The blistering heat surrounded Radames and Aida. The water they had bought from a merchant two weeks earlier was gone. Both were near exhaustion. They didn't know how close they were to Israel. All they knew was that they were heading in the right direction. Now they were following tracks of what appeared to be camels in hopes of finding a village. Aida stumbled alongside Radames. He kept offering to carry her, but she always refused. Aida couldn't go on anymore. She collapsed in a heap on the ground. Radames immediately rushed to her side. He scooped her up in his arms, and continued walking. Each step became more and more of a struggle for Radames. Finally, he mounted the top of a hill, and saw the village. About 150 yards away, an old man with a long gray beard and a round stomach was talking to a younger man with dark brown hair.
When the two men saw Radames, they immediately rushed to his side. The younger man went to go get water, while the older man went to help Radames.
"My son," he said to Radames in a comforting voice. "What brings you to our humble village?"
"I need water for Aida." Radames' voice was extremely hoarse from the lack of water.
"Here, drink," the younger man ordered, carefully handing Radames a ladle of water. Radames laid Aida on the ground, and gently poured the water into her mouth. About half of the water made it into her mouth while the rest dribbled down her chin. The older man, Jacob, immediately recognized the overwhelming love the couple shared for each other.
Radames stood up to get more water for Aida when he began to feel lightheaded, and sway from side to side. Before Jacob or his son-in-law, Micah, could react, Radames collapsed right next to Aida from exhaustion.
"Take the young man to my tent," Jacob told Micah. "I'll take the young woman to Rebecca. Announce to everyone that there will be a meeting. We need to decide what to do about our new friends." Micah picked Radames up.
"Are they going to stay here?" he asked. Jacob picked up Aida.
"If they want to, yes."
Aida woke up several hours later. She was lying on a soft bed under silk blankets. Under her head were some fluffy silken pillows. What appeared to be a generic oil lamp cast a warm glow throughout the tent.
"Oh, you're awake!" a girl who appeared to be Aida's age exclaimed. Aida propped herself up. "Here, drink this." The girl handed her a clay bowl full of water. Aida pushed the bowl away, and shook her head.
"Where's Radames?" she asked in a hoarse voice. The girl sat on the edge of the bed. She had brown hair, and startling green eyes.
"Radames? Oh, that young man! I believe he's talking to me Father, Jacob. Drink some of this water; it'll help you feel better." Aida took a long drink of the cool liquid. It felt refreshing and wonderful to her. "I'm Rebecca."
"Aida."
"It's nice to meet you Aida. Your name is gorgeous." Aida blushed.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Aida felt a connection to Rebecca; a connection she hadn't felt since Nehebka's sacrifice so the Princess could live.
Meanwhile, Radames was talking to Jacob in the tent next to Rebecca's. lanterns fastened from the top of the tent provided light as the two men ate.
"My son, why are you
so quiet?" Jacob asked the younger man. "You're worried about
Aida, are you not?"
"Yes sir," Radames replied.
"My name is Jacob,
not 'sir'. Do not worry about her, my daughter is carrying for
her. If you don't mind me asking, Radames how did you and Aida
come to be in the middle of the dessert?" Radames had to think
fast. Should he tell Jacob the truth?
"Our village was
attacked. Aida and I grabbed what few possessions we could, and fled
before anyone could see us." As Radames brought a bowl of water to
his lips, the sleeve of his robe slid down. Jacob noticed marks
around his wrists from what appeared to be rope. He also noticed
scars on the younger man's chest. He had noticed marks around
Aida's wrists and ankles earlier that day. "Aida and I were to
be married." Jacob nodded. Something about the scars on Radames
and Aida told him that part of the story was missing. Jacob didn't
feel threatened by Radames' lies; he knew he'd find out the truth
at some point.
"So you don't have a specific destination to go t?" he asked.
"Aida and I didn't get a chance to discuss it. We'll be moving on once she gets her strength back."
"Nonsense, there is nothing around here but desert. You both can remain here. All you will find if you leave is more small villages like ours."
"We have nothing to set up a home for ourselves. All we have is the money we managed to grab before we fled."
"I'm sure everyone will be willing to help. I will help you by doing something you and Aida couldn't do before this tragedy. If you accept my God and religion, I will marry you both, and help you get settled." Radames bit his bottom lip. He and Aida could get married, and start a new life together! Rebecca slipped into the tent.
"Father, Aida is asking for Radames," she said. Radames looked at Jacob, who nodded. He got up, and went to see Aida.
Aida was lying on the bed with her back to the door. Radames laid down next to her, and wrapped his arms around her. Aida rolled over, and snuggled closer to him.
"When are we leaving?" she asked quietly. Radames kissed her forehead softly.
"Jacob, the chief of sorts of this village, said that we could remain here. He also said that if we accept his religion and his God, he'd marry us." Aida's closed eyes flew open. Radames had a smile on his face. "So will you, Aida, be my wife." Tears formed in Aida's eyes. She gently stroked Radames' cheek. Neither one thought that they'd ever be married to each other.
"Yes, yes I will." Radames captured Aida's lips in a passionate kiss. When their brains were screaming for oxygen, they finally broke apart. They curled up next to each other, and fell asleep.
Rebecca silently stuck her head in the tent. When she sat that the couple was asleep, she rushed down to the meeting in the center of the small village.
"You're going to let these complete strangers live here with us?" one man demanded. Rebecca took a seat next to Micah.
"What if they're dangerous?" another cried out. "We know nothing of this alleged village attack. They must be lying."
"God sends us those who need help. If Aida and Radames don't wish to tell us about what they have been through at this given time, we must respect that. Right now, we will all be kind to Radames and Aida, and make them feel welcome!" Jacob announced, thus ending the meeting.