Ardeth walked through the hallway as Rick followed him. He was becoming
worried about his Medjai friend. He wasn't looking too good. Ardeth
suddenly stumbled and fell against the wall, nearly dropping Catlanda. Rick
hurried up to him.
"Ardeth, you're not well. Here, let me take her and you take the Spire," offered Rick as he reached for the young woman.
Just as he took Catlanda from Ardeth's arms, the Medjai collpased onto the floor. Rick was stunned at this but reacted quickly when he laid Catlanda on the floor beside him and knelt by Ardeth.
"Ardeth? Ardeth! What's wrong?" he quietly asked as he gently shook his shoulder.
Rick never got an answer and he became a bit worried. He sighed as he left the Spire with them and headed down the hallway.
'I hope they'll be fine until I get back with some help,' he thought to himself before he hurried out if the building.
***
Outside, the Medjai were winning the battle. They drove the men into the desert as Rick ran out of the building. Evie ran up to him.
"Are they in there? Are Cat and Ardeth safe?" she asked him.
"Yes, they're in there. They're safe now though they haven't come out of this unscathed," he replied as the two brothers ran up behind them.
"Where are they?" demanded Sharak.
"They're inside. Come on. I need your help bringing them out," Rick told him as he turned and went back inside.
The three followed him to the two Medjai, lying unconscious on the ground.
"Oh my," gasped Evie as she reached for the Spire.
Rick picked up Catlanda as Sharak and Marok took Ardeth. They hurried as fast as they could out of the building where several Medjai ran up to them.
"We must get them into the city. They need immediate attention," one said to them.
***
The two were taken into a room and placed into their own bed. One woman tended to the wounds on Ardeth's face before feeling some wetness through his robes. She started to take them off when a hand grabbed her wrist. She looked to see Ardeth's eyes were slightly open.
"Please don't...do it," he pleaded with her.
She nodded her head, not wanting to disobey him. His eyes closed again and she looked at his peaceful face.
'What happened to you out there?' she wondered.
***
Ardeth awoke to feeling something wet on his legs. He bolted up in the bed to see Catlanda gently washing away the dry blood from his legs. The two looked at each other. He noticed the blanket around her body.
"How long have you been up?" he asked her. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Long enough. I've already taken care of myself and I just started on you. It's been several days for you. About ten days I've been told. I've been awake for most of that and it wasn't until now that I had enough strength to do this. Dad, Isis' here and she's hurt as well," she replied.
Ardeth's eyes opened.
"But don't worry. She'll be fine, I'm told," Catlanda said to him. "Now can I please finish this?"
Ardeth laid back down on the bed, allowing her to finish with what she was doing.
"Why didn't somebody else do this?" he wondered.
"I'm not surprised you don't remember. Both of us were pretty out of it. Someone else was going to do it but you told them not to," she explained. "When someone told me about it, I took the liberty of doing it myself."
He watched her finish washing the blood off of his leg and cover it again with the blanket that lay over him.
"There, it's done," she told him before standing up.
Once she did so, she began to sway a bit. Ardeth saw this and immediately climbed to his feet, the blanket crumpling by his feet on the floor. He helped her to the edge of the bed.
"What's wrong?" he asked, sounding very concerned.
"I'm not sure. I haven't felt well all morning. I keep getting this sick feeling," she quietly told him as she leaned against him, partially closing her eyes.
"I hope it's nothing serious," he said as he grabbed the blanket and put it over him. "Are you feeling better?"
She nodded before standing to go to her own bed. It was then she put her hand on her stomach and keeled over onto the floor. She raised herself a bit before she vomited on the floor and Ardeth stayed by her side, hand on her back.
"Cat..." he started.
She coughed a bit before she nodded her head.
"I'll be fine," she told him.
He wiped her face clean before he put his hands on her arms. He looked at her before hugging her and she hugged him back.
"You get some rest. I'll clean up this mess," he whispered in her ear.
She nodded her head before climbing into the bed.
***
A few days later, the group of six were heading back to the Medjai camp. Ardeth was travelling with Rick and Catlanda was with Evie. Isis was on Geb and he was being led by Marok.
"Are you two going to be alright?" wondered Evie.
"We'll be fine," Ardeth quietly replied.
She nodded before they went on their way.
***
Some time later, they came into view of the camp.
"Finally, we're back! Now we can rest!" sighed Marok as he gazed over at Ardeth and Catlanda.
The two were asleep on the horses behind the O'Connells. Evie held the Spire for her the entire trip.
***
Once they were in the camp, the two were helped down and taken into their respectful tents. Ardeth opened his eyes a bit and looked at the people standing next to him.
"We're home," he barely said before closing his eyes. "We're home."
He fell asleep right where he was.
***
Ardeth awoke to the sound of retching. He looked over to see Catlanda hovering over a bowl. She placed it on the sand and stared at him with mournful eyes.
"Are you alright Cat? You haven't been feeling well for the past few days," he wondered.
"I hope it'll go away soon," she shakily replied as she put a hand up to her mouth.
She started sobbing and Ardeth sat up in his bed. He took her in his arms.
"Honey, what's wrong?" he asked her.
Catlanda shook her head.
"It's all that's gone on Dad. With what happened a few days ago. I wish to forget it," she told him.
"I do as well but that'll stay between us, alright? At least what happened to us and I don't think you want everyone to know what happened with Naseentay," he said to her quietly.
"I understand. He hurt me Dad. He hurt me more than what you ever did. He made me bleed," Catlanda said, a hand his arm.
"Cat, can't you check with the Spire to see what's wrong with you?" he asked.
"Yes, I can but I don't want to just yet," she said to him.
"Alright, I can't push you," he replied.
***
Several days later, Catlanda was in her tent, the Spire nearby. She stared at it. The words that Ardeth said to her before were nagging her at the back of her mind as she picked it up. The curiousity was still with her as she thought about all the strange occurences.
"Spire, what's wrong with me?" she asked it.
The Spire replied, leaving a shocked look on her face. She dropped it to the sand and started to cry.
"It can't be! It simply can't be!" she cried.
***
It was in the evening and Ardeth walked up to Ayanna and Iscantil, who were happy to see him.
"It's good to have you and Cat back with us Ardeth! What happened to you out there?" asked Ayanna.
"I'd rather not talk about it. I don't think Cat will either. It was very traumatic for us both," he replied with a small smile.
"Speaking of Cat, I saw her on the outskirts of the camp. She appeared to be very upset about something," Iscantil told him. "Maybe you should go see what the problem is."
"I'll go check up on her," Ardeth said before heading for Catlanda's position.
***
Catlanda sat just outside the camp, her knees up to her body. Tears were falling down her face as the Spire lay next to her. She heard footsteps behind her and saw someone sit next to her.
"Cat, what's wrong?" asked Ardeth.
"Dad, there's a couple things I need to tell you," she said.
"Go ahead, you can tell me anything," Ardeth told her.
"The first thing is about the Spire. It is said in the Temple of Isis that the holder of the Spire is connected to its power. It also says that it can transfer its controlling capabilities under extreme circumstances. If you were experiencing anything when you around the Spire, it's because you're not used to its presence yet and that you can control it as well," she explained to him, tears in her eyes.
Ardeth closed his eyes. He didn't know whether to be glad or not of this outcome as he put a hand up to his face.
"What's the second thing?" he said, not sure he wanted to hear it.
Nothing prepared him for those two words.
"Dad...I'm pregnant," she finally told him.
The End
Author's Note-There it is. I don't know what else to say but I'm getting out of the way. *ducks underneath chair*
"Ardeth, you're not well. Here, let me take her and you take the Spire," offered Rick as he reached for the young woman.
Just as he took Catlanda from Ardeth's arms, the Medjai collpased onto the floor. Rick was stunned at this but reacted quickly when he laid Catlanda on the floor beside him and knelt by Ardeth.
"Ardeth? Ardeth! What's wrong?" he quietly asked as he gently shook his shoulder.
Rick never got an answer and he became a bit worried. He sighed as he left the Spire with them and headed down the hallway.
'I hope they'll be fine until I get back with some help,' he thought to himself before he hurried out if the building.
***
Outside, the Medjai were winning the battle. They drove the men into the desert as Rick ran out of the building. Evie ran up to him.
"Are they in there? Are Cat and Ardeth safe?" she asked him.
"Yes, they're in there. They're safe now though they haven't come out of this unscathed," he replied as the two brothers ran up behind them.
"Where are they?" demanded Sharak.
"They're inside. Come on. I need your help bringing them out," Rick told him as he turned and went back inside.
The three followed him to the two Medjai, lying unconscious on the ground.
"Oh my," gasped Evie as she reached for the Spire.
Rick picked up Catlanda as Sharak and Marok took Ardeth. They hurried as fast as they could out of the building where several Medjai ran up to them.
"We must get them into the city. They need immediate attention," one said to them.
***
The two were taken into a room and placed into their own bed. One woman tended to the wounds on Ardeth's face before feeling some wetness through his robes. She started to take them off when a hand grabbed her wrist. She looked to see Ardeth's eyes were slightly open.
"Please don't...do it," he pleaded with her.
She nodded her head, not wanting to disobey him. His eyes closed again and she looked at his peaceful face.
'What happened to you out there?' she wondered.
***
Ardeth awoke to feeling something wet on his legs. He bolted up in the bed to see Catlanda gently washing away the dry blood from his legs. The two looked at each other. He noticed the blanket around her body.
"How long have you been up?" he asked her. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Long enough. I've already taken care of myself and I just started on you. It's been several days for you. About ten days I've been told. I've been awake for most of that and it wasn't until now that I had enough strength to do this. Dad, Isis' here and she's hurt as well," she replied.
Ardeth's eyes opened.
"But don't worry. She'll be fine, I'm told," Catlanda said to him. "Now can I please finish this?"
Ardeth laid back down on the bed, allowing her to finish with what she was doing.
"Why didn't somebody else do this?" he wondered.
"I'm not surprised you don't remember. Both of us were pretty out of it. Someone else was going to do it but you told them not to," she explained. "When someone told me about it, I took the liberty of doing it myself."
He watched her finish washing the blood off of his leg and cover it again with the blanket that lay over him.
"There, it's done," she told him before standing up.
Once she did so, she began to sway a bit. Ardeth saw this and immediately climbed to his feet, the blanket crumpling by his feet on the floor. He helped her to the edge of the bed.
"What's wrong?" he asked, sounding very concerned.
"I'm not sure. I haven't felt well all morning. I keep getting this sick feeling," she quietly told him as she leaned against him, partially closing her eyes.
"I hope it's nothing serious," he said as he grabbed the blanket and put it over him. "Are you feeling better?"
She nodded before standing to go to her own bed. It was then she put her hand on her stomach and keeled over onto the floor. She raised herself a bit before she vomited on the floor and Ardeth stayed by her side, hand on her back.
"Cat..." he started.
She coughed a bit before she nodded her head.
"I'll be fine," she told him.
He wiped her face clean before he put his hands on her arms. He looked at her before hugging her and she hugged him back.
"You get some rest. I'll clean up this mess," he whispered in her ear.
She nodded her head before climbing into the bed.
***
A few days later, the group of six were heading back to the Medjai camp. Ardeth was travelling with Rick and Catlanda was with Evie. Isis was on Geb and he was being led by Marok.
"Are you two going to be alright?" wondered Evie.
"We'll be fine," Ardeth quietly replied.
She nodded before they went on their way.
***
Some time later, they came into view of the camp.
"Finally, we're back! Now we can rest!" sighed Marok as he gazed over at Ardeth and Catlanda.
The two were asleep on the horses behind the O'Connells. Evie held the Spire for her the entire trip.
***
Once they were in the camp, the two were helped down and taken into their respectful tents. Ardeth opened his eyes a bit and looked at the people standing next to him.
"We're home," he barely said before closing his eyes. "We're home."
He fell asleep right where he was.
***
Ardeth awoke to the sound of retching. He looked over to see Catlanda hovering over a bowl. She placed it on the sand and stared at him with mournful eyes.
"Are you alright Cat? You haven't been feeling well for the past few days," he wondered.
"I hope it'll go away soon," she shakily replied as she put a hand up to her mouth.
She started sobbing and Ardeth sat up in his bed. He took her in his arms.
"Honey, what's wrong?" he asked her.
Catlanda shook her head.
"It's all that's gone on Dad. With what happened a few days ago. I wish to forget it," she told him.
"I do as well but that'll stay between us, alright? At least what happened to us and I don't think you want everyone to know what happened with Naseentay," he said to her quietly.
"I understand. He hurt me Dad. He hurt me more than what you ever did. He made me bleed," Catlanda said, a hand his arm.
"Cat, can't you check with the Spire to see what's wrong with you?" he asked.
"Yes, I can but I don't want to just yet," she said to him.
"Alright, I can't push you," he replied.
***
Several days later, Catlanda was in her tent, the Spire nearby. She stared at it. The words that Ardeth said to her before were nagging her at the back of her mind as she picked it up. The curiousity was still with her as she thought about all the strange occurences.
"Spire, what's wrong with me?" she asked it.
The Spire replied, leaving a shocked look on her face. She dropped it to the sand and started to cry.
"It can't be! It simply can't be!" she cried.
***
It was in the evening and Ardeth walked up to Ayanna and Iscantil, who were happy to see him.
"It's good to have you and Cat back with us Ardeth! What happened to you out there?" asked Ayanna.
"I'd rather not talk about it. I don't think Cat will either. It was very traumatic for us both," he replied with a small smile.
"Speaking of Cat, I saw her on the outskirts of the camp. She appeared to be very upset about something," Iscantil told him. "Maybe you should go see what the problem is."
"I'll go check up on her," Ardeth said before heading for Catlanda's position.
***
Catlanda sat just outside the camp, her knees up to her body. Tears were falling down her face as the Spire lay next to her. She heard footsteps behind her and saw someone sit next to her.
"Cat, what's wrong?" asked Ardeth.
"Dad, there's a couple things I need to tell you," she said.
"Go ahead, you can tell me anything," Ardeth told her.
"The first thing is about the Spire. It is said in the Temple of Isis that the holder of the Spire is connected to its power. It also says that it can transfer its controlling capabilities under extreme circumstances. If you were experiencing anything when you around the Spire, it's because you're not used to its presence yet and that you can control it as well," she explained to him, tears in her eyes.
Ardeth closed his eyes. He didn't know whether to be glad or not of this outcome as he put a hand up to his face.
"What's the second thing?" he said, not sure he wanted to hear it.
Nothing prepared him for those two words.
"Dad...I'm pregnant," she finally told him.
The End
Author's Note-There it is. I don't know what else to say but I'm getting out of the way. *ducks underneath chair*
