Reflections of a Friendship

By TSS

Disclaimer & Notes in 1st Chapter.

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CHAPTER FIVE: Marriage?

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PAST, 13 Years

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A young woman sat in a tree limb, over-looking a large garden. Her eyes were focused intently on one spot, her ears tuned only in that direction. She was fifteen years old, and well aware of her place in life. Should she be caught eavesdropping on her commander and prince, however, she could get into a great deal of trouble. Ardeth had been troubled lately, and Adira was determined to know why.

"Ardeth," the Commander was saying, "you cannot continue in this manner. You must be married soon, it is our custom! All ready you should have a bride, and yet you tell me that not one of the women you have ever met interests you. You are eighteen years of age."

"I am well aware of my age, Father," Ardeth murmured quietly, his attention focused more on the rose bush in front of him. "As I am of my duty to have an heir. Do not fear for that, I will marry when I feel it is time to."

"This is your mother's doing," Hamdun Bay growled. "Until the time she passed from this earth she filled your head with thoughts of love and romance. Romance has no place in a warrior's life, Ardeth. You must do your duty, follow your head, not foolish dreams!"

Ardeth now turned away from the bush, his eyes dark and angry. He only stayed angry for a moment, however, before he relaxed. "I chose to remain single a little longer, Father. I have named an heir, and told the elders, in case something happens to me."

"Without my consent?!?!?!" Hamdun was furious now, and his famous temper was beginning to boil over. He threw his hands in the air, then stormed away, muttering curses in Ancient Egyptian.

After he was certain his father was gone, Ardeth turned back to the rose bush. "You can come down now, Adira. He's gone."

Sheepishly, she slid down the tree trunk and came to stand in front of him. "You knew I was there?"

"Of course. I always know where you are." He smiled, then sighed. "My father just does not understand. I will only take a woman for love, not to use her as my way to procuring an heir." Ardeth turned and began walking out of the garden, his friend followed him.

"That is a new way of looking at things for Lord Hamdun," Adira said softly. "Ardeth, he is angry at you. Make peace with him soon, so that he might understand your way of things."

Ardeth glanced down at her, a twinkle in his eye. "Why is it always you who advises me, when I am supposed to be your instructor?"

She shrugged, a smile lighting up her face. "I do not know, but I am usually right." She punched him lightly in the arm. "How about a quick fencing lesson? I could use the practice, and it will help you relax."

"All right, if you insist," Ardeth told her. He had to retaliate for the punch, however, and soon she found herself shoved into a berry bush and coming out of it rather sticky.

Kaliq was all ready in the fencing room when the other two arrived, laughing and teasing one another. The other young man, now twenty-one years of age, watched them with a skeptical look on his face. "Well, good afternoon Ardeth, Adira."

"Good afternoon, Kaliq," Ardeth responded as he unsheathed his sword and threw off his cloak.

Adira had her own sword out and smiled towards Kaliq. "Want to double team against Ardeth, Kaliq?"

The warrior shook his head, his eyes grown dark. "I have just been talking to Ardeth's father. Lord Hamdun is most displeased, and seems to think I am the one to talk to you about your...peculiar idea of marriage."

"What is so peculiar about it?" Ardeth asked, taking the offense and attacking his smaller opponent.

"The fact that most Med-jai leaders are married by the age of seventeen, an arranged marriage usually, and you say you will only marry when you please... could be it," Kaliq answered, carefully taking in the technique of the young woman as she fought.

Despite the difference in height, Adira managed to hold her own. Usually she maneuvered using trickery and swiftness, she was as keen and cunning as any desert fox might be. "Nothing odd about that, just a different way of doing things. Much like a girl being chosen as student and guard to the heir." She parried Ardeth's thrust and scampered behind him to take a quick stab at his unprotected side.

Ardeth avoided the stab and counter-attacked with several smooth, quick movements. "A fact we must remember that is not tasteful to Kaliq. I will not discuss either of these issues further, my decision is final."

"I told your father as much," Kaliq responded, shrugging his shoulders and looking out a window in disinterest. "He seems to think the fact that I am taking a bride soon should sway you to doing the same."

Her concentration slipped at that, and Adira found herself suddenly defending rather then attacking as Ardeth caught her moment of weakness. "A bride? I have not heard of this."

"Nor would you have," Ardeth grunted as he brought his sword down in an arc to meet hers. "Until tomorrow when the announcement is to be made. It seems our roving Kaliq finally settled upon one woman as his heart's desire."

"Heart has nothing to do with it," Kaliq grunted. "It's an advantageous marriage, her father is one of Lord Hamdun's own guard. It will help my standing as well as her own, and insure me a more permanent place with the council." He grinned as he noted Adira's look of slight disgust. "I know this is not the way either of you would prefer, but it is what works in the real world. You both would be wise to do the same."

As she danced her way around Ardeth, avoiding his blows as she delivered her own, Adira chuckled dryly. "I think not, and even if I thought as you do, I would not soon gain a husband. Men are afraid of a woman with a sword and the skill to use it."

"I do not understand why," Ardeth responded, wary of her quick steps around him and trying to keep up with her movements. "You are still a perfectly good woman."

Kaliq now chuckled with little humor. "That depends on who is speaking, my friend. I would no sooner marry a warrior then I would a jackal, and many think as I do. Adira has ruined her own chances. She looks well enough, granted. But while she still could be useful to a man in some... respects, she is grossly lacking in others. She would only be useful in continuing a blood line, like any brood mare in your father's stable."

That threw the woman off completely, she stumbled, her face turned red, and Ardeth had an easy victory. He did not enjoy it, however, and turned to glare at his other friend. Kaliq acted completely innocent as he saluted them both and went out the door, a chilly smile on his lips. Adira growled in frustration and threw her sword to the ground. She walked to the benches and slumped down onto one of them.

Ardeth dropped his own sword at his feet and walked to her side, his deep brown eyes filled with sympathy and anger towards Kaliq. "I am sorry, Adira. He still has not learned to curb his tongue, a lesson I may have to teach him later."

"No," she responded. "I should not allow his open hostility to throw off my concentration. He has his own ideas and feelings and should be allowed to express them without fear of you coming down on him."

"I saw little fear in him when he left, perhaps he should have some while I can still control him." Ardeth's anger was growing as he thought on it.

"You will only drive him further from you by threatening him, Ardeth." She put a hand on the arm of her commander, looking into his deep brown eyes, her own eyes pleading with him to heed her words. "Just let it alone, Ardeth."

The young man, filled with more wisdom then many twice his years, looked into her sad brown eyes and sighed. "He has hurt you a great deal, that should not go unpunished. That was insulting, Adira, and--"

"And," she interrupted, coming to her feet and glaring down at him, "it was perfectly true. It only hurts because it matches my own thoughts, I had just never heard them aloud before. Kaliq Loc-Nah should not be punished for his words when he only speaks the truth. Let it alone, Ardeth. I ask this of you." She turned to leave, but he reached up and caught her wrist, his eyes portraying his confusion.

"This is ridiculous, Adira! Surely you know how many warriors admire you."

"Admire me as a fighter, not as a woman." She gently pulled her wrist from him. Her eyes were angry, however, and did not waiver as they glared up at him. "Just leave it alone, all of it, and do not speak to me of this again. It is a subject that pains me greatly. I am like any girl out in the tribes when it comes to thinking of the future and of marriage, but I am sorely different from them, my lord. I will see you at dinner." Adira was gone before he could stay her once more, and the future commander of the Med-jai tribes stood alone, confused and unsure, for quite some time.

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PRESENT

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As she came back from the dark world of oblivion, Adira felt the pressure of her hand being held tightly, and the coolness of a damp cloth on her forehead to numb her pain. Her eyes opened, slowly, and all she saw was a blur. After several slow blinks, she could make out the fabric of Ardeth's tent above her. She looked to her side, not moving more then her eyes, and saw Ibrahim smiling down at her. "Ah, you have decided to join us at last."

The pressure on her hand intensified, and Adira moved her eyes to look again. A shadow fell over his face, his eyes were clouded with worry, he was filthy and unshaved, but never had Adira been more happy to see her commander then she was at that moment. She parted her lips to speak, but sound would not come. She tried once more. "You are alive? And well?" she rasped out, surprised at her own voice.

"Yes, which is more then I can say for you." His eyes cleared slightly, then darkened. "And when you are well enough, you shall receive the worst punishment I can think of. You nearly died, Adira." The pressure again. Ardeth was holding her hand, and had squeezed it for emphasis of his words.

"But I did not die," she whispered, her eyes dimming slightly as the pain began to make itself known to her. Ibrahim had deadened it considerably, but it was still there. "How bad?" she asked, eyes going back to those of the healer.

"Well, you were gutted like a fish, lucky nothing of importance fell out. Your shoulder has a small gash in it. Your face has seen prettier days. And you may have broken your right leg, that or the fools who moved you around did. Your wrist may be sprained, but I will not be able to tell until you move it for me." She tried to do so then, and winced. "As I thought, sprained. You will not be riding home for a while, and when you finally do, I recommend finding a riding partner."

Her eyes closed, air hissed out between her teeth as she fought back a wave of nausea. "How long have I been unconscious?"

"Nearly two days," Ardeth answered, his tone softening as he witnessed the look of pain cross her face. "We were worried you would not awake at all."

Ibrahim sighed and shook his head. "I must go see to a few of the others, now that I know you are on the road to recovery. Ardeth has some of my medical tea to give you when you feel ready for it. You must recover your strength, so please do not engage in battle with her at this time, Ardeth." The old healer came to his feet and left the tent, wondering why the two young Med-jai were so blind to their own feelings. The tension in the tent had been getting to him, the currents flowing between the two were strong. "Allah, knock some sense into them," he muttered irreverently.

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