Of Arabians and Dancing Swords.
By LatanyaDisclaimer: I don't own anything to do with the Mummy or Ardeth Bey and the Medjai (double damn). However, I do own all that I created [Jessica-Tahirah and Ali are mine].
Chapter one: Dresses, veils and handsome warriors.
She stepped out onto the dusty Cairo Street, her boots echoing through the narrow alleyway they had just come out of. Beside her walked her best friend, a tall Frenchman named Ali. Dressed in long black cotton pants and a loose white cotton shirt, she wore her long blond hair pulled back in a French braid.
"Tahirah, do we really want to be walking around Cairo like this?" Ali muttered, "Just think of what those Arab men will be thinking when they see you traversing around with your head bared."
"They'll think that I am a tourist Ali, and isn't that just what we are? Tourists? Come on, we've got to find Mohammad so he can take us to this meeting this afternoon. The sooner I can buy those horses the sooner we can go home to New Zealand." She shrugged, her glittering blue eyes watching for any danger.
Ali shuddered, "I really don't like the idea of going outside of the city with that strange Arab man to meet even stranger nomadic Arab men. Tahirah, can't you just send one of your assistants to get these horses rather than going yourself?"
"I am not a coward to stay behind doors simply because I am a woman in a country where woman are expected to be veiled." Her voice rose in pitch, reminding Ali of who had the power.
A man dressed in black robes heard her and reached over to grab Ali's arm, "You should not let your wife walk about like that or let her tell you what to do."
"She's not my wife…." Ali gulped, staring up at the tattooed face of the Arab man, "Rather, she's my boss and my best friend."
The man glanced at Tahirah and frowned, "All women should be veiled in public, even tourists. They are to precious to walk about where any man can see them. She is beautiful and gifted with golden hair, should one of the rich want her, she will be kidnapped and never returned."
Tahirah walked over to a stall and picked up a dress made from deep crimson silk, "Ali, you should see this! Isn't it a beautiful –" She turned around and saw Ali speaking to a stranger. "Ali what are you doing?"
He glanced at her, "Tahirah, darling, this man here recommends that you find a nice veil to wear. You know, one that'll hid your lovely blond hair."
"Western women are considered exotic and fetch a large sum in some circles. Perhaps you should consider the traditional way that a women dresses as a safe way to survive." The black robed man growled, studying the woman.
She snorted back laughter, "Charming suggestion, I tried that last night. Do you know how long it takes to arrange a headscarf so that it hides the color of my hair and my face? Well, I won't wear one unless it's absolutely necessary. Besides, I'm a triple Dan in Karate and a first Dan in Japanese sword fighting. I do not think I should have to many troubles defending my own life."
"A woman who fights! Yes, you would be worth a lot on the slave market. Take my advice Miss Tahirah and dress as a women should."
Studying the Arab man's face, Tahirah smiled at the tattoos on his forehead and cheeks. She didn't know any Arabic though she was fluent in five different languages. Murmuring in French, she shrugged and glanced back the stall where an older woman stood watching them, her face veiled by a white cloth. "Should I choose to do so, I would do so of my own accord and in my own fashion. No man has rule over me."
He reached over and caught her chin, "In Egypt, men have rule over women and women do as their men tell them. You should listen to what I tell you."
"Yes and I should best be going or I shall be late to my meeting. Thank you for your suggestion good sir and I shall give it all due consideration. But as I will not be here for any longer than a week, I do not fear to much." She bowed her head and signaled to Ali to follow her.
The Arab man watched her go, shaking his head. "That woman shall not remain free for very long. She is to beautiful and to desirable for the servants of rich Sheiks to let her pass by."
Turning about, he disappeared off towards the desert where the rest of his people were to be found waiting for him. His last thought about Tahirah being 'May Allah protect that strange western woman from what ever dangers she might face.'
Sighing, Tahirah was quick to negotiate her way through the streets to Mohammad's home. He would be waiting for them to arrive so that he could take them to this desert chief that possessed a great many Arabian horses she might be able to buy from him.
The guard at the door let Tahirah and Ali in, glancing her over with a disdainful look to his face. Mohammad was in his study, reading a London newspaper while he waited for her to appear. When he saw how his New Zealander friend was dressed, he sent a maid off to get some respectable clothing for a woman to wear.
"Jessica Alexander! Come in! Come in! I have just sent a woman to get you decent clothing for this meeting and I hope you will not be angry at me for doing so." He rose and held out his hands to her.
She cringed, "Mohammad, you know I detest being called by the kenning of Jessica. Please, call me Tahirah like everyone else does but my grandparents."
"Lady Jessica-Tahirah Alexander, welcome to my home." A woman entered through a back door, followed by two maids bearing with them an elegant dress and headscarf for Tahirah.
"Adara, how lovely to see you." She smiled sweetly, "I hope that dress that you have there is not for me to wear."
Mohammad nodded to his wife, "Adara, you can take her off to dress while I finish my paper. Make sure she is perfect because you are Medjai and will know what Ardeth Bey will tolerate."
Ushered out of the room by the three women, Tahirah turned around to signal to Ali urgently. He smiled, laughing at her being taken away to be clothed in a dress. Grinning, Ali glanced at Mohammad and waited for the Arab to say something to him about Tahirah.
Adara closed the door, sliding the bolt home. She nodded to the two maids who made Tahirah stand still while they made sure the dress was the right size. Swearing at them in German, she was glad that they didn't understand a single word she was saying.
"Adara, why are you doing this? You know I hate dresses of any sort unless they are Indian or Japanese. And what did Mohammad mean when he called you Medjai and said that you would know what this Ardeth Bey… I think that was what his name was… would tolerate." She switched over to English to speak to Adara.
The Egyptian woman smiled peacefully and shrugged, "Tahirah, you are going to meet with one of the Chiefs of the Medjai. Ardeth Bey is a powerful man and he - like the rest of the Medjai - believe that women should wear veils in public. If you want to buy these horses from him, you must concede to dressing as a woman is expected to in this country. Will you do this?"
Sighing, she nodded her head, "Alright Adara! I shall wear this dress you have for me."
"Well then, will you take your pants and shirt off so my maids can dress you." Adara smiled again, her whole expression lightening up.
Doing as she was told, Tahirah stripped off her pants and shirt while the two maids prepared to dress her. First they put her in the dress before finding a brush and released her hair from its confining braid. While one brushed her hair, which fell to the top of her thighs in fine strands of rich golden-blond, the other applied a little makeup to her face. When they were done with that, Adara came over and arranged the veil, as it should be worn.
Taking her out to Mohammad, Adara bowed to her husband and murmured that Tahirah was ready to leave. He stood up, touched Adara's hand gently before turning to look Tahirah over.
"And Ardeth Bey will find this acceptable wife?" He asked.
"Of course he shall and he will know that it was I who dressed her." Adara replied softly.
"Then let us depart! Come Tahirah and Ali, we have business to attend to." Mohammad smiled and led them out to the awaiting cars.
They drove towards the outer edge of the city, where civilization met the desert. As they drew near to the assigned meeting place, Tahirah noticed some tents set up in the distance with horses tethered near by. The beauty of the Arabians these people owned struck her and her desire to have a few grew stronger. Tahirah was by no means a poor woman though she had exiled herself from the English court to live in New Zealand where she could run her own Arabian Horse Farm. Her father's side of the family was very strict English nobility while her mother had been the daughter of an Egyptian politician. Hence her name was half English and half Egyptian.
Black robed Medjai warriors were waiting for them and they opened the doors of the five vehicles in which Mohammad, Tahirah, Ali and Mohammad's guards had come in. The men all stared at Tahirah as she followed Mohammad towards the main camp.
Tahirah recognized the tattoos on the faces of the Medjai as being the same as those, which had been on the face of the man she and Ali had met in the city that morning. She glanced at Ali to see if he had realized the same thing and saw a pained expression on his face. One of the Medjai let the three of them into a large tent with a smile on his face.
Ardeth Bey looked up and saw Mohammad with the man he had met that morning and the woman as well. She was dressed in a black dress which fell to her feet and which had sleeves all the way to her wrists. Her face was covered with a black veil and her hair was loose, falling all the way to below her bottom. The dress was layers of black silk embroidered with silver and it fell nicely, accenting her slender form with all its womanly curves. When her eyes met his, she startled, her face showing how shocked she was.
"Mohammad Hamish, it has been some time since we met last. Tell me, who is this woman you bring with you to our meeting?" Ardeth rose and held his hand out to Mohammad in greeting.
"She is Lady Jessica-Tahirah Shari Alexander, daughter of Lord William Alexander and Zarifa Bahil. She is the reason why I arranged this meeting." Mohammad replied quickly, glancing around at his two companions. "The Frenchman is Ali Dumas, companion and guard of Lady Alexander."
Moving over to Tahirah, Ardeth pulled the veil from her face and smiled, "I thought you did not believe in wearing veils to cover your face Lady Tahirah Alexander yet here you are in my tent dressed as a woman should be dressed."
She stared up into his eyes angrily; her desire to own some of his horses the only thing stopping her from arguing with him. "I'm sure you're happy to see I took your advice?"
"I doubt that you did. It seems more likely that Adara Hamish dressed you for what you wear is in the style of what a Medjai woman wears." He chuckled. "Now Mohammad, speak to me. Why have you brought her here?"
"I spoke to your man about an English woman who desired to purchase several Arabian horses to ship to her estate in New Zealand. When she approached me about this, I thought of your magnificent horses and so, spoke to one of your warriors and sent him with a letter to you." The man spoke.
The warrior chief studied Tahirah, "She wishes to buy some of our horses? For what cause? Surely she has many horses of her own."
"May I speak or shall you egotistical men forbid me because I am a woman?" She growled, her blue eyes still locked on Ardeth.
"Speak then and say what ever it is that you must say." He commanded.
"I run an estate in New Zealand where I breed Arabian horses. Because of this, I desired to purchase some horses of fine breeding and good bloodlines which I could introduce to my herd." Tahirah's voice rung out with barely a quiver as she spoke to the Medjai chief.
"How many horses exactly do you wish to buy?" Ardeth asked, looking around at Mohammad and Ali.
"At least two stallions and perhaps five or more mares. It is not as if I cannot afford it for, as Mohammad knows, I am a rich in my own right and an heiress to billions as it is."
Stunned, he turned around to look her over again. Her face was still uncovered though her stance was one that showed she was ready for just about anything. The long, rich, dark golden blond hair that fell down the length of her back was exotic, as were the stunning blue eyes though her general features were slightly Egyptian. Her skin was not the white that was traditionally English but was, in fact, a pale shade of coffee. One most women, the combination would be seen as unattractive but on her, it was beautiful. Ardeth knew that she would make a wonderful wife to a man but he would have to be strong enough to control her independence.
"And what if I will not sell any of our horses to you? What shall you do then?" He asked, not taking his eyes off her.
Tahirah smiled, "I should try anything in my power to convince you to sell and if you should still refuse, I would find someone else who would not refuse me this. Consider yourself warned about one thing, I always get my way."
"And woe to he who would dare to defy her will." Ali muttered, speaking for the first time since they arrived there.
"Mohammad, would you kindly excuse us? Take the man with you." Tahirah turned her head towards her companions and smiled slightly. "I wish to speak to the Medjai alone."
Nodding, the Egyptian took Ali out of the tent with him though they only stood just outside of the tent. Ardeth raised an eyebrow and watched Tahirah walk around the tent slowly.
"Why did you do that?" He asked softly.
She turned around to him and smiled, "Now tell me fierce desert warrior, how many horses can I purchase from you and for how much each? I do not want to stay in this country for too long because as soon as my grandfather finds out that I am here, he will have me brought to him and no doubt, he has some ideas on who he would like to see his only grandchild married to."
"You are not married then? Has no man offered?" Ardeth spoke the question as if it was more important than anything else.
"Oh, I have had many men court me but I have no desire to marry a man who I do not love truly. I believe that there is only one true love for each of us and I will not consider any man who I do not love with all my heart. Not that it matters to you." She smiled faintly, her mind momentarily turned from the reason why she was there.
"And your father has not arranged your marriage for you?"
"My parents are both dead. They died in an accident while I was here in Egypt visiting my grandfather."
Ardeth bowed his head, "I am sorry for you Miss Alexander. Now, back to the horses, I have with me several well breed horses that you may like."
She smiled brightly, her eyes loosing the sad glint they had in them, "I should like to see these horses then and discover if there are any that I like."
Nodding, the Medjai chief led her out of the tent and out towards the horses with Ali, Mohammad, Mohammad's guards and a handful of the Medjai following them. Ardeth walked closely beside her and quickly reached over so that he could fasten her veil over her face again. When Tahirah saw the horses, she was bubbling with excitement over the fact that she might be able to purchase some of the fine animals she saw before her.
He led her up to a group of mares and pointed first to a dapple-grey mare then to three chestnuts of varying shades. "Those four I would sell to you."
"They are all beautiful." Tahirah approached each and ran her hands along their legs to see if they were sound before looking in their mouths to discover their ages. Not a single one of them gave her any trouble and her heart went out to them.
Ali checked them as well, "Tahirah, they're all in lovely condition, none of them are over seven years of age and none of them seem to be vicious. Keep them in mind."
"I will. In fact, I don't think I need to look at any more mares." She was literally glowing with joy.
"Will you come and look at some more horses Miss? I have a few more that I think you would like." Ardeth nodded thoughtfully. He had known that she would like the four he had just shown to her.
They moved on to a stallion of a dark cream color and an attentive, friendly face. Tahirah was a little unsure if she liked him up until she started to handle him, checking his confirmation and age. The stallion was so friendly and kept nudging her gently while nibbling on her dress.
"Ali, he is a stunning animal. Do you think?" She whispered.
He nodded, "The horse has a good temperament and I think he would pass it on to any foals he sired. Why not get him if you can?"
"Most certainly." She spoke, turning to Ardeth. "Those four mares and this stallion, I would like to purchase. Now, have you one more stallion and one to maybe two more mares?"
"I think I have two more mares you will like. As for another stallion, I have the prefect horse for you." He flashed her a grin.
Leading her over to where there were two mares tethered together, Ardeth pointed at them thoughtfully. "They are sisters, a year apart. The grey is ten and the brown is nine."
Going through the same process as she had with the previous horses, Tahirah had to admit that most of the horses she had seen were lovely creatures and if she could, she would take them all home. Deciding that she would take the grey but not the brown because she wasn't to sure about the brown's temperament, Tahirah told this to Ali who agreed. Listening in, Ardeth sent one of his men to go and bring the second stallion he wished to show to Tahirah.
When she looked up to see a Medjai warrior leading a coal black stallion towards them she fell in love with the horse. He was around 15.3 HH, black with a dark grey mane and tail and a noble carriage. His head was held high and his ears were forward attentively. Prancing about on the spot when the man stop leading him, the stallion nickered softly to Ardeth, who stroked his neck gently.
"My god, could there be anything on this earth who is more prefect than he?" Tahirah whispered to herself, not sure if she meant the horse or the man. Walking over to the stallion, she held out her hand so that he caught her scent, she stroked his nose softly. "You want to sell this magnificent stallion to me? You must be mad."
Ardeth shook his head, "No, I would gift him to you. There is another stallion who I would sell to you but this horse, I would have you keep as your own."
Another of the men had led a light brown stallion over. Ali, seeing that Tahirah was busy with the black, went over and checked the brown over. He had to admit that both were lovely but he knew that Tahirah would take the black no matter what.
"Do you find the brown satisfactory?" Ardeth called over to Ali, turning away from Tahirah.
"Indeed I do. Which one do you want Tahirah?" Ali replied.
"She's buying the brown for I am making a gift of the black to her." The chief laughed at the expression on Ali's face. "It is the least I can do for her."
He gave orders to his men to separate the four mares and the two stallions that Tahirah was to buy and to take them away from the main herd. Ardeth then gave orders concerning the black. She watched as the stallion was led away and sighed sadly. He was truly magnificent.
"Let us return to the tent to discuss a price for these horses Lady Alexander." Ardeth led the way back to the tent they had left some time ago.
Offering her a seat on a pile of cushions, he waited for her to speak.
"I will give you eight thousand pounds for the horses." She offered, knowing that it was more than he expected and less than she would be willing to pay.
"That is a large amount for six of our horses." He was stunned.
"I would pay more than that for a horse like the black in America." Tahirah murmured, doubting if she could find a stallion more magnificent than the black in America.
Ardeth shook his head, "I cannot let you pay that much for the horses unless you buy more."
"You want less for them?" She was shocked. "I will pay no less than eight thousand for horses of such quality."
Ali agreed, "For six well breed Arabians like that, you would be paying over two thousand pounds each in America or anywhere in Europe. Tahirah is offering you less than she would be expected to pay anywhere else."
Resting a hand on Ardeth's shoulder, Mohammad told him, "Take it Ardeth Bey because if you argue, she will only raise the amount she will pay you."
Shaking his head, Ardeth opened his mouth to argue once more. "I cannot expect you to pay that much for six horses Lady Alexander."
Putting her hands on her hips, Tahirah turned to Ali, "How much did I give to you to bring with us?"
"Twenty-five thousand pounds because you expected to pay about two thousand per horse and you were not sure of how many you would be able to buy." He replied.
"Give Mr Bey eighteen thousand for the horses. I will have no more arguments from him." She rested her blazing blue eyes on the handsome warrior chief who looked ready to argue some more. "Do not think to refuse my offer Mr Bey or I shall pay the entire twenty-five thousand pounds and take that brown mare as well."
Raising his hands, Ardeth spoke in Arabic, "Allah give me strength to deal with this woman." He took the money from Ali without another word and placed it in a bag beside his scimitar.
"Right. Now, when can you have the horses brought to my villa on the far side of Cairo?" She asked him, a content smile on her face.
"The horses will be there tomorrow morning and I will bring them myself. Which house exactly is yours?" He responded.
Giving him the instructions to find her villa, Tahirah couldn't help but pray that he would not come. The Medjai chief was to compelling and she felt like she was going to faint if he came near her again. When all was said and done, Mohammad ushered her out of the tent and back towards the cars while Ardeth watched them go, his eyes on her constantly.
