Slowly Aida's eyes fluttered open. She rolled over, and found Radames still fast asleep. She carefully crawled over her sleeping husband, and got dressed. Aida didn't want to be around when Radames awoke, so she went down to the well. The couple had gotten into a heated "discussion" the previous evening. Aida felt that since they had been part of Jacob's village for nearly six months, he had a right to know the truth about the couple's past. Radames disagreed, insisting that their real pasts didn't matter. Several women were gathered at the well when Aida got there.
"Good morning Aida," Rebecca said. Aida smiled weakly as she lowered her bucket into the well. "How are you?"
"Okay I guess. How are you?" she replied. Rebecca sighed.
"Catherine had her baby last night." Aida nodded. She didn't really care for Catherine; she had never really liked the Princess.
"I heard her
screaming. How is she doing?"
"She's very weak from
giving birth. We don't know when or if she'll get back her
strength. Her husband's worried about her too." Rebecca saw
Radames walking towards them. "Speaking of husbands, here comes
yours."
Aida glanced over her shoulder, and quickly went back to what she was doing. Radames stood next to her, and gently stroked her bare arm. Aida stormed past him, and back towards their tent. The women at the well went back to what they had been doing before Aida's arrival.
"Aida! Will you just listen to me?" Radames begged as he followed Aida.
"I'm listening Radames, so talk," Aida replied as she kept walking. Radames caught up to her, and spun her around.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you." Aida broke free of her grip. Nobody talked to her like that.
"You think you're in charge of me, but you're not. I'm not some army of pathetic men you can order around! I want to tell Jacob, but you don't. What's there to talk about?"
"The fact that I agree with you. We'll go to see Jacob later today." Aida went into their tent, and put the bucket of water by the door. "What's wrong Aida?"
"Radames, son of Zoser, the amazing Captain of the Guards of Egypt is bending to his wife's wishes," she replied sarcastically with her back to Radames. She suddenly spun around to face him. "Why?" Radames wrapped his arms around Aida, and kissed the top of her head.
"Because I love you so much." He captured her lips in a passionate, Earth-shattering kiss.
That afternoon, Aida and Radames went to go speak with Jacob, and tell him about their shady past.
"Aida! Radames! To what do I owe this honor? Come in, come in," Jacob said kindly as he motioned towards the seats across from him. Aida and Radames sat down lightly.
"How is Catherine?" she asked Jacob. Jacob's face fell.
"Catherine passed away not yet an hour ago. Her husband is nowhere to be fond, but the infant and one and a half year old are still here." Aida's hand flew to her mouth. "We're tying to figure out what to do now. Now my children, what can I do for you?" Radames and Aida exchanged glances. "What's the matter?" Radames sighed, and began to talk.
"When we first arrived here, I told you that our village was attacked, and we barely escaped with our lives. I lied Jacob, and I'm truly sorry," he said. Jacob nodded.
"I figured as much." Radames and Aida looked surprised.
"You knew?"
"I
had a feeling when I saw the marks on both your wrists, and Aida's
ankles. I'm guessing that you're now here to tell me the truth."
Slowly, Radames and Aida took turns telling Jacob their real story. Not once did he interrupt. He listened to each and every detail with deep concern.
"And that's when you found us," concluded Radames. Jacob sat in silence for several moments; taking it all in.
"You've been through so much. I am sitting with a Nubian Princess and Egyptian Captain of the Guard. I am greatly honored."
"No, don't refer to us like that," Aida almost begged. "Those are our past lives; not who we are today."
"No, your past makes you who you are today, and you can never forget who you are. Aida, you are so confident in what you do, because you are a princess. Radames, you can easily control large groups of people, because you are a Captain. These qualities have helped build our humble village. You can never forget who you were, and how became who you now are."
"You're not upset about us lying to you?" Radames asked.
"No. God guided you to our village for a reason." Jacob stopped for a second to think. "And no I think I understand why He sent you both to us. I have a huge request to ask of you. I believe you were sent here to care for Catherine's two children." Aida and Radames looked at each other.
"Are you certain that you would want us to care for two small children? The infant will have to be nursed; something I can't provide, and Radames and I know nothing about raising a child."
"I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't feel in my heart that it was right. Will you consider this request at least?" Radames and Aida looked at each other again. Aida looked slightly reluctant, but Radames could see in her eyes that she wanted to take these children in.
"We'll take both of them," he said slowly.
"The infant, Martha, will be with a wet nurse for the next few months. Rebecca is with the son, Joseph. They're in Rebecca and Micah's tent." Aida stood up to leave, but Radames remained behind.
"Are you coming?" she asked.
"You go ahead to see Rebecca; I'll see you back at home." Aida bent down to kiss Radames' cheek, and left the two men alone to talk.
"My son, what else can I do for you?" Jacob asked Radames after Aida had left. Radames stared at his lap.
"Jacob, you have done so much for us, and now I must ask you to do one more thing." Jacob leaned forward; listening intently. "I must ask you not to tell anyone our story." He nodded. "Not just for me, but for Aida. This past is hard for her to handle, and it'll be harder if everyone knows about it."
"Of course, Radames. I was never going to tell anyone. This is your past, not mine, so you and Aida will be the ones to tell everyone when the time is right." Radames got up to go see Aida.
"Thank you Jacob, for everything." Radames left the Chief's tent to go see his wife and new son.
Aida was sitting on the ground in Rebecca's tent playing with Joseph. Radames watched his wife play with the toddler for a few seconds before joining her. Joseph immediately fell silent when he saw the stranger.
"Who that?" he asked Aida as he looked at Radames suspiciously.
"That is your new Father," she replied in a kind voice. "You're going to come live with us. We're going to be your new parents." Aida reached out to touch Joseph's cheek, but he backed away with a skeptical look on his face.
"Where Mom and Dad?" he demanded.
"They're with God sweetie."
"Where baby?" Radames couldn't help but smile at his new son's high demand for information before accepting his new family.
"Someone else is going to care for her for a little while before she comes to live with us. You'll be able to see her though."
"Pwomise?"
"Yes I promise." Aida stood up, and took Joseph's hand. "Now come one, let's get you to your new home."
That night, Aida was resting her head on Radames' chest. It was late, and both were tired. Joseph was supposedly asleep in his bed. Aida slowly opened her eyes, and saw a small figure standing next to the bed. She sat up slightly, and saw that it was Joseph.
"What's wrong sweetie?" she asked quietly.
"Can't sleep," Joseph replied simply. Aida shook Radames awake.
"Radames, Radames, wake up!" she hissed. Radames groaned as he sat up. "Joseph can't sleep." Radames picked up his son, and plopped him down between him and Aida.
"You can sleep here," he said. Aida opened her mouth to protest; Radames continued. "Just for tonight though. Tomorrow you have to start sleeping in your own bed." Radames extended his hand. "Deal?" The Father and son shook hands.
"Deal," repeated Joseph. Smiling, Aida laid back down. Joseph curled up next to Radames, taking his Mother's spot. Soon, all three members of the family were fast asleep.
Seven months later, Aida walked down to the well to get water to prepare breakfast. Joseph was busy playing with several of the other small children, and Radames was off working. At the well, the women were all busy talking and chatting.
"Ask Aida!" Mary exclaimed when she caught sight of her friend. "Aida, your amulet is from Egypt, right?" Aida fingered the piece of jewelry.
"Yes, Radames gave it to me as a gift. We used to live there a few years ago," she replied as she filled her clay jug with water. "Why?"
"We can't remember the Egyptian Pharaoh's name," another girl replied.
"Amneris, the Pharaoh's name is Amneris. Why does it matter what the Pharaoh's name is?"
"Because she's stopping in our village to restock supplies on her way back from Jerusalem," explained Mary.
A/N: I updated Off-Set, but I don't think anyone reading this reads it. If you're interested in reading it, the link is at my profile (for the prequel). The first one is a behind-the-scenes on Rent (the movie) type deal. For the sequel, well, you'll just have to read it to find out. Thanks for all the great review!
Tina101