1 "Blood of the Hom-dai"
By May It Be
~~~Authors Notes: Shukran to all of who reviewed!!! Wow! I love you all, you're so nice! ^__^ Well, I'm gonna try and get more going in this chapter and hopefully it'll be a bit longer as well. I didn't realize that last chapter was SO short! Sheesh! Oh well *shrugs* I hope this part doesn't disappoint!
Disclaimer: I do not own 'The Mummy', 'The Mummy Returns' or any of the characters belonging to them. (Just the bad guys, 'Heneb and Andrahi, and Asheed, and Taniif.) So please do not sue me I have jack squat money this is just for sick twisted entertainment purposes only. However, the idea's and plot for this are solely mine. Do not take them please, ask first if you want them and can do better justice to it.
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Chapter Three… " "
"Is he still alive?" Ardeth asked silently, head lowered as he looked upon the gore-strewn marble flooring of the Egyptian hall in the Museum.
Taniif shook his head grimly, reaching out a steady hand and slid the cold eyelids of the curator closed over wide, dead eyes fired open to their limits in his last moments of life. "No. He was too far-gone when we got to him. There was nothing to be done." He whispered in reply, looking up to meet the saddened eyes of his commander and best friend; his heart skipping a beat as he noted the hand grasping his stomach and the blood barely visible between his too-thin fingers.
Ardeth caught the look of worry flitting across his friends face and knelt down next to him, patting his companion assuredly upon the shoulder and looked back to the still form of Asheed. "Ardeth?" Taniif whispered, leaning close so the others would not over hear him. The Med-jai leader shook his head, glancing quickly back at the grimly conversing O'Connell's.
"Not now, Taniif." He whispered in Arabic in response, carefully pulling himself back to his feet and turned to his second in command; a graying man of about fifty named Sadeik.
The man held out a thick letter, blood spotted and crumpled. "He was holding this when we found him. He said to give it to you. He also said to tell you-" Sadeik hesitated for a moment as Ardeth took the offered papers. "he said, he was sorry." Ardeth paused his scrutiny of the envelope to look back up at the man, his eyebrow rising in a silent question. 'Sorry for what?'
The warrior shook his head, looking back down at the man lying dead upon the floor. "He wouldn't say. He insisted you read the letter, it was really important to him."
Ardeth nodded and dismissed his second in command. "Take care of the body and inform his family and tribe. He should be returned to them as soon as possible." He ordered calmly a tight tinge of sadness infecting his voice. Struck by a sudden thought he walked up to the closest of his men looking about at the artifacts filling the large room. "Have the men search the place. I need to know if anything is missing." He ordered, and the man nodded hurrying quickly to the other conversing Med-jai.
Swiftly Ardeth walked silently passed the O'Connell's and Jonathan Carnahan and into an adjacent hall, watching the letter in his palm almost cautiously. O'Connell watched the warrior exit the room with a heavy heart before making up his mind and turned back to Evelyn and his brother-in-law.
"Wait here." Rick told his wife, squeezing her hand one last time before quietly following his Med-jai friend through the hall and into another, much smaller, room. Evy nodded grimly and turned back to the remaining Med- jai in the room. Silently she walked up to Taniif, one of the many friends Ardeth had introduced them to on their last trip to Egypt, and pulled him aside.
"May I speak with you Taniif?' She asked, glancing back towards the room her husband and Ardeth were in. He nodded gently.
"Mrs. O'Connell, it is good to see you and your family again. It has been too long. Of course, my ear is always open to you." He greeted her kindly, a forced smile upon his worn features. Evy nodded, forcing a small smile of her own. "Indeed it has been to long… I hope everything is well with you, despite current circumstances." She replied immediately regretting it when his fake smile dropped and his heart seized in his eyes. Oh no.
Taniif shook his head silently.
"Ardeth has told you of the disappearances among our people?… My brother- was one of the men taken from our tribe." He paused, trying to find the right words to say and keep from breaking down at the same time. "We, we found him two day's later. He was dead. Not long after that, my cousin went missing and, and now Asheed-" he stopped and took a deep breath, casting his eyes down from Evy's not wanting to see the disgust he knew would be there. Warriors didn't cry.
"The times have not been kind to me." His voice was almost a whisper as he finished, his hands fisting tight at his sides.
Evelyn watched the man next to her with wet eyes, her heart going out to him. Silently, she moved forward and wrapped him in a gentle hug whispering soft words of encouragement into his ear. Taniif started with surprise at the gesture, he hadn't expected that, and smiled his thanks to her as he drew back. "Mr. O'Connell is a lucky man to have a wife such as you." Evy blushed at his comment and squeezed his hand in a gesture that Rick always used to make her feel better.
"Ah, but, you wished to speak with me." Taniif suddenly remembered, turning back to her. "Yes, I did…I-" she paused, not quite sure how to start. Quickly she pulled him further from the others, as well as the door to the room Ardeth was in.
"I wanted to know if anything has happened to Ardeth lately, I mean besides all these disappearances. Anything more personal, like dreams or, or attacks on him only?"
Taniif studied her silently for a moment, then shifted his weight, contemplating her words. "There have been no attacks on him directly, no, but he has had dreams." Evelyn's eyes lit up in worry then and he continued quickly. "Nothing of an important matter really, just images of Egypt, old Golden cities and Ancient spells. Why?" Evelyn paused then, not sure if she should or for that matter could continue.
"No dreams of anyone getting- hurt?" She asked and at his shaking head, she relaxed slightly.
"No, none that I am aware of."
'Oh thank God'
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~~~~~( 'Heneb watched the Egyptian woman leave quietly before turning to his younger cousin, watching him silently through darkened eyes. Andrahi turned his own coal lined eyes from her retreating back to his worried dear 'Heneb's face, a heavy sigh forcing itself from deep in his chest.
"Cousin-" "Is it done?" Andrahi asked, cutting off 'Heneb before he could put a voice to his worries. It was 'Heneb's turn then to sigh. Nodding he released Andrahi's shoulder without smearing the paint and slid from worried sibling to faithful subordinate. "Yes, she has been returned to her crypt and the care of her priests." He responded, watching as the shorter man turned back to the table, glancing his thin hand over the surface of the three books.
Andrahi nodded.
"Good… And HIS Priests?" he questioned and, as if on cue, a high pitched wail from one of the said priests split the air leaving a heavy ringing in the two Med-jai's ears.
"It is almost done. But, what of Im-" "NO! Do not speak that name again, my dear cousin." Andrahi commanded cutting him off once again, whirling around to face him quicker then 'Heneb could follow. 'Heneb blinked confused at his actions then nodded, knowing that his cousin knew better than he and listened to his command. He lowered his head, leaving his young cousin to his thoughts before moving up closer to him, peering down at those three cursed books himself.
Oh how he HATED them!!!
"You still plan to go through with it then?" 'Heneb asked meekly, looking back up, watching as his dear cousin's shoulders tensed and turned away from him.
"You heard. You should not need to ask." Andrahi replied, keeping his head low feeling 'Heneb's searching eyes upon his back. "I just thought, hoped-- Why you cousin?! Why YOU, tell me that?!" 'Heneb yelled, grabbing Andrahi's shoulder and threw him around, pushing him hard against the table accidentally knocking half its contents to the sand dusted floors.
"Why must you be the chosen one!? Why cannot one of the elders do it? Or one of the other men!? If you ordered it they would follow without question, they all love you so! Why not me?!" 'Heneb continued to yell his voice not quite lost over the din of the suffering screams behind him, taking up his cousin by both shoulders and held on tight, almost bruisingly so. "Why not me, I have a better chance of—"
Quietly, Andrahi took hold of his cousin's hands in a gentle brotherly grasp, shaking his head 'no'.)~~~~
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Ardeth walked quietly towards the large wooden desk settled against a ceiling-high, wall bookshelf at the far end of the room, making sure the door was shut behind him.
His steps heavy now, he came to a halt, placing the letter atop the glossy wooden surface before leaning his hand against the desktop, breathing deeply. Clenching his teeth behind slack lips, he carefully peeled his hand away from his side, taking in his now fully reddened hand and the growing bloody smear upon his dark robes.
Cursing himself for being such a fool, he moved around the desk and sat carefully upon the plush desk chair before setting to work on patching up the wound. Quickly, being as quiet as possible, he ripped a long strip of cloth from the skirt of his robe and removed one of his sashes.
Pushing his robes open, Ardeth slide one side off his shoulder and into the crook of his elbow, then pressed the bunched up material against the deep puncture in his side, wiping his hand off on the material before he started to bind the wound.
The door to the small, secluded room suddenly creaked open, startling the Med-jai whose head snapped up, eyes wide. "So here you are." Rick muttered, leaning against the doorframe nonchalantly. "O'Connell." Ardeth replied, quickly abandoning his binding and started to pull his robes back on. "Is there something you need, my friend?" He questioned, trying hard not to flinch as his motions drilled pain through his side and abdomen.
Quickly Rick entered the room, closing and locking the door behind himself and moved towards Ardeth Bay.
Ardeth was on his feet before O'Connell got to his side trying to retie his loosened tan sash about his thin waist. "Stop." Rick ordered, watching his friend struggle with the tie. Ardeth paused, looking up at the American with a raised eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"I said stop, you're gonna hurt yourself further. That wound needs to be bound. Now sit down." Rick replied, catching Ardeth's moving wrist with his right hand while pushing the surprised Med-jai leader forcibly back into the chair with the other. "O'Connell, I appreciate your concern but it is only a minor scratch you need not worry yourself with it." Ardeth replied, wriggling his captured wrist free and again tried to stand. "I said sit down!" Rick ordered, pushing the Med-jai back into the chair, harder this time, keeping him still with a hand on his chest.
"O'Connell." Ardeth near wined, pushing against his friends hands as he tried to stand for a third time. With a frustrated sigh, Rick reached down and pressed against the bloody smear in Ardeth's side hard enough to elicit a small gasp from his friend, and cause him to recoil wrapping his arm about his stomach again.
"Yeah, uh-huh, a scratch. Do you really think I'm gonna believe that?" O'Connell asked, pulling Ardeth's hand away from the small bloody bulge in his side as he knelt.
The Med-jai leader quickly snapped his hand free again with such force that Rick jumped, looking up at his tanned friend in surprise. "I am quite capable of taking care of minor wounds O'Connell. I told you, you need not worry." He insisted. "God you stubborn mule! Yes, minor wounds, and THIS isn't one, buddy. Now sit down, shut up, and let me help!" Ardeth opened his mouth to counter. "I'll tie you to the chair if I've gotta!" Rick continued, glaring up at his friend, biting his tongue so as not to laugh at the sudden image of Ardeth Bay, Legendary Med-jai, leader of the most prominent tribe of the warrior race- tied to a chair.
Ardeth blinked for a moment then opened his mouth again, and once again, Rick cut him off.
"And gag you too."
The two starred at each other for a moment, glaring, trying to make the other back down first while at the same time, not laugh. They failed, miserably, and within minutes, the two were chuckling, shaking their heads at one another. "Fine O'Connell, if it means that much to you." Ardeth finally relented, settling back in the chair. Rick nodded with a triumphant snort, a victorious grin spreading across his face.
"I knew you'd see it my way." Ardeth suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, and settled instead for shaking his head at his friend with a small smile.
"Take off your shirt." Rick ordered then, becoming suddenly serious as Ardeth winced and fresh blood began to seep through the cloth. Obliging silently, the Med-jai pulled his arm carefully out of his loose robe sleeve and pushed the front open, displaying his rushed effort to bind the puncture. Rick just shook his head to himself, quickly pulling the cloth away and started to examine and prod at the wound.
"Nice tattoo." He commented unexpectedly, flicking Ardeth on the chest over the dark blue hieroglyphs across his center. "I always knew you had more somewhere." "Is that the real reason you wanted me to remove my shirt then? To search me for tattoo's?" Ardeth smiled despite the ache in his abdomen, watching the American go quickly about his work.
Rick smirked, glancing up at the Med-jai with a quick wink.
"That's for me to know," he poked Ardeth's side gaining a small wince and a little laugh. "And you to find out."
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Evy knocked silently on the locked door, waiting for a reply. The Med- jai were growing restless waiting for their leader, wanting to return home as quickly as possible. The curators body had already been cleaned and sent back to his tribe with two of the present, eight, Med-jai. "Are you boys about down yet?!" She called through the door, knocking again. Finally after what seemed like forever, she heard muffled shuffling and a thick, gentle laugh that could only belong to one person.
Evenly smiled, it was good to hear him laugh; it eased her worries about the 'dream'. The door suddenly swung open and Rick came sauntering out, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead. His time with Ardeth definitely did him some good! She smiled up at him then looked passed him towards the Med-jai watching as he walked carefully out of the room. He nodded to her kindly.
"What are your plans while here in Cairo?" Ardeth asked quietly, sobering up quickly as he looked down the hall and towards the blood splattered room his men waited in. "We're coming with you." Evy replied almost immediately, looking up at him with strong eyes. Ardeth blinked and looked back down on her then up at Rick; Rick nodded. "I cannot guarantee your safety. It would be better for you to stay here, I do not want you to be harmed." The longhaired man responded, rubbing his hand unconsciously on his robe.
"Nor we you, buddy. Hmm, besides, when has safety ever been an issue with us." Rick responded. "True. Then, perhaps it would be safer for my people if you stayed behind. You three attract trouble like a camel to water." Ardeth smiled, walking quickly by the two laughing O'Connell's and towards his men.
Taniif moved to his leader and whispered into his ear. Ardeth smiled, looking back at Rick with a knowing light in his eyes and nodded, whispering a reply. Taniif shot back slightly, looking with wide eyes at Rick who blinked back, then chuckled, patting his friend on the shoulder before walking away. "What was that all about?" O'Connell asked, moving up to Ardeth's side as they continued into the room. "He just wanted to know about my- problem." "And what did you tell him?" Ardeth looked back at the taller man with a warm brotherly smile.
"I told him you threatened me within an inch of my life and, how do you say, smacked some sense into me." Rick stopped, blinking rapidly at his dark haired friend. "I did no such thing!" He complained, glancing nervously at Evy who was all but glaring at him. "No, but it made him laugh. And for that I am grateful."
Sadeik strode quickly up to Ardeth Bay, looking quietly between the three friends before turning to his commander. "Nothing has been found missing, Ardeth. They seemed to have come for one purpose." He paused uncomfortably, then continued his report.
"Fa'siil and Hadji left to take Asheed back to his tribe about twenty minutes ago and our horses have been prepared. Are the O'Connell's joining us sir?" He asked, glancing again back to the two foreigners. Ardeth paused; not having noticed he and Rick had been gone for so long.
"Yes, they will be joining us. Have three camels prepared for them." Sadeik nodded and bowed out of the room swiftly, moving back to relay his new orders.
"So, what else do we need to know?" Rick asked as the group left the Museum of Antiquities and moved towards the stables at the edge of town. "I do not think it wise to discuss those matters here. When we get underway we shall talk, then you can explain to me what you three are doing here." Ardeth replied, clutching the bloodied, still sealed letter in his hand, itching for some time alone to read it; not having gotten the chance when Rick was binding him up.
"That would be best." Evy muttered, pulling Jonathan away from yet another gambling table, smacking him on the back of the head. "Evy!"
Soon the group was mounted and well underway, ridding out south towards Hamunaptra and the large Med-jai camp hiding within its surrounding cliffs and valleys. Stopping only when night crested the eastern horizon and the horses could no longer run; the large yellow moon high in the northern sky.
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TBC!!
Well, that was longer. Weird too, I might add. That scene with Rick threatening Ardeth I thought was cute but I know some of you probably can't imagine them doing it, well please, humor me ok. I know this story is pretty OCC, like I said it was spur of the moment, no plotting, nothing done in advance so the characters are vaguely rough. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it otherwise. Please like always, review if you want more. And remember all comments and question (and suggestions and ideas!) are welcome with open arms! ^____^ :D Have a good one!
Shukran to all who read!
By May It Be
~~~Authors Notes: Shukran to all of who reviewed!!! Wow! I love you all, you're so nice! ^__^ Well, I'm gonna try and get more going in this chapter and hopefully it'll be a bit longer as well. I didn't realize that last chapter was SO short! Sheesh! Oh well *shrugs* I hope this part doesn't disappoint!
Disclaimer: I do not own 'The Mummy', 'The Mummy Returns' or any of the characters belonging to them. (Just the bad guys, 'Heneb and Andrahi, and Asheed, and Taniif.) So please do not sue me I have jack squat money this is just for sick twisted entertainment purposes only. However, the idea's and plot for this are solely mine. Do not take them please, ask first if you want them and can do better justice to it.
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Chapter Three… " "
"Is he still alive?" Ardeth asked silently, head lowered as he looked upon the gore-strewn marble flooring of the Egyptian hall in the Museum.
Taniif shook his head grimly, reaching out a steady hand and slid the cold eyelids of the curator closed over wide, dead eyes fired open to their limits in his last moments of life. "No. He was too far-gone when we got to him. There was nothing to be done." He whispered in reply, looking up to meet the saddened eyes of his commander and best friend; his heart skipping a beat as he noted the hand grasping his stomach and the blood barely visible between his too-thin fingers.
Ardeth caught the look of worry flitting across his friends face and knelt down next to him, patting his companion assuredly upon the shoulder and looked back to the still form of Asheed. "Ardeth?" Taniif whispered, leaning close so the others would not over hear him. The Med-jai leader shook his head, glancing quickly back at the grimly conversing O'Connell's.
"Not now, Taniif." He whispered in Arabic in response, carefully pulling himself back to his feet and turned to his second in command; a graying man of about fifty named Sadeik.
The man held out a thick letter, blood spotted and crumpled. "He was holding this when we found him. He said to give it to you. He also said to tell you-" Sadeik hesitated for a moment as Ardeth took the offered papers. "he said, he was sorry." Ardeth paused his scrutiny of the envelope to look back up at the man, his eyebrow rising in a silent question. 'Sorry for what?'
The warrior shook his head, looking back down at the man lying dead upon the floor. "He wouldn't say. He insisted you read the letter, it was really important to him."
Ardeth nodded and dismissed his second in command. "Take care of the body and inform his family and tribe. He should be returned to them as soon as possible." He ordered calmly a tight tinge of sadness infecting his voice. Struck by a sudden thought he walked up to the closest of his men looking about at the artifacts filling the large room. "Have the men search the place. I need to know if anything is missing." He ordered, and the man nodded hurrying quickly to the other conversing Med-jai.
Swiftly Ardeth walked silently passed the O'Connell's and Jonathan Carnahan and into an adjacent hall, watching the letter in his palm almost cautiously. O'Connell watched the warrior exit the room with a heavy heart before making up his mind and turned back to Evelyn and his brother-in-law.
"Wait here." Rick told his wife, squeezing her hand one last time before quietly following his Med-jai friend through the hall and into another, much smaller, room. Evy nodded grimly and turned back to the remaining Med- jai in the room. Silently she walked up to Taniif, one of the many friends Ardeth had introduced them to on their last trip to Egypt, and pulled him aside.
"May I speak with you Taniif?' She asked, glancing back towards the room her husband and Ardeth were in. He nodded gently.
"Mrs. O'Connell, it is good to see you and your family again. It has been too long. Of course, my ear is always open to you." He greeted her kindly, a forced smile upon his worn features. Evy nodded, forcing a small smile of her own. "Indeed it has been to long… I hope everything is well with you, despite current circumstances." She replied immediately regretting it when his fake smile dropped and his heart seized in his eyes. Oh no.
Taniif shook his head silently.
"Ardeth has told you of the disappearances among our people?… My brother- was one of the men taken from our tribe." He paused, trying to find the right words to say and keep from breaking down at the same time. "We, we found him two day's later. He was dead. Not long after that, my cousin went missing and, and now Asheed-" he stopped and took a deep breath, casting his eyes down from Evy's not wanting to see the disgust he knew would be there. Warriors didn't cry.
"The times have not been kind to me." His voice was almost a whisper as he finished, his hands fisting tight at his sides.
Evelyn watched the man next to her with wet eyes, her heart going out to him. Silently, she moved forward and wrapped him in a gentle hug whispering soft words of encouragement into his ear. Taniif started with surprise at the gesture, he hadn't expected that, and smiled his thanks to her as he drew back. "Mr. O'Connell is a lucky man to have a wife such as you." Evy blushed at his comment and squeezed his hand in a gesture that Rick always used to make her feel better.
"Ah, but, you wished to speak with me." Taniif suddenly remembered, turning back to her. "Yes, I did…I-" she paused, not quite sure how to start. Quickly she pulled him further from the others, as well as the door to the room Ardeth was in.
"I wanted to know if anything has happened to Ardeth lately, I mean besides all these disappearances. Anything more personal, like dreams or, or attacks on him only?"
Taniif studied her silently for a moment, then shifted his weight, contemplating her words. "There have been no attacks on him directly, no, but he has had dreams." Evelyn's eyes lit up in worry then and he continued quickly. "Nothing of an important matter really, just images of Egypt, old Golden cities and Ancient spells. Why?" Evelyn paused then, not sure if she should or for that matter could continue.
"No dreams of anyone getting- hurt?" She asked and at his shaking head, she relaxed slightly.
"No, none that I am aware of."
'Oh thank God'
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~~~~~( 'Heneb watched the Egyptian woman leave quietly before turning to his younger cousin, watching him silently through darkened eyes. Andrahi turned his own coal lined eyes from her retreating back to his worried dear 'Heneb's face, a heavy sigh forcing itself from deep in his chest.
"Cousin-" "Is it done?" Andrahi asked, cutting off 'Heneb before he could put a voice to his worries. It was 'Heneb's turn then to sigh. Nodding he released Andrahi's shoulder without smearing the paint and slid from worried sibling to faithful subordinate. "Yes, she has been returned to her crypt and the care of her priests." He responded, watching as the shorter man turned back to the table, glancing his thin hand over the surface of the three books.
Andrahi nodded.
"Good… And HIS Priests?" he questioned and, as if on cue, a high pitched wail from one of the said priests split the air leaving a heavy ringing in the two Med-jai's ears.
"It is almost done. But, what of Im-" "NO! Do not speak that name again, my dear cousin." Andrahi commanded cutting him off once again, whirling around to face him quicker then 'Heneb could follow. 'Heneb blinked confused at his actions then nodded, knowing that his cousin knew better than he and listened to his command. He lowered his head, leaving his young cousin to his thoughts before moving up closer to him, peering down at those three cursed books himself.
Oh how he HATED them!!!
"You still plan to go through with it then?" 'Heneb asked meekly, looking back up, watching as his dear cousin's shoulders tensed and turned away from him.
"You heard. You should not need to ask." Andrahi replied, keeping his head low feeling 'Heneb's searching eyes upon his back. "I just thought, hoped-- Why you cousin?! Why YOU, tell me that?!" 'Heneb yelled, grabbing Andrahi's shoulder and threw him around, pushing him hard against the table accidentally knocking half its contents to the sand dusted floors.
"Why must you be the chosen one!? Why cannot one of the elders do it? Or one of the other men!? If you ordered it they would follow without question, they all love you so! Why not me?!" 'Heneb continued to yell his voice not quite lost over the din of the suffering screams behind him, taking up his cousin by both shoulders and held on tight, almost bruisingly so. "Why not me, I have a better chance of—"
Quietly, Andrahi took hold of his cousin's hands in a gentle brotherly grasp, shaking his head 'no'.)~~~~
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Ardeth walked quietly towards the large wooden desk settled against a ceiling-high, wall bookshelf at the far end of the room, making sure the door was shut behind him.
His steps heavy now, he came to a halt, placing the letter atop the glossy wooden surface before leaning his hand against the desktop, breathing deeply. Clenching his teeth behind slack lips, he carefully peeled his hand away from his side, taking in his now fully reddened hand and the growing bloody smear upon his dark robes.
Cursing himself for being such a fool, he moved around the desk and sat carefully upon the plush desk chair before setting to work on patching up the wound. Quickly, being as quiet as possible, he ripped a long strip of cloth from the skirt of his robe and removed one of his sashes.
Pushing his robes open, Ardeth slide one side off his shoulder and into the crook of his elbow, then pressed the bunched up material against the deep puncture in his side, wiping his hand off on the material before he started to bind the wound.
The door to the small, secluded room suddenly creaked open, startling the Med-jai whose head snapped up, eyes wide. "So here you are." Rick muttered, leaning against the doorframe nonchalantly. "O'Connell." Ardeth replied, quickly abandoning his binding and started to pull his robes back on. "Is there something you need, my friend?" He questioned, trying hard not to flinch as his motions drilled pain through his side and abdomen.
Quickly Rick entered the room, closing and locking the door behind himself and moved towards Ardeth Bay.
Ardeth was on his feet before O'Connell got to his side trying to retie his loosened tan sash about his thin waist. "Stop." Rick ordered, watching his friend struggle with the tie. Ardeth paused, looking up at the American with a raised eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"I said stop, you're gonna hurt yourself further. That wound needs to be bound. Now sit down." Rick replied, catching Ardeth's moving wrist with his right hand while pushing the surprised Med-jai leader forcibly back into the chair with the other. "O'Connell, I appreciate your concern but it is only a minor scratch you need not worry yourself with it." Ardeth replied, wriggling his captured wrist free and again tried to stand. "I said sit down!" Rick ordered, pushing the Med-jai back into the chair, harder this time, keeping him still with a hand on his chest.
"O'Connell." Ardeth near wined, pushing against his friends hands as he tried to stand for a third time. With a frustrated sigh, Rick reached down and pressed against the bloody smear in Ardeth's side hard enough to elicit a small gasp from his friend, and cause him to recoil wrapping his arm about his stomach again.
"Yeah, uh-huh, a scratch. Do you really think I'm gonna believe that?" O'Connell asked, pulling Ardeth's hand away from the small bloody bulge in his side as he knelt.
The Med-jai leader quickly snapped his hand free again with such force that Rick jumped, looking up at his tanned friend in surprise. "I am quite capable of taking care of minor wounds O'Connell. I told you, you need not worry." He insisted. "God you stubborn mule! Yes, minor wounds, and THIS isn't one, buddy. Now sit down, shut up, and let me help!" Ardeth opened his mouth to counter. "I'll tie you to the chair if I've gotta!" Rick continued, glaring up at his friend, biting his tongue so as not to laugh at the sudden image of Ardeth Bay, Legendary Med-jai, leader of the most prominent tribe of the warrior race- tied to a chair.
Ardeth blinked for a moment then opened his mouth again, and once again, Rick cut him off.
"And gag you too."
The two starred at each other for a moment, glaring, trying to make the other back down first while at the same time, not laugh. They failed, miserably, and within minutes, the two were chuckling, shaking their heads at one another. "Fine O'Connell, if it means that much to you." Ardeth finally relented, settling back in the chair. Rick nodded with a triumphant snort, a victorious grin spreading across his face.
"I knew you'd see it my way." Ardeth suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, and settled instead for shaking his head at his friend with a small smile.
"Take off your shirt." Rick ordered then, becoming suddenly serious as Ardeth winced and fresh blood began to seep through the cloth. Obliging silently, the Med-jai pulled his arm carefully out of his loose robe sleeve and pushed the front open, displaying his rushed effort to bind the puncture. Rick just shook his head to himself, quickly pulling the cloth away and started to examine and prod at the wound.
"Nice tattoo." He commented unexpectedly, flicking Ardeth on the chest over the dark blue hieroglyphs across his center. "I always knew you had more somewhere." "Is that the real reason you wanted me to remove my shirt then? To search me for tattoo's?" Ardeth smiled despite the ache in his abdomen, watching the American go quickly about his work.
Rick smirked, glancing up at the Med-jai with a quick wink.
"That's for me to know," he poked Ardeth's side gaining a small wince and a little laugh. "And you to find out."
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Evy knocked silently on the locked door, waiting for a reply. The Med- jai were growing restless waiting for their leader, wanting to return home as quickly as possible. The curators body had already been cleaned and sent back to his tribe with two of the present, eight, Med-jai. "Are you boys about down yet?!" She called through the door, knocking again. Finally after what seemed like forever, she heard muffled shuffling and a thick, gentle laugh that could only belong to one person.
Evenly smiled, it was good to hear him laugh; it eased her worries about the 'dream'. The door suddenly swung open and Rick came sauntering out, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead. His time with Ardeth definitely did him some good! She smiled up at him then looked passed him towards the Med-jai watching as he walked carefully out of the room. He nodded to her kindly.
"What are your plans while here in Cairo?" Ardeth asked quietly, sobering up quickly as he looked down the hall and towards the blood splattered room his men waited in. "We're coming with you." Evy replied almost immediately, looking up at him with strong eyes. Ardeth blinked and looked back down on her then up at Rick; Rick nodded. "I cannot guarantee your safety. It would be better for you to stay here, I do not want you to be harmed." The longhaired man responded, rubbing his hand unconsciously on his robe.
"Nor we you, buddy. Hmm, besides, when has safety ever been an issue with us." Rick responded. "True. Then, perhaps it would be safer for my people if you stayed behind. You three attract trouble like a camel to water." Ardeth smiled, walking quickly by the two laughing O'Connell's and towards his men.
Taniif moved to his leader and whispered into his ear. Ardeth smiled, looking back at Rick with a knowing light in his eyes and nodded, whispering a reply. Taniif shot back slightly, looking with wide eyes at Rick who blinked back, then chuckled, patting his friend on the shoulder before walking away. "What was that all about?" O'Connell asked, moving up to Ardeth's side as they continued into the room. "He just wanted to know about my- problem." "And what did you tell him?" Ardeth looked back at the taller man with a warm brotherly smile.
"I told him you threatened me within an inch of my life and, how do you say, smacked some sense into me." Rick stopped, blinking rapidly at his dark haired friend. "I did no such thing!" He complained, glancing nervously at Evy who was all but glaring at him. "No, but it made him laugh. And for that I am grateful."
Sadeik strode quickly up to Ardeth Bay, looking quietly between the three friends before turning to his commander. "Nothing has been found missing, Ardeth. They seemed to have come for one purpose." He paused uncomfortably, then continued his report.
"Fa'siil and Hadji left to take Asheed back to his tribe about twenty minutes ago and our horses have been prepared. Are the O'Connell's joining us sir?" He asked, glancing again back to the two foreigners. Ardeth paused; not having noticed he and Rick had been gone for so long.
"Yes, they will be joining us. Have three camels prepared for them." Sadeik nodded and bowed out of the room swiftly, moving back to relay his new orders.
"So, what else do we need to know?" Rick asked as the group left the Museum of Antiquities and moved towards the stables at the edge of town. "I do not think it wise to discuss those matters here. When we get underway we shall talk, then you can explain to me what you three are doing here." Ardeth replied, clutching the bloodied, still sealed letter in his hand, itching for some time alone to read it; not having gotten the chance when Rick was binding him up.
"That would be best." Evy muttered, pulling Jonathan away from yet another gambling table, smacking him on the back of the head. "Evy!"
Soon the group was mounted and well underway, ridding out south towards Hamunaptra and the large Med-jai camp hiding within its surrounding cliffs and valleys. Stopping only when night crested the eastern horizon and the horses could no longer run; the large yellow moon high in the northern sky.
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TBC!!
Well, that was longer. Weird too, I might add. That scene with Rick threatening Ardeth I thought was cute but I know some of you probably can't imagine them doing it, well please, humor me ok. I know this story is pretty OCC, like I said it was spur of the moment, no plotting, nothing done in advance so the characters are vaguely rough. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it otherwise. Please like always, review if you want more. And remember all comments and question (and suggestions and ideas!) are welcome with open arms! ^____^ :D Have a good one!
Shukran to all who read!