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Bewildered, Evy glanced around the camp searching for something familiar. She smiled warmly when she saw Ardeth emerging from one of the tents. It turned into a puzzled frown as he spotted her and tossed her a quick, angry glare, before retreating back inside the tent.
"Ardeth?" She shouted after him, taking several steps forward.
Evy froze as he emerged, again, this time carrying something in his arms. The anger in his face had been replaced by anguish, and Evy thought her heart would break as he pleadingly looked into her eyes.
"Leyh, sadiqi?" ("Why, my friend?")
"Leyh?" she echoed, confused. "Ardeth wha..."
Evy's eyes fell on the beautiful little girl he held in his arms. At first, she only noticed the strong resemblance the child bore to Ardeth. It took several seconds for Evy to register how limply she hung in his arms. Taking a half-step closer, she studied the child more closely, gasped and stepped back again as she realized the beautiful little girl was dead.
"Leyh?" Ardeth repeated, his voice laced with despair.
"Ardeth?! Wha..." Evy's question faded as Ardeth turned to look behind him, shifting enough for her to see, as well. Evy began to tremble. All of the tents had vanished. In their place, she saw men and women hovering over limp body after limp body. Spinning around, Evy found that bodies now surrounded her on every side. The sound of wailing assaulted her ears as she turned back toward Ardeth.
"Ardeth, please, tell me wha..."
Turning to face her again, Ardeth interrupted, this time in English.
"Why, my friend? Why did you do this?"
Evy was about to protest having done anything when she noticed the look in Ardeth's eyes had changed to bewildered amazement. As he glanced down, she followed his gaze and quickly realized that he no longer held the child. The little girl was forgotten, however, when Evy saw the dagger in her hand. Stunned, she cringed when it twisted as she pulled it from Ardeth's flesh, sending fresh warm blood gushing onto her hand.
"Why?"
She heard him repeat, again, and looked up just in time to lock onto his eyes before hands grabbed him. Evy lunged for him, desperately, and managed to grasp his hand, but the hands pulling him down into the underworld were too strong, and she lost her grip.
"Why, my friend, why?"
The question echoed through Evy's mind as she jolted awake, gasping for air. Running a trembling hand through her hair, she tried to calm down and remember where she was, but couldn't stop shaking enough to think. Closing her eyes, Evy took several deep breaths. Feeling steadier, she opened her eyes again and realized she was in her bedroom. As Evy swung her legs around and sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze fell on the journal and the events of the day came flooding back. Ardeth! She grabbed the book and rose, unsteadily, from the bed.
Creeping silently into the guest room, Evy approached the bed. She reached toward Ardeth, tempted to brush a stray lock of hair from his face, but stopped herself, afraid it might wake him. Pulling her hand back, Evy glanced over at her sleeping son. She smiled affectionately, then wearily trudged over to an overstuffed chair in the corner, curled up comfortably, and fell asleep.
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Rick woke with a start. Disoriented, his eyes darted around the room for several seconds, before he registered it was the kitchen. Relaxing back into the chair, his eyes slowly closed while he pondered why he would be sleeping in the kitchen. Jerking awake, again, Rick groaned as he remembered, and he forced himself to his feet.
He knew he should check on Ardeth...and Alex...and Evy. Pausing to stretch his stiff muscles, Rick wondered who to check on first. Yawning, he settled on Alex and Ardeth - as he wanted to have a long talk with Evy, it seemed better to save her for last. Slowly lugging himself up the stairs, Rick headed toward the guest room.
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"Nooooooo!"
The sound of Evy's panicked shout brought Ardeth awake with a painful jerk. Trying to bite back a groan, he shoved himself up on one elbow to search for the voice. Evy's thrashing immediately caught his attention.
"Evelyn!" he croaked, weakly. She failed to respond, and Ardeth didn't waste breath trying again. Forcing his reluctant body to comply, he pulled himself out of bed and took a step before he realized he was half-naked and hesitated. Seeing his bloodstained robe tossed across the foot of the bed, Ardeth grabbed it and eased it on, gritting his teeth against the pain. Certain he couldn't stay standing long, he didn't bother securing it with the sash before hobbling over to wake Evelyn from her nightmare.
"NOOOOOOOO! ARDETH! GET AWAY!" Evy shouted, before suddenly flying out of the chair. Still imprisoned within her nightmare, she stumbled over her feet as they hit the floor. Ardeth reflexively lunged forward to catch her.
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The remnant of sleep still fogging Rick's brain quickly cleared as he heard his wife scream. It seemed to have come from the guest room. Adrenaline surging through him, Rick raced the rest of the way there.
"NOOOOO! ARDETH! GET AWAY!" Evy shouted. She tried to escape, but hands grabbed her, holding her still while Ardeth came closer...she could feel the dagger in her hand...she knew she was going to stab him...he had to get away from her!
Rick flew through the door. Seeing Ardeth griping his wife tightly as she struggled to escape, he didn't even pause. Rushing over, Rick grabbed a handful of Ardeth's robe and yanked him around, breaking the weakened Medjai's hold on Evy. Stumbling backwards as Ardeth's weight shifted, Rick caught himself and threw his own weight forward.
Stunned, Ardeth was helpless to prevent Rick from slamming him against the wall. Crippling pain flared through his body, shocking the breath from him and forcing the warrior into a desperate struggle to make his reluctant lungs reinflate, despite the intense pain it caused.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Rick hissed in Ardeth's face. He shook the Medjai fiercely when he failed to answer, too angry to register that Ardeth, gasping for air, was incapable of answering.
"DAAAAD!" Alex flew off the bed and lunged for his father's arm. Tugging on it with all his strength, he tried to pull his father off Ardeth, but Rick didn't notice.
Evy'd dropped as the hands in her dream suddenly released her. The jolt, combined with her son's shout, shook her free from her nightmare. It took a few seconds to orient herself before she found her son. Confused, she watched him dart towards Rick. Her jaw dropped as she registered what was happening, and she rushed toward her husband.
"RICK! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" She shouted, wrapping her arms around his chest and pulling him back. "STOP IT!"
Startled, Rick released Ardeth and spun around to gather his wife into his arms. "Are you all right! What did he do to you?"
"Ardeth didn't do anything! He was just trying to help!" Alex wailed, backing away from his parents.
Barely conscious, Ardeth collapsed onto the floor in a heap. Alex was by his side in a heartbeat, soothingly brushing the hair from his ashen forehead.
"He's right, Rick. Ardeth didn't do anything!" Evy informed her husband.
"But I saw him attacking you!"
"No! Ardeth...I mean...I was having a nightmare. Ardeth must have been trying to wake me!" She explained. Rick's stomach twisted as realized he'd jumped to the wrong conclusion.
"DAD!" Alex's shouted, noticing Ardeth's strangled gasps. Rick and Evy turned toward their son and saw panic on his face. "Dad, he CAN'T BREATHE!"
"Oh god! His ribs!" Rick exclaimed, the color draining from his face. "Slamming him into the wall like that musta..."
Rick didn't finish, unable to voice the possibility that he'd made Ardeth's injuries worse. Glancing at his wife, he could tell she was thinking the same thing - if the force of the impact sent one of Ardeth's broken ribs into a lung...
"I'll ring Dr. Hamilton," Evy muttered, pulling away from her husband and fleeing the room.
Rick rushed to Ardeth, swearing a little as he noticed the awkward way his 'good' arm was twisted beneath him. Pushing the Medjai flat onto his back, he was relieved to see that the arm didn't seem injured. The shift seemed to help Ardeth breathe and the bluish tinge of his lips began to fade, leaving Rick to wonder if he should try to get him back into bed. It didn't seem right to leave him there on the cold floor, but he was afraid of doing more damage.
"RIIIIIIIIIICK!" Evy screamed, flying through the doorway. "He's not there!"
"WHAT?!"
"He's gone on another call!" Evy said, wringing her hands. "I left a message with his wife, buy it sounded it might be hours before he gets it."
"Oh man...okay...'s gonna be all right," Rick responded, trying to convince himself as much as Evy and Alex. "Ardeth! Ardeth, buddy, come on...talk to me. Tell me you're all right!"
Rick gently tapped the Medjai's face, hoping Ardeth would open his eyes, but was startled when he did. Ardeth immediately flinched away from him.
"Whoa! 'S all right. Nobody's gonna hurt ya." Any worse than we already have, Rick thought as he tried to soothe his friend. Even as he said the words, he realized how ridiculous they must sound to Ardeth.
"Yeah, shhhh, nobody's going hurt you anymore," Alex added, with an accusatory edge to his tone. Tossing his parents a quick, angry glare, the child nudged closer to the Medjai, almost managing to position himself between Ardeth and his father.
Ardeth glanced from Rick to Alex before closing his eyes, not wanting the child see his shame. His thoughts were a fuzzy, but Ardeth was certain Rick's actions had been justified. He'd meant well, but even his weary brain could imagine what Rick had seen as he'd entered.
"Hey! What's all the commotion!" Jonathan inquired, abruptly entering the room and startling everyone - including Ardeth, who opened his eyes again, very briefly. Glancing down at the group huddled on the floor, Jonathan added, "don't you think he'd be more comfortable in bed?"
"Very funny, Jonathan," Evy's responded, as both she and Rick glared up at him. "There was a bit of a...well...oh bother! Never mind how he ended up on the floor! He did. Now, he's having trouble breathing and we're not sure if it will make it worse to move him again!"
"Seems to be breathing all right, considering," Jonathan pointed out, ignoring his sister's irritated tone.
"Yeah, he seems to be doing better," Alex admitted.
Rick and Evy studied Ardeth for a few seconds before making eye contact, trying to come to a decision. His breathing, although obviously still painful, did seem to be better. Rick shrugged his shoulders, and Evy sighed in agreement.
"Jonathan, give me hand, would ya. Get out of the way, Alex," Rick 'requested'. Alex reluctantly stepped aside, but continued to hover protectively as they helped the Medjai off the floor. Ardeth bit back a gasp as Rick moved his injured shoulder.
"Sorry," Rick muttered. Ardeth turned his head enough for Rick to catch the emotion in his eyes as they flickered open. It was shame. Rick mentally swore at himself as he grasp that Ardeth believed he'd offended him.
"It is I...that am sorry," Ardeth mumbled, breathlessly.
"Don't worry about it, big guy, just a misunderstanding," Rick responded, knowing the words would do little to convince his friend that he'd done nothing wrong.
Ardeth didn't respond. Pulling away from Rick and Jonathan, he stumbled the remaining step and a half to the bed, eased himself onto it, and closed his eyes without looking at anyone.
"Ardeth?" Evy questioned, approaching the bed. Rick stopped her, catching her around the shoulders and turning her toward the door.
"I think Ardeth could use some peace and quiet," he stated. "Jonathan, Alex, you, too. Let's go."
"But, Dad..."
"No buts, Alex."
Alex could tell by the tone of his father's voice that arguing wouldn't do any good. Pouting, he reluctantly followed his parents and uncle out of the room.
Hearing the door close softly, Ardeth spontaneously shuddered with relief, the tension draining from his body. He tried not to immediately fall asleep - he had much to consider - but it was no use. With his body physically exhausted and the room dark and quiet, he was asleep within minutes.
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"Rick, shouldn't someone be sitting with him? What if he needs something?" Evy asked, pouncing on her husband as he returned to their room after tucking Alex in bed.
"What he needs right now is to be left alone so he can get some rest, Evy."
She stopped pacing and intensely studied her husband. The tone in his voice gave her the impression she was missing something.
"What's wrong, Rick?"
Rick didn't answer. He wasn't really sure what to say that wouldn't make Evy upset. Stalling, he stripped out of his clothes.
"RICK?!"
He glanced up at her with a soft sigh.
"I saw him holding you, Evy."
"Yes, so, I told you...he was just trying to wake me," Evy stressed, impatiently. "You're not really angry with him?"
"No. That's not the problem," Rick responded, hoping Evy would figure it out on her own.
"Then what is the...oh!" she exclaimed, suddenly catching on to the problem. Ardeth believed that Rick believed he'd manhandled his wife, and was, therefore, disgraced. Evy sunk onto the bed, a fresh knot of worry tying in her stomach as she wondered what Ardeth would do. A second later, she jumped back up. "Nonsense! He did nothing wrong. He's just too tired to think clearly. Once he's feeling better, he'll see it was just a misunderstanding."
"Yeah," Rick responded, resignedly. He doubted it would be that simple, but she was right about Ardeth being too tired to think clearly. Evy was, too, and he wasn't far from it himself. Rick let himself hope that the incident really could just be forgotten once they'd all had some rest.
"Evy..." Rick began, remembering he still had no idea what had happened between her and Ardeth in the first place. He saw her tense and briefly considered leaving things alone...but he had to know. "Honey, I need you tell me what happened."
"I have told you! I was having a nightmare and...," Evy responded, nervously. She knew that wasn't what he was really asking about, but she wasn't sure how to explain what she'd done.
Rick interrupted, keeping his voice calm and gentle. "No, Evy. I need you to tell me what happened earlier...how Ardeth ended up at the bottom of the stairs."
Evy abruptly moved to the other side of the room to pace.
"Evy?"
"I...well...oh, Rick...I was just so angry and Ardeth was there and I had the dagger in my hand and he was bleeding and...and...," Evy stammered, continuing to pace.
"Why were you angry? What happened? What did he do? Please, Evy! I need to know!" Rick responded. Standing up, he moved towards his wife with the intention of comforting her, but she shied away.
"Ardeth...he didn't do anything...I just...he just...and the journal said...," Evy stammered, growing increasing agitated by the second. "Well, I thought it said...but it didn't...and...and...it's all my fault, Rick!"
Rick sighed, realizing that his wife was still much too upset to give him a coherent answer. Finally managing to catch her in his arms, he held her, firmly, and gently rocked her until the tension in her muscles began to ease, then guided her back to the bed. Climbing under the covers, Rick waited patiently for Evy to get settled next to him before wrapping her up in his arms again.
"Everything's gonna work out, Evy. You'll see. It's gonna be fine," he whispered tenderly, as they slowly drifted off to sleep.
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Dragging a blanket along behind him, Alex crept silently down the hall towards Ardeth's room. There'd been no point in arguing with is father, but he had no intention of really leaving the Medjai alone. Cracking the door just enough to slip through, Alex left it open to allow some light in from the hallway. Climbing carefully onto the bed, he winced, then, froze, as Ardeth stirred. Alex breathed a silent sigh as the Medjai settled, and curled up next to him, quickly falling asleep.
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