Chapter 13: Counting Stars


Aida walked up the dock to the large Egyptian ship guarded by the two soldiers she saw earlier today.

"I'd like a word with the Pharaoh, please," Aida said.

"She's asleep, Your Highness," one of the soldiers said.

At least they recognizeme as the Nubian Princess, Aida thought. She remembered the amulet that Radames gave her that was still around her neck and showed it to them. Their eyes widened.

"Where did you get that?" the other soldier asked.

"That's not important," Aida said. "Apparently when someone shows this to you, you have to let them through. Am I correct?"

"You're correct, but-"

"So, I have this amulet and I am requesting a meeting with the Pharaoh."

The two soldiers looked at each other and then took two steps away from each other, creating an opening for Aida to pass.

"She's not going to like this," the first soldier said. "She hates being woken up."

Aida let out a nervous sigh and proceeded up the plank. She went down into the lower level of the ship and went into what she thought was Amneris's quarters. Amneris was snoring very loudly and un-ladylike. Aida checked to make sure it was her and not some soldier. When she looked at the person sleeping in the bed, she knew she had the right room.

"Amneris?" Aida said softly.

Amneris let out a loud snort and sat up, awake with a start.

"What is it?" she asked, sharply. "Who's there?"

"It's me," Aida said.

Amneris looked at Aida and chuckled.

"Come sit down, Aida," she said, patting a space on the bed in front of her. Aida obeyed and slowly sat down.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I need a favor," Aida said, suddenly growing very nervous. "Radames is here."

"I figured as much," Amneris said.

"He's been here for a month and he has to leave," Aida continued. "But, he has nowhere else to go. I know you banished him, but I was wondering-"

"If I take him back to Egypt with me, then I have to bury him alive," Amneris interrupted.

Aida sighed and looked down at the floor. Radames couldn't stay, but she couldn't send him back to Egypt. She could just send him away, but she couldn't bear to think of him wandering along the Nile, starving, bleeding, breaking his feet, dying from dehydration……….

"However, many people think that Rafaat, the soldier who told us what happened, is crazy," Amneris said. "And they don't believe that Radames would do that, so they wouldn't want him buried alive. So, I will take him back to Egypt with me."

Aida looked up. "You'd do that?" she asked.

"Only for you," Amneris said. "Not for him. I'm still angry with him."

"Amneris, it was my fault, too," Aida said.

"This isn't about you two, Aida," Amneris said. "His father killed my father by putting arsenic in his wine at the banquet because he wanted Radames to take the throne and start a dynasty with his family."

Aida remembered Radames telling her about that a few weeks ago. She remembered how much anger his voice betrayed when he spoke of his father.

"He didn't know about the arsenic," she said. "And he regrets everything that he's done."

"Pfft," Amneris said, rolling her eyes. "Like father, like son."

Not in this case, Aida said silently.

"When does he need to be gone by?" Amneris asked.

"Dawn," Aida replied.

"Bring him to me now," Amneris said.

"Thank you," Aida said.

She bowed and then walked off the ship. Her heart was breaking with every step. The last time she had to say good-bye to Radames was hard. She was living a lie and was giving him up for the sake of her country.

This time it was different. The war was over and Radames knew who she was now, but she was still doing this for the sake of her country. She didn't think that saying good-bye to him a second time would be just as hard. She didn't think she had to say good-bye to him at all.


Radames waited nervously for Aida to return. The events of the past hour still ran through his head. How could something so perfect go sour in five minutes? What were Aida, Kehinde, and Runako saying? Finally, Aida walked through the tent again.

"Do you have any belongings?" she asked.

Radames shook his head.

"Do you think you can walk?" she asked.

Radames stood up and looked at her. Her face seemed solemn. I guess that talk with her siblings didn't go very well, he thought.

"Follow me and be quiet," Aida said.

She grabbed his hand and they walked along the Nile's edge upstream. The moonlight reflecting off the water revealed a single tear on Aida's face.

"Aida," Radames said, stopping and turning her around to face him. "What's going on?"

"You're going back to Egypt," she replied.

The ground suddenly dropped out from beneath Radames's feet.

"What?" was all he could manage.

"I'm sorry," Aida said. "But, you have to understand. If my father found out he would banish you and you'd be wandering around like a Nomad and would die of starvation. You understand, don't you?"

For the first time since he knew her, Radames could see right through her. This was about her father. She didn't want him controlling her life. She wanted to run her own country without any help from a chosen husband.

"Oh, I understand," Radames said. "That you're lying."

"Excuse me?" Aida said.

"This isn't about me," he said. "This is about you and not wanting your father to arrange a marriage for you."

"That's not true," Aida protested.

"Yes, it is," Radames said, angrily. "Why don't you tell me the truth for once in your life?"

"You want to know the truth, Radames?" Aida said, her voice dripping with anger as well. "Fine. If my father found out, he would look at me with disappointment for the rest of his life. Even when he's dead, he would still look at me that way. I couldn't live with that. But, the other reason is the reason I told you before. I know that Amneris will keep you alive in Egypt. She told me. I just want you to be where I know your safe."

"I'm having a hard time believing that," Radames said. "You've never cared about me! In Egypt, you only told me you love me just so you could help your father escape!"

"That's not true!" Aida argued. "I've always cared about you! If I didn't, then why would I take care of you instead of leaving you for dead?"

"Simple! You didn't want my death on your conscious!"

"How do I know you weren't lying to me back in Egypt? That you were only using me for your sexual pleasure?"

That hurt. How could she think that after everything I've told her? He thought.

"I wasn't!" Radames argued. "You know that! And if I was, why would I help you, Mereb, your father, and what's-his-name escape when I know that I could be buried alive for doing so?"

"I don't know," Aida said. "Maybe you thought that if you helped me and my father, you wouldn't feel so horrible about all the other Nubians you killed!"

That was another slap in the face for Radames. He couldn't believe she threw that in his face. She knew how badly he felt about that and she said it. He pushed in front of her and walked towards the ship, aware that she was on his heels. He spun around once again to face her.

"You know what I think of you, Aida?" he said.

"What?" Aida asked, folding her arms over her chest.

"You're a coward," he said. "You're afraid of what your father will do to you. You're afraid to look him in the eye and say, 'this is my life and this is the way I want it to be and there's nothing you can do about it.'"

"First of all, he's a king so, yes there is something he could do about it!" Aida argued. "Second of all, I'm supposed to walk up to my father and say, 'I'm having an affair with the Egyptian captain who kidnapped me and killed half our population and I love him and he loves me?'"

"I said that to my father," Radames said. "I told him that I was in love with you and I was calling off the wedding for you."

"Well, it's not easy for me to lie to my father!" Aida said.

"But, you lied to him while I was here!" Radames seethed. "You lied to me, your sister, your brothers, Mereb, and ME! Have you ever told the truth for once in your life?"

Radames knew that he hurt her with that comment. Her strong exterior was broken briefly and he thought she was going to cry, but instead she regained her composure and looked him straight in the eye with anger mixed with hurt.

"Turn around and keep walking," she said. "I have nothing left to say to you."

Radames obeyed and kept walking. The nerve of that woman lying to him, accusing him of not loving her, and bringing back the guilt he felt for killing the Nubians. He didn't actually do it, but he had it commanded.

"Oh, and you can take this back," Aida said. "I don't want it anymore."

Radames felt something hard hit him in the back of his head. He turned around and looked down. There, shining in the moonlight was the amulet he'd given her back in Egypt. He picked it up and held it. When he'd given her this necklace, he'd given her his heart as well. Now, her she was throwing it back at his head. He didn't dignify this action with a response and kept walking. When they finally reached the docks, he turned to face Aida.

"I can't believe that after everything we've been through over the past two months," Radames said. "This is the way you want things to be between us."

Aida still kept her strong composure, but he could see tears forming in her eyes. She turned her head away and wiped her eyes.

"Just leave," she said.

Radames knew this was a command. She was no longer his Aida. She was the Princess of Nubia and he had to respect her. He bowed and then made his way towards the boat. He showed the two soldiers the amulet and they let him through.

Radames climbed on to the ship and walked towards the stern as the ship began to pull away from the dock and took one last look at Aida, who was still standing there. Even though he exchanged some harsh words with her, he couldn't deny that he still loved her and he hated that he was leaving her like this.


"Counting stars wishing I was okay
Crashing down was my biggest mistake
I never ever meant to hurt you
I only did what I had to
Counting stars again
"- Sugarcult


To Be Continued…………….


A/N: Chapter 14 is coming soon.