room to screw ups men, we have to keep this woman protected, and we have to stop this cult. Understand?"
The room slowly nodded its head.
Ardeth got up to leave, and as he passed Ahmad, he put a hand on his shoulder.
"See? I told you this would be an adventure."
His second in command smiled, and nodded.
"I will keep you updated." With that, Ardeth and the 2 mystics left the room, and walked into the new Cairo day.

When Ardeth and the mystics walked into the O'Connell's house, they all saw that Emily was up and walking around.
"Good morning Ardeth Bay." She said softly as she made her way past him into the kitchen.
"Good morning miss Emily."
"Emily, please."
"Emily."
She nodded her head towards the 2 mystics. "Who are they?"
"They are here to help us understand what those men want with you."
"Huh."
Emily stood up, stretched, and held out her hand to the 2 men, but as she did, a dizzy haze fell over her. And she wavered a bit, then started to fall. Ardeth caught her in his arms.
"Emily?"
She could hear him say her name, but the dizziness hung over her for a few moments. When she finally shook it off, she opened her eyes and was staring directly into Ardeth's soft, arm, caring eyes.
"Emily?" he said again.
"I'm fine…I'm...fi…"
"Shhhh." He whispered softly. "Don't talk…just rest." He bent over a bit and swung an arm under her knees, carrying her in a fireman's hold. He walked her down the hallway, and pushed open the door with his foot. Emily enjoyed being in his arms.
"This is the second time I have had to do this for you." He said softly.
"Yeah, but the first time, I wasn't awake to enjoy it."
He smiled as he placed her softly on the bed. She looked at him and smiled too. Neither of them was quite sure on what to say. They didn't have to wait long. The door was pushed open further, and the 2 mystics walked in the room.
"Yes, come in. Tell me…do you think its Zok?" Ardeth said in Arabic.
"Could be, we will have to use a potion to find out the truth."
Emily's eyebrow went up in a puzzled look.
"Are you sure?" Ardeth was saying. "She is still weak for her attack."
"The sooner we can find out who she is, the sooner we can take care of her."
Ardeth nodded and turned to Emily.
"Emily," he said, switching to English. "We are going to have to give…"
"What's in it?" she said, sitting up.
"Excuse me?"
"What is in the potion."
He looked at her puzzled. She sighed and turned to the mystics. One of them was pulling out, from a small bag, some small containers filled with liquid
"Na, am fahamt inta, eh dah? [Yes, I understand you, what is this?]" She said, pointing to the liquids.
Ardeth stared at her with big eyes.
"You never told me you spoke Arabic." He said.
"You never asked." The reply came.
She glared at the mystic.
"Eh dah? Sem?[poison?] "
"La.[no]" The old man said as he mixed the contents of 5 small containers into a small bowl.
"Eh dah?!"
"It is going to help you remember your past life. We need to know who you were, so that we might know how to protect you." Ardeth said.
"Is it going to hurt me?"
"No, it will only make you sleep, and make you dream."
She looked at him bitterly.
"If something happens to me, I'm going to come back from the after life and kick your ass."
He smiled and handed her the bowl.
"It would not be the first time I have seen that happen."
She gave him a puzzled look and raised the bowl to her lips. Why do you trust him? Her mind yelled at her. Because he would never hurt me. she drank all the bitter liquid and suddenly got dizzy, her sights blurred, and she fell back on her pillows. She was out before she hit them.

Her dream were jumbled and troubled. She saw something come after her, it was not clear what it was. But reminded her of a spirit.
She tried to run from it. Her mind told her to run from it. But she couldn't move. Everything was dark...she was in a temple. With only one candle for light. A large book was in front of her...and she was reading from it. There was a bright light…a bright blue light….it burned her eyes. But she didn't look away, she went on reading. The spirit was coming after her. RUN! Her mind screamed. RUN! But still, her legs wouldn't move. The light got brighter, and the spirit ran right into it. It screamed. And the light got so bright, that it caused her to have to turn her head, and close her eyes.
There was an intense noise. It hurt her ears. But when she tried to cover them, she found herself reading from the book. She screamed the words. Yelled them out to the gods. There was another light…this one was green, it surrounded her, but she went on reading from the book. There was another intense noise, this one louder then the first one. And she felt a great pain. She closed her eyes, tears seeping from the sides. She picked up a knife and drew it across her hand. She yelled out in pain, blood dripping from her hand. She knew she had to do this, but didn't know why. The light got brighter, and the noise got louder. It got to the point where she couldn't take it any more. And then it stopped. Everything stopped. There was an eerie silence. And when she opened her eyes, she saw that the temple was dark again. her candle was blown out. The only light was a soft blue light, coming from an amber stone about the size of a child's fist. She picked it up, walked over to a large, seemingly deep well in the middle of the temple. She said something that she could not understand, and dropped the stone into the dark water. Tears fell from her eyes. And blood dripped from her right hand. She was holding it to her chest, and she could feel the blood drip down the front of her.

Emily woke up screaming. She screamed and screamed. And screamed until she could not scream anymore. Tears fell from her closed eyes, and she was holding her right hand to her chest, a pain shot through her hand like she had never felt. She opened her eyes and saw Ardeth's soft eyes looking into hers.
"Emily…" he reached out to gently stroke her hair. She pulled back.
"Don't…touch…me…" she said bitterly. She opened her right fist and saw a long scar across her palm. Right where she had cut herself in the dream.
Ardeth looked at her hand, and then turned to the mystics. They both nodded their heads. Now he knew the Med-jai had to protect this woman with everything in their power. And Ardeth Bay knew, that this was only the beginning.

Ardeth poured Emily a tall glass of ice water from a pitcher, and handed it over to her. she was staring at her hand.
"How…." She started to ask.
"Dreams are very much like reality. Sometimes what happens in a dream, happens for real."
"Did I cut my had?"
"No, but you made the motion to."
"do you believe what I told you about my dream?"
"Yes."
Emily touched the scar on her hand.
"So what is going to happen to me?"
"You don't have to worry." He said softly, setting the glass down on the bedside table. "Myself and the rest of the Med-jai will protect you. With every power we have in the world."
"Don't you have to check it out with someone first?"
Ardeth looked at her puzzled.
"I mean, shouldn't you check in with you Chief or leader? Wouldn't they mind that you are volunteering the Med-jai's time to help me?"
Ardeth smiled and let out a soft laugh.
"I don't think the Chief would mind at all."
She smiled as he handed the glass of water to her. Taking it, she thanked him softly. And placed the glass to her lips. She drank half the glass in one long sip, and then placed it on the bedside table.
"The O'Connell's, whose house we are both in right now, will be coming down to Egypt in a few days."
"will they mind?"
"no, I am very good friends with them, I have known them for 11 years."
"Really? They nice people?"
"The nicest I have ever met."
He handed her a picture frame from the table. The picture was of Ardeth, 2 other men, and a woman. The woman was holding a baby.
"This was taken 9 years ago. This man," he pointed to one of the men, the taller of the 2, "Is Rick O'Connell. This," he pointed to the woman, "is Evie O'Connell, Rick's wife. She is holding their son, Alex. And this," he pointed to the last man, "Is Jonathan Carnahan. Evie's brother."
"They look like nice people. She is very pretty. And their son must be…10 now?"
Ardeth nodded. "He is a very smart boy. Very brave. I have a strange feeling that he will take a likening to you."
Emily sighed. "I have got to get out of this room, walk around a bit. You seem to know this home, will you give me the tour?"
He nodded and smiled. "And then we will have lunch." Gently, he flipped the covers off of her, and took her hand. He stood, and then helped her up. Her legs were slightly weak, so she held on to his arm tightly. He liked the feeling of her on his arm. And her flesh next to his felt nice. Felt right. He smiled at her and led her out of the room.

Two hours later, they sat in the bright kitchen, giggling at the stories Emily was telling. The laughter filled the kitchen and it's surrounding areas. Every once in a while, Charlie, Maria, Sama, or one of the 5 Med-jai would poke their heads in to see what was going on.
"And so, my brother woke up, covered what he thought was blood, and the head of a stuffed animal at the foot of his bed. Since it was so dark, he could only make out that it looked like a horse's head. His screams filled the house. It drowned out the laughing of my 3 other brothers and I. When my grandfather got up, he was not pleased at all. He yelled so loud. We got in so much trouble. But it was so worth it."
They both laughed at the story.
"You seem to be very close with your...4 brothers?" Ardeth said.
"I am. I love those bastards." She took a sip of some ice tea. "Do you have any siblings?"
"My only brother was killed…15 years ago. I believe. And my sister is still around. She is married and has 2 children."
"I'm sorry about your brother…"
"It's alright. The man who killed him is now long dead, himself."
"I to, would kill whoever hurt my brothers."
"Would they kill whoever hurt you?"
"In a heartbeat."
Ardeth smiled. "I hope, one day, that my children will be as close as I am to my sister, or as close as you are to your brothers."
"You have children?"
"No…no…I'm not even married yet."
WOO HOO! Her mind jumped for joy.
"What about you?" he asked.
"Me? No, I'm not married, I don't even have a boyfriend."
WOO HOO! His mind jumped for joy.
"How old are you?" he asked, catching her off guard a bit.
"29. You?"
"I have lived for 33 summers." The very thought made didn't seem right to him. Was he really only 22 when Ihmotep was first unearthed? And only 31 the second time Ihmotep walked the earth. He sighed at the thought; he had experienced more then most men his age. And it wasn't all good. He pushed the thought of the past out of his mind, and turned his attention back to his new friend.
They spent the rest of the day with each other, laughing, talking, and telling stories. And that night, as Ardeth gently tucked Emily in, she asked, "What did you mean, by it wouldn't be the first time you saw someone come back from the after life and kick you ass?"
"It was not really my 'ass' that was kicked." He said softly, "More Rick's, Jonathan's, and Evie's. But I did get beat up a bit."
She looked at him like he was crazy. But her eyes begged him to go on.
"But I will not bore you with tales of the past, not tonight. You go to sleep. Tomorrow, I will teach you some techniques of fighting, the Med-jai way."
She smiled at him and closed her eyes. She then felt as he climbed on the bed, and sat next to her.
"Wha…" she said, turning to him.
"Now that I know you are so important to those Fajarah, I mist make sure that they do not try and get you here."
"Ardeth, you have 3 men posted around the property, plus 2 more posted in the house, one of them right outside the door, how ever could they get in?"
"I have seen far stranger things, Emily. Believe me on that. Give me your hand, and go to sleep."
"Are you going to sleep?"
"Lightly, yes. Now close your eyes, and don't think, just sleep."
Ardeth took her hand in his, and turned the light off. He sat up against the back bored, with a pillow behind his back and head. He sat watch until he saw that Emily was indeed, asleep. He closed his eyes, but not his other senses, and drifted of into the land between conscious and unconscious. There he rested, ready to jump at any unfamiliar sound, movement, or even smell.

"Any luck?" Sabooru asked as Ja-hosh walked into the large room.
"No Master." Ja-hosh said as he gave his lord a small bow.
"This DOES not make me happy!"
"I know master, but there is no where we have not checked. No one has seen the Med-jai, or the woman."
"And what makes you think, that the people you asked are not lying? The Med-jai are LOVED in this city. They all know them. And they would all lie for them. Go back, and find someone who needs the money, and will tell us the truth!"
"Yes master." Another quick bow.
"And Ja-hosh, check the upscale homes. You never know, they could be hiding in a friends house."
"Yes master."

When Emily woke up, she looked around her room and saw that Ardeth was gone. She had slept very well with him next to her, holding her hand. She yawned and tossed the covers off of her. She stood and grabbed for a robe that was lying at the foot of the bed. The night before she had borrowed one of Evie's slips, and it had felt wonderful to get out of the clothes she had been wearing for 3 days. She touched the bandage on her head lightly. It should be time to take it off. The wound didn't hurt much any more. And she was sure it was close to being healed. As she wrapped the robe's ties around her body, she saw a flash of her new scar. She opened her hand and held it close to her face, studying the long, ugly line that was across her palm. She didn't know what to think of it. It was not there when she had drunk the potion the mystics had given her. Yet it was there when she woke from her dream. She had never had such a thing happen to her before. How could she explain it to herself? Or to anyone else?
When she walked out the door of her room, she saw that the warrior in front of her door had changed. She smiled at him and mumbled a good morning. He nodded back to her, and followed her as she walked down the hall. She found it strange. Is he going to follow me everywhere I go? She thought. The answer to her question came though, as when Emily entered the kitchen, the Med-jai went out the front door. A few minutes later, she saw another Med-jai enter one she had not seen before. He poked his head in the kitchen, looked around, and then left, walking up the stairs to check and see if there was any one up there.
The puzzle like tattoos on all their faces interested Emily. She wanted to question Ardeth about his, but didn't know wither or not she should. Some of them looked so young to her. Ardeth being 33 was young to her. But some of these men looked to her like they were 17, 18 and 19. She decided that she should question Ardeth about the Med-jai. Later. She thought as she sat down at the table.
Sama walked up to her with a cup of tea.
"Shukran" Emily said softly.
"Ahlan wa sahlan [you are welcome]" the little girl said as she hat in the chair next to Emily.
"Where did Ardeth go?" the older woman asked, sipping her tea."
"He went into town, to talk with his tribe members." The little girl said back. Tripping over the English words.
"Oh, I see."
"Is Ardeth your friend?" the little girl asked.
"Yes, I believe he is."
Sama leaned in close to Emily. "You know what?" she whispered.
"What?"
"I'm going to marry Ardeth one day!"
Emily was taken back by that slightly. Then she giggled.
"Really?"
"Yes, when I grow older."
"Well," she had to hold her laughter back. "Good luck to you then, young one."
"He calls me, ' Shoeya Samak'"
"Little fish?" more giggles.
"Yes, I love it."
"Well, it is very cute. It fits you." She ran a hand through the child's soft black hair.
Just then, Maria brought Emily a tray of food, and sat down on the other side of her.
"Today, you eat, then bandage will come off, k?" she said.
"Yes, thank you."
The little woman squeezed Emily's hand, and stood up.
"Taa'la maei, Sama. [Come with me]" The little girl looked sad as she got up and followed her mom into the kitchen.

Two hours later, the Med-jai guard at the gate bowed his head as Ardeth and Ahmad walked up to the house.
"She is a feisty one." Ardeth said as they walked towards the door. "Filled with that damn American pride."
Ahmad giggled. "Sounds like she a handful."
"She is, in her own way, but she is a nice woman."
As they opened the door, they saw Emily run into the kitchen. Now fully clothed. She had her arms held out in front of her.
"I'm going to get you!" they heard her yell, then they heard a child giggling. Sama ran out of the kitchen, and up the stairs, followed by Emily, who stopped half way up. She turned and looked at Ardeth and Ahmad, who were both chuckling. She caught her breath, and tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear. Ardeth saw that her bandage was removed, and her hair was washed and in a loose bun. She wore her own clothes, but they were washed now. She laughed as she walked down the stairs.
"Cute little thing." She said, crossing to the 2 men.
"Yes." Ardeth replied. She smiled and blushed lightly. She looked over at the man standing next to him. He was eye level with her. This made her laugh.
"You are a tall one." The man said. His voice think and but soft.
"Yes…I have been teased about it my whole life."
"Emily," Ardeth said, "This is Ahmad Manaheemi, my second in command. Ahmad, this is Emily…. I'm sorry, I don't believe you have told me your last name."
"Emily Kilgore."
They shook each other's hands and stood in a strange silence. Then a thought hit her.
"Second in command?"
Ardeth and Ahmad looked at each other.
"Yes, second in command."
"Command of what?" Another look.
"Command…"Ardeth cut him off.
"Command of taking care of you. Now, if you wish, we can go to the back yard and I will teach you some fighting techniques."
She had a feeling he was lying. "Ok." She said softly. "Let me get my shoes on." She turned and walked down the hallway, missing the look that was passed between Second in command and Chieftain.
"Why do you not wish for her to know?" Ahmad whispered.
"It is not my wish for her to know." Ardeth said back. "I just don't feel like it is of any importance to her."
His friend nodded slightly. "Come," he said, changing the subject, "we will go outside, and teach the woman to fight better."

Emily walked into her room, and with a gasp, saw her suitcase sitting on the bed. She giggled then rolled her eyes. She looked under the bed and found her boots, then opened her suitcase to pull out a thin pair of socks. As she slipped them on, she heard footsteps come to her door. A face poked in the door and looked at her, then looked around. Then the head pulled out.
"Med-jai!" she called. The young warrior stepped into the door, a thin smile on his lips.
"Yes?"
God, he must not be any older then 20. She thought.
"Ardeth Bay, is he your leader?"
"Yes miss, he is."
"Leader of…?"
"Leader of all the Med-jai."
"All…?" she gasped out.
'Yes, he is the leader of the 12 tribes of the Med-jai. You were not saved by just any warrior, Miss Emily, you were saved by the Chieftain himself."
Emily stared at him in shock. Chieftain of the 12 tribes?
"Is that all?" she heard a voice say, she looked up and saw the warrior standing there still.
"Yes, thank you."
He bowed his head lightly and left, taking his rightful place next to her door.