Run-Away Lovers
Chapter 1:
The door was shut behind them, cloaking the tomb in darkness. Aida sighed. So this was how the Gods intended for her to die. She could hear Radames pacing slowly. He was trying to figure out a way for them to escape.
"Radames please," Aida begged. "This is our fate. The Gods want us to die together in this tomb."
"No, I am going to get you out of here." Radames continued to pace. Suddenly, he stopped. Aida heard him feel around the various treasure that they had been buried with. He grabbed a dagger, and shoved it into a crack in the wall. He ran the weapon along the crack, and outlined a large brick. Radames pressed his full body weight against the brick. As the brick slid out of place, he let out a groan. Aida walked towards the dim light provided by the starry night.
"Radames, what have you done?" she asked. Radames grabbed several pouches of gold and fastened them around his waist; along with a sword and the dagger.
"Grab some of the gold, and some of the cloth," he said firmly. "We're leaving. I won't let you die like this." Aida stood her ground.
"It is our fate to remain here. That is what the Gods want us to do; not leave. Where will we go? how will we get there? We have nothing, only these goods mean for us in the After Life."
"Aida, please come." Radames put his hands on her shoulders. "I love you, and I want to be able to provide for you. Let's go to Israel. I know I promised you that I'd take you South, but if we go to Nubia, people will know that we're not dead." He kissed her tenderly. "Now grab some of the gold, and let's escape what you say is our fate." Radames gave Aida another kiss.
Aida grabbed several pouches of money. She also grabbed some cloth to trade with. Meanwhile, Radames cautiously stuck his head outside. When he saw that nobody was around, he motioned for Aida to follow him. Before she left, she took one final look around the tomb. She knew that she was to go with Radames. Maybe the Gods had something else planned for the couple, something they had yet to find out about.
The cool night air whipped around Aida as she crawled out of the tomb. Once she was safely outside, Radames replaced the brick so their flight would go undetected. He took Aida's hand, and they stole through the shadows towards Israel. They would crouch down and hold their breath in the shadows whenever they saw someone walk by; silently praying that they wouldn't get caught. Finally, they reached the outskirts of the city. All that laid before them was the desert, Israel, and a new life together.
Meanwhile, Amneris walked towards the tomb. She had cut loose a brick the previous night, and intended to tell Radames and Aida about it so they could escape. Two guards were stationed at the entrance to the tomb. They bowed respectively when they saw the Princess.
"Your Highness," they said in unison. Their deep voices cut through the silence.
"I wish to see Radames. I want to give him one final chance to marry me," Amneris said. She had to keep her voice from shaking; she was so nervous about the escape.
"He could be dead already," one of the guards said.
"I wish to see him, so open up the door for me, and give me a minute alone with him." Not wishing to anger the Princess, the two guards complied.
The air inside the tomb was thick and musty. Amneris looked around in the limited lighting; Radames and Aida were nowhere to be found. The Princess smiled. They had managed to escape on their own. Then, she put on the best sad face she could come up with, and walked briskly outside.
"They're both dead," she stated simply to the guards. "Seal the tomb. It is not to be entered by anyone ever again." As the guards permanently sealed the tomb, Amneris returned to the palace. They had done it; Radames and Aida had escaped their doom to be together in the world.
A/N: This is my first Aida fic, so PLEASE be nice! Let me know if I got some facts wrong, and just pretend that the tomb was above ground for my limited sanity! Please review!
Tina101