Disclaimer: I own nothing from the Mummy or the Mummy Returns.
Aftermath
Rebecca stood at the window, gazing out over the
courtyard. She felt better, especially
now that she'd had a chance to shower and change into something that wasn't
filled with sand. She saw Alex run
through the courtyard, a hollering Jonathan following. She could see that Alex had his fingers full
of gold, and deduced that he must have raided Jonathan's stash.
Ardeth had not taken anything with him. This did not surprise her. Evy had taken only what she felt the museum
could display for its historical value. Rebecca had taken the seal of Seti, feeling she should have a memento of
him to go along with those of Anck-su-namun. Jonathan, however, had taken all that he could stash in his pockets,
atop his head, in his arms. After they
had left the treasure chamber it had sealed shut behind them. They were led out in the same manner, by
torch lit paths. Rebecca had watched
the city slowly sink beneath the sand from the circle of Ardeth's arm, until
there was nothing before them but a sea of sand.
She sighed, wondering what she was going to do about
him. Stay or go was what she had to
decide. If she stayed, it would be as
the wife of a Medjai warrior, their leader. She would have to give up her work, to follow wherever he went. If she left, she'd have her work, her home
in London. She would not have love.
She wanted him. She could not deny this. What
she did not know was whether she could be enough for him. If she could change to be enough for
him. She was afraid to make a choice,
knowing that both were life altering.
Her musings were interrupted by a knock on the
door.
"Come in."
Ardeth entered. He worried about her. She had
not come out of the room since they had returned. He knew something in the scrolls had disturbed her, but Evy had
refused to divulge their details to him, saying it was Rebecca's place to do
so.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, coming forward to take her hand in his larger one.
"Better. I
feel human again. It's amazing what a
hot bath can wash away." She said with
a tired smile.
Ardeth brought his hand up to touch her cheek. The bruise that marred it still brought a
surge of anger against the man that had placed it there. Her lower lip was still swollen from a blow,
and he knew that there were more bruises hidden beneath the thin silk of the
robe she wore. She hadn't talked much
about what had happened in the desert with Hamand, and that worried him. Usually Rebecca was quick to volunteer
information.
Rebecca pulled back from his touch. She remembered that Hamand had touched her
in the same way; backing up was a reflex. Ardeth dropped his hand at the flash of fear in her eyes. He knew he had not put it there.
"He did more than beat you." He said, his voice tight with pain.
"He tried." Rebecca replied shortly, turning to look out the window. "I don't care to discuss it."
"When it causes you to fear me, it should be
discussed." He corrected, turning her
back to face him gently. "You know I
will never harm you."
"I'm not worried about that." She told him, unresisting as he pulled her
to him for an embrace. "I'm worried
about what you're doing to my heart."
"What am I doing to your heart?" He asked, running his hand down her hair.
"You've made me love you." She answered. "I wasn't planning on this."
"Not everything can be planned." Ardeth said with a laugh, holding her back a
bit so he could look down at her face.
"Someone planned it." She informed him.
She showed him the scrolls. It took a long time to read them all, and he
was quiet when he finally finished. Rebecca watched him as she nibbled on a sandwich. Evy had brought up a try when she saw what
Ardeth was reading, knowing it would take a while. He looked up, smiling at the sight of her curled up on the
couch. He could get used to having her
there quite easily.
"It would seem that our destinies have been
tied together all along." Ardeth
said, setting the last scroll aside.
"Did we fall in love on our own, or was this
something we were set up to do?" Rebecca asked, a small frown crossing her face.
"Feelings cannot be forced. Only actions can. Events may have led us here, but we found each other on our
own."
Rebecca nodded. His words made sense. She still
had her doubts, but their love for each other was no longer one of them. Would love be enough though?
Ardeth could see the confusion on her face and it
made his heart ache. He could not make
this decision for her. He could not
force her to stay. He wanted to
though. He wanted to lock her in his
room until she agreed to be his wife, to stay by his side until they each drew
their last breath.
Rebecca set her sandwich down, taking a moment to
gather her thoughts.
"I'm tired." She said finally, meeting his gaze head on. "I think I'm going to bed."
"Rest well." Ardeth said, heading for the door. When he reached it he paused, turning back to look at her
again. "My love for you will last
always, Rebecca. No matter what
happens. Nothing will change
that."
The door closed behind him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning:
Ardeth reached the bottom of the stairs, where he
found Evy waiting. The house was quiet,
as if it were empty. He looked around,
feeling as if something were missing. Evy put her hand on his arm, halting him.
"She's gone Ardeth." Evy said quietly. "She left last night. I found this note on the table."
She held a letter in her hand, bearing his
name. He took it from her, turning
without a word back up the stairs to his room. He sat heavily in his chair,
opening the letter.
Ardeth,
I'm sorry. This hurts, but it needs to be done. I need time to think, and I can't do that
when I'm with you.
I love you.
Rebecca.
Crumpling the paper in his hand, Ardeth threw it
across the room.
I know this ending sucks! But it had to be done, because it leads into another story I've
cooked up. =) Thank you for all that
have reviewed me!