Arabians and Dancing Swords.
By LatanyaDisclaimer: I don't own anything to do with the Mummy (damn) or Ardeth Bey and the Medjai (double damn). No insult for blonds intended… I'm one as well.
Chapter Seven: Stolen moments.
Kareem was both overjoyed and saddened by the news delivered by Zahir when the guard had returned with more than the company he had left with. Overjoyed to know that his granddaughter was safe and that she'd made up her differences with Ardeth Bey. Saddened because a group of his loyal guards had been killed and also because he feared that Ardeth Bey might steal Tahirah away from him.
When the Medjai had brought Tahirah and her escort home, Kareem had had her whisked away to her chambers where maids had attended her every hurt. Now, sitting opposite Ardeth Bey, the old man wasn't all that sure as to what to say to him.
"Thank you for returning my granddaughter Ardeth Bey, I don't know what I would have done if she had been stolen by those bandits." He nodded to himself, not meeting Ardeth's eye.
Arching an eyebrow, the Medjai chief smiled, "She was lucky that we were intent on destroying the bandit's Kareem Bahil; else she would have been raped before being sold into slavery or worse depending on how much they could have fetched for her. I am sorry also, about your men who were killed. At least they have been properly avenged."
There was a knock on the study door and a maid entered. She bowed to the two men before whispering in Kareem's ear: "The Lady Jessica has strange bruises on her… they look like hand marks and teeth marks." She blushed. "They are the kind that my husband leaves on me."
Rage filled Kareem and he turned to Ardeth, "How dare you!"
"How dare I what Kareem Bahil?" He looked confused. "I know not of what you speak."
"My granddaughter's maid just told me that she is covered in marks – those that a husband might gift his wife with."
Ardeth's eyes went wide, "If it had been me who did that, she would not have been returned to you. Do not fear for I will find out who it was and kill him personally."
Turning back to the maid, Kareem ordered her to bring Tahirah to them. The maid cringed and rushed out of the room. Waiting in silence for Tahirah to come in, the two men were both contemplating different things in regard to the situation facing them. Kareem was worried that his granddaughter would have to marry a man well below her station while Ardeth was fearful that the dream he had had of Tahirah had been no dream at all but something else.
She was ushered into the room, dressed in loose cotton clothes that covered her whole body. Meeting her grandfather's angry gaze, Tahirah bowed her head politly, "Grandfather, you sent for me?"
"Jessica-Tahirah Shari Alexander, did you share intimacy with the Medjai chief Ardeth Bey?" He asked.
"No."
"Did you share intimacy with one of his Medjai warriors then?"
"No."
Kareem's eyes went wide, "Did you share intimacy with one of the guards that I had sent along with you to protect you and your honor?"
"No."
"Then you lie for one of the maids I appointed to care for you told us that you have love marks on your body." He grandfather growled at her.
A blush crept up her cheeks and Tahirah glanced at Ardeth. "Ever since I came to Egypt I have been suffering dreams of the most unusual sort. Sometimes I have woken in the morning and found myself covered in such marks that you speak of. Last night was one of those nights. Grandfather, believe me, when I tell you that I have not shared intimacy – as you so charmingly call it – with any man but the man of my dreams."
Ardeth frowned, not sure of what to say. "She sounds truthful to me Kareem Bahil and I am sure that Miss Alexander would not spoil herself in such a manor. Perhaps it would be best if this topic was left alone for now since it so obviously disturbs the young lady."
"Indeed. Now, please excuse me for a short while since I must go and speak to an old political friend of mine. Dear granddaughter, you have had a hard two days and so, it would be best if you were in your bed resting." Kareem smiled at her before nodding to Ardeth and taking his leave of the room.
Once the older man had gone, Ardeth rushed over to Tahirah and kissed her gently, "You did will to answer what you did… I was worried that you would say something that would end up with you married."
"I spoke the truth Ardeth Bey for I have never shared myself with any man but the one who haunts my dreams. Never have I tasted the lips of any man but the one who haunts my dreams and never have I known the love of any many but the one who haunts my dreams. If you know who that man is, I pray you, please tell me his name and where I might find him." Tahirah pulled away from him with a faint smile playing upon her delicate lips.
"His name?" Ardeth cried out. "I can tell you more than his name beautiful Tahirah for his name is my name also and you can find him standing before you this very moment in time."
She crossed her arms and stared at him. "How do I know that you speak the truth Ardeth Bey? You could very well be making a guess at who the man of my dreams is when in fact you know nothing at all."
"I know that on your left breast you have a perfect bite mark which is beginning to bruise. That on the top of your arms you have the marks where a man held you tightly. That covering other places on your fragile and beautiful body, there are more marks where a man's teeth have grazed over your skin."
Tahirah gasped, blushing again. "Did you take advantage of me while I was asleep? Did I only think that I dreamed it when in fact it really happened? Shame on you Ardeth Bey for taking from me what I would not give you."
Laughing, Ardeth held his hands out to her, "Hardly Miss Alexander for I have more honor than that! Did you not dream that you were beneath the glittering stars in a beautiful and secluded oasis with no one else around? For that I what I did dream of you… aye, many times I did dream of you in that place. Take my hand now beloved Tahirah Shari and I will take you there and we can make our dreams come true in the flesh."
"Do you suggest that I let you kidnap me? That I allow you to steal me away from everything I know and love?"
"Yes, but it would not be from everything you love for I would be there. Come with me Tahirah Shari and you can be as free as a bird. Free from all that haunts you, free from fear and free to be truly yourself. I offer you not the world but all that I can possibly give you, all that you could possibly desire: including a love so absolute that I would destroy the one who bares it if the woman would not believe herself to be deserving of it." He met her eyes and pleaded silently.
A look of joy appeared on her face and Tahirah took his hands in hers, "Tonight Ardeth Bey, you can steal me away from here. But we must make certain that grandfather will not worry about me."
"We will return to Cairo once all has been done and perhaps your grandfather Kareem Bahil will give us his blessings or perhaps he will not. If he does, all will be find but if he does not, there is nothing he can do to reverse what will have been done."
"If does not matter if he does or does not Ardeth because I am free to make my own decisions about my life. No one has the right to stop me from getting what I want." She smiled faintly, trying to convince herself that what she had just said was still as true as it had been several months ago before she met Ardeth.
Ardeth kissed her gently, "You are right, it does not matter because we will be together and not even Kareem Bahil will dare to come between us. Should he decide to be as foolish as to even attempt such a thing, he would meet the fury of the chief of the First Tribe of the Medjai."
There was a sound at the door and Bella entered in a rush, "My lady!" She cried out in shock at the sight of Tahirah clasped in Ardeth's arms. "Quick you must leave him for your grandfather comes now to send your lover away."
With a final, hungry kiss from Ardeth, Tahirah allowed herself to be pulled away by the Frenchwoman. "Tonight mon amour, you must come to my window and I will be ready for you to take me away from here."
He nodded, "I will be there to take you away from this place. Keep my promise close to your heart and don't fall to despair if I should be late."
"Come Tahri, come. You will see him tonight as he has said you will." Bella tugged at the woman's sleeve.
Following her long time friend and maid out of the study, Tahirah smiled nervously to her grandfather when they passed him in the hallway. Kareem frowned at her, wondering why she should seem so jumpy at the sight of him. Bidding her a good rest, the old man smiled at Bella faintly before he went on his way to the study to speak with Ardeth concerning a small matter.
"That was a very close call!" She sighed, collapsing on her bed. "Bella, I must tell you something now and you must promise not to tell anyone of it."
Bella nodded, "I shall promise what you ask."
"Tonight I plan to elope with Ardeth. When we next return, it will be as husband and wife. I would ask you to come with me tonight if I could but I cannot – at least, not yet. When the time is right, I will come back for you. However, I know not how long that time will take to come."
The older woman raised an eyebrow, "Oh really Miss Tahirah? You plan to run away with a man from the desert who would probably see you and treat you as naught but a broodmare on which he will sire his children. Please do not ask me to approve of this plan for I will not and should you persist to consider it, I shall go to your grandfather."
"Bella!" Tahirah cried out in horror. "How could you say such a thing to me? I love this man and he loves me. Were there any other way, Ardeth and I would take it but there is not and so, we resort to this plan, which we both like the idea of. Can you not at least give me your blessing?"
"No Miss Jessica, I can not give you my blessing and no, I will not approve of it. In fact, I intend for it not to happen because you are too good for this kind of thing and deserve to marry a rich lord who will make sure that you are well cared for." She replied, turning to the door.
Watching the woman open the door again and walk out, the younger one shouted out, "I would never let something like that happen! My love and my body belongs to Ardeth Bey and he is the only man who will ever have a claim to me."
Bella paused, shaking her head but still she moved on, turning only to lock the door behind her. "It does not matter my child. I promised your parents that I would not let any harm come to you and I will keep that promise even if it means that you hate me."
She hurried back towards the study and waited patiently outside the door until she was sure that it was safe to enter…. That was, once Ardeth had left the room and was on his way down stairs to leave. Kareem frowned at her as she entered, puzzled as to why the Frenchwoman who served his granddaughter would be there with out her.
"Can I help you Miss Bella?" He asked, returning to his work.
Curtsying to him, she replied, "It is against my ladies wishes that I have come to you Sir but there is something that I must inform you of."
"Really? What is it then?"
"Well Sir, Miss Tahri is planning to elope with that man, Ardeth Bey. From what she told me, they have arranged for him to come tonight to steal her away from here and make her his wife."
Kareem paused, his breath halted for a moment. "No, that is not possible!" He whispered, "Ardeth would have told me. Well, I should have known that he would eventually step outside of my rules and make such a move on my beloved granddaughter. Thank you Miss Bella, for coming to me with this information. You were right in doing so because I fear that if Tahirah goes with Ardeth Bey, she will find nothing but despair."
Smiling happily, Bella took her leave, "I promised her parents that I would look after her Mr Bahil and there is no way that I am going to let her be taken away by some barbarian nomad who lives in the middle of a desert. No, Jessica-Tahirah Shari Alexander is all but royalty and no man of ordinary birth is going to lay hands on her."
"You are so very right in what you say. Do not worry Miss Bella, for this little occurrence will not happen tonight… or ever." She nodded and left. "I should never have agreed to help him in his attempt to win Tahirah's love. Perhaps I thought he would grow tired or not but I will not let this happen without my permission." He stood and went to the door, calling for Zahir.
Zahir entered smilingly, not knowing that he was about to be informed that Ardeth Bey had made plans to kidnap Tahirah. "She has been fooled by him to long Sir, we must not let such a thing come about."
"Oh I have every intention of making sure nothing like that happens Zahir." Kareem smiled darkly, "That is why I want you and your men to escort my granddaughter to my estate in Alexandria where she will be kept under tight guard until I can have her sent to her English grandparents to be dealt with. I hope that once she is out of Egypt, she will forget this foolish fantasy of running away with a desert prince."
"And Ardeth?" Zahir asked.
"Let him come and discover Tahirah gone. He will never know what happened… or perhaps I will get one of the maids to write a letter which will be left by the window in the guise of Tahirah saying that she had changed her mind and was leaving Egypt."
Laughing, the guard was quick to leave to find the rest of his men so that they could prepare to leave Cairo for Alexandria. When Kareem unlocked Tahirah's door and entered, he found her packing a small bag of clothes and other needs in preparation for her escape that night.
Walking over to her, Kareem slapped her across the face in anger. "How dare you abuse my generosity in such a way? Do you not know what you are doing Jessica? To even think of running away with Ardeth Bey is pure folly."
She stared at him wide-eyed, a hand pressed to her cheek. "If I ever see Bella again, I will kill her. As for you grandfather, I am the only one who rules my life and you cannot forbid me from going anywhere. I have respected your wishes while I have been staying her but I am an Alexander, not a Bahil – my mother made sure of that."
"You will go to Alexandria with my guards and from there, you will be sent to your English family to be dealt with. If you even try to escape now, I will make sure that you are dragged back here in the most humiliating way I can think of." The old man growled.
"I will marry Ardeth Bey and whether or not you approve doesn't matter to either of us!" She shouted at him, her blue eyes blazing with fury. "We are in love and we belong together. Perhaps you are too old fashioned to understand that but at least mother would have. She got away from you and she married the man she wanted to be with. I, at least, am free to choose without anyone to forbid me from doing so. Stand in our way Kareem Bahil and you are doing nothing but exciting the wrath of the Medjai."
He shook his head at her sadly, "What do you know of the Medjai Jessica? Besides Ardeth Bey, how many of them have you met? Do you know what it will be like for a woman like you living among the tribes of the Medjai? They will not welcome you even though you are my granddaughter."
"Ardeth and I are strong and together we will survive the odds." Tahirah whispered.
"No, you will not." Came the reply. "This very afternoon you will leave Cairo with Zahir and go to Alexandria. I hope you will forgive me for this Tahirah but if you ever come back to Egypt, I will make sure you are punished as a woman should be." Kareem turned his back and exited, locking the door carefully behind him.
Staring at the door, Tahirah collapsed to the floor and sobbed. She had no idea what to do but she was sure as hell going to do something.
