Title: Passion - Prologue - Chasms
Rating: PG13 for now
Author: Angela - jedinineofnine@hotmail.com - http://geocities.com/saturnfiction
Summary: Something's bothering Ardeth. Of course it's never as simple as that.
Disclaimer: No infringement intended. I own Asenath, Drake, Samira, Mahmud, Abdu, Omar and Ali.
Prequel (which should be read to get this): http://fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=654922&chapter=1
Codes: Ardeth/Ancksunamun, Imhotep/Evy

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"And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us."
Luke 16:26 - The Rich Man and Lazarus 1

He endlessly walked. Where he was he did not know at first, but slowly the memories came freely to his mind. Ardeth looked with great interest at the trees and plants around him--the loveliest things he had ever laid his eyes upon. Perfect in health and hue, fragrant and soothing. He wondered idly if he had died in some battle he could no longer bring to memory.

His clothes were not his own, but fine and bright and clean. His hair seemed longer than before, but only by slight measure. The very ground he walked upon was soft and as gentle as rain. Ardeth made his way through the brush, seeking whatever would be found in such a place. His footsteps led him far to a place where darkness began to creep into the beautiful woods.

His heart warned him against further travel, yet his curiosity won and he continued. What could possibly lay ahead that was terrible and dark? Surely nothing in such a place as lovely as this.

But a voice called to him, a voice in such pain and need that his heart felt heavy. Quickly his steps fell to the dirt as he searched for that longing sound. If not for his keen senses he might not have stopped in time. Ardeth came before a wide chasm, vast and deep. He stopped just before it, kicking gravel down into the depths.

The voice that called to him grew louder and more desperate. "I am here!" he yelled without willing it so, raising his eyes up to look across the chasm. What he saw troubled him. Fire and shadow and pain unimaginable.

The cries grew louder. "Akhenre!" she screamed and his eyes darted and fell upon a girl with dark hair. Her hands stretched out towards him. "Save me, my love!"

Ardeth swallowed, watching Ancksunamun's torment. A wind brushed through his hair, a soft breeze he was certain she would not feel. Tears came unbidden to his eyes as she pleaded with him. "I will save you," he promised her, uncertain as to what to do. There must be something--some way he could rescue his love. He couldn't fail her again. He looked up and felt determination spread through him.

Ardeth awakened with a start. His body felt hot and moist, the condition brought about by troublesome dreams. His dark eyes looked up to the ceiling of his bedroom as he inhaled deeply. One month had gone by. One month away from the pain that had been enduring the life of his past.

He threw back the blanket that covered him and removed his nightshirt, tossing it carelessly to the floor. He was too hot to bear them. It felt strange, wearing these English clothes and sleeping in this English house. The back yard was still pretty messed up--Evy's garden in ruins. His heart in ruins nearly. Ardeth Bay was unsure of where he belonged now.

His people had been content with his defeating the priestess and were ready to welcome him back with open arms, but he wasn't ready. The very fact they had demanded such a task before his return had wounded him. So instead he had chosen to come here. These people had suffered with him and he with them in times passed. He felt a kinship to them unlike his own people. Of course that wasn't to say they replaced the Med-Jai; they were just different and what he needed right now. A break from responsibility and from the hurt he had caused and suffered.

Rest seemed to not want him now that he had been startled from his dream. A month had passed with no sign the guilt and pain would return to him through dreams and now this. Too soon had he thought he would escape such visions, but it seemed now that his grief would fully surface as Evy warned him it would. That was something he most certainly didn't look forward to. Had the events of the past month not been enough for him to endure? Would life ask even more of him?

Ardeth sighed and rolled from his back to his stomach, gazing outside at the softly lit tree outside his window. He felt anxious--more anxious than he felt he should. He never hid from his own emotions. He never let anything tear him apart so thoroughly. Yet every time he looked at his hands he saw Evy's blood and every time he heard his name it was Ancksunamun's voice that spoke. Now more than even the first day they had left that terrible temple.

He sniffled and closed his eyes. His long-standing cold was nearly gone now, thankfully. One less thing to remind him. That small comfort bothered him, however. Why should a warrior such as he need refuge? He was taking all this too hard he thought. He was not accustomed to feeling so uncomfortable in his own skin.

Never had he felt so changed, so raw. So weak.

Not content to lay anymore, the Med-Jai pulled back the sheet that was his remaining cover and went to stand beside the window. The moon's gentle light washed over him and the chill from the window made him shiver. Winter was fast approaching, soon to blanket England in a trillion tiny stars. He thought again of the Med-Jai and of the home that waited for his return, welcoming however reluctant.

Ardeth decided that perhaps living with snow for a time wouldn't be so bad.

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A/N: Teehee. :D Okay, with all the fics out there begging attention, the last thing I need is another one, but I can't help it. My inspiration goes where it will. So it came back to Fury, back to Ardeth and Ancksunamun. The language is that of Mordor, or rather I've been watching and reading Lord of the Rings too much, hence my writing style in that dream. ;) The other morning I even caught myself thinking in that flowery language. ;D So, before I break off into a zillion Oooh Elrond's (God bless the earth, he's hot!), back to the matter at hand. Fury has reawakened, hopefully to the acceptance of my previous audience and perhaps a new one. :D Thanks for reading!!

I wanted to thank Fan of the Mummy for her enthusiasm as far as this sequel goes, and cacinapalermo for liking my first part well enough to stay up. ;) Also for past reviewers like RedLady, Buffelyn, Deana, Marcher, Lula, Mija and all the others that read Fury. :D Thanks! -Angela

1 - my reference to the scripture in relation to this story is not meant to be irreverent. The story is that of a man that looked across a great chasm between Hades and Paradise (the place where the righteous dead go to await final judgment). He was looking from Hell, not Paradise as I depict Ardeth. I'm saying this so I don't offend anyone by my using the reference - it fits the theme I had wanted to take this story. I in no way mean to make light of the Bible - which I myself believe is God's Word. That said I hope no one will be miffed at me for using it. :)