CHAPTER 11

When Ali awoke the next morning she found that she no longer in Ardeth's arms. In fact he was not even in the bed with her.

She rose from the bed and picked up her covering from the floor. As it slid over her body she remembered how Ardeth's hands felt as they slid over her the night before. She was still smiling as she walked into the eating area.

As Ali walked up to Ardeth, who standing with his back to her, she could smell the aroma of the coffee he was grinding.

"Um the smells wonderful" she said as she placed her hand on his arm and leaned into him to get closer to the scent of the coffee.

Ardeth flinched as though she burned him by touching him. "Good morning Ali" he said never looking at her.

Ali immediately noticed the tone of his voice and the fact that he had not called her habibi or kalila.

"Good morning, Ardeth. Is something wrong?" she said as she stepped more to his side so that she could see his facial expression.

Again never looking at her he answered "Nothing is wrong. I will have our breakfast prepared in just a moment"

A few minutes later Ardeth brought their plates to the table. As they ate Ali watched Ardeth. He would not look at her. Finally she had enough. Ali pushed back her chair and went to Ardeth's side of the table. Kneeling down beside him she spoke softly "Ardeth please tell me what's wrong"

He could not look at her. He knew he would see the concern in her eyes and not be able to say what needed to be said.

Not getting a reply Ali laid her hand on his forearm. Again he flinched.

"Ardeth, please. I know something's wrong. Tell me, please"

Ardeth pushed back his chair and walked to the front door. Pushing back the goatskin he stared out in the bustling street.

"Last night was wrong." He said flatly.

Ali shook her head. She must have misunderstood him. "What?"

He grimaced at having to say it again "Last night was wrong. I should not have made love to you."

For a moment Ali was speechless. Why would he say such a thing? She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes "Why? Why was it wrong?"

Ardeth stood there. He could hear the pain in her voice, and it was breaking his heart. But he had to do this. "Because you do not belong here with me. I should not have taken advantage of you. It was wrong"

Ali could not hold back her tears. She had been right. Ardeth couldn't love her. She was not his kind and therefore he would never love her. Ali just stood there with her tears rolling down her cheeks.

However, the longer she stood there the more her feelings changed from devastation to anger. Finally she spat out "Oh I understand now. You finally got what you wanted and now you're done with me. Ready to ship me off. Is that it? You just wanted to get something different, right? I'm good enough to sleep with, but nothing more. I'm not of your race, so I was just a diversion from the ordinary. God you're no better than the rest. You're just like Stephen, Hudson and the rest of them. No better at all!"

Her words cut Ardeth to his core. She was comparing him to those animals that had abused and mistreated her. All Ardeth wanted to do was to show her how much he really loved her. But he could not. She would not be happy here in his world.

Finally he spoke. He tried to keep all emotion from his voice "I'm sorry you feel that way. I did not mean to hurt you." He stopped for a moment. Could he actually say the next words? "I think it would be best if Ahmen took you back to Cairo." There he had said it.

Ali was totally unprepared to here him say that. He wanted her out of his life. Ali felt as though someone had clutched her heart and was squeezing the very life out of her. She felt so numb. Almost out of instinct the shell that she had used to keep her sanity while Hudson and Stephen had her, come up around her again. "Fine. I'm ready to leave whenever he is ready."

"I will go tell him to ready the horses." And with that Ardeth walked out the door.

Ali stood there lost, numb, dumbfounded. What had happened? Just last night they had made love. Ardeth had been so tender and loving. And now....now he wanted her gone.

"Hello, is anyone home?"

Ali shook her head of her thoughts. Wiping her eyes and grabbing her second covering she answered "Yes, Basel I'm here."

"Ali, I just saw Ardeth. Is everything....." she stopped looked at Ali and then added "no I can see that everything is not all right. My dear what is wrong?"

What should she tell her? 'Your grandson got me into bed and now doesn't want me.' No she couldn't say that. "Honestly I don't know Basel. But I'm leaving."

"Leaving?"

"Yes I'm going back to Cairo."

"Why?"

Ali was fighting a losing battle to hold back her tears. As they started to fall again she whispered "Because Ardeth doesn't want me here."

Basel took Ali into her arms and hugged her tightly. "Did he say that?"

"He said he thought it would be best if Ahmen took me back"

Basel didn't know what to say. She knew in her heart Ardeth was in love with Ali. And she could see that Ali loved him. What was her grandson thinking?

Pulling back to look at Ali she said "I'm so sorry, Ali."

"I am too Basel. I really loved it here. Thank you for everything you've done for me." Ali pulled Basel back into a hug "I'm really going to miss you."

"As I will you child."

Ali pulled away, wiped her eyes and squared her shoulders "I'm going to the stables. If Ardeth comes back tell him I've already left."

As Ali reached the door way Basel said "Take care of yourself, Ali. I will truly miss you."