Chapter 10: Vindicated

One month later……….


Aida felt as if she was walking on air when she woke up that morning. Radames was here and life was slightly bearable. Many would think she was betraying Nubia by helping Radames, but he was banished. He was no longer a citizen of Egypt. Maybe if enough time passed, he would have a chance to redeem himself as soon as she thought of one.

"Ida, you look different this morning," Kehinde said, during breakfast.

"How so?" Aida asked.

"Well, ever since you came back you've seemed sort of………….." Kehinde trailed off.

"'Sort of?'" Aida prompted.

"Depressed," Kehinde finished. "But, for the pastmonth you've been happy. You look like the old you. What happened?"

"I don't know," Aida replied. "I've just been having an easy month."

"Good morning ladies," Busara approached them.

"Good morning, mother," Kehinde and Aida replied in unison.

"Mother, doesn't Aida look good this morning?" Kehinde asked.

"Yes," Busara said, cupping her hand under Aida's chin. "She's starting to look like my little Aida again."

"That's what Hinde said," Aida said.

"Anyway," Busara said. "Aida, your father would like a word with you."

Aida sighed. The last thing she wanted to have was another fight with her father about what happened in Egypt. But, she put her food down and walked to her father, who was sitting by the campfire.

"You wanted to speak with me father?" Aida asked.

"Yes," Amonasro replied, getting up. "Come with me."

Aida followed him inside the tent. When they entered, they stood in silence. There was more silence as Amonasro circled Aida like a vulture. Did he want me to come in here just so he could stare at me disapprovingly? She thought.

"An Egyptian message came the other day and said that their Pharaoh requested a meeting with us," Amonasro said.

"What does this have to do with me?" Aida asked.

"If you can handle this meeting with the Pharaoh," he continued. "Then I will reconsider arranging an engagement for you."

He's giving me a chance to redeem myself, Aida thought, happily. I'm getting a second chance.

"Do you think you can handle it?" Amonasro asked.

"I know I can handle it," Aida replied, using the tone that she knew he'd want to hear. "When will this Pharaoh be coming?"

"She will arrive in a few weeks," Amonasro replied.

"She?"

"Yes. Apparently, Egypt has a new Pharaoh now."

"And this Pharaoh is a woman?"

"Yes."

Aida felt as if the ground had dropped out from underneath her. The female Pharaoh was Amneris, it had to be. Radames said that Amneris was going to take her father's place when he passed on. Amneris probably already hated her for having an affair with her husband and now she was going to find out that Aida was the Nubian princess? She could picture the meeting now. Amneris staring at her with cold eyes…………..

"Father, can't I just meet with the messenger?" Aida asked. "Because I don't think I'm ready to meet with this Pharaoh. What if they kidnap me again or worse, kill me?"

"Are you sure you want to pass this opportunity up?" Amonasro asked in a condescending tone.

Yes, considering I fell for her husband, Aida thought. But, then again, the chance to make amends for herself would never come again.

"No," she said in a low voice.

"Then, it's settled," Amonasro said. "You'll be meeting with this Pharaoh?"

"Yes, I will," Aida said, trying to sound like her old confident self.

"Good," Amonasro said. "You have my permission leave."

Aida turned around and walked outside and sat down in between Kehinde and Runako.

"Someone is in trouble," Runako said in a singsong voice.

"I'm not in trouble," Aida said.

"Well, you're in some kind of trouble," Runako said. "Because when you are, you usually make this face that makes you look like a fish."

The last thing Aida wanted was to have another "heart-to-heart" with Runako.

"Stop bothering me or you'll have to lick your breakfast off your face," Aida said, sharply.

Usually, Runako would keep provoking her, but today, he just looked over at Kehinde.

"I see what you mean," he said to her. "She is definitely back to normal."

"Shush, you," Kehinde said. "So, Ida, what did father want to talk to you about?"

"He wants me to meet with the Egyptian Pharaoh tomorrow," Aida replied.

"You're joking," Kehinde said.

"No, I'm not," Aida said.

"This is fantastic!" Kehinde said. "This is the first diplomatic task that father has trusted you with. This is a huge responsibility."

"Yes, it is," Aida said, meekly.

What would they say if they found out that I was hiding the enemy here? She thought.


Radames groaned partly in frustration and partly in pain. All day he'd been trying to walk on his foot, but it hurt him terribly, so he still couldn't walk.

All he could now was wait for Aida to come. Last night, they had talked and agreed that Radames couldn't go into the village with her until she told her father about him and he proved himself worthy to him. Aida said that every time she brought his dinner, she would spend some time with him.

While he was cursing under his breath from the pain, Aida came in.

"Trouble?" she asked, handing him his supper.

"Not at all," Radames replied, nonchalantly and starting to eat.

"I brought some clothes in case you're tired of what your wearing now."

Radames looked down at theoutfit he was wearing now. They were wet and had a huge rip going down the side.

"Thank you," Radames said.

"I also brought you these," Aida said, handing him some blank scrolls and something to write with. "Mereb had those with him for some reason. You can draw some maps or something to that extent. You need something to do to keep yourself off that foot."

"Again, thank you," he replied.

Aida sat down next to him as he finished off his dinner. He noticed that her gaze was far off. She looked troubled like something was bothering her.

"Are you all right?" Radames asked.

"I'm fine," Aida replied, but it was clear she was lying.

"I can tell your not," he said. "Tell me what's wrong."

Aida sighed. "Amneris is coming," she said.

Radames's heart stopped. Amneris was coming? She must've gone back on her word. She must be going after him now.

"She's not coming for you," Aida said as if she could hear his thoughts. "She's coming to meet me. Actually, she doesn't know she's meeting with me, but………well, you understand."

"Actually, I don't," Radames said.

"After our last encounter back in Egypt, my father didn't think I was responsible enough to pick my own husband," Aida said. "So, he told me that he was going to arrange a marriage for me. Today, a messenger came from Egypt and said that Amneris requested a meeting with him, so he decided to test me by making me have this meeting with her."

Radames could see the terror in her eyes. He knew this would be hard for her. Amneris knew all about their affair, but she didn't know that Aida was the Nubian Princess. After she found out, only the Gods knew how she would treat her. But, he knew Aida could handle it. She was a strong woman and that was why he loved her.

"I don't know if I can do it, Radames," Aida said, sounding scared.

He'd never heard her sound so frightened.

"Aida," He said. "You can handle this. You are a noble, courageous woman who can take on any challenge she sets her mind to."

"You mean it?" she asked.

"It takes a woman with a lot of courage to steal a sword from one of my well-trained soldiers," he replied. "Of course, he was drunk so you had an advantage."

Aida chuckled. "Thank you," she said, kissing him.

Suddenly an image of her father's disapproving face entered his mind and he immediately pulled away from her.

"What?" Aida said.

"Well, if your father was going to arrange a marriage for you based on our last meeting, he might have the both of us killed if he found you in here with me," Radames said.

"No, he wouldn't," Aida said.

"I'm just saying that I'd have to do something really big to redeem myself in his eyes after everything I did," he said.

"You're afraid, aren't you?"

Radames didn't reply. She was right. He didn't need to justify that with an answer.

"You have many redeeming qualities," Aida said. "Once you let my father see these qualities, he'll love you as much as I do."

"What if he doesn't?" Radames asked. "What if he banishes me, too?"

Aida took his face in her hands. "If he banishes you," she said. "Then, I'll come with you."

"Aida-" Radames started off.

She silenced him by placing her finger to his lips.

"He won't banish you," she said. "I'll make sure he won't."

Radames smiled and kissed her.


"Vindicated


I am selfish


I am wrong


I am right


I swear I'm right


I swear I knew it all along


And I am flawed


But I am cleaning up so well


I am seeing in me now

The things you swore you saw yourself"- Dashboard Confessional


To Be Continued...


A/N: Remember when I said that Chapter 10 was going to be less cheesy? Well, I lied. Chapter 11 is coming soon.