Chapter 5
Darkness.
"Oh look at you, you clever little girl! Edward! Edward! Our brilliant little four-year-old has just unearthed more pottery!
Darkness.
"Don't be silly, every child has to go to school. You will join us, in Egypt, every Christmas and school break. When school ends you can then spend the entire summer with us at the dig. Your father and I have mapped out several areas that show great potential!
Darkness.
"Edward look at her, she's becoming a young woman! Darling, I hardly recognized you when you stepped off the boat!
Darkness.
"Melissa. Now do you understand how to correctly catalogue these artifacts? Good girl! Your Mother always makes such a mess of the cataloging. Her hearts just not in it, she would rather be digging, but don't tell her I said that."
Darkness.
"'Lissa it's a boy! He has ten fingers, ten toes, and a head full of blonde hair and is absolutely beautiful. Yes, yes Evelyn is fine. I just thought I would ring you first. I'm sending a letter to your parents immediately. I will call the Head Mistress during the week and let her know that I will be picking you up early on Friday afternoon. We want you to met Alexander! Yes that is what we are calling him. Don't tell Evelyn, but I'm already referring to his as Alex!
Darkness.
"Rick and I will be arriving Saturday morning. No, Alex will be staying here with Jonathon and the Nanny. I'll ring the Head Mistress and let her know that we are coming. No, no, nothing is wrong darling, see you Saturday."
Darkness.
"I'm so sorry Melissa, nothing could be done for them. They were with God by the time the foreman arrived back at the site."
Darkness
"You won't be joining us in Egypt this summer? We'll miss you terribly. I know you're an adult now and this is entirely your decision! I had so hoped you would change your mind."
Darkness
"I'm sorry Miss Wainbright but your teaching services will no longer be required. Melissa, may I give you some advice? You are a wonderful girl. You're twenty-two years old and quite lovely. You are also very wealthy. Go out into the world and travel, you cannot keep hiding here at school!"
Darkness.
"I love you 'Lissa! I'm so glad your coming with us to Egypt! You and I can explore while Mum and Dad dig!!!
Darkness.
"She has not awoken, yet! Azmeed if you dared to injure her further, by racing your horse, I will, I will…"
Darkness.
"I love you. Please don't leave me, not after I have just found you. There is so much I must tell you my Beauty, please let me see your lovely green eyes."
Darkness.
"You must eat! You cannot stay here day after day, night after night waiting for her to wake up. Her body is mending, while you destroy yours. Mr. O'Connell please make him eat and rest!
Darkness.
Sandalwood and spice. I opened my eyes. One candle dimly lit the room. The walls were dark and moved with the breeze. Tent, I'm in a tent. Something moved in the corner. A woman, she was young, with black shining hair and wearing a long dark dress. She moved towards me and reached into a basin beside where I lay. Cool cloth on my forehead and cheeks. "Water?" she whispered, I nodded and she raised my head to drink. She laid me back down on the pillow and looked down to my side.
Ardeth.
His sleeping form lay against the bed. His head lay close to my side, his arms outstretched as if trying to touch me. His face was turned towards the door of the tent and the breeze gently lifted the flap, up and down, up and down.
"He has done this every night," the woman whispered. I reached out my hand and laid it on the black curls. My eyes closed.
Darkness.
"But why did you not wake me, Mira? I told you to wake me if anything happened!"
"She only opened them for a moment, I bathed her face, gave her water and then she feel back to sleep."
My eyes fluttered open.
The tent was much lighter now. Small flaps on either side had been tied up and I could see daylight beyond. The door remained closed but its loose ends fluttered in the breeze. I looked about the room. To the left of where I lay, against the tent wall, stood a dressing table with mirror and small chair. Further down in the corner were two large chairs with a table between them. On my right, large pillows lay strewn about the floor and at the end of the bed, nearest to the door, stood two more large chairs.
Each chair was occupied. Evie sat in one, her head propped up in her hand, eyes closed and in the other sat the woman. Her eyes were open and she was staring directly at me. She reached over and touched Evie's knee. "Miss Evelyn she is awake!"
Evie opened her eyes and looked at me. Jumping from her chair she rushed forward and knelt beside the bed.
"Oh Melissa you gave us such a scare! How are you feeling darling, does it still hurt?"
"Alex!"
"He's fine, Rick's fine, even Jonathon is fine, just a little hung over from the Med-jai wine, but we're all fine." I started to speak but she raised her hand to stop me. "We'll tell you the whole story later."
The woman stood and walked over to a large pitcher on the dressing table. Poured water into a glass and came around the bed and sat on my other side. "Drink Melissa. You must drink."
She raised my head and handed me the glass. Evie placed more pillows behind my back so that I was now sitting up in the bed. I swallowed the cold water quickly. "More please."
The woman walked back to the table and refilled the glass. She handed it to Evie saying, "I must tell him that she is awake."
"No, not yet!" I pleaded.
Evie spun around quickly and almost lost her grip on the glass. "Why not?" She handed the glass to me and I drank quickly. I leaned my head back into the pillows and returned the empty glass to her.
"I need time, time to prepare."
"Prepare?"
"Oh God Evie! I must look a fright. I would like to brush my hair and wash my face. Is that too much to ask?"
Evie and the woman started to laugh, "Well no I guess it's not too much to ask," Evie replied.
"Are you hungry? Mira could get you something to eat."
"Mira?"
The woman walked back to the bedside and knelt down, "I am Mira, the wife of Ardeth's brother."
"You speak English very well!"
She smiled, "All the young ones are schooled in both Arabic and English. The elders only use the native tongue."
"You are the one who has tended to me."
"Yes, for the last four days."
"Four days! I have been laying here for four days!"
Evie and Mira smiled.
"You were unconscious when Azmeed brought you here. I bathed you and rebound your side and then made you drink our medicine. It helped you to sleep so that your body could heal."
"I would like to get out of this bed. Now!"
"Do you think that's wise," Evie cautioned.
I touched my ribs, the pain was slight but nowhere near what I had endured days before.
"Evie if you don't help me from this bed, I will get out of it myself!"
Evie lifted the heavy covers back and Mira scooted my legs over to the side. My feet landed on carpet and I realized the bed was no more than eight inches from the floor. Both women wrapped their arms around me and gently lifted me onto my feet. The gown I was wearing fell down my legs and brushed the top of my toes. I looked into the mirror on the dressing table and saw my reflection. The gown was white linen with large ruffles of lace at each wrist. The neckline was a flurry of more ruffled lace and was cut very low.
"This is very beautiful."
Mira smile, "Azmeed bought it for me in Cairo."
"Azmeed?"
"Yes my husband, Ardeth's brother. Azmeed was the one who brought you here, don't you remember?"
"Yes, vaguely. YES! I do now! I thought he looked very much like Ardeth!"
Mira went behind a screen and then reappeared with an emerald green robe. Evie helped me put it on and then tied the sash. My legs began to feel like rubber. "I need to sit down Evie." She guided me over to a large chair and helped me down into it.
"Mira I think we should get this girl some food!"
Mira popped her head outside the door of the tent and spoke. The tent door opened and a Med-jai entered. He looked familiar, very familiar but I could not recall from where. Suddenly, "Azmeed." He turned to gaze at me and then said to Mira, "I will go get him."
"No please," again I pleaded, "I would like to eat and, and……."
He looked at me quizzically. Mira spoke up, "she means to wash her face, comb her hair, make herself presentable."
"Ah, yes. But Mira, you know what will happen if I do not tell him immediately."
"Melissa has asked us to wait and so we shall wait. Please go to the cooking tent and bring back some chicken broth and bread. Maybe a little Med-jai wine but make sure you water it down." She looked at me and laughed, "if you drank it full strength you would head back to dream land and that would drive Ardeth insane!"
While Azmeed was gone Evie bathed my face, neck and arms with cool water from the basin. Finding a hairbrush, she began to untangle the knots from my hair and brush it back from my face. Mira removed the cotton sheets from the bed and I discovered that the mattress was actually a large white case filled with straw and dried palm fronds. Several furs where placed on top for comfort. She replaced the sheets with fresh ones and then laid wool blankets over the top of the sheets. A velvet, wine colored spread was finally laid over the entire bed. She plumped up the large pillows and laid them back across the top. "There, all fresh and ready for your return!"
Azmeed entered the tent with a tray in his hands. Mira put the bowls and plates in front of me and commanded, "Eat." I did not argue.
The three of them stood and waited until I had finished every morsel then Azmeed helped me back to the bed. Mira was about to open the bed but I insisted on lying on top. "I just can't get back into it. I have been in it for four days. No more!" Mira sighed, shook her head and then covered my feet with a blanket.
Evie gathered up the dishes and placed them on the tray. Mira sat in the large chair at the end of the bed, Evie sat in the other and Azmeed stood near the door.
"Where are Rick and Alex?" I questioned.
"They have taken Ardeth to the cook tent. He was refusing to leave your side. Rick was very angry. He threatened to go and speak to the tribe elders. Ardeth finally relented." Evie explained.
We then heard voices from outside the tent.
"Where is he? I told him not to leave. He was to come and get me if she awakened!" Ardeth said angrily.
"I'm sure everything is OK! You can't expect Azmeed to sit here in this blasted heat all day!" Rick explained.
The tent flap opened and a blonde head appeared.
"MELISSA!" Alex squealed in delight as he barreled towards the bed. Azmeed caught him up in his arms, "Slow down little one, she is still tender, you don't want her to get hurt again." He then gently dropped Alex on his feet.
Alex gingerly crawled onto the bottom of the bed and made his way up to my open arms. "I was so very worried about you 'Lissa. I'm so glad you're awake!" I hugged him tightly.
"Oh Alex," tears flowed, "I thought I had lost you forever."
He kissed the tip of my nose, flicked the tears from my face with his tiny fingers and lay down beside me resting his head on my shoulder.
Rick's now stood at the tent door, "'Lissa! It's about time you woke up! Lazy Bones!" He rushed across the carpet and sat down beside me, quickly kissing my cheek. "You gave use quite a scare!" I pointed to Alex, "No, he gave us quite a scare!" and the tent erupted with laughter. It was then that I noticed Ardeth standing at the door with his arms across his chest.
"Ardeth, thank you for keeping your promise," I said softly, "thank you for bringing Alex back."
He nodded and then turned to Azmeed, "Outside."
Mira stood up quickly and gathered the tray up into her arms, "Come Azmeed, we need to check on our children and let these people have some time alone. Melissa has been full of questions since she awoke and I think now is the time for Mr. and Mrs. O'Connell to answer them." She looked towards Ardeth daring him to say anything. He nodded, opened the tent door for the couple to pass through and then sat down in the chair at the end of the bed.
"Where's Jonathon?" I asked.
Rick laughed, "Sleeping off the Med-jai wine. Ever since he grabbed that diamond he has been celebrating!"
"What diamond?"
For the next few hours Evie, Rick and Alex filled me in on all that I had missed. By the time their story had ended Evie was now settled on the bed beside me, Alex lay in between us and Rick was stretched out across the bottom. Ardeth still sat in the chair.
"I cannot believe that you died."
Evie smiled and patted her side, "And not a mark or scar left from the knife. Alex was brilliant. My soul had not left my body so he was able to bring me back. Thank God he did, otherwise I would not have been able to pull Rick from the pit."
I looked from one face to another and shook my head in amazement.
"And what of Anubis' army?" I said as I turned to look at Ardeth.
"The first legion rose, we fought and defeated them. Then the second wave started towards us and then disappeared into the desert sand," he said quietly.
"Amazing." I whispered and then yawned.
"All right now men time to get moving." Evie got up from the bed and held her hand out to Alex. "We'll let you get some rest. Come on boys, move it." Alex kissed me on my cheek and Rick gave a quick squeeze on my ankle and then rose from the bed. Ardeth stood and held the door open for them. "I'll check in on you later," Evie stated as she left the tent. Ardeth let the door close and then turned to face me. "Are you tired?"
"No. I think I may have slept too much that's why I'm yawning!"
I kicked back the blanket and moved to the side of the bed. "I need to walk, my legs are weak and I need to walk." I stood up shakily and tightened the sash of my robe. "Will you walk with me?" I asked him.
"Yes"
I went to the chair and sat down, "I need my boots, where are my boots?" Ardeth went behind the screen and came out with a pair of leather sandals. "These will be more comfortable," he said as he knelt before me and placed them on my feet. His fingers lingered on my legs, just a little longer than they should have, as he tied the straps.
He stood up and held out his arm. I stood up and linked my arm through his.
"I am so glad to see you awake," he said and then finally smiled.
"I am so glad you kept you promise and came back to me!" was my reply.
"Come, let's walk."
It was twilight in the camp. The sun was setting in the west and its last pink hues tinged the sky. Fires burned here and there. People gathered around them. Children played off to the side, never straying far from their parents. We walked past the fires and off into the desert. We were heading towards a large dune, "I want to show you something," he said and then scooped down to pick me up.
"Ardeth I can walk!"
"You are still healing. I will carry you to the top."
When we reached the top of the dune he placed me on my feet and then turned me towards the camp. A sea of tents spread out below me. Black and brown, some were even multicolored. Fires burned in and around the sea and people were moving and shouting and waving at one another. "This is my village, these are my people. I am the leader of the twelve tribes of Med-jai, as was my father before me."
"You are the leader. The leader of all twelve tribes!"
"Yes"
"But, but you are so young!"
"Thirty-three. My father was very old when my mother gave birth to me. They had almost given up and thought they would never have a child. They were actually grooming one of my cousins to take over as leader when my mother found out she was carrying me. My brother quickly followed. When I turned twenty my father fell ill and never recovered. My mother died two years after him. Her heart was broken," he paused, "I have devoted my life to these people."
I looked up at him. The breeze was playing with his hair and I reached up and tucked a curl behind his ear. "I know you watched over me while I slept. I know you spoke to me when you thought no one could hear. I know," I stammered, "I know that you love me as I love you."
"I do love you. Very much. I realized that as I handed you over to Azmeed. I wanted so badly to be with you. My heart was breaking. I was scared that I would lose you after only just finding you." His voice cracked with emotion.
Our fingers entwined, "I'm here now Ardeth, we never have to be apart me again."
He bent down on one knee, "I was told by O'Connell that this is your custom," he said and continued, "I have made many promises to you and have kept every one. I love you Missy and I promise to make each day, one filled with joy and love. Melissa Elizabeth Wainbright would you marry me?"
His face began to blur and I realized I was crying. He looked at me, waiting for my answer.
I took a deep breath and slowly began, "I fell in love with you the day you caught both Alex and I in your arms. I knew then, as I know now that you will give me your love, unconditionally, as I have given you mine," I paused, "Yes, Ardeth Bay, yes I will marry you!"
Ardeth stood and placed his hands on my cheeks; he gave me such a scorching kiss that my knees buckled and I sagged against him. He stopped and I inhaled deeply, trying to clear my head. "We must tell Evelyn and O'Connell."
"You," I stopped trying to catch my breath, "said Rick showed you how to do this, does he not know?"
"I asked him for your hand. He said it was perfectly all right with him, but the decision was entirely up to you. I didn't tell him I was going to ask you tonight!"
"Then we must go tell them!" I said excitedly.
Ardeth took my hand and led my carefully down the sand dune. When we reached the bottom I wrapped my arms around his waist and boldly kissed him. Our tongues melded together and his hands caressed their way down my neck towards the opening of my robe. I gasped and he stopped. "We must wait," he said breathlessly.
I leaned my head on his chest, closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. Sandalwood and spice. Hand in hand, we slowly walked back to the camp.
They were gathered around the fire. I could see Evie sitting beside Mira and Rick was talking to Jonathon and Azmeed. Alex had a stick in the fire and was playing with something. Ardeth and I walked out of the darkness and into the firelight.
"Where the hell did you two come from? 'Lissa you're as red as a beet!"
"Jonathon be quite," Evie scolded.
Ardeth put has arm around me and looked at our families.
"She said, yes!" he breathlessly announced.
"She said yes, she said no, women can never make their minds up," Jonathon answered.
"She said yes, she said yes!" Rick exclaimed as he jumped up from the fire and shook Ardeth's hand.
"Yes to what?" Evie asked looking back and forth from Rick to Ardeth.
"I said yes, when Ardeth asked my to marry him." I replied.
"What! OH GOOD GOD! Get the wine out, time to celebrate!" Jonathon bellowed.
Evie and Mira jumped up and rushed to kiss me. Ardeth shook hands with Jonathon and Azmeed. Alex stayed by the fire. I walked over and sat down beside him. I tightened the sash on the green robe and then ruffled his hair with my hand. "I guess this means you won't be coming home with us," he said and looked up at me with big teary eyes.
"No I won't, but you can come visit us anytime." I replied.
"Like Christmas and Easter and School Vacation!" he exclaimed.
"Yes and all summer long if you'd like!"
"Oh yes I would like that very much!" he squealed. Jumping up he threw his arms around my neck and smacked his lips on my cheek. Ardeth moved over to stand behind my chair. Alex reached out and shook Ardeth's large hand. "You had better take care of my girl," he said with a serious voice.
"I will, I promise," Ardeth replied, "and Alex you know…"
"I know, I know, Med-jai never break their promises!"