Disclaimer: See part 1
Author's note: Oh please help me. I've come up with two different ways to continue this story. I can't decide which one is better. Read and review and tell me which second chapter you'd like to see continued. The first one is "An Icy Wind". The second is "Ardeth Finds Out" for lack of a better title. I really need some help on this, guys. Please.
He had slipped up quietly on the camp, not wishing to disturb anyone. Assuming everyone was already asleep, (who wouldn't be after the day they'd had?) he had tossed a blanket on the sand and laid down. He was about to drift off to sleep when his warrior senses had detected movement. Turning back towards the camp of his friends, his breath caught in his throat when he saw Evie emerge from her tent.
Ardeth made no sound, no movement as he watched her make her way to the top of a dune. He couldn't help thinking how beautiful she was. The desert sky was clear that evening and the silvery moonlight and starlight combined to give her porcelain skin an incandescent glow. Her dark curls tumbled around her shoulders, blown back from her face by a rare, gentle desert breeze. She no longer wore the solid black pants and shirt, but a white shirt of Rick's, which hung rather loose on her, and a pair of her brother's old khaki breeches.
The Medjai warrior contemplated his feelings for Evie. Any man with eyes could see she was beautiful. Yet, Ardeth did not lust after her. No, that was not the nature of his feelings for her. She was his friend. But why did every woman he met have to measure up to her? He was not jealous of Rick because he married Evie. He did envy his friend's happiness, however.
Ardeth mulled this bit of information over for a while. Maybe he just wanted to be married himself. But being around Evelyn had raised his standards exceptionally high. His tribe had tried to marry him off several times, anxious for him to settle down and insure his legacy. But no woman had been as intelligent, as witty, as full of fire as his dear friend.
No, he concluded, he didn't love Evelyn. Not in that way. But, he had to admit, he was lonely. Now, watching Evelyn, he was also a little worried. The expression on her face was one of concern. He decided to go and speak with her. After all, he was curious about what had happened to the O'Connell's while he and the Medjai battled the Army of Anubis. That was the reason he had decided to find the O'Connell's before they returned to London. He didn't want to frighten her and so he whispered when he got near.
"Evelyn. Evelyn, it's me. Ardeth."
Evie turned around, at first startled, then pleased to see her friend. She stood up and gave him a quick hug.
"Ardeth! What brings you here?"
"Curiosity, I'm afraid. How did things go after I left Ahm-Shere?"
"Well, it wasn't easy," replied Evie, trying desperately to infuse her voice with some cheerfulness and failing miserably to do so. "But, obviously, Rick disposed of the Scorpion King and his army. What of your battle?"
Ardeth frowned at the sudden change in subject. Evie was usually much more detailed when relating something that had happened. Something had happened at Ahm-Shere after he left. Something she didn't want to talk about. Concern nagged at the back of his mind, but he managed to be patient. After all, as Evie said, patience was a virtue.
"We defeated the first wave of the attack," he related. Evie noticed his eyes grow dim for a moment. "We lost many warriors, though. Several from my tribe. But they died bravely." He shook his head, endeavoring to rid himself of the thought of the warriors he had helped to bury before tracking down the O'Connell's. "The second wave was upon us when the suddenly vanished. That must have been when your husband killed the Scorpion King."
Evie nodded in agreement. They stood there for a moment, each feeling at complete ease in the ensuing silence. Ardeth's curiosity got the better of him after a time, however, and he could contain his questions no longer.
"What has happened that you're not telling me, Evelyn? There's no use in denying it. I can see it in your eyes. You're terribly worried about something. What is it?"
She hesitated, unsure of whether or not she should tell him. In the end, she knew she had to tell someone. And she could trust Ardeth. Maybe he could even give her some advice.
In a few minutes, Ardeth had been apprised of the situation. He had been shocked at the news she had imparted and was wishing he had been there to help protect the family. He couldn't imagine what the O'Connell men, particularly Rick, had gone through in that space of time, however brief it might have been. It was obvious they all worshipped Evie in their own ways. But at least now he knew the reason for her pensive mood.
"You're worried about the baby," he stated matter-of-factly. Evie nodded as tears began to course down her cheeks. She was unable to hold them back any longer.
Ardeth was unaccustomed to being in the presence of a crying woman. This sudden turn of events left the Medjai at a loss for once in his life. Unsure of himself, he put a hand on Evie's shoulder and let her cry. He spoke not a word. What did one say at a time like this?
When it seemed that her tears had been spent, Ardeth ventured to ask Evie a question.
"Does O'Connell know? Did you ever tell him?"
"Oh, Ardeth. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Think of how it would hurt him."
"Evelyn, I wish I could help you. But I have no knowledge of these matters. The only thing I can think of is to see a healer once you get back to Cairo."
"But, Ardeth, I can't go alone. I just can't face the news alone. Come with us to Cairo. You can take me back to the healer I saw before we left for Ahm-Shere."
Ardeth hesitated. His tribe needed him. There was still much work to be done. Evie read the hesitation in his eyes and did something she had never done before in her life. Evelyn Carnahan O'Connell pleaded.
"Ardeth, please. It won't take me long. I just need someone with me. Someone to help me if the news is.bad. Please, Ardeth."
The Medjai felt he should not go. But his friend needed him. How could he turn her away after all she and Rick had done for his people? Ardeth felt himself giving in.
"I will go with you to Cairo, Evelyn. But I cannot stay longer than a couple of days. That is all."
Evie smiled her first real smile since they had first set up camp. For some reason, knowing a friend as dear as Ardeth would be there reassured her. She would not have to bear this alone. Evelyn sat back down on the dune, hoping the night air would bring sleepiness to her. Ardeth sat down as well and the two began to talk as they never had before. Neither dreamed of what awaited them in Cairo.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
So, what do you think? Which one should I continue the story line with? Please help. I'm beginning to get bald patches from pulling my hair out. And I don't think my husband finds my new hairdo very attractive. My marriage may rest in your hands.
Author's note: Oh please help me. I've come up with two different ways to continue this story. I can't decide which one is better. Read and review and tell me which second chapter you'd like to see continued. The first one is "An Icy Wind". The second is "Ardeth Finds Out" for lack of a better title. I really need some help on this, guys. Please.
He had slipped up quietly on the camp, not wishing to disturb anyone. Assuming everyone was already asleep, (who wouldn't be after the day they'd had?) he had tossed a blanket on the sand and laid down. He was about to drift off to sleep when his warrior senses had detected movement. Turning back towards the camp of his friends, his breath caught in his throat when he saw Evie emerge from her tent.
Ardeth made no sound, no movement as he watched her make her way to the top of a dune. He couldn't help thinking how beautiful she was. The desert sky was clear that evening and the silvery moonlight and starlight combined to give her porcelain skin an incandescent glow. Her dark curls tumbled around her shoulders, blown back from her face by a rare, gentle desert breeze. She no longer wore the solid black pants and shirt, but a white shirt of Rick's, which hung rather loose on her, and a pair of her brother's old khaki breeches.
The Medjai warrior contemplated his feelings for Evie. Any man with eyes could see she was beautiful. Yet, Ardeth did not lust after her. No, that was not the nature of his feelings for her. She was his friend. But why did every woman he met have to measure up to her? He was not jealous of Rick because he married Evie. He did envy his friend's happiness, however.
Ardeth mulled this bit of information over for a while. Maybe he just wanted to be married himself. But being around Evelyn had raised his standards exceptionally high. His tribe had tried to marry him off several times, anxious for him to settle down and insure his legacy. But no woman had been as intelligent, as witty, as full of fire as his dear friend.
No, he concluded, he didn't love Evelyn. Not in that way. But, he had to admit, he was lonely. Now, watching Evelyn, he was also a little worried. The expression on her face was one of concern. He decided to go and speak with her. After all, he was curious about what had happened to the O'Connell's while he and the Medjai battled the Army of Anubis. That was the reason he had decided to find the O'Connell's before they returned to London. He didn't want to frighten her and so he whispered when he got near.
"Evelyn. Evelyn, it's me. Ardeth."
Evie turned around, at first startled, then pleased to see her friend. She stood up and gave him a quick hug.
"Ardeth! What brings you here?"
"Curiosity, I'm afraid. How did things go after I left Ahm-Shere?"
"Well, it wasn't easy," replied Evie, trying desperately to infuse her voice with some cheerfulness and failing miserably to do so. "But, obviously, Rick disposed of the Scorpion King and his army. What of your battle?"
Ardeth frowned at the sudden change in subject. Evie was usually much more detailed when relating something that had happened. Something had happened at Ahm-Shere after he left. Something she didn't want to talk about. Concern nagged at the back of his mind, but he managed to be patient. After all, as Evie said, patience was a virtue.
"We defeated the first wave of the attack," he related. Evie noticed his eyes grow dim for a moment. "We lost many warriors, though. Several from my tribe. But they died bravely." He shook his head, endeavoring to rid himself of the thought of the warriors he had helped to bury before tracking down the O'Connell's. "The second wave was upon us when the suddenly vanished. That must have been when your husband killed the Scorpion King."
Evie nodded in agreement. They stood there for a moment, each feeling at complete ease in the ensuing silence. Ardeth's curiosity got the better of him after a time, however, and he could contain his questions no longer.
"What has happened that you're not telling me, Evelyn? There's no use in denying it. I can see it in your eyes. You're terribly worried about something. What is it?"
She hesitated, unsure of whether or not she should tell him. In the end, she knew she had to tell someone. And she could trust Ardeth. Maybe he could even give her some advice.
In a few minutes, Ardeth had been apprised of the situation. He had been shocked at the news she had imparted and was wishing he had been there to help protect the family. He couldn't imagine what the O'Connell men, particularly Rick, had gone through in that space of time, however brief it might have been. It was obvious they all worshipped Evie in their own ways. But at least now he knew the reason for her pensive mood.
"You're worried about the baby," he stated matter-of-factly. Evie nodded as tears began to course down her cheeks. She was unable to hold them back any longer.
Ardeth was unaccustomed to being in the presence of a crying woman. This sudden turn of events left the Medjai at a loss for once in his life. Unsure of himself, he put a hand on Evie's shoulder and let her cry. He spoke not a word. What did one say at a time like this?
When it seemed that her tears had been spent, Ardeth ventured to ask Evie a question.
"Does O'Connell know? Did you ever tell him?"
"Oh, Ardeth. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Think of how it would hurt him."
"Evelyn, I wish I could help you. But I have no knowledge of these matters. The only thing I can think of is to see a healer once you get back to Cairo."
"But, Ardeth, I can't go alone. I just can't face the news alone. Come with us to Cairo. You can take me back to the healer I saw before we left for Ahm-Shere."
Ardeth hesitated. His tribe needed him. There was still much work to be done. Evie read the hesitation in his eyes and did something she had never done before in her life. Evelyn Carnahan O'Connell pleaded.
"Ardeth, please. It won't take me long. I just need someone with me. Someone to help me if the news is.bad. Please, Ardeth."
The Medjai felt he should not go. But his friend needed him. How could he turn her away after all she and Rick had done for his people? Ardeth felt himself giving in.
"I will go with you to Cairo, Evelyn. But I cannot stay longer than a couple of days. That is all."
Evie smiled her first real smile since they had first set up camp. For some reason, knowing a friend as dear as Ardeth would be there reassured her. She would not have to bear this alone. Evelyn sat back down on the dune, hoping the night air would bring sleepiness to her. Ardeth sat down as well and the two began to talk as they never had before. Neither dreamed of what awaited them in Cairo.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
So, what do you think? Which one should I continue the story line with? Please help. I'm beginning to get bald patches from pulling my hair out. And I don't think my husband finds my new hairdo very attractive. My marriage may rest in your hands.
