Speak Softly
What You Believe

1935: Ardeth Bay is resurrected from the dead. He awakens to a world vastly different, to familiar faces changing and to the knowledge that he is Egypt's final hope for freedom.

He also finds out just how far love and despair can take him.

~~~~~~~

Evy sat by the large pool inside Imhotep's granite bathhouse. Being his personal slave did have its advantages, including access to his rooms, which had only the finest in furnishings and conveniences, lavish and warm in contrast to the cold halls. The lush, imported plants against the dark pillars and walls gave one the impression they were sitting within an Aztec temple where any moment a snake could slither its way off of a branch to make its way to the central pool. On any other day that snake would be Imhotep, Evy imagined.

But right now the pharaoh was conducting business, or so she had been told, and whenever he was so occupied she and Jonathan weren't allowed anywhere near. Sometimes she wondered what secrets the priest kept. Of course he would never tell her.

Jonathan lounged nearby on his stomach, his fingers touching the perfect crystal waters within the pool. He really wasn't supposed to be in here, but right now neither he nor Evy cared. She needed to talk to him and Imhotep could live with it. "Jonathan," she breathed, dipping her toes into the water. She felt a nervous anticipation wash through her. She wasn't sure she would want to hear the answer to her question.

"Hmm?" he replied at her pause, glancing up thoughtfully. "What's on your mind?"

Evy sighed and dropped both feet into the warm water. "I just wondered if you looked for Ardeth." Her dark eyes washed him over.

Jonathan also sighed, looking every bit like he wasn't looking forward to answering as he sat up. That gesture told Evy the news would be bad, that he had to get comfortable to say it. It made her heart pang. "Sorry, old mum. I checked with everyone. No one saw anything, or if they did they aren't willing to tell me."

Biting her lip and nodding, Evy scratched her arm and said, "Oh. Well, no word is better than a bad one, right? Maybe he got away or…who am I kidding?" She stared at the water.

Her brother watched her a little curiously and she wanted to push him into the water for it. Right now Evelyn felt a little anxious over everything. Imhotep's eyes always gazed at her with that question standing in them. "You really care for Ardeth, don't you?" Jonathan asked quietly.

She looked up with furrowed brows. "Of course I do, Jonathan. He was our friend, you know."

"Well, yeah," her brother conceded with a nod. "And I'm worried about him too, mark me on that. But I just thought…"

Evy frowned at him. "You thought what, exactly?"

Jonathan held up his hands and shrugged, saying, "No reason to get angry, old mum. It's nothing at all. You're just a bit tense and not that you don't have a reason to be, but I just wanted to make sure you were all right, you know?"

Her expression softened as she looked back into the shimmering pool. Evy kicked her legs lightly in the warmth. "Thanks, Jonathan. I guess these past few days have been hard, that's all. Imhotep…he wants me to marry him." She looked up.

But Jonathan didn't look as surprised as she thought he would. Instead those blue eyes of his were knowing and sympathetic. "Yeah, he mentioned that," he told her. "What are you going to do?"

That nervousness in her stomach that never seemed to leave now intensified as she asked herself that very question. The truth was she didn't know. She didn't want to marry Imhotep and her immediate answer was 'no', but what if life never got any better than that? Years ago she would never have questioned herself. The answer would never be to agree to such a thing, but after seeing everything she had in the past two years she wasn't sure how to make choices without doubt anymore. Such was life with Imhotep. Everything was a gamble on his mercy.

"I don't know, Jonathan." That ache for the loss of Ardeth returned like a wound reopening. "I mean you were right about Ardeth. We sort of did bond in the desert and…and he kissed me and…one thing led to another and we…well, think of the queen's sort of irrelevant since…and now he's gone and I keep hoping that it's not true because I don't even know what I want from him, but what if things get really bad if I deny Imhotep? He could get very nasty in the near future, but how could he ask this of me right now? Good lord, I'm babbling." She sniffled and fought back the tears that formed in her eyes. "What do you think I should do?"

Jonathan scooted close to her and bumped her with his side. "I wish I was wise enough to tell you. Imhotep wanted me to talk to you, to talk you into marrying him because 'it's what would be best', but I just don't know and we don't even know if Ardeth's really dead. It looks bad, baby sis, I hate to say it, but that doesn't mean things will end up bad. The question is if Ardeth were really gone, do you think you would have a better life as Imhotep's wife or his slave? I don't mean to play devil's advocate, but I just don't know for sure."

Crossing her arms, Evy kicked the water angrily and looked at the stained glass lighting above them. It's large, decorative patterns gazed back in shades of teal, coral and orange, both pretty and bold. Just like Imhotep. "So, you think I should then? That's what it sounds like you're saying."

He took her hands and bent down to look into her downcast eyes. "I'm saying, Evy, make this choice for the good of your well being and state of mind. Heaven knows my pride tells me to forbid you against it, but I'm trying to think about what's better for you in the long run. Trust me, the alternative to turning him down makes me angry for you and I don't want to see you marry him at all, but I just don't want anything worse happening to my little sister."

"Yeah," Evy breathed through a thick voice. She wiped stray tears away. "I know. I'm just afraid of making the wrong choice. If I say no then Imhotep could do terrible things to not only me, but also you. But if I say yes and Ardeth is alive, what then?"

Jonathan sighed and looked into the pool, picking at the sleeves of his blue shirt. She could see his mind at war with logic just the same as hers. Sometimes it would strike her, just how much she wished her brother was gone from here and drinking in some pub in London or chasing some married girl with money. "You think he loves you?" he asked gently, returning his gaze to hers.

She shook her head. That was the big question on her mind. Did Ardeth have feelings for her, or was what happened just a fluke? She wasn't even sure of herself, but she would have liked to have at least found out. She was growing to like her stray fantasies. "I just don't know. It was so fast we didn't even think it through. He was hurting and I was hurting for him."

Her brother nodded slowly and bumped her side again. "Don't you go turning out like me, Sis, chasing skirts and…or robes, rather. You deserve better than that." She laughed at that and bumped him back. "If you marry Imhotep and Ardeth is alive, I think you should remember to ask yourself if it would matter to him. I think it might bug him at first—it would any man, but I think he's the type that would understand your choices. And marrying Imhotep won't be like saying Ardeth is gone."

Grinning, Evy elbowed Jonathan and sniffled again. "You're really trying to marry me off, aren't you?"

"No," he replied with a sorrowful smile as he looked her over, "But I don't want to see you suffer anymore. I know Imhotep's an evil sort who takes what he wants and would dominate a mouse if it crossed his throne room, but if we can appease him just long enough to…well just long enough, then maybe it would be worth the small peace it might bring. I hate seeing you dressed like that, sitting on the floor beside his throne like some pet. He's prideful and if you were his queen I think he might be proud enough to actually treat you like one for risk of looking like a tyrant."

She smirked at that and looked sideways at her brother. "Imhotep looking like a tyrant. Imagine that." Evy unconsciously pulled at her skirt, trying to cover her thighs a little better. "I know what you mean though. In his own insane way he tries to be a good king. God help us if he truly didn't care for his image."

Jonathan grunted and watched the waters move. She saw it in his eyes, that glint of mischief, but reacted too late. With a grin her brother grabbed her and hurled her into the pool, laughing as she splashed. Coming up sputtering, Evy glared her brother down, but couldn't help breaking into laughter with him. She gave him just long enough to believe he was safe, then with a triumphant little grin took a hold of his leg and yanked him into the water.

Together brother and sister laughed and played in the pool, both oblivious to their watcher until by chance Evy looked up. Imhotep's form lounging on a chair nearby startled her. His arms were crossed and his eyes glinted humorously. Instantly she was out of the water, squeezing her skirt out. "I'm sorry, Imhotep. I wanted to talk so I brought him in here. I didn't think you'd…" she trailed off.

The priest cocked his head. "You did not think I would return so soon." His hand waved imperiously. "Have your fun, Nefertiri. He can do no harm to my rooms." She noticed his eyes travel over her body and the thought of playing in front of him wasn't too enticing.

"Actually," Jonathan said into the quiet as he walked up the stairs in the water and exited the pool. He gave his shirt a squeeze and Evy winced as water hit the marble tiles. "I'm feeling a bit peckish at the moment, so I thought I'd go have a bite to eat. Care to join me, Evy?"

Imhotep shook his head. "I wish to speak with her."

Evy looked at her brother, noticing his reluctance to leave. She nodded towards the door. Jonathan sighed and headed towards it. "Yes, well, goodnight then. If you want to talk later, Evy, I'll be in my room."

"Okay," she told him, seeing him out. She didn't want to turn back around, but the priest wouldn't wait forever. She could almost feel his eyes and turning gave her the confirmation. He watched her thoughtfully. Remembering herself, Evy wiped underneath her eyes in case her makeup had run. "I didn't mean to disobey you, Imhotep. I was just lonely."

He regarded her through eyes that seemed weary of her misunderstanding. "Your fear is groundless, Nefertiri. In our time together have I ever punished you for so petty a reason? I know I have not been all I should, but I do wish to repair that."

Evy rolled her eyes and tried to pull her skirt a little more tightly around her bare legs. "Right. And the moment I do something to displease you, all hell will break loose. I'm not going to fall into that false sense of freedom you're offering. Please at least be honest with me, thank you."

The king's eyes glittered as he crossed his arms again and leaned back against his chair. "Do I raise my hand at your smart tongue?"

"Sometimes," she answered ironically, looking around for a towel. He smirked and removed his robe, tossing it to her. With a dirty look she draped it around herself and sat on another lounge chair.

He conceded and nodded his head. His fingers curled around the arms of his chair as he watched the water of his pool solemnly. Evy looked down, hating this side of him. It was easy to hate him when he hit her, but that small spark of regret, of humanity, shook her to her very soul. Compassion was a very inconvenient thing sometimes. "I do not want to be Seti," he said and she shifted uncomfortably in his robes. "But betrayal must be punished, my princess."

"You betrayed me by murdering Ardeth. What punishment will you face for that?" Evy looked for any sign in his eyes that he might have been lying about that.

There was nothing of the sort. Imhotep's eyes concealed all he would have hidden from her. They reflected too much of what she did not want to know. He shrugged his shoulders again, that expression ever so matter-of-fact as when he was firm in getting his own way and certain his justifications were in fact just. "I am Pharaoh." He no longer said that word with the same contempt he had back in ancient days. Now that he wore the title, she surmised, he had let the power fully consume him until his whims became law, just as Seti had. Two black eyes watched her for a moment in something she couldn't decipher, then the priest motioned her over.

Evy held the robe tightly around her, obeying for fear his fair mood would end abruptly. But Imhotep pulled the robe open and brought her down to sit in his lap, whispering his hand across her legs so gently it made her blush. Ardeth had touched her that way. "Do you want me to stop?" he asked plainly.

"Yes," she replied low, her eyes refusing to meet his.

Imhotep brought her chin up and made her look at him. Then he shrugged and pushed her away, closing his eyes as he again leaned back. "Then I will. It is not so difficult, Nefertiri. I am not a complete monster."

Stepping away from him quickly, Evy rubbed her hand over a burning cheek and muttered to herself, "How could I believe that?" He sighed, catching that with preternatural hearing and a momentary frustration flashed through her. "I'm sorry, but you're asking me to change my knowledge of you and, and for you to expect that overnight is just…well, unrealistic after everything you've done."

The king breathed in as she began for the door. His voice was low and struck her more forcefully than any slap would have. "And what of all you have done? What of my eternal torment as a demon?"

Evy stopped at the door and leaned against it, not turning to face him. She bit her lip and traced the silver patterns, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. "Please, give me time."

He didn't answer and she said no more. Leaving the room then and there, Evy wrapped her arms around herself and walked silently away to wherever her feet would carry her.

~~~~~~~

Rick fidgeted and every now and then stopped to glare at Necromancer. The creature constantly watched them through unblinking eyes that made him uneasy in the dim lighting. The torch was dying down again and soon he would have to speak the spell to keep it lit. Rick hated hearing it speak, but held no desire to sit here in the dark with this monster watching him.

Beside him Ardeth slept. Rick had insisted on taking the first watch simply because this creature made him nervous. He didn't like how it looked at him and more importantly, he didn't like how it looked at Ardeth. Rick felt he were a mere irritation to this thing, but there was a definite hatred present in its glare directed at the Med-Jai. Even now it glared as his friend slept. There was something contemptuous in its expression. "Problem?" Rick asked with a note of unhidden dislike.

Necromancer rasped, with black eyes that seemed to penetrate his very thoughts. Annoyance flickered in those depths, but died out as it gazed back on Ardeth. "Do you see it in his face? Do you see the light?"

Looking down, O'Connell took in his friend's peaceful expression. "I saw that light before he died. He's a good man."

The creature snarled to itself and rubbed its bony hands together in agitation. One day Rick thought Necromancer might just do something about those feelings he kept bottled up. "You cannot see the mark of eternity with your pathetic human eyes, but I see and it makes me hate him all the more."

Rick kicked one foot over the other and leaned back against the cold, concrete wall. "You got a real jealousy problem, don't you? You hate your friend because he was spared. I bet you were a keeper."

Necromancer exhaled a rattling breath and glared darkly. "You cannot understand death or what it brings. You have not been there."

"No, but I see the difference between you and Ardeth." He yawned and sat up a little straighter. "Look, I don't wanna argue about this stuff. You just keep your hands off my friend and I'll keep my hands off you."

The creature said nothing, but continued to watch him intently until Rick kicked harmlessly and told it to stop. Necromancer cocked his head. "So good a man is he, that he would sleep with the woman he knows you have feelings for? I hear his thoughts and your own, Rick O'Connell. I saw them in his mind, writhing in the sand together." His lips curled into a dirty smile. "I could put the memory in your mind for a short time if you would like to see it."

Rick frowned and made an effort to ignore this thing's words and the feelings that came with the 'what ifs' it brought. Necromancer was trying to make him angry with Ardeth. It's kinda working, too, he thought with an intake of breath. No, no it's not. The dead thing's face looked amused. Rick shook his head. "I haven't been with Evy in a long time, so it really doesn't matter what they did. If they even did anything at all, which I doubt. Why should I believe you, anyway?"

"But it does matter," Necromancer countered, ignoring the question Rick put before him. He wrapped his robes around him and turned dead eyes upon Ardeth. "I know you've thought of her, O'Connell. You've wondered in the darkness of your heart if this crisis could bring you together once again, as did the first time you disturbed the black priest from his rest. Now Ardeth is taking that chance away from you."

The ex-Legionnaire grit his teeth and nodded, trying not to let this work. "Right, well, it isn't as if I've been abstaining since we broke up. So what? It's not my business, okay?"

The undead creature blinked and watched him in that annoyingly amused way it sometimes did. He sighed and closed his eyes, pushing away everything. It was none of his business what may or may not have happened. Not anymore. Of course that didn't mean he couldn't hint around and find out what took place and why, but if they chose not to talk about it he could respect that. But he'd be keeping his eye on them. Rick scratched his chin and smirked, then absently dropped his hand down, knocking Ardeth's shoulder. The Med-Jai stirred and woke up slowly. That restful expression slipped away. Rick smiled pleasantly. "Hey, Ardeth. Good morning or night or whatever the hell it is up there. Sleep good?"

Ardeth sat up and looked around him fuzzily. "I slept well. Do you know how long?"

O'Connell shrugged. "A few hours. Something like that." He yawned and his friend noticed.

"You should have slept some, my friend. If you fear Necromancer I will keep watch, though I doubt he will cause any trouble." The Med-Jai glanced at his former friend, then looked away quickly. "We have no way of knowing when Imhotep will return, if he indeed will, but you should take rest as you can."

Before Rick could answer the creature shuffled to its feet and began towards the darkness. "There is yet time. I must attend to my children, but I will return before the priest comes." O'Connell wondered if he weren't just uncomfortable with being alone with Ardeth. The creature gave him a withering look, then departed.

He pointed down the hall and shook his head, trying to picture that thing as a Med-Jai. What could change a man so drastically? "You know, I really don't like that guy. He was your friend?"

Ardeth brought his knees up and rested his arms on them. Rick was getting tired of seeing his friends wear down into sorrow. Something had to give sooner or later. Things couldn't stay this bad, could they? "He was like a brother," his friend answered. "His people are gone and he may very well have watched them die at Imhotep's hands. We cannot know what he has suffered."

Rick couldn't help but roll his eyes and his friend frowned. "Sorry," he said with a sigh. "You just…you understand everyone. You understand their reasons and it's all okay and well, sometimes it just drives me crazy. Can't you be a little less understanding of what others have done and get really ticked off once in a while?"

His friend watched him with tired eyes. "You think what Imhotep has done has not made me angry, Rick? I don't blame Sajul because I know who he was before all of this. It is Imhotep who has done these things and right now he is the focus of my anger. Is something bothering you?"

Running a hand through his hair, Rick shook his head, and then shrugged. There Ardeth went, understanding again. He wouldn't let on, though. "No, nothing's really bothering me. I am curious about something though."

"And what is that?" Bay asked calmly.

Rick fidgeted. He really didn't know how to bring this up without sounding like an idiot, but he was curious and not very good at forgetting things that bothered him. "What was it like, seeing Evy again?" he decided to say.

Ardeth's expression grew fond and the ex-Legionnaire found himself slightly irritated. "I woke up alone in my tomb, disoriented and shaken. I can't remember every sensation I felt, but I remember everything seemed saturated. Small sounds were deafening, the light at first was blinding. It was the strangest thing I've ever experienced, Rick. And the most frightening. I walked out of the burial grounds and into the maze below, and found Evelyn laying on the sand, unconscious and wounded. Waking up was very lonely, Rick. I knew I was leaving something behind, something important. But seeing her made it not so terrible. I was no longer alone in a world I did not know."

Inhaling deeply, Rick looked at the wall across from them. The last thing he had wanted to hear was some moving story to lessen his jealous feelings. Not that he wanted to be a jerk, but sometimes it just hit the spot. Rick glared down the hall where Necromancer had shuffled off. "Yeah, well, this might not be the happiest place in the universe, but you sure aren't alone." Now his interest was sparked elsewhere and he supposed that was a good thing. "What was Heaven like?"

Midnight eyes shrouded in want and desperate seeking. The Med-Jai furrowed his brow and gave up on whatever he was trying to find within himself. "I do not remember."

~~~~~~~

Disclaimer: No infringement intended. Ahamad, Nashean, Mayadeh, Sajul/Necromancer and a few, less significant originals belong to me belong to me.

A/N: Just how long can I keep dragging this dungeon stuff out? Not much longer. In fact, they escape next chapter! Or start to…lol. ;-) Anyhow, now that ff.net seems to be working, I can pester you by posting this! Muahahaha. Happy New Year!

To Reviewers:

Me'n'Legolas – Hey…don't know if you're this far, but since there was no email I can only hope you continued so I can thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked it and ah, hope you don't stop reading all the wonderful stories out there!! :-D

Mommints – Hehe..yeas, I'll be letting some of that suspense out next chapter. Muahaha. ;-) I saw TTT again the other day…LOVE that movie. Yeah, Helm's Deep is great inspiration! Not to mention Aragorn. ;-) I hope to see it again with my friend soon…yeeehaw! But yeah, those battle scenes can be rough…I hate writing them! Hehehe. But I spose it ain't too bad when it's done. :-) Anyhow, thanks for dropping by!

Marcher – Oh yeah…people are gonna get their share of beatings…but I have some nice softy stuff for them too. ;-) A nice balance. Thanks!

Deana – Lotsa trouble! Muahahahaha. Lotsa dangerous trouble, precioussss yessss, we likessss to hurtsss them! But we alsssso likes to make nice little good scenes tooo. Thankie!

Lula – That you did! Thanks my friend…I was sa' worried I wouldna git no reviews on accounta Christmas and all! :-) You had lotsa questions this time around…some I can answer now. The dead in Immy's dungeon are general dead, not necessarily only Med-Jai and so forth. Everything else I'm thinking about implying things in later chapters concerning, such as what Immy did to Sajul and so forth. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter as well. Ricky and Sajul aren't gonna be friends forever, I'll put it that way. I got some planssss, preciousss, many tricksie planssss! Muahahaha. Thank you for your compliments!

Marxie – Well, as I told Lula above, I may allude to that later, as far as why Sajul wasn't the same, but for the most part it'll have to do with the way he died. Ardeth's death was a natural thing, done before the "master of the dead" had returned, so to speak. :-) Anyway, thanks for the compliments and I'm glad you're reading!