Ardeth, Layla and Raza rode to the meeting area. Layla was very apprehensive about the plan. It was very detailed and needed to be timed precisely to achieve the goal of saving Fahim and herself.
"Layla, are you sure you are feeling up to your part?" Raza asked, sensing what she was thinking about.
"Yes, Raza. Ardeth is a very good teacher. I will do as he has instructed," Layla told him.
"You are a quick study. I have taught many of the women in camp, as has Raza. You are better than most after your first lesson," Ardeth praised her.
"If I was so good after one lesson why did you give me two more?" Layla said with a light giggle.
"To keep you alive, my fair lady," Ardeth answered in a serious tone.
"I hate to interrupt but Botros is arriving," Raza said, looking at the riders coming toward them. "I see he brought more than just Fahim and one other person."
"I had no doubt he would," Ardeth said, as Layla moved closer to him.
"Is that your brother?" she asked as she drank some water.
"Yes," Ardeth answered quietly. His heart seemed to skip a beat seeing his brother after so many months had passed.
Botros and his followers stopped a few meters away from them. Ardeth knew it was just enough distance for a bullet to kill someone and also enough to give them a good start should they decided to leave with Fahim after he got Layla. Ardeth was going to make sure that did not happen.
"Are you ready to make the trade?" Botros yelled.
"Yes, since you did not honor my request. I shall warn you, I did not come with only one person, either." As Ardeth said this the other warriors came over the hill lining up beside Ardeth and the others.
"You are not a man to be trusted either," Botros shouted. "Send the woman over and I will release your brother once she is here."
"I think not. They will start at the same time or the trade is off," Ardeth said, seeing his brother smile at him.
"He remembers," Raza said, quietly. Fahim had made this same type of trade once before when some young warriors were taken while watching the horses away from camp and the Medjai had captured one of the raiders. Ardeth had hoped he would remember it, so he would assist in the plan.
"Ardeth, I do not feel well," Layla said.
"She is feeling ill. She may need assistance to get to you. I will help her," Ardeth said.
"NO! She comes alone or your brother dies here and now," Botros warned.
"I can make it alone," Layla said to Ardeth.
"Very well. Remember, he will not harm you," Ardeth told her.
Layla started toward Botros. As she got a ways from Ardeth, Fahim was allowed to start on his way. As he and Layla were about to pass each other Fahim's horse reared up, scaring her horse to do the same. Layla fell hard to the ground. Fahim jumped from his horse to check her. Botros drew a gun and fired at him. Ardeth raised his gun at Botros. Ardeth was amazed the bullet hitting him did not faze the big man.
"I will kill your brother and the woman," he yelled as he walked toward them.
"You cannot kill someone who is already dead!" Fahim shouted. "The woman is not breathing."
"It cannot be true," Ardeth said as he jumped from his horse to run to Layla.
"I am sorry, brother. The horse must have hit her in some way," Fahim said as Botros aimed his gun at Ardeth as he held Layla.
Fahim stood up carefully staring at the big man. "You will not live, if you pull the trigger," he told him as the other Medjai warriors readied themselves for a fight.
Botros ignored the warning and placed the muzzle of the gun to Ardeth head. A shot rang out but it was Botros who fell to the ground. Fahim looked up to see Raza lowering his gun. Botros had fallen across Layla's legs. A rider from the tribe took off back to their camp, not bothering to avenge their leader's death.
"They must have hated him as much as others, not to have fought over his death," Raza said.
"Brother, we should take her body back to camp and give her a proper burial," Fahim said, putting his hand on Ardeth's shoulder.
"You are right, Fahim. I promised her I would not let him harm her. I did not mean for this to happen," Ardeth said, scooping her up in his arms.
"I am sure she knows it was not your fault. If anyone is to blame it is I. My horse spooked hers. It was not my intention," Fahim said as he took Layla from Ardeth as he got on his horse.
"I do not blame you. It was merely an accident," Ardeth said. As he went to take Layla from Fahim he saw her eyes flutter. "Layla?"
"She cannot hear you, Ardeth," Fahim told him.
"I saw her eyes move," Ardeth told him, as he got off his horse and took her from him. He laid her back on the ground. "Layla, please be alive my love."
"Ardeth," she whispered. "I am sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
Layla took in a deep breath before she spoke again keeping him in suspense as to what she would say. "Your mother and I had a plan of our own. I truly did not want to take the chance of the man taking me from you."
"What plan did you and Mother have?"
"The water in my flask is a mixture of herbs from Zia. She said the herbs would make it appear as if I were dead. From your reaction it must have worked," she said, still fighting the effect of the herbs.
"Yes, it worked beautifully. I only have one question. Why did you not tell me of this plan?" Ardeth asked.
"You had to believe it to be true for Botros to believe it," Layla answered.
"I truly believed you had died. My heart felt as if it had shattered," Ardeth said, holding her close to him.
"I kept my promise to be with you forever," Layla said with her brilliant smile that captured his heart.
"I think we should be going back to camp. I am sure that Harith and Zia are anxious to see Fahim," Raza said to them.
"I can get up now," Layla said. "May I ride with you, Ardeth? The horse rearing up was not part of my plan it terrified me," she stated.
"Yes. I prefer not to let go of you. With your suggestion I do not have to," he said with a smile.