Lifetime of Celebration
By Jeannette Hetfield
Hey there people! Guess what stupid thing I did? I've been working on the wrong chapter! Instead of this chapter, I was working on the one that follows it for the past month. Luckily, I figured this out before I posted anything. It's so typical of me to be so dumb. Plus, this chapter was previously typed and saved and I might have deleted it so I had to type the whole thing all over again, which took even more time. Hopefully, this won't happen the next time. I swear I've got some blond hairs mixed with my brown ones somewhere.
Chapter 15
Ardeth paced restlessly outside his home. He had no idea how much time had passed, but it felt like it had been forever. He had been pacing for so long, a trench was appearing. No doubt, he would discover some new, threatening Egyptian artifact if the trench became deeper.
What was happening with his wife? She had seemed perfectly normal. Then again, she had mentioned something about not feeling so well. Could that have been the cause of her collapse?
Thinking back, he had heard her unusually feeble voice calling out to him. There had been no time to wonder what was happening. He had shot towards her before she hit the ground. Her normally pink cheeks and red lips were a startling pale color.
His mother had closeted herself with Jensa a while ago in his and Jensa's bedroom. When he had tried to follow, she forcibly shoved him outside. No one did that to him! He went where he pleased. Were she anyone but his mother…
The scowl on his face was enough to ward off anyone that attempted to get near him, as the many people who walked by kept a good distance away. This waiting was enough to drive him to insanity. She was his wife! He had the right to know if something was wrong. But no. He had been pushed outside of his own home to worry.
"This has gone on long enough," he spat to himself. He marched forward and stormed through the doorway.
* * *
Her senses felt numb. The roaring noise echoing between her ears had stopped thankfully. Little snippets of her memory began to return once her eyelids peeled open. At first glance, everything was blurry, but a few blinks took care of that and she recognized her surroundings. It was comforting to see that she was in her bedroom, one of the few places she felt secure, but that feeling of security was only brought about by Ardeth's presence, which was severely lacking at the moment. He laid not beside her, nor anywhere in the room. She was completely alone.
A wave of dizziness nearly knocked her back as she tried to sit up and abruptly laid back down with a hand over her eyes. So many jumbled thoughts floated around her head as she fought not only dizziness, but the nausea creeping back into her stomach.
The nausea was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Very rarely in her life had she been sick, but it was possible that she might have picked up a virus here or there.
What time was it? The draping over the window was pulled to the side and she saw that it was still dark. Slivers of the moon's light trailed inside, illuminating herself and the room in a silver glow.
The nausea had not yet abated. Deep inhaling. Deep exhaling. Slowly. Fight it. Don't get sick. One hand rubbed gently over her stomach as if the motion would ease the ache. After a few more minutes, it did settle down and she no longer felt like she would wretch if she so much as blinked. Under her fingers, the material of something familiar touched her skin. She pushed the fur hides down and saw the thin muslin material covering her body. Someone had changed and placed her in bed.
But who?
"Ardeth?" she called softly, hoping to soon hear his soothing voice next to her ear, reassuring her that all was well. But there was no answer from him.
Just then, the drape was pushed aside and at first, all she could see was the flame of a candle, but a dark figure stepped into the room and a mellow voice said:
"Praise Allah, you are awake."
"Basmah?"
The brown eyes so like Ardeth's tilted at the corners as she smiled. "Yes, it is I," she said, kneeling down at the edge of the bed. "How do you feel?"
She grimaced. "I've seen better days. My stomach is all over the place."
Basmah grinned. "That is not unexpected for a woman whom is expecting."
Jensa blinked and slowly sat up. "Did I hear you right?"
"Yes, Jensa," she chuckled, the candle tilting dangerously to the side. She made a little noise of surprise and righted the taper. "You fainted earlier. That is not uncommon for a pregnant woman. I fainted twice myself while carrying Ardeth."
A warm sensation spread over her body. "A baby?" she repeated in wonder. "I never had a baby before."
"I certainly hope not," she said dryly.
"Hmm? Oh!" she laughed. "How long, I wonder?" In her mind she calculated the time. Well, there had been many times over the last few months for her to get pregnant. These thoughts made her cheeks warm.
"Do you know?"
"I think maybe…" she said, thinking a few more moments. "One month."
"Then you must have conceived a short time after your marriage."
Jensa blushed. "I guess so."
"Do not be embarrassed, child. We Bays are a fertile bunch," she said, pointing a finger at her own chest.
She laughed nervously. "W-where is Ardeth?"
"Just outside. I will get him," she said, standing up.
Right then, there was a steady rhythm of heavy footsteps, the drape was thrown aside and Ardeth appeared.
"Jensa!" He rushed to her side and pulled her into his arms. "My kalila, are you all right?" He released her and cupped her face in his hands, the brown orbs of his worried gaze fixed steadily on her face.
"I'm fine," she said, unable to keep the smile off of her face. He looked so worried. In fact, there was the smallest trace of fear in his eyes. It was touching to see this side of him.
Boy, was he in for a surprise. And she felt the tears gathering in her eyes and they could not be held back. Ardeth's eyes widened considerably.
"Why do you cry, my love? Mother, is she truly all right?" He faced his mother, looking expectant.
"She is well, my son. In fact, they both are."
Jensa looked from Ardeth to Basmah, who nodded her head for the go ahead. "Ardeth, I have something to tell you." He squeezed her hands tight, as if expecting to hear bad news.
"Are you everything is all right?"
She laughed and cupped the sides of his face in her hands. "Such impatience. I'm fine. Both of us are fine," she said, emphasizing the word 'both'.
Basmah stood. "I will now leave you." She was nearly gone, but Jensa called her back.
"Basmah, thank you so much for everything."
"You are welcome, Jensa. Ardeth, take good care of them."
"I will." Basmah left and he watched her retreating figure with an odd look. "Them?" He gave his attention back to Jensa.
"You will take good care of us, won't you, my love?" she said, running her thumbs over the black tattoos of his cheeks.
"Yes. Yes, of course. What is going on?"
"I'm going to have a baby. Our baby."
His eyes widened and he blinked a few times before he said anything. "A baby?"
"Yes," she confirmed happily, hugging him.
"Oh, Jen! A baby! Yours and mine!" He hugged her back fiercely. "There is so much to do. We must begin to build an addition to our home."
"We have eight months, Ardeth. There is plenty of time." She laid down against the pillows and wiped her tears away.
He leaned over her and placed a kiss on the middle of her stomach then undressed quickly before climbing in beside her. The chill of night lingered in the room and she shivered. He pulled the animal skins firmly around them and spooned his body against hers. She sighed contentedly.
"Though we have eight months, I wish to begin immediately on the addition. Our baby will need a room of his or her own, as well as the other children we will have."
"You see a large family in our future?" she asked hopefully. She had always wanted a lot of children.
"As large as you wish," he said, tickling the lobe of her ear with his lips. She shivered, but not from the cold. "Now Jensa, I want you to tell me what you and Sameera talked about."
"Do we really have to spoil such a special moment?" she asked with a frown, her lower lip sticking out a little.
He rose his head and propped it up with his hand. "Unfortunately we do. From the look she gave you, I would say she was not taking you up on the offer of becoming good friends. You appeared to have the situation under control though."
"She made me so mad," she said through gritted teeth.
"What did she say?" he pressed, inching closer as if to protect her.
"Well, after you and I argued," she said quietly, still feeling ashamed for what she had said, but he gave her a small smile that reassured her to continue. "Sameera saw you leave the house and she came to tell me how wrong I was for you and that I could never make you as happy as she could. Ardeth, she is absolutely irate about me being your wife."
He sighed heavily. "For years, she has been a thorn in my side. Sometimes, she waited for me in this bed when I returned from Hamunaptra."
Jensa wrinkled her nose as if Sameera's presence was still there.
"I told her many times that I would never marry her, but she would not listen. Was that all she said?"
"No, the next part is unsettling. I'm afraid you and I are in the same boat."
"How so?"
"When she said that she was the only woman who could make you happy, she said someday she would."
"She thinks she could tear us apart?" he asked sarcastically.
"Not only that, but she more or less challenged me to a fight for you."
Ardeth sat up straight, looking down at Jensa in consternation. "Sameera challenged you to a fight?"
Jensa sat up too, puling her knees to her chest. "Not yet, but she insinuated that the time wasn't right, whenever she is ready, she will. I believe her exact words were," and she spoke with a pronounced Arab accent, "I'd love nothing more than to beat that smug expression off of your American face."
Ardeth covered his face with his hands. "We have been married one month and she is already creating trouble." He gave Jensa a deadly serious look. "Jen, you must be careful. Tread lightly where Sameera is concerned. Her threat was real. It is not surprising though, as she is often seen in the company of Dammar. He has filled her head with beliefs of the old ways for a long time now."
"I'll be careful," she promised.
He placed his arms around her shoulders and held her close. It seemed he felt he could protect her if she was as close to him as possible. "This could not have come at the worst time. If she attempts to harm you or our child in any way, I will cut her throat."
She heard the menace in his voice and was immediately thankful to be loved by such a strong and wonderful man. He would do anything to keep their family safe. Contemplating the future was difficult. Just how safe would their home be for their baby?
Sighing deeply, she gave him a weak smile. "It is very late. We should try to get what sleep we can." They sunk back onto the pillows and she rested her head on his chest, snuggling into his body.
"Oh," she said, "Mother and Daddy will want to know. I should go to see them before I will be too big to move. They'll be thrilled. I can't wait to see their expressions."
"Even your father's?" he asked, sounding skeptical.
She laughed. "Yes, love, even my father's."
* * *
"Are you stupid?" yelled Dammar as he squeezed her arm harder, ignoring the wince she made.
"Well, it was obvious they had had a fight and I could not help myself. You did not see the pain in his eyes. She hurt him and for that I would love to kill her."
Dammar backhanded her. She swerved to the right and nearly fell into the tent pole. "You are stupid! Now you have made things worse," he said so angrily that spit shot out of his mouth.
Sameera held her sore jaw and rose to unsteady feet. "How could things possibly be even worse than they already are?"
"By confronting Ardeth's wife, you have alerted them to you and possibly me. Jensa knows you resent her for being his wife. Now she and Ardeth will be watchful of you. You could have destroyed what I have been trying to build!"
"Well then, we will just have to catch them when they least expect it," she said, trying to sound confident.
"That may be a while. There are not yet enough of us."
"We have waited this long. We can wait longer."
"True," he agreed, "I have waited my entire life. We must not rush things." He suddenly remembered the bit of gossip that had been floating around the village after Jensa's public fainting affair. "Did you hear the rumor about why Jensa fainted earlier this evening?"
"No, I had already returned to my tent. I did not even know she had fainted. Oh, please tell me she has some terrible disease that will kill her?" Sameera sounded ridiculously hopeful.
"Unfortunately for us, that is not the case. We may have another Bay running around the village pretending to be the leader."
Sameera's eyes widened in shock. "She is pregnant?" Her lips set in a tight, thin line. "That child should be mine."
"Well, it is not. It is of no concern. We shall just kill the child and any other children they have. I want the Bay name and every member of the family eradicated. Cousins, both close and distant. His mother, sister, wife, children. All of them."
* * *
Mrs. James still couldn't believe it. She was going to be a grandmother!
"Oh, darling! Isn't it wonderful?" she said excitedly to her husband who was still quite pale.
"Yes. Yes. Wonderful," he mumbled.
"Samuel, the least you could do is pretend to be happy," she scolded, frowning at him.
Ardeth and Jensa had just delivered the news only a few hours ago and she had never expected when they had come riding up, Ardeth on his black steed and Jensa on her golden Asal, that their news would be so exciting.
"I'm not exactly happy," he said tersely.
"I said you could pretend. Jensa is thrilled. I've seen that motherly glow in her eyes. She wants this baby very much. She loves Ardeth and their home."
"I know, but wouldn't it be better for her to stay with us until the baby is born?"
She shook her head while saying, "Why should she?"
"Because she's in the middle of the desert! That's why!" he cried.
"The Medjai have been having children for a very long time, dear," she said, trying not to smile at the angry look on his face. "Jensa will be well cared for. Ardeth's mother, Basmah, was so kind to us while we stayed with her. She will look after our daughter well and so will her husband."
"You're trying to say she is in capable hands, I know."
"Don't you believe that?" He didn't answer. "Oh, Samuel! She'll be fine and so will our first grandchild."
"Jennifer, I can't help it. I don't approve of her marriage no matter how much I pretend. Deep down, I feel that if she spends the rest of her life with Ardeth Bay that she'll come to a bad end."
"Samuel!" she cried in shock. "Don't say that!"
"It's the truth!" he shouted back. "If she stays with him, she'll die out there. He can't always be there to protect her. More than half of his time is spent guarding Hamunaptra and that is not exactly right next door to their village."
"Stop it! I won't hear you talking about Jensa dying. I won't! She's having this baby and they'll be fine. They'll all be fine. Nothing will happen to Jensa."
"You may believe he can protect her, but he can't always. He'll be the death of her. I warned her and everyone, but no one listens to me."
"No one is listening because we all know you're wrong." She stomped out of the room without looking back. "She'll be fine. She'll be just fine…"
* * *
The next nine months came quickly. Ardeth had the addition completed with help from everyone. It seemed his people were quite excited that he was finally married and now expecting his first born that would someday become the next Medjai chieftain.
"If it is a boy, of course," Jensa said.
Ardeth laughed. She kept reminding him of the fact that they did not know yet know the sex of the baby. "Yes, that is true, but it gives everyone something to talk about. Once our baby is born, there will be something else to talk about."
Jensa had done two of the most amazing things he had ever seen. She brought Qusay out of his shell. He participated more and even helped to construct the new room for the baby. He did, however, continue to keep the veil around his face. Ardeth knew it would be a much longer time before Qusay would allow the people to see his scars. But the fact that he was even talking again, as he had before his personal tragedies, was enough.
Nadirah was an entirely different child. She talked nonstop now and played with the other children, but never strayed far from Jensa's side. Much of her time was devoted to following Jensa around.
Sometimes, Jensa would read to Nadirah and the girl would sit in her lap or at her feet watching her adoringly. The child did her best to help make his expectant wife more comfortable. She could be seen running in and out of the house to bring whatever Jensa asked for, which they didn't really need all those extra pillows, but he knew Nadirah felt wanted for the first time in her life. There were twice as many pillows in the house now. Anytime he saw a pile of pillows all shapes, colors and sizes being balanced by someone only three feet tall, he knew she was bringing more pillows to his wife.
* * *
Jensa's time was very near and she stood inside the room breathing the new smell. Ardeth came up behind her, put his hands on her shoulders and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"Ardeth, it's beautiful and the baby's going to have plenty of room to grow up in."
"I am pleased you like it. It will not be much longer."
"I hope it's soon. I'm dreadfully tired of being fat," she said, rubbing the swell of her tummy.
He laughed. "You are not fat, Jen. You are having a baby."
"Not yet I'm not." She frowned at her stomach. How much longer?
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"The same."
"Your back and shoulders have not gotten any better?"
She shook her head, rolling her shoulders back and feeling the sharp pinch of her muscles. "They've been hurting for quite some time. I'm used to it now."
"Come with me." He walked into the bedroom and pointed to their bed. "Have a seat."
She sunk down and sighed with pleasure at the softness underneath her. Ardeth crawled up behind her, pulled off the robes she wore, pushed the straps of her slip down and draped her hair over the front of one shoulder. His long fingers draped over her bare shoulders and began massaging. She moaned and her rolled her head forward, closing her eyes.
"They did the same thing on our wedding day," she said, her voice muffled by the hair that had fallen around her face.
"Yes, I know. It is common for the women on special days and a well-kept secret of the Medjai."
"A secret massaging formula?"
"Correct."
"Won't you tell me how so I can return the favor?"
"Maybe, if you behave."
"Don't count on it."
"I was not. I know you too well, Jen, but I might show you just the same so I do not have to do it all of the time."
Jensa huffed. "Well I never. If I wasn't so big, I'd have to beat you up."
"Promise you will after the baby is born?" His hands worked their way down to the middle of her back.
"Now that is something you can count on." He stopped and kissed the back of her neck.
"You have magical hands."
He chuckled throatily, obviously noting the hidden meaning in her words.
They were silent for a couple of minutes before Jensa said, "Ardeth, what would you think about Nadi living with us?"
His hands stopped on her lower back. He didn't answer right away. Jensa figured he was about to tell her no. She turned towards him with a searching look on her face.
He reached down for her hand. "Jensa, I know how much you love Nadirah. I love her too, but she does not belong to us. She is not our daughter."
"She should be," Jensa said bitterly.
"But you must understand that she is not."
She gestured towards the baby's room. "We have more than enough room now. What if I asked her father? Do you really think he'd care about not having her around?"
"I do not know," he said uncertainly.
"Would it bother you if I asked him? Nicely, of course."
Ardeth sighed. "No, it would not. Her father never really knew what to do, but you seem to know what is best for her. You are her mother in every way that counts. You may ask him if you wish, but you should be prepared if he says no."
"I will be. I halfway expect him to."
"He might agree," Ardeth said encouragingly. "I hope for everyone's sake that he does."
"Ardeth, you truly don't mind if she lives with us?"
"Nadirah is always welcome here. If she wants to be part of this growing family, she can."
"Oh, Ardeth!" She twisted to the side so she could throw her arms around him. "Thank you so much. I'll ask him now."
"So soon?" he asked in surprise.
Jensa pushed up her straps, grabbed her robe, threw it over her head and pushed her arms through the sleeves. "There isn't any time to waste. Now, will you please help me up?" He moved to her side, put his arm around her and pulled her up.
"I'll be back in a little while," she said, giving him a quick kiss.
After a few inquiries, Jensa learned that Nadirah's father had just returned from a patrol of Hamunaptra. She knew he would be tired, but didn't feel like waiting. She wanted Nadirah living with her and getting the proper care she needed as soon as possible.
Kardal was one of the villagers who had chosen to remain living in a tent. Jensa had heard from Basmah that it would be a waste of money and energy to build a home for him and his daughter, as he would never take another wife. Of course, he forgot about Nadi.
Jensa stopped a few feet from his tent. "Excuse me? Kardal? It's Jensa." She insisted she be called by her first name. Everyone referred to Ardeth as 'My Lord' and began calling her 'My Lady'.
This bothered her somewhat and made her feel like royalty. She wasn't and didn't want to be treated as such. Jensa didn't want these people to think she thought of herself as better than they were and wanted them to feel at ease and comfortable around her, but some didn't. They fell all over themselves trying to please her. Ardeth informed her that she would get used to it. So far, she hadn't.
Kardal stepped through the tent flaps. "My Lady," he said bowing his head.
Jensa smirked and chose to ignore his formality. "I've come to discuss something that is of the utmost importance."
"Does it concern my daughter?"
"Yes."
"What has she done this time?" he said, looking around, apparently for Nadirah.
Jensa's features flushed red with anger and came through to her voice. "Nadirah is a good child and has never done anything wrong. It's a shame you don't see that."
"My Lady, forgive me," he said condescendingly. "You have not been here very long—"
"Long enough," she snapped. She took a deep breath. "This has not gone how I wanted it to. I know you've had a rough time and think yourself burdened with Nadirah's care."
"It has been very difficult," he agreed, "But why are you here?"
"Would you agree to let me and Ardeth care for Nadirah from now on?"
"I am not sure I understand."
"I want Nadirah to live with me and Ardeth. We will take full responsibility of her care."
Kardal's eyes widened in surprise. "Why would you wish to burden yourself with her?"
"She is a child, not a burden. I love her very much and I will do whatever is necessary to make her happy."
"Why?"
"Why?" Jensa repeated incredulously. "Because I just told you how much I love her."
He nodded his head. "I have heard her call you Mama."
"Does that bother you?"
"No," he admitted. "I am glad to see it. Ever since she was born, she has been a difficult child. It has been truly astounding that she has come so far with your guidance. Ardeth is truly blessed to have you, and so is Nadirah. Please do not think I hate her, but I do not feel comfortable around her. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I do and it bothers me a great deal. I don't want to discuss how you feel about your daughter because arguing would accomplish nothing. Do you agree to let me take her home or not?" Her arms folded impatiently.
"Nadirah may live with you from now on," he agreed.
Jensa felt like jumping for joy, but thought that would have been inappropriate. She smiled happily and merely said, "Thank you, Kardal." If she said much more, she'd burst.
"Thank you, My Lady."
Just then, Nadirah came running up to the tent. "Mama!" she cried. Immediately, she noticed her father and corrected herself. "I mean Jensa."
"It's all right, Nadi," Jensa assured her. "I was just speaking to your father about you."
Nadirah glanced nervously at her father and he gave her what could be considered a smile. He cleared his throat. "I will leave you alone." After he walked off, Jensa told Nadirah to take a walk with her.
"Nadi, how would like to live with me and Ardeth? Your tent is far away on the other side of the village and if you lived with us, we could see each other all the time."
Nadirah squealed and jumped up and down excitedly. "I would love to, Mama! Can I? Can I? Can I?" She rapidly spat out the words like a typical buoyant child.
"Slow down, Nadi," Jensa said laughing. "Yes, you may come now. Let's go tell Ardeth.
Nadirah pulled Jensa impatiently toward home, threw open the door and ran full speed at Ardeth. He caught and picked her up. "I guess this means our baby will have a sister to share the room with?"
"That's right," Jensa nodded, unable to keep from grinning.
"I can really stay here, Ardeth?" she asked timidly.
"I would love for you to."
Nadirah squealed again and gave him a bone crunching hug. "You are stronger than you look little one."
Ardeth motioned for Jensa to join in and she did so. The new family stood arm in arm and immediately began making plans to move Nadirah in. It suddenly felt to Jensa that they had always been together.
A/N: I know I moved her pregnancy along really fast there, but I guess I'm just in a hurry to get to the end of the story. I haven't been giving the attention to the story that it deserves, but that's because I'm tired of it. So I'm going to finish it before abandoning the Ardeth and Jensa saga for a while. Plus, I've got carpal tunnel syndrome so typing can be hazardous to my health sometimes. Chapter 16 is nearly done. It should be up soon. Hopefully. But you know me.