A/N: I'm using bits and pieces of the actual script (which is posted online), but I DON'T OWN IT! It belongs to Tim Rice and Elton John. I BORROWED IT!

A/N #2: Wickedharrypotterfan- There is a book about Aida, but I don't believe that I have the correct title.

Chapter 18: Enchantment Passing Through

(Roderick)

I didn't know why I went back to the museum. I'd seem the Egyptian exhibit before. I guess I was trying to put pieces of a puzzle together. I had the pieces. I just didn't know what the puzzle was.

The museum closed at six o'clock. I checked my watched to see how much time I had. I had an hour. Well, this shouldn't take very long, I thought. And if it does, then I'll just come back tomorrow.

I looked at the mannequin of Amneris, the female Pharaoh, and then moved on to the tomb. It did look familiar. Suddenly a woman in a white sundress passed me. I stole a look at her, but suddenly my throat closed up. It was Aisha. What was she doing here? Did she know I was here?

I shook my head. I couldn't think about that now. I only had fifty-five minutes left to figure out whatever it was that I wanted to figure out and I wasn't going to waste ten more minutes on an awkward confrontation with my ex-girlfriend. But, why did she have to look so damn beautiful?

(Aisha)

Roderick was here. Why? Why when I was trying so hard to move on? I couldn't think about that now. I wanted to figure something out. I didn't know what it was, but I needed to figure it out.

I made a show of checking my watch so he wouldn't know that I saw him and then started to examine the tomb. I could feel Roderick stealing glances at me. Every once in a while I would steal glances at him and then scold myself for not concentrating. Concentrating on what? I thought. I don't even know why I'm here.

I came to the front and stared at the tomb. There was a small little silver plaque on the front. I'd never seen it the last time I was here. It read: This tomb was believed to be the tomb from the legend of Aida in which Aida and her lover, Radames, were buried alive.

Buried alive? It sounded way too familiar. In fact, I was buried alive in my dreams with the Egyptian captain, but that didn't mean anything. I circled the tomb once more and came face to face with Roderick. Suddenly, it seemed everything in the room froze and a floodgate in the back on my mind opened and……………….

FLASHBACK

Cut to:

THE EGYPTIAN SLAVE BARGE

RADAMES: Your country is at war and you go wandering along the Nile's edge. You must have a burning desire to see Egypt.

AIDA: You took us from Nubia and now you say we belong to you.

Cut to:

RADAMES'S QUARTERS

RADAMES: What is your name?

AIDA: Aida.

Cut to:

THE DOCKS

RADAMES: You mean Pharaoh has fallen ill? Is it serious?

ZOSER: I'm afraid it is.

Cut to:

HALLWAY IN PHARAOH'S PALACE

AIDA: You must not tell anyone who I am. From now on, I am nothing but a gift from an Egyptian captain to his Princess.

MEREB: Just so you know, Amneris is more than that to Radames. She's his betrothed.

AIDA: He's to be married?

Cut to:

THE BATHS

AIDA: My true talent lies with a needle. And if you will allow me, Princess, I will make you a robe in a shade closer to that of your eyes. There's a dyeing process I use that makes fabrics glow. It's a secret that was passed down by the handmaidens of Queen Neferteti.

AMNERIS: A slave who knows her fabrics? I'm keeping her.

Cut to:

THE BANQUET HALL

RADAMES: Did she tell you anything about herself? Because I've never met a woman like her before.

Cut to:

ALL THE EGYPTIANS (STILL IN THE BANQUET HALL)

PHARAOH: I want to see her and our nation happily settled before I leave this world. Therefore, in seven days, Radames, son of Zoser, will wed the Princess Amneris. The Son of Isis has spoken.

Cut to:

RADAMES AND ZOSER (STILL IN THE BANQUET HALL)

ZOSER: I thought you loved Amneris?

RADAMES: Of course I do. We grew up together.

ZOSER: Radames I've spent years working toward this day. And you are not going to ruin it - not for yourself, or me. Welcome to your new life, son.

Cut to:

RADAMES AND AIDA (STILL IN THE BANQUET HALL)

AIDA: Oh, what hardships. I know - you want to go to lands where people have been living for centuries and say that you "discovered" them. But instead, you're being thrust onto the Pharaoh's throne. It is a great tragedy.

RADAMES: You go too far.

AIDA: No, you go too far. If you don't like your fate, change it. You are your own master there are no shackles on you. So, don't expect any pity or understanding from this humble palace slave.

Cut to:

AMNERIS'S DRESSING ROOM

AIDA: It must be difficult.

AMNERIS: Planning a wedding?

AIDA: No. Being a princess.

AMNERIS: Oh, you have no idea. The responsibilities are………..overwhelming.

Cut to:

AIDA AND RADAMES (STILL IN AMNERIS'S DRESSING ROOM)

RADAMES: I cannot take back the past, Aida. But even if I could.……..I'm not sure I want to. Aida, I-

AMNERIS: Radames! You barge into my bedchamber, waging a full-frontal attack, so to speak.…….and now you're stalling. Why?

Cut to:

THE NUBIAN SLAVE CAMP

AIDA: My father told me not to leave the boundaries of our village, but I could not be so constrained. I took Nehebka and the other women up the river. I had to see the countryside. And that's where the Egyptians captured us. I deserve this. And our people deserve a leader who thinks of them, not of her own selfish pleasures.

MEREB: Aida, the Nubians want their Princess.

Cut to:

THE NILE'S EDGE

RADAMES: I want to know if you feel anything for me - aside from contempt.

AIDA: I don't know.

RADAMES: Then, let's find out.

(They kiss)

Cut to:

AIDA AND NEHEBKA

(Nehebka walks in carrying clothes and other items)

AIDA: Nehebka, where did you get that?

NEHEBKA: The Egyptian Captain! He's giving away everything he owns and he's giving it to us!

Cut to:

OUTSIDE RADAMES'S TENT

AMNERIS: You stay, Aida. Apologize for me.

AIDA: Oh, no. I can't.

AMNERIS: You can. You always say the right thing. I never do.

AIDA: No, Princess. Please don't make me.

AMNERIS: I would never make you. But, I am asking you as my friend.

Cut to:

AIDA AND RADAMES (OUTSIDE RADAMES'S TENT)

AIDA: Radames, you're an Egyptian! Nothing will ever change that fact. I don't even know why you bothered to do this.

RADAMES: Don't you?

Cut to:

AIDA AND RADAMES (STILL OUTSIDE RADAMES'S TENT)

(They kiss again)

Cut to:

AIDA RADAMES AND A SOLDIER (STILL OUTSIDE RADAMES'S TENT)

RADAMES: The king? You have taken him alive? Find out which men are responsible for this. I'll see they receive the highest honors. Tell the others I'm on my way.

SOLDIER: Yes, captain.

(He leaves)

RADAMES: Aida, our countries are at war. I can't change that.

AIDA: But, he's my……..He's my king!

Cut to:

THE PRISON

AMONASRO: Any soft look you have given this Captain, any soft word, betrays the innocents who suffered at his hands and at the hands of every soldier he commands. You will cut this man from your heart.

AIDA: Yes, father.

Cut to:

THE WAR ROOM

ZOSER: DO YOU REALLY WANT TO THROW AWAY YOUR FUTURE? ALL FOR SOME WRETCHED SLAVE!

RADAMES: SHE HAS A NAME!

ZOSER: IN A FEW MONTHS YOU WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO REMEMBER HER NAME!

RADAMES: You can forget about your plans father. THERE WILL BE NO WEDDING!

Cut to:

THE NUBIAN SLAVE CAMP

GUARD: We are here for Aida. Where is she?

NEHEBKA: I am Aida!

(They take her away)

Cut to:

AIDA AND MEREB (THE NUBIAN SLAVE CAMP)

AIDA: Mereb, I do not ask you to understand. I must meet him.

MEREB: No.

AIDA: But I do! I have to see him!

MEREB: No! No! You cannot give yourself to him. The Egyptians have taken enough from us already. You are our Princess, our inspiration, our promise of a new day.

AIDA: I'm sorry Mereb.

Cut to:

RADAMES'S GARDEN

RADAMES: Go home. Leave Egypt forever.

AIDA: What are you saying?

RADAMES: While I am taking my wedding vows, there will be a boat waiting for you at the docks to return you to Nubia. At least I will have a message of happiness knowing you are free.

Cut to:

THE BANQUET HALL

SOLDIER: Your majesty, the Nubian king has escaped!

PHARAOH: Radames, call your men to arms!

RADAMES: Fan out across the city!

Cut to:

THE DOCKS

RADAMES: Of course, you're the Nubian Princess. And you had me marry Amneris just so your king could escape. What a fool I am. It was all a lie. An act. Every
word. Every kiss.

AIDA: No! But I have made too many mistakes and too many people have suffered. I could not act selfishly now.

RADAMES: So, you lied to me?

AIDA: Not, when I said that I love you. Say you believe me.

Cut to:

RADAMES, ZOSER, AND AMONASRO (THE DOCKS)

(Radames holds his sword high above the rope tying the boat to the docks)

ZOSER: Radames, for the love of Egypt, stop them!

(Radames cuts the rope)

ZOSER: NO!

AMONASRO: AIDA!

(The boat disappears)

Cut to:

AIDA, MEREB, AND RADAMES (THE DOCKS)

MEREB: Forgive me, Princess. I failed you.

AIDA: No, never! You, Mereb, inspired me.

MEREB: I wanted to go back to Nubia. Aida, take me home.

(He dies)

Cut to:

THE JUDGEMENT HALL

AMNERIS: Radames, if you deny everything there is a chance. My father might spare your life.

RADAMES: No.

AMNERIS: LISTEN TO ME! THEY WANT TO BURY YOU ALIVE!

RADAMES: Yes. That's what we do with traitors.

AMNERIS: You must say that everything is wrong and-

RADAMES: No, I can't. Aida is everything I thought I was meant to be, but her courage and her love for her people have put me to shame. Every act of my life has been wrong, except for this.

Cut to:

AIDA AND AMNERIS (THE JUDGEMENT HALL)

AIDA: Amneris, you must believe me. I am to blame for what has happened. Not Radames. Please, let him live. Amneris let him live.

AMNERIS: I can't.

AIDA: Yes, you can. You love him. Don't you love him?

Cut to:

STILL THE JUDGEMENT HALL

AMNERIS: For their crimes, the traitors will be buried beneath the sands of Egypt, in one tomb……....together. The Daughter of Isis has spoken.

Cut to:

THE INTERIOR OF THE TOMB

RADAMES: There is another world waiting for us, Aida. I can feel it. The way I always knew there was a world beyond every bend in the Nile. Just waiting to be discovered.

AIDA: You will find me in that world?

RADAMES: If I have to search for a hundred lifetimes, I will find you again, Aida.

END FLASHBACK

(Roderick)

Oh my, God, was all I could think about after that whirlwind of flashbacks. All of that really happened.I was Radamesand Aisha was Aida. It took me a while to realize that I was still staring at her. She looked just as freaked out and confused as I was. I slowly started to walk towards her. When we met, I opened my mouth to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" the museum guard said, loudly. "The museum will close in ten minutes!"

I exhaled and closed my mouth. Aisha and I obviously had a lot to talk about, but we couldn't cover it all in ten minutes.

"Meet me outside," I said.

Aisha nodded and I got my coat from the coatroom and waited for her outside. Five minutes later, she materialized in front of me.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" she asked.

Behind her, people were pouring out of the museum. I didn't want to do this here, above all the noise. Besides, it was so loud that we would practically shout at each other.

"Come on," I said, grabbing her hand and dragging her towards the park.

"I thought you had to talk to me," Aisha protested.

"I do," I said. "I just want to go someplace less public."

"And Central Park is more private?"

"It's dark. Except forcereal killers and rapists,there are less people in the park now."

"Oh, gee, that makes me feel so safe."

I ignored the sarcasm in her voice and took her by the Alice in Wonderland statue, which was practically deserted now.

"Okay," I said. "Back at the museum did you-"

"You mean back at the tomb?" Aisha asked. "When we…………"

Aisha trailed off. She remembered everything, too……………Amneris…………Mereb……………..Her father………………My father……………….I stepped closer to her and grabbed both her hands. There was one thing I needed to do just to be sure.

"There'll be no ties of time and space to bind us," I sang in a voice I hardly recognized.

"And no horizon we shall not pursue," she sang back to me.

After she'd sung that line her face suddenly read an expression that seemed to say, "where the hell did that come from?" The look on her face was funny, but for some reason I couldn't laugh.

"We'll leave the world's misfortunes far behind us," we sang in unison. "And I will put my faith and trust in you."

(Aisha)

"I remember," I whispered.

It all came back to me in the museum and now. It wasn't just a legend. It was real. It all happened. That's why I kept having these dreams. It was my subconscious's way of reminding me of the past.

But, there was still something that was nagging in the back of my head: he was leaving for California.

"What about LA?" I asked.

"I don't want to go," Roderick said. "So, I'm not going."

"You're sure this is what you want?" I asked.

"Yes," he answered. "I've lost you twice now. I don't want to lose you again and I think it's more important than a stupid job."

It took me a while to register what he meant by "twice." The first time was in the tomb and the second time was two weeks ago. But, after I over-analyzed that, Iwas overjoyed. Roderick was staying and we could still be together.

"I love you," Roderick said.

"I love you, too," I replied.

"I believe that's the first time we said that," he said.

"No, it isn't," I said.

"It is in this lifetime."

"Oh. Yeah, you're right. I'm just not thinking clearly right now."

Roderick chuckled and then kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he wrapped his around my waste to deepen the kiss. The connection and the familiar warmth were back and I didn't want to lose it this time.

When we broke away, Roderick kissed the top of my forehead. I smiled and put my chin on his shoulder and kept my arms around his neck. When didn't move for a while. We just stood there in the park with our arms around each other. After a while, Roderick pressed is mouth to my ear.

"I told you I would find you," he whispered.

The End

A/N: I'm not good at coming up with endings, so deal. Sorry, I'm a little agitated today. I hope you enjoyed the story and the bits and pieces that I BORROWED from the libretto.