The view was astounding

Disclaimer: The Medjai City is mine, Rebecca's mine; Molnar was mine till I killed him. Anything else I make up along the way is mine. The characters from The Mummy and the Mummy returns are NOT mine.

Joining Ceremony

The view was astounding.

Ardeth had reined in his horse, bringing the group to a halt. When they'd topped the ridge he'd indicated earlier, Rebecca had gasped at the sudden explosion of green. It was paradise.

"This looks like Ahm Shere!" Alex said excitedly, looking at his mother with wonder.

"It certainly does." Evy murmured, stunned.

Rick couldn't believe his eyes. Down below them was a forest of green. It looked very much like Ahm Shere, but without the aura of menace. You could hear and see life in this place. A river flowed through the center of it, disappearing into the ridge they stood upon. Set down below the ridges as it was, it was easy to see why one could not see it until it was stumbled upon. He had a feeling not many people stumbled upon it.

"Legend says that this place was carved out of the desert so that the people would have a refuge." Ardeth said, reaching over to take Rebecca's hand in his. "A reward for our protection of the pharaohs, and their secrets."

"It's beautiful." Rebecca replied, lacing her fingers in his. "How can you stand to come to Cairo when you have this?"

"Sometimes when you leave home you find something you did not know you were looking for." He said, squeezing her hand gently. "If I had not come to Cairo, I would never have met you."

Rebecca smiled at him, a mischievous sparkle in her eye.

"Sure you would have. We were fated, remember? If you hadn't found me, I probably would have been sent here." She teased. "You probably would've woken up one morning to find me yelling at you from the other side of your tent."

"That is an interesting thought." He said thoughtfully, releasing her hand to begin the trek downward. "Would you have been clothed?"

Her laughter echoed as the group resumed their journey.

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Later that day:

Ardeth bent, kissing Rebecca's forehead before dropping her hands and walking away, leaving her before the building she was to sleep in that night. Because she hadn't been presented before the people yet, they were not permitted to spend the night together. She walked into the house, rubbing her arms as the chill of the night breeze cooled her skin.

The city was a wonder. She'd had misconceptions that were totally blown away but what she had seen. The people did not live in tenets, but in homes. The city resembled Cairo to a point, but it was cleaner and safer. There had even been 'foreigners' other than her and the others. She'd been so surprised by the first one she'd seen that Ardeth had openly laughed at her, making her blush furiously.

"You are not the first foreigner to capture the heart of a Medjai." He told her. "Do you see why I told you that you would be accepted here?"

"I didn't think." She said honestly. "Were they presented as well?"

"No, not all." He replied. "As their leader, certain things are required of me."

So because Ardeth had different expectations placed upon him, Rebecca was now alone in the cozy bedroom. She sighed as she lay upon the bed; it had felt like forever since she'd slept on a bed. Her eyes drifted shut, and she sank into a deep slumber. She did not awaken until the next morning; when a commotion in the living room brought her awake with a start.

"Who's there?" She called, her hands wrapping around the handle of the dagger she kept beneath her pillow.

"It's me." Evy replied, laughter in her voice. "Get up sleepy head. You've got a big day ahead of you."

Rebecca groaned, flinging the covers back with a scowl as she rose, donning a robe and walking to the cloth-covered doorway. She pushed the curtain back, her gaze widening at the group of women assembled in the living area.

"Come on." Evy urged, grabbing Rebecca's hand and dragging her forward.

"I need to get dressed!"

"No you don't. Everything's covered. You just have to go along."

Half an hour later Rebecca was reclining in a hot spring bath, her eyes closed as she contemplated that this must be what heaven was like.

"I now have another reason to like mornings." She sighed, opening her eyes to find Evy grinning at her from the other side of the pool.

"What is the first reason? You've never liked mornings before." Evy said, liberally covering the sponge she held with scented soap.

"Did you like mornings before you started waking up with Rick?"

"I've always like mornings." Evy sighed. "Then I learned to LOVE them."

Rebecca smothered a laugh as two women came into the room. She'd discovered that the women who'd come to the house with Evy were members of Ardeth's family. She'd met a cousin, an aunt, and a wizened old woman she'd discovered was his grandmother. She was developing a quick affection for the woman. Evy said it was because they were alike. Rebecca didn't believe that, Denari carried herself like a queen, and her eyes showed a quick wit and humor. She could see where Ardeth got his air of dignity, and his sense of humor.

"Are you not coming in?" Rebecca asked. She'd been learning their language ever since she'd left Ardeth the first time.

Denari laughed, leaned over to whisper in Rebecca's ear. Rebecca flushed red to the roots of her hair.

"What did she tell you?" Evy asked, curiosity making her expression bright.

"The waters have been blessed to ensure a fertile wedding night." Rebecca replied, her expression embarrassed. "She said she is no longer in need of the services a man can provide, and would not think of taking the power away from the woman who would soon produce her great-grandchildren."

"How come I'm in here?"

"She said it's because you're already with child."

"How did she know that?" Evy asked. "We've told no one since we've arrived."

"She knows things." Alainah, Ardeth's cousin, said in halting English. "She can see them in her mind. She knew you were coming."

Rebecca stared at her, surprise written on her face.

"It seems everyone knew I was coming here but me." She said, her expression troubled. "Did I choose this, Evy?"

"Ardeth once told me it is the journey that is written, not the destination." Evy replied, wrapping a towel about her as she stepped out of the water. "She knew you were coming, but you chose to be here, and who to be with. Remember that."

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She'd never been so nervous in her whole life. How was she expected to stand before thousands of people? She twisted her fingers together, pacing the room like a caged tiger. She had to walk from here to the temple, down the main street of the city, in a procession that wound through much of the town. She didn't mind that as much as the fact that people had been lining the streets since sundown in anticipation of the event.

There was a knock on the door, and she turned as Jonathan walked in. She smiled, for he looked quite uncomfortable in the ceremonial robes he'd been given to wear. Since she had no parents, she'd chosen him to walk with her to the temple, where he would present her to Ardeth.

"You look very handsome." She said, kissing his cheek.

"You look scared out of your mind." Jonathan replied, adjusting the strap on his sling. "And very beautiful. What are the chances of me sneaking out of here so I can marry you myself?"

He looked down at her as she laughed. She didn't believe him, but she looked stunning. She wore a close-fitting sheath of white linen, over that was draped a robe of midnight blue with silver threads bordering the edging in a scrolling design. Silver threads were entwined in her hair, which was left loose, hanging to her waist in a riot of curls. When she moved the candlelight caught the threads in her hair, making it shimmer. When he hugged her he did so carefully, not wanting to mar her look. She smelled like a garden, and he gave an exaggerated sniff, drawing another laugh from her.

"Relax. This isn't as bad as facing down an army of mummies, believe me." He told her, tucking her arm in his as Alainah walked into the room.

"It is time." Alainah said, her accent making the words pretty. "I will follow. Grandmother is already at the temple."

Taking a deep breath, Rebecca stepped out the door with Jonathan. She wanted to duck behind him when a cheer went up, but she maintained her poise, raising a hand to wave as a smile broke out on her face. Alainah nodded her approval. This one would do nicely. She'd had reservations about the woman Ardeth had fallen in love with, but she could see she was going to fit in well.

The procession did not take as long as Rebecca had thought it would. By the time they'd reached the temple she'd relaxed quite a bit. When she saw Rick and Evy standing at the entrance she had to blink to hold back tears.

Ardeth turned as the doors opened, his heart coming to a stuttering halt when he saw her framed in the doorway. She stood straight, her gaze never leaving his as she walked up the aisle with Jonathan. He wore the same color robe she did, woven with the same silver design. She and Jonathan came to a stop before him, Jonathan placed her hand in Ardeth's waiting one, bending down to kiss her cheek before stepping back.

She didn't understand all the words used in the ceremony, but at the end, when Ardeth placed the mark of the Medjai on her hand, and his family emblem on a chain around her neck, she knew they were bound together. He took both her hands in his as the priest said the final words that blessed the union, and brought them to his lips.

"My wife." He said softly, brushing away her tears with his thumbs as he cradled her face in his hands, bringing his lips down to hers for a kiss.

They walked together to the doors, which were thrown open as Ardeth drew her outside, where a cheer went up from the waiting people. His shouted words translated as such:

"This is my heart. I hope you grow to love her as I do."

He turned abruptly, swinging Rebecca up in a kiss that made Evy's eyes fill, and Alex scowl.

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