Disclaimer: Right...like the rest of you fanfic writers out there, I don't own all the characters from The Mummy movies, sadly. But if given the chance, I would buy them. Mainly the men. *Giggles* So...yeah. I don't own the Mummy characters, but I do own the rest of them. Emily, Ahmad, Tom, Meelesh, Tarek, Carol, Etc. So...if ya want to use them, for whatever reason, drop me a line. K?
Note: The second of the four Ardeth/Emily stories I got swimming around in me head. I don't really know how you will take to this one, I hope you all like it. I am REALLY evil to Emily in this one. Why? You might ask yourself. I don't know. Felt like the right thing to do. Ya know?
Damietta is a real town in Egypt. Found it from a map of Egypt. Dont know anything else about it, but it looked like a port town.
~*~I really could not have done this with out the help of Angie. Thanks soo much doll. You really are my saving grace. This story really should have you as the co-author, but you said that wasn't needed...but you really did co-write it. Thanks for the Idea, and for helping me write parts of the story.
So, here is my second story.
Dedicated to Michelle Newman, for no other reason except that she sent me two postcards from Europe. (So did you, Jess, but you got the Goat soup one, so be happy!) Michelle.... I hope to see you soon. I loved that postcard of the queen....classic.
When you see this sign, ~~ It is the start of a flashback. This sign, ~~ means the end if it. Just so ya know. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Do you have any siblings?"
"My only brother was killed…15 years ago..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The warriors! They are returning!"
The voice fell over the Med-jai City, followed by the joyful yell of the happy townsfolk. Their husbands, sons, fathers, and leader were coming back from a 4-day battle.
No one was happier to hear the message then Emily Bay, wife of Ardeth Bay, mother of Tomas Bay, queen of the Med-jai. She grabbed her four-year-old son and raced out the door of her home, running to the city front, along with all the other Med-jai of the city. Her heart burst with joy as she ran through her people excited to see her husband riding at the head of the group of 20 Med-jai warriors. It was fitting that he was always at the front when they returned from a battle, he was the King of the Med-jai.
But as she raced to the front of the crowed, her bright smile disappeared. All of the 20 Med-jai warriors that had left for the battle had returned, all, except her beloved husband. Riding at the head of the group was Ahmad, Ardeth's second in command, and when he saw Emily, his bright smile also went away.
He stopped his horse, and dismounted, he took a step towards Emily, but was intercepted by his own wife, Ardeth's sister, Meelesh. She wrapped her arms around Ahmad's neck, holding him tightly; he wrapped his arms around her, but couldn't take his eyes off of Emily. When the hug broke, he took another step towards Emily, who at this time had put her son down.
"Emily…" He began softly, reaching out a hand to her.
"Where is my husband?"
"Please listen…"
"WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!?" She yelled, everyone turning to look at her.
"Please! Listen to me…Ardeth…something happened…something came up."
"No…" Emily took another step back, little Tom stared up at his mother and his uncle, not understanding what was going on. But he could see the tears form in his mom's light, olive green eyes.
"Mommy?" He said softly, reaching out to her. She took his hand, holding it tight.
"Where's Ardeth? Where is my husband?"
"I will explain it, Emily, please come with me to talk in privet." He took another step towards her, he reached out a hand to his nephew, "Tom, go with your Aunt, I have to talk with your mother."
The little boy looked up at him with big eyes, and he clamped on to his mom's leg, holding on for dear life. Emily bent over and picked him up, never taking her eyes off of her brother-in-law.
"He can be with us." She said.
"No, he can not. Please…"
Emily put her son down with a sigh, she hated things like this. "Tom, you go off with your Aunt Meelesh, I will be back in a little bit."
He grabbed on to her leg, "No! I want to stay with you! Where's Daddy?" She carefully pulled him off and dropped to one knee.
"That's where I am going, to find out, ok? So you be a good boy."
"I want Daddy to come back…"
"I do to, Doll, I do to."
Meelesh came up and took her nephew by the hand, she also pulled her husband away.
"Where is my brother?" She said in a whisper.
"He is with Tarek." He said back, his deep brown eyes soft and sad. Meelesh let out a little gasp, understanding fully what he meant. Emily noticed this, and her heart filled with fear for her husband.
Ahmad kissed his wife softly on the cheek, and walked to Emily, he took her arm and led her away. They walked side by side, both five foot eleven. Emily's tall slender figure more that of a fighter, not a queen. Her dark brown hair pulled back into a loose bun, a few wisps falling around her face. Ahmad was well built, like any other warrior, after years of fighting in the desert. His hair was dark and cut short. His eyes soft and deep brown.
"Please…Ahmad…where is Ardeth?" She said, as they walked into Ahmad's home.
"What has Ardeth ever told you about his brother?" He asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Has Ardeth ever mentioned that he had a brother?"
"Um…yes, he has, but he told me his brother has been dead for quite some time."
Ahmad didn't say anything for a minute, he just looked at his sister-in-law, finally, he said,
"That is not entirely true."
"Are you saying that Ardeth lied to me?"
"He has lied to everyone about his brother. You see, Emily, Ardeth was not the oldest child in the Bay family. In fact, he was the middle child. His brother, Tarek, was the oldest and rightful heir to the kingship of the Med-jai."
"But…he died so Ardeth had to take over?"
"No. He was disowned by his family and the Med-jai, so Ardeth had to take over."
A small gasp escaped Emily, and she searched her brother-in-law's eyes, trying to see some hint that he was joking with her, but he was not.
"Disowned? Why? Whatever for?"
"Tarek…Tarek went to Cairo once, and got involved in the dealings of thieves. And when this was discovered, it brought much shame to his family, for he was the rightful heir of the Med-jai. This was all discovered when he was just about to take the thrown, so, his mother and the elders discussed everything, and disowned him. Kicked him out of the tribe, never to have any interaction with the Med-jai ever again. He was no longer one of us, and it crushed him.
"So, he left us, and Ardeth took over as our king, and has been telling everyone that his brother is dead. In a way, Tarek Bay is dead, for he is dead to all of the Med-jai, but I know that what happened pains Ardeth very much. He loved his older brother, and was very ashamed at all that he did."
"Yes, that is all very sad, but what does it have to do with Ardeth being gone?"
"Tarek came back."
"What do you mean?"
"The bandits, who had taken over our well, their leader…was Tarek."
"Family reunion, what does it have to do with my husband being gone?"
"You might want to sit down, Emily, this is a long story…you see, three days ago, as the battle against the bandits was drawing to an end…"
~~
"Master Ardeth!" Ahmad shouted as he rode up to his king, "It is soon over!"
He guided his horse next to Ardeth, who was sitting on his own horse, on top a low dune, watching the battle unfold.
"Ahmad, how long have you been my friend?"
"Since I was born."
"Then you really don't have to call me 'Master'."
"Yes, Master." He said with a smile. Ardeth shot him a look.
"What news of this do you bring?"
"It is over, those who were not killed have retreated."
"And their leader?"
"We have him, if you wish to speak to him."
"I do, take me to him."
The two lifelong friends rode down to the small battlefield. Where their fellow Med-jai warriors had started to clean up the bodies of the bandits who had taken over a rightful Med-jai water supply. They rode up to where there were three warriors tying up a large man, dressed in dark robes. He had a hood over his head, covering up his forehead, and a mask covering all his face except for his eyes.
"Are you the leader of these bandits?" Ardeth asked, still on top his horse. The man did not answer, he just looked at the Med-jai, eyes wide.
"Answer me, are you the leader?" Still the man said nothing,
"Answer the King of the Med-jai!" Ahmad said bitterly.
But the man did not answer them, he just stared into Ardeth's eyes.
"I will ask you once more, scum, are you the leader?" Nothing. "Can you not understand me?" Still nothing, so, Ardeth repeated the question in Egyptian, Hebrew, and finally English, but the man still did not say a thing.
"Have it your way, scum, you will soon join your fallen brethren." Ardeth turned his horse and began to ride off, Ahmad began to follow him, but a familiar voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Going to have your own brother killed, are you Ardeth?"
The two warriors turned around and rode back to the bandit, eyes wide.
"My brother is long dead, scum!" Ardeth roared.
"Am I?" The bandit spoke again, staring right into Ardeth's eyes.
"How dare you try and pass for my brother in some helpless plea to save yourself!"
"Have them take off my mask and I will prove to you I am who I say."
Ardeth nodded his head, and one of the Med-jai standing next to the tied up bandit tore off his mask, resulting in load gasp coming from the small group. Ardeth stared into the man's face, eyes wide in horror, mouth open a bit. The man looked just like the Med-jai chieftain, except he did not have any facial hair, nor did he have the same full lips Ardeth had, why the man could have been Ardeth's brother. Ahmad himself, looked at Ardeth shocked. No one knew what to do, and no one spoke. They just all stared at the bandit in the sand. Finally, in a gasp, Ardeth said, "Tarek?"
The bandit smiled softly. "Hello, brother."
Ardeth felt like he was about to fall off his horse in a faint. Before him, kneeled down in the sand, was his older brother, whom he had not seen in twenty years , his older brother, who was disowned by his family and the Med-jai, shortly after the death of his father. Regaining his composer, Ardeth sat up straight, closed his mouth in a tight frown, and stared down at Tarek Bay.
"I should have known you would end up like this." Ardeth said grimly, "A bandit stealing from your own people."
"My people disowned me!"
"Never mind that, you stole from the Med-jai. You do know that could mean your death."
"You really are going to kill your own brother. That's really cold Ardeth, don't tell me you have turned into some animal, going around, killing everyone who crosses the Med-jai path."
"SHUT UP!" Ardeth bellowed. "Shut up you fool! How dare you speak to me that way!"
"HEY! I am supposed to be the one sitting there, remember!" Tarek snapped.
Ardeth turned his horse around, but before he rode off, he said, "This one does not die." And with that, he and Ahmad rode away from Tarek Bay, leaving him in the dust and sand.
~~
"Later that night, Ardeth and Tarek had a more…privet conversation, where Tarek explained that he was in deep trouble, and needed his brothers help. I do not know what they talked about, but there was much shouting. The next morning, Ardeth told me that he was going to help his brother get to Damietta, and that it would take about two weeks."
Emily sat back stunned, she wouldn't see her husband for two weeks! It would be the longest time she has ever been away from him in the five years that they were married. She knew that Damietta was a long ways away. Maybe a hundred miles away from Cairo. Her heart sank, and her mind raced.
"That long?" She asked, her hands moving over her stomach. "He can't be gone for that long!"
"I know it will be hard for you Emily. But Tarek is family, and Ardeth could not turn him away."
Emily let out a sigh and stood up. "Fine…fine."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know…Tell Meelesh that it is ok to send Tom back to me now, I will be in my home, resting."
Ahmad nodded and bowed his head in respect. "Yes, Lady Emily."
"And don't call me that."
"Yes, Lady Emily."
Had she been in the mood, she would have pounced on him, but she was not. She just gave him a, "I will kill you later look", and walked out of the tent.
~~
Emily flopped down on the "couch" in her home. She and Ardeth did not live in a tent anymore; they had a real house built for them a year after getting married, right after Tom was born. The couch was really many pillows, she didn't mind them, they were comfortable, and she loved her home. It was not that much bigger then their tent had been, and it was cool during the heat of the day. Emily let a long sigh slip from her, as her hand found its way to her stomach again. She remembered 4 days before, when Ardeth was leaving for the battle.
~~
"Emily", Ardeth said, trying to wiggle out of his wife's arms, "I really have to go now."
"Oh no you don't," she said, holding on tighter, "You are not going anywhere."
Ardeth smiled and kissed his wife, pulling her into one of his deep, soulful kisses. Emily melted in his lips, longing for it to last forever. But, sadly, he pulled away.
"No…"
"I'm sorry, but I really have to go now, Em, they are waiting for me."
"Let them wait." She leaned in and kissed him again. And while they were kissing, Ardeth picked his wife up out of the bed.
"Take me with you." She breathed into his ear. It drove him crazy when she did this, and she knew it. He opened the door with his foot, and walked into the living room, she nuzzled her face into his chest. When they got to the front door, he dropped his arm holding her legs, forcing her to stand.
"I REALLY have to go Em, please…"
"Oh…alright." She said. Wrapping her arms around his neck, "One more kiss."
He gave her yet another long, deep, soulful kiss, which made her legs turn to jelly. When it broke, Emily refused to let go of him. He sighed, and unwrapped her arms from his neck.
"Why must we do this every time?"
"Because I don't want to let you leave me."
As he opened the door, Ardeth placed a hand around Emily's waist, and together they walked to the city front.
"I am not going any where, these foolish bandits are trying to take over one of our wells. It will be a simple battle, and I will be back in about 4 days."
"You better, other wise I am going to have to hunt you down and kill you."
"You couldn't."
"I could to!"
"Could not!"
"Want to bet?!"
"Hey," he said, squeezing his wife softly, "Remember what happened the last time we made a bet?"
"Yeah," she couldn't help but steal a kiss from him, "I have gotten 5 wonderful years with you."
A young warrior walked up to them, gliding Ardeth's black horse to his master. Ardeth thanked the boy and looked at his wife.
"Now, I really have to go."
"Ok, damn you." He pulled her in for another kiss, both of them forgetting that such public displays of affection was frowned upon by the Med-jai culture. When the kiss broke, Ardeth got up onto his horse with grace, the yearly morning light made him look so good to Emily.
Meelesh came up with Ahmad, holding each other's hands. They two stole a kiss from each other, before Ahmad took his place on his horse and Meelesh stepped up next to Emily. All around them, young and old warriors were getting ready to leave, with families, girlfriends, and wife's saying their good byes.
"We will be back in a few days, have no worries." Ardeth said.
"We always worry," Meelesh said, "That is the Med-jai woman's job."
Ardeth smiled sweetly at his sister, and Ahmad smiled sweetly at his wife. When all 20 of the Med-jai warriors, who were going, were ready, Ardeth blew a kiss at his wife and said softly, "I love you."
"I love you." She said back. Ahmad and Meelesh exchanged "I love you's" and with that, Ardeth yelled out the command, and 20 Med-jai with horses thundered out of the city, off to protect their rightful water supply. Emily watched them go, then leaned her head on her sister-in-law's shoulder.
"Oh, Meelesh, why do we have to be in love with warriors?"
"I do not know, Emily, but they are our men, and I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Nor would I."
~~
Emily sighed as she pulled herself from her memory. It had been later that day when she found out she was just over two months pregnant. And all she wanted to do was tell Ardeth about their next child. Only she and Meelesh knew about the child to be.
The front door opened and Tom came running in, jumping into his mother's arms. Meelesh followed with her 2 sons, Codei, 16, and Aamir, 10, along with her daughter, Lamis, 5.
"How do you feel?" Meelesh said, dropping down next to Emily.
"Oh…alright, I miss Ardeth." Emily adjusted the 4-year-old in her arms. "I just want to know if he is alright…I just want him to come back to me." She looked at her family, and with a sigh, she said, "A few months ago, we got a letter form the O'Connell's, that said they were in Cairo. I will go there tomorrow morning, tell the men to have my horse ready, and I assume I will have the usual protection." This meant 4 Med-jai with her at all times she was out side the Med-jai City.
"Yes, Lady Emily." Meelesh said.
"Please…Meelesh…do you call your brother 'King' or 'Master' like everyone else does?"
"No."
"Then don't call me 'Lady', you are my sister, you can just call me 'Emily'."
"Yes, Lady Emily." She ducked at the pillow that flew at her head, hitting Codei in the face. With a giggle, he picked it up and threw it at his mom, hitting her upside the head. She picked it up and hit Aamir with it, who in turn grabbed his own pillow and threw it at Emily. A full on pillow fight broke out, leaving everyone out of breath and laughing on the floor of Emily's living room.
Note: The second of the four Ardeth/Emily stories I got swimming around in me head. I don't really know how you will take to this one, I hope you all like it. I am REALLY evil to Emily in this one. Why? You might ask yourself. I don't know. Felt like the right thing to do. Ya know?
Damietta is a real town in Egypt. Found it from a map of Egypt. Dont know anything else about it, but it looked like a port town.
~*~I really could not have done this with out the help of Angie. Thanks soo much doll. You really are my saving grace. This story really should have you as the co-author, but you said that wasn't needed...but you really did co-write it. Thanks for the Idea, and for helping me write parts of the story.
So, here is my second story.
Dedicated to Michelle Newman, for no other reason except that she sent me two postcards from Europe. (So did you, Jess, but you got the Goat soup one, so be happy!) Michelle.... I hope to see you soon. I loved that postcard of the queen....classic.
When you see this sign, ~~ It is the start of a flashback. This sign, ~~ means the end if it. Just so ya know. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Do you have any siblings?"
"My only brother was killed…15 years ago..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The warriors! They are returning!"
The voice fell over the Med-jai City, followed by the joyful yell of the happy townsfolk. Their husbands, sons, fathers, and leader were coming back from a 4-day battle.
No one was happier to hear the message then Emily Bay, wife of Ardeth Bay, mother of Tomas Bay, queen of the Med-jai. She grabbed her four-year-old son and raced out the door of her home, running to the city front, along with all the other Med-jai of the city. Her heart burst with joy as she ran through her people excited to see her husband riding at the head of the group of 20 Med-jai warriors. It was fitting that he was always at the front when they returned from a battle, he was the King of the Med-jai.
But as she raced to the front of the crowed, her bright smile disappeared. All of the 20 Med-jai warriors that had left for the battle had returned, all, except her beloved husband. Riding at the head of the group was Ahmad, Ardeth's second in command, and when he saw Emily, his bright smile also went away.
He stopped his horse, and dismounted, he took a step towards Emily, but was intercepted by his own wife, Ardeth's sister, Meelesh. She wrapped her arms around Ahmad's neck, holding him tightly; he wrapped his arms around her, but couldn't take his eyes off of Emily. When the hug broke, he took another step towards Emily, who at this time had put her son down.
"Emily…" He began softly, reaching out a hand to her.
"Where is my husband?"
"Please listen…"
"WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!?" She yelled, everyone turning to look at her.
"Please! Listen to me…Ardeth…something happened…something came up."
"No…" Emily took another step back, little Tom stared up at his mother and his uncle, not understanding what was going on. But he could see the tears form in his mom's light, olive green eyes.
"Mommy?" He said softly, reaching out to her. She took his hand, holding it tight.
"Where's Ardeth? Where is my husband?"
"I will explain it, Emily, please come with me to talk in privet." He took another step towards her, he reached out a hand to his nephew, "Tom, go with your Aunt, I have to talk with your mother."
The little boy looked up at him with big eyes, and he clamped on to his mom's leg, holding on for dear life. Emily bent over and picked him up, never taking her eyes off of her brother-in-law.
"He can be with us." She said.
"No, he can not. Please…"
Emily put her son down with a sigh, she hated things like this. "Tom, you go off with your Aunt Meelesh, I will be back in a little bit."
He grabbed on to her leg, "No! I want to stay with you! Where's Daddy?" She carefully pulled him off and dropped to one knee.
"That's where I am going, to find out, ok? So you be a good boy."
"I want Daddy to come back…"
"I do to, Doll, I do to."
Meelesh came up and took her nephew by the hand, she also pulled her husband away.
"Where is my brother?" She said in a whisper.
"He is with Tarek." He said back, his deep brown eyes soft and sad. Meelesh let out a little gasp, understanding fully what he meant. Emily noticed this, and her heart filled with fear for her husband.
Ahmad kissed his wife softly on the cheek, and walked to Emily, he took her arm and led her away. They walked side by side, both five foot eleven. Emily's tall slender figure more that of a fighter, not a queen. Her dark brown hair pulled back into a loose bun, a few wisps falling around her face. Ahmad was well built, like any other warrior, after years of fighting in the desert. His hair was dark and cut short. His eyes soft and deep brown.
"Please…Ahmad…where is Ardeth?" She said, as they walked into Ahmad's home.
"What has Ardeth ever told you about his brother?" He asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Has Ardeth ever mentioned that he had a brother?"
"Um…yes, he has, but he told me his brother has been dead for quite some time."
Ahmad didn't say anything for a minute, he just looked at his sister-in-law, finally, he said,
"That is not entirely true."
"Are you saying that Ardeth lied to me?"
"He has lied to everyone about his brother. You see, Emily, Ardeth was not the oldest child in the Bay family. In fact, he was the middle child. His brother, Tarek, was the oldest and rightful heir to the kingship of the Med-jai."
"But…he died so Ardeth had to take over?"
"No. He was disowned by his family and the Med-jai, so Ardeth had to take over."
A small gasp escaped Emily, and she searched her brother-in-law's eyes, trying to see some hint that he was joking with her, but he was not.
"Disowned? Why? Whatever for?"
"Tarek…Tarek went to Cairo once, and got involved in the dealings of thieves. And when this was discovered, it brought much shame to his family, for he was the rightful heir of the Med-jai. This was all discovered when he was just about to take the thrown, so, his mother and the elders discussed everything, and disowned him. Kicked him out of the tribe, never to have any interaction with the Med-jai ever again. He was no longer one of us, and it crushed him.
"So, he left us, and Ardeth took over as our king, and has been telling everyone that his brother is dead. In a way, Tarek Bay is dead, for he is dead to all of the Med-jai, but I know that what happened pains Ardeth very much. He loved his older brother, and was very ashamed at all that he did."
"Yes, that is all very sad, but what does it have to do with Ardeth being gone?"
"Tarek came back."
"What do you mean?"
"The bandits, who had taken over our well, their leader…was Tarek."
"Family reunion, what does it have to do with my husband being gone?"
"You might want to sit down, Emily, this is a long story…you see, three days ago, as the battle against the bandits was drawing to an end…"
~~
"Master Ardeth!" Ahmad shouted as he rode up to his king, "It is soon over!"
He guided his horse next to Ardeth, who was sitting on his own horse, on top a low dune, watching the battle unfold.
"Ahmad, how long have you been my friend?"
"Since I was born."
"Then you really don't have to call me 'Master'."
"Yes, Master." He said with a smile. Ardeth shot him a look.
"What news of this do you bring?"
"It is over, those who were not killed have retreated."
"And their leader?"
"We have him, if you wish to speak to him."
"I do, take me to him."
The two lifelong friends rode down to the small battlefield. Where their fellow Med-jai warriors had started to clean up the bodies of the bandits who had taken over a rightful Med-jai water supply. They rode up to where there were three warriors tying up a large man, dressed in dark robes. He had a hood over his head, covering up his forehead, and a mask covering all his face except for his eyes.
"Are you the leader of these bandits?" Ardeth asked, still on top his horse. The man did not answer, he just looked at the Med-jai, eyes wide.
"Answer me, are you the leader?" Still the man said nothing,
"Answer the King of the Med-jai!" Ahmad said bitterly.
But the man did not answer them, he just stared into Ardeth's eyes.
"I will ask you once more, scum, are you the leader?" Nothing. "Can you not understand me?" Still nothing, so, Ardeth repeated the question in Egyptian, Hebrew, and finally English, but the man still did not say a thing.
"Have it your way, scum, you will soon join your fallen brethren." Ardeth turned his horse and began to ride off, Ahmad began to follow him, but a familiar voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Going to have your own brother killed, are you Ardeth?"
The two warriors turned around and rode back to the bandit, eyes wide.
"My brother is long dead, scum!" Ardeth roared.
"Am I?" The bandit spoke again, staring right into Ardeth's eyes.
"How dare you try and pass for my brother in some helpless plea to save yourself!"
"Have them take off my mask and I will prove to you I am who I say."
Ardeth nodded his head, and one of the Med-jai standing next to the tied up bandit tore off his mask, resulting in load gasp coming from the small group. Ardeth stared into the man's face, eyes wide in horror, mouth open a bit. The man looked just like the Med-jai chieftain, except he did not have any facial hair, nor did he have the same full lips Ardeth had, why the man could have been Ardeth's brother. Ahmad himself, looked at Ardeth shocked. No one knew what to do, and no one spoke. They just all stared at the bandit in the sand. Finally, in a gasp, Ardeth said, "Tarek?"
The bandit smiled softly. "Hello, brother."
Ardeth felt like he was about to fall off his horse in a faint. Before him, kneeled down in the sand, was his older brother, whom he had not seen in twenty years , his older brother, who was disowned by his family and the Med-jai, shortly after the death of his father. Regaining his composer, Ardeth sat up straight, closed his mouth in a tight frown, and stared down at Tarek Bay.
"I should have known you would end up like this." Ardeth said grimly, "A bandit stealing from your own people."
"My people disowned me!"
"Never mind that, you stole from the Med-jai. You do know that could mean your death."
"You really are going to kill your own brother. That's really cold Ardeth, don't tell me you have turned into some animal, going around, killing everyone who crosses the Med-jai path."
"SHUT UP!" Ardeth bellowed. "Shut up you fool! How dare you speak to me that way!"
"HEY! I am supposed to be the one sitting there, remember!" Tarek snapped.
Ardeth turned his horse around, but before he rode off, he said, "This one does not die." And with that, he and Ahmad rode away from Tarek Bay, leaving him in the dust and sand.
~~
"Later that night, Ardeth and Tarek had a more…privet conversation, where Tarek explained that he was in deep trouble, and needed his brothers help. I do not know what they talked about, but there was much shouting. The next morning, Ardeth told me that he was going to help his brother get to Damietta, and that it would take about two weeks."
Emily sat back stunned, she wouldn't see her husband for two weeks! It would be the longest time she has ever been away from him in the five years that they were married. She knew that Damietta was a long ways away. Maybe a hundred miles away from Cairo. Her heart sank, and her mind raced.
"That long?" She asked, her hands moving over her stomach. "He can't be gone for that long!"
"I know it will be hard for you Emily. But Tarek is family, and Ardeth could not turn him away."
Emily let out a sigh and stood up. "Fine…fine."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know…Tell Meelesh that it is ok to send Tom back to me now, I will be in my home, resting."
Ahmad nodded and bowed his head in respect. "Yes, Lady Emily."
"And don't call me that."
"Yes, Lady Emily."
Had she been in the mood, she would have pounced on him, but she was not. She just gave him a, "I will kill you later look", and walked out of the tent.
~~
Emily flopped down on the "couch" in her home. She and Ardeth did not live in a tent anymore; they had a real house built for them a year after getting married, right after Tom was born. The couch was really many pillows, she didn't mind them, they were comfortable, and she loved her home. It was not that much bigger then their tent had been, and it was cool during the heat of the day. Emily let a long sigh slip from her, as her hand found its way to her stomach again. She remembered 4 days before, when Ardeth was leaving for the battle.
~~
"Emily", Ardeth said, trying to wiggle out of his wife's arms, "I really have to go now."
"Oh no you don't," she said, holding on tighter, "You are not going anywhere."
Ardeth smiled and kissed his wife, pulling her into one of his deep, soulful kisses. Emily melted in his lips, longing for it to last forever. But, sadly, he pulled away.
"No…"
"I'm sorry, but I really have to go now, Em, they are waiting for me."
"Let them wait." She leaned in and kissed him again. And while they were kissing, Ardeth picked his wife up out of the bed.
"Take me with you." She breathed into his ear. It drove him crazy when she did this, and she knew it. He opened the door with his foot, and walked into the living room, she nuzzled her face into his chest. When they got to the front door, he dropped his arm holding her legs, forcing her to stand.
"I REALLY have to go Em, please…"
"Oh…alright." She said. Wrapping her arms around his neck, "One more kiss."
He gave her yet another long, deep, soulful kiss, which made her legs turn to jelly. When it broke, Emily refused to let go of him. He sighed, and unwrapped her arms from his neck.
"Why must we do this every time?"
"Because I don't want to let you leave me."
As he opened the door, Ardeth placed a hand around Emily's waist, and together they walked to the city front.
"I am not going any where, these foolish bandits are trying to take over one of our wells. It will be a simple battle, and I will be back in about 4 days."
"You better, other wise I am going to have to hunt you down and kill you."
"You couldn't."
"I could to!"
"Could not!"
"Want to bet?!"
"Hey," he said, squeezing his wife softly, "Remember what happened the last time we made a bet?"
"Yeah," she couldn't help but steal a kiss from him, "I have gotten 5 wonderful years with you."
A young warrior walked up to them, gliding Ardeth's black horse to his master. Ardeth thanked the boy and looked at his wife.
"Now, I really have to go."
"Ok, damn you." He pulled her in for another kiss, both of them forgetting that such public displays of affection was frowned upon by the Med-jai culture. When the kiss broke, Ardeth got up onto his horse with grace, the yearly morning light made him look so good to Emily.
Meelesh came up with Ahmad, holding each other's hands. They two stole a kiss from each other, before Ahmad took his place on his horse and Meelesh stepped up next to Emily. All around them, young and old warriors were getting ready to leave, with families, girlfriends, and wife's saying their good byes.
"We will be back in a few days, have no worries." Ardeth said.
"We always worry," Meelesh said, "That is the Med-jai woman's job."
Ardeth smiled sweetly at his sister, and Ahmad smiled sweetly at his wife. When all 20 of the Med-jai warriors, who were going, were ready, Ardeth blew a kiss at his wife and said softly, "I love you."
"I love you." She said back. Ahmad and Meelesh exchanged "I love you's" and with that, Ardeth yelled out the command, and 20 Med-jai with horses thundered out of the city, off to protect their rightful water supply. Emily watched them go, then leaned her head on her sister-in-law's shoulder.
"Oh, Meelesh, why do we have to be in love with warriors?"
"I do not know, Emily, but they are our men, and I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Nor would I."
~~
Emily sighed as she pulled herself from her memory. It had been later that day when she found out she was just over two months pregnant. And all she wanted to do was tell Ardeth about their next child. Only she and Meelesh knew about the child to be.
The front door opened and Tom came running in, jumping into his mother's arms. Meelesh followed with her 2 sons, Codei, 16, and Aamir, 10, along with her daughter, Lamis, 5.
"How do you feel?" Meelesh said, dropping down next to Emily.
"Oh…alright, I miss Ardeth." Emily adjusted the 4-year-old in her arms. "I just want to know if he is alright…I just want him to come back to me." She looked at her family, and with a sigh, she said, "A few months ago, we got a letter form the O'Connell's, that said they were in Cairo. I will go there tomorrow morning, tell the men to have my horse ready, and I assume I will have the usual protection." This meant 4 Med-jai with her at all times she was out side the Med-jai City.
"Yes, Lady Emily." Meelesh said.
"Please…Meelesh…do you call your brother 'King' or 'Master' like everyone else does?"
"No."
"Then don't call me 'Lady', you are my sister, you can just call me 'Emily'."
"Yes, Lady Emily." She ducked at the pillow that flew at her head, hitting Codei in the face. With a giggle, he picked it up and threw it at his mom, hitting her upside the head. She picked it up and hit Aamir with it, who in turn grabbed his own pillow and threw it at Emily. A full on pillow fight broke out, leaving everyone out of breath and laughing on the floor of Emily's living room.