Chapter 15: Believe it or Not
"Aida, father wants to have a word with you," Runako said the next morning.
Aida sighed and stood up. I wonder what father wants to criticize me on now, she thought. Over the past two months she'd gone from loving conversations with her father to dreading them. She went inside her father's hut and found him sitting at the table.
"You wanted to see me, father?" Aida asked.
"Yes," Amonasro replied, standing. "Now, before we discuss anything, I want you to know that I'm talking to you as your father, not your king."
Aida nodded.
"Now, in a week Amneris and the Egyptian army will be returning the Nubians," Amonasro continued. "This Egyptian captain is going to be there as the female Pharaoh gives a public apology. As a princess it is your duty to witness this apology. However, I know you have history with this captain and I know how hard it would be to see him."
You have no idea, Aida thought.
"So, I'm letting you decide whether or not you want to be there," Amonasro continued. "You don't have to if it'll be too hard for you."
"I don't know," Aida said. "I need some time to think it over."
"Well, when you come to a decision, you let me know," Amonasro said. "You may go now."
"Thank you, father," Aida said.
That night after everyone went to sleep, she sat by the fire staring at the flames. She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to go. She didn't want to see Radames. It would be too awkward and it would kill her just to look at him. But, it was her duty and she did want to see him again.
Some footsteps behind her broke her from her thoughts and she found Mereb standing over her.
"Princess, it's late," he said. "What are you doing up?"
"I couldn't sleep," Aida replied.
Mereb sat down next to her and put a blanket around her shoulders.
"Thank you," Aida said.
"What's on your mind?" Mereb asked.
"My father's letting me decide whether or not I should be there when Amneris makes the public apology," Aida replied.
"Why wouldn't you want to?" Mereb asked.
"Before Radames left, he and I got into a fight," Aida answered. "We said horrible things to each other and now he's gone."
"What does this have to do with Amneris's public apology?"
"Radames might be there. I wouldn't be able to handle seeing him there. It would be too painful after everything we've been through together."
"So, what if he is?" Mereb said. "You have to be there. Not only for our people, but for yourself as well."
"What are you saying?"
"If you don't go, you'll be showing weakness," Mereb said. "If you go, then you can prove to yourself and Radames that you're over him. If you don't go, you're just letting him win."
Aida thought about this. If she didn't go, then it would be a clear cut sign that she wasn't over him, but she needed to prove to herself that she could move on and make Radames an element from her past.
"When did you become so wise?" she asked.
"I have wise friends," Mereb said.
Suddenly a shadow passed over the ground.
"I have to go," Mereb said. "Sleep well, Princess."
He grabbed another blanket nearby and walked off with Kehinde draping a blanket around her shoulders. Aida once again watched the two of them walk with the same sorrow she'd been feeling for a week. That's it, she thought, standing up. I have to be there. I will be there.
The next morning, Aida approached her father as breakfast was being made.
"I've reached a decision," she said. "I'll be there when Amneris makes the public apology."
"Are you sure?" Amonasro asked.
"Yes, I'm sure," Aida replied. Then she mentally added: I hope.
(Radames)
"Captain," a manservant said. "Pharaoh would like a word with you in the war room."
Why the war room? Radames thought as he made is way down to the war room. When he arrived there, Amneris stood staring at a large map of Babylon.
"You wanted to speak to me, Your Majesty?" he asked.
"Yes," Amneris said, turning her head in his direction. "I want this map taken down."
"Yes, Ma'am," he said.
"And another thing," Amneris continued. "Tonight I'm leaving for Nubia to return the Nubian slaves and to make a public apology."
"Yes, I do know that," Radames said.
"I think you should come with me and make the public apology," she said.
Radames felt his body stiffen. He felt like he wouldn't be able to speak or move any of his limbs. He couldn't go back. Not after what happened between him and Aida.
"Amneris, you're the sister I never had," Radames said. "I would do anything for you. I would walk across hot coals for you barefoot, but I can't go back to Nubia. I'm sorry, I just can't."
"And, why not?" Amneris asked.
What do I say now? He thought. He couldn't tell her that he got in a fight with the women he betrayed with. Think of something else!
"The Nubian king found me and he wanted to kill me," Radames lied, his hand starting to twitch. "Aida was trying to help me escape."
"You're lying," Amneris said. "You're hand is twitching. I've known you long enough to know that when you lie, your hand twitches. Why don't you tell me the truth for once in your life?"
Radames sighed. He told Amneris everything that happened from his escape from Egypt, to his fight with Aida. To his surprise, Amneris looked sympathetic.
"I'm sorry this happened to you," she said. "But, don't you want to see her again? Don't you want to make things right with her? Don't you think that if you make the public apology, she and her family will want you back?"
"It's not worth it," he said. "She hates me. I'll just stay behind."
"Let me say this another way," she said, after a long pause. "If you don't come, I'll have you buried alive."
"I'd rather be buried alive," Radames muttered under his breath.
"You're coming," Amneris said. "You still need to be punished and obviously, being buried alive is too good for you."
With that, she turned to leave, but then turned around in the doorway.
"Don't worry, Radames," she said. "If things don't go well, then you'll have served your punishment and you'll never have to go back again if that's what you want."
She turned on her heel, leaving Radames alone in the war room. He couldn't do this. He couldn't even look at Aida without losing control of himself. With one swift move he tore down the map of Babylon, certain that he was peeling a little paint off the walls. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. I can do this, he thought. I think.
"Could someone deliver us?
And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up
Coz faith is so hard to find, someone deliver us?
And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up
Coz faith is so hard to find
But you don't, and you won't, until we figure out" – Nickelback
To Be Continued…………
A/N: Chapter 16 is coming soon.
