A simple chapter. I had fun writing the bit about Ardeth and travel. I really want to write TM & TMR from Ardeth's point of view, but I have to get both movies first. *Picks up phone* Time to call Jessica.
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"I think we should leave tomorrow." Emily told Meelesh the next morning.
"Are you sure?" Her sister-in-law asked, "Do you feel strong enough?"
"Yes, I do. I want to go back in case Ardeth gets there…"
"All right, but we leave tomorrow. You should really rest one more day."
For the past two days, that was all that Emily was doing, resting, but she knew she had to. She had spent a lot of time talking with the O'Connell's and the Carnahan's, and Tom spent much time playing with Alex.
Emily sighed and began her way into the kitchen for breakfast, finding Evy, Rick, and Jonathan already there, sipping their coffee.
"Morning all." She said as she crossed to the coffeepot.
"Morning Emily." She heard the three say.
"How are you feeling dear?" Evy asked.
"Better, much better." Emily fixed her cup and made her way to the table. "Um, I have some sad news, we are going to leave tomorrow."
"Oh! Why?" Evy said, her eyes wide.
"I want to be there for when Ardeth gets back…"
"Well, we will miss you Em." Rick said as he stood and went after the coffeepot.
"Don't worry, I will come back soon and bring Ardeth with me. But…I have a feeling he will be coming back soon and I want to be at home when he does."
"We understand." Jonathan said softly.
Emily sighed and took a sip of her coffee. Soon, Meelesh, Carol, Tom, and Alex joined them in the kitchen, and they all sat down and had breakfast, talking and laughing.
Later that day, as Emily packed her and Tom's things, Alex popped in the room and pounced down on the bed.
"So, you're really going to leave tomorrow?"
"Sadly, I am."
Alex pouted. "I'm going to miss you and little Tom."
"Oh, don't worry Love, like I told your parents, I will come back with Ardeth. And who knows, maybe you can come out to be with us. You know you are always welcome."
"Yeah, I know. But I am still going to miss you. For once I wasn't the youngest one in the house!"
Emily chuckled.
"Emily…what are you going to tell Ardeth?" Alex asked softly.
"Ardeth…for some strange reason, Ardeth knows what happened." Emily said, sitting next to Alex on the bed.
"How does he know?"
"I don't know. He just does. It is kinda like this scar," she opened her right hand and showed Alex the long scar on her palm, "Don't really know how it got there, but its there, so I don't ask questions."
"You got that when you and Ardeth first met, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did."
"Yeah, I remember you telling me about your dream. Freaky stuff."
"Oh, its not half as bad as the freaky things you have seen."
"True, but it is still strange."
Emily rubbed her hand through his hair.
~~
They all ate diner outside that night, enjoying the cool night air. They laughed and talked and sat around the table for hours. Tom took Alex off and played hide and seek with him in the garden, after a while, Carol and Jonathan joined them. Leaving Evy, Rick, Meelesh, and Emily to sit and talk.
"Reminds me of the first time I was here." Emily said softly as Jonathan and Alex argued about whom was 'It'.
"Yeah, I remember that day. I never got to thank you for saving my wife." Rick said softly, so that only Emily could hear. Meelesh and Evy were off in another conversation.
"The way I looked at it, was she had a family, and you needed her more then me."
"Still, you gave up yourself for her safety, that means a lot to me."
Emily smiled; she didn't know how to respond to that. So she just placed her hand on Rick's and gave it a little squeeze, think back to that night.
~~
"One girl for the other. We haven't got all night!" Sabooru cried.
Emily looked softly at Ardeth. "No…" He said.
"I have to do this. Evy has a family, they need her…I have to do this."
~~
More arguing from Alex and Jonathan pulled her from the memory. She laughed and stood up.
"Excuse me, dear friends, but I have a game to play." Emily walked out into the garden and joined the game.
~~
The first day and a half on the boat, Ardeth stayed in his cabin, resting after the weeklong trip he took with Tarek. And although the cot he had slept on in the Med-jai City was nice, it was nothing compared to the soft bed he had in his small room. But on the afternoon of the first full day, Ardeth finally came out and walked around the deck of the ship. He checked on his horse, which also seemed happy to be able to rest. Ardeth walked to the railing and looked out as the sands of Egypt passed him by. He sighed and thought about his beautiful wife, where she was, and what she was doing. He would be whole again when he could feel her in his arms.
He let out another sigh and stayed where he was for a long time, thinking about the events of the past week. He had regained a brother, but had lost a child. Maybe that was how life really worked out, you couldn't have both at the same time. Or maybe it was just how his life worked out. He had already been blessed with Emily and Tom, maybe that was all he got. But even if that were true, he would be happy. Tom and Emily meant the world to him. And if he only got them, it would be perfect.
Ardeth's stomach growled at him, making him realize just how hungry he really was. As he entered the small dining room on the boat, he held open the door for two British women who looked at him like he was the most beautiful thing they had ever seen. And as they passed, they bust into giggles. He laughed in spite of himself, things like that always happened to him and Ahmad when they went out. Woman would stare at them, whisper at each other, and giggle. If only those women knew both Med-jai were happily married.
Ardeth had a small diner, and then returned to the deck of the ship, where he sat in a chair and stared up at the sky. Such funny ways of travel the world had. Boats, cars, trains, planes, that…thing he had ridden on with the O'Connell's, Jonathan, and Izzy. That thought lead to another. How come every time he got into the air with Rick O'Connell, he went crashing to the ground? Granted, the second time was a little bit better, because that wall of water had cushioned the fall for the…flying boat and it's passengers. The first time was a little fun, flying through the air like a bird…the wind in his face and hair. Although he did not feel safe at all, being strapped to the wing of the thing. He could still hear O'Connell say,
"Relax, it will be a safe trip. Nothing will happen."
Yeah, nothing would happen. Except for a huge wall of sand coming at them, forcing them to crash. What an experience he had to face, four years into his kingship. But he got through it, and had become close friends with the three foreigners. He would have never of thought, back then, that he would end up saving the world with them once more, or that they would help save his future wife from madmen. Then again, when he first took the thrown, he never would have thought the Creature would have been brought back.
The giggling British women walked past him then, bringing Ardeth back to reality. They looked at him, giggled, and began to whisper to each other. So Ardeth nodded his head towards the women, flashed them a smile, and left, not wanting to put up with their constant giggles.
Ardeth feel asleep with ease that night, entering his own personal dreamland filled with images of Emily and Tom.
~~
"We will miss you." Evy said as she hugged Emily in the early morning.
"I will miss you as well, but I am coming back soon."
"You better," Rick said as she turned to hug him. "Because I would hate having to still be the only American here."
Emily laughed. "At least they speak your native language, I am the one who has to talk like the Med-jai."
Jonathan and Carol both hugged Emily as Meelesh hugged Rick and Evy. Alex and Tom stood off to the side, watching on silently. The six Med-jai bodyguards were getting the horses ready for the day and a half ride. Finally, the large group turned its attention towards Alex and Tom.
"I am going to miss your presence." Emily told Alex as they hugged. "Thank you so much for taking care of Tom, I can tell he really cares for you."
"Your welcome, he is a fine boy and I was happy to do it. And I too will miss both your presence's."
"Hey!" Meelesh said as she stepped in for a quick hug. "Am I going to be missed at all?"
"Of course!" Alex said back with a smile. "I will miss you more then all of them put together!"
"Just like you father." Meelesh said, shaking her head.
"Just like your brother." Alex shot back with a smile. The doctor laughed.
The two women mounted their horses, and Alex handed Tom up to Emily.
"Thank you all so much for everything, you are too kind, really." Emily said. "I will see you again soon."
Then, the group of horses thundered out of the driveway and down the street, on its way out of Cairo.
Evy sighed as Rick placed an arm around her shoulder. "Well, I guess that is that."
"Yeah, I guess it is." Rick said as he kissed his wife's temple. They all walked back inside, ready for breakfast and a new day.
~~
Nothing of any interest happened for Ardeth of Emily over the next two days. The ride through the desert had been quiet and peaceful. And the trip down the Nile was just the same. As more passengers got on the boat, Ardeth just stayed in his cabin. Luckily, the giggling Brits got off at one stop, leaving him in peace.
It was early in the afternoon when Emily, Meelesh, Tom, and the Med-jai got back to their city. Everyone in town rushing out to greet their royal family as they returned home. Ahmad grabbed his wife and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. And when he was done, her three children attacked her, knocking her to the ground with their hugs.
"Any word?" Emily asked as she gave Ahmad a quick hug.
"No, we have not heard from Ardeth in several days."
Emily nodded. Holding Tom, she was able to duck away from the large crowd of people, and she entered her house with a sigh. God, she was happy to be home. Entering her bedroom, she saw that someone had stripped the sheets off her bed. They, like the sheets in the guestroom, and everyone's clothes, had been burned. But sitting on top of the bed was a new pair of sheets, and she was happy they had given them new ones.
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"I think we should leave tomorrow." Emily told Meelesh the next morning.
"Are you sure?" Her sister-in-law asked, "Do you feel strong enough?"
"Yes, I do. I want to go back in case Ardeth gets there…"
"All right, but we leave tomorrow. You should really rest one more day."
For the past two days, that was all that Emily was doing, resting, but she knew she had to. She had spent a lot of time talking with the O'Connell's and the Carnahan's, and Tom spent much time playing with Alex.
Emily sighed and began her way into the kitchen for breakfast, finding Evy, Rick, and Jonathan already there, sipping their coffee.
"Morning all." She said as she crossed to the coffeepot.
"Morning Emily." She heard the three say.
"How are you feeling dear?" Evy asked.
"Better, much better." Emily fixed her cup and made her way to the table. "Um, I have some sad news, we are going to leave tomorrow."
"Oh! Why?" Evy said, her eyes wide.
"I want to be there for when Ardeth gets back…"
"Well, we will miss you Em." Rick said as he stood and went after the coffeepot.
"Don't worry, I will come back soon and bring Ardeth with me. But…I have a feeling he will be coming back soon and I want to be at home when he does."
"We understand." Jonathan said softly.
Emily sighed and took a sip of her coffee. Soon, Meelesh, Carol, Tom, and Alex joined them in the kitchen, and they all sat down and had breakfast, talking and laughing.
Later that day, as Emily packed her and Tom's things, Alex popped in the room and pounced down on the bed.
"So, you're really going to leave tomorrow?"
"Sadly, I am."
Alex pouted. "I'm going to miss you and little Tom."
"Oh, don't worry Love, like I told your parents, I will come back with Ardeth. And who knows, maybe you can come out to be with us. You know you are always welcome."
"Yeah, I know. But I am still going to miss you. For once I wasn't the youngest one in the house!"
Emily chuckled.
"Emily…what are you going to tell Ardeth?" Alex asked softly.
"Ardeth…for some strange reason, Ardeth knows what happened." Emily said, sitting next to Alex on the bed.
"How does he know?"
"I don't know. He just does. It is kinda like this scar," she opened her right hand and showed Alex the long scar on her palm, "Don't really know how it got there, but its there, so I don't ask questions."
"You got that when you and Ardeth first met, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did."
"Yeah, I remember you telling me about your dream. Freaky stuff."
"Oh, its not half as bad as the freaky things you have seen."
"True, but it is still strange."
Emily rubbed her hand through his hair.
~~
They all ate diner outside that night, enjoying the cool night air. They laughed and talked and sat around the table for hours. Tom took Alex off and played hide and seek with him in the garden, after a while, Carol and Jonathan joined them. Leaving Evy, Rick, Meelesh, and Emily to sit and talk.
"Reminds me of the first time I was here." Emily said softly as Jonathan and Alex argued about whom was 'It'.
"Yeah, I remember that day. I never got to thank you for saving my wife." Rick said softly, so that only Emily could hear. Meelesh and Evy were off in another conversation.
"The way I looked at it, was she had a family, and you needed her more then me."
"Still, you gave up yourself for her safety, that means a lot to me."
Emily smiled; she didn't know how to respond to that. So she just placed her hand on Rick's and gave it a little squeeze, think back to that night.
~~
"One girl for the other. We haven't got all night!" Sabooru cried.
Emily looked softly at Ardeth. "No…" He said.
"I have to do this. Evy has a family, they need her…I have to do this."
~~
More arguing from Alex and Jonathan pulled her from the memory. She laughed and stood up.
"Excuse me, dear friends, but I have a game to play." Emily walked out into the garden and joined the game.
~~
The first day and a half on the boat, Ardeth stayed in his cabin, resting after the weeklong trip he took with Tarek. And although the cot he had slept on in the Med-jai City was nice, it was nothing compared to the soft bed he had in his small room. But on the afternoon of the first full day, Ardeth finally came out and walked around the deck of the ship. He checked on his horse, which also seemed happy to be able to rest. Ardeth walked to the railing and looked out as the sands of Egypt passed him by. He sighed and thought about his beautiful wife, where she was, and what she was doing. He would be whole again when he could feel her in his arms.
He let out another sigh and stayed where he was for a long time, thinking about the events of the past week. He had regained a brother, but had lost a child. Maybe that was how life really worked out, you couldn't have both at the same time. Or maybe it was just how his life worked out. He had already been blessed with Emily and Tom, maybe that was all he got. But even if that were true, he would be happy. Tom and Emily meant the world to him. And if he only got them, it would be perfect.
Ardeth's stomach growled at him, making him realize just how hungry he really was. As he entered the small dining room on the boat, he held open the door for two British women who looked at him like he was the most beautiful thing they had ever seen. And as they passed, they bust into giggles. He laughed in spite of himself, things like that always happened to him and Ahmad when they went out. Woman would stare at them, whisper at each other, and giggle. If only those women knew both Med-jai were happily married.
Ardeth had a small diner, and then returned to the deck of the ship, where he sat in a chair and stared up at the sky. Such funny ways of travel the world had. Boats, cars, trains, planes, that…thing he had ridden on with the O'Connell's, Jonathan, and Izzy. That thought lead to another. How come every time he got into the air with Rick O'Connell, he went crashing to the ground? Granted, the second time was a little bit better, because that wall of water had cushioned the fall for the…flying boat and it's passengers. The first time was a little fun, flying through the air like a bird…the wind in his face and hair. Although he did not feel safe at all, being strapped to the wing of the thing. He could still hear O'Connell say,
"Relax, it will be a safe trip. Nothing will happen."
Yeah, nothing would happen. Except for a huge wall of sand coming at them, forcing them to crash. What an experience he had to face, four years into his kingship. But he got through it, and had become close friends with the three foreigners. He would have never of thought, back then, that he would end up saving the world with them once more, or that they would help save his future wife from madmen. Then again, when he first took the thrown, he never would have thought the Creature would have been brought back.
The giggling British women walked past him then, bringing Ardeth back to reality. They looked at him, giggled, and began to whisper to each other. So Ardeth nodded his head towards the women, flashed them a smile, and left, not wanting to put up with their constant giggles.
Ardeth feel asleep with ease that night, entering his own personal dreamland filled with images of Emily and Tom.
~~
"We will miss you." Evy said as she hugged Emily in the early morning.
"I will miss you as well, but I am coming back soon."
"You better," Rick said as she turned to hug him. "Because I would hate having to still be the only American here."
Emily laughed. "At least they speak your native language, I am the one who has to talk like the Med-jai."
Jonathan and Carol both hugged Emily as Meelesh hugged Rick and Evy. Alex and Tom stood off to the side, watching on silently. The six Med-jai bodyguards were getting the horses ready for the day and a half ride. Finally, the large group turned its attention towards Alex and Tom.
"I am going to miss your presence." Emily told Alex as they hugged. "Thank you so much for taking care of Tom, I can tell he really cares for you."
"Your welcome, he is a fine boy and I was happy to do it. And I too will miss both your presence's."
"Hey!" Meelesh said as she stepped in for a quick hug. "Am I going to be missed at all?"
"Of course!" Alex said back with a smile. "I will miss you more then all of them put together!"
"Just like you father." Meelesh said, shaking her head.
"Just like your brother." Alex shot back with a smile. The doctor laughed.
The two women mounted their horses, and Alex handed Tom up to Emily.
"Thank you all so much for everything, you are too kind, really." Emily said. "I will see you again soon."
Then, the group of horses thundered out of the driveway and down the street, on its way out of Cairo.
Evy sighed as Rick placed an arm around her shoulder. "Well, I guess that is that."
"Yeah, I guess it is." Rick said as he kissed his wife's temple. They all walked back inside, ready for breakfast and a new day.
~~
Nothing of any interest happened for Ardeth of Emily over the next two days. The ride through the desert had been quiet and peaceful. And the trip down the Nile was just the same. As more passengers got on the boat, Ardeth just stayed in his cabin. Luckily, the giggling Brits got off at one stop, leaving him in peace.
It was early in the afternoon when Emily, Meelesh, Tom, and the Med-jai got back to their city. Everyone in town rushing out to greet their royal family as they returned home. Ahmad grabbed his wife and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. And when he was done, her three children attacked her, knocking her to the ground with their hugs.
"Any word?" Emily asked as she gave Ahmad a quick hug.
"No, we have not heard from Ardeth in several days."
Emily nodded. Holding Tom, she was able to duck away from the large crowd of people, and she entered her house with a sigh. God, she was happy to be home. Entering her bedroom, she saw that someone had stripped the sheets off her bed. They, like the sheets in the guestroom, and everyone's clothes, had been burned. But sitting on top of the bed was a new pair of sheets, and she was happy they had given them new ones.