A/N: There is no goddess by the name of Raiyur [I don't think, anyway]. She is simply a 'Fig Newton' of my imagination [I'd quote who said that first, but I don't remember…and I ain't about stealing. I do know it t'weren't me! Hahahaha].
* * *
BACK STORY
1902
In the early morning hours, a set of parents was blessed with the birth of their only child. Neither was certain what day, time, week, or month it was, but they knew they were happy. Leilah Bay had never seen her strong Medjai Chieftain husband cry. Although Altair Bay's hands were large and wielded a scimitar with vicious precision, he handled his infant son as if he were the most delicate creature on the face of the earth. Leilah had trouble connecting the two facets of her much beloved husband. She was so proud and relieved that he had come to her just before her labor pains began. She had wanted her husband near her when she bore his son. She had known from the moment of conception that she would have a boy and she already had a name picked out for him: Ardeth. It was an old family name, an ancient name that had no connection to heritage or creed. She had heard it uttered once in her presence and liked the sound of it. She would name her firstborn son Ardeth and not accept any other name. Leilah glanced up at her normally stoic husband. The tears still fell freely out of his eyes and down his cheeks. She was aware that one day, their son would follow along in the tradition, taking his father's place. For now, the tiny infant was her baby, and he would linger with her many years before he was taken to complete the training and rites of passage necessary for him to assume the role as Chieftain. The baby began to cry in his father's arms and she reached for him, somehow sensing that he needed to nurse. Altair gave the baby to his mother and stood back to watch [as much as Ardeth did roughly twenty-nine years later with his children]. The couple's eyes locked and every ounce of love they felt for each other was transmitted and shared. The birth of his son was wondrous and he felt the desire to share his joy, to make everyone aware that he was a father. However, he lingered with his wife and son; it was where he belonged.
As he gazed upon his son, the baby waved his arms and legs, drawing Altair's attention to his left leg. Just below his ankle was a small mark. To the average eye, it would appear to be nothing more than a mole. Yet, if touched, it wouldn't feel like anything other than smooth skin. Altair had a similar mark. His father had one, as did his father, and so on. It was a hereditary trait shared amongst the bloodline. His family had once told him that as long as he married and produced his own children, the mark would mean nothing. However, he also had to ensure that the underside of his left wrist was marked as well. It was a sign for infinity, an eagle on one end and a lion on the other; the ancient Egyptian symbols for "A" and "L." It was the mark of a married Bay man, symbolizing the clear message that he was devoted only to his wife and children, to no other. He had never understood why such a mark was necessary. When the Chieftain married, everyone knew about it. All the men in his tribe had similar markings, but he didn't understand why his was so dramatically different than everyone else's. It wasn't due to his status or that of his wife. It was tradition, and Altair Bay was not a man who wanted to question tradition. The moment he saw the black mark on his son's left ankle, he became worried and felt a foreboding sense of doom. He tried to push it back as the paranoia of a new father, but it was difficult. There was a story behind it, but the only people who knew it were now dead.
* * *
Between the land of the living and that of the dead is a place in between. It was a place that Leven Bay had visited before. It was the place where she had seen her fate, and that of her children and husband. It was the place where gods and goddesses dwelled. For the most part, the balance of good and evil was kept in line by the hands of those who twisted fate. When a move was made, it was counter balanced by another move. Isis and Hathos had touched both Ardeth and Leven, ensuring that the couple was together despite the evil surrounding Set and his minions. Set was an evil god. His deeds were in line with those of Raiyur. Raiyur, the goddess of all that was bitter, worked hand in hand with Set. She was a jealous goddess, a biting one, and she needed a strong god to rule with her. She could not have Set or any other god. She needed a god made of mortal flesh. For centuries, she had been promised a Medjai, and not a warrior within the tribe. She was to have the Chieftain. The Medjai Chieftains were powerful men, pure of heart and soul, and were necessary for her deeds. If she had a god such as that, her own powers would far surpass that of the good. Vengeance and jealousy were valuable to her, to the land of the living.
From the beginning of time, she watched as she was denied Chieftain after Chieftain. The only way she could secure one was through death. The Chieftains were vicious fighters, as most Medjai warriors were, but they were hard to kill. One touch from her finger of light, and the mortal man would become a restless soul. She would be there to beckon him to her light. Yet, other mortal men could not kill them. Imhotep and his minions couldn't kill them. She took fate into her own hands. At each birth of a Chieftain's son, they were born with small black marks beneath their left ankles. It was her mark, one made by the tip of her wicked finger. She marked each, declaring him hers throughout all eternity. When the time was right, she would touch that mark again, sending her man pure of heart to the underworld. Yet, there was a strike against her simple plan. Hathos and Isis often worked against her. They ensured that the Chieftains would find love and marry. If they married and bore the mark of infinity, they would belong to a mortal woman and no other. No other face, no other woman could trick them, despite her craftiness. Yet, Raiyur wasn't so easily deterred. She followed through with many evil plans to bring death to the Chieftains. She would take their children from them and the Chieftains would surrender to her. However, the hold of Hathos was far too strong. There would come a time when a break would come, some tiny little crack that would allow her to penetrate the hold of Hathos.
In the mortal year of 1873, another generation of Medjai Chieftains had begun within the Bay lineage. Raiyur was drawn to that line; they were the fiercest and most loyal of their respective tribes. Altair Bay was strong, stoic, and very pure of heart. He was the one she needed to reign. He was marked and ready for her. At first, the young man seemed too stoic and shy to welcome the company of a mortal woman in his life. Raiyur began to push dreams into his mind, showing him an image of a girl he had known in passing amongst the villagers. He had been intrigued with her and in his heart, he felt the first stirrings of desire for female company. If he believed these images were real, he would seek this woman. Altair Bay was somewhat interested in the metaphysical side of the world, and he would not hesitate to listen. Night after night, she had touched him, prickled his brain, and whispered things into his ear until it drove him mad. Upon waking, Altair wouldn't remember anything, but he would feel the desire to search for this lovely, desirable woman, to find the face who haunted his dreams. The plan was working perfectly until Isis and Hathos countered her. They brought another woman to him, literally allowing her to bump into Altair. The moment he laid eyes on Leilah, he was immediately taken with her.
To the dismay of the enraged goddess, Altair fell in love, stripping away his stoic veneer. With a slight twisting of fate, the marriage contracts of both Altair and Leilah were somehow dissolved. It mattered little, anyway. Altair would marry the woman he loved regardless of what anyone said. He chose her and took her as his wife. After a very brief wedding night, Altair was sent away to continue the duty he was chosen for. A few weeks later, he returned and discovered that a joyous and much unexpected surprise had been awaiting him. His beloved wife was with child. One man could not be any happier than Altair Bay. As much as Leven years later, Leilah noticed the mark on the underside of Altair's left wrist. He explained the tradition and spent the night making love to his wife.
Enraged at the unexpected twist, Raiyur knew she would have to take matters into her own hands [so to speak]. From that day, she had crept inside Altair's dreams, taking on the image of his wife, seducing him, driving him mad with desire, only to withdraw and leave him empty. He would awaken at night in a cold sweat, wondering if he simply missed his wife or if she were trying to touch his mind in some way. One way or another, Raiyur would have her Medjai Chieftain.
* * *
Altair lingered with his wife and son as long as possible. He was given all the time he needed. His men were capable and could deal with any problems that erupted. Night after night, he lay sleeping next to Leilah, listening to her breathe. If Ardeth awoke in the middle of the night, he would try to see to him. There was little he could do in the nursing category, but he could cuddle his son and love him. He did as much of that as possible. After he quieted his son, he would snuggle next to his wife and she would turn toward him, curling her fingers around several strands of his long black hair.
On one particular night, he fell asleep and began to dream. It was vivid and disturbing. He saw the image of his wife. She came to him a lot in his dreams. However, the dream Leilah was nothing like the real one. His wife was demure on the outside and only gave way before him when they were alone. This version was more forward in her attitude and dress. She didn't appear as if she came from his time. In these dreams, she would approach him and strip him naked. She would kiss every inch of his body; setting off sparks, driving him mad with lust. Lust? He had never felt lust for his wife. She excited him, of course, and they made endless love when he was home, but never had he reacted toward her out of lust. He attached making love with love, and couldn't fathom the idea of taking his wife simply because he wanted her body and nothing else. It was not his marriage, not his Leilah. Darkly enough, he liked it, liked what she was doing to him. It was different, but still his beautiful wife. When he reached for her, she backed away, leaving him hot and feverish. He awakened from the dream with his wife's body beside him, noting that the male part of him was against the curve of Leilah's buttocks. He wanted her, ached for her, and was tempted to wake her to quench that need. His hand reached out to her, grasping her arm, and he tugged gently on her body. Coming awake ever so slowly, she gazed up at him with questioning eyes. It was so very early, and she was exhausted. Ardeth was quite the demanding baby.
Leilah noticed the look in his eyes. She had seen it before. He wanted her and when she felt him against her thigh, she was further convinced of his need. She tried to beg off, telling him she was tired. He knew this. He knew how demanding the baby was at times. Yet, he didn't let up, didn't release her, and refused to take no for an answer. He pressed forward until the ache subsided. Nothing short of making love to her would cure it and he would accept no other alternative. He had never forced himself on her, on any woman, but she had worked him up to frenzy, and he needed the release. However, afterward, he wanted to die as he listened to his wife sobbing beside him quietly.
What had he done to her? He honestly could not remember. She invaded his dream, worked him up, and he made love to her. He didn't understand. He turned to her and touched her arm. She didn't cry out or fight him [it wasn't proper], but she didn't respond to him at first. He whispered to her, asking what he had done. He honestly did not know. She wanted nothing more than to be allowed to sleep, but he pressed until she finally told him. Stunned, he collapsed to his back. Would she ever forgive him? Would she ever love him again? He wanted to hold her, comfort her against the tears, but she wouldn't allow him to touch her. He couldn't be angry with her. He deserved it. Altair didn't sleep for the rest of the night.
The next morning, Altair checked in on his son before he went out for fresh air. He had to reconcile what he did and then figure out why it happened. In a daze, he walked back and forth on the same strip of ground. Those watching thought the Chieftain had lost his mind, and perhaps he had. While he was away from his sleeping wife and son, two people burst in on Leilah and Ardeth. Rough, cruel hands grabbed them up and fled before anyone saw a thing. Altair had been out no longer than an hour, but when he returned, his wife and son were gone.
Anguished, he searched everywhere, praying that they had stepped out. However, he knew in his heart that they were gone. When he turned to leave and summon help, the kidnappers had left a note. Shocked, he picked it up and read it dozens of times. His eyes grew wide in shock. He recognized the names, knew them as surely as he knew his own: Maiyit and Haqir. Haqir was his third in command. They were two of his own men. What did they want with his wife and son? They directed him to a remote location out in the desert, asking that he surrender himself to them. Haqir wanted to strip Altair of his title, driving him out of the tribe forever. He would do it. Altair would do anything to get his wife and son back in his arms. Nothing else mattered.
Alone, he rode out to the location Maiyit and Haqir had indicated. The sun was blazing hot that day. There was supposed to be some type of structure where Leilah and Ardeth were being held. However, he didn't see anything of the sort. He rode out a bit further to ensure that he had chosen the right location. Nothing. From somewhere to his left, he heard the cat-like cries of a baby. Ardeth? He gave the horse a command and it stopped. He climbed down carefully, ensuring that his scimitar was at the ready. If they had harmed one hair on either of their heads, he would rip them to bits. He walked around to where the crying sounds were closest to him. He gasped aloud as he saw Ardeth laid out on the harsh sand with no shelter. His son was completely naked and vulnerable to the elements. Gently, he picked up the infant, the son he loved more than anything, and pressed his thumb to the baby's forehead. Like Altair, like the rest of the men in his bloodline, Horus protected him. He whipped around suddenly as the tribesmen approached slowly. The baby's cries had all but stopped the moment Altair touched him. When the men arrived, he began crying again, loud and angrily. There was nowhere to place the baby, but he needed to be protected from the elements. Altair had no intention of surrendering to these yellow dogs, but he could not fight with his infant son in his arms. Doing the only thing he could, he stripped down to his waist and swaddled Ardeth within his robes. If the baby weren't taken out of the blinding sun soon, he would die.
Altair grasped the scimitar tightly in his hand and waited for the men to make a move. Neither of them bothered dismounting. Almost pitifully, they gazed down at their leader. They had no true knowledge of what they were doing, not really. They were thoroughly possessed by a jealous goddess. Yet, there was something they needed to make clear to the Chieftain.
[Am not doing Arabic, I am too damn lazy] "Your wife, Chieftain, she is dead. Raiyur ordered us to kill her."
At first, he thought they were lying, playing some kind of cruel, hideous game. Then, as if from some horrid nightmare, he saw his wife appear out of thin air. She was walking toward him, her pristine white gown stained with blood. She had been slashed viciously across her chest. What kind of vision was this? Insanely, he watched as she drew closer and closer. With a wave of her arm, the two men fell over dead, dropping to the hot sand. She clapped her hands together, making a sound comparable to rattling thunder, and the horses fled. She stood in front of him, blood dripping down the bodice of her nightgown. She ran her hand over the injury and it disappeared. The blood seemed to run backward into the gown and before long, it had disappeared as well. She stripped the nightgown off and stood before him naked. It appeared that she was his sweet Leilah, but he knew in his heart that the men had been telling the truth. Her body was different, not one belonging to a nursing mother. She reached out to touch him.
"Who are you," he demanded darkly.
"I am Raiyur, Chieftain, your new wife. Take my hand and we will return to the underworld. You will be my King, Altair Bay."
This evil, vengeful goddess had taken over the body of his dead wife, was trying her best to seduce him as she had done for months. She had made him force himself on his wife and now, she was responsible for murdering her. It would not happen, not in any lifetime. "I am not your husband, nor will I ever be. I find you disgusting, Raiyur. You have possessed the souls of my men and murdered my wife." He dropped the scimitar and looked back at his son. I will meet you again in the afterlife, my son, he thought. "I would rather give my soul to Set than be your husband."
Hearing the offer and accepting it, a brilliant flash of white-blue light shot out of the sky. Raiyur stood back and yelled angrily as the light touched Altair's chest, sucking the life out of his heart, and disintegrating his body. There was nothing left of Altair Bay, only his son and the robes covering him. Raiyur approached the screaming infant, ready to squash the life out of him. Oh, how his mother protected him, sacrificing her life, rushing onto the blade of a scimitar. She reached out to take hold of his head, determined to crush his skull. What stopped her was the black mark on his ankle. This boy had her mark. She had touched him. He would become a Medjai Chieftain. He was the son of Altair Bay and would be as pure of heart as his father. She would make sure the infant would live.
* * *
Altair's second in command, Lufti, and his wife, Cantara, came awake slowly. They heard the unmistakable sound of a wailing infant. Neither he nor his wife had been blessed with a child as of yet, so they knew it wasn't theirs. Both of them left bed together and moved toward the sound. Once they gazed upon the baby, both of them gasped aloud. It was Altair's son. Cantara took the baby in with her as Lufti approached the quarters of his Chieftain. When he saw the carnage, he backed away, his face white with illness and shock. Someone had slaughtered the Chieftain and his wife as they slept, but had the heart to spare Ardeth's life.
The tragedy was well known amongst the people in the tribe. They often wondered if their village was cursed. Several months prior, a band of marauders had kidnapped one of their own. After she sacrificed herself to them, they brought her back beaten and with child. Now the Chieftain and his wife were murdered.
The woman who sacrificed herself, Taiyib, came to Cantara and Lufti, her own infant daughter in tow. She offered to help raise the baby. At that point, Ardeth became a community child of sorts. Up until he grew to the proper age, he spent time with almost everyone in the village. When he turned ten, he moved in permanently with Cantara and Lufti. Once a grown man, Ardeth would assume Altair's position, and he needed guidance and instruction. Lufti was the only man capable of that. No one mentioned Ardeth's parentage much. He simply assumed he was Lufti's child and that Cantara was his mother. He would not discover the truth for many years to come, after he became a father himself.
