Lifetime of Celebration
by Jeannette Hetfield
Hey there, people. Yep, almost done here. Some of your reviews were so funny. Many of you scolded me for ending the chapter with such a cliffhanger. And you know what I say to that? Too bad so sad!!!! I've read plenty of stories that have left me precariously dangling over a very high cliff wall and I'm just getting a little payback here (you know who you are, Aulizia).
Lyle's just a pill isn't he? He says a couple of crude things here, just to let you know. It's not anything really bad, but it's just to make Ardeth get really put out. I completely changed what happened so that took a little while. I had some writer's block for a few hours, which isn't that bad considering I usually have writer's block for months at a time.
Chapter 18
Events suddenly took place in slow motion. Jensa was prostrate with pain on the sand, holding onto her brother while sweat poured down over her swollen eyes and red cheeks. Lyle's aim was intended to kill and Ardeth took off in a dead run, intending to stop that bullet from harming his wife.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something he had not expected. Qusay, the quiet warrior who was devoted to his leader's wife because she had shown a kindness that he was not used to, had dropped his rifle and sprinted forward. His intentions were as clear as Ardeth's: Get to Jensa. But Qusay was closer and would reach Lyle first.
"NO!!!" Qusay slammed his body into Lyle's, moving the gun off course before the bullet could pierce Jensa. But Lyle gave a fierce shove, pushing Qusay off him. He elbowed the Medjai's face, knocking him back a step and giving all the opportunity that was needed. At point blank he fired, hitting Qusay's shoulder.
Ardeth growled deep in his throat, seeing his friend wounded. The gun was aimed higher and back in the Chieftain's face, but Ardeth's speed was quicker as he latched onto a wrist and bent backwards. He balled up his fist as Lyle cried out and dropped the gun. Knuckles hard as rock collided with the arrogantly pinched up face of the politician. Blood pooled out of his mouth and dribbled down his chin. He sneered and gritted blood-coated teeth then staggered backwards into his camel, who whined in protest. Crying out angrily, he threw a blind punch, which Ardeth dodged easily.
Ardeth recalled the horrors Jensa had described to him and the despicable violations Lyle had nearly committed. The hate within his chest grew to a swollen ball of white-hot rage. How dared this filth lay his hand on a woman that had done nothing to provoke the abuse!
He glanced once more at his wife and saw the bruise that stained her face. This filth was going to suffer exactly as she had.
"What you have done cannot be righted or forgiven. She did nothing but accept your proposal and your thanks was not what a worthy husband gives in return. You make those around you feel small by punishing them because you are a coward," he hissed.
He swiped the blood from his mouth and smirked. "It was no less than she deserved, especially now. Tell me something, are the two of you actually married or did you just feel like having the taste of a different whore?"
Lyle's head snapped roughly to the side with the sharp punch from Ardeth's fist and staggered to the side. He shook his head vigorously to clear it perhaps, and suddenly charged, throwing his thin arms around Ardeth and knocking him to the sand.
The tip of a knife was suddenly just above his left eye. Lyle's hand shook violently as he tried to plunge the weapon into his face, but Ardeth's rage had not yet been quenched and retribution had yet to be won.
Lyle's arrogant voice hissed into his ear: "So, does she taste as good as she looks?"
He shoved the knife-wielding hand back into Lyle's face, the black hilt hitting his cheekbone. While Lyle's guard was down, he tossed him over his head and shot to his feet. He watched, body tensely rigid as Lyle regained his own footing and touched his cheek, which now had a bleeding cut from the force of Ardeth's blow.
"You didn't answer my question," Lyle said with a perverse sneer.
Ardeth said nothing more, as his rage was beyond words. Any response to this man would be futile. Lyle wanted to make him angry and he was not about to be baited. He glanced at the circle of his men, a black ring of warriors with their rifles still aimed for Lyle and the Cravins, but they would not act without his consent. He knew their minds as well as they knew his.
Revenge was Ardeth's and his alone.
Lyle was not easily intimidated, but he was desperate now that he had realized death was the only escape and desperate men made mistakes.
A cry from behind stiffened the warrior's resolve. Jensa's heavy breathing and cries of pain ripped him to his very core. This was not at all how he had visualized the birth of his first child. It should have been at home where his family would be in comfort and safe, but it was not meant to be. He had failed her in that respect. He would not make the same mistake twice.
Lyle was making his move. He tossed the knife up, caught the blade point, drew back his arm and threw hard. Ardeth turned sharply and caught the blade easily with the natural speed of his inborn reflexes. Lyle, however, was not so lucky as he rocketed the blade back towards him. It embedded itself into Lyle's shoulder and he took a step back, crying out in painful surprise as he looked down at the weapon lodged in his body.
Ardeth was done wasting time. He stalked forward, ripped out the knife with his right hand and delivered yet another punch to Lyle's face with his left. Now weakened from significant blood loss, Lyle stumbled backwards into a Medjai, but was pushed forward from behind, directly into Ardeth's fist again. He coughed from the punch that dented his abdomen and dropped to his knees.
But the deed still was not finished. His mind drifted briefly back to a time before he and Jensa were married, before she had left Egypt. She had been kidnapped and also beaten by a cowardly man. Both times were personal to his heart and this time would end exactly as the first had.
Lyle was getting to shakily to his feet, apparently determined to die on his feet. He stumbled forward suddenly with a cry towards Ardeth and outstretched his arms, as if to grab onto him. Ardeth was already prepared as he caught him by the wrist and yanked him forward into his body…the knife between them.
He felt the warm blood oozing onto his hands. Lyle blinked in surprise and tilted his head downward to look again at the knife protruding from his stomach. Ardeth backed slowly away, feeling the burden leave his mind now that he knew Jensa would never suffer at the hands of this man again.
Lyle wrenched the knife out, letting it slip from his bloody fingers and then put a hand over the gaping wound. He dropped to his knees and then lurched forward onto the sand. With whatever strength he had left, he feebly crawled across the sand towards Jensa.
"T-taking y-y-you…with…m-me," he whispered and slid his bloody hand along the sand. He tried to grab her, but his hand stilled suddenly and did not move again. His chin rested against the sand when the strength to hold up his head left him and blood dribbled over his lips. Dead eyes saw nothing as they stared straight ahead.
Jackson and Jeremiah watched the events in quiet fear and took off running, pushing past the Medjai.
"Follow!" Ardeth commanded. A small group gave chase and quickly caught up to the brothers within seconds. He watched as the blades of scimitars met Lyle's cohorts and then saw them fall to the ground dead.
Jensa moaned in pain loudly bringing all of them back to the reality of the situation. Ardeth hurried over to his wife and sank to his knees beside her.
"Did he…touch you?" He asked calmly, though anger at the thought of Lyle's hands on her body still possessed his mind. But when she shook her head, he knew her answer to be the truth and let out the sigh of relief he had been dying to release. He placed his hand on her sweaty forehead. "Mother, please—"
"Ardeth," she interrupted, "Do not worry. We came prepared. Kerri set up the tent."
"Right away, Basmah."
Immediately, she ran to her horse, grabbed the tent and had set it up within five minutes. She gathered a pallet, pillows and blankets then went inside. Ardeth gently picked Jensa up and carried her within the black confines of the shelter. He grimaced with every agonizing tiny cry that fell from her lips, but felt proud that she was being so brave.
His mother shooed him outside. He did not nervously pace back and forth in front of the tent, nor did he wring his hands together with the lack of something to do. Ardeth simply stood stock-still staring at the small gap of the tent, waiting for news that his wife was all right, that their child was born and healthy. The only movement was the deep rise and fall of his chest as he breathed quickly.
Yet inside his chest, his heart beat violently against his rib cage. He had heard the cries of many women in childbirth in his village since he was a small boy, but now that it was his own wife, he admitted to himself a feeling of fear.
Another hour he stood there, muscles becoming painful from having not moved even an inch. Unfortunately for Jensa, it was not to be a quick birth, though he had hoped it would be so. Perhaps the terrible stress she had suffered was making the process difficult and prolonging.
At last, he decided he could no longer do anyone any good by just standing and waiting. He needed to do something, he decided at last. With that, he looked over his shoulder to see that the three intruders had been buried. Qusay was sitting on the sand, arm now cleaned and bandaged. Now was the time to give his thanks to the selfless act.
"Qusay," he began, kneeling in front of him, "Words cannot express what you have done this day. You saved the lives of Jensa and our child. I am honored to know you. We shall never forget what you have done for us. I am indebted to you."
Qusay shook his head. "My Lord, it is I who am honored to know you and fight by your side. The Medjai are blessed to have two extraordinary people to lead us." He clapped Ardeth gently on the back. "Whenever you need me, Ardeth, I will be here."
He still felt he should do something more and then an idea suddenly occurred to him. "I have a request, my friend."
"Anything you ask, My Chieftain."
"Jensa and our child will not always have me around at home to watch over them. Such is the life of the Medjai Chieftain. I want to be assured that she will be protected when I am watching Hamunaptra. Will you take the position of bodyguard to my wife and child?"
Qusay's mouth dropped open a bit for the veil had fallen from his heavily scarred face, though Ardeth saw no deformities and only remembered the grim determination of the man who had nearly died protecting someone else. Qusay seemed not to have noticed the absence of the veil either, for there was a light in his brown eyes so bright that part of the old spirit had returned.
"Ardeth, My Lord…I would be honored."
He nodded and stood, the matter of thanks given and received, and then turned his attention back to the suddenly noisy tent. There were cries and not just Jensa's. The very distinct cry of a baby erupted suddenly and shattered the quiet of the warriors. Murmuring traveled through the group. The baby was born. His baby. Eyes wide, breathing quickly, he waited to hear from his mother.
Not a second later, her head poked through the gap in the tent. Indeed, she gave the meaning of her name great justice, for the most beautiful smile rested on her pretty olive face. "Come, Ardeth! Quickly!" She waved her hand frantically at him and he reached his wife in mere seconds.
Jensa was resting quietly against numerous pillows. Her face was red, dripping with sweat and wet hair clung to her cheeks and neck, but her beauty shone through, enough to rival the sun. The reason for the glow was none other than the tiny bundle in her arms.
"Jen?" he whispered, kneeling down next to his suddenly larger family.
"Ardeth…" she said, voice tired, but eyes alive with euphoria. "This is your daughter."
"My daughter," he said in quiet wonder.
"Here, take her."
He held out his arms and she placed the new life into the strong security he mentally vowed to protect with such a fierceness that none would destroy. At first, he felt awkward holding her, being very inexperienced to begin with, though he had delivered children before. Yes, everything was different because she came from the love he and his wife shared.
"What is her name?" he whispered, fearing to speak loud near such delicate ears.
Jensa looked down and said timidly, "I've been thinking about a name for a while now. Actually since I was little, I always wanted to name my first girl after my dad's mother, my grandmother. She was very important to me while she lived. Do you…would you consider…Tabitha?"
"Tabitha," he repeated, in love with the name already. "Welcome my little Medjai. My Tabitha Bay." A tear fell down Ardeth's cheek as he kissed his daughter's tiny, fuzzy head. Jensa cupped the side of his face in her hand and brushed the tear away with her thumb.
He looked back and forth between them, pride nearly bursting within his heart. She had given him such an incredible gift and he would spend the rest of his life making up to her the pain she had suffered in order to bring about this precious child.
With one arm secure around the baby, he placed his hand over hers, where it still rested against his cheek. "I love you both so much."
"I know. We know," she said, tears slipping down her face.
Their eyes were drawn inevitably to their baby and they chuckled softly when her tiny mouth opened into a very big yawn. He squeezed Jensa's hand and said, "I must show her off. Do you agree?"
"Oh, yes," she said, nodding.
He and Tabitha received smiles, congratulations and quiet cheers. Each warrior circled around the new father and latest addition to the Medjai tribe.
These men frequently saw many terrible horrors in their lives, but they did not fear death and indeed, faced it everyday. But though they had seen these terrible horrors, their hearts were not hardened to the obvious peace of their village and the brotherly love each of them felt. To any outsider, it would have been a very amusing sight to witness the handful of hardened warriors cooing over a little baby.
* * *
Jensa lay, nearly asleep, but for one nagging thought in the back of her head. The love that flowed from her husband to his daughter was truly something beautiful and with regret, she wondered how she could have ever doubted him. It did not matter to him whether their first child was a boy or girl. He had shown her his heart and she knew without a doubt that Tabitha would never know a home without love.
With this in mind, she let her aching and exhausted body relax and the tension of the day had melted away as soon as Tabitha was born. The last thoughts she had were of a little baby she was certain would have the same smile as her husband.
* * *
After Ardeth had given the baby back to his wife for her first feeding, he left, though he wished to stay. There was, however, a task that had yet to be fulfilled. It would not be pleasant either.
Once he was certain that Jensa and Tabitha were securely settled under his mother's watchful eye, he needed to speak with Michael, who stood a good distance away, staring at the dark horizon.
"I need to have a word with you, Michael," he said curtly.
"Leave me alone, Bay." He did not turn around, but folded his arms, obviously already defensive.
"I will not." Ardeth lowered his voice so as not to disturb anyone. "Because of you, Jensa would have died and my daughter would not have been born. Because of you, strangers found our home, our hiding place in the desert. Because of you, another child, Nadirah, nearly died at the hands of Lyle and his cohorts. Tragedy nearly occurred tonight, and again I will say, because of you."
"I already told you they tricked me," he defended himself.
"I do not care if they tortured you for a week. You betrayed Jensa."
"I didn't do it on purpose."
"Nevertheless, you did. It is taking everything within my being to keep from snapping your worthless neck. You do not deserve to live. If not for Jensa, I would carry out my wishes. It would be one less burden for me. I want you to get back onto this camel and return to Cairo. Never, and I mean never, return to our village. If Jensa's parents come to the village, you will not come with them. I never want to see you again or anywhere near Jensa, even if I am not with her, you will still come nowhere near our home. If you do not heed my warnings, I will kill you. No hesitation."
With that, Ardeth stalked off, needing to subdue the anger that boiled. It was easily forgotten when his eyes settled on the peaceful slumbering forms of Jensa and the baby. His mother and Kerri had left them alone for the time being. It was too soon to move Jensa just yet and for a little while, they would remain here until mother and baby were ready to be taken home.
He lay down beside them, but after all that had happened today, he was not tired and watched over them while they slept. Jensa's arm was wrapped protectively around her little girl and the baby's little fingers were curled around a lock of his wife's hair that had fallen over her shoulder.
It was quite chilly since the sun had gone down and he tucked the blanket more firmly over them. Then he stretched an arm across them both and continued to watch the beautiful scene before him.
* * *
Michael's blood boiled, yet, he agreed with the chieftain. Because of him, he had nearly gotten his beloved sister killed. He loved her more than anything and would never intentionally hurt her.
"Worthless scum," he said to himself. Without a word to anyone, he heeded Ardeth's words and mounted a camel, intent on disappearing back in Cairo.
The desire to see his niece was overwhelming, but his hardened jaw was set and he continued over the sand. Not once did he look back.
* * *
In the early morning, Basmah mounted and Kerri handed the baby to her. Kerri led the horse while the obviously proud grandmother held onto her granddaughter with both arms.
Ardeth mounted his horse and Qusay picked Jensa up. He took her from him and laid her as gently as he could onto the saddle.
It was almost seven by the time they returned to the village to find it bustling with activity just like always. He could see Nadirah in the distance sitting next to one of the scouts and she saw them before the scout did. Suddenly, she jumped up and down, yelling to everyone that the warriors had returned safely home. The villagers' cheering echoed magnificently around the rocks encircling their home.
He grinned and glanced at Tabitha. She certainly had a very large family now. Jensa stirred from her deep sleep and muttered something, but he could not hear her for the cheering.
"What did you say, Jen?" he said into her ear.
"You said we'd have a lifetime of celebration together."
"I did say that, did I not?" He smiled down at her sleepy green eyes that had just a hint of the sparkle he could not help but become lost in.
"Mm hmm," she murmured, snuggling back into his shoulder, immediately falling back to sleep.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Indeed we shall, kalila."
A/N: Hey again! I know this chapter is short and I was going to add more to it, but after I read it a few times, I liked it the way it was so I decided not to add anything else because I have done that before and messed everything up. Just one chapter remains folks.