Reflections of a Friendship
By Jedi Blu
(Formerly The Silver Songstress)
Disclaimer in 1st Chapter
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CHAPTER EIGHT: Secret Thoughts and Hopes
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PAST, 13 Years
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Kaliq's sword went crashing to the ground, and he stood, glaring at Ardeth in fury. "Finish me, Heir. You know you do not wish to let me live," he hissed, his back against the wall.
"You are not worthy of that honor," Ardeth answered, holding the tip of his sword at Kaliq Loc-Nah's throat. "And you deserve some chance at changing your ways. The Elders will decide your fate now." He looked over his shoulder at Ballam, who still had his arm around Adira. "You, who would have been deceived by this man as a son in law, may take him to the Elders."
Hamdun Bay and Ballam came to either side of Kaliq, leading him out of the room, keeping a harsh grip on his arms. Ardeth stood, watching them go, and then directed his eyes to Adira. He was rather surprised when she just stared back at him, with tears coming from her eyes. "I am sorry, Ardeth," she murmured, shrugging her shoulders. "I...I should have...."
"What?" he asked, shaking his head at her. "Nothing could be done. Be glad you have saved a woman from him, and the rest of the Med-jai. Kaliq Loc-Nah will not be among us much longer." He came towards her, his shoulders sagging as if a burden had been placed there. "I am only ... grateful, that we came upon you fighting in time."
"As am I," she responded, wiping at her tears, but more continued to fall. "I thought he was going to kill me."
"Do you fear death?" Ardeth asked, slightly teasing her as he wrapped his own cloak about her shoulders to give her some comfort.
Adira smiled through her tears and shook her head, "Only of leaving behind those I care about most, and never being able to say to them how much they mean to me."
"Ah," Ardeth murmured, using the corner of the cloak on her shoulders to wipe at her sawdust-and tear-stained cheek. "And what would you have said to me, if you thought your day had come?"
She could not be sure if he was still teasing or not, so she gave him an answer that fit the nature of the question. "That Allah could not have sent me to a better home, and a better guardian, than you have been for me." She smiled, her wit coming back to rescue her. "That, or how much I hoped you wouldn't be joining me any time soon. I must have some rest from your constant teasing."
He chuckled, then led her out of the training room, to take her to Ibrahim so that her cuts could be attended to.
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PRESENT
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At thirty-one years of age, and as leader of thousands of men, women, and children, Ardeth Bay felt much as a young boy might feel. He stood upon the sand dunes, looking out over the desert, his eyes not really seeing what lay before him. Ardeth was confused, he was unsure of himself, he wished he had someone wiser to speak to.
Adira...what was it about her? Why had he refused to truly see her for so long? She had become his closest friend, he felt he knew her better than anyone else...until now. He had always teased her, confided in her, and even shared some of his most precious thoughts and memories with her. He had thought that their bond could grow no stronger, that he could never wish for anything more than what he had found in her friendship.
What a fool he had been, assuming she would just always be there, always by his side and ready to see anything through to the end with him. Only after realizing that he could lose her did Ardeth begin to understand just how important she was to him.
He also understood why he had never married. He had never needed the companionship of a wife before, never really wanted it, because he had Adira Haddad as a constant companion. She filled his every need, he did not need to go beyond her friendship and comradeship. A wife could do little more for him than Adira had, and Ardeth began to wonder if that was why she had never sought out marriage either. He knew of several of his warriors who had hinted at having more of a relationship with the feisty desert fox, but she had managed to evade all their suggestions and pretend as if they did not even exist.
A beautiful, imaginative, lively woman such as she should have married long before, despite her Med-jai duties. Why had she never tried? And why was he only now realizing how much she, and he, had missed out on?
Friendship was no longer enough, and it never would be again. Ardeth had at last awoken from his fantasy world, he knew now that he could lose Adira in an instant, and he wanted to make every moment with her the best it could possibly be. But would she allow him to do that? He was beginning to doubt his own thoughts, began to fear that he was supposing too much. It could be that she felt differently....
She could only care for him as a friend, and nothing more. How would he deal with that, if such were the case?
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Ibrahim found Adira sleeping fitfully the next morning, and he did not wish to wake her. She did not appear rested at all. He threw back the sides of the tent, making it easier for sunlight and air to enter, and then stood to watch the sun rise.
Ardeth was coming in from watch, he appeared haggard, withdrawn, and very tired. He walked into the tent, past the curious healer, and towards the place where Adira rested. Ignoring all else, Ardeth knelt at her side, put a hand to her forehead, and whispered a few words that Ibrahim could not quite make out. Then he took an extra cushion that lay by her side, put it on the floor, and rested himself upon it. He was asleep almost immediately.
Very puzzled, Ibrahim had not even begun to decipher the strange actions when Adira's eyes fluttered open. He was at her side quickly, offering her more tea and some water. She accepted it, her eyes plagued with disturbing thoughts, and then noticed Ardeth lying nearby. She gave Ibrahim a questioning glance. The man shrugged. "He just now stumbled in."
"Where has he been?" she whispered.
"Bashshar said Ardeth took the watch, all alone, all night. I believe he has just come in from that." Ibrahim waited to see if she would have anything further to say, but she did not. She turned her head to look at Ardeth, her countenance confused.
"We have let your leg go far too long," Ibrahim said at last, knowing that the subject was closed for now. "We should set it now."
Her eyes came back to focus on him, and she nodded. Perhaps she would not have been so quick to agree if she had ever had a broken bone before.
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Ardeth awoke abruptly when he heard a scream of pain, his hand automatically went to the knife concealed at his belt, and then he realized where he was and what was going on. Adira, sweat pouring from her forehead, lay shaking on the ground as Ibrahim was attempting to hold her still and set the bone of her leg at the same time. Most of his students had gone with the first load of men for home, and the few remaining were attending to others at the moment. Ibrahim was hard-pressed to see to the woman on his own.
Without waiting for the other two to notice him, Ardeth moved to kneel by Adira's side and raised her up so that she leaned into his arms. He held her firmly, then leveled his gaze with the stare of the healer. Ibrahim nodded his thanks, then focused all of his attention on getting the bone back in place. The woman shuddered in his arms, and grasped them with all her strength, trying not to cry out again. At last it was done, in one quick snap, and Adira relaxed completely against her commander, breathing heavily. "It was less painful," she hissed, "when it was out of place."
Ibrahim gave her a sympathetic smile as he began to work on a splint. The leg of her trousers had been split to make his job easier, and seeing the horrible bruising that had taken place caused even Ardeth to wince. His arms reflexively tightened around her, she relaxed even more into him. The man could not help but feel that this was right, that Adira was exactly where she should be at that moment. The woman was having similar thoughts, and was doing her best to push them out of her head.
Adira sighed, her body going completely limp for a few moments. By the time Ibrahim had finished the splint, she had fallen asleep, her weakness getting the better of her again. Ardeth lowered her gently to the cushions, went back to his own, and went right back to sleep. The physician looked at the two, shook his head, and left the tent again.
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Reposted Due To Terrible Errors. :-( All is swell now. Thanks to my lovely reviewers! It's about time you guys piped up!!!
