Lifetime of Celebration
By Jeannette Hetfield
I am so sorry this took so long. My frame of mind hasn't exactly been up to par and I haven't felt much like writing. As Gandalf says in 'The Fellowship of the Ring', "I was delayed." Well, something like that for me, except I wasn't imprisoned on top of the tower of Orthanc, although I wouldn't mind being imprisoned in Mirkwood…with Legolas for company that is…*winks at Aulizia*
For those of you that have asked after the story, thank you so much for still reading and waiting for the next chapter. I'm already working on chapter 15 and I hope to have it up soon. I do assure you that I have not abandoned Ardeth and Jensa. I will finish Lifetime of Celebration. There's just a few more chapters to go…maybe 4 or 5. Don't know for sure yet. Oh, and I'm sure there's loads of typos in here, so bear with me. I proofread it in a hurry. And if anything doesn't make sense, feel free to email me at my Charter addy.
Chapter 14
"ARDETH!!" She screamed, taking off in a dead run for the riders as they came down to an abrupt halt.
Her husband's body suddenly lurched to the side and slipped from the saddle. She threw out her arms to catch him, knowing full well she could never hold his weight. He slumped into her arms and she staggered backwards, nearly falling but for two hands that suddenly appeared under her arms. Her head jerked around to see Alim holding her up. He must have heard her scream. His normally pleasant face was grave and his lips were stretched thin and white.
She then saw the man who had been riding with Ardeth in front of him. People were running out of their homes and gathering around the warriors who had just returned with bad news.
"Fadil! What happened?" she cried, trying to shift Ardeth's dead weight in her arms so she wouldn't drop him.
"A dagger in his left side," he said dismounting.
Jensa glanced at Ardeth in fear. His eyes opened briefly and settled on her. She saw the confusion on his face and whispered, "Ardeth?"
Recognition lit up his eyes and the corners of his mouth turned up into a tiny smile. He raised a bloodied hand up to her face, brushing his fingertips against her cheek.
"Jen?" his voice croaked.
"Yes, Ardeth," she said, tears gathering in her eyes, blurring his face.
He sagged in her arms, her knees buckled and Fadil stepped forward, relieving her of his weight. He charged forward to her home and she glanced down at her front. Her arms, hands and clothes were dripping with blood.
"No!" Tears coursed down her face. "A…Ar-Ardeth," she moaned. "Please God! Please don't take him away from me! Please!"
Alim pulled her into a fierce embrace. "Shh! Calm yourself, girl."
She clutched his robes, but could not stop sobbing. "I can't lose him! I can't. He can't die! I need him!" Her voice was hysterical. She had never heard it like that before and it frightened her.
"Jensa!" Alim said sharply. "Control yourself!" He took her by the hand and led her to her little home.
"No! I can't go in there!" She glanced down again at the blood that covered her body and pulled hard against Alim.
His face suddenly changed. It was fierce and she started backwards in surprise because the strong family resemblance between her husband and his uncle was astounding. Alim took hold of her arms so firmly it hurt. He spoke in a very stern tone, but there was a small trace of empathy in his eyes.
"Jensa, Ardeth needs you right now. He is gravely injured and he may not live." She nearly choked at this, but forced herself to listen. "We will do everything in our power to aid him, make him well again, but you must control your emotions. Do not panic. That is the most important thing. I know you have never witnessed something like this before and you must witness it now because it will not be the last time Ardeth is injured. Injuries are part of his duties at the Medjai chieftain."
He took her hand again and this time she did not resist.
"You have to keep yourself in control. Be strong now, but fall apart later. I am sorry this happened so soon after your marriage, but better now than later."
As she crossed the threshold, still holding Alim's hand in a vice like grip, there was much activity in her home. Warriors stood by Ardeth while the healer worked furiously to save him. When the others spotted her, they stepped back and she knelt with Alim next to the bed.
She watched with bated breath as they removed his clothing. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw the wound and barely registered the sharp jump of Alim next to her when she tightened her grip on his hand even more.
Ardeth's entire left side was drenched in blood and the flesh ripped open. How could something like that ever be normal again? He thrashed and mumbled incoherently in his native tongue, as if speaking to someone in his mind. She even heard her name. Taking his hand on his uninjured side, she pressed it close to her chest.
"Ardeth," she said, leaning down next to his ear, "I am with you. I am always with you."
To her surprise, he calmed down a bit, at least he stopped the wild thrashing, though he continued to speak softly.
It was as if she suddenly stiffened her resolve and with all her might she pushed down the urge to throw up at the sight of so much of her beloved's blood.
"M-may I…help?" she asked quietly.
The black eyes of the healer looked up at her with surprise. "You may if you wish," she said. "It would help if there were not so many spectators," she added tartly to the others in the room.
The warriors took the hint and filed slowly out of the house, each glancing back over their shoulders for a look at Ardeth. Fadil left Ardeth's side, but took up residence by the door to ward off others thinking of entering. He kept his back to them and although his face had been impassive, Jensa could see the definite sag in his shoulders.
* * *
Kerri approached quietly, watching everyone around her. People spoke in hushed whispers, glancing at each other worriedly. Something terrible had happened. For some reason, her feet seemed to walk in the direction of Ardeth and Jensa's home. It felt as if she were being pulled there.
The warriors had returned only a short while ago and she had yet to see the smiling face of her husband. He always came home first before he did anything else. He did not come home this time. Little shivers tickled their way up her spine. She would not worry for Fadil, but then why had he not come home to her?
She quickened her steps. Unfortunately, she could not understand much Arabic and the words around her made no sense. Fadil had begun teaching her, but it was a slow process.
Where was her husband? She needed to see him, to reassure herself that everything was all right and…she had something to tell him. How it came to be so early in their marriage was surprising, but made her happy just the same. He was going to be a father.
Her best friend's home was in sight and Fadil stood just outside the doorway with his arms folded across his broad chest. She quickened her pace and reached him in a matter of seconds.
"Fadil?" she said worriedly.
His head spun sharply to the left and softened when he caught sight of her. He held out his arms and she fell into them.
"Kerri," he whispered, holding her so tightly she could barely breathe.
"What has ha—?" she asked, but where her hand rested against the front of his robes, there was something sticky touching her fingers. She held out her hand under the moonlight and saw the unmistakable blood on them. Her eyes shot up to his face. "You're hurt?"
He took her hand and wiped the blood from them on his robes. "No, I am unharmed. Ardeth is injured."
Feelings of relief and horror swept through her at the same time. Fadil was all right, but Ardeth was not. "Will he live?" she whispered, voice strained.
"He is a strong man."
That was all he said, she noticed. He did not answer her question because he honestly did not know. She could tell that, just by looking in his eyes. "How is Jensa? She must be a wreck."
He nodded. "She was hysterical at first, but I am sure that was the first time she had seen so much…blood." His warm brown eyes were black as the night sky and seemed to focus on something other than her, as if contemplating the worst. "But she has calmed considerably. Alim is with her presently."
Kerri glanced nervously at the goat skin drape over the entrance to her best friend's home. "Should I go in there?"
"I doubt there is much to be done. It is up to Ardeth now."
"Yes, it is, but should I go in there for moral support?" She wasn't sure if she wanted to. Her worry for Jensa was great, but not greater than her relief to see her husband still alive and unharmed. And for that, she felt guilty, but was unwilling to leave Jensa to fend for herself.
"Nila would most likely throw you out, as she did to the rest of us."
"Oh." A battle waged in her mind now. Go in to help Jensa or stay with Fadil and tell him she was expecting? After a few moments of silence in which he watched her curiously, she decided to wait with him. Hopefully, her good news would take his mind off of Ardeth for a little while. "May I stay with you then?"
He smiled and squeezed her hand. "Of course, my love."
She smiled back and without saying anything else, took his hand and placed it over her belly. For a moment, he stared at her in puzzlement, but eventually he seemed to figure it out. His eyebrows rose and he went slightly pale.
"Are you… When did… Kerri…"
She laughed. He could not put more than two words together. All she did was nod and smile.
* * *
For the next several hours, she aided the healer in any way she could, all the while fighting to stay sane. The nausea never abated, but it was forced down and the work continued. Tears stung at her eyes and many times she had to sniff roughly and fight the heavy lump in her throat. Alim was right. She could break down later, but now she needed to be calm and strong for Ardeth.
His left side and chest was drenched in blood. He still mumbled softly to himself. A fine sheen of sweat formed over his skin. She rubbed a lukewarm cloth over his forehead and down his neck. With feather light touches, the damp material spread across the wound, cleansing it thoroughly to remove the sand and grime.
While the healer, who finally introduced herself as Nila, prepared herbs to make a poultice, Alim's earlier words haunted her mind.
It will not be the last time Ardeth is injured.
If it became any worse than it was now, that almost certainly meant death. The death of Ardeth was too much to handle so denying the possibility, though she knew that was wrong, still made her feel better.
"We are done," announced Nila. "I have done all that I can. The rest is up to him, but he is strong and has much to live for," she said, with a small nod in Jensa's direction.
She stared at Ardeth, still not noticing what happened around her, until long, bony fingers curled over her shoulder. It was Alim.
"You should rest too, Jensa."
She nodded mutely.
"Nila is an excellent healer and Ardeth's will is very strong. He will survive."
With a final squeeze of her shoulder, Alim turned to leave. She suddenly realized this and tried to stand, meaning to chase after him, but her legs had fallen asleep from kneeling for so long. She stumbled, grimacing as what felt like thousands of needles prickled her legs when the feeling came back. She ignored the painful sensation and limped over to Ardeth's uncle.
"Wait! Please!"
He stopped and turned around, a quizzical look in his eyes. She threw her arms around his neck.
"Thank you so much, Alim. I don't know what I'd have done without you."
He patted her back in a manner that reminded her of her father. "Do not thank me for I did nothing."
She shook her head, disagreeing. "You most certainly did do something. You—"
But he held up a hand to stop her. "Speak of it no more. I am only thankful he is home and in your care. Because of what you share, he is alive and shall stay that way. Go to him."
She nodded with a nervous smile and watched his retreating form until she could see it no more. Another strong surge of nausea coursed through her and she took off, searching for somewhere private. She found a spot completely hidden by view. With no resistance to her rolling stomach, she promptly threw up.
* * *
Kerri and Fadil moved away from their friend's home to speak with Alim about Ardeth's condition. She leaned heavily against her husband, feeling enormous relief for Jensa. He was all right. He would live.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jensa rushing out of the house and disappearing in the dark. Fadil was busy conversing with Alim so she left and followed.
Jensa was doubled over, vomiting violently onto the sand. Kerri rushed over and pulled her hair back and rubbed her back. Her friend didn't seem to notice her presence until she collapsed onto the sand, breathing hard and drenched in sweat.
"Kerri?" she croaked.
"Yes, honey. Come on, let's get you inside and cleaned up."
* * *
Jensa dragged herself back to her home, both feet and heart heavy, not feeling much better. At least she wasn't nauseous anymore. Kerri helped her inside. Neither of them spoke as Jensa washed up and changed her robes.
Wasting no more precious time, she hurried back to Ardeth's side. There was no change, except that he had quieted down. He was completely still, breathing slowly in and out.
She noticed Kerri watching her anxiously. "I will be fine, Kerri. You don't have to stay."
"I want to stay. You never know, you may need something, but you would be unable to leave his side."
She smiled, grateful for her friend's concern. "That's really sweet, but I'd…I think I just want to be alone for a while."
Kerri eyed her shrewdly. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. We'll be all right."
She hesitated a little bit, but hugged her tightly and said, "He's going to be fine, Jen."
"I know," she answered in a shaky voice.
With one last hug, Kerri left Jensa alone.
A pile of his discarded clothing laid off to the side. She crawled over to it and inspected the damage. There was a large hole on the left and though the material was as black as the night sky, the blood was visible and she gaped at the amount. How was Ardeth still alive after loosing so much…
She shook her head. "No, I will not think about it."
Sadly, the sash he wore around his waist was ripped and the original color no longer identifiable because of the blood. Fortunately, she had been a fast learner when Zaina taught her how to sew and the sash was finished in a few weeks. She considered throwing it away as Ardeth would not find much use out of it anymore, but something held her back. One good cleaning would take some of the stain out.
"I can just fold it up and put it in my trunk."
Her eyes drifted over to her trunk and she pushed the lid up. There was much more material to make another sash for Ardeth. With a sigh, she took everything out and set to work. While he was getting better, she would have something to do and she had enjoyed making it for him the first time.
She smiled in remembrance.
Ardeth's eyes lit up when she handed the newly made sash to him. She blushed furiously and smiled shyly at up at him. He turned it over slowly, looking at the delicate yet complicated stitching pattern.
With a smile, he said, "Thank you, Jensa. It is beautiful."
"Really?" she asked a little nervously. She had been so afraid something would be wrong with it. A ridiculous image kept shooting into her mind of the sash unraveling in his hands.
"Of course," he said. "The sash is exquisite. I love it as I love you."
He leaned down to kiss her, nothing deep, but many soft pecks all in a row.
"I'm so glad," she said after they pulled apart and decided to tell him her fears. "I was afraid it would suddenly unravel or that it wouldn't be good enough."
"Jen," he said, putting an arm around her. "The sash is perfect. My sister is an excellent teacher and you learned quickly. Look at the sash." He held it up in front of her. "This form of art is only passed through the generations of Medjai women and you have equaled their talents. You…are amazing, ya hasna' i."
Her knees weakened as he kissed her again, this time bringing his other arm around her and picking her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck, giving herself over to him and the kiss. After many breathless minutes, he set her back on her feet, but kept her in his arms.
"Each time I look at my sash, I will think of you." He held up the hand with the sash. "Will you?"
She nodded, taking it from it. He lifted his arms and she wrapped the sash firmly around his waist so it wouldn't fall off. Ardeth was apparently not content with the few kisses they had shared and leaned down for more.
Jensa sighed quietly and looked down to see she had already done a small portion of the sash. She had been concentrating so hard on the memory that she hadn't noticed she even started sewing.
Soft whisperings caught her attention and Ardeth stirred a little. Getting as close as possible without hurting him, she took his hand. Her lips brushed against his ear while whispering softly:
"You just rest now because you'll need your strength for when you wake up. Don't worry about anything. It will all be just fine and…I love you."
Her heart leapt into her throat because just for a minute, he stirred and opened his eyes. A sound was coming from his lips, but it was so soft she had to put her ear to his mouth.
"What…happened?"
She placed her finger over his lips. "Shh, love. Don't talk anymore. You sleep now."
His lips puckered slightly under her finger in a tiny kiss. He took a deep, but shaky breath and winced from the effort. "Will you stay?" he whispered.
"Oh, Ardeth, of course. I'll never leave you."
She kissed his temple and snuggled up to him. Feeling the need to touch him, she rested her forehead against his shoulder. The tension of the night had left her body somewhat. Even though he was awake for only a short time, she knew it was a good sign and that he was indeed, the strongest man she had ever known. He would be well again.
Sleep did not come so easy for her. Instead she listened as his breathing evened into a soft rhythm. She dozed every so often, but could not stay asleep for long, lest he wake up needing something. It was soothing to her nerves to just hold his hand and rest her head against his bare skin.
Ardeth had always been indestructible in Jensa's eyes. Ever since she was a little girl she believed nothing could hurt him. This night was a devastating reminder of her foolishness. He could be hurt…or worse.
Her eyes drooped heavily and she fell into a fitful sleep with nightmares of her husband lying, bleeding to death in her arms. She jerked awake several times and glanced fearfully at Ardeth to find him still breathing and still asleep.
"Will this night never end?" she asked the silent room.
* * *
One very hot day, Jensa was helping Nadirah work on her English. They sat at the tables in the school area going over words and phrases. She admitted to herself that she was a bit distracted. After all, it was the first time Ardeth had been on duty since his injury. In her opinion, he needed more time to recover from his injury, which had been life-threatening, as she kept telling him. He, of course, wouldn't listen.
"Ardeth, please! You need more rest. It has not been long enough."
"I heal quickly, Jen."
"Not quick enough for me," she mumbled.
He lowered his head forward slightly, looking at her from under his eyes. "Jensa…"
"I can't help it, Ardeth," she said, lightly touching his arm and feeling the curve of his rock hard biceps underneath his robes.
He pulled her into his arms. "I know, but I assure you, hayati, I am well."
She looked up into his eyes and narrowed hers. "You're lying."
He sighed and ran his hands up and down her back, over her shoulders and down her arms to take her hands. Lacing their fingers together, he squeezed her hands gently a few times.
"I cannot hide things from you."
"Ah ha! Then it is still bothering you. I knew it was. Why didn't you say anything? No, never mind. I know why." Ardeth never complained about his physical condition, or any other discomfort he might have. "I'm just worried and I know you won't listen to me if I ask you to stay and rest more…so…please try to be careful. Don't exert yourself more than you have to. Promise me."
"You have my word, beloved."
He never broke his word. But still…Jensa couldn't help but worry. It was part of her job after all, as his wife and the fact that she was frightened to death that something else would happen to him. The sight of all his blood was an experience she would never forget to her dying day. She still felt her blood run cold and chills ravaged her spine. Every detail of that horrible night she remembered, but it was something she locked away in a little corner of her mind and refused to think about.
Instead, she turned her attention back to Nadirah, who was busy writing words in English. Her scrawl was quite messy, but all Jensa was concerned about was the fact that Nadirah was actually writing words, real words and she couldn't be more thrilled.
"May I ask you something?" she said suddenly.
"Go right ahead, Nadi," she encouraged the child, using her pet name.
"May I…" she trailed off.
She smiled encouragingly at her and she continued.
"May I," she said again and then her eyes lit up as she found her courage. "May I call you Mama?"
Jensa stilled and stared at the child of six years.
Nadirah frowned. "I am sorry. I did not mean to offend you. I understand if you do not want me to."
Their signals were crossed. Apparently, she misunderstood Jensa's silence for repulsion. The poor girl was used to it and she was determined to change that.
Grasping her by the shoulders, she gave her a quick peck on the cheek and hurriedly told her, "Nothing would please me more than for you to call me Mama. Do you really think of me that way?"
"Yes," she nodded happily. "I never knew my own mother. I have always wondered what it would be like to have one."
Jensa kissed her again and hugged her tightly. "I love you, Nadi. Even though you are not my daughter by birth, I feel like you are."
"I love you too…Mama."
Jensa bit back her tears. She didn't want everyone seeing her bawling like a baby. "Well, it's getting close to supper."
Whenever a group of watchers from Hamunaptra returned, everyone ate dinner together across the village. It was always a spectacular feast. Ardeth was due home and Jensa was dying to see him.
"You go ahead. I'll be there in a little while."
Nadirah skipped away to help prepare the food. Jensa quickly headed back to her home. To her surprise, Ardeth had already returned from his patrolling. He had been gone for three days. She had been expecting him, but wasn't sure on what day it would be. He stood in the middle of the room, in the process of removing his bandoleer and dropping on the small table.
As if reading her mind, Ardeth answered her unvoiced question. "I left before my men. I missed you and rode like the wind." His long legs reached her in a few short strides. He gathered her up in his arms and kissed her hungrily.
She smiled as his lips moved over hers. He smelled of the desert and she loved the rough scent. Eventually, he released her and stepped back with a quizzical look.
"You are not happy to see me?"
"Of course I am!" she said in shock.
"Calm down. I was teasing."
He linked his arms around her waist and brought her back into the warmth of his body. She worried that she might hurt him since he was still recovering, but he appeared not to be in discomfort.
"You are here, but your mind is elsewhere. Is everything all right?" he asked with concern.
"Yes, everything's all right. I was just with Nadi. She asked me if…I didn't even know she thought of me that way," she said, shaking her head, still unable to believe it.
"What way?"
"She asked if she could call me Mama." Jensa felt a sob in her throat. The tears could no longer be held back and trickled down her cheeks.
He wiped them away with his thumbs. "She loves you like her mother. The poor girl has been without one since she was a baby. Nadirah is lucky to have you."
"Sometimes, I have felt like she belongs to me. I feel so horrible for her. Her father is a cruel man."
"Do not judge him too harshly," he said quietly. "He has had his share of pain."
"You're defending him!" she accused angrily, pushing away from him.
"No, I am not. I am just trying to make you see both sides of the situation," he retorted, looking shocked by her outburst. "Yes, it is wrong for him to alienate her, but he has his reasons."
"And you justify those reasons! I don't call hating your child because they weren't born the way you wanted them to be a justified reason!" she spat at him.
"I did not say that," he defended.
"You didn't have to. I know how male children are highly valued here. If our first child is a girl, will you treat her the way Kardal treats his daughter?"
Ardeth winced. "That is not fair. If we have ten girls, I would love each and every one of them individually." He brushed past her and outside so fast the breeze ruffled her hair.
She took a step towards the door and considered chasing after him, but changed her mind. From the pained look she had put on his face, he was in no mood to see her. She immediately regretted everything that she had said. She'd jumped all over him for no reason.
"What have I done?" Sinking down into the large pillow by the window, she placed her elbows on the table and covered her face with her hands.
So this was their first fight, and a big one it was. A terrible ache in the pit of her stomach doubled her over. She had actually been feeling under the weather ever since Ardeth had been injured, but this feeling of hurting him was far worse than anything she had ever felt. Jensa had always known they would eventually have an argument, but she had not expected it to be so soon. The separation between them at the moment sent her heart into contortions.
Footsteps brought her to her feet. "Ardeth." She threw aside the goat skin drape and was disappointed to see it was not Ardeth, but Nadirah grinning up happily at her.
"Hello, Mama," she said shyly.
Jensa's disappointed features dissolved at hearing the affectionate greeting and couldn't help but laugh when she threw her arms around Jensa's waist. "Supper is ready, Mama. All the warriors have returned."
She didn't want to eat without Ardeth and quickly surveyed the surroundings. He wasn't anywhere in sight. The desperate need to find him and apologize was overwhelming. Dinner could wait, but the eagerness on the child's face was too hard to resist. She couldn't disappoint Nadirah.
"Okay, let's go." She held out her hand and Nadirah grabbed it and began pulling her to the tables around the fire.
"Sit here next to me, Mama." Nadirah urged her down onto the bench and said, "I will bring us the food." Jensa watched the girl in amazement. She suddenly spoke English like a pro. She had just needed the right teacher and some confidence.
Her attention went back to searching the crowd for her husband and she found him standing alone on the opposite side of the fire from her. He watched her with an expressionless face, but she could see the hurt in his eyes, the hurt she had caused. Her heart wrenched in agony. Would he ever forgive her? Her stomach gave another pang and she closed her eyes, hoping no one saw the grimace on her face. Spontaneously, she made the decision to talk to him and got to her feet. When she looked up, Sameera was barring her way. She was so startled she took a step back.
"I saw Ardeth storm out of your house a little while ago. Lover's quarrel?" she asked icily, an evil glint in her black eyes.
"I don't see what business it is of yours," Jensa hissed. "Get out of my way." Jensa moved to the right, but Sameera sidestepped in front of her.
"Where Ardeth is concerned, it is my business."
"You've had your head buried in the sand, no pun intended. Ardeth is married to me. He was never your concern in the first place. Go prey on someone else's husband you whore."
Sameera laughed softly. "You are jealous. If you are so secure in your marriage, then why this distance between you two? Could your happy home not be so happy?"
Jensa fought the rage building in her. A brief image of clawing Sameera's eyes out passed through her mind and it was quite a pleasant picture. Instead, she gave her a smile made of stone. "You call me jealous? I can assure you that you have nothing I am jealous of. You're the one rearing your ugly, green head. How pathetic. You pine away for a man who doesn't want you and never did."
"Oh, he has always wanted me, but he has just been poisoned by your lies. You have bewitched him. But rest assured, he does want me. I was there for him while you were off in your American country. How many nights do you think we have spent together? Do you really think you are satisfying to him?" She looked Jensa from head to foot. "It is no wonder he walked out on you tonight."
Her body trembled with anger. More than anything at the moment, she wanted to kill Sameera. But there were too many people…or witnesses. With every ounce of her strength, she kept her temper in check by balling her fists at her sides. They were clamped together so tightly, she was starting to loose the feeling in her fingers.
"Just between us, Sameera, we both know it isn't just the man you want. Ardeth is after all, the leader of the Twelve Tribes. That's a lot of power. I bet you'd love to be his wife. Seduce him away from me." She laughed sarcastically. "I'd sure like to see you try."
Sameera's angry expression turned livid. "You obviously do not make him happy, but I can and someday, I will."
"Is that a challenge?" Jensa placed her hands on her hips.
"Someday I will," she repeated, "but the time is not yet right. I will challenge you and I will win. I would love nothing more than to beat that smug expression off of your American face."
Jensa took a step towards her, putting her face within inches of Sameera's. She glanced to her right where a warrior, still armed, stood conversing with his wife. In her mind, the curve of the scimitar blade ached to taste blood. Sameera followed her gaze.
"Why wait?" Jensa said in a deadly whisper.
"We are not ready," she answered.
"Who's we?" she questioned suspiciously. "You and Dammar?"
Sameera looked quite startled, but recovered herself. "I hope you are as good as you think you are. It will be a fight worth waiting for."
"Anytime you want to try, I'll be ready."
Sameera narrowed her eyes until they were slits, giving her the appearance of an Egyptian asp. Suddenly, she stalked off. Jensa turned her head, following Sameera with her eyes. She was going to have to watch her back more.
As she turned her head back around, Ardeth stood directly in front of her. She inhaled sharply and laid a hand over her pounding heart. She'd been so absorbed in watching the asp, she hadn't heard his phantom approach.
"What was all that about?" he inquired, eying Jensa suspiciously.
"I'll tell you later. Sameera doesn't matter."
"I do not want you anywhere near that evil woman," he said, the look in his eyes intensely serious.
"I'm not anywhere near her by choice. She keeps skulking around in the shadows like a spider waiting to spring on its meal."
He looked at her sharply. "What did she say to you? I have never seen such hatred in your eyes before. In fact, I would say you would have killed her if given the chance."
"I wanted to." She took a deep breath to calm her taut nerves. Her anger was already abating just talking to him, but now they needed to talk about something else. "Ardeth," she began in a shaky voice. "I don't deserve to be forgiven for the horrible things I said to you, but I am so very very sorry." Her gaze shifted to the ground because she was afraid she'd burst into tears if she saw the pain in his eyes again.
He cupped his hand under her chin and pushed her face up. Still, she kept her eyes lowered. "Jen, look at me." Slowly, her teary eyes rose to his disarming brown orbs that burned right through her. "I am sorry too. I know how strongly you feel about Nadirah and should have been more understanding. Forgive me?"
"There's nothing for me to forgive you for. You did nothing. I started it. It was all my fault."
"It does not matter who started it. It is in the past now. We shall start afresh. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
His gaze fell to her quivering lips. Ardeth placed a chaste kiss on her veiled cheek and took her hand. "Come, let us have dinner."
"I'm not very hungry. My stomach's a little queasy. Maybe Sameera unnerved me more than I thought."
"You? Intimidated? I do not think so," he said with a barely noticeable grin while pushing her over to the table. She shivered feeling the heat from his hands on her back.
Nadirah ran back over with two plates in her little hands. She placed one in front of Jensa. When she saw Ardeth, she placed her own plate down on the table for him.
"You may have mine, Ardeth."
"No, that is your plate. I can get my own." He stood, pushed the plate away and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you though."
"No, Ardeth. I'll get it. Sit down." Jensa climbed off the bench and headed towards the table with the food.
Nadirah asked Ardeth a question, but Jensa didn't hear it as a sudden wave of intense nausea came over her, stopping her in her tracks. She put her hands over her stomach, fear gripping her. She had never felt such nausea before. Maybe she really was coming down with something. Her breathing turned into ragged gasps. Everything fogged up and as she looked around trying to focus on something, her body moved in slow motion as gravity if was pushing against her body.
Her hands came to her spinning head, hoping to still the dizzying motion. Immediately, she realized she was seconds from fainting. She held out her hand to try and find something or someone steady to hold onto, but found only air.
"Ardeth," she called out weakly, blindly searching the air for him with her hand.
"Jensa!" he cried.
She felt his arms catch her before she collapsed and lay her gently on the sand.
"Mama!" cried Nadirah's voice, soundly strangely fuzzy.
Their voices sound so far away, she thought vaguely. In a futile attempt to shut out the incessant ringing, she covered her ears. Ardeth was speaking again. His worried voice faded farther and farther away. Jensa's eyes rolled back and the darkness engulfed her.