A Sad Reunion

" Have you heard from them, or gotten any sign?" Malik asked sitting down in a chair in the room with the two Medji, Jonathan and Alex.

" No." The Medji's answered.

" It's been so long." Malik said.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. The two Medji drew there swords just in case, and the opened the door.

It was a commander. He began talking to Yakah and Shakiri in their language. After they were done, Yakah and Shakiri turned to the others.

" It is over." They said.

Everyone stood up.

" What do you mean its over?" Jonathan asked.

" Kurai…he is dead…the commanders and the other tribes are leaving." he replied.

" What about…." Malik started.

" No one knows of you families whereabouts or the outcome." Yakah said to Jonathan.

" Then that means if…well, how long ago was he killed?" Jonathan asked.

" Two days ago, but the commanders just got word." Shakiri answered.

" Well, that means that they should be getting her about now." said Malik.

Alex looked at his uncle, then ran out of the room.

" Alex….Alex wait for us." Jonathan hollered after him, and everyone followed.

Outside of the inn, Alex was looking around. Everyone came up behind him.

" We have to find them uncle Jon." said Alex.

" Right, well they would be coming through the entrance to the fort, so lets go look by the entrance." Jonathan replied and they walked off.

" Looks like the fort is ok." Ardeth said.

They had just got within sight of the fort. They were on their camels, while Evy and Mariana were leaning up against them.

Alex and the others came out of the entrance to the fort and started to look out into the endless hills of sand.

" Look! There!" Malik said pointing in the direction that lead to the black spots coming towards them.

The stood and waited till the figures were in full view. Jonathan and Alex went instantly pale at the sight of the first camel.

" Mum…" " Evy…" they both said together.

Rick stopped his camel a few feet from everyone and got down. Ardeth did the same. Rick, holding Evy, began to walk towards them.

Everyone watched…and noticed the expression on his face.

" Not again…it cant be…" Jonathan said to himself.

Rick stopped in front of them, and looked at Jonathan and Alex. He looked at them, as though he were convincing himself they were alright, then he walked past them towards the fort without a word.

Ardeth came up behind Rick, but stopped at the group, who were watching after Rick, who was now walking to the fort, Evy in arms, and Jonathan and Alex following him.

" What happened…Mariana…" Malik said

" We defeated Kurai, well, partly, and Mariana is fine…she's just unconscious…but Evelyn…did not make it." Ardeth answered.

They looked at him.

" We must get to the rooms and try to get Mariana awake." said Ardeth as he started walking to the fort.

" Before we follow…a warning to you two Medji…I wouldn't really say anything to O'Connell right now….not unless you want to be killed." Malik said and followed after Ardeth.

Yakah and Shakiri looked at one another, then followed.

Inside the inn, Rick had gone into his room, Alex and Jonathan with him.

Ardeth, Malik, and the two Medji were in the room next to him trying to wake Mariana up. Yakah and Shakiri were helping with her wounds. Ardeth just brushed Mariana's forehead gently and was softly talking to her.

" Everything is fine now my love. Your job is done…now we can live…we can fulfill the promised we made before all of this. All you have to do is wake up." Ardeth said softly. " You just have to wake up."

Jonathan and Alex stood in the back of the room, looking at Rick , who had laid Evy down on the bed, and was now on his knees beside the bed. Jonathan wasn't sure whether he should say something, but Jonathan took the chance like he always did.

" Rick….how did this happen?" he asked in a soft voice.

Rick didn't take his eyes off his wife.

" She…saved me….she jumped in front of me…when Kurai…shot one of his blasts." he answered in a barely understandable tone, as though it were very hard for him to speak. " Mariana did the same….for Ardeth…they both came to save us….and that's what they did." he finished.

" I told her…I told her not to do anything drastic!" Jonathan said.

Rick remembered what Evy had said. " Don't give up…you have to live…for Alex."

Rick looked up at his son. He was holding back tears.

" Jonathan….go see if Ardeth needs help.." Rick said quietly.

Jonathan opened his mouth to speak, but caught on. " Right." he said taking one more look at Evy, and left.

" Alex…." Rick started.

Alex looked from his mum's body to his father's tear stained face.

" Alex…I'm…sorry I let…her die…I would have taken her place….I would have given anything to take her place…but she wouldn't allow it." Rick said beginning to cry.

" I want you to know…she was…thinking of you…she wanted me to be here for you." Rick continued looking at Alex in tears.

" Dad…this…is all my fault…" Alex said beginning to cry.

Rick couldn't believe that…it hit him hard.

" No! Don't you say that!" said Rick getting to his feet and walked over to hold Alex.

" None of this is your fault…not now, not before, never." Rick said. " Alex, your mom wanted you to be safe, and I guess she though the only way that would really happen….was if…I lived." Rick continued as his voice choked.

" Why? I would be safe with both of you!" Alex said in a voice that showed he didn't understand.

" I know…and she knew that…but both of us…living…just wasn't an…option." said Rick. " It's going…to be….hard…" he finished.

" But…we can…get the books…we have to bring her back." Alex argued.

" Alex…we cant get the books…there gone…and there isn't another way…and its going to kill me…" Rick replied.

Alex looked as though…his hopes had been broken…but then he realized it was true…and that…they couldn't go the rest of their lives…dying and coming back.

" Dad….it will be hard…but we can both….help each other…" Alex said still crying.

Rick looked at Alex. *He's so strong…just like Evy.* Rick thought.

" Yeah." Rick replied still in a choking voice.

Rick took Alex into his arms and held him tightly.

" I love you so much Alex." Rick said beginning to loose control of the tears he was holding back.

" I love you too dad….but…mum…she'll be watching over us…" Alex replied

Rick looked at Alex and gave a weak smile…that was strong as well. They hugged again, and both silently began to cry.

" Uhh…Ar…Ardeth…?" Mariana said weakly.

" Mariana…I'm right here. Jonathan go tell O'Connell that she's waking up." Ardeth said

Jonathan went out of the room. He knocked on the door and walked in

" Rick…she's waking up." he said nervously.

Rick softly let go of Alex and stood up. He walked passed Jonathan towards the next room, Alex followed.

When Rick came into the room, Mariana was leaning up against Ardeth, who was holding her tight. Rick winced at the sight, but kept his " I'm alright, I'm a tough guy." look and walked over.

Alex and Jonathan came in after him. Yakah and Shakiri looked at O'Connell, then looked at Malik. They were debating on whether to say something or not, then they remembered what she had told them.

Malik looked back at them, and knowing what they were thinking, gave them a look that said " Go ahead, but its your neck.".

They decided not to say anything.

Mariana had her eyes closed and she opened them to look at Ardeth, but saw Rick.

" Rick! Your alright!" she said still weak, but smiling.

" Yeah." he answered dully.

Mariana looked at him.

" So…you defeated Kurai then?" she asked still leaning against Ardeth.

" Yes…well partly…" Ardeth answered.

" What do you mean partly?" Mariana asked puzzled.

" We weakened him…but we were not the ones who killed him." Ardeth answered.

" Well who did?" she asked.

" Imhotep." Rick replied.

" Imhotep!?" Mariana said sitting up more.

" He came and killed him…but we he didn't fight us…it just seemed as though he was only there for his brother." Ardeth answered.

" Well, he didn't attempt to hurt or fight you?" she asked.

" No." Ardeth replied

" The only thing he said that was geared towards us was Death is only the beginning…but….*with a choke* forever may not be long enough for your love." Rick replied quietly.

" Yes, that was all and then he and his brother vanished." Ardeth added.

" Odd…do you think he is gone?" Mariana asked.

" Who knows." Ardeth replied.

" Well, at least he's gone for now." Mariana stated.

" Yeah." said Rick.

" Hey, is little Alex alright?" Mariana asked looking around.

" I'm fine…I'm right here." Alex said stepping up beside his dad.

" Good…then everyone is ok…I mean the fort?" Mariana continued.

Shakiri and Yakah stepped forward and nodded.

Mariana looked around the room….there was someone missing. Even thought it pained her, she sat up, in a jerky motion, and looked around….panic set in.

" Where's Evelyn?" she asked, her voice almost a shrill.

Rick felt a very sharp pain inside him…his expression, went from sad…to worse. He didn't want to look at her any longer…so he looked down…and everyone else…knowing…found something to look at.

" Where is she?" Mariana asked again.

Rick still did not look up. But, he was losing all his control.

" She…she's dead." Rick answered.

Mariana's eyes widened as she looked at him…he, was still not looking at her…but the tears came in a flood from both of them.

" NO!" she screamed as she cried against Ardeth's robes.

Everyone cried silently as they watched Mariana and Rick cry.